Chapter Twenty Nine
Darius
We were moving as fast as we could but Rose insisted we stop to buy medical supplies for Bella's arm and I can't say I was sorry. The smell of fresh blood was making it very hard to concentrate on anything else. Emmett stayed with her while I went to the store with Rosalie to get away from temptation.
"Do you think we'll make it back?"
I shrugged,
"It depends on how many other guardians the Quileutes have roped in. Not all of them will agree, after all its not their fight and their real job is to guard the safety of their own people. The sooner we get to the ranch the better I'll feel. You'd better hurry, I don't like being stationary."
She was quick and when we reached the car she climbed in the back to minister to Bella's wound while Emmett joined me up front.
"Darius"
His sharp call alerted me to a couple of low shapes in the shadows. We'd been tracked down by the wolves or their allies. I cursed and gunned the engine, sweeping back onto the highway and putting the gas pedal to the floor.
Bella
I almost screamed when I saw the wolves in the shadows but bit my lip to stop myself, hysterics wouldn't help our situation and Darius was soon on the road again as Rose washed my wounds with bottled water then poured some antiseptic into the bloody furrows and bandaged my arm for me then handed me a can of cold soda and some pain killers.
"Thank you Rose."
"You're welcome. Now all we have to do is get to the ranch before the wolves catch up with us."
"I think we lost them for now but there are obviously a lot of them helping the Quileutes out. We need to move fast."
I didn't think the car would go any faster but Darius managed to coax more speed out of it and the scenery outside was just a blur. I closed my eyes as the painkillers began to work turning the sharp pain to a dull ache. I hoped Charlie was safe, it was all my fault I knew and I felt guilty. If only I'd stayed away none of this would have happened and dad would be safe at home. I drifted to sleep lulled by the sounds of the engine and Emmett and Darius talking quietly.
The car slowing to a halt woke me up and my arm felt much better although I was still really thirsty, shock I guessed. Darius looked over the back of his seat at me,
"You OK Bella? I want to go on foot from here, try to avoid any road blocks the wolves may have improvised. Emmett will carry you on his back."
Emmett winked at me and I smiled back,
"I haven't had a piggy back since I was little."
I remembered as I said it that I was wrong, Edward had carried me up into the trees the first time I went to their house but I pushed that memory to the back of my mind. Darius and Emmett got out first and stood with their backs to the car apparently listening. Then they opened the rear doors and I found myself on Emmett's back. We went ahead while the other two guarded our backs and I knew danger wasn't far behind by the way they were moving. The wind whipped my hair about as we flashed across the ground at great speed and as I looked back pushing my hair to the side with my free hand I saw low figures following us, moving almost as fast as we were, wolves! I recognised the other two creatures at their side, mountain lions, and I turned back shouting the information to Emmett. He nodded to show he'd heard me but he didn't turn just kept running as fast as he could and I saw the ranch and figures running towards us. Thank God!
Charlotte
I saw the others running across the meadow and then their pursuers and shouted. Everyone started running out to their aid but it would be touch and go who reached them first. The Major and Garrett were the fastest and they reached Emmett just as the first of the big cats hit Darius from behind. As he went down The Major jumped and landed on the two of them pulling Darius free and wrestling the big cat himself and we were only just in time to save Rose. She was surrounded by wolves and only our intervention saved her from being ripped to pieces. The wolves attacked ferociously snapping jaws and slashing claws were all around us. The first of the cats went limp in The Majors arms and the second was taken down by Garrett and Darius. They came to help us with the remaining wolves but it was a very narrow victory and all of us were injured in one way or another only Emmett and Bella escaping as he kept running.
The wolf bodies lay scattered around, some dismembered, others dying of broken necks or spines and the two big cats lay with them. Peter and Darius helped by Charlie collected the bodies and burned them. We didn't have the luxury of time to bury them, more would be arriving soon we knew.
"None of these are the Quileutes."
I looked at the pyre,
"Are you sure?"
The Major nodded,
"Yes I'm sure. They must be local guardians. The Quileutes are better fighters"
I rolled my eyes holding together two flaps of skin that made up the flesh of my forearm
"That's great to know Major. Do you have any more good news for us?"
"Not good news no but it looks like reinforcements have just arrived."
He pointed to the ranch where Emmett and Bella stood with the rest of the Cullens and another girl I'd never seen before but Garrett nodded,
"That's Belisama. She's a good ally in a fight."
"For fuck sake who told the Cullens where we were. If that bitch Alice is with them I'm gonna get a fucking brand and set her alight."
"She's not Peter and we should be grateful for any help we can get."
Peter looked scathingly at Darius,
"Why don't you just shut the fuck up. Do you know the Cullens?"
Darius shook his head,
"Well 'ain't you the lucky one. In a fight they'll be about as much use as a chocolate fucking kettle. They aren't fighters, present company excepted of course."
He added the last as Rose snarled angrily then we all walked back to meet our new companions.
Bella
I was amazed to see Esme, Carlisle, and Edward waiting for us when Emmett finally stopped running but the person I wanted to see was Jasper and he was fighting the wolves and big cats. I turned to look but Emmett picked me back up and carried me inside
"Carlisle Bella got hurt by a wolf as we escaped earlier can you take a look. Rose bound it but I think it might need stitches."
I wanted to argue but then I heard Edward,
"They're coming back, all of them"
I heaved a sigh of relief and allowed Emmett to lay me on the couch as Carlisle came over and crouched down beside me.
"All I can say Bella is I'm sorry we left you the way we did, it was wrong. Now can I look at your arm?"
I nodded and he gently unwrapped the dressing Rose had put in place lifting my arm to get a better look as Esme carried in a bowl of water and a clean towel. She too looked embarrassed and uncomfortable,
"I'm sorry too Bella but we'd like to help if we can"
I waited for Edward to speak, I really didn't feel like having words with him but he just smiled at me and nodded his head. The woman I didn't know stood with him and I understood he had found his mate which was a relief.
