Apologies again! I had a major case of procrastination on this one, purely for the fact that I knew that this was the last chapter and I did not want it to end. I hope this makes up for it.

Chapter 15 - Safe

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

What? What was that sound? Did she forget to turn a tap off? Those were Bella's thoughts as she slowly returned to consciousness. Slowly she began to remember the events from before she was knocked unconscious by the vampire that had attacked her... By Riley.

Now she was awake on a cold hard surface with water drinking somewhere in the back. Bella did not dare to move as she tried but failed to observe her surroundings, just in case any sound brought attention to her now conscious state. However, what she did not take into consideration was the fact that Riley was a vampire, with super vampire hearing. He could hear the change in her heartbeat from miles away as he scouted the area around the small bunker he had placed her in.

They were just outside of Forks, closer to Seattle really but definitely far from the wolf shifters territory. Although that would not stop them from coming after their own. It would not stop them hunting a vampire that stole an imprint.

In the darkness, there was a sudden whoosh of air that caused Bella's hair to whip around her before settling once again.

"You're awake," Riley's said with a smirk that even the brunette could hear. "Good I was getting bored."

Bella did not even dignify his words with an answer, instead, she chose to stay mute. Wish just infuriated the vampire more but made her feel better about herself. She was human and clearly no much for him, but she will die pressing as many buttons as she possibly could. That was just who she is.

"I hope you don't mind but I brought a few friends," Riley continued.

From behind him, three more figures appeared. The first had olive coloured skin, unusual from a vampire who was depicted as being pale. He was male, with black hair made into dreadlocks and ruby red eyes. The second was also male with light brown almost blond hair and skin that was colour ivory. The final vampire was female with flaming red hair that enhanced her burning red eyes. Her body leaned subtly towards the second male, showing that they were clearly intimate with each other, possibly even mates.

"So you are Bella," the second male said taking in a long loud sniff of her scent. "Riley has told us so much about you."

Meanwhile, a pack of wolves were currently running through the forest of Fork noses to the air as they follow the scent of the vampire that had kidnapped an imprint. One wolf, in particular, had circling thoughts of self-blame and then blaming his alpha. After all, he should have been with her, he should have protected her and never let her out of his sight.

"You can't think like that Paul," Seth said to the wolf trying to calm him down enough to focus. "We didn't know that this would happen. You didn't know. If we did we would have prevented it, but it's happened now and you need to focus. If you don't Bella could die."

At the mention of Bella's death, all Paul could see was red. He had always had a temper and Seth speech had done nothing but make the darkness in them grow. So blocking out the sounds of his pack mates the wolf took off solo, faster than any other.

"Paul, stop!" the rest of the park shouted back, but he was too far gone. He needed Bella and Bella needed him!

Back in the bunker, the brunette put of a mask of indifference when faced with four vampires that could kill her in a second. She thought about the odds of her surviving this and they were pretty slim, but maybe, maybe she could stall long enough for Paul to save her. If not, well at least she tried her best and did as much as she could.

"Really," she said chipperly. "And yet I have heard nothing about you. Funny that."

The redhead began to chuckle, "Oh she has some fire in her. We will sort that out."

I'd like to see you try, Bella said in her head. She was not one to break easily no matter how much pain she was in.

"And I get to go first," Riley smirked, before dramatically pulling his foot back and slowly swinging it towards her. It was such a gentle and elegant movement that it could not possibly hurt, right! Wrong. As soon as Riley 'gently' kicked into the brunette her body lifted off the surface she was laying on and flew painfully into the wall two meters behind her.

Bella cried out in pain and groaned as she fell back to the ground. That kick had probably broken a rib or two at the most but could have been easily mistaken for a scene in a play where no one actual of hurt. She then rolled back over to face the evil beings and smiled.

"Hahaha," she laughed deeply.

"And what is so funny human," James sneered.

"You are!" Bella grinned. "Have you been a vampire so long that you have forgotten what it is like to be human?"

James sneer turned into a frown as he stalked towards her, "What weak and pathetic?"

"No, humans even when scared will stand up and face their fears. When we have nothing, we know there is always hope. And even now, as I look at my death I pity you. You who have to leave for eternity, the only death awaiting you is a violent one where you will then burn in hell for all the sins you have committed."

"Well if you are so happy for death, then I will give it to you," James shouted and lunged at her much to the glee of the other three vampires in the room.

Suddenly there was a bang and a growl and before the male vampire could reach Bella's neck a large dark silver blur had tackled the vampire to the ground. As the bodies tumbled away from the injured human there was a sickening crunch and the sound of something rolling across the cold concrete surface. It was James head which rolled towards Bella, who backed up in a panic and curled herself into the side of the room.

After she witnessed her mate being murdered, Victoria screamed an anguished battled cry and she ran towards the wolf shifter, who whipped around just in time to snap his teeth at her. Victoria was forced to retreat. In this time, the other two vampires Riley and Laurent began to circle Paul like wild animals circling their prey. They were cautious of this threat as they had never before seen a wolf shift in all their years of living until they had come to Fork and La Push. Laurent regretted greatly for their choice in location. He also regretted not turning back when they scented the wolf but no it was far too late. With his coven, he thought that they could win, but with James gone and the rest of the pack due to arrive, they were in a bind.

With one last look at the dead James and Victoria who joined them in circling their prey, Laurent turned his back and ran. He fled from what was left of his coven swearing to never come back to this place that held such danger for their kind. However, Laurent had made this decision too late. The rest of the pack was nearly at the bunker so when they saw the vampire fleeing Seth and Leah pounced into action and the chase began.

Sam and the rest of the pack positioned themselves around the small bunker ensuring that they would see anyone that escaped before the alpha ordered Jared go in a leer the vampires out.

Got it, Jared responded. He then stalked through the doorway and driver through immediately pulling Riley back as he and Victoria went to attack the silver-grey wolf. Jared whipped his head and released his grip on the vampire throwing him into the wall opposite the one Bella was thrown into. As the brunette watched she hid her grin as she through about the karma of it all.

Riley flipped up like a well-trained fighter and ran towards Jared who had surprised the vampire. The wolf snapped his teeth but the vampire lunged below the attack and shoved the beast towards Victoria and Paul. In a blur, Riley then ran towards Bella and grabbed her. He hoisted the female up onto his shoulder and ran from the place he held his ex-girlfriend captive.

The wolves of the outside knew that there were only two vampires left so when one started to flee Sam ordered half the wolves to give chase whilst the others stayed to help with the last vampire. She was a slippery one. Victoria would bend and flex away from whatever Paul threw at her and was like a cat, who always managed to stay on her feet. However, it got harder when Jared joined the fight. Now she had to avoid two wolves.

As they fought, Victoria flipped backwards only to be caught by teeth sinking into her ankle. She shrieked more in anger than in pain as she twisted and crunched up to claw at the muzzle that was locked into her ice-cold flesh. Paul growled and lunged towards the vampire that was trying to make her escape, in his mind is was telling Jared not to let go no matter what. Claw marks could heal but if she escaped she would kill more people.

Hearing this Jared bit down harder and Victoria groaned in pain and frustration and increased her clawing until Paul flew by catching one of her arms in his teeth.

CRACK.

The arm broke off crumbling slighting as Paul threw it to the side of the hunt, only to notice that Bella was not where he had last seen her. Panic made him freeze for a second until Embry shouted through his mind, Don't worry me and Jake have her focus of the female leech. For a moment Paul did not want to believe that Embry and Jacob had her, he needed to see her for himself, but part of him was saying that he had to trust his pack. Trust them to look after his imprint just as he would look after one of theirs. So he did.

Paul turned back to Jared and Victoria, the redhead had pulled her ankle from the wolfs teeth but it was weak and cracking.

Together!, Paul shouted and together Paul and Jared lunged and victoria pushing her into a corner. Jared went high and Paul went low, allowing for the silver-grey wolf to immobiliser her and the brown wolf began to chew off her head. The clicking sound as the wolf twisted the head from side to side was heard by all the wolves until there was a bang of the head finally dropping to the floor.

Change back and burn her, Sam said through their pack link. Paul left that job to Jared and his mind sought out Embry who was currently watching the fight between Jacob and Riley. But where was Bella, the Quileute would not see the brunette through the link?

Don't worry Paul I told you we have her, Embry said before turning his head behind him to where Bella sat staring wide-eyed at the fight before her.

She was safe. He had done the right thing. She was fine. Relief like no other swept through Paul like a Tsunami crashing to the sore. All he could think was, thank the gods.

Leah and Seth had quickly finished Laurent who had only been focused on running not fighting and were heading back to help Jacob. After Victoria was burned the rest of the pack also ran towards the final battle taking place.

As they arrived, Jacob had the newborn face down to the ground and finally ripped his head off in one bit. The teenager then shifted back causing Bella to flush red at his nakedness that the other wolves do not seem to mind.

"Jacob Black where are your clothes," Bella then shouted quickly after getting over her shyness for seeing another man's... well you know.

Jacob just laughed, crouched down and fiddled with a tie that held his cut-off jeans. He then pulled out a lighter and lit the body of Riley on fire.

Paul also shifted back and ran towards his imprint, grabbing her into a tight hug as he pulled her close a sniffed at the junction of her neck. Bella groaned in pain which causes Paul to pull back, "You're hurt!"

"I'm fine," Bella whispered wrapping her arms around the one she loved.

After a moment so silence, the brunette girl then pulled back and said, "You do know that you're naked right. Here I am hurt and all I feel is little Paul picking at me."

The wolves in the area all snorted and growled what sounded like chuckling.

"I can't help it," Paul shrugged with no sense of shyness. "I'm just happy to see you. Ouch!"

Bella purposefully kneed the dark-skinned God in front of her on her way to standing up, smirking happily. "Really now, then you best take me back to La Push then," she said with a playful smirk.

In a moment of happy delirium, Paul quickly shifted back into wolf form and crouched down for Bella to climb on. As they made their way home Paul could not help but think at least things are finally looking up. At least he did not let this second chance slide by, because if he did it would have been the thing he most regretted in all of his life.

Fate will never abandon you. Fate will always give you a second chance, just keep an eye out for it.

Epologue

Five years later...

"Leo do not run off!" A slightly older Bella Lahote shouted at her hyperactive three-year-old.

The three-year-old mentioned turned around with a cheeky grin and called back with a slight lisp to his words, "Then walk faster mommy!"

Bella rolled her eyes and muttered to herself as she attempted to pick up the pace to catch up with her child as he ran towards the beach for the next pack bonfire. As she went she clutched her stomach with one hand as she held a tray of food with another. She had been pregnant with Leo during her last year at college and had been thrilled when she passed higher than average. it proved that even with a small human kicking you from the inside that a person could concentrate and do another, including passing exams.

"Hurry up mommy," the little boy shouted again. He had Pauls russet coloured skin with Bella chocolate brown eyes and a heart-shaped face. Everyone said that he would be a heart breaker when he is older and Bella could not deny it with the cheeky dimple filled grin he has.

Her a Paul had been married two years, although if Paul had had it his way he would have married her as soon as she got pregnant but Bella needed to focus of College and so they left it until after she could actually fit into a wedding dress. The wedding was a small affair, with Bella's parents and a few friends from her course. Of course, the pack, Pauls mother and the elders of the tribe were also in attendance. It was a beautifully simple ceremony and she could not have wished for more.

Finally, the crowd that was preparing for the bonfire was in view. Her son already almost meeting them. Once again the brunette increased her pace as one of the figures turned around and swift her son off the ground. She could hear the light, twinkling giggle that came from the boy as he was hoisted high up into the sky by his father. The boy was then placed back down onto the sand.

After a moment, the father looked up at Bella, patted the boy on his head and ran towards her. He caught up in less than a minute.

"Bella, what are you doing? You should have called when you pulled up in the parking lot," Paul said as he took the tray from her hand and wrapped his other hand around her waist almost lifting her off the ground as she walked.

"I'm pregnant not an invalid," she snorted and hit him on the chest. Although secretly she was thanking her wolf for the weight that he took off her feet. With this pregnancy, she was twice as big and the doctors had said that it was twins which means they may be born early as well. Bella had through that Paul had been overprotective when she was pregnant with Leo but now he (and the rest of the pack) was almost suffocatingly so. Believe it or not, this was the first time in over a month she had carried something heavier than her mobile phone.

Her husband just smiled at her having heard this line many times before, but continued to help her down the rest of the beach toward the pack and their families. Sam and Emily had a little girl called Summer and Embry embraced his imprint who he had only just found six months ago. She was actually Emily's long time friend from high school who had finally come to visit after graduating with a PhD in medicine. Her name was Sophia, she had russet coloured skin, forest green eyes and thick brown wavy hair. She had only accepted the imprint a couple of weeks ago and Embry was still in what Bella liked to call the clingy stage where the man did not entirely believe that he was being accepted.

Also around the fire was the Elders minus Quil Sr who had died a few years back due to natural causes. Quil's mother had taken over the post just as Sue had taken Harry's until their children were ready to accept it.

"Right so what story are we telling first," Bella heard Billy Black asked the children.

Leo immediately shouted, "The one about mommy and daddy! Please, please, please, Grandpap Billy."

Billy laughed loudly, "Sure kid, why not."

Bella and Paul smiled at each other as they settled down in the sand, then turned to watch their son as Billy told the story of a wolf for found his second chance at true love.