38 Chasing Wolves

EPOV

I took off running for the hospital, desperate to get there before the wolves. I knew I could run faster than they could drive, though once I was out of the forest, I would be restricted to traveling at human pace. I could hear the thoughts of my siblings as they chased behind me. Rosalie was complaining as usual.

Those mutts better not do anything that makes us have to move away. It's bad enough Edward practically lives with his little human girlfriend, doing who knows what in her bedroom every night, but now we've got stinky werewolves making themselves at home in our living room. Jacob may know about cars, but he's even more childish and impulsive than Emmett, and I thought no one could be worse than that. The two of them working together is going to be catastrophic to the peace of the rest of us. Jasper's going to be working overtime. It's a good thing he doesn't need to sleep.

Jasper was busy working out battle plans. He was completely aware of the floor plan of the hospital, though he rarely went there due to his bloodlust. Whenever Carlisle started a new job, Jasper would always thoroughly investigate his new workplace, making a detailed map with all possible escape routes marked, just in case Carlisle ever needed to leave in a hurry. He was using the information now to determine where Tyler was likely being held, which route the wolves would take to get there, and the best places to direct them if we were unable to intercept them before they got inside.

I got to the hospital in record time and paced in the front, waiting for Jacob and Embry to show. Rosalie and Jasper caught up with me and helped keep a vigilant watch for their car. A few minutes later, Jacob's car came speeding into the parking lot, narrowly avoided a pedestrian, and screeched to a stop crookedly between two handicapped spots. Jacob and Embry jumped out at werewolf speed and began jogging quickly to the front door. Jasper, Rose, and I moved instantly to intercept them. They both growled at me, baring their teeth, their canines extended a bit now in their anger. I held up my arms, palms out indicating I didn't want to fight.

"Let's just talk about this before anybody does anything foolish, okay?" I suggested. I saw their hands trembling, but they both made a conscious effort to relax. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett arrive. Carlisle slid the Mercedes smoothly into his private parking space.

"Are you calling me foolish, leech?" Jacob demanded. Just get the heck out of my way and let me do this.

Rosalie grinned. "If the shoe fits…"

I swatted in her direction, trying to get her to be quiet. "No, no. I'm sure you'll make a wise decision that is best for your tribe and your pack. I do think phasing inside the hospital would likely be a very unwise choice."

They both rolled their eyes at me. "No, duh." Do you think we're stupid or something?

I closed my eyes briefly, lamenting the fact I was dealing with extremely dangerous, possibly lethal creatures with the mentality and vocabulary of an average eight year old. What law of nature put so much power into the paws of ones so young? It was just like making immortal children, which even we vampires could admit was a big mistake, no matter how cute they were.

"Look here, dipwads. We're all mad at Tyler for his idiotic behavior. We'd all like to give him a piece of our minds, though in your case, I don't think you can spare any. However, we all know what happens when you get angry, don't we? So it doesn't take a psychic to see it would be a disaster for you two to go scream and yell at Tyler right now," Rosalie instructed. "So tuck your tails between your legs and run home like good little doggies."

I think I'll phase now and take a little bite out of her. That would teach her better than to suggest we tuck tail and run. I'm no coward.

Great, now Rose has managed to make them angrier and even more resistant to reason.

I growled in frustration and quickly realized my mistake. I actually saw their hackles rise, and their trembling became worse as their snarls echoed back. Jasper began desperately projecting calm again, which only helped a little. Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett came up behind them, and they were completely surrounded. This was probably a mistake, because the looks in their eyes suddenly became hostile.

"Are you showing your true colors now, bloodsuckers? You planning on taking us out?" Jacob demanded to know.

"Please, Jacob," I replied, as gently and calmly as possible. "We're just trying to protect the humans, just like you. You're a Protector, right? Created to protect your people from danger." I needed to break through his anger to his more rational side.

He waved his hands angrily toward the hospital. "Those aren't my people. We aren't on La Push. And one of those people endangered a member of myfamily!"

Embry nodded vigorously, demonstrating his full and complete agreement with Jacob. At least I understood his reasoning, even if I couldn't agree with it. He considered Bella to be part of his family, and he wanted to protect her by taking out the boy who had endangered her life. I actually felt the same way on some level, but my maturity level allowed me to see past it to the possible consequences.

"Jacob, I understand, believe me, I do. But I can't allow you to endanger the rest of the population just so you can hurt the guy who hurt Bella," I explained, hoping to get through to him.

"Allow? You can't allow me? Since when do you have the right to allow me to do something or not?" Jacob shouted in rage. "Is that what you were hoping for when you befriended us? That you could control me and my friends? Cause that's not happening! Why don't I start telling you what you are and are not allowed to do?"

Edward, I'm doing my best, but I can't calm him. I can't help him now without physical contact, and I feel certain he'll snap and phase right here if I touch him.

I nodded slightly to Jasper to show I understood. Carlisle cleared his throat and stepped around in front of Jacob and Embry. He signaled for all of us to back off and give them space, which we immediately did. Once they were no longer surrounded by our family, the tension in the two boys dropped dramatically. They had instinctively felt threatened by our behavior, even if they knew intellectually that we had no intention of hurting them.

I watched as Jacob's entire demeanor changed as he faced off with Carlisle. He grew taller and his posture straightened. The lines of his face seemed more angular and defined, hinting at a greater physical maturity. An aura of purpose and strength pulsed out from him. Embry instinctively took a step back and a step closer, placing himself into the Beta position to his Alpha. Carlisle's demeanor also changed, altering from the kind, compassionate, father figure and doctor to that of indomitable leader.

The mantle of responsibility and wisdom he donned rested comfortably on his shoulders, and there was no question that he was an experienced and fearless leader. The changes occurred in milliseconds. Bella would never have been able to see them as they were made. They were no longer Jacob and Carlisle meeting in the parking lot. The Alpha of the Quileute werewolf pack was now conferencing with the Head of the Cullen vampire coven. The air around them fairly crackled with power.

"You have every right to enter the hospital and visit whomever you please, Jacob Black," Carlisle intoned respectfully. "We are here to offer our assistance in keeping your secret from the humans here, for the sake of the peace, and for the sake of your pack members and your tribe. Neither of us would wish to call attention to ourselves. I know you have no desire to cause accidental injury by phasing too close to a human being, so we would like to offer our services in reducing the risk."

Jacob's demeanor relaxed slightly, the hostility and tension fading. His voice was deep and commanding as he formulated his reply. "We will be addressing our concerns to the foolish Tyler Crowley. That is not up for debate or discussion. We are willing to accept your assistance in reducing risk and helping to keep our secrets. What are you suggesting?"

Carlisle nodded, his expression serious, but open and honest. "If you truly feel you must speak with Tyler tonight, please allow Edward and Jasper to accompany you. If you will allow Jasper to touch you, he can use his gift to keep you from phasing as he did earlier. Edward will be able to assess the mindset of the witnesses and make sure no one suspects anything out of the ordinary."

"Hey, I want to come too! I've got a few things to say to that bastard," Emmett called out. He was immediately punched in the right arm by me, punched in the left arm by Jasper, and smacked on the back of the head by Rosalie, while Esme gasped, "Language, Emmett!" and Embry cheered.

Carlisle and Jacob maintained eye contact, neither one acknowledging or reacting to the commotion.

"I am willing to have them accompany us. In fact, you may all come if you wish, as long as you only interfere if it is necessary to prevent harm or to maintain the secrecy of either of our natures from the humans," Jacob answered, offering his hand to Carlisle.

Carlisle smiled and reached out to Jacob. They gripped each other's forearms. "I give you my word that my family will not interfere with your mission, except to prevent harm or to maintain the secrecy of our natures." They shook on the terms, essentially forming a new treaty between the two groups.

As their arms dropped back to their sides, they were once more their regular selves, back to being simply Carlisle and Jacob. Carlisle flashed his paternal smile at Jacob, and Jacob returned it with a sheepish grin. He stepped forward, and Carlisle gave him a fatherly hug.

"You're definitely growing up on me, son," Carlisle teased looking up into Jacob's eyes. Jacob's chest rumbled as he chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you in your old age, Pops," Jake joked back. Esme couldn't resist running over to hug them both.

"Enough with the mushy stuff. Let's go kick Tyler's butt," Embry hollered. He and Emmett bumped fists.

"Heck yeah," Emmett agreed. "I'm with you, dude." The two of them headed to the front door of the hospital. The rest of us rushed to beat them there.

Carlisle led us to the room where Tyler had been kept, but the room was empty. Jacob and Embry looked at us to see if we were behind this, but could tell by our reactions we were just as surprised as they were. Carlisle went up to the nurses' station, and we all quietly chuckled to hear the heart rates of the two nurses on duty rapidly accelerate.

"Oh, Dr. Cullen!" one breathed huskily. "How may I be of service?" I would love to service you any way you want. There's an empty room down the hall we could use. She licked her lips suggestively. I groaned at the mental images she started projecting, wishing I could bleach my brain so I wouldn't see pictures of my father doing any of those things. Having a perfect memory could definitely be a curse.

Carlisle pretended not to notice as he responded. "I came to check on Tyler Crowley. Has he already been discharged?"

The other nurse came over. "Yes, he went home about an hour ago. Is there anything else we can do for you?" I'd be willing to share if it meant I could get a piece of him.

"No thank you," Carlisle growled crossly. "Have you met my wife and children? They're standing right over there, less than ten feet away."

The nurses finally noticed the rest of us, and had the decency to blush at propositioning Carlisle right in front of us. However, they couldn't take their eyes off of us and their minds were positively steeped in sewage. I desperately attempted to block them out, even though their thoughts were practically screaming at me. Jasper was whimpering and frantically texting Alice on his cell phone. He could barely walk due to the massive lust pouring off of them. Emmett took pity on him and practically carried him outside to recover.

"Can we do anything for any of the rest of you?" one of the nurses cried out after us. Jacob turned and gave them his most charming grin.

"Maybe later, ladies," He suggested, waggling his eyebrows and leering at them. Embry grabbed him by the arm and started trying to drag him down the hall.

"He's only fifteen," Carlisle warned the women, but they were still smiling seductively at Jacob. "And his father is Chief Swan's best friend." This time their faces fell, and they sighed in disappointment. Carlisle shook his head in disgust.

Jacob pouted at Carlisle. "Man, Carlisle, what did you have to go and do that for? This is the 21st century, not the 17th."

Carlisle gave him a parental 'look'. "You, son, are what is referred to as 'jailbait', and I doubt either your father or Charlie would appreciate any aspect of that relationship. You are also the leader of your pack, and it is your responsibility to live your life accordingly. You must be someone worthy of being obeyed or you will face mutiny when you most need support."

Jacob nodded slowly, allowing the words to permeate his brain, recognizing the wisdom Carlisle was imparting. He picked up his pace to catch up to the others and never looked back. They headed over to the cars. Chief Swan was there by Jacob's car writing out a ticket. He quickly rushed over.

"Aww, Charlie, please don't give me a ticket," he pleaded. "You know I can't afford to pay it." Charlie looked at him in surprise.

"This is your car, Jacob?" Charlie asked in disbelief. Jacob nodded. "You're not sixteen yet. What are you doing driving?"

Jacob flushed and ducked his head. "Uh, yeah, we get our licenses early down on the rez."

Charlie raised an eyebrow and frowned, clearly indicating he knew Jacob was lying through his teeth. Jasper sent him a few waves of peaceful tranquility, hoping it would help, just as Jacob decided to throw himself on Charlie's mercy.

"Look, Charlie, I just found out what happened to Bella. I consider her part of my family, and I just wanted to scare the crap out of Tyler Crowley for being such an idiot. I was in a hurry, because I was really mad, and the Cullens came to make sure I didn't do anything I would later regret. But he's already been sent home, so I was planning to head over to his house now to complete my mission."

To my surprise, Jacob's decision was actually a smart one. Upon hearing Jacob's plan and destination, Charlie ripped up the ticket and offered to come along, just so he could witness it. I got a text message from Alice telling us Tyler would be home alone for another 43 minutes. I shared this information with the rest of the group, at a level too quiet for Charlie's ears, but loud enough for all the rest of us. I didn't want to try to explain to Charlie how Alice knew that.

We all quickly mobilized, cramming into the cars uncomfortably, since no one wanted to ride in the squad car with Charlie, and we couldn't run through town. We were at Tyler's house in five minutes.

It was quite a scene with Charlie, Rosalie, Emmett, Jacob, and Embry taking turns yelling at and insulting Tyler, while he cowered into the corner of the sofa. Jasper kept a firm control on Jacob and Embry, able to keep them only mildly shaking. The rest of us enjoyed the show, applauding for particularly amusing comments and suggestions of what Tyler could do with himself. I kept a close eye on the time and got everyone out of there with ten minutes to spare. I wished we had thought to video tape it, so we could share it with all those who hadn't been there, especially as Alice wouldn't have been able to see it in her visions. To my surprise, Alice was outside, videotaping through the window. I grinned and gave her a high five. Great minds think alike.

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