Thanks so much for joining me on this bumpy ride.

Chapter 2

A cold hand clamped tightly onto Jacob's shoulder. He took a swing at the creep that sneaked behind him.

"Easy there, wolfboy. You're lucky it's me and not him. Edward made it clear to all of us you're not welcome here."

"Get away from me. I'm going inside. What have you bloodsuckers done with Bella?"

"I can't let you do that. There's enough going on and we don't need another battle. Carlisle insisted on stopping by for books and important supplies. We'll be out of here before the others get a whiff. Keep your mouth shut and no one else has to know. It's best if they don't."

The emo vamp was in a standoff with Jacob. He'd silently observed him a few times and during the newborn fiasco, Jasper seemed somewhat reasonable compared to the others, especially the wacko one he was mated to. Jacob was confident he wouldn't make a stupid move because touching him again or keeping him from Bells was as stupid as he could get.

"I'm here on Charlie Swan's behalf. Back the fuck up or I'll call the chief now. He deserves an answer about her. I tried to shield him from her impending demise but that didn't happen, did it? I hear her. I smell her. I feel her and I'm sure as hell not leaving until I find out why that is."

The little witch shrieked when she saw Jacob appear in the doorway with her mate. "Jazz, no! You were supposed to keep watch."

"He did. He watched me walk all the way to the house, so good for you. He's trained well. Where is she?"

"You need to leave, dog. Bella's our family now. This doesn't concern you."

Jacob growled. They could let him pass and stay in one piece or Jacob would happily tear them apart. His mind wasn't on the treaty at the moment. It was only on Bells. Something twisted was transpiring within the walls of the creepy crypt. He smelled medicine and antiseptics mingled with the other scents. Maybe the illness wasn't a cover-up, Bella might really be sick.

Alice announced his approach the entire way down the stairs and into the area where he sensed Bella.

"Bells. Bella, it's me. Where are you honey?"

"Carlisle, Edward, he's coming." Alice shrieked behind him.

The bloodsucker pushed open a door in front of him. "Leave here Jacob Black. How dare you show up unannounced."

"Get out of the way."

"No, Bella can't have any commotion. You're putting her at risk."

Somehow, Jacob knew that was an absolute lie. It was just the opposite and this fake husband was the one that always put her at risk. How could Bella be legally married to a dead guy? He made up his mind the week after the wedding, it was all for show.

The doctor stepped out in the hall with more of the same. "I'm sorry Jacob. I shouldn't have brought everyone back, but I needed a few important items to care for Bella and I was the only one that knew exactly what we needed. I'm sure this is upsetting, but I'm handling Bella's medical care."

"What's wrong with her? Better yet, move. I need to see for myself." The vamps looked at each other. Jacob knew his brain was being picked apart at the moment so he played a good visual what it would be like if he exploded into his wolf at the moment. A panicked look came over Edward. It would be a fucking mess in that narrow hall with the two of them so close. Jacob would do it too. He wasn't bluffing.

"Five minutes then, but you can't touch her. Bella's fragile. She's always been fragile."

"What the fuck ever. You never did know the real Bells."

Jacob expected to walk in and find Bella in a bathrobe blowing her nose and sipping on a bowl of soup. She was a big baby when she got a cold. He saw her through two before the tick reappeared and ruined everything. Unfortunately, that wasn't what was waiting for him in the basement room that oddly resembled an actual hospital. Bella was pale and still, covered up to her neck with a heavy white blanket. She had IV bags attached to her. He counted three. One bag contained a dark red substance. Blood.

Jacob took two long steps to get to her. She smelled the same except for all the artificial medical things connected to her. "What the hell happened to her? Did you expose her to some wild jungle flu? Charlie said you were in South America?"

"We were and it's not your concern. Carlisle is doing everything in his power."

"Bullshit. I'm getting her the fuck out of here. She needs to be in a real hospital." The first thing Jacob did was lean in closer and let her know he was here. "Bells, honey. It's me. I'm going to call Charlie and we're going to get you some help. You'll be feeling better in no time. Bells, can you hear me?"

"She hasn't spoken in weeks."

"Are you fucking kidding me? And you just called Charlie today?"

He broke the first rule, but it wouldn't be the last. Jacob reached down and touched her cheek. Her skin felt like ice. If he didn't see with his own two eyes and sense all the things that proved she was alive, he would be convinced she was dead. No one ran that cold. The heavy blanket wasn't doing its job. Jacob didn't know why he did it, but he jerked it off her, so that Bella's entire body was revealed to him. That's when he saw everything. Horror like he'd never experienced overwhelmed him.

Bella was wearing a soft baby blue cotton gown, and the flat position of her body left nothing to the imagination. He saw all of her, more accurate was he saw what was left of her. Bella was practically a skeleton under there. He had no idea how one could lose that amount of weight in a month. Her legs stretched out to the end of the bed like flesh covered sticks. There was no way they could hold her up any longer. No muscle was left. He ignored the protests from the bloodsucking family. They were all watching now to see what he would do. Jacob touched the hem of her gown not to embarrass or expose her without permission. He wasn't having a peep like he used to dream about. Jacob was merely concerned with the state of her body and something bulky underneath baffled him. He briefly lifted to view what caused him concern.

He dropped her gown immediately once it was clear to him. His empty stomach churned as he struggled to push the bile back down. "She's wearing a fucking diaper. This is how you are doing your best. Bella can't even use the bathroom herself. Her stomach is so caved in, I can see every bone in her body. Why are her arms and legs wrapped with all that shit?" Bella was wound tight with bandages up and down both legs and arms leaving only her feet and hands exposed. Alice pushed her way through and quickly covered Bella's body back up.

"You're disgusting looking at her. She can't be uncovered. She gets restless from the cold."

"She's not just cold, she's frozen. What the fuck? Is this a cryogenics experiment? Bella is completely comatose." Jacob started to vibrate with emotion. He was fucking furious about everything coming out of the Cullen's mouths, but his greatest emotion was fear for his Bells.

Edward spoke with the first excuse. "It was an accident."

"What did you just say? I knew it. I warned her so many times." Jacob lunged and was met with two powerful leeches on either side. The big guy joined the Southern vamp to keep Jacob off Edward. "What did you do to her? This is no accident."

Jacob would prefer the doctor answer his questions, but the little pixie interjected. "A car accident. It was a terrible collision."

Jacob looked back at Bells. He closed his eyes. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to him and at this moment he could barely look at her. "That's a lie. This isn't a car crash. It's something else. Stop lying."

"You all should go upstairs. I need to check Bella's vitals again. I was preparing to hook up a heart monitor. We didn't plan to stay, but the travel was hard on her. I hope we can keep this quiet. I know you're upset, but we don't have the time for pack interactions. Bella needs all our focus."

This was Dr. Fang's nice way of pleading for a free pass. They were never supposed to be in the area without the pack's knowledge. Jacob needed his brothers as soon as fucking possible because he'd need every one of them to get her out. That was the only way, her only hope. Bella would be dead by the end of the week like this.

The whole group crowded into the small room and the doctor's wife attempted fake hospitality. "Yes, Jacob join us upstairs. I have a few things I can prepare. Are you hungry?"

"You want to feed me? Are you insane? I'm not going to eat in this fucking blood drinking household. You think I can think about food with Bella in this condition? I have a heart unlike the rest of you. Tell me right now how you think you're helping her because she is hanging by a thread."

"Well, I'm giving her IV fluids and nutrition as well as some pain medication, but her blood count has been dropping rapidly. That's why I acquired some donor blood. I'm going to research all night and see what other medicines might be relevant in a case like this."

"Like what? What is Bella's case? Why is she unconscious? Why is she this skinny? How did this happen from a car accident? Her face is gaunt and her color is off, but it doesn't look smashed up. You honestly can't handle a car better than that bloodsucker? I've seen you drive before. This is bullshit."

"Um, Bella went for a drive. I'm afraid there was inclement weather. She lost control. It was a surprise storm."

"Bella went for a drive alone in South America? You barely let Bella drive up the road into Forks." Jacob was ready to put the pressure on. He backed Edward into a wall. "Keep lying to me. See what happens next. The guilt is written all over your face. Let it out or I will pull the truth from you and it won't be pleasant. What is wrong with Bella?"

"I told you she had an accident. It's time for you to go. Bella is married to me. I will make all necessary decisions about her care and right now, you're interfering. You're putting her life at risk with your brutish threats and over-the-top ranting. I was there. I heard her dismiss you at the wedding. She chose me, wanted all of me and to be like us. You're nothing to her anymore. You never were as important as you imagined in that teenage brain of yours."

Jacob's vision blurred. The last thing he was going to listen to was Cullen attempts to put him in his place and belittle his connection to Bella. He did this to her. Jacob wasn't sure how, but Cullen was directly at fault.

A cold iron grasp engulfed him. "Rose!" The mother shouted.

Jacob struggled. This bitch was strong. "Forget it Esme. We tried nice. This one can't take a hint. We all know Edward's right. Bella couldn't wait to be in this family. She knew what that meant. I for one am sick of the smell and the constant whimpering of a jilted pup. He needs to go, permanently. I'll escort him outdoors since I'm sure he isn't house trained."

"Need any help babe?"

The ice queen gave Emmett a fuck off look as if he'd insulted her. Jacob would let her vamp-handle him until they got out of the house, but then he'd forget she looked like a Barbie doll. He would enjoy ripping her to shreds and that wasn't possible inside the Cullen's house with the entire family watching.

As soon as they cleared the house, Blondie tightened her hold. She spoke too close to his ear. "Keep going. I have information, but they can't know I'm telling you. We need to get away from the house. Trust me, they're all listening."

Jacob twisted to break away from her once they were in the cover of the forest. He wanted to unleash on this bitch, but she said she had information and something in her tone had him convinced it wasn't continuous bullshit like the rest of them.

She held out her hands like a surrender. "Believe me that was as unpleasant for me as it was for you, but I had to act quickly."

"What the fuck is going on?"

"You're right. We're lying. Bella wasn't in a car crash. Edward is lying above and beyond though. None of us know for certain, but he called Carlisle a few weeks ago for help. He'd tried everything according to him. They're all saying it's a complication of the transformation."

"What transformation?"

"Seriously, do you have an actual dog's IQ?"

"She's human."

"Exactly. That's the complication."

"I don't understand."

"If you saw what's under those wraps, you would. But I have proof Edward is hiding something. I need you to listen." She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and opened up her messages.

The connection was choppy. It was definitely Bella, but her weak voice was going in and out. Jacob listened carefully to hear the faint words she spoke. One thing was obvious. Bella was terrified. "Edward... he won't... I begged... stop... Rose, please..." The voice recording went silent at least ten seconds, but the last thing out of Bella's mouth was perfectly clear. "Help me."

Jacob turned around. Rose grabbed him again. "Don't. You're not ready. Go tell them. You'll need the rest." He knew he needed the pack to get Bella away from her captors. The Cullens were nothing more than kidnappers at this point if Edward put her in that hospital bed. The rest of the family was enabling that bastard and apparently the angry blonde one was the only one with a conscience.

"I have to save her."

"You can't. I'm telling you the truth so you can end her suffering. This is cruel. I'm sure the alpha will handle it so you don't have to, but she's gone. Edward and the others are pretending. I hate she didn't listen to me. I hate it's too late for her, but it is. You know I'm being honest. Think about how she looked once more in your mind. I've seen horrors in this existence, but Bella's state tops them all."

Jacob wouldn't accept that. It wasn't too late. He had to see what was under the bandages with his own eyes. Rose couldn't hold him back this time. He wasn't going through the house either. He ran straight for that basement room, kicked in a wall to make his own door and caught Carlisle by surprise. He was wrapping Bella's arm.

"Jacob!"

He went to Bella's bedside. One wrap was loose. Jacob unraveled it the rest of the way. Bites. There were three distinct scars on her left arm. His mind screamed. The room was in chaos again. Jacob blocked them all out as he frantically unwound what seemed to be miles of gauze so he could search the rest of her. The bandages concealed them, but now every scar was on display except both her forearms were covered in plaster casts. He couldn't imagine what those hid. There were at least fifteen scarred over bite marks, maybe more. Bella's pure creamy white skin was mutilated. His eyes locked with Edward's black thirsty ones. Jacob didn't have to say the words for Cullen to know his future. He would die for this, a permanent ending that couldn't come soon enough. It would not be this second because Jacob wasn't an idiot, but this was a direct violation of the treaty. He'd force Sam to understand even though previous arguments fell on deaf ears. Sam called it her choice. No one would choose this. Jacob was going to back out the opening he created to call for backup, but Cullen didn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

"It's not what you think. Bella begged me. She asked for it."

~Thanks for reading.

Okay, this is bad, really bad, but you know you were so relieved there wasn't a grotesque baby bump under that gown. LOL!