Dragging along behind them, I watched as Jasper and Alice swung their joint hands back and forth between them as we neared the front of the house. Just the three of us had made it back; Carlisle, Esme and Emmett continued on to get supplies for Bella after the group had fed. On the way back we played it safe, using the tops of the trees as our path, it was a difficult task trying to remain silent jumping from branch to branch but we remained undetected.

There was no signs of the wolves, I had guessed they were either consulting with the elders or running a perimeter around our own boundary. When we crossed over our own line we dropped to the ground, Jesse met with us and I explained what had happened. He said that Leah and himself were going to run a tighter line. He reassured me there was nothing to indicate that they had patrolled out that far over the past few days. It must have just been a coincidence.

The glow from the house lit up the surrounding trees as it came into view a few meters ahead. It had a kind of warm feeling to it, I wasn't sure if it was because we had made it back safe, or the fact that Jacob was waiting inside for me. Despite the morbid situation, it was a massive relief to see him interacting with the Cullens, well of course not Rosalie, but it gave me a peace of mind. One less thing to worry about.

"Do you hear that?" Jasper whispered as we entered the little clearing around the house. He looked over his shoulder at me, one of his eyebrows raised in question.

I listened for any sound of wolf footfalls that didn't belong to Jesse or Leah. "No? Are they following us?" I asked, trying to concentrate on hearing any thoughts that belonged to the enemy.

"No. It's Edward and Jacob. They're in the garage, whispering." He explained and that was why I couldn't hear them. I decided to listen more intensely.

"Now that I can make out the child's thoughts, it's apparent that he or she has remarkably developed mental facilities. He can understand us, to an extent." Edward said in a hushed but urgent tone.

"Are you serious?" Jacob asked, shocked. It was quite remarkable. The baby's mind must develop a lot faster than their body.

"Yes. He seems to have a vague sense of what hurts her now. He's trying to avoid that, as much as possible. He... loves her. Already." Edward's tone became almost endearing. My little baby listened to me, I felt so proud. "The progress, I believe, is more than we had originally judged. When Carlisle eventually returns—"

"They're not coming back tonight?" Jake cut in sharply.

"Aria, Alice and Jasper are, in fact they are just outside. Bella will use up this supply of blood in another day the way her appetite has grown. Carlisle and the others have gone to get more. I'm trying to persuade Carlisle to deliver the baby as soon as he is back."

"What?"Jacob obviously didn't expect this.

"The child seems to be attempting to avoid rough movements, but it's difficult. He's become too big. It's madness to wait, when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed. Bella's too fragile to delay."

Jacob's thoughts became scrambled again. He was relying on those four days but now that it had been cut short his mind was swirling with what would happen during and after the birth. "You think she's going to make it," he whispered.

"Yes. That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Waiting, as we have been, for the child to be ready, that was insanely dangerous. At any moment it could have been too late. But if we're proactive about this, if we act quickly, I see no reason why it should not go well. Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful. Thankfully, Bella and Rose agree with me. Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed, there's nothing to keep this from working." They must of had these agreements without me but there was no way I would oppose to it if everyone was sure about this. "It seems Aria agrees as well." Edward added, Jacob was going to know I was listening in.

"When will Carlisle be back?" Jacob asked, still whispering.

"By noon tomorrow." Jacob's breath faltered as the images of the flesh-tearing baby ripped through Bella's abdomen again. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I am truly sorry for the discomfort and unsureness this causes you, Jacob. Though you hate me, I must admit that I don't feel the same about you. I think of you as a... a brother in many ways. A comrade in arms, at the very least. I regret your suffering more than you realise. But Bella is going to survive" - when he said that his voice was fierce, even violent - "and I know that's what matters to you. So I hate to do this now, but, I have to ask you for something - to beg, if I must."

As I pondered over what Edward was going to ask we entered the house. Jasper immediately disappeared into his study, no doubt to continue his research, and Alice and I continued up the stairs, parting ways as she went to her bedroom instead. Most likely for an outfit change, the fresh smell of animal blood would do nothing to help Rosalie and Edward's case.

"I know how much you have given," Edward continued quietly. "But this is something you do have, and only you. I'm asking this of the true Alpha, Jacob. I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir." My ears peaked in interest as I walked past Bella and Rosalie and into the kitchen. "I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim. I want you to grant us an exception. I want your permission to save her life. You know I'll do it anyway, but I don't want to break faith with you if there is any way to avoid it. We never intended to go back on our word, and we don't do it lightly now. I want your understanding, Jacob, because you know exactly why we do this. I want the alliance between our families to survive when this is over."

Jacob was protesting inside his head, he believed that Sam was the right person to ask...

"No. Sam's authority is assumed. It belongs to you. You'll never take it from him, but no one can rightfully agree to what I'm asking except for you."

"It's not my decision." Jacob countered.

"It is, Jacob, and you know it. Your word on this will condemn us or absolve us. Only you can give this to me. We don't have much time."

"Yes. You can break the treaty, you have my permission." Jacob said strongly, the new power in his voice made it clear that he had decided this was it now. He accepted Edward's words, although he wasn't fond of him, they were family, because Edward was mine as well.

Their conversation ended then and I brought my attention back to what was going happening on this floor. Bella and Rosalie were watching some random cooking show on the television. I was surprised she was awake but once I noticed the cup on the coffee table in front of them I guessed she had been thirsty.

"Why are you so dirty?" Rosalie asked, her nose turned up slightly at my state.

I looked down at my jeans, they were smeared with dried mud... maybe I should've changed.

"We ran into a little problem." I explained and Rosalie's eyes flared as Bella became alarmed.

"Is everyone okay?!" She asked trying to sit up, Rosalie turned her attention back to Bella to help prop her up.

"Everyone's fine." I clarified, walking over to them to take a seat on the coffee table in front of them. "Carlisle, Esme and Emmett will be back tomorrow. The wolves must have realised Jacob's pack went scouting further out and caught their scents. We were running along the trail Jake made so they followed us."

"Will they get back alright?" Bella asked before reaching for her blood cup. Rosalie leaned forward and handed it to her.

"I told them to use the trees, even if the wolves hear them up there they would be safe until they cross the perimeter line around the house, our wolves would intervene then."

Wow... our wolves...

Bella nodded a little unsurely before she lifted her cup to take a long suck at the straw.

"Bella, love, I thought you were sleeping," Edward said, appearing out of nowhere. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have left."

"Don't worry. I just got so thirsty - it woke me up. It's a good thing Carlisle is bringing more. This kid is going to need it when he gets out of me." My assumption was correct, but stupidly I hadn't even thought of that. How long would it take to wean the baby off of human blood and onto animal?

"True. That's a good point." Edward stated, shoving his hands into his jean pockets as he smiled at Bella.

"I wonder if he'll want anything else," she mused.

"I suppose we'll find out." Edward said just as Jacob walked into the room. His eyes found mine immediately and they widened when he saw the mess my clothes were in.

"I'm fine." I clarified quickly as he rushed to me.

"What happened?" He asked sternly, his arms wrapping around me to hold me flush against him.

"We ran into a little problem," I began and he became enraged, the air around him began to quiver as he tried and failed to control himself. "Jacob..." I tried to soothe, placing my hands on either side of his face.

"What did they do?" He demanded. I watched Edward out of the corner of my eye, he was moving towards us slowly.

"We just ran into them, Sam, Paul and Jared. They attacked but Emmett and I fought them off. It was just a coincidence they decided to travel out farther today. They knew that they couldn't kill me... Sam put Jared in his place." I explained softly, the vibrations radiating from Jake slowly began to dull.

"They didn't hurt you?" He asked, he was calmer but the anger was still there.

"No, we all got through fine."

"Alright, I better get out there to run a tighter line--"

"Jesse has already decided to do that, he and Leah have picked up the pace. Don't worry." I reassured and he nodded silently, trying to calm himself.

Jacob loosened his grip on me then, allowing me to move and turn to face everyone else in the room again. Bella was smiling at us again, it was weird when she was like this. It was like everything that she romantically felt for Jake had just evaporated into thin air.

Suddenly, she made a face. "Rose?" she asked.

Rose chuckled. "Again?"

"I think I've drunk two gallons in the last hour," Bella explained.

Edward got out of the way while Rosalie came to lift Bella from the couch and take her to the bathroom.

"Can I walk?" Bella asked. "My legs are so stiff."

"Are you sure?" Edward asked.

"Rose'll catch me if I trip over my feet. Which could happen pretty easily, since I can't see them." I smiled to myself as I thought about how much lighter everyone's moods were now because we could hear the baby and understand it a little more.

Rosalie set Bella carefully on her feet, keeping her hands right at Bella's shoulders. Bella stretched her arms out in front of her, wincing a little.

"That feels good," she sighed. "Ugh, but I'm huge."

She really was. Her stomach was its own continent.

"One more day," she said, and patted her stomach.

"One more day." I repeated as I smoothed my hand over her stomach, I smiled again when the baby's thoughts recognised me and my heat.

"All righty, then. Whoops - oh, no!"

The cup Bella had left on the sofa tumbled to one side, the dark red blood spilling out onto the pale fabric. Shit.

Automatically, though four other hands beat her there, Bella bent over, reaching out to catch it.

There was the strangest, muffled ripping sound from the centre of her body.

"Oh!" she gasped.

And then she went totally limp, slumping toward the floor. Rosalie caught her in the same instant, before she could fall. Edward was there, too, hands out, the mess on the sofa forgotten.

"Bella?" he asked, and then his eyes unfocused, and panic shot across his features.

"Oh my god." I breathed, kneeling beside them as I heard the baby's thoughts that were filled with nothing but panic and pain.

A half second later, Bella screamed.

It was not just a scream, it was a blood-curdling shriek of agony. The horrifying sound cut off with a gurgle, and her eyes rolled back into her head. Her body twitched, arched in Rosalie's arms, and then Bella vomited a fountain of blood.

Jacob's POV

Bella's body, streaming with red, started to twitch, jerking around in Rosalie's arms like she was being electrocuted. All the while, her face was blank - unconscious. It was the wild thrashing from inside the centre of her body that moved her. As she convulsed, sharp snaps and cracks kept time with the spasms.

We were frozen for the shortest half second, and then we broke apart. Rosalie whipped Bella's body into her arms, and, shouting so fast it was hard to separate the individual words, Edward and Aria shot around her. I sprinted after them.

"Morphine!" Edward yelled at Aria.

"Alice - get Carlisle on the phone!" Rosalie screeched as Aria scrambled through the draws to find the correct drug.

The lights were brilliant and white. Bella was on a table under the glare, skin ghostly in the spotlight. Her body flopped like a fish on the sand. Rosalie pinned Bella down, yanking and ripping her clothes out of the way, while Aria stabbed a large syringe into her arm.

"What's happening, Edward?" I got out.

"He's suffocating!"

"The placenta must have detached!" Rosalie assumed, still holding Bella's body down.

Bella came around, she responded to their words with a shriek that clawed at my eardrums.

"Get him OUT!" she screamed. "He can't BREATHE! Do it NOW!" I saw the red spots pop out when her scream broke the blood vessels in her eyes.

'The morphine--," Edward growled.

"NO! NOW - !" Another gush of blood choked off what she was shrieking. He held her head up, desperately trying to clear her mouth so that she could breathe again.

"I'll do it!" Aria yelled, shoving Edward out of the way so he could help Rose in continuing prepping Bella.

Alice darted into the room and clipped a little blue earpiece under Rosalie's hair. Then Alice backed away, her gold eyes wide and burning, while Rosalie hissed frantically into the phone.

In the bright light, Bella's skin seemed more purple and black than it was white. Deep red was seeping beneath the skin over the huge, shuddering bulge of her stomach. Rosalie's hand came up with a scalpel.

"Let the morphine spread!" Edward shouted at he, grabbing her hand.

"There's no time," Rosalie hissed. "He's dying!"

Her hand came down on Bella's stomach, and vivid red spouted out from where she pierced the skin. It was like a bucket being turned over, a faucet twisted to full. Bella jerked, but didn't scream, she was still choking on the blood as Aria tried her best to position her head so she could still breathe.

And then Rosalie lost her focus. I saw the expression on her face shift, saw her lips pull back from her teeth and her black eyes glint with thirst. "Rosalie!" Aria hissed, ready to leave Bella and pounce on her.

"No, Rose!" Edward roared, throwing himself in front of Bella ready to protect her.

I launched myself at Rosalie, jumping across the table without even phasing. As I hit her stone body, knocking her toward the door, the scalpel in her hand stabbed deep into my left arm. My right palm smashed against her face, locking her jaw and blocking her airways.

I used the grip on Rosalie's face to swing her body out so that I could land a solid kick in her gut; it was like kicking concrete. She flew into the door frame, buckling one side of it. The little speaker in her ear crackled into pieces. Then Alice was there, yanking her by the throat to get her into the hall.

And I had to give it to Blondie - she didn't put up an ounce of fight. She wanted us to win. She let me trash her like that, to save Bella. Well, to save the thing.

I ripped the blade out of my arm.

'Alice, get her out of here!" Edward shouted. "Take her to Jasper and keep her there! Jacob, we need you!"

I didn't watch Alice finish the job. I wheeled back to the operating table, where Bella was turning blue, her eyes wide and staring.

"CPR?" Edward growled at me, fast and demanding. "Aria help me here."

"Yes!" I called as Aria and I switched places.

I judged his face swiftly, looking for any sign that he was going to react like Rosalie. There was nothing but single-minded ferocity.

"Get her breathing! I've got to get him out before—"

Another shattering crack inside her body, the loudest yet, so loud that we all froze in shock waiting for her answering shriek. Nothing. Her legs, which had been curled up in agony, now went limp, sprawling out in an unnatural way.

"Her spine," Aria choked in horror.

"Get it out of her!" I snarled, flinging the scalpel at him. "She won't feel anything now!"

And then I bent over her head. Her mouth looked clear, so I pressed mine to hers and blew a lungful of air into it. I felt her twitching body expand, so there was nothing blocking her throat.

Her lips tasted like blood.

I could hear her heart, thumping unevenly. Keep it going, I thought fiercely at her, blowing another gust of air into her body. You promised. Keep your heart beating.

I heard the soft, wet sound of the scalpel across her stomach. More blood dripping to the floor. From the shakiness of Aria's breath I knew that it was her doing that part.

The next sound jolted through me, unexpected, terrifying. Like metal being shredded apart. The sound brought back the fight in the clearing so many months ago, the tearing sound of the newborns being ripped apart. I glanced over to see Edward's face pressed against the bulge. Vampire teeth - a surefire way to cut through vampire skin.

I shuddered as I blew more air into Bella.

She coughed back at me, her eyes blinking, rolling blindly.

"You stay with me now, Bella!" I yelled at her. "Do you hear me? Stay! You're not leaving us. Keep your heart beating!"

Her eyes wheeled, looking for something to focus, but seeing nothing.

I stared into them anyway, keeping my gaze locked there.

And then her body was suddenly still under my hands, though her breathing picked up roughly and her heart continued to thud. I realised the stillness meant that it was over. The internal beating was over. It must be out of her.

It was.

Aria whispered, "Renesmee."

So Bella'd been wrong. It wasn't the boy she'd imagined. No big surprise there. What hadn't she been wrong about?

I didn't look away from her red-spotted eyes, but I felt her hands lift weakly.

"Let me..." she croaked in a broken whisper. "Give her to me."

"Bella, she's beautiful." Aria whimpered, coming around to stand on the other side of the bed.

I looked at the creature then, it was covered in blood and panting wildly. Aria was right, dare I say it, Rosalie was right. It didn't look like a monster, it looked like a baby... kind of... A baby with a full set of teeth.

"Renes... mee. So... beautiful." Bella whispered weakly.

And then she gasped - gasped in pain.

By the time I looked, it was too late. Aria had snatched the warm, bloody thing out of her limp arms. My eyes flickered across her skin. It was red with blood - the blood that had flowed from her mouth, the blood smeared all over the creature, and fresh blood welling out of a tiny double-crescent bite mark just over her left breast.

"No, Renesmee," Aria murmured, like she was teaching the monster manners. How could she?

I didn't look at her or it. I watched only Bella as her eyes rolled back into her head.

With a last dull ga-lump, her heart faltered and went silent.

She missed maybe half of one beat, and then my hands were on her chest, doing compressions, I counted in my head, trying to keep the rhythm steady. One. Two. Three. Four.

Breaking away for a second, I blew another lungful of air into her.

I couldn't see anymore. My eyes were wet and blurry. But I was hyper-aware of the sounds in the room. The unwilling glug-glug of her heart under my demanding hands.

I forced more air down Bella's throat.

"What are you waiting for?" I choked out breathlessly, pumping her heart again. One. Two. Three. Four.

"Take the baby," Aria said urgently, how was she going to help Bella anymore than Edward could?

"Throw it out the window." One. Two. Three. Four.

"Jacob!" Aria seethed.

"Give her to me," a low voice chimed from the doorway.

Edward, Aria and I snarled at the same time. Aria cradled the thing to her chest possessively.

One. Two. Three. Four.

"I've got it under control," Rosalie promised. "Give me the baby, Aria. I'll take care of her until Bella..."

I breathed for Bella again while the exchange took place. The fluttering thumpa-thumpa-thumpa faded away with distance.

"Move your hands, Jacob." Edward demanded.

I looked up from Bella's white eyes, still pumping her heart for her. Edward had a syringe in his hand - all silver, like it was made from steel.

"What's that?"

His stone hand knocked mine out of the way. There was a tiny crunch as his blow broke my little finger. In the same second, he shoved the needle straight into her heart.

"My venom," he answered as he pushed the plunger down.

I heard the jolt in her heart, like he'd shocked her with paddles.

"Keep it moving," he ordered. His voice was ice, was dead. Fierce and unthinking. Like he was a machine.

I ignored the healing ache in my finger and started pumping her heart again. It was harder, as if her blood was congealing there - thicker and slower. While I pushed the now-viscous blood through her arteries, I watched what he was doing.

"Aria I need your help." He said and their joint eyes signalled a silent conversation between the two of them.

"I can do it." Aria said shakily.

Do what?!

Then together they leant their heads down towards Bella's skin. It was like they were kissing her, him brushing his lips at her throat, Aria at her wrists, both into the crease at the inside of her arm.

But I could hear the lush tearing of her skin as their teeth bit through, again and again, forcing venom into her system at as many points as possible. I saw their tongues sweep along the bleeding gashes, but before this could make me either sick or angry, I realised what they were doing. Where their tongues washed the venom over her skin, it sealed shut. Holding the poison and the blood inside her body.

I blew more air into her mouth, but there was nothing there. Just the lifeless rise of her chest in response. I kept pumping her heart, counting, while they worked manically over her, trying to put her back together.

But there was nothing there, just me, just Aria, just Edward.

Working over a corpse.

Because that's all that was left of the girl we all loved. This broken, bled-out, mangled corpse. We couldn't put Bella together again.

I knew it was too late. I knew she was dead. She wasn't here anymore.

A monster had taken her place.

"Jacob." Aria was suddenly next to me, her hands grabbing at my face, trying to pull it down to look at her.

I could only smell the blood on her breath, this wasn't my Aria, this wasn't us. I needed to get out of here.

"Go, then," Edward snapped, and he hit my hands out of the way again, taking my place this time. Three fingers broken, it felt like.

He pushed her dead heart faster than I had.

"She's not dead," he growled. "She's going to be fine."

I wasn't sure he was talking to us anymore.

"Jacob, please look at me." She continued to grab at me. Her voice trembling with the sobs escaping her throat.

I couldn't handle it anymore... I needed to get away...
Everyone was wrong. So, so wrong. "Get off me!" I shoved her away, grabbing the tops of her arms to push her back and out of my way.

Aria stumbled, her breath hitching at my manhandling. Her face was wet with tears, her lips a darker shade of pink with the staining of Bella's blood as she frantically looked from me, then to Edward and then to Bella's lifeless body. "Jacob." She breathed, reaching for me.

I shook my head, I couldn't deal with this. Turning away, leaving them with their dead, I walked out of the room and down the corridor. "Seth!" I called angrily, my shout shaking the house.

It was time to leave.

Aria's POV

"Jacob wait!" I called after him, leaving Edward to work alone.

There was nothing more I could do. He was scared. I was scared. He had never seen me be so vampire before. It wasn't the original plan, I wasn't meant to bite Bella, but we had to work fast. We had to try everything we could.

Renesmee needed her mother. That beautiful baby needed both her parents. She had to easily be the most precious creature in the world.

When Edward pulled her out she didn't cry, she just breathed in short, sharp, startled pants. In shock that she was no longer inside Bella. Her chocolate brown eyes were frantic searching around at her new surroundings. At least she had Bella's eyes.

As Edward handed her over to Bella, I could see the thick layer of matted, bloody, bronze curls. The colour was Edward's but the curls were all Uncle Charlie's. Her skin was a creamy ivory, the perfect blend of Edward's and Bella's but her cheeks were flushed pink with the blood that flowed through her body.

Within Bella's arms she smiled, revealing her full set of pearly white milk teeth. It was strange to see a newborn baby so developed. But all the same, it didn't affect her beauty.

Then she did something that proved she wasn't just a regular baby. I snatched her from Bella's arms, feeling her wet, bare skin against mine. Her skin felt identical to mine, even the temperature — she was warm like myself, a lot warmer than a normal baby. I guess she was more similar to me than we originally thought.

Holding her felt perfect, she was a little restless being away from Bella and she was also hungry, but when she looked up into my eyes she knew who I was. As I rocked her in an attempt to soothe her she smiled again, content with me holding her. Her little eyelids began to droop.

That was when Bella's heart stopped...

Back to reality, I moved for the door but froze when the earsplitting howls of unwanted enemies ricocheted off the walls. Their thoughts entered my head instantly, they were attacking. They believed our numbers were severely reduced, not knowing three of us had returned... they thought they could beat us.

I shot back round to Edward who was still frantically pumping Bella's heart for her. "Edward they're coming." He was too focused on Bella to concentrate on the thoughts of others.

"Bella, please come back to me. Please, please." He was whispering to her as he stopped his actions and began to kiss over her face.

My eyes welled with tears once again just as Jacob's voice boomed from down the hall. "How could you!" He spat.

I didn't have time to decipher who he was yelling at, Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room and down the stairs at lightening speed. We stopped on grass below the porch steps, my chest heaved as I tried to control my tears and prepare myself to face them head on.

"Alice! Jasper!" Edward shouted back to the house and then they were suddenly beside us.

Two more howls echoed from the trees which I recognised to be Leah and Jesse. They were miles out, cutting through the circle to try and reach us before the others did.

What the hell were Jacob and Seth doing in there? We needed them!

The familiar rumble of paws against the hard earth shook the ground as they charged for us. They had beaten Jesse and Leah. They slowed immediately to circle us, their dark eyes shining in the moonlight as their snarls pierced my ears. Never in my life would I have thought I'd have to fight these members of my family.

They were shocked at seeing Alice, Jasper and myself and were angry that we had slipped through their lines. Sam stood tall and proud at the point of the group of seven. His growls bouncing back off the glass walls behind us. Paul and Jared were on his flanks, Jared facing myself and Paul in front of Jasper.

"We're outnumbered." Jasper stated, surveying the pack as they edged closer.

"By a lot." Alice added, she was scared. She was blind against the wolves, she couldn't determine who was going to move first.

"I won't let them hurt my family." Edward was sure Bella was going to pull through the transformation, otherwise he wouldn't have left her side.

His hope drove me, I balled my hands into fists as a growl ripped through my chest, warning them not to come any closer. Embry was hesitant, he was being forced to do this, Quil too. This wasn't fair on them.

Jared and Sam suddenly lurched forward, thinking as one as everyone behind them faltered, only charging because they had to. Sam went for Edward, seeing him as the first line of defence, where as Jared went for me. His efforts were of course predictable, with one swift right hook he was tumbling to the ground.

I looked around quickly, Alice was struggling as Quil pinned her to the ground. He was snarling at her trying to keep her down, he didn't want to hurt her but Sam was urging him on. I moved to lunge forward but my foot was caught by Jared's jaws.

I fell to the floor as he dragged me back towards him through the dirt. I gritted my teeth to hold in my painful cries as I kicked at him with my free leg but his pressure only increased, digging into the skin and bone as the grass turned crimson.

"Jacob!" I screamed so loudly that it scratched at my throat. I wasn't screaming for him to come and save me, but for him to help the family.

"Aria!" His worried voice called back.

I couldn't turn my head to see him but the the harsh ripping sound tore through the air and then suddenly Jared was gone and was fighting ferociously with Jacob a few feet away from me. Their teeth and claws slashing at each other and I scrambled up from the ground to my feet ready to continue with my original plan.

Alice was still pinned to the floor, Quil's sharp teeth inches from her face. I ran to them, straight into Quil's side to shove him off of her. As I helped her to her feet, Leah and Jesse broke through the trees.

I listened as Sam commanded Embry to attack Jesse and he unwillingly complied, meeting them halfway to fight with my brother. He was shocked and surprised but deep down he knew this wasn't Embry's doing. Brady followed suit, only he was willing on his own behalf, and made for Leah. He was only young and they were around the same size, but with her skill I was sure she'd overpower him.

We had even numbers now.

As I held onto Alice's hand, watching as Collin and Quil stalked toward us, I wondered who would win. Who would come out on top?

Collin charged then, he was wary of me knowing what I was capable of, but done as he was told anyway. I prepared myself, standing ready and waiting, my hands balled into fists ready to make the first punch and then suddenly he was gone. His body flew sideways in a blur only for Emmett to stop suddenly in front of me, his gold eyes glaring at the wolf in the moonlight.

Carlisle and Esme joined us then and we outnumbered them by three. We stood in a line, Jacob was dead centre head on with Sam, with Edward and I on either side of him. There was no way they could get through us now.

Sam's pack tightened their line in hopes that no one could get through. The fighting had stopped as they drew in closer, pushing us closer together as we made sure to block the entrance to the house. Sam lunged forward again and Jacob blocked him with a viscous snarl and snap of his jaws.

Seth burst through the doors then, a gasp escaping my lips as his thoughts entered my mind.

He had imprinted on Renesmee.

"No more!" He bellowed, leaping over the porch to land in between the two groups.

I had never seen Seth so determined, so strong... he was a new man. He was no longer the sixteen year old boy who fell in love with my little sister. He was a man, a man that had found his purpose in life and was going to give all he could to protect that.

"This fight ends now." He said sternly looking between the two groups.

The family looked on confused with Seth's bravery, Jacob knew what had happened, it was why they were arguing earlier. Jesse and Leah now knew as well due to the their linked minds after Jacob's phasing. The other wolves were confused as well, they couldn't understand Seth's actions.

Sam wanted him out of the way to get the job done, he lunged forward again, knocking Seth from his feet. Seth flipped through the air, phasing before he even hit the ground. Leah moved for Sam then but Jacob yelled at her inside his head for her to stay put. This was Seth's fight.

As Seth stalked towards Sam, Edward let everyone know what was happening. "Seth imprinted." The family's expressions showed their surprise. "Whoever a wolf imprints on can't be killed... it's their most absolute law."

Sam's yellow eyes widened with the news as well as a low, frustrated growl escaped his chest. Jacob moved forward then as well to stand beside Seth, communicating on Seth's behalf.

Jacob had realised he was still able to link himself to Sam but no one else. Neither of them were sharing all of their thoughts, only what they wanted. As if they were speaking aloud.

"It's over, Sam. There's nothing you can do." Jacob spoke sternly, effectively telling him to leave.

The wolves on both sides could hear this conversation due to their alphas.

"This isn't possible." Sam said hesitantly looking at all of us.

"It clearly is." Jacob insisted, turning his head to look at me, making his point. "I think it's best you leave."

Sam gave the family one final glare, lingering on me and then Seth. He felt betrayed that another wolf had imprinted on a vampire.

Reluctantly, he took a step back, and then another before he turned completely and disappeared off into the darkness. His pack members hesitated for a second before following, and Embry and Quil bowed their heads apologetically for what they had done before taking off like the rest of them.

Seth turned to Edward then, his eyes sorrowful as he knew this was not what Edward would have wanted. He didn't mean to betray his best friend like this. "Seth there's nothing to apologise for... you saved us all."

Leah moved forward then, brushing her shoulder against Seth's. "This is totally not what I expected but I'll deal with it, for you, Seth."

"How's Bella and the child?" Carlisle asked moving towards the steps on the porch. The task of collecting more blood had been abandoned when Alice called.

"Renesmee is fine, she is with Rosalie... but Bella..." Edward faltered and just as Carlisle was about to ask what had happened a new, unfamiliar sound rippled
through the air.

A heartbeat, beating fast and hard. It was frantic, working impossibly quick to get its job done before it gave out...

"It sounds like Bella is going to be fine." Carlisle reassured.

"She shouldn't be that still." Edward complained, looking to Carlisle for an explanation.

"I'm sure it's the morphine, Edward." Carlisle said, placing a hand on Edward's back. "Give her time." He comforted before turning to the rest of us. "Jacob, you and your pack have done us a great service, though it seems that during these circumstances, Seth is the one to thank. Please, all of you, stay for as long as you'd like." He paused and then grinned happily. "Now let's go meet our newest family member."