{{Seth's POV}}
From Charlotte's blank expression, I could tell she didn't have a clue as to who exactly the Volturi were. Unfortunately, I did, which put me in protection mood.
"Where are they now?" I asked. "What should we do?" I pulled Charlotte closer to me. I felt her stiffen. She didn't pull away neither did she relax. I suppose she was trying to accept all this for me and herself.
"We can't put her in hiding. They already know about her. It would be pointless," George rambled as he paced the small hallway.
"She'll need more protection. That's our best option." Arianna stood still. She looked at me. "Do you think the others would mind helping?"
I shook my head. "I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help. She can stay with us for the time being."
George nodded. "I think that would be the best option. I'm sure they'll follow her scent here. If it's mixed with the werewolves scent, it could give us more time."
"We'll leave immediately." I pulled Charlotte after me up the steps.
"Wait a second. What's going on? Who are the Volutri?" I could hear the fear in her voice.
"People you don't want to be involved with." I left her standing in the middle of her room and went to her closet and grabbed one of her small suitcases. I sat I open in the bed. I pointed to it. "Pack quickly. I don't know when you'll be able to come back." I pulled out my cell phone. "I'll be right outside your door." I left to call Sam and the others.
{{Charlotte's POV}}
Seth drove my car quickly. Apparently, I would be staying with him for a couple of days, or at least until these Volturi people went away. He still wouldn't tell me who they were. They had to be a serious threat if everyone was tense.
The whole time he drove, he was on the phone. He was spreading it around that the Volturi were after me. Each person he talked to agreed they would help. Why would they risk their lives for me?
"Everything's going to be fine." Seth placed his hand in my leg as he hung up. "Don't worry about anything."
"How can so many of you risk your lives for me?"
"Because you're part of the pack now. And you're my imprint. I would protect you with my life. Always."
I was confused. "There are more of you? I mean more...werewolves?"
He nodded. "Plenty of us to protect you." He stopped my car outside a house. I suppose this is where he lived. He quickly got out and grabbed my suitcase with me following. A girl, who was maybe a little older than Seth, opened the door to let us in.
"Charlotte, this is Leah, my older sister. You'll be staying in her room for a while." He turned to Leah. "I'll back in a few hours." He placed his hands on my shoulders. "Call me if you need anything." He placed a kiss on my forehead before he left out the door.
"He's very protective of you," Leah said. She picked up my suitcase and turned down the hall gesturing for me to follow. "Are you hungry? I could make you something. No one is going to be home for a while."
"Uh, no. I'm fine. Seth made some pasta earlier." She nodded.
"This is my room." She opened a door. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." She set my suitcase down on a bed. It must have been brought here because it looked out of place in the already crowded room. "I think all of us are meeting to go to a bonfire later."
"Okay." She smiled gently as she left. A few seconds later, I could hear movement from down the hallway. How could she be so calm when everything else seemed in total chaos?
I made my way to the extra bed. Sheets and a comforter were folded at the edge. There was nothing else to do, so I started to make the bed. I placed my suitcase under it to keep it out of the way.
I sat on the bed looking around. Leah's room was simple. The light green and blue stripped walls matched her bedding. There was a small, short bookshelf against one of the walls with a television and DVD player on top. One door, which I assumed was a closet, was across from the bed next to a window. Another wall was lined with a dresser, a full length mirror, and desk that looked like it was pushed there to make room for my bed. Her room was clean and organized.
"Charlotte?"
"Yeah?" I asked as I made my way to the door. Leah was standing at the front door with a large picnic basket in her arms.
"I'm taking this to Emily's. Will you be okay here by yourself?"
"Leah, I'm eighteen. I'm sure I can handle a few minutes alone."
"I know. It's just―I don't want to leave you here when no one's here to protect you."
"I promise I'll be fine."
She handed me a cell phone. "Here's my phone. Seth's and Emily's number are in there just in case you need something. I shouldn't be gone long. It's only about a twenty minute walk from here. Lock the door when I leave. Anyone who comes in will have a key."
"Thanks." I closed and locked the door as she left.
I wondered around the house. There was a bathroom at the end of the hall, another bedroom that looked liked their parents room, and the last bedroom which looked like Seth's room.
His room was decorated in forest green and dark grey. It was a little messy with a few shirts and pants on the floor, but I expected this from a guy's room. His bed was against one wall with a closet, two windows and a desk were against the other wall, a wide dresser to another, and a stereo system with a shelf of CDs and a few books along the last one.
I turned on the stereo system. A bass sound with low voices filled the room. The volume was turned down, so it was hard to hear the words. I grabbed a random book at sat on his bed. His scent wrapped around me. I felt calm. It was nice and peaceful.
I jerked upright. There was noise coming from the hallway. It sounded like someone was trying to get through the front door. The racket stopped a few seconds later. A shadow passed before the windows. My instincts went on alert. It was dark outside so I couldn't see whoever it was clearly. Thankfully, I hadn't turned the light on, so whoever it was couldn't see me either.
The window started to shift and rise slowly. I climbed off the bed and crouched ready to attack. A large body climbed through the window and stood.
"Damn it. Where is he?" The voice was deep. It wasn't Seth. I had never heard this voice before. Their presence sent a warning pang through my body. Whoever he was, he was a threat.
I crouched lower and growled.
"Who's in here?"
I growled again before I launched myself at the figure. He grunted as I slammed into him and we fell into the wall.
"What the hell?" The figure pinned me against the floor. "Who are you, and what are you doing in the Clearwaters' house?" I snapped at his neck and pushed him away. He hit the opposite wall as the light came on.
"What's going on in here?" Someone wrapped their arms around my waist as I prepared to jump again. "Charlotte, calm down!" It was Seth. I stilled but remained tense.
Another person stood between me, Seth, and the intruder that leaned against the wall.
"Jared! What the hell are you doing?"
"I came to get Seth, but the door was locked," the intruder, Jared, said. "I climbed through his window," his eyes fell on me, "and she attacked me."
Seth sighed. "I told you she would be here. You probably just scared her." He pulled me closer as I slowly relaxed into him.
"She didn't seem scared to me." Jared stood and stretched causing a few bones to crack. There was a small dent in the wall. "I should be the one that's scared. She slammed into me pretty hard."
"Sorry," I mumbled. "I just reacted on my instincts."
"It's fine. I should have probably knocked. Or at least called for Seth." He held out his hand. "I'm Jared. We meet before, but I don't think you remember me."
"Charlotte. Again, I'm sorry." I shook his hand.
"Now that apologizes are exchanged, can we get to the bonfire?" the other guy said. "I'm getting really hungry." He walked out.
"And that's Paul. Excuse his rudeness. He's always like that unless he's with Rachel." Jared must have noticed my confused expression because he rushed on. "You'll meet the others later. I keep forgetting you don't remember anything." He followed Paul.
"We better get going too," Seth said. "I don't want Emily to think we skipped out." He held my hand as we walked out.
"Sorry about the dent. I'll fix it."
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it."
Then I remembered that Leah wasn't here. "What happened to Leah? She said she was taking something to Emily's, and said she would be back but she never came."
"I know. She called me from Emily's house." We started to walk after Paul and Jared. "I was heading back here when she called. I'm glad I came in time. Otherwise you and Jared would have probably killed each other."
"He scared me," I mumbled. Seth just chuckled.
The bonfire seemed more of a do-you-remember-me party. Everyone kept giving me pity looks. It was depressing. I felt bad that everyone had to go out of their way to make me feel welcome...again.
I ended up falling asleep against Seth as the hours passed well after midnight. The sun was breaking through the horizon when I finally stumbled into Leah's room to my bed with Seth's help.
"Leah?" Leah wasn't back yet. She had left right before I fell asleep.
"She's a werewolf. I'm sure she's fine." He pulled off my shoes and helped me settle in.
"What about school?" I asked Seth as he was about to shut the door.
"We told them you had pneumonia. We have to make sure everything is stable before you can be out and about again." I nodded. "Sleep as long as you want." The door closed. I rolled over and snuggled deeper into the sheets.