Blood Moon
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A Call to Action
"Bella, are you hungry? Go ahead and help yourself to a muffin." Emily said kindly. "It might put some color back in your cheeks. You look so pale."
"Thanks." Bella murmured. She could have done without the commentary on how ill she looked, but appreciated Emily's sentiment behind it. She took one muffin from the heaped-up plate and started nibbling around the edges. It was delicious, and it felt good in her tender stomach.
Jacob snagged one for himself and shoved it into his mouth whole. Emily chuckled, and then went into the Black's kitchen to open the refrigerator, studying the contents with a critical eye. The wolves' stomachs were never fully satiated and she often spent the day cooking batches of food. Most women would complain about being stuck in the kitchen all day, but not Emily. It was her domain and she enjoyed it. She was an extremely skilled cook, no one could rival her blueberry muffins, which were a pack favorite.
Bella leaned against the counter and listened to the boys' banter with each other. They were like a family, a rowdy one to be sure, but extremely loyal to one another. Jacob sat amongst them, trading quips, occasionally throwing a mock punch when one of the others got too boisterous. It was the first time he had left her side since they had woken up that morning. He had been reluctant to do so, until his rumbling stomach had forced Bella to beg him to go and get something to eat.
"I'll be fine." She reassured him several times before he finally caved in and joined the others at the table.
The front door opened and Sam stepped through. He had left to go and fetch more groceries. His eyes were immediately drawn to his imprint. He dumped the paper bags on the kitchen counter and followed through with his usual ritual, taking Emily's face in his wide hands, then leaning down to kiss the dark scars on her right cheek before he kissed her lips.
"Hey, none of that!" Jared complained. "I'm eating."
"I'm sure Kim would appreciate some attention." Sam suggested, kissing Emily's ruined mouth again.
Jared grinned widely as he motioned for his shy imprint to join him at the table. Kim immediately complied, her cheeks flushing slightly as she perched awkwardly on his knee. Jared offered her a bite of his muffin. Kim smiled coyly, taking a delicate bite, and chewing slowly.
Bella grimaced, quickly averting her gaze. Their overt display of affection was too sickly-sweet for her taste. The others seemed to agree, as Jared and Kim suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of a few sarcastic taunts.
"I'm going to barf if I have to watch any more of this." Embry groaned.
Bella silently agreed with him. She put her muffin down and folded her arms across her chest. It was no wonder that Leah had chosen to stay away. She was in Forks now with her brother Seth, the siblings watching over Charlie now that he had returned home from work.
Jacob punched Paul on the shoulder when he made a grab for the last muffin, then stood up from the table, returning to join Bella in the far corner of the kitchen.
"How are you holding up?" He asked in a low voice.
"So, so." Bella sighed, not really having the words to describe her continuing apprehension.
The pack meeting had been going on for an interminable amount of time, often stopping for food breaks, then resuming. Not much progress had been made thus far, it seemed that they were all at a loss about what course of action to take next.
"I know it's been a long day for you, honey." Jacob sympathized. "But I promise the boring bits are over now."
For the last hour the pack had been discussing patrol schedules, deciding on the best routes to take, whether it was time to broaden their scope, and debating over whether it was worth sticking to the treaty lines anymore, considering that the Cullens had already broken the terms of the original agreement by messing with Bella.
Feeding time over, everyone crowded together in the cramped living room. Surrounded by so many warm bodies, Bella was beginning to feel the heat. She was constantly breaking out into a sweat, even after already removing a few outer layers, her skin had a sheen to it.
The elders sat in the middle of the circle, Billy at the head, with Old Quil and Sue taking their places on his left, while Sam settled down on his right.
"So, what are we going to do about the Cullens?" Jacob demanded, kicking off with the most important topic of the night. He was sick of the delay over deciding. If it was up to him, he would be at their place right now taking them down for the harm they had inflicted on Bella. He was in no mood for mercy.
"We should take them out." Paul said heatedly, as if voicing Jacob's inner thoughts aloud. "There are enough of us now to make a quick job of it."
Sam looked across at Lahote with a grim expression. "It won't be as simple as that. You're forgetting that the Cullens are no ordinary vampires. They are extremely gifted. I refuse to risk anyone's safety by going in there without forming a coherent plan. We need more information so we can take a more tactical approach. May I also remind you we have a homicidal vampire to deal with as well. We still have no fixed idea when she will strike next…. or whether she is collaborating with the unknown vampire that broke into the Swan's house."
"What makes you think it's the redhead that sent the unknown vampire? It could be connected to the Cullens. Maybe they sent it to check up on Bella or something?" Jared suggested.
"That's just it, we don't know. We have very little information to go on. We need to be cautious." Sam added.
Jacob was getting impatient with the back and forth. "We could go on debating this forever. The fact remains that the Cullens broke their side of the agreement. The treaty is null and void. I say we go there right now and catch them unawares; they won't know we're coming until the last minute, even the little psychic let slip she can't see the pack. We'll confront them with what we know, demand they leave, if they refuse, we take them out. I am aware of their so-called special gifts, but I do believe we have the strength to drive them out of the area for good. I doubt they would want to risk their lives in a full-on battle. They've spent too long cultivating it."
Bella had never heard Jacob being so forthright in his opinions before. He had a determined glint in his eyes, his tone was forceful and commanding as he spoke, the deep richness and conviction in his voice drew the listening audience in. She watched mesmerized as his brothers' gazes left Sam and rested on him instead, as if Jacob was the Alpha.
Out of the corner of her eyes she glimpsed Old Quil. The elder had a satisfied smirk on his face, as if he had been expecting Jacob's rousing speech. The pack were responding to his more forceful approach, seeming to tire of Sam's continued warnings to be cautious.
"We cannot afford to be reckless." Sam said again, a little louder this time.
Only Jared's eyes swung his way, everyone else remained fixated on Jacob.
"Well, well." Old Quil announced in amusement. "It seems we have reached an impasse, gentleman."
Sam snorted derisively. "This is just a friendly debate. As the Alpha, I make the final decision."
Old Quil shrugged nonchalantly. "Are you sure about that?"
Bella wasn't the only one who noted the mischievous glint in the old man's eyes. She saw Billy throw him a dark look, while Sue appeared troubled.
"What do you mean, elder?" Sam asked, his tone barely polite.
"It seems you have a rival for that title, young man." Old Quil answered, looking pointedly in Jacob's direction.
Sam laughed sardonically. "I think you're forgetting Jacob abdicated that role. That's why it passed to me."
"Abdicated?" Old Quil questioned, raising his eyebrows. "That's impossible. The true Alpha can never really step away from his responsibilities. No matter how hard he tries. He always steps up in the end with the right encouragement." He shot a playful wink in Jacob and Bella's direction.
"I mean no disrespect, elder." Sam argued. "But I don't find any of this amusing like you clearly do. There are just too many variables we need to consider – "
"Oh, give it a rest, young man. Sometimes caution needs to be thrown to the wind. Sometimes you need to just dive in and take action. The time to strike is now." Old Quil interjected irritably.
"Hear, hear, Gramps!" Quil junior cheered loudly.
Old Quil grinned at his grandson's enthusiastic display, the two of them suddenly looking remarkably alike.
"Quil, you need to calm down and stop encouraging this nonsense." Sue pleaded anxiously. "It's our children's lives which are at stake here. I agree with Sam, we need to proceed with more caution, not just jump straight in without thinking."
Sam nodded in agreement. "We cannot afford to be rash."
Old Quil rolled his eyes, before turning the full force of his gaze onto Billy. "Well, you have been remarkably quiet, Billy. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
Billy glanced around the circle of eager faces, taking note of each expression. He could see that the pack were itching for some action. Jacob and Old Quil's rousing speeches had energized them. They were tired of hiding in the shadows, following the same tired pattern of endless patrol schedules which were impacting on their life and showing little result. But he could also understand Sam and Sue's need to be cautious. It was a big risk they were undertaking, confronting the Cullens on their own turf could prove costly if they were put on an immediate defensive.
But then he thought of Bella, of Charlie, of Harry – all those people who he loved, some he had lost, but all of them being harmed, or marked in some way by the Cullen clan's unwanted presence. His son was right, the treaty had been broken. There was no going back on that now. They had bitten and infected a human with their venom. No number of excuses on their behalf could make that right. Edward Cullen's venom had been left inside Bella with intent. That intent made it impossible for them to do anything but act.
"I say go." Billy said eventually, looking over at his son's determined face. "Go now while they have no idea they are about to be ambushed. I'll call Charlie right now and insist he comes to the res. He'll be safe here with me and Bella. Old Quil is right, we need to act. The Cullens time in Forks is at an end."
A/N-thanks for reading!