Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

Any dialogue you recognize is from New Moon. PS I'm not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own anything :(

Ch 11

Right on cue a figure emerged from the treeline farthest from the house. Even with their enhanced eyesight, Bella could barely make him out. The tall, bare-chested man had his hands raised before him in a gesture of surrender and peace, and she noticed that many of the late fall leaves exactly matched his russet skin tone. Winter should have set in by now, ordinarily would have in Canada, but thanks to global warming, it'd been delayed this year.

Jake. She knew him. He didn't look at all as she remembered, but she knew him just the same.

The man, because it didn't matter that Bella knew he was over two years younger than her, since he looked like a man in his prime, strode steadily towards them without hesitating or slowing. He'd always been proud like that. Fearless. As he drew closer, Bella also noted that the cutoff shorts he wore were absolutely filthy and he was barefoot.

"He's alone, and he's not here to fight," Edward announced flatly, having read Jacob's mind during his approach.

As one, all of the Cullens relaxed. It was nearly palpable, and Bella knew that was a result of Jasper. He'd been trying valiantly to contain his emotions since they'd first learned something was coming, unwilling to burden the others with his apprehension and suspicion and fear. Fear not for himself, but the others. He was so fiercely protective of the family, even if they weren't fully aware of the extent.

They settled about the living room, putting on the welcoming human facade that Bella remembered them doing for her sake more than once when she'd first known them. Carlisle went to the front door and opened it wide, a small smile that hid most of his gleaming, venomous teeth, gracing him as he did.

"Jacob Black. We were expecting you," he greeted, gesturing for the wolf to enter the vampire's lair.

"Can I see Bella?" he asked at once, sounding cautiously hopeful.

"Of course, come in," Carlisle agreed cordially, leading the way.

For a minute, no one spoke. Jacob stared right at Bella, taking in all the changes since she became a vampire. She reminded herself to fidget and blink in the hopes that she'd appear less noticeably different.

Then she went as far as to offer a timid smile and say, "Hi, Jake. It's been a while."

"You're still you," he said dumbly, mouth slightly agape.

"Who else would I be, Jake?" she asked, a trilling laugh escaping her at the strangeness of it all.

"Don't know. Just strange, yeah?" he said, shrugging and shifting from foot to foot awkwardly.

"I guess," she agreed, letting the cloud of peace from Jasper engulf her and put her at ease. Almost unconsciously, she leaned towards Jazz, every cell in her body seeking him out as they always did.

"Mind if I sit? Been running for days." Now that he'd mentioned it, Bella could see the weariness and stress making his face tight and his eyes heavy.

"Of course! Are you hungry? I could make you a sandwich," Esme offered, ever the perfect hostess and maternal figure of the family. She certainly did seem to have a habit of taking care of strays.

"I'm good. Hunted on the way," he said, making Bella think of her own hunts. Perhaps they weren't so different anymore.

"Why have you come here?" Carlisle asked, politely waiting until after the mini reunion to dive in.

"I would have come sooner, but I didn't want to risk leaving the res unprotected or shorthanded while the newbies adjusted when I wasn't sure how long it would take to find you," he rambled, not making the situation any clearer.

"Victoria killed some of the pack," Edward announced, sharing a significant look with Jasper.

"Are you in my head?" Jacob demanded, scowling angrily at Edward. His frame shook slightly, blurring the tiniest bit as he faced the bronze-haired Cullen as though someone had attempted to erase his outline and had done a poor job of it.

"Who died?" Bella asked before Edward could reply. She'd known some of Jacob's friends. Had it been any of them?

"Sam. Quil and Collin too," Jacob said gruffly, hands balled into fists at his sides so tightly his knuckles had paled visibly. He was clearly hurting. "Collin was just a kid. Not even in high school yet."

"I'm so sorry," Esme offered sympathetically, her hand going up to cover her mouth. She looked ready to cry, and Bella didn't doubt it for a second. Hearing about the death of a child was sure to devastate her.

"She killed three of your kind by herself?" Jasper asked sharply, tension making him sit forward.

"It's not just the redhead anymore. We caught a different one, made her talk. That's how we found out they're after Bella. It was pure luck that I was with my dad when he was visiting Charlie. We've been keeping a guard on him ever since," Jacob said, shaking his head and gritting his teeth hard enough that a muscle ticked.

Charlie.

Victoria had sent someone after Charlie.

Bella might not remember her father very well, but she'd never wish for her life choices to hurt him or put a target on his back. It was almost worse knowing it had happened, and she'd not even been aware. She'd done nothing to protect him. Luckily, Jake had. Her friend, still looking out for her, despite the rift putting them on opposite sides.

The arm that came around her then was both familiar and welcome. Bella leaned into Jasper's chest, seeking more of his reassuring presence.

"Thanks," she said, nuzzling his neck. His scent enveloped her, grounding her and helping her to think clearly.

"No, we're not," Edward murmured quietly, though everyone present was more than capable of hearing him.

"Good," Jacob said, smirking briefly, then quickly ordered, "but stay out of my head. Can you all do that?"

"No. Just Edward," Carlisle assured, playing the peacemaker. "What can we do for you? I'm assuming you didn't come all this way to update us about Bella's father? We will, of course, honor our alliance."

"Help us fight them," Jacob stated bluntly, though Bella had a feeling he was internally choking on the words. From what she remembered, he was too proud to admit needing help for anything. If he was settling aside his personal feelings to ask for help now, things must be much more dire than he was letting on. "I can't lose anymore of my people when she's doing this to draw Bella back home."

"How many are working for her?" Jasper inquired, pulling Bella tighter against him as though to shield her from the mentioned threat.

"Not sure, but we've caught the scent of at least six different vamps," Jacob stated matter-of-factly.

Six? That seemed a bit extreme if Victoria was just targeting Bella. Or did she know Bella still had the Cullens' protection?

Bella felt like cursing herself for brushing off the idea of Victoria being able to hurt her, and her overconfidence in their numbers. Seems Victoria had been taking steps to put them on more equal footing recently in preparation for this confrontation.

"When did you start sensing them?" Jasper asked, collecting as much information as he was able to understand the full scope of the situation.

"About three months ago," Jake said, watching Jasper and Bella with undisguised curiosity.

"Right around the time Laurent warned us Victoria discovered you were still alive," Carlisle pointed out unnecessarily. Bella had already figured that out for herself. Then he deferred to his more experienced son, seeking his council. "What do you think we should do, Jasper?"

"I think we need to return to Forks to settle this," he said gravely, emotions in a tangle. He wouldn't like the family having to fight for any reason, but he'd not allow a threat to Bella to go unchecked either. "Jacob's right. She's obviously hunting for information or trying to draw us out. Our kind don't let go of grudges unless forced."

"Agreed," Carlisle said, confirming their immediate plans.

"Hmph," Rose huffed and stormed out of the room.

Emmett looked ready to go after her, but Jasper held up a hand, staying his brother, then, after brushing a kiss to Bella's cheek, followed Rosalie from the room.

The conversation might have taken place in a different room, but they all heard it regardless. Even Jacob seemed to be shamelessly listening in.

"We need you with us," Jasper stated plainly. "The numbers are likely greater than Jacob indicated."

"To fight," Rose sniffed disdainfully.

Jacob looked ready to make a comment about being afraid she'd break a nail, but Esme's chiding look had him closing his mouth with an audible snap. Seems no one liked disappointing Esme. She just had that way about her.

"Would you really let me risk losing Bella? The chances are far greater without you there backing us up," Jasper informed the sister who'd posed as his twin for decades.

She wondered if that had resulted in them growing closer than Bella had first imagined. Jasper had been so focused on Bella this last year, and of course Alice was his closest friend in the family, but that didn't mean he'd not developed a unique, and equally significant, bond with Rose too.

"Of course not. She's my sister – no one harms my family," Rose hissed, and Bella could well envision her baring her dangerous teeth as she made the declaration. All vicious lioness defending her pride.

Warmth filled Bella at the blatant evidence that Rose considered her as such and was as fiercely protective of her as the rest of the family.

"But that doesn't mean I like Emmett being in danger either. You know how he is," Rose admitted, voicing her true concerns and the reason for her reluctance to return to Forks. "He'll be right in the thick of it all."

"Emmett is who he is," Jasper reminded her gently.

"I'm going to pack, but will you send him up?"

"Of course," Jazz promised, then, with obvious affection, said, "Rose, thank you."

"This is what you do for family," she replied, brushing off the sentimentality with her typical bored, aloofness.

As Emmett left the room, not bothering to wait for Jazz to return or feign ignorance of the conversation everyone had been eavesdropping on, Jake nodded his head to Bella, silently requesting a word with her. She met Jazz's eye on the stairs, offered a genuine smile, then followed Jake outside for some semblance of true privacy.

She could hear the others inside planning the easiest way to return to Forks quickly and discreetly, and how they could use the excuse of an early family Christmas trip to explain their absences here, as she waited to hear what Jake wanted to say to her.

"You're happy," he finally said, a bit of wonder in his tone as he studied her.

"Of course I am," Bella replied, thinking it a strange observation to make.

"I never saw you like this. Never," he said adamantly. "I've just told you a crazy leech is after you, and you're…glowing. Literally, but I mean figuratively too."

Bella glanced down at herself and saw a beam of light reflect off her arm. It was a sight she had yet to get tired of. But she also knew what Jake meant too. Since realizing her feelings for Jazz, she'd felt like she could fly, and was constantly floating through life. It was a great way to live.

"Is it a bad thing?"

"No. Not at all," he rushed to say, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck before adding, "but can I ask how things changed so much? You were devastated when he left, and now you're both here, but you're with the other leech."

"Leech?" Bella repeated, zeroing in on the unfavorable term.

"Bloodsucker?" Jake offered as an alternative.

"Should I call you mutt?" Bella quickly retorted.

"Yes," she heard Rose agree emphatically from inside, though she ignored her sister for now.

"Sure, sure. At least I don't reek like rotten fruit," Jake said good-naturedly.

"Jacob, you smell like a decaying corpse. I'm not sure it's really an improvement," Bella informed him. All right, a corpse might be pushing it a bit, but he did smell like a wet dog and the underbrush of a dense forest. More than a bit overwhelming.

"It took me three days of running and searching to find you," he argued, sounding a bit hurt.

"Sorry, you know I didn't mean it," she rushed to apologize, not liking that she'd upset him. Bella had the sense that she was immensely grateful to Jacob and that she owed him. Being mean and catty wasn't the way to repay him.

"You really haven't changed," he mused, smiling slightly at some memory Bella couldn't likewise recall. "But spill, why are you with the intense one now instead of the one who broke your heart?"

"A lot can happen in a year. I didn't see Edward, and I changed. What I wanted for myself changed. Jazz is the one who fits me best now," Bella explained, and Jake nodded as though he understood. And maybe he did. "I'm sorry about your friends. I wish you'd had a way to get in touch sooner," Bella offered, sensing he was satisfied with her previous answer. Not that she felt the need to share more even if he wasn't. Honestly, it was none of his business, and she didn't need his approval.

"It was hard even admitting we needed help. I'm not sure the others would have agreed if they hadn't gotten Sam," Jacob said, the weight of his position sitting heavily on his shoulders. It wasn't a burden Bella envied. "I never thought they'd be able to. Sam was just so…he was the first of us. Almost the strongest. Definitely the smartest. He had Emily to live for, and he still died. It was awful. The venom – we all lived it, felt it. That pain…it was agonizing."

"What happened?" Bella asked, only understanding about half of what Jacob was telling her, but sensing he hadn't really processed the loss himself yet either.

"He was protecting Leah. Vamp bit him when he shielded her. He never really got over hurting her," Jake said, staring off into the distance. He seemed much older all of a sudden, as though he was the one who'd lived for centuries, rather than the Cullens. "She's an absolute wreck now."

"Did I know her?"

"Not really," he said, coming back to himself a bit. He was a bit more of the playful, easy-going friend she remembered when he added, "Don't worry. You're not missing out on much."

"Why now?"

"Huh?"

"What made you come to us for help now?"

"Not sure, just had this feeling that I needed to find you, that I'd always regret what happened next if you weren't a part of it," Jake said vaguely, though she didn't think he was being purposely mysterious, more that he didn't understand it himself.

"Well, we're in it now," she answered grimly.

"It's good to have you back, Bells," Jake said, nudging her shoulder with his own. "I need to get home, but I'll see you there, right? I have so much to tell you about and ask."

"Yeah, Jake. We can talk more later," she promised.

Returning to Forks was surreal, to say the least. Fortunately, they were too busy from the moment they arrived for Bella to dwell much on the differences.

Esme and Rose set about opening up the house, falling into the familiar patterns they'd assumed over the years each time the family moved. Bella sat with Alice, the two hunched in the corner as Alice determinedly attempted to see any of what was happening without any luck. Either Victoria had found a way around Alice's visions, or the wolves were so entangled in what would soon take place. Regardless, the outcome was that her gift was rendered null and void. All she said was that even looking hurt. Not that it was stopping her from continuing to try.

Carlisle had sent Emmett into town to grab a newspaper and see if he could catch any gossip related to what was happening. Privately, Bella thought Carlisle had just wanted his son out of the house because he disagreed with Emmett's desire to engage in an "epic showdown", as her brother put it.

Jazz, Edward and Carlisle, meanwhile, had the television on and the local news playing the moment they stepped in the door. The volume was as low as it could go, but they all heard the humans recounting the latest in a string of violent attacks going down in Seattle. None of it was significant enough to make the news across the border, which was probably why it had taken Jake seeking them out to learn what was going on. But Jazz apparently understood the severity at once.

"You're sure?" Edward asked gravely. "I know you were worried before we got here, but now you're certain?"

"Yes. She's created a newborn army," Jasper confirmed, standing and crossing his arms as he took in the scenes flashing during the broadcast. An escalation in the number of missing persons. More property destruction. A spike in arson cases. All happening at night. "The signs are all there."

The pronouncement was the very last thing Bella wanted to hear. Partly because of what it would mean for the family, but mostly because of Jasper. She dreaded him having to endure anything like what he'd experienced as a newborn himself then later as Maria's second in command. Those memories still haunted him, and dragging him back into the thick of a fight was the very last thing he'd want to do. Though he would – for them.

From the beginning, Bella knew she'd not behaved as a typical newborn. They were vicious, undisciplined, bloodthirsty. The idea of taking on an unknown number of them…well, she was worried. Even with months of training. But she wanted to prove herself nearly as much as she wished it wasn't necessary.

"Where'd she even get the idea?" Carlisle asked, uncharacteristically solemn. He, more than the others, would struggle to fight. Conflict of any sort simply wasn't in his nature. A threat to his family was about the only thing in the world capable of having him break his personal code of ethics.

"You said you tracked her south when you first left, didn't you? She could have run into one of the southern covens and gotten it then," Jasper suggested, posing his question to Edward.

"But why wait?" he countered, frowning as he studied the bleak words continuing to scroll along the bottom of the screen, warnings about adhering to curfews and not traveling alone after dark.

"She thought I was dead, remember," Bella said bluntly, standing and moving to join the trio. It wasn't as though Alice was actually aware of her presence at this point anyways. She was too deep in her own mind. The expansive labyrinth one only she could navigate.

"It had to be the wolves who clued her in that it wasn't the case," Jasper stated, viewing the situation objectively.

"I doubt it was intentional," Carlisle said wearily, though no one doubted that it had been a simple mistake.

A mistake on the pack's part that had compounded the ones the Cullens made previously by not hunting Victoria down, then leaving Forks and Bella alone – though she didn't fault the ultimate outcome of that decision since it led her to Jazz.

But wait, no. The first mistake happened even prior to that.

That day in the clearing when Edward had taken Bella to play baseball the die had been cast. Everything since was a domino falling in a chain reaction. At least the end was in sight now. Though how it would finish was anyone's guess.

"They've been taking out wolves. Slowly eliminating their opposition. We should check the border…see if we can pick up a scent trail," Jazz suggested practically, unwilling to dwell on the past when they could take steps to prepare for future attacks or gain the advantage.

Edward nodded, elaborating on Jazz's thoughts for the others' sake, explaining, "Might give us a better idea of where they're located, and give us a chance to take a few out before they discover we're here."

"Return the favor, in picking off their numbers," Jazz surmised.

It was no surprise that Emmett was full in for the new plan. He was out the door before they'd even finished relaying the plan.

Jazz stayed close to Bella as they moved through the woods, careful to avoid the highways and logging sites as they headed towards La Push. It wasn't long before Bella detected traces of the wolves. Bits of fur stuck on broken branches, muddy footprints in the soft ground, and most of all, the overpowering stench. Wet dog and rotten wood permeated the air, growing denser and more potent with each and every step.

It was tempting to hold her breath, but if she did, she'd miss the cool, sweet undercurrent that was nearly completely masked by the wolves' foul odor.

"It's intense," Jasper agreed, sensing her discomfort.

The treaty boundary, when they finally reached it, didn't have any visible identifying markers, but Bella knew it was there regardless. The scent of ammonia now mixed with the rest of the putrid scents as though the wolves had literally peed to mark their territory.

Probably, they had.

They'd been scouting the area for less than five minutes when the wolves appeared. There were nine of them in total, their colors ranging from palest grey, nearly white, to darkest brown, almost black, and all mixtures in between. There were more of the great beasts than expected, especially given they'd recently lost three of their number. And two were smaller than some huskies she'd seen, while others were the size of horses.

They stepped from the trees as one, seeming to coordinate their movements, but there was nothing practiced about it. It was predatory. Dangerous. A clear warning that they would attack and defend en masse if necessary.

Bella was so taken by them that she entirely missed when the largest, a russet wolf, shifted before them. But suddenly she was seeing her former friend standing before them, carefully shielding his crotch since he was entirely naked.

Snarls erupted when Jake moved, taking a single step closer to the assembled Cullens. The sounds ripped the air apart, shredding it to ribbons with the effort of a claw raking paper mache. Three, in particular, protested his vulnerable exposure. Two were releasing the loudest threatening challenge, and both were pale grey, though one was lean and lithe while the other was all brute strength and coiled muscle. A third looked particularly aggressive, the brown hairs along his spine standing on end and the eyes behind his dark grey mask narrowing in on Emmett. The wolf tensed, prepared to pounce in an instant.

"Hold!" Jacob ordered, effectively silencing his pack, though the three Bella noted didn't seem inclined to back down without a bit more saber-rattling.

Bella felt Jasper's gift working overtime, blankets of tranquility and lethargy spilling from him in a tidal wave to subdue the wolves. The large grey one bared its teeth, not taking kindly to the artificial chill pill he was getting dosed with.

She tensed herself, instinct screaming to defend her mate. There was nothing rational about it. Rationally, Bella knew the wolves were supposed to be working with them. The Cullens had come to help. Jake was her friend. But when that wolf aimed its slobbering teeth towards Jazz, all reason fled.

If it weren't for the calming hand he laid on her arm, Bella would have initiated the fight herself. So much for her vaunted newborn self control. Luckily, the firm pressure and rough calluses of Jazz's palm brought her back to herself before she'd broken the fragile peace existing between the groups for now.

"Seth spotted you all coming this way. I'd meant to meet with you when you arrived," Jacob said, explaining the show of force greeting the Cullens.

"We've come to investigate where the previous attacks have taken place. We're hoping to find some clues or leads that will help us track and stop Victoria," Carlisle stated, speaking for the Cullens as their patriarch and coven leader.

"I'm sorry. I know I asked you here to help, but I also must ask that you remain on your side of the border. We'll search this side and share anything we find," Jacob offered, looking supremely uncomfortable and sounding like…a real leader.

"He's right. Not all of the pack are thinking clearly right now. We're vampires – the enemy," Edward said bluntly.

Rosalie sneered disdainfully, resenting the fact she had to be there at all, and hissed, "Ungrateful –"

"They're taking Sam's death particularly hard. It was less than a week ago," Edward informed the group woodenly, speaking in the tone he reserved for sharing others' thoughts without adding personal embellishments or bias.

Jacob looked ready to get angry at Edward for speaking for his pack yet again, especially about such a personal and emotional topic, so Jazz interjected, saying, "The scents go in different directions."

"Emmett and Rosalie, you'll come with myself and Esme. We'll head north," Carlisle decided, splitting their group in half.

"Got it," Edward and Jasper said as one.

"Jordan, Levi, stay with me. Embry, you too," Jacob said, stepping back and shifting even as the last word echoed through the forest.

The two tiniest wolves moved towards Jacob at once, invading his space and rubbing against him as though seeking reassurance. If Collin had been young, these two were positively infants, Bella was certain. No wonder he wanted to keep a close watch on them.

It was also probably wise to keep the three angriest wolves away from Emmett. No good could come from allowing them to bait each other. By putting them in proximity to Jasper, he could use his gift to instill an artificial calm and peace between the groups.

Bella felt herself recoil in shame that she'd wanted to attack the wolves even for a millisecond, regardless of the reason why. She'd gotten so used to having control over the riot of emotions that accompanied being a newly turned vampire that they'd caught her off guard. Technically, she wasn't at the year mark yet, and she'd been warned that outbursts should be expected for months to years afterwards, depending on the person.

"Stay alert, darlin'," Jazz murmured, winking playfully at her. The simple act helped her shake off the unsettling thoughts as he must have known it would.

They set off at a brisk pace, pausing occasionally to try and sift through the chaos of interwoven scents. They were like treads all knotted up then doused in kerosene. A single spark was all it would take to destroy them entirely.

Bella eyed the wolves prowling on the other side of the creek. They were beautiful beasts with their rippling fur, all muscle and strength and grace, but clearly deadly, not unlike vampires. Idly, she wondered where their weak spots were. If it ever came to a fight, she'd need to know. Because it wasn't as though their truce was ironclad at the moment.

Three of their number broke off, disappearing into the distant trees, but all Edward said was, "They're checking something out."

It had been smart to split the groups this way. With Edward, they could communicate with this lot, while the other group had Jake, and as he'd already demonstrated, he was willing to shift if they needed to converse about anything.

She was so busy analyzing the wolves, she almost missed the fork in the scents. One headed towards town while the other continued following the creek.

"Alice and I will take the one leading into Forks. We'll both be more useful there," Edward suggested. He'd be able to scan more minds from a distance to see if any of the vamps were lurking about.

"Call if you find anything," Jazz requested, not arguing the idea. Bella sensed he didn't like splitting up, but considering there was no telling how old the scents were, it seemed redundant to have them all chasing the same lead when it might go nowhere.

"Stop worrying, Bella. Not even Jazz can beat me in a fight," Alice promised, tapping her head meaningfully. She was right. Without the wolves around, nothing could get the drop on her.

"She's right, darlin'," Jazz said frankly, confirming Alice's boast.

Bella was about to call him on the lie when she figured it might actually be the truth. With Alice's gift, she'd always see what was coming and be able to plan ahead. Even with all of his decades of experience, Jasper probably wasn't able to be entirely unpredictable. He was too methodical and deliberate, relying heavily on his strategic capabilities. All of which would forecast his moves to Alice.

The fears Bella had been harboring for her sister abruptly vanished. Alice would be fine. Better than fine once she moved away from the wolves and had the use of her gift again.

"Be careful of the grey one. He's looking for any excuse he can for a fight. He blames Bella for all of this," Edward warned, keeping his voice low. Judging from the angry growl, it still wasn't low enough.

"Me?" Bella asked, shocked.

"Sam was Paul's best friend, and Victoria is doing this to get to you," Edward said flatly, pinning Jasper with a look that spoke volumes.

Bella instinctively knew Edward was not deliberately trying to make her feel guilty, rather, he was merely offering a genuine warning, but she felt awful all the same. Mostly, because she did relate to the wolves' position and she could see Paul's point.

Jasper tensed, but quickly controlled his reaction and sent more of the soothing, peaceful feelings towards the wolves, forcing them to reduce their blatant hostility. "Understood."

"Jacob's order is the only thing keeping him on that side of the boundary," Edward added, then disappeared down a path after Alice's petite frame.

They'd continued maybe two miles when she appeared.

Victoria.

It was the vivid red hair that first alerted them. It stood out, even in the darkened forest. A blazing inferno in the very heart of a ruby. There were two others with her, a male and a female vampire, both young, approximately Bella's age when she'd become a vampire.

"They're here to kill us. It's just like I told you," Victoria said, her voice high and unnaturally girlish. It didn't fit the mature woman she'd been when turned. Nor did the false terror she infused her statement with.

But it certainly fooled her companions. Both bared their teeth and prepared to attack, leaning forward into a hunter's crouch. The minions would die for Victoria, and she'd use them as cannon fodder without batting an eye.

Snarls sounded, but the two wolves just danced back and forth along the riverbank, standing impatient sentry. An invisible barrier, the only thing holding them back. Jake's command as Edward had mentioned? Possibly. And probably for the best. Bella didn't trust they wouldn't attack her and Jazz as well once the other threat was neutralized.

Jazz wasted no time leaping forward to aim a kick at the midsection of the unknown male. He spun afterwards, dodging a blow the vamp tried to throw as he stumbled back. A second kick sent the vamp soaring into the air.

The ashy-brown wolf leapt, snagging the vamp's arm in midarm and slamming him to the ground on his side of the border. Then the grey wolf was on him as well.

"Victoria!" he cried, the sound of rocks grinding in an avalanche competing with his plea for help.

Not that help would have been coming regardless, because Jazz had Victoria well and truly occupied, the two exchanging blows just as the unknown female vampire faced off with Bella.

The girl was pretty, with a short blonde bob, but it did nothing to detract from the blood red eyes. They blazed with an almost demented fervor. She was built too. All compact muscle that hinted at being a gymnast or some other sort of serious athlete.

She ran at Bella.

Without thought, Bella dropped, sweeping out her leg to knock the girl's feet out from under her. The vamp rolled, growling as she flipped, springing back to her feet and snapping one out to catch Bella right in the face.

Yep. Definitely an athlete.

Bella rocked back, using her momentum to land in a squat that she sprung from, snagging the girl's arm and launching her over her head as she did. They both went down, trading blows and kicks, elbows and knees, as they rolled across the ground. She was strong. Much stronger than Bella. Spry too.

This fight was so different from when she usually trained with Jasper. She'd have been done in three seconds flat if she hadn't spent all those months learning. But with him, he'd never tried to harm her. Not really. Never more than to instruct. This girl was after Bella's head, and she was insane from thirst and whatever lies Victoria had filled her with.

The girl was a feral, wild animal as her fists flailed. Bella was able to dodge most of them, and even landed a few of her own, but she wasn't making much headway. At least she now possessed vampire grace, or the slippery rocks lining the bank of the creek in combination with the thick, quicksand-like mud would have been her downfall.

More sounds of stone crunching alerted her to a vamp being torn apart, and distracted, Bella turned her head, needing to ensure it wasn't her Jazz.

Arms locked around her torso, pinning her arms and squeezing brutally. Then teeth caught her shoulder. Bella whimpered and gasped at the unexpected pain. It was the second coming of the fires that scorched her during her transition. No warning could have prepared her for the debilitating agony.

An instant later, less than an eighth of a second, the girl was gone, ripped away as Jazz appeared. Bella, stunned from the searing torture of becoming blackened brisket, sank to her knees, searching the area for Victoria. Had Jazz already killed her? Was that the sound that had alerted –

A hand tangled in Bella's hair, yanking her head back far enough that ominous groaning sounded, and fresh pain radiated from her neck. A circlet of barbed wire forming a rapidly tightening noose. Bella's hands and feet scrambled, trying to find purchase on the ground or Victoria's arms, but she couldn't in her current position.

Relenting, she stopped resisting lest Victoria rip her head clean off. The redhead stopped dragging Bella after only a few steps, and Bella searched for Jasper. He had the girl who'd bitten Bella by the neck, his teeth tearing through the tendons as he went about destroying her.

Then Bella noticed the wolves. One on each side of where Victoria held her, their tails swishing idly. This was the plan. Victoria must have heard them talking earlier. She knew the wolves blamed Bella. She was trying to get them to kill her. If they did, it would start a war between the Cullens and the pack.

Mutually assured destruction. Leaving Victoria to triumph and revel in the aftermath of her vengeance once all her enemies were dead and gone.

"Victoria!" Edward yelled, racing forward into view.

Bella felt the hold on her loosen at the sudden arrival of Edward. She jerked free just as the wolves lunged. She ducked, rolling across the ground and through the shallow creek that marked the border.

Jazz was right there, helping her up, and Bella saw pieces of the vamp he'd been fighting scattered just behind him. A chunk of her hand was closest. The rest of her arm here. Most of her head there.

She was actually relieved he'd been too busy when Victoria had her, because it wouldn't have gone well if he'd crossed the border as well.

Edward had joined them, standing a little ways off from where Jazz still had his arms wrapped securely around Bella, his hand pressing tightly against the bite mark she'd sustained. The pressure actually helped relieve some of the lingering pain.

Frantically, Bella looked for Victoria. The clever bitch had climbed a tree on the wolves' side. The two beasts were jumping and clawing at the base, but she was far out of reach. And in this form, there was little they could do beyond sounding ferocious and expelling their energy attacking nothing.

Victoria looked ready to dispense the wolves, but was trying to be strategic about it, turning around the trunk then leaping from the top of one to another to split them up. If she landed on one of their backs, she could snap their neck before they had a chance.

"If you want your revenge, you'll have to come after me directly. Bella and I aren't even together anymore," Edward taunted, capturing Victoria's attention.

She shook with pent up rage, her curls vibrating as though they were Medusa's snakes, writhing about her head with a mind of their own. Such was her fury that the entire tree began to tremble violently.

"That's right, Victoria. This is all for nothing. You've failed James," Edward continued, blatantly smirking as he riled her up further.

"You're lying," she accused, spittle flying from her as she hurled the words like javelins, their aim falling sort of the intended destination.

"I'm not," Edward said honestly, spreading his arms wide, making himself an open target as he lured her forward.

Jazz hovered before Bella, inching them back to make Edward appear even more vulnerable and defenseless. She felt him filling the clearing with an irresistible thirst for vengeance. He wanted this over now as well. He wanted Victoria to be too mindless to consider the fact that she was outnumbered with her pawns dead. He wanted her to feel overconfident before she struck. To tempt her into the fight. Then he'd rip that arrogance away in a blink.

Victoria tensed, preparing to lunge, but froze as she took in all three waiting for her. Jasper hissed, "She's fighting it. Must be her gift."

What had Laurent warned them of? Victoria's gift was an uncanny ability to survive. It must be helping her now, in spite of the waves of compliance Jazz was now attempting to sway her with.

The wolves continued their pointless circling and marking up the base of the trunk. All of the vampires gathered ignored their yips and growls.

Victoria's head jerked several times, trying to physically dispel Jasper's gift. A scream of unbridled fury erupted from her throat with the destructive force of a volcano.

"We've lost her," Edward hissed, darting forward just as Victoria began to flee.

All five began to pursue her, though Victoria was very careful to stay across the border as she leapt from tree to tree. It was infuriating to be so close and yet unable to do anything about it. But crossing the border wasn't a mistake Bella would dare do again. Once had been a close enough call for her.

"Come here, Victoria. It's time to end this," Edward goaded, a last feeble attempt. "You'll never get as –"

Everything stopped. Jazz's influence was a shadow abruptly illuminated, there and gone in the same instant. Because he had screeched to a stop and was staring at Edward where he'd stopped. Stopped running. Stopped speaking.

"Alice!" Edward shouted suddenly, horror twisting his face into a grotesque mask. He paused only the smallest fraction of a second before taking off.

Except he wasn't headed towards town, but back towards where they'd first separated. Alice must have doubled back after Edward caught Victoria's thoughts and came to help them.

Jazz and Bella exchanged a look, but neither really needed to in order to know what the other was thinking – it was Alice, after all.

Every fear she'd had recently came surging to the forefront of her mind. Was Alice lost to them? Was that what her sister's inability to see the future had been trying to warn them about? Was this outcome always unavoidable?

"Burn the pieces!" Jasper ordered over his shoulder, assuming the wolves would at least do that much to the two vamps their group had ripped apart.

Besides, Victoria had already taken advantage of their distraction to race off. They'd never catch up with her now. And trying wasn't more important than getting to Alice. Nothing was more important right then.