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The next morning everyone was gathered in the woods. Elijah and Derek had cleared a large number of trees for the training grounds. Of course, Alex had ensured the trees were planted somewhere else. The ones leading the training exercise were Elijah and Jasper. It wasn't that they really needed it, but it never hurt to be prepared. Michael had multiple experiences in war with both vampires and wolves. He was no newbie in this aspect. Alex knew he would play dirty. Anything to get the upper hand.

"Mates will have to be separated." Alex stood in the front of the group. Elijah and Charlise are on either side of her. "I know it's not something we like, but it is safer for all of us. If Michael sees or even notices any mates, he will go after them. He knows the effect that it will cause. Michael will do anything to win this war."

"Any known weaknesses?" Alice asked.

Alex thought for a moment. "He was severely injured a few years ago. The rival pack ambushed him and nearly killed him. He survived, but he never fully healed. It is said Michael has a weak spot just below his left armpit."

"It is said?" Jacob scoffed.

"No one has been able to get close enough to verify it." Alex explained. "But, the few times I have seen him fight, he makes sure to keep that side guarded."

Elijah stepped forward. "A pack fights differently from that of a coven. But they have the same structure."

"They all follow their leader. The alpha." Carlisle stated. "You remove the alpha and the pack will fall apart."

"Micheal knows this, which is why he will send out the pack first." Alex jumped in. "He will not show himself until he sees an opening. The pack will have only one order and that's to kill anything that moves. It will be chaos."

"Which is why you all need to learn how to fight without rules." Elijah said. "No moral compass. No regrets. No doubts."

Jacob frowned. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means that you might come across something you don't expect." Alex answered. "Micheal doesn't discriminate when it comes to age. There will be juvenile pups in the pack. But know this, they will fight to the death."

"You want us to fight kids?" Sam growled.

Alex shook her head. "I don't want you to fight period, but here we are. The pups in the pack were given a choice. Either leave and find a pack or stay and become one of them. Those that stayed made their choice. They trained just like everyone else. They killed just like everyone else. They will not hesitate in ripping your throat out."

Jacob sighed, running a hand down his face. "What about females?"

"There will not be any. Micheal doesn't see females past being nothing but breeders." Alex glanced at Sam. "Producers to make his pack larger and stronger."

"And loyal." Derek growled.

"Loyal?" Seth tilted his head to the side in both curiosity and confusion.

Alex nodded. "Being born in the pack is all they will learn and know. Therefore their loyalty will lay with Michael."

"You said he was ambushed and attacked." Garrett said. "Who was it?"

Alex frowned. "I don't know. Why?"

"They managed to hurt him." Jasper was quick to catch onto what Garrett was coming to. "Just by talking to them, we can gain some insight on the injury."

Alex glanced down at her hands. She really didn't want to bring Enzo and his pack into this. She knew who had done the ambush and the reason behind it. Enzo had been the alpha male she was destined to mate with. An alliance between the packs. But before that was able to occur, Micheal happened. Enzo had heard what had happened a few days later and in an attempt to rescue her, he declared war. Michael may be a ruthless wolf, with a large pack. But Enzo was strong, cunning, and ruthless at times. Knowing this Alex was forced to flee with Michael and his pack.

"Who is Enzo?" Edward asked.

Alex growled at the invasion of her thoughts. "Someone I know from when I was younger. Alpha Enzo is the alpha of the second-largest wolf pack in the south. They rule the mountain region and every village down below. He and his pack were the ones to have been rumored on the attack to Michael."

"Can you get ahold of him?" Charlise asked.

"I can, but I am not sure he will be all that thrilled." Alex reached into Charlise's pocket, pulling his phone out. Walking a few feet away from everyone, she dialed the number she knew by memory. Her breath hitched at hearing the deep graveled voice. "Enzo?"

'Alex? That you?'

"Y-yeah."

'Where are you?! Are you alright?!'

"I am fine." She gave a watery laugh at the soft curses he mumbled. "I am with my family. Well, my new family."

'Where? What family?'

"Where are you right now?"

The sound of howling wolves echoed through the phone. 'We are on the trail of Michael. We got word he was heading towards a small town.'

"Forks."

'How d-' There was a long pause. 'He's hunting you.'

"I can't explain anything else over the phone Enzo. But I need your help."

'Text me an address. We aren't far from Forks.'

"Alright." Texting the Cullens address, she called him once more. "How long?"

'A few hours.'

"Hurry then." Glancing down at the phone in her hands, she took in a shaky breath. Alex was really stupid in doing this. Last she heard Enzo did mate another female, but that still didn't stop the emotions from running through her. It was a feeling of fear and worry. Enzo was notorious for being a hunter. And it wasn't just food he hunted.

"You alright Alex?" Elijah stepped closer to her, cupping her jaw and lifting her head. "What's the matter?"

Shaking her head Alex buried her face into his chest. "I want this to be over."

"And it will be." Elijah wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head gently. "I promise."

Carlisle for once didn't feel the flame of anger or jealousy. It was a shock, to say the least, but he was thrilled. Still, it bugged him the lack of response he had. "How long before he arrives?"

Glancing over at her mate, she offered him a loving smile. "A few hours, but knowing Enzo he should be here in two max."

"So, should we continue?" Jacob asked.

Glancing up at Elijah and then at Carlisle, she nodded. "Yeah."

Jasper narrowly missed the tree as Alex, kicked him square on the chest. His body landed with a hard thud onto the mossy ground. She cringed at the sound of breaking bones. Alice rushed over to him, helping him off the ground.

"Crap, sorry Jasper." She huffed a deep breath, scanning the others in the fields. They had been going at this for the past three hours. Vampires may not get tired easily, but the wolves were near exhaustion. "Carlisle?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's take a break. We wolves need a break."

With a chuckle, he called out the order. They had paired up one vampire with one wolf, getting them a feel for each other. In some, they switched it up with two wolves and one vampire or vice versa. They needed the vampires to learn how to fight like wolves. That movement and raw instinct. It would be the only chance they had to put a stop to all of this.

Jacob jumped to his feet, sniffing the air coming towards him. "We have visitors."

Taking a whiff of the air Alex didn't recognize the scent. "It's not Enzo."

Without another word, both packs and clans took off in the direction of the scent. It was a heavy moss and rain scent. Halfway there the group was split into two. The goal was to surround the intruders. To her surprise, they did so without any reaction from the unknown group.

Alex stood in front of them, beside Carlisle and Elijah. In front of them stood a pack of wolves, yet they showed no sign of acknowledgment towards them.

"Who are you?" Jacob demanded.

Still no reaction. Instead, they simply glanced his way before turning away.

Alex made her way toward them. To her surprise they stepped to the side, making a path for her. As she stood in the middle of the pack, a sigh of both relief and annoyance come over her. There in front of her stood a pitch-black wolf. "What the fuck Enzo!"

"What?" He chuckled.

"You nearly got yourself killed that's what!" She snapped at his ear, nipping the tip.

Enzo yelped, brushing his paw over the ear. "That was uncalled for."

"You deserve that and so much more."

Pinning her with a glare, he scuffed. "You know me. I do love making an entrance."

Hearing the slight whimper from Seth, she remembered why she had called him in the first place. "Come and meet the others. Then I will explain everything."

The second he stepped out Enzo growled at the overly sweet scent of a vampire. "You could have warned me, Alex."

"Right, sorry." She mumbled.

Enzo forced himself to not react to the scent. For years he trained himself to fixate and hunt down that smell. Needless to say, his instinct was fighting for control at the moment. "Sorry, might not cut it right now darling."

Alex paused, studying his tense form. "Enzo, are you alright."

"Yeah." Nudging her lightly on the shoulder he gestured to the vampire glaring down at him. "Who's the friendly bloodsucker?"

Alex rolled her eyes, trotting over to Carlisle and shifting. "Enzo, this is my mate."

Enzo raised a brow, shifting as well. "Snagging up an old strong vamp, not bad."

"Not funny." I mumbled. "I will give you the strong part."

Carlisle rolled his eyes. "Edward, let's take everyone back to the house."

Alex glanced around. You had a pack of shifters, werewolves, a few covens, and her family. They were going to need a bigger place.

"Alex is right." Edward sighed. "We need a bigger place for everyone. The house is at full capacity already."

Elijah shared a look with his sister. "We have a house not far from here. Still in Forks. We can house pretty much everyone."

"There is a cabin on the side." Rebecca added.

Alex nodded. "Alright, Enzo-"

"Let us get everyone settled and then you can explain." The alpha male gave his pack a quick bark. The wolves took off scattering around the woods. "They will keep watch until you are ready to go."

True to his word, the house wasn't far from the Cullens' place. Although she wouldn't call it a house, more like a manor. Following Carlisle into one of the bedrooms, Alex sat on the bed with a heavy sigh. Falling back, she allowed the foam of the mattress to surround her.

"We need one of these mattresses in our room." She mumbled.

Carlisle laughed, tossing some bags into the closet. "I'll get right on that."

Alex patted the bed, waiting until he lay beside her. Taking his hand in hers, she brought it to her face. "I love your hands."

"My hands?"

"Yeah, don't know why but I just do." Running her fingers over the visible veins on his hand, she grinned. "They were the first thing I noticed when I saw you."

Carlisle pulled his hand from hers. Sliding it under her head, he brought his arm around her shoulder and took her hand back in his. He listened to the soft beating of her heart, laying his head back on the pillow.

Alex snuggled closer to his side. Holding his hand in both of hers, she placed them between their bodies and closed her eyes. "I'm tired."

"Get some sleep." He whispered. "I'll stay here with you."

"Promise?"

"Of course."