The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 75 (Despair & Regret)

*3rd Person POV*

At the Cullen residence, all conversations had fallen silent. All that could be heard was Bree's body violently shaking against Jasper's chest, and the sound of the young vampire's heartbroken cry.

Rosalie moved to the two vampires and hugged Bree tightly, trying to reassure her that Pearl was okay, despite her own doubts.

Jasper directed his focus on using his gift to calm his little sister down. The deer blood he had consumed was being all but used up by the extent at which he was using his gift. Bree's pain and grief, was like a sponge. It was absorbing the positive waves Jasper sent to her at such incredible speeds and yet, his gift seemed to have very little affect on Bree.

At some point, Bella started crying. This lead to Edward focusing all of his attention on consoling his wife.

Alice was desperately trying to look into the future. Anyone's future would do. As long as she'd be able to find Pearl in it. But her gift, was coming up empty. The vision she'd had of Emmet getting attacked by Sam's pack if he had left to help, seemed to have been a one off. Because as of this point in time, no vision of the future passed through her eyes.

Emmet, Jacob, Carlisle and Esme were watching the woods with a great level of intensity in their gaze. Looking for any sign of either female wolves.

From the garden, Seth's whining and whimpering could be heard. His attempts, to reach his sister through the pack link were failing. It was like his mind was basking in the darkness alone.

*Jacob's POV*

C'mon girls. Don't go down like this. We still need you guys.

With the possibility of their death, hanging heavily in the air. My mind wandered back to my fight with Pearl. And how I reacted to her change, plus all of my actions after that.

I was a jerk.

It wasn't her fault. The fact Pearl was attacked by a vampire, is on us. Our packs job, was to protect humans, and we failed one of our own because of our complacency, and lack of ability to catch that red head.

We may not have been close. But Pearl was still in my year group. We both shared the same history teacher. And our dads were close friends. I should've treated her better. She was still my friend. When Harry died, I could've tried to be there for her. I should, have been there for her.

My face fell as the realisation dawned on me.

If she dies, I can never make it right.

I turned my head towards the sound of sobbing, breaking my fixed gaze on the tree line. Looking towards Pearl's imprint, I felt my chest tighten. I could sense her pain.

I need to do better. Family is everything. I've already failed her once.

Returning my gaze to the forest, I narrowed my eyes at the darkness. Determination and resolve filled my soul.

Whether Pearl returns or not, Bree will be under my packs protection. And if that means protecting the rest of the Cullens as well, then so be it.

*3rd Person POV*

Edward looked over at Jacob and saw the decision in his mind. Noting the shifter's determination, Edward internally thanked him. He let a ghost of a smile appear on his face which was aimed at Jacob, but made no other move to show that he had been listening to his thoughts.

All of a sudden, Esme pointed towards some bushes beyond the house.

Hearing rustling, Seth's ears perk up, and he immediately looked towards the noise, as did everyone else who was inside.

The hope that the coven and the pack felt, quickly turned into despair, upon seeing Jared's wolf form emerge from the bushes.

The dark brown wolf had blood running down his snout from a scratch on his face. He snarled and bared his red coated teeth to the residents inside the house.

Seth met his snarl with his own viscous growl. The fact that blood was in Jared's mouth, and that the rest of Sam's pack members were slowly making themselves known from the tree line, could only mean one thing.

The reason why Seth couldn't contact Leah...

There was no wolf left, to contact.

Seth barked ferociously at Sam's pack, wanting nothing more than to rip them apart for taking away his older sisters.

Quickly noticing Seth's stance, Jacob jumped out of the broken window. Landing in the back yard next to Seth in his human form. The alpha let out a low growl from his chest.

His eyes looked over the Uley pack members with intensity. Despite the darkness, Jacob could tell that they were all sporting some injuries. Jared and Paul appeared to be the worst off within the pack.

'They're not coming back.' Jacob thought. Silently processing the loss of his beta and his old friend. Trying to push his grief down, he internally thanked the fallen shifters. If it came down to a fight, the Uley pack was now at a larger disadvantage.

Back in the house, the young vampire who had previously been hysterical and shaky, had now fallen limp in Rosalie's arms, and against Jasper's chest. No longer responding to anyone, or anything.

Inside the room, Jasper was the first to speak. His tone was solemn and heavy. "She's numb... empty..." he said.

The vampires gazed at Bree. All of them knowing how big this was. And how much of an affect, the loss of a mate bond, would have.

Edward quietly piped up from beside a weeping Bella. "I can't hear her thoughts. They're... non-existent." He remarked in a concerned voice.

Carlisle moved over to the three siblings on the floor and looked Bree over. Coming to a conclusion, he said, "She's in shock. The bond..." He trailed off, not wanting to say it.

Regardless of whether Carlisle said it or not. The entire coven, and the Black pack, knew what he meant.

Looking at Bree's current state, Edward and Alice couldn't help but let their thoughts wander to a certain king within the Volturi. Marcus had lost his mate centuries ago, and he never recovered. He's a shell of the man he once was.

The two vampires were deeply saddened by the realisation that Bree, would become like him. Pearl was her mate, it didn't matter that they weren't in a relationship yet. The intense feelings they had for each other was still there. Everyone could see that, it was only the two of them that remained oblivious to the other's feelings.

Mate bonds, much like imprint bonds, are sacred. To kill one... means death for the other.

Jacob returned inside the house, knowing that now was not the time to grieve, he attempted to get everyone back on track, by asking an important question. "Carlisle. How long can you all go without blood?"

Carlisle turns to face the shifter and replies as calmly as he could. "We all need blood, but we can handle it for now. The fact that Emmet and Jasper have at least a little blood in their system will buy us more time. And Bree is completely full. Those of us who were at the most risk, are sorted for a while longer." He announced diplomatically.

The coven members barely acknowledge the conversation. All of them had venom within their eyes. Grieving the loss of their sister/daughter, and fearing what would happen to the other as a result.

The house was swept over by a powerful silence. Leaving only the sounds of their own thoughts to occupy the quiet sorrow filled atmosphere.

Jacob nodded at Carlisle's words and looked at Bella's withering form on the couch with a mournful expression. Taking in her condition once again, he couldn't help but wonder...

'Is she gonna join the Clearwater sisters in the afterlife?'