Note: Thanks to TheOdaFan, danie568, zozie bear for adding this story to your follows/favourites.

Thanks to the reviewers-

Lucy Greenhill- Thanks so much! Glad you liked it! Haha..loved your ps :D xoxo

polly2010- Nah, she won't be a good girl but let's see how she'll fit into the future. Haven't gotten that far. I want to see how you guys react to this chapter before writing further.

MonicaClareS129- Hmm..I don'r really plan on any more appearances for her but let's see. Here's the update. Let me know what you think of this chapter. I think it could go either ways.

lytebrytehybrid88- I don't really plan on bringing in the Cullens in this story but let's see. Nothing is set in stone. I don't even know what the next chapter would be like! The scent is revealed in this chapter. Do let me know what you think of this chapter. I think I'm going to get some interesting reviews but you never know.

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

Indeed they could never have guessed what it was, Jake thought as he took in the shaking form of the young man in front of him. He was halfway disgusted and sorry for the poor guy. Seth had found him buried in the mud of the forest. He had been trying to hide from them. By smearing mud all over him he had managed to mask his odour a little but the smell of rotten flesh was overwhelming their senses and not all wolves were able to be near it and had moved at a safe distance so they won't puke.

Sam, Seth, Leah and Jake were the only ones who were able to go near the man but even they had to plug their noses to prevent the smell from chocking them. It was putrid and Jake had the most intense desire to shove the thing back in the mud to mute the smell. But he really wasn't at fault and so Jake put up with it.

The poor guy was half way between an animal and human. He couldn't recall his name. It seemed his memories had been wiped out. The wolves could clearly smell the scent of leech on him and the wound on his neck was a clear sign that he was bitten. What intrigued them was the fact that he hadn't changed. He was not a vampire completely. It seemed that his body was fighting the venom for some reason but his flesh was rotting. His skin from the neck to his chest had turned an ugly shade of purplish green and the smell was horrid.

He was looking at them like a cornered animal and Sam warmed them to be careful because he might lash out.

"What are we going to do with him?" Leah asked. She felt sorry for the guy. He seemed young, not more than 24—25 years of age and yet here he was rotting to death.

"I'm not sure." Sam said while trying to take closer look at him. This was an anomaly.

"We need to figure out something we can't just leave him here to rot." Seth felt extremely sorry for the guy. He seemed to be in pain. He couldn't move the left side of his body and obviously he felt threatened by them but he didn't even understand. He kept growling and snarling like a leech but obviously he did not have the strength of one.

"Stupid vampires! Taking away lives of innocent people for no damn reason at all!" Jake roared. A family was robbed of a member for no fault of his except maybe he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I don't think we can get him to talk." Sam mused as he took in the man's hostile eyes. He obviously knew they could rip him to pieces but was unable to put anything in words.

"I think we should get a doctor to check him out. Maybe the doc could get the venom out?" Leah suggested.

"Call Old Quil. He had suffered a snake bite once. I think he read up on different kinds of venom and their effects. Maybe he could help or at least tell us if the guy actually stands a chance." Sam said. He knew calling a doctor would lead to trouble. There would be a lot of questions. They had to sort it out at their end.

"If there is a chance for him, we will take him to a doctor. We'll say we found him in the forest like this." Jake said authoritatively. He did not want another person to lose his life if it could be saved.

Sam nodded in agreement. He made some of the wolves stay with the man while the rest of them went about their business. Sam knew Emily and Zara would want to know what was going on and decided to clue them in. He did not seem like a threat any more. He was in too much pain to move about. He ordered the wolves to only watch him but stay clear of him. They didn't know what would happen if he were to bite any of the wolves.

They hurried back home to find Emily and Zara deep in thought while setting the table. But the girls stilled their movements as soon as they saw their men approach.

Zara watched Jake come up to her. He seemed worried.

"What happened? What was it?"

"It's a poor guy who got bitten by a vampire but for some reason he didn't turn. Instead his body is starting to rot." Jake said angrily.

"Rot? How is that possible? He should either turn or be dead by now." Zara said baffled. She had heard enough to know that is what happened.

"We don't know why it happened but we are going to get Old Quil to examine him." Sam said

"Old Quil?" Emily questioned.

"Yeah, you remember he got bit by a snake and then he was intrigued and had researched the kinds of venom and their effects on the human body?"

Emily nodded. She did remember. Quil had been frantic. He wasn't ready to lose his beloved grandpa.

"We think maybe he can have some sort of information that could help us out."

"What are his chances of survival?" Zara asked Jake looking concerned.

"Very little. His body is turning purple. It happens when the venom takes effect. To make matters worse it's on the left side and I think as soon as the venom reaches his heart, he might not make it."

"How old is he?" Emily asked.

"Young, just about 24-25" Sam answered.

The girls looked at each other in horror. Sam tried to console Emily who seemed to be on the brink of tears.

Zara hugged Jake.

"I don't like vampires." She said into his chest.

"I don't either."

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AN: What did you think? Should I build on it or just let it be and focus more on Zara and Jake? Should I throw in a another imprint into the mix? Let me know!

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