Disclaimer: All characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer but the plot is all mine!
A/N: Thank you all for reading this story and leaving such kind reviews! Special shout out to Jasper's Darlin' Kathy thanks for reviewing every chapter so far hope you enjoy this one! Time is running out my friends…no one can be trusted…no one!
And now the story continues...
Chapter 44- The trap is sprung
"Now I will with Emmett's help" shouted Jasper "Show you what it looks like to be attacked by a new born." Emmett eagerly stepped forward grinning like a Cheshire cat and Jasper rolled his eyes at his brother as he leaned into a hunting crouch. The rest of the Cullen's stood to one side facing the wolves who had gathered to watch.
Bored with the whole thing Rosalie closely examined a polished finger nail and sighed. She had only come to support her mate who was all too willing to fight in this upcoming battle, a battle in which she felt they did not belong. Once again Bella Swan had the Cullen's wrapped around her little finger and even though Rosalie had come to intensely dislike Edward, she really felt the family would be better off out of the whole damn situation. Whichever way she looked at it this was not their fight and if she had her way she and Emmett would be on the next flight out quite frankly to anywhere…
Paul and Jacob paced the line as the pack growled low behind them watching the Cullen's every move, their wolves agitated at being so close to leech. Paul was unsettled too, he couldn't put his finger on it but something felt just plain wrong… Turning his huge body to look back towards La Push as if drawn by some invisible force, his eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance...Bella.
Jacob could feel the anxiety rolling off Paul and was just about to pull his attention back to the Cullen's when roaring loudly Emmett made an attack on Jasper who deftly flipped himself over the huge vampire and out of the way. Emmett's large arms grasped at nothing as he let out a roar of frustration. He turned to attack again but Jasper was not behind him where he had expected to see him and before he could take another step Jasper hit him side on bowling Emmett over to land on his back with Jaspers mouth close to his throat.
"I win… I think" Jasper chuckled as he helped Emmett to his feet. Emmett dusted himself down as Jasper turned to address the pack. "Remember they are literally new borns so their experience of fighting is pretty slim and never I mean never take the obvious route of attack that is exactly what they will be expecting.
The wolf pack huffed their approval. Both Jacob and Paul were looking at Jasper with a new found respect. Both man and wolf recognised that first and foremost he was a soldier and for the last two hours he had led them through a tough but thorough training. Jacob was just about to phase to human and thank Jasper when Alice cried out…
"The decision has been made they are coming here! "Her face was frantic as she sought out her mate. Jasper moved so fast he was nothing but a blur as he took Alice into his arms "The Denali Coven…" She whimpered "They are moving today but the plan keep's changing ...I can't see where they are... something is blocking me!"
"It's ok Alice "Jasper soothed "Relax a little… maybe then…." But she turned in his arms grabbing at his clothing.
"It's Bella they are coming for her but I can't see her ...I can't see…" she wailed loudly obviously distressed at what she had managed to see yetfrustrated by what she was missing
Before Paul could worry further than he already was doing Jacob snapped a command he needed Paul in the game focused ready…
"Jared Colin Seth you take the northern perimeter that's where I would expect them to come onto Quileute land considering their coven is in the north. Quil, Sam you take one of the pups and patrol the Cullen boundary line. As soon as he gave the order the wolves left.
"Emmett and I will run our side of the treaty line." Carlisle shouted as he and Emmett swiftly turned to run leaving Rose and Esme looking slightly stunned it had all happened so fast. Jasper meanwhile was still trying to comfort a distressed Alice who was lost in yet another view of the future…
Jake swallowed hard as his eyes followed Paul who was pacing and whining loudly, shaking his huge head from side to side as if he were trying to dislodge something…
"Paul you ok man?" Jacob huffed as he trotted over to his Beta. Paul had his eyes squeezed shut panting hard. The feelings of dread and despair washed out over Jacob and the rest of the pack who all whined in unison at their brother's pain…
"The imprint…" Paul managed to moan "Something is desperately wrong Jake…she's in trouble… I know it...fuck I feel it"
"Bella will be ok Leah is on imprint duty with Brady besides they wouldn't dare come onto the Rez." Jacob barked his fur bristling along his back but then again he thought maybe they would do just that...the unexpected. His eyes met Embry's as he joined them he too was worried.
"But she's only got one of the pups with her Jake and Paul's not himself look at him" Embry pointed out. Jakes eyes snapped back to Paul Fuck they needed to move and now
"Something is going down and we need to go to La Push now…" Jacob growled but before anyone could utter another sound a long howl rang out in the distance and then Leah cut into the pack mind…
Bella ….leech on the Rez….we are under attack…. too many….can't save her…I….
Then…
Nothing…just like that she was gone…
At that precise moment Pauls legs buckled under him and his huge body crashed to the ground. He struggled to get back up onto his feet as wave after wave of fear hit him hard. He looked at Jacob only to see the same fear reflected in his Alpha's eyes… Bella…
"Nooooo….." Alice screamed as Jasper caught her in his arms.
000
Bella was running, running for her life. Her bare feet made no sound on the forest floor as she tried to put some distance between her and the house. She had no idea who had broken in but she knew it was leech …Leah had said so before she told her to run. That was all she knew now run …or die. Every muscle was screaming as she pushed herself on knowing her hunters could so easily catch her up.
A loud howl rang out in the still darkened forest … her breath hitched Leah…if Leah can hold them off she thought I may have a chance till the pack arrives…surely they would be here soon. All she could hope for now was for other wolves to hear Leah's struggle…
Paul… she thought help me please… but there was no sign of the silver wolf he was too far from home. Bella noticed the birds swoop up into the trees squawking loudly as she passed when suddenly the crack of gun fire filled the air, echoing around the still forest, closely followed by a second shot which brought her to a sudden halt. She bent over hands on knees for a few moments as she tried to catch her breath. Her side ached but her mind was in a whirl all she could hear was the frantic pounding of her heart as she asked herself who had fired a gun and why?
Charlie…she almost stopped breathing as the fear hit her she just prayed it wasn't him that he was still safe in the police station in Forks then for some reason she couldn't explain Bella felt the need to take flight again she could feel the evil getting closer… they were coming for her. She started to run along the worn path and then suddenly veered off into the thicker undergrowth hoping to be hidden by the smaller trees and bushes.
Every breath she took was painful and she was slowing down despite the adrenalin flooding her system. Bella was tiring and her usual clumsy self kicked in, she stumbled and fell, on all fours she looked back over her shoulder and could see in the distance a dark figure speeding towards her, branches snapping and bending in its wake. As she scrambled into the undergrowth she heard her name
" Isabella…..Come to me you know it's where you belong….its time child"
Her heart almost stopped as she felt a sliver of recognition run through her…she had heard that voice before…and in her nightmares… only this time she was awake…As she lay on the damp soil hidden under thick bushes and undergrowth she curled herself into a ball desperately trying to protect her unborn child but she knew in her heart it was hopeless…the forest was deadly silent then…
The sound of Bella screaming Paul's name echoed around the trees, as the red eyed monster grabbed her by the ankle and harshly yanked her out of her hiding place, her fingers desperately clawing at the damp earth to no avail…
"Hush now" The familiar cold voice instructed her "No one can help you now my child and the more you struggle, the more you will get hurt"
Bella sobbed as she twisted and turned against the cold arms that were wrapped around her body holding her fast, she could now clearly see the vampire who was doing all the talking and there was something familiar about him …then it clicked…the bookshop…A dark haired female vampire stepped forward as the leech from the bookshop introduced himself.
"Isabella we meet again …I see you recognise me" He smiled revealing bright white teeth "Now be a good girl and stop struggling or we may have to use more force and I don't want you damaged although…" He smiled again "What I have planned for you will take care of that" he laughed a little at his own joke before his burgundy red eyes returned to hers.
With a feeling of utmost dread the realisation of what was going to happen to her sunk in… Bella struggled to even breathe "Noooo…please" she begged. Eleazar sighed and nodded to the female vampire who stepped towards Bella grabbing her arm tightly as she struggled against her captor, sobbing for Paul, calling his name. As the vampire ripped the sleeve of Bella's shirt she screamed loudly as she saw what the Vampire held in her hand. As the hypodermic needle roughly entered her arm Bella cried "Noooo please…don't …Paul…help me" but it was no use…something cold entered her arm and then…
Darkness…nothing…
"Let's get out of here and now" Eleazar shouted He placed a kiss on Carmen's hungry lips as she threw the syringe into the undergrowth "Well done my love now we've got what we came for we need to go before those mangy dogs get here." He laughed to himself "Got her on your land too dogs!" Carrying Bella they ran back towards the house.
000
Bella awoke with a jolt but she couldn't move her hands… they were tied and damn it so were her feet. She felt a wave of nausea hit her as her head banged like a bass drum. It was dark but from the movement she knew she was travelling maybe inside a van or …oh god she thought as her elbow banged against cold metal maybe the trunk of a car.
It was cramped and she was not alone…
Pack she'd know that smell anywhere and accompanied by the heat it had to be wolf. She sighed in relief but that soon disappeared when she realised that whoever it was could not phase without hurting her. Somehow she had to ensure they did not phase through self-preservation.
Trying to stay calm but just wanting to scream Bella also realised that the person lying next to her had to be Leah. Whatever had happened Leah had been captured too and had phased back to human.
"Leah is that you?" she whispered "Are you awake?" There was a muffled response in the darkness as the she wolf started to regain consciousness.
"Bella" Leah groaned "Thank fuck you're still alive…" she swallowed hard "But where the fuck are we?"
"I…I don't know…" Bella whispered "But we are on the move, maybe in the trunk of a car"
"How long?" replied Leah
"I have no idea…" Bella sighed "They drugged me…" Then she whimpered slightly "The baby Leah what if what they gave me harms my baby?" she choked back the sob that was welling up in her throat…
"It's gonna be ok Bella." Leah sighed she needed to keep Bella calm and focused if they were going to survive "But we need to find out where we are." She rolled slightly but she too was bound hand and foot. "Fuck my head hurts" she moaned
"Are you hurt anywhere else Leah?" Bella asked remembering the gun shots "I mean have you been shot I heard…"
"No I'm fine….just feeling sick and dizzy" Leah groaned a little. Bella heard her take a deep breath in the darkness "I think they hit me with a dart of some kind, you know what they use on wild animals."
Bella took in a sharp breath "You mean like vet tranquilizer darts?" She queried
"Yeah I think so" Leah whispered "Fuck Bella when the first shot rang out I thought I was dead for sure"
"I heard two shots…" Bella whispered in reply "Took two shots to take you down Leah" she smiled in the darkness as Leah chuckled to herself. Their conversation ended abruptly as the vehicle in which they were travelling braked hard and swerved to the left.
"Fuck" said Leah as she rolled on top of Bella then rolled herself off "Sorry" she moaned. "I think you're right with the car trunk theory Bella. I'm assuming your hands and feet are bound too?"
"Yes" Bella replied as the car bounced and jolted treating them to a few miles of uneven road.
"Off the main highway …" Leah whispered "Maybe a track that's full of Pot holes I suspect." Bella murmured her agreement before trying her hardest not to cry. She felt really sick the combined effect of the drug and car motion sickness. If they didn't stop soon she was just gonna vomit. To top it all the imprint tugged sharply at her chest. Wherever they were it was far from Paul and she whimpered a little
"You ok Bella?" Leah asked her voice worried
"Yeah" Bella replied "It's… it's the imprint it hurts real bad Leah especially when I'm far from Paul. I think we must be miles away from La Push"
"Maybe the same thing is happening to Paul" Leah whispered. Another small sob escaped Bella's lips as she thought about him worried and in pain at her loss.
"Paul…" she whispered in the darkness her heart ached as deep down she began to wonder if she would ever see him again. A tear gently rolled down her cheek and she sniffed a little.
"They will find us Bella" Leah sounded confident but as for being rescued for the life of her Bella didn't know how that was even possible.
The vehicle slowed then suddenly braked and the engine switched off. Bella's breath hitched in her throat, the sound of a metal catch followed by a creak…. and then… there was a bright light maybe a torch of some kind blinding both her and Leah. She carefully opened her eyes to find the torch had been pulled away and as they adjusted to the darkness she got the shock of her life. Looking down at her was none other than the pale face of Edward Cullen
"Bella my love…" He whispered
000
Paul and Jake tore into the back yard of Paul's house with what remained of the pack following behind. The smell of leech permeated the air burning their throats as the wolves snarled and growled. Quil had just reported in that they had encountered a couple of new borns shortly after leaving the gathering and along with Carlisle and Emmett they had quickly despatched them.
"They fought exactly as Jasper had told us" huffed Sam "He did us a huge favour Jake without his instruction I dread to think what may have happened especially to the pup with us."
Jared had also reported in. All was quiet on the northern boundary." I think" Growled Jacob to Paul "The New-borns on the treaty line and the possible threat to the Northern boundary were nothing more than a little distraction to split the pack up and keep us busy"
A small whine sounded from the undergrowth behind the garage and Embry raced over to investigate. Brady lay on his side huge slashes cut deep into his side and what looked like a broken hind leg, it was laying at an awkward angle.
"I think he was thrown against the tree Jake" Embry huffed "I need to phase back to call Sue"
"Any sign of Leah?" Jake asked
"Gone…" Brady managed to wheeze the young boy was starting to drift in and out of consciousness
"Gone?" Growled Jacob "Where Brady, has she gone with Bella somewhere safe? Brady whined in response
"Took her…" He huffed obviously in pain "Leech…took her." Before Jacob could say anything else Brady blacked out and Embry phased back to human to make the call to Sue. Paul growled out from the bottom of his yard, he was peering into the forest.
"It's Bella, Jake…" He snarled "Bella went this way and so did the fucking leeches" He suddenly took off at speed into the forest, Jacob hot on his tail. The two wolves sped through the forest both following the stinking trail. Paul was practically out of his mind he could smell Bella she had passed this way and fucking scared too. He looked down and could see her little footprints…fuck she had run barefoot into the forest. Guilt washed over him ...she was scared, in danger… and he hadn't been there to help her
"Paul!" Jacob whined "We will find her and bring her home you have my word." Both wolves skidded to a halt. Bella had left the trail. It was obvious to them both she had fallen then tried to hide. Pauls heart ached as he imagined her desperately trying to hide calling for him….Then they found it the place where they must have caught her …the scents all mixed up…
"They've taken her Jake…" Paul whined "From right under our fucking noses too…" Just then the imprint snapped hard and Paul's breathing became laboured.
"You ok?" Jake asked "As a feeling of despair washed over him Paul inadvertently shared his thoughts and Jake staggered too.
"She's far away Jake…" Paul whined "How the fuck will we ever find her?" Then the Silver wolf howled...for his hurt and his loss.
Jacob was in turmoil….an imprint kidnapped and on tribal land too. He immediately ordered Jared, Sam and Seth to check up on the other imprints although he was sure that they were all unharmed. His sad dark eyes returned to Paul. How the fuck would his Beta function now? He thought as he watched the pain and despair roll over the Silver wolf.
Jacob shook his massive head. Right now Pauls own thoughts were a jumbled mess as his primitive base animal need for his imprint took over. Then it struck him and his breath hitched
The Legends said a Wolf never survived the loss of his imprint
Well that wasn't gonna happen …not on his fucking watch! "Paul "he growled "Paul come on man let's see what we can find maybe they left a clue" They had to do something, he had to distract him…
Paul raised his head his eyes filled with rage.
"That's right" Jacob growled as Paul's rage poured over him "That anger of yours will bring Bella back". Both Wolves sniffed around the area in which Bella was captured. Jake found it first
"Over here Paul" he huffed as the Silver wolf leapt towards him. Both phased back to human
"A hypodermic…they fucking drugged her man" Jacob snarled still lupine despite the phase back to human.
Paul rubbed a large hand over his face "Fuck Jake she's pregnant what's that gonna do to my baby?" Jacob shook his head.
"Let's get this to Sue maybe she can help…"
000
The pack gathered at the Blacks House they had searched the tribal land and a few miles beyond but there was nothing, no sign of either girl. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. Jacob had concluded that they had been driven out of La Push and after more investigation everything pointed to a pizza delivery van that had driven onto the Rez shortly before all hell kicked off.
Brady had seen the van during his patrol but thought nothing of it after all people had pizza delivered all the time. It was only later that he realised that like Leah, he had never seen that van or that particular pizza company before. Turned out it didn't exist.
Now the pack sat in silence as the enormity of what had happened started to sink in. Imprinted wolves clung to their mates each quietly grateful to the Great Spirits that they were safe but their hearts hurt for their brother who hung back in the shadows outside in the forest refusing to phase back to the man. His pain was also theirs…
"Has Paul eaten?" Emily quietly asked as she held her small daughter close. Sam had them both tucked into his side, his chin rested lightly on Emily's head
Jacob shook his head "Not a bite"
Before anyone could utter another word the screech of tyres filled the air. Seth opened the front door
"Charlie...he's here" he called out as Billy wheeled himself towards the door.
Charlie slammed the door of the cruiser shut and stomped towards the house. His face was beetroot red and the large vein on his fore head was fit to burst. His eyes zeroed in on his old friend
"Chief…" Billy called out
"Don't say another fucking word!" Charlie spat "If it wasn't for you and all this fucking legends crap my daughter would be safe at home in Forks." Billy sat quietly saying nothing…there was no point not until Charlie had calmed down.
Charlie pulled his hand through his hair his breath leaving his mouth as a loud hiss, he sucked in another "I mean fuck Billy she's just a small girl what in God's name do they want her for?" His chest heaved as he struggled with the emotions desperately trying to get loose. He caught site of Jacob and Sam who were now standing behind Billy.
"You!" He shouted as he pointed a Jacob "I hold you responsible you introduced her to this life Jacob. She doesn't even fucking belong here she's not even fuckin Quileute!" His shoulders slumped as he brought a hand up to rub his face "She's so small and…I've just got her back" Jacob moved closer to Charlie who flinched when he looked up his eyes full of anger and fear
"And where's fucking Lahote?" He demanded his eyes narrowed as he searched amongst the group of young men now standing on the porch of the little red house "I don't see him so where is he…? Why wasn't he there with Bella?" His hands balled into fists as he spoke. "Too busy chasing skirt to worry about my daughter…is that what happened?" he choked back the emotions that were clearly getting the better of him.
A howl sounded behind Charlie and as he spun round a large Silver wolf emerged from the forest. Charlie pulled his gun and pointed it at Paul "You promised me Lahote!" he snarled "You promised to keep her safe and now I'm told vampires have her ...my little girl…my baby"
Paul stood still. In some ways he welcomed the shot from Charlie that would end the overwhelming pain he was feeling at that very moment. Bella had been ripped from his side and his very soul bled at the loss. It was true he'd let her down…again
"Charlie" A woman's voice rang out from behind him "Come on Charlie put the gun down". He turned slightly to see Sue Clearwater slowly walking towards him
"Bella…I" Charlie sighed he looked utterly defeated
"I know…" Sue sighed in return "We think they have Leah too." Charlie's eyes shot to hers as she nodded and held out her hand "We need to support each other now more than ever." she smiled slightly as Charlie stopped and holstered his gun before taking a step towards her. "They want us to fight each other but they won't win we can't let them"
Charlie said nothing his moustache twitched as he nodded and began to walk towards the house with Sue. Billy let go of the breath he was holding and reached up to pat Charlie's arm as he neared his chair.
"We'll get her back Charlie…" He looked up at Sue whose eyes were brimming with tears "Both our girls" he added a defiant look upon his face.
AN: OMG the Vamps have both Bella and Leah….Edward…why is there? It's all coming together now…
Till next time OXO xxx
