{Chapter 22}

I growl in frustration as Gabriel's phone sends me to voicemail again.

"He's not answering. What if he already knows and is out there hunting Carlisle?" I ask.

Edward glances my way before focusing back on the road.

"Keep trying. We can't assume that he knows anything yet. Even if he does, he will be more willing to hear you out than the pack was."

I nod and try dialling Gabriel's number again as Edward has to swerve out of the way of the giant wolf that has burst from the tree line.

"Shit!" Edward says.

My phone hits the floor as Edward quickly puts the car in reverse.

"Mia, Edward, it's me," Gabriel says.

We heave a collective sigh of relief as Edward puts the car in park. Gabriel disappears back into the trees before coming back out in human form.

"What the hell happened? The Elders have called a war council," Gabriel says.

"That pack thinks that Carlisle killed Sam," Edward says.

Gabriel freezes his eyes wide as he looks over at me and I slowly nod. Gabriel's face displays a range of emotions before settling on disbelief.

"Sam is dead?" he asks the question slowly as he is not ready for the answer.

"Yes."

Gabriel is silent, he runs his hand through his hair.

"Was it Asher?" he asks.

His gaze is on me as flashbacks of Asher killing Sam start flashing before my eyes. I don't have to say anything as Gabriel pulls me into a hug.

"It's okay, Little Wolf. We'll fix this. We'll stop Asher."

He looks over at Edward, "where is Carlisle now?"

"Leading the pack away so that we can all get to safety. He's got Jasper and Kai with him. We're on our way to find Emmett and Rosalie," Edward says.

Gabriel pulls away from me, "get to your friends and get to safety. I'll handle the rest."

"What are you going to do?" I ask.

When Gabriel looks at me his steely grey eyes hold a fire I have never seen before, "whatever it takes to keep you safe."

He nods at us before taking off into the woods as Edward and I get back into the car. We continue our journey up the mountain until we pull up in front of a cabin. Emmett's jeep is parked out front, but he and Rosalie are nowhere to be seen.

"Are they here?" I ask.

Edward cocks his head like he's trying to focus on their thoughts. He nods in satisfaction once he hears them.

"Yes, but I don't think that our pack friends are far behind. We need to hurry if we're going to get out of here safely."

I nod, and we get out of the car and quickly head to the door. Edward knocks before opening the door.

"What is it with you guys and opening the door after you knock? It defeats the purpose of the knock if you are just going to open the door anyway," I say.

Edward looks over at me, "is now really a good time to get into this?"

"Good point. Emmett! Rosalie!"

They come from upstairs, Emmett slipping a shirt back on while Rosalie fixes her hair.

"We thought we heard your voices. What are you guys doing here?" Emmett asks.

While Edward explains what happened, I set my gaze on the window to keep watch. If the wolves are close, we won't have a whole lot of time to get out. Edward is still explaining how I saw Asher kill Sam when I see him. A light sandy coloured wolf is standing on the other side of the road, just beyond the trees. Seth."

"Mia?"

I have to force myself to not let my thoughts reach out to him as they so crave to do.

"Mia, I know you're there. Please, talk to me."

I sigh and Edward looks at me as Emmett and Rosalie run upstairs to grab their gear. I know that he knows Seth is out there. His eyes ask all the questions I don't have the answer to, so I shrug in response.

"Mia, please."

Biting my lip, I look out at the sandy coloured wolf before shaking my head and turning away from the window.

"You are my everything, Mia. Don't do this, don't choose them over us… over me. Just…just please, Mia. I'm begging you…just choose me. Please."

Tears spring to my eyes as I hear the anguish in his voice. A strong longing to be with him burns through my bones. I never knew that it would take every fiber of my being to stay away from him. My heart feels like it is cracking into a million little pieces. I quickly wipe my eyes before turning towards Edward.

"Edward, we need to go. If Seth is here, then the others might not be far behind."

I turn back to the window to find that Seth is gone. Which means that he is probably on his way back to the pack.

"Alright, I think we're ready," Emmett says coming downstairs.

Rosalie follows him down the stairs, holding a duffel bag. I grab another bag that they tossed down the stairs as a growl fills the air. Edward quickly moves towards the window and peeks out of it.

"We need to go now," he says.

"Hold on, we got a few more bags," Rosalie says.

"We don't have time for this, Rose," Edward says.

"I'm not leaving…"

I cut them off, "just go. I'll grab the rest of the stuff."

"Mia, you can't just…" Edward starts.

"The wolves will be here any minute. They won't attack me, Seth won't let them."

Edward sighs before shaking his head and handing me the keys to my car.

"Okay, just be careful."

"I will. Now go."

Edward follows Rosalie out the door while Emmett pulls me into a hug.

"Be safe out there, Wolfe. I don't like leaving you out here with them, but I trust you."

"Thanks, Emmett. I'll see you soon."

"You better."

He runs to his jeep and jumps in before peeling out the driveway. After a few seconds, I start to gather the rest of Rosalie's stuff until I knock on the door makes me freeze. My breath catches in my throat as I go still. Keeping my steps light, I tiptoe my way to the door.

"Mia? It's me. Let me in, please."

My heart flutters in my chest at the sound of Seth's voice. He came back.

"Look, I know you're in there. I just want to talk, please."

His voice cracks at the last word and so does my resolve. I open the door and we stand there, taking each other in. The look in Seth's eyes is broken like his heart is slowly shattering into a billion pieces.

"Seth…"

He doesn't say anything. All he does is hit his knees, his hands grab my waist. He rests his head on my stomach, his eyes closed. I freeze, unsure of what to do as Seth's whole-body shakes. At first, I think he's angry and about to turn, but then the sound of crying reaches my ears and my heart breaks all over again.

"Seth…"

"I can't lose you, Mia. I can't. You're my everything."

"Seth…"

He jumps to his feet, his hands cupping my face.

"Do you hear me? You are my everything. I would do anything for you, be anything for you. I am begging you. Don't make me choose between you and them. Don't make me turn against my brothers for you because I'll do it, Mia. Even if it means leaving the pack and betraying my family, I'll do it."

I take Seth's hand off my face an internal war waging. Seth is willing to sacrifice everything for me…his pack, his family. As I look at him, all I feel is love which is doing what I am about to do is killing me inside.

"It's over, Seth."

He freezes, his eyes searching my face. Tears force their way down my face and his hand immediately goes to wipe them away, but I step out of his reach and shake my head.

"Go back to the pack. Back to your family because I…I don't want you anymore. It was never going to work out between us. I don't know why we were fooling ourselves into thinking that it would. I don't…I don't love you anymore."

"No, Mia. No, you can't…I know you're lying. I know you love me, I know it. Please. I can't lose you. I love you too much to lose you… don't do this."

I shake my head before grabbing the rest of the bags, "I'm sorry."

"Mia, please."

"Goodbye, Seth," I cry.

My heart breaks with every step that I take away from him, but I don't turn back. I can't. I won't be responsible for Seth betraying the only family he has ever known. He may be strong enough to live with it but I'm not. I get in my car and drive off as the tears continue to stream down my face. By the time I meet up with Edward, Emmett, and Rosalie, heart-wrenching sobs are fighting their way past my lips. No one says anything as Rosalie gently helps me out of the driver's seat and into the back, her arms wrapped around me. It feels like my heart is in a billion pieces like the earth itself has shattered. Edward quietly speaks to Emmett who nods before climbing back into his jeep. Rosalie buckles me in as Edward slides into the driver's seat of my car. We head to the safehouse, my cries the only thing filling the silence.

Author's Note: Hey guy! So thanks so much for your patience. It is greatly appreciated. These last couple of chapters just haven't been sitting right with me so I had to go back and rewrite some scenes. We are about 2 chapters away from the end! I'm so excited and nervous for you guys to read the ending. Anyway, on another note, I am actually not going to tell you what I thought of this particular scene because the answer actually ties into a question that was sent for the QA at the end. Speaking of, don't forget to send in your questions, guys! Whether it be about the series as a whole. A particular scene, character, myself, whatever. Happy reading!- Jess