Be Careful What You Wish For

Chapter Sixteen

1 Demetri brought the car to a screeching halt. Leah unbuckled, threw the goddamn fucking door open, stumbled outside, reeled, crashed into the gravel. He was by her side in a flash, grabbed her by the armpits, unceremoniously hauled her to her feet. Bile shot up her throat. She spat, groaned, tried to ignore the waves of queasiness threatening to drown her. Didn't quite work.

There they were: the wolves, howling, snarling, all around them. Another scream followed from the Cullen house – shouting, too. Three wolves surrounded Leah and Demetri, among them a huge, purely black one: Sam. The others, many of whom Leah did not recognise, started charging at the house.

Oh, God. No! "Don't do it! It's a trap!" she screamed, earning herself a deep, threatening growl from Sam. When she reeled again – her head spinning stomach lurching stars and black spots before her eyes – and Demetri again caught her, the three wolves advanced, as the others circled Castle New Money, crashing against doors and shuttered windows, trying to force their way inside. The shouting and the screams had stopped.

"I'm not your enemy," Demetri said, loud and clear yet eerily composed. Vampires. Vampires and their weird nonchalance in the face of almost certain death.

Leah wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, nodded, and decided that it had been a horrible idea, as sharp pain shot through her skull. This was all so stupid. "He isn't. He's here to bring these fuckers to justice. Sam, listen to me!" Sam jumped right in front of her, growling and baring his teeth, but she didn't budge. "I'm gonna phase, now, and you can see for yourself. Please, do not attack!" She stepped free and exchanged a look with her vampire frie...uh, companion. Companion. Colleague. Whatever. "No time for decency, now. Take a step back." Any second now, the young wolves would break their way inside the house. There was no time to lose. She stripped off her clothes, sent a silent little prayer to whoever might be listening, and turned.

It hurt like all hell, but at least it was possible. First, there was silence. Then...then, the voices in her head drowned out her own, shouting, cursing, accusing. But there was no compulsion. It had worked! Thank goodness, it had worked. She faced Sam, who was still snarling at her, and focussed. Everything that usually came naturally to her was so hard right now!

Look inside my head, doofus! I'm not under mind-control, and I am – for the moment – free of Jacob's compulsion.

That was oh so true. Jacob was very obviously in wolf-form, inside the house, screaming bloody murder at her, and she could ignore it just fine – just like the good old days. This was such a relief, it was worth the pain and sickness.

You let the leech bite you? You-

Oh, get off your high horse, Chief Judgmental. It was the only way I could be here and help.

You want to help? Fine. Fight with us – both of you. With his head, he motioned at Demetri, who was really doing a damn good job keeping it cool and non-threatening. They're killing people in there! We need to end them, and we need to end them now.

Frustrated, she howled. Sam, they're fuelled up. If you attack them in their own home, they will have the advantage. They'll kill so many of us! It's what they want you to do. Be reasonable!

"Tell him about my people," Demetri said very calmly, very slowly, not moving as two wolves circled him, ready to strike at any second.

What the hell's he on about?

She glanced at Demetri and then focussed all her attention on Sam again. Same thing he told Billy: he works for the vampire government, who keep murderous assholes in check and get rid of mind-eating half-vamp abominations. They make sure the vampires don't lose control. It was probably best not to mention that little fucker Jasper's offer. First of all, he might've been lying. Second, he didn't deserve a happy end.