I watched on as Carlisle and Esme, eyes closed and motionless, each leaned on the other and whispered a silent prayer over us. I couldn't say that this ritual I had long ago left behind was not comforting. God was never an afterthought in my previous life. In the worst of times, before other things were able to, Sunday mass was one of the few things that offered respite, an escape. I remembered the beautiful latin hymns that echoed up into the tall church ceilings and the momentary peace I felt as I stared at the ornate stained glass windows.

Rosalie tightened her grip on my hand and pulled my attention away from them and onto her. She wrapped an arm around my waist and squeezed, brushing her cheek on mine, before leaning back into Emmett's hold. I squeezed her hand back and smiled as I let go.

"Do I still stink?"

She didn't say anything but shot me a look that explained enough otherwise.

I didn't push her, knowing that her quick gesture was her way of apologizing, as minute as it was. As always Esme was right, Rose was just worried, of course not just about me, but also how my potential connection with the Quileute wolf might affect the whole family. That was a justifiable worry, but she was always quick to react.

When I first woke up Rose was bitter at my existence. Another liability, one more way to potentially expose the lives they had made up for themselves. A life that she was already painstakingly trying to make the best of. What I initially saw was the girls I used to envy in my childhood. The daughters of rich families that came up from the city to summer in my small lakeside town. The girls with no care in the world that had everything I could only dream of. To say we had a rocky start would have been an understatement.

Eventually through my own small tragedy I learned of hers. Rosalie could only dream of the one thing she truly could not have.

Outside of my adoptive parents, even as frustrating she could be, sometimes it felt like we understood each other best. We both had lives we desperately wanted to be able to continue before they were stolen away from us. At some point I almost felt like death would have been the more peaceful option, that I wouldn't have been forced to see exactly what could have been fall through my hands just outside my reach.

"They should be here soon," Alice said, separating herself from her own silent ritual with Jasper.

We got into formation according to Jasper's meticulous planning, lining up parallel to where Alice's vision had the newborns coming through. Jasper straightened up and stood in the middle, a bit ahead of us, prepared to lead us into the battle like the major he was.

The wind shifted towards us to our advantage and the traces of Bella's scent blew past as did the scent of the pack that was becoming more and more familiar. It was good to know that although out of sight, they were closeby waiting in the wings to join in.

"One more minute," Alice said.

I stilled and took a deep breath to center my head and reminded myself that although they outnumbered us, we were more than prepared, and with a surprise on our side. We were going to be okay. All of us. We had to. Because I didn't know what I'd do if we weren't.

The life I saw slip away didn't exist anymore. My family existed. Esme who saved me and loved me existed. This was my life now.

"They're here," Alice said.

As soon as she said it, I could hear them. They were loud, rampaging their way through the forest. No skill, no decorum, just brute strength, and a desire to kill.

The wind redirected once more, strengthening, and I could smell him amongst the pack.

For the first time in a long time I prayed. I prayed in hope we would all get through this unscathed.

The army of newborns that we had spent the last months fixated on finally broke through the line and the clash was immediate. A sound akin to thunder echoed into the clearing as Jasper charged ahead and made first contact with the rest of us following suit.

I flanked Rosalie as we ran together targeting a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. He had a narrow face and heavy brows that loomed over wide round eyes. They were strikingly red, a stark contrast against his pale face. Someone out there knew what color they used to be. He was once somebody's someone. Maybe he still was, it can't have been very long ago since he had been turned. Not too long ago this man's eyes were some other color, a deep blue, or maybe a warm brown, and not the bright red that had finally noticed mine and Rosalie's arrival.

It was too little too late as he had been caught up in the chaos shortly before we got to him. I swooped down and aimed at his legs to knock him off balance as Rosalie went up the other way and hit him across the shoulder. He twisted in mid air before skidding through the mud and grass and tore against the ground to right himself. Emmett charged at him, tackling him back against the ground as he tried to get up. I lunged forward, jumping over Emmett, landing right above his head. It was too late for him. I turned and reached down, twisting his head off, lobbing it to a pile of dry kindling we had prepared in advance.

I ran over to the pile as different parts followed through the air, Rosalie and Emmett finished him off. I reached into my pocket and grabbed matches, quickly lighting one and throwing it into the debris. The fire lit fast and he was enveloped. I looked away to observe the clearing, but not before seeing parts of him still wriggling, trying to escape the deathly heat.

The newborns were regrouping, slowly understanding that brute force was not the best option anymore, but they lacked any rationality, they only had anger and bloodlust. Just as they were recalibrating there was a loud howl and in a flash the wolf pack had joined the fray. It was an organized chaos, a small portion of the newborns were shocked, too stunned to move. They went first. The rest charged again, their ferocity reignited. I ran in once more, joining my family and the wolf pack as they dismantled the newborns that had not yet realized they were outskilled and soon to be outnumbered as their numbers began to dwindle.

A newborn lunged at me, a young woman with short blonde hair, and attempted to grasp around my torso. She was too slow, I dove first, and thrusted her back. She flew in Jasper's direction and as a testament to his experience, he arranged his body right away for her to land on his knee. He made quick work of her.

Another newborn, a bigger man, yelled in anger, and charged at me. I started to divert away, but before I could, a gray wolf lept on him and engulfed his torso between his jaws, shaking him wildly as if the newborn was a toy. Embry looked at me before he threw the man into the air and I ran to follow his trajectory. We both jumped and used our downwards momentum to each grab on, splitting him into two.

I gestured to the smoking pile behind us and hastily broke the newborn apart. Embry followed my example, tearing away with his teeth.

I looked up to observe the clearing and desperation clung onto the remaining newborns. It was over almost as soon as it started. The select few that had not succumbed yet were surrounded by my family and the wolves, striking out in outrage and fear.

I gestured back at the wolves before I gathered up the pile of limbs. "You should go, Embry," I said, walking towards the smoke, "before it's all over."

Embry tilted his head in question, his brows furrowing over his yellow eyes. He looked at his pack mates and then back to me, shaking his large head as he followed me.

The fire had grown larger since I had started it and I added my new pile to the flames. There were already ashes at the bottom of the fire as the intense heat made quick work of our kind. The first one, with the wide and round eyes, had already been reduced to nothing.

Embry stood close to me as he watched the purple-black smoke dissipate into the gray sky. I remained very still, very aware of the small space between our bodies. My family started to join us, adding to the fire. The wolves cautiously brought parts to the edge of the fire before retreating to the other side of the clearing, sniffing the ground for overlooked pieces.

I peered into the depths of the ashes. I did not know the circumstances of how these individuals received their immortality, but I did know from what Jasper had told me that it was rare that they would have made their own choice to become a part of this small army. As quickly as they were forcibly brought into a new life, they were taken out of it. What purpose did they serve?

I gripped at my sides. In the end it was all so pointless.

Warm air blew on my hand. Embry had gotten closer, his head lowered close to my shoulder. He pointedly looked away from me and I focused on his breathing. His scent was comforting. Slowly, I lifted a finger and brushed it softly against the gray fur on his cheek. He stilled in the middle of his breath and the beat of his heart quickened, thundering loudly in my ears.

"They're coming," Alice said, her clear voice steady, "The Volturi."

I broke away and snatched my hand back, crossing my arms. We knew this was a possibility, but I had mentally refused to acknowledge their potential arrival in the midst of all that has happened in the past few days. This was just dandy.

"So they finally decided to stick their noses in," Emmett remarked.

"How many are coming?" I asked Alice.

"Five." she replied.

A ways away, Carlisle and Esme were quietly talking to each other before making their way to join us. As Carlisle turned, he gestured in our direction, and cautiously, a small newborn girl appeared from behind some shrubbery and bushes. She followed them as they led her towards us. Carlisle had given her the chance to surrender.

"When?" I asked Alice again.

A loud yelp echoed through the air from the other side of the clearing and we turned to see a newborn grasp its hands around one of the wolves. Embry took off towards them immediately, just as the large russet colored wolf, Jacob, dove in, tearing the newborn off the other wolf's back. They rolled through the grass together and Jacob attempted to right himself, but not before the newborn was able to keep hold of his back and lifted the wolf, crushing Jacob between its arms.

The other wolves finally caught up with them and ripped the newborn off, destroying it quickly with their numbers.

I promptly dashed over, knowing Carlisle would need my assistance. We both arrived at Jacob's body at the same time. He laid limp on the grass surrounded by his pack, our presence erupted a mix of wary growls and deep barks in whines of sympathy for their packmate.

"Please," Carlise said, slowly walking closer to the wolves with his arm stretched forward, "let me help him."

The barks and growls continued until a sole great roar of a howl quieted the rest of the pack. The black wolf, Sam, walked through the encirclement and looked from Jacob to Carlisle, lifting his head in a nod.

I followed Carlisle and knelt beside him as we tried to adjust Jacob's large body, Carlisle quietly apologizing to him as he whined in pain. I held him down as gently as I could as he struggled against Carlisle's exam. His vitals were strong and I watched as some of his ribs began to shift ever so slightly, he had already started to heal. It was to his detriment. Carlisle surely would need to reset them, a painful process.

Carlisle tsked, no doubt already aware. "Most of the bones on the right half of his body are shattered. He'll need to shift back so I can treat him properly," he noted.

"They're coming soon." Alice's clear voice cut through the clearing.

"They can't be here, Carlisle. They need to leave," I reminded him as he remained focused on Jacob, reluctant to leave a patient. The last thing we needed at this moment was the Volturi discovering the wolf pack.

Carlisle nodded and turned his attention to Sam, "Take him back to the reservation, with your permission I will be there as soon as I can."

Sam nodded and then barked orders at his pack. Embry and another wolf quickly surrounded Jacob and lifted him up on their backs with the assistance of the other wolves. Swiftly, they exited the clearing and disappeared into the forest.

Carlisle and I made our way back to the others.

"I will need your assistance later, Vera," he said.

"Of course," I agreed.

"Edward and Bella should be here soon," Alice said as soon as we arrived back to the fire. It had died down and was now nothing more than barely lit embers, purple-black smoke drifting lazily in the air, almost heavy. I crinkled my nose. All those newborns, previously people, human, already reduced to nothing but ash.

Edward arrived holding a passed out Bella, explaining her reaction in hearing what had happened here. Alice reassured him, updating him by the minute when Bella would wake up and the rest of us when the Volturi would arrive.

When she did wake up, right when Alice said she would, she asked about Jacob. Carlisle reassured her of Jacob's prognosis. Jacob was going to be fine. Carlisle left out the treatment that I would be helping him with later, but Jacob would heal quickly from that as well.

Edward explained the newborn to Bella, as Bella had finally noticed their presence.

The young girl screamed in agony and as she thrashed about, questioned how we were able to deal with Bella's presence. Jasper took a defensive step, but Carlisle held him back, offering calm instructions to the girl.

"Now," Alice whispered. The Volturi were here.

At the far end of the clearing five cloaked figures came closer, with one at the front. Edward greeted her cooly, she was Jane.

The conversation between Edward, Carlisle, and Jane went concisely. She asked about the surrendered newborn and the army of them that no longer existed. She was apprehensive and sharp regarding their numbers and leader, which evidently was Victoria.

She questioned the young girl before siccing her talent upon her. The girl whose name was Bree screamed in agony and Jane smiled. Then she stopped and continued to ask Bree more questions. Carlisle and Edward provided more context until Jane was satisfied, well as much as possible. Carlile tried to state Bree's case and Alice also interjected regarding the date of Bella's eventual transformation.

I wanted this so badly to be over.

This cruel little girl, who was likely thousands of years older than me, finally reached a conclusion after much discerning back and forth. She turned to leave and instructed one of them to finish up.

I watched as the fire grew and enveloped her until Bree was no more.

Oof that was a tough one to get through. More Embry in the next one. xx