Chapter Nine

I couldn't help the unease in my heart about the fight, it was happening and while we had a play by play with Seth and Liam, it still made me uneasy. My Pack, my brothers were out there fighting an army of newborn vampires for a girl who wanted nothing to do with the girl that sat on the log across from me looking bored and exasperated. Part of me wanted to shake her shoulders and ask what is wrong with her. But the other part of me knew it wouldn't do any good, she was entirely stubborn like that.

Seth was lying down with his ears perked listening to the occasional sounds of the battle, Edward was murmuring to Bella, no doubt relaying the battle to her. Liam was searching the woods for any stragglers, I was staring at the sky, looking at the bright cloudless, endlessness of blue. It was so sudden and swift that I felt a sense of dread hit me. Like someone hit dumped a bucket of ice cold water over my head there was a howl of anguish and I saw Seth look at me and whine. Something had happened to Jake.

My heartbeat picked up and I grew anxious. I wanted to be there where he was, I wanted to take care of him. Seth growled menacingly and I flinched and followed his gaze, apparently the plan to remain oblivious and out of the fight didn't go according to plan all that entire well. We were found out.

Newborn vampires had an even sinister air about them than normal vampires did. Their eyes were bright blood red and wild. There were two, a boy maybe a year or two older than I was, he had brown hair and was standing at about 5' 11". He wore a maroon shirt beneath a grey over shirt and dark washed jeans. His feet had loafers adorning them, all his clothes were torn with wear and tear and dirty. Beside him was the red-head from before. Her hair was wild and curly; there were leaves and twigs in it. Her face was kind and sweet, but I knew better. She wore a green tube top and jeans, she had this large fur thing over her shoulders, and she was barefoot unlike her companion, her eyes were fixated on Bella and me.

She had a slow sardonic smile when gazing at us, Liam immediately put himself between her and I, and Seth flanked his left side.

"See Riley just as I told you, here they are safely tucked away,"

The red-head's voice was certainly not what I expected, high pitched like a pubescent teenager. With that, Edward flanked Liam's right side.

"You shouldn't be here Riley, she's lying to you," Edward said casually.

They fact that he could read minds was unsettling and didn't sit well with me. Riley looked at the red head baffled.

"I told you they'd have powers and try to tear us apart," the red-head said convincingly.

"She doesn't love you, she has only ever loved James, and she's using you as a shield."

Riley, the boy, seemed utterly baffled, but he seemed at war with his own nature as well. From what I gathered of the situation, James and the red-head were mates and when James focused himself of Bella two years ago Edward had to kill him, so this whole fiasco was because of Bella. The red-head was here to enact revenge on Bella, killing a mate for a mate. Edward was continuing to try and confuse Riley but he wasn't having any of it and when Riley leapt up to attack, Seth was right there to catch him in the air, meanwhile Edward was preoccupied with the red-head.

I tried to keep my eyes on both the vampires and Liam tried to make sure to steer us away from them. It looked like both of them were losing when Bella decided to pick up a rock and cut her hand with it, getting the attention of everyone. Seth took this opportunity to tear Riley limb from limb and Liam quickly set him aflame. Edward wasn't too far behind tearing the red-head to pieces. Her pieces lighting aflame with Liam's gift. Edward quickly tended to Bella's hand wound and meanwhile I was itching to be anywhere but here. Liam caught my gaze and nodded slightly.

"I'll pack up your things, Seth take her Jake."

Seth nodded and I climbed atop his back, before Bella had time to protest or anything Seth set off. I had ridden Jake a time or too and nothing could compare to the rush of wind in your hair when they ran. But I couldn't enjoy the ride, I was too worried. We were at Billy's house when I noticed all the people. Paul, Embry, Quill and the other Pack members were there and all of their faces were etched with worry. Sam came out of the house as we pulled up and I slid of Seth.

"He's stuck in his wolf form in the barn, but he won't transform into his human forms. Carlisle is on his way, he's going to help, but we need him in human form or he won't heal right," Sam said quietly.

I swallowed hard. Jake was hurt, and badly it seemed.

"What happened?" I asked quietly.

"A leech was going after Leah and Jake pushed her out of the way, and the vamp got him on his side, crushed most of the bones on that side of the body. He's healing but not correctly." Xavier murmured.

I winced and closed my eyes at the visual. I nodded and Xavier brought me to the barn, Jake was lying on his good side, and was whining and whimpering in pain. I broke my heart. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail with a scrunchie I had on my wrist. I walked up to Jake and gently touched his muzzle, he leaned into my touch. I sat on my legs and he dragged his body up to my body and laid his gigantic head on my lap. I smooth the fur from his eyes and down his muzzle, hoping it caused some comfort.

"You've got to shift back, it'll hurt but you'll heal properly…" I whispered.

He whined but he did shift, biting his lip until it bled to prevent from screaming out. I grabbed a blanket that was nearby and draped it over him.

"Dr. Cullen is on his way, he'll help you," I murmured running my fingers through his hair.

I saw Jake trying to protest.

"He's coming whether you like it or not, and I'd like you to remain healthy and in all in one piece, so…suck it up."

I could see him grin but he quickly turned into a grimace. Sure enough not a minute or two later the pale blonde hair of Dr. Cullen was at the door and he quickly went to work, I moved to get out of the way, but Jake's good hand grabbed mine and I stayed where I was. Dr. Cullen's face was grim.

"I can try giving you morphine but you'll likely burn it up before it hits your system, I'll need to re-break the bones to set them properly." Carlisle said quietly.

"Do it…" Jake gritted.

Jake ground his teeth as one by one his bones were broken again to set correctly. By the time Dr. Cullen was finished Jake's body was in a cold sweat from the pain.

"There's no internal bleeding from what I can see, and you are already healing. I don't advise any movement for at least two or three days side from using the bathroom. And no shifting for at least a week and a half, go lite on the food for a while, your body may not be able to tolerate heavier foods." Dr. Cullen instructed.

"Thanks doc," Jake mumbled.

Dr. Cullen smiled.

"You should be able to move him into his bed in a hour or so." Dr. Cullen said to me.

I nodded. We thanked Dr. Cullen and he left, leaving Jake and I alone. I continued to run my hands through his hair, and he physically relaxed.

"You have no idea how good that feel s right now," Jake mumbled.

I giggled.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again…"I said seriously.

Jake squeezed my hand.

"Don't plan on it,"

I smiled and just enjoyed my time with him on my lap. I enjoyed the time we had.

True to his word Jake was able to hobble to his room after an hour careful not to do anymore extensive damage to his bones, many of visitors left, leaving me and Jake alone in the house, Billy was with Charlie still fishing he'd likely be away the next couple of days at the two rented a cabin. Sam had already called Billy and let him know what happened. Jake and I spent most of the night cuddling and I made his favorite foods to the best of my abilities. We watched corny movies and bad romance videos, and watched action movies of his that are some of his favorite. It was two or three days before we had any sort of visitor. Needless to say we were both surprised when we heard a knock on the door, Jake moved to go get it, but I shook my head and gently pushed him back to his spot on the couch. Although he was a lot more mobile than a few days ago he was still very much not supposed to be moving.

The person at the door was getting impatient and kept repeatedly knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell. I opened the door to reveal a very irritated looking Bella.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

She looked me up and down and took in my appearance. I was wearing some sweats and long sleeved sweater, my curly hair wrestled into a messy bun.

"What are YOU doing here?" She demanded.

"I'm helping out here," I responded folding my arms across my chest.

"Where Jake?" She said snippily.

"He's resting, and shouldn't be bothered. I'm sure Dr. Cullen advised he shouldn't have visitors for a week or so."

She snorted and pushed me aside marching into the home like she owned the place. I stumbled and barely caught myself before I fell head first into the wall. I followed Bella as she took apart the house looking for Jake. She smiled brightly like a innocent little girl when she saw him on the couch.

"What are you doing here?" Jacob asked warily.

"I came to visit and make sure you were doing ok! Aren't you happy to see me?" She asked.

Jake sighed and winced slightly sitting down on the couch. She rushed over to him hovering over him like a mother hen.

"Are you ok? Do you need anything? Can I do anything for you?" She asked.

Jacob moved away from her and pushed her at arms lengths.

"Leave me alone," He mumbled.

"Now Jake you can't mean that," she said her face faltering.

Jake eyed her and sighed.

"Being friend's is fine, but this…this isn't. We're not together, and we never will be Bella. YOU made that choice." Jacob stated.

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

Jake sighed, she was making him angry, and that wasn't good for him, he shouldn't shift.

"What I mean is you want more than I am willing to give. You may want me to be your personal sun, but you can't have the best of both worlds Bella. YOU made that choice when YOU decided to leave. I made my choice and went down a different path and I ended up with something better."

She looked confused, but her eyes grew hard when he held a hand for me and sat me on his good leg and wrapped his arms around me.

"I got my imprint Bella, you've known that, you can't force things."

She scoffed.

"You're only with her because you think you have to. Haven't you tried fighting the imprint?" Bella asked angrily.

"I did, and look where it landed me with you, you STILL left. You STILL choice him over me. It worked out better this way, you got what you wanted." Jacob responded.

She tried to open her mouth and argue, but Jacob held up his hand and he silenced her.

"You can't have a foot in both worlds with two guys Bella. It doesn't work that way."

Bella didn't realize that she had lost and her face was contorted in anger…