So sorry for the delay! I've had an extremely busy few months, but am finally getting the final chapters posted over here! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 11

A loud snarl followed by the snapping of teeth came from the west. Alice and I whipped our heads to face that direction as the snarl turned into a high-pitched yelp followed by Esme's scream. "NO!"

A second later we were out the front door and running toward the sound, just behind Edward and Carlisle. Esme was clutching her heaving chest as she stared at the trees in front of her. Carlisle stopped for an instant, and then ran toward the sound of whimpering far into the forest, Rosalie following close behind.

Edward froze a few feet from the trees, holding his arm out to stop me as well. Directly in front of us were six wolves and Sam, all standing in a circle staring toward the ground. They seemed to be focused on some invisible power, each of them howling at random intervals. I looked to my left to see Emmett and Jasper involved in some sort of playful banter, wrestling harmlessly on the ground. Esme was no longer screaming, but was sitting on the ground a few yards from Emmett and Jasper, giggling as she watched their fight. Alice had bolted to a fallen tree about twenty feet in front of us and was standing just in front of the stump, calmly watching the wolves' strange behavior.

Edward and I both stood in horror as we watched those around us – literally – lose their minds. I gripped his arm and looked up at his face, his eyes not leaving the trees just beyond Alice. "What is happening?"

"She hasn't taken me yet." Edward's whispered words left me completely confused. What does he mean, 'She hasn't taken me yet'? It took me a moment to remember – realization quickly turning my confusion to terror as I thought back to our conversation with the family while on Isle Esme.

'Bella, she is what we call a 'Pusher'... She can push a thought into someone's head as though it were their own... With this ability, she can convince someone to do nearly anything.'

I gasped loudly as Edward pushed me slightly behind him. I looked toward the trees and saw a figure emerge just to the right of my possessed sister.

The figure was a woman, about five feet ten inches tall. She was beyond stunning, her sharp features highlighted by the moonlight. Her eyes were a chilling crimson and seemed to pierce right through me when they met mine.

She wore the familiar gray robe open, revealing a tight black blouse and jeans accentuating her extremely slender figure. Her golden blonde hair flowed in loose curls over her shoulders, swaying lightly with the breeze.

"Hello." She smiled sweetly as she greeted us. Her voice was friendly but I was weary of the sound, her slight German accent adding a shadow of fierceness to her tone. Her full scarlet pout turned into a wide grin as she addressed me. "Bella, I'm so glad to see you've held up your side of the agreement. I did not want to send Aro disappointing news yet again."

I nodded, unsure of my voice in that moment.

"I'm so sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Gabriele. I am the newest member of the Volturi, sent by Aro to make sure you had fulfilled your promise." She paused for a moment, her eyes dropping to Edward's protective hand wrapped around the front of my body, shielding me from her and tightening with every word she spoke.

"Edward, there is no need for alarm. I mean no harm to your coven."

Edward scoffed at her remark, tilting his head toward Esme and his brothers. "If you mean no harm to my family, then why not release them? We have done what was asked of us. We have nothing more to prove."

Gabriele seemed to consider Edward's comments before turning her attention to the wolves, still huddled in a circle to her right.

"Yes, you are right, but it seems there is another situation here that I was not aware of. I would be happy to help you be rid of these creatures if you need assistance."

I tensed as she slowly moved around the circle, stopping at the large, russet wolf. No.

"Don't look," Edward whispered as he tried to push me backward. I held my ground, not taking my eyes off my best friend. Jacob raised his head to meet Gabriele's intense gaze, slowly moving out of the circle and toward her. He finally stopped, yelping loudly as he started running in a circle around the rest of his pack, whimpering the entire way.

"What are you doing to him?" My scream was louder than I had intended and caused Gabriele to falter for a moment. Jake halted to a stop, his eyes wide with fear.

"What do you mean, Bella? Surely you don't wish to protect this enemy of ours." Her eyes moved back to Jacob as she took a step toward him. She met Jacob's eyes, his body locked in place as he watched her. The smaller, sandy colored wolf turned away from the circle to face Jacob, his lips curled back to reveal his teeth. I heard a growl erupt from Seth's chest as he lowered the front of his body, preparing to attack.

"NO!" I lunged forward, but was stopped by Edward's arms catching me at the waist. He pulled me to his chest, struggling to keep his tight hold on me as I screamed.

I felt as though I was swirling into a pit of black disparity as I watched Seth take a swipe at Jacob, his enormous claw catching Jake's side and causing him to fall to the ground.

My scream intensified as I crumpled, folding over Edward's arms as he supported my entire weight. I lifted my head to see Jacob laying on the ground, writhing in pain - a pain caused by his association with me. I couldn't stand to watch my best friend hurt again because of the choices I made.

I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a loud grunt as I tried to break free from Edward's hold, pushing with all of my strength toward Jacob. As I exhaled, I felt a shudder run through my body and then release from me. I opened my eyes again - unsure of what I had just felt - to see a strange bubble wrapping around Jacob. It looked like a shimmering force field hugging tightly around his body. Jake whipped his head around to face me, his eyes filled with fear and pain as he tried to stand. He whimpered loudly, pulling himself to his feet as he backed away from a still snarling Seth.

Gabriele turned to face us when she realized Jacob was no longer under her hold. "Edward! You did not tell me of Bella's abilities. A shield, that is quite impressive!"

I turned to look at Edward, his face a mask of calm as he responded. "You arrived at quite an inopportune time. We have not yet had time to test the full capacity of Bella's gift." Edward looked down to meet my confused face, his eyes intense as he waited for his words to register.

Gift? I looked back at Jacob, realizing the shudder I had felt leave me was the force - shield - protecting him.

"Maybe I can help with that." Gabriele's face formed into a half smile as she turned back to Seth. He took a step toward Jacob, his lips pulling back even more as he crouched down.

"Your shield, Bella!" Edward released his hold on me, giving me full control of my body as I screamed again.

I focused on Seth, trying to remember what I had done to protect Jake only a moment ago. I clenched my jaw and stiffened my entire body as I stared at the wolf, foam now forming in the corners of his mouth. He did not break from the hold Gabriele had on him, but took another step toward Jake instead. My mind desperately searched for the key that would unlock my control over this shield.

I tightened my fists, grunting as I tried to push out an invisible power that I couldn't seem to find. My entire body began trembling under the pressure, but no force left me.

I let out the breath that I had been holding in frustration - containing all of my need to protect my best friend - and again felt the shudder run through me. I watched as the force moved slowly through the air, finally reaching Seth and wrapping its way around his form. He relaxed his stance, his eyes bulging as he regained his control and saw what he had done to Jake.

Seth howled loudly as Gabriele turned her focus on me, her almond shaped eyes boring into me and her voice filled with irritation. "Well, it seems that the gift is stronger than I expected. Would you like to see how far we can take this?"

"No, please!" My words came out as only a breath and sounded as though I had been crying for hours.

"Oh Bella, have some fun!" She didn't take her eyes off me as her control shifted to the next member of the pack.

Sam laughed loudly as he turned and took a step toward Alice, his face formed into an evil smile.

My eyes slammed shut as I focused on my power, pulling all of my need and anger to the forefront of my mind as I let out another breath of air, a small scream escaping my lips with it. I felt the shudder I had been hoping for, and opened my eyes to see the shield now enveloping the entire pack, as well as Alice who was at Jake's side.

I heard Edward gasp from behind me, but my eyes were locked on Gabriele as she moved her eyes to each of the wolves, squinting intensely as she tried to control their minds.

A growl erupted in her chest as she took a step toward Jake, who was now lying on the ground a few feet from her.

My eyes widened as I watched her lean down and take his leg into her hand. She snapped it with the flick of her wrist, sending Jacob into an ear-shattering scream as he writhed under her grip.

The next moments happened almost too quickly for me to comprehend. I watched the small gray wolf I knew to be Leah spring at Gabriele, their bodies tangling together as they fought. I heard a loud yelp and saw Leah fall to the ground next to Jake.

"Bella! NO!" Edward's warning was completely lost on me as I lunged forward, landing square on Gabriele's back. Alice pulled Leah's limp body out of her reach as she tried to wrestle free from my hold, my newborn strength helping me keep her pinned to the ground.

Emmett and Jasper appeared next to me and grabbed each of Gabriele's arms just as Rosalie emerged from the forest to help them contain the flailing vampire. I climbed off her back as they lifted her to a standing position, revealing the damage Leah had done. One of her ears was laying on the ground next to her, the flesh on the side of her face torn and hanging limply down her neck. The sound of howling surrounded me, but all of my attention was focused on making certain everyone was protected from our attacker.

I felt Edward's hand pull at my shoulder, urging me backward and away from Gabriele. "Bella, you need to move. Now." His voice was urgent, and did not leave me room to argue. I straightened, maintaining a tight hold on my unsteady shield, and turned toward the trees where I heard footsteps approaching. A moment later Carlisle emerged from the forest carrying a human Jared - his arm severely wounded and wrapped in Carlisle's shirt.

He froze a few feet from me, staring in Alice's direction with wide eyes. Edward let out a heartbreaking sigh and whispered, "yes," the simple word causing Carlisle to fall to his knees – still cradling an unconscious Jared in his arms.

I turned to match his gaze and saw Leah lying motionless on the muddy ground, still in her wolf form. I could hear loud snaps and snarls coming from behind me, but was unable to take my eyes off the sickening sight before me. I felt a tearless sob rise in my throat as I realized there was one less heartbeat than there had been before Gabriele arrived. One less heartbeat than I had heard only moments before I was able to subdue her.