We're nearing the end of the story, don't forget to R&R! I don't own Twilight or any of its characters

Chapter Twenty One

"Adria my darling, it's so good to see you," Aro practically purred, his voice easily carrying across the distance between us.

"Not sure I can say the same," I snapped. I wasn't afraid of him anymore, there was nothing else he could do to me. I'd grown from the frightened child he had last encountered to an adult that wasn't going to quake in her boots every time he made an appearance. I didn't want to admit to myself that my heart was pounding, my breathing getting more and more shallow, just at the mere sight of him.

He laughed in response to my comment, a laugh so melodic it sounded like it came from an angel, not the opposite of one.

"Well I see someone's changed quite a bit while she's been away on her little…trip," he simpered, taking a nervous sideways glance at Drake when mentioning my "trip". While Aro was appearing calm Drake was sneering openly at me, delighted at my failed escape no doubt.

"It's wonderful to see you again Adria, I had hoped we'd be married by now but don't worry, distance has made the heart grow fonder," he announced, blowing me a kiss that I wish I could throw back. The look of triumph on his face was enough to make me ill, the mention of our engagement was full on nauseating.

"Oh the pleasure's all mine," I called back sarcastically. That wiped the smile off his face, replacing it with a not-so-happy look.

"I want to discuss terms," I demanded, much to the amusement of the pair of them.

"And what, my dear, makes you think you are in any position to demand anything," Aro asked, unable to restrain from laughing out loud.

"I'll go with you, no struggling, I'll do whatever you want, I'll never run again. But you have to leave everyone here alone, I don't want any harm to come to any of these people."

"Are you referring to anyone in particular?" Drake asked, his eyebrow raised. My heart began to pound even louder. Play it cool Adria, play it cool.

"None of these people have done anything wrong, and we all know it would be in the best interest of the Volturi if no blood was shed. The last thing you want is a scandal." Please let them agree, please let them agree.

"I suppose my daughter is right," Aro replied, after a few moments of looking thoughtful. "So be it, no harm will come to any of these humans you seem so fond of." I masked my sigh of relief with a cough and a muttered thank you.

"And now my child, it is time to come home," he announced, extending his white hand towards me, his skin glistening in the sun like it was glazed with diamonds as he did so.

I knew I had to avoid Aro touching me long enough to use his power. If he did he would find out about Jake and no amount of pleading would save him. It shouldn't be too hard, it's not as if my father and I were very affectionate to one another. Thankfully, he didn't appear curious about what I had been doing during my stay here so it seemed I was in the all clear.

You did it Adria, you saved him. Maybe a normal life had never been in the cards for me, but at least Jake would have one, the one he deserved. My only regret was that I couldn't say goodbye, not properly. It stopped him from interfering but I knew it would also hurt him beyond belief. In the end it came down to if I wanted to hurt him or if I wanted to get him killed. I knew which option I'd always pick.

So, when Aro beckoned me forward, I began to slowly make my way across the meadow. None of them moved as I made my way through no man's land. I didn't bother to look at them, instead I took in the trees surrounding me, the bright blue sky that lay over my head.

I will always remember Jake, I'll never forget, I thought, wishing he could hear me. It was as I grew ever closer, when I was a mere ten feet away that I heard it. I turned to look back into the forest that lay behind me, feeling my brow knit together in confusion. I know that the vampires heard it too as they all snapped to attention, crouching into defensive positions, looking around themselves wildly for whatever was out there.

It was a steady rhythm, like something heaving hitting off the ground over and over. The noise reverberated through the trees, I could feel the vibrations coming from the forest floor. Whatever it was, it was big, and fast. The sound was getting increasingly louder, making it feel as if the earth itself was shaking. Just as it seemed impossibly close, impossibly loud, all went silent. I could hear the Volturi guard snarling, all of them looking ready to pounce. Aro and Drake were calmer but just as confused, staring straight ahead.

I turned back to where the noise had been coming from, and that's when I saw them. That pair of dark chocolate eye's that I would recognise anywhere. I didn't understand, how could he be here, how had he known? He came closer and closer until he had come out from the camouflage of the trees and I couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped me. Instead of the tall, muscular boy I had been expecting, what appeared before me was a large, furry beast. He was like a wolf but impossibly bigger, his fur a dark auburn, his teeth bared as he snarled at the crouched vampires. Then his eye's met mine and I knew. It was Jake. I didn't know how it had happened but it was him. Then the others began to appear. They came out from the forest, all of them huge and intimidating. There must have been seven or eight of them in total, each with their teeth bared and looking dangerous. There was one that held my gaze. It's fur was dark brown, glistening in the sunlight and it had warm brown eyes that were looking at me intently. Embry?

Before I could react I was pulled back to the present by the sound of Aro's voice.

"No, it is impossible! Your kind are extinct, we made sure of it!" He was beyond furious, I had never seen him so angry as he stared down each and every werewolf standing in front of him. "What is the meaning of this Adria!" I opened my mouth to speak but had lost the ability to form words. My first reaction of surprise had quickly turned to one of fear. After everything I had done, after all the lengths I had gone to, to make sure Jake, Aro and Drake never came face to face, it had all been for nothing. I had failed to protect Jake, failed to know what had really been going on. This explained his mysterious illness, the unexplained outings. How had I not seen it, how had I been so stupid? Now he was in imminent danger and I didn't know what to do. I looked from Aro to Jake, trying to find some way to explain this, some way to save Jake's life.

After examining the werewolves for a long moment, Aro turned his furious gaze on me.

"You. You knew about this didn't you! You planned this, didn't you!" before I could reply he strode forward and slapped me hard across the face. I fell to the ground with the sheer force of the blow. I knew his skin hadn't been in contact with mine long enough to use his ability, but that didn't make the slap any less painful.

The growl that emanated from Jake pierced my skin. I looked up to see him baring his teeth, looking ready to tear Aro's head off. He began barking and ripping at the ground wildly, giving Aro a look that could kill.

"Hmm…interesting,"Aro murmured, seeming completely unfazed by Jake's fury. Then he did something that couldn't have shocked me more. He laughed. He laughed long, hard and menacing. When he was finally able to catch his breath he looked down at me, his eyes full of delight.

"It seems Drake, that Adria has an admirer." Oh god, oh god, oh god. I turned to see Drake staring furiously at Jake, his hands shaking at his sides.

"It would appear so," he snapped, continuing to glare.

"Let's just leave," I pleaded with them. "They don't mean any harm, let's just go and forget all about this!" My statement was made even more false with another furious growl from Jake, as well as several other werewolves.

I looked at each and every one of the giant werewolves in front of me, coming to a stop when I met Jake's eyes. I stared pleadingly, willing him to turn and run but he didn't move an inch.

Instead he let out a yelp, beginning to convulse violently and fall to the floor. I looked back at the vampires in shock but they weren't doing anything, it appeared they were just as surprised as me. Jake continued to spasm on the floor, his body rapidly shedding the fur and returning to human form. I had never seen anything so amazing, in a matter of seconds he was human again, as if nothing had happened. He stood, obviously not caring that he was standing stark naked in front of the Volturi. He reached down and unravelled a pair of shorts that I only just noticed were tied to his left leg. He pulled them on with ease before standing straight and staring Aro and Drake defiantly in the face.

I wanted to run to him, to beg him to get out of here but I couldn't move. My body was in complete shock. Jake was a werewolf, he was here and he was a werewolf?

Everyone was completely silent as we waited for him to speak. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I wouldn't like it.

Finally he cleared his throat and his gaze rested on me, while he was clearly speaking to Aro.

"I offer myself in Adria's place," he announced, as calmly as if he was announcing the weather forecast.

I finally found my voice. "NO! No he doesn't, he doesn't know what he's saying! Please Jake, just LEAVE!" he ignored my pleas, continuing to stare into my eyes with regret.

"And why would we want you instead of her?" Aro asked, just as calmly as Jake had made his offer.

"Because I'm the son of Tess and the alpha werewolf."

He was making an offer Aro would be unable to refuse.