Intensity
By Mama4Dukes
Chapter 51:
Paul’s POV
Saturday
By mid-afternoon, we were settled in La Push. Rather than staying at relatives’ homes, I rented out the entire Oceanside Resort for the foreseeable future. The management was happy to oblige since the arrangement meant they’d profit during a low-tourism season. Each person-shifters and vampires-had their own private cabin because I understood the necessity to unwind in privacy during high-stress situations. Each accommodation was equipped with a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. Some, like mine, had an ocean view. I wasn’t ashamed of taking the best cabin for myself. There was also a motel. Currently, it was sitting empty, but I rented all the rooms there out, too. We needed to conduct our business without any intrusion at all.
I had three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, hot and ready to go for the wolves and coyotes. I didn’t want them to shell out cash to pay for meals when they were here on behalf of the reservation.
Jasper and Peter had flown in from Arizona with us. Emmett and Garrett, whom I had yet to meet, were still tailing the two vampires-Malcolm Blackcrow and Riley Biers. Another vampire had come from Denali, Alaska-Santiago Serrano. Santiago was Tanya’s mate, a former Volturi guard member with brute physical strength. Jasper explained that he was trustworthy and had no love for the Volturi, having been forced to serve them for many centuries. He had been released from service because the female guard members found concentrating difficult due to his ‘smoldering’ good looks.
“What makes a guy smoldering?” I asked Jasper, who laughed out loud.
“I don’t know. I asked Alice once, and she said it had something to do with sex appeal, manners, and not being a Neanderthal all the time. Santiago is smooth and sophisticated. I’ll give him that. He’s always a gentleman, especially to the women.”
“And what are we-if we’re not a gentleman?”
“Fuck if I know,” Jasper replied. “I’m just a regular guy.”
“Same here.”
Jared laughed, hopping into the conversation. “Yeah, sure. When Paul was in high school, all he had to do was smile at a girl, and she’d be throwing her panties at him. If that isn’t smoldering, I don’t know what is.”
“You’re exaggerating, man.” Okay, it happened to me once during my senior in high school and a couple of times in college, but that doesn’t make me smolder. But then again, I did date a set of twins at once during high school.
“It’s the truth. It took Bella to stop him in his tracks. She actually became upset when Paul imprinted on her.”
“Speaking of Bella, practically every guy at Forks High School lusted after her-so maybe the two of you are a perfect match,” Jasper informed me.
“Who lusted after Bella?” I asked, incensed and jealous at the thought of other guys wanting her.
“Well, let’s see, there was Edward, of course, and Mike Newton, Tyler Crowley, Austin Marks, Eric Yorkie…”
“And Jacob Black,” Jared added. “Clearly, you met your match with Bella.”
“Well, my wife is hot,” I concurred. I missed her already. I wanted this BS over with because I hated sleeping without her. I packed her pillowcase so I’d always have her scent nearby.
“She has a nice body, that’s for sure.” Jasper nodded his head wistfully. I wondered what he had to be sad about before I realized he was married to the underdeveloped half-pint girl.
“The way your wife works out is psycho, man. She goes to the gym more than anyone I know,” Jared said.
“That’s because she likes to eat. Besides, she says the endorphins released from exercise are better than any drug.”
“Leave it to Bella to have a scientific explanation for exercise.” Jared shook his head. He took a look at his surroundings. “I can’t believe I’m back. So many memories-some good, some bad.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way whenever I’m here.” I checked the time on my watch. “We should get to the tribal lodge. The elders should be there by now.”
I explained why I felt the vampires should be allowed on the reservation. I tried to get permission over the phone, but they refused permission. Like it or not, the elders would let me guard the reservation how I saw fit. We had no idea what we were dealing with, and with two rogue vampires with intimate knowledge of the area running loose, La Push was a ticking time bomb.
My pack and I, vampires included, all entered the tribal lodge. Two of the elders donned looks of shock and outrage upon seeing the vampires. Only Josh Uley and, surprisingly, Old Quil stood up and greeted Jasper Whitlock with a handshake and a smile. Clearly, he had no problem with having them in La Push. It was Billy and Sue who were being hard-headed.
“Paul, I thought we agreed that vampires were prohibited entry to La Push,” Billy said sternly.
“No, you agreed. I, however, disagreed with you.”
“This is insubordination! We, as the elders, took a vote and denied your request!”
“And as alpha of the pack, I am telling you that my friends are needed to guard the reservation.”
Jared folded his arms before his chest and glared at the elders. “Keep in mind that Paul is the Great Protector who will bring peace, prosperity, and justice to our people. Remember the prophecy.”
“That’s what Old Quil and I told them.” Josh Uley sighed. “I’m sorry, but you and Sue must let Paul take the lead. I was there when Carlisle Cullen told us about his time with Taha Aki. Remember that Taha Aki and Carlisle Cullen were as father and son to each other.”
“But we can’t risk any of our youth changing,” Sue stated, desperately. “We can’t have our children and grandchildren becoming wolves. Think of Geoffrey. It’ll ruin their lives!”
“They will not change. Paul’s pack is the last for the Quileutes and the Wa-Ya. It was spoken of in the prophecy.” Old Quil stood up. “Why the two of you are being so stubborn is beyond me. It’s time you let the Great Protector do his job to protect us!
“I have been an elder for many years, and I am man enough to admit my faults. I was unwilling to change, thinking the old way was the best way. But the truth is, we must evolve with time. It doesn’t mean we need to discard are old traditions, but we must keep up with the world around us.”
Old Quil faced Josh Uley. “You were the only elder to warn us about giving Tony Fuller too much control. We didn’t take your warnings throughout the decades seriously enough. It was a serious transgression on our part. I will do what I can to fix my errors, even if it means having to step aside as tribal elder for the betterment of the tribe.”
And then, the old man turned to me. “Paul, I acknowledge all my errors, and I want to apologize profusely for my actions. I want you to know, Great Protector, that you have my utmost fealty. The prophecy states that your pack is the last pack, and that you will bring peace to the Quileutes. I willingly give control of the tribe over to you.”
To Billy and Sue, Old Quil suggested, “You should cede control to Paul temporarily. Have faith in the prophecy. Your grandchildren will not transform into wolves, if that is your worry, but frankly, it should be the least of your worries.”
There was a long moment of silence as everyone pondered the old elder’s words, until Leah stood up and addressed Sue and Billy. “I agree with Old Quil. You’re being ridiculous. If one of our kids ends up phasing, so be it. Becoming a wolf empowered me. It empowered all of us!”
“Dad, I agree with Paul.” Jacob came forward to add his two cents. “If Will becomes a wolf, he would be phenomenal; however, that’s neither here nor there because he will not become one. We can’t let Tony Fuller run this reservation anymore. It’s time to take back control.” His gaze met that of the elders. “You each have to take some responsibility for his ascension to power, especially you, Dad. You let him run roughshod over the reservation and the pack with his smooth words, greasy smile, and the fact that he has a master’s degree. You also ceded much of his responsibilities, using your diabetes and the fact that you’re in a wheelchair as an excuse. Look at where we are now? You are the chief of the tribe, and Tony Fuller is still calling the shots from jail! Dad, I’m putting my foot down; it’s time to take a stand!”
Jacob wasn’t done yet. He turned to Sue. “Fuller is in jail awaiting trial because he tried to have Bella, your stepdaughter, murdered. Are you truly so selfish that you can only consider your own bloodline? Does Charlie’s family not matter to you?”
I was impressed with Jacob’s way of reasoning with the elders. He used the cold, hard truth with his father, and with Sue, he ate away at her conscience. Sue loved Bella. I knew that, and Jake did, too, but by implying that she cared about her bloodline only, he got her to think outside the box.
Sue stood up, offended. “Of course, Bella matters to me! Why would you think otherwise?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You’re more worried about your grandchildren becoming wolves, which will not happen, according to the prophecy,” Seth added, backing Jacob’s claims up. “My vote is to allow the vampires to assist us-not that I have a vote.”
“But you should,” I stated. “We, as the pack, are protecting the residents of La Push. Since we’re the ones risking our lives, we should be the ones making the decisions. We are no longer teenagers. We’re adults, capable of making informed choices. We are choosing to have our good and kind vampire friends assist us in protecting La Push. They will know best how to deal with the rogue vampires.”
“Very well. You have all made good points, especially you, Jacob. Thank you for being honest with your old man,” Billy stated. “You are correct. I should never have allowed Fuller to have so much authority.
“Dad, it’s only because I love and believe in you that I told you the truth.” Jake hugged his father.
“Paul, you know I love Bella and you as much as I love my own kids, don’t you?” Sue asked. “I was horrified when I learned that Fuller had ordered a hit on her. I truly was.” She wiped tears away from her eyes using the back of her hand and turned to the vampires. “Please do what you can to help our reservation.”
“Ma’am, when this Fuller fella messed with Bella, he messed with my whole family. We all love her, and we ain’t gonna let anyone get away with it,” Jasper assured her. He pointed to Peter. “Besides, not only does my friend have a crush on Bella, he has a serious distaste for murderers. He’ll make sure the perpetrator pays for his crimes.”
“Oh, dear! Bella certainly seems to attract those vampires.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jasper agreed. “Peter? Peter?”
“How are you, darlin’?” Peter smiled and winked at Leah, who blushed red like a tomato. “You sure are pretty.”
“I’m married and a mother,” she informed him shyly, clearly touched that the vampire thought her attractive. “My husband is standing right behind you.”
“Oh, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re beautiful. Your husband sure is a lucky fella.”
Eric pumped his chest out, clearly tickled by the compliment to his wife. Leah, too, blushed at least twenty shades of red.
I patted the vampire on the back. “Alright, Peter, you’ve established that you love looking at beautiful women.”
“I sure do. Your Bella is one smokin’ hot babe, and that Babs woman is absolutely stunning.”
“They are, but we’ve got business to attend to.” I gently reminded him, wondering if the guy was all there.
“Well, let’s get to it then, General.”
General? I’d never been called a General before, but Peter and Jasper were military men, and to be called a General was a compliment-especially coming from one of them.
Now that all the elders agreed the vampires should be allowed on the reservation, we turned our attention to logistics and how best to protect La Push. Before beginning the meeting, we took seats around the large wooden conference table. The long mahogany table and chairs looked out of place here. Mahogany was not native to Washington State and had to be imported from South America. The table was beautiful, glistening, and looked like it belonged in a corporate office-not a tribal lodge. In the past, the elders used to sit on solid oak benches harvested from trees native to the state. They didn’t look as pretty, but they had character. The leather chairs also looked out of place here. Jeff found out in his research that renovations to the tribal lodge, including the conference room, had been signed off on by Tony Fuller, using funds that should have gone to maintaining tribal homes, the school, the health clinic, and the general well-being of the tribe. The more I thought about Tony Fuller, the angrier I became. The cretin had to be stopped.
“Let’s begin the meeting, shall we?” I suggested. “In the matter pertaining to Anthony Fuller, our first priority is to keep the reservation safe. To that end, I have invited our vampire friends to La Push.” I began by introducing Jasper, Peter, and Santiago to everyone. “Two other vampires, Emmett McCarty, and Garrett Adams, will be joining them in patrolling the reservation at night while we get some sleep. Presently, they are trailing Malcolm Blackcrow and Riley Biers-the two criminals who murdered the Cedro family.”
“What? How could that be? Malcolm Blackcrow isn’t a vampire, and Riley Biers is missing and presumed dead,” Billy stated.
“This is where you’re wrong. Somewhere along the line, Blackcrow and Biers were changed. How and by whom? We do not know. We know both vampires are well-funded and taking orders from the person funding them.”
“And am I correct in assuming the person is Tony Fuller?” Old Quil questioned.
“We believe it to be Tony Fuller. There’s no telling what he will do now that he has been put behind bars. However, upon conferring with Brady, the pack, and our vampire friends the other night, we feel that the family most in danger is the Black Family.”
“My family? But why?” Billy questioned.
“Because my father wants the chiefdom. He craves the power you hold as chief of the Quileute Nation,” Brady replied.
“And exactly how did you come to this conclusion?”
Before Brady could answer, Jacob stepped in. “Of course! It all makes sense now. Tony Fuller manipulated our entire family beginning with you, Dad. Consider all the responsibilities he took off your hands out of the ‘goodness of his heart’ because of your handicap. You used to tell me how kind he was, and then I trusted him to guide me after I imprinted on Angela. He did the same with Collin, whose mother is your sister and also a Black family member. The only person he could not manipulate was Rachel because she saw right through his sneaky façade, so he avoided having any contact with her.”
I took back control of the conversation. “Now that you’re aware of the danger, I request that you take your daughter-in-law and grandchildren and go on vacation on my dime.”
“What? I can’t do that! I’m the tribal chief.”
“Exactly, and you and your grandchildren are the first ones Fuller’s vampires will come for. Can you honestly say that you can keep your grandkids safe from vampires? Vampires who want to kill them and drain them solely for their blood.”
“No, I can’t. No human can stand against a vampire.”
“Exactly, but as important as your grandchildren are, Billy. My primary concern lies with your safety. Your responsibility as the tribal chief is to stay alive through this crisis so you can return and rebuild the Quileute Nation. Therefore, I need you and the other elders to leave and temporarily cede control to me and the pack.”
“But where would we go?”
“Arizona,” Jeff said. We have plenty of space at the Wa-Ya Reservation. Fuller wouldn’t dream of searching there. And you all have family there, so it will be your choice whether to stay with them or on our reservation.”
“Billy, I’d feel better if you stayed at my house,” Quil offered. “The thought of Rachel alone with the kids worries me.”
If I’m not mistaken, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The thought of Rachel in Arizona with no protection terrified Billy. She was his daughter, after all, and he couldn’t bear to see her vulnerable.
“Okay, we’ll do it,” Billy agreed.
Plans were quickly made for Billy, most elders, and the kids to leave the reservation as soon as possible. The only elder who remained was Sue. She refused to leave, feeling her place was at home where her husband, children, and grandchildren were.
“If that be the case, I will ask that you take Geoffrey and temporarily move in with either Leah or Seth to have protection at all times.”
“Mom, you and Geoff can stay with us,” Seth offered.
“Okay, I will, but what about Charlie?”
“Charlie is going to stay at the Oceanside Resort with us. So, we’ll need him there,” I stated.
After the elders returned to their homes to prepare for their removal from the reservation, the actual meeting began. The first issue to tackle was training. Sam and I were the only two who had actually decapitated a vampire. The rest of the wolf pack had a vague idea of what to do but had never implemented it. Meanwhile, the coyotes had no idea what to expect. For God’s sake, Jeff gelled his hair because he had no idea how to prepare for a vampire hunt. I couldn’t help but glare at my lawyer friend with an appalled expression.
“What? What did I do?” Jeff asked.
“Hair gel? Really?” I refocused my attention on the pack. “It has come to my attention that most of you do not know how to decapitate a vampire. Because of this, training has become priority number one. Jasper will be in charge of training. He was an army captain during the Civil War and was in charge of a newborn vampire army during the Southern Vampire Wars.”
“Southern Vampire Wars? What the hell is that?” Crispy asked.
“A territorial war between vampires. That’s all you need to know,” Peter explained. “None of us wanted to be there.”
“Due to his qualifications, I thought he best be in charge of training. That being said, I’m going to give him the floor.”
“Good evening. Thank you for welcoming us to your fine reservation.” Jasper nodded to the wolves. “Regarding training, I hope to meet with you once daily in the morning to review the basics. From what Paul tells me, many of you do not know how to recognize a vampire or fight in human form.”
“I can wrestle,” Jeff offered.
“Wrestling is helpful, but you’ll be in your shapeshifter form with vampires. The element of surprise is necessary. We’ll be going over defensive fighting tactics in human and supernatural forms. I want you all to be prepared,” Jasper explained. “And you don’t have to gel your hair when you come to training.”
Jeff shook his head. “I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“I don’t think so,” Jasper laughed just as the doors to the tribal lodge opened. Two vampires stepped inside. “Emmett, Garrett, what happened?”
“The two vampires we’ve been following have settled in for the night. They’re staying at the townhouses built on the old Cullen property. They had a key to their own place and everything. So we stayed and watched them for a while,” Emmett informed us.
“They’re not very smart, and they’re untrained. We still haven’t figured out who changed them and under what circumstances. We don’t think they are newborns. They have good control over their hunger and can circulate amongst the human population,” Garrett added.
“In what way do you think they are untrained?” Jasper questioned.
“They have no idea when they are being followed, and they cannot discern when a vampire is nearby.”
“This is excellent news. But, first, let me introduce you to everyone here.” Jasper took the time to introduce Emmett Cullen and Garrett Adams to all involved.
“Hey, how is Bellsy doing?” Emmett asked me.
“She is doing well. She’s working as a nurse practitioner.”
“She’d be a great nurse. Bellsy has always been caring. I miss her and was hoping to see her. She never treated me as if I were a creature of the night. She always accepted me for who I am.”
“I think it’s safe to say we all feel that way about her,” Jasper added.
I was taken aback by their heartfelt comments about my wife. Bella had clearly made an impact on the lives of these vampires. Bella had enough love in her heart to care for all the unloved creatures in the world, and I was the lucky bastard who got to marry her. I missed her and hoped she was doing well in Arizona with Carlisle.
Bella’s POV
Sunday Evening
“Stop, Bella, just stop! I know you mean well, but I can’t let you and Rose go traipsing off to the Wanagi Reservation. It would be absolutely irresponsible of me,” Carlisle stated.
Rosalie and I both lifted our chins in defiance.
“Oh, now, you’re both being immature.”
“Carlisle, did it ever occur to you that I’m a grown woman? I am no longer seventeen years old, and I am capable of seeing to my own safety. Rose, while she looks young, is even older than I am. She has been carrying the burden of her sexual assault for years-unable to speak with anyone about it. We only want to fly to Oklahoma to speak with Tawanna Wiyot. I believe she could assist Rose in dealing with her PTSD.”
“I don’t recall a Tawanna Wiyot.”
“I met her when you and Paul ran to Pine Ridge. Honestly, Carlisle. You’ve been friends with the Wanagi for decades. Did it ever occur to you to discover whether or not they had a psychologist on hand? Especially considering that they run a comprehensive medical and social services clinic to service the surrounding area.”
“My answer is still no.”
“Fine,” I replied, knowing Rose and I would have to resort to Plan B. “I’m going downstairs to work on dinner now.”
“And I’m going to tune up all the cars in the garage,” Rose declared.
“You do that. I will return to watching TV with Babs, Jessica, and Tanya.”
“What are you watching?” I asked.
“The women have introduced me to a series called The Bridgertons.”
“Ah… You should read the books; they’re better.”
“That’s what I told him, too, Bella,” Rose said.
“Now, if you ladies will excuse me.” Carlisle returned downstairs to the media room to watch TV.
The media room is the obscenely large home theatre Paul had built when the house was redesigned. He and the pack agreed it would be a good idea to have a place where they could all watch games together. It was large, soundproof, and flashy-completely unnecessary, in my opinion. But my husband has strange quirks, so I will be forced to live in his media room.
Rose held up her hand, indicating it was safe to speak. “Plan B?”
“Tonight, as soon as Carlisle leaves for work.”
Carlisle left for the Health Clinic on the Wa-Ya Reservation at precisely ten-thirty pm. By then, everyone had started winding down for the evening and headed to their rooms to settle in for the night.
At eleven pm, a knock was on my bedroom door. I knew it was Rosalie, so I let her inside. The blonde vampire was carrying a packed tote bag. “Are you ready?”
“I am. Let me use the bathroom before we go.”
After finishing my business, I reappeared in the bedroom, zipped my down jacket, and secured my backpack. I also put a winter hat and gloves on my hands. I knew from experience it would be windy.
“Okay, hop on,” Rosalie ordered as she crouched down low for me. I climbed onto her back. She tied a rope around us both. “Just in case,” she whispered. Then she opened the French doors leading to our veranda and stepped out, making sure to close the doors quietly. “Hold on tight,” she said, jumping from the second floor to the ground. From there, she took off running into the night.
Four and a half hours later, Rosalie stopped at the entrance to the Wanagi Nation reservation. “I hope I didn’t go too fast for you. I tried to jog.”
“Trust me, riding vampire back with you was way more comfortable than riding with Edward. He never held back.”
“He just went full speed?” Rose asked with an incredulous expression on her face.
“He did.”
Rose shook her head. “Edward was such a putz. God rest his soul.”
“Who goes there?” We heard rustling in the background, and a male vampire stood before us.
“Oh, hey. I’m Bella. I don’t know if you remember me, but my husband and I stayed here a few months ago when… You know something, are Dr. Kiowa, Dr. Otoe, or Tawanna Wiyot here?”
“You’re the kind human lady. The one who knows of our existence.”
“That’s right. Are they here?”
“Of course, they’re here. Follow me.”
We followed the vampire and looked around. We noticed the reservation was active at three am. “We do our farming right now while it’s dark so the humans don’t become suspicious.”
“I see. Well, it makes sense. Sadly, humans can be pesky.”
“But you are human.”
“Yeah, but she’s the non-pesky kind,” Rosalie replied. She held onto my hand and would not let go.
“Mrs. Isabella Lahote, what brings you to our humble reservation?” Dr. Otoe approached us. “And at such an odd hour, too. I see you’ve brought a friend.”
“I did. This is Mrs. Rosalie McCarty, Dr. Otoe. She was changed by Carlisle in….”
“April of 1933,” Rosalie answered for me.
“Ah, the beautiful Rosalie. We’ve heard all about you here at the Wanagi Reservation. Excuse me, but why are you here?”
“I brought Rose here to speak with Tawanna Wiyot on a personal matter,” I explained. “As for me. I would appreciate a quick snack and lodging. I can barely keep my eyes open; however, tomorrow, I will gladly offer my services by volunteering in your medical clinic.”
“Mrs. Lahote, you are always welcome here. You are a friend of the tribe. After all, you are the mate of the Great Protector.”
“Thank you, and please call me Bella.” I quickly did a formal introduction of Rosalie to Dr. Otoe.
“If you will both follow me, I will take you to the same guest lodge you stayed at during your previous visit. Then, I will ask Tawanna to visit you both. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask.” He paused for a minute, then asked. “Out of curiosity, how did you get here? I noticed you don’t have a vehicle.”
“We ran,” Rose announced proudly.
“With a human on your back?”
“Oh, yes, of course. Bella is used to it. She’s been doing it since she was a teenager.”
“Riding on Rose’s back was much more comfortable than riding on my ex-boyfriend’s back. She, at least, ran at a moderate speed for me. It was like being on a non-stop roller coaster ride at Disney.”
“You never cease to amaze me, Isabella Lahote,” he said as he closed the door behind him.
“Bella, I’ve never seen so many golden-eyed vampires in one place. This is so incredible. And Dr. Otoe is very friendly.”
“He certainly is. He’s hot, too.”
“I noticed.” Rose giggled, her shoulders shaking.
“Wait until you meet Dr. Kiowa. He’s totally swoon-worthy. Don’t tell Paul, though. He gets jealous.”
“So does Emmett. We’re mated to them; it’s not like we’re going to leave them. They get so uptight about the dumbest things.”
“I hear ya,” I agreed.
The door to the lodge opened. A beautiful Wanagi woman in her mid-twenties strolled inside. She was carrying a bowl of fruit, a box of cereal, and a half-gallon milk container.
“Bella, how nice to see you again!” Tawanna put the food on the table and then gave me a hug. Unfortunately, this is all we could find, but we will get you some staples while you sleep at the 24-hour Walmart. Now, introduce me to your friend.”
“Of course, and thank you for the food. This is my friend Rosalie McCarty. I went to high school with her. Rosalie, this is Tawanna Wiyot. She is one of the resident psychologists here. The Wanagi run a full-service medical clinic for the town during the day.”
“But how? Don’t you sparkle in the sunlight?”
“We never leave the clinic, and the windows of all our buildings have special UV coatings on them.”
“Like a tinted car window,” Rose broke out into a smile and nodded her head, impressed by the resourcefulness of these people.
“I brought Rose here because she needs your assistance, Tawanna. I will let her speak to you about it, but I believe your particular expertise will benefit her greatly.” With that, I grabbed an apple and then walked into the bedroom, leaving the two female vampires to their discussion.
I didn’t even get the chance to eat my apple. As soon as I saw the bed, I was overcome with lethargy and fell into a deep slumber.
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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