Good news readers! School's out for Summer, which means I will have an abundant amount of time to update and continue Perihelion! So I continue the book with Chapter 12. This was a difficult chapter to write only because it is a very important chapter, I really had a great time writing it, and I'm very very very excited for you all to read it!. So once again I ask for your motivational guidance and I hope that once you Read you also REVIEW! Thank you and ENJOY!!

Chapter 12: War

BELLA POINT OF VIEW:

Alice!? The room was over flowing with anticipation. None of us could hide it. Carlisle stood and began pacing back and forth muttering to himself, although we could all plainly understand what he was saying.

"If he did, we must forgive, but to leave that human blamed for their actions is wrong, it must be fixed. It could have been just Alice, if Jasper didn't go with her, he could be innocent." Carlisle mumbled.

The engine roared as it entered the confined space of the submerged garage. Suddenly it died, and two doors opened answering Carlisle's question, Jasper did go. We arranged ourselves along the couches all pointedly attempting to be immersed in other activities. Edward reached forward suddenly turning the power off on the television.

The footsteps were slower than an average human, but they couldn't put off the inevitable for very long. The two emerged hand in hand through the doorway of the kitchen, and four sets of eyes assessed what they saw there. They appeared tense and distraught, Alice's eyes combing over ours, Jasper's were glued to the floor at his feet.

"I have a confession." Jasper's voice was hard and cold, until I realized he was afraid.

"Yes?" Carlisle voiced, he said not accusing merely interested in what Jasper was about to divulge.

Jasper did not need any words, merely raising his eyes to all of us to understand. His eyes were not the liquid gold of the vegetarian life, but a bright un-mistakable orange-pink.

"Oh!" Esme exclaimed.

"Jasper…" Carlisle began, but couldn't find the words.

Edward didn't move, or speak; he heard the whole story in Alice and Jasper's thoughts.

"Let me explain." Jasper insisted at all four of us. "Alice was being confronted by these goons, they wanted to torture us. I couldn't allow it. Then one of them came at her with a knife…" He continued explaining the circumstances for the murders. "I was just so overpowered with anger I couldn't stop it. I can't stop thinking about their faces. About the fear I felt in them before we killed..." Jasper spoke of nothing more, he sunk into a deep depression, and I prayed he would not become a second Emmett.

"Jasper, Alice." Carlisle began. "I understand what you went through, it is natural. God knows that if Esme, or any of you were threatened by anyone they would have a significant price to pay. Unfortunately, the crimes you committed need to be addressed; we cannot let an innocent human take the blame for such behavior."

That day, however tense, was the happiest day our family had encountered in weeks. Renesmee was overjoyed that Alice and Jasper had returned, although she repeatedly asked where Aunt Rose was.

"She's still on vacation, munchkin," Alice lied smoothly.

"Why hasn't she called?" Nessie persisted.

"I'm sure she has tried, she loves you Ness, all of us love you." I intruded. My daughter was one of the most significant events in the Cullen's long lives, not one of us could love her any less, for any reason.

All of the family nodded whispering quiet agreements. A loping of padded feet grew louder as it rounded through the forest towards our home. Each of us went on alert as we acknowledged that the pace was not steady or determined, it was frantic and flighty. Seth's sandy figure could be seen through the window as Edward briskly instructed us.

"Jasper, Bella, Carlisle would you please follow me outside? Alice, Esme, would you please mind Renesmee for us?"

"Of course." Esme nodded. Alice glared at the three of us who were following behind Edward. As we passed the threshold of Renesmee's hearing capabilities Edward briefed us on what Seth had communicated towards him.

"There is a confrontation between Sam and Jacob, Sam is very heated and it may escalate into a battle. We must prevent this outlandish occurrence at all costs."

"Sam? Is it because of the tribal council's decision?" I responded.

"Partly, one of the younger of the pack divulged a secret to Seth that Sam had ended patrol of the Eastern territory of our home. Leaving us slightly un-protected, Jacob is, obviously, upset." Edward concluded as we raced to keep up with his frantic pace.

The forest gave way to the all too familiar clearing. Gathered there were a monumental number of werewolves a majority of them lined behind the onyx werewolf I recognized as Sam. Jacob's rusty coat was flanked by three of his four members, and ask Seth joined his rank the pack was complete. I assessed the reaction of Sam's pack, which more than doubled Jacob's in number. As we approached Sam's pack shied away from my family and barred their teeth in our direction. What a warm welcome I projected towards Edward.

His frame again folded slightly in front of me as he listened intently to the communication of the wolves.

"Would you mind, Edward?" Carlisle requested.

Edward obliged, and his voice lost its angelic ring as the husky version of Sam's took over. "Why do you seek me, my brother?"

"Why do you leave my imprint and your friends un-protected?" Jacob accused.

"It is my choice as the Alpha of the tribal pack to choose the patrol areas of my pack. You can do the same, Jacob." Sam responded, the shorn fur elongated down his spine, the talons in his paws digging trenches on the Earth.

"Then why do you seek more territory of mine if you could regain the portion you lost by your own decision?" Jacob persisted, his rustic fur which had grown shaggy rose in competition with Sam's. Although his coat was longer it astonished me the size variation between the two. The last time I had seen Sam and Jacob side by side they had been equal, now Jacob's physique was without question the more impressive of all of the wolves.

"You would not understand. Alpha's make decisions that benefit their pack." Sam refuted.

"Then you find yourself separate from us, and we no longer share brotherhood with you." Jacob spoke coolly.

"It was my impression that you didn't order around your comrades? So you order them to separate from their true pack?" he challenged.

"My friends are free to choose whoever their rightful Alpha is."

"Then let them choose." Sam's posture eased as he directed his attention to the four behind Jacob, "Let me extend the invitation to you all my brothers, and of course sister," Leah's body elongated her lips rolling up only slightly to announce her decision before Sam could even finish his sentence. "…to become a part of the family our ancestors intended. Come home."

Not a single hair moved behind Jacob. "You're wrong there, Sam. They are in their rightful place. You were never born to lead the tribe. I was."

A deep chuckle escaped Sam's lungs, "The bones within you are not but jello dear Jacob, and nothing proves me right more than the compassion you hold for the leeches you call family." Sam sneered, not even directing his eyes towards us. "I guess they are more powerful than we once anticipated, obviously, they have trained werewolves as their pet dogs."

Then Jake lost it. The craze I could see building up in his eyes this whole time suddenly became a blaze, an inferno that could not be extinguished by anything other than Sam's blood. His muscles contorted as the bulk of his frame lunged forward, his jaws parted as they aimed for the soft jugular of Sam. Sam reacted expectantly, lowering his head, and covering his weaknesses. The dance that ensued between the two was faster than any movement I could ever expect from beasts of their size. Back and forth they sauntered not striking each other merely looking for holes.

Jake found one.

The angle at which Sam's body changed directions was slightly leaned too far to the left and Jacob lunged; his teeth sinking deep into Sam's flesh. The blood erupting through the punctures although wet and ripe did nothing to my thirst, humph, werewolves. A thick tearing sound stole my attention away from my thoughts, as I witnessed Carlisle, Jasper, and Edward pulling Jacob from Sam's flank. Sam, once freed, extended his own muzzle; fangs centimeters from Edwards outstretched hands of compliance.

A tingling sensation burst from my singularity as my envelope projected from me like a javelin. I felt my families sparks within the bubble that encircled them, and with a resounding boom Sam whom had sentenced Edward to a fate which I would never allow, was projected thirty feet in the air towards the spruce nearly two hundred feet away. The hiss that resounded from my throat caught all attention on the field. As my newly formed patrician prevented any further contact between the two groups, Edward returned by my side, however Jasper and Carlisle remained at Jacobs flanks at the spear of the line.

Sam's figure had risen from the ground with the assistance of his beta and gamma. He slowly made his way back to the spear, I could distinguish the gouges in his side created by Jacobs's massive jaws, but to my disappointment, they were already partially healed. A pronounced limp, however, in his front right appendage did not recover as he resumed his position, which I could only guess was caused by my shields launching capabilities.

Edward then resumed his play-by-play for our benefit.

"I see you have chosen where your alliances lie." Sam scolded. "Consider this the end of any treaty that may, had, or will ever be honored between the two packs. You are no longer authorized to encroach on any territory of La Push. Any actions against my word and war will likely ensue."

"You cannot rightfully command the tribe to agree with this." Jacob challenged.

Sam's posture stiffened, from pride or fear of loosing his rank he replied, "I am Alpha."

DUN… DUN… DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What did you think?! Please review!