This is short by my standards, but it is also exactly what's needed.
Chapter 11
The wolf twisted toward the sound. Good. He arrived just in time to witness the execution. Jacob swung and released the severed head, so that it fell ceremoniously at the feet of his next victim.
"Nooooooo!" The tick screamed. Jacob was out of time for his one-on-one final showdown. The others would be alerted to the trouble. "Carlisle! No, it can't be, you didn't deserve this fate." Edward's shimmering golden eyes zeroed in on Jacob's. "You vile beast. I'll destroy you for this."
Jacob didn't have to change to speak to him. His thoughts were open. He flashed a thought of a broken Bella. I know every last detail. You're next.
"She's sick- mentally. It didn't happen like that. Carlisle and I were saving her."
Jacob gave him one last thought, you just prolonged the torture I have planned, filthy liar. Rapist.
He shut his mind down. That's all the leech would get. He knew exactly why Jacob had come and the end was near. Jacob unlocked hidden skills while he was a runaway wolf. No one knew what happened during his disappearance, but it wasn't just about wallowing in self-pity. His wolf pushed his limits, trained harder, developed better instincts. Sam saw a glimpse the night he broke away from the pack. Jacob smelt his fear. His former alpha was no match for him. His total dominant, alpha side was discovered during that hiatus. Jacob planned to bury it when he returned home because he lost Bells for good. It scared him at first, but now he accepted who he truly was.
The doctor's beheading rattled the leech. Being surprised by Carlisle Cullen had been a blessing in disguise. Wolf and vampire collided with an explosive force. Edward was never going to beg like his adoptive father had. He still believed in his twisted mind, he hadn't been wrong. He'd made excuses to Bella and his family. He had the nerve to blame her one last time to Jacob. Edward pushed back harder than Jacob expected. The wolf rolled fast and came to an abrupt halt with his back against a tall, unyielding tree. A sharp pain stole his breath. The russet wolf was slow to stand. The bloodsucker had already ascended said tree. He dropped down hard on the wolf's back taking his breath a second time.
Jacob felt it that time, his spine jolted, sending pain to every nerve-ending in his body. He wasn't 100%. He hadn't fully recovered from the transfusion and even though Carlisle's fight was less than the current one, it had drained him. He never was up for this second round with no backup. He needed to shake it off.
Bella, Bella, Bella
She counted on his return. Bells wouldn't survive if Jacob didn't. There was no other option. He had to beat Edward.
They took turns gaining the upper hand, but the worst thing for Jake came skipping between the trees. The stupid pixie arrived. Fuck. Two, uniquely in-tune demons against one vengeful wolf wasn't how he saw this playing out. He was slower after each blow. The two vampires choreographed a hit from each side. His cracked ribs caused more damage. Jacob knew his left lung was pierced. He was going to die if he didn't get a moment to catch his breath and heal some. Another voice hit Jacob's sensitive eardrums, but it wasn't friendly. There was a time he thought that one might be on the side of reason, but ultimately his true loyalty was with the mate. The southern drawl was not what he needed to hear in the distance.
Seth. Bro, are you there? Seth. Get Sam. Hurry.
His eyes dimmed. He called to the kid hoping he phased in as soon as school let out.
Bella, Bella, Bella
His father taught him through the years about the afterlife. Jacob believed. Maybe that's where he and Bella would finally be together. His plan was crumbling because of his current injuries and being outnumbered. He was so sure of himself in the beginning, but going against Sue's strict orders was a risk he never should have taken. Edward was injured, but it hadn't been enough to slow him down.
Jacob's wolf managed to stand on all fours once again, but the tender back paw made him question what else was broken. He'd never give up. The three vamps circled around. They'd coordinated. He didn't flinch as they ran full speed in a triangular formation straight for him. He almost considered shifting back to a man. He was doomed so might as well face them, maybe have a last word. His back leg couldn't hold much of his weight. Running wasn't an option. At least he had no doubt the guys would show up and finish it. Edward still wasn't making it out alive.
Jacob closed his eyes briefly. No. Don't. Bella watched during her torture. The wolf blinked his long lashes. Dust, blood and debris clouded his vision, but his nose worked well enough.
Reinforcements. Seth heard and apparently, Brady and Embry had been tracking the Cullen's steps. More were in route, Seth shouted in his mind.
Pack. Brothers. Family. Sam's pack.
The wolf lurched forward with his last bit of energy. The vamps' approach was obstructed. Bodies and fur collided. Jacob closed his eyes. He caught his breath. He felt partial mending take place inside his broken body. When he opened them again, he saw the fight had changed in their favor. Blondie showed up and was kicking Alice's ass. The wolf wished he could manage a chuckle, but it hurt too bad. Jacob wanted back in the fight, but he needed a few more minutes. The next time his eyes closed, he saw Bells. She needed him. Stand up and fight. He had to find strength from within and he did. It was all from her. When he saw Edward make a break for the forest, his will took over. Hurt or not, he couldn't give up.
The wolf gave chase. Edward stopped, circled around and pounced again. He knew exactly where to hurt Jake. Those fragile ribs snapped again. Sam came to the rescue when he caught the leech's ankle. He jerked his snout and the leg separated just below the knee.
The rest happened fast. Jacob wanted to make the death as painful as possible, but he couldn't chance Edward escaping. Sam must have called the entire pack. Embry and Paul jumped in the brawl. Time had run out for Edward Cullen. Sam's pack could have easily finished him off and even though he no longer had them in his head, they all knew what Jacob wanted. Four wolves ended up grabbing onto the vampire. Jacob's wolf nodded, and the leech lost all that was left of his appendages at once. He was helpless. Jacob's mind flashed to Bella in one of her many moments of brokenness.
She was helpless, your victim after you promised to love her. Guess what? She will survive. You didn't win. Bella did. Burn in Hell, motherfucker and never forget who sent you there.
Jacob's front paws crushed onto Edward's chest, his teeth crunched together in anticipation of the final bite. He leaned closer, hovering in front the leech's face until drips of saliva coated his pasty exterior. All Cullen could see was the beast that was about to destroy him. There was no struggle left. His eyes scanned side to side; the bloodsucker knew he was finished. Jacob rose enough to give him the distance he needed for the perfect amount of force to end that fucker. He hesitated and he shouldn't have because just before he decapitated him, Edward spoke one final thing. "She was always meant to be mine not yours. You'll hurt her worse. You're going to imprint. Alice saw."
His head snapped off with one last grind of Jacob's powerful jaws. He immediately released the bitter taste of rot and watched it roll to a stop next to Sam's front paws. Jacob looked at his brothers for only a second before collapsing to the earth.
He was lying. That was one last lie to get under his skin and make them suffer a little more. Damn him for uttering a word. Jacob hated that bastard in life and in death. He didn't think he could hate him anymore after Bella's confession about the honeymoon. Jacob was wrong. Hate like this could drive a man insane. Fear, anger and worry wrapped around his fragile spirit. Never in a million years would Jacob hurt her.
Bella, Bella, Bella
Imprinting was the ultimate burden unless it had been with her and it hadn't. His life belonged to Bella. It always had. Jacob's runaway thoughts abruptly halted. Chaos from the clean up and the surviving Cullens' interrogation echoed from every direction. Jacob wanted to know what was going on, but more importantly, he needed to get back to Bella. He imagined standing back up, phasing, talking and other things, but it might have been a dream.
He spoke her name from his human lips. He was positive, so phasing back had been real.
"Bells..."
Someone else answered him. Lights, smells and sounds were everywhere. Nothing made sense to Jacob in that moment. He killed Edward Cullen exactly how it should have been, but something was still not right. Total darkness and eerie silence followed and then there was nothing.
~Thanks so much for reading.
Okay, finally Edward got his, but...
If this story isn't angsty enough for a table flip or electronics damage, then I must be losing my touch. Hit me back with your thoughts.