Mutual Need

Chapter 28

When I woke up the next morning I smiled down at my hubby. He was fast asleep with his face pressed into my chest and his arms loosely around my waist . I spent the next half hour just watching him sleep and running my hand through and over his hair .

When he did wake up he sighed first before nuzzling my chest and whining like he didn't want to leave . I giggled despite the severity , " Jacob Black , you can't stay there forever you know" I chided jokingly . He lifted his head mock glaring at me , though it wasn't very good since it was more sleepy than severe. "Says who woman" he rumbled , I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "Oh I don't know , the whole pack probably . You want them to have to come in here looking for you?" I asked tongue in cheek with a lifted brow.

"Hell no" he exclaimed indignantly , but with a hidden smile . "This is all for my eyes only" he said nuzzling again . Pressing me into the pillow he leaned in kissing me again and caressed my stomach gently . Using one arm to hold himself up he rested his cheek on top of my head 'I wonder what they'll be . Twin girls run on my side and both on yours" he wondered out loud . I smiled "we'll know soon enough" I told him.

After getting dressed Jake held my shoulder when I went to get up and got on his knees behind me . "Can I?" he asked taking a hold of my hair brush, "sure" I told him softly and he ran it gently through the ends of my hair and slowly went up as he brushed out the snags . Then when he was done with mine I brushed his .

Out of the tent Bella and Em were already up and ready . Bella passed me a camping tin cup , "decaf for you and a blackberry cream cheese scone" she told me  and passed Jake his as well . "Thanks Bells" he told me nodding in thanks .

Once we were done both guys turned and stiffened simultaneously, "SHIT!! their coming ,we need to go" Jake ordered . Jake pulled my arm for me to come to him and hugged me tight before swallowing me whole . I was breathless as he spoke " I love you Stevie , I'll be back soon" .

Bella and Embry had a similar goodbye and Seth came onto the scene as the guys phased and took off . I swallowed hard ,watching as they left . Seth whined as he walked up close to me and nudged me gently . I chuckled softly at him , "I know , but you know as well as I do that not worrying is easier said than done" I told him quietly and scratched behind his ear.

It was another ten minutes of fighting the urge to pace before we knew anything. Seth stepped away from me with a menacing growl and sat closer to the trees . "It's starting" Bella and I said together .

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~{*£¥*}~@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

We didn't bother reading , though we both brought a book to try and distract ourselves . We should have known better, I couldn't even think about a book right now. All I thought about was Jake and the pack.

Seth growled occasionally , but we knew he was just reacting to whatever he was seeing through the eyes of his brothers and not a reaction to something closer . Still , it frayed at my nerves. Minutes seemed like hours as we waited for some word on what was happening .

A half hour went by and my nerves were as frayed as they could get. Seth growled lowly and maneuvered so that he was between us and whatever was coming .

My heart went to my throat as we backed towards the rock faced wall at the back. Edward came through the trees making Seth growl again. He frowned at the young wolf "there's no need for that sort of language" he said pompously . Looking to Bella he said "I had to see that you were unharmed" . " You would've already known through Jake and Embry that we were safe" I said calling him out on his blatant lie with a lifted brow.

" I needed to talk to you without the mongrels around" he told her trying to come closer . "I'm done talking to you Edward , I'm grateful for you and your families help obviously but after the battle I want nothing more to do with you" she told him bluntly .

"Bella , my love . I only did what I thought was best. I never stopped loving you, your my life" he pleaded brokenly . " Yes, by once again treating me like a child . You never once asked me Edward. You took my choices away , and you took my friend and family too. I spent all my time with either just you or your family and then you took that all away" she spat ,her temper flaring . " Then for a long time I felt so alone . You broke me , I felt so unloved and like I would never love again till Embry" she told him .

Her words ate at him , finally breaking through . " Words cannot express how sorry I am Bella" he swore quietly .

In a flash he had turned so that both he and Seth were in front of us . Seth growled menacingly and went into a crouch, "what's happening" I hissed as Bella and I clutched at each other .

"She's here" Edward told us .

"She's lying to you Riley" he crooned as Victoria appeared with her little henchman in tow. Fear clogged my throat as I looked at them . They were hauntingly perfect and beautiful , she with her curly flaming hair and blood red eyes . He with dusty blond hair facing Seth and looking murderous.

Victoria's eyes paced between us and Edward ."She's using you" Edward crooned with compulsion lacing his tone . " Your from Forks , you know the area . She's using you to avenge her true mate James".

She hissed when he said that name . "Don't listen to him Riley" she told him , her child like tinkling voice reminded me of how a blonde bubble gum chewing cheerleader should sound . "He's who is lying . You know I only love you" she told him .

Riley faced Seth again and he and Edward moved in sync to stay between us and them as they moved . Victoria looked at me and my blood chilled "so your the alpha's mate , I recognize your scent . Killing you and your unborn children shall make his defeat much easier " she told me .

"Your avenging him for nothing Victoria , he had no more love for you than a hunter cares for his mount" Edward told her silkily . " I should know" he added tapping his temple . She visibly shook with her anger .

"Your dead" Riley spoke smoothly and launched himself at Seth. I whimpered as I watched them fight . Victoria jumped up into a tree and Edward advanced "you'll never get a chance like this again" he said before she could escape . " You want to kill her , you want me to suffer like you when I killed James . When I turned his body into ash, when I turned him into nothing".

With a frightening growl she launched herself at him. I turned seeing Seth and Riley and covered my mouth to keep from crying out for him . He whimpered as Riley kicked him in the shoulder and fell .

Watching Victoria and Edward was like watching a deadly dance , whatever move she thought of , he would counteract . Riley moved towards Seth for a final blow when Jake and Embry came in .

Embry went for Riley and Jake , I watched in horror as he launched himself at the feral woman. She caught his shoulder as he went by and I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from crying as he flew by and skidded across the snow . He growled in angry defiance as he went into a crouch and went after her again.

Riley cried out as Embry ripped at him . The sound I would never forget , like metal being ripped apart . A cry came from Riley as Seth bit into his shoulder and shook him, "Victoria!" he screamed ,but she couldn't care less . She barely spared him a glance as she and Edward continued .

Jake cought her by the ankle as she tried to flee into the trees and threw her back before jumping her . Edward grabbed at her head as she moved and Jake clamped his jaws around her torso and ripped it away from her head .

My breath wooshed out of my mouth , it was finally over .

Jake looked to me and I gave him a watery smile . Bella went to launch herself at Embry and Jake went towards the trees when suddenly things went very wrong.