Chapter Twelve

To be honest with myself, I had no idea where to even start. There he was, sitting on my bed and watching me expectantly, while I searched my head for any sort of answer to give him.

I had to be careful. There was so much I had to say, but there was only a small bit of it that he could know without putting him in direct danger. This whole thing was about keeping him safe. I couldn't fuck that all up by letting too much slip.

"Okay." I finally muttered, stepping forward and sitting beside him on the edge of my bed. "It's a long story, so bear with me. How much do you know about Jack?"

He blinked in surprise, "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time."

"I know." I replied, "Just.. How much do you know?"

"I know.." He trailed off, obviously searching his thoughts, "That he did a whole lot of horrible things before he left." I nodded a little. He knew the basics.

"He did." I confirmed, "That's part of the reason why I was living with the Cullens."

"I know that." He murmured, his tone now supportive, "But-"

"Hold on." I cut him off, "Yeah, they helped me. They kept me as safe as they could."

He hesitated, studying me for a moment before I literally saw the understanding fill his expression, "He never left."

That was suddenly so relieving. Knowing he pieced that together when I hadn't even thought to tell him that. That small detail put me on the right path to explaining further.

"He did eventually." I answered, "But.. Not for awhile. For a long time, he stuck around. He was mad at me for being friends with you, and he was completely positive that I ruined his life. He blamed me for everything that happened, and for awhile there, I blamed myself too."

"Leandra, it wasn't your fault." He reached over, lightly placing his hand over mine, "He abused you."

"I know that now." I confirmed quietly, "But for the longest time, I.. Well, I had the hardest time believing that. Even while staying with the Cullens. I had so much guilt built up in me, it's amazing I lived through it."

"Okay." He murmured, prompting me to continue. He knew that I wasn't looking for support, but that I needed to keep going. There was more I had to say, and I didn't want to get stuck on this subject.

"Well.." I sighed, moving on, "Jack.. He stuck around for a long time after you guys think he left. He made so many attempts at getting a hold of me, to punish me for what I'd done to him. A few times, he almost won. He came so close." Josh, staying silent, only nodded, but I could see that he was bothered by that. I went on, "The Cullens.. They kept me safe. I owe them so much, but.." I took a breath as I gathered my thoughts, "Okay. Back.. Back before, when I came here.. I came here for a reason. There's more to it than them just dumping me here and leaving."

"What reason could they have had?" He asked, "If they cared about you so much, why abandon you?"

"They left me here because they cared about me." I replied gently, "When they placed me here, it was because something.. Something had changed." His brow furrowed in confusion, but I hesitated a moment, "Something was different. Jack.. He had changed."

"Changed?"

"He'd upped his game." I added, hoping I wasn't giving away too much, "When I first came here, it was because he had me. He had gotten a hold of me, and.." I trailed off, looking down. I wasn't sure how much I could tell him about that.

"It's okay." He told me, his soft tone easing me a bit.

"Well.." I muttered, "Let's just say.. He's the reason my mom is gone." That obviously surprised him, but before he could comment on that, I went on, "And I would have joined her if it wasn't for one person. He got me out of there, and back to my family, but.. There was a problem. A problem that we couldn't fix without the help of.. Someone really important and powerful."

"Okay.." I could tell by his tone that this was where I was starting to lose him.

"Okay." I repeated, sighing a little, "This is where it gets hard. There's a lot I can't tell you, but I'll try." He nodded, "Well.. That really important person is.. Really important. There's nobody alive that can go against him, and here we were, asking him for a very huge favor."

"What favor?"

"To help me fix what Jack had done to me." I answered, "In.. In a way only he could."

"Did it work?"

"It worked." I confirmed, nodding a little, "But that favor cost me. That favor was the reason why I was left here. Because this very important person thought I needed to be as safe as I could possibly be, so I could one day return that favor."

"And he thought you'd be safest here?" He asked, more confused.

"Jack wouldn't try to get to me here." I explained, "He's always been really protective of you guys, because you're family. But.. Because he's different.. He couldn't just show up, because you can't know just how different he is."

"What makes him different?"

"I can't tell you that part." I mumbled, "All you need to know, is that he's different, and so are the Cullens."

"Okay.." He sighed, "And because they're different, you have to let them back in your life?"

"Yeah." I murmured, "Because Jack came back."

"Oh." He seemed shocked, but he also seemed to understand.

"Jack came back today." I went on quietly, "After leaving me alone since I've been here, he came back to tell me that this.. Very important person is wanting to collect on that favor. I knew that before, because that's the reason the Cullens came back at first, but.. Hearing it from him made it real again."

"Okay.." He mumbled, waiting for me to go on.

"This important person is different too." I explained, "In a way that I can't fight without them."

"And you can't do that here?"

"That's the thing." I sighed, "It's because of this important person that I'm here at all, but for some reason, he changed his mind. He's mad at me because I basically told him to fuck off, and that I wasn't willing to go along with him anymore."

His eyes narrowed, "So..?"

"So.." I took a breath, "That means you guys are in trouble. More trouble the longer I'm here."

"What kind of trouble?" That obviously captured even more of his attention.

"I can't tell you that either."

"Well, dammit." He sighed heavily, "What can you tell me?"

Sighing heavily, now aggravated, I rubbed my palms over my face. Somehow the motion soothed me a little, enough to take a deep breath and calm down a bit. I ignored Josh's doubtful expression, clearly questioning my sanity.

He obviously wasn't understanding me anymore.

"He's different." I said, "So is Jack, and so are the Cullens. I'm here because this important person wanted me to be here to be safe from Jack, and so the Cullens could do.. Something else without me being in the way. But Jack came back to tell me that this important person isn't happy anymore, so the Cullens are here to protect me, but they can only do that if I let them."

A lengthy silence followed, and I watched him closely. He watched me in return, as if he expected me to freak out or something.

"Leandra.." He spoke quietly, his tone hesitant and nervous, "Are you on drugs?"

I looked at him, my palms still pressed to my face, "What?"

"Because if you are, you know dad's gonna fuck you up-"

"Stop it." I snapped lightly, "This is serious."

"I know it is."

"I don't have a drug problem."

"Okay." He adjusted how he sat on my bed, facing me a little better, "Start over. I must be missing something."

"There are things I can't tell you." I purposefully slowed down, "The Cullens are helping me."

"Because they're 'different'?"

"That's right."

"What the hell does Jack have to do with anything?"

"I told you." I replied firmly, "He came back."

"Came back from where?" He asked, "And why do you need the Cullens to help you with him? Why not just let us protect you?"

"He's-"

"I get that he's dangerous." He went on, "I get that part, but you know I would never let anything happen to you."

"That's the part I can't tell you." I explained, "You can't protect me. They can."

"For argument's sake, let's say they can. Why can't they just protect you here?"

"Because it's not just.." I sighed, frustrated, "It's not just Jack."

"You said that." He countered, "I think I can take on two people."

"It's not that easy." I replied, "Bottom line, letting them back into my life is the best way. That doesn't change just because I can't tell you everything."

"I still don't understand." He said, "Two days ago, you were against this."

"Two days ago, I didn't know Jack was back." I countered, "That changes things a lot. What happened back then.. It wasn't their fault."

He scoffed, "How wasn't it their fault?"

"That's the part you don't know."

"Leandra, I don't know anything." He argued, and I could tell he was getting irritated, "You're not making any sense. You're telling me that the reason why you're letting them back in your life, when you and I both know they don't deserve the time of day from you, is because Jack came back, from wherever the hell he was, and that they can protect you better than we can."

"And it'll keep you safe."

"From what?"

I groaned, covering my face again.

"Just trust me, okay?"

"No." He replied, "This is bullshit. What kind of fucking lies have they been filling your head with?"

"They're not the ones that have been lying to me."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Okay." I huffed, "Let's just start over. Again."

"Leandra," He sighed, his tone a lot calmer, "Look. I get it, okay? Yeah, they did a lot for you, but that was so long ago."

"They did more than just a lot for me." I replied firmly but gently, "You can't even imagine, and it wasn't so long ago. I still have that part of me, Josh. I'll always have that part of me. That part of me that will always consider them my family."

"Leandra, family wouldn't do that to you."

"It wasn't their choice." I explained, "They only left because it was what was best for me." He seemed about to argue, so I went on quickly, "Yeah, it really didn't seem like it at the time, but.. I see differently now. You would too if you'd just listen."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to." I replied gently, "You just have to trust me. Why are you so against this? It's my choice, and all I'm asking of you is to be understanding."

"I'll never forgive them for what they did." He countered, but his tone was just as gentle, "You know what you went through. You were the one going through it, but you didn't see what we went through. When they left you behind, it killed you. Because it killed you, it killed us. I'm not blaming you, Leandra, but.." He trailed off, and I waited.

"But..?" I prompted when he didn't continue.

"What they did changed everything." He murmured, "Zack and I watched you fall apart over and over, and because you fell apart, we had to watch mom fight so hard to put you back together again." I stayed quiet, my expression softening in sadness, "She was so determined, so completely devoted to you while you were so broken. That entire time, it really was like we didn't even have a mom."

I hadn't even thought of that.

"For a solid year," He went on, "All that really mattered to her was you. Zack and I pretty much kept Hunter alive by ourselves. Dad would take him to work a lot, but sometimes, he just couldn't. So we missed a lot of school. On the rare chance we saw her, it was only for such a short amount of time that after awhile, we just stopped trying. Those people, the ones you'll apparently always consider to be your family, destroyed our family by destroying you. So forgive me if I just don't see them the way you do."

I honestly didn't know what to say.

"You don't remember the fight, do you?" He asked quietly, and I glanced up.

"What fight?"

"You never saw any of it." He answered, "But mom and dad were fighting a lot back then."

"About me." It wasn't a question. He nodded sadly.

"The fight I'm talking about was the fight that made dad leave for a week." He went on, "Mom didn't want to give up on you, and really thought that she could fix you herself. Dad was mad, I guess, because mom had just pretty much quit her job. Probably so they couldn't fire her. I really don't know all of his reasons, but.. He left that night. It wasn't for good, and we all knew that. He just needed space, but it was that fight that finally made mom agree to take you to see that doctor."

"How come nobody ever told me about that?" I asked, completely stunned.

"Because none of us wanted you to blame yourself." He answered gently, "You were just starting to do good. Why would we ever want to mess that up?"

"If I had known, I would have tried a lot harder."

"You were already doing the best you could." He reasoned, "We all saw it. Like I said, nobody blames you, Leandra. We never have. We've always blamed them."

"They wouldn't have left me if they had a choice." I told him as if that could fix anything, "They really thought that it was what was best for me."

"I don't care their reasons." He murmured, "Our family all but fell apart because of them, and someone has to hold them accountable for that. Even if you won't."

"I told you."

"You haven't told me anything." He argued, "Jack came back."

"Yes."

"To tell you that.. What? This 'important person' is mad at you?"

"Yes." I repeated.

"And because they're different," He muttered, "They can protect you better than we can?" I nodded, so he went on, "That sounds like complete bullshit. You know if Jack were to come back, I'd know about it. If he showed up here now, I wouldn't let him come anywhere near you. I actually wish he was here now."

"Don't say that." I shook my head, looking down.

"No." He said, "I do. I really wish he was here now. You know why? Because maybe then, you'd see that you don't need the Cullens."

"Ask, and you shall receive."

My heart stopped, and I looked sharply over toward the window. My thoughts froze in my head, and I sat there just staring at Jack standing there. I was completely stunned, sitting in shock at the fact that Jack would show up. With Josh sitting right next to me, staring at him as well. Seeing the proof for himself of what I couldn't say.

My jaw dropped, and I couldn't help looking over at Josh in shock. He wasn't looking at me, though. He was staring at Jack in confusion, shock as well. Standing up, probably instinctively, as he now stood partially in front of me. He was clearly still trying to figure it out, to piece it together.

Eyes wide, I now glanced between Josh and Jack.

"What?" Jack chuckled, "No hello?"

"Am I supposed to be happy to see you?" Josh asked, his tone a whole hell of a lot harder than it had been all night.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked breathlessly.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Josh asked, "We're on the second floor."

"So many questions." Jack laughed this time, "Hope I'm not interrupting?"

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snapped this time, gaining his attention. I was mad now. Here I was, trying to explain to Josh the whole situation without getting him into more trouble, and Jack decides to show up and ruin all of that?

"Hey," Jack snapped back lightly, "It's not my fault they left you wide the fuck open."

"You need to leave." My limbs were tingling in nervousness and anger as I finally thought to stand up, "Really. Get the fuck out." He just laughed, obviously deeply amused, so I turned. Reaching for my cell phone sitting on the table.

"Touch that fucking phone, little girl, and I will break your ass in half!" Of course I froze, "In fact, give it." He held his hand out as he glanced over at Josh, "Yours too."

I must not have been expecting him to use that tone on me, because it clicked with me. I suddenly knew that he wasn't playing around.

I didn't hesitate much longer than a few seconds. Reaching over to my bedside table, I picked up my phone and tossed it to him. He caught it easily, shoving it into his back pocket before looking to Josh expectantly. Josh hadn't moved.

"Josh." I prompted quietly, "Just do it."

"Phone." Jack repeated firmly. Josh pulled his phone out of his pocket, sighing in heavy annoyance. Tossing it to Jack, he finally sat back down. Jack wasted no time in whipping it across the room, sending it sailing out the window. I clearly heard it break against the tree outside my window. Josh did too.

"What the fuck-"

"Shut the fuck up." Jack snapped, shutting him up. He turned his glare to me, "Are you fucking brain-dead?" His amusement was obviously gone.

"No." I replied, "But you must be." He scoffed so I went on, "Are you kidding me? Showing up here? Now?" Josh looked over at me just as I gave him a pointed glance.

"I'm not the one telling him everything-"

"I haven't told him anything." I countered, "He has no idea."

"I know enough." Josh added in.

"Shut up." Both Jack and I barked at him.

"This isn't what I meant!" Jack snapped loudly at me, gesturing to Josh.

"I never told him anything!"

"Watch the goddamn tone!" Jack replied sharply, "Don't you dare fucking forget who you're talking to!" Despite how much I hated it, that shut me up.

"What's wrong with you?" Josh snapped this time, gaining Jack's attention, "Seriously. What's wrong with your face?"

"You need to stop asking questions." Jack replied tensely, "If you know what's good for you."

"Jack, you need to leave." I muttered, "I haven't told him anything, and I don't plan to, so get out."

"I've had about enough of your mouth."

Not expecting it, I was startled by Josh standing up.

"She said get out." Josh glared at him, "So I think you need to go."

"Adorable." Jack replied, his tone dismissive, "Sit your ass back down." Sensing something was about to go wrong, I reached over. Grabbing Josh's arm just as he was about to step forward. Confused, Josh looked over at me as I pulled him back again. Taking a hesitant single step forward so that Josh was behind me.

"Leandra?" Josh asked quietly, "What are you doing?"

"Tell me what you know about Aro." I told Jack before Josh could take any more of his attention.

"I already told you." Jack countered, "I already fucking told you everything you need to know."

"You didn't tell me a damn thing." I argued, "You said you were here to help me out. Well, I need more if I'm going to help them out."

"The only thing you need to know, is you being here is putting them in Aro's path."

"Well, what do you want me to do?" I snapped, "I live here."

"Change that." Jack barked.

"I'm trying!" I couldn't help raising my tone, "But you came in."

"I said watch the tone!" Jack barked again, "I won't tell you a third time."

"You don't threaten her." Josh spoke up again.

"She's mine to threaten." Jack whipped back at him, "Shut the fuck up, and sit back down before you piss me off."

"'Yours'?" That obviously bothered Josh, "She doesn't belong to you."

"What?" Jack chuckled skeptically, "Don't tell me she matters."

"Shut up." I muttered, shaking my head. Honestly, I was trying to protect Josh. In more than one way. Josh had never really gotten the full idea of what Jack was like. I really wanted to spare him. I looked back over at Jack, "You've always been stupid brave, but this is crossing the line."

I flinched as Jack was suddenly to my other side. Josh, not expecting the sudden movement, jumped back in instinct with a loud shout of surprise. I hardly noticed though as Jack's hand found my neck and he swung me around like I weighed four pounds. I gave a short cough of surprise before that was cut off, feeling my back hit the wall beside my bedside table. I gave a slight struggle before the rest of his body pinned the rest of my body back against the wall. I couldn't move at all.

"Repeat that?" Jack growled, and I closed my eyes. I hated that he was this close. Panic flooded through me, and I could tell he knew it. Despite my breath being cut off, I managed to open my eyes and look around Jack to Josh standing there. Still stunned still, he was trying hard to figure things out.

I choked, grunting what I could out as I twisted against him, struggling to free myself at least a little bit. Jack's hand loosened enough to let me get a small sobbing breath, allowing me to cry out in both fear and frustration before he cut that off again. He breathed in deeply, breathing out a growl.

"I never get tired of this." Jack chuckled quietly, completely ignoring my weakening struggles. I was tiring out fast. Opening my tearing eyes again, I looked up at Jack pleadingly, and I literally watched his dark crimson eyes darken even more, taking on a jet black color. This was something that hadn't happened before, despite how often I'd looked into his eyes. My heart sank, and pounded faster when I saw that. Knowing full well that I was now in more trouble than I'd ever been with Jack before.

"Let her go." I suddenly remembered that Josh was in the room as he suddenly showed up at Jack's side. Josh's hand reached out and gripped Jack's wrist, and I glanced over as he instantly felt the difference, and the puzzled fear crossed his features. Jack turned his head sharply, glaring hard at Josh with clenched, bared teeth.

"Back the fuck up." Jack's tone was pure growl, coming from deep in his chest, so I really couldn't blame Josh for flinching away like Jack had burned him.

"Jack.." I squeaked as much as I could, hardly making a sound around his tight grip on my throat. I was trying to remind him that I needed to breathe, but he took that as a sign that he wasn't holding tightly enough. He growled, tightening his grip and shoving me harder back against the wall. I thumped, but hardly noticed the pain swim through my head. More preoccupied by my dwindling consciousness.

Sensing I was losing fast, he loosened his grip again. I gasped in deeply, coughing hard and giving yet another fight. He allowed that, chuckling darkly before breathing in again.

I glanced over again, looking for Josh but I didn't find him. I was able to be glad for maybe half a second before I spotted him coming back into the room. Bat in hand.

Before I could even tell him not to try it, he'd crossed the room and was swinging the bat hard at Jack. Of course, Jack knew. Spinning away from me and catching the bat mid swing. Jerking it out of Josh's hand, he threw it to the side just as I crouched against the wall. I continued to breathe deeply, desperately fighting off the swelling emotion in me as I lightly massaged my neck.

"You're lucky I like you." Jack snapped at him.

"Stay away from her!" I'd never, ever heard that tone from Josh before. He wasn't backing down this time.

"Or what?" Jack replied firmly, "What are you going to do about it?"

"Jack.." I whimpered. I didn't like him focusing on Josh.

"Get out." Jack told him, ignoring me, "Leave now, or so help me-"

"I'm not leaving here without her." He immediately snapped, and I couldn't fight the emotion anymore. Josh had no idea what he was doing. I flinched a little as Jack shoved Josh backward.

"Josh." I spoke up around my emotion as he righted himself, "Just go." He had an opportunity to get help. He had an opportunity to run and get the house phone. He didn't see it.

Why the hell weren't the Cullens here? Not a single one of them?

"No." Josh shook his head, "I'm not-"

"Go." I insisted, unable to help it. Go, stupid! He continued to hesitate, so Jack sighed heavily. Reaching up, he grabbed a hold of the back of Josh's neck and steered him toward the door. Josh fought the whole way, unable to break free. Unsurprisingly.

"Now when your Uncle Jack tells you to do something, you fucking do it." With that, he shoved Josh out the door, into the hall and slammed it behind him. Locking it instantly.

Shakily, I stood up as Jack rounded to look at me.

"Where were we?" He asked.

"You were just leaving." I mumbled through tears.

"Not happening." He shook his head a little, his tone very patronizing as he slowly started back at me. We both ignored Josh's attempts to open the door from the hall, as we both knew he wasn't getting in.

"The Cullens-"

"Are busy." He smiled, finishing for me, "And will be for awhile. Way I see it.." He paused, "I have at least twenty.. Thirty minutes with your ass before anyone comes sniffing around."

"What about Josh?" I asked hurriedly, "You know? What you came here for?"

"I didn't come here for that." He replied, "I came here for you, but overheard."

"But-"

"I tried to be nice." He sighed, "But I just can't do it. I can't. I hate you too much." Despite how I tried, I couldn't keep the panic back. I knew he could hear it. I couldn't even stand to look at him anymore as he finally reached me.

His hand reached out slowly, almost gently gripping my hair. He wound my hair through his fingers before tightening his fist painfully and jerking me back against the wall yet again.

"Josh-"

"He's not going to save you." Jack chuckled, "I finally have my opportunity, and I'm not going to waste it again."

With dizzying speed, he gripped my wrist with his other hand and spun me around, twisting my arm painfully behind my back and pinning me firmly. Of course I cried out, unable to keep it back. In this position, struggling was entirely out of the question. My breathing raced, and I felt like I was suffocating.

Outside the door, the hallway was quiet now. All I could do was hope that Josh managed to call someone. Anyone. I swallowed hard in fear and pain, panic making my mouth dry as he leaned in close again, breathing in deeply once more. It really didn't take a genius to figure out what was on his mind, and that terrified me even more.

Where were they? Why weren't they here? I sobbed against the wall as I wondered that.

"I don't give a fucking shit about that little bastard in your belly." He murmured quietly, and as if just being reminded, I felt a small squirm.

Impossible or not, just the thought had me struggling as much as I could. I needed to fight. It wasn't a choice. All that did, though, was make him laugh and hold me tighter. He might not have been holding my neck anymore, but it was still getting harder to breathe by the second.

His hand left my hair and lowered, grabbing onto my face, partially covering my mouth.

"I promised I wouldn't kill you," He said, "But I don't think I can keep that promise. I should just put an end to it now. I'd be helping you out, and I'd be helping them out."

"Get off me!" I cried as loud as I could, loudly enough for my voice to break, but even I could hear how muffled it was. I tried everything I could think of. I twisted and writhed, kicking and struggling. The panic at not getting a decent breath was pushing me on. He let me struggle for a moment before he twisted my arm further, pinning me harder, and chuckling at the resulting cry of pain and desperation.

"You have grown." He commented conversationally, but the sharp edge to his tone cut me, "I almost had to use effort just now." He was enjoying himself.

"See.." He went on, quieter and right in my ear, "I'm debating. We both know your life is going to end tonight, but see.. I want to have a bit of fun first. I want you to suffer. Should I make this quick, while I still have a chance? Or should I draw it out as long as I can?"

His hand released my face, finally allowing me a somewhat better breath. His hand slid down, though, cupping my neck from the front. He held firm, but only tight enough to add the lightest pressure to both of my carotid arteries with his finger and thumb, obvious against my straining neck.

"So close.." He sighed before he chuckled, "What? No begging?"

"No." I whimpered against the wall, "Because I know it'll do no good."

"Well, what fun is that?"

"Just get it over with." I snapped, "Just do it." I was honestly hoping that this was exactly the opposite of what he wanted to hear. My heart pounded hard, and I couldn't help thinking about the baby. Every thought somehow stuck on it while also trying to figure a way out of this.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting him to do, but I lost my breath in a terrified whimper as I felt him lean forward and kiss my neck right over the most accessible artery. My entire body jerked and tensed at the contact, hating the feel of it. I strained harder, unable to get even an inch of freedom.

My teeth clenched around a loud sob of despair, despite knowing full well that that was what he wanted to hear.

It felt like hours had passed, when it couldn't have been more than several minutes. Unfortunately, that was an effect that Jack had had on me since I could remember. He always had a way of drawing things out.

He kissed again, only gaining the same result. Except this time, he'd lingered a second longer. I could feel in his grip that he was only going to be able to draw this out for so long.

Part of me wanted to hold out hope that I was going to be saved, but that quickly died.

Things seemed to slow down for me then. From the corner of my wide, fearful eye, I could see him come back in a third time. This time, he'd opened his mouth. Probably as a way to scare me, but he wasn't anticipating the loud crash downstairs. Making him tense at the worst time, right as he was applying light pressure to the skin of my neck.

I took a long, deep breath in as the initial pain of my skin being pierced hit me. I choked hard around the rush of that breath leaving me in a loud coughing cry. His grip immediately tightened on me, and the violent pain of my arm breaking nearly turned my stomach. I could hardly focus on that, however.

He pulled me away from the wall, closer against him as he easily turned me around by my neck. It was probably the fact that I was too frozen to move that kept him from snapping my neck in two. His fingers dug hard into my skin, pinning me anyway.

The growl he let loose was something that made my blood run cold. It was an odd mix of anger and happiness. Of struggle. Adrenaline poured through me as fast as the burning pain spread from my skin between his teeth.

I could feel each consecutive growl he gave against my body, despite the pain, and all that did was draw another choking cry from me. He lowered me, forcing me down onto the floor, completely ignoring how tense I was. My body locked in place, paralyzed by fear and pain. His teeth clenching ever-so-slightly more as I felt him draw in with his mouth. Taking my blood away from me.

I somehow noticed that I was on my side, his hand tensely moving from my neck to my hair, forcing my neck to bend as far as the floor would allow. Baring my neck further to him where he kneeled behind me.

Again, only seconds had passed. Seconds only passing from the initial thud from downstairs. Something we'd both forgotten about in those few seconds.

Over the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears, I barely heard the sound of my bedroom door bursting open. I was definitely in no condition to react to it. However, at that exact time, he let me go. He just stopped, nearly shoving me away from him as he darted up.

He let out the harshest, most painful snarl I'd ever heard. I opened my eyes, not even noticing that they'd closed, only to see him across the room. Obviously in deep distress. I wasn't sure what I was watching, my thoughts a bit jumbled right then.

I watched him shake his head, very briefly pressing his hand over his forehead. That ended fast as he turned his glare to me. He was angry. Enraged, would have been a more accurate description.

I couldn't move yet, watching him as I brought my hand up to cover my neck. The blood rushing over my cold fingers, however, wasn't even enough to distract me from the third creature in the room.

I'd never seen an angrier animal. Every muscle in his body was taut, tensed like a tightly coiled rubber band. His shoulders raised, his broad head lowered and both ears laid flat to the back of his head. His amber eyes glaring heatedly at Jack, almost glowing with hatred. His upper lips drawn back over the blazing white of his teeth, creating many creases along the top of his muzzle and twisting his face into a grimace that defined violence and danger. All of the white fur along his back and neck was raised, literally bristled in just enough rage to match Jack's from nose to tail.

I was paralyzed. Stunned, and even in my intense agony, I could see the beauty in this animal, despite the clearly offensive state it was in.

I still wasn't even sure what the hell was going on. All I could think about was the pain and the heat, the nausea coming in third.

"Leandra." I coughed a sob as Carlisle stopped, kneeling quickly beside me. The sound of Jack's next snarl ringing in the room around me was covered by the obviously threatening snarl coming from the angry white wolf now protecting us both. I felt that wolf's snarl like it'd come from me. Vibrating the room with the sound, echoing both around me and in me. Stopping my heart for a second with its deafening sound.

I could feel that I was crying, the warmth trailing from my eyes as Carlisle gently rolled me to my back, but that was it. There was no chance to fight unconsciousness. No way to see it coming. Instant darkness, however, was pretty welcome at that point.

A/N: Woo! God, I missed writing stuff like that. I just really hope the chapter came out alright with how distracted I've been lately.
I'm so sorry it took so long! Just when I think I've got it handled, more stuff gets thrown into the schedule. Out of my hands, guys. Sorry!

THANK YOU! To the most AWESOMEST reviewers on the face of this planet! THANK YOU! For being so patient with me! It is very very appreciated! You have no idea what your reviews mean to me! :D
I'm really hoping that chapter thirteen won't take as long. I won't be making any promises, though. It's pretty touch and go with a 5 month old son around lol
Until thirteen, my friends! :D