Note | Alpha Order | Inner Wolf | 'Talking in Mind Link'

Warnings | Swearing | Also remember this story is RATED M FOR A REASON - IT IS ADULT THEMED ANYTHING GOES.

Chapter Sixteen | Not Answers

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Paul growled low in his throat as he dropped the bag Emily insisted they have on them while in wolf form. He shook once. Paul's wolf was still angry.

It moved backward. The return shift. The vision clouded over as the light seeped in. A chill curled around the spine as the temperature dropped. Their gums always ached as the wolf gave one last feral snap. And then it was done. Knees shoved against wet dirt as the body trembled. Lungs heaved as they returned to human size. Hunched over, almost in a fetal position as the human sucked in oxygen roughly. The return always left them breathless.

Paul was the first to stand. He was always the first. His body was stiff as he breathed in the acidic scent of Leech. He yanked at the zipper, forcing it down. Paul pulled on his cut-off shorts. He forced a breath out through his nose as he glanced at the others. "Let's go." The quicker in, the quicker out. He moved towards the porch and towards the glass door.

Carlisle smiled as he opened the door. "Hello," voice soft as goose feathers. "Please come in." He pushed the door wide open and moved back, giving the wolves a wide birth. "What can I help you with?"

"JAKEY!" Bella squealed. She bounced on her feet at the bottom of the stairs.

Jacob held back a groan and forced a smile. "Isabella." He'd long ago stopped calling her Bella. Jacob had hoped that would give her signs of their separated friendship - it hadn't.

"Bella, Jakey." She floated somewhat gracefully - she was picking up pointers from the Leeches apparently. "It's been a while."

Not long enough.

Edward's brows furrowed. "Jacob." His stance was different. Off-putting, Jacob didn't want Bella around. Edward frowned. Why couldn't Bella tell that?

"Edward." Jacob rolled his eyes and waved him off. And if there was sass in his voice . . . His alpha wasn't going to correct him.

"This is about your new visitor?" Carlisle questions, voice barely above a whisper.

Paul sneered. "More than one."

"Oh," Carlisle frowned. "Visitors?" He moved much like a human would as he sat on the couch. Carlisle had also learned the quick movements put the wolves on edge. And from what Carlisle could tell, Paul was already on edge - was always on edge.

Paul nodded. "Whatever they are, they are the same. They smell the same." His brows furrowed as he looked at Edward. Get Bella out of here. He waited, head cocked to the side. A slow smirk edged across his lips. "We will continue this in the study Doctor." He sneered at the title. Doctors didn't seem to do Loveless any good - Paul doubted this one would be different.

Edward stood frozen. He'd heard Paul. Heard. It still amazed him when Paul would do that. All the wolves had been cut off from him. He couldn't hear any of them, no passing thought. Completely closed off like a wall. However, Paul could move that wall - but only when he wanted. "Come Bella." He held out his hand and shook his head sharply as she opened her mouth. Paul was not one to mess with.

Carlisle smiled and moved easily through the house. He waited until they were all situated before closing the door. "This is Devon - You know Jasper." Carlisle paused for a moment, his brows furrowed. "Can Jasper be in here?"

"Can he keep his mouth shut?" Paul arched an eyebrow and turned towards the other. "I mean indefinitely - not just this moment."

Jasper nodded. "Not a problem I have."

"Yes, The Major knows well when to speak and when not to." Carlisle nodded. "He is able to keep emotions calm when needed - if needed." He eased down into the leather chair behind the large desk. "He is almost as old as I." He smiled sweetly when he looked at Jasper. "The Major has seen many things." With slow, human movements he motioned towards the other. "Please, continue."

Paul's eyes narrowed for a moment. "My wolves will not be phasing in here." Unless someone else starts the fight. His head cocked to the side as he studied the vampire. The Major. "They smell like fresh air, burning wood, and power." Paul frowned as his tongue rubbed across the roof of his mouth. He could still taste it. "I can taste it. Smoking trees." Paul stretched his jaw. "It reminds me of a tree struck by lightning. The outside seems fine - but the inside is burning alive."

"Devon," Carlisle murmured out.

"Yes," Devon answered. "They are here about . . . James, was it?" His brows furrowed as his mind flitted back to the diner. The Alpha Wolf's description was spot on. A chill ran down his spine as the Alpha's eyes turned to him. That was not something he was used to - being prey.

Paul nodded. "And Vic."

"Were you able to sense anything?" Jared questioned. "A second one showed up today." Devon was the blonde one - well more blonde than the other Cullens.

Devon shook his head. "He's cut off, much like Nicole, but it's different." His lips pursed before he continued. "I can't read Bella's mind - period. However, I can sense her emotions, like Jasper does. I can feel her connections to those around her." Devon's brows furrowed as he paused. "I can't tell if they are unconsciously blocking, if they are that powerful, or if it's me."

"How could it be you?" Sam asked. His brows raised. There had never been a story of a Gifted Cold One losing their powers.

Devon shot the others a mirthless grin. "I am strong with my twin. Much like the twins: Alex and Jane?" He glanced at Carlisle. Did the wolves know of the Volturi? As his leader nodded, Devon continued. "Separately they are dangerous, but together it's practically unfathomable. The same with my twin and I," Devon explained.

"And your twin?" Paul probed for information.

"He's not a true vegan like I am," Devon explained. "He does not live with me." Devon's face tightened on its own accord as he spoke of his twin. "We do not have like minds."

Paul nodded. "So what can you sense?" His brows furrowed. Paul's wolf was angry. He was angry. But neither had the ability to lose their cool. This concerned their imprint.

"Power. Unfathomable power." Devon's brows furrowed slightly. "There's also a connection between James and Nicole." He shook his head. "I can't read it though."

Paul's jaw flexed. "Why not?"

"She's like Bella," Jasper answered for the others. "From what Edward said, she's most likely some kind of shield."

The pack held in a snort and eye roll. She was nothing like Isabella "Just Bella" Swan. "Like her how?" Paul held back a growl. His imprint was nothing like the Bella Bitch.

Jasper nodded. "Edward can't read her either."

"No," Devon shook his head. "That's not why."

That's cause he's weak. Paul's lips curled into a slight smirk.

Devon nodded. "I can't get a read on her emotions either - neither could Jasper." He squirmed in his seat. "I think it's cause they are too powerful - not cause she's a shield." Devon forced himself to inhale - much like a human. "They are powerful. But I can't tell if Nicole is one of them, or if James is just that powerful - that he's masking her." He made a show of moving his hands up and down - pretending to way out the options. Devon left one hand up higher. "My money is on James being just that powerful."

Paul rolled his shoulders as tension mounted. "What do we do?"

"I will tell you one thing." Devon licked his lips as he spoke before Carlisle. "James is more powerful without the other than My twin and I together." His eyes were narrowed as he forced the words out. He didn't like admitting that. It made vampires the prey, not the predator.

Carlisle pursed his lips in thought. "They don't pose a threat." He chuckled softly as a few snorts and growls answered him. "Okay, they haven't posed a threat . . . yet. So we can not take action." He glanced at the Major. He could tell Jasper was holding it in. "We must maintain peace."

Paul stood. "As helpful as this was . . . we are leaving." The other three stood and followed their alpha. "Much longer, I won't be able to control the wolf."

"I doubt that," Jasper smirked as he whispered. Having seen as much as he had, Jasper could sense a Leader among others. "As soon as we have more info - I'll let you know." Jasper bowed his head slightly. They might be of warring species . . .But leaders quelled their anger when peace was needed. "I reached out to a few friends back home."

He nodded. "Good." It was as close to thank you as he was ever going to get when a vampire was concerned. Paul's eyes flickered over his pack. "Let's go."

. .

"Well, that was the most unhelpful conversation yet." Paul snarled angrily.

Jared flinched. "Boss . . ."

"If you tell me to calm down . . ." Paul left the threat open. He heaved a sigh and dropped onto the loveseat by himself. He didn't need to be told to calm down. He was calm. Well, as calm as he was going to get given the current situation.

Sam continued into the kitchen, grabbing three bottles of Jack. He joined the others in the living room. "Here," he handed respectively to Paul and Jared. He smirked at Jacob. "Sorry."

"Thanks." He mumbled as he took the proffered bottle. Jared took place on the couch followed by Sam.

Jacob heaved a small sigh before dropping to the floor. "All that did was leave us with more questions." He shoved a muffin in his mouth. Sam had moved to the alcohol; he'd moved towards the food. The alcohol wouldn't do much for the wolves anyway.

"I wonder what they are?" Sam questioned.

Paul growled. "I want to know why they are so attached to Nicole." He took a shot's worth of alcohol. "I'm actually hoping I hear from the Major soon," His nose scrunched. The first and only time he wanted a vampire to reach out to him.

"I want to know what they are!" Jared stated with a frown. "Not even the Cullens know."

Paul shook his head as he swallowed another gulp. "They do." His brows furrowed as the facial expressions of the vampires rose in his mind once more. "They are hoping they're wrong." Paul let the bottle rest between his legs as he eased back into a slough position. "Whatever they think the newcomers are . . . they don't want to be right." Paul let his head drop to the back of the seat. "It's why they haven't said anything yet."

Sam nodded. "Which leads to the question, just how powerful are they?" His arms opened, tightening a few seconds after Emily sat down on his lap. "Devon looked scared." He let his head fall into the crook of Emily's neck. "They all were."

"Yeah, I noticed that too," Jared murmured as he brought the bottle to his lips. "And why do they call Nicole princess?" Jared asked.

"There is something there," Emily stated. Her brows furrowed in thought. "He was so democratic, business-like, but with her . . . there was a sweetness, a love." She shook her head. "She's definitely held up higher than everyone else."

Paul gripped the neck of the bottle tighter.

Sam tightened his grip on Emily, his wolf instincts screaming protection.

"I not going to hurt Emmy, okay Sam." Paul shook his head and breathed out deeply.

Sam replied. "I know, but you also know it's the basic wolf instinct."

"I do."

"So what do we do?" Seth questioned as he munched on a muffin. He had stayed to help Emily cook.

Paul stared at the younger wolf. "You need to go to school." His brows furrowed. "You should have gone to school this morning." Paul shook his head. "You didn't come with us - so you have no excuse." He smirked at the younger. "And we both know your guise of helping Emily cook is a lie."

Seth pouted. "Why?" He wasn't a fan of school in the slightest.

"You're dumb as dirt and you need to learn," Paul smirked. He laughed as the younger growled playfully. "Come on Seth. You're smart . . . smart enough to make something of yourself. So go to school and don't end up like Jacob over here."

"Hey!" Jacob protested.

Paul smiled as he watched Seth nod before heading out of the house.

"You'd be a good father," Emily smirked.

Paul averted his eyes and downed the next gulp of Jack.

Sam chuckled. "Children still scare you?"

"That's not funny!" Paul snapped.

"Yeah . . . it was."

Paul glared. "No, it wasn't. It . . ." He groaned before muttering, "It was painful."

The guys snickered.

"All you had to do was jump! Spread your legs a little and jump." Sam laughed. "It's a game."

Paul snapped his teeth at Jared. "I wasn't watching the damn kid!" He shook his head and twisted the cap of another beer bottle. He shifted in his seat momentarily - the painful memory surfacing. He rested it against his most sensitive organ. "I didn't think the damn kid was that tall either."

"Kids - they grow like weeds." Jared grinned.

Paul winced, "Let's talk about something else.

So what did you think?