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Inspirational Song: Trading Yesterday – One Day

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"Bella, get as far back in the tent as you can!" Brady growled through his teeth. My heart pounded so hard; all I could do was nod as I did as I was told. Brady jumped from the tent and phased once he was far enough away.

His shoulders were set as his eyes darted around, his nose searching for her scent.

"Well, well, well, what do I have here? A cute little pup?" I cringed at the sickly-sweet voice. Victoria.

Brady snarled as the vampire swung through the trees with ease.

"Hello, Bella!" She waved, her eyes meeting mine as I peered out of the tent. Brady moved in front of me, blocking her view of me, as he growled deeply.

"Oh, what is this? Your precious Edward left you with this mutt?" She taunted, swinging once more through the high branches, "Where is Eddie anyway?"

"He's not here!" I shouted at her, sound a lot stronger than I felt. Then a new thought dawned on me. If she discovered that I was Brady's imprint, and that I had chosen him over Edward, then she might go after him instead of me.

An eye for an eye. Even if I wasn't Edward's mate anymore, I was still the reason James was dead and she would go after my true other half. She would take out Brady to break me, to satisfy her thirst for revenge.

"Really?" She raised a brow, "He trusts you with…that?" Brady dropped his head as he growled, "My, my what a protective little wolf you are. If I didn't know any better…" Her eyes widened as she looked between the two of us, a devilish sneer grew.

"Oh, is this love? Did you dump Eddie for this…runt?" She snickered, her eyes a violent, thirsty black.

"Or is he your rebound?" She gave a fake pout, tilting her head, "Did your angelic Edward finally realize you weren't good enough? Not worth the fight?" She was baiting me. Of course, that familiar ache that had once consumed me would forever be a scar upon my heart, but it would never be more than that. I was stronger now.

I stepped out from the tent, ignoring Brady as he tried to push me back, "I am good enough."

She looked taken a back by my boldness but quickly recovered, "Either way, you will both die today. First though…" Victoria looked to Brady, "The dog goes."

Terror seized me, "No…" Time froze as she jumped from the tree, teeth poised and ready for an attack.

I screamed, I knew no one would hear me, I knew no one would come, I knew it wouldn't stop her from pouring her poisonous venom into Brady, but I screamed. I screamed out of terror, out of panic, but mostly out of helplessness. I couldn't save him like he had me. I had failed him.

Brady stood his ground in front of me, refusing to budge. And then they collided.

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Sam's paws pounded hard against the ground, Jared, Embry, come up from the far side. Leah, Jacob, go up from the right. Paul, Quil, go up the left.

The pack broke off, following the alpha's strategy religiously.

"Alice and I will go with Sam. Carlisle, Esme, go with Leah and Jacob." Jasper called, "Rose, Emmett, go up the hill. We need to surround them."

Once more, the two enemies worked together to carry out their goal: keep Bella safe.

She was the bridge between them and, even though none of them would admit it, they didn't want to lose what she had given them.

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How long I continued to scream, I had no idea. But my throat didn't tire as they fought back and forth. I desperately tried to make sense of what I saw but I couldn't, I had no idea who had the upper hand.

I couldn't lose Brady. I needed him like he needed me. If anyone deserved to die, it was me, not him. I was the reason Victoria's mate was dead. He was innocent in all this and deserved so much more!

"Oh, how pretty."

Instantly, I turned to the sultry voice. A dazzling man stood before me with bright ruby eyes and a sharp smile. He reached out to touch my face, but I quickly pulled back.

He laughter poured out like Edward's music, "I won't hurt you."

My eyes narrowed, instinctively I ran around the rocky corner. I knew it was pointless to run but if I kept this vampire busy then maybe, just maybe, Brady could win his fight. He couldn't win against two vampires, but maybe he could win against one. I hoped, prayed, as I ran.

If my death meant that Brady could live, it was more than worth it to me. I made it quite a way before the vampire flew over in front of me, forcing me to stop. He tsked, twitching his finger back and forth as if he were chastising me.

He backed me up until my back hit the rocks, he spoke but I paid no attention. My eyes widened as I looked around. There was no escape, Brady was on his own for his fight. He would win, he had too. Sighing, I closed my eyes, I love you. My thoughts wandered back over the past few days. His loyalty, his love, his kiss...

I was ready to die for his sake.

I kept anticipating his blow, for it to go black, or light, or something. But it never did.

I dared to open my eyes. A large grey wolf had pinned down the vampire, who was now shrieking for Victoria. Without another thought, the wolf growled and yanked his head off.

The metallic sound made me drop to my knees, my hands holding fast to my ears. I just wanted to get away from that sound. I didn't care that I was alive, I just wanted it to stop.

A scent filled my nose that made me nauseous; a large cloud of purple smoke was coming from the far side of the mountain. Then it occurred to me.

Brady.

Without another thought, I took off back towards the tent. The world was fuzzy, smoke-filled the area. Vampires and werewolves were all around but I didn't care, I didn't care to see who was alive and who wasn't, my eyes searched for just one person. One wolf. My wolf.

The familiar ashy-brown wolf walked up to the fire and drop an arm into it, he sat down, his tongue hanging out. I finally allowed myself to breathe, allowing my tense shoulders to ease. I didn't care whose arm it was or what had happened. Brady was safe.

Before I knew it, I was sprinting towards him. My arms wrapped tightly, protectively around his neck, "You're safe." I whispered, burying my head into his neck.

Brady pulled back and trotted over to the brush only to emerge a few minutes later in a pair of borrowed shorts.

Instantly I flew back into his arms. The other wolves followed his lead and started to phase back.

"Now what?" Brady asked with his bright eyes, looking around the group. He wrapped both arms around me tenderly, his head nestling into my neck.

"Now, you get away from my mate!" Everyone turned to the very angry vampire who stood atop the mountain peak.

Brady moved me behind him, his eyes narrowed as a low guttural growl came from his throat.

He had just found me, saved me, now he wasn't going to let anyone take me from him. And I wouldn't either.

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