Prologue
They circled each other, growling, neither daring to break the defensive and phase. On one side of the clearing, the wolves gathered. On the other, the vampires.
Emily glared at me from across the clearing and I felt Emmett stiffen behind me. We all knew what was at stake here. If Sam lost, the Pack would break and attack. If he won, the vampires would fight to keep me alive. If Sam won, the wolves, believing that I was the reason behind the fight, would demand my life. My life in return for Jacob's. The irony was overwhelming.
The shudders ripped down their spines at the same time, and Jasper's arms were suddenly around me. Gently protective, but if I tried to break free of him, I would find those arms to be as hard as steel.
Jacob gave a sudden, plaintive howl, crouching low, and Sam sprang quickly, in the blink of an eye. Jacob leapt and rolled left, causing Sam to miss. When he spun to face Jacob, he wasn't where Sam expected.
A sudden snarl of pain from Jacob told me that Sam's teeth had found their mark, and when I looked at him, sure enough, Jacob was bleeding. He snarled again, and I knew that the battle for my life had truly begun. And how it would it, none of us could know.