Thanks so much for the reviews you guys really made me smile with some of your comments…So I have written Nessie's POV of the last chapter but I thought it was too similar to Jake's so am not gonna post it…however if you want to read it send me a review or pm with your email and I will send it to you…you don't need to read it to understand this chapter…. Oh and this may be my last update for a few weeks as I am off to Disney World in two weeks and I have an essay due in for my course so posting may fall behind. It just blows my mind that I will be in the same country (sort of- I know Vancouver is Canada- not in America) as the Eclipse cast when they filming SQUEE…. Anyway let me know what you think. Love Tink. XXX
The bitter wind whipped past my ears as I ran on, not feeling the icy bite of it against my skin like humans did. My heart was pounding in time with my feet as I glanced quickly over my shoulder, the action speeding up my heart and my strides. I was breathless but not from the exertion. It was the anticipation. He was following me, chasing me, hunting me down. A thrill rippled through me as he gained on me easily. I sprinted faster, determined I wasn't about to make this easy for him, my stomach flipping with excitement as his low growl reached my ears.
I made out the dense forest ahead as I zigzagged this way and that, sure footed and steady, determined. A nervous, excited, giggle escaped my throat as I suddenly darted behind a tree and held my breath. He'd never find me here; he would expect me to run right on to home, as I had done so many times before.
Statue like, I heard him pass by, the rhythmic beat of his heart, his unaltered breathing as he sped up his steps. Then everything was silent. Holding my breath I peeked around the tree and prepared to run back the way I had come. All was still, silent, as I peeked first left, then right and then -
"Gotcha Red" Jake appeared before me, his amazing mouth curved into a predatory grin as he stalked closer to me, so graceful, so dangerously beautiful.
Giggling breathlessly I stepped back as he advanced on me. I jumped a little as my back came into contact with the abrasive bark on the tree.
"I'm not scared of the big bad wolf," I teased, loving the wicked gleam in his eyes as he came closer still. So close that I could smell his deliciously tempting earthy scent, feel the scorching heat from his skin, hear the thumping of his heart.
"You should be little girl, didn't your mama ever warn you what happened to little girls that go into the woods alone" he breathed staring down at me through his sinfully long sooty lashes.
I grinned again, my knees a little weak from the unusually husky timber of his voice as it shivered across the skin below my ear as when leaned into to whisper to me.
"As I remember it, she kicks the wolves ass" I sassed unable to help the smirk or the feeling of acute longing that blossomed inside me being this close to him.
"Not before he bites her" he husked, licking his lips, his eyes heavy and possessive where they met mine. I could see his fangs begin to erupt from his gum, their pearly whiteness glinting in the near darkness. Oh dear god. I felt those strange feelings beginning in the pit of my stomach again and I shifted from one foot to the other, restless.
"B-bites her?" I stammered a hot flush coming to my cheeks as I took in the double meaning of his words.
He nodded slowly and reached out a hand to touch my cheek, so seductive, so dark "Every tasty inch of her, starting with her lips"
His voice made me shiver despite the furnace like heat coming from his skin as he lowered his head to mine, claiming savage possession of my mouth. Ho-lee crap. My mind went blank, I couldn't think, couldn't breathe as his mouth met mine. Hot. Wet and so very hungry that it left me shaking.
I could feel the softness of is lips against mine, the rough texture of his tongue as it swept inside. I moaned into his mouth and clutched at the strength of his massive forearms to keep me up right, as sensation after sensation overwhelmed me. This was what I had waited so long for, waited for Jake to take me, to kiss me and I crushed myself against him, needing to feel the heat and hardness of his body against mine. The sound of his growl sent liquid heat pooling between my thighs and I whimpered.
"Ness" he groaned against my mouth "Nessie there is something I need to tell you" he breathed as he kissed his way along my jaw to the sweet spot just below my ear.
"What Jake, what is it?" I panted, coming unraveled at the feeling of his lips teasing me, feeling a little wild and out of control. I was addicted to the feeling of his lips on my skin, my legs trembled and I pressed myself closer to his body, my breasts crushed against his wide chest, desperate to take away the ache inside me.
"You need to get your ass out of bed Ness or I'm turning the hose on you" he growled, laughing wickedly at the hurt expression on my face as I pulled away from him. I. What? What did he say?
Stunned, I stared at him as he and the forest around us began to fade away like the light from a dying flame. I blinked, squinting trying to see around the sudden burst of light and when I opened my eyes again I found myself lying in bed, my breath coming in rapid pants and my body on fire with need. Daylight poured through the window, dazzling me for a second and I shut my eyes quickly.
"Renesmee, I will come in there and get you" there was a booming voice, accompanied by the not so gentle sound of a fist thudding against my door.
"Emmett, please don't damage my paint job…she's awake now" I heard my mother's gentle voice call up the stairs, her amusement tangible.
I sat up in bed, struggling for air. It had been a dream? Disappointment moved in me but it wasn't enough to chase away the last vestiges of the burning need.
"Nessie?" he was sounding impatient now and I wondered why my most laid back and lighthearted uncle was hammering at me door, demanding I get up.
"I'm coming Uncle Emmett" I snarled a little pissed that in fact this was not the case. Then I stilled. Where the hell had that thought come from?
As I spoke I got a whiff of what all the excitement must be about. Wolves. Plural. Not just one but the pretty much the whole pack if my sense of smell would be believed. I could just about pick out the low buzz of conversation coming from the floors below me, the muted growls and snarls and the soothing pleasant tones of my grandmother.
There was something amiss here, rarely if ever did the pack congregate here. Jake. My first thought was something had happened to Jake. But as I hurriedly threw on my clothes I heard his loud guffaw as he shared a "joke" with my Aunt Rose. I allowed a smile of my own as she threatened to castrate him with a pair of kitchen shears and he chuckled, unconcerned as my grandmother admonished her.
By the time I reached the kitchen where most of the noise was coming from, I felt a little more relaxed though very curious as to why the wolves were here.
"Good morning Renesmee" My mom smiled weakly, I noticed my father place a comforting hand on hers and grip gently. She squeezed back and then smiled at me again.
"What's all this about?" I nodded to the wolves that were assembled around the table, all eating furiously, my eyes seeking Jakes. He caught my gaze and smiled gently at me, my stomach fluttering wildly as I thought about my dream and the touch of his mouth hot and wet against my skin. My father coughed and looked at me pointedly, his mocking eyes taking in the faint flush on my skin.
"There has been a development…we think we know where Jake was and why he was taken…Alice and your father want talk to us about it…all of us" my mom said gently brushing a stray curl from my face.
"Even these mutts, hell, we will never get the smell out now," Rosalie muttered acidicly, glaring in their direction.
"Rose" My grandfather cautioned and looked pointedly toward the table, where the wolves were assembled "Shall we?"
Together mom, my dad, grandparents and I took our places around the table as we exchanged grim smiles with the wolves. Sam had the grace to look uncomfortable, Seth pained and I wondered what was wrong with him. Seth was normally so bouncy and smiley, he was such a good guy and I wondered what could have possibly happened to take away his smile. Leah looked annoyed as usual, as though she was inhaling an unpleasant smell and I supposed being surrounded by my family she was. Quil and Embry grinned at me around mouthfuls of rare steak, Jared and Paul merely nodded in greeting, they were always the most intense wolves, so quiet it was often hard to tell what they thought, well unless you were my dad.
I smiled at Jake again as I took the vacant seat beside him and his scent tickled my nose, making me feel faint yet energized at the same time. Instantly I was reminded of my dream and felt more heat flood into my already flushed face.
He winked and grinned but there was a pain, a distance in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Instantly concerned I frowned at him, putting my hand on his with an inquiring look.
Gently, discreetly, he flipped our hands o his was one top and he squeezed it, stroking his thumb across the back of my hand. I hoped he could not feel the Goosebumps, which followed his touch. The corner of his mouth kicked up a little, and I knew he could. I tried to catch his eye, though he remained looking around the table, almost not acknowledging my presence beside him.
I was aware of my parent's eyes on us and my father frowned. Remembering what Jake had sent about being sent away, I slipped my hand from beneath his and placed it in my lap feeling the loss of his touch instantly.
As the buzz of conversation slipped away, my father took a breath and prepared to speak. Unsure why, my heart began to pound, I knew I was about to hear something that could change my life, and I was scared. More scared than I could admit. I had to remember what Rose had said to me yesterday when she comforted me. I had to be strong. I had to be a woman, not a little girl, an equal, a partner. I had to grow a set. Jake was alpha. I wanted to be his mate. He deserved someone strong and capable who could be by his side, not constantly whining and whimpering after him. My father's eyes flashed and he turned his glare on Rose who met his gaze head on with a casual shrug and a smirk.
Clearing his throat he began speaking in his soft melodic voice, though his words were no less terrifying in spite of this.
"I've called you all here today because we have discovered some information regarding Jake's recent where abouts…He was, we believe, held by the Volturi"
My blood turned to ice in my veins as I heard the word that as a child had been for me like the bogeyman. As a half vampire, half human there was very little that instilled fear into me, but the Volturi and their earlier attempt to destroy me was something that still gave me chills.
I could remember the fight between Rose and Emmett when as a little girl, he had told me if I wasn't a good girl and finished my mountain lion, the Volturi would get me. He thought it was funny, Jake, Rose and my parents had not. I had nightmares for a week and would only sleep if my wolf was at my feet. My father's irritated growl jerked my back to the present and I shuddered a little.
Glancing around the table I saw that the others reaction was the same as mine, the wolves made various growling sounds in their chests, their body language changing in an instinctual need to protect. Beside me I felt Jake grow tense and sensed how hard this must be to listen to. This was his past and I knew things had happened to him, dark things I couldn't possibly know about.
"We all know what this means…if they let him go, there was a reason for it…Alice has seen them, they are coming…coming for Jake but also for my family…" he said, clasping my mothers hand, his face grim.
My heart fluttered wildly, not with love this time but with a flicker of fear, the icy cold hand of dread taking hold of me.
"When?" Sam barked out the word, his entire frame trembling and I suddenly feel the tension in the room begin to abate. My uncle Jasper took on a pained look, but I knew this was his doing. The waves of calm he sent out made me feel a little drowsy, as though I wanted to just drift away but I couldn't give in to that feeling, I needed to see this through, for my family for Jake.
"Weeks, a month maybe…they want Jake but they seek to destroy anyone that stands in their way"
"Is it all of them?" I asked feeling an icy finger of dread as I pictured the entire guard and their wives, all dressed in red cloaks. The knowledge that I could loose Jake was more terrifying than the fact I was in danger too.
"Just Gianna, Felix, Demetri and" my father hesitated, his eyes flicking to Jake "Jane"
Beside me Jake shuddered and I wondered what happened to call forth this reaction by the mention of her name. There were things in his past I knew I was not privy to, there were things everyone kept from me, for my own good. This was one of those things.
"They want Jake… but they will try and take down whoever stops them"
Panic engulfed me and I sucked in deep breaths, I couldn't loose him or my family. It was as if my nightmares had returned to haunt me and my life as I knew it, was going to be over. Shaking I looked at my mother who sat on my other side, gripping my hand so tightly that I felt the pinch. I loved my family so much and now they would be in danger again. But I loved Jake too and I had to do something I had to protect them. I had to lead them away from here, lead them away from my family. I had to leave, to make Jake leave with me, to keep him safe, take him somewhere they would never find him.
"You want to what?" My father said incredulously, staring at me and I jumped, I had been so lost in my ruminations that I had forgotten his powers.
I cleared my throat nervously and tried to speak "I want to leave…I want to go to" I floundered, trying to think of the safest place; a place where they wouldn't be able to track him and suddenly it hit me. The most obvious place to go would also be the last place they would look "La Push"
Even as said the words, I knew there would be a backlash but it suddenly seemed to make sense to me. Demetri would not be able to find Jake nor I amongst so many wolves.
"No! No way!" My father and Jake spoke at the same time, both tensing as they spoke, glaring at me with identical expressions. If the situation had not been so serious I would have smiled.
"It makes sense…I'll be safer there…they won't be able to track Jake or I because of all the other wolves…if we stay hidden we should give you time to deal with them…to… stop them" I couldn't bare the thought of anyone being killed, of losing my family, my friends.
My father shook his head but I pressed on as though he had not moved "Daddy if the Volturi are coming here that is because they expect Jake to be here with us, they think we will try to protect him here, they would not think to look there…Aunt Alice if we go to La Push will they still come here looking for us?"
I glanced at my tiny aunt and watched her beautiful features contort in concentration, across the table I felt my father watching her thoughts, his own face twisted in a grimace.
After the longest minutes of my life she sighed "I, I think so?" she sounded quite unsure and disappointment flared in me. It was unusual for my littlest aunt to be so uncertain.
"You just think so?" Sam growled in disbelief and I knew immediately he was concerned for his own family, his pack. But couldn't he see that we were all in danger?
"It's hard for me to see around all you ah…wolves," she said choosing her words carefully. "But it is their intention to come here, not to La Push…what Nessie says makes sense, it will confuse them, slow them down if Jake is not here…it may just give us the time we need…please remember that they want to use Jake to harm us, all of us but until we know what they really are up to…this would make the most sense"
I smiled gratefully if not tremulously but my smile faded when I heard my father's next words
" That may be so, and Jake should go to La Push but there is no need for Nessie to go…. Renesmee we can protect you here…there is no need to go anywhere" My father said from between clenched teeth.
"Edward is right Ness" Jake said from beside me and I could not help feeling betrayed. I had assumed he would be on my side, that he would want me to be with him.
"What how can you even say that?" I turned to him, anger permeating my voice.
"You are better of here, where everyone can protect you…in La Push you would be totally exposed…Besides I am the one they want, being around me will only put you in danger"
"Hiding in plain sight Jake…they won't be able to find either of us, you wouldn't hurt me…you had the chance already and you didn't"
"How can you be sure Ness?" he sounded desperate like a man on the edge and it occurred to me then that maybe he was afraid for me as I was for him. Warmth shimmered through me.
"It makes sense…if Alice has such a hard time seeing us, I think that Demetri would have just a hard time tracking us…especially if there are other wolves around, it will just confuse them…slow them down and give everyone a chance to stop them…besides I don't know I want to be here when they arrive,"
"And what about Gianna?" My father asked Jake. I looked from one to the other watching, as they seemed to hold some kind of internal conversation.
"Gianna?" I echoed, frowning.
"Gianna was a human who worked for the Volturi before you were born…she has been changed…she has a gift, a very powerful gift the Volturi are relying on to help her destroy us…the problem is we do not know what that gift is…we cannot know what their plan is until they put it into practice"
"All the more reason for Jake and I to leave…La Push is not that far away…if you need to get there quickly you can…but I think this is the best chance for everyone"
Across the table Sam frowned "If it is true they are looking for you…then coming to La Push will only endanger us all"
I felt a spurt of anger towards Sam. But then remembered that he had a newborn daughter, and it was natural he would want to protect his family in the same way I wanted to protect mine.
"You're in danger anyway…they want Jake…not me I would be a bonus right?" I asked my father. He nodded gravely.
"If they want Jake, you don't think they would go after his pack to get to him anyway? Besides Alice has already told us, this is where they will come first"
"This goes against everything in me as a mother but I think she is right Edward…we were prepared to trust Jake with her life once before…why not now?" she said gently.
"You know why" he hissed and a look passed between them.
That piqued my interest, why would my father not trust Jake to take care of me? Once more I was struck with the feeling there was more going on here than I was being told. I hated the thought that my family, my parents and more importantly Jake was keeping things from me.
"Edward this isn't about that anymore…this about keeping Nessie and Jake safe…you know he will take care of her, he has to" Aunt Alice chimed in with her lilting voice confusing me more.
My father glared at Jake clearly trying to read his thoughts "I'll keep her safe Edward" Jake replied almost hesitantly, as though he didn't really want to speak, didn't want to admit that my idea was a good one.
"It's for the best Edward…we can deal with the …problem…and then when it's safe Nessie can come home to us," My mom said with a smile though everyone could see it was forced.
"So that's it…you're just gonna allow her to disappear with the dog…not a second thought? What happens when he has to phase and patrol or if he gets hurt or even better killed…who will protect her then?" Rose snarled and I felt a pang deep inside at the thought of my Jake killed or injured.
Seth spoke for the first time "We all will Rosalie…you better than anyone should know that she's one of our own and has been since birth…we protect our own" he spoke in his usual quiet voice but there was an edge to it, an almost alpha like quality which had not been there before. His face remained somber.
Once more I was left with more questions than answers, everyone was being so cryptic, so careful about what they said around me.
"I know you all think I'm being a bitch but this is Nessie we're talking about…can we really just let her leave our protection when there is this threat hanging over us?" her voice softened slightly as she looked at me.
"Bella can shield her… and if she's in La Push, she will be that much harder to track…I think it is the best option she's got" Alice put in.
"I want to go to La Push…I can't stand the thought of staying here and if something went wrong and you were killed…I couldn't watch you all die…at least if something does go wrong, we can get away, far away where they can't find us" I explained past the clog of emotion in my throat. I loved all my family dearly and didn't want to leave but I wanted them to be safe, wanted Jake to be safe and I would do whatever it took.
"I want to go to La Push…if you'll have me" I said softly looking at Jake. The vulnerable expression on his face took me by surprise, as did the look of pain in his eyes. I was filled with the urge to comfort him, to reassure him that everything was going to be all right.
It felt like an eternity as I waited for Jake's response, after all despite the need I had to protect my family, it didn't make much sense going somewhere I was not wanted.
My father growled "Not alone"
Jake's eyes fell to the table, looking almost guilty, as I heard a sigh and I wondered what my father had seen in their thoughts.
"I'll stay with them…when Jake has to patrol I'll stay with Nessie" Leah spoke for the first time, her face twisted in a grimace like she did not relish the task. Jake shot her a look of gratitude and her lips flickered into one of the first genuine smiles I'd seen, the look they shared made an odd feeling stir inside me and I felt an irrational spurt of dislike towards her. He looked away from her and then back to me, our eyes meeting, he looked…resigned to his fate.
Hope flared inside my heart but I had yet to hear Jake's affirmation.
"Well Jake, do you want me?" I asked softly, unable to tear my eyes from him. It was as though everyone around us had disappeared.
I was unaware of the low hiss my father made, nor of the restraining hand my mother laid on his to prevent him rising up. All I could focus on was Jake, and pained expression on his face. He closed his eyes as though in prayer and when he opened them, they shone brightly; with the same look I had seen in my dream. Awareness curled inside me as he said only one word but it was enough.
"Yes"