Before you even read this chapter... I'm sorry.

Alura Jasmine

xx

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"Jake," I screamed, holding him tighter as ran through the forbidden forest. The yellow eyes and darkness were gaining on us with every step.

"Just hold on," he said calmly as he took a sharp left. "Just don't let go of me." The wind blew on my face so hard that it was difficult to open my eyes. Everything around me becomes a blur as Jake ran back into the darkness of the Forest. I felt sticks whip my body as we passed through some trees. The sting of the cuts on my body became stronger as the air grow colder. My heart pounded in my chest, and I had to hold back the tears in my eyes as I thought about what was about to happen. I don't want to die here.

"Eb, I'm going to move you to my back. Can you swing yourself around my body?" Jake said suddenly.

"I...I don't know," I said nervously.

"I'll slow down a bit in these trees, but I need you to swing to my back. I won't let you go, I promise," he squeezed my body tightly. "Trust me."

I just nodded.

"Ok, on three. One...two...three," he swung my legs out to the side, and I gripped onto his neck as I used all my strength to pull myself back towards his body. I landed with a thump on his back as I let out a scream.

"Good girl," he yelled as I wrapped myself around him like a second skin. "Good girl," he almost seemed surprised that we achieved that move. "Is it still behind us?"

I turned my head and saw the yellow eyes in the distance, still following our every move. "Yes," I cried out, digging my nails into his leather jacket.

"Ok, we go right at the end of the darkness. You need to hold on. It's going to be quick," He yelled almost too calmly.

"I don't think I can hold on any tighter."

"Try," He said, bending over slightly. "Here we go," he made such a sharp right that I felt my neck jar against the wind. I groaned in pain as we ran out of the darkness and back into the clearing of the Forrest. My whole body hurt as he ran towards some mountains in the distance.

"Sorry, Eb," he called, touching my leg. "I...SHIT" he started to slow his pace suddenly and then turned towards another direction. "FUCK," he yelled, backing up again. "They are everywhere," he shouted in a complete panic.

"Who?" I asked nervously.

"Leon's army," he sighed.

"Leon? Oh shit, does that mean..."

"Well, hello there, little one," I heard a deep husky voice behind me. "It's so nice to see you again," the voice was almost laughing at me. "Such a pretty little one, aren't you?"

I turned to see the yellow eyes walking toward us. I knew who it was instantly.

"Thank you, Leon, but your not my type, so back off," Jake said, pulling me against him.

"Ahh, Jacob. Why must you enrage me as you do with that smart mouth of yours?" Leon was just staring at me like I was the last piece of meat in the world. "I thought you would have learned by now."

"Guess again," Jake growled. "You should know by now I don't learn very quickly."

Leon chuckled to himself. "Does my brother know about your little interest in his girl? I don't think he would be very pleased with the way you are touching her right now."

I felt Jake squeeze my hand. "Touch her, and you'll find out my interest."

"You read my mind," Leon smiled as his eyes flashed red. "Making you watch this will bring me even greater pleasure," he laughed.

"Just leave her," Jake bellowed. "This war has nothing to do with her"

"Oh, Jacob" Leon took a step towards us. "You don't understand. This war is all about her. You see, if I kill her...my brother has nothing to fight for. It's so ridiculously good, isn't it? This whole war is about her, and to stop it, all I have to do is break her pretty little neck and drain her body of every last drop of blood...my brother's will to live flows through her very veins. It's almost too easy," he was getting pleasure from my fear. "She comes with me, or you and my brother will be killed. That is my term."

"Well, I don't like it," Jake said, shaking his head. "Take me, but leave her."

"The girl or death," Leon repeated with his deep voice.

"Death," Jake said calmly without hesitation. "I chose my death."

"Jake, no," I cried out. "I won't let you."

"You kill me. The girl goes free" Jake ignored my pleas and kept talking calmly. "Those are my terms."

Leon stared at him in disbelief. "You would give up everything for this girl?"

"Everything," He said, holding me tightly against his chest. "Without any doubt."

"Jake.." I wept up at him. "Please, don't do this. I'll go with you if you promise to stop this," I said to Leon.

"It's ok, Eb, everything will be ok. I promise you will be ok soon" he kissed the top of my head and held onto me as I cried on his chest. "He's here now," he whispered in my ear.

"What?"

"He's here now. He will take you to safety. I will always love you, Ebony Summers. Always" he said in my ear.

"Jake, no. I won't let you do this. Jake, please, don't do this," I cried out as my eyes filled with tears. "Jake, no.."

"Don't forget me because I'll never forget you," he smiled as he kissed my cheek. "I love you so much," he kissed my hand softly and winked at me. "I'll miss ya kiddo," he said right before he suddenly pushed me to the side as he lunged at Leon. I screamed loudly as I fell to the ground with a thud.

"Jake," I screamed as he landed on Leon and tackled him to the ground. "Jake..." I felt arms around me suddenly, and then I was lifted off the ground like I was nothing. I tried to fight off the thing holding me against it with everything I had, but nothing was strong enough. "Jake.." I tried to yell, but it came out as a whisper as my eyes flooded with tears. "Don't leave me," I whispered out as I finally gave up the fight completely exhausted and defeated. "I need you," I kept trying to reach out to him in the darkness, now covering me. "Jake"

"It's ok, baby, I got you," a deep voice said in my ear. "It's ok, " I felt myself being hugged tightly as I cried for my lost friend. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry," his voice instantly calmed me.

"Carter?" I looked up to see the aqua blue eyes that I have become so familiar with staring down at me, but they were not sparkling. They were just dull and full of sorrow.

"I'm sorry baby, I didn't make it in time" his voice was soft as he wiped my tears. "I'm so sorry."

"He's gone, Carter. Jake is gone," I said, shaking my head. "He can't be gone. He needs to come home with me. We need to go and get him. He needs to come home" I tried to pull away from him, but Carter held me tighter.

"He is coming home, baby. He will never leave your side, I promise."

"Carter, I need him."

"I know," he said, rocking me in his arms. "We all do, but he is my greatest hero right now, and I promise you, I will avenge him for all of us. His death will not go unpunished." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm so sorry, baby."

"He told me he would never leave me," I whispered.

"And He never will believe that"

I just cried for what felt like an eternity on Carter's chest.

Jake...

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A/N

I know. Please don't hate me.

xx