~Chapter 13~

It took Isabella a moment to process what had happened, then she sprung to her feet "She what?!" Her head snapping back and forth from her daughter, who's expression was more puzzled than anything else, and the grey wolf who stood still as a statue. "She imprinted on my daughter?"

Jacob turned to look at Isabella with a wry smile. "Things are never simple when it comes to you are they?"

Colin spoke up "That's not possible… she's… a SHE! And not only that, SHE's a damn vampire!" He said, horror in his voice.

Quil looked at him sharply. "That's not how it works. You can imprint on anyone anytime. We found out when Rita imprinted that gender didn't matter. Apparently species doesn't matter either."

Rita spoke up immediately. "You knew it was a shock when I imprinted, and I've never been happier. Old prejudices don't matter."

"Prejudices! It's not prejudice!" Colin stood up, his fury finally getting the better of him as he shouted. "She's a vampire! We should throw her into the fire right here!" He took a step towards Eliza, as if he felt, as a human, he was going to manage it.

Isabella prepared to stop him, but she didn't have a chance as Colin came face to face with a snarling grey wolf, who had taken one leap and interposed herself between him and the vampires. One snap of her jaws and he was scrambling backwards.

The wolf might have continued to stalk forward, but at that point a shrill ear splitting whistle pierced the air. It caused the wolves still shifted to whine, and even the humans covered their ears. All eyes turned to the source of the whistle to see a very irritated Eliza.

"You." Eliza pointed at Jacob "Sit down before you split a second pair of pants."

"You." Eliza pointed at Isabella, "Sit down Mother, We need to figure this all out. Arguing isn't getting us anywhere!"

"You." Eliza pointed at the grey wolf who's head was turned to look back at her. "I am quite capable of protecting myself. Go change into a human and put some clothes on."

"You!" Eliza pointed her finger at Colin "Sit your ass down and keep your idiotic ignorant opinions to yourself, or I won't be responsible for the wolf tearing off an arm or some other, more appropriate, appendage."

"You!" Eliza turned and pointed at Quil and then faltered a moment. "Well… nothing. You've been quite the gracious host. Thank you." Quil looked surprised and then grinned.

Eliza kept her glaring at them all until each one of her directives had been followed. Jacob and Isabella sat down, Isabella looking more amused than anything else at her daughter's tone, then Jacob. Colin had tried to sit down and missed the log he'd been sitting on. He fell on the ground, before scrambling awkwardly to sit on it properly. The grey wolf turned and slowly walked out of the camp fire into the darkness where Tekali had returned with clothing.

Once everyone had settled back down, Quil broke the ice by turning and grinning at Isabella. "You know, even if I was blind, I could see the family resemblance. She has your temper."

This caused Eliza to laugh as she sat back down, and Isabella protested. "I do not have a temper!" Laughter was an immediate response by both Jacob and Quil.

"Bella, when you were human, you broke your hand because you punched Jacob in the face, and you knew he was a werewolf." Quil laughed again and his deep rich laughter seemed to ease everyone's tension. Several members of the pack laughed as they returned to the firelight in shorts they'd retrieved after shifting.

Isabella sighed, looking slightly miffed, "Yeah well. He still deserved it."

"I have no doubt that my husband did several things to deserve it. Believe me, we've been married almost thirty years, and I still want to punch him in the face on a semi-regular basis." Tekali said as she returned.

Walking next to her wearing ill fitting clothes which obviously belonged to Tekali, came Leah. Leah looked the same as she had the last time Isabella had seen her nearly a century before. She stood about 5'10, with dark serious eyes, and extremely full lashes. Her dark hair was styled in a pixie cut that fell along her jaw line. As she walked into the fire light, she looked surprised and awed, staring at Eliza, though she sat down next to Tekali at her direction.

"Allow me to introduce, Leah Clearwater. " Tekali said gesturing to the dark haired woman next to her. "Leah, I'm sure you remember Isabella, and this is her daughter Elizabeth, though she prefers Eliza."

"Hello..it's.. ah nice to meet you?" Leah said, somewhat abashed, and then cringed, clearly at the sound of her own voice.

Isabella nodded by way of greeting, eyes flicking back and forth between Leah and her daughter.

"It's nice to meet you." Eliza spoke politely, though she seemed somewhat stunned by Leah's expression of absolute awe.

Quil coughed delicately which was as effective as banging a gavel in recapturing the group's attention. "Okay, we have several things to figure out. And some of us aren't getting any younger."

"Agreed." Colin said, his voice a more normal tone this time, eyes taking in the entire council. "We need to decide what to do about these new vampires in our area, the treaty doesn't cover them. And we need to figure out what to do about this… imprint." He said gesturing at Leah.

Leah started to growl at him but calmed after Tekali put a restraining hand on her arm.

Quil spoke up. "There is nothing to do about the imprint. That can't be controlled. You know our laws. Our most sacred and absolute law. No member of the pack can hurt another's imprint. The pact protects imprints just as much as we do members. As far as I'm concerned now we just need to figure out what to do about these other wolves." Quil looked around at the assembled council and pack members who were all nodding in agreement.

"We need to track this other pack down. If they're in league with vampires who are killing humans, or they're killing humans, then we have a major problem. " Quil said.

"I fail to see how other packs suddenly become our problem. They're not our pack and they sound like they're causing vampires problems, which is a good thing in my book." Colin sneered.

"Dude, you know you're kind of a douchebag right?" Eliza asked suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her, several council members grinning openly, and several members of the pack broke into loud guffaws.

Colin sputtered as Isabella put her face in her hands and groaned. "No more late night cable for you."

Eliza looked around, "What? Apparently there's not some kind of IQ test you need to take to get on the council. There's another wolf pack out there working with vampires who are killing people. And you're okay with it? That makes you worse than the monster you make us out to be." she said scathingly

"How dare y-" Colin began.

Eliza continued on, speaking over him. "I dare because it's true. You hate vampires because we feed on humans! How is that any worse than your own kind doing the same thing? Not to mention that if this continues… how long until it is brought to your doorstep? What then? Are you going to take the ostrich approach? Stick your head in the sand and pretend there's not a problem?"

Eliza turned to Tekali. "Seriously, would it be bad manners to punch a council member in the face if I promise not to knock it off his shoulders?" Once again several members of the pack could not help but laugh.

"Now you're worried about manners?" Isabella muttered shaking her head.

Jacob was grinning at Isabella, "Nope, her temper doesn't remind me of anyone at all." Isabella just rolled her eyes.

Quil interrupted, clearing of his throat at an exaggerated volume, and sounding suspiciously like he was attempting to cover up another laugh of his own. "I think the point is made. We need to figure out what the hell is going on. Perhaps we should go ourselves to investigate this situation in Seattle and see what we can find? Starting there might be a good idea."

Jacob nodded a little bit "I think a few of us going down there and investigating to see what we can come up with is the only thing to we can do. If there is something bigger afoot here, and that's what it sounds like is happening, then we need to know. One way or another this affects us, and puts our entire pack… our entire tribe at risk of exposure to outsiders."

Quil looked at the other members of the council, who all exchanged looks before he looked at Jacob. "If they're killing humans. You know what this means right?" He asked gravely.

Jacob bowed his head a moment and then slowly stood up, looking around at the group of both pack members and council members. "If they're like us, we have to find out who they are, where they come from and what their purpose is. If they're killing humans, then we will have no choice but to go to war with them, not just to protect the humans but to protect ourselves, our families and our way of life."

Seeing he had everyone's focus, he turned his attention to the pack members, taking a deep breath and gathering himself before continuing. "I came here tonight with the suspicion it might come to this. As soon as I heard another pack might be involved. That is why I wanted you all here tonight. Next to Paul, I'm the oldest werewolf here."

Eliza stirred slightly and her head moved slightly forward when she heard Jacob's last remark, but she said nothing, choosing not to interrupt the speech.

"I have led the pack for almost 80 years. Probably the longest of any Alpha in our history. I have never forced my will upon any of you. Nor will I now. Tonight I give you all a choice. You can choose to leave the pack and if there are more than one of you, form your own pack. Or if you think you can beat me, you can choose to challenge me for Alpha. If you succeed I will go my own way. If you fail, I will still allow you to leave. I am giving you all a way out." He looked around at the assembled pack, all of them staring at him with wide-eyed, even his wife was looking up at him with a stunned expression on her face.

"Make no mistake. If you choose not to leave, then you are choosing to follow me. If I commit us to a war, then you are agreeing to follow me. You know it's not something I want to do, or would do lightly. At that point I won't accept dissent. We have not had a true enemy in years, save for a random bloodsucker here or there. It's not going to be easy or fun. But it's what our ancestors first shifted for. It's who we are." Jacob finished, slowly looking around at the assembled pack, letting everyone process what he had said.

Jacob turned his head to look Paul in the eyes, "What about it Paul? You're the oldest member of the pack. Don't tell me you've never thought about being Alpha or being out on your own."

Paul blinked in surprise and quickly shook his head "Jake…man, hell no. You know me, I don't have the temperament to lead. We've been friends for too long. Besides… my wife, your sister, would fucking kill me."

"Damn straight," The other female member of the pack in attendance said, speaking up and intertwining her hand with Paul's.

Isabella frowned at her face, and realized she recognized her. "Rachel Black" she murmured to Eliza quietly. Though apparently not quietly enough because she turned to Isabella with a grin."Rachel Lahote now."

Jacob looked at Paul, and then at his sister, and then at the surrounding members of the pack. "I'm giving all of you 24 hours starting now. I don't want you to make a rushed decision and then regret it."

Tekali stood up kissing Jacob's cheek gently then murmured. "Where you go, we go together. Through this life and into the next."

Paul stepped forward, hand still holding Rachel's. "Won't need 24 hours to tell you that the two of us aren't going anywhere."

There was a quiet murmur among the pack members present and then one by one each stepped forward, into the light of the fire to state unequivocally. "We're with you."

Finally Leah stood up, looking Jacob in the face, her expression solemn "We haven't always agreed. But we're family. And you don't abandon family when times get tough." Then her expression turned exasperated and wry. "Not that I could even if I wanted to now." She said glancing over at Eliza uncertainly.

Quil looked up at Jacob and nodded with a soft sigh. "I truly hope that all this talk of war is for nothing. But… I fear deep in my soul. That a storm is coming and we must be ready."

Isabella was frowning pensively, looking around at the pack slowly, before she stood up and squared her shoulders, her voice formal. "I would like to speak."

The council and the pack turned to Isabella as one, their faces serious, as Quil nodded as if to say go ahead. "You have made your commitment here clear. You don't want these attacks to continue any more than I do, whether they be from vampires or wolves or anything else. We have the same goals. I would like to make a proposal."

Quil frowned thoughtfully, guessing her thoughts "You would like formalize a treaty?"

Isabella shook her head quickly, "No, not a treaty. A treaty merely says that both sides won't attack one another as long as certain behaviors are followed. I wish to offer an alliance."

"Mother!" Eliza shot up to her feet in protest. Isabella extended her hand effectively shushing her.

Quil shook his head, "No let her speak. I want to know why she protests." he said firmly to Isabella.

"I'd kind of like to know that myself." Jacob said quietly.

Eliza looked around at the surrounding pack and shook her head slowly. "Because you don't know what she is offering. What it entails to offer it without consulting the council." Eliza said meeting her mother's eyes.

"What does she mean? Do you not have the authority?" Quil eyes narrowed in a frown, looking at Isabella, his gaze demanded the truth.

Isabella frowned at her daughter for a moment before looking back at Quil, meeting his eyes, drawing herself up to her full height. She spoke formally and without emotion. "I am Isabella Volturi, acknowledged Princess of the Volturi. I have the authority to create an alliance without consultation. My daughter and I are charged with keeping control of this coast. This is why we approached the pack, and we seem to be in agreement about working together to solve this. You have already stated that a member of your pack imprinted on my daughter, thereby giving her your protection. You will defend her like she is a member of the pack. Obviously I have more ties here than I realized, and we would help defend you if there was need. An alliance formalizes the arrangement. I would be committing on behalf of the Volturi. That means that your concerns would be equal to ours. We would be committed to protecting your interests as much as our own. It would give you equal standing in any mutual concern, and allow my daughter and I freedom in working with you."

Eliza spoke up when her mother finished. "What she is not saying is what it means if she commits to an alliance on her own authority. My mother commits the entirety of the Volturi to the alliance. Should the council disapprove, then she is held responsible, though the alliance holds. If someone betrays the alliance. She can be found just as responsible, with a range of punishments up to, and including execution."

Quil looked up at Isabella slowly. "You would risk that to ally with us?"

Isabella looked down and met his eyes, her eyes softening for a moment. "The Quileutes have never been anything but honorable. I fail to see there being any true risk. The only way there would be a problem is if one of your pack attacked the Volturi unprovoked."

Quil looked thoughtful at that, and then frowned. "And what of the other matter?" He asked his hand gesturing at first Leah, who flinched slightly and then Eliza, who's brow furrowed.

Isabella shook her head, "If we are in an alliance it's a non-issue. You'd have equal consideration in all things, including customs. I know how imprinting works. I do not make decisions for my daughter, at least in regards to her personal life. I have no personal objection. However please know up front, if she does not even wish to speak to Leah, then I will allow no force in the world to compel her. It is her life. No one, and no alliance will decide that for her."

Colin spoke up, sputtering, seeing the serious and thoughtful expression on the faces of the other council members. "You cannot seriously be considering this. We cannot ally ourselves with them! They're leeches! They kill people!"

Eliza spoke up before anyone could reply. "We will respect your customs. Any members of the Volturi in the area will not feed on a human, except in the absolute gravest of circumstances." Isabella quirked an eyebrow at her daughter momentarily but said nothing."What? You started this. I'm totally blaming you." Eliza shot to her mother in their mental link.

Quil looked around at each of the council members, "I call for a vote on this proposed alliance." He said quietly, looking from council member to council member, and then to the pack leader. Each member slowly nodded their head in agreement. The lone dissenting vote belonged to Colin, who adamantly shook his head no.

Quil then reached out and braced his hand on the shoulder of Steven, who helped him stand up slowly. Isabella was reminded once again of his age and how frail he seemed. He reached his hand out and spoke formally. "I, Quil Ateara the Fifth, hereby commit the Quileute tribe as a whole to this alliance, unequivocally and unreservedly for as long as both sides are willing."

Isabella reached out and took his hand, surprised at the strength and firmness of his grip. "I, Isabella Volturi commit the Volturi coven to this alliance, unequivocally and unreservedly for as long as both sides are willing."

They shook on it and Quil grinned. "Vampires and werewolves, life is never boring with you around Bella."

"Er, you do know that you're not actually werewolves don't you?" Eliza piped up, her voice seemed both snarky and curious as she looked around.

Everyone looked at her as if she'd just announced plans to pursue a career in televangelism, though Paul spoke first. "Did you fall asleep there? Did you not see the whole 'transforming into wolves' bit?" He asked, prompting Bella to recall someone telling her sarcasm was the lowest form of humor once during her mortal life.

"No I got that, that makes you guys shape shifters. Werewolves, which we also call 'Children of the Moon' are different." She said as Isabella smirked, nodding a bit in agreement with her daughter.

"How so?" Jacob asked curiously, his interest piqued

"Well werewolves can change anytime, but they HAVE to change during the full moon. They're also allergic to silver. Your gift seems to be passed on genetically, theirs gets passed on by biting someone. They're supposed to be extinct. Not that it really matters here, but I thought you should know. If you say werewolf around other Volturi they start getting really nervous. Because one werewolf can turn into an absolute plague." Eliza shrugged a little bit, feeling her big finish was a bit lame.

Quil grinned at Jacob and murmured "Never a dull moment." which caused everyone to break out in laughter again.

"If there's no other business…" Quil looked around curiously

Isabella spoke up, "Well there is one other thing."

"Why am I not surprised?" Jacob asked rolling his eyes theatrically and laughing under his breath before his expression got serious again.

Isabella shook her head quickly. "Just a minor point, I want to make sure to make. Your alliance is with the Volturi. Not with the Cullens. We are two separate entities. Do not make the mistake of lumping us together. You aren't required to cooperate or protect them unless we are required to, and the same holds true in reverse. They are not required to help or protect you. Nor do I have the authority to compel them to do so."

She looked around, making sure everyone was being attentive to her words. "You can chose to tell them as little or as much as you wish. Several of you know, I have a history with them and they'll find out about my presence here soon enough, so do not feel the need to protect my identity. As long as you are under no obligation to say anything to them, and don't let them trick you into doing so. Also, be aware that one of them, Edward, can read your thoughts, at least the surface ones. If they request a meeting, which I have no doubt will come sooner rather than later, if only to tell you about the presence of others in the area, you can insist that Edward not be present. Carlisle will honor the request."

Isabella grinned and looked around, "If he shows up and you really want to annoy him until he leaves, sing the lyrics to the most annoying song you can think of in your head. He can't help but hear it and then they get stuck in his head." That caused everyone in the group to smile.

Quil nodded then looked glanced at everyone. "I declare this Council meeting concluded. And I must say it's been the most eventful council we've had in years." Once again everyone except Colin laughed. Several of the pack members approached to assist the council members who needed assistance leaving the clearing

Bella, despite feeling a sense of accomplishment, couldn't help but feel this was just the beginning of a long, hard road then she glanced over at Eliza and Leah. "A hard road indeed." She thought ruefully to herself.

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Okay, a couple of things in these here author's notes.

1st) I'm well aware from reviews and private messages that Alice and Bella haven't even met again yet. ZOMG O_O I know. It will happen. I promise. But it will happen slowly and in it's own time. Their romance is assured. (I pretty much think they should be together cannon :P)

2nd) Bella is NOT the same sort of person she was. She's... gone through some changes. OBVIOUSLY.

3rd) The majority of people seem to like the idea of an Eliza and Leah paring. I'm sorry if it bothers some of you. I didn't actually originally intend it. But... it just fits.

4th) This chapter is extra long. but we didn't see any way to make it shorter.

Lastly. Please read and review. I want 3000 reviews. ^_^ which is an insanely high amount. But i gotta set my sights high. It encourages me to write more! Love it or hate it I want your feedback. And I'm happy to hear specifics on what you like or hate.

As always. I reply to everyone who gives me feedback if they have PM's enabled.