"Carlisle says Volterra's changed a lot since he last lived there," Edward declared as he threw himself down on the bed despite all the packing that still had to be done. "Apparently Rosalie is loving it so far, but Emmett not so much."

"What about Esme?" Jacob asked as he looked up from the box he was taping together in his bedroom in Charlie's house. Somehow, with Edward's help, he was able to graduate from Forks High School and, as agreed with the Volturi months back, the Black Pack were readying to move to Whittier. Marcus, Rachel, Rebecca, Jane, Alec, Colin (and his brother) as well as Embry and Quil were already in the town itself, helping setting up in advance. Brady and his mother and brother were supposed to have left with them, but his brother had caught a cold so they'd had to wait for him to get better, and would instead be traveling with Sue, Leah and Chelsea tonight. Leah had insisted Seth join them, but since James was sticking around for another day or two, Seth had refused to budge, and in the end he'd won the siblings' war of wills.

Doesn't mean she was happy about it. Leah, for some reason, still found it hard to see Seth as anything but her baby brother.

The official story was that everyone were headed to Alaska for college and job opportunities. Jacob knew that while he hadn't exactly said it, Charlie was both confused by the mass exodus and tempted to join. Thankfully Bella had (as subtly as she could) reminded him Forks would be nothing without him, but still, Jacob was beginning to worry that they'd arrive and Charlie would've already gotten a job there as well. He'd asked his father - with whom he was now on awkward (yet better) terms - to keep an eye on Charlie for him while they were gone.

Edward tilted his head after a second's thought. "Carlisle said Esme's spending a lot of her time with Athenadora and Sulpicia, who are Caius and Aro's wives, and seem to do their own thing in Volterra."

"Oh." Jacob grabbed the box and put it on top of the last one he'd filled, before grabbing another empty one. "I still can't believe he agreed to join the Volturi. It doesn't seem like something Carlisle would be interested in."

"He did it to protect us all, but Alice and Jasper especially," Edward told him without a sliver of a doubt. "It's also convenient for Aro and Caius, as through him they can build bonds with the other vegetarian covens around the world. With how… decimated… the Volturi ended up when they came here, Aro really had no other choice, especially not with Caius backing Carlisle taking the position Marcus left."

There was definitely more to this whole story than anyone was telling him, but Jacob felt like he really didn't want to know. He had a feeling his Beta might've had his hand in what had gone down that night, but considering no human had actually been murdered (already dead corpses merely mutilated) and the night had ended without any bloodshed, Jacob was just going to let it go. That was exactly what a Beta was there for, to be a backup and help the Alpha lead - to be there and do things when and if the Alpha could not - and Jacob understood just how lucky he was to have a Beta who was not only versed in the problems of leading - but in vampire issues as well.

Didn't mean he wouldn't rein James in if he got too out of hand though. Not that he really thought James would get too out of hand - whenever his Beta wasn't doing his pack duties he was doing his Imprinter, so, really, Jake didn't really have to worry about James at all. Seth, on the other hand? Definitely. Jake was shocked the boy could still sit properly given the way James hounded after him all the time like some sort of sex maniac. He was also surprised Leah and Sue hadn't beaten James up for being a perverted horndog towards their angelic 'baby'. Heat or not, James was seriously overdoing it.

Edward snorted, clearly having heard that. He then tilted his head to the side as he eyed Jacob. "How come you haven't gone into heat?"

That was a good question. When Jacob had discovered (thanks to Edward's mind reading) that Seth was apparently going through heat, he'd at first thought his mate was pulling his leg, but then he'd really allowed him to pay attention to Seth and James and realized that yeah, James kind of did act like a male dog trailing after a female in heat. It'd really got Jacob wondering, really, about what exactly was going on, and worried that this might happens to others, but it didn't seem to have, at least not yet.

"Maybe, once Vicki and Riley come back from visiting that all-knowing, mysterious friend of James', they'll have some answers regarding that," Jacob answered after a moment's thought. "Because I'd really like to understand how that's possible, and if we're going to have a case of the pack going into heat… we don't get anything done if that's the case!"

"James and Victoria keeps their minds very blank whenever it's about that guy, but I've managed to glean that his name is Murdock," Edward informed him dutifully. "He's not a vampire, but he's definitely not a human either." He shifted to lay on his back, his shirt riding up to reveal his stomach, his head tilted to the head. "How annoyed would you be if I admitted I kind of want you to go into heat?"

Jacob dropped the box, and then flushed as he picked it back up. "As if we need me to go into heat."

A smirk touched Edward's lips, as did a blush, the both contradicting yet adorable. "True. But I'm a bit… miffed… you haven't."

A snort escaped Jacob's lips as he put the box down and threw himself on the bed next to his mate. "Oh, is that so?" He trailed his fingertip over the skin exposed by Edward's raised shirt.

"Y-yeah," Edward pouted. "I met you before James did Seth, I claimed you before he did Seth, so if there should be anyone enjoying estrus, it should be us."

Jacob snickered as he grabbed Edward and rolled him onto him so the vampire was straddling his hips. "Why are you and James so competitive with each other?"

Edward pouted even harder. "Bad habits are hard to break?" He then groaned when Jacob thrusted languidly up against him, rubbing his ass through the material of their pants. His eyes fluttered shut for a second, a shiver visibly racing through him.

Jacob rolled them over again, so that this time he was on top of Edward, kissing him before the vampire could even open his eyes.

Purring contentedly, Edward wrapped his arms around Jacob's neck and pulled him closer as they kissed.

A knock sounded on the door. "Hey! You two! You're the ones who told us not to get distracted! We've still got loads to do before tonight!"

"Leah!" Chelsea whispered, clearly embarrassed.

Jacob groaned and pulled away from Edward, who was pouting once more. He grinned and leaned in, pecking his lips before pulling away before yelling through the door: "I will cockblock you later for that!"

Leah could be heard huffing before leaving with Chelsea.

An alert beeped on his phone, and Jacob pulled it out, reading the curt message with a snort. "Sam's cursing me again."

Edward grinned a bit evilly as he turned to lay on his stomach. "Garrett really doesn't make it easy for him, does he?"

"Nope. I guess he figured Garrett would move out of James' home now that we're leaving, that he'd go to the Rez and live with them like Alistair has with Jared." Jacob really didn't know the new vampire very well, all he knew was that Alistair was Carlisle's friend, and he'd come to visit only to find out that Carlisle was heading back to Volterra. The blonde was British, a tracker (although definitely not as good as James) and had punched Jared the second he'd met the wolf because he'd thought Jared about to attack him. Somehow (and Jacob wasn't at all sure how) that had ended up with Alistair moving in with Jared in the Rez as it's first vampiric resident. Despite being happy for his Beta, Sam was very visibly resentful as hell of 'how easy' it was for Jacob and Jared. "He wants me to order James to not allow Garrett to stay at his house after we leave."

"Like that's going to happen," Edward snorted. "James will never do anything to make Sam's life easier. Plus, he enjoys the way Garrett makes his Imprinter's life impossible, James really will never forgive Sam for what he put Seth through."

Jacob nodded as he texted Sam back. "Sam should just be happy he's convinced Garrett to stay behind and continue working on whatever they have instead of trying to push him to move in with him. Garrett is not the type of person you can bully into doing anything he doesn't want to."

"I really wouldn't worry that much," Edward informed Jacob with a chuckle. "Garrett's not as unimpressed as he likes to make Sam believe."

Happy to hear that, Jacob grinned. "Maybe having the house all to himself will help him and Sam have some time to themselves, time they wouldn't have if he moved to the Rez, where they'd be surrounded by the pack all the time."

Edward grinned mischievously. "That's what Garrett's figuring, too."

Catching a scent in the house, Jacob sighed, all amusement gone as he turned to face his mate. "Have you heard anything from Alice or Jasper yet?"

Edward, also looking at the door, obviously able to scent Bella as well, shook his head. "She hasn't either."

"I hope they're okay, for the both of you," Jacob whispered.

Edward smiled tenderly as he reached his hand out towards his mate, and pulled him closer when Jacob put his hand in his. He rested his forehead against Jacob's, and breathed in his scent, clearly calming himself. "I really love you."

Jacob pressed a kiss to Edward's forehead before wrapping him in his embrace. "And I love you."

Edward snuggled in.

Jacob smiled.

…

"How are you doing with the whole Sue thing?" Bella asked as she looked up at her father, who was helping them pack up things up. Most of the others' things had already been packed and sent on ahead, but some of Sue's and the other's things would be in the vans as well.

"I'm fine, kiddo," Charlie replied as he looked at the picture frame in his hand. "If I'm being honest, I'm more choked up about you and Jacob leaving. I got used to having you both here, it's going to be very silent when you leave." He sighed, looking much more tired than he had seconds ago. "Washington has a lot of good places to study too, you know."

"I know, dad," Bella sighed, feeling really bad for the stress and sadness she was putting her father through. "But we're getting full scholarships, and there's all kinds of opportunities there."

"I'll be coming to visit you all," he threatened.

That would be both something she'd look forwards to and worry about. "Good."

"What about you, Bellsy?" Charlie sighed as he looked up at her from the picture of her, Jacob and him grinning happily. "You've been a little down since Alice and Jasper went to live with Carlisle's brother." He eyed her. "You must miss them a lot."

She did. So much. And yet she'd understood why things had to be the way they were. It was this understanding, this peace that she'd made with the situation, that hinted to her that she might finally be growing up. "I think my feelings about that are similar to yours with Sue."

Charlie looked up at her, an odd expression on his face before he nodded to himself, as if something had just been confirmed. He put down the picture frame and reached for her, hugging her tightly. "I know I am a bit awkward, and I could have been more touchy-feely, more emotionally available, more—."

"Dad, you've been the best father in the world," she assured him softly as she turned in his embrace and held him tightly.

Charlie cleared his throat, unable to speak for a moment, before he forced out: "I wanted you to feel comfortable to tell me about… Alice… and Jasper. Just like Jacob with Edward, it would've been a very big adjustment, but I would have been able to accept it if they made you happy."

Her face burned in embarrassment.

"All I want is you to be happy, Bellsy."

Bella hugged her father tightly. "And I want you happy too." She sighed. "I'm scared you're never going to love someone again the way you loved mom. I thought maybe Sue, but…"

Charlie nodded silently and held his daughter tighter. "The next time you find someone to love, no matter who it is, please let me know."

Not for the first time, Bella realized just how lucky she was to have him as her father. "I will… and you have to do that too, okay?"

He chuckled. "It's a promise."

…

Victoria was surprised Riley was able to control himself enough to stay on the mission and not get side tracked, then again, Riley's power was self-control. She admired how level-headed he appeared to be given the fact that she herself was somewhat distracted by everything.

"If you wanna a simple answer, then: yes, the other wolf and vampire couples will, at some time or the other, experience their own estrus. It's a physical manifestation of the strength of their connection, it betrays that they are ready and have already started evolving in preparation for what comes next." Murdock looked down at his fingers as if he wasn't telling them something monumental. "And before you ask why your Alpha's mate has not entered into estrus given they have been together longer, the reason is that, unlike James and Seth, they have had a rougher journey to get where they are. Jacob is still somewhat hurt Edward left him, and Edward is still trying to figure his position in the pack. Once they have finally, truly, settled into their mate hood and are ready to face what will come, only then will the estrus happen."

Victoria blinked, opening her mouth.

Riley beat her to the question. "Wait, Edward is the one who'll go into heat? Not Jacob? But Jacob's the wolf!"

Murdock tilted his head, eyeing Riley curiously. "And? What does that have to do with anything?"

The two vampires shared shocked looks before Victoria returned her golden gaze on Murdock. "Murdock, what 'comes next'?"

Murdock eyed her for a moment before smiling toothily. "The future."

…

"Leah's been giving me the stink eye all day," James informed his mate as they filled the back of the two U-Hauls the women and Brady and his brother would be driving to Alaska. Leah and Chelsea were in charge of one of the U-Hauls, while Sue, Margo, and the boys would be in the other. Honestly, he didn't know why they wanted to do the drive themselves instead of just getting a service to do it, but Sue was talking about scenic wonders, and Leah just seemed to like the idea of having Chelsea to herself for the whole drive, so he just left it at that without bringing it up, especially since Leah was already pissy with him as it was.

"She'll get over it," Seth assured him good-naturedly from inside the first U-Haul, arranging the boxes James kept bringing him. "No matter how much she pouts, I don't plan on sitting there between her and Chelsea in the front seat for 47 freaking hours." He peeked out from behind one of the boxes. "Plus, you're not going, and if I'm not around who knows what will happen."

James' bit her bottom lip to keep from smirking at the teasing tone in his mate's voice. "I really like this possessive streak you've developed."

Seth hummed, not denying it as he continued to work. "You still owe me a switch, so don't make me have a reason to use it."

"I knew it! You're using it as a punishment!" James pointed his hand accusingly at Seth. "I offered that out of the goodness of my heart and you're just corrupting the purity of the offer!"

The giggle that escaped Seth's lips was contagious as he shook his head. "You're so ridiculous. Why did I use to think you were cool?"

"Used to?" James huffed. "It didn't seem a thing of the past last night when you made me change my clothes because I looked too good."

"Please, that wasn't because you were cool." Immediately a pout pursed his lips at the memory. "You dressed like some sort of kinky gigolo purposely because you knew it would bother me."

Well, yeah. That was half of the fun.

His phone rang, and when he noticed the caller ID James bit on his bottom lip to keep from barking a laugh when he answered it. "Hi Phoenix, what's new on your side of the world?"

Immediately Seth's gaze was narrowed on him, the wolf stomping to the edge of the truck to glare at James. "What does he want?"

Mouthing 'behave', James turned his back on his mate and ran his fingers through his hair.

'Seth still hates me, huh?' Phoenix asked, sounding amused by that.

"He's really possessive," James thrilled in telling Phoenix. "I think he'd put a collar on me if he could."

Seth sputtered in embarrassment behind him.

Phoenix snickered. 'Shouldn't you just tell him why we're always talking? Put him out of his misery?' There was a pause, and then an amused: 'You like his possessiveness, don't you? You're freaking unbelievable.'

James merely smirked and shrugged. "How can I help you?"

'Right,' Phoenix cleared his throat. 'Remember that thing you asked me to keep an eye out for? Well, it's happened.'

"Are you serious? So soon?" James' eyes widened as he walked away from Seth, putting some distance between them as he ran his hand over his face. "Where?"

'South America, the Andes,' Phoenix responded. 'Aro's in a snit because he thought it was accelerated as well, but confirmed reports of a wolf shifter there having a vampire mate were confirmed earlier today. You were right, this shifter is of Mapuche bloodline, he's not related at all to the Quileute tribe. Whatever Jacob started when he got together with Edward, it's crossing borders.'

He had no idea how to feel about that. On one hand it proved that what was happening here in Forks wasn't an amazing fluke, and yet… "What are Aro's plans for something like that?"

'As soon as you guys have settled in Whittier, he wants to send one of your bonded pairs to track them down and broker an alliance.' Phoenix made an odd sound. 'Considering your tracker skills, I'm very sure he wants to send you and the puppy.'

Thing was, once Jacob found out, he'd want to reach out towards this other wolf and his pack as well, so James had a feeling he definitely would be making that trip to South America with Seth. A small smirk touched his lips at the idea of being on the road with his mate again. There were quite a good memories associated with that.

'I'm sure Carlisle will get in contact with Edward once things are settled and decided, but I figured I'd give you the heads up,' Phoenix mumbled.

"Thanks for that, I really appreciate it." He combed his hand through his hair.

'Yeah, well, we made a deal, didn't we?'

"And I'll keep my end of the bargain," James assured him. "As soon as we're settled in Whittier I'll talk to Jake about it."

There was a pause, and then a: 'Good. Now we should probably hang up before your mate starts planning my demise.' And with that he hung up.

Chuckling, James shook his head, turned around, and jolted in surprise to find Seth standing there, eyeing him suspiciously. "Are you a ninja? I didn't hear you move!"

"What bargain?" Seth glared at him, eyes narrowed. "Why exactly would you be talking to Jake about Phoenix once we settle in Whittier?"

It was wrong to tease Seth, it really is, but James couldn't help it. Phoenix was right, he really did like to provoke Seth's possessiveness. "Well, Seth, I didn't want you to find out this way, but—-."

"Oh shut up," Seth huffed, not at all jealous, surprising James. "There's no way you're interested in him, or any other guy or girl for that matter. You don't even realize when people are hitting on you anymore, you're that disinterested in anyone who isn't me." There was a smirk tilting those lips and a look of pleased and utter superiority on his face as he stated that with utter confidence. "So whatever you've got going on with Phoenix, at least from your side, is totally professional."

James' lips parted as he put his phone away. "Then why do you act up every time he calls?"

"I just said why," Seth mumbled in annoyance. "At least from your side it's totally professional." He huffed once more, this time more annoyed. "I don't like the thought of anyone wanting what's mine."

Amusement filtered through James' surprise. "You know, you've gotten really cocky lately." He gripped Seth's hips and pulled him in intimately. "I'm supposed to be the arrogant one out of the two of us. You're the adorable one."

Long ago that might've annoyed Seth, but now he merely grinned up at James and played with the buttons of the blonde's shirt teasingly. "But I am adorable." His grin grew a little mischievous as he pressed his pelvis forwards with a teasing rub. "Just only when I'm alone with you."

James gulped. It seemed like more and more it was harder to keep from bending Seth over something and having his way with him - all day. Honestly, it was embarrassing. James might've always been impulsive, but he'd also had some self restraint - sometimes - when he absolutely had to - or when he wasn't bored - or -. He huffed. Okay, so maybe he'd never really had self-restraint before, but it'd gotten a hundred times worse since he'd gotten with Seth!

"A wolf shifter not of Quileute blood has been confirmed to have mated with a vampire," James admitted with a sigh, trying to keep his mind on work because otherwise the next time Leah and Chelsea came to bring them things they'd find him screwing Seth inside of the moving van - and Leah was already looking for an excuse to beat James up as it was. "Phoenix called to give me the heads up, and let us know Aro will probably be sending you and me to go and track them down and try to broker an alliance with them."

Seth's eyes widened. "Oh." He tilted his head in intrigue. "What does this have to do with the bargain you two were talking about?"

This was embarrassing. "It's like… remember the night I kissed Phoenix?"

Seth's eyes narrowed in two seconds flat. "I do recall something about that, yes."

He hurried on because this was turning dangerous quickly. "Remember what I told him? I knew it'd get through eventually, and it did, and, well, he's got a point. And now that this has happened in the Andes it makes more sense."

The annoyance was bleeding out of Seth slowly, turning into curiosity. "You mean about how he needs to find himself a wolf, right?"

"Exactly!" James nodded, happy Seth was back on the right track. "Well, Phoenix wants one, an Imprinter, I mean. Well, he wants the sugary romance Edward and Jake force on everyone around them, and he realizes I was right, if he wants that, he's going to have to get Imprinted on. But it's not like there's a huge quantity of wolf shifters in Volterra. There's actually none. He's triple checked."

Seth's eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Is he trying to get you to set up a wolf and vampire speed dating service?!"

Oh god, it sounded embarrassing when Seth put it that way! "More like a neutral ground where vampires and wolves interested in something like that can go and, you know, see if something happens." James made a face. "Alaska's huge, and there's so much open space surrounding Whittier that it makes it a prime location. It would also be Volturi sanctioned, which would mean alliance with the Volturi, and that in itself is a draw for a lot of vampires, especially nomads or those without a coven."

Seth blinked, once, twice, and then looked up at James with growing intrigue. "That's a really good idea, actually. I could even see the wolves from the Rez taking turns trying it out, I mean, they're all bitching because of Alistair—Jared's lost a lot of popularity due to how 'annoyingly happy' he is all the time now."

James snickered. He liked Alistair, even if the guy was always anxious and preferring to stay by himself. They were both trackers, and it was nice to talk to talk to someone who understood James' world, even if Alistair's ability wasn't to the degree that James' was.

"They all know Sam's to blame for why him and Garrett aren't all cozy and lovey-dovey, so they don't really bother with him, but they're really resentful of Jared - or so I've heard while going to visit mom there," Seth continued with a snicker. "Apparently Paul's the worse one, which I thought was surprising. He doesn't exactly strike me as the type of guy all gung-ho for romance."

"Good, we can give him Phoenix and just get the two of them out of the way," James half joked as he drew Seth closer so he could nuzzle his hair, which was held up in a messy ponytail. "Have I told you today how good you smell?"

"Only four or five times so far," Seth answered as he trailed his hands up to curl around James' neck and draw his face down closer to his. "That's not nearly as much as you usually do."

James' lips twitched, his voice lower in want as he lowered his hands to grasp Seth's ass, pulling him hard against him so the wolf could feel how hard he was. "Sorry Puppy, I've been busier than usual. I'll have to find a way to make it up to you."

Seth licked his lips, his breath heavier as he rubbed his own proof of desire against James'. "I have a few ideas if you're interested."

Oh, he was interested alright!

"Oh for—-you two are outside in a neighborhood for crying out loud!" Leah cried behind them. "For the love of decency!"

James looked over his shoulder to glare at his sister-in-law.

Chelsea, the poor, sweet thing stuck with that rabid bulldog, looked completely apologetic. "Sorry guys, but, uhm, there are neighbors who are looking at you both from their windows."

"Have some respect for Charlie's home and neighborhood," Leah harrumphed as she stormed passed them and shoved the box in her hands between him and Seth. "Make yourself useful, you pervert."

Yanking the box from her, James would've taken it to the truck, but Seth grabbed it from him and shoved it right back into his surprised sister's hands. "Se—-?" And then he had a handful of Seth Clearwater, the vampire finding himself kissing his mate back instinctively as his arms found their way around the thinner, smaller body, pulling him in close, swallowing Seth's delectable little whimpers.

Leah let out a series of choked, scandalized sounds.

Chelsea giggled at her side.

Seth finally pulled away, pressed a quick peck to James' lips, and whispered: "Make it up to me." With that command Seth then turned to his sister, took the box from her, and returned to the van.

James just stared after his mate with what was the most uncomfortable of boners. "Y-yes sir."

Leah slugged James' shoulder, clearly distressed. "He used to be so adorable." And with that she grabbed the box from Chelsea and shoved it into James' arms, grabbed Chelsea, and dragged her back into the house, looking close to sobbing.

James watched her go, before he turned his gaze to where Seth was. "He still is."

Seth, who must've heard that, glanced over his shoulder at him with a smirk before beckoning him towards him with a crook of his finger.

Like a fish on a hook, James could do nothing but be drawn towards Seth, jumping up onto the back of the van and dropping the box haphazardly on top of another before following Seth, who was backing into the darkness until he hit the wall. James found himself there, plastering Seth against the side, pinning the wolf's hands over his head as he kissed him hungrily.

"Love you," James whispered as he fought with Seth's pants.

Seth smiled against his lips as his own hands worked on James' belt buckle. "Love you."

They became one, once more, inside of the moving van, desperately, needily, gripping each other close and trading words of love so intense to anyone else they would sound like threats. It was impossible to think with passion risen so uncontrollably, but had they been able to, wolf and vampire would've laughed at how things had changed from what had once been.

When they'd both started on James' 'suicidal mission' neither would've dreamt that in a few months they'd be there, readying to leave Forks behind to start their life together in Alaska while working with Vampire Royalty. Neither would've believed they'd be there, inside that van, hissing words of love and clawing marks of ownership all over each other, nothing more claiming than the release James found inside of Seth.

"Move in with me in Whittier," James whispered into Seth's hair, his body still connected with Seth's. "I know you're supposed to live with your mother and sister, but you're my mate, you should be with me." He knew Leah would be up in arms about the whole thing - probably more than Sue would - but his blood were completely supportive of this decision. James wanted this more than anything he'd ever wanted. "My place isn't that big, but it would be ours—."

Seth gripped him tighter before nodding. "Yes. Of course." He chuckled in happiness yet embarrassment. "I was starting to worry you weren't going to ask me."

James stared down at Seth, his heart twisting like it only did with him, as he rested his forehead against Seth. "It's you and me, puppy, forever. You ready for that?"

Seth's smile competed with his blush for adorableness. "Yes."

James meant to just peck Seth on his lips, he really did, but like usual, he was greedy when it came to Seth. But that was okay, because as Seth opened his mouth to the kiss and pulled him in closer with an arch to his back and hips, his mate proved he was just as greedy for James.

A smile turned James' lips as he kissed Seth harder, beginning to fuck himself slowly into the wolf's eager body.

Eternity had never looked so appealing.