Beta: Jessipooks
Banner by: Mist
Song Inspiration: Sweet Sacrifice by Evanescence

A/N: I will answer all your questions after the Eppy. I've already written the final chpt along with the eppy but at the moment my Beta is dealing with work issues due to Hurricane Sandy. Please be patient and I will post the last two chpts very soon. Oh and Thank you for reading and reviewing my story. xoxo A

CG Chpt. 29: The Sacrifice

Rolling over on her side, she noticed the lack of warmth in her bed. Peeking one eye open she saw that she was alone. Slapping her hand on Seth's pillow she felt and heard the sound of paper beneath her palm. Sitting up she reached for the paper and read the note in Seth's handwriting.

Bella my love,

I'm not sure when I will return. I hope you know that you are always on my mind and in my heart.

Love Seth

Bella smiled as she read it several times before she got out of bed and put on clothes. Going into her son's room she found him stirring from his slumber. Picking him up she cleaned him up and changed him into his day clothes before the both of them went down stairs.

She heard the clanking of dishes when she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey..." Bella's smile faded when she realized the sounds weren't from Seth but Leah instead.

"Hey." Leah pushed her hair behind her ears.

"What's going on?" Bella asked.

"What do you mean?" Leah shrugged her shoulders casually while taking her coffee and sitting at the table.

Bella put JJ in his high chair and fixed him some cereal before she answered her question.

"Why are you here? Where is Seth?"

Leah blinked a couple of times before she sighed heavily.

"Well?" Bella demanded.

"I honestly don't know. I got a cryptic message on my phone this morning. Like you, I woke up alone in my bed."

"Embry left without telling you where he was going." Bella chewed on her lower lip while she fixed a cup of coffee for herself and then sat down across from Leah.

"Yep."

"Something is wrong."

"Don't jump to conclusions." Leah pleaded.

"You can't tell me it's not odd that both of them took off without telling either of us."

"It's weird but nothing to get your panties in a wad about." Leah huffed.

"Why are you here?"

"I told you I got a cryptic message from my brother. He said to keep an eye on you until he returned."

"Why would he think I needed to be protected while he was away?"

"I don't know." Leah was growing frustrated.

"Can you phase and see what's going on?" Bella looked hopeful but when she spied the crease forming in the center of Leah's forehead, she knew that was a sign that Leah was honestly scared but trying to hide it from her.

"I tried already." Leah admitted.

"And?"

"And I can't find Embry or Seth. Only Collin and Brady were around. They didn't have a clue where they all went. They were just told to stay on constant patrol until one of them returned."

"Who left?"

"Paul, Embry, Jared, Seth and Quil."

"Why so many?"

"Like I said, I was left out of the loop."

"They are in trouble. Don't try to calm me down." Bella warned her.

"I'm not trying. I'm telling you." Leah growled.

"Where is Sam?" Bella jumped up and grabbed her phone.

"I've already spoken to Sam, Bella. He knows nothing." Leah warned her.

"Crap!"

Bella's call went to voicemail.

"Why would Seth leave Sam out of the loop? He is normally in charge when Seth isn't around."

Bella tapped her fingers on the kitchen table while trying to make sense of the situation.

"We need to go on with our day as usual. I'm sure once they return, they will explain everything to us."

Bella looked at Leah and knew her step sister was just as worried. Taking her advice she went on with her day and tried to push back the gnawing fear that grew in her heart.

XXX

"Can you explain why we are running with the vamps and where we are going exactly?" Quil asked as they ran alongside one another.

"Why can't you just trust me Quil?" Seth growled as he continued running without looking at Quil.

"It's not that I don't trust you Seth, it's just that we don't ever leave the rez and we definitely don't work with the vamps. Something strange is going on here. I just would like to know what to expect." Quil grumbled.

"Give it a rest Quil. Seth will tell us what we need to know once we get to our destination." Embry barked.

"I will." Seth agreed.

Another hour passed before Edward held his hand up in the air to stop them. They came together and phased into their human forms while the vamps talked among themselves.

"It's less than five miles from here." Edward explained as he walked up to them.

"What is?" Quil once again demanded answers.

"You haven't told them yet?" Alice asked curiously.

Edward shook his head at Alice.

"No, he hasn't." Quil huffed, wrapping his arms around his chest with a defiant look in his eyes.

"I didn't want to tell you anything in case it wasn't true." Seth began as he walked into the middle of the circle with his pack around him.

"Irina, the vampire who sought revenge on Jake and has been continuing to sneak in and out of our land is holding a human captive."

"Okay, so we got permission to leave just to rescue some poor chump from the leech who killed Jake?" Paul asked.

"Yes." Seth nodded his head.

"There is more to this." Jared replied with doubt in his eyes.

"Yes."

"Then what the hell is it?" Quil snapped.

"The captive could be …..possibly, Jake." Seth sucked in his breath as they all began to rant at once. He knew they were going to react like this. This was why he hated giving them false hope if it turned out to be just some ordinary human being and not their beloved Alpha.

"Calm down!" Seth shouted.

"How do they know about this?" Jared looked over at the Cullen's with fire in his eyes.

"Alice got a vision the other day."

"A vision. We are basing this hunt on a vision."

"Uh, hello our people based many things on visions." Quil smacked Jared in the back of the head while smiling from ear to ear. Out of all them he seemed to be the only one who wasn't surprised.

"Why didn't we know about this before now?" Embry wondered out loud.

"I told you she just got the vision." Seth sighed heavily.

"No, I mean, why didn't we feel him?" Embry explained.

"He hasn't phased and we are nearly five hundred miles away from home." Paul pointed out.

"This could be all for nothing. Remember the odds are very slim that it's really him."

"I would rather have a slim chance of hope that he is alive than to go on believing we've lost him forever." Quil announced.

"I know." Seth smiled at them but deep inside he was conflicted between joy and sadness. If they were correct and it was Jake, then his relationship with Bella was at risk.

XXX

Approaching the hideout where Jake was possibly being held, they spotted three newborns guarding the cave. Alice warned Edward with her thoughts that Irina was coming and a battle would ensue. Edward didn't like the knowledge that lives might be lost today but once again he felt confident that it was Jake indeed being held beneath the ground.

The wolves phased as they drew close. The vibrations that stirred in them gave them even more hope that Jake was alive. None of them had come close to feeling these sensations since his supposed death. Quil turned his wolf head and glared at Embry.

I told you he was alive.

We don't know for sure and even if it is him, I hate to think about his condition.

What do you mean?

What if she has bitten him and is trying to transform him into some kind of vampire dog?

That's stupid. We all know that's impossible!

Maybe.

There is no maybe to it. We were warned if they bite us their poison is lethal to us. Don't let them bite you.

Quiet. I need to watch Edward for the signal.

Like the pack, Seth felt the power that surge through them. It was true. Jake was alive. He was trying to guard his thoughts from the others. He didn't want them to know that unlike them he wasn't exactly thrilled.

A Jake and Bella reunion wasn't exactly in his top ten list of things to witness. Two years ago, perhaps he would have rejoiced at this discovery but not now.

How would Bella react? Would she hate him when she realized that his mark would keep her and Jake apart forever? Jake would fight for his son and that would mean that Bella might lose JJ also. Ironically Seth's mark would ensure that Bella would ultimately stay with him but at what cost?

It was in this moment that Seth realized why Jake never marked Bella. Jake knew that her soul belonged to him already and that the mark would rob Bella of her own free will. Seth cursed his wolf and his own insecurities for causing this situation. He only hoped that she would find it in her heart to understand why he felt compelled to claim her and forgive him, eventually.

His weary thoughts were put aside as he caught the scent of the oncoming vampires up ahead. There were two of them. The one they caught before and another one.

Remember do not attack the one we found in the woods unless she attacks us.

The wolves nodded their heads although their thoughts revealed their desire to kill them both.

"Why do you have newborns?" Tonya cried out as she looked at the three men who stood closed to the cave opening.

"I told you, I'm done playing by the rules. I've decided it wasn't enough to take their precious leader. I want them all dead. I will be saving future vampires from losing the ones they love."

"You will start a war! You know the Cullen's have a peace treaty with them." Tonya cried out.

"I don't care about their ridiculous treaty. Once I send word to the Volturi they will take care of the Cullens for hiding our enemy." Irina spoke calmly but if you looked closely at her, you would see the madness that filled her eyes.

"They would kill Edward." Tonya gasped.

"And? Do you really think he is ever going to give up wanting that weak human of his? I'm sorry sister I really am but Edward is not your true mate."

"What are you going to do with him?" Tonya looked at the cave.

"I am going to rip him apart and send him home in boxes. I think it's only fitting that they get to relive the nightmare that I endure everyday that my Laurent is gone."

"That's...horrible."

Tonya hoped that Edward was listening to her thoughts. She wanted him to know that she accepted whatever decision they made. Irina was lost to them. She was no longer the sweet girl who longed for love and happiness. She was only a shell of the woman she once admired.

Suddenly the Cullens came out of the woods and Irina wasn't prepared to see them.

"Did you bring them!" Irina turned and gave her sister a cold look.

"Yes. You are hurting innocent people Irina. I can't let you do that." Tonya sobbed as she took a big step away from her.

"You betrayed me! How dare you! After all I've done for you!" Irina shouted furiously before turning to her newborns and giving them an order. "Get the wolf and bring him up here now!"

The men raced into the cave and brought Jake up within seconds. They had to hold him up. He was too weak to even hold his head up.

"Irina this has to stop now." Carlisle spoke first.

"You are not my leader. YOU don't give me orders." She laughed wickedly.

"I've been given permission by your leader to end this if you choose not to give us Jake." Carlisle replied sternly.

"I'm not giving him up until I've killed him."

"Why haven't you killed him yet?" Edward asked curiously as he began to take a few steps sideways.

"It would be too easy that way. I've enjoyed watching him weep for his life. It's given me great satisfaction watching as he withers away to nothing."

"Irina you've done enough. It's time to return him." Tonya pleaded with her sister.

"It's not enough! I have to live out my life without Laurent. Even his death won't bring me the peace I seek."

"No, it won't. You've crossed over Irina. You are no longer thinking rationally." Alice warned her.

"I won't hesitate to kill any of you if you try to take what belongs to me, but you know that already." Irina stared furiously at the one who they knew had visions.

"It doesn't have to end this way." Alice hoped to change the future she saw when they first arrived.

"Yes, it does. Get them."

The men dropped Jake's body to the ground. He wasn't any threat to them in his current condition.

The three newborns went for the Cullens but to their surprise, the wolves made their move and entered the scene. They were confused and frightened.

"What...how..." Irina was also terrified as the five wolves growled and exposed their large, sharp teeth.

"Now Seth." Edward called out as the wolves took on the newborns while the Cullens tried to reach for Irina but before they could reach her, she was already snatching up Jake's body and running away with him.

The wolves attacked the newborn vampires. Seth knew the four wolves could handle the three vamps easily enough but he waited until the first one was dead before he took off in search of Irina who was trying to escape with Jake.

He caught their scents easily enough and found Irina before the others did. She was attempting to jump to a tree but he was quicker and snatched her in midair. Both she and Jake went pummeling to the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a moan coming from Jake's lifeless body.

"Come on! I can take you on myself." Irina jumped up onto her feet and started to run at him but Edward suddenly popped up and hit her from the side.

Seth went to check on Jake while Edward kept her busy. He nudged Jake with his nose. Jake didn't move a muscle. His heartbeat was weak and his breath shallow. Seth stared at the bruises that were scattered up and down Jake's half naked body. Another day of this torture and Jake would have died from it. How had he lasted this long?

Seth turned to see Edward pinning Irina to a tree and realizing that he was close to killing her, he felt safe enough to phase into human form. He needed to lift Jake up and carry him back to the others.

Just as he lifted his shorts up and button them, he felt a hit to the back of his head that knock him to his knees.

"Ahhhhh..." Seth cried out as he reached behind his head to feel blood seeping from her hit.

"You will not have your precious leader so easily." Irina reached out and took Jake from his grasp.

"Stop it Irina ." Edward shouted. He saw Carlisle and Alice slowly approaching her from behind.

"I might die at your hands today but he will die by mine." She shouted hysterically.

"Don't!" Seth begged her.

"It's time for my justice."

"Justice? When we killed Laurent, well that was justice! He was trying to kill a human. My woman. The woman who I love more than anything in this world." Seth forced his legs to move as he stood up and glared.

"He wouldn't harm a human. He was changing. Changing for me. Our love was making him better." Irina shook her head in denial of what Seth was telling her.

"He came to kill Bella. The woman I marked as my own. I took great pleasure in ripping his neck off. It wasn't Jake who did it. It was me." Seth lied about ripping Laurent's neck but the rest of it was true.

"NOOO! I know it was him! He gives the orders. You follow them." Irina turned Jake's neck to the side as she stared down at the man who was dying in her arms.

"Not that day! I disobeyed his order and I killed him. I wasn't about to let him be a constant threat to us. You've had the wrong man."

Irina's eyes grew wide as she looked at him with disbelief.

"You lie! He told me the same thing!"

"Of course he did. He wanted to protect me from you. It's what any Alpha would do." Seth snorted.

"NO! NO! NO!" Irina shouted.

"Your named rolled off his lips as my teeth shredded his cold dead skin."

Irina released Jake's body as she stood up, her body shaking with hate.

"He was pathetic! He didn't put up much of a fight. It was one of the easiest kills I've ever had."
A growl vibrated from Irina as her hands curled up into fists and her body went into attack mode.

"I'm going to kill you and all of your kind." She vowed as she pounced on him.

Seth hoped that the others would reach her before she kept her promise. Her cold hands circled around his body as she pulled him up against her back and yanked his neck to the side. Fear. Raw and painful fear filled his heart as her breath grazed his exposed neck.

Out of the corners of his eyes he watched as Edward and Carlisle pounced at the same time, ripping her arms out of their sockets. The sounds of her screams pierced the air as her flesh was ripped away and then nothing but silence.

XXX