* Content Warning: Potentially triggering events - not described to avoid spoilers *

Chapter Eleven: Declarations of War

La Push - February 8th (Morning)

"What do you want?" Stephen asked as he opened the door, his expression bordering on disgusted.

"I just want to sit and talk for a bit." Jacob gave him a terse smile, and Stephen immediately sighed but stepped out of the way, letting him in. Jacob had only been inside Stephen's house once, shortly after his wedding to Tekali when he tried to start a peace with his nephew.

They moved over to an almost sterile formal living room with stiff uncomfortable furniture that looked nice. Jacob sat on a hard sofa and didn't try to adjust to a more comfortable position. Stephen plopped down in the only arm chair that looked like it had some actual cushioning.

"Alright, let's talk." Stephen started, glaring at Jacob.

"There's going to be a meeting this evening about the growing threats from abroad. The packs will act on these threats regardless, but we would like the full council present." Jacob was polite, but may have gone too overly pleasant because Stephen immediately scowled.

"I will not be attending any meeting with vampires present." Stephen leveled a dark glare of warning at Jacob, but he wasn't having it. Instead he just started to shake his head at his nephew.

"Stephen, the Swan family is a part of us. Hell, there are two imprints among them now." Jacob dropped any pretense, letting his frustration show on his face. He knew Tekali would be disappointed in his lack of diplomacy but he was tired of the rift between them and had no more patience for his bigotry.

"Two, I was not informed of this." Stephen scoffed, shaking his head in short almost shuddering motions.

"No, because it just happened, and it was my daughter Michelle. To that end, I wanted to bring three people in to talk to you. The first is Michelle, so she can explain what her imprint means to her. Then an old friend of the tribe who has recently returned along with his daughter who has a special talent." Jacob was trying to be vague, and hoped he would agree without asking for more information.

"Who?" Stephen said with a low, almost baritone growl.

"Charlie Swan." Jacob said without notably bracing for backlash.

"He's alive?" Stephen looked at Jacob for several long seconds with conflict on his face. The name Swan had once meant a lot to him and his family, yet after meeting Isabella his opinion of the family had soured dramatically.

"Charlie brought his daughter with him, she can… well she can show you something important." Jacob replied, ignoring the implied question.

"They are vampires?" Stephen asked more explicitly.

"Yes, but I trust them with my life. They will not harm you." Jacob tried, hoping for something from his nephew.

Stephen was about to reject the offer, but curiosity got the better of him. To actually meet Charles Swan was a strange and mildly exciting idea. He kept that excitement from his face and said, "Fine" with a scowl leveling his brow.

"Michelle, please come in." Jacob said just a touch louder than normal, and Michelle entered the house a few moments later.

"Hey cousin." Michelle waved as she came in and sat next to her father, a flat smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes ran counter to her somewhat bright tone of voice.

"Good to see you Michelle, how's college life?" Stephen said with a cordial nod.

"On hold, I was kidnapped and forced to become a wolf. Then I came home, and immediately met her." Her almost casual explanation took Stephen aback, she seemed almost nonchalant about the entire experience. Except her voice did raise notably when she mentioned her.

"I had no idea, are you okay?" Stephen said worriedly, his concern was genuine knowing that she rarely showed her true emotions outwardly.

"I'll be fine." Michelle dismissed with little intonation.

"So, you mean your imprint." Stephen asked, although it was mostly a rhetorical clarification.

"Yes, Brianna. She is Isabella's newly adopted daughter. I haven't had a ton of time to spend with her yet, but she is smart, kind and funny." Michelle started to smile in spite of herself, "I also understand that Isabella, Eliza and Brianna are different from most vampires. They can actually bond with a mate like we imprint. In the short time I've known Brianna, I can feel in bones that she's my match, in every way I could've imagined."

"I'm… I'm happy for you Michelle. But that doesn't change how I feel. There is something unnatural about bonding with vampires, no matter how perfect it seems." Stephen sounded genuine, but he had trouble explaining his fears and worries about the subject.

"That's the thing, they aren't vampires, not like what we've encountered before." Jacob said, trying to make Stephen understand.

"Isabella struck me as a violent monster with very little control." Stephen countered easily, the meeting where she and her daughter made him look and feel like an idiot and hate monger was still fresh in his mind.

"We didn't understand her then." Jacob paused, considering how much he should explain. "When she was taken from my home all those years ago, she was tortured to within an inch of her life, turned into a vampire against her will, and then buried alive for a decade. When she managed to escape she went to the only people that could end her life. They gave her another option. So she threw herself into the role of a vampire law enforcer, and would've never recovered any of herself had she not found Eliza. That is why she was cold and unforgiving, and to be honest you didn't help much."

"They came onto our lands demanding our help, and were hostile when we asked questions. How did you expect me to act?" Stephen said incredulously, his defenses starting to rise.

"Like an elder, like Abigail would've expected you to with patience and understanding." Jacob said with a touch of disappointment.

"How would I know how she would act! You are the reason she's gone!" Stephen shouted back, his frustration and years of resentment finally coming out.

"What?" Jacob said, taken aback, suddenly grief stricken and shocked. "I don't… what?"

Stephen stared at Jacob for a few seconds, trying to find the right words but failing. He opened his mouth a few times to explain, and with his heart pounding and hot tears starting to form in the corners of his eyes he managed to start; "You forced her to give up the wolf, you were the reason she couldn't heal."

Jacob immediately shut his eyes in pain and sat back on the sofa utterly broken for several minutes. Michelle hesitated to comfort her father, but eventually put a hand on his shoulder. Jacob opened his eyes to look at her, and then back towards his nephew shaking his head.

"Oh Stephen, that's just not true." Jacob said through heavy tears, "I would never force anyone to give up the wolf, and I can prove it to you."

"Your vampire friends? What lies are they going to tell me now?" Stephen said, sitting straighter up and crossing his arms defensively.

"No lies, just truth. Charlie, Angela please come in." Jacob didn't wait for permission, he needed Stephen to see, especially now that he knew the details of Stephen's twisted version of the past.

"So you're Stephen." Charlie said with a warm smile as he sat down. "I had been wondering what you look like."

"Not to be rude, but how do you know about me?" Stephen said with a touch of hostility, clearly not caring about any perceived rudeness.

"My gift is unusual, I have what is called psychometry. It is the ability…" Charlie started.

"... To see the past when you touch objects." Stephen continued, interrupting the explanation.

Charlie smiled, "exactly. When I arrived here a few days ago I touched my memorial stone. A century of images came to me then. I watched your mother come visit so often that I feel like I know her. My daughter Angela here can transfer memories and thoughts, we wanted to offer you those memories."

"Wait… you want to share with me moments from my mother's life?" Stephen dropped his arms and sat forward, his composure completely broken by the idea.

"I can do more than that. If Jacob were willing I can share his experiences with her as well." Angela said with a warm smile, her strange gemstone eyes almost glowing in the diffused morning sunlight coming through the parted curtains.

Stephen sat back looking at the four of them, then with a deep breath he managed to choke out, "I think I would like that."

Waterfall House - February 8th (Just after dinner)

Twilight descended on the scene, and a cool evening breeze blew through the clearing, with no hint of snow. The breeze was sweet from honeysuckle and seashore lupine, which smelled like grapes. The flowers had mistakenly bloomed before the spring during a small stretch of unseasonable warmth in late January, and for just this day it felt like something new had been born, before the flowers shriveled and died again.

"They're coming." Brianna announced with an excited smile, staring expectantly towards the driveway for her. Michelle came into view on foot before the first car arrived, running forward only to stop awkwardly a few feet in front of her.

"Anna." Michelle said demurely, not sure how to show her affection. Brianna smiled widely and held out a hand, which Michelle took immediately.

"Who decided to come?" Brianna asked as they turned towards the collection of logs and stumps set up around the now massive bonfire just far enough from the tree to avoid any potential cast off.

"Everyone, Dad even managed to convince Stephen to attend with some help from your grandfather and aunt." Michelled confirmed with a soft chuckle.

Brianna leaned in close to Michelle whispering, "it's still weird to think of myself in a big family, but I like hearing it." Michelle squeezed her hand a bit tighter in response.

"Good to hear." Isabella said from her place near the fire, her arms at her sides with one finger curled into Alice's hand. Alice felt good standing next to her lover and wife, with her bright emerald green eyes almost glowing with life and joy.

The entire family save for Jasper and most of the Denali coven were waiting patiently as the faint sounds of tires on gravel grew steadily louder. Eliza and Leah arrived a few seconds later ahead of the cars, which eventually filed in one by one around the crescent driveway in front of the remains of the house. The rest of the pack showed up behind them and slowly everyone made their way over to take seats around the fire.

Once everyone was settled, some of the pack were still looking warily at the large coven of vampires, but most were now familiar with them. The council on the other hand were staring in surprise, and perhaps a bit of horror at the vampires gathered close together.

"We've called you all here because there have been some developments." Isabella managed a small smile at everyone gathered. The ruins of the house behind her illuminated with the flickering of the bonfire, casting deep constantly moving shadows along the twisted surfaces. She was sitting on a log, Alice was to her right, Eliza to her left and Brianna to Alice's right. The remaining Cullens along with Kate and Garrett were seated or standing nearby. The entirety of both packs, with Jacob, Michelle, Seth and Leah all sitting opposite from the Council who sat upon comfortable folding chairs brought up for this meeting.

"Please, elaborate." Quill said, looking somber.

"The Volturi Council decided to terminate the alliance, using their own circuitous way of thinking to force a result. Then they ordered us to attack you, but we refused. Aro and Cauis didn't take our refusal well, they opposed us… philosophically, and they reacted as they always do when someone disagrees with them, with violence. Except this time they decided to pass their judgment on us from afar, setting off explosives built into the very foundation of our house." Isabella motioned her head towards the house as evidence.

"Talk about shoddy construction." Eliza added with a smirk. This elicited several groans, but Isabella actually smiled at Eliza's slightly inappropriate humor.

"That is insane, they blew up your house over a philosophical disagreement or because you disagreed with their orders? Do they treat all their coven members with such flippant loyalty and obvious disdain?" Quil said incredulously.

"Both actually. I knew how they would react, their track record for people refusing orders of any kind is very consistent. So it was something I was prepared for, well not the explosion. That admittedly was unexpected. The Volturi are all about the ends justifying the means, if a member of the Coven is causing problems they generally have one solution, execution." Isabella said rather ruefully. She had always thought of them as that ruthless, but she didn't quite grasp how much they feared her and Eliza until they stooped to such duplicitous methods.

"That is, wow, I guess there's no way I could understand something like that. No offense, but I don't know how a vampire mind works." Quil seemed to be pondering the idea, but the slight scowl of frustration on his face spoke to his inability to grasp the concept.

"None taken." Isabella shrugged, he was right there was no way he could understand how a vampire's mind worked. The Quileutes spent a vast majority of their history avoiding their blood enemies, and the idea of coexisting peacefully never occurred to them until the Cullens. Why would any of them have spent the effort to understand their enemy, besides figuring out new ways to defeat them.

"I still can't believe they blew up your house." Quil repeated, staring at the mostly blackened rubble that looked like a crushed insect in the limited light of the twilight sky and the chaotic dancing lights cast from the bonfire.

"Well, it was either that or someone let Paul cook." Rachel quipped with a wry smile.

"Hey, I'm not that bad." Paul managed an offended face for all of three seconds before he grinned sheepishly.

"Honey, I love you, but you can burn instant pudding, which doesn't even require heat. He once tried to make toast and burned down half the kitchen." Rachel said in jest, although it was sadly true. Paul's face grew a little red from embarrassment, but he couldn't help but chuckle.

"I take it that there's more to the story?" Quil asked quietly, his question directed towards Isabella. "The explosion, I've already heard the toast story."

"A little bit." Isabella admitted hesitantly.

"I think we deserve to hear it all." Quil almost demanded in a firm tone of voice, Isabella met his glare and noted the hardening of his expression.

"It was primarily that disagreement which caused their reaction, but there was another thing." Isabella sighed, and glanced at Eliza who started to talk but was interrupted.

"My imprint." Leah admitted, drawing the council's attention.

"They were not aware of my imprint either, but I doubt they would've approved." Michelle added, drawing even more looks.

Stephen took a deep breath and gave her a supportive smile, "Michelle, the Council has not recognized your new pack yet. Perhaps we should formalize that before you speak openly."

"Alright." Michelle stood, "I am Michelle Abigail Black, granddaughter of William Black and daughter of Jacob Black. Several days ago I was forcibly turned by a group who wanted to use me as a soldier in an ever expanding army. Thankfully my lineage overrode that false change, and I claimed my position as Alpha of a new pack. Tommy and Amy were my first members. Both of which had the wolf induced through artificial means. They are now full shifters, under my protection. Seth is now my second, and Sarah Call has joined my pack as well. Brianna Esme Swan is also a member of my pack, as my imprint."

"Really!" Brianna said with a bright gasp and a big smile, flashing over to Michelle and giving her a tight hug. Michelle was momentarily startled, but chuckled in spite of herself and then pushed Brianna away slightly, while keeping a hold of her so that she was now standing by her side in front of the council.

"And this is Brianna?" Quil asked, masking a happy smile for both of them.

"My second daughter." Isabella said proudly, Brianna looking over at her for a second with a happy smile on her face, the darkness of her past just starting to lift from her slender shoulders.

"What a lovely surprise, I imagine there is a story there." Quil said, directing a happy smile towards Brianna.

Kate stood and started to speak without prompting, "shortly before the explosion we were set upon by a large group of shifters and vampires and my family barely made it down to the Cullens for help. Then Isabella and Eliza here stepped up and wiped out the threat, with help from your wolves. Brianna was one of that army, but she was not a willing participant and was subsequently offered protection from retribution by Isabella; she took her under her wing and eventually adopted her. I would also like to say that the role the pack played in our survival will never be forgotten, and I speak for the rest of my family in saying we are forever in your debt."

"We have not been formally introduced." Quil said with a raised eyebrow.

"I apologize, my name is Kate and this is my husband Garrett. My family hails from Alaska and we consider Cullen's family. This extends to the new Swan Coven." Kate elaborated, glancing towards the coven with a slightly nervous look.

"I had no idea Carlisle had more relatives. His coven is already large… Wait, Swan Coven? What am I missing?" Quil shook his head in confusion, looking at Isabella.

"What was once the Olympic coven is no more. The majority of us left due to irreconcilable differences. We have committed ourselves to Isabella and she has since named me as her second. Carlisle has disappeared, we believe he went to Italy. Kate and Garrett, and their sisters and brothers are still our cousins and we would ask they be considered a part of this alliance." Rosalie glanced at Isabella who gave her a small almost imperceptible nod of agreement.

Kate looked at Rosalie with an intense look, and without warning pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you." She whispered into her cousin's ear.

"Alright, so let me get this straight, despite the actions of the Volturi who have severed ties with you and your family, you still wish to honor the Alliance you established?" Stephen asked in clarification, his face unreadable.

"That is right, my coven and our sister coven will honor and protect your people and lands as long as we are alive. All we ask is the same pledge in turn." Isabella said far more civilly than Stephen was expecting, her eyes almost kind save for their creepy bright red hue. Looking around he noticed several with completely different eye colors, beyond Eliza's purple there were hazel and blue and green, it made him feel conflicted and confused. The vampire Angela, earlier that day was the same. During her visit he could swear she was actually breathing and not just mimicking the appearance of taking breaths.

Stephen then looked around at his fellow council members who each nodded once. He looked down in thought, and then towards Charlie and Angela before nodding once himself. "First, please accept my apologies for my abominable behavior during our last meeting. If such blind bigotry leads to destruction like that," He waved towards the ruins of the house, "it is far more dangerous than I realized. I had forgotten myself, my mother and my place of privilege. While I am not fully on board with the notion of committing ourselves to vampires long term, from what I understand this is for the benefit of not just my people, but the citizens of Forks and even Port Angeles and Seattle." He looked around at the gathering for several long seconds, "it is the judgment of this council that the Alliance will stand with the Swan Coven and the brothers and sisters of the vampire Kate, until such time as it is mutually decided to dissolve this pact."

"On behalf of my coven, and the brothers and sisters of the vampire Kate we accept this alliance until it is mutually decided to dissolve this pact." Isabella repeated immediately, keeping her face neutral despite feeling somewhat elated that at least this part of the meeting didn't end up in a protracted argument again.

"So be it." Quil said, slamming down a rock onto a granite slab set up in front of him on a tray table creating a discordant, but satisfying thump.

"Swan Coven, that's awesome." Jacob said with a big smile. "Okay, there is another order of business I wish to bring forward before we start getting into the bad stuff."

"Jacob, please have the floor." Quil motioned for Jacob to stand and speak.

Jacob put his hands on his knees, and with a deep breath stood. "A few days ago, when my daughter came home, I realized that I'm an old man. I don't look like it, hell, most of the time I don't act like it. But I'm older than Quil here."

"Two months, you're two months older." Quil said with a chuckle.

"I've had my children, my grandchildren. I've had the honor of leading this pack for generations. Now it is time for me to retire. There are only two decisions left to make, when and who will take my place." Jacob didn't look as though he were struggling with his choice, but at the same time he did look slightly nervous.

"Congratulations on the decision, it is a hard one to make, I know." Quil said with sympathy and a shared understanding in his eyes.

"I've thought long and hard over the last few days, and I strongly believe the time is now to make this change. Not after, because while continuity of leadership is important, I feel that the new Pack leader should be in charge right away. They will have to make important decisions which will affect the tribe and the pack for years to come. I cannot just make those choices and step down and expect them to try and pick up the pieces. I am willing to stay on as an advisor if needed, but not in any form of leadership capacity." Jacob had gained a bit of confidence in his speech as he went along, standing taller as if as he spoke everything fit into place.

"Who do you feel should take your place?" Stephen asked with a surprisingly friendly nod.

Jacob smiled widely, surveying the entire pack. "As for who I chose, there is only one." He settled his eyes on Leah, "my trusted second and best friend. Leah is my choice."

Stephen, Quil and the council looked at each other and they all quickly nodded in agreement, "we approve of this choice. Leah, what do you say?" Quil asked, holding back a happy smile, and managing to keep his expression neutral.

Leah was looking into the fire, and almost didn't hear Quil. Then glanced at Eliza and then towards Jacob before standing. "I am honored and humbled by your choice. I have long thought about this eventuality and how I would react. Two weeks ago I would've rejected the offer, because my future was unknown. Now, I will never relinquish the wolf because my love is immortal. To that end, I must consider the pack and my priorities. With the Alliance I have no conflicts of interest, but should the Alliance ever falter, I would have to leave the pack. My imprint comes before my duties."

Stephen raised an eyebrow but nodded, "thank you for the honesty, is that your only reservation in accepting?"

"Yes." Leah said with a single confident nod.

The council leaned forward and deliberated for a few minutes as everyone looked on in silence. Speaking native Quillayute, only the pack understood what they were saying, but they were not listening in.

Stephen leaned back into his chair with a slight frown, "for every shifter who bonds with another, it is an impossible choice that lies before them. While I have no doubt that you will do your duty, as you say that relationship may cause a major conflict of interest."

"You mentioned no conflict when I declared my intention to lead my pack." Michelle spoke up with fury on her brow.

"I… we must consider that complication for the greater good of the much larger pack." Stephen attempted to explain, but even he could see the hypocrisy of the concern.

"You would refuse my choice? A woman who will lay down her life for our people without hesitation. Who would be a steadfast and loyal leader for decades to come, because you have some reservations about an alliance you just swore to uphold?" Jacob managed to not shout at Stephen, but spoke through gritted teeth.

"Jacob, the question was raised by the entire council, not just Stephen." Rita said, holding up a hand to calm him.

"It is hypocritical at best, racist at worst. Isabella and Charlie were close friends with my family dating back a century. They are at the heart of this and I can say with one-hundred percent certainty that they will honor the Alliance as long as we do." Jacob argued, pointing towards Isabella and her coven as he spoke for emphasis.

Stephen worked his jaw slightly, then leaned over to Quil whispering something that no one except the council could hear. "Alright, with the caveat that there are circumstances that may cause a split in your loyalty should this alliance ever dissolve, we accept you as Alpha of the pack. In turn, Jacob, we have an offer for you."

"For me?" Jacob gave him an odd look, he wasn't expecting anything. He hadn't even made plans for his retirement yet, assuming he survived the coming battles.

"We would like you to join us, a full position on this council for both you and your wife. Stephen and I both wish to retire." Quil said again with a level of neutrality that he couldn't quite pull off, the joy and respect in his eyes was hard to miss.

"Stephen, you're retiring?" Jacob asked, looking at his nephew in confusion.

"After this afternoon I had a long talk with my wife and we realized that I was pursuing the wrong things. We're going to actually retire, I'm sixty-three years old and it's time. That, and I'm clearly no longer capable of making the right decisions on this council." Stephen smiled at his uncle before continuing. "I would also like to spend some time with my family again. We've been distant for too long for all the wrong reasons."

"I would like that." Jacob smiled back, although he was suddenly worried about the time he had left to spend with his nephew. "Alright if you're sure." Jacob gave his nephew a thoughtful look, and Stephen immediately gave him a bright smile and sharp nod. "Then I would be honored. How about you Tek?"

"Yes, absolutely I say yes." Tekali said standing up and joining Jacob, taking his hand in hers and pulling him close.

"Then we accept." Jacob said happily, kissing Tekali on the cheek and almost blushing at the applause that followed.

"Good, we'll figure out the logistics tomorrow." Quil said with a heavy, but happy sigh.

"So, Leah, are you ready?" Jacob asked, preparing his mind to relinquish control of the pack.

"Wait, now?" Leah's eyes widened in surprise, despite him being rather explicit with his intentions.

"Right, so you weren't even paying attention? I'm taking it back." He deadpanned and Leah gave Jacob a side eye glare in response. Jacob broke and chuckled slightly, "yes now."

Leah nodded once, looking over at Eliza who was beaming with pride. She took one deep breath and looked Jacob in the eyes, "I'm ready."

Without ceremony or any kind of warning Jacob let go of his wolf and his power as leader of the pack. It was almost as if his body began to deflate, and suddenly he felt every one of his one hundred and ten years of life, despite having the physique of a twenty year old.

Leah felt the opposite, suddenly the strength she always felt she lacked surrounded her and then infused through every fiber of muscle, organ, flesh and bone. She felt taller and far stronger than just seconds before. Then the minds of her pack opened up to her, while their thoughts were masked, she could feel each and every one of them. Then a strange and almost phantom connection opened up to Michelle, although it was far more tenuous than what she felt with the pack.

Then she realized that Eliza's mind was there too as a part of her pack. Unlike the rest of the minds that were just faint echoes, Eliza was firmly connected to her. She could feel that Eliza was further connected to others, mainly Isabella, Alice and Brianna but also to Michelle through Brianna. Again it wasn't thought, it was emotion, and it was just as real and powerful as her connection with the pack.

"Do you feel that?" She asked Eliza, who slowly began to nod.

"No… maybe, I don't understand. I can feel a connection to you." Eliza said in confusion, looking at Leah and feeling her mind and then echoes of the pack tethered to her.

"We think that our kind can bond a bit like the Quileute." Talia spoke up to relate her theory. "I'm bonded with a telepath so I couldn't be sure, but what Angela and I feel is not just attraction."

"I've felt Brianna as a part of my pack since I laid eyes on her. Although I don't know if she can feel me." Michelle admitted, now feeling validated after hearing Leah and Eliza.

"I don't know, but now that you mention it I can almost feel you." Brianna said searching her mind and the link between her and her family, and there it was. It was just a single thread, but forged in an indestructible metal, a tangible connection to Michelle. A bond as real as any of the others. One that she instinctively knew she could grow and strengthen. "Yes, there is something there. How did I not feel it before?"

"I didn't feel Leah until just now when she became the pack leader." Eliza started and then a big smile spread across her face, "maybe this bond would explain how Alice was able to get through to you mom. I think this confirms that we have our own version of imprinting." Eliza said with a disbelieving shake of her head.

"Wonderful." Isabella said sarcastically, then looked down at her hand and the ring on her finger. "Well, I guess maybe it is wonderful. I suppose I have an announcement to make. Alice and I are married for all intents and purposes."

"About fucking time, thank god!" Jacob said with a big toothy grin. Tekali nudged his shoulder but he just shrugged. "What? This is a good thing." Jacob said incredulously, and Tekali just chuckled in response before nodding.

"If anyone deserves happiness it is you Isabella." Tekali said brightly before pulling her husband close and giving him a small kiss.

"I guess that answers another problem." Quil said with a small shake of his head. "You and your family have started to change. Can you explain what this all is?"

"Not really. Eliza and I were unique among our kind, stronger, faster but also more human. We can sleep, eat and even cry on occasion. We had to hide those attributes while we were with the Volturi. It wasn't easy but we managed." Isabella attempted, but she wasn't really satisfied with her answer.

"You're sugar coating it." Eliza continued, "we had to maintain the same haircut and style for almost a century. It was a pain in the ass. Do you know how many shears I went through before figuring out how to cut it properly?"

"Interesting, so you are literally a new species of vampire." Rita said with a mildly excited look in her eyes.

"Yes, it is why we think Leah and Michelle could imprint on us." Isabella elaborated. "It may be why I have any semblance of warm feelings for Alice and my coven, when those were all but destroyed a long time ago."

"That isn't entirely true. I know you don't say love very often, until recently, but I've always known how much you care about me, mom." Eliza finally said out loud. Alice beaming joy at her, and Brianna giving her a happy grin.

Isabella shut her eyes on the surge of emotions. She had always hoped that her implied feelings were enough, when she had brighter days the small expressions of warmth and affection for her daughter were all she could give. To know that Eliza could feel her love, regardless of her inability to express it, was everything.

"I'm not Bella Swan. I lost her so long ago, but now, with my family I'm feeling almost… happy. No matter how much the beast inside me screams for retribution and revenge, one touch from my wife or one of my daughters is enough to quiet it. Maybe I'm not a monster." Isabella could feel something inside that was battling her demons, something warm and bright. But it was short lasting as she felt something shift in the darkness behind them.

"Yes, you are." A voice from the shadows said with venom dripping from every syllable, as a whistling sound broke the immediate silence at the interruption and a head landed near the bonfire.

"Riley?" Talia said looking down into lifeless eyes.

"Volturi scum." A loud growl punctuated the words of a darkly dressed woman who had emerged from the shadows of the treeline nearest the bonfire with a black and white striped tiger larger than a horse.

Isabella, Eliza and Angela were in motion before anyone else could think to move. Mei paused, with a small satisfied smile and drew her blade, while her companion crouched down low and let go a slow deliberate snarl of aggression. Isabella stopped just out of sword reach along with Eliza and Angela. Talia, Brianna, Rosalie, Michelle and Leah all joined a second later. The rest of the Cullens and both packs, who had all shifted, appeared behind them as back up.

Isabella held up a hand to stop any aggression, "Mei. Thank god you're alive."

"Old friend, you are thankful for my survival after sending an army to destroy my family?" Mei's voice was cold and hostile.

"It's complicated, but that was not us. These wolves behind me are our allies, and have nothing to do with the destruction of the covens around the world." Isabella said as calmly and neutrally as possible after hearing such an accusation from someone she considered an ally.

"I cannot take you at your word Assassin, the evidence is here. Especially after the Volturi have severed ties with you. With them you had some… coverage. Here, your motivations are suspect." Mei said, surveying the force in front of her, weighing her odds. She had no illusions she would survive, but perhaps it would be worth it to take out some of her enemy.

"Mei, Kira we were about to start talking about how to stop this shit from happening. Join us, we could use your experience and voice in this." Eliza begged, and the tiger stopped growling and sat back on her haunches. The wolves were all staring at her with hackles raised, but with her settling back into a neutral position Leah and Michelle sat back as well, and the rest of the packs followed suit.

"Interesting, those two women are the leaders of these wolves?" Mei said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, and they are both bound by soul to my daughters." Isabella explained simply.

Mei raised an eyebrow, "you have two daughters now? I would say that is wonderful news, except for your treachery."

"What do I need to do to satisfy your disbelief and restore honor between us?" Isabella kept her posture straight and formal, her stance was neutral to show she had no intent to fight.

"Submit yourself." Mei's voice was still cold, but as she examined the massive group in front of her, she was starting to realize that these were not the same people who slaughtered her family.

Isabella nodded once and stepped forward, falling to her knees and lowering her head. Mei looked down at Isabella, gripping her sword. Then sheathed it and drew another sword still in its scabbard. Kira transformed into her human form and took the sword from Mei, moving behind Isabella and in one smooth motion she raised the blade unsheathed at a downward angle towards Isabella's exposed neck. She looked to Mei and then folded the sword down to her hip before stepping away.

"Honor is satisfied. I trust you at your word, but if we should learn of any involvement by your coven I will consider your life forfeit." Mei said with a bow.

"I would submit to that, my trust in my coven is absolute." Isabella said, standing and returning the bow.

"Then, I guess we have a lot to discuss." Mei said her expression cracking slightly and allowing a hint of a smile.

"Eliza, why did she give the tiger the sword?" Brianna asked through the link.

"Mei is a ninja, their work is considered dishonorable. Kira is a Samurai, her honor is above reproach. They were demonstrating that Isabella still had honor, it was a symbol of trust." Eliza explained with a series of words and related images, which Brianna found amazing.

"Is this what it is always like?" Alice sent over the link, not intending to intrude but not really understanding how it all worked.

"Yes, and don't feel bad, truly private conversations can be kept that way. I imagine mom will show you how soon." Eliza glanced at Alice and sent the impression of a warm smile.

"So this is Mei, I can't believe you didn't mention her partner was named 'Kira'. It must be killing you to not mention the Trek connection." Alice said playfully to Eliza as they walked back towards their places around the fire pit.

"I tried that crack joke once, she's not a Trek fan, and neither is Mei so they didn't understand the reference. Besides, isn't DS9 your schtick?" Eliza kept the smile from crossing her face, but she was clearly amused.

"I was just partial to Sisko. He was a badass, and maybe my favorite lead in any of the Trek series'. One of the advantages of not being able to sleep, binge watching everything." Alice replied casually.

Eliza had to stifle a giggle. It was so endearing, and it was clear that Alice was feeling more comfortable around her after the bond so she sent the impression of a warm hug across the link towards her new adoptive mother.

"I liked Kira. Your joke made me interested." Kira said as she stepped up beside Eliza wrapping a beautifully detailed silk robe around her and tying it tightly at the waist with a traditional wrap.

"That's awesome, if you want any more recommendations I have a ton. Oh, and Alice, Jean Luc is really the best lead, but I can see how Sisko is your favorite. I was also kind of partial to Seven when she got her own show, finally out from under the shadow of Janeway." Eliza rattled off quickly and excitedly, happy to be among people who spoke her language.

Alice nodded thoughtfully, "Patrick was an excellent actor, but a French Captain with a British accent always bothered me. I also didn't get the impression he was much of a physical presence. Sure Picard was a great leader, diplomat and politician, but Sisko had those skills, and could punch a Klingon in the face and actually knock him out."

Eliza sighed in mock exasperation and shook her head slightly. "Heathen. However... one nut to another... was the Q episode totally superfluous?" Eliza asked with just as serious a tone of voice as Alice had.

"Ugh. Q. Arrogant, pretentious, and a total asshole. And yeah, that episode was kind of out of nowhere. Q was barely involved." Alice shook her head as she realized everyone was listening to the two of them as they walked back to the fire.

"I think Move Along Home was an interesting idea." Kira said with a knowing nod.

"Um… sure. Interesting." Eliza said, trying to not react.

"You disagree?" Kira replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Worst… episode… ever!" Eliza said, emphasizing each word and scrunching her nose with obvious distaste.

"I joke, yes, a horrible episode. I owe you for that prank." Kira said with a laugh.

"Hahaha, fair enough." Eliza felt Isabella's glare and cleared her thoat. "But I guess we need to get down to business now. Council, this is Mei and Kira, friends from one of the most prominent Japanese covens." Eliza said in introduction, motioning to Mei and Kira respectfully, each in turn bowing to the Council in respect.

"Greetings, will they be joining your coven?" Stephen asked, not really knowing the logistics of such things.

"Not at present, but they are friends." Isabella said looking at the two of them, Kira gave her a slightly hopeful look, and then glanced over at Mei without a word but with distinct worry in her eyes.

"Our coven was destroyed a week and a half ago." Mei said as her eyes lost focus and she turned towards the fire.

Angela cleared her throat, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is something happening… In Italy. It's Carlisle, he… my god no." Angela was clearly no longer fully present, her mind thousands of miles away.

Volterra - February 9th (Nine hours ahead)

"Carlisle, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Aro said with a slightly heightened sing-song voice.

Carlisle nodded, keeping his hands at his sides. Aro glanced down in disappointment but didn't make any aggressive moves towards him; "two things. First, if you will beg my pardon, I wish to discuss the execution of Isabella Swan."

"We haven't confirmed death yet." Caius said with a raised eyebrow, leaning forward in anticipation.

"I can. But I must know, which of our laws did she break?" Carlisle asked simply, without any accusation or judgment in his eyes.

"You're looking for a reason. To what end?" Aro asked, his hands clasped in front of him and his head tilted in curiosity.

"Just to understand, I have lost my entire family." Carlisle let some of his pain slip into his voice, but kept his words vague on purpose.

Aro smiled sympathetically, attempting to move in again. But Carlisle seemed to anticipate him and turned away beginning to pace. With a soft sigh of frustration, Aro moved his hands behind his back.

"Oh how unfortunate, were they caught in the blast? when Isabella left us we were under the impression that no reparation between her and your family was possible." Aro kept most of his sarcasm in check, but he did wonder what circumstances brought the two of them together.

"It's complicated." Carlisle refused to elaborate, clearly frustrating Aro further.

"Interesting, and I assume you are still not aggressive with that pack of mongrels down on the coast?" Caius asked with notable disgust.

"I owe them nothing, but I am one man. My cousins are not really fighters." Carlisle turned to face Aro again, his face unreadable. Aro wanted nothing more than to rush forward and take Carlisle by the shoulders, taking all of his thoughts, but he would have time to do that before he let him go. It was almost like a game, one he hadn't played in years. He used to be so good at getting the truth out of people, but Carlisle was oddly hard to read.

"The Denali, Isn't Garrett among them? He is a consummate fighter." Aro asked, trying to untangle the conversation, and perhaps trip Carlisle up or catch him in a lie.

"Perhaps, but he put that behind him many years ago. We are losing the point, please I must know your reasons. I must know what law she broke to invoke such a radical response. One that cost me everything." Carlisle punctuated the words with grief and pain, and it made Aro realize that this was no game. He swept back towards his chair and sat down heavily.

Aro nodded after a few seconds of thought, "fine Carlisle, you have been wronged so I owe you that much. There were a few things that when combined required such an act. First, well, her daughter had become romantically entangled with one of those wolves which is utterly unsupportable. Second, they willfully opposed us when we severed her alliance with those wolves. Our belief is that the alliance was formed because of that romance. Last, and certainly not least, we had condemned them nearly a century ago when Isabella came back from a hunt altered. They were abominations, but simply too valuable to outright slaughter as long as they worked for our interests."

"I see, so they were never really a part of the coven?" Carlisle said furrowing his brow as if trying to understand, but he had exactly the answer he needed.

"Actually they were, Marcus was genuine in his affection for them. We simply outvoted him." Caius said with a small petulant smirk.

"I understand now. Before I go, I wanted to tell you that I realized you were right, Aro." Carlisle's statement made Aro smile and lean forward in surprise.

"Right? About what?" Aro's trademark sing-song fake joyful exuberance came out and it almost made Carlisle roll his eyes.

"Those debates we used to have, about the nature of our kind and how it is inevitable that we fall to our base instincts. I thought you should know that I discovered you were right all along." Carlisle let his disappointment come through his voice, but not so much that he sounded as defeated as he truly felt.

Aro chuckled, "I always hoped you would eventually see reason." He looked to Caius who nodded. "I think we might have an answer to your current plight. To the point, we have space on our council, Marcus has since vacated his post."

Carlisle raised his eyebrows in surprise, "is that an offer?"

"Perhaps, would you be interested?" Caius replied with an intense stare.

"What would be the terms?" Carlisle asked, mildly intrigued.

"Simple, you take the seat and become our conscience. You have clung to your humanity in a way that is very admirable, and we haven't had a strong voice since my dear sister was killed so many centuries ago." Aro explained, looking down when he spoke of Didyme. Carlisle tried not to react, but he could see the lie. He just wasn't sure which lie caused Aro's tell.

"I have nothing left, and your offer is quite tempting. However, there is one other thing to discuss." Carlisle said with a smile, while forced he made it seem real by letting it spread across his face and up to his eyes.

"Right, what would that be Carlisle?" Caius asked impatiently.

"If I were to say that Isabella not only survived, but is in perfect health. So are her daughters, your fixer Talia and the human Henry. They have my entire family, save for Edward with them, including my wife, and have powers you could only dream of. What would you say to that?" Carlisle felt almost gleeful giving them the truth, knowing they wouldn't believe it.

"That's a happy delusion. No vampire could survive that explosion." Caius shook his head in disbelief.

"About that, did you know I served in the Marines as a doctor during the last war?" Carlisle said with a bright voice, placing his hands in his pockets.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Aro asked trying to follow Carlisle's train of thought.

"Carlisle?" A faint voice called to him. This caused him to pause. "It's Angela Swan, Jasper is on his way." He felt a wave of relief knowing that his family was coming, then fear. "We don't want you to die, the family cares about you."

Carlisle risked taking a deep breath before ignoring the voice and returning his attention towards Aro. "See, my rank and position gave me access to some rather disturbing things. Did you know those explosives you used to blow up their house were archaic? Pounds and pounds to achieve what one ounce of this will produce." Carlisle wrapped his hand around the palm sized ball in his pocket and pulled it out to show his audience. It was small and black surrounded by glass and a few dancing lights scattered across the shiny surface. "Undetectable even by modern screening technology. It can be detonated from half the world away instantaneously, and has an explosive radius of nearly a hundred meters. I found this among the bodies that swarmed my home and attempted to kill us, I have no idea how they had access to this kind of ordinance."

"What are you doing with that?" Caius asked, flashing down and taking it from Carlisle's hand.

"This is a gift." Carlisle said easily.

"To destroy Isabella once and for all?" Aro asked, his eyes widening.

"Why not, she took my family." Carlisle said with a conspiratorial smile.

"What are you doing? That could kill us." Angela asked, taken aback by what seemed like a betrayal.

Carlisle then split his focus, turning a part of his mind to speak to Angela. "I didn't think I would have this opportunity. Tell them I understand Esme's lesson now. Tell them to look in Esme's favorite book. Tell them… tell them I said goodbye."

"Carlisle… I beg you not to do whatever you are doing." Angela pleaded, feeling a finality to Carlisle's thoughts.

"It's already too late." Carlisle responded, trying not to react to Angela.

"I… I'll tell them" Angela sent as she realized what was about to happen and severed the link immediately.

"So you'll join us?" Aro asked, realizing that Carlisle was perhaps a better choice than he could have hoped for as he stepped down to finally touch Carlisle and determine if he was actually worthy to join the coven.

"Forever." Carlisle said with a small chuckle, that turned into a laugh as Caius turned to him in confusion.

Then without warning the little ball exploded in Caius' hand. Spreading out and consuming a surprised and terrified Aro and most of the tower. Debris rained down on the southern garden, but somehow the northern garden, Didyme's garden, remained intact. Five miles out from Volterra Jasper slammed on the brakes of the van he was pushing too hard down a single split lane highway, as a shockwave rocked them lightly and plumes of smoke quickly rose up into the air over Volterra.


Author's Note:

So I hope it didn't seem completely out of the blue, because the explosives were mentioned at least four times. The newborn armies loved to blow shit up, so of course one or more of those fifty or so bodies would have explosives on them.

Jacob figured out he was going to retire during the airport scene in Love Potion #9. I did not fully intend to make all the leadership women, but that's how it played out.

So the 'True Vampire' imprint thing is like I described with Talia/Angela. A kind of purity of emotion and genuine connection that can easily become romantic. While a shifter can become bound to a 'True Vampire' they wouldn't share a mental connection unless the shifter had the power of a pack leader who can mentally connect with other Alphas. While it doesn't matter too much, I believe that was established in canon between Sam and Jake. Also, for the mate of an Alpha they would absolutely be a part of the pack, and that weird mystical bond would bring them at least partially into the wolf link. That's my thoughts on the subject.

To clarify Angela cannot read minds half a world away unless she already has an existing connection to the mind in some way. Also, in a deleted scene Jasper reached out to her to see if she could connect with Carlisle. It felt like a bit too much of an explanation that wasn't fully needed, but if you were curious that is why she reached out to Carlisle. It will be mentioned later on in conversation.