A/N: I kind of went Disney with the hunt, and I apologize ahead of time, but it was needed in order to move the story forward. I want to thank each and every one of you for sticking with the story; I appreciate all of your input.

Also, if you have the time, and I hope you do, please check out one of my fave authors 'SoundShield11's' story called 'Sins of the Father.' The prologue is posted, and I find it to be a promising tale.

D: Disclaimed

Chapter Nine: The Hunt

I wondered why Jacob was so influenced when I mentioned Emmett's name, but it was the last name, and he had his suspicions that it could be the same family that had came to the village years ago. While the pandemic was baring its ugly head, a family known as the Cullens were discovered hunting on their territories, the pack almost destroyed the coven if it weren't for the fact that Leah noticed that they were feeding on a deer. They all fed on animals and hadn't harmed a human in years. That's how I knew we were talking about the same Emmett.

Carlisle told my father and me the stories of him coming across them once, but I never really believed him because mainly I didn't want to. Makes me wish that I had paid more attention though. But, now that I recalled what I could, Carlisle mentioned something about a treaty, and the only person I could ask about it at the moment was Leah. This treaty enforced the borderlines for the coven, those who strayed and crossed the lines, were disposed of. As long as the family hadn't harmed a human in any way, they could live in the area near by in Forks.

When I approached Jacob about the topic, he still kept most of it in silence. I mean, we were moving slowly, and I don't mind it, he's been kinder. But, when it's just me spilling my truth, it becomes a one-way street. I asked about Seth, nothing. I asked about life on the village, still nothing. He would change the subject back to me, and it was kind of bothering me. I'm running out of things to talk about, and I've come to a dead-end.

There were no more books to find or read, everything we needed to know was discovered from what I could tell. So where else was there to go. I can't lie when I say that routines have come in more of a positive note too, we all eat at the same table, and Brady was excited to find out that he was able to help in the kitchen with Emily.

I was no longer being trapped in the room all day, Jacob had given permission to leave during the day to help Leah and Emily with the daily chores as long as one of the wolves kept a close eye on us. It's not as strict as it used to be, so I was slowly gaining Jacob's trust, so that was another sign that we were making progress.

As the winter settled in, our routines changed once again, things weren't as easy to come across as they were during the summer months. Whatever was grown in the garden, half was stored, and whatever could be preserved, was canned by Emily to be stored as well. Emily was all about survival, and when it came to finding ways to keep us alive, she knew how. It was rare in the winter months for the pack to hunt, so whatever they caught was also stored, and it was a difficult task for a pack of wolves that ate a deer to themselves. It was now my duty to gather wood every night, and thankfully on the blizzard days, one of the wolves would provide warmth when I needed it.

'Do you know how to hunt?' For the first time, Jacob offered to accompany me with packing wood inside the house. 'Has your father ever taught you?'

"Umm… no he hasn't." I replied with curiosity. "Why do you ask?"

'Just curious.' He occupied himself by putting a few blocks in his arms.

"It would've been a great help if you were here all of the other times." I smirked realizing he had at least five big blocks in his arms, "sure beats packing two in at a time."

'Oh,' He quickly dropped them.

"No, no, I'm not complaining," I giggled, "thanks for helping me Jacob, I really appreciate it."

'Well, I figured I would at least pull my weight around here too.' He lifted the blocks again, 'hunting isn't my only talent.'

He followed me inside and downstairs to the furnace. Thankfully I knew how to build a fire otherwise we'd be living the same way the pack has been for years. Throughout the time they've been here, heat hasn't been a problem with the pack, and seeing how Leah and Emily would build the fire in the kitchen during the days, there was no need to make one to warm up the house. But I guess Jacob felt guilty about since he told the pack to keep me warm until we were able to get a couple trees to cut up for wood. Thankfully Leah knew her way with a handsaw too; otherwise I would be outside all day by myself. It even surprised me a couple times when I found out that Jacob even brought a few trees by himself.

I don't think he wanted me to know that he was concerned for me; it was just easy for him to do it unnoticed. So I never acknowledged it to him, but was grateful that I was no longer the 'fag' he called me months ago.

Another thing I haven't noticed nor had kept track of was the time I was here. I was sure by now that Emmett knew I was gone by now, which saddened me on days knowing that my dad could be gone. I found my thoughts on how I was going to deal with Emmett, if he had killed my dad, and what I would do after that. I know Jacob had said he was going to kill Emmett, but I wasn't sure if I could let him knowing just how strong Emmett really was. Jacob could get hurt and I would have to live with that on my conscious, and if Jacob were killed, that would mean that I would still be demeaned to Emmett's side for the rest of my existence.

'You're thinking again,' I turned to find Jacob actually attempting to smile, 'aren't you?'

"Sorry." I muttered. "Yes I am. I just worry about my dad back home. If Emmett had hurt my father, I don't know what I am going to do."

'I said I would get rid of him.'

"I know you said that Jacob, but that's not the point." I sat next to the furnace as the fire sparked, "I just worry for him, for you, for the pack. Emmett can be an animal when he wants to be, or so I heard. I don't want to be the reason one of you get hurt because I know his family will step in if it comes down to a fight."

'The pack is willing to fight if it comes down to it.' He added, 'its what we do Seth, its our duty to protect the people.'

"I know, you told me, but I can't help but feel like I'm being selfish to depend on you and the pack to spare my life." I muttered, "it seems unfair to you guys."

'Do you care about him?'

The question was unexpected, and I couldn't find it in me to answer. I wasn't sure exactly. I knew that I was afraid of Emmett and what he was capable of, but a part of me felt pity for him in some way. None of it made sense, Jacob and Emmett were both horrible to me in the beginning, Emmett still, but I still had the urge to change them even if I chose to avoid them. I have in fact known Emmett longer than Jacob, but Jacob has shown a softer side to him before Emmett had ever did. I wasn't even sure if Emmett cared to an extent.

"No." I murmured, "I don't think I do."

'But you had to think about it.' He stated.

"Yeah." I stood up and dusted my pants off, "even though he's a complete asshole, I can't wish anything bad upon him."

'You're just like him.' I wasn't sure if I should feel insulted.

"Don't compare me to Emmett, I am nothing like him." I said defensively.

'Not him, Seth!' He growled. 'Seth always had a soft heart and even though I admired him for it, it always got him into trouble.'

"Well what do you want me to do? I can't just turn it off." I argued, "I never said that I missed the guy, I just hope it doesn't come down to fighting him in the end."

'Even if he does kill your father?'

"I didn't say that." I said annoyed, "if he had, of course I would avenge my father. It's just… I don't want there to be a fight because I was too weak to deal with it myself. I'm putting everyone in danger."

'I don't understand you.' He shook his head and walked back up the stairs.

Truth is, I don't understand myself too at times. I loathed Emmett Cullen for the reasons of him for not ever giving me a choice, he was so keen on making me suffer and become a vampire like him. The more I think of it too, Jacob was no different, he did in fact cut my side and fractured my ribs, and yet he still didn't apologize to me for it. I wasn't expecting an apology, but to be courteous, he should have at least said something.

There are times I wish I could just shut my mind off for a couple of hours, it just seems to get me in more trouble then I hoped. But it was impossible. I tend to overthink things, always analyzing the situation as if it was a new discovery. The more I thought, the more I angered myself. After shoving the last block into the furnace I went back upstairs to help Emily with dinner preparations.

At least Brady brought a smile to my face. It was amusing watching him in the kitchen as he dragged the sack of potatoes across the floor with his teeth. It wasn't much of a struggle for him, but he was determined to do it. Throughout the time of peeling potatoes, I would translate for Brady every time he mentioned that Emily was doing something wrong. At first Emily wouldn't mind the assistance, but I could see now that she was growing annoyed of the pup. But that hadn't stopped him from telling her what herbs to add to the steaks.

I was motionless the entire time, following the routine of handing the potatoes to Leah as she rinsed them before placing them into the pot. Collin remained at his post in the corner, curled up and looking up once and awhile to shake his head at his brother as Brady made his demands. I couldn't help but laugh when Brady hovered over the girls while they stirred the rest of the food.

Once dinner was ready, Collin called on the pack to let them know. We each came out with a dish in each hand while Brady and Collin licked their snouts and sat at their spots. They really were just pups, kids with big hearts.

As dinner passed and everyone returned their duties, I was surprised that Jacob had pulled me aside from the group. I wasn't sure where we were going, and I didn't argue as I followed him down the hallways and up the stairs where he usually vacated to get away from everyone. I found it strange too because Emily and Brady had mentioned that Jacob goes there to get away from everyone and no one was permitted to go there, but here I was, following him down the dark hallway. He pushed the heavy doors open to let me through; watching me as I walked passed him in curiosity. If no one were allowed in here, why'd he bring me here?

The room was dark and once again the mirror on the right far end wall was shattered. The sofas were still covered with dusty sheets, the moon shun onto the center table where broken glass sparkled. He lit the candle in middle of the coffee table as well as the one on the wall. As I looked around, I noticed the shredded curtains laid out by the window, a place I was sure that he had slept whenever he did.

'I come here to think.' He said in a baritone.

I hadn't said much but pulled off the sheet on one of the chairs right after dusting it off to sit down on. He went to his spot and looked out at the starry night, his eyes reflecting the moonlight as well as his fur shining perfectly in the night.

'Like you, I have had a lot of time to think.' He then looked at me, 'I keep my distance here because I know the pack can't hear my thoughts.'

"Do they frighten you?"

He scoffed, 'no, not really. But they are painful memories that I will never relive again. Memories I had wished time and time again to get back. My Seth.'

What could I say in this situation? I knew nothing about the Seth in the past, but whenever Jacob spoke about him, I felt as if I was beginning to know him. And that was with Jacob hardly speaking of him.

'My father was a well respected man, he was best friends with Harry Clearwater, Seth's father.' He explained. 'They were all part of the tribe's council, there decisions and orders were enforced without question. Those who were a part of the council were blessed with the leadership roles because they were born through it by blood. Seth and I would be the next in line along with Sam to take on roles once we stopped phasing. Any woman would be lucky to be chosen by one of us, at least that's what my father told me every day. I used to always think something was wrong with me.'

"Why?"

'In the beginning, I always looked at Seth as my best friend, we did everything together,' It was the first time I heard him chuckle, 'when we were younger, dad and Harry would bring us out fishing when the tribe's men would go to gather food for a day or two, and during one of our many trips, Seth was about ten, a two years younger than me, and he was always a good swimmer.'

I found myself smiling when he would talk.

'Anyways, I fell in when one of the canoes almost flipped. My father panicked and was about to jump in to save me, but Seth had beat him to it.' He actually had a wolfy grin, 'I swam like a log, but Seth was right by my side right away and began pulling me towards the canoes where my dad and one of the other men had pulled us in. That night, they held a celebration for Seth for saving me, and at the time, we hadn't thought of it as a big deal, but now that I had looked back on it, I still owe Seth my life.'

"Is that when your bond grew stronger?"

Jacob gave me a strange look, 'it did. Ever since then, we've become inseparable to the point my father pulled me aside and gave the talk about how wrong it was for a man to love another man, it was a curse according to him. At the time, I didn't know he directed the speech towards Seth and I, until I realized that I was beginning to have feelings for him. I found myself looking at Seth in ways that I shouldn't have been. I couldn't express these feelings towards him because I dreaded the thought of him hating me for it. We were all taught that it was wrong to love another man, so I kept my distance at time, especially when I was becoming a man. I was disgusted with myself whenever I would have sexual thoughts about him, and I was always worried that everyone would find out that I was falling in love with my best friend that was a boy.'

I don't think I could survive living the life of the past. They would banish me from the first moment they knew about me. How could they all live in a society of close-minded people? I mean, today was not much of a difference, but at least I wouldn't have to face humiliation.

'Then I phased.' His head drooped now, 'the moment I first phased had to be the worst moment of my life. My father knew it would happen because it was passed down through each generation, at that time, my father stopped phasing so I could take over, and I always wondered why my father hadn't aged much. So he was happy when he found that I phased and announced it to the tribe. Not long after me, Sam and Paul followed, then Jared and Leah. Everyone came to shock to find that Leah phased, and when Sam made the mistake when he imprinted on Emily and scarred her, she phased. So as our pack grew, I was pulled further away from Seth. I hardly saw him, probably once every full moon, and it saddened me that I couldn't go and see my best friend. Once we heard that Quil phased, Embry followed not long after. Harry explained that Seth was showing the signs of joining us soon, and I couldn't have been more happy to welcome him once it happened.'

"But you guys left two days after Embry phased? What happened?" I asked.

'The most horrible thing.' He almost sobbed, 'I discovered Seth would wander off on his own to the village near by, and I began to follow him to make sure he was safe without the pack knowing about my whereabouts. During my last follow, what I witnessed was something I wished I never had discovered. Seth didn't love me; he was in love with another man. I saw him kissing another man.'

"I'm sorry."

What more could I really say? I was speechless. I don't know how it feels to love someone that loves someone else, but I can imagine the pain endured through it. When Paul said that Jacob was willing to sacrifice his hand in marriage to Leah in order to be close to her brother, would it all have been worth it? I was beginning to loathe my ancestor, I didn't even know him, but he seemed selfish. I could be missing details, I didn't in fact know his side of the story, but right now the odds weren't in his favor. But could you really blame Seth either, Jacob hadn't told him anything, and the feeling of abandonment had to at least bothered Seth when Jacob was ordered to stay clear of him. It would feel like a stab to the heart knowing your best friend was avoiding you, and you never knew why.

Without speaking another word, I took another risk and went and sat next to the alpha, slowly extending my hand to rub his shoulder in order to comfort him. This time he hadn't pulled away, this time he leaned more into me for the touch. I could feel the sadness permeating the room from him; the emotions were heavy and heartbreaking. A love unspoken of, and to never be heard of again? It would be enough to make me live in regrets. I now pitied Jacob, and for once it wasn't because he was begging for it or anything, but because he deserved that acknowledgement of knowing that someone was here to listen to him.

We sat here for about a half an hour, and my heart was breaking to see a tear fall from the wolf's fur. This was the side everyone was telling me about, the side I was actually afraid that I might never see. But here Jacob was, hurt and looking for the comfort. I wasn't sure if he was putting his trust in me, and I wouldn't ask. I just continued to run my fingers through his thick fur as he practically purred from my touch.

Like a switch, he turned the emotions off and stood up. It almost felt like he was ignoring me when he reached up to blow the candle out that sat in the holder bolted to the wall. He then walked over to the one on the coffee table and did the same thing. We were sitting in the dark now, and the sound of a howl broke us out of thought.

'How would you like to see us hunt?' He asked as he sat in front of me.

"Wouldn't it be too cold to go out there?" I asked.

'The pack can keep you warm.' He shrugged, 'I could keep you warm.'

He sounded hesitant to make the proposal, almost shy as so it seemed.

'I just want to show you how we survive out here, it could come in handy one day.' There was no anger in his voice, just the softness of his questions.

"Umm… Okay," I muttered and stood up. "I guess I can give it a try."

'Good.' He stood up and held his hand out to me for me to grab. 'Let's go meet the pack.'

I kept thinking that this all had to be a dream now, Jacob was offering to teach me something, and with the pack too. I was reluctant and still sort of am, but I was curious to find out how they worked together to gather the food we ate every day.

As we made our way outside, the entire pack awaited Jacob, and became surprised to see me not far behind him as he dragged me hand in hand. Without questions, I was lifted onto Sam's back. I don't think he was too pleased about it, but Jacob told him to watch over me as we went out. I then understood to when he meant that the pack would keep me warm, sitting on Sam's back as we ran for the gate in the back, felt like I was sitting on a furnace. I almost felt like a burden as I clung onto Sam while he ran, once in awhile he would let out a growl, so I loosened my grip assuming that that was the reason for it.

It was truly a beautiful sight to see as I watched each wolf fly by us, each thought of each wolf sounded excited as they let out a couple howls. Brady briefly mentioned that they were alerting any other predators that this land was theirs to hunt on. I was smiling ear to ear as I watched each wolf maneuver through the trees. They were practically blurs next to us, and by the time we reached a herd of caribou, a rare catch for them, they were all excited to pounce, Brady and Collin staking their claims on the smaller ones.

I carefully slid off of Sam's back and knelt next to him in a haunch. The ground was covered with freezing snow, and I managed to keep my mouth shut from complaining about it. In a brief moment, each wolf pounced forward and disappeared into the snowy forests. The chill from the wind sent shivers throughout my body. It was hard to see any of the wolves now, and even though they were all pretty fast, didn't mean the caribou made it easier for them to catch.

All I could hear was the muffled growls from the wolves and the cries from the caribou in a distance. I hadn't realized that they were so far away, and I hadn't realized now that I was standing by myself in the small opening. The chill of the wind blew past me once again, snow swirled around as the wind picked up.

I wouldn't have worried if I had known the pack would return soon, but I hardly heard them, except for the wolf behind me. But I didn't recognize him, or it. It in fact was smaller than the rest, so I wondered if there was a pup they hadn't told me about. The wolf was black, dark as the nights just like Sam, and as he inched closer and closer, I noticed the two snow-white wolves behind it, blending perfectly into the snowy weather.

What was I to do? These wolves weren't exactly small either; they were bigger than the normal dog, and almost the size of a pony. I couldn't speak nor choke out a word to yell for Jacob or any of the other pack members. These wolfs were wild with one thing on their mind, to hunt. Why they chose me, I guess it was the fear now that I was sure they could smell off of me.

The more I moved back with each small step, the leader would snap his jaw. In my first reaction, I decided to run and try and catch up to the pack in hopes that at least one of them might show up. But it was a mistake, a big one in fact.

To my right, one of the white wolfs shoved me to the ground while the other snapped at my arm but only to miss it by a centimeter. I tumbled a couple feet in the snow, and in second the black wolf was on top of me as I pushed and shoved to get back on my feet, and if I hadn't kicked my knee up, the wolf would've had his teeth sunken into my neck. All I could see were the blurs of teeth snapping above me and hearing the snarls from both sides of me. The more I shoved and covered myself with both my arms, nothing seemed to work, it was pointless by then.

Then jaws clamped onto my left arm, blood was now draining down my sleeve as the other wolves pushed forward and began to nip at my sides. I was sure that I was a goner by then if it was for Jacob's shrilling roar. In a blink, Jacob had the largest white wolf in his grasp; his jaw gripped the wolf's neck before snapping and dropping the dead wolf and moving to the next.

It looked as if Jacob had no effort fighting the small pack, the second wolf's head was crushed without him trying, but the black wolf finally released me and attack Jacob. As I held my bloody arm close to me, I had realized that even though the wolf was half Jacob's size, he was still putting up a good fight. Speed seemed to be in the wolf's favor, and by the time the pack arrived, none of them interfered, none would help as they watched the black wolf dig his fangs into Jacob's neck.

Jacob let out a loud roar before slamming his fist into the smaller wolf's head. The black wolf fell back, shaking its head to regain his stance, only to be dragged by Jacob across the bloody snow. One of Jacob's arms was now wrapped around the wolf's midsection as he lifted the wolf in the air with one arm and slammed the wolf into the forest floor. I could hear an eerie crack of bones as the wolf hit the snow, and it didn't stop there. I hadn't seen something so vicious; Jacob was now puncturing his teeth into the other wolf's neck, tearing the wolf's esophagus out with it. It was gruesome to see Jacob tear the rest of the wolf apart, limb-by-limb.

I looked at him in shock as he stood there, each pack member with the same expression as me.

Without a thought said, or an order given, the alpha returned to where he came with each wolf following him. Sam was now back to my side as he knelt next to me. My arm still bleeding and my body becoming sore, I made the effort to climb back up. The pack went in the other direction while Sam and I made our way back to the mansion. I tried my best to keep my eyes open, but it was hopeless. My eyes closed before we returned.

I relived the nightmare in my dreams. The wolves attacking me once again, but this time Jacob wasn't there to save me. Emmett was. I don't know how he found me, and I panicked thinking that reality soon claimed me, and I would be returning with Emmett. But Jacob showed up. Both fighting of wolves as they came left and right, me helplessly lying on the ground as I watched both beings fight for my safety. I looked down at my arm to see the bite, but they looked like a human bite; a vampire bite.

And now above me, both Jacob and Emmett were battling it out as each dead wolf surrounded us. Each time Jacob would snap at Emmett, Emmett would deflect the attack with his fist connecting with the alpha's jaw. Every time Emmett tried to avoid Jacob's attacks, Jacob wasn't far behind. Each collided and clashed with each other.

I stood up with my best efforts as I watched them circle me in battle. I was beginning to worry that this war wouldn't end, and I was beginning to believe that I was fully the reason behind all of this. They were sworn enemies, each built to kill each other, but they were fighting side by side a moment ago, but now they were trying to kill each other, and I'm sure it was for me.

"STOP!"

With one last glance, my breath hitched as I witnessed Emmett hold Jacob's head in his arms, twisting as Jacob's neck snapped.

I jumped up. Sweat dripped down my face. I winced as soon as I realized that my arm was bandaged, the blood seeped through the white cloth. Emily raced to my side and began patting my head with a cool cloth. Leah was here too, she remained in her spot as she watched us from her chair.

"Are you okay Seth?" Emily asked.

"Where am I? What happened?" I panted.

"Back at the castle." Leah stood up and sat next to me. "We were attacked by a rogue pack."

"But how?" I muttered.

"They were here to challenge Jacob." Emily said softly, dipping the cloth into the bowl next to the bed. "They were alpha's on the hunt, and they saw the opportunity once Jacob showed up."

"Were they shape shifters too?" I took a drink of water that Leah handed me.

"No." Leah replied, "it's in a wolf's nature to look for a pack, rarely they become lone wolves. Especially alphas. If they're pack banishes them, they look out to seek and take over another wolf's pack by challenging the alpha, laws of nature I guess."

"But you're shape shifters."

"But we're still a pack." Leah stated obviously. "But it's besides the point, usually they only attack the alpha's mate to draw him in, which is why we wondered why they attacked you first."

"Jake believes that they only saw you as a kill, their next meal per se." Emily added. "But when they saw his pack, the largest of them saw it as a challenge."

"Is Jacob okay? I haven't seen something so gruesome as what he did." I recalled.

"Yeah he's fine." Leah answered, "he assembled the rest to re-enforce patrols."

"For more wolves?" I asked puzzled.

They both gave each other a look that I couldn't understand. As if they were worried at some point. Was there more packs bringing a threat, or was it something beyond that? But what could it be?

"No," Leah continued, "you see Seth…" She paused for a moment, "… when you were attacked, you bled all over the field."

"But it wasn't just my blood, and I'm okay now." I said quickly, not really sure why I was already trying to defend myself.

"That's not the point Seth." She interrupted, "when you left and when the pack was about to return with our kills, we picked up a scent that we hadn't picked up since we arrived here."

"What?"

"Vampire." She sighed, I didn't understand, and I think they both knew. "Jake thinks it could be the man that's looking for you."

"How does he presume that?" I asked.

"Because it smells just like the forests back home, like the same vampires that fed off of animals." She stated.

"Emmett?"

The vampire came back to a lost cause, people he hadn't recognized, and the villages that had grown over the years. What was here, was now lost with the past that he had left behind. The vampire's journey here was at a dead end. He had nowhere to go, and no one that remained in his memories vacated this area.

To find a purpose, the vampire departed once again to find a life beyond here, in hopes that this wasn't the end of his existence.

Of course he hadn't heard of the stories of a boy gone missing here, nor the fact that the forest he was now entering was the same forest the boy disappeared in. That hadn't stopped the vampire from going through though, his suspicion wasn't there. The vampire's journey required him to pass through here, but little did he know, that he too was now beginning to travel across the invisible plain that separated him from the world outside.

As the vampire treaded through the snow on the gloomy night, he picked up a scent he never though he would find out here. Blood. Human blood. It's been months since he had fed off of a human and he was beginning to readjust to the diet, but it was something about this human's blood that had caught his attention. It was familiar to him in some sort of way. That he knew.

Like a trigger, he headed towards the scent. Like a shark in the ocean, he was following the tantalizing smell of a human that he wasn't sure he could resist.

That was until the vampire came face to face with a werewolf.

A/N: I'm not going to answer the question to how the vampire was able to find the place because you will find out eventually; you're going to just have to continue to read. But any other ones, I will try my best to reply to everyone's.

There is still time to vote on my poll if you haven't yet. I am grateful that I had a lot of votes so far, and all positive I might add, I just want to make sure that all the readers are able to vote. I will be posting info as well as the first chapter of it later on tonight just to give you an idea.

Much Love,

TurnItUp03