Chapter V
AN/ Yes, I know, it took me a while to write this chapter. But life gave me an emotional rollercoaster and my depression came back, alternating with panic attacks and anxiety. But it's finished, and I think that's what matters most. A little note... Leah isn't the bitch she used to be. I changed it up a bit for the story. Hope you like it! Please enjoy and review! It means a lot to me and gives me motivation to keep going when my illness blocks me from writing ;)
The Sacrifice of Love
"Such is my love, to thee I so belong,
That for thy right myself will bear all wrong."
William Shakespeare
Treading softly, the vampire entered the darkened room. His gaze fell on the girl lying on the mattress. Her chest heaved steadily, eyes closed behind a curtain of long brown curls cascading over her face and shoulder.
She slept deeply.
He approached her slowly, inhaling her sweet scent, wrapping his senses like the finest of perfumes.
Reaching out he gently ran his fingers through her smooth hair, slowly moving towards her carotid artery. The vampire licked his lips, sniffing her pale skin. His red eyes turned black at the thought of sinking his fangs into the delicate crook of her neck. The pulsing of the blood under her skin tempted him immensely, putting his control to the test. The only thing that stopped him was the desire for revenge.
No, he couldn't do that now. No one could stop him from carrying out his plan for this frail human girl. No, he had to tame the beast within him for now. This overgrown dog will be looking for her soon. He must be careful.
...
A loud howl rippled among the high treetops. The entire pack gathered at their regular meeting place, still in their wolf forms. All except Embry who was about to join as soon as Bella's devastated car was put away in Black's garage. Away from the sight of a worried Charlie and his subordinates searching the area surrounding the border between Forks and La Push. Jacob was able to predict with great accuracy how the sight of the wrecked Chevy might have affected the police chief's condition, which was likely to worsen after months of his daughter's depression and her subsequent escape to Italy. He and his father decided it would be better to spare Charlie any further revelations.
Each of the wolves pawed nervously, sensing the anxiety and fear coming straight from their Alpha, pushing the pack to the brink of insanity. The invisible thread of communication that linked each of them individually conveyed every emotion, memory and thought. It was impossible to count on even a moment of privacy when each mind penetrated the other.
The supernatural attributes of being a shapeshifter did not compensate for a life taken away and the constant hiding of one's true nature among humans. Well, there were probably some positive aspects of having wolf genes, such as a high body temperature thanks to which one did not have to wear unnecessary clothes even when it was cold and rainy outside. But even that didn't convey the feeling of isolation that each of them felt every passing day.
Therefore, as a reward for their service and dedication to the tribe, the spirits of the ancestors gave the warriors the gift of finding their soulmate to compensate for their hardship.
Imprinting was to serve not only to pass on genes to the next generation, but also to balance wolf and man when both sides were in constant struggle for control. With more than ten members, Jacob's pack was the largest and best-trained pack in the tribe's history.
No leech was able to cross the border of their land without being torn to pieces. The surrounding forests were more and more often covered with sweet suffocating smoke, letting other willing bloodsuckers know how those who mess with the pack end up.
So how did Bella get kidnapped?
"We have a serious problem." Jacob declared, his eyes wandering warily over each wolf in the circle. "You probably already know what we found by the road. Bella was abducted by a leech this morning on her way to the rez."
"How is that possible? The reserve is regularly patrolled." Sam called back.
"We would have noticed if there was something wrong." Embry noticed confidently, twisting his huge wolf head.
"There must have been a hole in the patrol schedule that the leech found and used to its advantage." Paul pointed. "No one even knew that leech-lo... I mean Bella would show up at the rez." He corrected himself, meeting Jacob's admonishing gaze.
"There's something to it, Jacob." Leah called back. "Perhaps the vampire has been watching her for a long time, waiting for a good opportunity to catch her. But why on our territory? Charlie is at work every day, he could have kidnapped her earlier when she was home alone."
"On point! It's so obvious!" Seth let out a happy growl. All wolf eyes turned to him.
"What do you mean little brother?" Leah asked bluntly, glancing at the sand wolf sitting next to her.
"If he was watching her, then he might have been in her house. If so, we can check it out to compare it to the smell from the accident scene."
"That's a great idea, Seth." Jacob complimented the younger boy, who was wagging his tail cheerfully, proud to be of some use. "Okay, so me, Leah and Embry will check out Charlie's house, and the rest of you the area around it. If it's the same scent as in the truck, we'll follow it, and maybe it'll lead us to that bloodsucker."
The entire group nodded in unison as they dispersed around the reserve.
The bond of imprinting tormented him. The pain in his chest continued and the young werewolf felt as if his heart had been ripped out. His thoughts were constantly occupied by Bella.
Is his mate okay? Didn't that damn dead walking corpse hurt her?
Through their incredibly stretched thread, Jacob felt that Bella was still alive. His wolf continued to go crazy, giving him worse and worse scenarios but he kept him on the leash. He wanted his mate, Jacob wanted his best friend. Safe and sound, by their side. Both wolf and man agreed on something.
If the bloodsucker tries anything, Jacob will tear him apart.
...
After checking Charlie and Bella's house, the pack was sure that the scent the vampire had left behind was the one Jacob had smelled in her red truck. The whole group began to move steadily towards Port Angeles, where their noses led them. After some time, they managed to reach an old abandoned house on the outskirts of the city, not far from a dense forest.
"The perfect place for a vampire to hide without attracting attention." Jacob thought as he looked at the decaying building.
"Bella must be inside." Embry said, sticking his nose out, quickly picking up Bella's scent still wafting around the collapsing space.
"Looks like the leech is here too." Quil pricked up his ears. "I can hear her heartbeat. She's definitely inside, bro."
"Then we must be careful not to attract his attention." Jacob said. "Before the leech registers what is happening. Otherwise we're screwed and the whole thing can go to hell."
"So what do we do now?" Leah couldn't wait to kill the first vampire in her life. She has never been so excited since becoming part of the pack.
"Calm down Leah. This is no time to play tag with a leech." Sam scolded her, sensing the emotion in her mind.
"Fuck off Uley.You always have to screw something up, don't you?" Leah growled at the black wolf who showed his fangs at her.
"You two can shut the fuck up!" Jacob ordered. "In case you haven't noticed, we have someone to save. So silence or each of you will get a double patrol for a week! Together!"
Leah and Sam immediately lowered their heads in submission to their alpha. Neither of them wanted to be fanged in the back of the neck as punishment when they faced a difficult task at the moment. The whole group had to be at full strength to put down the clever vampire who had been able to fool them so well before.
"So what's the plan, boss?" Jared asked him.
"We'll surround the building," Jacob turned to his pack, "We can't let him escape. If he feels he has no way out, he may be more amicable to cooperate with us. Seth, Quil, Embry - you'll be responsible for the rear" he looked at the three smaller wolves. "Sam, Paul and Jared, you cover sides. Leah, you're coming with me in human form." She - wolf immediately trotted over to him. Both immediately phased back, quickly pulling in their clothes attached to their ankles.
"You kept me waiting for you for a long time" a melodious voice spoke suddenly, drawing the attention of the whole pack. Paul, Jared and Sam started growling loudly.
"Who are you? Show yourself leech!" Jacob shouted into the air, scanning the area around him, but the vampire was nowhere to be seen.
"So impatient..." the strange voice spoke again. "I already thought, you chickened out…"
"I don't know what game you're playing, but you're not going to win this." Jacob growled, fists clenched at his sides. "Show yourself and face me without hiding like a bloodsucking coward."
"Send your wolves away and maybe we'll talk. If you're a good dog, maybe I'll even let you see your princess." The vampire sneered.
"What guarantee do I have that you'll keep your word, leech?"
"None." The vampire replied shortly. "But it's your only option if you want to save your loved one."
"Jake... I don't like it..." Leah stuttered, looking uncertainly at him. "You can't stay here alone with a vampire. It's dangerous. He's up to something, I can feel it."
"I have to do this Leah." Jacob put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "If it's the only way to save Bella, I'm ready to fight. You would do the same for Seth." Jacob looked at the smallest member of their peculiar family.
Leah sighed, hugging her friend tightly before turning back into a wolf. "Come back in one piece."