Ummm... Hi? Missed you! I'll just say that it's been a rough few months, and thanks to Chef Diamondheart and WolvesCanEatMe for their help and input. If you were one of the few who got an early look, this is far more polished.

I'll get out of the way... Please enjoy.

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Bella POV

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I sipped the hot cocoa and snuggled down into the oversized sweater Jake had put on me. For a brief moment I pretended that the evening was just a dream, but my feet were still too cold, my hair too wet for that to be true.

And there was the letter.

Thick, creamy paper with a simple "Bella" in Edward's flawless hand on the front. It was elegant writing, polished by a century of time with little to do beside listening to and playing music, writing letters and, occasionally, hunting to survive.

The letter sat in the circle of light that lit the kitchen table. It was just paper…right? Paper with words, and what could a few words do?

I don't want you to come with me.

You're no good for me.

It will be as if I never existed.

My stomach tightened at the thought of what he might write. A few choice words had shattered me, and though I was so much better now, with Edward no longer in my system, words could still cut and splinter me.

But words only have the power we give them. Whatever was in that letter was meant for me, and only I could let them hurt me. I owed it to Jake and my dad to read the note and be okay with whatever was in it.

I set down my cocoa and pulled my hair into a coil. If there was something important in the note, it wouldn't do to drip water all over it.

The paper was heavier than it looked and the texture in it only visible against the light. Ink seeped into the tiny indents so it didn't smear right afterwards. Only an Edwardian vampire could truly appreciate the technology of paper.

I broke the seal and unfolded the page inside.

~.~

My dearest Bella,

In every endeavor, every plan, a time comes that you have more answers than questions worth asking. I arrived at this point earlier today, and while there is no way to plan for every possibility, I am sure my actions will assist both my family and yours.

It was my dream that you become part of my family. I was wrong to dream this; wrong to tempt you with something I had no right to offer, and wrong to turn you against the ones that love you as you are—alive. My life is neither as rich, nor bereft, as it may seem; but it is not an easy one, and absolutely not one that you should sacrifice your heartbeat for. Maybe one day you will understand. Perhaps you do already.

I have no idea whether I will return or find my fate in the flames. I'm not sure I care, so long as you are safe. If you never see or hear from me again, then don't think on me, for I have found eternity one way or the other. If I am to burn, I only pray that I might atone for my sins before then. If I survive, then I hope that you will look upon me as a misguided and foolish friend someday, rather than the devil I feel I am.

I deserve neither your affections nor pity. Save them for a better destination. I only hope that you find happiness and a future. I offer my life in trade to that end.

Your eternal servant,

Edward Masen Cullen

~.~

My cocoa was cold and my hair dry when Jake arrived. He pried the letter from my stiff fingers and read it, smoothed the paper, and then carefully folded the letter back into the envelope and set it on the desk in his room. He carried me to his bed, his warmth thawing the chill left by sitting out with wet hair. As his hands soothed my cramped joints, I came alive again with a heated glow. I wrapped my body around him and we buried ourselves in each other.

Afterwards, as I drifted in the exhausted halfway space between awake and asleep, Jake raised up on an elbow beside me and stroked my cheek. "Are you okay with the letter?"

With effort, I cracked my eyes back open. "Which part?"

"The whole thing, really. What's in it, and the fact that it's even here at all."

I curled my arms up and hugged him. "It's funny, you know. I don't like that he's in danger, but I don't like that any of you are. I hate that this is all happening, but I see how we got here and I realize it's not really even about me anymore, and it's definitely not about him and me." I cuddled tighter and Jake put a hand on my back to hold me. "I'm not sure anymore that there ever was a real 'us' for him and me." Jake pressed a kiss to my head and caressed my back. "Why do you say that? I thought you were going to, you know, die for him."

I kissed his neck, feeling how the sinew played beneath his skin and loving the catch in his breath. "Why would I die when I could live?" His grip on me grew tighter as he leaned into me, settling over me again and ending the conversation.

…

By eight, the winds that had slashed the night before were gusty, and the rain alternated between dancing down the widows and running in horizontal lines across them. The sky was gray and heavy above us.

"Bella, are you sure you can't eat any more?"

I looked back at Jake, his face concerned. "I'm okay. If I eat any more, I'm afraid it'll come back up."

For a second, he looked like he was about to argue with me but, seeing that I'd managed a piece of toast and half an egg on this particular day, he just nodded and ate my last two bites.

After breakfast, we got our things ready; my bag was crammed with paperwork, a book and my cellphone and charger. I wasn't sure why I packed a book. There was no way I would just sit and read today, but my dad would never believe it if I didn't have a book with me. Jake just had his ankle pack.

The phone rang, jarring us to the bone, and Jake sprang to answer it.

"Hi Sue." Sue spoke, and Jake listened intently. "Yeah, we're getting ready and I expect to hear from Drew any minute. He'll drive us to Aberdeen while the pack assembles and they do the reconnaissance." A few words from Sue, and Jake looked a little pale. "Uh, th-the Cullens are doing a little sniffing around. That's all." Jake exhaled a moment later, relieved. "Glad to hear the drive is okay. No, no, just let my dad sleep. I'll talk to him soon. Okay, bye."

Jake hung up the phone and rubbed his face.

"Well?"

"Sue says her cousin is driving them back, and they're getting on the ferry now, and will be here around lunchtime. Your dad is on the rehab center's ambulance and is stoned out on painkillers for the trip, so he's fine."

"So we just wait for Drew?"

Jake sighed and looked at the clock. "Yeah. I need to talk to Sam." He bent and kissed my forehead. "Back in a few. If Drew calls, yell into the woods, okay?"

"Okay. Love you."

He smiled, and turned the wolf on my bracelet so it faced the right way. "Love you, too."

…

Drew pulled up in his battered SUV around nine-thirty. "Hey guys, ready to get wet?" He flipped up his hood with a smile and carried our things so we could lock the door and run. We settled into the backseat as Drew put the car into gear. The front passenger seat was covered in dog-eared files about the cases that brought Drew to Forks. "If the weather clears like it's supposed to, we should get to Aberdeen around the same time as Charlie. How's that for some good news?"

Jake turned to look out the window as we left La Push. "Yeah. Good news. Mind if I crack the window? I get, uh, carsick if I don't."

"Go ahead. Let me know if we need to stop." Drew glanced in the rearview mirror. "You didn't strike me as the carsick type, Jake."

Jake took a deep breath of the incoming air. "Just found out myself."

The car ride was going to be torture, and I watched the windshield constantly, practically counting the raindrops. The longer that rain held, the more time we had, the longer I could hold his hand, and the greater distance between me and where he and the fight would be.

Without intending to, I gripped his hand tighter. Jake faced me again, his face wet from where rain was coming in, and gave me as much of a smile as he could muster. It wasn't much.

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Sam POV

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Leah ignored the rain and sat with Seth, talking and trying to hold on to the last minutes.

"Leah, they're nearly here." Maybe I imagined it, but I thought I could smell them even through the rain.

"I know. Give me a sec." She and Seth gave each other tight smiles; the kind that you give when you know something bad was about to happen, but you just couldn't bear to say goodbye without the promise of another hello. She rose, slicked her hair back, and joined me watching the far edge of our territory.

We heard the car long before we saw it. Edward got out and joined us on the roadside while Dr. Cullen stayed in the car with the window cracked open. "Mr. Uley, are you ready here?"

"I think so. Jake is on his way to Aberdeen with Bella, and if anything happens he's prepared to meet us. The pack is ready and staying on our side. How about you?"

"My family is poised just South of where we expect them to arrive. Alice says they are holding steady and waiting for the rain to slow." Dr. Cullen looked behind me. "Miss Clearwater, are you sure you still want to do this?"

Leah glanced back at Seth, who gave her a tiny nod. "Yes. I'm ready. What do I do?"

Dr. Cullen held up a tube with a score mark at the cap. "I'm sorry, there was no way to make this in time so you could do it… in your other form. You'll need your hands to snap the top off, but only for a moment. Then you can carry it in your mouth. Carefully."

"We'll need a few moments to get ready." I took the vial and motioned for Leah behind the trees.

"Of course."

Seth stayed near the road as I walked Leah to the trees. "You don't have to do this. You can change your mind."

Her hands were steady as she loosened the ties on her shorts. "Yes I do, and no I won't. He's the fastest they've got," she inclined her head towards Edward, who was leaning over to speak to Dr. Cullen through the car window, "and while he may be able to read minds, he's just one crazy leach and needs back-up. Plus, Jake gave me the okay, so I'm not backing out now."

I clutched the metal vial. "Fine. I just wish you wouldn't. You're… We…"

Leah looked up sharply. "That—right there. There's no 'we', and even if there was, this is bigger than any 'we'."

She stepped closer to me and, in the tenderest voice I'd heard since I phased and hurt her, spoke. "I'm not trying to get killed, Sam. That's not what this is about. This is about me getting to do my part and do it right. If I fought like everyone else then you would probably do something stupid trying to protect me and get yourself hurt or worse." Leah loosened her shirt. "I won't let that happen to Emily if I can prevent it."

My eyes stung. "I'm not sure I ever deserved you, Leah. You're a better person than I am."

Her shorts hit the ground. "Tell me something I didn't know."

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We waited, phased, at the edge of our territory, watching what Leah was seeing. She followed on the heels of the vampire, jumping piles of debris and ducking under fallen limbs. They skirted a rock pile that was at the outermost edge of where we ever patrolled and continued into danger. The vial, wrapped in Leah's shirt, felt fragile in her mouth.

I swear to god, if this thing breaks and I get her blood in my mouth…

"Don't worry," Edward said, "That tube is designed to carry medical isotopes. It would take a lot more than a bump to break it."

Are you serious? Did you give me something radioactive?

"No, no. It's new. It was the only thing that we could put that vent cap on." His stride broke for an instant before returning to his smooth pace.

They dodged a downed tree and Edward led her on a route up a foothill. "Let's take a quick look. Not too high."

Leah caught a whiff of vampire that wasn't Edward. The pack stamped their feet and Seth whined, forced to merely watch. They came to a halt just high enough to see through the trees, but not be above them. The rain was thinning and being replaced by heavy mist.

Over there. Do you see anything?

"Maybe. Looks like a few more trees are down than should be. Newborns would knock them over pretty easily." He crouched down next to Leah. "You ready?"

As I'll ever be.

"If anything happens to me, run. Don't look back."

Likewise. They started off more slowly now and moved in near silence. Our ears all twitched when we heard the first sounds —screeching— from the newborn's camp. Voices that scraped your ears and pinged down your spine.

There was arguing and fighting, but one voice kept them from leaving the area. It was some way off, yet, so words were hard to make out.

"Don't make a sound." Edward's voice was so quiet it was no more than air moving. "Follow me." As they drew closer to the camp, snarls and howls soon filled the air and Edward came to a halt. "I can hear them here." He tilted his head and listened.

What are they saying? We all asked.

Edward closed his eyes in concentration. "They're young. Very young. They want to fight because they are…thirsty. She has promised them the town if they deliver."

Deliver what?

Edward winced and lowered his face. "Bella. And… kill the wolves."

Oh hell, no. Paul growled.

"They know her by scent." Edward tilted his head, listening. "The trackers trained them and they're sending… a scout?"

Leah! I screamed into the pack mind, but she was already on the move. Leah sprang and started running a wide perimeter around the area. Edward barely caught up to flank her but as she cut along a trail she yipped. It wasn't a loud yip, but it might have been loud enough to notice.

The scout! He went this way!

"But that's not the way to the clearing!"

No —it's the way to the highway Bella and Jake are on! Leah shook her head and flung the metal tube to Edward. Lay that trail, I have to catch that leech and warn Jake!

"But—!"

Start laying the trail! The entire pack was yelling at him through Leah. She may have alerted them. We have to make sure the rest of them go the right way! He hesitated, holding the tube like it was a relic. For fuck's sake, you want to save her? Then do it!

"I resisted her once, I can do it again." He pulled the seal and started to run. Leah sprinted off in the direction of the trail she'd caught.

It had started.

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Bella POV

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Jake pointed his nose into the drippy stream of air coming in the partially open window. Drew stopped remarking how wet he was getting several miles back and paid attention again to the voices on the car's radio. It had all mixed into a buzzing drone with the rain on the windshield and the wind pouring through the window, making it impossible to listen to.

A crackle of voices signed off and Drew turned down his radio. "It sounds like your dad is just past Cleary, Bella. He may just barely beat us there."

"Great. How much longer, you think?"

Drew glanced at his GPS. "Maybe fifteen minutes. A bit faster maybe, since the mist is clearing ahead."

Jake and I leaned together and looked out the windshield. The deep gray we'd been seeing for two hours was definitely lighter ahead. Shadows from the trees cut dark gashes in the light.

Suddenly, Jake twitched away from me and crammed his face against the window. My heart began to pound as he took deep breaths through his nose and forced them out his mouth as fast as he could.

"Feeling sick, Jake? I can pull over." Drew slowed the car. Up ahead, out of the shadows and mist, a shape took form. "Huh," Drew said. "I'd better go check and see if he's broken down up ahead."

"Stay in the car!" Jake yelled.

"What?" Drew turned to face Jake. "What's wrong?"

As I watched, the form took the shape of a human, but as soon as the headlights struck his face, I knew what it was. "Oh god, Jake. They found us!"

Drew turned, and his mouth fell open. "Biers? Riley Biers?"

The vampire smiled at hearing the name, but I saw the glint in its eyes. Red eyes. He took another step towards the car and Jake yanked at his seatbelt and the door handle frantically.

A crash from the trees sent splinters and leaves splattering across the windshield, obstructing our view, but it looked like a giant animal was stalking the vampire. Drew jumped as the massive shape snarled. "Holy hell, look at the size of that… that thing!" He reached across the seat for his holster, never taking his eyes off the huge form through the mess on his windshield.

The vampire hissed back and shot into the woods opposite. Through the debris on the window I could just make out the change in shape. It was smaller now and ran towards the car.

"What the hell?" Drew flicked the wipers. "Leah?"

Leah stood, naked and wet, in front of the car and screamed at Jake. "They're moving, Jake! Let's go!"

Drew opened his door and poked his head out. "Leah?" He stared, oblivious to Jake breaking the buckle and slamming the door on his way out of the car.

"Drew! Get the fuck out of here!"

"But, Leah? Are you okay?"

Leah slammed her fist on the hood of the car, denting it. "Drive, Drew! Now! Get her out of here!" Jake pushed Drew back inside the car and cracked the window as he shut the door hard. "Go! Go!"

The two of them took a few strides toward where the vampire had disappeared into the woods, jumped, and morphed mid-air. Shreds of Jake's clothes flipped and fluttered to the ground.

Drew stared, silent and barely breathing, into the clearing mists. "Go, Drew! They're coming!" Somewhere in him a switch was hit and his foot pounded to the floor. Tires squealed and smoked as we took off, now only minutes away from the rehab center.

"What the fuck just happened?"

I climbed to the front seat and fastened my seatbelt. "I can't tell you everything right now, but just trust me. Just get us there. Get us there now!"

We travelled at breakneck speed and arrived in Aberdeen in minutes. We screeched to a stop, taking up three spaces, in the rehab center's parking lot. Keys jangled loudly in Drew's shaking hands as we ran through the sliding doors.

"Come on, Drew. Stay with me." I tugged his arm as we entered the center; he kept looking behind us.

"But he's dead. He's… and Leah? Jake?" He looked again and I pulled harder to move him to the reception desk.

"Not now. Soon. Just don't talk." I got Dad's room number and dragged Drew with me. Just inside the door were Sue and Billy, backlit by the large bay window. Charlie was asleep.

Sue walked to me first. "They say he'll wake in another hour or two. Best to let him nap through the aches." She saw Drew and went to hold out her hand, but caught herself when he didn't respond. Sue and Billy both looked Drew over. "What happened?" Sue asked.

"We saw one. On the way here. Leah was chasing it." Sue stiffened. "She changed and yelled for Jake, then they both chased it into the woods." I had a grip on Drew's arm and Sue stepped quickly to his side. We may not have been holding him up bodily, but we braced the swaying.

Billy wheeled up to him and spoke very calmly. "Son, I think we ought to give Bella some time with Charlie. You should come with me; we'll have a coffee. Sue?" The two grimly shared a silent head nod, and escorted Drew away.

I stood alone, holding my hands in my pockets to hide the shaking. A kind nurse gave me a glass of water and nudged me into a chair by my dad's bed. He had a window, two chairs, a closet and chest of drawers. The window's drapes were pulled back, and I could see that the sky was lighter with just a couple patches of rain left.

My dad was sleeping off the trip. They said he'd be asleep for at least another hour. He might even sleep through it all. I hoped so.

I set my phone on the window sill and waited. There was nothing else to do.

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Jake POV

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The forest filled with thunder. Our paws pounded the ground, we crashed through branches, and our blood thudded in our ears as we ran after the scout. I hated him more than if he was just a leech, more than if he was just a killer. He was after Bella. He snuck around on our territory, watching her, stealing her things, and reporting back to the leader. He was worse than just an enemy soldier: he wanted to do what he did, and that meant he had to die and die hard.

Leah took position just behind me. We edged closer to our usual territory and started to see the trails we knew, creek beds we recognized.

I'm going in. Leah's mind mapped out a fork in the trail that would allow her to intercept ahead.

Can you beat him there?

Yes. We reached the spot and in her head I felt her acceleration as she took the route. I kept the pace and didn't push the scout to go faster. He even looked back and smiled at me, but I stayed at the same speed. The paths would come together soon enough.

From several yards away I saw Leah fly through the air and side-tackle the leech. He crumpled, crashing into a pile of rocks and debris. Chips of stone bounced off my face.

Hold him down, Leah! She stood on the vampire and sank her teeth into the back of his neck. He struggled, but she just dug in harder. I ran in, took a leg and pulled. The greasy, slick feel of venom coated my mouth and I pulled my lips away from my teeth. The leg came free and I started on the next, while Leah held him down and ground his teeth in the dirt. He screamed as the metallic shear announced the loss of his other leg.

The arms came next, snapping like cables and thudding wherever I threw them. He was spitting and mindless, thrashing his head and arching up to reach us with his teeth.

You son of a bitch. I didn't care that he couldn't hear me. You're from here. You were a spy, you murdered your neighbors, and you dared, I stepped on his lower back and braced him with both paws, you dared to think you could get around us and hurt her.

He arched back and slashed his teeth around. Watch it, Leah.

She put a back foot on his shoulder and held his head down. Got him. What now?

I thought back and relived my kill: the clacking of the beads, the tearing hair, and finally the ear splitting sound of his neck cracking and the sick taste of oily fluid filling my mouth.

Do it, Leah. Do it!

I held the leech as Leah leaned over. Her bite was hard and the leech struggled with his neck and back, trying to inch away. When she pulled, venom mist sprayed and slicked our fur. It took one more pull to take the head off. She flung it away and stepped off the torso and braced herself against the ground as she gulped air.

Easy, Leah. Take it easy.

Oh god… She hunched up and retched, then spotted the arms twitching towards the body. We have to burn it, Jake. Quick.

Take my lighter. I'll get wood while you catch your breath.

I'm not out of breath, jackass. I want to throw up.

I phased to start the fire and Leah brought the pieces. It wasn't long before they were leaving a trail of deep smoke into the sky.

Someone is gonna notice that. We need to go now.

We headed off in the direction of the site.

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Bella POV

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My legs itched with the need to move, so I took my phone and walked down the hall to see if Billy or Sue was around. I wasn't sure what they had planned to say to Drew, but it was going to be hard to tell him that there were just animal attacks or camping accidents after seeing two werewolves chase a dead man into the woods.

I wandered into the lobby. A nurse directed me to a cart were I could make a cup of hot chocolate. I took my cup and spotted Billy, Sue and Drew at a table in the empty staff break room. Sue waved me in.

"Sit, Bella. How is Charlie?"

"Fine. Still sleeping."

Sue nodded. "Good. He may just sleep through it all. When he wakes up, he'll just have his meeting with the therapist and everything will be fine." She smiled, showing her teeth.

Billy patted Sue's hand. His son may be in the fight, but both of Sue's children were, and they were all she had left. "Bella, are you alright?"

I glanced down at my phone and saw no messages. "I'm okay. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Bella," Billy leaned forward, "You're in the safest place we could make for you. We will win, and you will be okay. They'll be good, too." He held Sue's hand. "They'll all be okay. Now, let's go check on Charlie."

I walked with Drew on the way back to my dad's room. "You alright?"

Drew nodded stiffly. Billy beckoned to me and I leaned in to hear him. "We told him."

I recoiled. "I thought it was all a secret!"

"There was no way around it. He saw too much and now he's in the same danger as the rest of us. If we tried to lie to him we would have spent more time hiding everything than he'll spend in shock."

Sue pulled on my arm and we started walking to my dad's room. "Besides, it may not be a bad idea to have someone in law enforcement on our side. You know, in the long run." I was jealous that she was completely sure that we would have a 'long run'.

Drew sat in a chair in the corner of the room, staring at Sue and Billy with suspicion while they stood guard by my dad's bed. As spacious as the room was, it was crowded with the four of us in there, so I sat on the narrow window seat with my knees under my chin and my head leaned on the glass.

We waited.

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Jake POV

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We only have a few minutes, so I'm going to make this quick. There's going to be a picnic next Saturday.

Everyone's ears pricked up and they all shared a glance. You guys, I think he's lost his mind.

Yeah, maybe he's eaten too much leech. That shit is poison.

I continued. There's going to be a bonfire, and there's going to be football. We're going to go to school and get our diplomas, and do great things. After today, we're all going to do great things. We're going to do them because we're going to see the sun set tonight and tomorrow will be another day. We're going to do what we have to do so that this land is safe. Every single one of us was born for this, and while it sucks right now, we will make this place safe today and always. We give this place a future.

Whoa, Black. Since when did you take public speaking?

I didn't know the Rez had Toastmasters.

Leah and I kept up our run. Remember your homes, your friends, your favorite places and things. You will see them again; just get this one thing done first.

They were suddenly quieter. Everyone's mind was busy with thoughts of the things they loved.

Today is not the end. Today is not the end of our friends and families. It is not the end of picnics and bonfires and storytelling or football. It is not the end of bad jokes and bets, takeout pizza or movies. It is not the end of this land, the towns, or La Push. And it is definitely not the end of us. I will tell you what it is the end of. It is the end of a bunch of god damn undead cold fuckers who think they can come here, wipe us out and take all we have, and I will tell you why.

Because we are alive. We are alive, and they are dead.

Throats vibrated with growls. Leah snarled at the taste in her mouth as we ran, and the rest of the pack kicked impatiently and pawed at the ground.

Now let's go remind them.

If we had our voices, we would have deafened the peninsula, but the deep rumbles were better than any cheer. Besides, people on their way to a fight to the death don't really feel like cheering.

Leah and I took a trail leading us to the clearing as the rest of the pack paired up and began the trek to meet us, careful not to lead too close to where the Cullens were waiting. She fell in behind me and followed. The trail is being laid and will bring them in.

So I gathered. I don't like it, but it's better than blowing their cover.

According to the plan, the Cullens were very close by, but away from the planned route for the trail made by the blood sample. When the newborns arrived, we would net them, allowing the Cullens a chance to surprise them from behind.

God, it almost sounds foolproof when you say it that way.

Best laid plans, Quil. It's only as good as we make it. I reminded him.

We arrived in the clearing.

A few minutes later, a blur zipped through the trees with a spray of twigs and water. The vial hit the ground and Embry bounded over to pick it up with his teeth and hide it.

I ran to the tree Edward had begun to climb to act as a lookout. Are they coming?

He looked down at me, his eyes dark and crazed. "Listen!"

There was a constant low noise, a vibration in the ground almost. That?

"Yes. Get ready. My family is on their way."

Pair up! Seth, stay with Paul and Embry. Eyes ready and never let them get on your back! The pack scrambled and watched. I'm not losing anyone today!

The earth trembled like a coming earthquake, and the hissing and alien voices got clearer. The first heads came through the trees. No one make a move, not until they're in the clearing.

A wall of pale stinking fury burst through the trees, smashing down a few and shredding the ground. I counted seven and flexed. Get ready.

Anyone seen the redhead?

Edward dropped down next to me. "She's skirting the perimeter. She thinks the newborns will wipe you out, then she'll be free to…" He looked toward Embry, who had shoved the vial into the hollow of a fallen tree and was now shuffling leaves over it. "She'd be free to finish what she started."

Track her. Bring her here. Hers was the only venom I actually wanted to taste.

Edward nodded and leapt into the trees.

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Bella POV

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I got a chair and sat by the window. If I didn't know what was happening I would have said it was almost an average day. It looked chilly out and anemic sunlight peeked and hid every few minutes, making my head ache, but I refused to look away. The phone cut grooves into my hand as I clutched it, waiting for any news, a text, any sign that everything was okay.

Or not okay. Those messages I would deal with if they came, but there was no way Jake would give up without one hell of a fight. He was just like that—when something was important to him, he couldn't let it go, and especially never allow something so wrong, so terrifying to exist if there was anything he could do about it.

He'd fixed me. A few vampires should be easy, right?

Drew sat on the floor next to me. "It's drugs, isn't it?"

"What?"

"They're dealing, or using, probably both. Why else would Leah be running around out there like that?"

I turned. "You know what you saw."

Drew looked at me and frowned. "There was a lot of stuff on the windshield. I know all about the illegal labs and stuff out here." Billy sighed loudly.

"You saw Jake."

"There is a logical explanation for this." He set his cup down and shook his head. "You can't trust what you see around here. Not in those conditions." He looked up at me carefully. "How much do you really know about Jake?"

"That," Billy stated, "is enough. If you want proof, you can wait until later today. One way or another, you will see the proof that was in front of your face."

"What do you mean 'one way or the other'?"

Billy turned his chair and regarded Drew coolly. "Our children are locked in the fight of their lives. If they win, then we can discuss the issue at length over cake and coffee until we're all blue. If they lose, then you'll no doubt get a quick look at their killers. Only a quick one, though. Either way, sit tight, son." He turned away and took Charlie's hand. "Answers are on the way."

Sue held a tissue to her face in silence. Drew snapped his mouth shut. I stood back up and rubbed my knees, tender from the hard floor, and checked my phone.

Still no message.

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Jake POV

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When the first leech spotted us, they screamed and charged. Paul taunted the most aggressive vamp into turning its back on his partner, Embry. It snapped its teeth, hissing and lunging. Paul took a hit on his shoulder, but was strong enough to ram the leech in the side to knock it over. Quil and Sam physically overpowered the biggest one and began to tug its arms from their sockets. The huge vampire had a grip on Quil's leg for a split second, but it was long enough to hear him yelp in pain before Sam pulled the leech's arm free and started to work on its legs.

Leah and I took down a mean female. She whipped her arm around, clipping Leah in the side of the head. The crack dazed Leah for a second, but she stomped a paw down on the vamp so hard the ribcage gave way and collapsed.

The pack was holding up, but we were taking a beating. There were deep bruises that didn't hurt yet, numbness promising incredible pain later, and even when they stop bleeding and heal fast, gaping wounds hurt. Loud thuds with cracking meant broken bones, and high pitched yelps meant someone was slowed down. Even with the punishment we were receiving, we were taking them down, one at a time.

As the tide turned, the rest of the newborns broke rank and began to run to the edge of the woods to regroup. We started to follow.

An unseen blow smashed into the one in front and sent him flying back into the clearing.

Jared pulled up short. What the hell was that?

I paired off with Leah again. Cullens! Take a flank with Seth and keep him out of trouble. Push them into the open. Sam and Paul moved to the middle with us.

Don't get separated! Sam yelled. Remember how we trained for this.

"We aren't late, are we?" The Cullen family charged into the clearing. The remaining newborns scattered.

Leah danced back and forth, keeping one of the bigger vamps off balance. Which one is that?

I looked up. Emmett. Must have punched-

I was cut off by a deep swipe to my flank. While I was distracted, my vamp had gouged me with its hard, cold fingers. He'd torn past my tough fur and skin and ripped into the muscle. The pain was just bad enough to make me stagger—and very, very angry.

Pain rocketed through the pack, and we went into overdrive. When teeth snapped near my face, I dropped down and lashed out, smashing my jaws down on a knee. The leech buckled as I crushed the steel-like joint and tore the cables free. Leah slammed a paw onto its head and shredded an arm away so it wouldn't go anywhere fast, then we picked out another target.

We moved into position around a smaller one. There was a fight just behind it and another on the side. It was cornered and didn't like it, panicking and lashing out randomly. As we closed it in, the Cullens were taking down their first targets and corralling the others in the clearing.

The pack gasped but charged another. Jake, we've almost got this one.

Did Whitlock leave the lighters nearby? We'll need one soon, man.

The small one was quick, but not as fast as Leah. She took a chunk out of its leg and leapt back out of range. My leg burned as I tracked the thrashing vampire.

Let me take it down, Leah.

You're limping.

Still stronger than you. Move.

I faked to the side and the vamp took the bait. As we started to move in on the last group of vamps the Cullens did the same from the other side. I got my first good look at the Cullen family in fight mode, and I was glad someone else was on the receiving end. Whitlock was crouched and stared down every one of the newborns. They winced whenever they made eye contact with him. The big one, Emmett, looked like something out of X-Men and was a lot scarier than I'd imagined as he grinned, splattered with shiny venom from his previous kills. Alice watched them all, a creepy half smile on her face as she delivered deceptively tiny blows that weakened and confused her opponent. It finally just stood still and got taken down by a single hit from Whitlock.

But the family was nothing compared to Dr. Cullen.

He has to prove he's not a monster. Sam came beside me as we created a living, running cage around the perimeter. If that means he has to kill the monsters…

I'd do the same in his shoes. Now keep up the pace, everybody. If any try to break away, you know what to do.

We ran in a ring around the Cullens as they clashed with the remaining newborn vampires. The blonde Cullen's hair whipped and tangled as she smirked then smashed both knees of a vamp Emmett was holding.

Seth, find those lighters and prep some fires. Don't phase until you have to. He broke off from the run and started dragging dry wood into the clearing.

Leah watched the woods near her brother. Remember, the other one is still out there.

Edward is tracking her. I reminded her.

You mean the guy who went to the west coast of Brazil?

Focus! I demanded. Watch for runners. When there's only one left, start burning everything you can find.

Seth scampered around and made a few woodpiles ready to light. The fur on his neck bristled, sensing the danger all around. Kinda nervous here. He mouthed a lighter and carried it to the first pile.

We'll keep watching.

The Cullens were tearing apart the last vamp, so Seth dropped the lighter and phased. Once the fire was lit he phased back to reconnect with us and ran as fast as he could to the next woodpile.

Once the last was dismembered we slowed our run and watched the surrounding forest. Can anyone see anything? Any idea where she is?

No. But she's still here.

Yeah, watch the tree where Embry stuffed that tube.

Just as the words echoed through us, the sound of splintering wood and snapping roots made our skin quiver. Seth, in his human form, dropped the lighter as he worked to bring a flame to the last of his fires.

"Shit!"

There was no warning, and no chance. A streak of red was all we saw before she had him by the neck twenty feet high in a redwood. She flipped the vial in one hand and held Seth in the other.

Dr. Cullen roared. "Put him down, Victoria. This is between you and us. Leave the boy out of it."

Her wild hair danced as she shook her head. "Oh, that would never do." Seth swallowed as she drew her fingernails along the skin of his neck, leaving a trail of red marks. "He's quite charming, despite smelling like shit. I might keep him. Would you like that, dear?" She licked Seth's cheek, his skin flaming a red trail where she touched him. "My, they blush. How sweet. But that's all that's sweet about you, little one."

Leah was trembling.

"Put a collar on the female. That's what belongs on a bitch's neck anyway." Victoria laughed at Leah's snarl. "Tut, tut. I might just make the pup tell me where to find Edward's pet. You all know, don't you? Does he, I wonder? Maybe dear Eddie will just run to her like the stupid little fuck he is and lead me right to her." She licked the top of the vial then threw it on the ground. "That will be all that's left of his precious human."

"You don't have to do this." Dr. Cullen said softly. "There is a better way. There always is."

"What would you know? I lost my mate. Maybe if I'd taken down yours in the dozen opportunities I had you might say something different." Cullen's face became stone and Victoria cackled. "So where is the pathetic brat?" Still gripping Seth hard by the neck, she flicked her eyes around her. "Edward! Come out, come out, where ever you are!"

Seth's eyes were fixed straight ahead. We couldn't talk to him or reassure him. He was completely alone in his human form, far above us and being held by a crazy, walking, poisoned dart. His cheek started to blister and the gouges on his neck were bright and angry.

Edward stayed hidden wherever he was. Whitlock started to move forward, but Victoria glared down. "Don't you try that carnival act with me." She pulled Seth's head to one side to expose his neck. "One false move and I try my hand at hybrids."

Oh my god… Oh god… She can't, can she? Oh god, Seth!

I stepped on Leah's paw before she whimpered. No, Leah. She can't. Seth would… he would die before he changed into a vampire.

Oh jesus…

"Don't you dare hurt him."

Victoria looked up from Seth's neck to where Edward perched in a tree several yards from her. "How nice of you to join us, Edward!" She smoothed her free hand up Seth's bare side and stroked his face. He didn't even wince, but kept perfectly still.

"You can let him go." Edward said calmly. "He's not important."

"I'd say you were right except I'm here to destroy everything you love and care about. Since you obviously do give half a damn about this reeking piece of shit-" She gripped Seth's head and slammed it against the tree trunk, then threw him to the ground below. He landed next to his last woodpile with a thud punctuated by snaps, the broken bones pushing against his skin. "Now, we've had our starters. Where's the main course?"

Edward's eyes were dark and furious. "Human drinkers. All the same." In an instant he'd pushed off from the tree he was in and tackled her into the brush with a jarring crunch. Sam rushed to Seth as Leah phased human and held his head gently while Dr. Cullen straightened his limbs. The sound of the fight from just inside the woods made my eyeballs shake in their sockets. We tried to move Seth away.

"No! Don't move me!"

"What? We gotta get you out of here!"

"No! Not until…" He reached for the lighter he'd dropped and flicked it with his mangled hand. It finally lit and he held it to the tinder. The curls of stripped wood flared. Seth collapsed in, his face gray with the effort as the flame licked its way up the wood.

"Good work, Seth."

"Thanks, Jake. Now get me away from here."

We pulled him away and phased, ready to chase if we needed to. The Cullens fanned out, ready to pounce at anything that came close enough.

A loud, shrill shriek of triumph came as Edward and Victoria flew through the air and hit the ground hard in the middle of the clearing. Her hair was shredded and torn, missing chunks that were caught in her mouth and Edward's. "You'll die too! And your little human whore will be in hell to meet you!" She had him pinned.

"I may deserve hell, but the only one there to greet me would be James!"

For a fraction of a second, she froze, but it was long enough for Edward to gain an advantage. She fought back hard and he used the momentum to roll toward the side of the clearing where Seth had fallen.

Edward lunged and Victoria parried his attacks. They grappled on the ground and stayed just out of range of the other's teeth. Their speed made us dizzy as they made the trip across the clearing, not even so much swings and grabs, but blurs and whistles. The Cullens tried to jump in, but Edward yelled for them to stay back, so they kept watch, waiting for an opening.

Makes you wonder. Jared thought.

Wonder what?

Is he getting his win, or paying his penance?

Seth cried out as another bone was set, which pretty much ended the conversation. It was echoed by a grunt from Edward Cullen as he took a double kick to the chest that sent him flying until he landed with a dull, wet thud near us. Victoria was immediately on top of him, slashing at him with her teeth and clawing. Edward's lips pulled back and he snarled, splattering venom into the red hair that floated and puffed every which way.

Edward rolled hard to once side, throwing her off balance just long enough to create momentum. He kept rolling, hugging Victoria to himself. They rolled right next to us, toward the crackling fire Seth had just managed to light.

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Bella POV

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Sue and Billy kept Drew calm and themselves occupied. Charlie was resting comfortably, but not awake yet, and I spent my tortured minutes counting his breaths, watching for a change in rate that might indicate when he would wake.

The whole time, my phone waited silently on the window ledge. I sat by that window, watching the clouds as they grew heavy again, willing the very atmosphere to give me an indication of what was happening.

As the last shreds of white clouds were buried under gray, Sue and Billy came back into the room. Drew sat on the floor near my feet and leaned against the wall, watching Sue's every move. Billy wheeled to my dad's bedside and parked. "Might start raining again."

I chewed the inside of my cheek. On any other day that would be a joke here.

Drew rested his head on his forearms and I nudged him until he picked it back up. "Are you going to be okay?"

He looked at me blankly. "How are you alright with all of this?"

I shrugged. "The alternative is a lot worse." The sound of the first raindrops hitting the window made me turn. Any hint of the sun was gone.

Minutes passed.

The rain was heavy and falling in sheets once again when I spotted movement outside. A shape was moving towards the parking lot, and that was all I could make out.

My eyes burned- I was sure death was coming. The pack had lost and here was the messenger.

Charlie was still asleep. I watched the rain crashing over the shadow and was thankful my dad would never know the truth.

"What's out there?" Sue asked. She ran her hand over my shoulder and followed my gaze out the window at the figure coming closer. As it drew closer and resolved out of the blur of the rain and darkness, it took a gentler shape. It lumbered over the soggy earth as if it was uncomfortable.

Vampires were never affected by the weather.

The figure waved.

"Jake!" I shook Sue's hand off and sprinted out of the room. I slipped on the wet floors of the lobby and crashed into the visitor's kiosk. Styrofoam cups and sugar flew off the table and onto the floor as I skidded through the double doors and out into the rain.

He was dripping wet. Soaked to the bone, bruised, steam rising from his head but smiling and so very, very alive.

"Sorry I didn't call." He said sheepishly.

"What?"

He dug in a pocket. "We had Sam's phone but it, uh… well, you can see." He held out a handful of splintered plastic and wire. "It was deemed collateral damage."

"Collateral damage." I repeated.

"Yeah. We figured that if that was the only thing we really lost, then that was ok-Hey!"

He caught me with a grunt. I was hugging him so hard that I squeezed the breath from him for a moment. Under the awning, there was no way to hide my tears in the rain, but it didn't matter anymore. "Oh my god, how?" I rubbed my face against his wet t-shirt. "You're here. You're here." I ran my hands over his chest and arms, patting him down, reassuring myself that he was all there, and in one piece. "My god, you're okay. Are you okay? Is everyone okay?"

By the time I finished babbling, the double doors opened again and Sue and Billy came out. Sue wrapped her hand around Jake's arm and looked up at him, thin-lipped and unable to speak.

"They'll be fine, Sue. In a few days, you'd never know anything happened. The Doc is looking after Seth."

She grimaced. "And who is watching Dr. Cullen?"

"Leah."

Sue stepped away with a nod and started dialing her phone. I moved to make room for Billy. "Jake, you're going to tell me everything… later. When you're ready." Jake got down on his knees and hugged his father with everything he had.

"I will. And the moral of the story should be to not have crazy long hair if you're flammable."

The doors opened again. "Aren't you all waiting for Chief Swan to wake up?"

"Um, yes?" I answered, wiping my face with my sleeve.

"Well you better hurry if you want to say hello before we start working on him."

…

"Yuck." Charlie said with eyes still closed. "Anyone have a mint?"

"Good morning sunshine." Billy teased.

"Go away. Or get me some coffee. You pick." Billy wheeled away to get a cup. My dad's eyes rolled open lazily. "Hey kiddo. You look tired."

"You look great, dad. How do you feel?"

"Like I was drugged and the transport from Seattle ran me over instead of driving me here, but I'll live. I think." He looked around, testing his eyes out. "Hey Jake."

"Hey Charlie."

My dad leaned his head forward unsteadily. "Anyone ever tell you you're supposed to put your clothes on after you shower?"

"So I've heard. Actually, I had to run an errand. Didn't have my raincoat handy, so…" He shrugged.

"Yeah." Drew said. "I needed him to get some … thing. For Bella."

"Oh." Charlie's eyes drooped closed. "I see."

Sue took a tray of coffee cups from Billy as he returned and passed one to everyone. "Here you go, Charlie." She set it on his side table and jiggled his shoulder. "Coffee, Charlie."

"Yes. Charlie needs coffee." He took it and smiled at Sue. "You're an angel." He drank and looked around the room. "So, anything interesting happen on the way down?"

Sue looked at Billy, who traded a brand new smile of secrecy with Drew. Jake was partway dry now and had an arm around me. We filled the small room to bursting.

"Nothing at all, Dad." I told him as Jake hugged me. Billy winked and Sue tucked her wet tissue away. "The drive was just … what you'd expect. Completely ordinary." Jake released me and I took my dad's free hand. "It was perfect."

Just the epilogue to go...