AN: I know Rosalie seemed to have a change of heart suddenly, but the girls will have a chat later ;D

Chapter Seventeen

The Battle

I was working my pack hard. I knew it wasn't fair, but we had never been up against this kind of threat before. I had met with both Carlisle and Sam on several occasions as we planned out the positions each person would take. Seth and Lilly would protect Bella, along with Edward and possibly Jacob. Brady and Collin would watch over the imprints at Sam's house. That left the entire Cullen clan and the rest of the wolves to fight in the field. We had the element of surprise on our side, but Victoria was still unseen to Alice.

"That's it for today." I clapped, forcing the giant wolves apart. "We have twenty four hours before game time… Rest up." I was met with several yips before they turned tail and headed back to the rental house. I didn't want them to see it, but I was worried too.

"You're good with them." Emmett's voice washed over me.

The Cullen's had been staking out the field we would fight in. I could smell Bella's blood in the air even though I was a few miles away. I turned to give Emmett a small smile as he approached. "Thanks. They make it easy. I've been lucky in the pack member department."

"It's not luck." He shoved his hands into his pockets as he came to a stop in front of me. "You're a good leader, and they respect that."

"Stop, you're making me blush." I joked, pushing against his chest lightly. He used his vampire speed to catch my hand before I could pull it back. Now I was really starting to blush.

"Just… Be careful tomorrow, okay?" He raised an eyebrow, placing the palm of my hand over where his heart should have been beating. He covered it with his own, pulling me more into him. I licked my lips as I willed my own heart to slow down. Did he have any idea what he was doing to me?

"Funny, I was going to ask the same of you." I gave him a small smile as his arms wrapped around my waist. Now I knew he was doing this on purpose. "Emmett?"

"I just – I want to try something… God, I sound like Edward…" He breathed a laugh, moving one hand to cup my chin. I nodded mutely his eyes holding me captive.

Emmett's thumb glided over my bottom lip as his face drew closer. His eyes held mine for a moment longer before darting down to my mouth. When Emmett's lips met mine, I could have sworn I felt the world shifting under my feet. My hands grasped at his biceps, my breath coming in gasps. His tongue was like ice against my lips, but it was the best feeling I had ever experienced. Parting my lips, I let it in, my stomach dropping in the process. My head spun and my wolf howled at the contact.

"Emmett. Air." I laughed against his lips. He joined me, resting his forehead against my own.

"I just wanted to do that – for luck." He winked, his dimpled smile wide.

"I might need a little more." I smiled, pulling him by the collar back to me.

I licked my lips, looking each pack member in the eye. Frowning, it hit me that there were two missing. "Where are Chase and Nick?"

"Still inside." Matt offered as he played with a blade of grass he had plucked out.

"Probably having some pre-fight sex." James wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

Ty scoffed. "Yeah right, and I owe you a hundred bucks."

"The fight starts in twenty minutes. We don't have time for this!" I growled and resisted the urge to pace. Chase was my beta, he should have been by my side before the others. "Ty, go get them." He nodded and jogged towards the front of the rental house.

"I should go now." Lilly spoke quietly, her nerves obvious. "Bella should be there already." I took her face between my hands, kissing her forehead lovingly. In a way, she was more like a daughter than a sister to me.

"Be safe." She nodded, hugging each pack member before bursting into a large golden wolf. With one more glance back at us, she took off into the woods.

Ty returned a few seconds later, his eyes pinned to the ground. Before I could ask what was wrong, he wordlessly handed a folded bill to James. Under any other circumstance, I would have laughed. Chase and Nick followed soon after looking a bit disheveled. I must have had a million questions for Chase, but they could wait. Shaking my head, I turned my focus to the fight.

"We've never been up against something like this…" I began, refocusing the attention to me. "But we're not in it alone. Make sure when you're out there, you're paying attention… Protect your brother and sister next to you. Let's make this clean and quick."

I got a few grunts and responses, their faces like stone. Stripping quickly, we phased and joined Sam's pack on the outside of the field. Through the thinning trees of fall I could make out the Cullen's entering their positions. The little one – Alice – declared that it was time.

'Hold!' Sam commanded as the newborns broke the tree line.

'Wait for our cue…' I added, my eyes following their movements.

The sound of the vampires smacking into each other was so loud, I was sure they would hear it in town. There were more than we thought there were going to be, but no sign of red hair. Simultaneously, Sam and I moved, our packs right behind us. As we jumped over the rocks that helped conceal us, I made a beeline for Emmett. With a deep growl, I locked my jaws around a newborn's neck and pulled, satisfied when it fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Nice." Emmett winked at me before turning to fight off the next one.

Before I could focus on him too long, I felt one grab my back leg. Luckily, I managed to fight him off before he could do any damage. Inside my head was pure chaos. Sam's pack barked locations and incomings while my pack fought to stay focused on each other. James and Matt moved effortlessly together, taking out leeches like they were flies. At one point, I lost track of Chase, but he reappeared, his eyes wild as he sought out Nicolas.

I kept one eye on Emmett while my mind connected with Lilly. When I saw Victoria through her eyes, I nearly ran to her. No. I had to stay. Sam's pack only grew stronger with Jacob's return. We were putting a serious dent in their numbers now, but the ones left were stronger. A loud whimper immediately sent chills down my spine.

'Nick!' I ran in his direction, trying not to panic over the large pile of brown fur that he had become.

I jumped over several piles of dead leech, my paws kicking up dirt as I ran. I could hear Emmett's voice, but all I could focus on was my pack mate. If something happened to Nicolas, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. The last thing I heard was Ty's warning to 'watch out' before I was hit and my world went black.

Emmett's POV

It was like my feet were frozen to the ground. My stomach lurched as I watched the newborn tackle Alex, sending her head first into a nearby tree. The large oak groaned before falling backwards. I was moving before I could even make the decision to. Tyler intervened before I could reach her, killing the leech instantly before standing to defend her still body.

Sliding to a stop, I dropped to my knees near Alexandria's limp, nude body. Her head was sporting a big gash and even I could tell her collarbone was broken. "Carlisle!" I called for the head of my coven. His golden eyes sought me out immediately, his face tense. I knew some first aid, but I didn't trust myself to work on her. I was just happy that her wolf-blood was completely unappetizing.

"I'm on my way, Emmett!" He called, turning to help Esme with another newborn first.

I was happy I couldn't cry, because I probably would be bawling like a baby. Carefully cradling her head, I looked down at her.

"Am I in heaven?"

My own words echoed through my mind… We had been like this, only I was the one laying on the ground. I groaned as Carlisle carefully took Alex from me. My hands flew to my temples as memories flooded me.

"Hello, Alexandria..."

"Miss Sterling, would you do me the honor of being my date tonight?"

"-I've never done this so soon…"

"Bridget, I'm gonna marry that woman…"

"I love you, Alexandria."

"Momma? I wanted you to be the first to know… I'm gonna ask Alexandria to marry me… I just can't picture my life without her…"

"Alex…"

My head felt like it was going to explode. I sank to all fours, my fingers digging up dirt. I remembered her.

I remembered… everything.

AN: Reviews are loooooved! Sneak Peak for the next chapter:

"It's not fair to drag you guys along with me… Which is why I'm handing the alpha position over to Chase."