"I'm truly sorry, Sam. I can't explain it, but I had absolutely no idea any of them had left Italy." This time it was Carlisle who was pacing as Sam perched uncomfortably on the edge of a deck chair. The fragile chairs were clearly not designed to contain his large, muscular frame, and he briefly pictured Emmett easing his bulk into one of the delicate seats. Actually, they were mostly for show, since vampires really had no need to sit. "Even Alice and Edward were completely in the dark," Carlisle continued, interrupting Sam's reverie.
"Well, this changes things," Sam growled. "We need a new strategy, since we obviously can't trust your family's psychic abilities as our early warning system. They're up to something, Carlisle. Rosalie is absolutely sure she saw Alec and Felix?"
Carlisle nodded. "Yes. She says they couldn't have been more than 20 yards from the house. And we have no idea whatsoever what they're up to. They won't return our calls."
"If you don't mind my saying so, Carlisle, I think your family is more vulnerable right now than the pack. Nobody's getting past our patrols on the perimeter of the reservation without our knowledge. We can smell a vampire a mile away," he maintained, then hastily added, "no offense."
"Well," Carlisle replied evenly, "if they've found a way to shield their thoughts from us we could be in big trouble. They know now that Bella is still human, and I'm sure they feel that we've been warned. That, and retaliation for Jane's death, makes it appear that it might be time to move on…again."
"That's your decision, of course," Sam muttered, "but I doubt that you can outrun them or hide from them. If it comes to a showdown, and that seems inevitable, you're going to need our help. We all need to prepare, and cooperation between our species will be…difficult," Sam finished lamely. They were both acutely aware of the innate animosity between the vampires and the pack.
Training was to take place in a meadow not far from the Cullens' house. Jasper and Sam were recognized as de facto commanders of the vampires and wolves, respectively, and they had their work cut out for them. The trouble started when Paul and Emmett found themselves paired up for combat exercises.
Paul's wolf bristled, the fur on his neck standing straight up as he bared his razor sharp teeth and growled deep in his throat. Emmett flexed his formidable muscles and rumbled a growl of his own, equally menacing. The ground shook as they rushed at each other, too swiftly for the human eye to capture, and collided with a deafening crash. Sam and Jasper raced toward them, fearlessly wading into the snapping, snarling fray.
As the dust settled, the giant black wolf lay panting in a pool of blood. The blood, for the most part, wasn't his. The dark silver wolf, only slightly smaller than Sam's coal black animal, was sliced open from shoulder to flank. The grievous wound was already beginning to close itself as Sam stirred and shook out his dusky fur.
Emmett was missing his right arm, which had been cleanly sliced from his shoulder by Paul's razor-sharp teeth. Jasper stomped into the brush and retrieved it, tossing it carelessly to Emmett, who caught it neatly as he sat where he had landed, amid the shattered remains of a boulder. Hands on hips, Jasper turned and glowered at them.
"Is there something about the word 'cooperation' that you two don't understand?" he thundered. Paul and Emmett had the good grace to look abashed, as Sam growled in obvious agreement. Jasper threw up his hands and strode off, quickly disappearing into the thick underbrush.
Now it was Carlisle's turn. His soft voice belied his exasperation with the pair. "If we hope to have a chance of surviving this battle, it will be absolutely necessary for ALL of us to cooperate."
Sam glared at Paul, his black eyes penetrating. "We're going to need all the help we can get, Paul, but one more move like that and you're out of the picture. I won't have the pack defeated by one of our own."
"Got it, Sam. I'll rein in the temper – I promise. And sorry."
Sam phased back to human form, his dark eyes still blazing. He was an imposing figure, standing straight as a renaissance sculpture and seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was stark naked. Esme politely turned her head, but Alice met his steady gaze as Rosalie allowed her glance to slowly sweep over his sculpted bronzed physique with just the hint of a smile.
The sun was sinking low on the horizon, and Sam barked a sharp command. Beyond furious, he snapped "Enough! Same time tomorrow!" With that, he leaped toward the shadowy forest, landing on four enormous paws.
The group dispersed, wolves and vampires speeding off in opposite directions. Jacob sprinted to catch up with Leah. "I'm not sure I want you involved in this, Leah," he began.
She slowed and turned her head, looking into his eyes. "Not your call, Jake. I'm a bona fide member of the pack, remember?" He stopped then, resting his russet head on her silvery fur and whining softly.
"I know, Jake. But it's not in my nature to stand by and watch the pack defend our land. You always knew it was part of the deal. "
He rubbed his muzzle gently against her face before turning back to the trail and breaking into a trot. She kept up easily as he sighed. "I knew better, but I had to try."
Training settled into a daily routine after that. The two factions tried their best to blend into a single well-oiled machine, and for the most part they succeeded. Both Sam and Jasper kept a sharp lookout for trouble as they put the group through their paces, day after grueling day. The vampires trained with and without weapons while the wolves relied on their teeth and claws. The only casualties at this point were accidental – a missing finger, a gash, an occasional cracked rib. Nothing to worry about, since healing was almost instantaneous.
Twice as many patrols were maintained now. One pair circled the perimeter of the reservation, while another kept watch on the Cullen house. The vampires within also kept a constant vigil, needing neither human food nor sleep to sustain them. They were all on edge, still having no idea what was going on in faraway Volterra.
Sam and Carlisle met at least weekly. Both knew better than to relax their guard. Carlisle emphasized that these vampires were over a thousand years old, and they were known to have infinite patience. The stress was wearing heavily on the wolves.
Sam and Jacob were on patrol in LaPush as the sun peeked over the horizon and an ululating howl broke the silence. They both instantly recognized Embry's voice. Twin howls echoed eerily as the two large, powerful wolves turned in perfect unison and hurried toward the sound while alerting the others.
One by one, the rest of the pack joined the chase, leaping from doors and windows and phasing on the run. Leah sprang from her bed, meeting Jacob in the hallway as he hurried out of Tommy's room with the baby cradled in his arm. Leah reached for Tommy, kissing Jake quickly, fiercely. "Be safe," she murmured as she drew the warm baby close and watched her husband run out the back door.
Christy's eyes flew open. "Please, Seth, don't go" she begged in a whisper. She had a strong feeling of foreboding about this early-morning summons. He kissed her softly before leaping to his feet, striding naked toward the front door of her small apartment as he called over his shoulder. "The pack needs all of us, Christy. I'll be careful. I promise." He opened the door, carefully looking both ways before leaping down the steps into his wolf form and across the lawn into the nearby woods. He had perfected his three-legged stride so that the handicap was barely noticeable.
She nodded numbly, pulling on a robe and tightening the sash as she stepped, barefoot, into the small kitchen and measured coffee and water into the percolator. As the smell of fresh coffee permeated the apartment, it failed to provide the usual comfort and warmth.
Christy looked around the cozy apartment. The adjustment had been easy, once she decided she couldn't continue living with her father. Her trust in him had eroded to this point over a period of months, and she was content to be on her own.
Last night was only the second time Seth had stayed over. They were trying to take it slowly, and she smiled in spite of her concern. He was so kind, so gentle, and she wondered at what point she had fallen deeply, irrevocably in love with him. As she sat by the window, ignoring her rapidly cooling coffee, she sent up a brief, fervent prayer for protection of the brave Quileute shifters.