Chapter Fifty Three
Bella
I listened hard and suddenly I could hear a snuffling sound, an animal of some kind, had Jasper misheard the noise? Was he being over cautious? I didn't think so, no he knew a threat when he heard one, if these were animals then it meant only one thing, Jake had pursued us here, here to our sanctuary, spoiling our time alone. I felt my temper rising, I was furious and in my head something stirred, like a serpent waking up and slowly uncoiling its length. The fury grew as more coils flexed and suddenly I knew this was a part of the strange thing that had stopped Edward listening to my thoughts. I may be a weak human but something lived inside me, some kind of built in protection. I heard more snuffling then the creak as the deck boards flexed under the weight of whatever creatures walked across them slowly. I smelled wet fur which reminded me of something, something I had smelled as a little girl. I closed my eyes and it hit me, wet bear fur, Charlie had taken me with him to drop off a fresh hunting license to a guy who stuffed and mounted kills. He had been working on a bear when we went into the workshop and this was a similar smell. Jake had found himself some bear guardians to help him.
Jasper
I waited as the bears came closer then when I judged them to be close enough but not too close I put my head down and leaped out of the lounge window, clearing the closest two and landing on the edge of the deck. I started to swing through the trees knowing that would slow them down but keeping in sight. I needed them to follow me and turning back I saw five lumbering shapes coming after me but I'd heard more than that so I circled trying desperately to draw more of them and at last two more joined the pursuit. If I was right that only left one bear and two wolves and I was pretty sure Jake would protect Bella with those odds. Now I needed to find a good spot to make a stand. I had no choice but to fight them, if I eluded the bears they would only turn back and put Bella in danger again. Seeing a rise ahead I sped up until I was atop it and turned ready to face them. They were huge and I didn't rate my chances highly not against seven of them, still if it kept them from hurting Bella it would be worth my life. As they moved forward saliva dripping from huge yellow fangs I heard another noise behind me. I hadn't heard them circle behind me but then it didn't sound or smell like bears and the relief was overwhelming when I heard a familiar voice at my back,
"Fucking greedy I call it when you don't invite your mates to a party like this. Move over Major and make way for the cavalry."
Peter
As we landed we could hear a pursuit and I knew we hadn't arrived a moment too soon.
"Carlisle, Esme, take Alice and find Bella, the rest come with me and watch out for any fucking wildlife because it isn't gonna be friendly."
We ran through the trees until I caught sight of a rise and a lone figure standing ready to fight. Sending Charlie, Rose and Emmett in to pick off any stragglers Garrett, Charlotte, Tanya, and myself circled the rise and joined the Major from the rear. The bears were huge and fought well but we were faster and more used to fighting as a team. I heard the crack of a rifle and one of them staggered, shot in the torso. He went down and I jumped over him to take on the next one hoping Charlie wouldn't shoot me by accident. Charlotte went down under two bears but before I could get to her The Major was there and the biggest went flying into the trees taking one down with him.
"I need to find Bella Peter"
"Go. We can manage here"
We were four bears down and only three left, one carrying a gunshot wound to the chest and another with Garrett's arms around its neck trying to twist it enough to snap the spine.
Jasper
I ran back towards the cabin praying Bella was still hidden but as I got close I saw three figures standing frozen as one wolf and a bear stood guard in front of two other figures and one of them was Bella, I recognised her silhouette. Coming to a halt beside Carlisle I saw Jake standing behind Bella a brawny arm around her throat while the lone bear and wolf guarded them.
"Its me you want Jake, let Bella go. You won't hurt her."
"Oh really? You know that do you? She stinks of leech, better dead than with you Hale"
The bear growled and backed closer to Jake and Bella and I moved forward until Jake tightened his grip and Bella started to choke. As I watched, her eyes flashed crimson and suddenly the world exploded in a whirlwind of fur, blood, and snarls. I dodged the bear who came flying through the air in a tangle of raw flesh and fur. It looked like he'd been put through a garden shredder! Then things calmed down and I saw Jake laying on the deck, Bella standing over him and pointing a finger at the remaining wolf,
"You have five seconds to pick him up and get the hell out of here or you go the same way as the bear."
The wolf, its fur stained red with gore slunk forward and grabbing Jake by the arm pulled him off the deck and into the trees.
I ran forward to take Bella in my arms kissing her and trying to check she was unharmed,
"I'm fine Jazz really. Are you?"
She was doing the same to me, checking for wounds but I was fine, I had my mate safe in my arms again.
"I thought I'd lost you Jazz."
"No darlin' I'm fine"
I gestured for the others to check Jake and the other wolf had really gone and give us a few minutes to ourselves and sweeping her up in my arms carried her inside out of the rain and wind. Her robe was soaked with rain and blood and I stripped it off grabbing a towel from the bathroom and wrapping her in it. The room was cold because of the broken window but I stood her by the fire and threw some more logs on. She smiled at me and stroked my cheek then I saw her eyes narrow and whirled round to see Edward standing in the doorway a savage smile on his face.
"Well brother you are proving more of a problem than I imagined. I really thought Jake and the bears would finish you off. Jake you disappointed me."
Jake jumped through the broken window and sneered at him
"At least we tried. You're too cowardly to do anything yourself."
"Oh I don't think so."
He put a hand in his pocket and drew out a can of lighter fluid which he squirted, covering my clothes with the stinking liquid.
"We'll see who gets the last laugh shall we."
