When she was eleven, Kiara Black had been cradled in Rebecca's arms as Rachel ran back to their cabin to get Billy Black and a first aid kit.

Rebecca and Rachel had warned her not to climb the old tree outside Charlie Swan's house, but Kiara had never listened to them. She'd only ever listened to her mother.

They'd only lost their mother just over a year prior, and Kiara had became the prized child of the family. She was softer than her twin, and much more quieter. Jacob was into cars and sports and was starting to show interest in girls... but Kiara just wanted to spend her days with her older sisters.

Two sets of twins had certainly been a surprise to Billy and Sarah Black. It didn't even run in the family - although they both knew about the trait that certainly did run in their family bloodlines and had prayed none of the girls would have to experience it.

Kiara Black was fourteen when her older twin sisters left them. Rebecca left a day after her eighteenth birthday, having married a professional surfer from Hawaii and following him around the world as he competed. Rachel waited a little longer, but as soon as her scholarship for Washington University came through, she was gone.

Her dad swore that it was the best thing they could do for themselves, knowing they would have likely found themselves wrapped up in the legends and truths of their bloodline had they stayed. Sam shifted not long after they left.

Kiara Black was sixteen when she first flirted with Paul Lahote. It wasn't long before that when she found herself sneaking in and out of his sheets on the weekends. It wasn't love, it was casual. An arrangement that meant almost nothing to both of them.

Kiara Black was almost seventeen when she broke up with Riley Biers. Their short-lived two month fling had ruined her idea of a sparkling Summer and put her in a perpetual bad mood for the return of school season.

Kiara Black wasn't sure what age she was when she made one choice that led her to this moment. It could have been any of the above, or it could have been fate from the start - she guessed she'd never truly know how things had turned out this way.

Kiara Black wished she was immortal the second her eyes fell on Aro.

Rosalie's right hand was wrapped tightly around her upper arm, holding her flush to the side of her body as she tried to angle Kiara slight behind herself and Emmett. The shifter didn't need her to do it, but Rosalie knew the consequences of one wrong vampire catching her scent. Sure, they'd realise soon enough if they hadn't already that her mate wasn't like the rest of them.

Kiara's heart pounded against her chest as Aro's gaze fell on her, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. She could feel Rosalie tense beside her; her grip tightened on Kiara's arm although she didn't move from her side.

Rosalie's icy gaze never wavered from Aro's smug face, her sharp features hardened into an expression that could cut glass. Kiara, on the other hand, felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights. 

For the first time since meeting him, Kiara felt true hatred toward Aro. He was the embodiment of all she detested - cruelty hidden under a veneer of politeness and charm. As his gaze swept across their assembled group, lingering on Renesmee and then locking onto the wolves that filled their gaps... yeah, Kiara knew she hated him.

Carlisle stepped forward, everyone's eyes naturally falling to the blonde man as he sternly looked across the field at Aro and the rest of the Volturi guard.

"Aro, Iet us discuss things as we used to. In a civilized manner."

Aro chuckled, a sound that Kiara knew would now reside in her nightmares for years to come.

"Fair words, Carlisle," Aro breathed out, Kiara not expecting his voice to be as soft as it was. "But a little out of place, given the battalion you've assembled against us."

"I can promise you, that was never my intent. No laws have been broken."

Kiara's eyes flickered away from Aro to look at the rest of the vampires that seemed to be on the front line. She wasn't sure who was who, but she could tell that Caius and Marcus were the two on either side of Aro. Caius looked more angry, while Marcus looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Her eyes moved on, looking at the two positioned on either side of the main three. Felix and Dimitri, she presumed, from what Emmett had told her. The twins - she could have spotted them without any context. Jane looked at her with a cruel smirk, causing Kiara to instantly look to Alec instead.

"We see the child. Do not treat us as fools!"

Caius snarled, his pale face contorted into an expression of disgust as he pointed menacingly towards Renesmee. Bella clutched her daughter protectively as Edward stiffened beside them. Kiara's heart pounded even harder at the sight. The tension in the air was so palpable, she could almost taste it.

Kiara's gaze fell to Renesmee, wrapped in Bella's arms and shielded by Edward at her side. She was small, so small for the weight that was being placed on her tiny shoulders. She was just a child, after all. Caius was at least right in that regard.

"She is not an lmmortal! These witnesses can attest to that. Or you can look. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

"Artifice!"

Aro held up his hand to silence his brother, instead continuing to stare at the Cullens with curiosity in his eyes. It wasn't a secret that he had been longing for some of the coven to join him at their side, so he at least still held enough respect for them to listen to their side of the story - even if just to make himself look better in front of the Volturi witnesses.

"I will collect every facet of the truth. But from someone more central to the story. Edward, as the child clings to your newborn mate, I assume you are involved."

Kiara watched as Aro's lips curled into a small smile. It wasn't warm or welcoming but rather cold and calculated. This was a game to him, and they were all merely pieces on the chessboard.

Edward's and Bella's gazes connected, electric as they silently communicated. Edward nodded reluctantly, taking a step forward with Bella and Renesmee still clutching each other tightly beside Jacob. Kiara felt herself almost take a step forward with Edward, but Rosalie's grip remained iron tight on her arm, almost as if she expected Kiara to want to be at her almost-brother's side.

After what felt like an eternity, Edward paused in front of Aro. His hand was immediately grasped by Aro's, the strange vampire chuckling as his eyes loomed somewhere off focus, seeing thoughts that only he could see.

"A fascinating turn of events," Aro said after a pause that hung heavily in the clearing. "I should like to meet her."

Kiara didn't like the way he was looking at Renesmee; it set her own wolf instincts on edge. She growled softly under her breath, the low sound rumbling in her chest and mirrored by Jacob across the snow. Rosalie squeezed Kiara's arm even tighter at this point. Kiara knew that if she were human she'd have winced from the pressure. But right now, the whole scene felt surreal.

She locked eyes with Jacob, who nodded minutely, acknowledging the uncertainty that swirled in the air like an invisible fog. His gaze was wary as they turned their focus back to Aro.

Edward, his face pale and calm, gestured toward his family. Bella shared an apprehensive glance with her husband before guiding Renesmee forward. The little girl was visibly trembling despite the brave facade she put on. Her small hand instinctively reached for Jacob, brushing her fingers through his russet coat. 

Caius' expression looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon while Marcus continued to appear completely disinterested in the events unfolding before him. Kiara could see a small shift of movement from Jane as they began to approach, almost as if she was excited by this.

Bella, Renesmee and Jacob started to move forward, pausing briefly to glance back at where Rosalie and Kiara stood with Beverly and Emmett. There were no words spoken, but they all knew what was being asked of them as soon as Bella locked eyes with Emmett. He squeezed Beverly's shoulder, before brushing past them to join the trio as they walked towards the Volturi.

Kiara noticed instantly the way Beverly's hand fell into Rosalie's spare one. She didn't question it. She felt that same dread as she watched Jake move closer.

When Bella and Renesmee were but a few feet away from Aro, Kiara took in a deep breath, letting the cold air fill her lungs before releasing it in a gusty sigh. The hand Rosalie held gave an encouraging squeeze, pulling her attention away from the trio now standing before the Volturi.

She looked up to see Rosalie's icy gaze on her. The vampire never looked away from her, her eyes soft yet stern. It was easy to forget she wasn't human in moments like these. She looked so vulnerable, yet there was steel behind those eyes.

"I hear her strange heart!"

Aro let out a loud squeal as Renesmee was close enough for him to hear her heartbeat. Kiara turned back to shoot Paul a look as she heard the familiar wolf let out a small noise that she knew was him holding back a laugh.

Kiara nodded and turned back to watch as Bella coaxed Renesmee closer to Aro. Renesmee finally reached Aro who stooped down low to be at eye level with the child. Just as he went to offered his hand, Renesmee raised her hand and confidently pressed her palm to his cheek. Despite everything, despite the tension and fear, Kiara felt a swell of pride for the brave little girl.

Everyone waited with bated breath as Aro's face remained devoid of any emotion for what felt like an eternity. When he finally opened his eyes and moved back from Renesmee's hand, a huge grin was present on his face. Aro's eyes flickered around them all, and he looked between Kiara and Rosalie for just a short second. Kiara just prayed that Renesmee hadn't done her usual trick of showing her being sick. Now was certainly not the time nor the place for that.

He straightened up and turned to face the sea of vampires and shapeshifters who watched him with apprehension. His lips curled into a cold smile as he prepared to address them.

"Magnifico! Half mortal, half immortal. Conceived and carried by this newborn while she was still human."

"Impossible!" Cauis snarled, his outburst mirroring the look of disgust on Jane's face as she stood behind him and glared tightly at Bella. Aro instantly took offence to the tone, spinning on his heel and dropping his smile instantly.

"Do you think they fooled me, brother?"

Silence.

Kiara rolled her eyes a little as Jacob snarled before they turned on their heel and began to hurry back to the group. She could almost feel the energy of the wolves around her relax as Jacob returned to them, unharmed and untouched by any of the vampires.

Emmett nodded at her as he moved back into place beside Beverly, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head as he allowed her to tuck herself under his arm. Kiara wasn't sure she had ever seen them so connected, in such a serious manner.

Her head turned to look at the wolves, knowing that this wasn't over yet.

"Bring the informer forward."

The crowd of Volturi red capes parted, and Kiara knew she was right. Irina looked across at them all with a regretful look in her eyes, now understanding the significance of the mistake that she had made. She had been vengeful, and she had been unfair. 

Kate and Tanya tensed from their spot, Leah shifting ever so slightly and allowing Kate to lean against her ever so slightly for support. That was their sister - and they knew deep down there was only one end to this.

"Is that the child you saw?"

"I'm not sure," Irina said, unable to meet the eyes of her family. She flinched as Caius threatened to use Jane, and continued speaking. "She's changed. This child is bigger."

"Then your allegations were false."

"The Cullens are innocent. I take full responsibility for my mistake," Irina said, directing the last part towards her siblings. "I'm sorry."

Without a moment of hesitation, Caius turned and swiped Irina's head from her body.

Kiara felt her stomach lurch at the sight, hearing the ear-piercing yells of Tanya and Kate from behind her as they watched the blonde vampire throw a match on to the remains of their sister before she even hit the ground.

Both of the vampires lurched forward, Kate shoving Leah out of the way as Garrett grabbed on tightly to Tanya who struggled in his grasp. Kiara lunged too, before anyone could stop her and wrapped her arms around Kate, trying to pull her back without thinking.

She instantly yelped and let go as she felt the electric shocks course through her body, Leah instead slamming her wolf body against Kate as she pushed back against the vampire and ignored the shocks of pain due to the adrenaline to protect her imprint. 

Rosalie's knees hit the snow as she dropped to the ground beside Kiara, pressing a hand against her mate's face as she groaned a little, trying to push herself up and shake the pain off. That definitely had hurt a LOT more than the last time. 

"Blind them!" Edward called out, Zafrina instantly doing what he asked.

The two blonde sisters stilled, their eyesight now gone despite their remaining anger and fury.

"Tanya, this is what they want!" Edward snapped, the blonde's eyes trying to locate him but being unable to see anything at all. "If you attack now, we'll all die."

Kate and Tanya slumped a little, Tanya allowing herself to be held by Garrett while Kate felt herself lean against Leah's back as the wolf basically supported her from falling over at the sight of her dead sister. They'd been together for centuries, and she was gone in less than ten seconds.

It wasn't fair.

"Irina's accusations have been proven to be false," Carlisle said, not realising that one vampire across the field was not as onboard as everyone else.

"Rather, one of the allegations were deemed false, but Irina made two," Jane reminded, her eyes flickering from the burning body of Irina and back across the battlefield where Kiara was standing against Rosalie's side. She was panting slightly as she recovered from the electric shock from Kate, her teeth gritted ever so slightly.

It was as if time itself had stopped as the entire Volturi guard copied Jane's movements, turning to look at the one person that they knew wasn't all human and was standing amongst the vampires. 

It was a sensation Rosalie couldn't experience but she could see the fear in Kiara's eyes. It ignited a fierce protectiveness in her, just as she had seen in Kiara whenever she was under threat.

Aro shifted his scrutinizing gaze from Irina's sisters to Kiara, giving her a once-over before his eyes shifted to meet Rosalie's icy glare back at him, and before noticing how the wolves all shuffled uncomfortably at the realisation that it was Kiara she was talking about. It felt like the world was holding its breath waiting for Aro's verdict.

"Interesting..." His voice echoed across the snow-covered field, causing a shiver to trickle down Kiara's spine. There was something eerily dangerous about the way he looked at the pack, his eyes gleaming with something akin to fascination. 

"Irina was right - she's different," Marcus' voice echoed through the silence. Kiara felt a little bit pissed off by that - this man had been silent and unbothered this entire time, and now chose this as his time to speak up about something.

"You harbor a dangerous creature," Jane hissed out with a glare at Kiara that could've frozen the sun itself.

"Enough!" Aro's voice rang out towards his own coven, drawing everyone's attention towards him and off Kiara. He seemed to have a cunning look in his eyes, ignoring the pleading look that Carlisle was shooting him as he took a few steps forward.

Jacob growled lowly at this and Renesmee leaned against him, her eyes showing the fear she was trying to hide.

"Come forward," Aro ordered suddenly, his voice echoing in the silent winter air. The tension immediately spiked again as Kiara felt everyone's gaze on her once more. She let out a low breath, straightening up as she stepped forward. "I wish to see for myself, once more."

Kiara pried her arm from Rosalie's grasp, nodding to her gently as she moved away, knowing that she was never going to hear the end of that if they survived this. She looked to Emmett, who wrapped his arm around Rosalie's shoulder and kept her in place. 

Kiara heard a few soft thuds behind her and turned on her heels, looking back to see some of the pack - Sam included - taking steps to follow behind her.

"Stay put," she said, her voice firm and with a tone that they'd all never really heard her use before. "Alpha's orders."

If Rosalie had been pissed about Kiara walking away from her, the wolves were even more furious. They lowly growled between each other, their mind-link being overwhelmed with internal snarls and yells, not that she could hear them right now. She was sure that Emily and the other imprints back in La Push were on the edge of their seats as the pups had likely piped up too.

"Kiara..." Rosalie's warning call echoed behind her, filled with worry, fear and a hint of admiration. Pride swelled in her chest as she turned back to shoot Rosalie a comforting smile, silently reassuring her that she would be okay. Or so she hoped.

"My dear Rosalie," Aro called out to the blonde, his tone holding a certain eeriness that sent chills down Kiara's spine, "I assure you I mean no harm to your... mate, I assume."

There was skeptical silence from the rest of the vampires present while the wolves seemed to bristle at his words. Kiara noticed this but continued to advance forward. 

She passed through the rest of the coven, pausing ever so slightly as Edward and Carlisle fell into step with her. As she went to shoot them a side look to back off, they both turned to her with stern expressions that showed she wasn't going up to the vampire alone, no matter how much she protested.

Aro extended his hand and Kiara boldly met it. A power tussle ensued as he touched her skin, digging into her memories. Kiara's jaw hardened, the only sign that portrayed she was feeling any discomfort. After what seemed like an eternity, Aro pulled his hand back, his lips curling into a sinister smile that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Rosalie's instincts screamed at her to charge and pull Kiara away from the vampire. But she held herself back, trusting in Kiara's abilities and control. Edward shifted uneasily by her side as he read Aro's thoughts but kept silent.

"He is right," Aro finally spoke, breaking the eerie silence that had fallen over the field. "She is different."

"But she isn't harmful," Carlisle argued back quickly before Aro could add further.

"That remains to be seen," Aro said dismissively turning his gaze towards Jane who was glaring daggers at Kiara. He twitched the corners of his lips ever so slightly as Kiara felt Edward tense up intensely beside her, as if something in Aro's thoughts had triggered the reaction. "Right now, you're nothing more than a slightly enhanced human... but who knows what you'll become over time. Immune to a vampire's venom... now that certainly poses a threat to our survival reflexes..."

Aro's word hung heavily in the air, sending a wave of unease rippling through the crowd. The vampires on the other side of the field all exchanged uneasy glances, the tension between the Volturi and the wolves threatening to spark into a confrontation at any moment. Bella was thankful that they all had to obey alpha's orders - or she was sure this already would have gotten violent.

"An interesting tactic," Aro continued as he looked back at Kiara. "Standing beside your mate like you're one of us. You don't fool me, Kiara Black. You're not like us."

"You're right," Kiara muttered, speaking without thinking. "I'm not."

Her eyes locked with Aro's in a silent challenge. The air between them seemed to crackle with mutual disdain and barely-contained aggression.

Without breaking his gaze from Kiara's, Aro motioned subtly towards Jane who nodded in understanding. Jane's lips curved into a cruel smile as she approached Kiara like a predator advancing on its prey.

"No, you're not," Aro confirmed, his voice echoing ominously through the silent space. "But soon, we will see just how different you are." 

Jane stopped in front of Kiara, who held her ground despite the implicit threat. Her eyes flickered between Jane and Aro, a low growl rising in her chest. No matter what happened next, she wouldn't attack. She wouldn't prove them right.

Suddenly, Kiara crumpled to the ground in waves of imagined pain that Jane instilled. The world spun around her as she dropped to her knees, every bone, muscle and organ within her searing with unbearable agony. Rosalie attempted to spring forward but was held back by Emmett's strong hands around her waist.

"No," he growled protectively into his sister-in-law's ear. "We interfere and it's war."

Rosalie watched helplessly as Kiara writhed on the ground before their enemies, pain etched onto her face. Jacob let out a whimper for his sister as Bella quickly pulled Renesmee closer to her, shielding her daughter's eyes from the horrific scene unfolding in front of them.

 Kiara howled again as waves of pain washed over her like tidal waves. But amidst the torment, something sparked inside of her - a primal instinct that had been ingrained deep within her genes from centuries of Quileute lineage. Her breaths turned ragged and heavy as an animalistic growl began to reverberate in the back of her throat.

Suddenly, with one last agonising scream that echoed across the entire field, Kiara's body convulsed viciously as she began to transform right before everyone's eyes - bones cracking and reforming, muscles bulking out under tanned skin and dark fur sprouting out all over. 

"Stop!" Rosalie cried out, her voice breaking through the silence. "Enough!"

Jane halted her assault, a satisfied smirk planted on her face as she looked down at the whimpering wolf, curled tightly on the ground at her feet. Kiara swayed slightly as her wolf limbs felt the pain subside, clambering to her feet with a ferocious snarl towards Aro and the others.

Edward made note of Aro's thoughts, how he almost seemed impressed by the size of the wolf standing in front of him. As Kiara stood there, her fur bristling under Aro's gaze, her eyes were not those of a frightened girl anymore. They were the predatory glare of a protector, the hardened stare of someone who had stared into the abyss and refused to back down. Her chest heaved as she let out a deep growl, baring her teeth at Aro.

 Despite everything, Aro simply returned Kiara's intimidating glare with an amused smile. "Indeed," he murmured. "An impressive transformation."

Aro's gaze flickered towards Carlisle as he extended his hand, demanding his thoughts for the first time. Carlisle hesitated but eventually placed his own hand atop Aro's, his eyes flickering to Edward and Kiara as he felt Aro probe his mind to find out more about Kiara Black.

"Aro, you see there's no law broken here."

"Agreed."

Aro pulled his hand back with a muse, waving for Carlisle, Edward and Kiara to step back. Kiara remained in the spot, only moving once Edward grasped a clump of her fur in his hand and tugged her when he noticed that she was not following them.

"But does it then follow that there is no danger? For the first time in our history humans pose a threat to our kind. Their modern technology has given birth to weapons that could destroy us. Maintaining our secret has never been more imperative. In such perilous times, only the known is safe. Only the known is tolerable. And we know nothing of what this child or hybrid will both become. Can we live with such uncertainty? Spare ourselves a fight today, only to die tomorrow..."

He trailed off, his eyes flickering to the treeline on the right with a wide grin growing on his face.

'What's that?'

Kiara heard the voices of the pack repeat the words in her head as her head snapped to follow his line of sight.

"My dear, dear Alice."