Reaching the outskirts of the battlefield I had to stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Strands of my hair were stuck to my cheeks because of the tears and I was struggling to regain my breath. This definitely wasn't good considering I had to be at my best to fight the newborns.

It wasn't unexpected when Alice suddenly appeared in front of me and enveloped me in a hug. "Why does this have to happen to me Alice?" I asked her as I pulled away. Why did everything have to keep going wrong in my life?

"Maybe it's not what you think it is." She suggested as she fixed my hair for me, pulling the strands off of my cheeks and fitting them back into my braid.

"It's exactly what I think it is." I spat, wiping at my face furiously to get rid of the tears. "She told him she loves him! She kissed him!"

"Hey, hey, look at me." She cupped my face in her hands. "Breathe for me okay? In and out. In and out." She managed to calm my breathing but that didn't stop me from crying.

"I just don't get it. How could she do that to me?" I balled my hands into fists and held them against my eyes trying to stop the crying.

"Sweetheart, you can't be doing this right now. They are almost here. You need to channel all these emotions into anger, can you do that for me?" She asked me and I laughed sarcastically.

"I'm already angry." I breathed and she frowned.

"Not at Bella, at the newborns." She insisted and I reluctantly nodded, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath allowing my mind to take full control of my body. I pushed the thoughts of Jake and Bella and every other problem in my head to the back of my mind, forgetting about them for a while and I allowed the need to fight to consume me.

"Are you good?" Alice asked me taking my hand and I opened my eyes and looked down at her. "Woah! The golden ring on your eyes flashed red for a second."

"I guess that's what happens when I'm angry." I was still breathing heavily but I guessed that was the adrenaline now pumping through my veins.

"Alright then, let's go." She began to run, pulling me along with her towards the clearing.

We left the forest, meeting with the family who were gathered in a group a few metres away from the tree's edge. Alice gave them a look to say don't ask me what's wrong because that would probably set me off again.

"Hey, Aria don't forget to remove your barrier." Carlisle said seriously and I nodded, only concentrating for a moment to remove it. I blocked out the family's thoughts because I knew they were all about me and I tried to focus on hearing anything else.

"So, they have split into two groups. The first group is on their way to the clearing they'll be here in five minutes. The second is following along the trail Bella made with her blood yesterday, the wolves have made a barrier to stop them going too far and will push them towards the clearing here." Alice gave us a brief warning about the latest moves from the newborns. All we had to do now was wait.

After a few minutes a voice entered my head, bloodthirsty with Bella's scent overwhelming their senses. And then there was another and another until I couldn't keep track of how many there were coming for us. "They're here." I said quickly and all the family turned to face the other side of the field.

Emmett and Esme stood either side of me, I felt Esme take my hand and squeeze it and I let myself relax for a moment at her motherly touch. I glanced up at Emmett too but he was just focused on the trees with a smirk on his face, his stance showing his power.

I was ready for this.

They broke through the trees in a wave, sparkling intensely in the sunlight, there was definitely around twenty of them but this was just the first group... how many more were to follow? As they charged at us we moved forward too, like a retaliating wave of our own that was about to come crashing down on them.

The first person I came into contact with was a girl who looked about my age, she planned to go for my arms but I took hers in my own, crossed them over each other and pulled, the satisfying sound of smashing filled the air as her blood red eyes became motionless.

Everyone's voices filled my head and I saw Jasper smashing someone's head off before the next newborn was on me. This time it was male and he was huge. He swung for me but I ducked out of his way and kicked his legs from beneath him and he tumbled to the floor. He was back on his feet quickly, but soon after I managed to tear his head from his body.

Next I saw Emmett fly into someone, his bellowing laughter not surprising me at all. The newborn's body flying in another direction before he grabbed another and twisted their head from their body. I watched as Alice managed to dodge away from any opponent that came her way, she was just so fast, it amazed me how flexible she was.

Before I knew it I was on my back with someone's hands tight around my throat. Their thoughts showed they were confused with how soft my skin was and how their mouth watered at the thumping of my pulse under their thumbs. With the air fading fast I managed to reach my own hands up around the guys neck. Through the contact I transferred the feeling of horrendous pain to disorientate him and within a few moments, his head was on the floor beside me and I was shoving the dead body off of my own.

And then that's when the wolves descended, driving their group of newborns into the mix. There must have been over ten in their group too.

Sam took the lead, with his wolves following, they emerged from the trees stunning the newborns and at least five had been killed by them in the thirty seconds that followed.

I saw a newborn on the floor for some unknown reason but as I got closer I saw he missing a hand. I looked around quickly and grimaced when I saw it crawling along the grass back towards him. I kicked it away and caught my brothers eye. With one nod at him I smiled knowing what we're about to do. I grabbed the newborn's body and I flipped him into my brother's awaiting jaws so he could quickly rip his throat out. I grinned at him before getting back to work.

I worked together with the Cullen family in killing three more newborns before throwing their remains on the pyre of already burning bodies. The sweet, sickly smell and the billowing purple and black smoke sent the newborns into a panicked frenzy, they knew they were losing.

A flash of russet fur caught my eye and I knew that Jacob was now on the field. I could see that he was angry as I watched as his eyes darted across the field in search of me. When he found me he stopped, frozen to the spot just like I was, but not paying attention had its disadvantages.

I was thrown to the ground, two newborns were attacking me, one male and one female. The female would be easy to overpower if she didn't have the help of the male but that was just my luck. I grabbed the female's arm and twisted it from her body before throwing it to the floor in the general direction of the fire. I then grabbed her by her remaining arm and flung her into the awaiting jaws of Embry who was fighting beside me.

The male watched on in horror and then his eyes turn to me. Nothing but anger and shock present in them, he couldn't come to terms with my semi-blue eyes.

He charged for me but I dodged out the way, however this one's reflexes were particularly quick and he managed to grab my arm and pull me back to him, my body slamming into his as he caught my neck. Soon after I felt his teeth sinking into my throat and I hissed in pain as he tore some of my flesh and his venom poured into my system.

I tried to grab at his own neck to pull him off me but I was in such a difficult position to do so. I clung onto his forearms, using my ability again to transfer thoughts, letting him feel the burning pain of the venom coursing through my body.

Suddenly my body hit the ground and I closed my eyes preparing myself for the pain that was about to come... but it didn't. I opened my eyes and found Jake tearing the newborn apart, white chunks of his body were flying everywhere and when it seemed like there's nothing left of him Jake turned to me, his eyes filled with guilt and worry.

Why was it him that had to save me? I didn't want to think about him right now.

Standing slowly, unsure of what I was going to do with Jake, the realisation that I couldn't actually do anything about him hit me as I could see a newborn charging at him from behind. I rushed forward and flipped over Jake's body and landed on the newborn's body, tearing it's limbs off right before I hit the ground. I looked back at Jake to see him watching me intently with that familiar worried look in his eyes.

I then understood that I was being selfish. I needed to get on.

I killed two more newborns, ignoring Emmett's laughter, before I saw my brother struggling on the ground with two newborns pinning him down. My heart stopped completely but my legs kept my body moving, I used all the strength in me and punched one newborn in the head, his body falling limp as his head smashed into pieces. Now with only one body restraining him, Jesse was able to get up and kill the remaining newborn, allowing for me to carry on with the battle.

I ran past Esme and Carlisle who seem to be working as a team as I dodged multiple newborn arms. Their numbers were decreasing rapidly and soon enough I found myself collecting the remaining pieces of newborns that were scattered around the outskirts of the field.

"Carlisle?" Esme's worried voice caught my attention and I spun round and saw him talking to a newborn as she crouched to the floor. I blurred towards them on red alert as Carlisle seemed to let his guard down.

"She doesn't want to fight." He told Esme as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

I placed myself on the other side of Carlisle as I glared down at the newborn, she couldn't have been older than fifteen. The girl's frightening red eyes shot to me in a confused glare and she bared her teeth. I hissed back at her and stepped closer and she fell off her knees and onto her butt, scared.

"Aria, please." Carlisle insisted and I backed down but if she made a move on me again I'd end her.

"She's so frightened Carlisle. Couldn't we..." Esme began and Carlisle glanced back at her and then back at the newborn who was still trying to figure me out. "We have no wish to harm you," Esme said to her. "We didn't want to fight any of you."

"I'm sorry." The girl whispered timidly. Her thoughts were a mess. All she was worried about was a newborn called Diego and that he was dead. She felt safer with us than with the army she had travelled here with. She was most curious about me, the blood seeping down my neck from the bite, the beating of my irregular heart.

Carlisle placed his hand on my shoulder. "You fought well, how are you feeling?"

"I'm good, a bit bruised and bloody. I got bitten again." I put one hand on my neck and cringed as the sting still lingered.

"Let's hope you don't scar like the rest of us. That'll be harder to hide than the ones on Jasper's arms." Carlisle said lowly before turning back to the newborn. "Child, will you surrender to us? If you do not try to harm us, we promise we will not harm you." Carlisle stated and from her thoughts she honestly believed him.

"Yes." She whispered eyeing me warily. "Yes, I surrender. I don't want to hurt anybody."

Carlisle held out his hand encouragingly. "Come, child. Let our family regroup for a moment, then we'll have some questions for you. If you answer honestly, you have nothing to fear." She began to move slowly to stand.

"Carlisle?" Jasper called as he joined us.

Jasper's eyes locked onto the newborn girl behind us and he hunched his body ready to spring. "Jasper!" Carlisle warned. 

Jasper changed his stance immediately and looked at Carlisle with disbelief. "What's going on?"

"She doesn't want to fight. She's surrendered." Carlisle explained as my eyes caught sight of a fresh bite mark on Jasper's forearm.

"Carlisle, I..." Jasper hesitated, then continued. "I'm sorry, but that's not possible. We can't have any of these newborns associated with us when the Volturi come. Do you realise the danger that would put us in?"

The Volturi? I frantically located Alice's thoughts and her mind was already focused on a vision she had moments before. Jane was at the head of the small group with Demetri letting them know the way. The wolves needed to get out of here.

"Jasper, she's only a child. We can't just murder her in cold blood!" Esme protested.

"It's our family on the line here, Esme. We can't afford to have them think we broke this rule." Jasper explained but Esme wasn't having it. She moved herself to stand between Jasper and the newborn as a sign of protection.

"No. I won't stand for it." Esme's mind was already made up. This newborn was not going to die by our family's hands.

"Jasper, I think we have to take the chance," Carlisle said slowly. "We are not the Volturi. We follow their rules, but we do not take lives lightly. We will explain."

I'm sure that with Jane at the helm of the small Volturi group she won't allow any excuses.

"They might think we created our own newborns in defence." Jasper argued.

"But we didn't. And even had we, there was no indiscretion here, only in Seattle. There is no law against creating vampires if you control them." Carlisle pointed out.

"This is too dangerous." Jasper fretted. I believed Jasper was right.

This newborn may seem innocent now but she had taken many lives before. And Jane would find any excuse to turn this against us, it was how she had fun.

Carlisle touched Jasper's shoulder tentatively. "Jasper, we cannot kill this child."

"I don't like this." He stated, though he was slightly calmer than before. "At least let me take charge of her. You don't know how to deal with someone who's been running wild for so long."

"Of course, Jasper." Esme said. "But be kind." She warned and Jasper rolled his eyes. "We need to be with the others. Alice said we don't have long."

Carlisle nodded. He held his hand out to Esme and they headed past Jasper back to the open field. Jasper looked at me then, his eyes landing on the healing bite on my neck. "Lucky you." He mocked jokingly as he stepped past me towards the girl.

"What?" I spun around to look at him.

"It seems like yours is healing." He then cast his eyes down onto the fresh scar on his arm.

"He tore a chunk out of my neck as well." I said smugly as I reached up to feel the new smooth skin that was now it it's place, along with the dried blood surrounding it.

"Nice." He gave me a small smile before his eyes were back on the newborn. "You there," Jasper said to her. "Come with us. Don't make one rash move or I will take you down. We will know if you're about to." He threatened and her mind instantly went to knowing that there was two mind readers in our coven. Her leader called Riley had told her that, I had never seen him before so how did he know that?

We began to walk and then Jasper paused. "Close your eyes." He ordered. She hesitated. "Do it!"

I walked ahead as Jasper led her through the trees back towards the main field. The smoke from the pyre was even higher than before and the field was ultimately clean, not a shard of newborn in sight. As the flames crackled I knew it was time to dispose of my little secret.

Alice was by my side in a flash. "You were right you know."

"Huh?" I was extremely confused.

"You thought she'd be here, and she was." She explained and I watched on inside Alice's head as Victoria made the decision to follow the newborns. The newborns that she had created. She caught Edward and Bella's scent up on the mountain and took the leader, Riley, with her. Seth ended Riley and Edward ended Victoria.

I sighed in relief, as if some huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. She was finally dead, though I wished I was the one that got to finish her.

Alice smirked up at me and I reached into my pocket and grasped the only remaining piece of Victoria. "Bye, bitch." I smiled as I flicked it into the flames and watched it disintegrate into ash.

"Sit here. Eyes closed." Jasper ordered as the small girl timidly sunk to the ground a few feet away from the flames.

"Well done kid!" Emmett gave me a hefty slap on the back and I stumbled forward.

"Thanks." I laughed as I looked up at his huge grin. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself, though."

His loud laugh shook me. "You got that right."

"The pack needs to leave." Carlisle announced, looking in their direction as they lingered in the trees. Everyone's eyes then landed on me.

"Fine. I'll go tell them." I rolled my eyes and let the pack's thoughts back into my mind as I trudged towards them and then I froze... We missed one.

The wolves turned their head in sync with me towards the fresh scent. A male newborn dropped out from one of the trees a few feet away from Leah and she reacted quickly, though all too obvious. She spun around quickly and charged, "Leah, don't!" I screamed and I bolted towards them.

Jacob was closer and he charged forward too, coming from the side. "Jacob!" I yelled but he was all too focused.

He tore the newborn away from Leah, and they fought, rolling over in the dirt as Jake tried to get the newborn off of his back. His jaws were snapping around at the newborn's wrists, he caught one and crushed it instantly but that wasn't enough. The newborn wrapped its arms around Jacob's neck and squeezed, crushing him.

"Oh my god." I breathed as an ear splitting howl exited Jacob. The rest of the pack howled too, feeling his pain, and I fell to my knees feeling it as well as his thoughts filled my head.

The newborn then released Jake's body and he dropped to the ground, breathless yelps still leaving him. Paul and Sam burst through the trees to destroy the newborn as Jacob rolled onto his left side as his right remained limp.

I scrambled up from my knees and rushed towards him. "Oh, Jacob." I cried as I fell beside his giant wold head as he panted and then howled in pain again. "What do I do?" I asked him as I touched his muzzle trying to soothe him. He just whispered my name inside his mind before the pain took over again.

The pack gathered around us then. "Jacob, you idiot I had it!" Leah cried and Jacob growled at her in protest.

"Enough, Leah!" Sam boomed and I winced, the whole right side of my body felt numb as the tears sprung to my eyes.

"You're gonna be okay." I promised as I stroked over his fur. "You're gonna be okay."

"Let me take a look. I can help." Carlisle's voice pleaded behind the wall of wolves but they kept him back growling at him. If anyone could help it was Carlisle. "Please, let me look. I can help him." He said again, it moved me that he was actually worried.

I shot my head round and hissed at the pack. "Let him through!" I snarled and after some brief hesitation, Paul and Quil stepped aside.

"Thank you." Carlisle said sincerely before he fell beside me. He touched Jacob's right shoulder and Jacob winced and growled harshly. I held his face down to stop him from biting at Carlisle. "The bones on the right half of his body are shattered. I need to set the bones before his accelerated healing kicks in. It's already starting." Carlisle explained as he felt around Jacob's right side.

"What can be done?" Sam asked quickly as I turned to Carlisle.

"Can you help?" I whimpered trying to hold back the sobs. Why did he always have to be the hero?

"Some of his bones have already healed incorrectly. I'll have to break them again and move them back into place." Carlisle explained standing. "It cannot be done now, though."

"Why?" I translated for Sam furiously.

"The Volturi are coming. If they see you they will slaughter you all."  He cautioned before turning directly to Sam. "You have to leave. Take him back home and with your permission I'll come see to him as soon as I'm done here. It would help considerably if Jacob could phase back."

"Tell me he's joking." Jacob spat, he was in enough pain already and the thought of trying to phase back sounded like it was tearing him apart.

"Please." Carlisle urged and Sam nodded. "Thank you."

"Aria, are you strong enough to help him to his feet. We'll take it from there?" Sam asked and I nodded silently, standing and walking around to the other side of Jacob. I latched my fingers under his back and began to lift him to his feet. Each painful yelp he let out caused me to sob and struggle for breath.

"I'm sorry." I whimpered. "I'm so sorry."

When he was finally standing, Sam and Jesse ran to his side ready to guide and hold him up. They began to move and I went to follow but Carlisle stopped me. "No, Aria, you must stay here." He ordered and I looked at him like he was crazy.

"What? No way, I'm going with Jake." I protested my voice getting louder with each word that I said.

"The Volturi will want to see you." Carlisle continued but I shook my head.

"No I need to be with Jake." I went to step forward again but Emmett's thick arms wrapped around me restraining me. I was too emotionally drained to fight back properly. "Let me go!" I yelled but he held on tight.

"Aria stay there!" I heard Jesse yell through his thoughts but I called back my protests.

"Aria listen to me, the Volturi has to see that you are still with us. If you don't calm down they'll see that something is wrong." Alice told me trying to calm me and I blinked allowing more tears to fall.

"But he needs me."

"He'll understand."

Emmett released me slowly, leaving me to test whether I was going to bolt after them or not. Deep down inside I knew that I had to stay and face Jane. Show her I was better than her.

I turned to face the rest of the family, but froze on the spot when I saw Edward carrying an unconscious Bella. She was still breathing so I knew she wasn't dead. "She fainted after learning about Jacob." Typical, my hatred towards her ran fresh again. I glared at her still body, not caring if it hurt Edward's feelings.

The family crowded around her whilst I held back, collecting myself beside Jasper and the newborn. "Carlisle," Edward pleaded. "It's been five minutes."

"She'll come around when she's ready, Edward." Carlisle consoled. "She's had too much to deal with today. Let her mind protect itself." Well they obviously didn't know what she has done to me today. I knew I was resisting Jacob but she knew how I felt! There had to be some family law about this! Cousins don't do this to each other.

"Alice, how long do we have?" Edward demanded, looking up from Bella's limp body and searched around until his eyes landed on me. The words "I'm sorry" echoed inside his mind but I didn't want him apologising on her behalf.

"Another five minutes. And Bella will open her eyes in exactly thirty-seven seconds. I wouldn't doubt that she can hear us now." Alice said, a little too brightly for the current situation.

"Bella, honey?" Esme coaxed her, placing her cool hand to Bella's forehead. "Can you hear me? You're safe now, dear." I hated that Esme was comforting her, she'd be mortified to know what Bella had done to Edward and I.

"He's going to live, Bella. Jacob Black is healing as I speak. He'll be fine." Edward explained and her eyelids fluttered. I growled lowly and the family's eyes all shot to me in horrified shock.

"Oh, Bella," Edward sighed in relief before he leant down to kiss her. How could he do that?

"Edward," She whispered.

"Yes, I'm here." He comforted, brushing over her hair.

"Jacob is okay?" She asked as her eyes opened fully. I felt like I was going to explode with rage.

"Yes," he promised before looking back at me sending me a warning glare, I was positively enraged that he wasn't even angry at her.

"I examined him myself," Carlisle said then. "His life is not in any danger. He was healing at an incredible rate, though his injuries were extensive enough that it will still be a few days before he is back to normal, even if the rate of repair holds steady. As soon as we're done here, I will do what I can to help him. Sam is trying to get him to phase back to his human form. That will make treating him easier." Carlisle smiled slightly. "I've never been to veterinarian school."

"What happened to him?" Bella whispered. "How bad are his injuries?"

Carlisle's face was serious again. "Another wolf was in trouble —"

"Leah," She breathed.

"Yes. He knocked her out of the way, but he didn't have time to defend himself. The newborn got his arms around him. Most of the bones on the right half of his body were shattered." Carlisle explained as a slight twinge of pain returned as I remembered it through Jacob's thoughts from before. "Sam and Paul got there in time." Carlisle continued.

"He'll be back to normal?" Bella asked. There was no way in hell she was going anywhere near him. It was safe to say the protective, possessiveness over my imprint had made itself known.

"Yes, Bella. He won't have any permanent damage." Carlisle promised with a smile.

"Three minutes," Alice said quietly.

Bella struggled to her feet then, her eyes darting around to survey the damage. She looked at each of the family members first, all of them but Jasper and I, stood in a small half circle a few feet away from the fire. The next individual under her gaze was me. She looked startled and guilty as I glared at her in warning, she quickly moved on. Her eyes then settled on Jasper, confusion struck her as she tried to make out the dark lump on the floor by his feet. When she realised she stumbled back into Edward.

"She surrendered," he told her quietly. "That's one I've never seen before. Only Carlisle would think of offering. Jasper and Aria do not approve."

The girl gasped loudly and I bolted around to look at her, she suddenly threw her head back like an animal and wailed shrilly. Jasper growled at her and she cringed back, but her fingers dug into the ground and her head whipped back and forth in anguish, as if she had been possessed.

Jasper took a step toward her, slipping deeper into his crouch. I mirrored him, a hiss tearing behind my lips as I watched her. She jolted away from me too. I knew how I felt about Bella, but I didn't exactly want her dead.

"Have you changed your mind, young one?" Carlisle asked, calm as ever. "We don't want to destroy you, but we will if you can't control yourself." Carlisle flashed forward standing beside Jasper and I.

"How can you stand it?" The girl groaned. "I want her." Her bright crimson eyes zoned in on Bella as her hands dug into the earth again.

"You must stand it," Carlisle told her gravely. "You must exercise control. It is possible, and it is the only thing that will save you now." The girl clutched her dirt-encrusted hands around her head, yowling quietly.

"Shouldn't we move away from her?" Bella whispered, the girl's lips pulled back over her teeth when she heard Bella's voice, her expression one of torment.

"We have to stay here," Edward murmured. "They are coming to the north end of the clearing now." In that moment Jane's child-like voice entered my head and I stood upright and turned towards the north. Emmett came out of nowhere and grabbed my shoulder and pulled me along to stand in front of him beside Rosalie.

"Hmm," a dead voice murmured from behind the curtain of smoke. I suddenly felt on edge, stuck between deciding whether to put my barrier back in place or to leave myself exposed.

"Welcome, Jane." Edward's tone was cool.

The dark shapes came closer, separating themselves from the haze of the fire, solidifying. I knew it would be Jane in the front — the darkest cloak, almost black, and the smallest figure by more than two feet. Jane's gaze moved slowly across the luminous faces of the family and then hesitated on the newborn girl beside the fire; the newborn had her head in her hands again. "I don't understand." Jane's voice was toneless, but not quite as uninterested as before.

"She has surrendered," Edward explained, answering the confusion in her mind.

Jane's dark eyes flashed to his face. "Surrendered?" 

I looked into the newborn's mind to see her reaction to the Volturi but it was not what I had been expecting, she had seen them before. They had met with Riley and Victoria almost a week ago to discuss the annihilation of the Cullen Clan. They had planned to put a stop to Riley and Victoria but once they learned their intentions, they were given a second chance. 

Edward shrugged. "Carlisle gave her the option." Felix and Demetri exchanged a glance. I had only hoped that Edward had heard the newborns thoughts as well. Soon enough though, Jane would make it clear to us as well.

"There are no options for those who break the rules," Jane said flatly and as if on cue her mind wandered back to the night she met the creators of the army. She cursed herself for thinking of it and I hid my smirk, the Volturi didn't know about my mind reading ability.

Carlisle spoke then, his voice mild. "That's in your hands. As long as she was willing to halt her attack on us, I saw no need to destroy her. She was never taught."

"That is irrelevant," Jane insisted.

"As you wish." Carlisle nodded respectfully.

Jane stared at Carlisle in awe. She shook her head slightly, and then composed her features. "Aro hoped that we would get far enough west to see you, Carlisle. He sends his regards." She couldn't understand why Aro would think of a human-lover so fondly, she believed it made one weak.

Carlisle nodded. "I would appreciate it if you would convey mine to him."

"Of course." Jane smiled. Her face was almost looked innocent when it was animated. She looked back toward the smoke. "It appears that you've done our work for us today... for the most part." Her eyes flickered to the newborn. "Just out of professional curiosity, how many were there? They left quite a wake of destruction in Seattle."

The number that Jane had in her head counted forty, by the time they got to us it had dwindled down to thirty-two.

"Thirty-two, including this one," Carlisle answered.

Jane's eyes widened, and she looked at the fire again, seeming to reassess the size of it. Felix and Demetri exchanged a longer glance.

"Thirty-two?" she repeated, her voice sounding unsure for the first time.

"All brand-new," Carlisle said dismissively. "They were unskilled."

"All?" Her voice turned sharp. "Then who was their creator?"

"Her name was Victoria," Edward answered, no emotion in his voice, he could see just as clearly as I did that she already knew.

"Was?" Jane asked, she was irritated.

Edward inclined his head toward the eastern forest. Jane's eyes snapped up and focused on something far in the distance. A smaller billow of purple smoke was reaching towards the sky from the mountains. I smirked satisfyingly and it seemed the newborn was happy about this as well.

Jane stared to the east for a long moment, and then examined the closer bonfire again. "This Victoria — she was in addition to the thirty-two here?"

"Yes. She had only one other with her. He was not as young as this one here, but less than a year."

"Thirty-four," Jane breathed. "Who dealt with the creator?"

"I did," Edward told her.

Jane's eyes narrowed, and she turned to the girl beside the fire. "You there," she said, her dead voice harsher than before. "Your name."

The newborn hesitated, not sure if she should tell Jane or not. Jane then smiled back angelically and I clenched my jaw as I prepared for what was to follow.

The newborn girl's answering scream was ear-piercing; her body arched stiffly into a distorted, unnatural position. I balled my hands into fists as I glared at Jane. If only I had a power like hers, just to make her feel what she makes so many others endure.

Finally, it was quiet.

"Your name," Jane said again, her voice emotionless.

"Bree," the girl gasped.

Jane smiled, and the girl shrieked again.

"She'll tell you anything you want to know," I said through my teeth, speaking up for the first time. "You don't have to do that."

Jane looked up, sudden humour in her usually dead eyes. "Oh, I know," she said to me, grinning at me before she turned back to Bree.

"Bree," Jane said, her voice cold again. "Is his story true? Were there thirty-four of you?"

Bree lay panting, the side of her face pressed against the earth. She spoke quickly. "Thirty-five, thirty-six, maybe more, I don't know!" She cringed, terrified that her ignorance might bring on another round of torture. "Sara and a few of the others whose names I don't know got in a fight on the way..."

"And this Victoria — did she create you?"

"I don't know," she said, flinching again. "Riley never said her name. I didn't see that night... it was so dark, and it hurt..." Bree shuddered. "He didn't want us to be able to think of her. He said that our thoughts weren't safe..."

It was then I realised that I was meant to be Victoria's Riley. I was supposed to be her insider. She created me first.

Jane's eyes flickered to Edward, and then back to the girl.

"Tell me about Riley," Jane said. "Why did he bring you here?"

"Riley told us that we had to destroy the strange yellow-eyes here," Bree babbled quickly and willingly. "He said it would be easy. He said that the city was theirs, and they were coming to get us. He said once they were gone, all the blood would be ours. He gave us her scent." Bree lifted one hand and stabbed a finger in Bella's direction. "He said we would know that we had the right coven, because she would be with them. He said whoever got to her first could have her."

I heard the grind of Edward's teeth and shuddered.

"It looks like Riley was wrong about the easy part," Jane noted.

Bree nodded, "I don't know what happened. Riley left us, and he didn't come to help like he promised. And then it was so confusing, and everybody was in pieces." She shuddered again. "I was afraid. I wanted to run away. That one" — she looked at Carlisle — "said they wouldn't hurt me if I stopped fighting."

"Ah, but that wasn't his gift to offer, young one," Jane murmured, her voice oddly gentle now. "Broken rules demand a consequence." Bloodthirsty bitch.

Jane looked at Carlisle. "Are you sure you got all of them?"

Carlisle's face was very smooth as he nodded. "We are sure."

Jane half-smiled. "I can't deny that I'm impressed." The cloaks behind her murmured in agreement. "I've never seen a coven escape this magnitude of offensive intact. Do you know what was behind it? It seems like extreme behaviour, considering the way you live here. And why was the girl the key?" Her eyes rested unwilling on Bella for one short second.

"Victoria held a grudge against Bella," Edward told her, his voice impassive.

Jane laughed — the sound was golden, the bubbling laugh of a happy child. "This one seems to bring out bizarrely strong reactions in our kind," she observed, smiling directly at Bella, her face animated. She looked deep into Bella hoping to emit some form of pain. I brought my barrier back up quickly before she turned her eyes on me. I smirked much to her annoyance when her ability remained useless.

"Would you please not do that?" I asked in a tight voice.

Jane laughed again lightly. "Just checking. No harm done, apparently." I lowered my barrier again.

"Well, it appears that there's not much left for us to do. Odd," Jane said, dullness settling back into her voice. "We're not used to being rendered unnecessary. It's too bad we missed the fight. It sounds like it would have been entertaining to watch."

She wanted to watch us suffer, so I wanted to watch her squirm too despite Edward's inner protests.

"Yes," I answered her quickly, my voice sharp. "And you were so close. It's a shame you didn't arrive just a half hour earlier. Perhaps then you could have fulfilled your purpose here."

Jane met my glare with confused eyes. "Yes. Quite a pity how things turned out, isn't it?" She wanted us dead, they all did and she had just confirmed it. I ignored Edward's telling off inside my head. Jane couldn't hurt me.

Jane turned to look at the newborn Bree again, her face completely bored. "Felix?" she drawled.

"Wait," Edward interjected as Bree's fears of death crept into my mind.

Jane raised one eyebrow, but Edward was staring at Carlisle while he spoke in an urgent voice. "We could explain the rules to the young one. She doesn't seem unwilling to learn. She didn't know what she was doing." He wanted to spare her life in thanks for giving us the information she had.

"Of course," Carlisle answered. "We would certainly be prepared to take responsibility for Bree."

Jane's expression was torn between amusement and disbelief.

"We don't make exceptions," she said. "And we don't give second chances. It's bad for our reputation. Which reminds me..." Suddenly, her eyes were on Bella again. "Caius will be so interested to hear that you're still human, Bella. Perhaps he'll decide to visit."

"The date is set," Alice told Jane, speaking for the first time. "Perhaps we'll come to visit you in a few months." No one had made the decision yet so Alice was bluffing.

Jane hated Alice more than Edward, Bella and I. Aro was extremely interested in us and our gifts, and up until our visit in the spring, Jane was his most prized possession. Alice was at the top of the podium now and Aro longer for her.

"It was nice to meet you, Carlisle — I'd thought Aro was exaggerating. Well, until we meet again..."

Carlisle nodded, his expression pained for what was about to happen. Bree knew this as well, a meek "thank you" registered through my mind and Edward's. She'd directed it at both of us, knowing our secret.

"Take care of that, Felix," Jane said, nodding toward Bree, her voice dripping boredom. "I want to go home."

"Don't watch," Edward whispered in Bella's ear as I looked down at the ground.

There was a deep, rumbling growl, and then a high-pitched splitting sound. A scream left Bree's throat but was cut off quickly, and then the only sound was a crunching and snapping.

"Come," Jane said, and I looked up in time to see the backs of the tall gray cloaks drifting away toward the curling smoke. The intense burning smell was strong again and I crinkled up my nose.

I looked to Edward and we shared the same worried, knowing look. The Volturi were after us and they weren't going to stop until they got what they wanted.

* * *

Once we were sure the Volturi were long gone, Carlisle, Edward and I made straight for La Push. Bella insisted on joining us but after my silent mental threat to Edward he decided it would be best if she remained with Alice. I only made it clear that Bella wasn't allowed anywhere near him, she'd have to get through me to do so.

He was mine.

I was going to be honest about that now and I was going to put down any threat that came our way. I could have lost him today. It was clear to me that we were breakable and things could change at any moment. The Volturi had numbered mine and the Cullens' days, I didn't know how long we had but I was going to spend it with Jake. We would have to work on our relationship, there was no doubt about that, but I was willing to try.

We got to Jacob's house around nightfall. The pack had phased back but remained hostile as Edward and Carlisle approached. Jacob was awake, I could hear him swearing like crazy as Sam and Jesse tried to lay him on his bed. He must have smelt our arrival, he began to struggle against the guys to get out of the bed. "Where is she?" He hissed from the pain. "I need to see her." He begged as fresh tears sprung to my eyes. He must be in so much pain.

"Not yet Jacob." Sam ordered, his voice calm. Everyone was hurting for Jake.

Everyone else was gathered outside, watching us warily. My dad caught sight of me first, a overwhelmed gasp left his lungs. "Oh my god, Aria!" He half ran towards me and caught me in a hug. "Are you okay? Is this blood yours?"

I realised I must have looked like a state. My flesh wound had healed but I was still covered in my own blood and bruises. "Yes. I got bitten." I explained as I held onto him tightly.

"Your face." He cooed, holding my chin to look at my cheek. It was bruised and the skin on my cheekbone had split open.

"I'll be fine Dad, don't worry." I didn't want any attention on me, Jake needed it.

"If it is alright, Billy, we'll go inside and tend to Jacob now?" Carlisle asked respectfully. The horrified expressions on everyone's faces as they looked at me turned sour as Carlisle spoke.

"From the looks of things, it seems his bones have healed incorrectly. Carlisle will have to set them again." Edward explain further and I winced.

"Of course. Thank you for the offer." Billy said sincerely, gesturing for them to enter the house. I moved towards the front of the house too, ignoring the bewildered stares at my appearance.

Edward paused in the doorway. "Aria, stay out here." He ordered and I scowled.

I stepped forward. "No, I'm coming in with you." I protested ready to push past him and into the house.

"He doesn't want you to see this." I stopped in my tracks and winced again. I couldn't deal with seeing him in even more pain. I nodded, respecting Jake's wishes and stepped back towards Billy and my dad.

Jesse appeared out of the doorway first and stood guard next to Paul, probably to make sure I wouldn't change my mind about going in there. We cautiously waited in silence, listening to Carlisle explain what he was about to do. Firstly he explained he'd inject Jake with morphine whilst Edward rang Esme asking for her location, she was bringing the braces for Jacob's arm, collar bone, ribs and hip.

"Are you alright, dear?" Billy asked me, reaching out to hold my hand. He looked worried as he surveyed my bruised face and arms.

"I'm fine. I'll be all healed by tomorrow." I felt like this response was just going to become a reflex.

Billy frowned, for a moment he didn't look like he was asking about my injuries. He shook his head anyway and I turned my eyes back to the small, red house.

Esme arrived then in her car, her arms full with medical equipment, Jesse and Seth helped her carry it all in before she left again. Hardly any words were spoken. Jesse and Seth exited the house with broken expressions.

Not even a minute later Jacob's screams and the crunching of bones filled the air. It felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest and my legs felt like they were about to give out. Jesse rushed to my side to hold me up. I thought I was going to be sick.

I turned my head into Jesse's chest as the harsh screaming continued. The sobs racked through my body as I clung to him. I felt like screaming along with Jacob through his torture. I just wished I could take some of the pain for him.

"Why did he have to butt in, I could've taken that tick." Leah said whilst she kept her eyes squeezed shut.

"Give it a rest, Leah." Paul snarled as he ran his hands through his hair and pulled on the ends of it. I just wanted everyone to stop talking.

The violent snaps of bones splitting and Jacob's agonising cries continued for another five long minutes until silence suddenly struck. Jacob's heavy breathing and fast beating heart were the only sounds leaving the house. I stared at the door furiously, waiting for it to open so I could go inside.

Carlisle spoke up again in a low voice. "I'll be back soon to set up a drip. I'll give you a higher dosage than normal due to your high blood pressure. You should feel back to normal in a few days time. Just be precautious. I'm not entirely tuned in to your healing process."

"Thanks, Doc." Jacob croaked. He sounded so weak, I squeezed my eyes shut as another sob escaped me. "Is she out there?" His voice strengthened slightly and I whimpered.

"She's just as eager as you to get in here." Edward said softly, I could hear the smile in his voice.

The door to the house then opened and my eyes sprung open. I moved away from Jesse as Carlisle stepped out of the house along with Edward and Sam. "The worst is over. He'll be all right. I gave him some morphine, but his body temperature will burn it off soon. I'll come back to set up a drip." He explained professionally to Billy.

"Thank you." Billy said sincerely as he shook hands with Carlisle.

"It's no problem." He nodded respectfully at Billy and then my dad before turning to me. "He's asking for you." I looked at Billy to ask for permission if I could go into the house and he nodded. Without hesitation I blurred into the house.

I walked through the house silently until I reached Jacob's bedroom. I stopped in the doorway and covered my mouth to stop myself from sobbing again. "Hey." He whispered across the room and then I couldn't stop myself from crying again. He just look so broken.

"Hey." I blubbered back to him as I leant against the door frame.

He looked like he'd been through hell, he was sweating all over and his torso and right arm were covered in braces and bandages. "Come here." He laughed lightly, gesturing me over with his good arm. I gravitated towards him and knelt on the floor beside his bed so his face was level with mine. I reached over and smoothed his hair away from his forehead. "I was worried about you." He whispered to me and I let out a light laugh as I wiped more tears from my face.

"You were worried about me?" I asked him incredulously as I caressed his cheek.

"Yeah. I'm so sorry." I felt my bottom lip wobble at his apology. "Please let me explain and please stop crying."

"I can't. Not when I see you like this." I waved my hand at him motioning to the state of his body and covered my mouth to try and silence myself.

"I never meant to hurt you. She kissed me. She said she loved me and then she kissed me. I didn't kiss her back. I love you and only you—"

I cut him off by pressing my lips against his.

"I know. I saw it." I sat up and carefully climbed over him so I could cuddle into his good side. He let out a sigh of relief as he wrapped his arm around me. "I could have lost you today. I don't want to think about that. It's you and me now okay? I'm going to try, we'll both have to." I admitted to him and he nodded eagerly. "I can't live without you Jacob, today made me realise that." I explained and he stared down at me with nothing but love and adoration.

"I love you so much. Once I'm back together again I swear I will treat you like the goddess you deserve to be and nothing less." He declared before kissing me again. I smiled into the kiss not letting it last too long. Everyone outside was most likely enjoying the show.

"Alright Humpty Dumpty don't strain yourself." I teased and he grinned widely, his face settling into my perfect smile.

"You're one to talk, I'm not the one covered in blood." He poked back and I pouted.

"At least I killed more newborns than you did. And that's a fact." I jibed poking the good side of his chest. He feigned pain, though I checked his thoughts just to be sure.

"But seriously," he began, "are you okay?" He took my face in his good hand and turned it from side to side.

"I'm all good. Especially now that I know you're okay." I turned my face to peck his palm.

I couldn't believe how at peace I felt. Like some massive unnecessary weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt whole.

The sound of the front door opened and the familiar whirring of the wheels on Billy's wheelchair let us know who it was. He appeared in the doorway seconds later. "Hey kids. How ya feeling, son?" You could tell he was trying to be positive but by the way his voice wavered he was only thankful Jake was okay.

"Great, Dad." Jake beamed before looking to me again. "Just great." Billy smiled then, a wide, true smile before he moved further into the room.

"That's wonderful." He began and then his face suddenly became a little more serious. "I've been thinking it over, for a while now, and I feel like now is the best time to tell you both." Jake and I turned to each other slightly confused before our gazes settled on Billy again.

"Tell us what?" Jake said a little uneasily. I decided to sit up slightly so I could address Billy better. I also didn't think laying in bed with Jake was entirely appropriate.

"Well, where do I start?" He asked himself rhetorically. "The bond between the two of you isn't something any of us are used to. Nothing prepares us for this. We all just thought that when a wolf imprinted on someone that was it. Mated for life, no matter what. But you two have faced so many challenges it would have broken the average wolf and imprint. Human imprint that is." He said as if hinting at something but I didn't quite understand.

"What are you getting at Dad? I think it's a given we aren't the average imprint couple." Jake pointed out, not wanting to go into detail about how it was his actions that made us not average.

"The reason your bond is so strong, and how you two keep falling back together is because I believe Aria was meant to be a wolf." My jaw dropped open as I stared at him. A wolf? Me? Was he being serious? I had forgotten how to breathe.

"Dad, come on. If Aria was meant to be a wolf she would have phased before she was bitten." Jake protested not buying it at all. I, however, was still frozen in shock.

"When you imprinted, it was meant to be that Aria imprinted too, and I believe that some part of her did. That is why, despite all your... inconsistencies shall we say, that Aria can't resist you or the imprint." It felt like it wasn't Billy talking to us anymore, just a wise, old chief.

"When Aria told me about what happened to her when she was bitten it sounded exactly like the beginnings of the transformation process. Now, I thought I was being ludicrous myself when I thought of this, no female had phased before... but Leah proved that wrong." He looked at us expectantly hoping that we understood.

"So why didn't I phase?" I asked finally finding my voice. I was absolutely bewildered. I could have been a wolf.

"I guess the venom got to you before the gene could kick into gear." He said solemnly. "Now back to the topic of the imprint. Jacob," his voice became marginally angry and embarrassed. "I believe your ability to resist the imprint was due to you have feelings for both Bella and Aria at the time of the imprint." Jacob gripped my hand tightly as I gulped. "You are the true alpha, you know this." I guess Billy was disappointed he hadn't taken on his birth right. "You neglected your right therefore neglected yourself. Not taking on your role as true alpha allowed you to resist the imprint. You've grown bigger and stronger than Sam and now that you have accepted the imprint proves that you are ready to challenge Sam. Aria has made you stronger. But, I'm afraid your bond won't be solid until Jacob fulfils his destiny."

Jacob's breath faltered at this new information. He didn't even want to be in the pack in the first place. And now he had to lead it in order to solidify our bond... we could never just have a life without obstacles.

"Now Aria," Billy turned to me. "This may not be completely accurate. I've gathered my information from your father and the pack. Despite your imprinting of sorts on Jacob, you were still able to have feelings for another." I nodded not knowing what to say. "This could have occurred due to your vampire side not needing the imprint, though it would mean no one would ever compare to Jacob in your eyes." I refrained from looking at Jake and his smug grin. With everything going on I had completely forgotten about Ryan. "Also, I have come up with a few theories; your ability to heal quickly comes from the wolf gene, it's also how you've ended up with the ability to read minds. I've also come to understand that Bella also has the same... resisting ability as you. Now that must come from your mother's side of the family. You see you're not just part human, part vampire. You're also part wolf as well."

His powerful, meaningful and important words echoed around my head noisily. This was a lot of information to take in and it would take a while to finally come to terms with it... for both Jake and I. He had an extreme decision to make and the outcome was going to effect us.

I stared down at our joined hands and then looked back up at his concerned yet hopeful face and then I knew that with that one look, everything was going to work out. We'd get through this like we'd got through everything else and nothing was going to stop us.