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Chapter 21: Pre-teen Vampire

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"Please Quil, don't go!" I hated to see her beg, it almost completely killed my resolve. She had to understand though, I couldn't just let my family go and fight without me, the cowardice, the betrayal… I couldn't live with myself after that.

Leah stepped forward and I thought she was going to ask a question, even say her goodbyes, but when she stated her place in the battle I knew even more solidly that I had to go, out of loyalty to Jake if nothing else, he was my lifelong best friend. And I also knew, without a doubt, that if it were Claire, he would be there fighting with me.

Embry stepped forward and I knew his answer before he spoke.

I was next.

This was my duty, this was what I was born for, my reason for living… other than Claire.

"Quil, please. If you love me, please don't go," her hand grasped me and a warm tingling filled my body. Embry looked at me, waiting for me to join him, my heart felt as if it was going to explode.

I was being pulled, and pushed in every direction. I cared for Renesme, genuinely; she was a good person, a good, sweet, person who loved Jacob so much. After years of seeing Jacob beat up over Bella, Renesme was like a gift to all of us who loved Jacob.

Embry has been my brother, my closest friend for years, how could I let him face danger without me.

But Claire. Claire was my world, if I left her, and did not come back, who would protect her. I was born to protect her.

The thoughts in my head ran wild, as I saw Jared back out. No one was upset; I could see by the solemn looks around us that no one questioned his responsibility to his wife and family. We all knew he was trying to stop phasing to age naturally with Kim. I didn't have this excuse… but the blood-suckers, they told me to stay. What did that mean? Were they so sure we'd win that they knew they didn't need me? And if that were true, then why even worry about me going?

Paul separated from Rachel and I was alone, I was the only wolf who had not stated his position. I needed time to think, I needed air. I glanced at her from the corner of my eye and back to Embry. If I died, Jared would take care of her, he wouldn't let anything happen to her, I knew this. It hurt to do it but I stepped forward slowly and she rushed past me.

I had no idea what she would do, and I could see she was making it up as she went along. She jumped on a piece of furniture and I couldn't help but appreciate her bare midriff. Her hip bones were peaking sexily from the rim of the sweat pants and I was literally weak at the thought of not being able to touch her again. She screamed so loud my sensitive ears rang, "We're getting married, so he can't go!"

And it was inappropriate and probably unexpected, but I laughed. I laughed and laughed, until my side hurt and she stared down at me in disbelief. For a second she reminded me of a child throwing a tantrum, he hand rested on her hip.

"I'll be there. For Jake… and for Nessie," I said pulling her down from the chair and kissing her forehead. She stared up at me in defeat and Edward came to her side.

"Congrats on the wedding," he said patting her arm, then he shook my hand and left. This was it, we were going to war. The pack had only six hours before we had to leave, Jasper filled us in on the guard, describing the key players and their abilities. Claire sat by my side for the first hour, but when the fear got too much for her she sat with Jessie, Emily, Rachel, and Helen who made a small circle of 'widows'.

When Jasper was finished with the stats I felt surprisingly better. Bella and Alice had taken care of Gianna and Alec, two of our biggest threats. The majority of the other gifted vamps were easily blocked by Bella's shield, which had advanced in many ways since she had become a newborn. Her shield could now cover a huge distance and when she concentrated fully she could use it as a reflector, pushing those things back at them, although not very effectively as of yet.

The Volturi's numbers had increased since we last faced each other, making the threat twenty one all together. We far outnumbered them, especially since Jasper had managed to call in three new more skilled fighters, Charlotte, Peter and Maria. The Volturi, however, were also skilled fighter, skilled in ways we've never seen, so we couldn't let our guard down.

Throughout the day Carlisle received calls from Rosalie, announcing the arrivals of different covens or pairs. Stefan and Demetri were first, much to the delight of Embry, who found them entirely more amusing than he should have. Siobhan, Liam, Maggie and her mate Aiden were next.

Charlotte and Peter, complete with fierce ruby eyes met us in La Push, the hairs on my neck stood menacingly, the tension however (no doubt with the help of Jasper) faded quickly.

Benjamin, Tia and a couple they had met along the way, Randall and Makenna, added to our numbers, near the time we needed to leave. The spirits were high as we started to tally fighters in our favor, but as we made our rounds saying goodbyes the spirits began to fade.

I kissed Claire passionate, gently, lovingly, in any way that I could for close to an hour before I was dragged away by Embry, watching as tears the size of pennies dropped down her face. I didn't turn away, I let Embry guide me, walking backward and trying to watch her for every millisecond I could, before we entered the forest and I phased.

xXx

The run to Canada was quiet, I followed the scents of Peter and his mate, committing them to memory for the night's battle. Anna ran to my left at the back of the crowd, her thoughts flashed quickly and I saw momentarily a glimpse of Claire, announcing our engagement with a feeling of… jealousy maybe? Her and Michael were married so it couldn't be that.

This was unlike her; I wasn't sure what the flavor of this feeling was, because I had never felt it from Anna before. I played it back in my head and Anna turned her big sandy brown spotted head at me turning away quickly. She didn't think about it again, but I saw the image again from Solace, with feelings I was all too familiar with. I let out a deep growl and Solace barked an apology for his lustful thought about my Claire.

Claire, soon to be my wife. It was a nice thought, but it didn't last long. I caught Jake's scent, but it was out of place, there were still a hundred odd miles before we arrived at the Cullen's mansion.

I froze and turned my face towards the smell, it was accompanied by five unfamiliar vampire scents. Anna the half blood hound was already on the trail and I raced after her. I saw Jacob in the clearing ahead, cradling a figure tightly to his body. It looked like Bella and I pushed myself harder trying to get a better view.

I saw from Michaels mind behind me that a female vampire was lunging at my left, I threw my body low to the ground, and I felt a handful of fur being ripped off of my back as the vampire flew past me. Krys and Paul had her down and dismembered before I could stand up.

I concentrated hard on the thoughts of the pack, analyzing the threat. I could see from Embry's mind Nessie's limp form in Jake's arms. He wasn't phasing, he wasn't even attempting to look at the threat around him, he stared at her face and I could see a hooded figure slink over. Embry and I rocketed forward, colliding with each other before we tackled the girl. Embry writhed and growled in pain and I realized our opponent, tiny and deadly… none other than Jane.

Our minds were unshielded, where was Bella? I searched for her with my own eyes and then through those of the pack. She was heading towards Jacob and I could see she had lost all will to fight at the sight of Nessie, but without her we would die.

"Bella! The shield!" I screamed in my head but she couldn't hear. They must be coming, we had no time to make battle strategies, we had no time to make formations, and we were going to die without her help.

Edward rushed to Bella's side and I launched myself at Jane. It felt wrong, pinning the pint sized girl, and even as I felt fire, white hot fire rush through my veins I didn't like to hit girls.

The pain stopped almost immediately and the angelic smile turned into a growl. There was a commotion behind me, gasping and sobbing but I concentrated on the task at hand. Embry recovered, standing back to back with me, we circled evaluating the damage and the incoming danger. Jane looking back at us with fear, ran backwards and directly into the arms of Stefan and Vladimir. They were smiling genuinely for the first time since I'd met them, as they each grabbed a side and ripped the pre-teen vampire into two.