Edward's POV

Jasper reacted instantly, speeding off after his love, while I turned to catch eyes with Alice. She was already racing to make for the door as well so I followed.

We passed the ripped remains of Leah's clothes on the ground in the clearing as we followed her and Jasper's scents into the forest. More ripping sounded behind us and Seth breezed past us where I was staying back to keep pace with Alice. I could hear Leah ahead of us, tearing through the foliage with the crashing sounds of a wild buffalo in a china shop. She was not trying to be quiet at all and that was only more obvious when she howled loudly enough to make me flinch.

Seth's howl, understandably deeper, soon joined hers and I could tell that he was only feet away from her, running ahead of us by a good forty feet.

I could hear the vile, perverse thoughts of the rogue...James...as he realized that the wolves were coming and he identified Leah's scent in his head. His companions were both more wary, their worry increasing as another howl, about a mile ahead of me but obviously on the other side of them from where they could hear Leah.

A fourth howl went up, further away and then a chorus, all over the place as all ten members came to the calling howl Leah had let out. I only allowed myself to be fascinated by the action and it's response for a moment before I was tuning into the many minds around me, marvelling once again at the Pack Mind. It was wonderful to hear other people that could read each other's minds, even if it wasn't at all times. The way they shared feelings and thoughts and completed one another's sentences. The way their minds had simplified and their instincts sharpened beyond what they had been even in human form.

That fucking scum is back? Jesus-

When will he learn?

What's he want...oh, you...

Hell no! We're not-

...letting him do anything to you, Leah...

Don't worry about anything, Lee-lee

Shut the fuck up, Sam!

...know she hates that man! Why-

We don't have time to be fighting, right now..

Circle east and come from the rear...

I'll come in from the south and trap them-

-edhead is the risk-

Did the leeches tell you that?

Shut up! They're good people-

...know what they're talking about too, Paul, so get over it...

...you're our fastest runners so you go for her-

-fucking way! I want the asshole that's after me!

Leah, we need you to go after the highest risk!

Fine, damnit! But I want last strike on the perv, too...

...we'll save him for you...

Their minds were tumbling over and weaving around one another flawlessly, everything simple but four or five conversations going on at once that all of them were paying attention to and popping from one to another. They had a way of attack, assigned members to each vampire, and were bantering and complaining all at once. The overwhelming protectiveness itself was breath-taking and I would be remiss to not admit my awe everytime I saw one of the magnificent beasts, no matter how many times I thought of Jacob as nothing more than a dog. That had been jealousy more than anything, anyway.

By the time we all arrived in the clearing, the wolves were circling in and James wasn't looking so confident anymore. No fighting had even started when Victoria, the redheaded escape artist, was flipping and dodging and then climbing a tree before taking off. "Rose, go with them!" Carlisle shouted as Embry and Leah took off, staying on the ground under the trees she was leaping under. "They can't climb without phasing!"

Rosalie huffed indignantly but followed after quickly enough, leaving six wolves (It seemed they'd left the two thirteen year olds home) and six vampires to face off against the two. Tracking didn't help much when what you were targeting was seperated from you by twelve beings with the same strength as you, or more in Emmett's case.

James' mind was more enraged then fearful so when Jasper engaged him in a fight, he was sloppier than usual. I wondered briefly while Jasper was ripping his head from his body, murderous and monsterous sneer in place, if being cooler headed would have kept him in the fight for longer. It wouldn't have kept him alive, but maybe it would have prolonged his death.

The darker man with dreadlocks, Laurent as his mind supplied, tried to placate. Carlisle may have fallen for it and let him go in the name of peace but we all knew that once we'd called the wolves out for help that they'd take this man as being under their jurisdiction. I could feel Carlisle's hesitation to let them do it, thinking maybe he should step in, his sympathy for all creatues rearing up. But he didn't try to stop the wolves because we all knew it needed to be done.

He was a human drinker and a risk, especially if he felt vengeful for our killing of his coven. We couldn't afford to spare him and him run off to the Volturri or another coven to return and hunt us. And the wolves weren't even that lenient. In their eyes, he'd signed his death warrant when he showed his ruby eyes.

So I tried to detach myself, watched in morbid fascination along with my father, as the wolves circled him slowly. My own family backed away as they tightened in around the man. He had a fleeting thought to run but the scenarios in his head of him running and being taken down as he fleed didn't appeal to him. He didn't have much more time to contemplate though as I heard the bloodthirsty pack's thoughts. They were taunting and scheming in their mind until finally Jared struck out to take a chunk from his stomach, Paul coming out next to rip from his leg. It was like they were having a meal in the wild, where wolves ate in order of their rank. Once the Beta and Alpha had went, the pack struck out all over until he was nothing more than bite sized pieces.

"Kibble n' Bits." Emmett gasped out between sudden laughter. Seth let out a rumbling chuffing sound that I took to be laughter and then there was a naked Jared standing among us, easy as you please. I ducked my head in embarassment, looking away as he strode forward and pulled a lighter from the pocket of a pair of shorts tied to his leg. The peices were all nudged together, into a pile by the wolves as the lighter was struck and the marbled pieces went up in purple flames.

"Yo, sis! Jasper took him out before we could tell him you wanted the last go!" Seth called out. It took me a moment to realize it had been aloud and not him calling to her in their minds. My head whipped around, eyes widening because all of them were naked now and just standing there.

I could hear Embry and Leah then, the sound of human footsteps and dragging and I remembered Seth saying he had the best hearing and must have heard them. The two came out of the woods then, Leah's hand clutching a shock of riotous red curls as Embry heaved the rest of the body behind him by the leg. Both were nude as well and I couldn't help but shuffle awkwardly at all the thoughts racing around. Jasper's possessiveness despite the fact they had clearly not been doing anything sexual, Alice's embarassed musings, and especially the awe and appreciation from Emmett and Rosalie.

"That's fine, I guess." Leah answered, flashing a grin at my blonde brother as she tossed Victoria's head into the fire. "Night, Vicki." she murmured, going to Jasper.

"Well...that's all I guess." Jared finished, pushing the lighter back into the pocket on his leg.

"Thanks, Jare." she replied.

"No problem. We're pack." he answered, seamlessly phasing and running off.

Paul winked Leah's way lewdly. "Later, She-wolf."

"I'm telling Rachel!" Leah laughed back at him.

Paul only laughed as he took off, looking like he would dive headfirst into the ground before he phased suddenly and his arms became front legs, landing gracefully and sprinting away.

"Lee-lee-"

"Bye Sam." she dismissed. "Race you back, Eddo." I stood there, a little stunned as she and Seth took off. I guess I just hadn't expected her plan to actually work.