Marshall stared down at a red wax seal with a frown. The letter V was done in a script font with a plethora of sword lilies printed around it for an extra bit of flare. Off-white paper was still folded closed, a handwritten message slightly showing through flimsy material.

It was from the Volturi.

Following Bella's death at the hands of the Uley pack, Marshall ended up having to explain in greater detail who exactly the Volturi members were. He talked about how, in vampiric culture, they were regarded as royals and law enforcers. They were the ones who oversaw other covens to make sure specific regulations weren't broken—that topic of conversation leading into a long, daunting run-through of why Bella was so obsessed with becoming a vampire in the first place. Her seeking asylum after going to Volterra must've allowed Aro a window of opportunity to get a better understanding on the current status of the former Olympic coven.

It was now a confirmed fact that Aro knew about Marshall's distaste for the Cullens, his decision to join the pack, and the slaughter of his old family members.

It was unclear if Aro was also aware of Renesmee's existence.

So, rather than wait for the Volturi to catch the pack by surprise, Marshall initiated correspondence to schedule a meeting for everyone to talk.

He'd finally received a reply but hadn't opened it yet.

Truth be told, the suspense was nerve-wracking. The letter sitting before him could have anything written inside of it. There could be an agreement to meet on Marshall's pre-discussed terms.  There could be a negotiation for everyone to travel to Italy and seek a trial within the Volturi castle. There could be an outright refusal in terms of talking this whole situation out.

There was a lot of back and forth, making it difficult to calm down like he wanted.

Fortunately, assistance came in the form of slender fingers settling atop the note. "It's from them, isn't it."

Marshall nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.

A light hum was given in understanding.

The letter was picked up from the table. It was flipped over to check if anything extra had been written or printed on the outside. When seeing nothing of the sort, the wax marking was traced over. A blunt nail caressed the seal, causing a deep scratch to sully an otherwise picture perfect marking.

"May I?"

Marshall nodded again.

He figured if he couldn't steel himself up to open the message, maybe it would be better for someone else to do so.

"Do you want me to read it out loud?"

"...I guess."

Brad cleared his throat before continuing. "Dearest Marshall, we would like to first give our appreciation of your quick disposal of that annoying newborn, Isabella. You are an observant man, and it most likely did not take long for you to understand why she did not fit amongst our ranks. Her crazed frenzies caused us quite a headache, but you've helped in dealing with a troublesome nuisance. For that, we thank you.

"In regard to your terms, we believe it would be beneficial to have a face to face conversation to discuss our findings. Since Isabella's ramblings were not plentiful, we would appreciate if you could give some additional insight on all of the issues she brought to our attention. We will also discuss the nature of your relationship with your mate, as well as figuring out the appropriate steps to take if you are to continue pursuing said relationship.

"This letter should reach you roughly ten days before Christmas. We will travel to The States and meet at the Quileute treaty line on December 20 at noon. Do prepare accordingly.

"Regards, Aro."

The note was tossed back onto the table in a careless, frustrated manner.

He may not have known much about the other vampires, however, Brad knew a threat when he saw one.

The Volturi weren't coming to simply trade opinions.

Marshall remained silent, thinking.

"What're we going to do? I know you don't want to get other people involved, so I won't ask you to reach out to your extended family for help. But still- how are we going to hold our own against the rulers of the vampire world? Even if they don't come with backup, their coven alone is big enough to pose as an issue."

"The tribe won't stand idly by if a group of powerful vampires attempt to cause problems on or near their lands. The Volturi may have a lot of our kind, but we have a lot of wolves. We'll make do. Besides, you know better than anyone else that I won't stand by while my loved ones could be put in harm's way. I already dealt with one coven. If I have to, I'll do away with another."

"Do you really think you're strong enough to?"

Marshall turned toward his best friend completely, a look of determination settling on his face. "It's not a matter of strength. In cases like these, the numbers don't mean anything. What matters is how we get our point across. I want to avoid a fight. If we can't, well, our gifts aren't anything to be taken lightly."

"Marsh, I-" Brad sighed, dragging a hand down his cheek. "Mierda- I don't want something bad to happen. I don't want you to get hurt-"

"If I get hurt, then I get hurt. That's a minor setback in the grand scheme of things." Marshall's expression tightened at the prospect of someone else being put in harm's way because of his inability to act as a reliable shield. "I refuse to cower in fear when my family's future is on the line. Vampire royals or not, I refuse to bow down and submit to anyone who tries to put my people in danger. You know just as well as I do that I'm not one to make empty promises. I will protect our pack- the tribe. And if you're up for a challenge, it would be a hell of a lot easier to deal with this by having you at my side. Plus, if something happens to me, I'm going to need you to protect Paul in my place-"

Marshall was caught off guard as his face was held in a strong grip. Anger and distraught could be seen in expressive golden eyes, shedding light on how horrific the thought of Marshall getting hurt actually was. He personally saw physical pain to be treated like more of a nuisance than something to truly worry about. Unless the damage was fatal, any pain he could possibly be put through would be temporary.

He didn't think the chance of getting injured was something to be taken too seriously. Especially if he got hurt in the name of protecting his family the way he did several times before.

"How could you say something like that? If something happens to you- are you fucking insane?"

"Brad-"

"No. If you need me to help you protect Paul, I can do that. I doubt that he'd really need it because he's capable enough on his own- but whatever. I hold him in the same regard I do you. I would do anything to protect him- just like I would you. There isn't going to be some 'if something happens' type of bullshit because I won't let it. If we're getting out of this, then we're all doing it together. I would never let you put yourself in a position where you'd have to give your life to make sure Paul can live his. Unlike that piece of shit coven you used to be part of, we actually have your back for stuff like this. No one in the pack, or the tribe for that matter, would allow something bad to happen to you. We don't need you to sacrifice yourself for us. I need you to realize we can deal with this problem the way we do with everything else. As a pack." 

Marshall blinked, too surprised to formulate a comeback.

Sure, as friends, they'd gotten into disagreements before. Arguments didn't happen often since communication came easily. Still, when Brad got extremely upset or legitimately offended, he wasn't one to hold his tongue.

His heated response could only mean Marshall struck a really sensitive nerve when talking in a negative, albeit realistic, way.

Regardless, Brad was right in saying Marshall wasn't dealing with this issue by himself. He had help. A lot of it, actually. There were people ready and willing to lend a hand.

All he had to do was give the word.

"You're right," Marshall agreed with a light shake of his head. "You're absolutely right. I spoke without really considering my options. I was put back in the mindset I used to follow. That wasn't fair. To me, or you. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you should be. Cabrón."

Brad glanced in another direction to hide his face.

Marshall nibbled on the inside of his cheek in an attempt to keep from smiling. "...You're pouting, aren't you."

"I'm not- fuck you."

"Uh huh. Sure."

Brad turned around again, effectively revealing he was, in fact, puffing out his bottom lip. He appeared to be embarrassed at his own emotional outburst. He also appeared to be afraid of his words coming off more as nagging than caring or worried.

The playful glint in Marshall's eyes faded. "I really am sorry. I don't worry about myself the same way you guys do. And that's not good. I get it. I just- I've been so used to putting myself on the front line if it means keeping as many people as I can safe. I know you guys are capable of protecting yourselves. I guess some habits are harder to kill than others. But- I'm working on it."

"I know you are, hermano." Brad's tense form deflated. "I didn't mean to blow up. Just- I can't imagine you going through something that bad. It was hard enough to see how much you were struggling after the fight with Victoria's army. I'm strong enough now to help keep stuff like that from happening again. We all are. So depend on us. It's a lot easier to hold the weight of the world on your shoulders when there are other people lifting it up with you. Right?"

Brad was right again.

Marshall attempting to come up with a plan by himself would only leave room for his anxieties to fester. 

With the others, though, strategizing for their meetup, as well as a possible plan of attack, would help quell the fear building inside him.

*

The sound of flowing water caused a sense of melancholy to erupt within Marshall. He hadn't been to these parts in quite a long time since, with a majority of the Cullens gone, it wasn't as necessary to monitor the area. Regardless, even with heavy snow blanketing the entire surrounding forest, he could remember with perfect accuracy what the treaty line looked like. The shapes of the trees, wide spacing between them, spindly branches, rock formations, overgrowth of foliage—he remembered every little detail.

A plethora of memories flashed through his head the closer everyone got to their designated meetup point: the first time Paul introduced Marshall to Sam and Jared; getting permission to cross onto Quileute land for the very first time; running as a closely knit group, watching each other's backs when pursuing Victoria; witnessing the Cullens' reactions as they saw Marshall and Paul interact as a couple after their relationship was outed.

The initial formation of the imprint bond.

Vampirism awakening a foreign desire to procure a lifelong mate.

Their very first meeting when rage and hatred melted into unexpected affection.

The treaty line was where their relationship began, and it was going to be the place where they would decide how everything would end.

Marshall's promise, wedding, and engagement rings had never felt so heavy on his finger before. The weight they carried had never felt more substantial. They'd never felt so powerful either.

Glancing at them, caressing them, gave him the courage to carry on with his head held high.

He knew what was at stake, and he was going to do everything in his power to keep it all safe. By any means necessary.

Sweet copper invaded Marshall's nasal cavity, making him exhale sharply to get rid of the harsh smell. A passing glance was made at overhead branches before bringing his full attention to the other side of the treaty line.

As expected, Aro was waiting, leading his coven with a smug grin on his face. There weren't any new faces among the group, so everyone seen were all familiar. Their fighting styles, individual gifts, and methods of pursuing an enemy were silently acknowledged as well. Years worth of offhanded commentary about the group from Carlisle finally coalesced into an in-depth understanding on how the Volturi worked in their entirety.

Marshall was wary, but he was also prepared for whatever happened.

He and Brad were the first to stop. All available Quileute shapeshifters grouped around their vampires, forming a sort of wall around them. Beautiful eyes of differing colors glared daggers at the leeches standing across the river.

"...Aro."

A playful grin gained a bit of life when amusement came into play. "Good afternoon, Marshall. Thank you for coming at our specified time. I trust you have been well?"

Marshall crossed his arms over his chest. "There's no need for small talk. We all know why we're here. So let's not delay the inevitable, yeah?"

Aro chuckled. "So to the point. Edward was a lot like that when he came to visit us back in Volterra."

"I'm sure he was. The difference between me and Edward, though, is that he was, and has always been, sloppy."

Everyone knew what that slight actually meant: Edward had never been one to care about covering his tracks in a decent manner. He always severely misjudged both himself and other people, which was exactly why he ended up running into so many issues. Bella finding out about him being a vampire, drawing James attention with a single reaction, incurring the wrath of an army led by Victoria, sentencing his wife to a death sentence after impregnating her with a child incompatible with her body.

Everything happened because Edward never knew how to rein himself in, take precautions, properly assess a situation, or truly take into account what his strengths and weaknesses were.

He was why the greatest, most serious law passed by the Volturi was broken and ended up putting his entire coven on the chopping block.

"...Forgive me for veering off topic, but- Marshall, that vampire beside you- he is still within his newborn stage, is he not? I do not seem to recognize him."

A passing glance was made at Brad. "He is. He was turned in June, so he's only been a vampire for six months."

"Ah, I see. Perhaps it was common practice, then, for the Cullens to reveal themselves to humans with the intention of changing them to escape corrective punishment-"

"Don't jump to conclusions when you have no evidence. Like I said, Edward was always sloppy. While he carelessly revealed himself to a human, I've always taken precautions to blend in with them. Seeking companionship within their species never meant I had to be put into a position where I had to divulge my true identity. My companion never found out what I was until after he changed."

"Hmm..." Aro rubbed at his chin in thought. "If that is the case, how did he come to be?"

Reserved passiveness morphed into heated rage. "He was turned by the leader of the newborn army that attempted to annihilate my previous coven. Although he has always been a close friend and I'm happy to have him with me, he would've never been targeted in the first place had you and your members kept order like you were supposed to. Taking a gamble with Victoria to kill the Cullens was just as reckless as Edward pursuing a human as a mate. Your blatant inaction caused many, many deaths- to the point where even the humans were becoming suspicious. If there was ever a time where covens across the globe rightfully started losing faith in your systems of ruling, it was then. And you can't dispute that fact because you know I'm right."

Marshall's face remained expressionless when watching the Volturi's overall anger in response to his words. Jane appeared the most frustrated because, at the time, she was the one making decisions since Aro had to remain unseen. She was realizing her actions really had caused a domino effect which could've led to unstoppable chaos, both in the vampire world and the human one.

Aro cleared his throat. "I...was simply asking about the details pertaining to your companion to know if he would need to be taken care of or not."

"Why would there be a need to do so? He's fed inconspicuously since day one, hasn't attracted the attention of humans, and is an adult of appropriate age to be turned. What need would there be to kill him when his existence hasn't broken any laws? Don't tell me you're attempting to find loopholes within the regulations you came up with."

Aro opened his mouth to form a counter argument but reeled himself back in since he knew his attempts would be meaningless.

That was one less issue for the pack to worry about.

"Very well. Switching to the topic at hand- I would appreciate if you could confirm a few details for us pertaining to the Olympic coven."

Marshall nodded, prepared for this round of questioning. "Go on."

"Is it true the Olympic coven is no longer operating?"

"Yes."

"Is it true that all, except for Carlisle and Esme, were killed by your hand?"

"Yes."

"Is it true Isabella broke away from the remnants of the Olympic coven and broke a plethora of our laws before arriving in Volterra? She did so after joining us in the name of becoming stronger, however, for the sake of proper documentation, we would like to be sure."

"From what I could gather, yes. After finding out about Edward's death, she broke apart all of her old human relationships in the name of building herself up to come after me. For vampires, strength, especially as a newborn, is heightened after consuming a lot of blood. I can only assume the rising number of missing persons cases had to do with her."

"Thank you for clarifying. And, lastly, is it true she left behind an abomination to wreak havoc on the world?"

Ah.

So Bella even told the Volturi about Renesmee.

A small part of Marshall was extra grateful he chose to have the crazed woman killed for putting that sweet little girl in harm's way.

"The child is a hybrid, yes. But she is not what you might be thinking. She is not immortal and has functioning organs. Her growth rate is accelerated, though, I can only assume she will stop aging at some point since she is half vampire. I do believe, while she may live longer than most humans, she will inevitably pass after her heart gives out. She was born with a fully developed brain and appears to have excellent control over her urges. However, I, myself, have noticed she has a preference for human food. She does not carry herself the way a bloodthirsty Immortal Child would. Quite the contrary, actually- she carries herself more so as a human. If you do not believe me, I can show you."

Aro perked up at the notion of being asked to use his gift. Probably because he found a chance to snoop at Marshall's other experiences to try and get evidence for any crimes committed.

"It would be preferable, yes. If you would be so kind as to approach..."

Marshall nodded again. He took several steps forward, stopping right at the edge of the river separating both sides.

A small, mischievous grin spread onto his face. "Before I continue, allow me to...level the playing field, so to speak."

The Volturi members weren't prepared when the tops of all the trees surrounding both groups were engulfed in bright, scorching flames. Instead of burning plants, however, the stench of smoldering venom encompassed them. Disembodied wails in agony became more frantic as the seconds ticked by.

Then, as if shattering an illusion, dozens of red-eyed vampires appeared out of thin air and came hurtling toward the ground. All of the people on the Volturi's side continued to burn until they exploded into sparkling ash. Those on the wolves' side had their flames put out as they fell into the snow, only to be mauled by the shapeshifters around them.

Marshall continued to stand calmly in his spot.

Aro couldn't help but gape like a fish out of water. "You- how-"

"I have a more sensitive nose than most vampires. It can be a troublesome burden to bear. It can also make for quite the useful tool. Wouldn't you agree?"

As if on cue, any remaining enemies were killed, promptly cutting off the sound of bloodcurdling screams. 

The only ones to remain were the main Volturi members.

Aro realized he'd lost the element of surprise and was now at a disadvantage. He turned away from the pack to give orders for his guards to engage.

Unfortunately for him, the Uley pack members were quicker to react.

Brad brought his stretched out hand upward, bringing it down in a single waving motion. His gesture caused the Volturi leeches to fall to their knees, unable to move. A simple maneuver of facing the palm upward caused the vampires' heads to be pulled back by an invisible force, effectively leaving them with no choice but to look toward the sky. One last clenching of the fingers made their bodies feel as if they were caving in on themselves—as if they were mere seconds from shattering like fragile marble. Having them contorted in such a way made it impossible for anyone with a gift to focus on an actual target.

While Aro couldn't see him, he could hear Marshall's approach in the form of a single wing flap.

He willingly offered his hand to the Volturi leader so he could see for himself the proof he so desperately yearned for.

The truth about the Olympic coven, the truth about Renesmee, the truth about Marshall's relationship with Paul—everything was revealed. A mental wall made it possible to hide certain details: like any humans within the Quileute tribe who knew of vampires, the presence of the Forever Bond, depictions of anyone's places of residence, and so on. In the end, the only experiences shared were ones which had actual impacts in regard to their meeting. Every other detail was kept secret for the sake of keeping everyone else safe.

Marshall let go of his enemy's hand. "You understand now, don't you. How any baseless accusations you have against me are just that. Accusations. And while you may not like the fact that I'm in a relationship with a wolf, there isn't an actual law which states I can't be."

Instead of Aro responding, Caius grunted out in frustration. "They are werewolves! Our natural enemy! They-"

"Are not under your jurisdiction," Marshall interrupted. "The Volturi, first and foremost, is a governing body within the supernatural world to oversee the regulations of vampires and their covens. I may be a vampire, but I've not broken any laws. And since I'm part of a pack instead of a coven, you have no ability in terms of instilling some sort of punishment against me. The Quileute wolves have their own sets of laws and customs. They have nothing to do with the power you're so wrongfully trying to instill on a species that isn't even yours to rule."

"But-"

A wall of fire appeared again, stopping right above the Volturi members' defenseless forms. 

"You know, your coven loves to preach about the importance of knowing one's place. For the sake of your livelihood, I suggest you take your own advice and do the same. I will not give a second warning."

Dancing flames, a flowing river, and rustling branches were the only sounds to take in. Breathing was silent. Heartbeats were calm and steady. Everyone still capable of fighting were ready to swoop in at a single command.

Their next course of action all had to do with Aro's final decision.

It came in the form of a defeated sigh. "Fine."

And just like that, he and his members were released.

The Volturi leader rose to his feet, smoothing a hand over his throat. "...What are your demands? As much as it pains me to say this, you are the superior party here, and we would be fighting a losing battle if we were to pursue this matter any further."

Marshall frowned at the sentiment. "I don't care about being superior. I am not hungry for power the way you are, Aro. I don't want people to obey me and fear my repercussions if they don't. I fully believe that having a governing body of sorts is important in terms of keeping a form of peaceful order amongst humans and vampires. My only goal in this entire situation is to live happily with my pack. My family. It has never been my intention to make it seem like I wanted to become something greater than the Volturi. You may continue on with your lives as long as we are able to do so as well. As long as you clean up your act in terms of actually doing what you're supposed to be as leaders, I don't see why we would ever have the need to meet, or discuss in a matter like this, again."

"You...are serious?" Aro asked, honest shock appearing on his face.

"The only reason I dealt with your witnesses was because, had I removed myself from our land, they would've taken it as an opportunity to start a bloodbath. My, along with the pack's, show of strength was to prove we are not weak people. We are capable of protecting our own and would do so against anyone who tries to disturb our peace. If you choose to leave amicably, we will not retaliate against you. Should you decide otherwise, we will continue to defend until you are forced out. I would rather that not happen."

Aro looked between gentle eyes, silently looking for some sort of answer to a question he refused to pose aloud. Seeing his enemy was being truthful and honestly didn't have a desire to further engage, Aro allowed himself to relax.

"The Cullens certainly made a mistake by turning you into their enemy. While your gift alone is astonishing to witness, your ability to reason is that of an experienced warrior with a steady head on your shoulders. A person like you would be quite the novelty in my coven."

Marshall didn't show any form of surprise when hearing those words, meaning he expected them. "I will have to decline. I have everything I need with my pack. I think it would be beneficial for you to appreciate who you have in your coven. Speaking from experience, you never know when something might happen to them."

Aro gave a quiet, thoughtful hum. He spared a passing glance at the other pack members, taking in their individual appearances. His gaze settled on Paul for a moment, taking in the sight of the wolf's rigid frame. Brown eyes were glued to his imprint instead of their enemy, proving how one was more important than the other.

Although he didn't agree with their union, Aro could admit he did understand why they were together. Why, despite their species having always been at war with each other, a vampire and a wolf were capable of having a form of true love most people never got to witness in their lifetime.

An interesting discovery indeed.

Aro gave one last bow of the head before turning his back to the Uley pack. His members followed their leader, and, within the blink of an eye, they were gone.

Marshall flew back over to his territory. Both wings retracted when touching down onto the fresh snow.

He was pulled into a tight, desperate hug.

Chuckling, he took a deep inhale to savor the comforting scent of vanilla. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"I know- just-" Brad's voice wavered, tensity beginning to melt away into genuine relief. "It was nerve-wracking to see you so close to them without us being right beside you. But- at least everything is over now."

Yeah...

Everything was over now.

Any obstacles capable of getting in the way of a bright, amazing future had officially been dealt with.

There was nothing to hold them back anymore.

Marshall turned to face his husband when a furry snout pressed up against him. Red eyes softened, pure tenderness seen in his gaze. Slender hands wove into silver-toned fur to offer loving pets. A single kiss was pressed against Paul's nose to help alleviate some of his worries as well.

"Now that that's out of the way, I guess the only thing left to do is...celebrate. How about we go get Emily and head out to Port Angeles for a nice lunch?"

Excited barks and howls erupted throughout the group. Several younger members playfully started chasing each other, while a few older members showed their delight via perked up ears and frantic tail wags.

Marshall watched his family members' adorable reactions with a content smile.

Together, they began making their way toward the Uley residence, leaving any doubts for the future behind.