Disclaimer: All characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer, but the plot is all mine!

Thank you all for your support and wonderful comments oxo…! Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up but life isn't exactly normal for many of us at the moment. I hope you enjoy and keep safe wherever you are oxoxox

Now the story continues…

Chapter 66 – New Arrivals

Bella flew across the small kitchen with a loud squeal and threw herself into the waiting arms of Jacob. He lifted her small frame up with ease as she wrapped her legs around his waist

"Honey…" he breathed as he buried his nose into her hair and took a deep lung full of her potent scent. "It's okay baby" He frowned a little at the frantic pace her heart had set pulling back a little so he could look her in the face but Bella clung to him even tighter like a limpet, her face pushed into his broad neck as if her very life depended upon it. He glanced worriedly at his father before returning his attention to his little mate

"Bells honey look at me please I'm okay…I'm back" She raised her face a little in response to his word's deep chocolate brown eyes full of tears captured his own and a little frown line appearing at the bridge of her nose

"But for how long?" She whispered fighting back the tears. "We know what's coming Jake Alice told me"

His face fell at her words and he sighed a little knowing that he could never keep anything from her, sooner or later she always found out. Bella hugged him tighter his strong heart pounding in his chest gave her some comfort at least for now…

"Alice told me what awaited you in Seattle…" She didn't get to finish what she was saying as Jacobs hot lips caught her own. They kissed as if it were their last oblivious to Billy who glanced down at his clasped hands.

Jake broke the kiss first pulling back and resting his forehead against her own as their breathing slowed. Then turning them both he walked towards the small kitchen table and sat down opposite his father rearranging Bella in his lap to face him too. She tucked her head under Jakes chin and snuggled against his heat.

Billy sighed a little now wasn't the time to pick a fight with his son as to why he had left the rez almost unguarded. He took a deep breath then began

"So, if Seattle failed what's the plan now?" Billy sat back in his chair and waited as Jacob smoothed Bella's hair back from her face placing a soft kiss on her temple the wolf softly humming in his broad chest.

"We prepare for a last showdown" Jake replied. Billy looked a little surprised at his son's blunt answer and Bella sat up straight too. "If we had been able to get to Seattle it may have bought us time but now the situation is…" he rolled his broad lips a little

"Deadly" Billy spoke quietly as Jacob nodded

"The cold ones knew we were coming so there is a traitor amongst the Cullen's and the evidence points to Alice" Jakes dark eyes caught Billy's both men had never taken to the small pixie like vampire and had hated her influence over Bella when she dated Edward…

"Edward…" Bella's voice was soft "It was all Edwards fault … Alice confessed" Jacob couldn't help the loud growl that tore through his chest

"Why is it always him at the bottom of everything that's wrong" Jacob snarled "And as for Alice well words fail me…she had a choice Bella and she chose the wrong side"

"I don't think Alice wanted to betray us…" Bella began "It's just well Edward has a hold on her he's always been manipulative after all I should know that better than anyone"

That only made Jake growl even louder and he pulled her closer to his chest. Sensing his agitation, she reached up and cupped the side of his face and he lent into her touch in that strange animalistic way they all had, soothing the wolf below the surface.

"We can't trust her Bella" Jake murmured" I know she was your friend once but she is still a vampire and her ties to Edward are too strong."

"Alice wants to do the right thing I'm sure of that" Bella sighed "She didn't have to warn you not to go to Seattle if she really wanted you all dead." Bella had a point Jake conceded to himself they could all be dead by now but he still didn't have to trust her.

"I still don't trust her Bella" Jacob's face was Alpha hard. "If she contacts you again please don't tell her anything, not about the pack and especially not about you" He looked deep into her eyes as she nibbled on her lower lip. "Please honey?"

When he looked at her with those puppy dog eyes Bella could deny him nothing. She nodded in response. He had nothing to fear she thought to herself her own instincts had already told her to do what he had asked. Despite what had happened it was becoming obvious that Alice Cullen could not be trusted…

"How is Jasper taking all of this?" Bella asked as Jacobs face fell in response. None of the Cullen's were exactly happy with Alice.

"To say he was devastated and betrayed wouldn't begin to describe it" Jake shook his head a little "To be honest I don't give Alice a high chance of survival when he catches up with her"

Silence descended upon the small kitchen whilst the inhabitants considered what had just been shared then Jacob spoke again time was running out and he'd be damned if he spent what was left discussing fucking Alice Cullen.

"I don't want to say this but I have a pack meeting in an hour. What is heading our way will not result in an easy fight for the pack or for the Cullen's. They have chosen to stand with us against their own kind and that at least gives us a better chance" He kissed the top of Bella's head as she snuggled once more into his heat knowing that she had little time left to be with him. Suddenly life seemed so bloody unfair…

"I just wish you didn't have to go Jake" Bella's voice wobbled a little with emotion and it tore at Jacobs heart but there was nothing he could do to change the inevitable they both knew that. He gently tipped her head up and placed a tender kiss upon her pouty lips

"I don't want to leave you either but it's what I was born to do" his hot breath tickled her skin sending shivers down her spine. "It'll be okay and you will be safe." He looked earnestly into her big eyes. Damn he thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever set eyes on. "I promise nothing will harm you honey."

Bella took a deep breath and nodded then whispered

"My spirit warrior I'm so proud of you." Before pushing his long hair back from his eyes "You need a haircut Jake." She laughed a little "Can't have you being a shaggy wolf."

Jacob laughed too and some of the tension in the air eased. Bella wound a little of his jet-black hair around one finger to emphasise its length

"I'm okay Jake "Bella began as she started to get a handle upon her emotions. " Really I am." Whether she liked it or not she reasoned with herself Jacob was Alpha of the pack and it was their duty to protect the tribe. No amount of wishing was gonna change that fact. "I'm just so pleased and relieved to see you…" He flashed that megawatt smile of his in response and she couldn't help but smile back. Feeling a little more relaxed Bella went to get off his lap but Jake just pulled her closer to him

"Jacob" Bella's voice rose a little as she struggled to release his grasp bringing a slow mischievous grin to Jakes lips "Let go of me I need to get up" But he simply laughed as she fruitlessly pushed against him to be honest both he and his wolf were enjoying having her captured. Billy shook his head a little rolling his eyes at their antics and for a few moments a semblance of normality entered the kitchen.

"Hush Bella" Jake whispered in her ear his hot breath sending a tsunami of shivers down her neck hotwired to a place that longed for his touch. Of course, Jacob could smell her arousal and a growl percolated up from his broad chest. The sound reverberated through her small body and closing her eyes, she tipped her head instinctively to the side baring his mark much to the delight of the wolf…he couldn't resist not with her scent so potent so he nipped at her soft skin…

"Ah Humm" Billy cleared his throat bringing their attention back to him. A deep crimson blush flooded Bella's face she was so embarrassed but Jacob didn't seem fazed at all not even by the hardness that she could feel under her.

"So…" Billy continued "What's your plan to defend the rez son?" But before Jake could utter a word Bella butted in

"The plan is for me to cook some food if this big dork will let me go" She was desperate to get away and regain some composure. Bella struggled again as another growl rumbled in Jakes broad chest and god damn it, she sighed to herself it reverberated again straight to that hot place between her thighs

"So, I'm a dork?" Jacob asked. He looked incredulous but already his lips were twitching he wanted to laugh no strike that he wanted to run with her to their bed and make love to her till she couldn't walk

"Jake please!" Bella struggled again to stand up her face burning with another blush that had rushed up to meet the last and this time he reluctantly let her go. She rushed over to the fridge and began pulling out bacon, eggs and anything else she could find that would satisfy a hungry wolf. Keeping busy had always helped Bella cope in a crisis and by golly this was a mega crisis.

Jacob watched Bella as she switched on the oven then glanced back at his father with troubled eyes

"Before you ask, we know they will arrive tomorrow morning" he began "The Cullen's may even know the exact spot if the prediction made by Alice can be trusted."

"How many?" Billy asked as Jake's eyes travelled back over to Bella who was busy banging pots and pans, a sure sign she was worried even though she was making an effort to hide it. In a low voice he answered his father

"More than the pack and the Cullen's put together" Billy sat back with a huff

"How many Jake you're gonna have to be a bit more specific with your old man." Jacob rolled his lips then decided to be honest

"The Cullen's believed the numbers to be around 80…" He replied face solemn

"May the Spirits protect us." Billy gasped

"But..." Jacob began "We have reason to believe those numbers have fallen since the Cullen's last saw them. New vampires tend to fight amongst themselves unless well managed and this army of undead are not." Jacobs eyes flickered once more to Bella "Besides some may be destroyed on their way here and that will push the odds in our favour even more. At best we are hoping for less than 40 to make it to the outskirts of Forks" Billy shook his head the situation was way worse than he had even contemplated

"That's still a large number son even with the Cullen's help." Billy sighed deeply "That's if they keep their word." Jacob merely nodded in reply as Bella came over with a plate full of freshly buttered toast. She motioned towards Billy's mug but he shook his head

"I won't have any more coffee my dear" he smiled up at her "Don't worry about feeding me either I ate ages ago and it's getting late." He glanced at the clock "Or maybe I should say early it's only an hour or so before dawn." He reached across the table to clasp his son's hand "Besides we need to keep Jacob full and build up his strength" he grinned at Jacob who smiled back "And you too my dear I haven't forgotten you have not eaten for hours either" Jacob swiftly turned to face her at hearing these words

"You haven't eaten Bells is this true?" he looked concerned the wolf whispering in his mind that their mate and pup had to be kept nourished. Bella looked down at her hands and nervously wiped them on the rag she held. He took that as a clear no

"Bella you need to eat especially now…" Jake managed to stop blurting out the rest of the sentence but there was no mistaking the Alpha timbre to his voice and Bella stopped nibbling on her bottom lip, there was no point arguing with him

"I'm making myself a plate Jacob so don't worry" But she rolled her eyes at him all the same

"Well just make sure you do" he countered "I'll be watching" She laughed a little as she scurried off to check on the bacon as Jacob turned back to his father who merely raised a questioning eyebrow which his son chose to ignore. Something was going down between these two Billy thought they obviously had a secret they were unwilling to share.

"What about Bella and the other mates? What do you intend to do to keep them safe?" Billy asked keeping his voice low he knew the tie to the imprints was strong and from the sound of it the pack didn't need a single distraction, not if they were to bring this army of undead down.

"I'll leave a few of the younger wolves here on the rez" Jacob replied as he rubbed a huge hand across his tired face, "I'd much rather they were here than at the battle they are too inexperienced to face newborn vampires." Billy looked concerned at his sons' words "Don't worry Dad none of them are going to get past us the young pups are just a precaution that's all" Billy nodded but offered up a silent prayer that Jacob was right. If the new-borns got by the pack there was nothing to stop them from killing everyone.

"I'm gonna go and lie down for a while" Billy began as he moved his chair towards the door "Let you two young love birds have some private time. Wake me when you're about to leave Jake" He smiled broadly as Bella blushed hard and shook his head a little as he turned his back and wheeled his chair up the little hallway. He prayed with all his heart that the great spirits had this and that they would all survive.

000

Jasper stood in the small snow covered field not a sound could be heard just absolute silence and in that still moment he buried his head in his hands and silently screamed not only with the pain of rejection but above all betrayal, betrayal by the one he had loved with all his being. Once he would have given his existence to protect her but now…? All the emotion he had fought to keep under wraps during the last few hours simply burst out into the open, the force of it bringing him to his knees.

After a few moments Jasper began to regain his composure he took a deep breath he didn't need and stood up ram rod straight pushing his blond wayward hair back from his eyes with both hands. He didn't have the time to wallow in self-pity that was not Jasper Hales way no sirree…He hadn't been the youngest major in Texas for nothing a battle was coming and he was gonna win it whatever the cost.

A snap of branches in the distance made him immediately take up the position of a hunting crouch, sniffing the still air and with teeth bared he awaited the intruders. As two figures emerged from the dark forest he stood up and laughed

"Well I be" he cried "It's about time you got here…" Jasper was about to say something else when he caught the unknown scent of two more vampires. His eyes snapped back to the dark forest from which the first two had emerged. "And who the fuck are you?" he hissed

"A friend" The tallest of the two strangers smiled. Jasper glanced over at the young man who had first appeared in the field

"Is this true?" Jasper asked

"You can count on it" Peter replied" This is Garrett and he wants to fight with us" Jasper watched with narrowed eyes reaching out with his gift to find out the vampire's true intentions

"You can trust him" Charlotte joined in "Pete and I have known Garrett for over 80 years now."

"You've never mentioned him before." Jasper replied his eyes moving to the second unexpected guest

"You haven't exactly kept in touch…" Charlotte countered "When did we last hear from you Jasper?" The blond vampire smiled slightly and nodded his head in deference

"Touché mam" he murmured "It's been a too long" Charlotte smiled at him in return

"That's the closet I'm gonna get as an apology" She laughed "So I accept."

Peter laughed loudly even Jasper had to grin a little but his eyes remained fixed upon the other young man who stood a little back from the others. He wasn't as well dressed or as clean. In fact, Jasper thought he had the look of a vampire who liked to be alone a nomad if ever he saw one and that troubled him coupled with the waves of apprehension that flooded from the guy

"And you are?" Jasper asked

"Alistair" The pale vampire replied, "I'm a friend of Carlisle's he called to say he needed a favour and I bumped into these three on my way." Jasper frowned a little Carlisle had not mentioned calling in re-enforcements but the guy had a distinctive English accent that sounded a lot like Carlisle's when he wasn't pretending to be American. Alistair could feel Jaspers mistrust and he glanced about him with worried eyes.

"There's four of us" Garrett pointed out "I'm sure we can take care of the limey if he gives us any trouble." Alistair looked at the tall vampire with troubled eyes.

"I come all this way to help in a fight and this is how I'm treated? I don't have to stay you know this isn't my argument and..."

"Shut the whining" Garrett snapped "That's all I've heard since you joined up with us." Jasper had seen and heard enough he pulled out his cell and called Carlisle who picked up on the second ring. They spoke so fast only vampire hearing would be able to make it out. With a click he ended the call

"Seems like I should welcome you too Alistair" Jasper murmured then turning he called over his shoulder "Let's go we haven't got much time before our uninvited guests arrive."

000

Bella sat on Jacobs lap as he fed her choice pieces of bacon and as she chewed, she thought about what was to come

"Do you think we should gather all the imprints and mates here Jacob?" She began as she watched him wolf down the last of the massive pile of scrambled eggs before buttering another warm roll. "If we are all in one spot it might be easier for the pups." Jacob considered her words thoughtfully for a few moments.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea Bells. If you are all in one place that means just one target to hit maybe if you are all spread about the rez the pups can pick them off." His dark eyes latched onto hers once more "They are not going to get to the rez honey they will be torn apart before then" he kissed the tip of her nose then smoothed out that little wrinkle above with a large thumb "Trust me Bella they will not get to you whatever the cost."

Bella didn't like the last bit of what Jake said but she chose not to mention it despite what he said Jacob was hurting too she could feel it. He drank the last of his coffee then

"I need to ask you a question Bells" His voice sounded super serious and she put down her mug of tea

"Go on" She answered

"When we were coming back from Seattle did you feel me in your mind?" he looked a little pensive

"Yes" Bella replied, "I could see snow everywhere as if I were running with you it…it was just like last time we connected." He nodded a little

"Did you feel anyone else?" He asked. Bella looked surprised

"No should I have done?" Jacob frowned a little

"Paul thinks he felt you Bella but only fleetingly like you brushed the edges of his mind." Bella's mouth popped open a little in surprise, what the hell did this mean?

000

A/N: So, re enforcements have arrived but will they be enough?

Till next time oxoxo