Chapter 4- Creating an alliance

Jasper's POV-

"We have a treaty with the Quileute tribe residing in La Push; the closest reservation to Forks."

I frowned. I hadn't exactly expected to hear these words when I informed the family that we would be relocating. I had expected the outrage and adamant protests. No one wanted to leave their home. But I hadn't expected to be informed of this development.

"I don't have all the details." Emmett continued, "Carlisle didn't really trust any of us with them. But I remember Carlisle pacing around the house- back in the day. Ben and I had been alive for quite a bit, with Carlisle bringing the baby Leah back home with him. Her grandfather was worried about her or something, continuously attempting to contact Carlisle for any news of her." Leah's eyebrow rose at that piece of detail. It was evident that she too was listening to this story for the first time. "As I said, I don't know much, random words heard here and there. But we do have a supposed treaty with the Quileute tribe. I am not aware whether it is still applicable or not."

I took in a deep sigh. Only Carlisle would be able to provide the answer to that question. But there was no way to contact the man. He came and went at his own wish, never providing us with a way to reach him were we to need him. Sure, with the way modern society had developed, I was aware that we now had email and smartphones to keep in touch, but whether Carlisle even knew what a phone was, remained a mystery.

And that put me in a problem.

"I refuse to go back." Leah declared, rising from her chair and heading towards her bedroom, the twins following her out, announcing their agreement on her decision.

I sighed, turning to look at Alice. Maybe, we should reconsider our original decision. Maybe, it would be better to split...

I wasn't in favor of this decision, mind you. Security in numbers was my motto. But we now had Garrett and Rose in the family. Both were equally strong and could protect the family. Once Leah made up her mind, it was impossible to change it. Maybe Alice could go with Kate and Garrett, while Rose and I stayed back here. At least, she would get to meet her mate. It was alright if I didn't. I had to be here to protect the family.

"Jas," Alice whispered my name, "I will talk to her. No. You don't get to put yourself second every time a decision has to be made. It does not work that way in a family."

I sighed, shutting my eyes tight and reluctantly nodding my head. Alice was known to have her way with words. If someone could work their magic, it was her.

It was two days later when Leah appeared in my study, wishing to talk to me.

"I want to meet them." She sat across from me, hesitance visible on her face. "I want them to know me."

"What changed?" I crossed my arms over my chest. "Not that I am unhappy about it."

She was quiet for a few long minutes, almost as if she wasn't going to answer, finally mumbling in a whisper, "I am afraid that they won't accept me. I worry that they will make fun of me."

"Leah." I winced. "You are perfect. If they can't see this, it is their loss."

She smiled. "Thank you. Alice made me realize this, too. If I do have any living family left, I do want to meet them. I do want them to know me."

"They will love you." I assured her. "Just like we do."

She blushed. "You are a good brother, you know that?"

"So, I often hear!" I winked at her, making her laugh.

"I know that I am not always the warmest, far from it, but I am very glad that Alice got you home that day. It was a blessing for us."

I shook my head at that. I was the blessed one. I may have been there for the rest of them, but they had given me much more than that. They gave me a family. I couldn't remember my human one. I hadn't been a good son or even a desirable husband. I had been too charmed by the ways of the world to understand the importance of family. This was my second chance. I would be an idiot to not grab it with open hands.

"Do you know anything about this treaty?" I jumped to the point. It would be foolish to proceed without having all the details. I couldn't lead the family to their doom.

She shrugged. "No. Never heard of it. I know that I am Quileute as during an argument long ago, Carlisle had shouted so. I had demanded to know about my mother. He had refused to answer. We had fought and he had blurted this detail out. I didn't know about any treaty. But..." she paused, as I leaned forward in my chair, "I have done my own research on this and..."

"And what?" I questioned, disliking the suspense that had built up.

"My mother's surname was Black. Leah Black. I am named after her. If my grandfather was anyone prominent in the tribe, we can check whether anyone with the Black surname is still around?"

I heard an 'on it' from the living room, Tia beginning her research on the internet. Being the youngest of the lot, Tia was much more aware of the latest technology. She knew how to 'Google' - it was an enigma to the rest of us how the search engine worked. She also educated us on something named Facebook and Youtube, but it was a strange world out there. Irrespective, she knew what she was talking about.

"There is a Jacob Black on Facebook." She entered my study less than five minutes later. "Lives in La Push and is still in high school. Wait, are those his sisters?" she was now going through his personal photos.

Wasn't this a massive violation of privacy?

Why had he even put those up for the world to see?

"Is there any way to reach him?" Garrett asked from the door, the rest of the family having now gathered in my small study, making it appear even smaller.

Tia hummed her answer. "We can contact him directly, but would that help? He may not know anything about this treaty. He seems to be young."

I pondered over that. Could we take that risk? Would it be worth it?

"Wait." she continued with amusement visible in her eyes. "He has posted his contact number out here. Was probably trying to convince some girl to contact him or something. We can give him a call, and see?"

"What will we even say?" Emmett frowned.

Had Carlisle been here, we would have been much more informed on the situation. Though, had Carlisle been here, that situation would have been extremely different to this.

"The truth. That we are moving back to the area." I stated. "Let's see how he responds to that."

It was a chance, but we would have to take it.

I quickly placed the call, everyone staring at me as I put the phone to my ear. It rang twice before it was received, a man speaking on the other end.

"Jake is not at home. I can pass the message?"

"Hello," I said, frowning at his lack of manners. "I am Jasper Cullen."

Silence. Dead silence.

Had he cut the call?

"Ye...es..." a shaken voice finally responded.

Okay, so he did know who I was.

That was a good start.

"We are moving back to the area. I believe the treaty is still in place?"

It was a fluke. But if it paid, eh!

"Yes." he whispered at first, a sudden confidence resounding in his tone, as he continued, "Yes, it is in place."

"Good. May I know who this is?"

"Charlie. Um. Swan."

Charlie um Swan?

What a strange name to have?

"We should be there in a couple of days. We would like to revisit the treaty once again." To know what is actually written in there.

"Yes." He offered his agreement. "I will talk to the pack, but they would like to meet your family, too. Currently, five of them have phased."

Phased?

Into what?

"Sam Uley is the current alpha. But Jake will soon take over."

"Sam Uley?"

"Yes." he sighed. "He phased first, hence an alpha of the Uley lineage. His wolf is also calmer and more controlled than Jake's. At least at the moment."

Wolf?

Were they werewolves?

My eyes went wide at that thought.

I refused to risk my family around werewolves.

"Anyhow," he sighed. "I will inform the pack about your call. As per the treaty, you are free to move to the area. But the treaty line does remain. If you or anyone of your family crosses it, there will be a price to pay."

Was that a threat?

I did not take too kindly to threats!

Alice put her hand on mine, calming me down.

We could not afford to make enemies with the tribe. We needed them. For now.

"Keep us informed of when the meeting will be held. Same phone number."

Saying so, I ended the phone call, staring at the familiar faces that surrounded me.

"I guess that means we start packing."