The Broken, the Beaten, and the Damned

by LikeABear

COMPLETE! Alternate New Moon setting. After Edward leaves, Bella sees her only chance at a normal life is with Jacob, but it only leads to more pain. What happens when Edward comes back for her and finds her different? All while a killer stalks Forks. E/B & J/B

17. Chapter 17: Change

Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I have no claim on its properties.

a/n: Here it is. The last chapter. Super long. The longest chapter of the fic, I believe. I had been working towards this end point for years. Hope you like it! Thanks again to DannoCH for her wonderful beta abilities on this chapter.

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Chapter Seventeen

Change

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At first there was nothing, just the quiet sound of the house as we all held our breaths. Then I heard the thud of heavy footsteps making their way to the front door. Without a knock or hesitation, it swung open and Jacob Black stepped into the foyer.

It was just like seeing him this morning, out in the rain, with anger racing through me. Only this time I didn't just want to scream at him, I wanted to kill him.

I charged, forgetting that I had a stronger-than-I vampire attached to my side, and was yanked backward in one swift movement of Edward's hand. He restrained me instantly and I fought to break through, throttling and snarling. Not at my captor, but at Jacob. He had stopped only a few feet away from me, but yet was still too far for my swinging arms to reach.

"What are you doing here?! Where is Charlie?" I demanded in iron-hot shrieks. I bucked under Edward's hold, uselessly trying to escape. He held me against the rock of his body, unyielding.

Jacob had the audacity to look shocked. He gave the Cullens behind me a disgusted sweep of his eyes and then focused back to me. "How about what the fuck are all of these leeches doing in your living room? What do they just multiply around you or something?"

"Leeches," I heard Rosalie snort, "Because that's original."

Jacob's lip curled back, releasing a growl towards Rosalie as he prepared to retort, but I didn't let him.

"Where is Charlie?"

"He's fine," Jacob answered blithely, which did nothing but fuel my fire. I kicked out my legs in his direction, attempting to send a foot into his taller-than-humanly-possible face. But I ended up just flailing miserably in Edward's arms.

"You were supposed to protect him!" I cried, "Remember that?!"

"Bella…" Edward tried, his voice soft in my ear.

But I didn't want to be calmed down. I didn't want to sit and listen. I wanted to take out my anger and fear on the person who caused it. At the person who had- yet again- barged his way into my home, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. Who couldn't be bothered to get dressed. Or listen. Or keep promises to protect my father.

So I bucked harder.

"Let me go!" I demanded, "I won't hurt him. I'm just going to punch him in the face."

There was a chuckle at that followed by Emmett's voice. "Let her go, dude."

"Oh, fuck you," Jacob shot back.

"Really?" Emmett chided. He stepped forward, tilting his head at Jacob with an amused smirk on his face, "Hey, nice bones. How'd that happen again?"

Emmett was closer to me than Jacob, so I kicked out at him this time. My foot collided with his thigh and the hard stone of it sent pain shooting up my leg from the impact. It was worth it. Emmett jumped back, a look of astonishment on his face that I would kick him. "Back off!" I hissed.

"Let's all take a moment to calm down," Carlisle suggested from behind, and this further enraged me. Calm down?

"Not until he answers my question!" I fired back, glaring Jacob.

Jacob snorted roughly. "I told you he's fine. He's at the reservation with the rest of my pack," he said with conviction. As though that answered everything. As though it were enough for me to welcome him with open arms.

I stared at him in disbelief and he returned my look with incredulous exasperation. So I kicked out a third time, catching nothing but air with my foot.

Jacob leaned back, dodging the blow. "Will you stop that?"

"No!" I snapped. "How could you just leave him? After I asked you to stay! Don't you even care?"

Jacob stepped forward, pointing a finger to his chest. His voice was ragged and indignant. "Of course I care!"

He took another step, and instantly I felt the Cullens behind me draw closer. This didn't go unnoticed by Jake. He eyed them warily for a moment, and then brought his gaze back to me. His voice deepened, "I wouldn't have left if I wasn't sure he'd be okay."

Well that was a lie.

"Yes, you would have," I corrected. Because of course Jacob would have left Charlie alone on the reservation to return to me. It was what he did. He would always come back, barging in and demanding to be here. With me. I should have known better than to think otherwise.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on Edward's chest, feeling the slow intake of air as he breathed. I should have forced Charlie to stay. I should have gone with him myself. I shouldn't have trusted Jacob. Not after he had changed so much.

"Oh, Bells, come on," Jacob complained, "You can't just tell me that the dark one is out to kill you and expect me to stay away."

My eyes squeezed tighter and I shook my head at him. I didn't want to hear his excuse. Because none of it was good enough.

"I left you once with Emily. I'm not going to do that again. I'm not leaving you."

"Even when I asked you to take care of Charlie?" I snapped back.

He huffed, annoyed again. "Come on. I can tell you're all here planning something," he said, "I came back because I want in."

"No way! That's not happening."

Edward dipped close to my ear, "Perhaps—"

"No," I repeated, louder, "He's not getting involved."

Of course I was angry with Jake. Of course I still wanted to punch him in the face. But I didn't want him to get hurt. I didn't want him to throw himself into a fight with Laurent, just to spite me. I wanted a life for him. A life separate from the train wreck that was me.

Jacob grunted in frustration. "You are unbelievable!" He let out angry snort of air from his nostrils, sending a full glare at me. "But if that's the way you want it, than, fine." He stepped back and promptly spun on his heel. "I'll just go and do it myself."

"No!" I shouted after him, "I don't want you to do that either! Why can't you just listen to me?"

He whirled around, his eyes dark and wild. "Are you kidding me?"

Trumping footsteps shook the floor as he marched back to where I stood with Edward. At his advance, Emmett and Jasper sprung into action. Their bodies pushed forward in front of Edward and I, creating a wall of vampric marble between us and Jacob's fury.

"You don't touch them," Jasper said calmly and Emmett flexed his muscles in punctuation of this command.

I couldn't see past the pale back of Emmett's shoulder blade. Edward was looking astutely forward, clearly able to see Jacob, while I shuffled for sight of him.

Then came Jake's rasping voice. "Is this how it's going to be now, Bella? Are they always going to be here? Fucking-keeping me from you? Is that what you want? Because I can't keep the fuck up!" His voice strained as he yelled, "One minute you want me and you cast me away the next. So you tell me, Bella! What is it that you want?"

My lips pulled into a tight bow, frowning at Emmett's back as Jacob raved. Furious that he was even here, airing out his grievances, demanding answers about us, when Charlie was in immediate danger.

"I wanted you to stay with Charlie!" I fumed, jumping up on my tiptoes to try to see him, but caught nothing but the top of Jasper's head. "But you couldn't even do that, could you?!"

"Bella, dear," Esme whispered at my right. I barely registered her.

"No," I said determinedly and I threw my elbows out, pushing away Edward and marching through the barricade between Jacob and I. Once Jacob was in view, I saw that he was completely red in the face. Veins bulged from his neck and chest.

"For the last time," Jacob punctuated, "Charlie's perfectly safe with my pack. I'm the alpha; they have to listen to me!"

"The alpha!" I scoffed, tossing my own hand upward to mock him. "What does that even mean?"

He let out an aggravated growl and raked his fingers furiously through his short hair. "It means they physically can't disobey me. They have to watch him."

"So it's another wolfie power? Great!" I wanted to laugh. Except none of this felt funny. It felt ridiculous and petty. "How many of these things are there, Jake? Because every time something happens, you're blaming it on some stupid wolf thing!"

"Bella, stop," Edward commanded, and I turned a fierce eye to him, questioning his order. "He's losing control," he explained, nodding to Jacob.

Jacob was, in fact, starting to shake. The outline of his body vibrated as he glowered at us. I saw through my peripheral that Emmett and Jasper were closing in again. Then there was a sudden grip to my elbow.

It was Alice, and she was trying to guide me backward, further from where Jacob stood. But I stayed firm in my place, watching the blur of Jacob's body.

"I am in fucking control," Jacob ground out. He cast his gaze to the floor as though he could not look at me any longer. Hands clenched and released in rhythm with his trembling. But he continued to breathe, in and out, laboriously until, finally, he stilled. Then his hands fell open and limp to his sides. "I'm always in control," he said quietly, to make his point.

He continued to study the floor, avoiding the room full of people watching him. His breathing had steadied to normal. The rise and fall of his chest should have been smooth, languid movements. But instead they were jagged and awkward. I could tell his bones were still out of sorts; protruding from under the skin in all the wrong places. He looked beaten. The damage Jacob had suffered was too transparent, as much as he tried to mask it. The people who had hurt him, whether physically or emotionally, greatly out numbered him in this house. He was the odd one out. And he had never looked so vulnerable as he stood now before me.

I bit my lip, and turned to the circle of Cullens around me. Carlisle was behind Edward, quietly turning the events over in his head, gauging the severity of the situation. Esme stood beside him, followed by Alice. Her one eye shone bright gold as it looked to me. She had no idea where this would all end up as long as Jacob was around, but the look on her face was reassurance that she would stand beside me no matter what. Rosalie was last in the line. Her arms crossed over her chest and she raised her eyebrows to me. I quickly turned away, back to Edward, who was watching me with his own look of concern.

I sighed, letting some of my anger drain from me, and put a hand to Edward's shoulder. I leaned in and whispered, "Let me talk to him alone."

I was met with a long breath as Edward contemplated this before bowing to whisper in my hair.

"Don't ever say I don't trust you again," he said and gave a chaste kiss to my temple.

I nodded slightly and gave a half smile to Edward to show I understood his meaning. Then I quickly straightened out my lips to neutrality as I faced Jacob. The collective footfalls of the entire Cullen family retreated into the living room to wait. Leaving Jacob and I alone.

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Jake and I ended up making our way to the kitchen, because even though the Cullens would be able to hear everything we said no matter where we were in the house, the kitchen had a semblance of privacy. It was where we had last spoken to each other alone.

I settled myself against the counter along the far wall of the room, leaving Jacob to stand largely beside the refrigerator, which was dwarfed in comparison. The room still stunk of smoke, and the burnt pot of milk was currently occupying the kitchen sink. It was the elephant in the room: physical evidence that Jacob and I had argued… and that he had kissed me. Or, at least, tried to. It was the proof that I had rejected him once again.

"So Charlie's safe?" I confirmed, and lifted my attention from the blackened pot back up to the shifter in my kitchen. "You're absolutely sure your pack can protect him?"

He jerked uncomfortably. "Yes. I made sure he was safely in the house before I came back. I gave Embry the order to watch him as long as he's there."

"Why not Sam?" I asked. Sam seemed the better choice to watch over my father. I liked Embry, but from what I could remember, he was somewhat of a goof.

"Sam's with Seth and Leah, remember?" Jacob said, "Helping them…change." His eyes shifted away from mine as he crossed one foot over the other and rested against the fridge.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. "Oh. That's right," I paused, "I still wish you were there with him, though."

He frowned. "I told you why I came back."

"You did. But…you shouldn't have come."

"That's right," Jake sniffed, lifting his chin, "You don't want me to get involved. You want me to just walk away," he shook his head, "Like I can. You have no idea what it's like for me to watch you be like this."

"Like what?"

He pushed off the fridge, tipping forward. "To try to save you over and over only to watch you run back to him. To keep having you push me away when I can protect you."

"Oh, I know what that's like," I answered, "It's something like watching you fight Edward in the meadow; like hearing about you starting a war and almost getting yourself killed."

Jacob rolled his eyes and settled back against the fridge. There was a crackle of his bones at the movement and I shuddered at the sound of it. He wasn't listening; he didn't believe that I was just as worried for him as he was for me.

"And it's like seeing you right now in clear need of medical attention but knowing you're too proud to get help. I mean, look at yourself, Jacob!" I said, scanning the length of his bare, irregular torso again. "Dr. Cullen can fix that."

"He's not fucking touching me."

"There!" I spat, pointing my finger at him, "You won't accept help either. I keep trying to keep you safe and away from me. Because I was all messed up and took you down with me," I shook my head, "I messed it all up. But I still care about you. That's why I don't want you to get involved, Jake. It's too dangerous and I care about you too much."

Jacob had pulled his lip into his mouth, chewing on it as he listened to me. He released it with another roll of his eyes.

"You care about me," he repeated with a shake of his head, "I find that hard to believe when you're cuddling up to the corpse."

"There are different ways to love someone, Jake."

At these words, the slightest flinch came across his face. There it was again: more proof that I didn't love him the way he craved. Different ways to love someone. Not the one way he wanted.

"Jake…" I said tentatively, reaching forward, knowing that I'd hurt him. But I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't take it back. I wouldn't lie anymore. It was only the truth now. Even if it was just rejection after rejection. I could only give him the love of a friend now. A love he didn't seem to want.

"No, it's fine. I get it," he said brusquely and shrugged his shoulders. The movement was accompanied by a pop of bone.

"I don't want us to be like this," I sighed, "I don't want to keep fighting," I pushed myself from the counter and went to approach him, but he held out a hand to stop me.

"Don't come over here," he ordered.

"But—"

"No," he said, "I don't—I don't want you to touch me."

My stomach dropped heavy with guilt, but I obeyed. I stood halfway across the room from him, arms at my sides, unsure of what to do next.

"I can't just shut my emotions off, Bella," he said, not looking at me, "So right now it does have to be this way."

I bit my lip. "Ok," I relented, "I'm sorry for making it like this. For lashing out…" I hoped he knew I didn't just mean today. That I meant all of our arguments. Every time I had yelled at him for simply loving me. "For everything I did that was cruel. I pushed us in a direction I wasn't ready for and then for blamed you when it didn't work out the way I wanted. That was wrong. I'm so sorry for using you the way I did. Like your feelings didn't matter. They did matter. They do. Matter."

"They just don't change anything," Jacob noted and raised his eyebrows to challenge if I would deny it.

"No," I said truthfully, "They don't. I'm sorry."

He sucked air through his teeth. "Stop fucking apologizing, will you?"

I looked up, surprised. "What?"

He huffed again, rustling his hair with one hand. "Look, just stop apologizing for our whole fucking relationship. For—fucking—giving me what I wanted. Okay?"

I looked at him quizzically. "I don't know what you—"

"Shit," he said, and put a hand to his face, dragging it across his eyes. "I was happy with you, Bells. I liked being with you. So hearing you fucking talk about our relationship like it was the worst thing in your life fucking sucks. You feel bad because you think I didn't know your heart wasn't in it? Fine. You know what? I fucking knew." He threw up his hands, as though presenting me with a grand declaration.

And it was. I blinked, surprised at this. "You did?"

He let out a dry laugh that was void of humor. Instead it held sadness and self-pity. "Yeah, Bells. Give me some credit. I'm not stupid. I was there. I saw how you were. I just… didn't care. I thought I'd be enough, you know? That eventually you'd catch up. That's why…" he stopped.

"Why what?"

"Shit," Jacob repeated. He turned and began to pace the short length of the kitchen, still maintaining his distance away from me.

"What is it?" I asked again and tucked my hair behind my ear as Jacob made another lap.

"Nothing," he said quickly, turning to walk in the opposite direction.

"No it's not. Tell me."

He paced back towards me, gnawing at his cheek with his teeth. "I shouldn't have brought it up." He gave a check to the living room, "This is not really the ideal time for a confession when the damned lesion of the undead are around the fucking corner," he shook his head decidedly, "But fuck it."

I waited, and when he didn't speak I assumed he was not going to tell me after all. Until finally he burst out. "That's why I brought you back to the reservation yesterday. And why I fucked you outside of my house."

He paused and stared at me, and I felt color rushing to my face and neck. The fact that hat he would describe what we did so crudely…and that Edward and his entire family were in the next room to hear it…made me want to curl in on myself in utter mortification.

"I wanted to make you mine," Jacob continued, "Not his. Not anyone else's. I knew you didn't love me. I knew it, Bells. But I wanted you to. So I took you back and fucked you so that you would change. So that we both would. Not just because of the fucking—"

"Can you please stop using that word?" I asked, cringing once more at the sound of it.

He bit back his lip. "Remember when I asked you if you felt any differently afterwards?"

Of course I remembered. After we had been intimate, Jacob asked me if I felt any differently towards him and admitted that he didn't either. As though he had expected some sudden change to come over us. Something instant and powerful. It didn't make sense to me then. And it didn't make any more sense to me now.

"Yes," I answered cautiously, "And you told me that you didn't either."

He nodded. "Yeah. Because I can't love you anymore than I already do."

Those were the exact words he had used in front of his house. I remembered them clearly. Yet it still led me no closer to it's meaning.

I shifted my weight. "I still don't get—"

"I was trying to imprint on you, okay?" he said, "I was trying to fucking fall more in love with you so you would have to love me back. The same fucking all-encompassing way."

I knew I should feel something more than confused at his declaration. But I couldn't get past that one word. Imprinting. It had no meaning to me.

"I don't know what imprinting means?" I said, my voice lifting a little at the end, making it sound like a question.

"It's another—how did you put it— 'wolfie power'."

He stopped and ran a hand through his hair, which was so short that the action appeared to be more of a nervous tick than to actually have an affect on his haircut.

"Imprinting makes people… fall in love?" I asked, still totally in the dark.

"Sort of. Imprinting…" he said, grating his teeth like he hated the sound of the word, "Is when a shifter has been through the change and they can find the one person they're meant to be with by just looking at her. And…that's it. You see her and you love her more than anything. And she can't help but love you the same way back." He swallowed. "It's what happened to Sam and Emily," he said, suddenly giving an example, "Even though he was with Leah, he saw Emily after his phase and he just… loved her more. And she loved him back."

It made sense now. The way Sam and Emily had come together. The hurt it had caused Leah and the stories I had heard about them. It made sense why Jacob had stared at me so intently once we had returned to his home from the meadow. He was trying to imprint on me and create that same reaction Sam had experienced with Emily.

"You thought that would happen to us? That you'd imprint on me and I'd leave Edward for you?" I surmised out loud.

He bit the inside of his cheek, his eyes confirming what I said. "I thought for sure I could make it happen if we… made love after the phase."

I sighed in relief at his choice of words.

"Look," Jacob said, "The point is, you used me the first time, you said it yourself. But I used you the second time. To make you love me back. I'm just as selfish as you were. And I don't care. So stop fucking apologizing."

I eyed him. "I was a consenting participant when we did that, Jacob," I reminded him.

"Yeah," he laughed, "And so I was I on Valentine's Day. A very willing and consenting participant. Doesn't mean you still didn't use it for your own gain."

He was watching me again, searching to see what I was thinking. There was one thing I wanted him to tell me. And he was avoiding it.

"It didn't work on me, did it?"

When he didn't answer, but cast his eyes down to the floor of the kitchen, I knew that I was right. Jacob hadn't imprinted on me. And that bothered him. More than he was willing to admit. Because he wanted to love me more than anything…and desperately wanted me to love him back that same exact way. Like Sam and Emily. Imprinting would have mended the bond between us that had been broken. And made us love each other again.

That's why he couldn't look me in the eye. Why he kissed me so forcibly and was so violent when it came to protecting me. He was frantically trying to not only convince me of his love, but also himself. He wanted to prove that he still loved me no matter what.

He thought imprinting was our answer. But it wasn't.

"You didn't imprint on me," I whispered in a quiet breath; Jacob startled at my words.

"You don't have to fucking rub it in."

I walked again to him and crossed the kitchen in a few quick steps. "That means there's someone else who is meant for you, Jake. And it's not me." I put my hand to his arm, looking up at him. I wanted him to see the good in this. That somewhere out there, there was someone who would love him the way he deserved.

"No," he argued, "That's not what it means."

"You said yourself. Imprinting is finding the one person—"

"I don't care!" he barked, throwing my hands from him. But then he thought better of it and wrapped his own hands around mine, using his thumbs to glide gently along my wrist. "I don't fucking care about whether you're meant for me or not. I don't fucking care about what you did with him," he inclined his head in the direction of the living room, "and I especially don't fucking care about some stupid imprinting concept that I don't even want to happen if it's not with you."

"But, Jake—"

"No," he said, "Fucking…imprint or not. Bloodsuckers in your living room or not. Loving you and fighting you at the same time. That's all I've got."

He leaned down and placed a kiss to my fingers, keeping his eyes steady on mine. His lips were hot on my skin. And I remembered how that heat had once been a pull to him. My body wanting and reacting to it so strongly, as though it were a magnet.

There was no pull now. That was over.

He released my hands and stepped back in one motion. Then Jacob turned his back to me and began to walk from the kitchen. I wanted to follow, to ask where the hell he was going now—and hoping it was back to the reservation—but before I could even move, the phone in the hall started blaring its ring. I froze where I stood in the kitchen as I listened to it trill a second time.

Then I headed straight for it.

I knocked past Jacob as I bolted out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Edward was there, meeting me at the small table that held the ringing phone as I scrambled to grab it. It was mid-ring for the third time when I snatched the phone from the receiver. I didn't even wait before it was at my ear to shout "CHARLIE?!" into the mouthpiece.

"Uh, Bella?" a male voice asked. I didn't recognize it. It only registered in my brain as Not-Charlie. Not my father. "Is, uh…Jake there?"

I gripped the handle. "Who is this? What's going on?" I demanded while I spun to see Jacob, standing dumbstruck in the hallway next to the front door.

"It's, uh, Embry," the voice answered, "Can you put Jake on now?"

I stared wide-eyed at Jacob, who returned my shocked expression. He must have been able to hear Embry on the other end. He strode over to the phone as footsteps came from the living room, confirming that the Cullens were now coming out to see what was happening.

I fisted the phone into Jacob's hand. He took it, walking away from me and speaking hushed into the phone with his friend. I could not make out what he was saying, but the tone of his voice was not encouraging. It was harsh and curt and when he finally clicked the phone off with a beep, he turned back to me with a regretful look in his eyes.

"What?" I asked, my heart racing, "Is it Charlie?"

Jacob didn't answer. And in those few seconds, I thought I would go mad. Then Edward spoke up.

"Bella, love—" he started but Jacob cut him off.

"Let me tell her!" he demanded, snarling at Edward. He pursed his lips in hesitation then spoke to me. "Charlie left the reservation. He received a call from the precinct on his cell, and that was the last they saw of him. My pack has searched the area, but he's not there. They don't know where he is."

It was as though I had been drained. Everything was gone. All my hope and fear and anger and revelation. All of it. Gone. My hands started to shake as I put them to my hair, pulling it. Mind whirling. All I could think of was I told you so. And I ran forward, shoving Jacob hard in the chest.

"I told you!" I said and Jacob jerked backward, taking the hit. It should have been nothing to him, but the damage he had suffered internally made it worse. He grimaced, gritting his teeth as I rounded on him. "I told you to watch him! I told you he was at risk! What if Laurent has him? What if he's hurt? You said he was safe! You said they couldn't disobey you!"

Alice came from my right, her small hands reaching out and taking me by the shoulders. I spun around, clutching against her small frame. She hugged me back fiercely.

"Jacob only instructed the pack to keep an eye on Charlie while he was at the house," Edward explained, "Once he stepped outside to take the phone call, there was a loophole, and the pack were released of their orders."

"What the fuck?" Jacob growled at Edward, still rubbing his chest where I had pushed him.

"You were thinking it."

"That doesn't give you the fucking right to say it."

"Maybe you need to shut the hell up," Emmett said, moving in, "Or I'll have my sister unleash angry-Bella on you some more," he laughed at that and then reconsidered, "Actually, maybe it's better we keep you two apart. Seems like fighting is some kind of aphrodisiac for you."

"Shut up," I said, my voice shaking a little as I pushed away from Alice. She wound her arm around my waist for support while shooting Emmett a wrathful look. "Stop fighting for a minute and let me think." I shut my eyes, wondering how I could fix this. Why would Charlie leave the reservation? If his job had contacted him there…did that mean he was headed to the precinct?

Carlisle was already ahead of me. "Jacob," he asked, with a composed yet alert tone, "Do you have any idea how Charlie was able to leave the reservation?"

Jacob looked startled at both the question and the fact that Carlisle was had addressed him directly. Then he blinked, catching himself, and answered stiffly, "What do you mean?"

It was Edward that responded instead. "My father is asking how Charlie could have left without his own car. Jacob, you were the one who drove him to La Push earlier. He does not possess a manner of transportation to just up and leave."

My eyes flitted briefly to the glass of the front door again, noting the police car that still parked in the driveway, then back to Carlisle. "He doesn't even have his cruiser." I spoke rapidly out loud, thinking. "How…HOW did he get off the reservation?" I stepped out of Alice's embrace and turned wildly to Jake, who was gawking back at me, dumbfounded.

"I don't know," he said, defensively. Then as an afterthought, he began listing possibilities, "He could have borrowed a car. Hitched a ride…gotten picked up from someone at work. Christ… anything. My pack didn't say."

"Your pack did not think to question how he vacated the property?" Edward hissed.

Jacob snapped back. "They're a little fucking preoccupied right now, you know, with a death that happened because you couldn't stay off one fucking piece of land."

"Charlie is priority," Edward argued, his jaw tightening.

"Bella is priority!" Jacob countered.

Carlisle interceded, slicing his hand through the air with finality, separating the two and I was instantly thankful.

"We don't have time to argue. Knowing Charlie's method of travel would have been an advantage. But for now, we have to assume he is either on foot or in a vehicle. Possibly with another person."

"It is unlikely he is on foot," Jasper advised, "But if so, he can't be far from the border. Which also makes him extremely vulnerable. If he is driving, he would be at least half way to the precinct by now, granted that is his final destination," he sighed, "Either way, we need to take immediate action."

"What do you propose?" asked Alice, blinking rapidly at Jasper. Each one of the Cullens waited for Jasper to respond and I wondered how he had become the expert for such a thing.

"Tracking Charlie's scent at the border is a start," Jasper said, "If he is in fact headed to work, we may be able to head him off enroute."

"And if he's with Laurent?" I asked, because no one else had.

"We don't know that, Bella," Edward eased but Jasper spoke up again.

"Charlie could have been intercepted at any time. Laurent may already have him, or he may simply be in pursuit, waiting for our move. To know for sure, we'll need to split and cover ground. Tracking Charlie with fewer numbers is unfavorable, but possible if you stay here, Bella, with someone else on guard." He finished still speaking to me, but his eyes had traveled to Edward.

"Excuse me, but what? Stay here?"

As if I had not spoken, Carlisle turned to Jacob. "If I send some of my family to check the roads at the border, will your pack attack them?"

Jake took a sharp inhale and shook his head. "Not if they don't cross the border. But," he said bracingly, "Send women. My pack will be least likely to attack them."

Carlisle faced Esme and Rosalie, giving a curt nod. "Please," was all he said before his wife and Rosalie were at the door.

"Hey Blondie," Jacob called after them and Rosalie looked back with a look of total revulsion. "If you see Embry, tell him I had to send two bloodsuckers to clean up his fucking mess. And say it just like that so he knows it's from me."

She crinkled her nose at him as though his very existence repulsed her, but to my surprise she answered, "Sure thing, mutt," before she and Esme left in a blur.

"Emmett, Jasper, Alice," Carlisle said next, and the three of them gathered together, awaiting orders. "Head straight to Charlie's precinct and see if he is there. Call as soon as you know."

"Right," Jasper agreed and he and Emmett took off through the still open door.

"Wait—!" I protested, but they were already gone. I looked franticly to Alice, wanting her to side with me. To bring me along, but she was already following her father's command.

"As soon as I know," she breathed in assurance, giving me one last look through her good eye. And then she turned and ran.

"No!" I hurried after her, but stopped abruptly at the door. It opened out to nothing but the empty front yard. They were all gone. It had all happened in seconds. I stood there, leaning against the frame, wondering how quickly this had spiraled out of my control.

"My family is going to find Charlie and bring him back here," Edward soothed, coming up behind me and taking me by the waist, "All will be fine." He pulled me to him and I wrapped my arms around his body. The chill of it overtook me and I shuddered deeply against him.

"We will stay here with you, Bella," Carlisle informed.

"But—what," I muffled against Edward's chest, "What do I do?"

Carlisle answered in a tone I was sure he reserved for delivering unpleasant news to his patients. "There is not much we can do but wait, I'm afraid."

I clutched against Edward. "We had a plan," I whispered, pleading for the little control I thought I once had. The upper hand our plan would have given us over Laurent.

His hand went to my hair, curling a strand lightly around his fingers. "Some things can not be planned." And the coldness in his voice made it clear he was speaking of Jacob.

"There has to be something," I said, refusing to give up, "He's my father. I just can't sit here and wait."

"Love," Edward said, and stroked my hair, "We will know shortly if Charlie is at work, or if he returned to the reservation."

I looked up at him beseechingly. "That's not soon enough. Anything…anyone could have him. There has to be a way to find him."

Then it clicked.

Find him.

There was a way to find Charlie. He had given it to me himself. The conversation I had shared with Charlie from this morning began to replay in my head.

"For you," he had said, handing me my cell phone. "Apparently, this thing has a GPS system so that two paired phones can locate each other, so I got myself one, too."

My phone. It had a tracking system that could locate its twin in case I ever went missing again. But now it was Charlie who was lost. And I could use my phone to find him.

"My phone!" I looked up to Edward. He had been here, too, when Charlie explained the GPS system. Although he had been upstairs cleaning my room at the time, I had no doubt that he had overheard.

Edward nodded, "Where is it?"

"It's…in the bathroom," I said, taking a moment to remember. It was still with my discarded clothes on the bathroom floor.

All I felt was my arms open and then there was the sudden absence of Edward's body. He was up the stairs and then back again, having retrieved my phone from the bathroom, and folded it onto my palm.

"Here," he instructed, "Activate the GPS to target Charlie's phone."

I stared down at the object in my hand, flummoxed. I had no idea how to operate such a device. It sat in my hand for a few, long, seconds before Edward snatched it back into his and started clicking with nimble fingers.

"There, it's calculating his location," Edward explained as he placed it once again into my hand. I stood staring at the screen, a small bar three quarters of the way full was loading as it targeted Charlie.

I held my breath as I watched the bar fill. The phone beeped as a small red dot appeared on a map, moving slowly along in a straight line. I exhaled.

Charlie.

"He's," I said, squinting at the tiny map on the screen, "he's on the highway."

That didn't seem right. I checked again, but there was the dot, moving steadily along the 101.

"The highway?" Jacob asked. He sounded just as suspicious as I felt. I looked up at him, and his confusion matched my own.

"That could lead anywhere," I said, thinking out loud, "He could be going to work or here or…anywhere, depending on what exit he takes. But," I paused, nibbling my lip as I thought, "He never drives that way."

"Bells," Jacob said tentatively, "Locals don't take the highway. Everyone around here sticks to the smaller roads."

We locked eyes for a moment, as I understood what Jacob meant. It was true. Forks residents stayed strictly to our residential streets to get around, unless they were traveling completely out of the area. Even the police force rarely patrolled the highway, as it was State Trooper jurisdiction.

"Then who the hell is driving him?" I asked aloud, panic rising. I didn't need anyone to answer my question, and truthfully, I didn't want to hear it.

"Try calling him, Bella," Carlisle offered instead and I nodded at him, grateful for direction.

I hit the number '2' speed dial and felt a pang of shame as I recalled how Charlie had designated himself in second place. The phone rang six times before going to voicemail, which Charlie hadn't even recorded himself. It was the standard automated message that comes when you activate a phone. I hung up, knowing it was useless to leave a message. He wouldn't know how to check it in the first place.

"What do I do?" I asked myself, trying to think of an answer. I knew where Charlie was, but there was little I could do for him while he was on the move. And even if there was, he was moving too fast for me to catch up.

But there was someone who could.

"Jake!" I said suddenly, and he perked up, looking anxious but ready to be a part of a solution.

I strode over to him, and pushed the cell phone into his hand, "Take this. Go. Follow Charlie on the map and get to him as soon as you can."

"Bella—I don't know," he said, shaking his head.

"Do this for me, please," I begged. My hands were shaking in his. "If you want to help… if you want to help me. Get Charlie."

He hesitated, his brown eyes staring into mine. Then he left, jogging out the front door with the silver phone in his hand. He didn't look back and for that I was glad. I didn't want him to waste the time.

There really was nothing to do now but wait. Carlisle had taken up sentry by the phone, although I was sure he had his own cell where he could be reached. He wanted to be the first to receive any news. Whether or not that was for my benefit, I wasn't sure. Edward was, of course, at my side, his eyes steadily observing me as I nervously twirled my pearl necklace between thumb and forefinger. I stared once more out the window of the door, only it wasn't the landscape of our lawn I saw in front of me. The images that now played before my eyes were memories.

A vase of white carnations, sitting subtly on the kitchen table with a handwritten note 'from Dad'. A baseball bat gripped tightly in Charlie's hands after my nighttime screaming had wakened him. Charlie, red eyed and stressed after my motorcycle incident. Homemade Cinnamon Toast on a tray with orange juice and water. Loving gestures from my father that I never fully appreciated. And never told him how much they all meant to me. How much he meant to me. I blinked at the wetness behind my eyes. I just wanted to have him here so I could tell him how much I loved him. And know that after all he had done for me, I had returned the favor by keeping him alive.

Minutes passed, slow and wearisome. I paced a little, but gave that up because Edward moved with me, back and forth as I walked the length of the foyer. His hand was in mine, loose and comforting. When suddenly, it tightened.

And then everything happened at once.

Carlisle and Edward exchanged one devastated look and then each focused to the front door, which was open and unlocked. There was a distant roar from somewhere down the road and at first, I thought nothing of it, but as it rumbled again, it sent a shock down my spine. That sound. I knew it.

It was a motorcycle.

Then I was running. Edward made no move to stop me, but followed at my heels.

"No," I prayed as I burst through the open door and into the front yard. "No, no, no, no. Please, no!"

Edward's hand reached out to mine, seizing it as we both ran side by side to the yard. He wasn't trying to restrain me as he had done when I had charged at Jacob. Instead, he was leading me towards the side yard of the house, so that we were not exposed on the open front lawn, but positioned between the house and the woods to our far left. Once there, we stopped and Edward pulled me close to him, his hand still cupping mine. I panted, out of breath, as I saw what I had dreaded: a shiny, red motorcycle with two riders coming up the street.

Carlisle was quick behind us. He slowed to a trot and situated himself on the other side of me. I heard him take a quick intake of air before steadying himself.

"Let me be the one who speaks," he said quietly. All hope that the motorcycle did not hold who I thought it did, was gone. I felt my heart plummet in my chest as the bike came closer into view, slowing as it approached the house.

The storm outside was long over. Now it was just the remnants of what the rain had left behind. Damp, soggy grass, and a heaviness to the air as moisture still clung to it. Even through the mist, I could see clearly what I had dreaded. The driver was Laurent, and seated behind him, wearing a helmet, was my father.

"Step back," Carlisle called to us, putting his hand out in front of me. We obeyed, taking a few steps backward as Laurent pulled the motorcycle up to the curb in front of us. I could see his smile from where I stood.

It made my stomach lurch.

They disembarked. First Laurent, who was looking smug as he swung his long, lean legs over the side of the motorcycle, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. As if this was the most natural setting in the world to him.

Charlie stumbled off, removing the helmet and setting it down on the seat of the bike. He rustled his hair and stared questioningly at us as he walked forward across the yard. Laurent mirrored his advance, step by step beside him.

"Bells?" Charlie questioned, walking towards us, "Dr. Cullen? What's going on? Is everything alright?"

"Chief Swan—" Carlisle started but I interrupted him, forgetting at once his request to speak first.

"Dad!" I called and placed a step forward to meet him but Edward's hand squeezed mine in reminder of how dangerous that action might be. I stayed put, lips trembling as Charlie and Laurent continued to advance.

"Well," Laurent said giddily and clapped his hands together in front of his chest. He was wearing a fitted button down shirt and black trousers with shinning black shoes. His eyes glistened as they came to rest upon me. And I knew I was the only person who saw them for what they were: red.

"What are you doing on a motorcycle, Dad?" I asked, unable to help myself. Surely, Charlie's hatred for bikes would have stopped him from climbing aboard with Laurent.

"I needed a ride back home," Charlie supplied, brow furrowing. "Laurent here offered."

"Hello, my friends," Laurent smiled and curled his fingers in a wave.

That made Charlie stop in his tracks. All of us were now on the side of the house, sheltered by its two-story wall rising. It created a barrier between us and the rest of the street, hiding us in its massive shadow.

"Friends? You know the Cullens?" Charlie jerked his thumb in our direction.

"Oh yes," Laurent smirked, "You could say that we share a history." He chuckled lightly. Charlie looked even more bewildered at this response and stared expectantly at Laurent for a more detailed explanation.

But Carlisle cleared his throat, and gave a step forward, putting his body slightly in front of mine. I had to lean to my right to see past him.

"Laurent, you and I have much to discuss. Why don't we let Chief Swan take his daughter and my son inside so that we may catch up?"

Yes, I thought hopefully, and then we can take Charlie somewhere safe.

But Charlie frowned. "I'm sorry, Doc, but I only came home to get my uniform and cruiser. You're going to have to wait to talk with your friend here. He's coming with me."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I couldn't help the waver in my voice as I spoke.

"Bella," Charlie sighed, and gave Laurent an apologetic shrug for the delay, "Laurent here called the precinct earlier with news on the super-bear. They patched him through to me on the reservation. He claims he's taken down the bear," Charlie said with a skeptical shift of his eyes, "Once I explained to Laurent that I needed to stop home first before I could formally inspect the carcass, he was willing enough to give me a ride back."

I cringed at his description. Yes, I'm sure that Laurent was very happy and accommodating about that. At first, a plan to lure Charlie away from the wolves to a secluded area would have worked just fine. But being able to take him back to me directly as a hostage he could trade? That would have certainly appealed to him.

"Dad," I said anxiously, "He's not taking you anywhere."

Charlie pursed his lips. "This is for work. Whatever it is that's going on here," he said, gesturing to Carlisle, Edward and me, "can wait until I get home."

But Laurent was laughing. Light and amused. His musical laughter filled the air around us and Charlie looked back at him with caution.

"Actually," Laurent grinned, "she's right."

Charlie blanched. He turned to Laurent, giving him the same dubious look he had just given me. I wanted to reach out and touch him. To put my arms around him and pull him over to where I stood with Edward. To safety. Charlie was only across a small space of yard, but it could have been miles between us. Laurent could easily kill him in seconds.

Laurent moved toward Charlie, and I tensed immediately, I felt Edward's grip on my hand tighten slightly and through the corner of my eyes, saw an infinitesimal shake of his head. Laurent stretched an arm over Charlie's shoulders, draping it there casually and hugging my father to his side in what seemed like a friendly gesture. Then he laughed, as if he were in on some special joke. And we were all about to find out the punch line.

"You see, Chief," Laurent elucidated, "The reason I contacted you, is not because of some ridiculous super-bear. In fact," Laurent shrugged ostentatiously against Charlie's shoulders, "there is no super-bear. That is all a fabrication of your silly human minds. Don't you see?" He waited for a moment for Charlie to understand. When he didn't, Laurent did not look surprised. In fact, his eyes sparkled with delight. He wanted to make Charlie feel small and stupid. He wanted to feel superior. It filled me with rage.

"You have been fooled by none other than yours truly," he said and put his free hand to his chest, emphasizing this point, "The killings… the attacks on humans. These were not the deeds of some ridiculous, oversized beast. It was me." He flashed his bright teeth at Charlie. And at this, I could see the element of alarm ring out through my father.

Charlie began to move under Laurent's hold, but I knew it would not be that easy. Laurent forced Charlie steadily against him, his face only inches from my father's as he continued to smile in sick pleasure. "And now, the Cullens have something that I want. And the reason you are here, is to help me get it."

Charlie looked fleetingly towards me. "What is it?" he demanded with dread in his voice.

Laurent pursed his lips, turning to face me from across the lawn. He tilted his head, as though observing me in a state of awe.

"Your daughter."

Charlie lurched, shoving his arms against Laurent's side. "No!" he yelled, and made to run to me, to try to save me.

I reached my hands out, crying for him, knowing he would never reach me.

Laurent was quick. His hands were at Charlie's wrist, snapping it with a startling crack! My father cried out in pain, throwing his head back as his hand bent sharply to the wrong angle. His wrist was shattered, and Laurent was still holding it.

"Wait!" Edward's voice rang out, over the sound of Charlie's suffering. "Wait!" He held one palm out to the woods at his left, as though holding something there in place, as his eyes stayed fixed on Laurent.

"Laurent," Carlisle said with a measured tone in an attempt to restore composure to the scene, "Can we not negotiate on this matter? There is much at risk here."

"Oh yes," Laurent returned in jest, "There is much at risk indeed, old friend. I have only broken this man's wrist. If any of you move to save him, or he attempts to flee, I assure you that his neck will be next."

"Dad!" I shouted, my voice cracking. This was not going the way we had planned. Nothing was working. Jasper and Emmett had been right. It was much harder to control a situation when a human hostage was involved. Neither Edward nor Carlisle could make a move while Laurent held Charlie captive.

"Let go of me," Charlie groaned, "You sick bastard. I swear, if I had my gun-"

"I assure you it would change nothing," Laurent interrupted, "Isn't that right, Carlisle?" He winked.

"Laurent," Edward called, "It is not truly Bella you desire."

"Oh no?" Laurent asked, raising an eyebrow, "Then please, dear Edward, enlighten me."

Edward straightened himself, then pressed his lips to my forehead, kissing me chastely as he dropped my hand. I watched him walk away from me in slow, calculated steps as he spoke to Laurent. "Bella has accomplished none of the feats you have bestowed onto her. She did not escape James. I killed him..."

Charlie's mouth dropped. He did not speak but watched Edward intently, horrified.

"She did not vanquish Victoria. I did," Edward boasted darkly, his lips peeling back to expose his teeth, "Her power is nothing but the fortunate result of my love for her and my impervious ability to keep her safe. The fact that our talents evade her is nothing to be desired. It is a fault in her creation. Not a gift."

His voice was low and velvety. I had never heard him speak in such a manner. It was not sweet and assuring, it was dark and powerful. Alluring and frightening all at once. The sound of it prickled the back of my neck, and sent my heart pounding in my chest.

Laurent considered this. He pulled his free hand up to his face, tapping his lips with the pad of his finger. "What are you suggesting? That she is not a Shield?"

Edward smirked. "Of course she is not a Shield. Are you foolish enough to believe I would allow such a rare find to remain human if that were true?"

Laurent pursed his lips. "Do not insult me, Edward. I cannot begin to fathom why you keep her in her mortal state. When it is so fragile."

"It is simple. I love her more than an eternity with her. I love her beating heart. Her ordinary, human heart. She is nothing but another plain human and there should be no interest in her life. It is meaningless to you, but everything to me. No value or worth besides my love to keep her alive."

"No worth?" quirked Laurent, his eyes narrowing skeptically at Edward.

"None to you," Edward assured, "It is my life- my triumphs- that you envy so dearly. My name that you wish to conquer."

Laurent allowed the slightest upturn of his lips. "Then you offer your life in exchange for this one?"

"I'm offering you far more than my life, Laurent," Edward's voice glided, "I'm offering you glory. Kill me and let Charlie and Bella go. Leave Forks. And tell the world how you took revenge on the one who slaughtered your coven. And with the end of my life, so ends the fascination with Bella. For once I cease to exist, I cannot love her. And there ends her powers. There will be nothing left for you to covet. You will have everything, once you kill me."

Laurent smirked in reply, his lips now curling devilishly upward. "You paint an elegant picture, Edward. I dare say your flare for the dramatic nearly rivals my own."

"Well?" Edward asked.

I held my breath. My eyes darted from Edward to Charlie to Laurent. He gave a sharp push forward on Charlie's back, sending him tumbling down into the dirt.

"Let us put this business behind us," Laurent sniffed and I let out my breath in a sob. Grateful and terrified. Because Edward was giving up his own life for Charlie. He was putting him first. Just as I had asked.

At once, Edward stooped over Charlie to help him up. My father cradled his broken wrist in his other hand, grimacing but staggering over to where Carlisle and I stood with Edward's aid. I grabbed Charlie the moment he was within reach and hugged him to me.

Safe, but not quite, I thought. Not all of us.

I looked up from Charlie's shoulder and saw that Edward had already surrendered himself to Laurent. Fear crept over me, the blood in my veins turned cold. The thought of losing Edward, now, after being apart for so long… after the lies, the truth, the war, confessing love, making love, and forgiving each other for everything in between. Edward, the love of my life. The other half of my soul. He was too much to lose. And I refused to let it happen again.

"There must be another way," Carlisle spoke, "Laurent, all can be forgiven. Spare my son and leave this town and we will not part as enemies."

"Ah, Carlisle," Laurent sighed, "Your coven had once enthralled me. So closely knit. So loyal. Why, look, your son has traded his own life in exchange for two humans. You Cullens are even loyal to your pets." He chimed a laugh. Edward stood by him, eyes studying mine as though he wanted to spend his last sights on only me. "But I'm afraid a deal is a deal. Two mortal lives for an immortal one."

"Take care of them," Edward said in a hollow voice. He was speaking to his father, but still did not look away from me. We were transfixed on each other, unable to turn away. I focused on his eyes. How beautiful they were. Their liquid gold. Their depth and softness. And how I wanted nothing more than to keep them alive.

"Laurent!" Carlisle shouted and it was the first time I had ever heard him raise his voice. "Do not do this! He is my son!"

"Or you'll what, Doctor? Try to kill me with two humans in your care? Tsk, tsk," he mocked, "I think you know how that will end. No, it is best for you all to just sit back and enjoy the show. It's going to be a grizzly one," he added, and curled his fingers around Edward's neck.

Our gaze was broken by the soft flutter of Edward's eyes as they closed shut, anticipating the fatal blow. I snapped out of my trance. This would not be the last I would see of his eyes, or the last of his voice, or his scent. Of one thing I was certain: a life without Edward Cullen was a life I had no intention of living.

"NO!"

A knowing gleam spread across Laurent's face as I ordered for him to stop.

"Don't do it!" I commanded, and careened myself forward to bypass Carlisle.

Dr. Cullen's hand reached out, snatching the side of my sweater and it tore around me. Cold air gusted against the bare skin of my side.

"Bella!" Edward's eyes flew open as his hands rose up to stop me, "Stay where you are!"

Laurent, however, did not appear surprised by my reaction. In fact, he seemed to carry on as though none of us were speaking. He had turned to face Edward, appraising him and humming as he mused to himself. "Hmm," he purred, "Let me see."

Laurent's hands went to Edward's shoulders, and it looked almost as if he was going to embrace him, but instead, he bore down and with a screeching tear, Edward's arms were ripped from their sockets. That familiar, scraping noise of nails on a blackboard filled through the air and I cringed. Edward's face contorted as he dropped to the ground, and writhed in pain.

Edward screamed. Not just screamed, but bellowed a harrow, terrifying sound. It seemed to reverberate in my head, horrible and real and I realized it was not just Edward's screams. But my own. My own screams were mixed with his. Both together, sharing the pain.

Laurent crouched over Edward, putting his mouth to his ear. "Your sister was so kind to take my arms from me yesterday. I wanted to repay her the favor, but I'm afraid you had to do." Then he righted himself to his full height, and smoothed out his crisp shirt with slick movements of his palms. "Now," he said, deliberating, "What to take next?"

"Oh my God," Charlie moaned, sounding as though he might be sick.

I stopped my screaming, trying to collect myself. To think. To make this right.

Think, Bella! Laurent was only toying with Edward. He only wanted to maim him. Which meant he had no intention of letting us all walk away. Or of letting me live. There was only one way to save them all.

"Stop it now!" I yelled, and tore away from Carlisle. The remaining fabric of my sweater split further, ripping up my torso and under my arm. I didn't care.

"Please, stop! It's me you want. Just take me!"

"No!" Charlie called from behind me, and I felt his hand reach out for me. I evaded it by advancing forward, knowing that I'd made Laurent the offer he truly wanted all along. My life. My gift. Handing myself over to him provided at least some chance that he would let my family live. And he and I would leave Forks together, once he ended my human life, and begin my new one.

"Bella!" Carlisle gasped, and he must have went to move forward, because Laurent held up a finger to him.

"Let the girl talk, good Doctor, or I'll end your son right now. And then you and I will have a little race to see if I can kill her and her foolish father before you stop me."

There was silence in which I did not dare turn around to see Carlisle's reply. But Laurent must have been pleased, because he flashed another smug grin. "You were saying, pet?"

"Bella, don't!" Edward pleaded as he struggled to get up.

I lifted my chin. "Take me instead."

Victory blazed in Laurent's red eyes, his teeth still gleaming. "Done," he announced and tossed Edward's arms away from him unceremoniously. There was a heavy thud as they hit the ground. He rubbed his palms together, dusting them off. "My, my how easily you all are manipulated," Laurent sighed, adjusting his collar, "It almost wasn't any fun."

I took advantage of Laurent's break to rush to Edward. Dropping to my knees, I scooped him into my arms. My hands settled over his chest, feeling the intake of air as he breathed; proving to myself that he was still alive. That I saved him. I saved him and Charlie both. All it took was my life.

"Go back," Edward pleaded, his voice strained, "Bella, please. Go back now."

My throat tightened; I had to force myself to speak through it. "Shh," I whispered and leaned in to him, "It's alright. It's alright." I inhaled his scent, floral and sweet. It might be the last time I would smell it for a while.

"Bella, no," Edward gasped, his head shaking against my neck. It sounded as though he was sobbing, although I knew he could not.

"Remember your promise, okay?" I reminded him softly, and felt tears coming over my vision. Then I leaned in and brushed my lips to his cool temple. "I love you," I breathed against his skin, "No matter how hard it gets. No matter if we get hurt. I love you and I choose you. I choose you. Forever." A tear rolled down my nose and I watched it break on Edward's cheek, scattering in a dozen tiny droplets. Gold eyes shut and his face pressed to mine. He couldn't hold me back, so he nuzzled into my skin, whispering and caressing my throat with his love.

"Not forever, my pet," Laurent corrected, looking down at me with hunger in his eyes. "Come, now. It will be over soon."

Steeling myself, I stood erect at Laurent's side. He kicked out a foot, sending it into Edward's ribs, causing him to double over and gasping for air as he's shoved out of the way.

I had to look away, up at the sky. It looked back with thick and blackened clouds.

You saved them, I repeated in my head and closed my eyes, face still turned to the sky. You saved them.

Laurent's touch came to my neck. Hard fingertips trailed across my collarbone and upward as he positioned himself perfectly behind me. He was methodical and precise, aligning us just so. I felt his nose ghost along my neck, dragging up and guiding my chin to the right. I felt him smile against the vein in my exposed throat.

"You smell like those dogs," he breathed, and I thought of Jacob, of him kissing me this morning, and pushing him and him holding my hand, how he must be all over me. And how I would not get the chance to tell him goodbye. "And like that boy of yours," Laurent inhaled deeply, "But…it is there. The scent of your blood is buried, but there. It is magnificent. I see what all the fuss was about." I shuddered, willing him to just do it, to quit prolonging this.

Charlie shouted, his voice fraught, but I could not hear him. I only returned, "I love you, Dad," as loud as I could. It would only be another moment and I would be dead.

"We will be happy, pet," Laurent licked along my skin, "You shall see." There was a beat of pure silence, as the stillness of the moment enveloped each of us on the stretch of lawn. And then it all shattered by the rippling sound of Edward's cry.

"JACOB, NOW!"

I felt Laurent pull back as my eyes snapped open. Edward was there, in front of us on his knees, screaming towards the woods. I followed his line of vision, together with Laurent, and the two of us were met by the sight of Jacob barreling out of the cluster of trees to the side of my house. He was in wolf form and he was snarling and snapping and storming towards us. Faster than I had ever seen him run.

I cried out, a short yelp squeezing from my throat just as Laurent's hand went to my hair. My head snapped back as he yanked me into him and I stumbled, falling into his arms. "Tried to trick me?" he growled, his eyes locked forward on the charging wolf. I had no idea what he meant; this was not a plan or trick of my doing. This was Jacob—the loose cannon—once again returning back to me. Just as he always did. And how I never, ever saw it coming.

Laurent snarled and lunged to flee, hauling me with him by my hair. My hands lashed out at the fist at my crown, trying to free myself. To let Jacob attack him. To get out of the way. Because the massive wolf was coming, fast and sure and deadly.

But there was no time.

Laurent must have known. He must have known he would not get out of there alive. From somewhere, there was the sound of Carlisle's voice, calling out as it drew nearer. Laurent was outnumbered. A vampire and a shifter were racing towards him. And he carried a floundering weight at his side. He pulled me up, his lip furling, hatred in his eyes, their red pupils burning into me. And he pushed me away from him in one final attempt to flee. Just as the wolf leapt into the air-claws extended, teeth bared- Laurent's steel hands threw me straight into Jacob, using for me cover as the human shield he had so greatly coveted. Then he ran.

There was pain, sheer pain, that tore into me as the wolf and I collided.

Long claws slashed through my skin, fraying their way down the front of my body as the two of us—human and beast—went wheeling backward and into the earth. I felt shreds of me peel away. Shoulder. Chest. Stomach and thighs. And I gulped for air as the enormous, fur-covered wolf landed on top of me.

Bones snapped. Ribs pierced through skin and muscle. Jacob's claws dug further, making a crackling sound that had to have been the shattering of bone beneath them. It took a second before I realized this was happening to me. I was falling. I was breaking. Something inside of me burst- and I opened my mouth to cry out but got a mouthful of my own blood instead. My stomach lurched and I turned over, retching; the weight of the wolf lifting as he bounded from my body to pursue Laurent.

I heard the fight, rather than saw it. The sounds came in waves, sweeping over me in tandem with the thrumming of my heart. The sounds of Carlisle detaining Laurent; the violence of their combat before Jacob caught up, hurdling himself at his prey. Then I felt the thundering of the ground as wolf and vampire crashed into it. I wanted to look and see for myself, to see Laurent's life end like he had wanted to do to me, and Charlie, and Edward. But I could not move. I lay on my back, eyes to the sky, and could only listen to the yelps of Jacob as Laurent defended himself, and the grating cries of Laurent as he was ripped limb from limb.

"Bella!"

I heard my name. And attempted speech once more, but choked up blood. Thick redness voided from my throat. There were a few small, hard objects in my mouth and I spat them out. Teeth. I moaned, seeing them lay there on the grass. My stomach heaved again, and blood came pouring out.

I started twitching. My body convulsed on its own accord. There was some pain, but not much, mostly the violent jostling of my own body that I could not seem to control. I felt cold air all over my body, knowing too much of it was exposed. Too much of the inside was on the outside now. I shuddered violently. My breathing became curdled and I cried out through it, gargled and sparse.

The biting and scraping noises continued, but I had to strain to hear them. There was a buzzing now that invaded my ears. I rolled my head back, shaking it out. And listened to the final howl that I knew heralded the end of Laurent's immortal life.

There was movement from above and Carlisle was kneeling over me, followed by my father. I could see their faces hovering, eyes scanning from mine to the damage done to my body. Charlie gulped, muttering indiscernible words under his breath as he surveyed me. His face was panicked and scared. I offered a smile up at him…weak and toothless. He was alive. He was safe.

"Bella! Bella! My Bella!"

My chest lifted in a shake, and blood pooled around me.

"She's losing blood," Carlisle's voice erupted, "Give me your coat."

"Oh God. Oh, Bella," Charlie muttered nervously, moving around me, unsure of where to look.

"Your coat, Charlie! We need to cover the wound."

"Oh God." There was the sound of shuffling as Charlie shook off his coat. Or perhaps it was I who was shaking. I could not seem to stop. "Is that…Doc…are those her intestines?"

I tried to look down, and see if Charlie was right but Carlisle placed himself in front of me, there were red stains on his clothes.

"Look at me, Bella," he said steadily, "Just keep looking at me."

Warmth covered my abdomen, followed by pressure. It rose from my belly to my chest to my throat. And then I heaved again.

"Hold her there. Hold it in like that," Carlisle instructed.

"BELLAAAA!"

I heard my name, but not from above me. It came from lower, from the ground.

"BELLA!"

It was Edward. And he was calling for me.

"It's alright," I tried, but it came out wrong and wet. I coughed out another tooth. Cold swept over my body. "Cold," I tried to say, "I'm c-cold."

Jacob appeared suddenly. Human and frantic and naked. He reached out a hand to touch me. I felt it fumble in my hair. He was covered in blood. My blood.

"Christ, Bella!" he panted, "He pushed you. He fucking pushed you right into me and I didn't have time to move. I'm so sorry. Bella, please." Warm hands slid under as Jacob made to move me.

"You don't touch her!" Charlie roared, knocking into Jacob, "Get off of her!"

"No!" Jacob cried, shoving Charlie so hard that he fell back. Jake then curled himself against me, taking my body and holding it to him.

"You're going to live," Jake told me, rocking us back and forth as wetness streamed his cheeks, "You're going to fucking live."

I could see the fear in his eyes and wanted to quiet it. To tell him not to be afraid. This would all be done soon.

"Jacob," Carlisle said.

"No," Jacob moaned and pulled me tighter against him, away from Carlisle. There was more pressure. More building up inside me. "Please," he rocked us, "Live." He pressed his chest to mine, even as I began to shake in his arms. "Bella, please. God. Live. Live for me."

"Get off of her!" my father cried, his hands seizing Jacob's arms.

Jacob resisted at first, clutching me to him in desperation and then, his arms slacked and he rescinded, crumpling to the ground in delirious sobs.

"Get out of here, you bastard!" Charlie ground out, his eyes away from mine, looking down to where I knew Jacob was laying. "I said get out!" He shoved a form on the ground, and I heard Jacob make a slow, wounded retreat to where I could not see him, and could only faintly hear the sound of his cries.

"Daa—" I tried, but failed.

Carlisle's arms replaced my father's at my waist. He used one hand to adjust and hold my insides in, and the other to check my pulse at my wrist.

"Bella, can you hear me?" Carlisle asked, his eyes dipping to my level to check my pupils. He then ripped off his shirt one-handed, shimmying his way out of it and began shredding it into strips with his teeth. "Tie them around her stomach," he told Charlie. "Tight."

It was then I smelled it. Floral and sweet and Edward. Somehow he had made it over to me and I moved my eyes to find him. He was there. In the grass, lying beside me.

He looked beautiful. He was still without arms, and his face was pained and rigid, but he was the most beautiful being I had ever seen.

"Oh, Bella," he breathed, and I felt it brush my face, "Bella, love. You didn't…" he gasped, "You didn't have to do that. You didn't have to save me."

My eyes were hooded and heavy; I blinked slowly, trying to keep them open. I didn't want to look away from them. From my family. I wanted to see them until it was over.

"You're safe now," I strained, and somehow the words came out. Charlie broke down, his hands catching his face. "It's okay," I managed between labored breaths. "I'm okay. It's… it's over now." I looked to Edward, "I got to love you again."

His face crumpled into sorrow, his eyes sealing shut as he nodded, leaning down into me, face to face. Shaking against me. "You were right," he rasped, pressing his cheek to mine, "You were right all along. I have a soul. And it is dying."

He choked on his sobs, wincing in pure agony, and I tried to nod against his cheek. Because I felt it too. It hurt too much. Too much to go on.

Edward angled himself to my mouth, placing his lips there. And I tried to feel it. To feel our last kiss. But I was numb there. My mouth senseless to his. I watched him pull away, my beautiful Edward, and he sank into the ground beside me.

"God damnnit, Cullen," Charlie shouted, his fist slamming into the ground, "Save her!"

Shhhh, I tried to console, I saved you. I saved you all.

A fit of coughs overcame me. I didn't even look at what came out this time. My body shook against the grass of the earth, rapidly shuddering as cold numbness spread over me.

"Charlie. She's… loosing blood too quickly. The wounds are too severe. I don't, I don't think she can feel much of it though," Carlisle lowered his voice, "If that is of any consolation. Her body is in shock."

"What are you saying?" Charlie demanded.

"I'm sorry," Carlisle whispered, "She won't survive this."

It's alright, I wanted to tell them. I don't mind.

"No," Charlie moaned, and broke down again, tears falling from his eyes, "No, no, no." His large hands tucked beneath my head, cradling it, "Don't say that. I know you can save her. I know you can."

Carlisle was quiet. There were just the sounds of Edward's hiccups and my own breathing, which was getting harder to do. A weight had settled itself on my chest. And it felt as though it was sinking inside of me. As if I would drown from it. Their voices had begun to fade. And my eyelids were heavy for sleep. The world sounded far away. And I felt like I could slip from it as easily as closing my eyes.

My father stiffened around me, his voice hard and stern.

"I want you to save her."

"Charlie—"

"No!" he cut in, "Don't you lie to me," Charlie swallowed, "You can do something. You can make her-make her like you."

There was shock on Carlisle's face. But he wiped it free of surprise and asked carefully, "Do you know what you are asking, Charlie?"

"I'm pretty sure I know what you and your son are. And if I'm right," Charlie gulped, "then that means she has a chance. And if my daughter has one damn chance, you better believe I want you to take it."

Carlisle hesitated.

"Do it!"

"Alright," Carlisle said, "Step away, then."

All of the hands that had been on me vanished. I was cold. So cold and alone. And I was shivering. Then the golden eyes of Carlisle Cullen were peering down at me. They reminded me of Edward's. Edward, who was somewhere close but too far to see or hold. Edward, whom I loved more than anything. More than my own silly life. So I looked up at Carlisle. The pair of his eyes was the last thing I saw before I gave in to the darkness, letting my lids close out the world around me.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Carlisle murmured, "for all the pain you are about to feel."

"DON'T!"

There was a wail, rasping and bleak and familiar, though I could not place the source. Edward or Jacob. Or both of them. Begging for my mortal life.

Cool teeth fell to my neck, hovering for a fraction of a second before Carlisle bit down, breaking skin, and sinking them deep into my throat.

I felt the fire. It drowned everything else out. The cries of my father and Jacob and Edward. The slice of Carlisle's teeth in my skin.

The fire coursed my veins. The heat of it. Burning.

It was burning through me. Down my arms and legs and stomach, through my mouth and brain and heart. All of me. As a whole. It was burning away the very last of me.

And I screamed.

.

---

a/n: ::ducks behind desk:: Well? What did you think? Please let me know in the comments!

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I took a lot of breaks from it, for life events and for delves into other fandoms, but it has ALWAYS been on my mind. I'm so happy to have finished it and to publish it in full. I hope to publish an epilogue, but the story can be read just as it has been finished now, I think. Until next time, friends. Be well! And thank you so much for reading! :)