I do not own Twilight.
I hear Jacob's weak whimper as Aro draws closer to Bella's neck and her impending doom. Something in me awakens and before I can stop myself I am attacking Aro.
I snatch him into the air by his neck choking him even as I ask myself what I am doing. In the next millisecond I am being held in the grip of one of the unfamiliar members. Aro rubs his neck looking at me in shock. "Well, someone is feisty." He remarks. "And fast and strong as well." He continues walking towards me. "I will deal with you next." He muses running a skinny finger down my cheek. My mind desperately searches for a way out of the helpless situation as he gathers Bella once more. I struggle but cannot break away from the guy holding me. All I can think is 'oh god' as he draws to her once more with his jaw open wide.
"Take me instead!" I yell at him desperately and all eyes turn to me. He pauses as well. "You can have me to keep. Just leave her be." I say glad he is away from her jugular. "Max." I hear someone whisper. "And just why would I want you?" Aro asks interested. "I'm a hybrid. Both shape shifter and vampire. Stronger than both with none of the weaknesses." I state. His eyes are skeptical as he releases Bella and strolls to me. His eyes inspect me. "I can shift into a werewolf. I have vampire speed and strength without the need for blood. I have a heartbeat and I can walk in the sunlight without the glitter." I recite.
His eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. "I am the only of my kind." I finish and I don't know if that's true or not but it sounded good. "You want me to let this human live her human life and in return you will join us?" he asks skeptically. "If you promise to let her be forever, yes." I reply. He stares at me with his piercing red eyes as I wait with baited breathe for his answer. "Not good enough." He states and he turns towards Bella once more. No! "What more do you want?" I demand desperately. He turns back. "I want you, forever."
I am speechless. "A lifetime of servitude." He says. Forever is a long time. I debate in my head. Am I really willing to give up my free will, my life? He turns back and heads towards Bella and lifts her easily by the neck with new resolve. "Done." I yell out and he freezes. He turns back and gives me a shocked look. "Done?" he repeats. "Done." I reiterate. He stands looking at a loss for a moment before dropping Bella. "Done." He says grinning at me. He turns to the pack who are in shock. "It would seem we are done here." He tells them. "Enjoy your life." He tells Bella who is still on the ground. "Come now." He tells his guard. "I'm sure this wonderful creature would like to have a moment to say her goodbyes." He says grinning at me. His guard releases everyone, including me, and they head back the way they came. I watch knowing I will be joining them shortly. Edward stays behind waiting for me but he refuses to look at me.
It is silent in the clearing once they are gone and no one moves for a long minute. Until Shay runs to me crying and wraps her arms around my middle and I hug her back. "Don't go Max." she sobs and I don't reply. Her hug seems to set everything in motion and then I am saying goodbye to everyone. I manage to get through the goodbyes tearless, even my mother, until I am faced with Jacob. Bella, who has been glued to his side for some time now, hugs me first. "Thank you." She tells me. "I didn't do it for you." I reply. "I know, and thank you." She responds then she hugs me once more and steps back as Jacob steps up.
His eyes are cast down and I feel my heartbreak. "You're…you're leaving." He states the obvious and I nod. "Max…" he starts looking up but I cut him off. "Don't Jacob, please." I tell him as tears dance silently down my cheeks. "I don't want to hear apologies." I say honestly. "What do you want to hear Maxiene?" he asks softly with a look of pain on his face. I grab his hands in my own and they fit perfectly because we were made for each other. "I just want you to tell me that you love me." I say in a voice weak with pain. He places his forehead against my own as tears fall from his brown eyes. "I love you."
We stay like that and I bask in his words because I know they are true. Finally I pull away. "Goodbye Jacob." "Goodbye Maxiene." We whisper. I release his hands and I turn to see Edwards outstretched one. I take it wordlessly and he grips it firmly. We head into the woods and I leave my family behind without another look back.