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

Well I'm back…This story has been driving me nuts but try as I might, I couldn't get writing! Last push now to bring it to a conclusion hope you enjoy! xx

Now the story continues…

Chapter 72 – Friend or enemy?

The wolf stood at the edge of the forest watching as the young darkhaired woman entered Jakes house. He pawed at the deep snow and wrinkled his nose in distaste the heckles on his back rising in response. He couldn't prevent the low growl that escaped and he couldn't quite believe what his wolf senses were telling him right now either. It wasn't possible was it? This was tribal land after all…

He glanced to his right then his left but, nothing moved the forest remained silent under a thick blanket of snow. Part of him expected to see Seth and the others come bounding into view at any moment. He knew his brothers were close by surely, they would have noticed the smell and sensed what he had… that's if it were true…maybe he'd gotten it wrong after all.

He dropped forward onto his large chest and inched a little closer to the house keeping low and using an old discarded boat as cover. This time a wave of the sickly-sweet odour hit him hard. It burned the back of his throat and made his eyes water in response. Only one thing could smell that bad…and he bared his teeth in response…

Cold one.

What happened next was pure instinct. He lifted his large head to the sky and howled long and low. Four answering howls echoed through the silent forest and within seconds they were on their way to join him. He tilted his head to one side as he listened to his brothers panicked conversation through the pack mind link, disbelief, anger and but above all shock that a leech had made it onto their land broken through their defence.

The young wolf huffed a little as he listened to the voices of sheer outrage mixed with a little fear in his head. He shared his brother's emotions and worries but, they were coming and that's all that mattered for the time being. For now, he was on his own and didn't have a clue what to do next, especially if the leech came for him.

Growling a little he mustered his courage and turned his attention back to the house his lips drawn back and sharp vicious teeth still bared. Inside that small house was his Alpha's mate and whatever the hell it was that had managed to get in with her. His wolf was highly agitated by that thought, it was hard wired into all of them to protect her at any cost.

"This can't be fucking happening" Seth snarled through the pack mind as he raced to join the others. He'd only been gone a short time to check in on Kim and was now beginning to regret leaving the little red house with just one young pup outside. "We've got this area covered!" He snarled "Nothing should have been able to slip past us and get to Jakes"

The others simply echoed his thoughts. They all knew that the new born battle was raging nearby after all they had ringside seats through the pack supernatural link but not once did their brothers sound the alarm that a new-born had escaped their clutches and was headed in their direction.

Still the young pup was extremely worried despite Seth's assurances. His ripple of fear for Bella followed by the word "Leech" and how on earth he would fight it only served to enrage their wolves even more.

Growling three wolves burst through the undergrowth closely followed by Seth himself who immediately trotted towards the young wolf who was still lying prone on the ground his head whipping between them and Jacob's house.

"You sure…?" Seth queried after all the boy had only phased for the first time a week ago and had no real experience of fighting ticks. "How would you know?" He continued as his eyes narrowed and he paced to and fro. "You've never got that close yet to smell one" He didn't mean to accuse the boy but Seth was hoping against hope the teenager had it wrong, that this was a false alarm

"As sure as I know I'm standing here with you!" The pup retorted as he scrambled to his feet. "Besides what one wolf experiences the pack experience too Jake is always telling us that and why we need to behave"

Seth rolled his eyes a little in response Jake always used the threat of "We are watching you…always" to keep young pups in line. The young wolf stared up at him with huge eyes, Seth's wolf was a few feet taller than the pup he still had to grow into those huge paws.

"Can't you smell it too?" The young wolf enquired but Seth had already gotten a nose full of an acrid stench that could only belong to a vampire but there was also another unexpected problem… he recognised that stink and his heart sank with the knowledge

"Cullen!" he barked. How in the hell did she get this close? He turned to face the twins. "You two run the boundaries in case there are more waiting in the shadows. I'll get as close as I can to the house" The two wolves immediately ran back into the dark forest but Seth was still puzzled "Has anyone else arrived since I left to check on Kim?" he asked

"Old Quil and Quil's Mom and um Angela" The pup replied then added "Angela was last she arrived just a few moments ago and went straight inside"

"Alone?" Seth asked one large paw scrapping at the snow. He hoped he was wrong but this didn't feel too good and the situation was much worse than it looked if that were even possible…

"Yes…" But he hesitated sightly then added "Well I think so… the car sort of blocked my view a little. All I saw entering that house was Bella's friend so I assumed it was okay. I mean she's with Sam she must be ok"

Seth closed his eyes for a fleeting moment then glanced over to where the car was parked and sure enough it was right in front of the main entrance partially obscuring the lower half of the door. He sighed a little to himself as his worst nightmare began to materialise right before him. It would have been easy for someone to slip through an open door if they ducked low enough and moved with supernatural speed…

The young wolf could feel Seth's emotions…disbelief…fear…indecision…

"This is all my fault isn't it?" the young wolf whined "I should have seen…" His large head dropped in defeat

"You weren't to know" Seth chuffed in reply "You don't have enough experience kid that's all and I shouldn't have left you here on your own." He stopped talking to young Caiden and looked again at the little red house. He had to do something and do it now. First off, he needed to know what was going on inside, how many of his enemies had actually managed to get in…

"Wait here" he ordered before beginning to slowly creep forwards towards the house keeping low and using the sparse vegetation as cover. He listened for movement and voices…anything to give him hope that he wasn't too late...

Seth could have sworn his heart missed a beat with relief when he heard Billy's base tone first. Surely that was a good sign but that feeling was soon dispersed and his heart sank a little in response…yep there it was the crystal-clear voice that belonged to Alice Cullen… God damn it. All he needed now was to hear the voice of her fucking brother but try as he might, he couldn't pick up on him. He sniffed the air again just to be sure and once again a fragile glimmer of hope reignited in Seth's huge heart…

Alice Cullen had come alone…

The only vampire scent that hung in the air belonged to Alice but what on earth had made her come onto the rez in the first place? Did she want to commit suicide coz given the chance Jake would assist her. This land was out of bounds she knew that and now the treaty was most definitely void. Although he didn't want to destroy Alice, with the treaty null and void Seth knew that if he wanted to kill her, he could and no questions would be asked.

He almost crawled on his stomach up to the window and standing tall he peered into the room. Sure, enough there was Billy and Alice. Old Quil was seated nearby and wasn't that Quils mom looking freaked out next to him? His eyes snapped to Angela who looked petrified nearby. But his heart almost missed a beat when he finally located Bella, laying still, and looking pale as a ghost on the sofa. Jake was gonna have his ass on a plate for this no doubt about it.

At that moment he kinda wondered why Jacob wasn't roaring in his mind nor the rest of the pack come to think of it. If they hadn't heard the howls, which was most unlikely, they certainly would have heard the incessant chatter of the younger wolves who were transmitting fear and anger loud and clear. Before he could make a decision about what he was gonna do next, Alice turned to face him.

"Seth!" She called "Come in I've been waiting for you to arrive"

000

Seth took a deep breath and phased back to the man pulling on some spare cut-off's Jacob kept by the front door for emergencies. Once suitably covered he walked into the room to be met by numerous shocked faces. But that wasn't what caught his eye the most, it was Bella she looked worse than he had thought now he was closer to her. His eyes snapped to Alice

"What the fuck is going on?" he demanded in a voice edged with pure rage. "What have you done to her?"

As usual Alice did not read the warning signs and in her excitement, she moved fast to be closer to Seth who released an atrocious snarl his lips curled back revealing sharp teeth that were far from human. Joy looked as though she were about to faint.

"Seth please calm down" Alice held out her small white hands towards him her own eyes followed his back to where Bella lay and noticed how he had angled his body as if to protect her "That's nothing to do with me I found her like that!" She protested "I mean Bella no harm you've got to believe me"

A sneer appeared on Seth's still handsome face despite the edges appearing to be more lupine than human

"Why would I do otherwise?" he growled "Given you and members of your family's track record so far?"

Alice closed her eyes for a fleeting moment but her face reflected the depth of her feelings, self-loathing, disgust, and deep sadness at what her actions had done to all of them

"I cannot undo the past Seth but, you must believe me that I'm here to put everything right only we have to move fast or we will be out of time" Alice looked at him her eyes silently imploring him to give her a chance

"Keep talking" The young man replied his eyes still full of loathing "I'm listening but so far you haven't said anything to change my mind" He crossed his arms over his massive chest and cast an eye at Billy who subtly nodded back

"Edward thinks I am here to get Bella ready to leave with us" Alice began as another huge snarl percolated up from the young wolfs chest at the mention of her brother's name. The small vampire began to bounce on her toes with agitation. There truly was little time and if she couldn't convince Seth her plan would not work and all really would be lost "He intends to take her far away" She continued. "He's going to turn her as soon as he can and then marry her"

The vicious snarl that left Seth's lips reverberated around the small room leaving none of the inhabitants in any doubt that despite his boyish good looks he was lethal killer and his control was visibly slipping...

"Is he insane?" Seth managed to growl through gritted teeth. He was starting to vibrate; ripples of lupine power ran down his arms and he was finding it increasingly difficult to control his wolf who wanted nothing more than to rip the leeches head off its shoulders there and then.

"Yes" Alice replied her golden eyes fixed upon Seth's "Driven insane by unrequited love and jealousy but I have a plan that could change things, stop him getting his own way"

The young man began to pace the room as his eyes travelled around each of the occupants. Whatever he decided to do next would either keep them alive or…He took a deep breath…

"Ok tell me your so-called plan Alice but, it had better be good"

000

Victoria stopped running and her senses told her it was okay to wait for the new arrival but she still had an escape path to hand just in case. The birds squawked high above her, alarmed at whatever was passing by and was now standing in front of her. "Riley…" She breathed much to his obvious delight "What news do you bring?"

"Everything is going to plan my love" He replied as he neared her, his fingers itching to pull her into a hug and never let go. "The army has reached their destination and the wolf pack is engaged in battle"

Victoria's burgundy eyes gleamed at this piece of news. She could have hugged herself she was so happy. So far, her plan was working like clockwork and soon very soon she would have Bella Swan in her grasp. Yet despite her glee a small seed of doubt had taken root at the back of her mind and she looked about with ever growing unease which had started a few miles back when she swore, she had been followed.

"Have you seen anyone?" She asked a startled Riley her frantic eyes travelled along the boundaries of the small clearing in which they both stood "No one followed you?" The young man shook his head

"Just me Victoria I promise. I made sure the new-borns were well on their way before I left and we're okay…really we are" he stepped closer but once again, her instinct for survival kicked in. Something wasn't quite right, she didn't know exactly what but, that didn't matter that wasn't how it worked. Over time, she had come to rely on that odd feeling and flee in the direction she felt driven. That feeling had kept her "alive" all these years and she wasn't about to ignore it not now.

"We must go and now for time is of the essence" Victoria began but before she could move Riley held her arm holding her back. Her red eyes flickered from where his hand rested to his face "Riley you must listen to me it's imperative that we keep moving so let go of my arm" However the young man continued to hold on to her tight. He simply didn't understand her obsession with the human girl in fact he wanted answers to a few questions that were bubbling just below the surface.

"Why the rush Victoria, what has Bella Swan done to you?" He asked his head tipping to one side as his burgundy eyes searched her own. "You've never actually told me that." Riley noted the pained look upon her face and he sighed deeply relenting slightly. "We have plenty of time to take the Swan girl down if we really need too besides do you really think that mangy pack of wolves can defeat our army? They are overwhelmed on sheer numbers alone"

Victoria continued to stare at the young man almost in disbelief. It was more than just killing a human. She had sworn revenge… a mate for a mate that was the rule. She fought to keep a sneer of contempt from her lips at Riley's sheer ignorance. How little he knew about the supernatural world he now inhabited especially when it came to vampires and their mates. But she knew it had to remain that way too until her use for him was no more. Changing tack, she gently placed her hand over his own…

"I know we have the upper hand my love and I am grateful to you truly" Her sweet childlike voice seemed to mesmerise him, soothing his doubts and troubles away "But I have experience of this pack of wolves, they are resourceful to say the least"

She drew closer to him, so close their lips almost touched and Riley longed to kiss those lips again.

"Victoria…" he moaned his eyes rolling towards the back of his head. "You know how much I love you. I just want to be alone with you forever"

"And we will be Riley, we will spend the next hundred years making love I promise you that. But I need to feel safe and well…" She hesitated "I'll never feel safe whist the pack and Swan live"

The young man's eyes widened in response. They had been intimate sure but, never had he actually made love to her and so it dangled before him like a prize… a promise of erotic pleasure…but…only if they completed this one last task together. He hesitated for a fraction and…

Victoria knew she had him and like the black widow spider she played with her potential mate until the fateful hour arrived and his usefulness was no more…

"Just help me do this Riley" She pouted "Then we will both be free to do as we please …to be together forever"

"Victoria we could just leave now…" His voice pleaded her obsession with the Swan girl was beginning to grate on his nerves a little. "We could be thousands of miles away just you and I" he added "The pack and Bella Swan will not survive the army; they will find her and kill her just as you asked"

This was not what Victoria wanted to hear and she was so close to achieving her hearts-desire too…so she put in a bit more effort into the seduction this time.

"I just want to make sure my love" She sighed letting her sweet breath wash across his enamoured face. "Besides it will make me so happy to drink her blood and you want me to be happy, don't you?" The pout that followed almost had him on his knees in adoration.

"Always!" The word rushed off Riley's lips with such conviction "You are the very reason for my existence"

"As you are to me!" Victoria replied before pressing her mouth hard against Riley's forcing his lips to part willingly to the onslaught of her tongue. She pulled back eyes sparkling with fury and not passion as Riley believed it to be. Her dead heart belonged to James and always would.

Turning the red head drew away from him, the hand that held her back having already fallen by his side. Then plastering a sweet smile upon her face, she turned back around to face him holding out her small white hand

"Come Riley join me in this final quest and eternity will be ours"

Smitten with devotion to his flame haired vampire Riley simply took her hand and Victoria knew the game was back on.

000

Demetri from his high post a few miles out had a good idea what had passed between the two vampires. Riley was a willing fool in her dangerous game but, he was also concerned as to what the crazy red head was gonna do next. This was not part of the plan she had originally shared with Jane where she would meet the wolves head on in battle and then triumphantly storm the reservation killing anyone who got in her way until she reached her target one Bella Swan.

No, they had clearly underestimated Victoria with her baby voice and dim-witted appearance. Underneath she was clever and to his horror it also occurred to him that the new-born army was nothing but a distraction for all involved and that included the Volturi too. What really irritated him though was the fact that she was very likely to get away with it too.

He started to think through just how Victoria and the Volturi had got together in the first place. Sure, her creating a new-born army was bound to get the wrong sort of attention from Aro and his brothers especially when they started killing the good people of Seattle. No something else was missing until one name popped into his mind…Edward Cullen he was the link he was sure he just had to figure it out.

Before he could think any further, he couldn't help but glance back the way he had just come. Jane was coming he could feel her but the way things were shaping out Victoria would be long gone before Jane arrived to do Aro's bidding… to ensure there were no survivors…absolutely none.

Demetri was about to follow the couple when someone else ticked the edges of his mind enough to bring him up sharp and make him inquisitive for more

"Jessica…" he whispered into snow filled wind "Where the hell did, she fit in?"

000

"So, Edward thinks you are working with him?" Seth asked looking a little dazed from what the small vampire had told him. Alice nodded enthusiastically

"I persuaded him that if I got inside this house, I could get Bella to come with me. If I explained to her that doing so would save Jacob from certain death she would come." Alice stopped chattering as Seth's eyes narrowed

"Why would she do that Alice?" he began "She knows he and the pack are strong" Alice simply trilled a small crystal glass laugh in reply

"Come on…" she began "This is Bella we are talking about" Seth's eye snapped away to the young woman who had not moved an inch since he entered the room " We both know her self-sacrificing nature just face it Seth we both know she wouldn't hesitate to offer her life in his place."

Deep down Seth knew Alice was right Bella would sacrifice herself for Jacob…hell she'd do it for any of them in a heartbeat

"Where is Edward now?" He asked

"He's umm procuring a fast car" Alice replied

"Stealing it you mean?" Seth snarled he hated Edward even more now if that was even possible "How long do we have?" he added jutting his chin towards Bella

"We're almost out of time" Alice looked sad as she spoke "There's no chance of getting Bella out of here that moment has been and gone but we can prepare ourselves at least"

"Against Edward?" Seth couldn't help but wonder how he was gonna achieve that given the wolves outside were merely pups. Cullen would take them out with no trouble and that included himself but if it bought some time for Jacob then so be it.

"For the moment Edward is the least of our worries" Alice looked more inhuman than he had ever seen her and Seth braced himself for the next revelation. "Victoria is coming" and that nugget of unwelcome news almost took Seth's breath away.

At the sound of her name Billy Black sat up in his chair and rolled it closer towards Alice Cullen.

"How can we trust you?" he demanded "That this isn't just a trap?"

"You don't have any other alternative" was the simple reply "Without me she will massacre the young wolves you have out there they are no match for her and you know it" she nodded towards the front of the house "I'm your only hope"

"How do you know all this? Billy asked, "The pack haven't picked up on the red heads scent for days" In response the pixie like vampire just tapped the side of her head

"You know of my gift Billy Black and I have seen the future for all of us" She composed herself to deliver the final blow "You have two choices before you. Join with me and we all survive or you chose the other path and…" Alice didn't have to elaborate they all got the message loud and clear…A small whimper from Joy finally settled it for Billy as he turned towards Seth

"I don't think we have a choice here son…" He began as Seth slowly shook his head in agreement

"Whichever way we look at it we're screwed Billy" The young man replied "I think we need to follow a plan that gives Jacob enough time to get here if…" He didn't finish his words both Joy and Ange looked as if they were about to scream or faint or both and there was simply no need to terrify them any further of what was to come.

"Understood Son" Billy replied knowing that Seth was simply implying that they hold out for as long as possible until Jacob and the others got there…maybe too late…or maybe not at all

"Good!" Alice sang clapping her small hands together with undisguised glee the future had suddenly brightened and she'd seen it already. Once the decision was made the outcome was set in motion. "Now we can prepare but first can someone revive her? She will have a better chance of survival if she's conscious at least" All eyes snapped to Bella…

"Do you think you can do it Quil old friend?" Billy began as the old man sat back in his chair looking more old and tired than Billy could remember. The Old elder shook his head a little

"I don't know if I have the strength or if it's even the right thing to do" He looked back at Billy his eyes grave with concern "Bella maybe doing something vitally important and to call her back now could do more harm than good"

Alice took a small step closer that caused the old guy to flinch back further into his seat

"Need I remind you that I have the gift of sight" she started to explain "I can see what the future holds and the choices we have…" She stopped and closed her eyes a moment then smiled "I can guarantee that what you are about to do will not harm Bella"

Old Quil eyed the leech with distrust but he had to do something time was ticking on and if what Cullen said was true, they were all sitting ducks especially Bella. He nodded towards Billy who gave a huge sigh of relief

"For what it is worth young lady" Old Quil began "I don't trust you or your witch craft but my own instincts tell me we must give Bella the best possible chance and to remain spirit walking will do more harm than good" Alice said nothing but she nodded slightly at Seth

"I think now would be a good time to prepare your brothers" She almost whispered and Seth could do nothing but agree, he just hoped the young wolves could hold their nerve.

000

Jake dispatched yet another new-born with speed and ruthlessness but still the devils kept coming and no end seemed to be in sight. All around him the battle raged with piercing screams, snarls and sounds like metal being ripped apart. Purple smoke filled the skies from new-born bodies thrown into the pits full of burning gas adding to the wall of flames that trapped their prey.

He could feel his pack all around as they continued to take down the new-borns in their stride. So far so good he thought as another hapless victim headed his way but he really hoped they would stop coming some-time soon. Something ached deep in his soul and his pull to Bella was growing stronger by the minute

"Paul" He snarled as he advanced on the hapless young new-born his large jaws filled with sharp teeth snapped in readiness

"Boss…" Came the reply

"You still outside the wall?"

"Yep as we planned" Paul lurched towards a victim of his own and the young girl screamed for all she was worth before his massive jaws ended her brief existence as a leech with a keening squeal of splitting metal

"Any sight of the back of the queue yet?" Jake queried hoping that there was

"Not that I can see" Paul replied "But what's left are the stragglers"

"Any chance that a few have broken away?" This was the weak spot in Jaspers plan for Jake, that some new-borns would take a slight detour to their intended target

"Colin's running the boundary he's picked off a couple that were trying to escape but I think we've got it covered" Paul huffed as yet another new-born, presented itself for slaughter

It was just at that moment that the weight of fear and panic broadcast loud and clear by the pups on the rez hit Jacob with such force that he stumbled slightly before regaining his footing. Raising his huge head to the sky he howled with pure rage and frustration his worst nightmare was about to come true

"Cullen! "He snarled as his pack raged with their own anger though the pack mind link. For that fleeting nano second Jacob took his eye off the ball and what he saw next seemed to happen in slow motion Leah came out of nowhere in pursuit of a small female leech. She didn't see the oversized new-born heading straight for her. Instinctively Jake knew she wouldn't survive the encounter and he leapt between the two. The large vampire hit him side-on spinning Jacob onto his side, as he went to stand up the vampire wrapped his arms around Jakes large body and squeezed with all his might. This was the worst possible scenario to be in and Jasper had warned him often enough…

Leah saw what was happening but couldn't help him she had two new-borns coming at her to contend with and as purple smoke blown by the sudden change in the direction of the wind, billowed across the field, the pack lost sight of each other exactly what Jake had warned them not to do. For all intent and purpose, they were effectively blind...

The new-born literally wrapped himself around Jacob in what could only be described as a death hold and squeezed again with all his might.

Jake bucked and clawed wildly but he could not shake the bastard off. The first rib cracked so loudly it was audible and as other ribs followed, he knew once his spine cracked, he was finished. Somehow Jacob got the strength to fight back and seemed to be finally finding purchase with his teeth when out of the melee and smoke a lone thin vampire appeared

Alistair…

Instinctively Jacob knew he hadn't come to help him either….

000

A/N: Forgive me for the cliff hanger but hey the next chapter is on its way Im just tidying it up promise...