Chapter 13 : Protect The Pack

Jacobs POV*

Getting all of us here was a nightmare in and of itself. Shapeshifters and Vampires aren't meant to travel together for a reason and being surrounded by them at every turn was reminding all of my kind that with every step we took. Though we were organized we were still traveling into the unknown. I kept our plan or what little of one I could muster with the information Ness had given to me simple. We would stay together in a tight formation, Uley alongside Bear, who had undoubtedly imprinted on her, and Harry would travel between the Vampires and the pack to ensure no one decided to turn coat at the last minute. Knowing we were united in our cause however did help ease the tension of our generational wounds. Though the Cullens had essentially been grandfathered in over the years as their respect for our kind and our land have never wavered these new covens much less the Volturi would never have our respect. Not even the Cullens' friends truly had our support, much less our respect. I myself am still iffy on the whole "joining of the covens" as the Denalis now shared a home with the Cullens along with myself and Renesmee. Except for Garret of course, he's cool.

"Jake? How much longer do you think?" Seth asked.

"We have to be close by now."

"Do you think that girl did this to the gates?" Bear asked.

"Maybe."

"A Metal Bender? Jesus Christ what's next with these freaks." Uley chimed in.

"It's not the Volturi we need to worry about. They're just our way in. Edwards assured me we all have a common goal. They're just here to kill some Werewolves, not us. Just stay out of their way and focus on the security of the pack. They don't need our protection and we sure as hell don't need theirs."

"Are we really going to kill the humans if they come for us?" Seth asked, though this was a question on everyone's mind.

"Yes."

"I don't agree with that Jacob." Seth replied sheepishly.

"They have guns. Or at least some of them do. Last time I checked we all still bleed." I replied.

"They're protecting their homes." Harry stated. "A home we're about to invade."

"I'm not asking anyone to kill a human. I'm only asking that you defend yourselves and each other . The Volturi created this problem. The humans here are part of it. We can't save them and we can't risk the pack's safety and try and protect them. We are here for Renesmee and once she's out then we're out of here. All of us." I replied annoyed that they were choosing now to bring up their concerns.

"What if the Cullens get stuck in the crossfire?" Bear asked.

"They won't, Alice and Jasper have our way home ready and Emmett, Carlisle, Esme and Blondie will be waiting for Bella and Edward." I replied.

"Their other Vamp friends are really gonna fight without them?" Abel, Bears betta asked.

"I guess."

"Probably realized if they pulled out once the Volturi showed up Aro would find reason to hunt them down next for their disloyalty even if it was to a cause that originated from a personal problem." Uley continued for no reason other than to make small talk.

"Amun and Kebi left though?" Seth replied.

"They know they're meant to be left alone as examples of what could happen if you step out of line. SO long as Benjamin fights today then chooses to find his way home to them then he fights in their places." Uley replied as if she knows what she's even talking about.

"That's enough Vampire lore talk, seriously all of you it's time to stay focused!" I shouted.

"Jacob Carlisle is coming!" Seth said as his nose pointed towards Carlisle who was racing towards us now.

"You're nearly at the entrance now. A few have made it through to what looks like the front entrance already. They're tearing through the humans quickly. Some kind of alarm went off, they know we're here now. We've found a location to meet on a cliff to the northern border. The entrance is a complete drop off so be careful, all of you. Most importantly, be safe and stay together." Carlisle warned like a father who was watching his sons and daughters go off to war, "Edward and Bella are on their way towards the main castle that you say houses Renesmee. The Volturi's half breed, Odessa, nodded at me when she came back to regroup with Aro and Marcus. I don't entirely know what that means but Edward told me before he departed that she had been given the mission to find the friends you told Aro of, Killian and Stella. Hopefully she was able to warn them as well as Renesmee. We love you, all of you."

As soon as Carlisle passed on the information I passed it to my pack. Carlisle departed swiftly taking a sharp left while the lot of us braced for the leap of the cliff's edge. One wrong move and we'd all have broken limbs from this height. The Vampires fanned out from behind us as we stayed together in our tight pack formation. Fires had already begun to break out all over the small medieval looking town. Minus the darkness and distraction the town was actually quite beautiful and clearly well taken care of. What a shame it is to watch it burn.

We successfully made it to the main ground and I picked up Bella and Edwards scent easily, their direction was the one I planned to lead my pack towards. Get Renesmee and get out, that was the plan. However, midway through the town I realized the Werewolves were coming. Plans changed immediately as we broke off into two groups, one led by Bear the other myself. Uley and Harry took to the tops of the houses and quickly found themselves tearing into the flesh of the Werewolves who had come for us. A large group had slipped past the Volturi, 15 at least. They smelt more human than I thought they would, certainly more human than we did. Killing them wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Their wounds healed quickly. Unlike Vampires they didn't break when you pulled their limbs they simply stretched like a rubber band so ripping limbs off wasn't as simple as it should be, and unfortunately it seems they have the unsettling ability to regenerate their arms and legs and even pieces of their brain. The worst of it was their claws. Each nick or slash felt like fire. It wasn't hard to tell why I couldn't heal properly all those weeks ago. We were clearly vulnerable to something within their claws, they must be laced with some kind of poison I concluded.

"Stay away from their claws! They have some kind of poison on them! Their teeth too just to be safe!" I sent to the minds of the entire pack though I could feel those who had followed Bear where further away then I expected them to be.

"Jacob! Tell your pack to skip the foreplay! Go for their chest! Their hearts! Rip them out and eat them!" Uley shouted from the rooftops.

"Eat them?!" I replied in horror and disgust.

"It's the only part of them that seems to not have begun to regenerate! Better safe than sorry! The Werewolves my Father thought us to hunt didn't exactly heal like this! This is different! Must be a part of their natural evolution!" Harry shouted, I watched bewildered as he stretched the arms on a Werewolf and tore into his chest, consuming its heart before throwing its limp body onto ground below.

I rushed over to examine the carcass. The body was in its human form, a young black haired woman with dead eyes who sure enough was not regenerating. This was enough proof for me to send the message along to both packs.

"Everyone. You heard Uley. Eat their hearts!" I shouted.

Uley was completely right, the ones whose hearts we tore out and ate didn't get back up like the others who simply regenerated eventually. We circled back to the few we had simply dismembered and made sure to eat their hearts as well. As Uley said, better safe than sorry.

"Jake! Bear took his pack up towards the gates! They're mixed up with the Volturi and the rest of the Werewolves!" Harry shouted.

"What?! They weren't supposed to go that far!" I shouted back.

"The Wolves keep slipping past the Vamps they went to help hold the line! If we don't make a clear path for Bella and Edward we'll risk them running into trouble! Let's go!" With that Uley was off rushing towards Bear's side.

"They have some Wolves that regenerated on their tail! We need to go now!" Harry shouted as he followed behind his sister.

"Jake if you wanna wait and go to Ness I'lll-" Seth began as he turned to face the palace the gloomed over us through the smoke created by the now raging fires that laid all around us.

"No Seth. Edward and Bella will get Renesmee and bring her to the meetup spot. They have to. This town is done for there's no more danger out here, just the dead and damned. We stick together. Protect the pack! Let's go!"

I lead my pack across a large field that must have been used for farming. Scattered human carcasses that had been slaughtered by Vampires squashed beneath our large paws as we ran towards the gates to meet our pack. Before I knew it I found myself on the front lines of a war I had no intention of letting my kind fight in the first place. Naturally however with the given circumstances it was easy to fall into it all. Perhaps too easy. Uley and Harry fought better than anyone of course and the Volturi certainly took note and some followed their formations without question. It was strange to see us all working together like this. Unnatural. Regardless we all had a singular goal now. The town was gone along with all of the humans who lived within it. All that was left was an army of Werewolves. We couldn't let them leave beyond these gates. If they ran or escaped there would always be a chance they could come back.

I lost myself in it all as we worked alongside the likes of Odessa, and Jane. Alec was nowhere to be found, perhaps lost to the war as I had noticed many other members of Volturi were now. Marcus stood off to the side, out of harm's way, with a single woman by his side, a protector maybe. I hadn't caught a glimpse of him since passing through the fields however. Odessa, his adopted daughter, was quite the force to be reckoned with. Twice she'd saved my life already and countless times she came to the aid of my men and women as well as her own. Who would've thought a half-ling could move so much like a Vampire. I'd watched Nahuel and Renesmee race and practice their fighting techniques with Jasper more times than I could count but nothing came even close to what Odessa was clearly tapped into. The numbers began to wind down unfortunately on both sides but it was clear some of the Vampires were unaware of how to kill these beasts.

"God it would be nice if Edward were here. They'll just keep coming back! Jacob one if us should-"

"No Seth! We protect the pack! Those who know can handle the regenerated!" I shouted as I finished tearing the heart out of a Werewolf that Seth held down.

Out of nowhere the familiar call of Uley's voice rang through my head.

"Where is that coming from?" I asked.

"It's Uley! She's back near the village! Seth, Jacob go to her!" Bear shouted.

"Bear! Go with them and flank Jacob on both sides!" Abel shouted while he and his son tore through another Werewolf.

"They don't need me." Bear countered.

"No but Uley might! Just go! There's more time for arguing. We got this!" Abel, assured him.

With that the three of us took off towards Uley back across the bloody fields. Running away from them felt like a mistake, like I was leaving them to die. Seth kept reminding me that they would be fine. We hadn't lost a soul yet and Abel had proven to be an immaculate fighter. Maybe even stronger overall than even Bear. As we came upon Uley a small figure in a white dress leapt down from the rooftop with Uley following behind.

Renesmee…

I shifted out of my wolf like my life depended on it and ran to her cradling her in my arms for the first time in what felt like an eternity. I kissed her lips hard as tears fell from both of our eyes.

"I told you I was coming! Thank you for holding on." I whispered. "Where's the baby? Wait- You're not even supposed to be here! Where's Bella and Edward?" I asked frantically as I realized it was just the two of them.

"They're going to kill Dane." Renesmee whispered.

"What? We can handle the Werewolves! God! This wasn't the plan! Uley, why would you bring her here?!" I shouted at Uley who stepped back.

"I know! But Bella ran past me and asked me to make sure her family got out safely so I ran back and came across Renesmee completely alone!"

"Well sorry! I didn't realize Bella was your Alpha now!"

"She's not! And neither are you Jacob!" Uley reminded me, taking her place close behind Renesmee once more.

"That's enough. Both of you. We're all here for the same reason." Bear chimed in carefully.

"Please don't yell at her! I asked her to bring me here!" Renesmee shouted back, seeing in my eyes that I was communicating with Uley I'm sure.

"Why?! Do you have any idea how much danger you're in right now!" I continued.

"Jacobs I couldn't live with myself if I didn't tell you the truth… The truth of why they brought me here… You deserve to know." Renesmee replied as tears began to flow from her eyes.

"There is time for that later-" I replied as calmly as I could.

"NO! You need to see now, while I'm still feeling brave enough to show you… If anything happens- Jacob I can't live without knowing that you knew the whole truth of what happened here… What that Monster has done… "

"Alright… I'm sorry. Please, show me." I replied as calmly as I could muster.

As she reached her handout, terror ran through me before she even reached my cheek. She noticed of course and hesitated. I could tell she was just as terrified to tell me as I was to find out. Her eyes wandered towards Seth and Bear.

"They all want to know exactly why they're here too, Ness, they're your family. Nothing you show me will ever change that." I whispered.

I gently kissed her lips once more then put her palm onto his cheek.

I thought I was ready for the worst. But I wasn't. Sadness turned to something darker and my anger turned to blind rage. Seth was crying and Bear and Uley had fallen to their knees as Renesmee's memories flowed through me into their heads. Dane… He needed to die, no he was going to die and I know wherever he is will be exactly where Bella and Edward are trying to get to.

"We'll find Bella and Edward and we'll end all of this! Let's go! Now!" I shouted as I phased into my wolf.

"Jacob…" Seth's voice cried lightly through my mind.

"Get her to Carlisle and Esme and get out of here Uley! Don't let everything we've done here be in vain! Leave now!" I ordered as Seth, Bear and I departed back towards the gates.

"I won't look back. Bear, I love you." Uley replied.

"I love you too, Uley." Bear replied as we departed from them.

Renesmee was shouting something, I think, but my mind was far too focused to pay attention. We had yet another new plan. Find Dane, kill him and then help end the lives of every Werewolf in this godforsaken sorry excuse for a Kingdom. This could never happen again. I wouldn't allow it. Even if it meant risking my own life or even Bella and Edwards. We were going to find this supposed "King" bring him to his knees and I was going to eat him. Entirely if that's what it took.

As we entered what felt like a war arena blood was quite literally everywhere. My pack was drenched in it from snout to tail. I almost couldn't catch their scent. Some of it was human blood but most of it was the Werewolves they had slain. Most importantly however, hardly any of it was their own blood. Harry and the Vampires who now seemed to be led by Odessa had rallied behind Abel and the rest of the pack in my absence.

"The Vampires lost their leader! They're losing faith in the fight but Odessa wants this finished!" Abel shouted.

"Then let's finish this! Edward! Where is he?!" I shouted knowing Edward would know exactly who I was referring to.

"He's mine Jacob! I can do this!" Edward shouted from across the field of dead and fighting Werewolves.

"Jacob he's in the thick of them being protected by his strongest! The black ones! We can't get around them!" Bella shouted.

My eyes quickly found what Bella was talking about and a sour memory came to the forefront of my mind. Those who now guarded Dane were in fact the black figures who had attacked me on Isle Esme. They were much larger than the rest, though not quite as large as Harry or Uley.

"Bear! Abel! We'll push through towards the Alpha and kill him and his guards; the Vampires can handle the rest!" I shouted.

"Jacob, that's a death sentence!" Edward shouted back as he and Bella tore the hearts out of Werewolf who phased into the human form of a girl who couldn't have been more than 15.

"Then send a message to the Vampires! Tell them to flank us on either side and hold the line! Let's go!"

Without question the two followed as well as a majority of the pack who regrouped behind us as we charged straight for the large black wolves who protected their King.

Benjamin, Tia, Edwards and Bella stayed close by the side of the three of us as the rest of the Cullen's friends and the Volturi guards worked to maintain the line as we broke from formation. As quickly as we were on them they were on us. If the Wolves in the village had poison on their claws then the claws of the Black Guards were potentially straight acid. The sting was grossly familiar and somehow more painful then I remember. A flicker of white dashed into the cave as we fought the guards, Benjamin lit three of them on Fire as he and Tia worked together to remove their hearts.

"Edward! He fled into the caves!" I shouted while I worked to get a Werewolves claws out of my thighs.

"I see that Jacob! Fuck! Bella!" Edward shouted.

Bella let out a scream and I couldn't help but get angry. How could she mess up at a time like this? I decided they weren't going to be any help. I'd have to go into the caves alone. Finally Bear came to my aid and together we killed the Werewolf that had attacked me from behind.

"Bear I'm going in! Once I get in I'm sure they'll all come for the entrance! After everything they've lost here today clearly they'll do anything to protect their Alpha! Keep them out! Kill as many as you can! Protect the pack!" I ordered once more.

"Jacob Bella's hurt!" Seth's panicked voice rang through my head.

"Then get her out of here Seth! We don't have time for this!" I shouted.

What part of "protect the pack" does this guy not understand? Just because they're technically my in laws doesn't mean I'm going to stop everything and save them. There are more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

It wasn't easy and I had to tune out my pack entirely to focus enough to get through them but eventually I managed to push my way through. I noticed there were thick, and heavy looking chains on the ground and I quickly phased out of my wolf form and shut the gates behind me. I used all my strength to tie the gate with the chain. One of the Black Guards ran up to the gate and I watched as his body slammed against the chains. Without hesitation I ducked down and reached my hand to pull one of his legs in phasing just long enough to tear his leg from his hip completely. The sound was repulsive as his skin pulled against my grip as it tried to maintain itself while the Werewolf let out a scratch of pain. The man lost control of his form and shifted back into a human as he fell to the ground.

"You can't win this little red wolf. Just give up already. Alpha Dane is going to survive this… One way or another. You can hunt him to the end of the world if you'd like but he will always come out on top." The man said with a smile as he pulled his body away from the gate. "Even if you kill him, this is only the beginning! You have no idea what we are capable of…"

"Seems like you've been living in the dark for too long. I'm sorry that your Master had brought this upon your people. Don't take it personally." I replied.

"You are going to die-" The man continued as he stood up on one leg and looked as if he was preparing to charge, just then his eyes turned pale and I watched as he fell lifeless to the ground.

Edward was behind him. Heart in hand.

"End this Jacob." Edward pleaded.

"I will." I replied before turning and shifting back into my wolf.

I followed Dane's scent which was oddly quite easy to distinguish. Unlike the others his scent was "old" I guess you could say. As I neared I could tell his heart was racing. I couldn't tell if it was from fear or excitement but I didn't care to find out this would be quick. I needed to end him and get back to my wife, my son and our life.

"You must be the dead husband I assume?" Dane began, hiding among the shadows of the cave. "I can't believe you survived that attack. You know I pierced your heart with my own poison? No shape shifter has ever survived that before. Not that I've met many besides you and my little adopted son Jacob Jr- but still."

He was tempting me to phase out and speak with him but I decided to hold in my rage and follow his scent.

"You're people. They're quite impressive. I truly thought we stood a chance. We've gotten away with so much. I suppose I should have had better spies topside. The wonders you've brought to my front door were truly unprecedented. That other half breed woman though. Dame. Now she is truly amazing. Made a bed with the wrong devil I guess."

I growled at this as an image of Dane on top of Renesmee holding her down while she cried flash through my head. Focus Jacob.

"Well… I suppose if I have to die at least I know I will have left the only part of me that matters in good hands. My people would be so disappointed to know I'm gone… Though I'm sure your kind won't leave a single one of them alive… Not even the babies. The truly innocent ones."

I had followed Dane's voice through a room where 8 scared small children with fur and wolf-like features were hidden, none could have been more than 10 years old. There were also 6 infants, none of them bigger then Jacob Jr. it hurt me to look away. But it wasn't up to me to decide their fate and I wouldn't take on the burden of any ill fate that followed a single innocent under Dane's rule, that was his burden to bear, not mine. I was here for Dane and Dane alone, so I continued on and followed his scent.

"They're cute, no? I wonder if my Ann will look like them. Have you seen her yet? I haven't. What a shame. All I ever wanted was a healthy child who would outlive me. Carry on my legacy. Protect my people. Yet all I have done is lead them down yet another dead end cave."

"Enough of this cave tour! Come out and fight me!" I shouted as a phased out of my wolf.

"I won't be giving you that satisfaction. You see wolf man. If today has taught me anything it is that this world and its many rules and secrets are no longer for an old timer like me. It belongs to the young man and I can not compete with his games any longer. So, I fold. I have given this world an heir and it will either accept her or destroy her. Like myself she will have to navigate this world as a lone wolf. Like me she will be stronger for it and perhaps her brood will prove more fruitful. However, I have no fight left in me. All my friends and family are dead and I would like to join them."

Finally I found Dane who was knelt down in an opening alone and unarmed with no noticeable way out. He was in his human form and before my mind could register the speed I was moving my wolf was on top of him tearing into his back as he phased in and out of his wolf. His skin felt like the thickest layer of leather and he regenerated at a speed much quicker than the others. Killing him was going to be harder than it was to kill the others and that was already not easy at all. My claws and teeth scratched and gnawed at him as my images of what he had done flashed through my mind.

"DO IT! JUST DO IT ALREADY!" Dane shouted which sent me into a frenzy. "HURRY! JUST DO IT! END THIS! KILL ME!"

I felt a weak spot finally and forced my teeth to tear through his left lung and swallowed it whole before tearing back into his chest for his heart. As I pulled it away from his body I watched as his green eyes glowed and his body began to shake uncontrollably while he howled for what would be his last time. In the distance I could hear the children and the infants crying now. I silenced my thoughts and ate Dane's heart then slowly I tore through the rest of his flesh and swallowed him piece by piece until Dane was no more. I wouldn't risk him ever being able to regenerate. I tried not to think of the acid-like taste as I swallowed each piece. I could only imagine what kind of terrible things this repulsive act was going to do to my stomach.

My stomach was pounding and far too full I felt like I was going to explode. I wanted to throw up but I forced myself to hold everything down. I laid down and began to doze off in a pile of Dane's blood. I realized I had lost some teeth in the process of tearing through Dane's skin and limbs and my mouth was bleeding quite a bit. Wonderful Jacob. Now Renesmee has to kiss a toothless man, sure that won't worry her… Damn it… I closed my eyes and laid down in an attempt to settle my stomach. Knowing that if I took a single step to leave where I was I would unfortunately have to vomit. Especially if I came across anyone who was looking to fight.

"Jacob! Woah… Uh wolf babies?" Seth's voice said as he approached my location.

"We'll take care of them. Go to your Alpha." Odessa ordered.

"Right. Jacob! Hey Jacob! We did it! We beat the Werewolves! Where the hell have you been! It's been like an hour! We thought you were- Well alive and well obviously because of course you would win. Duhhh."

"That's great Seth."

Great I'm losing time again. Just what I need right now.

"God. You don't look so good Jacob." Seth said as he slowly pushed on my face with his own.

"Yeah… I… I um…"

"It's okay. You don't have to say it." Seth said as he licked my cheek. "Harry, can you carry him out of here?"

"It would be my pleasure. Come here you furry little red wolf." Harry joked.

"If I ever told you how much I don't-" As soon as Harry's hands lifted me from the ground I felt the satisfaction of him taking some of my stomach pain away, "How much I love you?"

"I can't take much more, Jacob. We have a long way to travel to the cliff's end. I'll take your pain in stride as we travel out of here."

"No you've already done enough."

"Shut up Jacob. Get some rest." Harry said as he tightened his grip.

"Hey! Wait! No!" I replied weakly.

Just like that I was out like a light, against my will yet again. God, I can't wait to terrorize that asshole's dreams once I learn how to dream walk properly.