Eventide

Chapter 18. Family Feud

Chapter 18

Family Feud

(Shot, by The Rasmus)

　

　

　

Jacob sat across from me at Moira’s long dining room table, flanked by Quil and Embry.

     Seth should have sat in the empty chair between Emmett and Jasper. I looked from the empty chair to Jacob, who gave one quick shrug.

     “Bella, I’d have thought you would stay back with Renesmee,” Kate said as she entered the room, Garrett at her side.

     “She’s visiting Zafrina, Senna, and Kachiri in South America. Rose, and Alice took her there on a little vacation,” Bella said. “Other friends are on their way to see her, too.”

     Translation, they had ensured Renesmee would be well protected while her family was seperated.

     I caught the brief look that passed between Garrett and Edward, and the subtle nod Edward returned. Garrett grinned at me and winked as he took a seat next to me. Kate, of course, ignored me completely as she took her seat at his side.

     We just had to overcome Kate’s objections before we could help Brogan.

     “Here we go,” Jacob muttered under his breath, muscles flexing with sudden tension beneath his tight t-shirt. He looked toward the front doors when he said it, rather than at Kate.

     I heard what Jacob meant a moment later. The sound of Sam’s gait was something I recognized even among all the other approaching footfalls because he had once been such a big part of my life.

     “It will be all right,” Carlisle said to Moira, who sat at the head of the table. “Just answer their questions truthfully and explain everything fully.”

     Sam didn’t bother to knock, entering Moira’s home as if he owned it. Paul took his place at Sam’s side, assuming the beta position as soon as they ducked through the entrance to the dining room. The rest of Sam’s pack followed one at a time. Barefoot and wearing only cutoffs, they looked as out of place in this formal dining room as a pack of mangy hyenas among best in show purebreds. None of them had bothered to wipe their feet, tracking muddy prints across Moira’s expensive rug.

     Eyes fixed straight ahead, not one of them looked at me as they passed. That was odd, especially coming from Sam. We hadn’t seen each other in years. I’d have expected a quick hello from him, or at least a nod of acknowledgement.

     Trailing behind them was non other than Seth. He did not so much as glance at me, either. His dark eyes were cold flint, heavy brows mashed to further shadow them.

     “Thank you all for coming,” Carlisle said as he rose, giving Moira’s hand a brief, reassuring squeeze as he did.

     Sam sat rigid at his end, hands fisted atop the table, his face a mask of intensity. “What have you learned about the monster?”

     I flinched. The monster. As if this were all there was to Brogan. As if we weren’t talking about a person at all.

     “Brogan,” Carlisle began, “is a true child of the moon. His adopted daughter here, Moira, has done phenomenal research in an effort to help him to manage his condition. She knows more about real werewolves than any other person on the planet, so I’ll let her explain the details.”

     Moira stood and glanced nervously around the table, the only frail human at this gathering. Carlisle flashed her an encouraging smile, but did not take his seat. He remained at her side.