The next three weeks were full of anxiety. Riley hadn't come back in that entire time. It had been too quiet. I feared that he was creating a newborn army within the confines of Seattle.
Thus far, Charlie had only found reports of three missing teenagers in Seattle, but even only four newborn vampires would be extraordinarily dangerous for my pack of wolves.
I was now 32 weeks pregnant, and already looked like a normal pregnancy within it's last month.
Jacob and Angela were closer now than ever before, with her finally knowing everything.
She eventually took the information in stride, though it was a bit overwhelming at first. She'd come down to one pack meeting since then and was equally surprised to learn that the Cullens were all vampires, though she'd known there was something off about them all.
We still had yet to explain to her the three separate imprints, but I knew we'd have to soon. We hadn't purposefully been keeping the information from her, we just hadn't gotten the chance to say anything, though I'm sure she suspected because of how the four of us act at the bonfires and at the one pack meeting she'd been to.
Leah had been completely chill about the whole thing, considering she'd grown up around the legends and her brother was a wolf and mother was on the council.
She'd decided to continue her education online instead of returning back to UCLA, even though Embry had told her he would support her either way.
Embry was already head over heels for her, and I couldn't say I blamed him, having known what an imprint felt like. She'd played hard to get at first, but she was now openly with him and very happy.
I was so happy that Leah had found someone in this timeline and was actually happy and not bitter. She even came over and hung out with me a lot, which made me really happy too. She was becoming a good friend and that was something I appreciated and honestly needed. There was definitely too much testosterone in my house.
I still worried about her phasing though, but I guess we'd see in time. Thus far she hadn't been exposed to any vampires in the area because of the eerie quiet from Riley.
Paul and I were extremely happy with each other now and all four of us were completely in sync with each other. I'd never been so happy and content in my life.
Everything was fine until I woke up one morning to an empty bed and several voices coming from the living room.
"Two of them now? Do you think that's why it's taken so long to come back?" That was Jacob.
"Only one was in her house, the other one was by the Cullen's place then down by the border. Their paths didn't cross, so I don't know if they are together or not." Jared said to the pack members. My eyes widened at the news.
"That damn missing kid leech took her fucking clothes. He was in Charlie's house. I'm going to rip that fucking thing to shreds." I heard Paul say.
"You heard Sam, Charlie apparently confiscated some type of incendiary rounds from the police department. They're supposed to set things on fire as soon as they touch it, but we don't know if it'll work on them." Jared told them. When had Charlie done that?
"The leeches are pretty flammable. I mean one match is enough to catch it on fire." That was Quil.
"She's awake." Paul said. I was assuming he'd heard me walk to the door to listen more. The door opened a moment later and Paul was on the other side of it. "Eavesdropping, princess?"
"Well you guys weren't exactly being quiet." I retorted. "So there's two different scents now?"
"Sam and Embry picked it up this morning. Sam's running back from Seattle now." Jared told me, walking forward to kiss me.
"And they didn't touch Charlie?" I asked quickly.
"No, princess. Didn't even get near him. Embry checked out the whole house. They only went into your old room through your window." Paul said to me. I was glad they hadn't gotten near Charlie, but what if they came back and decided that he was good bait to lure me out?
"Do you think they'll cross the boundary line like Victoria did?" I asked them worriedly, resting my hand on my belly.
"Princess, you know we won't ever let anything happen to you or the babies." Paul told me, reaching out to place his hands on either side of my belly.
All of a sudden, I heard my phone ring and I rushed back into the bedroom to grab it. It was a strange ringtone I'd never heard before, as well as an odd phone number, but I decided to answer it.
"Hello?" I asked as I answered the phone.
"Bella, it's Alice." Oh no. She'd seen something. I almost dropped the phone and Jared and Paul were next to me in less than a second, listening in.
"Did you see something?" I questioned quickly, getting right to the point.
"I still can't see you, but I always keep tabs on Jaz and his other family, Peter and Charlotte. Peter has a gift, too. He can't see the future, but he just knows things. He tried to go to our old house, but we weren't there. He contacted Jaz and said some boy and three other newborns would be coming to Forks. That's all he knew." She told me, making my fears come true.
"The boy is Riley Biers. He's been scouting out the area already. He's coming because the pack killed Victoria. She changed him and told him he was her mate, even though he wasn't." I explained.
"Jaz says the pack won't be able to take on four newborns by themselves, even with seven members. They're too strong, too unpredictable. Jaz and I, as well as Rose and Emmett, are willing to help if you'll permit it. Carlisle and Esme are still keeping Edward under surveillance in England." I looked at the guys.
"We'll have to talk to Sam." Jared told me.
"I'll call you back tomorrow for your answer." She said quickly before hanging up.
"Fuck, that's just great. Sam's going to be thrilled as shit." Paul huffed as he sat on the bed.
"I worried that this might happen, you both know that. I told you how strong they are. It took all of you and all of them to stop the newborns last time, and Seth, Leah, and Jake were nearly killed because of them." I told them honestly. "We don't even have Leah this time."
"We might if they come back." Paul told me, causing Embry to growl from the other room. I knew he didn't want her to phase.
"Let's just wait for Sam." Jared said as we all walked back into the living room.
"I need to be the one to tell him that Alice called." I said to them. "Let me talk to him before we all discuss it as a pack."
"I'm sorry guys, I need to go see Angela." Jake said as he ran out the door.
"And I need to go to Leah." Embry replied as well, following after Jake.
I knew they would both feel the need to be close to their imprints when there was impending danger, especially Embry because of the chance of Leah phasing. They would both know when it was time for the pack meeting.
When Sam got back, he already knew something was wrong when I met him outside and told him to go take a walk with me on the beach.
He didn't press me as he held my hand walking down toward the waves. I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Alice called me." I said, straight out. He stopped walking and looked over at me.
"Is it Edward?" He asked immediately.
"No," I replied. "It's worse."
"Newborns?" He asked and I nodded.
"The second scent you found today was not a threat. It was a friend to the Cullens. A vampire named Peter. He has a gift too. Apparently, he just knows things that'll happen. He told them that Riley and three other newborns will be coming to Forks." I told him. He looked out at the waves.
"That's not the end of it, is it?" He asked me sullenly.
"Jasper, the Major I told you about, said the newborns are too strong, even for seven wolves. Four of the Cullens are offering their help." I replied, putting my hand on his back. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he contemplated what I'd just told him.
"More kids will phase." He stated.
"They will with four newborns coming anyways, Sam. I can't let any of you get hurt. It's completely up to you, but I don't want to take the chance. Four of them is about the equivalent to 16 older vampires. They're strong and unpredictable." I whispered to him. "I don't want the Cullens to come back either, but I think we might need the extra help."
"I'll see what the rest of the pack thinks." He replied resolutely. "I don't want you in danger either. They have your scent, Bella. They'll be coming for you. If something happened to you or our children…"
"My scent has changed since I lived at Charlie's, even you said so. Paul and Jared say that I almost smell more like you than me anymore, probably because of the babies. Maybe that'll help." I inhaled. "Should Leah stay with me?"
"If Leah stayed with you and one of them got close, she'd probably phase, and if she's too close to you…" Sam already knew.
"I couldn't put Embry in that position, or Leah. Nix that idea completely. Seth?" I asked, knowing that he'd been with me during the last newborn battle. "I trust Seth. I trust everyone in the pack, but he protected me during the newborn battle in the other timeline, and he was actually the one to kill Riley too."
"I'll consider Seth. I don't want him in the field with four newborn vampires anyways, he's too young." Sam mentioned.
I felt a pressure in my stomach and stopped walking for a second. It wasn't a pain, so I knew it wasn't any real contractions. I'd felt the Braxton-hicks contractions already a few times, though I hadn't mentioned them to any of my three wolves.
"Everything okay, honey?" Sam asked as I cradled my stomach until the slight pressure relieved itself.
"I'm fine. Just practice contractions, nothing to worry about." I told him honestly.
"Are you sure?" He asked me.
"Positive." I replied.
"You don't sound very surprised. It's not the first time it's happened is it?" He always knew me a little bit too well.
"It's happened a few times. It's normal, Sam, I promise. Nothing is wrong." I tried to reassure him, but I could tell he was still worried. "They don't even hurt and they're random. If they start hurting and become regular, that's when we need to start worrying."
"Alright, but we're heading back now. I'm not risking anything, it's too early." He responded, tugging me by my hand to turn me around.
Sue had explained to us that most women pregnant with twins went into labor early, but our goal was between 36 and 37 weeks. I still had at least 4 to go, and I prayed to the spirits that I'd make it there.
When we got back to the house, Sam made me sit in the recliner to rest, against my protests, then he decided to tell Jared and Paul.
Once both of them gave me the 'we're going to talk later' look, Sam had Quil go out and howl, letting the others know it was time for the meeting.
When they all showed up, Sam gave them the rundown and asked them what everyone's thoughts were. Yes for asking the Cullens for help, and no for no help.
"I don't like it, bro, but I don't want to risk Bella and the babies. I'm voting yes." Jared said immediately.
"Same. You know I think like you do." Paul told them.
"I don't want Leah to phase, so my vote's no." Embry decided, and I could understand his choice.
"I think we're more powerful than the Cullens think we are. I vote no." Jacob responded, sounding just as cocky as ever.
"I don't know, man, it takes nearly all of us to take on just one. I'm voting yes." Quil countered.
Everyone looked at Seth.
"I don't want my sister to phase either, but I agree with Jared and Paul. We can't take the risk. My vote is yes." Seth told all of them and I looked back at Sam.
"None of us care to see any of the Cullens again, but if that's what it takes to keep our tribe, and our pack safe, then we'll allow their help, only just this once." Sam told all of them, then motioned for them to scatter as Jake and Embry shook their heads and walked out the door. "Seth, stay in range. I need to talk to J and Paul, then I'm going to talk to you."
A/N- Trouble is brewing...
