Chapter Thirty

Jasper

My phone rang and I excused myself to answer it noting I'd also received a message.

"Major, I smell a shit storm coming. What do you need?"

"Preferably an RV and a small army."

"In that case its your lucky day because I just happen to have both and we're headed your way. ETA about three hours, I'll explain everything when we get there but be ready to move out."

"OK, see you then."

I scrolled down to the message, it was from Alice.

"Jazz you need to act now or it will be too late. Alice x"

The message had only come in a few minutes ago so we were OK for time.

"Right Charlie, this isn't going to be pleasant, neither is the transformation but once its over you'll never feel pain again."

He nodded and I saw him swallow nervously then Bella threw her arms around him and kissed him before standing up and taking my hand.

"I'll see you again soon hopefully but just in case Bella I love you, and Jasper, Garrett, thanks for everything."

I tried to pull free of Bella's hand but she shook her head.

"We do this together."

I moved forward reluctantly and put one hand on Charlies shoulder and the other on his jaw turning his head slightly to give me better access then before he could tense any further I moved in, biting into his neck and tasting the strangely chemical tang of his blood, the taste of blood, medication, and sickness, which I was glad to spit out once my job was done. As Charlie collapsed back into the chair I spoke.

"Bella I'm going to have to help him with the pain, he's too weak to do it alone so you and Garrett will have to watch out for us until Peter gets here."

Bella

Jazz put a hand on Charlies and I saw his muscles tense and his jaw clench as he took Charlies pain for me and I loved him even more for his sacrifice, for that's what it was. He took Charlies pain for me, enduring at least some of the agony of the burn, a torture he had already undergone so many times if only by proximity but this was much, much worse. I wondered if I could help but Garrett touched my arm,

"We need to watch out. If the wolves get the slightest hint of what's going on here there will be war."

I nodded and followed him out stationing myself by the back door and watching, waiting for the first hint of wolf while he did the same at the front. For the first hour there was nothing then I got my first whiff and called to tell him.

"Nothing here yet but be careful."

There was a movement in the trees and Jake came into the open with Sue who was by now an old woman. They stopped and I saw Jake tense then turn to Sue. He could have heard Charlies soft cries of pain or sensed something, I didn't know which so I just waited.

"What's wrong with Charlie?"

Her voice I remembered from my human days,

"He's got cancer. He's in pain."

"I'd like to see him."

"Oh why? You know he doesn't want to see you, I thought he'd made that clear enough."

"We want to know he's safe."

"He's with his daughter, he's safe."

"Bella I need to know you haven't attempted to change him."

"Why? Do I look as if I have?"

"No but your friend might have."

Jake's voice was cold and hard, he knew.

"Its nothing to do with you what Charlie decides or does."

"It is if you broke the treaty and you did didn't you?"

"I didn't have a treaty with you Jake."

"You gave me your word."

"Things changed. I couldn't let him die."

"So you forced him into a half-life like yours."

"I never forced Charlie into anything."

"You know this means war?"

"I don't want a fight with you Jake or any of the wolves"

"No because you'd lose Bella, there are more of us and we're stronger."

I didn't speak just waited and as I did so the trees rustled and five more wolves stepped out into the open, shit he was right, we were outnumbered but he didn't know about my gift and although I didn't want to hurt Jake or any of the others I would protect what was mine.

"Back off Jake. Sue take you brothers home before they get hurt."

She smiled a little sadly,

"Oh Bella why didn't you stay dead. Whenever you come to Forks death and pain follow you."

"Only if you force my hand Sue."

I heard Garretts voice low from the front,

"Ah Bella, we have a small vermin problem. Four overgrown pups out front."

So the pack had reassembled because of us, 10 wolves including Jake, and then there was Sue.

"Please Sue go home, don't force me to hurt you"

"It's too late for that Bella you should have left your father in peace."

She lifted her hand and the wolves moved forward snarling. At the same time I heard snarls from the front and an oath from Garrett forcing me to act decisively. I closed my eyes and threw my shield out fast knocking the wolves over and throwing them back into the trees with the sound of splintering wood and ferocious snarls. I heard more oaths from Garrett and called to him to join me which he did until we stood back to back. One wolf was dead, its neck broken, but he had sustained a nasty bite to one arm which hang uselessly at his side. Jake had joined his brothers although one was missing and I heard ear-splitting yelps of pain so at least one was out of action. Watching both groups of wolves I saw those facing Garrett tense and leap so wrapped my shield around him, the wolves bouncing off snarling as they did so but one darted in and took a chunk out of my leg and I cursed wrapping the shield around both of us which was fine but we couldn't fight and keep the rest of the pack away from Jazz and Charlie and there was so much going on it was difficult to protect all of us in different rooms especially as I couldn't see the others. The wolves backed up slowly and I dropped my shield but Jake saw his chance and darted in again and I lost another chunk from my leg, the venom pouring from the gaping wounds only slowing after a few seconds and I knew I couldn't cope with many more attacks. With a heavy heart I intensified my shield and blasted Jake and his companions back through the house to crash against the back wall but I didn't let up and their eyes bulged as the breath was crushed from them and their ribs started to crack. I chanced a quick look at Sue then concentrated again and the pressure of my shield literally blasted through the wolves pelts spraying blood and gore over the walls. She screamed in anger and shock and I turned to see the wolves on Garretts side move in for the kill. I knew my strength was ebbing and I mustered all my remaining strength to blast them back against the front door and wall, stunning but not killing any of them. Garrett moved forward blindingly fast and grabbed another with his good arm crushing its windpipe then leaving it to choke to death on the floor as another took its place. We fought off the few remaining wolves but it was hard and I feared they might win when I saw Sue squeezing past the bodies to get into the sitting room.

"NO!"