"You just have to take a deep breath, relax and let the game come to you."

A.J Green

Old-World Coven, Carpathians, one day later...

"The trial will be in five days," Gabrielle warned as she vanished the soot from their clothing. "I've just had a message from Radu. There are to be three judges, one of them is Lady Laima."

"Who are the other three?" Jasper asked.

"I only know one of the other two: Elijah Mikaelson," Gabrielle murmured, eyes distant. "He's... well, remember the sorceress I told you about? The one who stole some of Lady Laima and the High Elder Markus' DNA to turn her children into a new breed of vampires?"

Rosalie's face twisted as she nodded. "He's one of those children. One of the Originals." Gabrielle informed. "His siblings will also be there for the trial. You need to be careful around them, especially Niklaus. Niklaus, or Klaus as he's more commonly known, is the middle brother. He's... well, he's a bit chaotic. Volatile. He can be seriously dangerous to his enemies, but only if you give him a reason to see you as his enemy." She warned. The Cullens nodded warily.

"Otherwise, he's incredibly charming, cultured and has nice manners. And he does take the rule of Sacred Hospitality- and No Trespassing- quite seriously." She warned.

Rosalie closed her eyes with a groan. "So, Edward's already on his bad side?"

"I did not say that," Gabrielle said mildly. "Besides, he's not one of the judges. Just someone you'll likely bump into once the trial is over. Elijah is fair.

"Once upon a time, a long time ago, the High Council themselves were the judges and the jury. But that... well, that shoved out of the window, much to the High Elder Viktor's fury and dismay. Even his fellow High Elder Amelia agreed with Lady Laima's decision to create a more impartial and fair trial and court, independent of petty politics and all the ambition, back-stabbing and scheming that goes with it. And as I've said, there are no lawyers or prosecutors. Too smooth and too persuasive. So he's going to be cross-examined, the evidence and various testimonies will be examined by the judges with the help of the Truthsayer."

"Maggie." Emmett remembered.

Gabrielle nodded. "That's right. Although I suspect that while some of the judges themselves may be able to detect truth and lies, it's more important to involve her in this case."

"What? Why?"

"Because she's one of yours," Gabrielle pointed. "And we have your former government on trial along with Edward. She has to be involved in this. Also..." Gabrielle sighed. "Apparently members of your species have been speaking with the High Council and other member-species of the Confederation... and Lady Laima."

They stared. "Marcus, Sulpicia and Athenodora among them." Gabrielle warned. "They..." she sighed. "They would like to speak with you, Carlisle and Esme."

"Us?" Carlisle was taken aback. Esme looked bewildered.

Gabrielle nodded. "As soon as you've returned the regent Radu has requested your presence alongside theirs."

"I thought all of the witnesses were to be kept apart."

"Exceptions can be made," Gabrielle said. Her violet-blue eyes were solemn, searching as she gazed into his. "In this case, you will hardly be alone with one another and you will not be able to speak about the upcoming trial. They just want your input as a member of their species."

"What for?"

Gabrielle inclined your head. "Vampire business, apparently. I'm just supposed to be passing on the message. In the meantime, Bella-" she looked at me. "-can get some rest." Her eyes softened. "I'm sure you have a lot to think about."

Bella nodded, mute and numb. "We can arrange for more visits to see Edward later," Gabrielle said. For some reason, Bella's body stiffened and froze.

Gabrielle then waved her wand and a jug appeared out of nowhere. Inside was a fluid of some kind, glowing light purple. "Dreamless Sleep potion."

"Our species can't sleep," Emmett interjected.

"Yes, I was forewarned, but you all need your rest, so I've modified and made a special potion, combined it with doses of blood- dragon's blood- so you will be able to take it."

Rosalie and the others stared wide-eyed at Gabrielle as she asked, "We'll be able to sleep?" She could hardly believe it.

Gabrielle nodded. "I could make potions that do allow dreaming, but for now, I think you have enough on your mind," she said kindly. Bella was grateful. "Once the two of you have returned, you may take a cup each." She told Carlisle and Esme.

Esme looked at Carlisle. The two of them sighed. "Thank you," Carlisle's shoulders sagged. Esme echoed his thanks. Her face was drawn and downcast.

Gabrielle nodded sympathetically.

Everyone mumbled their assent. Gabrielle nodded to Carlisle and Esme. "This way, please." She opened the door and walked out.

Bella stared silently as the others filled their cups and headed off to their shared bedrooms.

"Bella..." Rosalie shook her head. "Try it."

Bella bit her lip and nodded. "You need to rest. So you can think clearly."

Bella wanted to laugh. "Haven't I been sleeping for the past eighteen years before I turned? Did it help?"

Rosalie's lips twitched. "Maybe not. But I think it'll help more if Edward wasn't creeping through your bedroom window."

"He helped me sleep?"

"No, he helped you dream." Rosalie pointed. "Not think." Bella grimaced. She was right. "Sleep. Rest."

She sighed. "Okay." She headed off to her bedroom. She didn't have a lot of nightwear just... lingerie Alice got her for her honeymoon and intimate times with Edward. If she weren't so mentally drained, she would feel embarrassed... and ashamed. For some reason, she'd brought it. Maybe she'd been hoping for conjugal visits?

Perhaps she did. She just couldn't find it in herself to care now, because now, she suddenly realised just how much she missed sleep.

Perhaps she missed a bunch of other things.

Wearily, Bella lifted the cup to her lips. She drank the potion.

It didn't taste like anything, apart from the blood that she'd been given before. She downed it in one gulp.

Instantly, she felt her eyelids getting heavy. The room seemed... warmer. Cosier.

So did the bed. Bella crawled in and pulled the covers over her. It felt comforting, hauntingly familiar echoes in her mind. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep.

Part of her felt she never wanted to wake.

Outside Gabrielle had led the two most senior Cullens through the castle.

"Remember, don't speak to them just yet about the upcoming case. They've already been warned." She told them.

Carlisle and Esme exchanged looks with one another and sighed. "Here we go."

And he was not looking forwards to explaining how they all ended up in this mess- again. Only this time, they'd deliberately endangered everyone because of the bad decisions of his son.

His son whom Carlisle now had to admit, was abusive. He had committed truly criminal acts. Carlisle blamed himself. If he had just been firmer, stronger, if he just hadn't let Edward manipulate him...

He felt Esme's warm (to his touch) hand grasp his and squeeze gently. He looked into her beautiful honey-brown eyes. The same ones she used to have when they first encountered one another. Little would he realise that someday... they would be together. They would be husband and wife and constant companions together. And they would face everything together. Those eyes, he'd noticed, were so different yet so similar to the ones he had seen for decades now. And despite their change of colour, he was always going to be certain that they belonged to her and her alone.

Carlisle smiled back and gently squeezed her hand. Esme nodded, resolutely. She also blamed herself. But they were all to blame. They would face this oncoming storm together. As husband and wife. As a family. Along with their children and granddaughter.

"If an apology is followed by an excuse or a reason, it means they are going to commit the same mistake they just apologised for."

Amit Kalantri

When Bella woke, she rubbed her eyes. She'd forgotten what it felt like to slowly awake in the mornings.

She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut, wishing that she was still asleep. She longed to remain in sleep. She wished her daughter, her baby was still here, so she could hold her.

"You're awake," Rosalie said, as she emerged. Her eyes were a bit blurry, but they cleared soon enough. Her hair had been freshly-brushed.

She was holding a cup of blood. Rosalie's violet-blue eyes were sad as she looked at Bella.

"We're planning to see Edward after this. Carlisle and Esme will go right after. They're sending a Death Dealer to escort us."

Bella nodded. "Yeah- okay."

Rosalie nodded. "Okay then."

Bella hesitated. "Do you want to come with us?" Rosalie asked, tentatively.

Bella took a deep breath. A large part of her feared Edward would say anything that would weaken her resolve or change her mind. But she was resolute: she had made up her mind. She couldn't back down.

Bella nodded. "I will." She took a deep breath. "Just give me some time to speak to him."

She nodded and Bella turned away.

A while later, they were back

"Thirty minutes," Selene called to them as the cell wall closed itself.

Bella stood opposite of Edward on the other side of the invisible wall. She took comfort in knowing that there was a barrier between them. Previously, she would've found it hell.

Edward's eyes were green. They were a beautiful dark green shade. Clear and soft, yet dark. They reminded her of emeralds, of woodland pools and springs, of rich forests.

All she could think about now was what a shame it was that she didn't see this a month before.

Bella was acutely aware- unlike last time- of Selene and the others behind the wall, listening in to their conversation. She was also aware that Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Alice were as well. She took a seat.

"Hey," she said softly. "How are you doing?" She asked.

Edward stared. "Your eyes are the same shade," he said softly "when you were a human. Back when we first met, do you remember?" A soft smile played by his lips.

"I remember," Bella said softly. "It's the blood, isn't it? Gabrielle said it was dragon's blood." Edward nodded.

"Bella," his voice choked. "I wish I could come closer- hold you... it's not the same." He almost cried.

Bella was silent for a long moment. A part of her felt pity for Edward. Another part of her felt dead.

He was still so very beautiful to her. But instead of making her heart hurt to see that, Bella noticed that now... now things were different.

He held no charm for her; not anymore. In fact, his beauty seemingly offended her; now that she knew he'd used it to his advantage, and she was blind and stupid enough to fall for it.

Bella swallowed. She knew now that there was no going back. But now she felt the same as Leah must have: that she wouldn't have it any other way.

"The Volturi's trial starts tomorrow," Bella said quietly. "I haven't had a chance to see any of them. But I heard Marcus, Sulpicia and Athenodora- Aro and Caius' wives- are speaking with the Vampire High Council."

Edward looked up. "What do they want?"

Bella shrugged, helplessly. "I don't know. Gabrielle just passed on a message that asked Carlisle and Esme to come and see them, and they did. The other witnesses are there- our friends who came to testify for us on New Year's Eve." Edward winced.

"I'm sure that they are far from pleased that I endangered them and risked a curse or a war falling on all our heads whilst attempting exposure," he muttered.

Bella was silent for a while. "They probably aren't," she admitted. "I haven't seen them." She shifted on her seat.

"We went back to Forks last night." Edward's eyes shot up. "You did?" He asked.

When Bella nodded, he asked, "How's Renesmee?"

Bella hesitated, wincing inwardly. "We spent a lot of time talking. She's coping. She's back at Dad's now."

She noticed she called him Dad instead of just Charlie. She didn't know why- it's not like he was here. But maybe it's because she felt she owed him that much at least. It was a shame she couldn't have given him more.

"Charlie still doesn't know, he thinks we've gone on a trip somewhere, and I promised him that I would tell him the details when I get back. Something about meeting some of your long-lost biological relations."

Edward snorted. "That's a good one. Wherever did you get that idea from?"

Bella shrugged. "It was Jasper. He mentioned something when I asked him about your history, your personal life."

Edward's newly-green eyes widened. "You could've asked me."

Bella paused. She knew he was right. For some reason, she never did. Carlisle had told her before Jasper, and Edward had told her about how he transformed but not the exact details. And she'd never known his mother's name, or his father's. Or anything else about him.

Why did she never ask? It wasn't like she'd never asked the other Cullens anything, either. Edward just seemed so... tight-lipped on certain things, she felt that he would never have given her more answers that what she requested. And her questions about 'real werewolves' who turned during the full moon, had been one of them. Edward's reply when she asked why he had never brought this up before was, "It never came up."

It had been Carlisle who told her about the Plague of the Immortal Children, Jasper who told her about the Southern Wars and his role in it, and Alice about the transformation process. As for their personal histories... Jasper told his story, but hell, even Rosalie had told her more about her human life than Edward. Same as Alice, and Alice could barely remember anything. Edward only ever mentioned his transformation and how he came to be that way in passing, when she'd questioned him about the history of their race.

She wondered if there was no end to her foolishness.

"It never occurred to me," Bella answered truthfully. "As for Renesmee... she's holding up. We spent some time telling each other things. I told her my personal story, my struggles in Phoenix, my mom and dad what they were like when I was growing up. My grandmother."

Edward looked surprised. "You never mentioned your grandmother. Or any other grandparents."

Bella knew this. "Well, as it turned out, according to Sue, Quil's grandmother was my grandfather's sister on Charlie's side. So he's technically family. We're second cousins."

Edward blinked. "Wow. And you never knew this?"

Bella shook her head. "No. I was never close to Charlie. But it didn't mean that I didn't love him, or that he didn't love me. In fact, he still cares for me very much."

Edward hesitated. "Bella..." he began, but Bella didn't let him finish.

"Why did you never care about or respected my wishes or how I felt?"

At this sudden question, Edward looked taken aback. "Of course I do!" He exclaimed.

Bella was silent for a long moment. She felt numb, for the most part, and for that she was grateful.

She would cave in otherwise, as she usually did.

"Did you?" Bella asked quietly.

Edward looked hurt. "I granted your wish: I transformed you into a vampire. We have a daughter-"

"After you tried to force an abortion on me."

Edward flinched. The events of the past month before Renesmee's birth, memories which he had tried so desperately to suppress started resurfacing.

"I wanted to save you." He whispered.

"Save me? From Esme's feelings of grief, pain and despair before she threw herself off the cliff?" Edward flinched when she mentioned that. "Or from the frantic desperation that your mother, Elizabeth Masen, felt when she witnessed her only surviving child dying before her eyes because she knew that even death would be better than outliving her child? Wasn't that why Carlisle claimed she sacrificed all her chances of survival just to try and nurse you from her sickbed?"

Edward flinched again. "I didn't want you to die like she did." He whispered.

Maybe a small part of Bella felt pity- and understanding. But it didn't alleviate anything else she felt. "What would have been left for me to live for?" She asked quietly, causing Edward to recoil as if he were a human that had been stabbed.

"You would've still had Charlie! And Renée- and Jacob!"

"Charlie whom I rarely saw and knew even before we got together. Charlie who would've had to believe that I was dead, eventually, before realising I wasn't aging." Bella wouldn't be moved by that excuse; not anymore. She'd since accepted that Edward hadn't given Charlie much thought. Same as Renée. "And Renée also lives in Florida where there's too much sunshine. So, the two of them would've had to believe that I was dead and it's not like I could explain why I looked so different- nor were we planning to as I remember," Bella reminded him "and Jacob wouldn't see me ever again because I became a vampire." She clarified. "He wouldn't have wanted to. Not after that- after all that we put him through. He only stayed because he imprinted on Renesmee. He wouldn't have wanted to stick around and figure out whether or not I was still the same Bella as I was before I changed, especially as I'd made the choice to be with you forever."

For a long moment, Edward was unable to speak. "You had me," he whispered.

"Yes." She said quietly. "I would've had you: the man whom I looked up to, whom I trusted above all others, only to murder my child. My baby."

Edward looked down. He said nothing.

"You would rather me live," Bella continued quietly. "Only to suffer a pain I wouldn't wish on the worst people in the whole world; even the Volturi." Edward's eyes raised up to her in shock. "Because as much as I hated Aro and Caius- and I still do- for threatening my daughter's life and for having the nerve to try to recruit me at the same time, while I would wish death upon them, I wouldn't wish that." Edward wouldn't meet my eyes. He couldn't. He swallowed. "Because nobody deserves that, Edward. Nobody."

Edward couldn't speak. He struggled to say anything. "I'm sorry," He whispered after a while. "I just didn't think…"

"The way you didn't think when you left me in the middle of the woods after breaking my heart?" Bella asked, voice dangerously low, but calm.

Edward looked aghast. "Why- why are you asking me this now?" He whispered. "Why-"

"Because I never got the chance since I was so afraid that you'll leave me again, abandoning me just as I feared, and you knew it." Came the instant reply.

Edward looked like he'd been stabbed.

"I thought you forgave me." Edward whispered.

"I did- because I was scared you would leave me again." Bella replied, causing Edward to reel as if he'd been whipped. "And that was the reason why I accepted your proposal even though I told you that I wasn't ready for marriage. Why did you think I would be, anyway?"

Edward gaped. "I- I thought-"

"I said I was eighteen," She recalled. "You said you were a hundred-and-ten, and it was time you settled down." He flinched at the last word. Bella was silent for a while. "Was that the only reason?"

"Why I married you?"

"Why you married me then. Quickly. Even though I said I wasn't ready."

Edward looked pained. "I wanted to be with you and you wanted to be with me. You wanted immortality- you said you wanted immortality, because you wanted to be with me forever." She remembered. "If I gave you what you wanted," Edward said pleadingly. "Shouldn't we make it official? It's what I'd always wanted."

Bella said nothing.

"Do you know why I hated Prom?"

Edward blinked. "What-"

"When I was fourteen, almost fifteen, I went, tripped over my own two healthy feet, broke my heel, crashed onto a table and fell into the punch bowl. I got soaked." Bella explained, patiently. "When I stood up, my dress- the part that wasn't soaked- got ripped. They laughed- they all did. I never wanted to go to the prom after that. Or any of the high school dances."

"But I had you," Edward said, beseechingly. "I carried you with me the whole night- except when Jacob came."

"Yeah. You did. Though that was probably because I had one leg in a cast after it got snapped by James, and the other in a single spindly heel, one less than the ones I had in Phoenix." She reminded him. "Just how was I supposed to go anywhere? Get some space?"

"From what?" Edward asked, hurt. "What did you want space from? What for?"

"For myself." She emphasised. Edward blinked, as if he hadn't thought about that. As if that thought had never occurred to him. "Was that a crime?"

Edward blinked. "No- no, I just didn't think-"

"You were expecting to carry me all night? Did you think I wanted that?" Bella asked, dangerously. "That I wanted to be stared at?"

Edward's eyes flashed with pain. "What's wrong with that? People will always stare."

Bella sighed. "Maybe you might've been used to it by then, but I wasn't." She insisted. "I hated Prom."

"I'm sorry."

"You knew."

"I didn't know it was that bad."

"It's still bad," She corrected. "Even though I'm a vampire now and I've graduated, I still wouldn't want to go. Besides," Bella reminded "you saw me crying in the car."

"I thought- I thought it was maybe a case of nerves, that you were being childish or irrational-"

"If I was childish Edward, why did you go out with me?" She challenged. His mouth opened, but he said nothing. "If I was irrational, why bother? Why marry me? Would I be old enough, mature enough for your standards?"

"Bella… what is this reasoning?" He pleaded with me. "You're being irrational!"

"Am I?" Bella challenged. She allowed a hint of anger to cloud her voice. "Isn't that precisely what I'm asking you?"

"Bella… love, this isn't you," he pleaded. "I know you're stressed and all that, but I love you. You have to remember that."

"Who am I, Edward? What do you know what I'm like? Apart from you bugging me about my favourite colour and everything- details which you never used, anyway- why didn't you get me anything I liked for my birthdays or for our engagement and our wedding, anyway?" Bella asked, feeling bold.

"I didn't want the Mercedes… people might've thought that I was a Gold Digger-"

"They didn't!" He cried. "And even if they did, why should you pay attention?"

"You think that I liked to be labelled a potential Gold Digger?"

Edward was silent for a while.

"It was what you wanted for me," she whispered. "The birthday party, the prom, the fancy sports cars, all the times you've had Alice dress me up so you could take me somewhere-"

"What's wrong with that?" Edward cried. "Didn't you like any of those things?" When he saw the look on Bella's face, he amended. "Alright, so maybe you didn't like prom, or the cars, but-"

"And the shoes," Bella cut in. "Don't forget the shoes, and all the frilly dresses and makeup you had Alice put on me."

"I didn't-" he threw up his hands in exasperation. "Alice just-"

"Alice has given me her reason and her explanation," She stated clearly. "Now, I'm interested in hearing yours."

He was just starting to get that this was the one conversation of ours that he wasn't in control of, Bella noted grimly.

"No," she said slowly but clearly. "I didn't like those things. I'm sorry, Edward, but I didn't. You didn't have to get me those things- as a matter of fact, you shouldn't have."

Edward looked hurt. "But isn't that what guys are supposed to do?" He asked quietly. "For the ones they love?"

"For some girls in general, yes," Bella agreed. "But me? Specifically? That's a different story."

Edward blinked. "But why not you?" He asked quietly. He was hurt. "Why don't you like any of those things-"

"I thought I already explained why I didn't like prom, the outfits and shoes, and the cars- well, apart from the fact that they made me look and feel like a Gold Digger, there's the fact that I'm not as easy on wasting money as you," She said bluntly. He flinched involuntarily. "I spent too much time calculating and managing the household finances for Renée in Phoenix and California that it didn't feel right or settle with me in any way to spend so much money, including on cars that needed a lot of maintenance and would be shoved to the side so long as we could get new ones. And we couldn't use them anyway, without the town asking how a small-town doctor and his wife with five teenage children could afford so many luxury goods."

Edward was unable to speak. For once, I'd rendered him speechless.

"I was going to give the Mercedes back," he whispered.

"Only to give me a Ferrari." Bella shot back, seeing him wince.

"I'm sorry," Edward whispered. "I didn't know-"

"You didn't know a lot of things about me." his wife agreed "And I didn't know a lot of things about you. Like how your father was a prominent lawyer, how your mother practically raised you on her own because he was so busy, how you had a sister who died when she was a baby-" he winced again "-how you wanted to run away to join World War One. Or even the date of your birthday: June twentieth 1901."

Edward was silent. "We didn't know a lot of things about each other." She finished. "In fact, I didn't know that your middle name was Anthony until I saw it on the wedding invites, one of which you sent to Jacob, knowing how he would feel-" Edward winced "-and how I would feel about that, knowing how guilty I was and how I'd felt I'd inflicted enough damage on him. And I'm pretty sure that until the wedding, you didn't know that my middle name was Marie or that I was named after my grandmother who practically raised and taught me everything I knew before she died." Edward couldn't speak.

Good. "We made a lot of mistakes," Bella said. Edward didn't react.

"But I was young and stupid." She claimed. "And desperate not to lose you, to be abandoned again after the woods." He flinched. "What was your excuse? For lying to me for one?"

His eyes shot up. "I already told you, I tried-"

"To keep me safe, yes, I know that." She agreed. "But you gave me no reason to trust you. Nor did I ever believe that you respected me. That was my fault in part: I let you keep going through my window, without getting mad or even calling you out for it. You openly admitted that you lied to me, and you're still lying to me about a lot of things."

"I'm not!" He cried. "Bella- I would never-"

"Then look me in the eye and tell me that you never- not once- tried to force Carlisle into knocking me unconscious with anaesthesia and aborting our child." Bella said, her voice dangerously low. "Tell me that you would have never violated my own body-" Edward's eyes widened "-against my will, to destroy my- our daughter by force and put me through a traumatic action which survivors compare to rape?" She challenged.

Edward opened and closed his mouth, aghast.

"You never thought of that," She said, slowly. "You never thought of how I'd feel. How hurt I would feel; how damaging it would be to be. In fact, you didn't even bother to ask me what I'd wanted to do after we both found out that I was pregnant and called Carlisle, and you immediately told him to begin making plans for an abortion." Bella paused. "I had to contact Rosalie behind your back. I knew she was the only one who would stop you- and Esme. And I was right: you and Jacob discussed knocking me out with drugs and getting it done while I was unconscious, didn't you?"

Edward was silent for a long moment. "Did Jacob tell you that?" He asked me.

"No," Bella said quietly.

Edward's eyes widened. "Carlisle did."

"Only after I told Renesmee the truth."

Edward's eyes widened. He shot to his feet. "You told-"

"Of course." She said calmly. "I didn't want Renesmee to end up like me. Or like Renée. Or Charlie."

"I can't believe you did that!" He wailed. "She's a child- she wouldn't understand-"

"She understands more than you know," Bella said, calm in the face of his storm. Edward stared. "She understands me now, and I understand her."

"She thinks we hate her," Edward whispered "doesn't she? Jacob and I-"

"Jacob's not her soulmate," Bella stated, standing. Edward stared. "I'm sure of that now."

She was sure of something else as well.

As soon as the cell wall closed behind her, Bella walked a distance away, ignoring a stunned-looking Emmett, a saddened but understanding Rosalie, a pained but equally accepting Jasper and a weeping Alice, along with the Death Dealers, to lean against the wall where she slumped.

She allowed her imaginary tears to fall. The tears she could no longer shed but felt deeply in her heart.

Back in Forks, twelve hours earlier...

"Wait- so you're telling us that there's another Wolf pack coming here?" Paul asked, incredulously.

Leah sighed. "Paul that's like the fifteenth time you've asked." Seth agreed with that statement. Gabrielle sat to the side. Her lips twitched with amusement.

"Yes, there's another one coming." Leah rolled her eyes. Her mother spoke. "They're coming from Vermont. There's also another pack from the Appalachians, but they'll arrive after them. We're waiting for Edward's trial to be finished so Renesmee can come home. Also, we've made contact through Gabrielle here," she looked at Gabrielle "and the other packs have asked her to be here, but she needs to be there for the vampire trials. She's here to mediate in case... things go south."

What they didn't tell them was that they weren't expecting things to go south between them and the other packs- just between themselves.

"But why are they heading here?"

"Because apparently, Leah is the first female Wolf of the Quileute pack." Sue explained patiently, the kind of voice Leah had heard her mother make when she and Seth were little. "But it doesn't mean that she'll be the last."

At this, all heads snapped up to Leah. "Yeah." Leah agreed. "That's true. We're expecting some other girls to phase as well."

Jaws dropped. "Which other girls?" Jared blurted.

Leah shrugged helplessly. "We don't know." She admitted. "But... apparently..." she trailed off.

Just how in hell was she supposed to tell them?!

Gabrielle spoke. "Someone descended from Taha Aki your earliest common ancestor," she explained patiently. "Just who will be the first, it'll be impossible to tell unless you would like to collect DNA samples from just about every girl in the reserve."

"What about me?" Kim blurted.

"And me?" Rachel asked, eyes wide.

Gabrielle shrugged. "It's a possibility. If you would like to have your DNA examined afterwards, just tell me and I can easily find out-"

The two of them nodded, eagerly. Leah blinked. Gabrielle simply nodded.

"That is part of the reason why I suggested to the Council of Elders and the pack Alphas that they come." Gabrielle explained, standing. She addressed the pack of Quileute Wolves, their parents (who did know) and their imprints. "Not only can we expect that more people will phase soon enough, but there will be plenty of females phasing." Their eyes went wide.

"Until there's an even balance between both gender in the packs," Gabrielle confirmed. "And if I am correct, there are more people feeling the Pull than in previous generations?"

"What's the Pull?" Brady, a member of Sam's pack, asked.

"Imprinting," Leah informed him. "That's our version of it." The others stared. Gabrielle nodded. "The Pull, also known as the Moon's Draw, being 'Moonstruck', or the Draw, is something that is a characteristic of all species of Loup-Garoux- hereditary werewolves. Not Lycanthropes who can only transform during the full moon and reproduce via infection, biting or scratching humans, but werewolves who are born. Who are sentient and keep their minds, even when in their wolf forms. So the Pull enables your kind to find the mates best suited for you and better reproduce." Silence followed this statement.

"There are multiple species, more than I can count, in the United States alone..." Gabrielle shook her head. "Yes. You are all part of a much larger world."

Everyone fell silent, staring and absorbing this. Many felt awed. Some felt intimidated.

"Anyway, part of the reason why I spoke with them and with your Council of Elders and the pack Alphas is because... well, I really am going to have to break this into you. There is no way to put things delicately, not with this. Your species is evolving from the main branch of humanity; the Homo Sapiens. You're not Homo Sapiens."

Jaws crashed to the ground. "Then what are we?" Paul, Jared, Sam, Jacob and the others blurted. Even the two Alphas who had been briefed beforehand by the council were bewildered and confused.

"Homo Lupus," Gabrielle said calmly. "A new evolutionary branch and a separate species from both humans and wolves." Emily, Kim and Rachel gasped. Some of the Wolves, including Paul and Jared had eyes that nearly popped out of their sockets. Collin and Brady's jaws had dropped, Sam was speechless and Jacob stood in shock. "But your species seem to be much, much younger than the others. For instance, this pack from Vermont, their early history is shrouded in myth and legend, so much so that it's largely forgotten. Some believe that they're descended from a prehistoric breed of canine that absorbed protean matter from a fallen meteorite, while the majority believe that they were descended from a group of human hunter-gatherers who were blessed by the moon goddess- which most species also believe- and that enabled them to shift into Wolves. Either way, it's millennia, if not millions of years ago. But on the accounts given to me by your Council of Elders, they claim that Taha Aki, your earliest known ancestor who could shift into Wolf-form, was born mere centuries ago." Sue nodded.

"He must have been because the vampires that he and his sons encountered and fought would have come with the early settlers from Europe. But Taha Aki did not need these vampires to phase, according to your Elders." She nodded towards Billy who nodded back. "He phased before that and so did his older sons with his first two and then his third wife. Only the younger ones phased when the female vampire came. That means that the presence of vampires are a trigger, but not overall necessary for anyone of your species to phase." They started.

"You've simply emerged... later than the other species. And this reflects in your lack of females and huge gender imbalance. You're all descended from one common ancestor and thus far have mated with purely human females- or so it seems- in order to expand the gene pool. Your generation are much, much larger than those of previous generations and whilst some have not imprinted in the past, more and more are beginning to feel the Pull. Soon, someday, you will not only not require the presence of vampires to phase, have more female Wolves, but you will be able to reproduce with your own kind." She nodded. "You're all evolving."

"That's what you said." Leah addressed a stunned and silent Sam. "You already knew that."

"Which is another reason why I've asked members of two packs, including both Alphas and Lunas, to come." Gabrielle explained. "You can not only learn a great deal from each other, but... you're much better off and stronger if you were to forge alliances with other packs and species. There's a collection of Loup-Garoux species throughout North America. You can better protect each other, help keep the secret. The pack from the Appalachians are one of the strongest and wealthiest packs in North America. They have some of the strongest and best defensive lines and warriors. They're also incredibly wealthy, and possess a lot of resources. Their pack is practically a small town, the size of this one." Jaws crashed again.

"The entire population are Wolves." Gabrielle confirmed, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. "In contrast, the Vermont pack is... well, they've only recently arrived from Vermont. Some of them fled the werewolf hysteria in France during the fifteen-hundreds. They fled to New Orleans until three members, known as the Verdun triplets- broke the taboo by killing humans in the nineteenth century." Silence enveloped them. "They were executed by the pack leaders, but there were indications that they came into contact with another species of Wolves and had some kind of conflict and that there might have been a conspiracy. Either way, they fled to West Virginia, came into contact with another pack and species, originating from Germany but fleeing from Pennsylvania, and merged together: intermarrying and interbreeding. Then in 1996, someone else broke the taboo on human killing. He was executed and his friends punished, but a mob of humans set fire to their ranch, where they had been running the business. They fled again, this time to Maryland. And unfortunately, the next year, one of the friends of the one who killed a human girl the year before- allegedly because she rejected him- killed three more humans along with a female member who sought the Luna title. They were both executed for their crimes in murdering humans and exposing the pack to danger. But by then, the new Alpha had saved up enough money, and the pack moved to Vermont and had been there since. For Loup-Garoux, unlike Lycanthropes, murdering humans," Gabrielle informed them. "Is strictly taboo and a crime punishable by death." Everyone relaxed after that.

"The pack from Vermont aren't rolling in cash as much as the one from the Appalachians and a few others elsewhere, and the survivors of the Maryland fire disaster amounted to a total of five families initially, but they've expanded now. Loup-Garoux can intermarry and interbreed with other species of their own kind, and their offspring can merge the traits of both parent-species. They're here in part because you're a new species and not only do they wish to welcome you and to forge an alliance- and believe me, other packs will want to do the same as well-" they all looked surprised "-and maybe do some business together. Of course, some of you can, if you are more economically-minded than the rest- do just that with them. Unlike the stereotype, not every werewolf is working class." She smirked. Some of the guys snorted.

"When can we expect them?" Sam asked, interested. Many of them looked eager. Gabrielle sighed. "I'm sorry, but they'll be waiting for me to finish Edward and the Volturi's trials first. I'm a known inter-species mediator and... well, it's complicated. But I first met Luna Vivian roughly two years ago."

"Luna Vivian?"

"Luna is her title. An Alpha is- well, you all know what an Alpha is, I presume? A Luna is either his mate, the leading female of the pack, or she is a female Alpha, ruling in her own right not because her mate is the leader. Vivian Gandillon- that's her full name- is the wife of the Alpha Gabriel. She's pretty much the queen of the pack, though only by right of marriage." Gabrielle mused. Everyone looked surprised. "I encountered her in... a strange twist of events. It's a long and complicated story, but basically, I may have given some assistance, helped them make contact with other species and packs, and... well, the Wolves of North America are in talks of forming some sort of union." She explained. "And not just in North America, but in the world."

They stared. "What for?" Someone in the crowd asked.

"Better chances of surviving," Gabrielle replied grimly. "What happened to Alpha Gabriel and Luna Vivian's pack was not an unusual case. Some of the smaller packs and species have been... decimated pretty much, by human vigilantes. Mobs with torches and pitchforks are never comfortable to live alongside with. Luna Vivian's ancestors in France lost family when the mob lynched Perrenette Gandillon and her sister, brothers, nephew and father were burned alive at the stake." Some of them looked sickened. :Hence the reason why some of the wealthier, stronger and larger packs, like those of the Appalachians, live separately. Even today, there is still a risk. The pack in Vermont lives more isolated from humans, though they still do plenty of business through them. They need income after all. Money isn't as tight as it was last decade, and they're getting there, but I confess they may still be vulnerable. Like I said, they only have five families. They need allies, and so do you."

"The humans aren't a threat to us," Sam began. "Not yet," Gabrielle emphasised. "But I've noticed flyers with photographs of giant wolves. You do realise with CCTV cameras on every inch of every place, satellites to capture imagery- improved surveillance in general- along with biological and chemical weaponry and weapons of mass destruction... at some point, you just will have to accept." She shook her head. "Some people in my world, wizards and witches, don't want to believe it either. But the cooperation and protection of the human members of your tribe will not be enough to protect you- and certainly not without putting them at risk as well." Everybody winced. "Supernatural people, like us are more at risk of being discovered day by day, year by year. Facebook is taking off, haven't you noticed? It really took off last year. People are able to livestream something from one part of the world all the way to the other side of the globe. In the old days, my kind could easily prevent that. Now... we're not so sure." She stated grimly.

Unease settled among the audience. People shifted, uneasily. But as much as they didn't want to, they couldn't deny that she was right.

"The humans wouldn't understand. Already there are supernatural-hunters searching for you the same way they search for Sasquatches and Yeti. Of course, they have absolutely no idea of what they would do if they found any of you." She scoffed, shaking her head. "But the federal authorities would step in. The Pentagon and maybe even the Oval Office would get involved." She warned darkly, making many of them shrink back in their seats. Emily subconsciously burrowed into Sam's warmth and Sam pressed her tightly to his side. Paul was doing something similar to Rachel.

"What happens when they do come knocking at your door?" Gabrielle asked quietly. "Will you come quietly? Will you let them keep trackers or cage you and even your human family members- carriers of the gene- or if they fail to control or even imprison you, would you submit to extermination? Yes, it's genocide. But they can also point out as you are not Homo Sapiens, they're not technically going against the Universal Charter of Human Rights, are they?"

The silence was colder than ice. Emily shivered. So did Rachel.

"They won't care or even believe that you are the guardians of humanity, even if the Quileute humans step in and claim otherwise." Gabrielle warned. "Even if they do believe you, do you think they would care to take the risk? Enough to let you be and live your everyday lives?"

A lot of people looked pale. "This is my suggestion," Gabrielle warned. "You may reject it or you may deny it. It is up to you to choose. But be wary of the consequences. The packs simply wish to present their cases to you. If you align yourself with them, you may also align yourself with my own kind, in MACUSA, the magical human government of the United States. Thank God MACUSA has changed since previous decades. Actually, the whole wizarding world has. They're not prejudiced to non-humans as much anymore, or part-humans like myself. The reason why MACUSA and the Italian Ministry of Magic never took Edward into their custody and tried him themselves is because of respect. Respect for non-human beings and their right to independent government, free from wizard intervention."

Everyone fell silent. "I can only hope that the non-magical government of the United States and other countries will do the same," Gabrielle stated dryly. "But somehow, few people, even the most insistent about having friendly relations with non-magical governments and people, believe that.

"Just listen to what they have to say. That is all that they- and I- ask. If one species, or even one individual person is exposed..." She trailed off warningly.

Leah finished for her. "So could the rest of us."