I was panicking. It wasn't just my heart racing and my blood pumping in my ears for all the vampires to hear; I was short on breath as I started to hyperventilate while my entire body shook like a leaf in a way that had nothing to do with the cold wind that nipped at my cheeks.

The newcomers had entered the small clearing with an eerie familiarity. Once again, I had watched as two new male vampires flanked by one female slowly inched toward me, all three hunched over in a much more animalistic prowl than how the Cullens or even the Volturi tended to move. Victoria was exactly like how I remembered her: pale and somewhat pretty in a very dangerous and decidedly animalistic way with curly orange hair that fanned out like a dancing flame around her head. Her eyes were darker than the last time I'd seen her, her thirst seeping any hint of the maroon that I remembered. She was also cautious, which I hadn't expected - but it seemed that losing her mate and finally having an opportunity to exact her revenge was making her more careful.

Unlike her, the two males with her were strangers. And unlike the last time, these male vampires are almost painfully young. Not just physically, as they appeared to be around my and Bella's age even if the dark-haired one has rolls of muscle that made me think he must have been a football player when he was human. But both he and the blond boy have the most vivid red eyes that I have ever seen on a vampire. I realized quickly they had to be exactly a year old. Young enough to still retain that first year strength but old enough that Victoria trusted them to be here with her, to control themselves enough that she could exact her revenge on Bella and not be killed by Edward. Their youth showed in their brashness as they attacked Edward… and Seth.

Seth's return had been what pushed my worry and fear into outright mindless terror.

Watching Edward dodge and dance around Riley and Mark's, as the two boys were apparently called, attacks had been scary enough. But seeing Seth leap from the trees and then watching him now as he snapped at Riley and tried to get his teeth into the vampire all while dodging the vampire's own vicious attacks almost gave me a heart attack right there and then.

Edward meanwhile has his hands full as he fends off Mark and Victoria, who continues to try and duck around him whenever he is sufficiently distracted. Mark also appears to be stronger than usual vampires as Edward dodges the younger vampire in the same way he avoids Emmett's attacks, although unlike with Emmett, he's not able to get in a clean offensive either as Victoria tries to sneak by each time he's about to get Mark.

The redhead's black eyes have rarely moved away from Bella after she got over Seth's arrival, although they dart to me every so often. I had seen the flash of recognition in her eyes the first time she looked at me and I know she recognizes me, remembers what I can do - I assume it's one reason she's so wary. The other reason for her slow reaction appears to be Seth, as I can clearly see she doesn't know quite what to make of him yet. And of course, Edward isn't letting her get anywhere close to me and Bella; he always moves half a second before Victoria, blocking her way as soon as she thinks of a plan. I can see this frustrates her although she maintains her composure.

Because it's only a matter of time before someone slips, and we all know it's most likely to be from our side. Seth can't fight Riley on his own forever and Edward can't fight both males and protect me and Bella. Victoria's plan once that happens is so simple it doesn't take being Alice to know what's going to happen. The blond and the brunette boys will attack Edward, but only one will really focus on him. The other one will go for me as soon as there's an opening, take me out quickly before I can hinder Victoria. Edward will ultimately be unable to stop my death from happening because he'll be busy trying to protect Bella and there's no way even he can take on three vampires and keep both Bella and me safe forever.

With me out of the picture, the two males will focus solely on Edward. And the second Edward is distracted enough, Victoria will slip past and kill my sister. It will have to be quick and she'll have to stop Bella's heart if she doesn't want to leave a chance that Bella can be saved by vampire venom. Maybe shoving a hand right through Bella's chest or ripping out Bella's heart with her teeth. Either way, it will be swift but brutal and I shiver. Edward snarls abruptly and I realize his irritation is aimed at me. I quickly try to shift my thoughts - I doubt they are helping him.

"No, they are not." Edward snaps at me.

I grimace in apology, before my head shoots to the side when Seth lets out a pained yelp. Bella also jumps before she cries out while my hand flies to my mouth as we watch Seth back away from Riley, his shoulders twitching as though he's trying and failing to shake off the pain.

"No!" I cry, my hand reaching out toward him and Riley as the vampire lunges at the young wolf.

Riley chokes, abruptly stopping in his tracks as he clutches his throat. It's stupid because he doesn't need to breathe anymore; but his youth as a vampire shines in that moment as my power accidentally squeezes his lungs. And Seth pounces.

Mark looks over in alarm as there is a loud screeching noise and Riley's body crumples motionlessly at Seth's feet while the blond vampire's head dangles in the wolf's mouth. Victoria lets out a shriek of frustration while Bella and I breathe in relief as Seth tosses Riley's head aside, although I'm faintly annoyed as I realize Seth was just feigning injury. Still, it ultimately helped so I refocus on the fight in front of me.

The odds are now much better, and Mark even seems to be uneasy as he backs up slightly away from Edward. Victoria notices, and she snarls harshly, "Don't lose faith now, Mark."

Her words seem to reassure Mark and his shoulders square with resolve once more. Seth paces behind Edward, forming a tight barrier between the vampires and me and Bella. But he and Edward aren't a practiced team while Victoria and Mark have spent a year working together; and this shows as they both spring into action without apparent warning. Edward reacts instantly, reading their intentions in their minds the second they made their decision and he blocks Victoria. Seth reacts a second too late as Mark lunges at him but he's still quick to defend himself. Unfortunately, Mark succeeds in pushing Seth and Seth tumbles to the side just as Edward leaps back to stop Mark before he can advance on us.

Bella clutches my hand tightly although I can't tell if she's scared for us or Edward as he barely avoids Mark's hand coming around his neck. Seth is back quickly and just in time as Edward cuts off Victoria yet again. She's fast, I have to give her that - and losing Riley seems to have hardened her resolve as she is no longer wary but attacks Edward with the lethality of a seasoned fighter. I'm not able to follow their fight at all as they move in blurs around the edges of the campsite but I do see Mark finally land a kick on Seth.

Seth goes flying to the side where he crashes to the ground, only to roll quickly back to his feet. Mark faces him, not bothering to try and go for me and Bella yet while there is a chance Seth might come at his unprotected back.

But we're all surprised when Seth suddenly jerks his head to the side, like he's in disbelief at some silent order, and Edward says sharply, "Seth, go!"

Seth glances briefly toward me and Bella before he turns. And he runs.

Only Edward and Victoria keep moving as Mark stares after Seth in disbelief. He seems to be waiting for some trap, but it doesn't come. My fingers are digging into my sister's palm as I try to understand what Seth and Edward are doing. I have to force myself to let go before I accidentally draw blood - that's the very last thing we need.

Or, almost last thing we need, as Mark finally decides this is not a feint and he turns toward us so fast he's just a blur and I would have missed his attack completely if Edward's snarls hadn't suddenly ripped through the air as he launched across the clearing to head off Mark before the younger vampire can get closer to us. Victoria prowls on the edge of the clearing, looking suspicious but also hopeful. It was obvious that she has no idea what could have caused Seth to suddenly turn tail but it doesn't matter as it completely changes the tide of the battle.

The difference is instantaneous - where before, the fight was almost evenly matched although I was inclined to bet Seth and Edward would outlast the other two, now it is again like a fight against time before Edward is overpowered. As though fate wants to prove me right, Victoria suddenly sees an opening and she takes it. Coming right at my sister.

"Bella!"

I scream as I grab my sister and push her out the way, just as there's a mighty boom - I've gotten the adrenaline rush needed to activate my powers again. And a section of the mountain goes flying at Victoria's body.

She dodges, but the problem is that the rock I accidentally tore away has left a jagged hole behind. I wince as Bella and I land right in the hole, my arms still wrapped tightly around my sister. But when all the vampires' heads snap in my direction with alarming synchronization, my stomach sinks. The stinging pain in my shoulder just confirms my fears.

"Mia!" Bella gasps in shock when she sees the tiny red drops of blood seeping out of the cut in my jacket.

It's a shallow cut, all things considered - the thick padding of the winter jacket kept me mostly protected. But the jagged rock still managed to rip through my layers of clothing just enough to nick my skin. And that's more than enough. Mark roars, an animalistic and vicious sound, his eyes suddenly black. Thirst is the only thing he knows now as he throws Edward into Victoria. She reacts quickly, although her thirst is clearly taking over her senses as well as her actions are sloppier as she snaps at Edward, who barely gets out the way as he becomes distracted by something else. It's brief but his head turns to the side; and Victoria pounces and the same time that Mark launches at us.

I scream as Mark finally gets past Edward's defenses while he tries to keep Victoria off of himself. But my shrill voice has barely started to ring through the icy Spring air when a ferocious snarl tears through the clearing and a dark blur flies right at Mark. The young vampire yelps in surprise while a resounding boom that sounds like clapping thunder echoes across the open clearing as the two bodies collide midair. And then before I know it, the newborn vampire is screaming in pain.

I blink and my eyes focus; and I watch as Demetri, lips pulled back into the single most terrifying snarl, literally rips Mark's body apart.

If I had ever doubted Demetri's physical strength, even as a vampire, they are utterly banished as I stare with wide eyes at the cutting figure Demetri strikes above the newborn. Mark flails, tries to fight - but it's already far too late. The literal new vampire is absolutely no match for the Volturi tracker. Demetri's entire body is like a lean and hard sword and just as lethal as he easily keeps Mark pinned to the ground with one foot on the newborn's chest. Mark's screams bounce around the clearing, mixing with the high-pitched metallic screeching that accompanies his dismemberment as he loses his arms first when he tries to clutch at Demetri's dark cloak that flaps in the wind as it is freed from Mark's grasp. All the while, harsh growls continuously escape Demetri while he rips off a leg next, barely even a wrinkle in his expensive Armani suit.

A surprised gasp escapes me, a delayed reaction to seeing him here, and Demetri's head snaps to me. Red eyes pierce mine, and I almost shiver; but I'm disturbed to note it's not from fear or pain. No, it's because of something much more dangerous, at least for me. Because I shouldn't feel calmer than I've felt in months just by seeing him again. Maybe Demetri understands though because monstrous eyes soften almost imperceptibly as they stare into mine; and then Mark yowls.

Demetri's face hardens again instantly and he looks back down in disgust at the nearly limbless mess beneath him. Mark's screams are cut off at last as Demetri beheads him with a strange carelessness. The movement is swift, well-practiced, and I feel like that should disturb me. But it doesn't; Demetri himself has been very upfront about who he is ever since I discovered his true identity as a vampire. And I can't quite bring myself to be horrified when it's the vampire trying to kill me and my sister that Demetri is destroying.

Meanwhile, Victoria has realized that the tide of the fight has turned, and very quickly, against her. Her own thirst rages in her eyes like a madness that mixes with the disappointment at missing her chance at revenue. But most prevalent is her clear desire to live. And to live, the only thing she can do now is flee. Unfortunately, that is much easier said than done.

By the time I glance over, the redhead has already started to back slowly away from Edward. Her eyes are darting around desperately as Victoria searches for some way she can escape with Edward's full attention so squarely on her. But her window is growing smaller as Demetri, finished with Mark, straightens up and also turns to face Victoria with a completely unreadable expression. I'm not certain if Victoria recognizes Demetri at all, but his cloak is surely enough of a giveaway of who he represents in her world.

"That's right."

I jump at Edward's silky voice, thinking he's talking to me until I realize he's talking to Victoria as he reads her mind.

"The Volturi are here, Victoria. Even if you try to escape now, you won't get far."

Victoria's body tightens even further, a coil ready to spring. And spring she does as she suddenly wheels around and almost flies toward the forest she moves so quickly. But she's not fast enough.

Edward is on her before Victoria has reached the cover of the forest, catching her back unprotected. His mouth brushes across the back of Victoria's neck, and I flinch as the horrific metallic squealing I've heard before threatens to tear my eardrums. And then Victoria's head topples off, her flaming hair fanning out even more wildly and thankfully hiding her dismembered head as it bounces on the ground before rolling off into the undergrowth.

Nine months prior

I walked slightly behind Niki as we approached the modest house that Embry had driven us to. Bella was even more reluctant than I was to enter the abode, although her concerns were with Jacob after the way he and Paul had literally been at each other's throats. My discomfort however lay with the teenager who stood awkwardly shifting his weight on his feet as he waited for us in the doorway.

If I had been shocked by the change in Jacob, words had failed to describe how I'd felt seeing Jared again after months. My ex-boyfriend at least had still retained some of his happy-go-lucky personality, unlike Jacob whose middle name could be Moody, but otherwise the giant man Jared had grown into was nothing like the boy I'd dated. Sure, he'd already been quite muscular before, but now he was as tall and broad as the other boys who could all be models for some seriously potent steroids. He also looked a lot older, not just from how he'd looked before but even for an eighteen year old. If I didn't know him, I would have guessed him to be in his mid-twenties at least. And of course, like Jacob, he'd chopped off most of his hair into a short cropped style that matched the other boys.

It had felt more like meeting a stranger than I had expected, and I was unsure how to even look at Jared again let alone talk to him. Perhaps he'd felt the same way because he had also silently kept his distance while Embry herded us back into our truck and drove us to Emily's. Even now, he rubbed the back of his neck nervously as we approached the house.

Before Jared could say anything though, Embry stopped and turned to me and Bella.

"Hey, don't stare at Emily. That bugs Sam."

Both Bella and I exchanged glances in confusion. "Why would we stare."

Embry looked uncomfortable at Bella's question and he answered vaguely, "Like you saw just now, hanging out around werewolves has its risks."

That only served to confuse us more but Embry wouldn't say anything else as he entered the house like he lived there. Niki and Bella followed, but I stopped when Jared hesitantly stood in my way.

"Mia… can we talk?" He asked, looking at a point above my head.

I narrowed my eyes but kept my tone cool. "Sure."

Jared led me off toward the trees, not far from where we'd parked the truck. He kicked the ground as he stopped just out of sight of the house; clearly, he was struggling to find the words. I just stayed silent; I had no obligation to make things easy for him and I wanted him to speak first.

"You… look good." Jared finally mumbled.

My brow shot up in response. "That's the first thing you have to say to me?"

He cringed and shook his head. "No… I… Man, Mia, I'm sorry."

The words tumbled out of his mouth and seemed to gain momentum as he spoke faster and faster, "I swear, I never meant to hurt you. But after I phased for the first time, it took a week for me to calm down enough to phase back and then Sam laid down the order that I couldn't tell you, and it was too dangerous for you to be around me, so I..."

"So you broke up with me."

He nodded and I scoffed. "And then you started dating another girl just a week later."

Jared grimaced. "It's not that simple."

"Oh, I think it is." My temper was rising and my voice was growing steadily louder as all the old anger returned. "You know, Jared, you could just tell me the truth. If you were a man, you'd tell me the truth and just say that you got bored or whatever it was. You wouldn't use this," I gestured vaguely toward his new wolf body, "as an excuse-"

"That's not what this is!" Jared snapped, his arms starting to shake in an oddly violent way. I paused and reared back a little warily, recalling how Paul's arms had done the same after he'd seen me and Bella in the clearing with Jacob, right before he burst into a giant wolf.

Jared saw my reaction and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, his arms slowed and he opened his eyes again.

"That's not it." He repeated in a calmer tone. "I meant everything I said when we were dating and I mean it now when I say that it was never my intention to hurt you. But phasing… it changed me and there were too many things I couldn't tell you. Being with a wolf without understanding it all… it breaks people apart with the constant secrets and inevitable lies. Not to mention it's really dangerous. You saw how Paul lost it out there, that can happen at any time when you're around young werewolves. Sam knew all that, and he knew that there was a high likelihood you would just end up seriously hurt because of me. He advised me to break things with you and I swear, I only did it because I wanted the best for you, Mia."

"Right, let's say all that's true, what makes your new girlfriend different?" I asked scathingly.

Jared hesitated. "There's this thing with wolves… it's called imprinting."

I frowned. "You mean like when ducks think you're their mother and follow you around?"

He shook his head. "No, not that. When a wolf imprints… well, it's basically our way of finding our soulmates. Sam imprinted on Emily..."

"And you imprinted on your current girlfriend?" I realized, my eyes widening as I understood what he was trying to tell me. Jared nodded.

"Her name's Kim."

Just the way he said her name made me jolt; both from shock and to be honest jealousy. Jared had been a sweet boyfriend but he'd never said my name the way he said hers now, like he wanted to caress her name even when just saying it. It made me sad and angry, but also a bit defeated as Jared went on.

"We don't keep secrets from our imprints. They are the only exception to every rule because once a wolf imprints, nothing is more important than her."

He paused and glanced at me, as though suddenly realizing his words might hurt. And I had to admit, my pride was bruised… but I also couldn't deny the way Jared's whole face had softened and filled with longing just from thinking about this Kim. It was very evident he loved her and that he loved her in a way we never had shared. It didn't mean it didn't still hurt a bit though.

"Sorry." Jared sighed, running his hand through his hair. "It's not that I don't care, Mia. I… I think in a way, I did love you when we were dating. And I still do care and want you to be happy."

"Just not like you care about her." I murmured. Jared shook his head.

"With Kim… it's hard to explain. My whole world shifted and it was no longer gravity but her holding me to the Earth. But that doesn't mean I ever stopped caring about you, Mia. You were my first girlfriend and I meant it when I said I like you. And I'll still be here as your friend, if you want me around."

I wanted to be angry. But, I was starting to realize that in this strange and mystical world, some things were just beyond me - like wolf soulmates, apparently. And besides, too much time had passed by now for me to truly be hurt or angry with Jared. I wasn't exactly pleased or thrilled but I realized perhaps this was what Sam had foreseen: if Jared and I had still been dating when he imprinted...

"Mia, I'm sorry." Jared muttered, taking my silence as anger. "Really. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just don't want you to think it was anything you did."

"It's not you, it's me, right?" I said dryly.

Jared cringed, apparently thinking I was still angry. But he was surprised when I offered him a small, timid smile.

"I understand now. It still hurt the way we ended things, but… I understand it now."

He perked up slightly. "You're not mad anymore?"

"You were a good boyfriend but you weren't that great." I joked lightly. Jared laughed, too relieved that we were slowly mending our broken friendship to care about my dig at him.

"I'll make it up to you, Mia. If you ever need me, just call." Jared promised and I smiled.

"Even if your Kim doesn't like it?" I asked teasingly. Jared snorted.

"She won't mind. Kim's cool." He hesitated before adding a bit nervously, "I think you'd like her, actually."

I raised a brow. It was like the beginning of a bad soap opera, the ex-girlfriend meeting the new girlfriend.

"Maybe." I answered before gesturing toward the house. "Anyway, we'd better get back."

He nodded and we walked back in a somewhat awkward silence. We weren't back to being friends yet, and who knew if we ever would. But I was finally at peace with him after months of feeling stabs of anger every time I thought about Jared. And I suspected as he held the door open for me with a relaxed expression that Jared was also at peace after finally being able to clear the air between us.

"You know, maybe I do want to meet Kim after all." I commented suddenly as we entered the house. Jared looked at me in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yeah." I smirked and Jared gulped at the dangerous glint in my eyes. "I can tell her how awkward you were at first because you had no idea how to date a girl. And how you thought my tampon was some tissue bundled up."

He froze and I laughed, "Bet you're regretting Jacob spilling the secret to us now."

Jared whined. "Oh man… Jake, why the hell couldn't you keep your trap shut?"

*A/N I just want to say, thank you to each of my readers and reviewers for the overwhelming support and interest. It's so heartening for a writer and hearing things like this pairing was what someone didn't know they needed is amongst the highest praise I can receive as a fanfic writer. So thank you to every single one of you for taking the time to read and review!