James kept looking at his phone, waiting for some sort of update, yet his messages were completely empty. It should be happening right now, which meant that he needed to keep an eye on his inbox. The message would influence how things were handled from hereon out.

Rachel and Rebecca (who were still in their pre-shift slumber) had been left back home with Marcus, Colin, Embry, Bella and the humans. While the two wolves had obviously wanted to come along, they'd also understood the duty to protect those weaker than themselves back at the house and had accepted the task with surprising grace. It was obvious that leaving his sisters, especially when they'd needed him most, had taken a toll on Jake, but he stood there in the front of the pack next to Edward, staring passed the Cullen house to where Sam and his werewolves – already in their bestial forms – were emerging.

A warning cry echoed up through the Volturi's guard as the two wolf packs became visible, quickly alerting those inside to what was happening.

The door flung open as Aro stormed out, followed closely by Caius, Phoenix, a few of the Guard, and the Cullens. "What is the meaning of this treachery?" He sneered. "I should have known dogs would not honor a treaty."

Sam snarled as he moved closer, his pack drawing up behind him.

"He says it is you who have broken the treaty," Edward translated, obviously reading the Alpha's mind.

Surprise flittered over Aro's face before he trained it into emotionlessness. "Lies."

"Four humans have been murdered by vampires tonight," Jake spoke, voice low and dangerous. He was the only wolf in his pack (other than Seth) to not be in his bestial form. "This is not the time to play games with us, Aro."

True confusion flittered over that face before Aro shook his head. "It is not one of my own, we were supplied with sustenance, and my orders are never disobeyed."

"Are they?" James asked curiously from where he leaned against one of the trees, eyeing the Royals. "What exactly would you have us believe? That a group of nomad vampires have chosen this exact moment to attack the humans of Forks? How ridiculously convenient." He tilted his head. "Either you have ordered this move, or your control over your own men is weakened."

Aro's eyes burned at the implication.

"There must be some sort of misunderstanding," Caius muttered to himself as he glanced around at the large group of werewolves in growing concern. "We have made no move against the humans, and had we done so, it would have been covered up immediately. Our greatest rule is that humans cannot be allowed to know of vampires' existence, we would not be sloppy like this - not even the stupidest of our army would dare behave thusly."

"Unless it was done on purpose to draw attention to the killings," Jane declared from somewhere inside the house. James hadn't noticed her, but apparently she'd been inside with Alec, as both now emerged from the house, drawing more attention on them.

"It would make sense," Alec agreed in a jovial way. "This is not the first time they have done something like this."

Felix's eyes widened. "You mean Moldova."

Caius flinched before turning to look at Aro. "If they had discovered what we are doing here, as well as the danger we'd face should the local wolves believe we had hunted on their lands…"

Aro's eyes widened and he cursed in a language James did not understand, while spitting in disgust on the ground. The wheels were clearly turning in his mind as he looked around them at the pack surrounding his vampires. This was clearly the brains of the Volturi, and that brain, that ambition, was to be feared. "It is obvious that we are being framed."

"No, it is not," Jake responded in that low, graveled tone. "People were murdered tonight, innocent lives taken, while we believed in your word." He took a step towards Aro, and another, leaving a visibly nervous Edward behind as he did so. "It is in our right to end you right now on those grounds alone."

"My army will never allow you to touch us," Aro replied calmly as he snapped his finger.

Immediately, Felix pulled out a phone and pressed a pre-dialed number, which rang out. The vampire looked confused, tried it again, yet when it once more rang out he dialed a different number.

Aro, who'd been smirking as he snapped his finger, slowly lost that smirk as he cleared his throat and snapped his finger again.

The phone call ended with the call ending up going to voicemail.

As he had before, Felix tried a different number, and then another, and then another.

The leader of the Volturi continued to hold Jacob's furious glare. "Felix."

"No one is answering, my Lord," Felix responded as he tried a different number only for that one to go straight to voicemail.

"How can no one be answering?" Caius' eyes were beginning to reveal his panic. "We have an insurmountable army."

James, who had been fighting his laughter, tilted his head, catching Caius' scarlet gaze as his grin widened to reveal teeth. "Do you?"

Phoenix's wide gaze shifted to James in awe, a small, disbelieving smile tilting the corners of his lips. "So cool."

Next to James, Seth snarled deep in his throat.

Edward's eyes widened. "Jake, be care—!"

Aro had obviously been panicking more than he'd wanted to show and was purely acting on impulse, because no one (but Edward) saw what happened next coming. He grabbed Jacob by his neck and raised him off of his feet as his scarlet gaze shifted on everyone around them. "Stay back! All of you! I will break his neck if you do not—-." His voice faltered, trailed off breathily. Those scarlet eyes widened as he looked away from everyone else and turned to stare at Jacob in what looked like utter horror.

Seth made to rush to help, but James grabbed his mate and pulled him back, wrapping his arms around his waist to anchor him close. He didn't know what Aro was seeing by touching Jacob's skin, but whatever it was was causing him to openly shiver.

Jacob, for his part, remained staring down at Aro, his hands on the vampire's wrist, not trying to break free, obviously not lacking oxygen. There was something odd about that, yet what was odder than even Aro's reaction to him, was the slight glow to Jacob's skin. It almost looked like dawn's first light beginning to shine upon exposed vampire skin, and yet instead of millions of diamonds, it was more of a reflective flame.

James' breath escaped him as he realized that glow was rising from all above Jacob forming a faint shape all around him.

Caius stumbled back into Carlisle as he stared up in horror at Jacob Black as if having seen the devil himself.

Even in wolf form, Sam's shock was quite visible on his face.

Aro let go of Jacob, who transformed into a wolf in mid-air, landing on all fours on the ground. His wolf was large, snarling, showing teeth, his eyes nearly glowing fiercely, but while that would be a most terrifying sight for any vampire, it wasn't the most terrifying part of it. No. That glow was still surrounding Jacob's body and was very clearly an ethereal wolf which covered his physical body with its spiritual one. It was as if Jacob's soul had become his body's armor, and that soul was pissed.

James' eyes widened. Wait, is that a manifestation of the First Wolf?

Phoenix looked utterly terrified. So did the rest of the Guard. Many of the remaining Volturi escort were backing up instinctively as if to flee, only to hear the growls of Sam's wolves to remind them that their path was blocked on all sides.

Aro looked a mixture of horrified and fascinated, the slight tremble both scared and excited, but those eyes were most definitely traumatized. Whatever he'd seen when he'd touched Jacob had shaken him to the core and had, for the first time since he'd arrived in Forks, managed to slap his royal bearings right off.

Jacob took one step towards Aro, and another, very slow, very deliberate, until he was looming over the Vampire King.

"Jake, Jake," Edward called in a worried tone. He didn't seem worried for Jake anymore, more like worried because of him.

Seth gripped at the hands James held him tightly with, his body a million tension knots.

James, instead, was watching the ash blonde vampire a little behind Caius, who was, unseen by all, grabbing at her hair. Ah, yes, Corin. The one with the ability to make others docile and complacent with their situation, be whatever it might be. While Alec and Jane were the powerhouses of the Guard, it was this vampire who'd terrified Chelsea as it was her drug-like and addictive power which had kept the brunette bound to the Volturi for so long. He grinned, watching the confused pain playing itself soundlessly on her face, but of course, with all the eyes on Jacob, no one noticed.

Pleased, James leaned in and nipped Seth's ear as a reward to himself, pleasure growing when Seth immediately lost all tension at the action. Honestly, that just made James very smug at how well this was going. Sure, he hadn't exactly planned for Jake to go supernova, but so far things were going marvelously. He'd have Seth to himself and bent over some tree in no time.

Edward, clearly having heard that whole line of thought, glared over his shoulder at James, his eyes clearly telling him this was not the time.

James grinned unabashedly back at Jacob's mate, who really needed to get that stick out of his ass.

"Jacob, please," Carlisle interfered as he moved closer towards the danger. "Aro is our guest, this is neutral ground, we promised them protection."

Jacob turned that snarl on Carlisle, the First Wolf extending itself forwards to snap its fangs terrifyingly close to Carlisle's face.

"Jake!" Edward yelled out.

James' smile disappeared in two seconds flat. What the hell? Why would Jacob—he'd never threaten Edward's dad like that!

"Hey, don't do that to Carlisle!" Emmett snarled and would've gone at Jacob had Rosalie (with a stone face) kept him back.

James turned his head and searched through the crowds before pulling out his phone and staring at it. Still no message. C'mon. C'mon. Where are you? It should be done by now!

"Jamie," Garrett hissed as he pushed his way through the pack to stand next to them. "This won't work if he kills him!"

"I know that," James hissed before he cleared his throat and whispered 'Don't you dare come after me' into his mate's ear before letting him go. He moved around Seth, who looked horrified and tried to grab at him, but he danced out of his reach and thanked Garrett with a look when the vampire grabbed Seth to keep him from disobeying James's order. Relieved that Seth would be safe, James forced a carefree smile on his face as he moved towards the large, fiery and glowing wolf clearly readying to kill. "Jacob, hey, Jake."

The wolf turned his head to glare at James, the First Wolf seeming to grow in size as it bared its teeth at him.

"James, his mind's frazzled in this form," Edward warned him immediately. "He doesn't recognize you, or me, or anyone." He took in a rapid breath. "He just sees leeches."

"I never thought I'd ever have to do something as unpleasant as what I'm about to do right now," James admitted out loud before reaching over and grabbing Edward's hand, clutching it tightly. "I'll never get rid of the scent. I'll have to cut my hand off after this is done."

Edward looked down at their joined hands in disgust. "What are you—-?"

James held their clasped hands up, catching Jake's attention as the wolf turned to fully face them. "Lookie here Jakey, it's your two favorite vampires, Mr Hairgel and the Hot One."

"Jake, it's us," Edward said in a soft, calm voice, clearly having gotten over his shock enough to have actually read James' mind and figure out the gameplan here.

Honestly, Edward was just going along with a lot of James' plans recently, which only went to show that while he was definitely an idiot for leaving Jacob and giving James an opening when he had - that he had moments where he wasn't a total idiot. There might actually be some hope for him.

Edward sent him a quick glare, and then shook his head as he returned his attention back to Jacob. "It's us, baby."

Jake now stalked slowly towards them like a predator coming for the kill.

"James if you get yourself killed I'll never forgive you, you asshole!" Seth sounded like he was struggling. "I'll hate you forever! James!"

James hoped his nerves weren't showing on his face as he glanced over his shoulder quickly. "Love you too, babe." He hadn't actually meant to say that, but the shock had stilled Seth, so, uh, he'd count his blessings and deal with what he'd unexpectedly said later—-if there was a later. He breathed out and stared up at Jake, fighting his instinct to run from the danger in every movement.

The First Wolf roared, saliva dripping from its fangs, the force of the roar sending shivers through James' body.

"I'm not going anywhere," Edward told the wolf in a surprisingly calm voice. "I won't run away ever again."

It loomed over them now its fangs closing in on their joined hands.

James closed his eyes tightly and waited for the pain, feeling the pressure of burning, sharp heat touching his skin.

"James!" Seth screamed.

James' eyes flew open at the sound, and that was when he realized that the First Wolf might have his and Edward's joined hands in its mouth, held steadfast in its jaws, but it wasn't actually biting them.

Edward smiled up at the First Wolf as he raised his free hand to caress its face. "Welcome back, baby."

The First Wolf let go of their joined hands and leaned in to rub its face against Edward's.

Pulling his hand free from Edward's, James rubbed it against his pants leg and then groaned when he realized his favorite pants now smelled of Cullen. Great. Just absolutely wonderful. He'd have to cut his hand off and burn his favorite pants. Could this night honestly get any worse?

"You asshole."

I just had to go and jinx myself, didn't I?

James turned on his heel to see Seth was right there. He smiled his best seductive smile. "See? Everything's—-." He didn't see the punch coming, and damn, but his mate packed a punch! It hurt, but damn, that was a punch! Especially given the fact he was in human form! Was it weird that he was kind of proud?

Leah, in bestial form, clearly snickered.

"Why does Edward get face rubs while I get a punch?" James nearly whined as he rubbed his sore cheek.

Seth opened his mouth only to frown as he eyed something behind James.

The blonde glanced over his shoulder to see Aro was watching them with the same wide-eyed alarm he'd watched Jacob upon touching him. Jacob inducing terror in Aro had made sense, but why in the world did he have that shaken look when it came to them?

Turning to fully face Aro, James stood protectively in front of Seth, shielding him from Aro's view. "Hey, my eyes are up here, buddy."

"Do you even know what you have become—-will become?" Aro finally spoke, visibly rattled as he brought a shaky hand to his forehead as if checking to see whether he had a fever and was hallucinating. "…will create?"

Caius frowned at his friend. "Aro?"

"I saw—-I saw things—-things so deep within that wolf—-I saw—I saw—-the First." Aro looked incredibly agitated. "I saw what we once were." His eyes widened. "I saw impossibilities." His hand trailed upwards as he ran his fingers through his hair and gripped it at its roots. "I saw what we will become."

"Aro, are you ill?" Caius continued to stare at his friend in fear. "You're a telepath, not a psychic, maybe the shock—-."

"He's a reincarnation, I saw, I saw the previous incarnations all the way to the First," Aro interrupted breathlessly, almost feverishly. "Those weren't visions, those were real, those were hidden, forgotten memories, those were… knowledge, ancient, more ancient than…" He let out humorless, almost manic chuckles. "The rules of nature are broken, brother. Impossibilities are not only probabilities, but they will happen. Jacob Black's union with Edward Cullen has started it, has changed both of our races, and nothing we can do will stop it…" his breath stuttered out roughly. "It cannot be stopped."

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught James' attention, and he smirked when he saw a split second view of Chelsea and Victoria, the girls giving the signal seconds before they disappeared from sight into the woods, clearly returning home, as previously agreed upon.

"We have lost Marcus," Aro whispered brokenly at that. "He has been Imprinted on by the Alpha's sister. I've—-what I've seen through the Alpha's eyes—-I know Marcus will not return with us to Volterra."

"You say that as if you believe you will leave here alive," Sam's voice surprised them, revealing he'd turned to his human form, and was very much naked at this moment. Honestly, this night would hold nothing but terrible memories for James. Sam - damn him - was clearly at ease with his nakedness as he glared at the Royals. "You forget, your lives are forfeit due to the humans you killed tonight." His eyes glowed with his inner wolf as he began to shift. "Even if Jake doesn't end you, we will."

James turned to glance behind him at Garrett, his glaring eyes clearly saying: This won't work if he kills him either!

Garrett glared back at him with an obvious: I know that, damn it! He looked incredibly put upon as he sped to James' side and yelled out: "Sam!"

The large black wolf stopped in mid-step towards the Volturi and looked up at him in question.

Garrett sent a sideways glance to James that clearly told him he owed him one, before grinning flirtatiously at the still paused werewolf. "You've got a great cock!"

The wolf's eyes visibly widened as he looked down at himself and then quickly up at Garrett in open question, his tail wagging slightly behind him, his previous fury seemingly forgotten.

Crisis momentarily diverted, James nearly crowed when his phone beeped.

Freaking finally!

Reading the text, James held up the hand that he wasn't holding the phone with. "Uh, guys? You'll want to hear this." He tried for a most confused and shocked expression as he looked up. "Apparently, the Volturi didn't kill anyone."

In seconds Jake shifted in a flash of fire and crackle of bones, standing naked in front of them all but looking a bit more self-conscious than Sam had. "What are you talking about? Charlie said there were bodies. People who lived in the outskirts of Forks—-."

"Got their houses broken into, and their clothes stolen," James interrupted as he pretended to read through the email. "Apparently, upon closer inspection, the bodies that were found were from a mortuary in Port Angeles, and were later put into those clothes and their bloody deaths staged, their bodies mutilated so they weren't immediately realized not to be the townspeople. The deputies just assumed it was because of their clothes." James looked up and tried to appear as innocent as he could. "It would seem Lord Aro was right. They were framed." He couldn't keep himself from glancing over at the Royals, and noticed not only Aro's eyes on him, but Phoenix's as well. He smiled at them both angelically. "Imagine that."

Sam was naked and human was more. "Paul, go, find out if this is true." He watched one of the wolves race away before turning to the Royals. "Who would frame you?"

"Who indeed?" Aro eyed James.

James merely smiled at him.

"Those accused Romanians," Caius hissed under his breath. "They did something similar in Moldova two centuries back, tried to have a mob—-." He bristled at the very memory. "They must have tampered with our army as well."

"They must have," James agreed congenially.

Phoenix's lips twitched, his eyes filled with awe.

"I'm leaving," Corin declared, surprising everyone around her as she headed down the steps.

"Where are you going?" Caius called after her. "Corin! Return here immediately!"

"No." She shook her head. "I nearly died tonight, and for what? A lost cause?" She laughed darkly. "I'm done fighting your battles." And with that she sped away, somehow managing to slip by the werewolves while doing so.

"I do not understand," Caius whispered to himself, clearly more than rattled at her departure. "Aro, why—?"

A howl filled the air. They must've had a phone somewhere in the forest for Paul to have gotten any sort of answer that quickly.

Sam's eyes widened. "He tells the truth."

At that, Dimitri raced down the stairs and into the forest, leaving the Volturi like Chelsea had.

"Felix?" Caius asked in confusion as the giant followed Dimitri at a more sedate pace. "I do not understand—-what is happening?"

"It would appear your people are deserting you," Jacob responded in an even tone.

Jane visibly nearly gave Caius a heart attack as she moved passed them towards the stairs. "Colin was pouting all day, he sulks easily." And with that explanation she left, Alec grinning as he joined her.

There were a few of the Guard who remained, but many of them disappeared into the forest, leaving the Volturi alone and defenseless.

Caius was so visibly confused and scared James almost felt guilty. Almost.

"I have underestimated not only you, Jacob Black, but your pack," Aro surprised them by admitting as he turned to the Alpha. "A man who can command this sort of loyalty without using a cheat, such as Chelsea's ability, is to be admired, and feared." He looked a mixture of angry and depressed as he eyed Jacob. "I saw your mind, I saw your hopes and your ambitions, and now… now I cannot go against them, not now that your pack has rendered us more vulnerable than we have been in centuries. You have destroyed my Guard, and my triad rulership - all with a blameless conscience."

Jake's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he merely listened.

"Marcus spoke to you of sponsorship," Aro sighed. "I would also wish to speak of it, and of a truce."

Jacob stared into Aro's face before holding his hand out.

Aro, visibly tired, clasped that hand.

…

Charlie stared at the dead bodies and just could not understand what was happening. Why would someone go through the trouble of stealing bodies from a mortuary and trying to pass them off as citizens of Forks? Why mutilate the bodies to make it appear as if some sort of animal had killed them?

Rubbing his head, Charlie wondered why his town kept getting weirder and weirder. At least the girls were home safe and sound, and the boys were over at James', far away from all this weirdness.

Charlie sighed, eyeing the bodies in the half-zipped bodybags. "This just doesn't make any sense."

"Yes, it does not."

He jumped and turned to see a man he did not recognize standing in the doorway to their makeshift mortuary. "This place isn't open to civilians, friend."

"The Original has awoken," the man declared confusingly. "When I had heard that the spirit returned once more I did not dare believe it, yet I felt it when The First ripped itself out of the darkness and propelled to the forefront."

Sighing, Charlie shook his head. "Why don't we take you to sleep off whatever you've drunk? Or smoked?"

"It failed before, so many times, and I lived each and every one to see each failure, each death," he whispered, sounding broken. "And yet I have now lived to see the Original Wolf returned to us, and having found his mate - truly bonded. I both love and hate him for it."

Charlie ushered the man out of the room calmly, used to dealing with drunk men in this town. Other than the occasional animal sightings or attacks, what really took up his time were the drunkards.

"Rules are forever changed, Sheriff Swan," the stranger declared with great assurance. "No one truly understands, they did not live the life I did, saw what I did, know what I know."

"Sure, sure," Charlie agreed, because it was always better, easier, to just agree with drunkards.

"You will not be untouched by this," he warned him. "The ripple will reach you as well, you must be ready when it occurs."

"I'm the sheriff, I must be ready for everything," Charlie responded amicably.

"You are not ready," the man declared solemnly, clearly disappointed.

"Of course I am," Charlie assured him.

"Your guards are lowered," the drunkard accused him.

"Nope. All up," Charlie muttered as he led the man closer and closer to the cell where they let all the drunkards sleep off their vices.

Suddenly the man moved with the swiftness of one sober, and before Charlie could stop him… he was kissing him.

Charlie's eyes widened in utter shock, his whole body stiff in confusion. He doesn't actually taste of alcohol.

The man pulled away and glared at him as if Charlie were the one who'd kissed him. "Your guards are down, Sheriff. What will you do when he appears?"

"When who appears?" Charlie squeaked, hoping none of his deputies had actually seen that. "It better not be someone else who wants to kiss me!" He looked around quickly, to make sure none were in sight, yet when he looked back it was to find the place where the man had been completely empty. Charlie's eyes widened as he hurried to the door and looked around outside, but the guy was completely gone. Wiping his hand over his mouth, Charlie's mustache twitched in his utter confusion. "What the hell just happened?"

…

"I'm not apologizing," Seth growled as he sat on the same boulder he had earlier that night, hugging his knees to his chest. "You're lucky I didn't knee you in your freaking balls."

James was in the river, washing his pants, hoping to get Edward's scent off of it and himself. Honestly, this was his second bath of the night, he'd really have to stop getting other guys' scents all over him like this.

"Phoenix kept watching you," Seth snarled. "He's obviously transferred his crush from Jacob onto you, you idiot."

Nah, James didn't think so. Phoenix might've been staring up at him in awe, but that was really more like a fascinated puppy than a bitch in heat. James was cool, and obviously Phoenix could appreciate that, so who was James to be bothered by that? Plus, Phoenix had once belonged to his coven - even if he'd probably helped in the uprising - so he figured the kid had some leftover emotions from the whole James being his coven's leader for a while there.

"If he starts to stalk you next…"

James looked up as the scent signatures got closer. "Seth, can we talk about this later?"

Seth glared at him yet sighed. "They coming?"

James nodded and looked up, waiting for the holographic images to get closer, and then they did, and Riley and Brady emerged from the forest. "Well done."

Riley smirked. "Of course."

Brady chuckled. "I've always wanted to break into people's houses. This has probably been one of my favorite nights ever!"

Seth's eyes widened. "Who have I been friends with my whole life?"

"Mama Seth's such a wet blanket," Riley snickered.

Brady giggled while Seth glared at them.

James ignored the threesome and instead eyed the forest. "Are you going to come out or are you going to continue skulking?"

"I was wondering whether you were truly going to hold up your end of the bargain," a voice declared as Laurent stepped out of the woods and onto the shoreline with them. "How you even knew I'd followed you back to Forks… I do not understand."

"Let's just say I've learnt to master my ability in a way that was completely unexpected," James declared as he pulled on his pants and emerged from the water, soaking wet, once more. "When I realized you were in the outskirts of Forks I immediately knew why."

"Living an unlife looking over your shoulder is no way to live," Laurent agreed. "If your scent had not been all over the wolf boy I would've believed Riley merely working to entrap me with that flirty friend of yours like they have been trying ever since the uprising." He eyed Riley. "He never liked me."

"I wonder why," Riley mumbled.

"You were the reason we had a problem with the Volturi in the first place," James reminded Laurent with a sharp smile. "It was only fair for you to help get them off our backs by wedging them into a tight corner they couldn't possibly weasel their own way out of." He'd known that Laurent's had many connections who got rid of bodies, and would be able to procure what he needed thanks to that. "You bought us time we needed for Chelsea to not only finish removing all bonds between Aro and his army causing them to leave - but gave her time to work on Corin and the others as well while Victoria kept her undetected and out of danger."

"You've effectively dealt a fatal blow to the Volturi empire without shedding any blood," Laurent whispered, sounding terrified. "I used to believe you ruthless before, but now you're terrifying."

James grinned. "Good." He motioned to the woods. "You're free to go, Laurent. Now that you've helped I will keep my word, I won't come looking for you. Our debts are squared."

Laurent eyed the foursome before returning his attention to James and nodding. "Tell Victoria I said hi."

"I won't," James assured him as the vampire disappeared back into the woods.

Riley made a face. "I still say we should've killed him anyway."

Brady shrugged, clearly not that interested in Laurent's ultimate fate, and instead turned to Seth, suddenly seeming to remember something. "You don't still want to kill me, right? Because, well, James is super hot, but you're my friend and I wouldn't ever make a move on him."

Seth eyed Brady before pouting. "You're not the one I'm worried about. He's got Phoenix Jordan all over him."

"Dude," Brady reacted. "The stalker?"

"That's a bit of an exaggeration," James assured Riley, who'd given him an immediate and disapproving look. "Do you remember him, by the way?"

"Of course I do," Riley muttered as he made up a face, looking confused at the question. "He was always going on and on about how cool you were, he hated the fact that you sired me. He used to hang around you all the time, hell, I think he was a part of the mutiny out of pure spite because you ignored him all the time. Called him Peter."

Seth glared daggers at James. "And you don't remember this?"

James just stared at Riley in shock. "You're making that up."

Riley's expression turned comical. "Wait, do you really not remember him?" He then snickered. "Man. Did you tell him that? If not, I wanna be around when you do! He basically worshipped you, James. Wanted to be a ruthless vampire like you and tried to wear clothes like you and everything!"

"No, no, the mutiny happened too soon after his turning for any of that to be true," James assured Seth. "Plus, he was 'in love' with Jacob during that time, so even if he looked up to me, it would just be hero worship." He then smirked. "I am admirable you know."

"I really want to punch you again," Seth muttered under his breath.

"I'm telling you, Riley's making all this up to mess with you," James declared confidently. He'd definitely have remembered Phoenix better if he'd actually spent any time with him. Plus, during the time Phoenix would've been with them, James would've been too busy leading the coven and trying to understand his obsession with Jacob to have any time for the redhead, hell, he'd hardly had any time for Victoria or Riley much less someone not of his bloodline!

"I can't believe you don't remember it," Riley muttered mostly to himself. "When you found out he was a virgin you promised to take him to the hall of mirrors and everything."

Seth's glare could kill. "You promise that a lot, don't you?"

James turned his own glare on Riley, slapping him up the back of his head. "Stop riling him up! He believes you!"

"But it's true!" Riley snickered, rubbing the back of his head. "Seth, honestly, I wouldn't be too worried if I were you, I mean, James has become really lame since he hooked up with you. No one else is going to want him anymore." He then laughed and dodged James' second swipe. "C'mon Brady, let's go back home and leave these two alone so James can make up for his past as a whore to Mama Seth."

"Mama Seth?" Brady asked in confusion as he willingly followed.

James turned to Seth the second they left. "You know he was making all that up, right? Right?" At Seth's continued glare, James groaned. Damn it, Riley!

…

Alice Cullen stared at the message on her phone from Bella which read: Sam, Jake and Aro have come to an agreement. A peace has been reached. We'll stay here until Jacob graduates, and then we'll be moving to Alaska and settling the area there, protecting Aro's 'assets' with the Volturi's financial backing. The Rez Pack can have Forks and the Rez again. Everything's fine now, Alice, you don't have to worry about anything. Just—-come back—-you and Jasper both. Please come back.

She wanted to respond, she really did, but she couldn't.

Jasper leaned forwards, his eyes on the message. "You need to tell her."

"With what he's seen now that he's looked inside of Jacob, Aro will want my ability more than ever," Alice declared softly. "He's terrified at what he saw, and what it means for the future of vampires and werewolves alike. I have to do this, Jaz, I have to disappear for a while, I—-I have to see him. He's the only one who—-." She closed her eyes tightly. "This is the way we protect her. Protect our family. Protect everyone."

Another message came in, once more for Bella: Please come back. I'm really worried about the both of you.

"We didn't say goodbye to her last time," Jasper reminded Alice softly. "I do not think she will be able to forgive us if we do it to her a second time."

"This is the path that keeps her safe," Alice whispered softly, clearly battling tears as she leaned against him. "That's all that matters." She closed her eyes and, when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, broke into tears.

…

"You have to be a little nicer to him," Alec chastised softly as they watched Colin with his brother, the boy clearly depressed, having been so since earlier thanks to Jane.

"I do not have to be anything," Jane informed her brother as she petted Captain Hops.

"You walked out on Aro because you thought Colin was sulking," Alec pointed out. "And yet you haven't let him know you're here."

"He knows I'm here," Jane assured him.

"Then that's even worse," Alec muttered. "Look, he's a nice kid. I get that you and I are bad when it comes to relationships with others, but we're both stuck with him, and I don't want you making him miserable."

"You only just met him," Jane pointed out curiously. "Why do you care?"

Alec glared at her. "Even as humans no one loved us, Jane. The villagers treated us terribly, they tried to kill us, and Aro only changed us and saved us because he knew we'd have powers as vampires and be useful to him. He had Chelsea and Corin use their abilities on us to keep us there. You heard him back there, he would do it again, force us, force everyone. We can't go back after having heard that." He pointed in Colin's direction. "You have the opportunity to know that you've got a soulmate, you've got someone who actually loves you. I will not let you mess that up."

Jane didn't answer, merely continued to pet Captain Hops, yet the disturbed expression on her face proved he might've made a valid point.

…

"Do you think the Volturi will keep their word?"

Victoria made a face as she turned from the window to eye the woman who'd come to stand next to her. "I don't think they will have much of a choice." James' sinister plan had really left them with none, not if they didn't want to be fighting wars on all sides while with diminished numbers and few allies. Accepting the wolves had been the only way to replenish the army that'd been decimated in the course of one night and to keep face amongst the vampire covens worldwide.

Sue Clearwater nodded, relief visible. "The negotiations went by very quickly. I am surprised Jacob was able to get here before his sisters woke up."

Victoria returned her gaze out of the window, where Jacob and Marcus had helped the crying girls out into the woods with them. She was still shocked Marcus was going along with all of this, but she had a feeling he'd already begun figuring things out. With his ability, it would make sense that he'd do so quicker than most, if any.

"I will be coming to Whittier with you when you leave," Sue surprised her by saying.

Victoria turned to face her once more, eyes wide, red curls bouncing with the force of her twirl. "You're going to leave Charlie?"

"Charlie is a very sweet man, but he would understand and agree, more than anyone else, that my children will always come first, and if I can help them in any way, I will be there to do so," Sue responded softly. "It will be very hard for him to let Bella go though, harder than it will be to let me go." She smiled tenderly. "He is a very good father. It is one of the things I have always liked about him."

"Yes," Victoria admitted, a little disturbed by this revelation. "I'm actually a little worried how he'll take it."

"Me too," Sue agreed. "If only he could be told what Bella is—-."

"The Volturi would never allow a human in the know to live," Victoria was quick to explain. "The only way for him to remain safe is to remain oblivious." She tilted her head and swallowed around the lump in her throat. "That's probably why I always knew, deep down inside, that my one-sided feelings for him were always going to remain that way."

Sue eyed her in silence before sighing and reaching out and squeeze Victoria's shoulder.

The redhead had no idea why she allowed that comfort, she just did.

…

Peace had been brokered.

Caius still could not believe what had happened. The Black Pack would go to Whittier in a few months, upon the Alpha's graduation, and it would all be sponsored by the Volturi, or what was left of it. The blonde could not believe that they'd been brought so low in one night. He still honestly couldn't understand how it had happened, but in the course of one night they'd not only lost their army, but most of their most important Guard.

As it was, they desperately needed the alliance with the wolves, and even then, it would be a hard battle should their many enemies realize just what was happening to them.

Once the peace had been brokered, Aro had gone into the room he'd be using, and had locked himself inside. Honestly, Caius had never seen Aro look so traumatized before, he honestly looked terrified. Sure, there was that glint in his eyes that proved he was already coming up with ideas, with answers to his problems - and there was more than a little fascination - but overall Aro had definitely been scared. Just what had Aro seen when he'd touched Jacob Black?

What could possibly make him stand down like this? Aro had killed his own sister to keep Marcus in the Volturi, and yet he was allowing Marcus to leave like this for the Alpha's sister?

Whatever Aro had seen, it must be horrifying. He also kept asking about Alice, about where she was. It was obvious that her talent with sight was even more essential to him as now, but Caius had a feeling Alice would know that. He'd also overheard Esme mentioning Rosalie that Alice had sent a cryptic message to them, one that made her think she might not be coming back.

Yes, she would be smart not to, Caius admitted as he leaned against the wall and stared out of the window.

"Alice and Jasper have left our Coven."

Caius turned to see Carlisle standing behind him, bathed in shadows, reminding him of the good old days when Carlisle had lived with them. Those had been happier days.

"She called me to say goodbye," Carlisle sighed as he came to stand next to Caius, staring outside, his face sombre. "She said we will see each other again some day, but that does not make this parting any easier." He took in a deep breath. "I had prepared myself to lose Edward, not her and Jasper."

Well, Caius had lost tonight as well, so he was somewhat sympathetic to Carlisle's situation, but to be truthful he was more annoyed and frustration at how Aro would react when he discovered the news.

"She also warned me about some things which will change, things I cannot repeat or want to believe." Carlisle grasped the edge of the window and held on tightly. "But Alice's visions… I know better than anyone to ignore them."

Caius eyed his fellow blonde. "I would offer you comfort, but I doubt Esme would be very pleased with my methods." Despite stating this he reached out and trailed his hand down Carlisle's chest to his abdomen, running his finger against his belt buckle. "Athenadora is more… understanding… of certain things." His hand slipped and purposely caught itself on Carlisle, cupping him through his cotton pants as his slender wrist shifted with a stroke. "Do you ever think about the old days, Carlisle? I do." He tilted his head and grinned. "You and I had so much fun back then before you became so… stuffy."

The leader of the Olympic Coven grabbed him by his wrist. "My wife is in this house."

Disappointment filled the vampire, he'd wanted to have some fun, and Carlisle had once been a very fun companion. Marriage and coven-hood had made him boring. He didn't even seem to be enjoying his coven-members the way many covens did, and should (in Caius' opinion). It was this petulance that had him smirking. "It was probably for the best that Alice and Jasper left, Aro might've made peace with the wolves, but had she stuck around he'd have fought for her even more." He tilted his head, feeling Carlisle's grip on him slacking slightly at the revelation. "As it is, he'll probably send the minions we have all over the country chasing after her to find and bring her to him now that she does not have the protection of the Olympic Coven."

Carlisle, surprisingly enough, did not react to that the way that Caius had expected him to. He didn't tense, didn't sputter, didn't demand they leave Alice and Jasper alone. Instead, Carlisle merely stared at him in stone-cold silence, which really made this no fun whatsoever.

It spurred Caius into provoking the vampire further, grin taunting. "Don't worry, Carlisle." He wondered whether his fellow blonde had even realized he was stroking him once more, or that his scent was not one of disgust, or that he was hardening rapidly in his grasp. "Aro will treat her like a precious treasure, especially now that he's lost so many of the Guard."

Carlisle slammed his fist into the top of the window frame, leaning in towards Caius, forcing the shorter, thinner blonde to press himself up against the glass.

Finally! A reaction!

Caius grinned up at Carlisle ruthlessly. "The only way I see where you could protect Alice and Jasper now would be if you could tie them to the Volturi but not to Aro." He tilted his head as stared up at Carlisle through his lashes in mock coyness. "If only you hadn't thrown away our offer to become one of us."

Carlisle stared down at him in silence before speaking. "If you had loved me I would have stayed, but we both know you have no idea what love is. You know about games, you're constantly bored and expect people to become your entertainment, to cater to your whims. But you do not know how to, and maybe don't even have the capacity, to love someone else."

The Royal gulped as he stared up at Carlisle's golden eyes. "Don't pretend like you still love me."

Carlisle looked away. "I don't, but I did." He then cleared his throat and returned his golden orbs to Caius. "Do you know what Alice saw?"

"How could I possibly know what she saw?" Caius asked with a chuckle despite the odd sensation in his stomach.

"She saw the destruction of my Coven due to your presence here," Carlisle responded accusingly. "She said once you leave, my Coven will have been destroyed along with it."

Despite the fact that he enjoyed riling Carlisle up, Caius frowned as he removed his hand from Carlisle's body. "I have no intention of touching your coven. I don't care for your lifestyle, and I don't care for your coven, but it is yours." He cleared his throat and met those golden orbs. "I mightn't know how to love someone, Carlisle, but the only reason why Aro has not attacked your coven up until now is because I stopped him. I held him back as much as I could, and when I couldn't any longer, I made sure to come here and try to protect your coven as much as I could." A muscle in his cheek jumped. "Why do you think I even entertained the idea of a truce with wolves?" Scarlet eyes glared up at gold. "That was for your benefit, not mine."

Carlisle stared down at him in silence.

There was something oddly intimidating about that, and for once, Caius wasn't in the mood to play games. "It doesn't matter whether you believe me or not though, believe whatever you want. I do not care." He pushed passed Carlisle and walked away, able to feel the vampire's gaze on his back until he turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

…

Garrett looked up at the sky from the meadow. He'd gone over there to make sure there weren't any of the Volturi armies remaining, which he hadn't believed there would be, but it was good to double check. Honestly, too much had happened in one night, and it would take a while to digest all that'd gone down, and what it meant for everyone involved. Hell, was the least involved of all the parties, and yet it affected him somewhat as well.

"Are you leaving?"

This time Sam had actually snuck up on him, and Garrett was damned proud of himself for not jumping with a very unmanly squeak, especially given how close that voice had been. He cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder to see Sam behind him, shirtless but wearing slacks.

"What do you care?" The vampire asked a little spitefully before allowing himself to fall back into the grass. It hurt a little, but he liked that, it helped ground his thoughts as he looked up at the stars.

Sam didn't answer, merely moved to his side and sat down next to him, hugging his knees to his chest.

The silence that dragged on between them was unnerving, and when Garrett couldn't hold it anymore, he turned his head to peer at the wolf. "Why exactly are you here?"

"I thought you might be leaving," Sam admitted, staring ahead of him.

"So what? You decided to stalk me?" Garrett made up his face. "How creepy."

Sam didn't react.

That actually worried Garrett as he sat up. "Why are you really here, Sam?"

The wolf sighed and turned his head to finally look at him. "All the things you said to me, about me, before, were true."

Oh, he already knew that.

Sam seemed to be trying to find the words to say. "I'm the Alpha of my pack, and I'm supposed to lead by example, yet I've been doing such a shitty job of it - Jared even went behind my back because even they knew I was—-! I—-I've lost members of my pack over and over and over again because I'm stubborn and pigheaded and so very difficult!"

Intrigued, Garrett listened to the pack leader.

"Emily—she—you're right, she let me get away with a lot, and I put a lot of burdens on her, expected so much, was such—." Sam stuttered out an uneven breath as he looked away from Garrett and returned his gaze to the darkness in front of them. "I loved her, you know. I really did think she was my Imprintee, maybe she was before she—," he paused, taking in a deep breath, "and I'm always going to be guilty for the part I played in all her suffering."

"Good, you'd be a piece of shit if you didn't feel that way," Garrett replied.

Sam chuckled darkly yet kept his gaze ahead of him. "You're really not going to take any of my shit, are you?"

"Nope." Garrett shook his head, uttering the gospel truth. "But if I'm your Imprintee, maybe that's exactly what you need."

There was silence as Sam turned his head at that, looking at Garrett silently, clearly thinking a million thoughts while eyeing him. When he finally spoke, his voice was so soft it was almost intelligible. "Are you leaving?"

Something tugged in Garrett's gut clenched at the sound, so he cleared his throat and looked out at the trees. "Not tonight."

Sam's grip on his knees tightened. "But you will leave."

"Maybe. I don't know." Usually he'd string along a potential lover, but Garrett didn't feel like playing games tonight. "I plan on staying around a bit longer, I want to hang with Jamie, make Riley's life impossible, and tell Sethie all the stories Jamie doesn't want me telling him. I've been told as long as I stick to the vegetarian diet I'm allowed to stay as long as I want with them." He grinned. "So I'll probably be around for a bit."

"Will you go with them when they leave for Whittier after Jacob's graduation?" Sam asked softly.

"Maybe." Again, that was his instinctive reaction. "I don't know what might have changed by then."

"Okay."

Okay? Really? That was all he was going to—?

"That gives me a couple of months then," Sam said, apparently to himself.

Garrett blinked as he turned his head towards the wolf. "A couple of months for what?"

Instead of answering, Sam turned those dark eyes on him and leaned towards him, cupping Garrett's cheek as he pressed a soft, chaste kiss to his lips before pulling away and staring ahead of him once more, this time with a tiny smile on his lips.

Garrett stared wide-eyed at Sam, a strange sensation somersaulting in his stomach.

Well damn.

…

"You two are leaving again, aren't you?" Bella couldn't keep the words from falling from her lips the second she saw him. When she'd gotten the message from Jasper to slip away and meet him at the school's parking lot she'd known something was up, and upon seeing his face, she'd known her fears were becoming a reality.

Jasper sighed and nodded as he stood there. "Alice has seen—this is the only way to keep everyone safe from Aro for right now." He ran his fingers through his hair. "She wanted to go without telling you, but I didn't—I didn't want to do something like that to you again, and I know she didn't really want to either."

"Then why isn't she here?" Bella asked softly, hurt.

Jasper smiled sadly. "I don't think she would've been able to go through with it if she saw your face, Bella."

The sob lodged in her throat, but Bella refused to let it out. Instead, she raced into his arms and held onto him tightly.

Jasper rested his chin on her head as he held her just as tightly. "I want to ask you to come along, but you're still in your father's care, he'd be sick with worry and there'd be a manhunt." He sighed. "And you're also a new born who can't be put under pressure, you're holding up remarkably as is, but this is the time you need to become stronger, to learn self-control, and to become the vampire you're meant to be."

Bella nodded her agreement. It hurt her to admit that it was best for her to not go with them, for them to part and maybe never see each other again, but it was the truth. Circumstances were horrible, but it had to be this way. "Promise me, when the danger's over, that you'll come to see us in Whittier - or you'll get word for me to meet you two somewhere."

"Of course," he promised in her hair. "The second the danger has passed, you're the first one we're calling."

Bella held onto Jasper tightly, tilting her head up when his hand urged her, and accepting his kiss desperately. She wished Alice was here, she wished she could say goodbye to her as well, but she was so incredibly grateful Jasper had come to her, that they hadn't left her without a word.

Even now she could feel him working on her emotions to keep her from breaking down, and she loved him even more for it. Tears flew down her face as she held on as tightly as she could, fighting that terrified feeling in her stomach that things were about to change forever.

…

Howls echoed loudly in the air.

James looked up at the sound, surprised as he saw the scent signatures romping around a little distance away. There was definite pain in two of their scents, but excitement and happiness were there as well.

So did Seth, his eyes wide. "I think—-it's the twins."

"Yep. Marcus is there too. I know he's Rachel's mate, but I'm still surprised he took the risk of being there." There was a pause as he watched the two newly turned wolves play with each other. "Anyway, all's well that end's well… I'm just glad Jakey got back right on time to help them shift." James took the opportunity to sidle up next to Seth in his distraction and wrapped his arms around him, pulling the wolf face-first into his chest. It surprised him that Seth went without any fight, especially given just how annoyed the wolf had been thanks to damned Riley and his (had to have been made up) stories.

Another howl, and another.

"What do you think Aro saw when he touched Jacob?" Seth asked softly as his hands rested on James' hips. "He looked terrified. A part of me wants to think it was the whole First Wolf jumping out at him, but I doubt it. It's—whatever he saw was terrifying."

"Maybe he saw Edward naked," James only half joked as he trailed his hands down to cup Seth's ass through the material of his shorts, squeezing and kneading each cheek greedily. It was shocking he was getting away with this, to be honest. Seth must be really distracted by his pondering to not have remembered James was supposed to be in the dog house.

"Why would you go and say that?" Seth mumbled in obvious embarrassment as he hid his face in James' chest.

"Sorry, that's an image I wouldn't dare put in the mind of even my worst enemy," James apologized.

Seth chuckled, shaking his head, before suddenly he groaned when James squeezed him extra hard. "Stop." His fingers dug into James' hips. "You're not going to do anything because they're too close so don't tease me."

"I'm not teasing you," James assured him. "I just really like to touch you." He nuzzled into Seth's hair. "Are you saying I can't touch you?"

"Nooo, I'm not—-," Seth whimpered when James licked his cheek. "I'm not s-saying that, I just—-."

"Just what, Seth?" James asked absentmindedly as he he found his hands slipping under the elastic waistband and grabbing those bare cheeks. "What were you saying?"

"You're cheating," Seth complained breathlessly as he leaned into him. "You're mean."

"How am I mean? Does this hurt?" He knew it didn't because while he was squeezing and kneading, this was nothing compared to his actual strength or what the wolf could handle. "Am I hurting you, Seth?" His finger slipped between Seth's cheeks and rubbed against him. "Hmmm?"

"You know exactly what I—-!" Seth let out an unintelligible cry when James' index finger slid effortlessly inside of him all the way to the knuckle.

James bit down on his bottom lip to keep from uttering something just as embarrassing. Like before, Seth was soft inside, warm and wet, his finger slipping in as easily as it would a glove. He'd believed previously that Seth was preparing himself for James, and that had been an ego boost, but what if that wasn't the case? What if—-what if this was the heat?

It was hard to take that seriously, and yet some part of James reveled at the thought. There were other questions though, such as: why was Seth in heat? What had brought it on? Why would his body actually have the ability to go into heat? How long would it last?

Seth shook, a soft sob escaping his lips despite the way he grit his teeth.

The sound stopped James. "Does this actually hurt?" When Seth closed his eyes tightly and merely shook his head rapidly, blush darkening, James was relieved, yet a little curious at the same time. "Are you tender? Sore?" He moved his finger cautiously, slowly, still in awe at how wet Seth was for him. "I started playing with you roughly a little while ago, I didn't even prepare you before attacking you." His free hand gripped Seth's hip, pulling him in closer, feeling Seth's hard cock pressed up against him, the tip dripping with pleasure. "You need to tell me if I'm pushing your body too hard."

Seth's eyes flew open at that as he angled his head up to look up into James' face. "I'm not fragile."

A small smile tugged on the corner of James' lips but he didn't let himself actually smile because Seth looked like he'd punch him if he did. So, instead, he flicked a second finger at Seth's opening before slowly slipping it in as well, holding Seth's gaze the whole while. He could almost see the progression of his finger entering Seth's body, the wolf's eyes darkening, his gaze losing some of its sharpness as his lips parted and a groan escaped.

A shiver raced down Seth's body as goosebumps rose, and he leaned James, arching his hips into the touch, encouraging the journey deeper inside of him.

Honestly, James had only planned on touching Seth - he really did like touching him - but this sort of response was really tugging on his self-control. He gulped and glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Jake, Marcus, and the twins. They weren't exactly that close by, but given that they were magical beings with extra-strong senses it might still be too close. He did not want anyone to realize what was going on here, or to come across them if they—-there was no way he wanted to risk anyone else seeing Seth in this state! Seth was adorable and cute just as his normal self, and James might have to kill whoever saw him all covered in this lustful blush, so out of breath and needy.

If anyone else saw this there was no way James wouldn't suddenly find himself with rivals!

A low growl warned him of Seth's displeasure, but by the time he turned back to look at his mate he'd been shoved with enough for to land him in the water. James stayed under for a couple of seconds, a little confused as what exactly had pissed Seth off so much. Then again, hadn't Seth told him to stop 'teasing' him?

He hadn't considered it teasing, but maybe Seth—-. James sighed and sat up, surfacing to find himself in chest-height water, definitely had fallen into the shadows, which was why the blow had hurt a bit more. He looked up, about to apologize, when suddenly Seth was straddling his lap in the water, his lips on James', his kiss angry and punishing.

He'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the aggression.

"Pay attention to me," Seth ordered against James' lips as he rubbed himself against James' cock, reaching behind him to grab it. "I don't want to share you, especially not now."

Understanding filled James, but before he could explain Seth had aligned the vampire's cock to his entrance and lowered himself down onto the blonde, spearing himself completely with that rod. The pleasure that rocked through James' body stole his breath and his voice. Oh gods—-Seth was—-he felt even better than usual! It was as if there was something inside of him that made James super sensitive, and even breathing elicited a delicious tickle, tremble.

Arms behind him, finding purchase against James' somewhat bent knees, Seth arched his back and slowly began to undulate his hips, fucking himself on James' cock. His eyes lost more and more of their sharpness as that lustful blush covered his body, his lips parted in ragged breaths, in whimpers and sobs.

Holding his weight up on one hand, James stared at his mate, a lump of emotion stuck in his throat. He wasn't sure what he was feeling right now, it wasn't actually anything he'd experienced before, but he found himself mesmerized by Seth. Looking at him, observing his flustered beauty, was breathtaking and very overwhelming. That disoriented pleasure in his eyes sent an actual quiver through James' cock.

"I l-love the feeling of you i-inside me," Seth admitted breathlessly as his movement began to slowly increase. "It's so—-the best—ah!—so good—I ever—ah! James!"

Oh. Wow. James' ego would never deflate ever again.

Seth opened his mouth to try and finish what he'd been trying to say, but all that escaped him were unintelligible cries. He looked desperate, his gaze lowering to their connected bodies before rising up to meet James' golden gaze and then back again, his sobs turning needy and anguished.

"Damn it, you're too fucking beautiful." James hadn't even realized he'd said that until Seth's eyes widened, a little sharpness returning to them as he stared at the vampire in shocked awe. The blonde reached out with his free hand, forgoing Seth's cock to instead tease his nipple. "What the hell am I going to do if someone else realizes that?"

"N-no one e-else—-,"

"For now," James interrupted with a little growl. "But what happens when they realize just how fucking irresistible you are?" He glared at the reaction those words received in his mate. "That is not something to smile about, damn it! I'm pissed just thinking about it!"

"It doesn't m-matter if they do," Seth responded with a quiver as he shifted on James' lap, one eye closing and his face contorting in pleasure as he effectively shifted the angle of penetration. He licked his lips as he leaned forwards, hands on James's shoulders as he stared into those blue eyes. "My body, my soul, my, my heart, are only yours." He flushed scarlet. "I love you."

James buried his hand in Seth's hair, bringing the wolf's forehead to his. "I'm not a good man, Seth, and I'll never truly be one. You saw tonight what I'm capable of if it means getting what I want. And that wasn't even—if it was about you I—-." He tightened his grip on Seth's hair. "If I allow myself to fall any further I—I might never be able to let you go if you change your mind, even if you want me to, even if you beg me to. Do you get what I'm trying to tell you? Do you get what I'm trying to warn you about"

"James…" Seth pulled his head back against James' hold enough to look into the blonde's eyes. His expression was blank, but his eyes dark flames. "If you think you can ever leave me…" His grip on James' shoulders tightened as his movements became sharper, his breath escaping him erratically. "Me change my mind?" He chuckled darkly before sobbing when he shifted in a way that James' cock hit something inside of him. "Just—-shut up. St-stop saying such stupid—don't you know I want—what I need—-James! I want you to call me cute." He whined breathlessly. "Please James."

"By the gods, Puppy…" Staring up at Seth's needy, pleading face, James was utterly shaken as he realized: "I'm so in love with you it's terrifying." He surged forwards, wrapping his arms around Seth and straightening him on his lap, causing Seth to sob in his mouth as he gave him no time to get used this new angle, instead ramming himself up inside of the wolf. "You're fucking stuck with me for the rest of our lives, Seth, you can't change your mind, you hear me?" He nibbled roughly on Seth's ear, eliciting sobs and shivers, his thrusts growing more violent in response. "You're mine now. You got that? Mine!"

"I—James—ah!" Seth seemed to have lost all words as he held onto James' shoulders in an attempt to ride the bucking bull beneath him.

"I'm gonna filled your body with my cum over and over again until there's not a piece of you that's not claimed and covered in me," James threatened, and then laughed darkly when Seth's body reacted instinctively, clenching around James like a tease. "You think you might really in heat, baby?" He bit his way down Seth's neck. "Because your body seems to really like the idea of being full of my cum, you're squeezing around me so tightly it's as if you're afraid even a little drop might drip out." He grinned into Seth's neck when he felt the wolf's cock twitching like crazy against his abdomen. "So fucking cute."

Seth hiccuped a cry as he let go of James' shoulders to instead wrap his arms around James' neck, plastering himself against the vampire, hiding his face in James' hair as he gasped wildly, his hips meeting the thrusts eagerly. "P-please J-James."

"Yeah, baby?" James purred as he ran his hands up and down that back before lowering them to grab Seth's ass once more, kneading each cheek before pulling them slightly apart so he could better watch himself spearing into the wolf's body over and over and over again.

"I'm so empty," Seth whispered into his ear. "Fill me."

Something might've snapped in James at those words, because the next thing he knew he was using his grip on Seth to repeatedly lift and slam him down onto his cock so violently he'd think the wolf would be in agony if it weren't for the 'yes yes yes more more more!' being whispered encouragingly in his ear. "I'm gonna cum, baby." And with that warning he thrust once, twice, three times, and then he hit home, burying himself as deeply inside of his lover as he could as he found completion inside of him.

Seth let out a choked sound, his whole body twitching as his cock throbbed against James' abdomen, spilling out into the water just as James spilled out into his body. "So good," Seth whimpered as he tightened his hold around James' neck, pressing soft kisses into his wet hair. "Need more."

Chuckling darkly, pleased, James wrapped his arms tightly around his mate before slowly beginning to rock their tightly embraced bodies, moving them as one.

Seth's heart was racing, his breath rapid. "Go faster. I need your—-."

"Shhhh," James whispered into Seth's hair as he slowly rocked their bodies, the movement languidly fucking him into his lover. "I'll give you everything," he promised. "Just let me enjoy the feeling of being so deep inside of you."

Seth's whole body shivered in response, allowing himself to be loved slowly, tenderly, even though it was obvious the slow, teasing pace tortured him. Still, when James found his completion inside him once more, Seth let out a sound that was so content James rewarded him by dragging him up to the shoreline and giving him that harder, faster fuck he'd begged for.

It wasn't the honeymoon they both deserved and needed, but it was a very promising first step.