Paul's POV…..One Hour previous
My patrol was over for the night and Leah had asked me to keep an eye on Bella since Sam and Elder Clearwater had denied her Pack Protection. Bella had just gotten into her shitty rust bucket of a truck and from what Leah had told me she would be headed to the Reservation so they could spend the day at the beach.
I was still wolfed out or I would have had the biggest smirk on my face, Bella was radiating contentment and satisfaction and I could detect even from where I was crouched at the tree line that Leah's scent and aurora was all over her
"Leah you dog, you've marked her" chuckling in my head it made me so happy to know Leah had found her happiness and I would do everything I could to keep it that way. Leah had taught me how to keep my thoughts to myself only broadcasting the less important things so no one else in the pack, especially Sam figured it out.
As such I was able to keep a very important fact secret
Sam was not my Alpha; Leah was however at the moment neither of us wanted to deal with the resulting consequences of that becoming Pack Knowledge. As it was Leah was slowly winning over the younger wolves who were opposed to the violent boys club Sam was cultivating within the Pack while also teaching them to keep their more private thoughts, private.
It was only a matter of time before she challenged for Alpha and currently she had the support of almost half, I had little doubt that the others would fall in line if she made it bloody enough. Jacob Clearwater may be the exception and I was looking forward to beating him into submission.
As Bella drove out of her drive way and headed down her street I got up and prepared myself to follow
"What are you doing here Paul?" Turning to my left I see Jacob's Black Wolf standing on a fallen tree sneering down at me, I must have been so distracted with my thoughts (thank the gods for my training in not broadcasting) I hadn't heard him coming. Mentally kicking myself for that lapse I quickly scan the area with my enhanced senses to ensure it's only Jacob that I'm dealing with
"Spying on Leah's little piece of ass? I doubt she'll be impressed when I mention it to her" I feel Jacob's smugness through our link, obviously thinking he's caught me doing something behind Leah's back.
Chuckling at the absurdity of that sentence I take a step towards the arrogant wolf
"Like you'd have the balls to go anywhere near her, last time she growled you pissed yourself" Jacob jumps off the tree snarling at me
"Fuck you, ass licker. What do you think she'll do to you when she finds out?" How is it that this guy can even function with his head stuck that far up his own ass?
"Not that it's any of your business but Leah knows exactly where I am, so go ahead and tell her I could use a good laugh when she makes you piss yourself again"
"Oh, so you're taking your orders from her now I'm sure Sam's going to be interested in that. She was told that her slut wasn't worth pack protection" Again with the smug
"I've finished my patrol Jacob, what I do in my spare time is none of your business. Leah's my friend" I take another step towards him while he steps back unsure as to what I might do. He's alone and without Sam near he's a complete coward.
"And I'm sure that she'll be interested in the way you talk about her Mate, don't think Sam's going to be able to protect you for long Jacob" I sneer at him, sending my feelings of disgust at his yellow belly.
Knowing Bella now has a bit of a head start on me I don't' bother continuing with this pointless conversation so I turn and run in the direction she drove in, keeping an ear out to make sure Jacob isn't following I up my speed while weaving through the trees.
Apart from Leah I'm the fastest wolf in the pack so I'm surprised that I still can't hear Bella's truck to let me know I've caught up, taking a whiff of the air I begin to slow down when the smell of fuel hits my nose.
With a feeling of dread I pick up my speed again and run in the direction the smell was coming from. As I quickly moved closer my hackles started to rise as another smell became evident, sickly sweet but with the hint of death.
"VAMPIRE!" I yell through the Pack Link as I crash through the trees and skid to a Holt, my heart pounding painfully in my chest as I stare in fear while hopelessness crashes down on me.
Alice's POV….Thirty Minutes Before
Bella is skipping down the stairs, tripping at the bottom as her cell starts ringing. Steadying herself she can be heard saying a whispered 'Shit' as she reaches into her pocket, a look of confusion crosses her face as she stares at the caller ID.
"Hello?" The word being said as a question suggests the caller is unknown, after a few seconds of waiting for a reply she tries again
"Hello, who is this?" After another few seconds she bring the cell down, frowning she hits the end button and shrugs while returning it back to her pocket.
Walking over to the side table she picks up a set of keys and heads out the front door, getting into her truck she starts humming softly to a song playing in her head. The brunette has never looked more relax and content while radiating so much happiness.
While she's driving down the road her eyes are slightly glazed over and a gentle smile tugs at her lips as she's deeply lost in thought, her fingers are absently tapping on the steering wheel to the song that is gently playing from the radio.
All of a sudden Bella is ripped out of her daydream by the sudden appearance of someone standing in the middle of the road; she slams down hard on her breaks while wrenching the wheel to the right.
Bella screams in fear as the truck begins to tip from the speed and angle, shards of glass are flying around the cabin when the driver's side hits the pavement and the trucks momentum keeps it rolling.
After two violent rotations the trucks forward motion is finally halted when it slides into two trunks 50 feet into the tree line on the side of the road, gas is pouring out of the ragged gash that has been torn into the tank.
The truck is rocking on its hood while the engine gives one last death rattle before dying out completely, for several seconds the only sound that can be heard is the labored breathing coming from the driver's side.
Bella's vision is swimming; the only thing keeping her in the seat is the seatbelt that is cutting into the side of her neck. Her hands are stretched out above her head and she can vaguely feel warm liquid dripping down her face and into her hair.
Trying desperately not to black out she looks around her attempting to locate her cell, spotting it near the passenger side window she starts to reach for it but hesitates when she hears the sound of breaking twigs and crunching leaves just outside.
Before another wave of dizziness causes Bella to close her eyes she see a familiar figure crouched down opposite her, pale features framed with cascading flame red hair and just before she's dragged into the blackness of unconsciousness she hears a voice whispered close to her ear
"Well, Well, Well, lookie what I found"
"Alice, Alice sweetie can you hear me?" Jaspers voice filled with panic filters through my brain as I feel a forceful push of calmness enter my shaking body
We'd been hunting in an isolated area of North America and I had been just about to bite into my pray when the distressing vision had hit, looking down at myself I can understand why Jasper was in such a panic.
I drop my arms down to my sides and let the pulverized carcass of the elk fall to the ground, I was now covered in blood and gore dripping from my hands and down the front of my until a moment ago rather stylish and very expensive french blouse.
I was struck frozen for a moment longer not quite comprehending my surroundings until suddenly my brain catches up and the extreme importance of action takes hold, ignoring Jaspers questioning look I walk a step away from him and my destroyed dinner.
I quickly reach into my pocket, grabbing my cell phone I dial the one number I've been desperately trying to forget.
Three rings and I hear her sweet voice "Hello?"
"Bella you need to…" Beep Beep Beep
AN: Please be warned my story is about to get a great deal darker, violence ahead