Bella

We drove for hours it seemed.The minutes slowly droning on. I heard my Casio watch beep and peaked down. 3:00AM. The witching hour as my mom used to call it.

We had been driving 3 hours and we seemed to be moving into flatlands with a mountain background. Seemingly moving westward. The shoreline long behind us. I felt myself forcing myself to keep my eyes open, fighting to not be half in and out of consciousness. Maybe a glamour? Or pure exhaustion and stress? I couldn't tell. But I fought with every ounce in me to keep my eyes open and to stay alert.

I wondered where Embry was. Would his brothers come? They'd be almost 2 hours behind if they did. I was worried. With how fast the wolves and Embry could go they definitely should be caught up by now. I wondered if the wolves would come at all, after our last few encounters I wasn't so sure they would. If so they would be tracking until they could attack. Paul and Jared in the front most likely. Leah shortly behind. Paul was the best fighter in the pack. Besides Sam who always brought up the rear, Paul stood the best chance alone against a Vampire or two. Jared was the strategist, helping Paul with the mind link. Leah was the fastest and the most able to run a Vampire into the ground. Quil and Jake would be next. Followed up by Sam.

The two vampires sat in silence, seemingly oblivious if anyone was nearby. Neither of them seemed worried about me trying to escape. They were smug, the type of individual who always thought they were ten steps ahead of the game. The only problem with vampires like that, is that they tended to be sloppy. I was praying and hoping that Embry was nearby. I wanted to duck and roll out of the truck but figured with my exceptional grace I would probably die. I had to think, and think hard. Charlie being a cop had drilled into me how to get away from a normal kidnapper. The first rule is never get in the vehicle. So, I already failed at that. The second was RUN. Quickly. And in a zigzag pattern. Because if they have a firearm its going to be hard to hit a zig zagging target. I guess I was on my own for this part. How to outsmart a vampire, it can't be impossible. Edward was self obsessed, Alice was naive, Rosalie was vein. What are their weaknesses. I tried the simple task of talking, they hadn't been super hostile and they hadn't bound me, so they didn't want me dead. "So, fellas, why are you kidnapping me? You know it's not very nice." One of them snorted quietly and the other smacked him on the back of the head for it. Good, the passenger was the leader of the two. "For the record it's best if you keep quiet. I don't want to accidentally kill you and disappoint the boss." The passenger said as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Discomfort? Maybe he didn't want to be doing this. What was the motive? Edward? Money? I couldn't figure it out. I had to keep thinking.

I felt a warm aura surround me. I felt relief wash over me. I started to relax I could feel a familiar presence near me. Embry couldn't be that close by could he? There's no way he could go by undetected, the vampires were not that oblivious, at least none I've ever met had been.

All of the sudden I heard a thud on the top of the suv and the driver slamming on his breaks causing us to tail spin before he could over correct. Skidding into the shoulder, dust and dirty flying everywhere clouding everyone's vision to the road. The car seemed relatively unharmed except a massive dent right behind the sun roof. Almost in the shape of a pine tree.

"What in the seven hells was THAT!" screamed the driver. The passenger vampires eyes glowing red as he slid out the sun roof to check what had just slammed into them. He was muttering to himself. Finally he spoke as the driver smashed the pedal to speed away. "We are in trouble Victor. A whole world of trouble."

I tore off my seat belt ready to run at this point hoping to go undetected in the darkness and dirt but the child lock in the back was on, and the passenger slammed a fist into my jaw. Blood was now everywhere with the dirt. I was a sitting duck and my brain wasn't thinking fast enough, now I had to add a concussion to the list. I wasn't going to make it out on my own. There was no way.

All of the sudden I heard the back right tire crash and snarl into the hard asphalt. The SUV slammed to the ground.

Embry

I had just pulled into Bella's driveway when I got an overwhelming sinking feeling. I was going to surprise her with really good news. I knew she'd be asleep but I had to tell her about finishing the house. I had finally done it. No open sockets or joints. Everything was stained and cleaned. It was ready for her to make it a home. I hated the distance between us. I was going to ask her to move in with me. I knew it was fast and a little unexpected. I think with love you just really know. It's either right or it's wrong, and we were just right.

Instead of the usually coziness and comfort that washed over me the second I felt her presence I realized I couldn't feel her presence at all or even her aura in the house. All I felt was evil. Malicious. Awful energy. I froze when I smelled it. Bella was in danger. Leech and wolf. Sprinting up the stairs to her room I saw a perfectly made bed. The shower had just been used, water droplets were scattered throughout the tub. In my head all I could hear was the bray of "gone gone gone". I sprinted back out of the house when a mass of black fur caught my eye in the woods. Paul I think it was. Bellas old best friend. I sprinted to him and startled him as he was beginning to take off. I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "Where the fuck is she?!", I screamed. Barely able to contain my panic. I made a mental note to calm down. My ancestors would guide me to her. I had to be rational. My emotions would only get me in trouble. Paul nodded to the road and ran behind a tree to shift. Knowing we couldn't talk unless he was in human form. Panic lacing his voice, "We have to go. NOW. Two leeches took her. Ones I've never seen before. They didn't hurt her but the longer we wait the longer it will take. I can't connect with the pack link. Something seriously fucked up is going on. So you're all I got. I know you're no regular dude after you knocked the smile off baby alphas face. So you're going to have to call for back up or be strong enough for us to take her captors on alone." Frantic I told him I'd call my chief. We didn't have a mind link but we did have an emotional alert and spiritual connection. He could already tell they knew what was wrong. As he was reaching for his cell phone to call he saw that Josiah had called five times already on top of his Ka's 4 calls. They already knew.

Embry spoke swiftly into the phone "Hey, Josiah. She's gone. Paul is taking me to follow her. We're about five to ten minutes behind them. Start heading our way. I need you all more than ever."

Josiah spoke with the same urgency, "We know, Ka came by 10 minutes ago. She was so distraught. We're on our way. Nathan is staying back to guard her. She'll help guide us spiritually. Our spirits are trained for this, brother. We will get her back."

With that the phone clicked. Paul was already back in wolf form and I was sprinting behind him. It was a long time since I had had to run full speed but he knew the way and warriors were always ready.

We finally caught up when I saw a lone black tinted SUV. I could feel her presence. She was safe. But mentally hurting. I was almost startled when I heard Paul whimper. He was in a deep level of pain. His little sister was in there and in harm's way.

Him and I ran along in the woods finally talking since he had shifted back. We were thinking of a plan as we ran, with Josiah and the guys about 15 minutes behind us. Running like the wind couldn't stop them. Paul and I chose to create a diversion. We had to stop them moving and get her to safety. There was no way we wanted to meet them in their vampire territory where God forbid there were more of them.

Paul was pacing as we talked. I couldn't get him to cooperate. Little by little I saw the human drain out of his eyes. There were a few downed trees along the road, and Paul got ahead of me and threw a massive trunk on top of the suv. It swerved and skidded kicking up dust and dirt. Livid I screamed, "Are you dumb?! SHE'S IN THERE. How could you put her in danger?!"

He weaved into wolf form and paced and paced. Of course he was thinking animalistically and not in his human form. The protector urge had taken over and his wolf needed action. I was starting to understand them more and more. I signaled to him to sneak up to the truck to rip the wheels off one by one. We were going to immobilize the vehicle and attack the cold ones when back up got here. It wouldn't be long now. One by one the wheels sank the vehicle to the ground and it came slamming in a heap of metal. Probably not the smartest move but we needed to capture the vampires and deal with them. Just saving Bella wouldn't keep her out of harm's way.

A short brown haired vampire and a short blonde haired vampire hop gracefully out of the car. Leaving Bella still in the back seat. I approached, "Give us back the girl and no one gets hurt. Otherwise you both are not long for this world."

The brown hair vampire spoke, "I know what this mutt is here. But what are you? I sense a lot of trouble is to come from you so I'll let my partner deal with the dog."

Paul gnarled and gnashed his teeth raring to fight as I saw Bella climb out of the sun roof the of truck. She had blood running down her face. Internally I bit back all the emotions I was feeling. My soul mate was hurt.

The blonde vampire lunged at Paul. But this vampire was weak it seemed. New to this. Paul was make light work of him. I saw him tear a massive chunk out of his left arm.

The brown haired vampire approached me, as I heard Josiah and my brothers running up from the woods.

He spoke again as two of my tribe went to help Paul.

Josiah came to him, "Why do you take one of our own? What brings you here? We will do to you what we have done to your colleague"— he said as the blonde vampires head was ripped clean off. Colt holding one arm, Chris holding the other and Paul snapping his neck. — "I'm sure this is not what you want. I ran to Bella as she stumbled behind us barely conscious.

"Baby, please are you okay?? What happened? My love, look at me." She looked up and I could see the love and adoration in her eyes for me. She whispered, "Babe— it hurts so bad. But I'll be okay, let's tear this vampire apart."

Josiah and the tribe stood face to face with the leading vampire. Trapping him from fleeing. I went and joined my tribe as Paul approached Bella to watch her.

The vampire sat down, awaiting someone's next move. It was my turn to talk. "Who sent you? Why do you want her?"

The vampire just grinned and laughed. I could barely contain the angry bubbling up inside of me as he said that and punched him clear in the face, unable to hold back my angry. I asked again calmly, "Who sent you? Why do you want her?"

He just laughed and grinned. "Why don't you ask your lovely mutt friend of yours? It was one of his own who paid us."