"Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy." ― F. Scott Fitzgerald

Who is Riley?

I can tell the vampire in front of me isn't listening to me at all as he extends his awareness deep into the forest. The sun dies on the horizon barely visible through all the trees. Scarlet and gold contrasting with the blue-gray of the incoming night. It would be beautiful on any other night. Now, it's suffocating.

I take a second to communicate with my pack.

"Don't engage until we know what is going on," I bark at them, their eagerness to pounce hitting me.

"We can take them," Paul spits out.

His desire to tear apart Cullen bodies ripples across the pack. Stone limbs torn off and bodies destroyed by fire. Forests free of leeches, life returning to an almost-normal. It would be a lie to say the others didn't want that as well. A lie to say I didn't.

Only then do I see a tiny movement flicker across Edward's face. I strive to ignore it for now. We don't need to explain ourselves why we might have some distrust towards their kind. Still, I'm not so dumb as to think this is the right moment for it. I cool myself, keep my thoughts on track.

"We aren't taking them. Stay behind the treaty line and wait."

They agree, even if there's grumbling.

Moments tick by.

Bella's ex-boyfriend stands like a statue in front of me. Only the wind moves through his already upturned hair.

"What is he saying?" I growl, lowly. It's difficult enough to know Edward can hear all of my thoughts even as a wolf and not respond to my questions. It's even worse knowing he can hear another's and still keep me in the dark.

I dig my paws into the ground to signal the others and I are ready to pounce if necessary. We are just as fast, just as strong, just as much of a threat.

"It's strange. He's thinking about Victoria."

The second he says that I think of Bella. Is she safe?

Edward flinches at my thoughts. A subtle movement, but it fills me with pride nonetheless. She is mine.

But Edward doesn't acknowledge that thought: "He says he knows what she's planning and he wants to defect."

Defect? Why?

The forest grows more eerily quiet.

"What is she planning?" I ask after Edward refuses to continue. I make sure to lace my intonation with as much ire as possible.

He finally turns to look at me with a grave look across his features.

His voice is hollow, almost pained: "It is what my family and I have long suspected. She's building a newborn army."

Instinct crawls up my spine. I don't know how I know, like with lots of things being a wolf, but I know this is not a good thing.

"What is that?" I demand. I sink all four of my paws deeper into the ground. Letting my nails get as much practice as possible slowly sinking into soft prey.

"Please stop trying to break my concentration. My family is waiting for me to decide if we need to take action."

"So is mine," I retort immediately.

Edward looks into my eyes deeper. The fake yellow hue sickens me further. Its only more obvious in my wolf form how utterly alien these creatures are.

"I've told him not to move, but he still wants to talk to Alice."

"Why?"

"Because of what she can do, obviously. He wants to know how she sees this ending," he spews vitriol. "But letting him talk to her would require him to cross into our territory."

Cross into territory closer to Forks. Closer to Bella…

"Absolutely not."

Edward looks away from me and back into the forest.

"We'll let her go into our land then," I offer though the wrongness of the thought shoots through me. A leech on sacred grounds…but if it keeps Bella safe, that is my priority.

"She's already on her way, it seems. She saw me agreeing with your decision."

If I haven't thought so already, I realize I truly hate vampires.

The other pack hears this thought crystal clear and agrees. I make sure they understand not to touch the witch leech while she's on this diplomatic mission. But stay ready, things can go bad in a single minute. We have to remain alert to all possibilities.

"She's close to him now. They're seeing each other in their thoughts."

I may be 24 and able to phase into a wolf regularly, but I am way too young for this weird shit.

"He's asking her to show him the future now that we can confirm the newborns are coming," Edward goes on.

"You still haven't said what a newborn is," I tell him.

"Please be quiet," he snarls. "You can figure it out."

He's right. It doesn't take much to know a newborn would be a freshly turned vamp. But why is that so important? Strongest bloodlust, I assume. Surely that would make less efficient fighters then, right?

Edward's neck strains forward. The glimpse I see of the white, freakish skin sticking out of his fancy collar makes my stomach flip. It would be the perfect spot to bite down. If he notices this instinct of mine, he doesn't react. In fact, his features grow more concerned. I feel the bile twist in my stomach, even as a wolf, I can get sick.

"Something isn't right, the future is changing. He was going to die before; that is why he wanted to detect. He must have sensed it. But why is he seeing it too?" Edward mumbles. "It's like it's in his head also."

I don't like what this guy is saying. It doesn't make sense, for one. And it seems to be freaking him out. I ready my battle stance once again. The others feel my agitation and let me know they have my back. I remind them to focus on the two leeches on our land.

Finally, Edward exclaims, "It is in his head…"

"What are you on about?" I groan.

He straightens up, almost shuts himself down completely. Worse than a statue,

"He's copying me too," Edward gapes. "He can copy all of us."

"What the fuck are you saying?" any last pretense of being polite towards him is gone as I curse inside my head. Now I'm grateful the son of a bitch can hear it.

"Our abilities…" Edward trails off. "His ability must be to duplicate. It's unheard of. Beyond powerful. Impossible."

Copy him? All of them? Is he serious?

The vampires who are already too powerful?

He can be all of them at once?

The possibilities for that kind of power wash over me. I see a thousand different angles, wholly unable to focus on anyone in particular. It becomes too much too soon.

All I can think now: what do we do?

"I'm seeing something else now, the future," Edward turns even whiter. "They're both seeing our side lose now. We all die. Bella dies."

His gold eyes don't blink. There's no doubt he's relaying the truth of what he sees.

"Not on my fucking watch," I retort. I'm snapped back to reality. I don't care if we don't have any idea what to do, we're doing something. We are not letting her die. I will throw myself off the edge of the earth, need be, anything but that.

Then his mouth parts open and I know everything has become worse somehow. He's scared. The stoic fucking brick wall is finally scared. And it scares me too with what comes out of his lips next.

"It's a distraction. He isn't leaving Victoria at all. He's covering for her."

I growl, the rage now exploding in my chest.

"Bella," the word comes from both of us at the same time.

It's only a split second that we finally look at each like we agree on something.

Time to move.

The pack takes off after the pretender. The wrath has bubbled over in all of us. Their teeth snarl, eager for bloodshed, but I don't know if they can get it tonight. All that matters is that Victoria hasn't gotten Bella. If we can get Riley for his part in all of this, fine by me. I'd happily snap his neck like all the others. Just as long as Bella is okay.

"I'm going to her," I say to Edward. He won't change my mind.

I quickly assign Paul as the pack lead while I find my mate.

Edward nods.

We both know she isn't going to want to see him.

"My family will try to get him," he says. He isn't confident.

I raise and lower my snout as acknowledgment before I take off.

Running for Bella never gets any easier. It doesn't matter how fast I push my animal body, it's never fast enough. All of a sudden every branch is on the way blocking a quicker path, the trees become more clustered, the sky loses more light. Harder, everything becomes harder. I get angrier. My body can't move as fast as my mind.

A thousand images of Bella tied up and tortured come to me. I try to focus on pictures of me tearing off the redhead's face, but it doesn't work. All I can think of is my imprint and child being at risk. It's on track to destroy me.

"I'm coming with you," Leah snarls into our connection.

"Stay, dammit," I hiss. We need everyone possible to get this guy. Wolves or vamps, I don't care anymore.

"Fuck off, Uley," she responds. "Maybe I care too."

In a moment, she's at my flank, speeding ahead of me as we barrel towards Forks. I'm being torn in half as an impending sense of doom manifests behind and ahead of me.

"Holy shit, he can hear all of us, can't he!" Embry yells.

He can probably see their location out of their thoughts. Know their next moves the second they think it.

"Follow him as best as you can," I snarl. "Run off instinct, try not to think."

An impossible task, I know. Not when wolves are pack warriors and our connection is our greatest asset. What we accomplished taking down the dark-skinned leech won't work here. None of the strategies I've theorized and made the pack train with forgo using our mental connection. It's a humbling experience, realizing we're outmatched. But how can we give up when so much rests on this?

"Veggie vamps can't get him either," Paul roars.

I'm shown images of the leech equally evading the Cullen clan's maneuvers. It's horrible to admit, but the only hope is Edward himself reading this dick's mind first. Instinct tells me not to put money on it, he's getting away regardless.

I only hope that the red-haired bitch has not been able to harm Bella during our distraction. I do more than hope, I pray.

"They planned this," I growl underneath my breath.

"No shit," Leah snaps.

There are only a few words I can use to accurately describe the anger. In the back of my head, I wonder if this is somehow my fault for wanting to confront Edward Cullen. But the pack and his family still would have ended up in the forest chasing after the scent of a new leech. It was methodically planned. Of course, we'd go after someone new all at once instead of considering that he could have been tied to Victoria. Fucking idiots, all of us.

"I'm getting ahead," Leah says. "I'll tell you if something is wrong."

She sprints faster than me even though I'm running on all adrenaline. It's impressive and I try to make a note to tell her later. She deserves the praise all of us crave. Even me, even now.

But the minutes of waiting for news might knock ten years off my life with how hard I shake from fear. My paws pound at the ground. They're rubbed raw and heal all over again. The pain is just another motivator to go faster. But I still feel as if I'm running through quicksand. Only teleportation would be fast enough to confirm Bella's status.

Leah's voice gives me the greatest relief I've felt all day: "She's safe. I'll head to the closest clothes stash for us."

There's one right by the Swan house. It was intended for emergencies just like this where I'll need a quick change. Maybe Bella would be bothered if she knew, but I can't care at the moment.

"Here's a burner phone, we'll probably need it," Leah tosses it to me.

Immediately, I understand why.

I see Bella crying over a girl's body. The subsequent relief sickens me as I realize I'm glad it's this stranger over her. It isn't right, but that's just another way the imprint rules my life. Too late to fight it here. Too late for the girl. I can already smell the beginning of human decay.

I'm almost torn to pieces as I tear Bella off the girl's body. Jessica. A name I won't forget now.

Slowly, the pieces of what happened come together. Victoria aimed for another victim close to Bella. The last warning. She's intending to finally come to her next. Leah and I both know that is what this means. She gives me a look. She alludes to what Riley is capable of, seeing it close up for a moment better than I could even through the eyes of the pack.

I can't think straight through any of this.

We need to get Bella out of here. Leah volunteers herself for the job and as much as I would rather it be me, I know I need to call the police and talk to the pack. It is hard enough trying to calm her down. I don't think I said anything right.

"Do not make it worse for her," I warn Leah in our low voice that can only be heard if you're also a wolf.

She rolls her eyes at me.

"You better come see her tonight. She's going to need you," Leah says the last part with a touch of sadness. I know I'll never be able to forget how I failed her those years ago.

"I won't forget," I finally say. And it's true, nothing can prevent me from making sure Bella will be okay. As okay as possible.

The memory of my own breakdown after Harry's murder finds me. The paralysis, the confusion. Just as difficult and unyielding circumstances.

Without warning, I jolt back to the memory of Embry's ankle getting crushed by a tree while chasing Victoria. I thought I saw someone's hands push that tree down. I don't have any doubt in my mind now who it actually was. Has he been working with her this entire time? I wouldn't be surprised. I wonder if she's had this newborn army there too.

I watch them walk off; Bella desperately leaning on Leah for support. The shock of her friend's murder destroying a piece of her sanity that I can only hope is momentary. I don't wish to see pain like that in her eyes ever again. I'll do literally anything to keep her from that kind of grief. I'll do anything to keep her happy.

There isn't much time to spare. I can't leave a dead body out in the open for long. Yet, I know whatever has happened with the leeches has been resolved by now certainly. My pack is waiting for my next orders.

I phase quickly in the nearest patch of dense wood even if the cover of night. Every golden hue from the sunset is gone now, there's only darkness.

The result of the encounter with the mega-vamp isn't a surprise. I inform them of what happened with Bella, Victoria, and Jessica as well. The reactions to another drained body aren't pretty. I can't give any words of comfort, only that we're all grateful Victoria didn't choose another of our family as the target.

"It was a lost cause, boss," Jared tells me.

"I know," I say. "I know you did your best."

Generally, everyone agrees and commiserates together. I see more images of the leech being able to outmaneuver a second in advance where one of us was planning to attack. The shock of his abilities hasn't hit me even now. And of course, I wonder that if this is what Riley can do just by being near Edward, then Edward himself must be quite a fighter. But Riley can copy everyone's powers all at once.

"You didn't do your best," Jacob growls.

His attitude strikes a chord within me. The chord of pent-up anger of the fact I could have lost my imprint today.

"Would you rather I didn't go after Bella to make sure she's safe?" I hiss at him.

Jacob scoffs, "That isn't what I mean."

"Please do be clear, we're all eager to hear what you have to say."

Everyone's mind stills. There are the occasional flashes of someone worrying we're about to fight. Well, that'll entirely be up to Jacob Black. I have no qualms about scheduling a time to kick his ass after I see Bella again.

"You can't just be okay with him getting away," Jacob presses. "He's going to come back."

"When did I say I didn't know what?" I seethe.

The possibilities of what he and Victoria could do to Bella, Forks, the people on our sacred land, have been eating at me.

"You're the Alpha, it's your job to figure out how to handle this."

I could almost laugh.

"My job? How exactly do you propose I deal with this then? Even the Cullens have never seen anyone do what he can. Was I just supposed to pull a solution out of thin air on the spot?"

"Then you should have recognized how fucked we are!" Jacob barks into our connection. "You ran off and could have let us get fucking killed by that guy."

"He wasn't planning to kill you. He was the goddamn distraction. But you're right, he and the bitch will come back. So screw your head back on and see the bigger picture here."

There's a threat in my voice and I'm certain everyone can hear it. I'll drop Jacob the second he becomes a liability. My original belief that more wolves always equals better was wrong if this one continually questions my authority.

"Whatever. I'm going to make sure my dad is alright. Maybe he knows something since you seem clueless."

He's phased back to human before I have a chance to respond.

I snarl for a moment before I can compose myself.

As if the bastard still doesn't have suggestive thoughts about her that I do my best to ignore. He can act tough all he wants, I know he still cares for her. Maybe he's just angry I'm the only one that gets to do it openly.

"Alright, everyone head back to wherever you want to rest for a couple of hours. Then the regular patrol schedule will need to start up again."

They all groan.

"We have to be even more vigilant now."

I'm grateful that Charlie Swan isn't the one who picks up when I call the police. I explain the situation to a clearly underpaid and underprepared deputy. He doesn't seem to believe me at first until I mention the condition of the body. There's a hefty silence as he agrees to call in the necessary teams.

The ambulance is first, but they can't do anything. They step away quickly after that to let the next group secure the scene. I know they won't find any evidence either, but I watch closely how the process is done. Yellow tape, numbered pieces of evidence. The occasional flash of photography. It makes it easy to forget this was a person Bella cared about.

Charlie arrives last. I half wonder if the news spreads quickly throughout Forks from a secretary or someone else who works at the station. He looks as if he's had to make a series of difficult calls. He wipes his face down to shake off the shock that's come on. I take the moment to approach him after talking to all the other officers nearby. Surprisingly, a few remembered I was the one to bring Bella back when she disappeared. But Charlie makes no mention of it.

"Bella found her. I had Leah Clearwater take her back to your house before I called you."

"And how did you know about this?" he questions.

Sometimes I think it isn't right that I can lie so easily on command now.

"She called me, very clearly upset. Leah and I figured we'd better come here. It was worse than I thought."

The last part is the greatest lie. It was actually much better than I guessed. Only one person was killed. I considered that it could have been Bella, despite the effort Victoria is clearly putting in to save everything for some sick grand finale. That worry won't ever dissipate.

"Are you Bella's friend too?" Charlie raises his eyebrows. It's pointed. I understand what he's hinting at.

I straighten up a little bit as I answer yes.

"She's never mentioned you that way," he replies, narrowing his eyes further.

The chief of police doesn't look like he believes me. I can't blame him. Not sure I could trust anyone who claims to be close to Bella either, especially someone who is implying he is more than friends. Not that I could define what that more is, other than expectant parents, of course. I swallow thinking of the fact I could tell Charlie now, but it would only make it worse for her. She deserves to do it how she wants.

"Shit," Charlie curses as he runs a hand through his hair. "She'll need to make a statement."

I nod.

"It looks identical to the animal attacks we had a year back."

I don't say anything to that. It might have even been the same creature responsible. The thought fills me with disgust. I should have been there for all of those incidents. Maybe Jacob Black is right in his criticisms of me. I'm easily distracted.

"Do me a favor and warn Billy, okay?" Charlie's rough voice pulls me out of my head. He's sincere in his concern, but he never seems to want to show it. A common trait for the older men in my life.

"Always." And I mean that completely. Billy has my full respect and as much protection as we can possibly extend. Even if his son is a shithead, he's a good man. One of the best, like Harry.

Charlie heads back to the station. I imagine he'll have to inform Jessica's parents now. A job I wouldn't wish on anyone, save for Victoria, who if she was human, I would force her to stare directly into the consequences. But those kinds of creatures don't care even if you tried to make them. A hopeless pursuit. You're dealing with something less than human.

When the area clears further, I walk the short distance back to Bella's house. The door is unlocked and I immediately don't like that. I make sure it's locked before I walk upstairs, careful to make my footsteps loud so I don't sneak up on her.

The house in general is quite small. Mine now is only bigger because I designed it. My mom's house is even tinier. But due to the size, I can figure out which room is Bella's right away.

I only get to look around her room for a second, but it looks like her. Reserved, yet full of hidden meaning. There are pictures of her friends. The very same girl I saw drained and lying on the road not an hour ago. Jessica.

I have to look away. The urge to find her beautiful brown eyes becomes overwhelming. I search her face to make sure not a single hair has been tampered with. It's hard to tell when she's been crying into her pillow, however. Not that I can blame her.

"You came," Bella sniffles, refusing to look at me directly as she rubs her tears.

I could say many different things, but none of them seem to be quite right. So I take her into my arms as she sobs into my chest again.

"She was a good friend," Bella cries. "I wasn't."

I lift her chin and brush away her tangled hair, "I'm sure she loved you, Bella. How could anyone not?"

Somehow that only makes her cry harder.

"Let's get you to bed," I say.

She's too tired to resist. I know how broken heartbreak can make a person. Bella knows it too. But it's different than when someone chooses to leave you. This kind of grief isn't mendable, it only grows more recognized with time.

I tuck Bella into her purple bedspread, making sure it covers her shoulders as she shivers. I sit on the edge of her bed until I can hear her breathing even out until my own eyes droop with the insurmountable weight I'm carrying.

"Oh," Bella whispers.

It's enough to immediately wake me up, even if my eyelids are still unable to fully lift. Sleeping next to her envelopes me in such a warmth that I never want to leave. It's complete, it's home. I could fall back into a happier dreamland every time I'm near her.

"Oh."

The shock in her voice wakes me up the rest of the way. I bolt forward to get a better look at her. Though her face is still red and puffy from crying, she doesn't look quite so heartbroken anymore. But her eyebrows pull together, something is off.

"What?" I ask.

Bella's oval brown eyes find mine. Her hand rapidly falls to her stomach. The movement sends panic through me. Is something wrong? Is she in pain? I'd pick her up and immediately take her to the hospital, Charlie be damned.

Her mouth parts and I realize it's not fear that her face shows. Something else. Something like awe.

"Sam!" she whispers my name. "I can feel something."

It clicks.

I'm about to reach for her belly, but she's quicker. She wraps her tiny fingers against my own and beckons me forward. The feeling of the swell is still so foreign and utterly devastating. How could I have created something so miraculous, something so perfect with this woman in front of me? And now, she can feel it too.

"There," Bella moves our hands to the right, more glorious concave surface for me to explore. She presses our hands deep into her skin where I become nervous that anything other than the gentlest touch is risky. But she seems so sure, so concentrated in her focus.

My mouth goes dry.

A half-crying sound comes from her lips. I can't tell if it's laughter or a sob.

"What does it feel like?" I ask.

She looks up at me, surprised, "You can't feel it?"

Bella is unable to hide the smallest of frowns on her face. I wish I could feel our baby's movements right now, I truly do. I read enough to know it doesn't happen right away for the father, of course.

"I will in a few weeks I'm sure," I try to smile, but everything is so painfully raw that I'm not sure if it works.

She nods, "I guess it makes sense. It feels like flutters. Like tickles, but coming from inside. It doesn't feel real."

By now, Bella's eyes have glazed over. I'm quick to wipe the first tear away. She keeps her hand on top of mine over her belly. I'm not sure I could move it now anyway. I need to be close to her, to them. It's the instincts of the wolf. But it is also the still-present disbelief of the man. That if I move an inch or look away, my dreams will vanish. Dreams I kept so hidden inside me I was certain I'd never reach again.

"It's amazing," she finally sniffles.

"You're amazing," I say back without hesitation.

Her cheeks turn pink.

"Both of you," I clarify. "All of this."

More tears fall down her face and I use my free hand to catch them all.

"I don't want to lose this," she cries.

"You aren't going to," I swear.

She shakes her head, "I thought, I thought…"

Bella mumbles incomprehensibly. I wait until she can gather her thoughts. The terror has clearly returned and it hurts to feel so powerless in my ability to make it better for her. Bella whispers a weighty confession.

"I thought she would have taken just me. I offered, after the baby would be born. But I think she wants everyone."

My teeth grind together as she says that. Yet, I know now isn't the time to press her on her apparent death wish.

"Well, she isn't going to have everyone. Least of all you, or this baby."

My hand tightens around her, where our child rests.

"I don't know how to stop her," she sobs.

"That isn't your responsibility."

"She's after me, I have to help."

"No," my voice grows stern. "Your responsibility is to stay healthy right now."

"You sound like Rosalie," she groans.

I chuckle at that, but Bella doesn't share my smile. She grows cold, her eyes wide with fear. And I can't tell her it's unfounded. We might be going up against an enemy the legends never considered. Nothing was written in any of the journals for this. No one had ever warned us it could get this dangerous.

"I'm scared, Sam," she admits.

I finally move my hand from her belly to cup her face.

"We are going to defeat her, Bella. We will find a way," I say with as much conviction as I can muster. It doesn't matter that the worry gathering at the base of my neck nearly paralyzes me. I know the odds aren't good anymore if they ever were. Now that this Riley kid can copy everything the Cullen bastards can do, it makes this 'vegetarian' family even more of a liability.

But Victoria doesn't have what I do: the total need to protect my family. Hers is gone, she's only left with an all-consuming rage. But she's threatened everything I hold dear. I'll find a way to make it even.

A/N: Wow, it feels like it's been a while! I was swapped with work and school way more than expected, but I really wanted to get this chapter out! Things are getting more complicated now that Riley is here. I wanted to make him even more of a threat by giving him the greatest powers I could think of (basically Rogue/Hope Summers from X-Men if you're into that). Anyway, thanks for bearing with me for the irregular updates. I'd love to get back to a schedule of about once a week, but that probably isn't possibly as I gear up for graduation. Luckily I do have a few words of the next chapter already!