A/N: Thanks Costa for pre-reading!
27
If anyone was to tell seventeen year old Bella that a decade later, she'd be in the middle a war of supernatural creatures, she would have said they needed to get their medication checked.
Yet, here she was witnessing it all.
Emmett had always been down for a good fight, and this one was no different. Paul was there by his side, just as hungry and willing. Brady and Embry were there too, double teaming a werewolf.
Jacob let out a loud roar in a werewolf's face, momentarily surprising the beast. Then he charged at it, knocking it off his feet, dodging its talons and venomous fangs. Jacob's massive paws swiped at it, tearing into its throat. Blood sprayed all over his fur, but Jacob didn't stop until it was dead.
Jacob was a force of nature when he fought. Much like a hurricane, he was both beautiful and dangerous.
They'd gone after someone he'd cared about, and they were going to pay.
She looked over at her husband who was on his own quest for retribution. He'd torn through three werewolves leaving only carnage behind. Beneath all the anger and the vengeance was a man who was angry that someone had the nerve to go after his daughter.
She could relate.
But Bella had a mission of her own. She needed to find Seth.
Jacob hadn't mentioned if anything had happened to Seth, and he would know. So Bella held that thought close, protecting it from all the things that said he was trapped somewhere or worse, that he was no longer alive.
She just needed to find him.
Whenever she sat with Seth outside Eden's house, they would walk the perimeter, taking note of the things that were different from the last time they patrolled. He told her to use all of her senses, and not rely on just one.
At this point, her sense of smell was practically useless. Between the werewolves, the pack, and her own coven, she couldn't decipher one smell from the next, so she used her hearing.
Edward and Emmett didn't have heartbeats, so that ruled them out. The shifters and werewolves all had beating hearts, but theirs were thrumming rapidly due to the heavy combat.
Which one isn't like the rest?
Bella closed her eyes and concentrated. One heartbeat was strumming along at a slow cadence.
That had to be him.
She mentally tuned out all the other noise and concentrated on that sound, following it like a bloodhound. It was stronger toward the back of the house, near the shed.
The heartbeat became louder as she moved farther away from the fight. She opened the door slowly, listening for sounds of danger lurking. The shed was dark, but she had no problem seeing.
A familiar scent hit her, and she placed her hand over her stone heart. She had never been so happy to smell a wet dog than she was at that moment.
There he was, unconscious, but alive, slumped against the wall. He still had shorts on, so he hadn't phased when he was attacked. His cheek was red and swollen, which should have healed moments after he'd gotten it.
She kneeled down next to him. "Seth?" She felt his skin. Hot as usual which was a good sign. She shook his shoulder and touched his face with her cold hands. "Seth, wake up for me."
He didn't even stir. Usually her touch made him flinch if he wasn't aware she was near.
What did they do to him?
She could just carry him, maybe run with him to Ness's house. But what if she ran into a werewolf by herself with Seth on her back?
No, she had to wake him up here. But how?
She had an idea. Very carefully, she waved her finger underneath his nose a few times. "Come on, Seth. It's time to wake up." After the fourth pass, Seth shot up, his eyes wild, his arms thrashing.
"Better than smelling salts." Bella dodged his flailing hands. "Hey, you're okay, Seth. Calm down. Everything is okay."
"Bella?" Seth put his hand to his head. "What the hell happened?"
"The werewolves attacked. What do you remember?" She brushed the dirt from his hair.
"Werewolves…" Then his eyes widened. "Oh shit! They're here! They're after Eden! I have to tell Jake!" He went to move and then thought better of it when he started to sway.
Bella pushed him back down. "Jake is here with the pack and so are Edward and Emmett. Take your time, okay?"
Slowly, Seth began to orient himself, taking deep breaths. "What about Eden and Ness?"
"They're on the way to Ness and Leah's. Kim's there already." Bella gently grabbed his chin. "What happened here?"
Seth touched his cheek. "That bastard punched me after he shot me with that dart."
"What dart?"
"It was like the one they used on Leah. He got me twice." He leaned up so he could show Bella his back. "Once with werewolf venom," then he held his arm up. "and another with some type of sedative."
"Can you phase?"
"No. It must be the werewolf venom." He put his hand to his head again. "It explains the headache." Seth slammed his fist down. "It's my fault, Bella. I wasn't paying enough attention. That's why this has gone as far as it has. I let Jake down."
"Seth, you can't blame yourself," Bella said. "This isn't your fault."
"I'm sure Jacob will think differently," Seth muttered.
Bella pursed her lips. "Okay, let's get you out of here. Then you can ask him yourself, and then admit that I was right." Bella helped him to his feet, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Except for an occasional lean, he was standing on his own which was a good sign.
When they walked outside, the sound of the fight was growing more and more intense.
"I need to help them." Seth tried to break away.
"Oh, no!" Bella held onto him. "You're in no condition to fight. Kim needs to look you over."
"It was my job to watch Eden's house." Seth's expression was discouraged. "If I had done my job correctly, it wouldn't have gotten to this point. Let me go." Seth struggled to get free, but Bella's grip held firm.
"If you think I woke you up so you could get hurt again, you're nuts." Bella held onto his arm, but moved in front of him. "If you don't stop, I will knock you out and put you back in the shed and get you later, got it?"
"Got it." Seth held his hand up. "When did you become a badass?"
"Since this is the only way hardheaded vampires and wolves will listen to me."
Bella moved back under Seth's arm and started walking again. Close to the side of the house, they saw a grotesque figure on the ground, squirming and writhing. Parts of its face were a mixture of man and wolf, hair sprouted all over his body.
"What the hell is that?" Seth asked, his face scrunched.
Bella pulled Seth into the house, using one of the new holes. "That's the werewolf that went after Eden and Ness." She peeked out of the hole to get a closer look. "The werewolves have a pack mind like you do, right?"
Seth leaned against the wall. The brief walk obviously took all of his energy. "That's what Matt said. Why? What are you thinking?"
"I've got a crazy idea."
"What kind of idea?" Seth lifted his head.
She hopped out of the house. "Just stay there, okay? I'll be back."
~*}{*~
As Mark's bones broke to make way for the beast, two thoughts crossed his mind. The first was how he was going to kill that bitch of a vampire for interfering. He was going to rip her apart until she couldn't come back together again.
Then he was going to burn her and deliver her ashes to that sorry coven of vampires.
The other was Eden. He wasn't going to waste time making her see the truth. He wasn't going to try and convince her of all the great things that came with becoming a werewolf. He'd learned his lesson. He was going to make her his, and if she survived the bite, she would be perfect.
Through the pain, Mark heard a car engine start. He knew that was his female fleeing.
Don't let them leave! Mark commanded.
It was all he could get out. He didn't know if anyone heard him or not. Their shared mind was finicky during their change.
He was beginning the roughest part. The beast was clawing its way to the surface, and it was extra brutal. Maybe because Mark had held him down for so long. Maybe it was hungry for the battle that the rest of the werewolves were enjoying. Maybe it was just as pissed as he was about letting Eden slip through his fingers.
Whatever the reason, the beast was breaking through in the worst possible way.
The heavy stench of vampire filled Mark's senses, causing nausea to roll his stomach around.
The bitch was back, but he couldn't see her. In just a few moments, he'd take care of her, make her wish that she'd never been born.
The pain was a lot less now, which meant he was almost done. He could feel the strength surging through his veins.
One thing was strange though. He couldn't hear anyone, but he knew the others were fighting.
Where the fuck is everyone? he demanded. Someone better be running after that car!
No answer. Just silence.
Hello!
Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a tingling sensation, like a part of his body had fallen asleep.
Mark brushed it off to after effects of transforming. His body was still raw with pain. As he took a moment to let his nerves settle, the tingling increased. The only way he could describe it was like being locked in a tight box with the walls slowly closing in.
The vampire appeared in front of him, her eyes that weird gold coloring and her scent wafting around him.
A low growl gathered in his throat, slowly seeping out. It was time to end this.
The walls closed in tight, and as he screamed in his head, the beast let out an anguished roar. He hands went to his head, struggling to find release.
She tilted her heard curiously. "Need an aspirin?" She even had the nerve to smile.
Mark growled and surged forward, then the walls closed in, making the pain unbearable. Mark clawed at his head, drawing blood, and pulling out fur. But the walls held firm, not budging under his strength.
As he writhed on the ground, he looked up into those eyes that had turned coal black and another powerful blast hit him.
The final surge sent him into darkness.
~*}{*~
Jacob was sure he had things under control. Sam's breakdown had caused problems, but he had it handled.
Paul, Embry, and Brady were there to fight with him, while the rest of the pack continued to guard La Push. He sent Collin over to Leah's to help Quil guard her house, since Kim was there also to help anyone who was injured.
For all he knew, this was all a plan to get to Leah. The pack had already been caught with their pants down.
Emmett, Edward, and Bella had arrived before Jacob. Matt was following the Rabbit with two of his own to ensure that they made to Ness's house safely. The rest of his pack was helping Jacob's pack guard La Push.
Rosalie remained at Charlie's house, while the rest of the Cullens continued to guard Forks.
So yeah, Jacob had it handled.
Or so he thought.
Five more werewolves showed up. The pack was tired, and even though Emmett and Edward didn't need to breathe and didn't get tired, it was obvious even they couldn't keep up with the werewolves. As soon as they took care of one, more of them showed up.
We have to retreat! Jacob commanded through the pack mind. Eden and Ness are safe! Everyone pull back!
But the werewolves had other plans. They were pulling away on their own, sprinting down the street in pursuit of the red car carrying precious cargo.
They're going after them, Paul sent to Jacob.
Keep them here! Jacob said.
That was easier said than done. The werewolves that weren't pulling back were keeping them down, making sure that their comrades had a chance to chase the car.
Matt! Jacob sent. They're going after Eden and Ness.
We're on it, Jake, Matt sent back. We'll stay with them until they make it home.
Jacob looked through Matt's mind and watched as the little red car zipped down the highway. Knowing that Eden was driving that car, shifting gears like a pro, was such a turn on.
She was a strong woman.
Brady, behind you! Paul shouted, catching Jacob's attention.
Brady had only a moment to react, but it wasn't enough. A werewolf barreled toward him, knocking him down. The werewolf had him pinned face down, his claws sinking into his fur to keep him from moving.
Jacob struggled to get free to help, but he was in heavy combat. They all were.
Brady's scream echoed through the pack mind as the beast's jaws closed around his shoulder and neck.
BRADY!
Brady's pain and fear swam through the pack mind. They saw things dim around him, his body forcing him to shut out the pain.
A loud crack sounded and the beast fell to the ground.
"Hey, man!" It was Emmett, his golden eyes staring at him and the entire pack. He ripped off his shirt and put it against his neck. "Stay with me. We're going to get you help."
Then an amazing thing happened. The werewolves stopped fighting. Instead, they clawed at their heads and howled in agony.
What the hell? Paul said, watching some of them fall to their knees. Others retreated to the woods.
Jacob took the opportunity to kick a werewolf off him and slit his throat.
"I need help over here!" Emmett called, holding his shirt to the open wound on Brady's neck. Blood had already soaked through.
Jacob phased back to human, not caring that he was naked and headed to his fallen wolf. Embry and Paul followed.
Brady was coughing up blood, his eyes wide with fear.
"He's not healing!" Paul said, appearing next to Jacob. "Why isn't he healing?"
"He was bitten." Edward kneeled down. "We have to get that venom out of him before it gets too far into his bloodstream."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Paul snapped.
Edward looked at Jacob. "The same way I did with Bella. I have to suck it out."
"No, it's too dangerous." Jacob argued. "If you accidently bite him, it will only make things worse." Jacob moved closer. "I'll do it."
"You can't, Jake." Edward stopped him. "The venom will be in your system and it will harm you. Your pack can't afford to lose their Alpha. Vampires are immune." Edward's face turned serious. "You have my word that I will not harm him."
"He'll be in violation of the treaty," Embry warned.
Jacob watched the color drain from Brady's face. He wasn't going to let him die, especially if there was a way to help him. "Let me deal with the council and the treaty. Do it." He leaned down, catching Brady's eyes. He could barely keep them open. "You stay with us! Do you hear me?" Jacob said, using his Alpha command. "Don't you dare stop fighting!"
Jacob had no idea if that would work. He didn't know if Edward's venom sucking idea would work either. He had to try.
He nodded toward Edward. Edward removed the blood soaked shirt and latched on. He took strong pulls, then put the shirt over the wound again. He spit out the blood, and then went back at it.
Shifter blood was not appetizing to vampires, especially shifter blood laced with werewolf venom. That was a plus. The last thing anyone needed was a vampire in the throes of blood lust.
Edward did that a few more times, spitting out the blood each and every time.
"Okay, I think it's gone." Edward sat up, Brady's blood dripping down his face and neck. "I don't taste it anymore."
Brady had passed out, but there was a weak heartbeat.
"He's going to need blood. Bella has some. We need to get him to our house." Edward looked at Paul. "Go inside the house and see if you can find some towels or blankets."
"Got it," Paul answered and was gone.
Edward turned to Emmett. "How far is your Jeep?"
"A few miles away. I can get there in a jiffy." Emmett was already on his feet.
"Good. We need to get him out of here and to Carlisle. Go!"
As Emmett sped away, Bella appeared. "What happened?" She looked at the blood on the ground and on Edward's chin. Her hand covered her mouth. "Edward?"
Jacob could imagine how it looked with blood all over the place, and on Edward's mouth.
"I had to, love," Edward explained as he wiped his mouth. "He's okay, but we need to get him back to our house. It's his best chance."
Bella wrapped her arms around herself and bit her lip. "Well, I found Seth."
"You did?" Jacob jumped up, not caring that he was naked. "Where is he?"
Bella pointed toward the house. "He's inside. He's weak, but okay."
"Thank, God." Jacob couldn't handle if something happened to Seth too.
"What about him?" Bella pointed to the werewolf lying on the ground about thirty feet away.
"Who is that?" Jacob asked, getting a closer look.
"He was the one after Eden." Bella smiled weakly. "He passed out after I shrunk his brain."
"Is that why the werewolves stopped fighting?" Embry asked.
Bella bit her lip, then nodded.
"And how the hell did you do that?" Jacob narrowed his eyes.
"It's a long story, Jake." She patted his shoulder. "One to be told when you have more clothes on." She was clearly avoiding the lower half of his body.
For the first time since this crazy night started, Jacob smiled. "I guess I have a lot of stories to tell." One very important one to a very important person.
"After we get Brady situated, we'll deal with him." Edward tossed a towel to both Embry and Jacob, giving them both pointed looks. "Emmett and Jasper have been working on just the place for him."
As they both wrapped up, Jacob said, "Embry, go with Brady. I think someone should be there if…um…when he wakes up." Jacob looked at Paul. "I need you on La Push. You're in charge."
"Got it." Paul phase right there and sprinted through the woods.
"Seth is still weak, so I'll wait here with Bella until Emmett gets back."
"Okay, sounds like a plan."
~*}{*~
It only took a few minutes for Emmett to return with his jeep. After carefully loading Brady inside, they left. Emmett said that after he dropped Edward and Embry off, he would return and take them to this holding place they had for werewolves.
Since Bella put the shield around the werewolf, she had to stay and Jacob offered to stay with her, just in case things got out of hand. Seth was nearby and stable, so they were going to drop him off at Leah's before taking care of the werewolf.
For the most part, the beast stayed docile, although there were a few times it stirred and Bella had to do that mind squeeze thing she did.
"You're going to make a liar out of Edward," Bella said. They sat in one of the holes in the house, out of sight with the werewolf at their feet. Seth was nearby, leaning against the wall.
"What?"
"Edward told Eden that you would meet her at Ness's house." Bella's feet swung idly. "That was the only way we could get her in the car without tying her up. She'll think he lied when you don't show up."
"I wasn't going to leave you here with a werewolf." Jacob crossed his arms. "Besides, I want to see this place Emmett and Jasper built for the werewolves."
"And it had nothing to do with you having to tell Eden the truth about everything? It's not because you're afraid she might leave you, right?"
Jacob was slow to answer. "No." Jacob peeked over at Seth, who had fallen asleep. "She texted me, you know."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Said she wanted to talk." Jacob drew figures in the dirt with his toe. "I was so happy and scared at the same time. It felt like eons since she responded to me, and then she did. While I trying to figure out if I should call her or text her, all hell broke loose. But it was so good seeing her again. She was right there in front of me, staring at me in my wolf form. Inside, I was screaming that it was me." He looked at Bella. "Do you think I scared her?"
Bella shrugged. "Probably. She did just see giant werewolves destroy her house and nearly kill her. Just give her a moment to process everything." Bella touched his shoulder. "But she needs to see you, Jake. She was worried sick that you were going to be hurt."
Jacob exhaled and crossed his arms. "Okay, when Emmett gets back, Seth and I will both go to Leah's."
"Good."
Jacob stared at the werewolf lying down on the ground. He was tempted to end him right there, making sure that he wouldn't be a threat to Eden ever again. But this wolf had information, and Eden's life wasn't the only one on the line.
"Can he hear us?" Jacob said.
Bella looked at him. "No. The pressure of my shield keeps in this state. He's practically in a coma."
"What about when he wakes up. He'll change and call his pack."
Bella shook her head. "Even if he does, he won't be able talk to his pack. When I shield Edward's mind, he says it's only his thoughts in his head. He can't hear anyone else."
"So, is that how you shrunk his brain?" Jacob tilted his head toward the beast.
"Sort of. I figured it out by accident. When I'm with Edward, I put a shield around his head to keep the voices out. He appreciates the quiet, and everyone else appreciates their privacy."
Jacob laughed. "I know I do."
"One day, I guess my shield was too tight around his brain. He said that it actually felt like his brain was going to explode if I kept squeezing. Remember when the Volturi came and I put a shield around Sam's mind and it protected the entire pack?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I hoped that the same thing would happen in reverse with the werewolves. I hadn't tested the theory, but I had to try. This guy was still changing so I had a subject that was practically incapacitated. He'd just finished by the time I hit him with all of my power. He passed out, they retreated, and Eden and Ness are safe."
"Smart thinking, Bells." Jacob sighed. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to Eden. All I've ever wanted was to keep her safe and out of this crazy life."
"That's all we want for those we love, but it's just like squeezing Edward's brain. I was just trying to help, but I was helping too much. That's why it hurt him."
The rumble of a truck caught their attention. Emmett waved from the cab of a huge box truck.
"Good news." Emmett hopped out. "Carlisle says Brady's healing. It's slow, but so far so good. Embry's going to stay there for a few hours then Jared's going over there for the rest of the night."
"I needed some good news. First Sam loses it, then we almost lose Eden, Ness, and Brady."
"What happened with Sam?" Bella asked, landing on her feet in front of the hole.
"Long story." Jacob let out a frustrated sigh as he joined her. "Another problem I'm going to have to face sooner than later."
Emmett easily picked up the beast and tossed it in the back, then closed and locked the door.
"Where are you taking him?"
"This place that Jasper and I were working on with the help of the other pack." Emmett twisted the key in the lock. "And trust me when I say, he won't be going anywhere when we get him there."
Jacob glanced back at Seth who was sleeping soundly, his heartbeat was strong. "I'll call Collin and have him come pick us up. He's not that far away, and I don't think we're in any danger right now." Jacob looked at Bella. "Thanks to you."
"You're welcome." Bella smiled. "See, I told you I can be helpful too."
As Jacob watched the box truck ride down the street, he took a deep breath. In just a few moments, he would be in front of Eden. She'd want answers, and he couldn't dodge it anymore.
It was time to face the music.
