Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything in here except my imagination and some of the characters. I have also made some slight changes to her world.

I make no apologies for being British, but it does mean that sometimes my spelling/grammar or the words I use may be unfamiliar.

I have used my imagination to create some of the characters and their backgrounds. They are fictional and do not represent anyone living or dead from this reality. Although I can't speak for other realities….

A thousand thanks to my pre-readers Andrea and hubby Harry – I can't do this without you both!

Bella's POV

The Volturi

I spun back around, but wished I hadn't.

"Jake?"

A very naked Jake!

I covered my eyes with my hands. "Did you have to turn back human when you don't have any clothes?"

He laughed. "Sorry Bells, I forgot! I've been living like this for a while and haven't had to worry about my nakedness."

An uncomfortable silence followed until Jake cleared his throat. "Ahem. I've er… I missed you. You look good."

What! "No thanks to you, Jacob. It's your fault I'm like this!" I really didn't want to have this conversation now!

"I'm sorry. I…"

"We don't have time for this, Jacob. Go and help the other wolves," I hissed, feeling my temper rising. I needed Edward.

I heard a faint crackle once again as Jacob-boy became Jacob-wolf and ran off to help his fellow wolves.

I couldn't see Edward, but I heard fighting behind the building so I ran to investigate. One of the Quileute wolves was fighting a lycanthrope. I could tell it was a lycanthrope because it was saying some awful things to the wolf, probably in an attempt to wind it up so it would make a mistake. Edward was also facing off with a lycanthrope which sounded a lot like Edric.

"She was going to be my mate before you turned her into that!" Edric growled. "She would've made a magnificent mother to my children! She would have the strength to bore me lots of children and she had the beauty to enhance my lineage! You took that away from me!"

Was he for real?

"She is MINE!" Edward hissed back. "She always was and always will be!"

Did it get hot out here all of a sudden or is it just me? I should've found that comment demeaning, but coming from Edward? Not so much…

They were interrupted by a yelp as the wolf was slammed hard into the ground. I gasped as the wolf shifted back into its human form – Leah! As I ran to her side Edward hit Edric on the side of his jaw and down he went, landing right beside Leah.

Edward waited for Edric to get up, but as Edric looked up to see Leah watching him, something happened.

Time slowed down as their eyes met.

Edric turned into his human form and gazed at Leah with his eyes shining in wonder while Edward, the other lycanthrope and I watched on in awe.

Edric and Leah had imprinted!

As they were both naked I ran as fast as I could to the front of the centre and shouted to my dad who was still hovering in the front entrance.

"Hi dad! I need a couple of blankets."

"Hi baby," my dad shouted back as he flung two blankets towards me. I caught them and sped away. I felt guilty I didn't have time to chat, but I needed to get back to Edric and Leah!

They hadn't moved.

Both were laid on their stomachs with their heads turned so they could look at each other. Their eyes never wandered and they didn't touch, which I assume is due to the injuries they both appeared to have. One thing had changed however, it had been Cal who had fought with Leah and he now had Edward in a head lock!

I bent down to throw the blankets over them both as Edric began to whimper. Cal and Edward stilled as they listened to what Edric was saying. "I didn't want this, honestly I didn't. I didn't know it would go this far." I didn't know if he was speaking to his father or Leah. He raised his arm slowly and gently stroked Leah's cheek with his finger. "What's happening to me?"

Before I could answer, Cal spoke up. "What did you think would happen?" Cal spat furiously as he tightened his grip around Edward's neck.

"I didn't want so much bloodshed," Edric answered, still looking at Leah.

I slowly bent down near their heads as I tried to stop myself from attacking Cal and releasing Edward.

"You have just imprinted, Edric. It means you've just found your true love," I said gently so I didn't startle anyone. Ugh! I sounded like a romance novel!

"This is Leah," I told Edric. I looked at Leah. "Leah, this is Edric."

Leah smiled, but then the light in her eyes began to diminish.

"Help me, Bella. It hurts…" Her eyes fluttered shut as Edric growled.

"No Leah, please don't leave me," he sobbed into her shoulder.

"Take her inside," I ordered Edric. "They'll look after her in there." I gestured towards the centre as Edric stood on shaky legs.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, SON." Cal bellowed. "TEAR HER APART!"

Edric gently cradled Leah in his arms as if she were made of fine china. "No dad, just stop," Edric began. "You don't understand…"

"WHAT? YOU DARE SAY NO TO ME? DO IT! KILL HER! SHE IS NOTHING!"

"She is everything," Edric said reverently.

I glanced at Edward. I could wrap my shield around him and pull him away, but Edward seemed to be aware of my thoughts and he shook his head minutely.

"KILL HER," Cal urged.

"I can't," Edric sobbed. "I can't."

While all of this was taking place I hadn't noticed the Cullens, the Denalis and the wolves had all gathered behind me while the remaining lycanthropes and werewolves had gathered behind Cal. There weren't many werewolves or lycanthropes left and I also noticed a few of the wolves were missing, along with Carlisle and Esme. We still outnumbered them so I expected them to become desperate in their attempts to kill us.

Cal began shuffling backwards, taking Edward with him.

"Let him go," I growled at Cal, taking a step towards them.

"Don't come any closer girl, or I'll rip his head clean off!" Cal shouted as he continued to slowly back off.

I really wanted to launch myself at Cal, but once again Edward shook his head ever so slightly. What was he up to?

I was suddenly aware that Emmett was right behind me. He wound his arm around my waist and whispered so only I could hear. "Back up, we have visitors."

Visitors?

I frowned. The werewolves obviously hadn't smelt anyone approaching, but I could hear movement coming from the forest to my left.

I turned slowly as one, two, three, four, five, six, seven people, vampires, emerged at a human pace through the trees. They were all cloaked, with hoods covering their heads. They were completely dressed in black and looked extremely menacing, although there was a 'regal' feeling to their demeanour.

The vampire in front lowered his hood and at once the rest followed suit. This was the leader then. His long, dark hair was pulled back into a tight, low ponytail.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" He spoke slowly, with an air of authority.

Since the moment they broke through the tree line everyone had frozen; neither vampire, wolf, werewolf or lycanthrope had moved a muscle or uttered a word. It was as if a spell had been cast over us all.

"Aro," Carlisle called as he came out of the centre. He was alone so I guess Esme was still inside. Carlisle came to stand next to me as Aro and his people came to stand between us and the werewolves.

The werewolves took a step back however Emmett and Jasper began pushing the wolves behind them as if they would need shielding, protecting.

Cal growled as recognition flashed across his face. "Caius," he spat as he shuffled uncomfortably on his hairy feet. I leaned forward, ready for anything, but Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder.

The one named Caius stepped forward. "So, we meet again. You seem to be causing more trouble, Cal. I told you I would hunt you down," Caius hissed.

Aro raised his hands. "Calm down Cal. What do you want? You do realise that once you kill Carlisle's boy we'll be on you in seconds."

"I'll take my chances," was the reply. "There are enough of us left."

At that, the rest of the werewolves began growling and swaying from side to side in an attempt to look menacing.

Cal's temper was escalating.

So was mine.

Cal's grip tightened further.

As I heard a crack in Edward's neck, it happened. My shield shot out from me and split into two pieces. One surrounded Edward and the other surrounded Cal. I slowly pulled them apart, ignoring the gasps. Cal's arm had 'unwrapped' itself and both arms were now pinned to his sides, while Edward flew to stand behind me.

Cal began to gasp for air.

The werewolves became more and more agitated, until they looked at each other, turned and ran wildly into the forest.

"Oh this is so much more fun!" Caius said, grinning.

Aro sighed. "Caius, Felix, Alec, Demetri, hunt them down while Jane, Renata and I deal with the leftovers, these wolves."

The wolves growled in warning while Caius and the others shot off after the werewolves.

Cal was still gasping for air.

"Now Cal," Aro said calmly. "Enough is enough." He turned to one of the female vampires left at his side. "Jane."

Jane looked like a child; I would guess she was no more than fourteen. I wondered what she could possibly do.

Jane glanced at Cal.

Nothing happened.

What was supposed to happen?

Jane was now staring at the gasping Cal as if she was trying to get into his head.

"Bella, drop your shield around Cal," whispered Edward as he took hold of my hand.

I obeyed.

The very second I dropped my shield Cal began screaming; a high pitched, blood curdling scream that cut through the night like a knife.

As he dropped to the ground like a stone, he began to roll and thrash about. Jane serenely walked over to him and pulled at his head.

The thrashing and screaming ceased.

Silence hung in the air.

"Now for you," Aro said, looking straight at Edric.

"No!" I shouted. "He didn't want any part of this."

"That may be my dear, but the fact remains he's a lycanthrope and as such must die," replied Aro without even looking at me. He was too busy looking at the wolves.

"Why?" I questioned. "Who says he has to die?"

"We do of course!" Aro laughed as he turned to Jane. "Jane…" he demanded, his voice returning sombre, "…oh, and the wolves of course. I'm sure you can handle it."

He turned to Carlisle as Jane stepped forward. "Now Carlisle, why don't you tell me all about this lovely young woman and what's been happening recently…"

More screams pierced the air as Edric dropped Leah and collapsed to the floor, along with the rest of the wolves; those that had still been in their wolf form immediately transformed and began screaming in agony.

"STOP IT!" I screamed at Jane.

She grinned.

I snapped. I was close to it anyway.

My shield exploded, sending Jane flying through the air as it settled around the wolves, the Cullens, the Denalis, Edric and I.

"What is the meaning of this?" Aro questioned, looking a little worried. "Carlisle? Who dares defy the Volturi?" So this is the Volturi! Alice had told me a little about them.

Aro reached a hand out and touched Carlisle's arm. "Why am I getting nothing from you? How is this possible?" Aro appeared visibly stunned. I'm guessing this kind of thing hasn't happened to him before.

Jane had righted herself and was now hammering on my shield a few feet in front of me, yelling and calling us names.

"Edric, take Leah into the centre. She still needs to be looked at," I said. The rest of the wolves had turned back into their wolf form and were angrily pacing.

Edric frowned, looking worriedly at Jane and then at me.

"Don't worry, I'll shield you," I smiled.

Edric gently picked Leah up and as he was about to walk away he turned and said, "Thank you."

I encased the entire centre in my shield, making sure it stretched far enough to cover the roof and the far wall.

Who knew it would stretch that far?

"Jane dear, do control yourself," Aro ordered, trying to calm himself down too.

"Yes master," she replied, scowling. Someone was used to getting her own way!

"Now, back to these… werewolves; are they genetically flawed? They look more like big dogs! They…" He was silenced by the loud growls of the wolves.

Aro smiled. "Feisty, aren't they. Perfect. Now let's discuss their usefulness, the terms of their surrender and their future servitude to me, shall we Carlisle? Then we need to discuss who is causing this block and what we are going to do about it!"

So we now have the Volturi involved! Will Edric be allowed to live? How will Aro feel about Bella and her powers? Will any of the Quileute wolves survive? Who wants to wipe Aro and the gang off the face of the earth instead of him destroying everything he doesn't understand?

Sorry this chapter is a little later than usual!

See you later!