The Consequences {Jacob Black}

Chapter CLIV: Jacob's Point of View

"Ryanne?" I shook my head, feeling Jake's skin slide underneath my cheek. "Please, Ryanne. I can't sleep." I opened my eyes to find Nessie sitting on her knees and looking over the foot of the bed at me and Jake. "Please." Lake groaned and shifted, sitting upright. In the darkness I could see him rubbing his face as he tried to wake himself up. "I had a bad dream."

"Come on Ness," Jake said. He rolled me on my side, my back pressed against his chest. "Climb on up here. You'll sleep with me and Annie tonight." Nessie scampered onto the bed and burrowed into Annie's chest. She wrapped her arm around Ness's waist and drew her in tightly. "What was your dream about Nessie?" I asked after she was settled.

"Everyone died because of me," she whispered. I knew that dream. I had the dream every time we found ourselves in danger. My friends and family all dead because I wasn't strong enough. Because I couldn't keep control of my temper. Because I failed to protect them. "All these people are here to protect me and the Volturi are just going to kill them."

"They're not going to kill anyone," I promised. I wasn't going to let my family or friends die. "Now both of you go to sleep." I knew my Annie girl. I knew that her fears were the same as Nessie's. the difference was that Ness had the faith of a child. Her worries would be soothed knowing that I promised her no one would be hurt. Annie would hear me and sure it would make her feel a little better, but she would still be thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Ness was willing enough. She burrowed herself deeper into my imprint and her heartbeat evened out after a little while. Annie, however, was wide awake. "Nothing is going to happen, babe."

"You don't know that," she insisted. "Nessie's having nightmares about it. It's not just me."

"Go to sleep and stop worrying about it, Annie. I'll be right here to watch over you and Nessie," I whispered.

The hand that was trapped underneath mine twitched until she was holding my hand instead of the other way around. "You need sleep too Jake," she whispered. "I can stay awake for a little while." I laughed at her and drew her closer. Looking down, I felt kind of guilty because my first thought was that the little girl didn't belong with us. In my head, I could picture a little girl with crazy, black ringlets and clear blue eyes coming in to see her parents. I could see Annie wiping tears off of her Quileute tanned skin and telling her that mommy and daddy would be her to protect her. I wanted that. I wanted that little girl to come bouncing in our bedroom at home and crawl up in our bed. "Sleep for a little while, Jake," she implored. Her voice pulled me out of my happy day dream and brought me back to the reality of the day.

"I'm not going to sleep any time soon, baby girl. I can barely sleep when you two aren't worrying about them coming for you. I'll doze off for an hour or so," I promised her.

She turned her body and craned her neck. If she wasn't holding onto Nessie, I'm sure she would have turned around to look at me by now. Instead, she had her neck curved in what was probably a very uncomfortable position. "After the Volturi leave," she whispered, "I think you and I should revisit the treehouse for a week or so." Her eyes gleamed in the way that told me exactly what she had in mind for a week. I waggled my eyebrows in what I hoped was a roguish manner. She giggled quietly. For the first time since I'd brought her to the Cullens, I felt like there was something normal left for us. "You know, to catch up on sleep and all that."

I laughed outright at that one, just one short blast of joy rumbling from my mouth. "I'm pretty sure that if the two of us were to stay in that tiny little room, alone for week, I would lose more sleep than I have in the last week." She chuckled as well. "Go to sleep Ryanne. We both know you won't get any real rest while you're worrying." She turned back, carefully stroking Nessie's hair before resting her face on my bicep. More dreams flooded my mind. Although I had deicded that I didn't want them to be dreams; these were visions. I was going to make them happen one way or another. I stroked her hair and hummed the same little tribal lullaby that I'd always sang to her until she was dead asleep. A week in the treetop did sound amazing. I disentangled my hand from hers and traced the contours of her face with the tip of my finger. "Goodnight, Annie. I love you."

The snow was completely stuck to the ground the next morning when I was startled awake by Bella's shrieking. Everyone was screaming, in fact. Annie jumped as well, startling Nessie. They were here. The Volturi were here. Carlisle, who was the calm one in the family, burst into the room. With a deep breath and a sweep of his hair, he turned to us. "We need everyone down stairs. Jacob, if you could be so kind as to call your Pack," he said. I nodded stiffly. "Thank you."

"Annie," I whispered to her. Her heart was hammering in her chest. It had finally happened. THe Volturi were here. All her worries were turning into reality. Nessie was turned towards her now, clutching at my imprint's shirt with fear. "I have to go." I reached out and smoothed Nessie's hair first. "Everything is going to be fine, girls." Nessie nodded. I smelled leech stronger than before and turned over my shoulder to see Blonde Bitch Cullen. She jerked her head towards the door, but her eyes were focused on Nessie. I gave the little monster permission with a sharp nod of my own and then turned to Annie. She was clutching at the thin blanket, goosebumps rolling down her arms. "I promise you that everything is going to be fine." With her own affirmation, I gripped her chin between my forefinger and thumb and kissed her sweetly.

I sprinted outside, making sure that Nessie was okay before I made it to the forest. Leave Collin and Brady home with the imprints and let's go, I said. Leah grumbled about having to leave. Embry tried to insist that Seth be left at home with Penn since she didn't do well without someone with her. But it had to be done today. Take her to my house. Emily and Kim are already there. Embry nodded. Quil was literally sprinting with Claire in his arms, seeing as Paul had let him know what was going on. Everyone had their own worries and fears, but we needed to keep our family safe. If we all wanted the futures that we all dreamed about, we had to get through this.

We lined up in our standard formation, Leah on my right and the rest filed in according to their positions. I think Sam was still a little peeved that he wasn't my Beta, but I wasn't willing to change my mind. Leah had been the first one to side with me after everything that happened. Annie was up and dressed and standing outside next to Nessie, waiting for me to get there. Seth ducked down and allowed Ness to climb up on his back. If things go south, Seth, take Ness out of her. Run her to Canada. My youngest pack brother nodded. Leah, you take Annie and get out of here. Everyone else, you don't fight. You get home to your girls. Understood?

Embry balked. Jake, I'm not leaving you out here by yourself.

I'm with him, Quil shouted too.

Don't be stupid, Jared said then.

Enough! I bellowed. I had never done it before, but I wanted to make sure that my Pack was taken care of. Digging deep down inside of me, I looked at my Pack. If things don't go right, you all get out of here and back to our friends and families. My voice rang with authority and I could feel the power pounding in my veins. Leah was struggling, trying desperately to fight the order. I felt guilty, knowing that I was hurting all of them. But I had to protect them. Finally, I felt everyone submit. I'm sorry, guys, but it had to be done. Everyone grumbled at me, but no one argued with me. Now let's go meet up with the Cullens.