Disclaimer: Not Stephenie Meyer

Disclaimer Deuce: This chapter was completed three weeks ago.

Tanya's POV

"Are you sure you want to read this?" Alice said with the letter in hand.

"Yes I am." Alice shook her head.

"You're not going to like what it has to say." she insisted.

"I know... but I deserve it."

"You don't. You don't need to torture yourself." I shook my head. Mike's younger brother James wrote a letter to me, handwritten. I didn't need Alice to tell me it wouldn't be nice. After the initial shock of losing Mike I never connected with the Iversons again... it was easier, better if I just distanced myself. Alice reluctantly handed me the letter. I opened it delicately. I flipped it open not looking forward to what would certainly come next.

"Tanya,

I write this letter today because I was told

I need to stop keeping in my anger inside.

I would apologize for telling you all these

things. I would apologize for taking it all

out on you. If I was sorry. The truth is I

blame you for everything. We could get

in to an argument about society and how

You shouldn't have been hunted for being

attractive but I really couldn't give a shit

what I am or am not supposed to feel.

This is what I feel. Michael, my older
brother was taken in your place. My

caring protective brother stepped in the

way of your attacker and took your

place in the kidnapping. He loved you.

He was wrong to. You are scum. You are

the worst kind of person. My brother is

probably dead, and he died to save your

ungrateful bitch of an ass and you

haven't done anything. You cut off all

ties to us. You'd rather move on like he

was no more than an unpleasant memory.

That unpleasant memory was my brother.

He had dreams for a life he'll never

experience because he was with you.

You stole my brother from me. And I will

never forgive you for that. I hate you so

much words can't say how bad it is. I've

been told not to blame you, how much

you've lost. Well fuck you. If he never

met you he wouldn't have martyred

himself for you. I suspect you will go on

with your life as you always have but I

felt you needed to know what depth of

a terrible person you are. I hope my

brother haunts your nightmares for the

rest of your days.

Sincerely

James Iverson."

I gulped reading his words. They were harsh and angry... but they were hurt. They showed the pain of losing a loved one. He was right... I should have done more, I should have made Mike stay, and reconnect with his brother, with his family.

I knew then I had to do it, I had to make this right. James... I swear I will bring your brother back to you.

Leah's POV

"At least let me go with you." Patrick pleaded. I touched his face and shook my head.

"No Patrick. I can't let you come along. It would make Embry lose it and we can't let that happen."

"Embry chose to join the Volturi." he argued.

"Yes, but he's there well over his one year contract."

"I don't want you to go alone. I can protect you from all of them." I shook my head.

"Even if you could you couldn't protect me from Mike, and if we're fighting the ones we want to bring back we've already lost." I said making my way to the Cullen's Patrick followed but stopped at the edge of the property too aware of what happened the last time he went on to Cullen real estate. I turned back to him.

"You must understand why I need to do this."

"I do understand, but I'm not okay with it. If you do this, we're taking some time apart." I bit my lip. Patrick was scared of losing me to death or Embry.

"I'm sorry Patrick... but this is something more important than us." I said removing his promise ring and handing it back to him. He nodded. I turned around and walked away trying to stifle the tear in my eye. Why are you leaving your love for your ex? I asked myself. Truthfully I couldn't say. Part of me would always love Embry, but I was with Patrick. He's spent his last year and a half saving us, now it's time for us to save him... he has so much more to live for than he knows." I calmed my breathing as I saw Jasper waiting for me.

"Jasper, I'm going to go get Mike and Embry from the Volturi." He nodded. Tanya appeared next to Jasper.

"I'm going too." I nodded. The rest of the Cullens appeared. Carlisle spoke first.

"I wish not to come along." he said uncomfortably.

"I understand." Tanya said comforting her long time friend.

"It's not my place to make him come back."

"We'll take care of it don't worry." Alice said with a smile. Jasper frowned.

"My love... I think you should stay here... I worry for you, they want you." he said. She shook her head.

"No Jaz!" she pleaded.

"We can't hope to battle them, not when they have Michael and Embry. Please my love trust me." Jasper pleaded. She nodded pulling him close to her.

"I don't want to lose you." she whispered in to his chest.

"Don't worry Alice, Jasper will be safe with us." Bella said. Jasper shook his head.

"Neither you nor Edward are going." Jasper commanded. I nodded.

"That's insane, who is going to protect you from Alec and Jane?" Bella argued.

"Michael will." Tanya answered.

"Michael doesn't particularly like his mind being read, and he's not a big fan of you either Bella." Tanya continued.

"We're coming along too." Rosalie said stepping out of the house. Tanya wore a skeptical look on her face.

"I don't think it's a good idea for Emmett to come along... remember what happened last time you and Emmett met with Mike?" Tanya reminded.

"What happened?" I asked not knowing.

"Mike kicked the crap out of Emmett and burned Edward too... it's why I don't think it's a good idea Emmett comes." Tanya answered.

"Mike was a newborn, strong and angry. It won't be a problem and I'm not letting Rosalie go without me."

"I don't think it's wise." I said.

"It doesn't matter. I'm coming." Emmett said argumentatively.

"I'm letting Jasper go without me, just let it happen." Alice pleaded but Emmett wouldn't have it.

"No... I'm coming along." I shook my head. Our long shot just got a bit longer.

Themba's POV

Damn it Embry! Why'd you have to put this thing inside me!? I bit down on my boyfriends hand. He looked in to my eyes. Duna, I couldn't do this without you... thanks

"Okay now Push!" I looked in to Duna's eyes as I pushed. He was sterile. He was to be my husband from the moment he phased, he was the strongest, fastest, and smartest of of all lions, he'd been my boyfriend all along... but he couldn't do one thing for me. He couldn't give me offspring. He hated that. He had never said it out loud but he hated my child before he was even born. I couldn't blame him... Duna had red hair, brown eyes, and dark skin, he was the paramount of what a Lion should be, and when he phased he became a gorgeous orange lion with a light brown mane. He hated that he couldn't give me children. That's why I had to go to the Volturi. That's why I had to sleep with Embry... and though I had feelings for him... maybe even loved him, I knew I loved Duna. I bit down on Duna's hand and he smiled as I gave one final push. I heard the sound of a baby gurgling then a gasp. The baby disappeared from sight and I barely saw him.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Zuri rushed to my side to comfort me.

"Is there something wrong with my baby?" I heard hushed whispers outside. I heard water running as they cleaned the child. They came back to me with the child still not saying a word.

"We're terribly sorry Themba." they said apologizing as if my child was dead. I could hear him breathing. They showed me my baby. He had pitch black hair, the same as his fathers, except for a streak of deep red hair down the middle of his head, darker than that of any of the Lions I'd seen so far. I heard whispers like 'That child is cursed with weak black hair.' and 'he will never amount to anything.' but what what possibly hurt me the most was what came out of Duna's mouth next.

"I'm sorry hun." was all he said. It's all that was needed. Those words said volumes. This child was a disappointment to them, all of them.

"All of you, leave the room!" I heard a low booming voice that could only belong to my grandfather, the chieftain.

"Zuri... please stay." I asked. She nodded.

"Come in here little Mystearica, don't you want to meet your new friend?" my grandfather asked with a chuckle. Tear nodded outside of the door before walking in. she lithely jumped up on the bed I laid on without a second thought landing softly on both of the supports on either side of me. Damn, that kid has some vampire in her. I thought to myself. A fully grown lioness rarely moved with that much grace, and here she was just a toddler.

I hugged my child closely to me loving him with all my heart. I didn't care what color his hair was. He was mine.

"Do... do you think he'll never become anything like they do?" I asked my grandfather. He gently sat down on the side of my bed and laughed quietly. He ran his large hand over my forehead gently like he did when I was a child.

"Darling... your child has greatness in him. And even if he didn't, he would be my grandson... and that would be enough for me."

"But what about..." he waved his hand cutting me off.

"about those dottering old fools? Who guess a child's potential by their hair color? Superstitious old hags." He said.

"Grandpa! You mustn't talk about other elders that way." I chided.

"Like they talked about my great grandson?" he defended. I could have sworn I heard the little baby giggle at his great grandfather.

"That's right, they're just a bunch of old hags aren't they? Aren't they?" he said scooping my son up and hugging him close. The child giggled again. I finally cracked a smile. I didn't have it in me to keep telling off my father. I hadn't seen him this happy since grandma died.

"This child will lead some day." he said proudly.

"How can you be so sure?" I asked. He smiled.

"Because... I know it, he will become a great chieftain. His raven hair will be a symbol of pride when he bests me in battle." he beamed. Tear took a closer look at the child.

"What's his name?" she asked. I smiled beaming back at my grandfather.

"Raven... his name is Raven." My father came busting in the room. He was in the middle of a hunt and he must have heard the news.

"Where's my new grandson?" he asked I showed him. He smiled.

"There's my beautiful grandson Raven." He said cooing him. I smiled. Watching my family and close friends celebrating with me. If only Duna could see this child as a blessing not a curse... maybe someday he will.

Ulrich's POV

I walked down the hallway and I recognized a scent. No... it can't be... I haven't seen him in months. I followed it running through the halls. In a dark abandoned room standing was Ivan.

"Ivan! You're alive." He smiled and laughed.

"Of course I am."

"So much has happened." He shook his head.

"It doesn't matter, come with me. I found a way to gain immersible power." I laughed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ulrich, brother, come with me. He will give you power too." I stopped short.

"He? You mean you didn't kill shifter?" He shook his head.

"No... I got what I truly wanted, power." he said opening his hand as his fingernails extended in to claws. I took a step back.

"That's not what I want Ivan."

"Don't be a fool Ulrich, you want more po-" He stopped short looking at my hand.

"What's on your hand Ulrich?" he growled at me.

"It's an engagement ring. I'm engaged to Alexis." I said proudly. He shook his head.

"Stupid... you fell for the same trap I did... but we can fix it."

"I don't want it fixed, I'm happy." Ivan shook his head.

"No... you're tied down by her, let me free you." he said as his other fingers became claws. He charged at me much faster than I remembered him being. I rolled away from him trying to keep my distance but he didn't move like did before. He ran at me but jumped on the wall and leap at me I narrowly dropped under him and rolled away again. He was a lot faster than before. I threw a kick at him that he easily sidestepped and swiped at me with his claws. I narrowly leaned away he caught my fist in his hand he stepped around me and kneed me I caught it with both his hands but his clawed right hand dug in to back of my neck and back. I felt a tingling go through my body and I couldn't move. I tried to move my fingers. I could and then a second later I couldn't.

"Paralysis. It's useful for hunting, not to mention this claws could cut clean through you if that's what I wanted... but it isn't. I want you to join me Ulrich."

"No..." I barely pronounced. Ivan shook his head and growled.

"I didn't want to have to do this but you forced my hand. He moved in to the back of the room and opened the door he walked back in holding Alexis paralyzed in curled up ball.

"No!" I tried to scream but the sound wouldn't come out. He grabbed her by the head and held her out. She opened her eyes and stared in to mine. I watched her.

"Please." I forced out of my constricted vocal cords.

"You would beg for her? Lose your pride for the one who is holding you back? Pathetic."

"I love you." as a faint mumble through Alexis's lips before Ivan ripped off her head and cut it in half.

Felix's POV

I heard the loud moan of someone in pain, almost a scream. I charged towards it clearing the hallways. I followed the sound. I stepped in to a dark room and saw Ivan lifting Ulrich over his shoulder and I smoldering corpse in the corner.

"Ivan... put him down." I commanded. He turned to face me. He smiled I charged at him not giving him a second to react. I connected with a upper cut to his jaw as he attempted to drop Ulrich his claws dug in to my left arm. I felt it go numb and I kicked him away as moved away from his range. He smiled evily as I tried to move my left arm. He charged at me. I kicked and punched him back. Striking at him surgically. He backed away and growled.

"This isn't over Felix." he said before running. I didn't follow him. I helped Ulrich to his feet who was just getting his ability to speak back.

"I will kill him Felix... and you're going to teach me how." I nodded realizing exactly who was the ashes in the corner.

Next chapter is almost done, this story is near it's finale. I can't wait. I don't know everything I want to do with the next book but I do have a name for it. If you like it please review. Thanks for reading, remember high fives, knucks, reviews, and rolls of twenty dollar bills. Catch you on the flip side.