Okay, I want to let everyone know that I am NOT abandoning either of my stories. It might take longer for me to get chapters out, because I'm dealing with some emotional times in my real life right now so all I ever want to do is sleep.

I wanted to get this chapter out and posted, though. I feel bad for making you guys wait so long. Hope it doesn't suck.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of the characters in Twilight, or anything related to the books and/or movies. If I did, I would be way too busy- doing dirty things with the Cullen boys- to sit down at my laptop and write this story. The scenes and general plot ideas that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

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Learning to Live Again

Chapter Fifty-One: The Rescue Mission

Jacob POV

Was this bitch serious? Did she think that we wouldn't pick up her scent and come after Bella? Hello?! We're wolves. Kinda comes with the territory. I was closing in on Bella's scent, and it was surrounded by the disgusting aroma of vampire. Nothing familiar, so I knew it had to be the newborn blood-suckers. The Cullens were probably on their way now. I had Seth leading them, because he seemed to be able to get along with everyone, including the Cullens. He didn't have as many emotional ties with them as I did, though.

I was no fan of the family, but I knew that they cared about Bella. That's why I answered my phone when Alice had called me earlier this afternoon. I had just gotten done with my classes for the day and was hanging out at the cliffs with Quil and Embry when my phone rang. Alice had been in a panicked state, having just had a vision of Emmett and Bella being attacked by Victoria's little bitches. We had arrived just in time to see Jasper, Edward, and Emmett dismembering the last of them.

Jasper's face had been raw anger. I had gone up to his side and had almost taken a bite. Thankfully I had quick reflexes, too. He was caught up in his own world, making it his mission to kill anyone or anything that had threatened Bella. I was finally starting to like the guy.

Running through the woods, we had decided that I would run ahead of everyone to reach Bella and the others would stay back and take care of her minions. Jasper- of course- wanted to rush to Bella, but our families needed him to stay behind with them. It was a no secret that he had the most skill and experience in fighting. I still didn't know why, but I figured that I would be told if it was necessary for me to know.

Rosalie, Cameron, Esme, and Alice had all joined us in time for me to get a track on Bella's scent. The rest of the pack found us shortly after, teaming up. My head was all over the place right now as I dodged trees and jumped over rocks. I was in wolf form right now. I needed the bonus features of speed and scent. My best friend's life was on the line.

I was reaching the edge of the woods, there were fewer trees for me to avoid. I noticed a clearing up ahead that was surrounded by mountains. She must be on the other side… or the inside. It would be hard to find her, but I didn't have a choice.

Jake, Jasper is asking if you're close to Bella yet.

It was Seth's voice in my head. He had convinced Sam to let him join in on the battle, just another thing to make Leah hate Sam more than she already did. Since her and I had gotten together, she had lost some of the hostility that she harbored but I understood that it was still hard for her at times. I understood better than anyone, and that was why we were a perfect fit.

I'm reaching the mountains, and her scent is getting strong. She's got to be in one of the caves somewhere. I'll let you know as soon as I find her. How's everything going on your end? How's Leah?

Her voice was the next one I heard. I'm fine, Jake. Having a blast over here without you is all. All the Cullens are here now. We've got a burning pile started for the remains of the vamps that we've already taken care of. They move so fast that it's almost like there are twice as many as there really are. Don't worry about us, though. Just find Bella so that Jasper will stop annoying us. Oh shit, Seth just told them where you are so he and Edward have taken off to find you.

I was glad that they were coming. Once I had Bella, my main concern was to get her away from the psychopath who held her captive. And I knew that Jasper wanted to take a swing at the bitch as well. Probably Edward, too. I wasn't really kidding myself. I wanted her head on a platter, even more than other blood-suckers. This bitch wanted to kill my best friend.

I picked up my pace without knowing it. I was only a few yards from the mountains now. I could hear some whispering and recognized Bella's voice. It was softer than usual, strained. She better be okay when I get there or else Jasper and Edward won't have any pieces left.

I was at the mountains now and searching for an entrance inside. I knew that Victoria would have brought Bella into the caves. There were tunnels going in so many different directions. She probably had more newborns vampires waiting inside too.

I'm going into the caves now. I can hear them talking so I know that Bella's still alive.

Of course she's still alive, Jacob. I heard Seth's voice ring through my mind. He was still an optimistic kid. It probably never even went through his mind that any of us were in real danger of our lives. I knew that I was egotistical, but I could still be real.

I phased back into my human form, quickly slipping on my denim shorts. Nobody needed an eyeful right now. It was easier to fit in the tunnel when I was in human form, but now I couldn't smell as strongly. It was dark and a tight fit, but I could still hear whispers coming from not too much farther into the rock. I needed to be careful, because I didn't know if there were others inside or if she had already picked up on my scent. Apparently wolves smelled nasty to vampires as well.

I could hear the voices get louder and knew I was on the right trail to Bella. I turned another corner and could understand what they were saying now.

"I'm seeing more clarity in your eyes there, Bella. What are you thinking?" So this screechy-ass voice was Victoria. She didn't sound very frightening to me, just psychotic. "Are you thinking about sending me flying with your little power?" Shit, she knew about Bella's power. No chance in her using it now.

"What are you talking about?" That was Bella. Her voice was weak but not shaky. That's my girl. Staying cool in a crisis.

"My men told me that you were able to throw some of them across the forest while they were fighting one of your bodyguards. Pretty impressive." There was a pause and I heard some rustling and something hit a rock. I moved faster. That bitch needed to get her hands off Bella now. "I could definitely use your power for what I have planned."

"What is your plan? To capture me here and talk me to death?" I could hear the edge in Bella's voice and was overcome with pride. I slowed my pace, not wanting to be too loud in case she wasn't as absorbed in her bantering with Bella.

"I thought you had figured it out, Bella. I'm going to lure Jasper here and bargain with him. Instead of watching you die by my hand, he's going to turn you." Her voice was more psychotic now, probably because she was talking some crazy shit.

"Why do you care if I'm a vampire?" What was it with all these damn blood-suckers wanting to turn my best friend into one of them?! Find your own damn family and leave mine alone!

"Because once he gets a taste of human blood again, he won't go back to deer and rabbits. And you won't want to leave him. So then I'll kill the rest of your family so that you're both free to join my army. Your power will be quite useful."

I could see light at the end of this dirt hallway and approached it. I hadn't run into any of her minions, so I'm betting that she had isolated herself and Bella. Good. One on one was easier to deal with. I came up to the doorway, processed all that Victoria had said and broke into laughter.

Both heads turned to look up at me. Bella let out a sigh of relief and a smile crossed her face. That's right; I'm here to save you. Victoria looked surprised for a second but covered it up just as quickly. She sneered at me. Whatever, you're not intimidating.

"So you're the psychotic blood-sucker we've all been tracking down? Not really that scary if you ask me. Other than the bad hairdo," I announced as I stepped into the room.

She stood up straight and took a step toward me. "You're not scary either, dog," she said with a menacing tone to her voice. "And you came alone. Even better."

I noticed that Bella raised her eyebrow at this. She was surprised the others weren't here to rescue her, probably hurt that I wasn't Jasper. She would see him soon enough. I had more important matters to attend to.

"Alone or not, honey, you're toast," I said. I took a step inside the small dirt room. I noticed that there was another entrance that Bella was closer to. Her hands were tied behind her back, but I could run past Victoria and grab her at the same time before heading out the other entrance. Or I could wait until the cavalry arrived.

"Are you trying to think of your grand master plan? Save the damsel in distress? Does it really matter? You won't get the girl at the end anyway," the redhead taunted me. She really was a stalker. She knew way too much about our twisted little lives.

"I already have a girl, thanks. But I would like my best friend back, you pathetic bitch," I growled. I needed to be ready to phase into the wolf so that I could tear her to shreds.

I could hear Edward and Jasper approaching outside. When you come inside, veer left. Run about a half a mile inside and you'll see some light at the end of a hallway. We're in an open, dirt room. Bella's okay, but she's still weak. Victoria knows about her power and she wants to make Jasper turn Bella to keep them on her team.

"You shouldn't use such hard language, child," Victoria warned. She took another step toward me and started to work herself into a crouch. "You're strength is no match for my experience," she warned.

"Think what you want, but I've got reinforcements on the way. And all your players are toast by now," I announced with a smirk. "I don't know why you even thought you would win once you heard that the Cullens had extra help from us. You're more delusional than I expected."

Bella was leaning against the wall, working herself up into a standing position. She edged closer to the other entrance while Victoria circled me. I could see her mind working, trying to get herself worked up so that she could use her power on Victoria. She would never learn.

"So are we going to dance all night? Or can we get started fighting?" I asked.

"Not without me, you aren't," I heard coming from behind me.