The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

Chapter 39: Battlefield

"Edward, you're not alone," Esme reminded me out loud. As if she had Jasper's gift and could sense my panic.

Jasper made use of his gifts now, probably in the biggest way he had since his early days as a vampire. All at once, he made everyone feel determination, focus and confidence. We could do this- together. As family and extended family, as a single unit. As a pack, if you will. It wasn't without effort that he made almost thirty people feel these things all it once. It took an incredible amount of focus and strength, and it was nothing short of impressive.

I love you, Jake thought.

"I love you," I murmured back, running my fingers through his soft fur for a moment. Time stood still as we stared into each other's eyes, and I committed his beautiful chocolate irises to memory. More so than I already had. I would never forget the way they lit up when he smiled or laughed, the way they sparkled when he told me he loved me. The way they were several different shades of beautiful earthy tones all at once. The way they bared his soul. The way they spoke to me without words.

"Thirty seconds," Alice announced in her shrill voice.

The minds around me hardened, stances being taken and muscles being flexed. All eyes were straining to see our adversaries, ears focused for the first sign of their advance. The vampires stood stock still, the Hale-McCall pack bounced on the balls of their feet- ready for action. The pack stood motionless, the only movement the rising and falling of their ribcages.

"Let them come to you," Jasper reminded everyone. "Let them think they have the upper hand."

"Ten seconds," Alice counted down again. Their animalistic minds were getting louder, plaguing my mind and attempting to drown everything else out. I watched the familiar trees streak by them as they approached. I had to focus now, focus on the minds of my loved ones, to make sure they were protected. The approaching minds would be snuffed out soon enough... payment for their attempts on my mates life.

"Now," I murmured, loud enough for only our side to hear.

A second later the horde broke the tree line.

The newborn army was made up of all manner of vampires. Tall, short, stocky, slim, young, and old... none with any previous history of training or fighting skills from what I could tell. Victoria and Riley obviously weren't picky with their selection, aiming for numbers instead of usefulness.

They didn't even pause, barrelling forward as every pair of red eyes focused on the russet wolf standing next to me. I bristled at their now very real threat, a menacing growl escaping my throat. I dropped into a crouch in front of my mate, eyes trained on the running newborns.

500 meters. The closer they got, the more restless our side grew.

"Easy," Jasper muttered in warning.

300 meters. Stiles was nearly jumping up and down now, his baseball bat swinging at his side.

"Easy," he said again.

150 meters. Jared was barely controlling his urge to attack, Sam whispering a warning in the pack mind.

100 meters. We held our breath for a moment.

"Now," Jasper shouted, as if that was necessary.

We sprang into action just as the newborns reached the 50 meter mark. The growls, shouts and banshee screams could probably be heard for miles... thank goodness we were many miles from civilization. The two sides clashed, with Emmett, Sam and I at the head. The sound was deafening- 100 times worse than vampires playing baseball.

I grinned dangerously as I laid my hands on my first victim, a gruff looking man with brown hair. Sweeping his legs out from under him, I rolled over his body before straddling his chest and pulling his arms from his body with a metallic screech. I heard a wolf approaching, and I vaulted off of his body as Quill pounced, immediately tearing the newborns screaming head from his body. We both quickly moved on, my mind paying attention to the minds of my family around me as my body mechanically shredded newborn after newborn. Jake was by my side... until he wasn't.

The brown one, he's the brown one. He's so close. My revenge is so close, I heard the familiar, feminine thoughts of none other than Victoria. The redheaded nightmare. He has to die. For James. His dog blood will taste sweet on my lips-

I roared at the sound of her plotting, of her sick mind. I was distracted as I tried to locate my mate in the chaos. But Jake must have heard me, because he was suddenly barreling towards me. Edward, was all he could think. I made to move towards him, feeling my heart plummet into my stomach.

As Victoria chased after him- was right on his heels- was wrapping her arms around Jake's ribcage and squeezing with all of her might.

I roared again, seeing red and racing towards my mate as I listened to his bones snap and his agonized howls filled the air.