She reached her pale hand around the she wolf's throat and squeezed, effectively cutting off the howl to a strangled gurgle. I felt my heart constrict in my chest as I watched helplessly, a howl leaving my muzzle. "No!" echoed through the mind link, my eyes barely adjusting to the scene in front of me. Blood poured through Victoria's fingers as I watched my pack circle the last, vindictive vampire. Helpless to stop her as she crushed Leah's larynx. Jake lunged for the red head, diving over Leah and clamping his massive maw onto Victoria's shoulder but without any difficulty, the vampire swatted him away like an annoying fly. He landed beyond her with only a scrap of her shirt between his teeth. Embry took advantage of her distraction, coming seemingly out of nowhere, and beheading the vampire with one swift yank to her neck with his bare fucking hands. He landed on his ass, groaning loudly as he tossed Victoria's decapitated head away from him with a disgusted look. Leah sank to the forest floor, blood seeping out from under her neck. Her pitiful wail of despair sang through the mind link but the wolf itself did not utter a word. Her breathing was there, but a whistle through her teeth, and very labored, her eyes clenched shut in pain. Seth phased human and hurried to her, gently urging her to lay flat on her side.
"Oh, Lee Lee." He whispered.
My steps were slow and shaking but I made it to Leah, gently lying down beside her as I gave her my silent support.
"It hurts! Oh God. Oh my God." Her watery words were full of torment and fear. Victoria had crushed her throat in preparation of tearing it out.
Gathered around us both, the pack nudged and leaned, hoping to ease some of our pain. My lung was healing quicker than I anticipated but my ribs were still knitting. Seth moved some of Leah's pelt from her wound and a collective gasp ran through the link simultaneously with Seth's. The once smooth expanse of skin gave way to a pink gnarled mess as it heals itself. Leah saw what we all did and her inner cries became louder. She would forever be disfigured by the vampire's hand.
"Come on, Lee. Let's go home. We need to clean this up." Seth said softly.
I wasn't sure what anyone would be able to do for her, if anything, but I prayed she would be able to speak again. After being sure the last of the vampire pieces were all burned and there was only smoldering piles of ash, we left as an organized unit, heading away from Forks and back to the reservation, our thoughts solemn.