M I S T A K E N

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or any of the characters.

I was just thinking of a good way to end this fic. I'm thinking I could come to a good conclusion by twenty, twenty five chapters. Maybe thirty if I really go deep into Jacob and Ari's relationship – but I think I may save that battle for a sequel. Hmm –if I write a sequel. ((muses)) Oh, yeah, enjoy!

15) you can always blame the mailman )

"You can't do that!" Jacob snarled. Sam turned to him, his eyes flashing.

"I can't do what? Ask the Cullen's for help, or bring Ari with me?"

"You can't do either! She's already survived one attack – and only because she wasn't there. Now you want to bring her face to face with a group of bloodsuckers so you can watch how she handles it?! I won't let you do that!"

They looked ready for a fight, their fists clenched by their sides, ready to strike one in the gut before the other had a chance to break their jaw. I slipped my arms out of Jacob's shirt, unable to keep myself from shaking. By now I knew when I had enough, I was coming to realize my limits, and they were frighteningly low. Jacob was too furious to notice my dilemma and Sam was too busy trying to reason with him without twisting his head off of his neck. I hurried out of the living room, shedding my clothes right before I passed the doorway. I was off as soon as my paws touched the ground. Every little thing reminded me of them. Jacob's unwashed shirt, the fact that I had only survived the slaughter by not being there…

I hadn't even had a chance to protect them. I hadn't even had a choice in whether or not I could've died with them. If I could have chosen, I'd be by their side, whether or not they were breathing.

Don't think like that, Ari.

I ignored Jacob as I continued forward, my legs aching and burning – begging me to stop. If I had been able, I would have shed my fur so the others couldn't hear me and so I couldn't feel their sympathy. How could they possibly understand? They wouldn't have to deal with the guilt, the loneliness, the pain…

Ari, you don't have to be lonely. We're here to help you through-

Jacob couldn't help me. He couldn't help me if he didn't understand. Sure – he could feel my pain. He could dream of Aki and my parents, he could dream of saving them. But it wasn't the same. Looking into my memories didn't guarantee that he understood them, understood the significance of every little thing. I didn't claim to understand everything that had happened between him and Bella. After all, I had never experienced love like that. I was as ignorant as someone never educated in French trying to read and comprehend a French dictionary.

Leave her alone, guys. Ari – I'll catch up with you later.

Sam's thoughts and feelings suddenly left me, as did Quil's, Paul's, Jared's, and finally Seth's. Jacob and Leah were following me – they wanted to make sure I was okay.

I hid away at the spot where Jacob had first taken me cliff diving. I was mutely aware of Leah dropping a brown paper bag in front of me before leaving me to myself. Hours passed – hours Aki and my parents would never live. I held my breath until I could feel my eyes closing and my mind fogging. My thoughts became disoriented. I tried to hold on to my Baba's voice, trying to recall something he said, but I found I wasn't able. I couldn't breathe!

Breathe, Ari.

Had I purposely held my breath? Yes – I had. Jacob's mind was comforting, despite the fact that I was so pathetic that I needed him to tell me to breathe. I sighed at the sunset. The bloody reds, deep oranges, and majestic purples were like gorgeous stains inking the sky. They would never experience such wonders of nature ever again. I felt cheated. They were together, at least. They had left me alone in such a sinful place. What a liar Baba was! He had promised to be there when I got all flushed over my first date, to take pictures at prom, to walk me down the aisle to give me away to my husband. It was a promise he had made as soon as I had been born and placed in his arms. He had surely been aware of it.

A kiss and he'd be with me always, right? Always meant forever.

If that was so – I felt like forever had come.

What about my mother? Who would help me plan my wedding? Who would scold me when my skirts were too short, or when my choice in men totally wrong? Who would hold me when I cried?

What about my dearest Aki? My big brother was supposed to protect me from such pain – pain he had caused.

You should wear this. I had been so absorbed in loathing that I hadn't noticed Sam. He dropped a bag before me. His eyes shined as he inspected my untouched lunch. I'll wait for you to change.

You don't have to do this. Jacob whispered. I felt the heartbreak of losing a love. I felt the fear of having someone close getting ripped away. I battled Jacob's emotions with misery of my own; unjustified pain, the torturous guilt, and the raging need for the satisfaction of killing my family's murderer.

I focused on the sunset until I was finally a human again. I slipped on the clothes Sam had brought me, my clothes I had left when I had been in such a hurry to escape the pack. I couldn't escape them, though. They were all I had now that I had nothing.

I walked right past Sam, not even acknowledging his large, human presence. I could hear him behind me as I walked to the vampires' home. I knew where I was going, because I knew all to well what awaited me there. Embry joined us, gliding through the trees with a supernatural grace. I thought it was funny that just the three of us were going. If there was a fight I was sure I wouldn't be much help, despite how angry I was, I had no where near as much experience as they did.

"Jacob's going to be…nearby. He really wanted to be here for you, Ari, but-"

My narrowed eyes caused Embry to stop. I didn't want people talking to me. I didn't want anyone trying to console me. Only my mother could do that, and she was dead. I didn't even have my Baba to tell me everything would be all right. I didn't even have Aki to be an orphan with me.

I knew Jacob's loathing for this clan of vampires and his wanting for Bella was too strong. He was probably far away from here. Quil was probably close, and Seth, and Leah. Jacob wouldn't have come – imprint or not.

"Go ahead and knock."

Embry knocked on the door. He and Sam stood before me, obscuring my vision. I heard a gasp of surprise.

"Esme, what's wrong? Oh – hello."

I pushed past Sam and Embry, my eyes narrowed.

"I'll go tell the others we have company," The pale woman stepped away.

"We need help," Sam started.

"Please, come in," It was the blond from before.

"Carlisle!" The large one, also from before, growled, standing in the doorway to prevent our entering. "Shouldn't we at least tell Edward-"

"He knows they're here by now. Step aside, Emmett, you're being rude."

Sam and Embry hesitated but I stepped forward, sitting on the couch the vampire directed me to. The woman from before came into the room, the other vampires filing in after her. They introduced themselves through tight lips. Sam explained the situation, right down to the Volturi's visit with my family. The taller of the two blond men, Jasper, was flinching and trying to avoid eye contact with me. For a few moments I felt calm, before my rage and despair flared again. I clasped my hands tightly together, hoping I could keep my control for at least a few more moments. Sam had a theory that seemed interesting.

"I've done some research, nothing too extreme," Sam explained. "And I've found interesting disappearances of small groups of tribal people – mostly in Africa, and some of Europe. These people claim to hunt the living dead, to have a sort of magic in their blood – like us, I'd think. The only reason the Volturi would have gone for Ari's family, and not just come to La Push-"

"I can't take it!" Jasper gasped, jumping up. He staggered out of the room, the tiny black-haired vampire holding his arm to steady him. I watched them leave, slightly amazed. Carlisle looked worriedly after Jasper, but nodded for Sam to keep going. Was that why Sam had brought me? I remembered Jacob telling me that these vampires had special talents, and that one of them had extreme empathy…

"I think they're trying to…exterminate werewolves. I'm sure we're not the only pack out there. Perhaps they were going for smaller packs before coming here, or maybe it was just random. I'm not sure."

"That's very interesting," Carlisle mused, rubbing his chin. "I've never been to Africa, but it doesn't seem too farfetched, perhaps there were newborns who lost their way, they'd surely stand out against natives." He glanced at me.

Sam shrugged. I looked up, dreading the silence. The vampire with copper hair had been staring at me. I knew him immediately. Edward.

"They smelt her and came running," Rosalie mumbled, her lip curled in distaste. I probably held the same expression, considering their smell was making my stomach turn.

"Why should we help you?" The biggest one – Emmett – asked.

I shuddered, feeling all of my self-restraint leave me. Something in me snapped. How could I sit here? How could I have let Sam bring me here? I growled. I was seconds away from ripping out one of their throats when she came in.

"Since when did I get locked in…" She lost her breath, staring at us. Embry gave her a dry smile.

"I think I lost my wedding invitation in the mail."

Bwahaha! Yay for Embry one-liners! I need to make him talk more… Anywho, thanks for all who reviewed. I may get another chap up ((crosses fingers)) but they again…project…ugh. I've gotten the next two chapters written out, though. Please drop a review!