Destiny

~49~

"How can you know if Bella's not Edward's true mate?"
"It's like with Irina. Do you remember? At the wedding?" I asked.
"Yeah, you told me that dreadlocks wasn't her real mate like she thought. And you told me me what her real mate looked like."
"Only this time I didn't see who his mate was. Don't ask me why, I don't know it myself", I mumbled the last part.
"You know, Blondie said that they have a small cottage a few hundred meters away from here. She said that we can stay there. If you don't want to stay in the main house."
I looked at him. That was really... generous... of the Cullens.
"Before that, I want to speak to Rose a bit. We didn't do that much lately", I told him.
"I thought you weren't great with the Cullens anymore?" Jacob asked me.
"I'm the only exception... with Jasper", Rosalie said when she suddenly appeared and came into our direction.
We were slightly smiling at each other. She guided us towards the cottage Jake told me about.
"You two can reside here if you want. It wasn't used for a few years now. Maybe you two can bring back life in there."
"Weirdo didn't sent you to convince us to talk to Bella too right?"
"No, of course not. Besides, if Desti made up her mind, it's really difficult to convince her otherwise. I hope he listens to you and believes in that mate thing. Everyone except Bella heard what you said. Alice and Esme didn't want to believe it, they hang so much on her. Carlisle meant it could be possible to have a blood singer and a mate in two different persons."
"Since when are you BFF's with Bella?" Jake interrupted her.
"She thinks that I understand what she wants. You know... being able to get kids..."
"Well I think with that, she gets her wish to get immortal. And she might keep the baby for teasing you too. That's just an assumption, but it might be possible", I spoke my thoughts out loud.
"So, you... are on Bella's side?" Jake questioned.
"Hell no. Not completely. The only thing I agree with her on is keeping the baby alive. But I have the same opinion like you about raising it."
"Edward being Edward will try everything to keep her 'alive' so he'll turn her. If he doesn't believe you."
"He really is a stubborn one."
"And if she does survive this, she'll treat the baby like she did with you."
"Seriously, what's wrong with her? I mean, every single person would be happy to get a sibling even if he or she is only adopted... you got the blessing for a wedding at a young age like that and she gets to have a baby and still that isn't enough and she despises all."
I rubbed his right shoulder with my left hand. He started to shake slightly when he began his ranting.
"Calm down Boo-Bear. It's okay. Don't worry about her problems. Just care about us and our family and friends. And remember, Bella's not one of each."
He nodded as his shaking stopped. That's also an advantage if you got imprinted by someone of the pack. You can calm that person down faster and better than anything or anyone else.

No one's POV

Jacob shifted and called the other wolves. They gathered in their wolf form too, communicating through their thoughts. They were calling his name over and over again.
'Is it true, Jacob?'
That was Paul.
'What will it be?' Quil asked next.
'It's growing fast.'
'It's unnatural.'
'Dangerous.'
'Monstrosity.'
'An abomination.'
'On our land.'
'We can't allow it.'
'We can't allow it.'
'We have to protect the tribe. What they've bred won't be able to control its thirst. Every human will be in danger', Sam interrupted.
'We're ready', Jared butted in.
'No time to waste.'
'Now?'
'We must destroy it before it's born.'
'You mean, kill Bella?' Seth wanted to know.
It was a question Jacob wanted an answer to too.
'Her choice affects us all', Sam told him.
'But...'
'No but's Jacob. She's dying anyway! Look what she did to your imprint. She was hurt multiple times and brought into danger!' Leah sassed.
Jacob growled and attacked Leah. He couldn't stand it when someone mentioned that. They started fighting. Sam had to stop the two before it really escalated.
'We have real enemies to fight tonight', he said.
'Tonight?'
'You will fight with us Jacob', Sam demanded.
He was trying to put pressure on the younger shifter.
'I will not', Jacob managed to bring out, 'I am the grandson of Ephraim Black. I am the grandson of a chief! I wasn't born to follow you, or anyone else!'
He growled and took off. When he was far away, he shifted back to his human form. His imprint greeted him with a hopeful smile.
"And what did they say?"
"They want to kill her. But that would also mean killing the baby."
"Isn't it a werewolves job to protect a human instead of killing one? The baby has human DNA too."
"Don't ask me."
"Are you... gonna help them?"
"What?! No no no, I won't. I didn't obey Sam's orders."
Destinee stopped in her tracks and turned around abruptly.
"You didn't...? How? I thought it was impossible", she breathed.
"Not if you're supposed to be the true alpha."
Now it clicked inside the brunette's mind.
"Finally. It does feel good to stand above, right?"
"I don't know yet. Have to have a pack. But I wouldn't command them like Sam does. I see other shifters more like brothers. I hope they didn't follow me and are now spying on us."
"Don't worry. They were not following us", they heard a young voice.
Turning around, they saw Seth coming into their direction from behind the trees.
"What do you think you're doing here?" Jacob snapped.
"I left Sam's pack."
"Go home, Seth."
Destinee laid a hand on her mate's shoulder to calm him down.
"I won't stand behind him", Seth snapped.
"Oh, yes, you will. I'm not kidding. Get out of here."
"ls that an order? Gonna make me bow down, too?" Seth retorted.
Destinee looked between the two shifters while they conversed and shot Jacob a look when the younger one asked if he was ordered to go home.
"I'm not ordering anyone. Look, I'm just going off on my own here, okay?"
"Great, and I've got your back."
Destinee chuckled. She really liked how that kid was ticking.
"No, you don't."
"Come on Jakey-Bear. Let him stay", Destinee pleaded.
Jacob seemed to think about it.
"If Sam comes after Bella, are you really ready to fight your own brothers? Your sister?" he questioned.
"If it's the right thing to do."
Jacob turned and left with his imprint and Seth following him.
"How cool is this? A two-man and one-imprint pack. Three against the world."
"You're getting on my nerves, Seth."
"Oh come on Boo-Bear, he's younger than us. Our kids will be like this too when they get older."
Jacob blushed at the thought of his imprint and him having kids on their own.
"I'll shut up. Can do", Seth said.
He was laughing in his mind about the blush. He wasn't really understanding why. He was just a kid.
They approached the Cullens' house where Edward waited for them outside.
"They're coming to kill the baby."
"They're not gonna touch them."
"Agreed."
Destinee laid her head on Jake's shoulders, enjoying his warmth.
"Man, I can smell them from all the way out here", the couple suddenly heard Leah from behind them.
She and Seth were approaching us together.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jake snapped.
"I'm not gonna let my little brother get himself killed."
"Go away, Leah! I can take care of myself", Seth complained.
"That you think so proves you need a babysitter."
"Okay, would the both of you shut up?"
"Jake's right. Besides older siblings are always protective of their younger siblings. In her eyes, you're still a cute little baby. And trust me, if you would have had a younger sibling, then you would be the same overprotective as Leah is now", Destinee told the youngest wolf, "But hey Leah... Did Sam send you?"
"Sam doesn't even know I left", Leah retorted.
Then, there was sudden howling in the distance.
"He may have just figured that out now."
"Guys. I know what his plan is."
"Let's go inside so you don't have to tell that twice. That costs too much time."
The couple rushed into the house while the other two shifters followed sharply on their trails. The whole Coven plus Bella were sitting in the living room. After Leah had told everything, Jake summed it all up.
"So all in all, Sam's lost the element of surprise, and he doesn't want to take you on outnumbered, so he's not gonna come at you head on. He's got the place surrounded and he'll wait for his opportunity."
"We won't get through this without a fight", Emmett noted.
"No fights. We won't be the ones to break the treaty."
"At what I understood in this whole thing now, the treaty's void... in Sam's mind", Destinee replied.
"Not in ours", Esme replied.
"But there's also the problem that none of you hunted for weeks."
"We'll make do."
"No you won't, Esme. Sam will use that as an advantage. You won't stand a chance if you're weak."
"Okay thank you, you've done us a great service. Thank you."
Destinee kept quite then and her imprinter and Jasper felt her unease. Jacob guided her out of the house. There, she calmly breathed in the cold fresh air. Even with her mate by her side, she was shivering from the cold. Jake picked her up and raced to the small hut. Once inside, he sat her down and rushed into the bathroom and ran a bath.
"Here", he said and handed her a bikini.
"Eeehhh..."
"I want to take that bath with you, if that's okay..."
She only blushed and nodded, while averting eye contact. He chuckled and left her alone to change. Once she did, she sneezed loudly. Jacob came back rushing in, only dressed in boxer shorts. Destinee tried look everywhere but him.
"Come on, let's take that bath together."

After their bath, the couple was cuddling on Destinee's bed in the small hut. Their thoughts were about their situation and what their next step could be.
"I know that they're out there somewhere and waiting, but I can't feel them."
"It's strange. Normally you would feel them in an instant."
"I know..."
She took a deep breath and concentrated on all supernatural beings in her surroundings. She only felt the Cullens, Jacob, Seth and Leah and the half breed baby.
"And?"
Destinee sighed. She was totally clueless.
"Still the same. Maybe they figured out how to shield themselves from my abilities."
"Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep, rest and I will wake you in the morning. Happy dreams, Bambi."
He kissed her forehead and smiled as she fell asleep. Then he went downstairs and relieved Seth from duty.
"Go upstairs and get some sleep. I will be watching now."
"Thanks Jake", Seth yawned.
He disappeared into the hut and collapsed on the couch tiredly. He immediately fell asleep. Leah was still standing outside, watching the tree line in front of her.
"I can't hear them. But I know that they're there", Leah said when she felt Jacob behind her.
"I can't hear them too. And Desti can't feel them."
"They must have found a way to shield themselves. But that confuses me because they don't know much about what she can do."
There was a short moment of silence. Jacob went to speak again, but Leah beat him to it.
"I know that I can't stay here. But I don't have any place... you don't trust me with the Cullens and I admit that I don't like them. They as well might not like me too. Nobody does. Except Desti. I know you want her save. And the more there are to protect her, the more relieved you can be."
"You're right with that one. I'm glad that you're good friends with her. I wouldn't want any other girl near her than you if I have to be honest. You were there for her when she needed it most. I'm grateful for you not leaving her alone and for helping her train her abilities. Look, some might not want you here, but don't stay away. You can do whatever you want. Maybe except for leaving to go back to Sam's pack and be the ex-girlfriend he can't get away from... Sorry if I sprinkled salt in the wound..."
"It's okay. You don't know how many times I wished I could imprint on someone. Anyone. Just to break the connection. I envy you Jake. You have an imprint. You are happy."
"You will be happy soon too. I believe in that."
Leah nodded in agreement. She had some hopes that some time in the future that wish will come true.
"I hope that you're right... well, might as well get to the hut and watch your mate."
"All right, thank you. I'm gonna do a perimeter run. I'll come back a few times in between."