Chapter Seventeen

Bella

I could see the sky, the dark clouds scudding quickly across it, and hear the rain as it pattered through the leaves of the surrounding trees but I couldn't move, not even to lift my hand to wipe the rain from my face. I had heard something crack as I fell then nothing. I didn't feel myself hit the ground except my head. The last sensation I had was of terrible stinging slashes across my stomach and chest as the wolf's claws swiped me instead of the vampire. I was hurt, badly hurt, and bleeding, it had to be from those lethal claws I had glimpsed. Was I dying? Is this the last thing I would ever see? The dark clouds and wet leaves? I couldn't even hear the chase any longer, they had moved out of range of my human hearing.

Would the wolf come back once he had killed the nomad and help me? Or would he die at the vampire's hand and would he then return to finish the job he had been about to start? Deciding I would be dead long before either could happen I began to cry, the salty tears mingling with the rain drops and running into my mouth as I lay twisted on the ground. I was surrounded by wet leaves but as I watched these turned from green to red, I was bleeding out and there was no one to help me. If I were honest with myself I knew there was no one who could help me, except Jasper. Either my neck or back was broken high up, I was paralyzed and bleeding to death.

Jasper

As I got back in the car after putting Emmett's new radio in the trunk I checked my phone, not expecting anything, only to find Bella had left me a voice message. Probably telling me what the kids had been up to but as I started the engine and hit play I could hear the fear in her voice. The children had vanished along with Charlie and he suspected the Quileutes of kidnapping them. He had gone after them and Bella had gone after him. I cursed and put my foot to the floor stopping when I got close to the treaty boundary and went on foot from there casting about for Bella's scent. I came across the scent of another vampire crossing Bella's and cursed increasing my speed. I didn't recognize the other scent but I hoped it wasn't a thirsty nomad or that the wolves were finally of some use and killed or frightened him off.

Suddenly I stopped, I could smell the stranger and a wolf, they had crossed Bella's scent trail but when I turned my head there was another smell coming from the direction of the treaty line, human blood, Bella's blood, and I ran calling her name, not caring who heard me, Bella was hurt, she was losing blood and I had no idea if she had been attacked by the wolf or the stranger. Ahead of me I could see her crumpled body which lay twisted, her head turned so she could just see me and I heard my name faintly from her lips.

I fell to my knees stretching out to pick her up when she spoke again, blood bubbling on her lips.

"Don't Jasper. I think my neck may be broken, if you move me I could die."

I hesitated then nodded stroking her cheek and looking down at the blood stained tatters of her clothing. There were lacerations to her flesh caused by wolf claws, her stomach ripped open, and what looked like a rib sticking through the bloody wound on her chest.

"I can't just leave you here Bella, you'll die. Who did this to you?"

She tried to smile but it was merely a shadow.

"It was him, the vampire who killed my parents. He recognized me and I thought I was dead but a wolf appeared and launched itself at him. I was just in the way I guess."

I could see the blood pumping steadily from her poor ripped body and knew there was only one thing I could do. For now I must push my rage to one side and concentrate on my wife.

"Bella..."

She closed her eyes for a second then opened them again,

"I know Jasper, you have to change me but just promise me one thing. You will find the children and hunt down the vampire who killed my parents."

I nodded stroking her cheek again and picking up a lifeless hand knowing she could feel nothing of my touch.

I had to act quickly so I leaned close ready to bite her neck hoping she wouldn't feel that either but she spoke again,

"I know you want to get me out of here but I think you should leave me where I am until your venom starts to work. If you attempt to move me I may die before I can change. Besides I like it out here among the trees, it's so peaceful."

"You aren't going to die Bella, I won't let you."

Before my courage left me I sank my teeth into her neck and pumped her full of my venom both saddened and elated that she didn't gasp in pain, she could feel nothing.

I had no idea how long it would be before I could safely move her, all I knew was that I dare not leave her out here alone, especially not with a nomad roaming around and so close to the reservation, I didn't trust the wolves, especially as Charlie had said they were responsible for the kidnap of the children. As I sat close to Bella, one hand on her face, unsure if her silence were due to her injury or the failure of my venom, I vowed to kill the wolf and vampire who had left her like this and those who had endangered my son and niece. I could feel The Major stir and then burst to the surface, this was war and I would be triumphant.

Knowing I needed help I fumbled my phone out of my pocket and rang Carlisle relieved when he answered almost immediately. I explained what had happened and what I had done.

"We're on our way. Do not move Bella before I get there, she's right, you could still kill her if the spinal cord is snapped. Can you hear any wolves close by? You are in a very dangerous location."

"No Carlisle, I can't hear anything but I promise you the ones in danger are the wolves not me. I'll kill anyone or anything that threatens my mate. Just get here as quickly as you can."

There was a rustling behind me and I turned, amazed to see Peter standing a few feet away.

"What the fuck have you gotten yourself into now Major? Is that Bella? What happened? Looks like I was a little late getting here."

I told him all I knew, which admittedly wasn't much,

"I can't leave her Peter, it's too dangerous and we have no idea where the children are although I suspect in the village which will be guarded by the rest of the pack."

"So what do you want me to do Major?"

I hesitated wanting to send him into the village but understanding that would only lead to his death, even Peter couldn't take on a whole pack.

"Track the nomad and lone wolf. See if you can catch up and if possible bring the wolf back alive, he'll know what's going on."

"And the stranger?"

"He'll keep for now, although I want a few words with him, it's the wolf I want."

Peter nodded and ran off following the scent of the wolf and nomad while I sat with Bella holding a cold lifeless hand and looking into her face, the eyes closed as if she were asleep but knowing the struggle going on inside her body would lead to success or death and I could not even think about failure, to lose her would kill me. I tried working out why the wolves had taken the children but it made no sense, neither were a threat and the Quileutes had never raised a hand against us before so why now? What was it that had set them on this path?