All mistakes are mine because I don't leave stuff alone. :D

Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong solely to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Eleven

APOV

Once Jared, Jasper, and I arrived in Elwha, we ran through a section of the Olympic National Park, stopping in the woods along the outer edge of Waylon Forge's property. Cloaked by a thick band of pine trees, we were close enough to observe the rundown cabin and its surroundings but far enough away to remain undetected by any vampires who might be sequestered inside its walls.

Squeezing my hand, Jasper jutted his jaw toward the white van sitting in the driveway. "Look."

A spark of hope flickered in my chest. "Thank God," I murmured. The parked vehicle meant Bella was probably inside the house. "One of us should take a closer look."

Jared nudged my elbow with his wet nose. Unable to communicate with words while in wolf form, he turned his head in the direction of the cabin and whined—a gesture suggesting he should be the one to investigate.

"I think that makes the most sense," Jasper agreed. "The majority of our kind aren't familiar with shapeshifters. If Jared is spotted, a vampire will be inclined to believe he's just some random animal."

Before Jasper even finished his comment, Jared took off running toward the building. Jasper and I watched as he circled the cabin's exterior. With his upper back hunched and ears pointed, Jared scanned the area as he sniffed around the windows and the steps that led to the home's entrance. When he approached the driveway, the door of the cabin suddenly swung open. A vampire stepped out onto the porch.

Standing a little over six feet tall with blond hair tied at the nape of his neck, the vampire aimed his piercing, red eyes on Jared, who now stood next to the trash bins. The vampire curled his lips. "Well, what do we have here?" Leaping to the ground, he slowly turned, facing Jared. With disgust, he wrinkled his nose. "A mangy scavenger looking for some scraps."

The fur on Jared's back stood on end as he crouched low in defense. With his razor-sharp teeth bared, he growled.

The squeak of the door opening interrupted their standoff. A woman walked outside of the house. Faint bruises covered her neck, arms, and legs. Her red hair, tangled in knots, fell limply around her dirt-smudged face. In spite of her disheveled appearance, I recognized her as the nurse from the hospital.

"James, what's going on? What was that noise?"

Spinning in her direction, the vampire hissed angrily, shooting her a furious glare. With a threatening tone, he said, "Get back inside the cabin, Vicky. You're supposed to be keeping our visitor company. If you don't start obeying, I may decide to have you for a snack." He inched toward her, chomping his teeth together dramatically.

Vicky blanched and ran back inside the house. Without missing a beat, James bent over and grabbed a rock, hurling it at Jared. "Scat, mutt!"

Agilely dodging the stone, Jared growled once again before dashing toward the woods. After he got back to the spot where Jasper and I waited, Jared hid behind a tree and shifted back into his human body. He reappeared wearing the pair of gym shorts that I had picked up off the ground after his earlier transformation. "Did you see the bloodsucker?" he asked, pausing to take a large gulp of air. He realized his slip and blushed. "I mean vampire."

I nodded and turned toward the cabin, watching as the vampire walked into the house. "Was he the only one?"

He rubbed his forehead. "I think only vampire scent I detected matched the one who came outside. But I heard two distinct heartbeats."

"Okay, that's good. And since we know one of the heartbeats you heard belongs to Vicky, let's hope the other belongs to Bella."

Jared grimaced at my words and rubbed the back of his neck.

"What aren't you telling us?" Jasper asked.

"The place reeked of decay. Something or someone is definitely dead inside that place."

As I stared at the cabin, panic swelled inside me, threatening to swallow me belly-first. Jasper sensed my turmoil and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Let's not jump to any conclusions. Now that we know what we're dealing with, I say we make a plan and take care of this once and for all."

Jared and I nodded in agreement, and after a short discussion, the three of us sprinted toward the house. Jared shifted into his wolf form and headed back to the trash area, while Jasper and I hid around the corner of the cabin.

When Jared banged into a can, causing a loud crash, James stormed outside shouting, "Stupid flea bag! You've messed with the wrong guy." Snarling, he squatted with his arms extended, ready to attack.

Without warning, Jared leapt several feet into the air. A deafening boom rang out as he crashed into an unsuspecting James, pinning him to the ground.

Jasper then flew out from behind the cabin, grabbing James' head with his lean, powerful arms. With one simple twist, he decapitated the vampire.

While Jasper set the vampire's corpse aflame, I hurried to the doorway of the house. Not sensing any other immortals inside, I entered. The smell of rotting flesh assaulted my nose. As I scanned the room's paint-flaked walls and crusty carpet, I discovered Vicky slumped on the floor in the corner. Kneeling next to her, I gently flipped her over—her lifeless gaze stared fixedly straight ahead. Unnaturally pale, she had been recently drained of her blood.

The soft thumping of a pulse floated from the connecting room. Springing to my feet, I rushed toward the sound, entering the dreary, dank space where I discovered Bella. Crammed into a tiny cage, she stared at me, wide-eyed. From across the room, I could see the tears streaking her cheeks as she shivered in fear.

"Don't be afraid," I said as I approached her. "I'm here to help."

With a weak gasp, she grasped the metal door of her enclosure and sobbed.

Bending next to the cage, I broke the lock on the latch and threw open the door. Bella's hand flew out and grasped my arm. But as soon as she made contact with my icy skin, she froze. "N-no," she stuttered, studying my face. "You're l-like him."

Before I could respond, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed against the bottom of the cage.

-GGB-

Jasper carried a still-unconscious Bella and placed her in the backseat of the van. Using the blanket from her cage and a piece of wood he found in the garage, he fashioned a splint and sling for Bella's broken arm. "This will have to do until we can get her medical attention." After tossing the remaining material and wood aside, he shut the door and frowned.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly. Bella's rare blood type caused her to have a distinct fragrance, and I worried that her unique scent would be too much for him to handle. On an ordinary day, her scent was extraordinarily sweet, reminiscent of newly blossomed freesia. With her recent injuries and bloodied skin, her aroma was even more prominent.

He brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. "I'm fine, darling. This isn't my first rodeo."

"I'm sorry. I just worry."

"I know." He kissed me softly, his lips lingering against my mouth. "And that's one of the reasons I love you so much...your heart is so big." Our moment was interrupted when Jared walked out of the cabin. Jasper looked at him. "Any luck finding the keys?"

Jared cringed. He scratched his head while his tongue darted out of his mouth to lick his dry lips. "Um, yeah. Any chance of just hot wiring it?" He gestured toward the cabin. "They're in one of the stiff's pockets."

Jasper smirked at the boy's uneasiness then dashed inside the house. He returned seconds later twirling the keys on his index finger. "I guess us bloodsuckers have a stronger constitution than you pups do." With a chuckle, he winked.

I shook my head at my husband's antics. "Come on, fellas. We don't have time for a pissing contest. We need to figure out our next move."

Jasper's face lost all traces of humor. His analytical mind was now in full command. "Maybe we should go to Carlisle's? He can tend to her injuries."

Even though I couldn't sense any imminent danger, I didn't think Denali was the best choice. "No. It's too risky. If Aro is behind Bella's abduction, he might contact Carlisle for information. The only place we can ensure her safety is Tennessee."

Jasper nodded. "I'll reach out to Rose and Emmett and let them know we're coming. The drive will take us about two days. Do you think Bella can manage being cooped up in a vehicle that long?"

Frowning, I said, "I don't think we have much choice. When we stop to switch vehicles, we can get her some painkillers and a few other supplies to make the trip as comfortable as possible for her. I'm hopeful she'll rest for the time being."

After Jasper set the house aflame, we got in the car. I climbed in the seat next to Bella and carefully placed her head on my lap. Jared joined Jasper in the front. Once Jasper started the vehicle and got on the road, I lightly ran my fingers through Bella's hair, careful not to yank on any of the knots. It felt surreal to be in her presence again after so years of monitoring her from afar. Watching Bella grow up had been the closest thing to motherhood that I had ever experienced. Soaking in her delicate features, I marveled at the beautiful young woman she had become. A swell of maternal instinct crashed through me as I wished I could protect her fragile heart from the pain she would face in the coming days.

Even though my life as a vampire had been a happy one overall, I could still remember the first difficult year of my transition. Not only did I have to learn to handle the constant bloodlust, but I also had to deal with the rejection of the family who had raised me. And that had been the hardest part. I hoped my experience would bring some form of comfort to Bella as she underwent the same process.

"Everything's going to be okay," Jasper said from the front of the van. I looked up to see him watching me in the rearview mirror. He must have sensed my doubts. "She's got us. We'll always take care of her."

I smiled softly then returned my gaze to Bella, silently praying she would accept us into her life.

AN:

Hi! Long time no post. :)

Even though I haven't been super active in the fandom, I have been writing. And the good news is that GGB is finished.

I will be posting two chapters a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Thanks to KJ and K for their help with this chapter.

I hope everyone is doing well.

-HE