Buena Vista

Disclaimer: The Twilight Saga was created and is under copyright through author Stephenie Meyers. I do not own these characters and had no influence with the original plot. These stories contain those characters and are written by me therefore I claim them as such. / Warning: This story is for readers age 18+ only.

Vital Signs

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"Jacob...Jacob, you stay here!"

Sam tried his best to get Jake away from Embry who has just began to recover from his onslaught of bite wounds. From what it sounded like, the two had phased and Embry was left limping on the ground before Sam could intervene. Quil was making sure I didn't leave, but I could see the pain in his eyes. Things didn't look too good for us right now.

The extra push in our blood system urged us all to phase, and soon. It was like we were each going through it all over again, but to me it was an endless cycle. I've been dealing with the feel since last night, and hearing about the disease or whatever didn't exactly settle with me well. I didn't want to bring it up, not even in my mind.

I knew he was listening.

Quil stared at me for a moment before Carlisle and Jasper rushed by us both. Jasper inhaled for a moment but managed a smile at me. "The clan says hello." He threw on his jacket and followed Carlisle out the door. We quickly followed outside before I heard Quil grunt.

"God I can't stand this." he looked at me and frowned.

"Don't do anything crazy, Seth. Stay here." I plainly nodded, watching him throw his shirt off before dropping his pants and darting off into the woods with his tail nearly in between his legs. Guess it got to him too.

I wandered around the porch and took a seat on a stump. I bit my tongue when that sensation bubbled in me; every sensation seemed compressed. No doubt it was the sedative that I felt gush into me for a split second. That thing would burn off quick.

Then the phone in my shorts buzzed. I reached in the right pocket to look at the screen. An unread message from a number that I later identified as the unknown visitor who visited my home earlier in the year. Did I even want to read it?

Of course. I tapped the "Read" key and looked at each word carefully.

Hunting season. Want to join me? Think I already got one.

My heart raced, looking ahead into the forest before standing up quickly. Rage filled in my head while I tried my best to keep secure. I thought of my dad taking us to Charlies, teaching me how to swim, something. Anything. I tried...Leah. I tried! I can't take it!

Feeling that slight clench in my bones migrate in different directions, I pushed into the forest and quickly caught the thoughts of Embry.

"It'll be okay. It'll be okay, please. Don't kill him!"

"Kill him...He shot me! Run, Embry! Keep run—Seth? Phase back!"

I dropped my head and studied the broken branches littered on the ground accompanied by shoe prints. It was him, had to be. I wanted to find him, but Jacob dug further into my head.

"You're hurt?" I asked, wishing it wasn't true, but I felt it.

"Don't worry about me. He has a gun,and I don't want you near him. Leave!"

"He hurt you! I can't not do anything Jake!"

"Seth, run back to the Cullens"

"Embry?"

"Seth, hurry dammit! I'll watch Jake. He's heading your way!"

My eyes swayed in every direction, nostrils flared and I easily smelled the scent of human linger in the air. It drove me insane, the smell being so familiar. Every bit as dangerous as a skunks and as cunning as the evil vampires we had to protect Bella from in the past.

The bushes nearby me shook, and I pointed myself in that direction instantly. My eyes were on his.

"Don't move, you fucking wolf." his voice sounded bitter and angry.

I stayed still, hoping he could see in my eyes and realize who I was. I wanted to see if he had a soul enough to recognize that I wasn't a threat.

It pained to see his finger inch closer to shooting the gun.

"MOVE SETH!"

Jacob's growling into my head almost made me budge, but it was seeing Sam and Quil approach Rider from behind that scared me. My heart dropped, and before I knew it I was naked in the woods, my eyes still staring straight into the guy's in front of me.

"Want to shoot me now?"

"What, I...How...You're a freak too!?"

I scowled. "Freak? Freak!? You want to kill me because I'm a freak?"

"I knew all along." I noticed Rider licking his lips. His eyes seemed to be strained like he hadn't slept. "I wanted to make Embry's life a living hell, so that meant hurting you Seth. I'm sorry." he cocked the gun.

"It doesn't work that way. You can't bring me down with you!"

"Then let me do you a favor and end it for you nice and quick, pal." He aimed the gun and that's when I saw Sam lunge. I had to do it, not him.

I raced in front of the gun and jumped just before his finger pressed down completely, knocking Sam out of the way before pushing Rider down to the ground with all of my weight.

My knees were clutched into his stomach and I had his shotgun pressed into my shaking hand, still staring at him. My heart nearly flew out of my chest, but it wasn't a bad feeling. I almost felt that I needed to show Rider reality.

I leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Let me do you the favors."

"Seth, don't!" I heard Embry rush out, dragging Jacob slowly on his back. Hearing "don't" made me want to do it even more. The adrenaline was like no other, and the gun in my hand at the time felt like it could solve anything. Power. It was the power and capability to command that made me keep it in my hand.

Aiming it down at Rider's head, I grinned.

"The worst part about it all...is that I thought you finally knew me."

I swung my hand and smacked him with the brim of the weapon, watching his eyes close shut while I jumped off of the unconscious bastard.

I heard sighs of relief exhale from every direction.

"Had us by our toes and tails, man." Quil groaned.

"I don't appreciate the tackle." Sam grunted. "But you did the right thing."

"Is that him?"

I looked at Jacob, and my eyes literally wanted to lie and tell him no, but instead they delivered every bit of pain that I saw in Jacob's bleeding chest to my head, and I sprinted to push him off Embry and into my arms.

"I'm sorry Jake..."

"So that is him." Jacob sighed and looked down.

"Don't kill him." I whispered into his ear and pushed him against me even tighter. That made Jacob turn his head and cringe.

"Get him out of here and warn him if he ever so much as looks at Seth again, he's dead. You hear me, Embry.."

My grip loosened slightly, and I heard rustling from behind me. Rider's hollowed voice grunted as Embry sprinted off with his brother.

"Thanks." I clutched his chest slightly, forgetting that that's where the wound was, and I groaned at the feeling of his blood dry in-between my fingers. Luckily though, Jake only winced, and I felt it right then. His nose pushed into my neck and he sighed.

"You have tons of explaining to do at my place...but until then...let me just say something."

I didn't stare at him, but I nodded some.

"You have really, really bad taste." he chuckled with a groan.

I sighed, and pushed him over me before Sam reached over to help.

"I know Jacob."

Quil came quickly, speeding by in his tahoe before I launched Jacob carefully into the back while cradling him gently. Explaining this to my mother wasn't going to be easy.

Leah, for that matter.

Jacob smiled, and I finally found him falling asleep in my arms. It felt right.