Promise this is where things finally start turning around in Paul's favor :)
Don't own Twilight.
Apparently the psychic wasn't so sure exactly when the battle would take place. Now she was saying Sunday morning instead of Saturday afternoon. None of us were willing to chance our timing being off. Edward was to meet me, accompanied by Jacob of course, in the clearing where the bloodsuckers were apparently coming to us. Somehow the clearing became our neutral ground, so to speak. I was alright with it – for now. Bella was to spread her scent, leading them in to where we wanted them, before I masked her scent completely by carrying her to the "camp site". The psychic already said it would work, though I doubted her since she couldn't see completely with us wolves so closely involved. We all took pride in that. At lease she couldn't fucking see our futures.
I packed a small backpack, shoving a few blankets inside for Bella just in case. She was going to be up there with that bloodsucker and he only looked human. I didn't want her to be cold and I could feel the weather changing. The snow probably wouldn't hit in Forks, but up in the mountains it would. I also shoved in some snacks telling myself they were for me and Jake but really I had Bella in mind. Hell, when did I not have Bella in mind?
Jacob gave me a knowing look as I came outside with the backpack slung over my shoulder. I just shrugged. "Let's go do this."
We met Edward and Bella in the clearing and for the first time in what felt like fucking years I could relax. I didn't know what I was expecting to see, maybe the same girl that looked almost healthy from her time spent hanging out with Jacob or when she looked completely rested when I were to sleep next to her. She was alive but she was more pale than even the last time I saw her, and skinnier. Fuck, what was she doing, starving herself? The dark circles under her eyes were as dark as they could possibly get. She looked like the walking zombie again only this time it somehow looked worse. I couldn't help the growls that were already racking my body. Jacob laid a hand on my shoulder, silently pleading with me with his eyes. I knew if I lashed out I wouldn't be involved in this, someone else would carry my Isabella and help protect her through the day and possible night.I took in a shaky breath and nodded, catching Bella's gaze. She looked about as broken as I felt and I couldn't even take any comfort in the fact that she was hurting too. If anything it just broke me even further.
"I'll take a different route up so it wont mix with your scent. By the time you get there I should have the tent ready." I had forgotten Edward was even standing there, he was probably impatient to get this over with. I looked up to catch his gaze but though he obviously wasn't happy about all of this he didn't look to be too upset. Actually he looked quite defeated. Huh.
"Hey Bells." Jacob said with a grin, going up and giving her a hug. She smiled even if it didn't reach her eyes and hugged him back. I resisted the urge to growl.
"Alright." I simply said, stepping towards Bella. "I can simply carry you in my arms or on my back, whichever you're more comfortable with." I said in a soft tone. I wasn't about to blow up on her. I needed her right now in more ways than I could even decipher. It fucking bugged me in some way but I had done a lot of growing up since I imprinted on her.
I didn't miss the way her eyes got a little bit of light back in them when I was closer, but she looked embarrassed. "I could walk." She mumbled.
It shouldn't have stung when she said it, her not even wanting to be that close to me, but I shrugged off the surge of hurt that I would have covered up by lashing out. "We can't take chances with your scent being on the ground. You need to be off the ground for this to work." I sighed. "Look, I can phase instead of Jacob and trail ahead of you guys if you'd like." It would have fucking killed me and took every ounce of control but I was trying to be somewhat sensible here.
She shook her head. "No, I just don't like feeling so useless and weak. It's my fault Victoria is doing all this in the first place and people I care about are risking everything."
I snorted and shook my head. "You're not useless, you're worth it for everyone involved. Even if this were anyone else this bloodsucker was after we would be doing the same anything. In my arms or on my back?" I raised an eyebrow this time. At least she wasn't trying to avoid me.
She sighed. "I'll ride on your back so your arms don't get tired." She mumbled.
"You couldn't hurt me either way, wolf remember?" I almost smirked. Being around her, even if I still knew I wasn't anything to her, was bringing me back to my normal self.
She half smiled. "Yeah yeah."
I leaned down so she could jump up on my back. As she jumped I held onto her thighs tightly but not tight enough to hurt her. "Hold onto my neck." I said softly. She wrapped her arms around my neck gently and my body felt like an electric current was running through it. No doubt a cause of the physical contact with my imprint. I sighed at the feeling, wondering for a moment if she could feel it too, but she wasn't giving anything away.
As I started to walk towards the tail Jacob jogged past us in wolf form. I chuckled as Bella gasped. "It always surprises me how massive you guys are as a wolf." She said in a little disbelief
"It shouldn't, we all pretty much tower over anyone now days. Especially Sam and Jacob."
"I know, I watched him spout up an inch every day it felt like." She sighed then fell quiet. I wanted to ask her what was wrong but I refrained. I would enjoy being close with her even if it was in an unsettling silence.
Honestly I probably could have jogged faster but I felt that would eat up time I craved. If Bella was suspicious she didn't let on. After a while I felt her chin on my shoulder. I hummed in appreciation, not able to help it, and she jerked back quickly. I sighed but didn't say anything. I could almost feel the battle in her head.
"I don't know what I'm doing anymore." She finally admitted.
"Me either." I said back, wondering where she was going to go with this even if anywhere. I hoped it was somewhere. But she fell silent again even though she replaced her chin on my shoulder. I relaxed again, not daring making a sound or say anything else.
Jacob always stayed a few paces in front of us, which I appreciated the little bit of privacy he gave me for our little time together. He had grown up a lot too in the past few weeks, I was damned proud of him.
All too soon the campsite was in view. I sighed as an uneasiness came over me knowing that she would be inside the tent with the leech. My whole body seemed to tense until I felt a tiny hand touch my face. "Calm down." She whispered.
I just gave a sharp nod, though she had no idea how much that simple gesture did for me at the moment. Edward was waiting in front of the tent and I scowled, leaning down so she could unlink her arms and climb off. Once she did she stood in between me and Edward, looking between the two of us as if deciding something before she resigned and went with him. I narrowed my eyes as he put a hand on the small of her back and ushered her inside. I watched the opening of the tent for a few moments, as if hoping she would run back out to me, then snorted. That obviously wasn't happening. I gave up and went down the slope of the mountain some to phase.
I'm going to stay close to the tent just in case. You stay down a little further. I declared. I knew it would be tough for me but if anything I needed to protect her. It was my basic of instincts when it came to my imprint.
Alright. And Paul...I'm sorry. As much as I wanted her, as much as I thought me and her would have been perfect it's so much more tough to watch you two go through this. You need her, and I KNOW she needs you. I don't know what she's doing. He stopped himself, but I already knew he was going to say or what he's doing to her to keep her, but being close to the mind reader he was smart.
It's whatever. After this is over and everyone's sure that the tribe is safe I'm probably taking off. I couldn't stand to be here any longer than I had to. So close, yet so far away, from the one person I needed. Yeah, my life fucking sucked at the moment. If it weren't for my pack family I probably would have ditched the day she left my house and went to him.
Jacob whined at my declaration. We'll miss you. He simply said before he went silent. We were both in protective mode, linked to the pack who were settling down in the clearing ready at any moment for the fight to come.
Just as I had felt it it did start snowing, and snowing hard. The wind was harsh. I was still as warm as could be but I could hear the teeth chattering inside of the tent as Bella tried to sleep. If you need more blankets I laid my backpack outside of the tent. I mentally said to Edward. A second later I saw a white figure come out to retrieve it. He gave a small nod in my direction before going back inside.
I knew I could have her sweating next to my body within minutes but I stayed outside as long as I could. Apparently even the extra blankets weren't helping. Fuck this. I'm coming in. I at least warned him before I phased, pulled up my shorts, and stepped inside. He didn't even give me a glance, his tortured expression down on the girl he couldn't help as she was freezing to death. I rolled my eyes. "Bella, scoot over." I said.
"Wh-wh-what n-no-noo. I-I'm f-f-fiin-fine." She said in between shivers. She was even more fucking pale than before to the point she was turning blue.
"Isabella scoot the fuck over or I'll move you myself." That earned a growl from Edward. I shot him a death glare and growled right back.
She finally managed to start moving but her body was shaking so bad. I sighed and crouched down, climbing in the sleeping back beside her. I put my arms around her and pulled her to my chest then started rubbing my hands over her arms. I even shivered as our bodies first touched. "Jesus you're fucking frozen." I muttered. She didn't say anything, just gasped and sighed and the sudden heat. "Calm down, you'll be warm soon." I soothed. Within minutes she was warm enough to fall asleep, a tiny peaceful expression on her face. I tried my best not to let my mind wander but to be honest I was fucking giddy, even if I knew the feeling wouldn't last long.