XXXV. Practice fight.

The next morning, Tuesday morning, extremely early, I and a few of the Cullen family gathered in a small clearing, hiding in the woods. We were only waiting on the pack, as well as Emmett, Esme and Rosalie to join before Jasper would start training.

Everything from the party yesterday still lingered heavily in my mind. As I looked around, I could only think of all the lives that could be lost because of me. I hated feeling so helpless in a battle that was supposed to be mine.

My mind kept playing around with ideas. I could distract Victoria by putting myself in the middle of the fight. I could give myself up to her. I could exchange my life for those I love.

I let out a soft sigh, wrapping my arms around myself. It was a cold day and I was wearing a thick, purple jumper, with a dark blue beany and some thick leggings. Everyone was dressed comfortably and warmly for the weather and the pending activities of the day.

I looked around and my eyes landed on Alice. She was tense, her fist clenching and unclenching by her side as her eyes aimlessly but frantically darted around. I stepped closer to Edward and leaned into his side. "Is something wrong with Alice?" I asked in a soft worried tone.

"The werewolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind," he explained, and I frowned, eyebrows furrowing as I glanced in Alice's direction. I was filled with a sense of worry and concern for her.

Emmett's Jeep came speeding into the clearing, and the three missing vampires jumped out. "Hey, Edward," Emmett called out as he approached, his eyes shooting to me as he ruffled my hair. "Hey, Ana, is he going to let you practice, too?" he asked teasingly as he nodded towards Edward.

"Please, Emmett, don't give her any ideas." Edward scolded in a light tone as he shook his head and I scowled at him.

Carlisle approached, hands clasped together in front of him. "When will our guests arrive?" he asked as he raised his eyebrows at Edward.

"A minute and a half. But I'm going to have to translate. They don't trust us enough to use their human forms." Edward explained. He shot a fleeting glance in the direction of a small opening into the thick trees. That's where the wolves would come through.

Carlisle nodded in understanding. "This is hard for them. I'm grateful they're coming at all," he said softly, and Esme hummed in agreement as she hooked her arm in with Carlisle's, staying close to her husband.

I looked up at Edward as he wrapped an arm around my waist, protectively pulling me closer while staring at the opening in the trees. "They're coming as wolves?" I asked him softly.

He glanced down at me and nodded before his eyes returned to the opening. "Prepare yourselves they've been holding out on us," he warned everyone as his eyes squinted.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked as she stepped closer and everyone turned to look in the same direction as Edward.

"Damn," Emmett muttered as he let out a low whistle.

"Have you ever seen anything like it?" Esme asked softly, her lips parted and her eyes widened in slight surprise and shock.

"What is it?" I asked in confusion as I looked between the family before looking at the opening. I couldn't see anything except trees. "I can't see," I mumbled poutily as I looked up at Edward.

"The pack has grown," Edward explained as he looked down at me. I didn't react. I already knew there were a few extra members. Edward noticed my lack of reaction and raised his eyebrows. "You know?"

I nodded my head and shrugged my shoulders. "Jacob's mentioned a few of the new members," I explained softly as I nodded.

Edward quirked an eyebrow as his head tilted to the side. "And you didn't tell me because...?" He questioned in a low voice.

I pursed my lips as I stared up at Edward. "I was too pissed to think about it every time I left the reservation?" I reasoned as I raised my eyebrows and Edward scoffed softly in amusement as he shook his head.

Everyone's attention turned to the opening as the wolves slowly began to step through the thick tree lines. "Fascinating," Edward whispered as his golden eyes drifted across the large wolves that slowly came to a stop a few feet ahead of us. My eyes slightly widened, there were more now, at least three or four more than I knew.

"Welcome," Carlisle greeted the wolves as he offered them a small and friendly smile to put them at ease.

"Thank you," Edward answered for the wolves as his gaze settled on the big black one at the front. Sam. "We will watch and listen, but no more. This is the most we can ask of our self-control," he spoke.

"That is more than enough," Carlisle assured as he nodded his head. "My son Jasper-" he spoke, pointing his hand in Jasper's direction. "Has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style." he explained as Jasper stepped forward.

"They are different from you?" Edward voiced the wolf's question.

"They are all very new only months old to this life. Children, in a way." Carlisle explained as he looked over the wolves. "They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you, it shouldn't be difficult The numbers may go down. The new ones fight among themselves." He went on.

"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," Edward spoke for the wolves and I glanced at them. They were always more than giddy to kill vampires. In this situation, I applauded their excitement.

"We'll see how it plays out," Carlisle replied as he gave them a curt nod of his head.

"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?" Edward again questioned for the wolves.

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning," Carlisle explained before nodding his head at Alice. "As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path," he added.

"Thank you for the information. We will watch." Edward spoke for the wolves before looking at his father as he nodded his head.

Carlisle nodded back before looking over at Jasper. Jasper stepped in between the two groups. "Carlisle's right." He began, his eyes turning to the wolves as he spoke. "They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively." He explained before turning towards Emmett. "Emmett?" he called and the broad vampire looked almost giddy as he stepped into the middle of the groups with Jasper. "Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack." Jasper taunted.

"I'll try not to break anything." Emmett taunted back and I rolled my eyes in amusement,

Jasper also rolled his eyes and turned to the wolves. "What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either." he explained before looking over at his brother. "Just go for the easy kill, Emmett." He insisted before taking a few small steps backward. "Okay, Emmett, try to catch me."

My lips parted as I watched Jasper run in a flash, Emmett not too far behind him. It was like a game of cat and mouse. Jasper's movements were fast and sharp as he slipped away from Emmett. Emmett at a snarling smile on his face, his movements rough and hard. Each time Emmett got close to getting his brother, Jasper was gone again. Most of their movements were a blur to me but even I could tell Jasper was going to win this fight.

I glanced towards Alice, expecting her to cheer Jasper on with devotion like she did with anything he did. But no, she stood rigid. She was visibly uncomfortable. I frowned and a sense of worry filled me. I didn't watch the rest of Jasper and Emmett's fight. I just stared at Alice.

She seemed so out of place and it made me worried. Would she be able to fight when she was so tense and seemingly out of her game? What if the wolves made her lose focus and someone managed to get her?

I truly loved Alice like she was my own blood sister, and the thought of her getting hurt sent a painful pang through my heart.

My eyes shot towards the fighting brothers just in time to see Emmett tense up as Jasper was suddenly behind him, baring his teeth inches away from his neck. From the other side, there was a mumbling sound of appreciation and almost awe from the wolves.

"Again," Emmett demanded as he turned around and scowled at Jasper.

"It's my turn," Edward argued, just as pumped to get in a good practice fight with his brother.

"In a minute," Jasper replied firmly as he held up a finger to signal for Edward to wait. "I want to show Ana something first." He said and everyone's eyes turned to me. I raised my eyebrows and Jasper was in front of me in a second. "I know you worry about her," he said softly, and he didn't need to mention a name; we both knew he meant Alice. "I want to show you why that's not necessary," he assured softly.

Within a split second, he was in the middle of the clearing again and motioned with two fingers for Alice to step up. She gave him a little grin as she stepped up to him in a blur. I frowned as I watched, my eyes remaining on Alice.

It was at that moment that I realized how much I cherished and loved Alice. I knew Jasper would never hurt Alice, he'd never allow anyone else to hurt her. But it was awful watching him sink back into an attack position in front of Alice.

Alice did not move a single muscle. The small vampire stood there, staring unfazed at Jasper as he moved towards her with incredible speed. He moved to her left, and suddenly, he was behind her.

Jasper reached to grab her, but she dodged every outstretched hand. She sidestepped every spring towards her. She moved fluently and fast, like a dancing ballerina. Her movements were effortless and she dodged every attack without thought or hesitation. Being blinded by the wolves did not affect her fighting.

Alice sidestepped Jasper's launch towards her small body. She turned, and when he passed her, she jumped onto his back, pressing her lips to his neck in a taunting manner as she grinned victoriously. "Gotcha," She taunted him.

Jasper tilted his head to look up at her, grinning as well. "You truly are one frightening little monster." He teased as he let her down from his back while the wolves made more noises of appreciation and awe as they watched Alice.

"It's good for them to learn some respect," Edward muttered teasingly as he looked at the wolves before looking down at me with a crooked little grin. I let out a soft scoff of amusement before shaking my head. "My turn," he spoke as he slipped away from me and stepped up to Jasper.

I inhaled sharply. If I didn't like seeing Alice in the position of being attacked, fake or not, I was going to hate seeing this. Alice stepped up beside me, bumping my shoulder lightly with hers. "Cool, huh?" She asked.

"Very," I replied softly, glancing at her briefly with a small smile before looking back towards Jasper and Edward as they tried to get at each other's necks. This fight was a little more difficult for Jasper, because Edward could easily block his every attack. He knew Jasper's every move.

"You don't have to worry about me, Ana," Alice assured as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders, hugging me into her side.

I looked at her with a small frown. "They're your blind spot," I muttered softly as I shook my head. "I don't want something to happen to you because you can't see because of them," I explained as I sighed softly.

"I'll be okay." She assured me as she gave me a squeeze before letting go of me. She silently stared at me and I raised my eyebrows. "I've got my eye on you, Ana," she warned and my face fell. "I'll warn him if your plans get any more defined," she insisted.

I knew what she meant. She'd tell Edward I was thinking about putting myself in the middle of the fight to distract Victoria, or simply giving myself to her so she wouldn't harm those I love.

I took a deep breath, tilting my chin high as I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talking about," I argued softly as I shook my head and Alice shot me a pointed look.

"It doesn't help anything for you to put yourself in danger. Do you think either of them would give up if you died? They'd still fight, we all would. You can't change anything, so just be good, okay?" She spoke firmly and I pursed my lips as my gaze fell to the ground. "I'm watching," she warned.

Carlisle cleared his throat loudly as Jasper and Edward still tried to get at each other. If not intervened, they'd go on for hours. Neither would win and neither would lose. They laughed knowingly as they stepped back from each other.

"Back to work," Jasper said as he motioned for the next member of his family to step up. Carlisle took his turn first. "We'll call it a draw," Jasper called out to Edward who hummed in agreement as he approached me.

Edward wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. "We're about finished," he told me softly as he kissed the side of my head. "And then you can tell me what Alice was talking about," he muttered into my hair and I tensed up.

Carlisle, Rosalie, and Esme each took their turns fighting with Jasper, and he instructed them on their moves and techniques. He finished off by explaining to werewolves and vampires alike on what to do and not to do.

When Jasper finished, Carlisle stepped forward, turning his attention to the wolves. "We'll be doing this again tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again," he told the pack.

"Yes," Edward spoke for the pack as his gaze settled on Sam. "We'll be here," he said before looking at Carlisle. "The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it would make it easier for them," he explained.

Carlisle looked among his family who all grew tense very quickly. He cleared his throat as he nodded his head. "Certainly," he agreed."Whatever you need."

A few of the wolves grumbled visibly as they all got to their feet and slowly stalked closer. A dark brown wolf deliberately bumped me with his head, and I shot Jacob a side-eyed look. The wolf rolled his eyes and my lips parted. Even in wolf form, Jacob was sassy.

The wolves fell in line with Sam as he made his rounds, sniffing at the Cullen's. Jacob had once explained how interlinked the pack was, so I know the other wolves following Sam was not to get in their sniff too, but rather for protection and unity.