XXXIV. Three bad things.

The three wolves followed me and Alice into the upstairs living room where Jasper had gathered everyone already. Everyone was either sitting or standing around, confused and nervous about what was going on.

"Alice, what's going on?" Edward immediately asked when I and Alice stepped into the room. He tensed when Quil and Embry stepped in after us but when he saw Jacob, he looked like he was about to fume. "What are you doing here?" Jacob questioned Jacob while protectively stepping beside me.

"We don't have time for this," Alice told Edward softly as she shook her head before looking over the rest of the family. "The army is coming," she informed them.

Edward's eyes shot towards his sister, his eyebrows furrowing. "How long?" he asked in a low voice.

"They'll be here in four days," Alice informed everyone, and immediately, the room grew even more tense. Four days, that was barely anything to really work with.

Carlisle began pacing around the room, his face scrunched up with worry and concern. "This could turn into a blood bath." He said as he shook his head.

Edward looked at Carlisle for a second before turning back to Alice. "Who's behind it?" he questioned as his eyebrows furrowed.

Alice shook her head, her gaze growing ever so slightly dazed as she stared down at the floor. "I didn't see anyone I recognize. Maybe one..." She mumbled softly as she slowly shook her head again.

Edward stared intently at his sister, looking at the future through her thoughts. "I know his face. He's local, Riley Biers." He said.

I piped up at the familiar name. My eyebrows furrowed for a second as I thought about where I heard it. Then it hit me. "I've heard Charlie talk to my mom about him. He went missing a while ago." I said as I sat down on the armrest of one of the couches.

"He didn't start this," Edward replied as he shook his head.

"Whoever did is staying out of the action," Alice commented as she looked between everyone, and then her eyes landed on me. I silently stared back at her, my eyebrows furrowing as I mulled over my theory. If Victoria wanted the element of surprise, she would stay undetected.

Edward quickly noticed my and Alice's silent look, and he pursed his lips tightly."Ana, Alice." he spoke, and we both looked at him like children caught with their hands in the cookie jar. "I think it's time you two start sharing what you've been hiding." He insisted and everyone looked between me and Alice.

Alice briefly glanced at me before looking around at the rest. "We think the two things are connected." She explained as she motioned between me and her.

"Two things?" Rosalie repeated as she raised her eyebrows.

Alice nodded in confirmation. "The one who stole Ana's shirt and the one building an army." She began explaining and everyone looked at her curiously on this theory. "They both have been playing with my blind side, and it makes sense," she said. "Building an army and passing around the target's scent."

"Three things," I mumbled softly and everyone's heads snapped in my direction, their curious and confused eyes landing on me.

Alice's eyebrows furrowed, having not yet heard the last part of my theory. "What?" She asked in confusion.

"Victoria," I replied, and the name was like an extreme ice bucket thrown in everyone's face as they tensed up.

Edward approached me and crouched down in front of me. He reached out, taking one of my hands in his as his gaze locked with mine. "What are you talking about?" he asked softly.

"Three bad things have happened since you came back," I told him softly as I shook my head. "The newborns in Seattle. The stranger in my room. And first of all, Victoria came to look for me." I said, listing each item with a finger.

"Why do you think so?" Edward asked me as he slowly shook his head in confusion.

"Because I agree with Jasper, the Volturi love their rules They would probably do a better job anyway," I explained as I motioned towards Jasper, while keeping my eyes locked onto my boyfriend's. "And you said, you're the only threat close by. But it's not you, it's me. It's why they stole my scent. Victoria is the only one who has reason enough for this." I added. "Remember when you were tracking Victoria last year?"

"Yes," he mumbled softly, letting out a soft sigh as he stood up straight. "I wasn't very good at it," he admitted as he shook his head.

"Clearly." Jacob scoffed softly and I shot him a pointed look that quickly shut him up.

My gaze returned to Edward as I stood up straight. "Alice said you were in Texas. Did you follow her there?" I asked him as I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes. Hmm." He confirmed with a nod of his head.

"See, she could have gotten the idea there," I explained as I looked over at Jasper, remembering the story he told me of where the newborn armies were made first, and he nodded in agreement. "But she doesn't know what she's doing, so the newborns are all out of control," I added.

"Only Aro knows exactly how Alice's visions work," Carlisle argued as he shook his head.

I nodded in agreement. "Aro would know best, but wouldn't Tanya and Irina and the rest of your friends in Denali know enough?" I questioned and I could see it slowly dawn on Carlisle where I was going with my theory. "Laurent lived with them for so long. And if he was still friendly enough with Victoria to be doing favors for her, why wouldn't he also tell her everything he knew?"

"Ana's right." Jasper insisted as he stepped closer while nodding his head.

Edward frowned as he thought it over. He looked at me and shook his head. "It wasn't Victoria in your room," he said.

"She can't make new friends?" Rosalie questioned as she raised her eyebrows.

"Think about it, Edward. If it is Victoria doing this in Seattle, she's made a lot of new friends. She's created them." Jasper agreed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Regardless, we've got to be prepared for whoever shows up here." Carlisle insisted and everyone nodded in agreement.

Jacob silently looked at me for a second before his eyes turned to Quil and Embry. Both of them nodded and Jacob looked towards Carlisle. "We're in." He insisted as he nodded his head.

Carlisle took a deep breath as he nodded, staring at Jacob with hesitation. "Do you believe Sam will agree to... an understanding?" he asked slowly.

"As long as we get to kill some vampires," Jacob replied in a cocky manner and it earned him a few glares from the vampires in the room, as well as from me.

Carlisle decided not to comment and just nodded before looking over at Jasper, raising his eyebrows. "Jasper?" He questioned.

Jasper nodded his head, even though it visibly pained him to agree. "They'll give us the numbers. And the newborns won't know they even exist. That'll give us an edge." he replied and Alice rolled her eyes while clenching her jaw, sending a filthy glare at Jacob.

"We'll need to coordinate. We'll all need some training." Carlisle explained as he looked between the three young wolves. "Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has. You're welcome to join us," he said.

Jacob nodded his head. "Name the time and place." he insisted.

I looked across the room, at the vampires and wolves. If my theory was true and this was Victoria, this was all because of me. All of these lives over me. I hated it. I hated where my life choices had brought me to. Putting these people selfishly in danger.

I walked out of the room, a frown settling deeply onto my face. Edward followed me out of the living room. "Ana," he called out to me and I kept walking. "Anastasia," he called firmly and that halted my steps.

I turned to face Edward, my eyebrows furrowing deeply as I continued to frown. "This again, because of me," I muttered as I shook my head. "And now I got the pack involved."

"Ana-" Edward wanted to argue as he shook his head.

I cut Edward off as I continued talking. "If any one of you dies, it's because of me." I insisted as I pointed towards myself.

"No one is forcing anyone into this fight." He argued as he shook his head. "If anyone gets hurt or dies, it's on themselves." he insisted firmly.

I silently stared at him. A terrible idea popped into my head. I knew it was a bad idea, and I knew I was going to get shot down, but I didn't want to let everyone risk their lives while I did nothing. "If you change me, I can help," I told him.

Edward inhaled sharply as he looked off to the side like he was trying to calm himself, before he answered me. He looked back at me. "No. You'll be too reckless and out of control as a newborn," he explained as he shook his head. "It will cause more damage than anything else."

"You said newborns are stronger," I replied as I raised my eyebrows. "I can help." I insisted.

"I said no, Ana," Edward replied in a low voice as he shook his head again, his jaw tightly clenching.

My eyes squinted as my head tilted to the side. "Oh, you said no?" I asked, my voice low as well. I crossed my arms over my chest, jaw clenching as well.

Edward sighed softly, realizing the mistake of his wording. He pursed his lips. "Anastasia, I don't want to argue about this," he told me softly as he shook his head. "You need peace around you to learn and shift from a newborn," he explained. "War won't do that."

"So I'm just supposed to sit on the sidelines while everyone risks their lives for me?" I asked as my eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes," he replied as he nodded his head firmly.

"No," I argued as I shook my head.

"Yes," he repeated firmly and I went silent as I scowled while staring up at him. "This conversation is over," he added just as firmly. "Everyone else will agree with me, so good luck finding anyone to turn you right now," he added before walking away.

I scowled as I stared at his back while he left.