Sealed With A Kiss

Ch. 11

B.P.O.V.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I own nothing pertaining to THE TWILIGHT SAGA. Stephenie Myer owns all recognizable characters. I only own the idea of S.W.A.K. And Francesca.

This was an awful dream, Jacob was alone and crying on the cliff top, where the boys I loved so much would leap in an effort to show who was strongest. I had let the Volturri take me away, change me, like in the dream I'd had not so long ago. I had come face to face with Jacob, a mere centimeter from him, I could feel his hot breath on my icy skin. The plan was to kill him, "Just one bite..." Jane hissed at me before I jumped to the top of the cliff. I had already allowed him to attempt to destroy me. Jane had made sure I was able to recover. I has virtually indestructible with my other talents under my belt. His onyx eyes were filled with sadness, I longed to touch his sinewy arms, to be comforted by Jake one last time. We had lost everything for these despicable beings that shouldn't exist. Locking my mind with his, I allowed for him to see that I still loved him, that I always would. I was allowing him to destroy me, if he destroyed me, they would have no way to dominate anyone. He lit the match in his pocket, and I let the flames engulf me. With the flames licking at my marble skin, my life flashed before my eyes. Memories from a childhood I had tried desperately to forget began to flood my tear filled eyes. It was a time I had locked deep down in my psyche, a time that was the key to this whole fiasco. A time that until now, I thought was a terrible and horrifying nightmare.

Bouncing around from small towns to large metropolises, never finding whatever it was we were looking for. It always felt wrong somehow. My mom would do odd jobs at weird hours and when the people started to get too close, we would pack up our rickety car and move to the next place. We spent the better part of five years traveling down the west coast, finally settling in Arizona. At the age of ten, my mother met a man, she said he was the love of her life. Phil, would bring her flowers and me a stuffed animal or something of that nature. He would sprint up the three flights of stairs to our apartment, and joke that no other man could flit up to this apartment the way he could. After my twelfth birthday, mom would spend increasing amounts of time with Phil. Sometimes she would have us stay at his place, or he would stay with us. On the nights where he would stay with us, they would sometimes go out later after I fell asleep to get coffee, or go for a walk.

On one night in particular, I woke to the sound of glass breaking. Getting up, I tried to turn on the bedside table lamp, nothing. The same happened with the light switch, I called for my mother and Phil, there was no answer. The phone was in the living room, and I had to get to it. As I made my way, quietly, into the sparse room, I noticed the glass strewn about the floor, and the vertical blinds swaying. The phone rested on the side table next to our sofa. I picked it up and dialed Phil's cell phone number. He had just bought the phone and said in case of an emergency, I should call him. He picked up on the third ring.

"Bella? Are you alright honey?" Phil sounded worried, and there was a rustling in the background. Was he running?

"Uh, I heard a noise, so I came to get the phone, the glass from the sliding door is all over the floor. I can't see anything else, except... Oh, my..." I was whispering, but when I seen them through the swaying blinds, I could no longer speak.

"Bella, what? You see what? Tell me please? I'm almost there, your mother too. Bella, try to get into the bedroom and lock the door." He was yelling now, and I could hear him running.

"Phil... They're red..." Was all I could say as I backed away from the point in front of the patio doors. The backs of my knees hit the couch cushion, and I fell to the floor.

"Bella! Are you there? Bella!" Phil's voice screeched through the cordless receiver lying next to me.

The eyes I'd seen while on the phone with Phil were blood red, intensely, scarily red. They got closer with the passing moments. The phone now had a dial tone and still, I sat in a heep on the floor in front of the thread bare couch. I didn't try to scramble away, or even scream, I let him advance and scoop me up. His arms were icy, and I shivered as the goosebumps rose on my ever increasingly cold flesh. My throat grew dry and I had no way of screaming for help now.

"How handsomely I'll be rewarded for your recovery, and you how easily you have come with me. It's OK Bella, you will have a better life where I am taking you, you'll be part of something... Bigger." His voice was a velvety comforting sound. His boots crunched on the glass just inside of the doors before sweeping past the vertical blinds, he leapt onto the ledge of the patio, and then stepped off.

It was shocking, the lack of concern in his rigid features, and as if I couldn't be any more shocked, he landed on his feet, and instantly began to run. The wind whipped around my face and I couldn't breath. I was glad for it, I wanted to stop breathing. I wanted to die now. This man, or whatever he was, would be my death, I could feel it deep inside of me, he would be the death of me. The faster he got, the harder it was for me to hold my breath. Feeling the edges of my sight and mind begin to go blank, he started to slow.

"Don't you dare try to leave this existence. We need you. My car is just around the corner, hang on until then." He was angry. And turned my face toward his chest.

His scent was nauseating, my sinuses tingled, almost burned. The bile rose in my throat and I retched onto his shirt. He dropped me instantly, and the ground rushed up to meet my backside.

"I can't believe you just did that! How dare you! What is it with you Bella? Is there no end to your enraging acts? Stop your screaming! Just stop!" He was mere inches away from my face now, crimson eyes boring into my own brown ones. The screams escaping my lips were from the agony I felt in my tailbone. There was a pop when I met the concrete. He didn't care, he just wanted to take me somewhere and kill me. His teeth glistened in the dim light of the street lamp, washing his sickly sweet breath onto my face as he screamed at me again. "Stop it! Shut up!"

My face was attacked by his massive, hard hand. The shock of cold was as vile to me as his stench. Again I couldn't breath, his hand was pressed firmly into my face covering both my mouth and my nose. No struggling from me, I just lay there, with his stone hand pressed into my face and allowed the black to take over completely this time. In the distance just before I lost consciousness, I could hear my mother and Phil screaming for James to get away from me. Just before my vision was lost all together, I seen the blurring figure of my mom, and then she was an animal, a graceful black panther, swiping her fierce clawed paw and James' face, knocking him away from my body. I took one last deep breath before the darkness claimed me.

After that night I was never the same. The dynamic was never the same between the three of us, I was always the odd man out, the third wheel if you will. The comforting thought of family and finally being able to stick in one place was quickly fleeting. It was just mom and Phil now, and I was the fragile little thing they had to protect all of the time. When I had begun to question that night they said I had scarlet fever, strep throat gone awry, that I was feverish and had began to get delirious, I had hallucinated the whole bit. I didn't quite buy it, but to keep the peace I let the subject go, even after we somehow had to move right after the scarlet fever. We fell into a pattern, mom went to school, Phil to practice and games and I went to school and cooked meals. I was never alone after that night however. Mom only went to school during the day time when I was in school, and even then, I wasn't alone, her friends were teachers in the school. Even this I pushed aside, bought into the massive cover up, and for what? So it could all come back and bite me in the end? Seriously, it really had, and as I started to regain consciousness from this last fainting spell, I knew I'd been lied to my whole life. This whole situation with Phil and my mom was a set up, they knew the whole time what was going on, and not once tried to intervene other than the night James had nearly escaped with me. How many other people knew of my existence? It made me question everything now. How much did the Cullen's know about me prior to my moving here. Maybe this rainy town wasn't as blind to the supernatural as I thought it was. Just as fast as the memory came on, it was replaced by the sense of comfort and images of Jacob flooded my mind. I couldn't help but long for him, and the life I knew I desperately wanted. Every fiber of my being depended upon Jacob Black being by side now.

My need to have Jacob near me, brought me back to reality. I could feel consciousness coming in the form of the scents of bacon, toast, and fresh sliced tomato wafting into my nostrils. I could hear the coffee pot finishing its brewing cycle, spitting and sputtering the last drops of heated water into the filter, then trickling into the carafe. My eyes felt like sand had been thrown in them, yet I still attempted to open them, something told me it was imperative that I wake up. The pounding in the front of my cranium was more distinct when the sunlight hit my eyes. I blinked some more, willing the blurry image of a man to become clear.

"Oh, my goodness! What the heck happened to me?" I sounded like I had laryngitis. I stretched, and felt the stiffness in my body. It was nearing painful when I stopped. Feet were shuffling across the wooden floor, and the hulking figure of the love of my life stood before me.

"Bells! Oh thank God! How are you feeling? Hey! Em! Give me that glass of water and the bottle of pain reliever please?" He motioned toward the kitchen and chairs began to squeal against linoleum. People were dashing around and mermering. "God Bells! You scared me to death, I thought you weren't ever coming back to me." Jacob scooped me into his arms and held me to his heated body.

"Oh, Jake, I know, that's all I kept thinking about. It was awful, I tried to get back to you as soon I could." Even though he had me mashed into him, I hugged him back, and he eased his grip on me.

"I'm sorry baby, I just, I missed you while you were sleeping. It's been three days, I was so worried." Jake's stare was intense, but I was, yet again, in shock.

"Wait, three days? Three days? You have got to be kidding me! What about school, and work, oh no Jake, that bonfire?" I was exasperated. I could not believe that it had been three days. Life did happen outside of being a skin walker and the oracle of the Quileute tribe. Embry had brought the water and bottle of pills. He sat on the coffee table in front of the couch. Quil and Seth followed suit, and took their places on the floor and arm chair catty corner from me.

"Thats what you're worried about? Work and school and some stupid bonfire to prove myself to your stalker? You torched two leeches, one of which you loved at one point. Then you turn into your long lost aunt, the other leech, not to mention you... You, linked your mind with me, and I was front row for the vision you had. We can change the outcome you know, we have to..." His sentence trailed, I knew what he meant. We had felt the same things, suffered the same pain while linked. At some point I must have let him go, and that's when I found the memories I had stuffed down so long ago. I needed to tell him, and right away.

I took a few more drinks of the water after swallowing the pills, the cool water felt incredible sliding down my scorching esophagus. I felt like I had been in the desert for days. Although, with my new found body temperature, I'm sure it was very similar after being passed out for three days. I couldn't help but wonder about what I'd missed out on. Placing the glass onto the table next to Embry, I sat back into the couch, sitting up now.

"Jake, did we loose the connection after the vision or did you see more?" I met his eyes, and I knew, he'd seen it all. I never lost connection with him he'd seen the whole memory. I was glad I didn't have to tell him the story, he could relay the information in wolf form too. "You seen it, you seen the memory." I was leaning toward him now, looking into his ebony eyes, my own filling with tears.

"Yeah, I seen it, I told the pack too. That was yesterday. We've had to figure out new patrolling schedules what with all of the new wolves. You see Seth is here, he phased right after our link was lost. Leah went this morning. You'll be upset at all the new information that we've accumulated. It's a lot for such a small amount of time. Bells, it's bad, real bad. Your mom Bells, she and her husband, they aren't who we thought they were, but you already knew that." His head was down now. He looked sad to deliver such news to me.

"I know Jake, I've always known. You don't have to feel like you've betrayed me. It was her and Phil, not you. You seen how it played out. I was fed a line and I took it. They were trying to protect me, as best they knew how. It was a joint effort. I just wish that my dad had known something, he wouldn't have let us leave if he'd known." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "It's good to see you guys. I couldn't imagine doing any of this with out any of you guys. I know I don't really know you very well, but I feel so in tune with you. Like we've always known each other. Thank you for being here when I woke up." I smiled at the three burly guys, they smiled back.

"You'd think you were our sister or something Bella, but you're welcome." Quil laughed.

"Well, she is my cousin. So it makes sense that she'd love me already." Seth beamed at me with pride.

"I was the first one she linked minds with, so we already know each other, just a little, you know, nevermind..." Embry looked away when Jake let a low grumble escape him.

"Chill out Jacob, I'm yours for eternity, you can share me sometimes you know. I'm just glad they were here and not my mom. I'm so angry and hurt about the lies. Where is she anyway?" I turned to him, awaiting an answer.

"I really wish you hadn't asked that. You are not going to like what I have to say. You might even lose it again, turn into someone or something. Can you just go get cleaned up or something? We can talk later after you feel better. I know you feel funky, I felt funky after I woke too. Please?" He was begging me, and I felt it necessary to oblige.

"OK, but when I'm done, I want answers, honest to goodness answers. Don't try to keep things from me. Please?" I jabbed a finger into his chest muscle. He reached up and took my finger, intertwining his fingers with mine.

"I promise, I won't, not ever. I'll tell you everything. Anything you want to know." He took my other hand in his own, and stood up, extending my arms.

The three wolf boys rose as well and headed toward the door. I never heard the door open or shut, but I knew they had gone. Using Jacob as my crutch, I pulled on his arms and rose to my feet. It was painful, I was so stiff. Standing for a minute or two, I let my weight fall onto my own legs instead of Jacob's helpful arms. In silence, he pushed me when I needed to be and I relied on him when I needed to, eventually making it to the bathroom. He opened the door and waited for me to enter.

"I'll let you take it from here. Your clothes are in my room on the bed, and I trust that if you need me, you will call me. I have awesome wolf hearing, so I will hear you if you whisper. Have a good shower." He kissed me lightly on my lips and went to the front door, opening it and flashing me a killer smile before shutting it behind him.

Still stiff in places, I moved slowly about the tiny bathroom. Before undressing, I turned on the water so it could warm up. I wasn't in my school clothes from Tuesday, so my mom must have changed my tattered clothes after I passed out. It was of course, sweats and a t-shirt. Pealing them off of my sweaty skin was a chore, my back ached so much I almost cried. It must have been worse than I led myself to believe, the changing. I don't remember changing into my aunt Tanya, just that I was brushing my teeth, and when I looked into the mirror, her face stared back at me. Pushing the thoughts aside, I reached a hand inside the shower to test the water. It was perfect, and without any further hesitation, I got into the tub. The hot water soothed my aching body and relaxed the tension I hadn't realized I had.

After cleaning off the three day old dirt, putting on the fresh clothes, and finally brushing my hair, I made my way toward the front of the house. Again the smells of bacon wafted into my nostrils, causing my empty stomach to growl loudly, I had forgotten about the food I'd smelled when I woke up not too long ago. The guys were seated around the tattered table diminishing the mounds of food on their plates in front of them. Jake handed me my own heaping plate and winked, sitting down as well. He patted the chair next to him, and dug into the food. Sitting, I looked at the friends and family sitting around me, smiling, I took a deep breath and began devouring my own plate of food. It was delicious., the bacon on the sandwiches was cooked to perfection, and the toast too. I had never had a better BLT in all my life. Before I realized it, I was placing the last bit of my last sandwich into my mouth, chewing and swallowing then pushing away from the table, my belly full.

"Wow! Have you ever seen a girl eat like that? Does Leah eat like that?" Quil was in shock. He still had food on his plate, curling his arm around his plate, he continued. "You can't have any of my sandwiches. Just 'cause you were asleep for days doesn't mean you can eat my food girl!" He smiled playfully.

"You're a brat Quil. I wasn't going to take your precious BLT, besides," I said turning my nose in the air. "I'm full." Scooting my chair back, I took my plate to the sink and washed it. Setting it in the drain rack next to the sink.

"So whats on the agenda for today?" Embry asked Jacob, leaning back in his chair still chewing.

"We have so much to do, I have no idea where to begin. I'm so overwhelmed right now." Jake ran his hand through his shaggy hair. I hadn't really realized until now that his hair was as short as the rest of the guys. "Bells, she has to see her family, and catch up on school work, and she still doesn't know..." His words struck me just then. I really wasn't in my own element here. I was in this world I knew nothing about and with no way of escape.

The four boys sitting at the dining table looked like grown men, and they had grown problems to think about without my freak of nature self getting all involved in it. My mom was always at a distance from me, and she had every right to be. I called trouble to me, she had always known that. The thoughts swirled around my head and before I knew it, Jake's arms were around me and he was wiping the streaming tears from me cheeks. I must have blocked out the conversation and went off on my own silent little tangent. His finger curled under my chin and tugged it up, so that I was looking directly at him. It was less of a height difference this time than it was three days ago. Jacob had obviously had a growth spurt, but was it possible that I had as well?

"Hey, you don't need to blame yourself for anything. It's not your fault you exist, I love that you do though. You were the only one strong enough to be with an alpha. You were meant to be here with me, and the imprint proves it. You weren't a mistake, you were created perfectly. I love you, and I'd appreciate it if you 'd stop sulking about how miraculous you are. There are better things to be sobbing about. There is so much we need to do to prepare, it's not everyday you throw down with a bunch of Italian leeches. Not to mention, all these guys are in awe of you. The hottest thing since sliced bread after all." He winked at me, rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

"Let's be honest here Bella, you have this thing about you, its almost irresistible. You draw us to you, probably got stronger now, since you have become a skin walker. All I know is, when you link up with everybody, it only makes it that much stronger. Like we need to be around you, protect you. Something tells me though, that you don't really need our protection." Embry was looking directly at me now, Jake had moved to my side and was leaning against the counter top. "We need to get you all informed and stuff. Lets get going OK?" They were all standing now, gracefully, no chairs scraping against ancient linoleum.

Jake reached his hand out to me, I took it, his strong fingers entwining with my own. I felt safe just now, I knew that what Embry had said was true. I mulled it over as we walked to Sam's house, keeping silent, compiling a list of questions in my head. The boys were quick, but I kept up just fine, still hanging onto Jacob's hand. They chatted about school and sports, all the while pushing and giggling. They were worse than middle school girls. Jake still silent like myself, tugged me onward to our destination.

"This is it. You can pretty much tell, it always smells like food. Mostly because, well, you'll see." He smiled and drug me through the tiny wooden door of the small cottage type house.

The small living room was open to the small kitchen, and I was in awe at how it housed all these massive bodies. Sam, Leah, Paul, and Jared were in the kitchen where Leah was baking. They all waved hello, but I was awe sturck at Leah. Baking? Seriously? She looked like she'd rather shoot buck and skin it so she had a nice trophy for her mantle. Not like someone who knew how to make muffins from scratch. As Leah scooped the batter from a massive metal bowl, she smiled at me and I decided to stop making first assumptions. If I relied upon those initial thoughts about people, I'd be in Italy right now, being bitten to death...

"Hi! I'm Leah! We're cousins, I've only ever had one cousin. I'm pretty excited, especially now that we all share the same fate. Let's not talk about that right now though, you want to help me make all these muffins? I need to get some out of the oven." Her smile was stunning, with her straight white teeth and her beautiful tan skin. She was amazing and for a moment I wished I looked like her. Then I realized, I kind of did, I was just a little lighter and my hair was brown. The feeling of being welcome was great.

"Sure! I love to bake, and cook! I'll finish scooping the batter into the cups." For some strange reason, I wasn't the least bit angered by this obvious gender roll. The men went the living room and sat around with their drinks, discussing things, while Leah and I made the meal. It felt oddly comforting.

"Does this bother you? The traditional rolls we play? It's kind of how it is, in the pack. Us girls in the kitchen while the boys go beat on something. I mean, don't get me wrong," Leah said quickly, seeing the obvious realization displayed on my face. "I get to rip stuff up too, but after the phase, I wanted to cook, and in massive quantities. I can never bake enough, or cook enough. I don't mind though, I run the house, and they run the rez until a leech comes by. At least I have someone to keep me company. I think this is going to be an awesome month. Or do you already know that?" She was skipping around with her thoughts. Nervous that I'd be offended by her, and all of the wolves.

"I don't know, I see things in dreams. But I'm not offended, I'm just absorbing things. Figuring out where I belong. I've never really fit in anywhere before, I really don't fit in now, aside from being a shape shifter. I'm totally in the dark about all of this anyway. I think that you guys know more about whats going on with me than I do." Now I was nervous. Leah placed the muffin pan on a pot holder on the small counter top, and swapping it for the freshly battered pan, placing it in the oven.

"That's why your here isn't it. So we can have a pack meeting. We've been going through that book your mom sent, pretty interesting stuff. It helped us out too, I guess supes, supernaturals, are attracted to each other. Hence, you and the leech,and now you and Jake. Makes sense, try to keep the blood line going. Imprinting is rare though, in fact, you and Jake are the only ones. They suspect it's only for the alpha. Or maybe just a special case for you, you are one of a kind honey." She flitted around the small kitchen grabbing pans and utensils, placing them into the sink and running hot water.

"I could wash them for you, it's the least I could do. It looks like you've been at it for quite some time." She stepped aside, smiling again.

"That would be great. Now I can get the chicken marinating for dinner. You are staying right? Everyone, and I mean everyone, will be here. You could help me with that too." She beamed at me, and I smiled back, nodding in agreement.

The next few hours went in the same fashion, the guys discussing things about treaty lines not existing anymore, and battle tactics. While Leah and I fixed dinner, slicing lemons and chopping garlic for the marinade. Slicing vegetable up for salad and such. It was nearing evening time when the elders arrived. My mom and Phil were late as usual. Dinner was cooking up nicely, I thought that making six pounds of chicken and ten pounds of potatoes would have killed me, but Leah was so fun to be around. She was happy, because Sam had to stop seeing her for a couple of weeks, and now she knew why. The first voice she heard when she became a giant wolf was Sam's. He was there the whole way to guide her. Just like Jacob was for me. I was really starting to enjoy my time back among the awake, and the real. Until, we sat down to dinner, plates in our laps, half of us on the floor. Old Quil began with a prayer to the God's for their bountiful meal, and the good fortune we had received. I felt antsy as we ate, the silence was far too much to bear. Just when I thought I couldn't take it any longer, my dad spoke up. Placing his dish in the sink, and turning to the rest of us who had finished eating, but didn't dare stand up and disrupt the eery silence.

"We need to address a few things. Starting with why it is you felt it necessary to conceal your knowledge of the Volturri from us." Charlie looked in my general direction, but when I dropped my gaze to my folded legs, the voice from behind me spoke.

"Because Charlie, then all of this would have happened. Sarah, she was always saying how it fit, the pieces were coming together nicely. Like our lives were a giant puzzle just waiting to be put together. My daughter wasn't a puzzle piece until she started playing with Jacob. It was all out in the open, the stories, and waiting for the cold ones. It was just a matter of time before she started to feed into the crap too. We make our own destiny, that's why I left, I didn't want this for her. Tied, literally, to someone for all of eternity. Being a baby machine to extend the wolf gene into the next millennium. She wouldn't be an oracle had she listened to me and stayed with Phil and I. She wouldn't freakin' be an ideal vampire snack if she would've just stayed put. They came beating on our door in Nebraska. Nebraska, can you believe it? Of all the places for blood suckers to be dwelling. I knew it was a set up. They said they had a plan for her, some little vamp from who the hell knows where, she had some kind of vision. After her so called brother decided to move back to his old haunting grounds. A rainy little place with mutts running rampant. I couldn't imagine such a place, could you?" My mom, she was angry, standing up and wringing her hands. She went to stand near my dad, hatred filling her eyes as she did so.

"Do you know what its like to phase Charlie? I mean, to feel every part of you on fire, and shaking and there's nothing you can do to stop it except let it happen? Your bones grow and shrink and break, and your skin explodes. It's definitely an experience I always wanted my children to have! To know no place that was home, or have anyone that was a real friend. Lying all the time to explain your unusual growth, or the fact that you have a temperature of someone who should technically be in a hospital room somewhere. I'm not quite sure what you thought it was like for me, but I bounced from school to school and friend to friend. I had no one who I could turn to. No one who understood. So when Bella was born, I was so glad that I had given her an opportunity to be normal. Just to find out who she was really descended from, wolves..." She turned around, facing the cabinets just above the oven, I could see her shaking, she was trying not to phase here in the house.

"You had me, you had all of us. You knew so much, yet you still left. You took her away from her family. I don't care that your angry Renee, or that Phil is either. You were wrong. You concealed much needed information, even after Bella returned. Whats the excuse for that?" Charlie was livid now, his hands were balled into fists and he was turning red in the face.

"You really want to know what happened? Fine! After James came to us in Nebraska, seeking out Bella at school, and anywhere he could, I packed us up, left. We went to Arizona, I'd heard of a colony of shifters there, so that's where I settled. We got an apartment, on the top floor, so she would be safe. Lord knows she could kill herself with play doh. Anyway, I met Phil, he shifts too, and we started trying to make a life for ourselves. It was smooth for awhile, a couple years in fact. Then that night, when James broke into the damn apartment. He took Bella and if we had been just a couple more minutes away, he would've taken her. But he got away, and last spring, she showed up with Edward," She spat the name. Like it was acid on her tongue. "and there he was pretending to sleep in the hospital, acting like he had saved her from herself. He was trying to get at her, break her down so she would go with him willingly. Just so he could return to my aunt in Denali. He thought I didn't know, but I have my ways and I have other people who look out for me. You all, are in grave danger. When James came to Nebraska, he told me about you all, and your roll in their plan. That little Alice vamp, she can't see around you, but Bella, before you phased, she could see you. She knew you would fawn all over Edward, and go to live with them like a good little brownie. I guess deep down I'm grateful for all of this wolf business. You finally grew a pair, it was late, but you grew them none the less." Finally calm, my mom sat at the crowded dining table.

"So here it is, the book contains all encounters with the Volturri, all family background for my side, as well as the makers of the Cullen's, the Denali clan and James' coven. It's all I could find, all I could manage to get out of people before they turned up dead, or glittering in the sunlight. I don't mean to be rude, but this is all I can tell you, all I can help you with. It's your battle to fight Bella, not mine, and the longer we wait around here, the deader we get. I've packed all my stuff, and I'm not returning to Arizona. Phil and I are going off the maps. If I find anything, I'll send it your way. I'm a wanted woman Bella, and when the Volturri want you, they search the world over, eventually, they will find me. Unless, you can stop them. In which case, I'd be happy to make contact, but until then..." With that my mom had her purse and Phil on her arm. They said nothing to anyone directly, and left through the front door. It was silent. Like all the time I'd ever spent with her.

"Someone go after her! She has to stay and help fight!" It was Seth, he sounded scared. He was seated next to me, and I put my hand on his forearm.

"Seth, let her go. Its all she's ever wanted, to be left alone, to not have anything to with this, with me. She'd never stay for me, she wouldn't stay for love, she would never stay for me. It's not even about me anymore. Its all of us, all of you. I seen it, they want to use me to destroy all of the shifters. We are the one and only thing that can stop them. We exist because of them, to destroy them. We're stronger than them Seth, they don't even know I'm a skin walker. They don't see past the wolves, and I'm a hybrid of sorts. They definitely don't see me." I could feel Seth relax, he smiled at me and I returned the smile to him.

"Bells is right, so now, we need a plan. How do we take down a massive clan of ancient vampires? Without killing ourselves and everyone in La Push?" Sam asked. Scanning the room for anyone who had a clue.

The room was silent, and it seemed as though the pack had lost its nerve, we were happy a moment ago, and now, there was imminent death. It lapped at our necks causing our flesh to erupt with goosebumps. I felt this way before somehow. I knew the smell that hung in the air as well. The sugary bleach. My guard was up, and I stood as the velvety southern voice cooed from the open doorway.

"How's about you take some Leech killin' lessons from a former newborn army leader?"