Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Edward's POV
I closed my eyes in an attempt to block out the mutt's impure thoughts about my beautiful Bella. My fists shook at the mental images he was creating, defining her in his mind.
I had no idea her nightmares were so bad. Maybe there is something more we can do about the Volturi. Perhaps Sam has some ideas.
I ran my fingers through my hair at Carlisle's thoughts.
Bella's scream had worried everyone in the house. Despite the fact that Bella was now bonded to those vile creatures, everyone still considered her a part of our family. Unfortunately, Alice's vision had changed and Bella would no longer become my mate in the future. In fact, Bella's entire future was erased from Alice's visions.
"Edward?"
I looked up at the door to see Alice.
Are you alright?
"Fine, Alice. Is there something you needed?" I asked tiredly.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go hunting." And get away from his thoughts.
I sighed, looking at the floor beneath my feet. Despite the fact that I loathed listening to the mutt's thoughts of my perfect Bella, it was the only way I'd be able to see her in that light. She didn't look at him with reserved eyes. She didn't give him tentative smiles. Regardless of the fact that she had forgiven me, she still didn't fully trust me.
"Edward?" Alice called.
"Sorry, Alice. I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline," I murmured, refusing to meet her eyes.
"Alright. Well, if you change your mind, Jazz and I are always willing to go with you," Alice assured me.
I nodded to show her I'd heard and understood.
As her footsteps disappeared down the hallway, I leaned back against my couch, staring at the ceiling. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the dreams of Jacob Black.
Jake's POV
I had decided there was nothing worse than sleeping in a house full of vampires. Not only were they huge cock-blockers, they reeked. Their smell was constantly seeping into my dreams, making it impossible to get a decent amount of sleep.
The only bright spot of my night was the girl sleeping curled up against my chest.
I smiled down at her as she snuggled further under the blankets. A strand of hair fell into her face as she moved and I reached down to brush it away. She sighed softly, turning into my hand. I leaned over to place a kiss on her cheekbone.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," I whispered, brushing my lips against her ear.
"Mmm. Five more minutes," Bella moaned, burrowing into my chest.
"I think I've given you enough time to sleep. You belong to me today and I intend to collect my payment," I warned her.
She stretched and yawned, blinking up at me after. She fluffed her hair as she sat up, sleepily looking around the room.
"Payment?" Bella mumbled.
"Yes, payment. You promised me you would take care of a certain problem that has been begging for your attention all week," I reminded her.
She frowned, giving me a sleepy look.
"It's too early. Could you not be so cryptic?" Bella pouted.
I reached over for her hand and brought it to my straining erection. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as her fingers wrapped around me. I bit back a groan as I leaned forward to nibble on her ear.
"Clear enough for you?" I asked, licking to outer shell of her ear.
She swallowed and nodded quickly. I smirked, moving my lips down her neck.
"N-not here, Jake," Bella stuttered.
"Then you better get your butt out of this bed and into mine in La Push. I'm not going all day without having you," I growled, squeezing her hip.
In the blink of an eye, Bella rolled away from me and onto her feet. I smiled as she went about getting her things together to change. I relaxed onto the bed as she hurried into the joining bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
I was jolted out of my contentment by the little pixie vampire running through the house.
"FAMILY MEETING!" Alice screamed as she ran by the door.
Bella threw the door to the bathroom open, her eyes wide as she looked at me.
"Don't look at me," I shrugged, getting off the bed.
"She must've had a vision. Come on, we need to go see what it was," Bella insisted, throwing her hair up into a pony tail.
I held out my hand as we walked towards the door. I couldn't hold back my smug grin when her hand slid into mine without her even looking. She led me out of the room and downstairs to the living room with the rest of the Cullens.
Alice was pacing back and forth across the room, her mate watching her with concern. Everyone else was waiting patiently for the news.
I sat down on the last armchair and settled Bella in my lap. Immediately, she snuggled her back against my chest and brought my arms around her waist. I buried my face into her hair, breathing deeply of her strawberry scent.
"What happened, Alice?" Carlisle asked, bringing everyone's attention to the matter at hand.
"They're coming. Now," Alice answered, playing with her fingers.
Bella tensed in my lap. I tightened my arms around her slighting and placed a reassuring kiss against her neck. Her nails dug into my arm as we waited for Alice to elaborate.
"Who's coming?" Emmett asked.
"The Volturi. They're leaving tonight. My guess would be that they'll arrive within the next two days. We need to contact everyone and get them back here, now. The best place to be would be the baseball field. It's far enough away from civilization that we won't run the risk of any humans stumbling upon us," Alice rattled off.
"From my dreams, they show up about mid-day," Bella supplied.
"What do we need to do?" I asked, pulling Bella closer.
"Round up the wolves. Have them set up camp near the field," Jasper ordered.
"What about the other vampires?" I asked.
"We had them leave for the weekend on an extended hunting trip. They should be back tomorrow morning. We'll brief them as soon as they arrive," Carlisle answered.
"What time should be get to the field?" Bella asked softly.
"I would say take today to get things together. Take some time to ensure everything is taken care of. We don't know how this battle will turn out. Everyone needs to be prepared in the event that some of us don't make it," Carlisle frowned.
Everything within me rebelled at the thought of losing my Bella. She squeaked when my grip tightened even more.
"Sorry," I mumbled, easing my hold.
I buried my face into her neck as she ran her fingers through my hair. I breathed deeply, gathering my thoughts and emotions.
"I'll alert Sam. I'm sure he'll be in touch with you later today," I said, standing up with Bella.
"Of course," Carlisle nodded.
I took hold of Bella's hand, only sparing a slight nod for the vampires in the room before tugging her out of the house. She kept quiet as I led her down to the front lawn. I quickly stripped out of my shorts and phased. Without a word, she climbed onto my back and I took off for La Push.
Anger and fear were coursing through my veins as I pushed my body as fast as it could go. I was angry at the fact that my day with Bella had been ruined and absolutely terrified that this could be my last day with her.
"Stop it, Jake. Everything is going to be fine," Bella scolded softly as we came up to my house.
I whined in response as she slid down to the ground. I phased, yanking on my shorts as soon as I was fully human.
"I can't help but worry about you, Bells. You're my imprint. Everything inside of me is screaming at me to protect you, but I can't do that. I know you have to fight in this battle, but it's slowly killing me on the inside," I told her.
She walked forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, snuggling into my chest. I held her close to my, breathing in her soothing scent.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, Jake. If anything, I should be the one worried," Bella laughed humorlessly.
"That's ridiculous, Bella. We're werewolves. We were made for this," I scoffed.
"Yeah, but in all my dreams, I've never been hurt. The battle never touched me. What if that means something," Bella persevered.
"Let's not think about that just yet. Right now, the only thing I want to think about is you and how much I love you," I insisted, leaning down to nip at my mark.
I grinned as she moan, rolling her head to the side to allow me more access. Using little nips, I worked my way to her lips. She parted them for me easily. I swept inside, battling with her tongue. I could still taste her toothpaste from earlier.
"Jake," Bella gasped, pulling away.
"Mmm?" I hummed, moving back down to suck on her neck, leaving a mark.
"Don't you think we should take this inside?" Bella asked softly.
Immediately, I swept her up in my arms and ran with her to my bedroom. Not pausing, I fell onto the bed, pinning her beneath me. I grinned at her squeal before cutting it off with a kiss. I broke away just long enough to remove her shirt and bra. As soon as she was topless, I leaned down to suck one nipple into my mouth. Her hands flew to my hair to hold me in place. I raked my teeth across the small bud in the center.
"Mmm. Jake," Bella moan, pulling my hair.
I growled in response, sucking harder. She cried out beneath me, arching her back. Eagerly, my hands flew to the button of her jeans, popping it easily. I sat back on my heels and yanked her jeans off. Another growl erupted when I noticed she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
"Damn, Bella. You're so beautiful," I groaned, moving back up her body.
"You, Mr. Black, have too many clothes on," Bella smirked.
I grinned as she made quick work of my shorts. I kicked them off after she pushed them down. Finally, we were skin on skin.
I leaned down, placing kisses up and down her neck and shoulders. One of her hands moved to my chest. Slowly, her fingers danced down to wrap around my erection. My hips pushed down against her as she moved her hand, squeezing.
"Shit," I gasped, struggling not to lose control.
"Such language," Bella mock scolded.
My entire body was trembling as she worked my cock. She leaned up and licked my neck from shoulder to jaw. I swallowed with difficulty and tried to think of anything other than my sexy, beautiful, talented girlfriend lying beneath me. Bella didn't give me a choice as she moved beneath me. Her hips moved against mine, imitating sex as she continued to pump me.
"Bells, stop! I can't… I'm gonna… Oh, God, Bella," I grunted, moving against her.
"Condom," Bella panted.
Blindly, I reached over to my night stand and opened the drawer. I pulled one out and handed it to her. She gave me a curious look.
"Open it," I growled.
I was quickly losing control and knew it. I needed to be inside her.
She ripped the package open. I grabbed the condom out of her hand and rolled it over my length.
"This is not going to be gentle, honey. I can't do gentle right now," I informed her roughly.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down for a kiss. With a feral growl, I crashed my lips against hers at the same time I slammed home inside her. Her scream masked the contented growl I made as her tight heat surrounded me.
I knew I needed to wait and give her some time to adjust, but my inner wolf had been brought out and he wanted to claim his mate.
"I'm... sorry…" I ground out as I began pounding into her.
"Oh, God," Bella gasped, arching to meet my thrusts.
I growled in response, speeding up. She was making the sexiest noises I'd ever heard as I brought her to her first climax. I pulled out while she was still shuddering and flipped her over, onto her stomach.
"On your knees," I ordered, lifting her.
She rose on unsteady hands and knees. Her head was hanging as she tried to catch her breath. I teased her entrance with the head of my cock, lubricating myself with her sweet juices.
"Jake, please," Bella whimpered, pushing her hips against me.
With a groan, I shoved inside her again. She screamed, throwing her head back. I reached out and grabbed hold of her hair, pulling her until her back was against my chest, continuing to pound into her.
"Touch yourself," I snarled.
Hesitantly, she lowered her hand down her stomach. I jerked on her hair when she paused. She cried out and slipped her hand to her clit. I watched over her shoulder as she rubbed herself while I fucked her.
"That's right. Mmm, you are so fucking sexy," I groaned, licking at her skin.
"Jake. Oh, God, Jake. Please, please, please," Bella cried.
"What do you want?" I asked, running my tongue over my mark.
"Please. God, bite me," Bella gasped.
Before the last word had left her lips, I sank my teeth into her shoulder, giving her another one of my marks. She screamed again and clenched around my dick. With a roar, I allowed my own release.
Severely shaken, I collapsed on top of Bella, pressing her into the mattress. We were both panting, trying to catch our breath. After a few moments, I managed enough energy to pull out and off of her. She rolled to face me and pressed her front against my side. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"You marked me again," Bella whispered when she finally caught her breath.
"Yeah," I grinned.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"Because my wolf was in the forefront. He demanded it, really," Jake shrugged.
"Hmm. I think I like it when your wolf comes out," Bella smirked, placing kisses across my chest.
"Oh, really, now?" I asked, rolling to pin her to the mattress.
She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. Just as I was about to kiss her and, hopefully, start round two, the phone rang in the kitchen. I groaned and buried my face into her chest. She ran her fingers through my hair.
"We better get that. It could be important," Bella murmured.
With a defeated sigh, I climbed off the bed and picked up my shorts. Pulling them off, I walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone.
"What?" I snapped.
"I need you and Bella to get over here. We have two new wolves and we need to make some decisions about tomorrow," Sam answered briskly.
"Damn it! Who?" I shouted.
"Brady and Collin. They've been showing signs for a few days now. Get Bella and get over here," Sam ordered.
"We'll be right there," I sighed before hanging up the phone.
"Who was that?" Bella asked.
I turned to see her fully dressed, pulling her hair up into a ponytail. I briefly mourned the loss of her nakedness.
"Sam. We have two new wolves and he wanted to go over plans for tomorrow," I told her.
She frowned as she walked towards me. I instantly wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against my chest. I placed a kiss on top of her head.
"Who are the new wolves?" Bella whispered.
"Brady and Collin. Sam must have them at his place. We need to go over there," I sighed, nuzzling her hair.
"Let's go, then," Bella urged, breaking away from my hold and leading me out the door.
Bella's POV
Jake and I walked into Sam and Emily's house to find the entire pack in an uproar. Jake instantly moved to stand in front of me protectively. I would've laughed if the pack's energy hadn't been so frantic.
"Where's Sam?" Jake barked above the others.
Instantly, everyone turned to look at us.
"He's out back with the two new ones," Paul frowned, crossing his arms.
"Everyone needs to sit down and stay calm. Until I come back with Sam, Brady, and Collin, none of you are to move," I commanded, moving to go out back.
"Bella," Jake warned.
"Not now, Jake. I understand where you're coming from, but it's going to be bad enough with Sam. We don't need two dominant wolves out there," I sighed, giving him an apologetic look over my shoulder.
I gave Emily a quick wave as I passed the kitchen. As soon as I stepped outside, I could hear the growls and whimpers coming from the forest. I hurried my steps until I came to the edge of the forest.
Sam? Are they okay? I asked as I slowly walked into the trees.
They're a little stressed, but they're calming down. Think you could help out a little? Sam sighed.
Sure thing, I grinned.
I pushed past Sam's mind and connected with the other two wolves in the woods. Brady and Collin were guarding each other's backs against Sam. I felt tears come to my eyes as I realized they thought Sam was a threat.
Collin? Brady? It's going to be okay. He won't hurt you, I soothed.
Who are you? What's going on? What happened? Brady freaked.
I'll answer all your questions. It's going to be okay, I promise. My name is Bella Swan. I'm Jacob Black's girlfriend. You both know Jacob, right? I smiled.
Yeah, Brady answered.
I smiled wider when I realized he was stepping into the protective role, trying to protect his brother.
And you know Sam Uley, right? I continued.
Yeah, Brady repeated.
Well, Sam is the big black wolf in front of you. You both know the legends of the Quileutes. They're true. Sam is the Alpha of the pack and I am the Omega. We're going to help you both calm down enough to phase back to human, I explained.
Gradually, between Sam and I, we got them to phase back. They were shivering together in a clearing when I finally found them. Sam was standing over them, frowning. Neither one of the younger boys were responding to him.
"Sam? Why don't you go get the boys some clothes," I suggested, moving into the clearing slowly.
He huffed, but nodded once. I turned my attention to the newest pups of the pack. They were looking anywhere but me. I smiled when I realized they were embarrassed to be naked in front of me.
"So, which one of you is Collin and which one is Brady?" I asked, looking only at their faces.
"I'm Brady," Brady answered first.
"Then, you're Collin," I smiled at the other boy.
They looked so similar, they could've been twins. The only way I could find to tell them apart was the Collin was just a tad bit slimmer than Brady.
"As soon as Sam comes back with shorts for you boys, we'll go back to his place and fill you in on what it means to be a wolf in the pack," I told them.
"Erm, can I ask you a question?" Collin asked.
"Of course," I agreed easily.
"What exactly is an Omega? I get Alpha cause they're in real wolf packs, but I've never heard of an Omega," Collin asked the ground.
I grinned and let out a little laugh.
"That is a very good question. One that would be better answered by the pack. Billy Black, Harry Clearwater, and Quil Ateara Sr. had to explain it all to the pack. I'm sure Sam is getting one or all of them to come talk to you two. Between them, Sam, and myself, I'm sure you'll be completely informed before tonight is over," I assured them.
Before they could ask me another question, Sam came into the clearing, holding two pairs of shorts. He tossed them to Brady and Collin while I turned around to give the boy some privacy.
"Jake was getting nervous," Sam murmured.
"He has got to learn to relax," I frowned.
"It's two new wolves. I don't blame him. I'd be nervous if it was Emily," Sam shrugged.
"Yeah, but Emily is not the pack's Omega," I reminded him.
Sam grinned and shook his head.
"Alright, you two, try not to phase. You have to stay calm in order for that to happen. Let Bella know if you start to lose control and she'll help calm you down," Sam instructed.
I glanced over my shoulder to see the two of them nod.
"Let's get back to the house. We have a lot to go over before tomorrow," Sam sighed, rubbing his face roughly.
"Don't worry, boys. The rest of the pack will be very accepting of you. You'll be surrounded by brothers and a sister. Emily, Sam's girlfriend, is like the pack mother," I informed them.
"What are you, then?" Brady asked.
"You can think of me as your bestest friend in the whole wide world. I make everything better," I giggled, spreading out my arms.
Sam snorted beside me, clearly giving his opinion. I hip bumped him in retaliation.
"No one asked you," I glared.
Sam just grinned, shaking his head at me.
We came in sight of the house and I smiled as I ran up the back steps. I didn't stop until I was in the living room and crashing into Jake's lap on the couch.
"Omph!"
"I missed you," I grinned, kissing him.
Jake smiled and laughed as I peppered his face with quick kisses.
"I missed you, too, Bells. Now, can you spare what's left of my face?" Jake chuckled.
I laughed as I pulled away, settling down in my seat beside him. His arm went around my shoulders as Sam brought in Brady and Collin. The two looked around the room nervously.
"You two can come sit over here," I encouraged, motioning to the space in front of me.
Neither one hesitated before they moved to sit at my feet. Collin leaned against my leg while Brady sat up straight, watching the room. Sam took his usual sit and prepared to get down to business.
I patted Collin's shoulder before leaning into Jake. He tightened his hold on me, placing a kiss against my head. I briefly closed my eyes, enjoying having him close, before focusing on Sam.
Sam went over all the information for Collin and Brady. He laid out what was expected of them as part of the pack. He explained about the Cullens and other vampires. After all the basics had been covered, he went into details about the battle tomorrow. Brady and Collin both bristled when Sam told them the Volturi were after me. I had to reassure them repetitively and use my Omega influence to calm them down.
"Now that you're both caught up, we need to discuss how tomorrow is going to go. According to Bella, the Volturi will be arriving about mid-day. We need to be in the field tomorrow morning. We meet here at dawn. We'll go as a pack to scout the area. Bella will remain with Leah in the clearing. The Cullen's will arrive with their friends shortly after dawn. We'll discuss tactics with them there," Sam instructed.
I smiled at Leah when Sam assigned her as my protector. She grinned and gave me a wink. I knew Sam had a practical reason for doing it, but I was just happy to have Leah back with me. Not that I didn't like having Seth as my protector. It was just that Leah and I had a connection I didn't have with any of the guys.
"Tonight, I want Paul, Embry, Collin, and Brady to patrol with me. We're going to have to give Collin and Brady the crash course. The rest of you, try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be difficult," Sam sighed.
Emily took that moment to pop her head into the living room. When she saw we were done, she came out, smiling.
"I just put lunch on the table if anyone's hungry," Emily offered.
Of course, there was a mad dash to the table. I smiled when I saw Paul grab Collin and Brady off the floor, pulling them with him to lunch. Jake kissed my neck before going to fix himself a plate.
Emily came over to sit next to me.
"Bella, I have a favor to ask you," Emily said softly.
"Sure, Em. What is it?" I asked.
"Well, tomorrow, when you go to this big battle thing, will you please make sure Sam doesn't do anything stupid? It's bad enough when he and the pack go against just a few vampires. Now, they're going up against an entire coven. I'm worried he's going to try to protect everyone else and not focus on protecting himself," Emily admitted.
"Oh, Emily. Sam would never do anything to put himself in harms way. He knows what it would do to you. But, I promise, I'll keep an extra eye out for him. I plan on making sure all our pups come home safely," I assured her.
"Thank you," Emily sniffed, giving me a watery smile.
"Don't worry, Em. Everything is going to be fine."
"Ugh! It's not right to be up before the sun," I grumbled as Jake led me to meet the pack.
"I know, honey, but just think. Tomorrow, you can sleep in as late as you want," Jake encouraged.
"Mmm. That sounds lovely," I hummed, leaning against him arm.
Jake chuckled, leaning over to kiss the top of my head. I snuggled further into his warmth, yawning slightly.
When we came up to Sam's house, the rest of the pack was standing around waiting for us. I was reminded of the time we'd met to go meet the Cullens. It was surprising, but everyone seemed much calmer this morning than they had that night. Maybe it was the added help.
"Alright, pack, into the woods. Jacob, bring Bella. Once we get there, I'll hand out assignments," Sam ordered.
Jake led me into a section of woods away from the rest of the pack. He undressed and phased quickly before allowing me to climb onto his back. He gave a quick huff before trotting off to catch up with the pack.
As we moved through the trees, I relaxed against his back. The gentle sway lulled me into a half-dream state. I didn't worry about falling. My Jake would never let me get hurt.
We arrived in the clearing just as the sun was coming up. I dismounted and pushed into the pack mind with a yawn.
Jacob, Embry. Take the south side. Jared, Seth. Take the west. Paul, Brady, Collin. Take the north. Seth and I will check the east. Leah and Bella will stay here and await the Cullens and their guests. Move out, Sam commanded.
Jake came up to me and brushed against my side before taking off after Embry. Leah shifted her paws as the guys combed the forest. I was too tired to stay standing and sat, leaning against her left front leg. She lightly bumped the back of my head with her muzzle, a silent encouragement to relax. I blinked tiredly, yawning again.
I drifted into the half-awake/half-asleep place where I could hear what was going on around me, but was too tired to actually respond. I heard Leah growl softly and in the next instant, heard Carlisle's voice.
"Calm down, Leah. We won't wake her. I understand she must be very exhausted dealing with all of this."
Leah huffed in response.
"Would you call Sam and the others back? My son, Jasper, would like to discuss strategy with the pack," Carlisle asked.
I felt Leah shift slightly and figured she had either nodded or shaken her head. I sighed, snuggling further into her fur.
A moment later, I felt a pull on my shirt. I squinted open my eyes to see Jake pulling me away from Leah and against him. He was lying down in the grass and he curved his body around mine as soon as I laid down beside him. I fisted a hand in his fur, pulling myself closer to his heat. He gave a contented growl, placing his head on top of mine.
I felt the shift in the air as a few of the wolves phased back.
"How would you like to go about this, Carlisle?" Sam asked.
"Jasper, actually, is in charge of this part, Sam. He has more experience in this field," Carlisle admitted.
"We know the Volturi will be coming to this field around mid-day today. The best thing for us to do is create a formation with Bella in the center. Obviously, we would place how ever many wolves you deem necessary by her. Remember, though, that we are all here to protect her. If your wolves will be more useful elsewhere, I'd prefer they not stay by Bella," Jasper started.
Jake growled softly beside me. I shushed him gently, petting his ribcage. He settled down again, nuzzling my neck. I giggled softly, lifting my shoulder in an attempt to block his cold, wet nose.
"Jake? Is she awake?" Sam asked.
Jake shifted beneath me and I groaned, knowing my cover was blown. I stretched some, working out my stiff muscles before sitting up. I glanced around and saw that Sam, Jasper, and Carlisle were all squatting around a piece of paper on the ground. Knowing I'd need to be aware of what was going to happen, I crawled over to where they were and looked down.
"This is the layout we had planned for today. Is there anything you think needs to be changed?" Sam asked.
I frowned down at the piece of paper, struggling to remember my dreams.
"In my dreams, there weren't so many wolves around me. They were more around the perimeter. Actually, I didn't really have anyone close to me. And I wasn't in the center of the group. I was more to the front, behind the first line," I informed them.
I heard the human Jake growl and knew he disapproved of this plan. I glanced over my shoulder to see him right behind me, frowning at the paper.
I turned my attention back to the other three men.
"I need to be able to see the other Omega. I have a feeling he is going to be very important in what goes on today," I continued.
"Fine. We'll put you here, behind Sam and Jacob," Jasper pointed.
I felt Jake relax behind me and smiled slightly. He was so predictable.
"Alright. Now that that is decided, we need to discuss how today is going to go. Most often, the three brothers like to put on a show. Now, we've already discussed the talents of each of the vampires. I trust you to remember them. Bella's shield will protect us from most of them, but some of the Volturi are no ability other than strength. Bella's shield won't protect us from them. Hopefully, we'll be able to come to a peaceful understanding and not have to worry about actually fighting the Volturi, but from Bella's dreams, I have little hope of that actually happening. There will be a fight today and people will die. I only hope that we are able to make more of a dent in their numbers than they are in ours," Carlisle sighed.
I bit my lip and stood up, turning away from the circle. Jake stood as well and wrapped arm around my shoulder.
"Why don't you go see Alice? I'm sure she's anxious to speak with you," Jake breathed against my ear.
I shivered slightly, but nodded, knowing I needed the distraction. Alice smiled warmly at me as I walked towards her, Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward. I returned her smile, leaning forward to hug her.
"Hey, Alice," I greeted.
"Bella! Why are you so glum?" Alice asked, her brows puckered.
"Why not? I've seen what's going to happen today. It's hopeless. No one is going to survive," I sniffled, tears coming to my eyes.
"Stop it! Stop it, right now, Isabella Marie Swan! You know damn well that visions don't always come true! A split decision could change the entire outcome of this battle! Don't you dare condemn it before it's even begun!" Alice scolded harshly.
The tears fell in earnest as I looked at her. I nodded slightly before throwing myself into her arms.
"I'm terrified, Alice. I don't want my dreams to come true," I mumbled into her shoulder.
She ran her fingers through my hair, murmuring softly to me as I struggled to gain control. Eventually, I pulled away, feeling calmer and more in control of my emotions. Alice searched my eyes briefly before nodding, satisfied.
"Hey, there, little sis. No need to cry! Your big bro will make sure nothing happens to his little sis," Emmett assured me.
I chuckled darkly as I hugged him as well.
"It's not me I'm worried about, silly. It's everyone else. I never even got hurt in my dreams," I pointed out.
"Because I was there to save you!" Emmett grinned.
That actually got me to really laugh and I could tell Emmett was pleased. I gave him another hug, squeezing as tight as I could, to let him know how grateful I was.
"Everything will be fine, Bella. Isn't that what you always tell Jacob? You should have more faith in your own words," Edward said, shaking his head at me.
"It's easier to believe when I know it for a fact," I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
I glanced across the field to where the pack was located. A few of them were watching me, making sure nothing happened while I was with the vampires. I smiled slightly, feeling the love we all shared for one another surrounding me.
I looked beyond them to where I knew the Volturi would be coming and shuddered. In just a few hours, we would be facing off with the most powerful coven in the vampire world. To say the thought was daunting was a gross understatement.
There was a sudden breeze that seemed to fill the field. I turned to look at Benjamin to see if he was practicing his power, but he was in deep conversation with Amun, their two women standing silently beside them.
Frowning, I glanced around the clearing. The breeze didn't feel normal and that worried me.
"Looking for something, Bella?" Alice asked lightly.
I didn't answer, turning to face the direction the breeze was blowing from. I felt my eyes widen when I saw the Volturi's Omega standing just inside the tree line. His eyes were focused on me and I suddenly knew he was controlling the breeze that was lightly lifting my hair.
As soon as our eyes connected, I felt him inside my mind and I became unaware of what was happening around me.
You have not prepared like I told you, he frowned.
I don't know what else we could've done. They're all as ready as they'll ever be for this fight. There was nothing more to teach them, I argued.
I was not speaking of your pack and the covens who are here to assist you. I was speaking of you. You are not ready for this confrontation, he clarified.
What else could I have done? I asked.
You are still sent in the mentality of the rest of them. You are a Hetep warrior. Our people are above such displays of violence, he reprimanded.
I'm a what warrior? By the way, warrior implies violence, I disputed.
Not by our people. A Hetep warrior was the highest honor in ancient Egypt, where our people originated. We were held in higher regards than even the kings of our country. As time went by, people began seeking out Hetep warriors to aid them in battle. They failed to realize the secret behind the name. Hetep is "peace" in our mother language. We are warriors of the peace. What you have failed to learn is that you are not a fighter. Your place in this battle will not be as a soldier, but as an eirene aggelou, or peace bringer, as the vampires call us, he explained.
I was stunned into silence, not knowing what to say. All this time, I had been wrong, wasting my energy on learning to fight when it wasn't needed.
You have the same spirit of my sister, Omega. She and I were separated many centuries ago. I was forced to witness her execution when the Volturi found her helping the Romans. I do not wish to see your family destroyed in the same manner. You must find the Hetep warrior within yourself if you hope to save them, he insisted.
How? I asked quietly.
I cannot answer that question for you. Only you can. I must go. Your family is getting frantic in their worry. I pray that you find your inner warrior, he claimed.
Wait! What is your name? I asked quickly.
I have not been called by my name for centuries. To the Volturi, I am simply the Peace Bringer. However, before I came into their hands, I was called Sethirkopshef. In the language of our people, it means "set is his strength". Now, good luck, Omega.
I blinked and found myself suddenly staring at the cloudy sky with Carlisle bent over me, my head in Jake's lap. Both had looks of relief on their faces when I opened my eyes.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to sit up.
"Not yet, Bella. You fainted. Just, take it slow," Carlisle insisted.
Jake wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me against him, restraining my movements.
"I didn't faint! I was talking to Sethirkopshef," I frowned.
"I'm sure you were, Bella. Just stay down for a minute. Tell me, do you feel light headed?" Carlisle asked.
"No. I'm fine, Carlisle. Really. Let me up," I persisted.
Jake released me, but kept his hands on my arms as I eagerly sat up and scanned the woods around us, looking for Sethirkopshef. Man, what a mouthful! The woods were empty, which wasn't a surprise.
"Bella? Bella? Come on, honey, look at me."
I turned and saw Jake kneeling beside me, his expression concerned. I reached up and touched his face, easing his frown.
"What happened?" Jake asked.
"I don't know. One minute, I was talking to Alice, the next, I'm talking to the Volturi's Omega. He was in the woods right over there," I pointed in the direction.
Jake looked over at Sam, who nodded. He, Embry, and Quil went off in that direction.
"NO! Don't hurt him! He helped me," I pleaded.
"Bells, you were unconscious. Not even Leah smacking you woke you up," Jake frowned.
I touched my cheek gently, feeling the left over sting. Jake's expression darkened.
"You have to stop fainting, Bella. I can't stand her hitting you constantly," Jake growled.
"Sorry. I'll get right on that," I assured him sarcastically.
He continued to frown at me as he stood up, reaching out a hand to assist me. I brushed myself off before turning to address the rest of our group.
"Sethirkopshef told me I can't fight in this battle. I have to find a way to reach my inner Hetep warrior," I told them.
"What exactly happened, Bella?" Sam asked, crossing his arms.
I explained to them, as best I could, about what Sethirkopshef had told me. I explained about the Hetep people, how the warriors were viewed as higher than kings, and the way the warriors were sought after for their skills in battle. When I explained about the Hetep warrior bringing peace to the battle field, it finally clicked for them.
"Bella, if you are able to connect to your inner warrior, you could stop the battle from happening," Alice cried happily.
"I know. The only problem is, I'm not sure how to connect with it," I murmured, biting my lip.
"Did Sethirkopshef give you any hints?" Esme asked.
"He just said that I would find the answer within myself. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this," I huffed.
Jake wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest.
"I think I can help you with that, Bells. When we transform into wolves for the first time, we go through a similar process. We have to find the wolf inside ourselves and create a balance with them. The wolf gives us control most of the time, but there are instances when the wolf comes to the forefront," Jake informed me.
I turned my head to look up at him. His face was drawn in concern, but he seemed determined to help me through with this. I nodded and grabbed hold of one of his hands.
"Show me," I whispered.
Jake's jaw tightened as he led me away from the crowd. He took me to the center of the field and sat down, pulling me with him. I was positioned directly in front of him.
"In order to locate your inner warrior, you need to lose conscious thought of what is going on around you. Close your mind off to everything around you and focus on the beating of your heart," Jake instructed.
I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. I could feel my heartbeat throughout my body, slowly pulsating.
"Good. Now, the power of your heart beating is the power behind your soul. You need to open that part of yourself. Focus on controlling your heart beat. You dictate when it beats faster and when it slows," Jake continued.
I did as he said, concentrating on my heart beat. Gradually, I was able to control the beating. Or rather, the pulsation of my soul. My heartbeat remained the same, but I could feel my soul's pulse shifting and bending to my will.
I gasped, opening my eyes. Jake was smiling proudly at me.
"Oh my gosh. This is amazing," I whispered.
"You can do this, honey. I have complete faith in you," Jake murmured, taking my hands in his.
"I love you," I smiled, leaning closer.
"I love you, too," Jake grinned, meeting me in the middle.
Our lips came together in a sweet, simple kiss that proved the absolute rightness in our love.
"Bella? We need to formulate a new plan," Jasper called from across the field.
I pulled away from Jake and sighed.
"Come on, honey. The sooner we get finished here, the sooner we can go home and just relax with each other," Jake reminded me.
"Mmm. Sounds perfect," I sighed.
He chuckled and kissed my temple as we walked towards the rest of our group. Everyone was talking adamantly about what was going to happen. It suddenly felt as if we would all survive. I felt positive that we would.
Okay everybody! At the least, we have one more chapter. At the most, we have two. I haven't decided yet. If I do two, the last one will be an epilogue type deal and a lot shorter than all the others.
You guys definitely learned a lot in this chapter. I hope it eases some of your worries about the battle. I'll see you guys again soon! I'm hoping to have this whole story over by the weekend so I can work on my next story, which I will tell you guys about next chapter (for those who would like to follow me).
Just a little tid-bit about it, it's a Jasper/Bella story.