Even though Sam lost the element of surprise, the Cullens were outnumbered and they knew that. But Jacob and Evie bought them time which was already something big in the situation they were. Time was not a luxury they could afford and yet, they had more. But the other issue was the baby. Even if Sam wouldn't be the one killing it, the baby itself would kill her.
The Black pack was about to leave but Jacob suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Evie discreetly asked him.
"Man, I can smell âem from all the way out here!" Leah complained as she suddenly reached them.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked.
"Leah?" Both Evie and Seth exclaimed, surprised.
"Iâm not gonna let my little brother and sister get themselves killed," Leah said as if it was obvious.
"We're not children, we can take care of ourselves," Evie shot back.
"Now you feel what I feel," Seth whispered to Evie.
"Shut up, Seth," Evie whispered back.
"That you think so proves that you need a babysitter," Leah shot back too.
"I would never let anything happen to her," Jacob said with the most seriousness. A soft smile appeared on Evie's lips as fluster and pride fill her. "Anyway, did Sam send you?"
"Sam doesnât even know I left," the oldest Clearwater said. Seeing Leah joining them was quite surprising, very unpribable, but still possible. Eventhough she hated the Cullens, she loved her siblings.
Just then, howlings of wolves resonated in the woods.
"I think they just figured it out," Seth said.
"Jake, I know what his plan is," Leah said. Both Evie and Jacob shared a look, as if they were having a silent conversation. Having Leah by their side was a plus.
"Alright," Jacob gave in.
"Samâs lost the element of surprise and he doesnât wanna take them on outnumbered," Leah said. "So heâs not gonna come at them head on. Heâs got the place surrounded and heâll wait for his opportunity,"
"So in short, is surveiying us," Evie said.
"Yes," Leah nodded. "The moment he'll spot an opening, he'll attack,"
"So we stay on our guards," Jacob concluded.
After that, the pack reported that to the Cullens so they could prepare themselves. Most of them were ready to fight but Carlisle was against it. Even though Sam didnât care about the treaty anymore, for the doctor, it was still of actuality. But the main problem was that none of the Cullens had hunted for weeks. Fighting would be hard, very difficult. But they were still willing to make it work.
The Black Pack had decided to stay at the Cullens to guard the house. The slightest move would be reported. The night had covered Forks. Standing outside the Cullenâs house were Jake and Leah. They were the first line in case of an attack.
"I know theyâre out there somewhere, but I canât hear them anymore. Itâs so quite," Jacob said, looking at the dark forest.
"I stopped hearing them too. The second I decided to leave. Even Aaron...," Leah said. Jacob looked at her.
It was still so new to him to know that Leah had imprinted. She was so into Sam before he left. And now, she had another half to spend the rest of her life with. Actually, Jacob was glad for her. He understood her pain in some way. And now she had someone to count and rely on.
"Are you really staying?" Jacob asked. Leah looked at him. "Shouldn't you and Seth be with Sam?"
"Why do you want us to leave so much? I won't let you alone with my sister if itâs what you're asking," she said, half joking.
"What- no, it's not-," Jacob exclaimed, madly blushing. "It's just... Both yours and Seth's imprintee are with Sam. Evie won't have to fight hers since we're on the same side. But you and Seth will have to fight Aaron and Sarah. Even if none of Evie and I will harm them, just being against them must be painful for you,"
"I'm not used seeing you so considerate," Leah stated. Jacob chuckled.
"Well, I'm working on that," he smiled. If he was an Alpha now, he wanted to be a leader that care about the well being of his fellow pack members. They were her family now.
There was a small silence. Then Leah sighed.
"I knew the outcomes when I left," Leah said. "But I'm willing to go through it and ignore the pain. For them," Leah added, looking at Seth and Evie who were inside the Cullens house.
"You would do everything for them," Jacob softly smiled. It was the thing he admired the most with Leah. Her unconditional love for her siblings, even though she wasn't always showing it.
"I would do anything for them," Leah said, not looking away from her siblings. "Taking a bullet for them, sacrificing my life for them. As long as they are alive, it's fine with me," The bond between the Clearwater siblings may be stronger than the imprinting.
Inside the house, Seth was sat on the couch, talking with both Bella and Rosalie. Evie was by the window, keeping an eye on the forest, being attentive to any unsual sign. She was still not used to not hear the Uley pack voices. But she knew it was necessary. And even though she seemed to be against Leah's arrival, Evie was more than relieved to have her by her side. Evie didn't want to fight her sister. And having Leah with her just made her feel safer.
"I'm sorry," Evie heard. She snapped back into reality and turned. It was Edward. He stopped beside her. "Because of me you had to leave the pack. You're life is all messed up...,"
"Don't apologise for something you had no control over," Evie smiled. "You just wanted a life with the girl you love. I cannot blame you for that. And I'm willing to help you get it,"
"Your heart must be the purest of us all," Edward chuckled, soon followed by Evie herself.
"She will live, Ed. You'll have your happy ending," Evie said, determined.
"And you'll have yours too," Edward told her too. "I've noticed things are getting better between Jacob and you,"
"Uh, yeah," she chuckled, nervously. "A lot of things happened when you were away but I presume you already know,"
"I do, indeed," he smiled. Being a mind reader, he must have read his sisters' minds to catch up on the situation.
"I think we are doing good. But I don't want to rush things," Evie said, looking at Jacob who was conversing with her sister.
"He is willing to wait as long as it would take," Edward said. "He really wants to make it up to you,"
Evie softly smiled hearing this from Edward. She had figured Jacob was really serious about their relationship. It reassured her a lot.
"I'm glad we're friends, Edward. I really am," Evie sincerly said. "You're my best friend,"
"Platonical soul mates," he smiled. Evie chuckled but agreed. Who would have thought that two beings that were supposed to hate each other to the core, became the best of friends.
"Careful there, I don't think Jake would be happy hearing you calling her your soul mate," Seth joked, making them laugh.
"Jacob seems to be more understanding," Bella said.
"He is," Evie smiled.
But then, her smile faded. Edward frowned.
Someone had entered their perimeter.
Evie heard Seth and Rosalie standing up as Jacob and Leah turned toward the house.
"Seth," Evie called.
The youngest Clearwater joined his sister as they stepped out of the house. They waited on the poarch, their eyes glued on the tree line. And then, they widenes their eyes. A fourteen years old boy emerged from the forest. Hair cut short and dressed with a tank top and pair of shorts.
"Jay? What the hell are you doing here?" Evie exclaimed as she walked over to him.
"Seth and I were supposed to play video games at my house," he said. "But when I went to check at Sam's he told me he wouldn't come here anymore. And I overheard my brother saying he was here. So I came,"
"Are you kidding?" Jacob said in disapproval. "Go back home and don't come here again,"
"Why?" Jay whined. "I've never seen vampires before! Are they like books say? Does they change into bats?"
"You know about the Cullens?" Jacob asked.
"Yeah, my dad told me the legends," Jay cheered. He remembered them of Seth when he first phased. Full of joy.
"Then it's another reason for you to leave," Jacob firmly said. "Go back home,"
"Why~?" He whined again.
"Because. You're way too young. It's too dangerous,"
"But Seth's here! And he is only a year older than me!"
"But he has more experience than you," Leah reasoned.
"Now go back," Evie insisted. "Or you'll be in trouble both here and at home. I don't think your brother nor Sam would be happy knowing you're here,"
"And why that?"
"Because," Jacob sternly said. Jay sighed.
"Alright, alright," Jay muttered and turned away to leave. "No one ever wants to tell me whatâs going on. Not fair," he muttered again.
"Let's keep an eye on him too," Jacob said. "Knowing him, he'll come back. I don't want him to get involved,"
They all nodded.
Days passed. The Black pack was still guarding the house as the Cullens kept researching solutions for Bella to survive. But nothing was found and her condition was getting worse. She was skinier, more fragile. Some of her bones were broken. At this rate, she wouldn't even make it to the birthing.
The Uley pack hadn't tried anything but it was just a matter of time before they would. Jay hadn't come back but from time to time, they would smell he scent from time to time, telling him he would peak at them someone. He was one curious child and they were sure Sam didnât know about it. Or else, he wouldn't be there.
Evie was apprehending the moment the fight would break. She had no desire the one who were like brothers to her. But she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn't let them kill Bella.
Evie was parrolling around the house. But on her way back, she smell someone. She stopped and turned.
"I smelled you," Evie said. "You shouldn't be here,"
Just behind a tree, the small head of Sarah peaked. She seemed embarrassed, shy even.
"Sam wouldn't be happy," Evie said.
"I know... that's why he doesnât know I left," she said.
"You left?" Evie repeated in disblief. She wasn't expecting anyone else to leave Sam. Seth was kind of predictible. Leah less. But the other, she would have never imagined. And Sarah had never even met the Cullens before.
"I don't want to kill anyone...," she said looking down. "Even though the Cullens are supposed to be our natural enemies... I don't want to kill anyone. Bella even less. She's still human,"
Evie's gaze soften. Sarah was still fifteen after. And she had never been the type to fight. It was the complete opposite actually. She hated fighting. Asking her to fight, to kill wasn't right to Evie. That is why she didn't want Seth to come in the first place. She wanted to spare them.
"Sarah-,"
"I already stopped hearing them," she cut off. "And... I miss Seth...," she blushed at the last part.
Evie softly smiled. They were imprintee after all. Evie couldn't separate them. She didn't want anyone to go through the same thing she had to.
"Does Aaron know you left?"
"Hell yeah, he knows," they both heard. They turned. Aaron. Sarah froze and widened her eyes in disblief.
He reached them and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't looking very pleased.
"The next time you leave the house without telling me, you'll get into big troubles," he scolded.
"Aaron-,"
"You're lucky I'm with you on this one," he added.
"What?" Sarah said.
"You too?" Evie asked.
"Even though I'm not friends with the Cullens, my girl is with them. Even my sister," he said. "There's no way I'm fighting them. So the most logical solution was to join you,"
Evie stared at the two of them. The Black pack was getting bigger and the Uley pack smaller. Even though the Black pack and the Cullens were still outnumbered, they may have a chance now. And besides, having the Ross siblings with them will be only good for Seth and Leah. So there was no way she would refused. It was only benificial.
"The more the merrier," Evie smiled. Both Aaron and Sarah grinned and followed her back to the Cullens house. "Our pack is mostly guarding the house, ready to fight anytime,"
"Sam hadn't change his mind in the slightest," Aaron informed. "He is still keeping an eye on you all, waiting for an opportunity to show up,"
"What about Bella? How is she?" Sarah asked.
"Not good. Her state is getting worse," Evie sighed, sadened. "We're still looking for a way to save her,"
"I've never thought things would go down this way," Sarah muttered. Aaron passed his arm around his little sister's shoulder, showing her confort.
"Neither did I," Evie muttered.