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Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
Part Ten-Alpha
"So, you saw more of the vision?" Jacob asked in wonder.
"Yes. It was so much clearer. Ethan was older and there was a little girl next to him. I called her Sarah. They are the two children I saw in my vision running toward you." Bella replied. "I've been so dense, Jake. My head was telling me all along I never needed to worry about you imprinting, even back then, but I was just too stupid to see it."
Jacob put a hand on her cheek and he caressed the soft skin gently. "Hey, it's okay, Bells. Sometimes fate just plays out a certain way for whatever reason. The main thing is you came back." He continued to stroke her skin with the pad of his thumb.
"You're too forgiving, Jake." Bella said softly.
"I just didn't want to waste any more time being angry or resentful, honey. We've lost so much time already." Jacob leaned close and rested his forehead against hers.
"I don't deserve you." Bella swiped at a tear that had escaped her left eye.
"No more tears, Bells." Jacob put his arm around her and they both turned and looked at Ethan. The little boy's eyes were already closing again as tiredness crept up on him.
"I'll have to wait at least a few days before taking a test to confirm it officially. You know our dads are going to freak." Bella grimaced at the thought.
"They'll get over it." Jacob said dismissively. "Although it might give Charlie a few more grey hairs."
"Well, I'm not going to say anything until after it's confirmed." Bella claimed decisively.
Jacob looked at her, his expression turning serious. "You can't go back to Jacksonville, not now. Please just stay here."
Bella frowned. "Jake, I haven't got a choice, at least in the short term. I need my job."
"Then we'll find you one." Jacob promised.
"In two days?" Bella raised her eyebrows.
"Yes. Not only that, I need to up my game and put this side business I have started on a firmer footing if I want to support us all." Jacob began to make plans in his head.
"Jeez, there's so much to do." Bella suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"We'll cope." Jacob reassured her. "As long as we stay together."
Bella gazed at him affectionately. "Together." She echoed him.
Jacob grinned as he leaned in to share a sweet kiss.
Charlie and Billy arrived back at the Black's house a few hours later, they had stopped off at the local store and bought some cans of beer. Their favourite team had lost another game and they wanted to drown their sorrows.
"How did the dinner go?" Billy asked, his wise eyes studying them both carefully.
"Great." Bella gave him a meaningful glance.
Billy smiled. "That's what I like to hear. Now where's my grandson?"
"Asleep." Jacob interjected. "So don't go waking him up."
Charlie laughed at Billy's crestfallen expression. "Spoken like a true father." He quipped.
Jacob sat down opposite the two men while Bella went back into the kitchen to fix them up a snack. "I want to run something past you both."
"Go on." Charlie said, looking at him with interest.
"Spit it out son. "Billy popped open his can and took a swig of the cool liquid.
"You know that I have been making the furniture on and off over the last few months, and I've actually sold quite a few pieces."
"You have a talent, Jake." Charlie complimented him.
"Thanks." Jacob smiled at Charlie gratefully. "I was thinking of actually doing it full time, maybe taking out a loan and making it into a proper business. What do you think?"
Charlie and Billy exchanged a surprised glance. "You're too young to take out a loan, son." Billy advised. "And with my limited income, no bank would let me be your guarantor."
"But I could." Charlie offered.
"You'd do that?" Jacob asked in surprise.
"Jake, you're the closest I have to a son. You are the father to my grandson, so there is no question that I wouldn't be honoured to do that for you."
"I promise I'll work hard and pay..."
Charlie held up his hand. "I know, Jake."
"Thanks." Jacob grinned at him as he shook Charlie's hand. "I'm going to tell, Bells."
The two men watched him hurry into the kitchen. "I'm grateful, Charlie." Billy said huskily. "Thank you."
Charlie clapped Billy on the back. "No problem."
"It's a risk you're taking on." Billy pressed.
Charlie smiled. "No, it's not. I know Jake can make it work. Anyway, it does mean one thing."
"What's that then?" Billy asked him in confusion.
"It means you'll be paying for the beer from now on." He joked.
Billy pulled a face. "Don't bet on it, old man."
Bella cooked them all a small meal and they sat around the table making plans about expanding Jacob's small business. "The overheads will be low." Jacob said as he ate. "I can work out of the garage and extend if necessary. It's the equipment that will be costly."
"You make a list of what you think you need and we'll make up a proper business plan." Charlie suggested.
"I could type it up for you." Bella offered.
"This is shaping up nicely." Billy smiled happily.
They were suddenly interrupted from their meal by a loud knock on the door. The noise woke Ethan, who began to grizzle. "I'll see to Ethan." Bella rose from the table and headed off to Jacob's room.
"I'll get the door." Jacob said irritably. He strode out into the hallway and yanked the door open; he was shocked to see Emily Young standing on his doorstep. Her eyes were red as if she had been crying. "Emily, what's wrong? Is it Sam?"
She nodded as tears began to stream down her face. Jacob had no choice but to lead her inside. Billy and Charlie were astonished to see the crying girl as they watched Jacob settle her on the sofa.
"Can you give us a moment?" He said to the two men.
"Of course." Billy led the way out of the room, a curious Charlie following behind.
When Jacob was certain they were out of earshot, he knelt in front of Emily and took her hand. "What has happened to Sam?"
"He's gone. We got home and everything seemed fine. I was in the kitchen making dinner when we got a phone call from Sue. She was yelling at Sam, angry that he had driven Leah away. Sam became agitated. I tried to talk to him about it, but he just said he'd had enough." Emily's hands were shaking as she spoke. "He left saying he was going after Leah. I tried to stop him but he said this was pack business and I should keep out of it."
Bella came back into the room at that point, carrying Ethan in her arms. She was stunned to see Emily crying her eyes out. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
Jacob motioned for her to come nearer. "Sam has gone after Leah." He whispered.
Fresh tears poured down Emily's face. Bella quickly handed Ethan over to Jacob, then she sat next to the girl and put a sympathetic arm around her. "I'm sure he'll be back soon." She tried to reassure Emily.
"I can't feel it." Emily mumbled.
"Feel what?" Bella asked her gently.
"The imprint bond. I can't feel Sam anymore." Emily rested her head on Bella's shoulder and really began to weep.
Jacob exchanged a stunned look with Bella. "Give Ethan to our dads, they can look after him. You need to find out what's going on." Bella urged Jacob. "I'll stay with Emily."
"Are you sure?" Jacob checked.
"Go." Bella hugged Emily tighter as the other girl's body began to shake with the force of her sobs. "There's nothing you can do here."
"Thank you." Jacob mouthed gratefully. He sped off to hand Ethan over to his dad, wondering what the hell had happened to break the imprint between Sam and Emily.
As soon as Jacob phased, he sensed Sam. He tried to focus on his whereabouts, he seemed a long way from La Push, if the landscape was anything to go by.
"Where are you, Sam?" Jacob asked him.
He was met with silence. Sam was ignoring him.
"Talk to me." Jacob demanded as he replayed in his head Emily sobbing on the couch. He felt a wave of shame wash through him, it was coming from Sam. "Where are you?"
"I need to find Lee and bring her home." Sam finally answered him.
"She wanted to leave, Sam." Jacob said gently. "You have to let her be."
"But I need to tell her how I really feel." Sam's words were full of despair. "I have to tell her."
"You don't know where she went." Jacob reminded him. "You need to come home."
"Not until I find Lee. Take care of Emily for me. You must take charge now, Jake. I can't do it anymore." Sam suddenly disappeared from the pack mind; he had phased back into his human form.
"Damn." Jacob stopped running, completely overwhelmed by this latest turn of events. This was the last thing that he needed, even more responsibility dumped on him. He was just getting his own life together. With resignation he began the journey home again, he was going to have to call a pack meeting and let the others know about the temporary change of leadership, although in his gut, Jacob knew that this was probably going to be permanent.
He phased back within the trees just outside his home and quickly got dressed. With a heavy heart he slowly walked back toward the house, wondering how to he was going to explain this to Bella. He just hoped she wouldn't be spooked. As he glanced toward the front of the house Jacob saw her sitting on the bench seat outside waiting for him, little Ethan was perched on her lap dressed in a thick all in one coat. When Bella saw him walking toward them, she lifted Ethan up and made him wave. Jacob smiled at his son as he giggled.
"Hey." Jacob sat down next to Bella on the bench seat, taking Ethan from her and kissing the top of his head. "How's Emily?"
"Heartbroken." Bella admitted. "She's asleep on your bed now. I'll take her home later if she's ready. Did you contact Sam?"
"You could say that." Jacob admitted bitterly.
"What do you mean?" Bella placed a hand on his arm.
"He's gone after Leah. I have no idea where he is or when he's coming back." Jacob looked at her, worry written all over his face.
"Jake?" Bella questioned, alarmed by the resigned look on his face.
Jacob sighed. "As of today, I am the new Alpha of the La Push wolf pack." He announced dully.
A/N-thanks for reading!