XLIII.  Alibi.

The pack had carried Jacob away and me and the Cullens gathered together with the newborn girl. Edward had an arm wrapped around my body, holding me protectively against his side. Alice was tense as she stared into the distance. "They're here," she spoke up.

Everyone looked across the blazing fire of newborn vampires. I followed their gazes and saw four dark cloaked figures approaching. My heart was pounding in my chest. Why were they coming here? And what were they going to do when they saw me still human?

As the vampires came closer, I recognized them as Jane, Felix, Demetri, and Alec. Jane walked in the middle of the men as they got closer. They stopped in front of us and Jane's eyes flicked towards the fire. "It appears you've done our work for us. Impressive. I've never seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact."

"We were lucky," Carlisle replied with a strained smile on his face as he looked at Jane.

Jane looked at Carlisle with a blank look on her face. "I doubt that." She replied sharply as her head tilted slightly to the side.

Alec silently observed the burning newborn and smiled in amusement. "It appears we missed an entertaining fight." he mused.

Jane hummed in agreement as she continued to stare blankly. "Yes. It's not often we're rendered unnecessary." She muttered.

"If you'd arrived a half hour ago, you would've fulfilled your purpose," Edward replied, and Carlisle shot him a sharp side-eyed look. I could only assume it was not often the Volturi members were spoken to with such disrespect.

"Pity," Jane replied blankly before her eyes shot towards the young vampire cowering behind Esme. "You missed one." She informed the Cullen family.

Carlisle took a step forward. "We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender," he explained.

Jane shot Carlisle a pointed look as she slowly shook her head. "That wasn't yours to offer." She told him sharply before looking at the young girl. "Why did you come?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

"They came to destroy us, to kill Ana," Esme spoke up for the young girl who continued to cower away.

Jane's eyes drifted towards me, and instinctively, Edward pulled me even closer to his side. Jane silently observed me, eyes drifting over me. She took note I was still very much human and hummed softly. She looked towards the girl again. "Who created you?" she questioned in a low voice.

My eyebrows furrowed, and I frowned as the young vampire cried out and fell to the ground, eyes rolling into the back of her head as Jane stared at her. Esme stepped forward. "You don't need to do that. She'll tell you anything you want to know." She said, her voice thick with emotions.

Jane gave a cruel smile as she let up, and the young vampire girl slumped to the ground. "I know," Jane replied.

"I don't know, Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe." The young vampire girl explained as she looked up at Jane with a scared look on her face.

I glanced at Edward, knowing the last part was about him. Edward stared at the young girl before tensing up and looking at Jane, his eyes squinting. "Her name was Victoria. Perhaps you knew her." he accused in a low voice.

"Edward." Carlisle scolded as he shot his son a pointed look. "If the Volturi had knowledge of Victoria, they would've stopped her." he insisted before turning his gaze to the young blonde vampire. "Isn't that right, Jane?"

Jane gave a tight-lipped smile. "Of course." She agreed. My eyebrows furrowed and I looked at Edward. He was tense and angry as he glared at Jane. Jane turned. "Felix," she spoke to the large vampire standing beside her.

As soon as Felix took a step closer, so did Esme. "She didn't know what she was doing. We'll take responsibility for her." She pleaded desperately and Jane stopped Felix with a single hand to his hand.

"Give her a chance," Carlisle spoke up, siding with his wife.

I turned my head and looked over my shoulder, looking at the newborn vampire. She was just a little girl. I frowned, my heart aching for her and Edward gave me a comforting squeeze around my waist.

"The Volturi don't give second chances," Jane replied, her eyes drifting over to me and Edward. "Keep that in mind." She threatened us directly. Edward pulled me closer as Jane's eyes settled directly on me. "Caius will be interested to know that she's still human," she warned.

I swallowed hard as I met her darkened gaze. "The date is set," I replied. Three years from now but that was a minor detail I'd keep to myself for now.

Jane blankly stared at me before her gaze returned to the newborn vampire girl. "Take care of that, Felix. I'd like to go home." She spoke up and my eyes widened in shock. No one dared move against the large vampire as he stalked to the young girl. I buried my face in Edward's shirt as I listened to the girl's cries. No one looked as Felix ripped her to shreds, breaking her easily before throwing her into the fire. "Thank you, Felix," Jane spoke up. "Until next time." She told us before the four silently turned and left in the direction they came from.

I pulled away from Edward, looking at the fire with teary eyes. That poor little girl. Changed for a war that wasn't hers, thrown into a life she didn't know, and killed for a crime she didn't commit. There is no unfortunate life like that.

Alice and Jasper took me back to the Cullen house, while the Edward and Carlisle went to the Black's house and the rest of the Cullen's stayed behind to clean up.

I sat on a chair in Alice and Jasper's ensuite bathroom. Alice stood behind me, brushing my hair while silently observing me through the large mirror in front of us. I was feeling anxious, my mind filled with Jacob Black.

I sighed as I watched Alice through the mirror. She was dragging the brush through my hair at such a slow pace. "Alice. This is getting ridiculous." I said as I met her gaze through the mirror. "I want to go down to La Push and see Jacob."

"Jacob's still unconscious," Alice replied as she shook her head at me, continuing to brush my hair. "Carlisle or Edward will call when he's awake. Anyway, you need to go see Eleanor. She was there at Billy's house, she saw that Carlisle and Edward are back in from their trip, and she's bound to be suspicious when you get home." she explained to me.

"I don't care. I want to be there when Jacob wakes up." I argued as I frowned at her through the mirror.

"You need to think of Eleanor now." She insisted as she put down the brush and placed her hands on my shoulders. "You've had a long day." She said softly and I raised my eyebrows. She gave me a tight-lipped smile. "Sorry, I know that doesn't begin to cover it but that doesn't mean that you can shirk your responsibilities." she explained as she shook her head."It's more important now than ever that Eleanor stays safely in the dark. Play your role first, Ana, and then you can do what you want second. Part of being a Cullen is being meticulously responsible."

I let Alice continue brushing my hair and put light makeup on me. We returned to her room and lounged on the couch together. After a while, she went to talk to Jasper, and when she returned, she smiled at me. She held out the keys to my truck. "Go home," She told me as I took the keys. "Talk to Eleanor. Flesh out your alibi. Keep him safe."

"Thank you," I told her as I stood up, grabbing my coat.

"You need the evidence," She reminded me as she rushed to her closet and slid it open. She pulled out six shopping bags. "What's a shopping trip without new outfits?" she asked with a grin and I raised my eyebrows. "I went through the trouble to get some things, so that it looks like you actually did shop," she explained.

"Alice, that's a lot of bags," I told her as she placed the bags down by my feet, clasping her hands together in front of her.

"Early Christmas presents?" She replied and I rolled my eyes as I scoffed in amusement. Then I went silent and Alice stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Yeah," I assured softly, offering her a smile as I nodded.

She returned my smile. "I see you have decided to wait," she told me softly/

I nodded. "Yeah...I just want a little more time with my...human family. My mom, Angela, Jess, Charlie." I explained softly.

"That's understandable." She replied as she nodded as well. Her smile grew a little and she tugged at the silver chain around my neck, pulling my ring out of my shirt. She cradled it between her fingers. "Your wedding is going to be beautiful," she told me.

"Of course it will be." I agreed with a nod of my head and I gave her a big smile. A knowing smile crossed Alice's face. "I'll have you to help me," I said and Alice laughed softly as she pulled me into a tight hug.

I left and returned home. When I stepped into the house, carrying my shopping bags, I kept my face neutral. I didn't look alarmed or worried as I stepped into the kitchen. My mom and Charlie sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.

My mom and Charlie shared a look before my mom turned to me. "Hey, Ana. How was your shopping trip?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows, head tilting to the side.

"Long," I replied, forcing a small smile as I put the bags on a chair and my mother peaked at them. "I think Alice likes shopping more than me." I mused as I ran a hand through my hair. "We just got back," I explained.

"I guess you already heard about Jake, then?" my mom asked as she quirked an eyebrow at me, her head tilting to the side.

"Jacob?" I asked, pretending to be confused as my eyebrows furrowed.

My mother tensed up, thinking I didn't know what had happened. She frowned, giving me a look of pity. "He got into an accident with his motorcycle," she explained carefully and softly.

I let my eyes widen in horror as I looked at my mother. "What?" I asked as I placed a hand over my heart.

"He's going to be okay." She assured me softly as she held her hands up. "Sam called Carlisle," she explained.

Charlie reached out, patting my arm. "I don't think you need to worry about Jake too much. Anyone who can cuss with that kind of energy is going to recover," he assured as he shook his head and my mom hummed in agreement.

My eyes squinted as I looked between the two of them. "Jacob was awake when you saw him?" I questioned them. They both nodded and I frowned. Alice.

"Oh, yeah, he was awake. You should have heard him, actually, it's better you didn't." My mother spoke as she shook her head. "I don't think there was anyone in La Push who couldn't hear him. I don't know where he picked up that vocabulary, but I hope he hasn't been using that kind of language around you." She said and I slowly shook my head.

"He had a pretty good excuse today," Charlie argued softly as he looked at my mother and she shrugged her shoulders in agreement.

"How did he look?" I asked them as I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling my lips into a tight line.

"Messed up," Charlie admitted as he looked up at me. "His friends carried him in. Good thing they're big boys, 'cause that kid's an armful," he said and my mom nodded in agreement.

"Yeah..." I whispered as I slowly nodded before looking at my mom. "Do you mind if I go down to La Push?" I asked her softly.

She gave me a small smile as she shook her head. "Do you need me to drive you?" She asked softly as she raised her eyebrows.

I shook my head as I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm okay to drive," I replied assuringly.

"Okay," she replied as she nodded her head. "If he's awake, tell him we're thinking about him," she said as she motioned between her and Charlie with her hand.

"Okay," I replied and turned to leave.

My mother got up and followed me out of the kitchen. "Ana," she called out and I stopped and turned to face her. "I'm glad you want to be there for him right now...but it doesn't mean you have to forgive what he did," she told me softly as she shook her head.

I knew she meant the attempted kiss and my broken hand. But as I thought of it silently, there were so many things Jacob had done and said that didn't deserve my forgiveness. I pursed my lips and raised my eyebrows as I wiped at my nose before wiping away a tear that escaped across my cheek. "I know," I whispered.