Chapter 24: know thy self, know thy enemy

A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you for the reviews, the favorites, and follows! Please make sure you all are taking care of yourselves! Life can be hard and can hit you in the gut sometimes! I write these stories to help entertain you guys and give you a sense of relief. I appreciate you all! And I do take prayer requests. How can I pray for you? feel free to message me! now on with the story!

…

Paul sat by Bella's side, as his stepmother and Dr. Fang worked on her. he was shaking, trying to keep himself calm but he was having a very hard time.

Charlie was standing next to him.

"son." He began.

Paul growled. Wiping the sweat from Bella's head. She was unconscious, taking shallow breaths. Her ribs had been broken, she was covered in bruises. She was starved and dehydrated. She had been raped more than once, and to top it off, she was pregnant.

Demetri didn't want to put her business out there so, he handed him a note.

One thing was for sure, he owed Demetri a great debt and he would never let his wife out of his sight.

He couldn't believe it. she was pregnant. It had to be impossible. Demtrie had to be wrong. the doctor told them that Bella's body was too damaged to hold a baby. And if it was true that she was pregnant. Was it his? Could male vampires produce sperm? She had only been captive for two weeks, was that enough time to conceive a child? a child that wasn't his?

Paul shot up like a rocket. A roar so deafening, it shook the tent they were in.

The man, the tiger, and the wolf were all on the same page.

They were angry.

in a rage, he grabbed Dr. Fang by the throat and threw him outside the tent.

Paul sauntered after him. Canines sharp and tiger claws ready.

Immediately, his guards were by his side without question.

He was ready to tear apart any vampire in sight.

They were done hurting his mate. They had violated her and caused her unending hardship.

Before he could tear Dr. Fang's head off, his father and father-in-law were stepping in front of him. Charlie was the one who spoke.

"Don't do it, son. He's not worth it. think about Bella's son. She's safe. she's here. She needs your head you're the game. We have some new information and we need you to focus, Paul. You're the leader, you have to focus. You want to take your anger out on these leeches, take it out on the ones that attack us. not the ones that are trying to help."

Paul howled.

It was a mournful angry howl.

Charlie shook his head and placed his hands on Paul's shoulders.

"breathe." He ordered.

Paul tried. He did but it only came out as a mournful growl.

"I know. I know son but you have to stay focused. Kill the enemy and we can take her home."

Paul closed his eyes.

He had never felt so weak. He couldn't even protect his wife. How was he supposed to lead an army?

As if he knew what he was thinking, Charlie shook his head.

"don't go there, son. Don't even think about it. you are a leader. you are strong. Where is that young man who promised to take care of my daughter? Cause I don't see him now. That's the man she needs. Now let Dr. Cullen work on bells, if it makes you feel better two of the pack can watch him. You and I need to go converse with Aro and the other kings. Our enemy is still out there."

Paul closed his eyes.

Give me strength lord he thought.

Charlie was right, he couldn't stay in this place. Jesus had called him higher. Had made him stronger.

He had to rise from this darkness.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Paul stood to his full height. His eyes glowing.

"let's do this."

…..

Edward held back a scream of despair as he read Demetri's mind. The latter was in a bed, a blanket covering his now bandaged legs and arm. He had cried for death, but to his despair, the masters wouldn't give it to him. They were going to try to fix him.

Right now, he needed to focus on being fed. Next to him was a goblet of blood but Demetri failed to drink. He was feeling guilty and useless.

The bedroom door burst open, as Paul followed by Charlie, Jasper and the kings entered.

Edward winched at the anger that radiated off the shifter.

Aro glided in and touched his hand.

He then walked over to Demetri taking his hand.

"master please I-"

Aro cut him off with a sush. An angry hiss emitted from Aro's lips as he explained.

" Demetri and Isabella have been through some grave traumas. They protected each other as best as they could. It was Isabella who stopped Demetri from dying multiple times. Our invisible enemy Victor is dead. Killed by Isabella's hands. Our enemy Amun and his sire are also dead, killed by Demetri even in his wounded state. The Romanians and the Egyptians have teamed up to try to defeat us. they have a gifted young man who can control elements. There are a total of fifty of them."

"We need to ambush them," Jasper suggested.

"go to the enemy instead of them going to us," Paul confirmed.

"When?" Charlie asked.

"We go now. We'll need Jane and Alec on the front lines. They will have to incapacitate as many as they can. My people will rip and burn all those stunned. We will have traps set up. I think we should encircle them and lead them here. That way we can overwhelm them." Paul explained.

"if it's a war they want. it is a war they will get." Marcus agreed.

….

Vladamir shrugged as he watched Kibi cry over her mate's ashes.

"he should have known better than to follow Victor. The man was deranged."

Kibi roared and launched herself at Vladimir. But he was quicker than her and blocked her attack.

"stupid women." He hissed as he went to backhand her.

"Are we done? I'm sure the Volturi have read the minds of our captives. I think it's time we move on with our plan." Stephan intervened.

Victor sighed.

"you never let me have any fun.."

"you can have your fun tearing apart Aro. I on the other hand want the girl." Stephan informed him.

"you have a fetish for the human huh? I didn't see anything special about her. She was a good lay but that is about it." Victor said as he motioned Kibi to follow them.

"there's just something about her. besides, I can't wait to see Aro's face when Benjamin destroys his guard with fire."

" you are going to kill us all," Kibi screamed.

Victor rolled his eyes.

"we will kill you if you don't shut up. do you see why I don't bother with women?"

Stephan laughed at his joke but stopped as they came upon the castle.

"stop." He suddenly said.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

They walked a few steps closer to the castle.

"where are Benjamin and Tia?" kibi asked aloud.

Stephan hushed her.

"the nomads are nowhere to be found."

Before any of them could make a move. Screams were heard and a group of nomads they had gathered were now running toward them.

Away from something.

When Vladimir grabbed one of them and asked him what was going on, the newborn could only say one word.

"Volturi!"

It was then the group was surrounded by tigers, wolves, and black cloaks.

"You going to die today!" someone told them.

….

Stephanie had just finished sewing up the scars on Bella's back. She put gauze to cover the deep wounds and put gauze around her ribs.

She was getting ready to patch up the scars on her feet when Bella gaped and sat up.

"NOOO!" she screamed.