Chapter 23

JPOV

We must have been standing for just few minutes, when I first smelled them. The volturi, leaders of vampires and at the moment, my biggest enemies because they want to kill my mate. There were almost 30 vampires just like alice said. The leaders walked in front leading the way and other followed them.

I could see the evil twins, I have heard so much about, one on the both sides of leaders. Behind the girl, there was another guard, must be demitri. Behind the boy, a burly one walked, definitely felix. These few highest guards were the ones I was worried about.

I heard lilly's heart go into overdrive with their first glimpse. She knew they were near when my body went rigid few moments, when they were still far away for her to see. I kept her close, so close that I was afraid of crushing her. I tried to calm her with my hand on her back and tried to relax myself before I crushed her. She looked at me and then at her family. A look of determination crossed her face. What is she thinking?

Difficult times were upon us. An army of vampires. But, we will do anything in our power to save lilly. My pack stood behind me on one side while the cullens stood on the other side parallel to us. I stood with lilly in the middle of enemies who turned into allies. Everyone was anxious.

My eyes scanned the volturi's army to find bella and cullens were doing the same. It was after few moments, we finally saw her. Bella was walking right behind aro. She had a look of concentration and dread on her face. Plus, edward looked frustrated.

The army stood few yards away from us. We wolves were already on edge. I pushed lilly slightly behind me. 'Carlisle, old friend' aro addressed. 'Hello aro' carlisle answered stiffly.

'I see you have made some new ... friends in past few years' aro said, his gaze sweeping on us. 'Wolves are here to protect one of their own' carlisle said.

'Ah... the imprint. I know. That is the reason why we are here.' aro almost hissed at the end of his comment. 'We can talk about this aro' carlisle tried to handle this calmly but aro shot his idea down 'We are not here to talk carlisle. There was a complaint against your clan. And from one of your own. You know the rules old friend. I though I explained rules properly the last time we met.'

'I know aro. But things have changed. We had no intentions to keep you in dark. But as you can see, we are still trying to figure this out ourselves. Lilly is still young. She still has time.' carlisle tried again.

'Time or no time carlisle. The only truth I know is that she will not be changed into a vampire, and that was our agreement. I forgave you for adopting a human. I forgave you for bringing her into this world. I even gave you time. I believe I have given you enough chances.' aro stated.

Much to my surprise, this time edward spoke 'I do not know what bella has explained to you aro. But things are different now. I know that we agreed on changing lilly on the right age. But we didn't knew at the time that she would become the mate of a wolf. Jacob imprinted on her and imprint is similar to mates in us vampires. The bond is unbreakable. If we change her, it will kill the wolf and we cannot do that.'

'But she knows about us and that is against the law' aro almost screeched. But edward was calm 'I know. But she would have gotten to know anyway. In la push's tribe, boys and men turn into wolves when the threat of vampires is near. There are legends and stories about this fact. Even if we hadn't told lilly about vampires in the beginning, she would have found out when she heard the legends as the mate of a wolf. It was her destiny to be in this world.' I was amazed at his ability to tell the truth in our favor. I never thought like that.

However, I growled every time when someone said anything about changing lilly. But I kept my mouth close. Let the leeches handle talking and I will handle the fighting.

Aro was thinking hard about it and it was unnerving. This time carlisle tried 'Aro, we need to discuss this. But you cannot really blame us for changing our decision. We cannot change lilly because she is linked with a wolf. We cannot destroy two lives, two loves. And you cannot punish her for knowing a truth early in her life that she would have found out anyway.'

Much to my dismay, caius came forward fuming. He is the tough one. He can ruin this and I will rip him apart, if he did. 'She is not his love. She is just his imprint according to bella' he screamed at us. OK this is it. I pushed lilly slightly towards her mom and stepped forward. 'Let me show you aro.' I said. Lilly tried to stop me but her mom kept my mate grounded.

I went forward when aro nodded with edward following closely. Aro's ice cold fingers caught my hand in his hands. He looked like he was in a trance. I was letting her see everything, every moment including my imprint on lilly and how I fell in love with her. I tried a different path, gave him my opinion in my thoughts where he can hear me.

She is my imprint and I love her. If you disagree, it will end into a bloodbath. Many lives will be lost. Most of our side and some of your side. But you will gain nothing. What could you really gain by killing a girl? I know she is not supposed to know about this. But her mate is a giant wolf. Do you really think that she would not have known about this world.

Aro released my hand and looked at me in wonder. 'Your bond is different. No less strong though. You love her, really love her. I can see that the mates and families of other wolves also know about our secret' and I panicked with his statement. Is he threatening my whole pack? Growls from me and my pack broke the silence in clearing. I immediately got back on position in the formation near lilly.

'I am not threatening anyone. But there is no denying that rules were broken. Punishment is necessary. I will let lilly go. No punishment for her as she is only a child. An innocent in all this. But cullens, they are different.' Words of lilly's freedom were music for my ears. But punishment for her family. I do not like this. But aro continued.

'First I need to tell you that bella has found a new mate for herself. She is with demetri now.' gasps were heard across the clearing. Edward looked shattered. 'So, bella will be joining our guard. She is no longer a part of your family carlisle. And, now the time for punishment.' dread filled my heart.

'Whole cullen family will spend 100 years serving the volturi in return of lilly's life.' He announced. 'NO' lilly screamed behind me tears filling her eyes. 'This is not up for discussion dear.' aro calmly replied. Carlisle looked at everyone in his family before nodding 'Yes.'

'What? Grandpa no. You cannot do this. I can't let you.' lilly said in hysterics. But carlisle ignored her 'Aro. Can I negotiate it a bit?' he asked. He continues at aro's nod 'We will serve the volturi for 100 years but not in lilly's life.' I was astonished that they were ready to sacrifice 100 years for my lilly.

Aro thought about carlisle's condition for several minutes before smiling like a cheshire cat. 'Yes. You can stay with your human till she is alive. But then you will come straight to us and serve your punishment. And, for this, you will serve 20 additional years.'

Carlisle clenched his jaw but nodded. 'Then our work here is done. We will see in few years old friend.' aro said before turning and leaving. Much to my surprise, bella followed them without any question or even a glance in our direction.