Chapter Twenty Seven

Charlie

Well whatever has or hasn't happened to my daughter is my concern not yours Billy."

"If it involves the cold one then it is our business Charlie."

"So, what is it you are proposing to do?"

"Bella has become one of them, she was bitten and changed by Jasper Hale in a clear breach of the treaty which allows us to retaliate."

"Retaliate? How?"

"Its past time we destroyed the Cullens"

I turned at Jake's bitter words.

"Really? And just why is it you hate them so much Jacob? Because you wanted Bella and she chose someone else? Just because you didn't get the girl doesn't entitle you to start some kind of war, nor the rest of you. Besides do you have any proof of your accusation?"

"Charlie, its time to stop the blustering and face the truth. Your daughter is now a vampire and a threat to every human around her. The Cullens broke the treaty and we will destroy them for that."

"Including Bella?"

Harry lowered his head then looked over at Old Quil and Billy before answering,

"Including Bella, yes Charlie"

"And I'm supposed to just stand by and let you?"

"We hoped you might see the necessity for our actions. We act to save your race as much as ours"

"Well forgive me for not seeing it the same way, but if you go after my daughter I'll be standing with the vampires."

"I'm sorry to hear that Charlie because you just signed your own death warrant too."

"Better dead than a coward Harry. I'm not letting you harm my daughter"

"She isn't your daughter any longer Charlie, she's become a blood drinking monster and a threat."

"In that case I have nothing else to say to you, any of you, except that when you attack the Cullens you'll see me standing with them"

"You can't fight the wolves Charlie, you've seen them, you can only imagine how deadly they are"

"Doesn't matter, a bullet will still slow them down I'm sure and I'll be loaded for bear."

"Then we can't let you go either"

"So what are you going to do Harry? Kill me here and now? Stop me from leaving the Res? What? And just out of interest who told you about Bella?"

Not a word was spoken but I saw the quick glance between Billy and his son and I smiled

"So it was you Jake. Did you follow me? How will you live with the thought that you killed not only me but Bella too? Will it sit easy on your conscience? I kinda doubt that."

I got up and turned to the door,

"I'm leaving now. If you want to stop me then you'll have to kill me."

I stepped to the door and stretched out my hand to touch the door knob,

"Don't go out there Charlie. The wolves have their orders."

Jake's words were shouted in warning.

"Well either way I'm dead, I won't let you kill Bella if I can stop you. If I don't go back then the Cullens will know some thing's wrong and they'll be ready for you."

"And if you do you'll warn them and they'll be ready for us"

"True, difficult decision for you Harry. Glad I don't have to make it."

I opened the door and stepped out into the moonlight watched by the four huge wolves who stood as I took another step and growled menacingly.

I took another step and they crouched ready to spring, well if I was going to die at least the others would be warned and they could protect Bella for me. I knew Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte would and from what I learned on my last visit I knew they were the best people to defend her. What made the Quileutes think I would let them kill her, whatever she had become? I heard a whispered conversation behind me, someone was having second thoughts about killing me but I knew Harry and Old Quil wouldn't change their decision and I smiled, taking two more steps before the wolves launched themselves at me.

I closed my eyes waiting for the feel of their huge teeth ripping into me but there was a sudden commotion and I opened them again to see two other wolves standing guard in front of me, the other four watching warily, snarling and slathering. Then I heard a shout from Sam,

"Jake, Seth, get back."

The two defending me shot him a look and cowered slightly but they didn't move away.

"Move now"

His voice had changed note and they stepped back until I could have reached out and touched their fur but still they stood between me and the rest of the pack.

"Jake, Seth, stand down now."

The smaller of the two wolves stepped aside but the larger turned his head to look at Sam defiantly.

As I watched, Sam phased as I had seen Jake do and struck, the two bodies tumbling over and over on the ground. The elders were standing in the doorway watching until Sam caught Jake by the throat and held on tight as Jakes struggles became weaker. When he stopped moving Sam dropped him and looked at the other wolves who once more crouched ready to attack, Seth in the background still cowering. Sam glanced over at Harry who nodded and the wolves attacked, the last thing I remembered was the terrible pain as their teeth and claws ripped into my flesh.

Billy

I was forced to watch as Sam killed my only son for protecting a human he cared about. I had felt bad at the elders decision to kill the Cullens and Bella for breaking the treaty but I had fought against them taking the same action against Charlie and now he lay, a bloody heap almost on my doorstep. My oldest friend killed for trying to protect his only child. I turned and wheeled myself back into the cabin feeling the tears roll down my cheeks. I had nothing left now, my daughters blamed me for the death of their mother and never came back to visit and my son was dead. I rolled through to the bedroom and struggling upright felt along the top shelf of my closet. My fingers finally felt the cold barrel of the pistol I kept there and I brought it down with me, checking that it was still loaded. There were three bullets in it, enough for my needs and I wheeled myself back out to the front of the cabin where the wolves and other elders stood in a circle around Charlies body. Aiming the pistol I fired twice, hitting Harry and a now phasing Sam before turning the gun on myself.