AN: on to the next chapter!

This one's a combined perspective, it starts with Bella then switches to Edward.

Hope you'll enjoy reading!

Chapter 16

BPOV

'What?' I repeated dumbfounded.

'Aro's ordered a march on the Cullen coven.' Jane repeated.

Surely Aro couldn't be this stupid? Was he really this brazen that he wouldn't think I would hear about this? That I wouldn't put a stop to him for this?

'What is he thinking?' I muttered out loud.

'He's hoping you won't make it there in time to stop him.' Alec's voice filtered down the line.

'What's his goal? All out decimation?'

'We're not sure. He's not shared his plans beyond that it's a covert mission that needs to be done as soon as possible.'

'This man is really getting on my nerves.' I sighed. 'But if he wants a fight, I'll give him one. I'll head home right now.'

'We're not in Volterra anymore.'

'Are you already here?' I asked, a bit shocked Aro had managed to move this stealthily behind my back.

'Yes, we've just landed in Seattle.'

'For fuck's sake.'

'But isn't that good? Now you'll be in time to stop him.'

'I'm in fucking Canada or Alaska right now. I don't even fucking know where exactly.' I hissed.

'Then start running!' Jane exclaimed. 'it'll be a matter of hours until we're there.'

'Why the fuck didn't you call me earlier?' I hissed.

'We couldn't get away before now.' Alec sounded apologetic.

'Sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. This isn't your fault.' I took a deep breath. 'what are his claims for the march?'

'He claims the Cullen coven has forged an illegal alliance with children of the moon. Marcus insisted on eradicating them at once. And then finding the children of the moon as well and killing them too.'

So not only were the Cullen's in danger, the Quileute's were as well. Shit. Aro was really going to pay for this. I was going to make sure of it.

'How did he find out about the wolves?'

Alec sighed. 'he's sent out his own spies. They returned yesterday. Apparently they were keeping an eye on the Cullens before you went over.'

'Well fuck.'

'Can you warn them?'

'I'll try. But it won't be easy.' I rubbed my temples, my mind was whirling to come up with a plan. 'how many are coming?'

'The entire guard.' Jane whispered.

'What?' I all but screeched down the phone.

Had the entire Volturi collectively lost their fucking mind? Was Aro's control this fucking powerful now? How had he managed to do that right under my nose? Or was Corin's power more dangerous than I had anticipated?

'Alec and I have been placed on the inner guard. We're his first defence now.'

'Well, he's sneakier than I gave him credit for.'

'What do you mean?'

'He knows the full extend of your gifts, no matter how you've tried to hide them.'

'But how?' Jane asked, shocked.

At the same time Alec asked 'What do we do now?'

'He's been spying for longer than I thought, and more brazenly than I thought. I expected something like this, don't worry too much. Go with him, and don't let on that you're uncomfortable by what's going on. Act along with whatever Aro wants. Don't contact me again, it's too dangerous. Don't let him question your loyalties now.'

'But what if he orders us to attack the Cullens?'

'I'll be there.'

'But you don't even know where you are. How will you make it in time?' Jane argued.

'I'll be there. I'll put a stop to this, once and for all.' I assured her.

'But what if you don't make it in time?' Jane pressed.

'You're going to have to trust me, Jane. I'm sorry I'm dragging the both of you into this. I should have taken action against him long ago. I grew complacent and I apologize for that. But I won't let this happen. You can trust me on that.'

'How will you stop him? The entire guard is here.' Alec said. 'I think he's anticipating an attack from you. He's got the most powerful gifts surrounding him.'

'I have a few tricks up my sleeve, don't worry. I won't let him use you as weapons'

'What if he uses us against you?' Jane asked.

'You're both still under my protection. I'll protect you whatever happens. Don't worry about that, Jane. You will be safe. I'll make sure everyone is safe.'

It was quiet for a beat. 'alright.'

'Good.' I nodded to myself. 'keep each other safe, don't let on that you've been in contact with me and don't contact me from now on, until I'm with you again. Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself. And if you face the Cullens before I'm there; one is a mind reader and one is an empath. If things go south, tell them in your mind that you're on their side. They might be sceptical, but mention my name and that I'm coming. Try stalling for time as much as you can.'

'Alright, be careful.'

'You too. I'll see you soon.'

'See you soon.'

I hung up and took a deep breath, silently curising myself for having given Aro a second chance. I knew he was getting out of hand, just like the others before him. And his brothers weren't strong enough to stop him anymore.

It was time to right that wrong.

I dreaded what was to come. Not fighting Aro, but what that fight would entail: reavealing who I was to the Cullens. I wasn't looking forward to that a tall. They were all going to hate me.

I sighed, then squared my shoulders and set off back the way I had come. It was going to be close, I knew that much. I just hoped that Jane and Alec would be able to warn Edward about what was happening and he'd be able to stall for time. I hoped they would work together to buy me the time I needed to get there.

I was running like hell, but even I couldn't teleport. I really fucking wished I did right now.

I couldn't believe I had let Aro get this bold. This was my fault and if something happened to the wolves or the Cullens, it would be my fault as well. I'd let him run rampant for too long. I should have taken him down the moment he'd called out the summons for the Cullens. It had been unjust. I should have taken action earlier.

I berated myself the entire time I was running, pushing myself to greater speeds. I had to make it in time.

but I also needed a plan. I couldn't just crash in there and behead the three brothers, even though my instincts were telling me to do exactly that. I had to think this through. I had to be smart about it.

The guard was loyal to the brothers. If I wanted to avoid massacring every vampire of the Volturi, I needed to be smart. I needed to expose the brothers for what they were; liars and manipulators. And for that I would need some help.

I came to a stop and quickly pulled out my phone. I prayed he would answer quickly, otherwise this stop could cost lives. I couldn't call him while running. I'd already tried that once before and the speed of my run was simply too much for phone service to handle.

I quickly pulled up Billy's number and dialled it.

EPOV

'Surely there has to be something we can do.' Esme pleaded to no one in particular as it sank into to everyone's minds that we only had four hours left on this earth.

'I don't see what.' Alice said, on the verge of tears.

'The only thing left to do is to spent our last moments together.' I muttered. 'Then we say goodbye.'

Esme let out a sob and Carlisle took her into his arms. I can't believe this will be the end. After everything… his mind was trying to come up with anything that could save us.

Alice was desperately searching for something that could get us out of this. But no decision triggered a different outcome. No matter what we did, we were going to end up facing the Volturi in just a few hours.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I got to my feet and started heading out of the house.

'Where are you going?' Carlisle asked, clearly concerned.

'I'll see you there.' I muttered. 'I won't be late. But I can't stay here.'

I'm sorry son. He nodded to me, understanding that hearing everyone's thoughts right now was too much for me.

The mates were saying goodbye, despairing over losing each other. And right now that was something I couldn't handle.

I set off running and headed to the meadow, to bask in the faint trails of Bella's scent for my last hours. For a moment I entertained the thought of following her trail, seeing if I could find her somewhere, but as soon as I had the thought, I knew I wouldn't be able to do it.

I couldn't abandon my family. And I had no idea where Bella would have gone. She could be in Alaska for all I knew. And I would never make it in time. The Volturi would kill my family and then hunt after me. Either way I'd be a dead man. I'd rather spend my last moments with my family, doing my best to protect them, then chase after a pipe dream of seeing Bella again.

I said my quiet lonely goodbye's in the meadow. Hoping that she would somehow know that I never meant to abandon her, that she would smell my scent here tomorrow night and know that I was here to meet her, but that something happened to me to prevent me from being with her.

Perhaps she would follow my trail and realize what the Volturi had done and exact her revenge for me.

A man could hope.

If the Volturi was going to kill us anyway, it was the only thing I could cling to. That after our death, Bella would rain hell down on them all.

I wished I could see Aro's face when that happened. I would imagine it would be a great sight. I chuckled to myself as I kept that image in mind.

Then I stood up and started heading slowly to the field where Alice had seen the confrontation happen. I walked leisurely through the woods to the field, taking in the sights and sounds for the last time. The meeting was to take place on a small outcropping of land far away from the Quileute lands. I wasn't sure why they decided on that place, but it was good for us. The further away we could stay from the Quileute's the better. They didn't deserve to be dragged into our mess.

When I arrived, the others were already there. I slowly headed over to them.

'Edward.' Alice was the first to notice me of course, she'd probably been expecting me. The rest turned towards me as well. Everyone's faces were grim, to match their thoughts.

I went over and took hold of Alice's outstretched hand. She squeezed mine and I squeezed it back. Jasper put his hand on my shoulder. Esme gave me a quick kiss on the cheeks and Carlisle shook my hand. Emmett patted my other shoulder and Rosalie surprised me by actually giving me a hug.

'I'm sorry I won't be able to protect you from this.' Carlisle said, his voice cracking. His thoughts were a mess. He felt he failed us as a coven master. He brought us into this world and now his quest for a peaceful life would be our demise.

'It's not your fault Carlisle.' I told him honestly. 'The Volturi would have found something else to get us on if it weren't for this. He's been looking into our family for a while now.'

Everyone turned to me in surprise.

'What are you talking about?' Jasper asked.

I bit my lip for a moment, but then figured if we were going to die anyway, I might as well tell them why Bella had been here in the first place.

'Bella came because Aro sent out a summons for us. She wanted to know why Aro was interested in our coven. Aro's been collecting gifted vampires left and right and after he summoned us Bella was afraid he was going overstep and get our gifted members by any means necessary.'

'What?' Jasper asked dumbfounded.

'She came to see our gifts for herself.'

'But why?' Alice asked.

'Bella is actually Isabella the First.'

Gasps travelled the group. 'It can't be…' Carlisle muttered. He was comparing the girl he'd come to know with the fearsome legends he knew and came up short.

'She is. She was going to tell him to leave us in peace.'

'She was spying on us?' Rosalie asked shocked.

I shook my head. 'She's not a tool the Voluri uses. She's the one in control.'

'Did she order our death then?' Esme asked, but her mind couldn't believe it. 'No. she can't have'

I shook my head. 'She didn't. She doesn't know about this.'

'Where is she then? You spoke to her tonight. Why isn't she helping us?' Alice asked.

'Especially if you're mates. She should be here.' Emmett added.

'Can't you call her here?' Rosalie asked.

'We agreed to meet up tomorrow evening. I don't have her number and I don't know where she is. She won't be able to help us.'

'But if she controls the Volturi she has to know about this, right?'

I shrugged. 'I think Aro's gone rogue and is keeping this from her. He knows it's unlawful so perhaps he's trying to get away with it without her finding out to save his own ass.'

'Fuck.' Jasper muttered. 'You shouldn't have chased her away. That way we'd be safe.'

'I know.' I muttered, hanging my head.

'It's not your fault Edward.' Esme quickly said. 'It's no one's fault but the Volturi's.'

Everyone agreed with that.

'But then you're actually mated to the legendary Isabella the First?' Emmett asked after a moment of silence. He just couldn't help himself.

'Seems like it.' I muttered. 'though we never finished claiming each other. I guess that's a good thing now. She won't hurt when I die.'

'It's a small comfort.' Esme agreed. 'I wish we could have gotten to know her better.'

'I do too.' I agreed softly.

Before we could say any more, the sound of footsteps reached our ears. Lots of them.

The army was coming it seemed. We looked at each other and took a deep breath. Then we took up our places.

Carlisle and I at the front, Emmett and Jasper beside us, with Alice and Rosalie close beside them. And Esme just behind Carlisle.

Whatever may happen now, at least we were together.