Chapter Fifty Four

Jasper

As we broke through the trees I could see we were only just in time, Carlisle and Seth were fighting hard but they were badly outnumbered and it wouldn't be very long before they went down. Garrett and I separated ready to take on the wolf pack when Bella put her fingers to her lips and whistled so loudly it was heard above the snarls and sounds of vampire flesh impacting with wolf teeth. Everything stopped dead and all faces turned to my mate.

"That's enough Sam. I don't want to hurt you but I will if you force me. Carlisle has done nothing, he hasn't broken the treaty so back away. The vampires who attacked and killed Eddy and Harry are dead so you need to call your pack off now."

The wolves looked at the largest who stepped away from the others slightly and I saw his form waver as he phased back to human form to stand naked but proud before us.

"The vampires have been here far too long and all they bring to our territory is trouble. Look at yourself, doesn't that prove my words? Besides you were bitten and that broke the treaty."

"No, Jasper bit me and he is not a Cullen. He hasn't been in a long time and he only did it at my request. You can't use it as a loose excuse for murder Sam. If you insist on continuing this fight there will be deaths but they will be on your side not Carlisle's."

"Are you threatening us?"

"No, I'm just stating fact. Carlisle has done nothing. Let him go, he won't be coming back anyway now he's lost Esme. Will you?"

She looked at Carlisle who was holding an arm to his side as it healed. He closed his eyes and shook his head,

"No Sam. I wont be coming back to Forks."

Sam looked at the rest of the pack then at me

"What about you Major? Will you agree to leave Forks and not return?"

"Yes if its Bella's wish."

"It is, there has been too much fighting, too much bad blood and it must stop."

Sam sighed and looked at the ground and I knew he was seriously considering Bella's words,

"If any vampires set foot on our land we will kill them, no warnings, no treaties."

"Very well."

Carlisle

Bella had just saved my life but it didn't mean much to me with Esme and Edward both gone. I wouldn't cause trouble though so as she turned to me I nodded,

"I agree. If I could just get my things I'll leave."

Sam nodded to me and I walked slowly through the wolf pack to the front door feeling the menace as I passed each one and I knew it would take only a word to start the carnage once more. Once inside I ran upstairs to pack a few essentials. I had travelled light over the centuries only collecting my books and medical instruments and storing them in a container. Only when I found Esme did I start to build up a home and have all my things around me. If the wolves didn't destroy the house once I'd left I would send someone to pack it all up and put it back in storage once more. I didn't want my things around me any longer, they reminded me too much of what I had lost. Picking up a couple of bags I took them into the garage and threw them in the trunk of the Mercedes then drove it slowly out into the driveway where everyone stood just as they had been when I walked into the house.

"Thank you Bella, and you Sam".

"Don't thank me Cullen, if I see you again trust me it will be to kill you."

I nodded my understanding and drove away from the house in Forks that had been our home knowing I would never see it again, Forks was far too dangerous a place for the Cullens now the treaty had been torn up.

Bella

I heaved a sigh of relief as Carlisle drove away watched by the pack then turned to Sam once more,

"What about Seth?"

He was standing mid way between the pack and us and I knew if I didn't do something he would be killed by his own kind.

"He forfeited his right to live by siding with the leeches."

"He did what he thought was right, you were the ones breaking the treaty not him."

"It's OK Bella I knew the score when I helped Carlisle and Edward."

He stood so bravely and determined and I wondered at his courage as the wolves snarled their disapproval of his words.

"See Bella, Seth still has some redeeming qualities, he knows he was wrong. He will come back with us to stands trial before the elders. After we bury his father of course, killed by one of those he was protecting I must point out".

"No one here killed Harry, neither did Carlisle Sam. He was killed by the Volturi looking for me. If you have a problem it should be with me not Seth."

"I will not discuss our business with you further leech. I give you two hours to leave our territory. If you are still here after that time then we will attack and nothing will stop us until you are dead, all of you."

Jasper

I could hardly believe how Bella had taken control of the situation although I knew she was more than capable of making good on her threat. Garrett looked at me and nodded, a broad smile on his face.

"Sam, I think I should warn you that Bella can make good on her threat, you really do not want to upset her."

He glared at me but I could see he believed my words then he looked at Seth who had phased back to human form too.

"Seth, you have a choice. You can come back with us where you belong and take your punishment or you can forsake your tribe and find somewhere else to live perhaps with the leeches you seem to love so much. The pack are leaving now, are you coming with us or not?"

Seth looked at Bella then back at Sam before answering him.

"I can't go back to live with you, I don't agree with what the pack did Sam. The Cullens never broke the treaty but you were ready to kill them anyway."

"So you're staying with the leeches?"

I felt sorry for Seth, I knew he wanted to go back and see his sister and mother, to bury his father but by going back he would be putting himself in danger of banishment from the tribe anyway. I didn't think the elders would do anything to him physically but banishment was a terrible punishment for a member of a pack.

Seth

I had no choice in reality, I had to go back and see my mother, help to bury my father but I knew the pack would refuse to have any more to do with me and the elders would in all probability banish me. Could I live for the rest of my life estranged from the pack? Would another guardian tribe take me in when Sam told them I was a traitor to my kind? There were no other tribes who lived in peace alongside a coven of vampires except maybe that in Denali. Every other tribe saw the vampires as their mortal enemy to be killed as soon as they set foot in the tribal territory. My only hope was that Johnny H would allow me to join his pack but that was no certainty. I looked back at Bella and smiled,

"I'm glad I did what I did but I have to go back and face my elders."

Bella shook her head understanding what it would mean but he just nodded,

"Don't worry about me Bella, worry about Charlie and yourself. Goodbye Major, look after her."

He nodded his assent and as the pack turned in unison and padded into the trees I phased once more and followed them slowly at the back and very much alone.