Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.

Chapter Eleven

Paul's POV

My tongue lolled to the left as I raced through the woods, chasing the lingering scent of leech. The redhead, Victoria, had come snooping around La Push again, going so far as to trespass on Old Man Whitten's property. Jared had picked up her scent before she'd been able to attack, but it was too close. Old Man Whitten lived just three miles from Sam and Emily. A vampire could travel that in thirty seconds.

As soon as I'd heard, my wolf had taken over and I had been patrolling the boarder ever since. Sam and Jared phased regularly, trying to convince me to take a break.

I couldn't.

Bella was in danger. My wolf felt it from our nose to the tip of our tail. And until the leech was dead, I wasn't giving up.

Sam's POV

I glanced up from the TV as another commercial came on, sighing when I saw Bella still in the same spot.

Three fucking days.

Paul had been out in the woods for three damn days and as each day passed, Bella progressively got worse.

Thankfully, she hadn't completely withdrawn into the zombie-like state she had been when she first arrived, but she wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and spent all day looking out the front window, waiting for Paul. Emily was starting worry, scared we would have to hospitalize her if she didn't start eating soon. She was losing what little weight she'd managed to gain and her color was fading making the dark circles under her eyes stand out starkly.

"Bella, why don't you come and help me fix dinner?" Emily suggested hopefully.

Bella looked from the window to Emily and back. The sigh that passed through her spoke of the deep weariness she was suffering from.

"Sure, Em," Bella agreed, standing slowly on wobbly legs.

I watched as she carefully made her way across the living room, her steps unsteady. As she disappeared into the kitchen with Emily, I decided enough was enough.

"I'm heading out, Em. I'll be back later," I called as I walked out the front door.

"Be safe! I love you," Emily called back just before the door shut behind me.

It didn't take me long to strip out of my shorts and phase once I was safely hidden within the forest. The power of the wolf rolled over me and I shook out my black pelt, taking a few seconds to get used to four legs instead of two.

Paul, it's time to come home. Bella's worried, I said, trotting in his direction.

The grey wolf paused mid-step, shuddering at the images I pushed into his head. Bella huddled on the couch, eyes staring blankly out the window, struggling to walk after three days without food or sleep.

I can't, Sam. That fucking leech is still out there. I have to protect her, Paul stressed, resuming his pace.

She can't keep going like this, Paul. She needs you, I insisted.

The grey wolf stumbled, whining piteously when Paul continued to push it forward.

Emily is worried we're going to have to hospitalize her if we can't get her to eat soon. She won't eat without you. You know this. Go home, Paul. Now! I ordered, losing my patience with him.

Immediately, the wolf spun around and raced through the woods.

You damn well better stay out here, Sam. If that fucking leech breaks through again… Paul growled, not bothering to hide his fear of losing Bella.

Don't worry, Paul. We'll make sure she's safe, I assured him, watching as he streaked past me.

I want that leech, Sam, Paul snarled as he came up to the house.

We'll get her, I promised just before he phased.

I turned my nose to the air, sniffing for any hint of the leech. The sickly sweet scent drifted from the north and I took off, howling for Jared as I went.

Paul's POV

I phased just before the trees thinned and Sam's house came into view. The wolf was anxious to see Bella, having been away from her for too long. He was antsy, chomping at the bit to get inside. I had to force him to slow down or else we ran the risk of scaring her.

"PAUL!"

I looked up just in time to catch Bella as she jumped on me, her legs wrapping around my waist and her arms around my neck. My arms came around to catch her as I stumbled back, quickly regaining my balance.

"Paul, Paul, Paul," Bella chanted, rubbing her hands over my face, shoulders, chest, anywhere she could reach.

I let her touch, sensing she needed the reassurance. My wolf practically purred at finally having her hands on us again. I pressed my nose against her skin, breathing deeply to reassure myself and my wolf.

"I thought you'd left me," Bella sniffed, pulling back to meet my gaze.

"Never, Swan," I murmured, rubbing my nose against hers.

"You were gone for so long. You didn't even say goodbye," Bella pointed out, leaning her forehead against mine.

"I was patrolling. I have to keep you safe," I sighed, closing my eyes.

She began trembling in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably as I threaded the fingers of one hand through her hair. I kissed her forehead, trying to get her to calm down as I hushed her gently.

"You left. You left me! Why?" Bella started yelling, hitting my chest.

"Swan, I didn't leave," I tried to say.

"NO! You left me! I trusted you and you left me! Just like him!" Bella screamed, slapping at me until I was forced to put her down.

Her legs wouldn't support her and she fell onto her knees, taking me with her as I kept my arms wrapped around her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I shouted over her.

Her screams and sobs melded together until I couldn't understand anything she said, but my wolf growled in my ear.

The leech hurt her. He hurt our mate!

"Oh, God, Swan. What did he do?" I asked, unable to make my voice more than a whisper.

"He… promised me he… wouldn't leave! He promised!" Bella sobbed angrily.

"What happened, Swan? What happened that day in the woods?" I pressed, though I already had an idea.

"Jasper tried to… attack me. Edward stopped him, but… he was so upset… He took me into the woods… to break up with me… told me I was nothing… just a distraction… that he'd gotten… what he wanted… and he was done… that I was a pathetic… human… who could never measure up… to a vampire," Bella hiccupped, clinging to me tightly.

My thoughts were whirling around in my head, trying to piece it all together. There had to be something she was leaving out.

"Swan… what exactly did he do?" I asked, hoping I wouldn't need to clarify further.

"He… told me… the only thing… I was good for… was a snack… and I couldn't… even… be… that," Bella choked out.

I tried to hush her, sooth her so I could understand, but nothing worked.

"Before… he left… he… tied me down… and… and… sliced my stomach… open… I was… bleeding… and he… he…" Bella shuddered as she trailed off, unable to give voice to what he had done.

My wolf howled in agony as we realized the fucking blood sucker and drank from her, but Bella wasn't done yet.

"After… he licked the cut… so his venom closed it… and it burned… I couldn't move… and he just… walked away… he thanked me and… said he'd be back soon… for another snack," Bella cried before she collapsed against my chest.

"Oh, God, Swan," I gasped, bending over her.

She fell, laying her head on my lap as I covered her body with my own. She curled in on herself, hugging my thigh to her chest.

"I'll never leave you. I love you too much. You're mine. Mine and my wolf's. We won't ever let you go," I swore.

We stayed there, in the back yard for nearly an hour before she finally lifted her head. Her brown eyes blinked up at me, rimmed in red. I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, allowing my fingers to linger along her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Bella croaked.

"Shh, Swan," I hushed, bumping my nose against her cheek.

"You're not like him. I didn't mean it," Bella sighed, leaning against my chest.

"I know, Swan," I soothed, resting my chin on top of her head.

"I missed you," Bella murmured sleepily.

"Me, too," I smiled, closing my eyes at the feelings coursing through me at having her relax into me.

A few seconds later and she was asleep, her head resting on my shoulder. Carefully, I lifted her into my arms before rising and taking her into the house. Emily gave me a sad smile as I walked through the kitchen, but I didn't stop to chat.

The guest bedroom door was open when I walked down the hallway. Bella had an arm wrapped around my neck and when I moved to lay her down, she tightened her hold.

"I'm not going anywhere, Swan," I promised, sliding into bed beside her.

She turned into me, tucking her arms between us, her head on my shoulder. With one arm thrown over her waist and the other around her shoulders, I held her tight as the exhaustion of the last few days finally caught up with me. I burrowed into her hair, closing my eyes and breathing deeply of the sweet scent I had been missing. My eyes drifted shut, my wolf settling down for a nice, long sleep with our mate.

Okay. Kind of a short chapter, but we found out why Bella had such a drastic reaction to Edward leaving. He drank from her. Bastard…

The reason Bella felt the burning, but didn't change is because it was such a small amount. Edward only used enough to seal the wound, no more. It temporarily paralyzed her, but didn't start the change because there wasn't enough.

So, I had quite a few opposing responses on whether or not more wolves should phase. I have a very evil plan hatching that some of you (all of you) might hate me for, but I need one of two things to happen before I can write out my evil plot. One option is to have at least Jacob phase. The other… I'm not going to tell you, cause I'm feeling decidedly devilish today! Hehehehehehe!

Next chapter will be posted Friday! See you guys then!