Chapter 10

"We need to go to La Push now," Alice Cullen gasped. "The Volturi are going to attack soon."

Carlisle looked up from his book. "But how are they going to attack if they won't be able to get into the reservation? Or anywhere near the place? I don't think Paul lets Bella out of the reservation."

He looked at his adopted daughter. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes moved as she saw her vision. Carlisle was still getting used to her damaged face; her right eye was blind and the same side of the face scarred; it was Demetri's handiwork.

"They are getting help from the inside. I can't see from whom, but I know they can get in with the help."

"But will they?" Carlisle asked.

"I suppose so; since I don't see anything after they'll arrive at Seattle. Tomorrow or the day after that."

"So, we are flying blind?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"Can you see who is going?"

"Jane, Alec, Demetri, and Felix," Alice said.

"Rosalie!" Carlisle called her other adopted daughter. "Call Paul and tell him what Alice just told."

Rosalie had been flipping through the channels on tv but had been listening to every word they said.

"All right." Rosalie got up from the couch and went to get her phone.

"Tell him that I'll call later tonight. He needs time to gather his thoughts after hearing someone is betraying them."

Carlisle wouldn't want to be anywhere near when Paul hears the news.

Carlisle got up from the couch and patted Alice's shoulder. They were all happy that she was still with them. Aro had let Alice go after Demetri had tortured her simply because Carlisle had asked him to. Aro prided himself on being a noble and understanding ruler with high respect for Carlisle.

Carlisle knew that Aro would never kill Alice because of her gift, but he was such an arrogant fool for letting her return to them had surprised him. It only showed that Aro didn't realize the power he was against, and having Alice back with them was a great help to them as it was to the shapeshifter community in Washington.

Carlisle wasn't a fool, thinking they wouldn't be in grave danger from the Italians if they were to help Paul and his pack. If they succeeded, Aro would hunt them as long as he was alive.

But Carlisle had a plan. He's been forming it in his mind for a year now; ever since he realized that there was a possibility of getting rid of the most dangerous vampires on earth. The force that made it possible came in the shape of the alpha of La Push shapeshifters. He had never seen any creature with such a fierce ability to take down his enemy as Paul Lahote had. Of course, Edward wasn't the strongest opponent, but Emmett was, and Paul wouldn't have had any problems destroying him if he had so wished. Emmet had been quite shocked by it, something Carlisle had never seen happen before.

It was to their advantage that the Volturi planned to act now and not wait any longer. Carlisle had avoided physical contact with Aro this far, but his luck could turn at any point, and his plan would be relieved the second Aro would touch him. Jasper was the only one of the family so far who knew of his plans, which were to kill Aro and put Jasper in his place. Last year had been stressful for Carlisle; he hated to keep secrets from his family, but it was essential to succeed.

Carlisle knew that Caius and Marcus were tired of being the rulers of their kind and would step down from the thrown after Aro was wiped from the face of the earth. It was Carlisle's plan: After the shapeshifters had killed the powerful guards with their help, Aro was left with very little to protect himself, and they would take him out. Caius and Marcus wouldn't go against them. Jasper would be a new ruler; if the old farts wanted to stay on, they could rule beside him.

So no, he wasn't helping the alpha solely for selfless reasons. He wanted to help Paul and Bella and ensure they and their little ones were safe, but he also wanted to change the vampire world. If Demetri, Jane, Alec, and Felix were off the picture, he was closer to his goal.

Jasper would be perfect for the role of becoming head of the vampires. It had been easy to Carlisle to convince Jasper that he would be the best leader for their kind. He had gained massive support worldwide during his fighting years and beyond. He was an enigma and charismatic, a powerful vampire who no one with any sense would go against.

Carlisle himself looked forward to moving to the ancient city in Italy with his adopted son and the rest of his family. He still felt the loss of Edward, but he had learned to live with it. Esme was struggling more, but at least she didn't blame Paul anymore.

But Carlisle was worried. Without Alice's visions, they were less powerful than they were accustomed to.

He didn't fully understand Bella's gift, and Carlisle had an inkling that Paul hadn't told him everything. But he could relate to the alpha; he needed to protect his mate and babies against all evil, and even though they had proven to each other to be trustworthy, his wolf didn't trust him on the basic instinctual level. And it was exactly how it should be. When it came to Esme, his soul mate, he trusted no one either.

Carlisle sighed and looked at how the sun was setting behind Mt. Rainier. It had been good thinking to wait in Seattle. It was time to put the plan into action.

"Bella! Come and see, Luna just smiled!" Paul shouted. He could not believe what he'd just seen. His tiny little butterfly had given him her first ever smile.

"No way," Bella shrieked as she dashed to the living room.

"Yes, way," Paul chuckled.

Paul was sitting on their couch, his knees propped up, and Luna was lying against Paul's thighs. She was cooing and sucking her fist. When Bella came to sit next to them, she pulled her tiny fist out of her mouth, looked straight at her mother, and smiled an adorable toothless smile the way only a seven-weeks-old baby can.

"Oh, Paul! Did you see that?" Bella gasped, covering her mouth with her hand, eyes filling with happy tears.

"Yeah. She just smiled at me. You're a daddy's girl, aren't you," Paul cooed. He took Luna's hands and leaned down to blow in them. He knew that the seven-week-old baby didn't laugh yet, but he could see Luna enjoying the feeling in her tiny hands. She tucked her tongue out of her mouth and crinkled her eyes. Just so damn adorable. He could stare at his babies all day long.

Bella scooted closer and kissed Paul on his template. Sighing contently, she wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. She skimmed her finger over Luna's wrist and her crescent moon-shaped small tattoo.

"Can you imagine they're already a month and a half? It feels like it was only yesterday they were born," Bella whispered. Luna was sucking her other fist, and drool ran down her jaw. Paul wiped it away with the muslin he'd over his shoulder.

His phone rang.

"Shit. No one calls me unless it's important."

"I go and get it," Bella said, yawning and getting up from the couch. Paul looked at her delicious ass as she walked to the kitchen. His mind wandered to their last night. It had been the first night they had been able to sleep solid six hours. Well, they hadn't been exactly sleeping but weren't interrupted. It felt incredible to have that much time just for the two. In hindsight, it would have been wise to sleep; he was feeling sleepless nights. But then, he would never change the possibility of mating with his wife for a sleep. He hoped that would never change.

Luna cooed on his lap, pulling Paul from his lustful memories, and Paul turned to look at her. She flashed him another big toothless smile, and Paul felt his heart explode.

"Yes, you are, daddy's little sunshine," Paul cooed.

"It's Rosalie," Bella came back, looking pale.

Fuck, that could not be anything good.

Bella gave him the phone and took Luna from his lap. Lumi was sleeping in the cot that was standing next to the couch.

"Baby, Bella, please don't worry," Paul said, kissing her forehead. "Whatever it is, we can handle it."

Paul went to the terrace. He wanted to talk without either of his daughters being around since he was sure he wouldn't be able to control himself when talking about the threat against his family. He wanted to shelter them from all the negativities forced into their lives.

"Rose," he answered, "talk!"

"Carlisle calls you later tonight, but The Volturi are on the move. We don't know who, but someone from the reservation is helping them to get in."

"WHAT?!" Paul shouted, and his wolf growled inside him. His phone crushed in his hand as he phased. His wolf was ballistic and bolted into the woods, taking down trees on his way.

What is going on? It was Jared.

But Paul was too filled with rage to answer. His mind was messed up with the images of his babies and Bella. His babies being born, Bella moaning his name. Her big brown eyes full of love and desire. Mixed with violent images of him ripping apart bloodsuckers. First time ever, he wasn't able to control his mind. He let out a painful howl echoing through the reservation over the woods and beyond the tribal lands.

One by one, his wolves phased in, and when he got his roaring emotions under control, he showed them the short phone call from the Cullens.

Their mental link exploded with incredulous shouts.

What the fuck?!

Who can it be?

I'm fucking going to kill whoever it is.

Why?

Who wants to hurt Bella so bad?

Are the babies safe?

The whole tribe is in danger!

Silence! Paul needed to focus and act and act fast.

He started to deliver orders.

Quil! Go to Bella and babies, tell her not to worry. Don't leave them alone for one second.

I'll go now. Quil phased out.

Embry and Jacob patrol around our house. Under any circumstances, don't leave your spot before I'm home.

Colin, go to Forks immediately and make sure Renée and Ben are alright. You stay there until you are told otherwise.

On my way.

Sam and Brady gather all imprints except Emma and take them to Sam's. Don't let them out of your sight.

Do you think it's an imprint that is helping them? You cannot be serious! Sam asked.

I don't take any risks. I've fucked up enough as it is. Now go!

Sam and Brady phased out.

Seth, go and find the elders. Ask them to go to Sam's too. Don't tell them what it is about. Just say I need to talk to them.

Alright.

Jared, you stay with me. We need to check the area, and after I'm home, I'll send Jacob to run with you.

Who the fuck can it be?

If I knew that someone wouldn't be alive anymore.

How the fuck he'd let this happen!? He was so fucking mad at himself.

He had been too wrapped up in his personal bliss with Bella and babies that he had let this happen.

He would never forgive himself if anything happened to them.

Demetri stretched his legs. He hated airplanes. They made him nervous. He always swam over the Atlantic when he traveled alone, but Alec and Jane were against it and wanted them all to fly together. And as manipulation was their second nature, here he was sitting inside the metal beast.

Demetri was looking forward to some action. He'd been bored over his mind the last few decades. He graved some serious action, something that would challenge him. When he had made Alice Cullen scream and tell all about La Push and shapeshifters, wolves as big as horses, Demetri had almost come into his pants. He graved blood that wasn't there for him just to take, but that he had to fight to get. Those animals would give him a proper fight.

Felix was bouncing a tennis ball against the wall, driving him mad.

"Stop it, Felix."

"Or what?" Felix sneered.

Demitri wanted to rip the head of that.

He snarled at him.

"Stop it!" Jane hissed.

Demetri tuned out the annoying sounds made by others. His mind wandered to their pray, Isabella Swan. Just thinking about her made venom drip into his mouth. She was a mystery to him. Never had he encountered a human, or a vampire that matter, who could block him and his sensing. It was intruding, and he wanted to have her. She was beautiful, so vulnerable, and ah, so delicate. She resembled a woman Demetri once loved a very long time ago.

He would risk his own existence to fill that little thing with his cock. To pound into her breakable and fragile body, to make her scream, to make her come. Aro might get mad at him, but he wouldn't fuck the girl while human anyway. Having her first would be his prize for a well-done job, and Aro always gave him what he wanted.

"Where are we meeting you accomplish?" Jane shrilled with her high-pitched voice. Demetri had always hated the sound of her voice.

"I have an address of a motel close to the airport," Demetri said.

AN:

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