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Chapter 13

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The entire pack, bar Embry and Seth, were gathered in front of the Cullen's two-story cabin. Edward told them- through Embry- that the coven had moved back to Forks, only now they resided deeper into their side of the treaty line. Seclusion wasn't a hindrance for them. Their wealth was put to use in creating a lavish existence for themselves while living with the forest in their backyard. The pack only shook their heads and sighed. Such frivolous spending was unheard of to them- a dream never meant to pass.

Carlisle eyed them. "Hello. Welcome to our new home."

"Cullen." Sam said after phasing back. He said nothing else, only eyed them.

Carlisle sighed. "Have you found them?" He asked Emmett.

Emmett nodded. "You were right. His car sat beside the lodge. Jasper's still there now." He said with a nod.

"It's time to go." Sam said.

"Carlisle… I can't…" Esme said.

He smiled. "I know… Stay here. We'll be home soon." He smiled and watched her disappear.

"Will they kill him?" Paul wondered.

Brady nodded. "I think they will."

"If not, they need to stay the hell out of the way." Collin huffed.

Jacob stared at his cousin with an incredulous look in his eyes.

"Pack comes first, right?" Collin asked him cheekily.

Quil nodded, butting in before something was said. "Pack comes first." He reaffirmed.

"So, we should get going. Alice had another vision, but they're not concrete. If he learns we're coming, he'll change her out of spite." With little left to motivate them, they started their hunt. Even with their supernatural abilities, it would still be a two-hour run.

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Bella moaned as she woke up with a pounding headache. Her eyebrows knit together in confusion when she tried to move her hand up to face but couldn't. Panic set in when the bleariness cleared from her eyes. The sight of wooden walls, a large sink like basin, a small wood stove and the single bed she lay on greeted her eyes.

Where the hell was she?

"Seth? Embry?" When she got no answer, she frowned. Her mind was still foggy and she had a gut feeling something was wrong.

'Come on Bella, think!' She hissed to herself.

"Guys?" She tried to sit up, struggling some, only to realize she'd been restrained. "Guys, come on… you've had your fun, this isn't cool anymore!"

Her breath hitched when she looked down and saw a floor length, white, strapless dress nearly painted onto her body- it was too tight. It was the same type of dress she'd been wearing in the pictures Edward sent to her; The ones he'd photo shopped of her to make her his bride.

It was a dream. A perverse dream. She'd wake up and Paul would have her wrapped in his arms and the pack would find them and tease him again about going soft. She closed her eyes with a silent prayer on her lips. With a count to ten, her eyes opened again before she let out a near silent groan of frustration.

She calmed herself and used what she had been taught by her dad over the years she'd stayed with him. It wouldn't do her any good to hyperventilate right now and pass out again. Her breathing started to even out and she was able to once again thing somewhat clearly. Judging by how dim the room was, it had to be either early morning or early evening. She leaned towards the later- the room was too warm for it to be early morning.

Not having much luck with visual aids, she tried audio ones instead. She frowned when that too failed her; It appeared the room was sound proofed. She muttered a small curse when nothing but must, natural decay and stale air met her nose. So much for the sense of smell. Wherever she was, it wasn't a place that was used often- if ever- anymore.

The mattress beneath her back was too lumpy and the pillow under her head was near flat. it made for a grumpy kind of mood in normal situations, but this was far from normal- even for her. She forced herself to lay as still as possible and let her mind drift to something that would relax her. She'd have to thank Jasper for this- if she ever saw him again at least.

Paul. Think of Paul. She grinned. That worked.

His eyes came into focus- serious, deep brown eyes that she could lose herself in met her mind. His sharp facial features: perfect chiseled, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips that she loved to kiss were the next things to picture. His broad chest, strong shoulders and back, his defined stomach and arm muscles and his large hands had her biting her lip. She needed to calm down, not arouse herself. She found herself missing him the more she thought of how perfect they fit together- her soft body lining up to his hard, warm one.

She had faith he'd find her. She just had to hope he'd realize something had happened soon.

A sudden thought crossed her mind. Seth and Embry had stayed with her last night! Paul told her they were downstairs before they'd fallen asleep. For her to be restrained now meant something bad happened to them. They'd never let her go without a fight. She started to worry all over again, for them this time instead of her.

A door opening to her left offered her the silhouette of a man. A bedside lamp being switched on gave her the first look at her captor. She gasped as fear and anger warred within her.

How dare he?!

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Jasper watched from the trees. He'd been watching since Carlisle had told them about the lodges. His 'brother' was definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed if he thought he could get away with this alive. His eyebrow raised when he saw the bag full of blood he'd stolen it from a medical clinic somewhere. He'd heard a feint heartbeat inside, but little else. Bella was either still asleep or it meant Edward had been planning this for some time... The entire lodge was insulated well. He'd relayed the message to his family as he watched again.

With his mind blank, he crept closer to the window at the back of the lodge and sighed when he saw Bella, alive and starting to stir. He was grateful that he'd worn his brother's clothes; It did well to mask his own scent and fool Edward in the process. Either that, or Edward was too distracted by trying to cover his tracks to realized he'd been caught out just yet.

It didn't take much longer after his phone buzzed for his family to find him. "How do things look?" Emmett whispered.

"She's alive." Was the quiet reply.

Carlisle let a relieved sigh escape before the wolves glided into view minutes later. Each of them were silent as they walked, a contradiction to their massive forms. Jasper should have been worried about how close they were to his family, but he put it from his mind. He jumped from the tree and landed next to Sam.

Sam only huffed. He phased back and rolled his shoulders. "Are they in there for sure?" He asked.

Jasper nodded. "They are indeed." He said.

With their sensitive ears, the sound of Edward's voice had Paul's hackles raised and the rest of the pack growling. Even Carlisle was uneasy.

"The new moon is meant to signify a new beginning; did you know that my sweet Isabella?" Edward asked.

"New beginning without him in it, maybe." Quil snarked.

Bella remained silent, much to Paul's relief. It seemed she'd learned not to goad vampires.

"I must admit, I do love the stubbornness you possess. It will be interesting to see how you fair in three days' time." He mused as he sat on the bed beside her. The Cullen's hissed and Alice looked horrified.

"What's in three days?" Sam asked.

Jasper sighed. "It's how long it takes to turn a person." His explanation had the wolves growling.

Inside, Bella gasped at the implications. "You're going to turn me?! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Hell no!" Jacob growled. The other wolves echoing with growls of their own.

"Hush!" Sam warned. "He'll hear us and turn her anyways."

Edward smiled and traced a finger down her jaw. "But of course, my love. Then we can finally be together."

Bella shook her head. "No! You're insane if you think I want that! I don't want you like that! I never wanted to be anything other than your friend!" She said as her struggles renewed.

"Funny thing is, Isabella, I know better. You've had dreams of a life with me. Marriage, a baby. You as a vampire. You're my singer. My chosen mate. And I will have you." Edward growled.

Bella's heart raced. "No! I'm the mate of a wolf! Edward, I want to go home. To my friends and family. You need to take me back!"

"Hush. That mutt won't find us until it's too late. We'll be together love, and you will stay by my side for an eternity." Edward cooed.

She cringed from his touch, wishing Paul knew where she was. She shivered when she felt his nose run along her neck. Two tears leaked from her eyes. She wasn't his. This new lease on life had showed her that. She was always meant to live, not die only to live life as a teenager forever. She'd been stupid the first time… her eyes were opened and she wanted a life with Paul now.

"Edward, don't do this. I don't want to be like you, I don't even want to be with you!"

"Sweet Isabella. I am sorry for the pain... There's nothing I can do about that. But I can promise that it's a life you will learn to love."

Paul and his wolf had both had enough. Bella needed her mate. Her wolf. "Fuck it."

"Paul!" Sam growled and phased leaving behind a shower of denim as the Cullen's watched on, stunned and afraid of the pack at the moment.

The rest of the wolves followed their alpha's lead. They wanted vengeance too. Bella was an imprint, but she was a sister to them too. There was no way Edward would make it out alive. Edward was mere seconds from biting her when Paul crashed through a window in a spray of glass and wood. He turned away from Bella to hiss at whoever had interrupted him. He smirked as the other wolves filed into the lodge, all of them growling threateningly.

"Took you mutts long enough." He sneered.

A chorus of growls was heard outside from the wolves. Their minds were curiously blank which gave Edward some pause. If Paul were human he would have smirked. The muscles beneath his fur shifted and rippled in anticipation of the fight to come. The room faded away for him then until the wolf lunged.

Edward was ill prepared for the fury that was Bella's wolf. Before he could comprehend the silence of their minds, a mass of muscle, silver colored fur and dangerous sharp teeth barreled them outside through the wall at his back. He regained his wits enough to drag his nails deep through the skin of the attacking wolf before his left arm was ripped from his body at the shoulder.

Paul didn't register the pain of the now closing wounds to his flank. His focus was on the leech who dared to think Bella would want him by her side when His growl of displeasure rumbled through his chest as Edward stood. Bella already had a mate.

"What's the matter mutt? Afraid you won't win? Or are you afraid that you'll lose Bella to a better man?" Edward taunted.

It didn't work the way Edward would have hoped. Paul chuffed in mild amusement. "Tick is a better description." He mused, breaking the silence for a moment.

Edward's growl was matched and raised by Paul. He lunged for the wolf only to be knocked backwards a good thirty feet. The icy hand of panic started seeping into his gut. He was nearly useless without seeing the wolf's mind. He finally noticed not just the pack, but Bella and his family watching as well.

"Carlisle! Do something!" Edward hissed, knocking Paul back by ten feet or so.

Carlisle shook his head. "I can't. you chose to attack the wolves first. This is their payback. A fight of life or death."

He noticed Bella curled up against one of the wolves. "Isabella, please… talk to this one! You promised me you'd try if they came for you."

Bella turned and hid her face in the fur of the rust colored wolf at her side. A shake of her head told him she wasn't going to help him either. He looked to his family and frowned when they regarded him- in Rosalie's case, with glee. She'd promised retribution if the wolves didn't get to him first, after all. He again lunged, hoping to find a weakness, only to be thrown backwards with a small piece of his torso missing. He needed to do something quick or he'd burn.

"Ring around the Rosie…" Paul taunted as they circled one another. "A pocket full of posies…"

This time when he lunged, while his nails sunk into Paul's right flank, his left thigh got gouged by the wolf's deadly claws.

Paul growled in pain before his ears swiveled, pivoting to the sound of Bella's muffled gasp. Edward saw it and smirked. He'd found the weakness he needed.

"Your taunts mean nothing mutt." He mused. He lunged for Bella only to be caught and dragged away with Paul's teeth sunk into his right ankle.

"Ashes… ashes…"

Edward hissed, trying in vain to free himself from the oppressive weight of the wolf at his back. "You're going to die mutt. One way or another."

"You first bloodsucker." Paul snarled. "Now how'd the song finish? Oh… right… we all… fall... down." He growled before his jaws closed around Edward's neck.

The Cullen's stared at the still form of Edward as Paul phased back. It took the wolves no time at all to surround the body and use the lifeless form as a tug of war toy while Sam started a fire. Carlisle sighed and turned to watch Bella rushing into Paul's arms once he'd dressed himself. He smiled despite the agony he felt inside at the death of his first son.

Bella never asked for Edward's affections, and the wolves had every right to retaliate for the attack on their pack. Watching her with her wolf- Paul- he felt peace wash over him. He motioned for his family to head home. They'd talk to the pack in the morning.

Bella turned so she could see Sam while still in Paul's embrace. "Are Seth and Embry alright?"

The pack smiled. Paul kissed the top of her head and hid his grin in her hair. Even after her own ordeal, she was more concerned about them than herself. Sam nodded. "They're alright. They're knocked out, that's all. Edward shot them with tranquilizer darts."

She nodded and smiled before pulling Paul's lips to her own. She sighed when they pulled apart. "I thought it was a dream."

He turned her and rested their foreheads together. "I did too."

"He wanted to… he said he'd… I didn't want him to do that! I don't know how he thought I would… but I…"

"I know," He said interrupting her with a kiss. "You're mine."

She smiled and nipped the underside of his jaw. "I am."

A chorus of howls sounded from the wolves for their reunion and a job well done. They watched as the flames rose high into the air each time a new body piece was added to the fire. It had been too close tonight for all of them. This needed the celebration.

Paul's head raised to the sky. He took in Bella's scent and felt the tension wash from his skin. It had taken him nearly losing her- again- to make him see just how precious she was to him. He vowed to the spirits then and there that he'd never destroy their gift that was his little mate- he'd hold her sacred always.

"Come on guys… let's go home. We've still got to deal with the rest of the leeches in the morning." Sam said when the fire had been killed.

"You mean they're not leaving?" Bella wondered.

Jacob shrugged. "You're guess is as good as ours right now Bells."

Bella sighed. Sam was right. It could wait until tomorrow.

"Up for a ride?" Paul asked.

She smirked. "Are you?"

"Always, baby girl." He grinned.

She shook her head and smiled. "My wolf." She whispered when he phased and crouched before her. Paul only rumbled in agreement. He purred with glee at the thought of being owned by her. Not one of his brothers could bring themselves to tease him for it either.