So, I've had the majority of this chapter written for about 2 years now so it's nice to finally post.

Hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think!

Xxxx

"We have a very serious problem," Irina announced, her demeanour much more sombre than any of the none Denali's had seen before.

"Wait." Tanya frowned as her own phone went. "Silence," she ordered, lifting her finger as she put it to her ear. "Aro, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Xxxxx

The entire coven listened to the conversation that was taking place on Tanya's cell phone, Carmen and Eleazar had joined them in the living room after hearing Irina's warning.

"You are summoned, Tanya. There are matters we need to discuss," Aro's voice could be heard clearly by all, despite the distortion caused by the cell.

"Aro, we were only in Volturi very recently. What has occurred that we need to see you again so soon?" Tanya questioned, trying to discern how concerned she should be.

"It is an issue that I require your consul on and will not discuss further but it involves your newest addition." The call was disconnected.

"What do you know?" Tanya demanded of Irina.

"It was a warning for us to be aware when we attend the meeting. An old friend," Irina confirmed with a nod. "I trust her, as much as I trust a vampire outside our coven," she qualified. "But we must be on our guard."

"Need we all go?" Carmen queried, she was concerned as she addressed their leader, it was times like these that they all deferred to Tanya's leadership.

"He did not specify but I would not see her go alone," Victoria spoke up, surprising the others. "If I am to be the cause of trouble I will face them," the ancient growled.

"And we will come too, it's our fault if the Volturi are pissed," Rose added.

"Yeah, they don't get to push us around," Bella joined in.

"Then it is settled, we all go," Eleazar announced and Tanya could only nod, knowing her coven would not be dissuaded from standing united.

"Yes, it is most likely to be your addition that they question but we do not know this for certain," their leader cautioned.

"Storm!" Bella blurted out.

"I'll make sure she's Ok, don't worry," Rose smiled at her mates as she felt Victoria's anxiety spike at the realisation that the coven could not leave the wolf-girl home alone, unprotected.

"I can take her to Charlie?" Bella suggested.

"No," Rose shook her head and pulled out her phone. "Em, sweetie? Can you come over, like now. Please?" After assuring her friend that she was in no immediate danger she hung up. "He's on his way," she confirmed, pocketing her phone.

While the coven waited for Emmett's arrival Eleazar filed a flight plan and made arrangements for the coven's plane to be readied. Victoria sat down with Storm and explained that they had to leave but would be back soon and Rosalie's friend would come and look after her while they were gone.

When Emmett arrived he walked in on a coven readying itself for the worst possibilities. The sisters busied themselves on their laptops and had changed into practical tactical outfits. Carmen was petting Storm who was extremely agitated, letting out confused whines as she skittered about. Bella and her mates were in close contact as they stayed out of the way, only Victoria looked unruffled but all those that shared her bond felt the tension emanating from the nomad.

"Hey, what the hell is going on, Rosie?" Emmett jogged right into the living room.

"Volturi summons," Kate called out as she slammed her laptop closed.

"Shit!" Emmett frowned. "You want me to come with? I can help?"

"No, big guy. This is not your fight," Kate came up to the centre of the room where the three mates had gathered by the Cullen. "Well, we hope it's no-one's fight but better to be prepared," the blonde smiled and clapped the male on hiss shoulder, Emmett visibly wincing under the blow.

"We need your help, please?" Rose asked.

"We need you to watch Storm," Bella added.

"She can't be here by herself," Rose continued as she knelt down by the wolf.

"You want me to dog sit?" Emmett stared down at the wolf milling around the vampires but as he spoke Storm looked up and cocked her head, before cocking her leg and peeing on Emmett's shoe.

There was an odd stillness as all the vampires caught the action.

Bella was the first to laugh and then that was it, they entire coven joining her, even Victoria released a surprisingly musical bark of laughter and Storm span in circles, yipping excitedly.

"Storm!" Rose was the first to recover and scolded the young wolf who cowered at the sharp tone of voice. "Can you tell her to behave while we're gone? Please?" She entreated Victoria who smiled and nodded, before kneeling down and beckoning to the pup.

Emmett watched, completely confused as Rose's new mate whispered in the wolf's ear, he couldn't understand what was being said but looking around the coven none of the other vampires seemed the least bit curious.

"Ok?" Bella asked as Victoria received a nuzzle and a lick to the cheek before Storm went around the room nuzzling each of the coven and receiving affectionate murmurs and scratches from them all before going to sit by Emmett's side, tail curled around her feet, cold nose nudging at his hand.

"Listen," Rose sighed and stepped forward, hands curling in Emmett's sweater, the action worrying him as it was one he recognised and it meant the blonde was extremely stressed. "I need to to protect that wolf with everything you have," golden eyes locked and he nodded.

"Everything, Rosie," he pledged. "Be careful," Rose grunted as she was wrapped in a bear hug and lifted off the ground.

"We will keep her safe," Bella pledged, receiving an approving nod from Victoria.

"I know you will, my little bad-ass," he winked and Bella bared her teeth and hissed, the animalistic gesture unsettling him enough to remember how much power his friends held.

"Go, take her from here to somewhere safe," Eleazar commended, very sad to leave his 'daughter' behind but knowing that it was the safest and only option.

"Wanna go hunt?" Emmett asked Storm who whined, reluctant to leave her family but understanding that they had to go to war and would return as they could. For now she had to go with the tree man that did not smell of home but Viktor had promised they would return soon and she trusted the strong one.

"Let's go," Tanya sighed as she watched Emmett lead their wolf into the forests.

Arriving at the airport around five in the afternoon they hired three cars for the journey to Volturi, not wanting to risk any run-ins with the Italian police they adhered to the speed limit and arrived just over two hours later.

"Don't be nervous, it will be alright," Victoria reassured her bond-mates, reaching out to take each of their hands. "Whatever this is about will be resolved quickly and we can return home." Both Rose and Bella smiled at her reference, they were glad their mate now felt she could also call Denali home. The mates joined the rest of their coven at the entrance to the Volturi catacombs, the first sign that anything was amiss was when they were met by the Volturi guard, not just one but ten members of the guard flanked them.

"What the hell is this for?" Tanya growled as her coven all tensed, this did not look good, the Volturi were either trying to intimidate them, cautious of the Denali's power, or both.

"Please, follow us," the guard, a large male vampire with dark hair tied off his face in a pony-tail, instructed as the guards began to walk down the main corridor that led to the throne room. The walls were dark without any decoration which gave the procession a sombre air, one of foreboding.

"It will be fine," Victoria reassured them again, squeezing her mates' hands as she walked between them.

"You can't be sure of that," Rose murmured but she felt the wave of love and protection that the red-head sent both her and Bella. The newborn was walking confidently by Victoria's side, she had no idea what was going to happen but she would go to any lengths to protect her mates and she knew they would do the same for her. But, she wasn't going to let any Volturi guard intimidate her so she let her fangs drop and kept her expression neutral as she walked with her coven.

Tanya and Kate were having similar thoughts, as was Irina. They had dealt with the Volturi many times before but had never revealed their full hand. Now with their additional members and the young ones' own bond their power was without bounds, this meeting should be over quickly.

They were stopped before the ornate doors that led to the throne room, the leader of the guards slipping inside.

"Why the games?" Kate grumbled as they were made to wait.

"It's Aro, trying to make us feel inferior," Carmen answered, trying to keep calm but her nerves were showing,

The doors opened and Tanya was shocked to see the room full of vampires, she had never seen so many in one place before, they lined the room and all eyes were on her coven. She felt a pulse of anxiety from from Irina as she recognised the scene, this was to be a trial. But for what? They had committed no crime and she would fight to the death anyone who accused them of such. She felt Kate's fear rise too and set a wave of calm to both her sisters. She reached out to the younger bond-mates, Rose was also anxious, and angry. Bella was relatively calm but there was an undercurrent of unease there.

It was only then she realised that Victoria had disappeared, where she had gone was a little concerning given the present circumstances but Tanya trusted in the bond. She did not have time to dwell as they were abruptly ushered into the room, still surrounded by the guard but Tanya stepped forward, not one to be cowed by the Volturi's show of strength, she was then cut off from her coven as the guards closed ranks behind her.

"Ah, welcome!" Aro stood from his throne and opened his arms in greeting. "Thank you for attending."

"Why are we here Aro?" Tanya questioned, her tone slightly bored. "We were here not long ago, surely you have not missed us in such a short time?" She raised a brow as she waited for his reply.

"I know and it was a wonderful visit but unfortunately someone has been telling tales!" He announced grandly waving an arm toward the corner of the room.

"Edward!" It was Bella's growl that cut through the silence of the room as Edward stepped forward. Tanya rolled her eyes, feigning a complete lack of concern but she was frantically trying to think what the boy may have told the vampires leaders that had resulted in them being summoned.

"Yes Isabella, your husband is here," Aro laughed, smirking as she growled but he did not reprimand her for it. "And he has been telling me some very interesting tales." His tone turned serious and thee room fell deadly silent.

"What?" Tanya chuckled. "That he got his head handed to him by one of our own?" She smiled and shook her had. "He was a naughty boy Aro, we could not let that go unpunished."

"No, no! I agree with you there. He really needs to get over young Isabella, although she is truly remarkable," Aro nodded toward the newborn who respectfully bowed her head, acknowledging his comment but staying silent. "No, it was what he told me happened after that incident that concerned me and is the reason I summoned you." Tanya frowned, what was he talking about.

"Aro? I really do not know to what you refer," the Denali coven leader queried politely. "A mating occurred that was rather unique but you were informed of it's likelihood so I cannot see any problem?"

"Ah, unique you say?" Aro began to pace the room in front of where the Denali's stood. "Explain." Tanya was reluctant to with so many vampires present.

"It is a private matter, one which I would be happy to discuss in your chambers?" Tanya suggested.

"On any other occasion I would agree but today we must decide whether or not you have broken our rules. Whether you are intentionally increasing the power of your coven to such that it threatens the stability of the Volturi?" Aro laid out the accusations and Tanya heard Carmen gasp and felt a wave of anxiety from all her coven.

"What lies has the child been telling you?" Offence was the best defence, Tanya reasoned as she smirked at Edward who was scowling at them from across the room. "We have no desire for power otherwise we would serve you, Aro," she threw in some flattery, it never failed.

"I believe you Tanya, our relationship has always been one based on mutual trust but I have been told that you have been growing your ranks to challenge us?" Aro's tone was deadly serious and it seemed they had reached the crux of the problem.

"Really? When would I have time to do that? Between training a newborn and fucking?" She replied bluntly sending a very strong wave of sexual energy towards the assembled vampires, reminding all present what she and her sisters were really known for, many of them here today had been willing bedmates in the past and she felt her chi spike along with the arousal in the room.

"I know what I'm good at Aro, world domination seems a bit too much like hard work to me." Tanya chuckled, keeping the mood light. "Was it really necessary to drag us all the way here to ask us that?"

"Well, Edward claims that you have recruited a warrior and bribed her with both Isabella and Rosalie," Tanya's incredulous expression was genuine and then she gave a bark of laughter.

"I admit she is a fine warrior but to dispatch an insolent child? That hardly amounts to a coup, Aro. I insist you end this nonsense and allow us to return to our home." She paused. "Besides, a mating bond cannot be manufactured, we all know that. It is genuine." Tanya said with a finality designed to end the conversation.

"Then may we meet her? I am told she is with you?" Aro queried, eyes narrowing as he saw only the Denali's known to him. "I requested her attendance, where is she?" Aro bellowed and glared at the Denali's. "This is not acceptable," he roared.

"I am here," Victoria's voice rang out clearly but it took a moment for the assembled vampires to locate her presence, finally seeing her crouching on a carved buttress that was supporting the vaulted roof. Aro's eyes widened in shock and the room was filled with the whispers of the assembled vampires.

"Valkyrie?" Aro seemed disbelieving and kept his eyes trained on the red-head as she gracefully dropped the forty feet from the ceiling to stand before him, as she did several members of the Volturi, including the guard dropped to one knee and the Denali's were shocked by events as they watched the scene unfold.

Xxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

Not telling, it's a surprise...