Changing Tides
by Momma2fan
Chapter 21
The sound of breaking twigs and growls greeted the ears of the wolves, just as the sickly sweet stench of leeches arrived. The wolves were primed and ready as the first bunch leapt out of the trees, snarls and venom leaking from their mouths.
Now! -S
Springing into action, the pack took out the ones they could, leaving the ones who ran to the Cullens.
For Paul it was mechanical. Every head that he bit off, every limb that was removed, was all in protection of his mate, the love of his life. Bella was always on the periphery as he did his job as a protector.
For Edward, it was a means to an end. He didn’t sense Victoria anywhere, so he kept his mind open, listening to the thoughts of the newborns. None knew of her, until he found the one who was considered her right hand man. He listened and paid attention, ignoring his family and their warnings. He would get to Bella before the redhead. He would kill her first.
Riley watched as his minions were destroyed and wondered why Victoria hadn’t shown herself. Lifting his nose to the air, he tried to pick out the scent of their target. He knew she wasn’t there, but he could sense the direction she was in. Fading into the trees, Riley turned and ran in the direction he sensed her.
“Sam! One of them is heading to the res!” Alice shouted as she fought off the newborn who grabbed her.
Paul, Leah, go! Sam ordered as he pulled the arm off one who was going for the bigger Cullen.
Emmett nodded at Sam and ripped the head off the newborn. He turned and threw the body into the fire Esme had started, but ignored her and went back to fighting. No one noticed that Edward was no longer among them.
***CT***
Bella pulled a tray out of the oven and set it on the counter, her hands shaking with tension and fear. Knowing it was coming was one thing, knowing it was happening was another. Remembering the last time she lived this, she had been running on pure adrenaline. Now things were different. The adrenaline wasn’t there, but an overwhelming sense of foreboding and fear covered her in a sheen of sweat.
“Bella, come sit down, sweetie.” Emily coaxed, leading her to the living room.
“Something is coming, something bad. I know it.” Bella confessed.
“The pack will take care of it and Brady and Collin will warn us if anything comes this way.” Emily told her as Charlie handed her a glass of water.
They sat around talking, trying not to think about what was going on or the danger the pack was facing. All conversation stopped when a menacing growl sounded from outside. Bella and Emily looked toward the back yard, where they knew Collin was.
Billy whispered a prayer in Quileute, while Charlie loaded his Glock and pulled back the slide to chamber a round. He knew it was useless against a vampire, but he hoped it would slow one down if he had to fire.
“Dad, you know that’s useless. It’ll probably just ricochet off of one.”
“I know, Bells. I’m thinking it will surprise one at the very least.”
The growling outside grew and then there was a howl of pain. Emily and Bella looked at each other, both worried about the pups.
“Bella...” A taunting voice came from outside. “Come out, Bella.”
The childlike voice coming from the backyard made Bella giggle. “Sorry,” she whispered when everyone looked at her.
The growls and snarls grew as did the yelps until Bella couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to go out and see what was going on, but was content with looking out the window. What she saw devastated her.
Collin was laying on the ground, unmoving, while Brady was fighting two vampires.
“Oh, no.”
“What is it?” Emily walked over and gasped. “You don’t think he’s dead, do you?”
“No,” Bella looked at her. “If he was, I think he would be human again.”
“What are we gonna do, Bella?”
They both gasped in horror as Brady was thrown toward the house. He crashed into the side and the door cracked. They were in trouble.
Just as Charlie was making his way to the door, ready to provide a distraction, he saw Edward Cullen burst through the trees.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
“Who?” She looked out the window and didn’t hesitate. She ran out the door and hovered beside Brady’s prone form. Glaring at Edward, “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ll be with you in a minute, my love. First I must dispatch these two.”
Ignoring him, she knelt beside Brady. “Are you okay?” Brady nodded his large wolfy head. “Is Collin?” Another nod. “Are there any other wolves on the way?” One more nod. “Good.”
Bella stood up and faced Victoria. “You should know that he isn’t my mate.”
“Of course you are. He wouldn’t have killed James otherwise.”
Bella shook her head. “I believe he killed him because James was trying to take my blood from him. I’m Edward’s singer.”
“So your death will not affect him?”
Bella shrugged, “Not in the sense that he lost his mate. He’ll be more pissed because he lost out on my blood.”
Before any other words were said, Collin and Brady both jumped up as Leah and Paul burst through the trees. Leah landed on Victoria’s male companion, while the young pups grabbed Victoria. Paul was facing off with Edward.
You broke the treaty again, leech. -P
Edward feinted to one side as Paul did the other. “I will have her blood, mutt.”
Bella was helping the other three put the dismembered parts of Victoria and the other in the fire Charlie had started. None of the wolves phased as they watched the stand off between Paul and Edward.
She’s mine, bloodsucker. You’ll never get to her. My pack will destroy you if you try. -P
“Your pack will be too late.” Edward sneered.
We’re right here, Paul, and the others are on the way. -L
Bella watched in horror as Edward attacked Paul. She couldn’t contain her scream as he attached his arms to his furry torso. When Edward clamped down with his arms, her scream echoed in the silence, sending birds flying away.
“Paul...no!”
Paul stared at her with his wolf eyes before they rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the ground.
Leah, Brady and Collin were on him before Edward could get to Bella. She ran to where Paul lay, having shifted to his human form, moaning in agony.
She turned to the wolves and shouted, “Kill that son of a bitch!” She kneeled beside her boyfriend, fluttering her hands over him, but afraid to touch. “Paul, baby?”
“Be...lla...” he groaned. “Lo...ve y...ou.”
“I love you, too. You’re gonna be fine. You can’t leave me, Paul. Please, I need you.” Bella was sobbing over his forehead. She pressed her lips to his sweaty skin and brushed her fingers over his hair.
“Bella, back up, baby. Let the pack get him inside. Carlisle is here to help him.” Charlie was holding on to her shoulders, trying to pull her away.
“Daddy...”
“I know, honey. You can go with them.”
Bella watched as the pack carefully lifted Paul’s unconscious body and carried him in the house to Sam and Emily’s guest bedroom. She followed them up the stairs and watched as they gently lay him on the bed. When she would have crawled in beside him, Sam held her fast.
“Let Doctor Cullen work, Bella.”
Carlisle quickly examined the wolf, knowing the rest of his family’s lives depended upon his survival.
The sound of breaking twigs and growls greeted the ears of the wolves, just as the sickly sweet stench of leeches arrived. The wolves were primed and ready as the first bunch leapt out of the trees, snarls and venom leaking from their mouths.
Now! -S
Springing into action, the pack took out the ones they could, leaving the ones who ran to the Cullens.
For Paul it was mechanical. Every head that he bit off, every limb that was removed, was all in protection of his mate, the love of his life. Bella was always on the periphery as he did his job as a protector.
For Edward, it was a means to an end. He didn’t sense Victoria anywhere, so he kept his mind open, listening to the thoughts of the newborns. None knew of her, until he found the one who was considered her right hand man. He listened and paid attention, ignoring his family and their warnings. He would get to Bella before the redhead. He would kill her first.
Riley watched as his minions were destroyed and wondered why Victoria hadn’t shown herself. Lifting his nose to the air, he tried to pick out the scent of their target. He knew she wasn’t there, but he could sense the direction she was in. Fading into the trees, Riley turned and ran in the direction he sensed her.
“Sam! One of them is heading to the res!” Alice shouted as she fought off the newborn who grabbed her.
Paul, Leah, go! Sam ordered as he pulled the arm off one who was going for the bigger Cullen.
Emmett nodded at Sam and ripped the head off the newborn. He turned and threw the body into the fire Esme had started, but ignored her and went back to fighting. No one noticed that Edward was no longer among them.
***CT***
Bella pulled a tray out of the oven and set it on the counter, her hands shaking with tension and fear. Knowing it was coming was one thing, knowing it was happening was another. Remembering the last time she lived this, she had been running on pure adrenaline. Now things were different. The adrenaline wasn’t there, but an overwhelming sense of foreboding and fear covered her in a sheen of sweat.
“Bella, come sit down, sweetie.” Emily coaxed, leading her to the living room.
“Something is coming, something bad. I know it.” Bella confessed.
“The pack will take care of it and Brady and Collin will warn us if anything comes this way.” Emily told her as Charlie handed her a glass of water.
They sat around talking, trying not to think about what was going on or the danger the pack was facing. All conversation stopped when a menacing growl sounded from outside. Bella and Emily looked toward the back yard, where they knew Collin was.
Billy whispered a prayer in Quileute, while Charlie loaded his Glock and pulled back the slide to chamber a round. He knew it was useless against a vampire, but he hoped it would slow one down if he had to fire.
“Dad, you know that’s useless. It’ll probably just ricochet off of one.”
“I know, Bells. I’m thinking it will surprise one at the very least.”
The growling outside grew and then there was a howl of pain. Emily and Bella looked at each other, both worried about the pups.
“Bella...” A taunting voice came from outside. “Come out, Bella.”
The childlike voice coming from the backyard made Bella giggle. “Sorry,” she whispered when everyone looked at her.
The growls and snarls grew as did the yelps until Bella couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to go out and see what was going on, but was content with looking out the window. What she saw devastated her.
Collin was laying on the ground, unmoving, while Brady was fighting two vampires.
“Oh, no.”
“What is it?” Emily walked over and gasped. “You don’t think he’s dead, do you?”
“No,” Bella looked at her. “If he was, I think he would be human again.”
“What are we gonna do, Bella?”
They both gasped in horror as Brady was thrown toward the house. He crashed into the side and the door cracked. They were in trouble.
Just as Charlie was making his way to the door, ready to provide a distraction, he saw Edward Cullen burst through the trees.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
“Who?” She looked out the window and didn’t hesitate. She ran out the door and hovered beside Brady’s prone form. Glaring at Edward, “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ll be with you in a minute, my love. First I must dispatch these two.”
Ignoring him, she knelt beside Brady. “Are you okay?” Brady nodded his large wolfy head. “Is Collin?” Another nod. “Are there any other wolves on the way?” One more nod. “Good.”
Bella stood up and faced Victoria. “You should know that he isn’t my mate.”
“Of course you are. He wouldn’t have killed James otherwise.”
Bella shook her head. “I believe he killed him because James was trying to take my blood from him. I’m Edward’s singer.”
“So your death will not affect him?”
Bella shrugged, “Not in the sense that he lost his mate. He’ll be more pissed because he lost out on my blood.”
Before any other words were said, Collin and Brady both jumped up as Leah and Paul burst through the trees. Leah landed on Victoria’s male companion, while the young pups grabbed Victoria. Paul was facing off with Edward.
You broke the treaty again, leech. -P
Edward feinted to one side as Paul did the other. “I will have her blood, mutt.”
Bella was helping the other three put the dismembered parts of Victoria and the other in the fire Charlie had started. None of the wolves phased as they watched the stand off between Paul and Edward.
She’s mine, bloodsucker. You’ll never get to her. My pack will destroy you if you try. -P
“Your pack will be too late.” Edward sneered.
We’re right here, Paul, and the others are on the way. -L
Bella watched in horror as Edward attacked Paul. She couldn’t contain her scream as he attached his arms to his furry torso. When Edward clamped down with his arms, her scream echoed in the silence, sending birds flying away.
“Paul...no!”
Paul stared at her with his wolf eyes before they rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the ground.
Leah, Brady and Collin were on him before Edward could get to Bella. She ran to where Paul lay, having shifted to his human form, moaning in agony.
She turned to the wolves and shouted, “Kill that son of a bitch!” She kneeled beside her boyfriend, fluttering her hands over him, but afraid to touch. “Paul, baby?”
“Be...lla...” he groaned. “Lo...ve y...ou.”
“I love you, too. You’re gonna be fine. You can’t leave me, Paul. Please, I need you.” Bella was sobbing over his forehead. She pressed her lips to his sweaty skin and brushed her fingers over his hair.
“Bella, back up, baby. Let the pack get him inside. Carlisle is here to help him.” Charlie was holding on to her shoulders, trying to pull her away.
“Daddy...”
“I know, honey. You can go with them.”
Bella watched as the pack carefully lifted Paul’s unconscious body and carried him in the house to Sam and Emily’s guest bedroom. She followed them up the stairs and watched as they gently lay him on the bed. When she would have crawled in beside him, Sam held her fast.
“Let Doctor Cullen work, Bella.”
Carlisle quickly examined the wolf, knowing the rest of his family’s lives depended upon his survival.