"Edward, what is it?" Carlisle demanded.
"Alice saw the Denali clan coming for a visit."
"The Denali clan? Why are they now a threat?"
"They're coming for a fight, Carlisle," Alice cut in. "They want a fight."
"Alice, are you sure?"
"Carlisle, I saw it. I am sure."
There was a pause, and then Esme broke out the question everyone wanted to know the answer to.
"Why, Alice, would the Denali Clan suddenly turn on us?"
"I don't know. I didn't see."
"When?" Emmet pushed.
"I don't know, Emmet! I DIDN'T SEE!"
Edward, Carlisle, Jasper, Emmet, and Esme stayed inside the house while Alice, Rosalie, and I darted out the door to the river. Alice needed to see, but it was too loud in the house with Carlisle and Edward discussing what we should do.
Rosalie and I were with Alice, discussing what the possibilities were. The sun had fallen and risen before I came up with the key, the most possible reason. I remembered how Laurent had gone up to the Denali clan and it triggered a thought. Alice and Rosalie had noticed I had it before I even said it out loud. My face fell emotionless and turn white,and my eyes widened.
"Bella, what is it? Are you alright? What is it?" I couldn't answer Alice's question. I wasn't sure if I was or not. Edward must have heard Alice because he was out in a second, sitting next to me on the ground.
"Bella? Bella, love, are you alright?" I nodded slightly.
"Bella, what is it?" Alice asked again. I only had to say one word for everyone to get it.
"James."
"Laurent heard," Edward said in a whisper and clenched his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white. "Alice, Laurent heard. He must have. And he must have convinced their coven that we did it for no reason."
"Man, news travels fast." Emmet attempted to lighten the mood. He was now besides Rosalie, and Jasper was behind Alice.
Carlisle had sprinted out and was standing besides Alice. "He wants a fight. Laurent must have told them it was for revenge, but he never cared for James, even Victoria. He just wants a fight."
"He heard and he lied to them."
My face turned white again as another thought crossed my mind.
"They're coming down for me, Carlisle," I said quietly, as if my voice was taken away.
"Bella, why would you think such a thing?" Esme asked.
"I went to see James, even though I knew not to. I started this mess."
"No one blames you, Bella. It wasn't your fault. Anyone would have gone to James if they thought their family was in danger," Esme said.
Edward put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. "Bella, love, don't worry. We'll stop them. He won't get to you."
There was a pause in the conversation for a mere second. I didn't want them to fight. I didn't want to risk their lives. It was my fault.
"But why do we all need to fight? Why can't I just-"
Edward hadn't even let me finish, but he knew where I was going. "No. Bella, no! You're not going to go to them and give up."
"I don't want to put all of your lives in danger for something I did. It's my fault. You shouldn't have to risk everything."
Carlisle spoke this time. "Bella, you are now part of this family even more than before. We are not going to leave you stranded with no choice. We will fight with you, as you would for us."
It was clear that I had lost this argument, but I hadn't changed my view on things. It was days like these that made me grateful that Edward couldn't read my mind.
I had to go hunting again, but this time I went with just Alice and Edward. We were running through the forest and I smelled a new scent, different than elk. I traced it through the forest, with Alice and Edward trailing right behind me. They didn't know the scent either, but didn't think it was of any danger. We soon came to a clearing, different than the one I had been in before, and apparently one that Alice and Edward had been in either.
"Edward? Where are we?" Alice asked in a quiet voice.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen this place before."
I was standing in the middle of the clearing, looking around me. The scent was fresh, but all around the clearing. I was staring into the forest in front of me. Something was stirring in the bushes. I was about to go leap after it when I saw its eyes. Goldenrod, like Edwards. Our eyes met, and whatever it was ran.
"Edward, there was something-- someone in those bushes." He was behind me in a second, staring straight ahead.
"It wasn't a Denali, Edward. The smell was too unfamiliar," Alice confirmed.
"Bella, what did you see?"
"Goldenrod eyes."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Alice, take her home, will you?"
Edward had circled the forest three times but never picked up the scent again. Carlisle was just as puzzled as any of us. No one knew what to do, but we just let it go. We were still puzzled about the Denali coven coming for a fight.
Alice came up with a few visions now and then, but none were very helpful. The only thing new that we learned was that we had two months until the attack. Two months for training…and planning.