Chapter 8: Saved by the Wolf

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

Alice's mouth gaped in surprise. "She asked you to leave?"

Edward appeared to be empty, emotionless. "Yes, apparently so."

"And you left …just like that, without putting up a fight."

"She says she's happy. That's all I ever wanted for her."

Jasper piped up, "I don't git it. Tarnation, Edward, you're gonna walk away from the love of your life?"

"Bella doesn't have feelings for me anymore. And that's the end of it. I always knew this relationship wouldn't end well. It's actually a relief. Let's go home."

"You're such a liar," Alice blared.

She turned to Jasper. "Come on, Jas, we're done here."

Mumbling under her breath, she tramped forward, saying, "Golly, I never took you for a pathetic coward." She and Jasper followed their vanquished sibling to Forks.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Rosalie fumed. She sat on the bed, immovable, her legs curled beneath her. "We're moving again? I happen to like it here. Why is it we all have to move just because you lost the love of that puny, little human?"

Glaring at her brother, she added, "The world doesn't revolve around you, Edward."

Alice skipped into the room. "What's going on? And why haven't you packed yet, Rosalie?"

"I'm not going, and that's that."

Her brawny mate entered to add in his ten cents. "You've got to, babe. The town will get suspicious if you're the only one in this big house."

Rosalie, in shock, reared up off the bed. "Emmett … I can't believe it. You mean you'd leave me here? You'd actually go without me?"

"C'mon, you know wherever Carlisle goes, we follow. Where would we be without him?"

"Oh, for crying out loud. I hate you—all of you."

Grabbing her arm, he whined, "Ah, don't be like that, Rosie girl."

She broke away from him, and sailed around the room, her clothes flying through the air and landing in her suitcases. Emmett looked at Jasper. "Dude, didya see that? Slam—dunk!"

Jasper, grinning, gifted him with a high-five.

As they followed the moving van down the driveway, Alice patted Rosalie's hand. "It'll be all right, hun. I've seen it. We'll never even miss this place."

"That remains to be seen," Rosalie sighed.

Bang, bang, bang! The rappin' at the door was enough to wake the dead. Who'd be callin' this time of night anyway? One guess. The dynamic duo, that's who. Geez, I thought the whole house was gonna cave in.

Quil and Embry stood there, breathless as I opened the door.

Embry was wavin' his arms around like a loonie. "Jake—have you heard the news?"

"No, but I have a feelin' you're gonna enlighten me."

They looked one to the other.

I was not in the mood for this. Glaring at the dumbbells, I said, "Well … spit it out guys, I got things to do."

"Like what?" Quil asked.

Embry frowned and poked Quil in the ribs. "Not now, Quil. Go ahead and tell him."

Our idiot friend, replied, "I'll let you do the honors."

My irritation was increasin' by the minute. "Will one of you two morons please spill?"

Embry quickly pushed Quil aside, "They're gone."

"Who's gone?"

"The Cullens, stupid. Who else?"

That was a shocker. "Whaaaat? Are you positive?"

"Positively! What—do I look stupid? Don't answer that. Of course we're sure. We went by their place on rounds, and the house was totally empty." He nudged Embry's shoulder. "Didn't we, Em? There was even a for sale sign on the front lawn."

I leaned against the door jamb, feelin' like I'd been torpedoed in the gut. "That can't be." Now, I was outta breath.

"It's the truth, Jake. I'd swear on my father's grave if I knew who he was—or if he's dead or not."

Quil shook his head, rollin' his eyes, then looked back at me. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Aren't you gonna say anything?"

"I don't know what to say."

"I know … maybe they found her, or … or the alternative."

Embry gave Quil the eye.

He was insulted. "Hey, somebody's gotta say it."

"Thanks, guys." The words slipped out as a sigh.

I trudged back into the house and collapsed on the couch. Could it be? Please don't let Bella truly be gone. Or did she go with Cullen? But then why would the leeches leave Forks? They'd have no reason to. I didn't like where this train of thought was goin', so I went to my bedroom and lay on the mattress. I cried myself to sleep.

That night, I went thru the motions like a damn robot, makin' supper, helpin' Dad to bed, and washin' up the dishes. Then I heard it—the drums beatin'. There was a big celebration. The Cullens were gone. Lookin' out the front window, I saw the bonfires dotting the shores of First Beach, the flames lightin' up the sky. Everyone in the tribe was happy except for me and my dad.

I woke up with a start. The phone was ringin' off the hook. Rubbn' the sleep from my eyes, I stumbled into the kitchen and picked up the receiver. Huh … it was that nasty blonde Amazon.

"I'll make this quick, Jacob. Bella is alive, but she gave Edward the boot. She claims she's in love with that nomad, James."

"Nah, that's impossible."

"Impossible, but true nonetheless. She's being held in a cabin near the old granite quarry. Are you familiar with that area?"

"Yeah, I know the place."

"Anyway, here's your shot. We've moved on, and settled in Maine. Edward's given up, so now's your chance. If I were you, I'd take it with both hands."

"Hey, thanks, Rosalie."

"You're welcome. Goodbye, Jacob."

"Same to you, Blondie."

I hung the phone back on its cradle, my mood lifted. Now I just had to get Bella away from this James creep.

Quil was in his back yard, choppin' fire wood and Embry was stackin' the pieces near the far wall when I came upon them. Quil was dumbstruck. He put the axe down, sayin', "You mean you actually found her? How did that happen?"

"The blonde bombshell—you know, Cullen's so-called sister—gave me a heads up. She told me the whole story, well … the short version anyway. It seems Bella has fallen for the charms of her vampire captor."

"Whaaaat? That's a load of sh**."

"Don't you think I know that? She's under his thrall. No doubt about it. And get this, guys: she told Eddie-boy, adios, and he was too stupid to figure out that the nomad had compelled her."

"No way!" Embry dropped the wood he was carryin' onto the pile and blared. "I thought the mind reader was such a freakin' genius."

I shrugged. "Apparently not … probably a vitamin deficiency. Anyhow, I'm not gonna walk away like the bloodsucker did. Blondie pointed me in the right direction, and I'm goin' after her."

Brushin' the dirt off his hands, Embry said, "Okay, we get it, but why are you tellin' all this to us?"

Poking a finger at each of them, I said, "'Cuz, you two are goin' with me."

"We are?"

"Yeah, you are."

I grabbed Embry by the neck of his t-shirt, draggin' him toward me.

We walked out to the tree line, stripped and phased, takin' off like three turbo jets. Locating the house posed no problem. We just followed our noses. The vamp's scent got stronger and stronger as the cabin came into view.

You two, stay out here, phased, and wait for my signal.

They asked in unison, Which is?

Go get him, boys. I'll send him out and you do the rest.

The nomad sniffed the air when he opened the door. Geez, I guess he'd never run into any shape- shifters before.

The vamp deadpanned, "You lost?"

"Hell, no. I'm here to see Bella."

She came racin' to the door. "Holy cow—Jake," she cried.

The vamp turned to her. "You know this guy?"

Pullin' on my arm, she led me a few steps into the house. "Of course. He's my best friend."

Bella gestured to me. "Jake, this is James, James, Jacob Black. There, now why don't you come in and sit down?"

Shakin' my head, I replied, "I don't have time for that. I'm here to take you home."

James rolled his weird red eyes. "Where have I heard that one before?"

I ignored the jerk, focusing on Bella. "Look, Bells …. Blondie told me all about your predicament."

"What predicament is that?"

I huffed in unbelief at what she was sayin'… "That you're in love with …" I pointed at the nomad "… this leech."

"Don't call him that, and yes, it's true. I am in love with him."

"No, you're not. Dontcha see what's goin' on here? He's got you under his freakin' spell. You're his little human puppet, and when he gets tired of you, or thirsty enough, it'll be bye, bye, Bella."

With fire in her eyes, Bella shouted, "That's enough. I can't listen to any more of this. I want you to leave."

"Ha, not on your life. Maybe Eddie was a pushover, but don't try your luck with me, 'cuz, I'm not leavin' here without you."

"Please, Jake."

James started to get a little hostile. "Didn't you hear the lady?"

A growl escaped my throat. "I heard it. I don't actually believe it tho'."

I was not one to back down, even tho' he leaned forward, tryin' with all his might to intimidate me, "Let me make myself plainer then. Get-Out!"

"Nah, I don't think I will."

With clenched teeth, he hissed, "You want to make something of it?"

"Sure, sure, but let's take this outside." Indicatin' the doorway, I said, "After you, bloodsucker."

"Your funeral."

"Don't be too quick to judge, tick."

As soon as he poked his head out the door, I shoved him, yelling, "Go get him, boys."

Startled, he streaked ahead, Quil and Embry nippin' at his heels. I guess he didn't recognize the scent since he'd swaggered toward that door, confident of his own abilities.

Bella tapped her foot. "Well, what are you waiting for? I thought you two were going to go at it."

"Nah, not me. Quil and Em will take care of him without my help."

"No, Jacob, no—they'll tear James apart."

"No duh, that's the plan. Now sit down, Bells, I wanna talk to you."

"You come here like some thief in the night, and expect me to talk to you? Call them back, then we'll talk."

"I'm not gonna do that." I gently put my hands on her shoulders and settled her in a chair. Kneeling before her, I began, "Think about it, Bells, he's a vampire; he kills innocent people. He sucks the life straight outta them. If you were in your right mind, you'd see that. You're not in love with him. You're under his thrall."

"I don't believe a word you're saying."

"It makes no difference to me whether you believe it or not. It's the damn truth."

Bella began wringing her hands. "Please, Jake, call them off. I'm begging you."

"I'm sorry, honey, I can't do that."

The cry of wolves reached my ears. They were howls of victory. I stood, and quickly moved to the window, witnessin' smoke billowin' to the sky. The nomad was history, a wisp of purple, leavin' this earth.

Bella's eyes suddenly snapped wide open. She looked at me, fearful. "You've got to get me out of here before James comes back. Hurry!"

I laughed. "He's not comin' back."

Bella rose from the chair. "This is no laughing matter, Jacob. We've got to go. You don't understand. James is a tracker … he'll find us. Come on, we have to move quickly, and even with your strong scent masking mine, he'll hunt us down."

"Uh … Bells, there's something I need to tell you. I brought Quil and Embry with me. They creamed the sucker."

"Oh my gosh. Are you sure?"

"Yep." I popped the P for emphasis.

I led her to the window. See the smoke? That's all that's left of him."

She flung her arms around my neck and began to cry.

Wipin' the tears from her eyes, she whimpered, "It's like a dream. I thought I'd be trapped here for years, waiting for him to kill me. It's such a relief to be able to sleep without this cloud of fear hanging over my head. Oh, Jake, take me away from here, PLEASE!"

Huggin' her tight, I whispered, "Hey, it's okay, honey. Let's go home."