Chapter 22

I am so sorry for the late update. I was quite busy with my classes. Sorry again. Please ignore spelling and grammar mistakes. SM owns everything.

LPOV

Jake. My wolf. I have many words to describe him. He is everything I ever dreamt of having in my perfect partner, if not more. And I love him more than life itself. But right now, he is being an overprotective ass. It has been more than 76 hours since I came to la push with him. And now, he won't let me leave.

Actually, he won't let me leave his sight at all. He is spending every moment with me one way or another. When he is not on patrol, he is at his house where he is keeping me hostage. When he is on patrol, he leaves one of the wolves outside of the house to keep an eye on me, so that he can see me through their shared minds.

He has been to a few council meetings too, to let council know about the dangers coming our way. And, he literally dragged me there too. At first, it was cute, then it became a bit annoying and now it is getting too much.

I understand his concerns about my safety. And, I feel safe with him too. But a girl can take only so much. On top of that, my family is calling me non-stop. I tried to explain them the situation and jake's protectiveness. But they are getting antsy too. Mom is ready to cross the border and take me back forcefully, if needed.

I have tried to talk to jacob several times but every time he looks at me with those puppy dog eyes and I cave in. Damn him and his cute face and his beautiful eyes. Well, time to try again. 'Jake, I need to go back.' I sighed. 'I think you should stay here till this thing is over.' his answer surprised me. 'What?' I almost screeched.

'Calm down lilly. I mean you can stay here with me. I don't mind. I would love having you here with me. I won't let anything happen to you. I can protect you better if you are here.' he explained.

'I get that jake. I really do. But you know I cannot stay here that long. My family wants be back at home.' I was explaining when he cut my speech 'this is your home too.'

'I know jake. And I love that you care so much. I love you. But think jake. We cannot stay holed up here for long. We have to get out. We have to meet with my family and make a plan or strategy or something. Probably train a little like you guys did before the newborn battle. And I am not insulting you or anything but my family can protect me too. And you know if I don't go back, it will just cause a rift between pack and my family. You do not want that, trust me, especially in these situations.' Well, there is my explanation.

He stared at me for a long moment, then sighed loudly. Finally he nodded. 'Ok, I will take you home.' I beamed at him and hugged him hard. 'Thank you thank you thank you.' I was giddy with happiness. I packed my bag, while jake watched me again, this time with a sad expression. Oh no, not this time. I won't cave in this time.

'Ok, let's go.' I said once I was ready. 'Yeah. I have to take you back to cullens house. I mean I cannot really flush the progress I made with your family down the gutter. They will be angry at me as it is. I cannot afford to make them angrier.' he said. I smiled at him 'It will be okay. I will protect you' he chuckled at my comment.

I leaned forward and kissed him. He kissed back with more passion. 'Let's go.' he ended the kiss soon. Drive back home was filled with little chats. Both of us wanted to avoid discuss the dangers looming over us. I called mom to tell her I was coming home before we left jake's house.

It was not that bad when we got back home. Just mom and dad growled at jake for a long time. Alice told me that jasper had prepared the family for my slight disappearance. He felt jacob's emotions before we left and he told everyone that I won't probably return for few days. It was quite hard for mom and dad to digest. That is why they were calling me nonstop. Edward came back the next day. He was upset but he decided to stand with us.

However, I shared my idea of battle practice with my family. They agreed and jake talked with the pack too. They agreed too as it was the matter of an imprint's safety. Alice was keeping a close eye on volturi and bella's decisions. She already told us that volturi will come with at least 30 vampires. They will meet us at a clearing deep in woods. They believe that with bella's shield, and their own powerful army, they will defeat us easily and kill me.

Their plan is to attack us, defeat us and then kill me. Bella has somehow persuaded aro to forgive my family as well as the pack. I am the only she wants to see dead.

According to alice, bella's future has changed, its different now. There is something fishy going on with her. She keeps changing her mind. Alice says that bella is hiding something and she knows how to play alice's visions. She is avoiding taking decision, so that alice cannot know what is going on with her. We will just have to wait and see. Edward was not happy about that.

It was five days into battle training when alice had a vision. We had one more week, just seven more days to spend together. I was scared. I was more than scared. No one knows what will happen. Not even alice. Because of the pack, her vision was blank, just few glimpses here and there. And, nothing looked pretty.

All time pack and my family had, they were spending to train and train more. Jacob never left my side since I came back from la push. On the sixth day, pack spent the whole day with their families. I was with jake at his home, with billy, rachel and paul. My family was hunting.

It was scary to think that maybe this was the last time I was seeing some of the pack or my own family. Or maybe, this is the last time they were seeing me. Jacob picked up my panic from our imprint bond and kept me close. Every few minute, he whispered how much he loved me in my ear. Like, he won't get to tell me ever again.

I cried myself to sleep that night with jake spooning me trying to calm me. I cried for everyone, me, my family, my jacob, pack, my extended family. Finally at the early morning hours, we catched on some sleep.

Next morning was even more difficult. It felt like we were saying goodbye to everyone, to billy, to all the imprints, to la push. Situation was no better back at my home. Mom, grandma and alice had unshed venom tears in their eyes. Carlisle looked ready to cry himself. It was his family that was breaking right in front of his eyes.

Jasper was trying to look brave for everyone but I knew he was shaken up. Edward, he showed so many emotion that I was confused. Everyone hugged me tighter than usual. It was mom who shocked me 'I am sorry dear. For dragging you in this mad world.'

'No mom no, it is not your fault. It was never your fault . Trust me. I love you more than anything mom. And, I am glad that you brought me in this world. This is where I got you, dad, our family, jake, pack and so much more. I am thankful for that.' My words had some calming effect on her. Then, we left for the clearing.

We reached clearing in just few minutes and waited for our enemy to arrive. Time was ticking and now it was the matter of life and death.