Bella's Last Christmas Wish
Disclaimer: All characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer
Thanks for reading, and leaving reviews, really appreciated! Jacob is about to find out what's happened to Bella and he's not happy...
Chapter 12
Bella was alI I could think about as I ran full pelt into the forest. I knew why she would not see me alone. She was going back to him, the leech. I could see it in her eyes. I had trusted her. It should have been the best Christmas day of my life. I loved her and thought she loved me. She had chosen him… again.
I came to a halt claws digging into the dirt and let rip a heart rendering howl. The night came alive as the returning howls of my pack brothers filled the air. Their combined voices screaming in my head "We tried to warn you…leech lover though and through…don't you ever learn?…you must love the pain bro!
I carried on running till I could no longer hear the pack voices when I stopped. Peace at last. I looked up at the clear night sky, stars were twinkling and I wondered why my life was in tatters again. I took down a small deer and fed. Finding a quiet spot I lay down to sleep. Sleep ha! All I did was dream of her and my heart ached at her betrayal.
As the first fingers of dawn appeared on the mountain tops I looked homeward. This was the beginning of a new day, breaking dawn. I started running towards La Push at full pelt. I would no longer run and hide. I would no longer be at Bella's beck and call. I was through, done, finished, She would never get close to me again.
I was only a short distance from home when I became aware of another wolf approaching and I turned snarling as I did. The slim wolf of Seth raced into the small clearing.
"Jake bro" he huffed "Look I'm sorry about B…"
"Enough!" I roared "Don't even mention her name. No one mentions that bitch again!"
"Hey man" sighed Seth "You know you don't mean that" He hung his head at my hurtful words
I phased back into human form so the pack would not hear. Seth followed suit. "I'm sorry Seth but Bella has burned me for the last time. I trusted her. She told me she loved me and would never leave..." I turned away from Seth so he could not see the pain in my eyes and stared ahead "Guess she just likes hurting me" I whispered.
"Bella loves you Jake" Seth replied. "I can see it in her eyes, the way she looks at you. She's just in a bad place man, she made a mistake marrying the leech and now she does not know what to do". He continued warily but relieved I had not yet bitten his head off. "We all know Bella; she will try to keep everyone happy but herself." He draped an arm around my shoulder. "Come back home Jake, Billy's worried, we all are."
We were just about to phase and leave when the sound of another approaching wolf caught our attention. We both turned in time to see Leah running into the clearing. She immediately phased back into her human body. Seth and I averted our eyes to give her time to dress.
"What do you want Leah?" I snarled "Come to give me a piece of your mind too. Tell me I told you so?" I glared at her, my hands shaking as I tried to keep the wolf at bay.
Leah eyed me warily before replying "Yes Jacob Black you have been a fool and we will discuss that some other time, but I have some interesting news for you. God knows why I'm here I really don't like the girl" and she shook her head, her glossy back hair swinging back and forth.
"What news?" I asked. I looked at Leah suspiciously the she wolf did not do favours for anyone.
"After you flounced out" she smiled "I had a word with Mrs Cullen"
"Oh great" I sighed "Did you put her through it then, come to tell me you made her cry?"
"That was my intention Jake I won't deny it but, something has changed. I felt compelled to ask her what was wrong. As if Sam had given me a direct order".
"Go on Leah" I replied intrigued.
"Jacob" she continued with alarm spreading across her face "That girl is petrified and she told me why she was scared"
I looked at Leah in anticipation, Was Bella scared of Cullen I thought.
"Jacob" Leah paused taking a breath "Bella is scared of The Volturi".
I gasped loudly and took a step back "What exactly did she say Leah?"
"That if she did not change into a vampire, an army of vampires would come to slaughter us all and Jake I believed her" Leah looked very serious and from the way her hands were shaking her inner wolf also believed there was danger.
"That explains her actions. Stupid. stupid… Bella. Why does she never learn, always willing to sacrifice herself for others. Damn her!" I stood still with my hands balled into fists. I was furious. "The leech no doubt is feeding her fears. That's why she went to him, protecting Charlie, La Push, me". I felt angry with everyone, especially Bella, why didn't she just talk to me, tell me her fears.
If she had gone to the Cullen's for protection then maybe just maybe she had not willingly hurt me. Maybe she was happy with them, maybe not. Questions spun in my mind. The only way was to go and see for myself I thought.
"Leah, Seth, listen up!" I shouted. "I need to see for myself that Bella is ok.. I'm going to the Cullen house don't follow me". Phasing on the fly I ran fast in the direction of the Cullen house. Not surprisingly Seth and Leah did not listen they were soon hot on my tail.
I crept in close to the Cullen house. The forest grew so close it gave me plenty of cover. The branches moved to my left and Leah crept up next to me. "Thought I told you to stay away" I huffed. "We're on their land I can't be responsible for Seth and you"
"Sorry no can do" Leah replied "We're big enough to look after ourselves Jake. Anyway you are not our Alpha" she smirked.
"Damn lucky I'm not" I sighed "I'd kick your ass if I was!
"Humph" she laughed "You'd have to catch me first Jacob Black"
I ignored the last comment and laid down low and watched. "Looks like Edward is out otherwise he would have heard my mind by now" I whispered. "I'm going to get closer; I can see movement in the lounge. I just want to check that Bella is ok. Something does not feel right".
"I feel it too Jake" Leah whispered in reply with a shocked look in her eyes.
I inched along on my belly until I was near enough to see but not be seen. I immediately saw Bella lying on the sofa, Alice sitting at her feet.
Bella moved to get a drink and I…I saw her grimace in pain. My eyes zeroed in on her face. "What the fu...! I huffed loudly. "Her face the state of it…that bastard has beaten her…". At that moment I heard a gasp of shock from Leah. She had moved up next to me and could also see the injuries Bella carried.
"My God Jacob what's happened to her? Leah Whined
As I looked I saw Bella turn her head towards me, staring out into the garden right at where Leah and I lay hidden by the overgrown forest.
"Bella knows I'm here Leah" I whined "I know she can feel me as I her. I need to get her out. Bella's trapped I know it. I'm going back to seek Sam's help". I reluctantly turned and left Bella behind. It took all my strength to walk away leaving her like that, I felt her pain. I'm coming back Bella Honey I thought hard, please hang on and hoped somehow Bella would know.
The pack were waiting at the usual meeting spot. They had seen Bella and her injuries through our minds. Leah was still shocked at the state of Bella's face. As we neared the meeting our pack brothers aired their views. Some sympathised others did not.
"Sam" I barked as I entered the clearing "I need your help….I need the pack. We must rescue Bella and..". Before I could utter another word the pack all stated talking at once.
"Think I'm going to fight the Cullen's to rescue that leech lover, she chose him case closed!" Growled Paul.
"Are you sure Bella did not trip down some stairs… you know how clumsy she is? Quill put in.
The frenzy of voices were getting louder and louder till Sam gave the command to "STOP!". It was an Alpha command so everyone shut up.
"We understand your pain Jacob" he growled "But are we sure that Bella has been hurt on purpose? Maybe Quill is right?". He walked over to me his muzzle close to mine. "Look Jacob I'm sorry but she married the leech, she knew the consequences of such a match. Bella is not our problem. We do not fight and I order you not to either!". The timbre of Sam's voice changing to make the request an Alpha order.
I stepped back in shock I could not believe what I was hearing "I know she has been hurt on purpose, Leah saw it too" I growled.
Leah nodded but flinched back as Sam glared at her.
"I can feel Bella's pain Sam I know she is in trouble". I whined.
"Oh really?" Spat Sam "You really expect me to believe that?"
"You would know if Emily had been injured would you not?" I asked him
"Yes" he stepped forward his eyes narrowed "But that's different, Emily is my mate, my imprint!" snarled Sam.
"Exactly" I snapped a growl leaving my muzzle as I continued "That's how I know…. I've imprinted on Bella…..I can't leave her and God knows I've tried!"
A united gasp filled the air as the wolves looked from one to another.
"Jacob no way…you can't have" sighed Sam "Tell me it's not true… the tribe… the pack.. your duties …what have you done?"
"I fell in love Sam, that's my crime and I'll take the punishment" I growled in response. "It's not recent… I've known for ages, just never told anyone… especially not Bella". I cast my eyes to the floor. I turned to leave muttering "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go rescue my imprint".
"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Roared Sam "That is an Alpha order!"
I tried to move but could not and the more I fought the more it hurt. A whine escaped from my muzzle as I slumped forward but I still struggled to get up.
"STAY DOWN AND YIELD TO YOUR ALPHA JACOB BLACK!" Ordered Sam
I could not move I felt tied to the ground. Bella….! I thought.. got…to get to her, can't leave her there ….she is my life. With one last struggle I felt new strength seeping into my body, my inner wolf rising with rage. "No more! I growled as I sprung to my feet. "YOU WILL NOT ORDER THE HEIR OF EPHRAIM BLACK TO DO YOUR BIDDING SAM ULEY!" I roared and I felt my wolf body to seemingly grow in height as I looked down upon him.
"What have you done Jacob?" whined Sam
"I have taken my rightful place Sam, taken back the power that was rightfully mine." I growled. Sam eyed me for a moment before launching himself at me but I was too fast and he missed his target. I was incensed with rage and spun in the air catching Sam by the throat and throwing him to the ground. Sam hit the floor hard and was winded for a moment before growls erupted from his chest. Before he was able to stand up I was on him and bit down hard on his underbelly. Sam yelped in pain.
"YEILD SAM!" I ordered through gritted teeth as I held on to Sam's soft skin. Sam slumped forwards and as he did I let go. I will deal with this mess later I growled, turned and ran from the clearing. The pack stood and watched me go.
"I can't hear Jacob anymore" said Paul,
"Neither can I" growled a furious Sam.
I was running full pelt for the Cullen's lair. It took a minute or two before I noticed the silence. The pack had gone. Guess there's no room for two Alphas I conceded to myself and kept running. Before long I heard others on my tail. I sped up convinced it was Sam and the pack trying to stop me.
"Jake, Jake it's me man stop …its Seth"
What the…I thought. How come I'm hearing Seth? I stopped running and waited
Four wolves came crashing through the undergrowth. Seth, Embry, Quill and ….Leah?
"Go back" I huffed "Go back to Sam"
"We can't bro" huffed Embry in reply "We left his pack too"
"Its official we're in your pack now" huffed Quill
"You can't" I replied "I can't ask you to do that, the pack are your family. Your brothers.
"We will fight with you Jacob for Bella" They chorused
"But why? I asked "Bella is no concern of yours"
"Bella is our Alpha's imprint!" growled Leah "We go together to bring her home, keep her safe" The other's growled in agreement
I did not know what to say. Seth bumped my shoulder
"We love her too Jake. Let us help please?"
I closed my eyes for a moment. "I could do with your help guys I won't deny that but when I get Bella you all return to Sam no argument"
"Yes Alpha" They all barked in unison
I knew they were taking the piss. "Come on let's get over there" and I dug my claws into the soft forest floor as I took to the chase.
We were about a 1 mile outside of the Cullen house when Embry howled
"Incoming Jake… two of them".
We peered into the darkness. It was Quill who saw them first and nudged me hard. Alice and Jasper walked out from behind some trees. I growled in response.
"Jacob" called Alice "We do not mean any harm; we do not wish to fight. I need to speak with you it's about Bella"
I stepped forward and phased into a human again. Alice and Jasper stood still ..waiting.
"Well" I enquired "What do you want to tell me?"
"You are right in what you fear Jacob Black" said Jasper. "Bella has been injured by Edward, but he will not give her up at least not without a fight. We have tried to reason with him but he is blindly in love"
"Love!" I growled "Is that what he calls it? What kind of love is it that leaves marks on Bella's face?"
"I know it looks bad! "Pleaded Alice "Believe me, Edward truly loves her… always has"
I could feel my inner wolf rising, enraged and my hands began to shake.
"Calm down Black!" Ordered Jasper "We are not here to argue Edwards's case, Alice is just telling you how it is".
"We are here to assist you Jacob…truely" pleaded Alice her little face wracked with grief "He plans to change Bella tonight and he needs to be stopped. Edward is dangerous Jacob; he's on the edge of insanity. Carlisle is trying to talk him down but Jaz and I we don't think that's possible anymore. We have a plan and we hope you will agree to join us.
