BPOV

Later that day, Marcus had left with Felix to go hunting "up north" and I found myself sitting in the cosy armchair in my room, a soft lamp casting an unnecessary yet comforting warm glow across the space. Alice was perched on the edge of the bed, her expression thoughtful as she twirled a lock of her short hair between her fingers.

"You seem preoccupied," I remarked, watching Alice closely.

Alice sighed, her golden eyes distant as if lost in thought. "It's the visions," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "They're still overwhelming, Bella. With everything that's been happening lately, there are so many decisions being made, so many variables at play."

I nodded sympathetically, only able to imagine the weight of Alice's gift and the toll it could take on her. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Alice's knee.

Alice smiled gratefully, her eyes meeting mine. "Thank you, but I think it's just a matter of time. The visions will settle eventually." She paused, chewing on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "It's just... I'm not as familiar with the people involved in these visions. My clearest visions always come about those I'm closest to."

I furrowed my brow, processing Alice's words. "So, because you're not as familiar with them, the visions are less clear?"

Alice nodded, her expression pensive. "Exactly. And then there's the presence of the wolves..." She trailed off, her gaze drifting towards the window where the moonlight filtered through the trees.

"The wolves?" I prompted, curious.

"They give me blind spots," Alice explained, her tone tinged with frustration. "It's like trying to see through fog. I can't get a clear read on what's coming because they're always there, lurking in the background."

I frowned again, a sense of unease settling over me further at Alice's words. The wolves had always been a source of tension and uncertainty, but I hadn't realized the extent to which they affected Alice's visions.

"I'm sorry, Alice," I said softly, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "I wish there was something I could do to help."

Alice offered me a small smile, her eyes reflecting gratitude. "Just having you here is enough, Bella," she replied. "I am glad that vision of us together is coming true at least."

I returned the smile, feeling a surge of affection for my chosen sister.

We sat in the quiet comfort of my room, lost to our own thoughts for a little while, the weight of unspoken worries hanging in the air like a heavy fog. Alice's gaze drifted towards the window, her thoughts consumed by the unsettling visions that plagued her.

"I can't see it anymore," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "The vision I had of Edward... where he had red eyes and Volterra was on fire. It feels gone but… it's… I feel like it is more out of reach than truly gone."

My heart sank at Alice's words, a pang of concern coursing through me. "I'm sorry, Alice," I murmured, my voice laced with empathy. "I know how much you worry about him."

Alice nodded, her expression troubled. "I made a promise to stay by your side, Bella," she said. "But I can't shake this feeling that something is wrong. That Edward is in danger."

I furrowed my brow with concern, torn between my own desire to keep Alice safe and the need to ensure Edward's well-being despite everything. "I understand," I said softly. "But right now, you need to focus on what's best for you. And if that means going to check on Edward, then I'll support you."

Alice's eyes flickered with gratitude, her shoulders relaxing slightly at my words. "Thank you, Bella," she said, a hint of relief in her voice. "I just wish I knew what was happening. The uncertainty is... unsettling."

I nodded in agreement, a now near constant sense of unease wrapped around me as I thought about the looming threat in Italy and the potential danger it posed to my family.

Alice turned her gaze back to me, determination shining in her eyes. "I promise, Bella. I'll stay by your side until the threat of Victoria is no more," she vowed, her voice steady and unwavering.

I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me, knowing that I could count on Alice's unwavering loyalty and support. "Thank you, Alice, I don't know what I would do without you."

But I knew… I thought a little bitterly. And it was not a pretty idea.

Alice offered me a reassuring smile, "You don't have to worry, Bella. We'll face whatever comes our way together, I'm never giving up on you again," she said, her tone filled with conviction.

I nodded, a sense of relief flooding through me. I did not want to imagine not having Alice by my side ever again. Her presence was a source of comfort and familiarity that I was grateful for.

—-

MPOV

As we drove through the winding roads towards Seattle, the weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders. I had always taken my role as a leader of our kind to heart, despite my apparent impassivity to most. The presence of my mate over the last few weeks however, had shaken me to my core, bringing me back to life in more than one way. She was definitely her own person, but in more than one way, her soul matched with mine in a manner that I had only ever felt with my beloved Didyme and I knew there was nothing I would not do to ensure her safety and her happiness.

Felix sat beside me, his presence a comforting reminder of the loyalty and strength of my guard. We were on a mission, one that held significant importance in light of recent events.

The three Volturi nomad guards that were affected to the area to back us up when needed, awaited us in Seattle: Seleucia and Tyron, a mated pair, and Louis, a lone nomad. They had naturally answered my call, our allies to address the suspicious activity in the Olympic Peninsula.

As we arrived at our meeting point, I felt a surge of anticipation mingled with caution. The three guards stood waiting for us, their heads slightly bowed and their expressions guarded yet determined. I could sense their readiness to face whatever challenges lay ahead and I could see that their loyalty did not need to be questioned thanks to my gift. The bond that linked them to me, and to a lesser extent to Felix as a higher ranked member of the guard, was one on deference and respect.

"Seleucia, Tyron, Louis," I greeted them with a nod of acknowledgement and they raised their heads to meet my gaze in turn as they heard their names. "Thank you for meeting with us."

They returned the nod, their eyes sharp with curiosity and determination. They knew as well as we did the importance of our gathering as I would not have called them otherwise. "Good evening, Master Marcus." Tyron spoke for them, taking a slight step forward.

"We have received reports of suspicious activity in the Peninsula," I explained, my tone grave. "It appears a vengeful vampire has taken my mate as a target," I continued and went to explain what I knew of the situation from the wolves and the Cullens.

Seleucia's gaze hardened, her jaw set in determination. "We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our new mistress," she vowed, her voice unwavering. Her mate reiterated her commitment and I nodded in approval.

"Good. We will need to act swiftly and decisively," I replied, my voice firm. I turned to Louis, about to ask for him to join me and Felix when we would head back to the Cullen property. Whether they like it or not, I wanted another guard to assist Felix in his protection duties until the threat of Victoria had been neutralized. I frowned though, when I noticed him looking perplexed. "What is it, Louis?" I pressed.

"I believe I know who this Victoria may be. I was part of an expedition to London in 1571, Jane, Alec and Demetri were with us, so were Dante and Eliza. There was a coven, led by a vampire called Hilda. She had a thing for abused girls and changed the ones that had suffered the most," he explained, now looking directly at me.

"Heidi's coven?" I asked, understanding the significance of the date, remembering as if I had learned of it yesterday. Heidi's sire was well known for her own brand of justice and her coven at the time was not the first she had created. It was however, the last one we had allowed as she could not control her coven mates' vengeful nature, leading to the infamous London slaughter of Christmas 1570.

"One of Heidi's coven mates was named Victoria and she had a talent for evasion, not unlike our lovely Seleucia right here," Louis added. "Demetri tracked her for a while but was recalled and sent on another mission not long after. Victoria never became an issue again, until now." He concluded.

I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, taking in the implication. Victoria's violent history was nothing surprising in our world, most coming into their new life as the result of some form of traumatic event. What this knowledge meant however, is that not only was she after my beloved Bella, she would also probably hold a deep hatred for my brothers and I, giving her more reasons to hate us.

Turning to Felix, I issued my orders. "Felix, I want you to coordinate with Seleucia and Tyron, Louis is coming back south with us. Divide the territory and search for any signs of danger. We cannot afford to overlook anything. If Victoria is indeed gifted with some talent that allowed her to escape even Demetri, she will have planned ahead of what we can anticipate. We will not be caught off guard," I stated darkly.

Felix nodded in understanding, his expression resolute. "Understood, Master," he replied, his tone brimming with determination. "Should we call in for Demetri to join us?"

"No," I denied the suggestion without needing to consider it. If young Alice's predictions held still, I did not wish to involve my brothers unless it was absolutely necessary. "We are twelve here with the support of the Cullens. The Quileute shifters also protect the area around their reservation. Victoria is already dead, we simply need to make her aware of the fact."

I turned back to the four guards, my gaze meeting theirs with steely resolve, a threatening smile on my face. "Keep your Volturi emblems showing at all times," I instructed, emphasizing the importance of sending a clear message. "Those who are smart will run the other way and those who aren't, deserve what is coming at them. It will also keep the wolves away, should you cross paths. They know not to harm us."

They nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. They understood the gravity of our mission and the necessity of our actions. Still, I couldn't shake the memory of Louis' words. Victoria's motivation was clear: revenge. She sought to inflict pain and suffering upon us by targeting Bella, unaware of who it was that she truly aimed to harm, and it was imperative that we put an end to her plans before they came to fruition.

With our plans set in motion, we set out to hunt down the threat that loomed in the shadows. Together, we would face whatever challenges came our way, united in our resolve to protect my mate and queen.

BPOV

As we ventured deeper into the forest, the rustle of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures filled the air, adding an eerie backdrop to our hunt. Rosalie moved with a grace and poise that never failed to impress me, her golden hair glinting in the moonlight as she scanned the surroundings with keen eyes. Beside her, Emmett exuded an infectious energy, his enthusiasm for the hunt palpable as he cracked jokes and teased me mercilessly.

"Hey, slowpoke, you're falling behind!" Emmett called out, flashing me a mischievous grin as he bounded ahead, his movements fluid and effortless.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile at his antics. Despite his playful demeanor, I knew he took his role as my temporary guard seriously and that he was also looking forward to teach me how to hunt à la Cullen properly as he had told Marcus before my mate had left to meet with the rest of the Volturi guards present in Seattle.

Rosalie shot him a withering glance before turning to me with a small smile. "Ignore him, Bella. We'll find something soon enough," she reassured me, her voice calm and steady.

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for her comforting presence. Rosalie had turned out to be surprisingly supportive of my change since I had decided to join my mate since immortality. Alice had explained that little mattered more to Rosalie than protecting those she loved and the reasons behind my early change echoed her own values. I admired her unwavering loyalty and hoped we could get closer in time.

As if on cue, a deep growl echoed through the forest, signaling the presence of our prey. Emmett's eyes lit up with excitement, and he motioned for us to follow him as he bounded towards the source of the sound.

We found ourselves at the edge of a clearing, where a massive bear stood, its fur bristling as it sensed our approach. Emmett's grin widened as he crouched low, his muscles coiled with anticipation.

Rosalie positioned herself beside him, her movements fluid and precise as she readied herself for the hunt. I watched in awe as they worked together seamlessly, a silent understanding passing between them as they prepared to take down their quarry.

With a roar, Emmett lunged forward, his movements swift and decisive as he tackled the bear to the ground. Rosalie moved in quickly, delivering a series of precise blows that incapacitated the creature with startling efficiency.

As dust settled, Emmett emerged from the fray, a triumphant grin plastered across his face as he surveyed the scene. "Looks like we've got dinner," he declared, gesturing towards the fallen bear with pride.

Rosalie smiled in satisfaction, her eyes sparkling with pride as she surveyed their handiwork before they both dived in to bite into the neck of the beast. I watched in awed fascination as they shared their meal, their gazes locked with each other. I felt like an intruder into what felt so strangely intimate but couldn't avert my eyes. I was enthralled. After a short moment, they released their hold on the bear, letting it fall with a thud. I didn't need to be a mind reader to imagine what would have happened if I had not been there. I cleared my throat to remind them of my presence.

Emmett chuckled, giving me a playful wink. "See, Bella? It's not so hard," he teased, his tone light and playful.

I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with my newfound family. Despite the dangers that surrounded us, moments like these reminded me of the bond that held us together.

I caught a cougar for myself and managed to not get blood all over my clothes even if they were still ripped enough to make me want to blush, which Emmett caught on and tried to tease me about. He only tried though, as Rosalie had slapped him hard enough on the back of the head that he was rendered speechless.

I laughed whole heartedly when suddenly, my senses were flooded with the unmistakable scent of blood, mingled with the faint odor of death. I turned to see Rosalie's eyes narrow with concern, her senses alert as she scanned the area for signs of danger.

"It's nearby," she murmured, her voice low and urgent. "We should head back," she suggested, looking to Emmett.

Before he could say anything, I put my foot down. "We're following, we need to know who is here."

"Bella, we're supposed to keep you safe," Rose reminded, an angry frown on her beautiful face.

"Then you better follow," I stated and went to investigate. We followed the trail of blood, our movements swift and purposeful as we closed in on our new prey.

It took only a couple of minutes until we saw her. It was a very young looking vampire, freshly fed or turned, judging by the brightness of her red eyes. She was crouched in the shadows, her eyes wide with fear as she realized she'd been caught.

I felt a pang of sympathy as I looked at her, she looked familiar somehow and I felt an instant need to protect her. Despite the danger she posed, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story than met the eye.

Rosalie moved to strike, her movements swift and decisive, but I held up a hand to stop her. "Wait," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but this was enough to stop her lethal move.

Rosalie turned to me, her eyes filled with concern, instead of the fire of annoyance I expected. "Bella, we can't risk letting her escape. She's too dangerous," she argued, her tone urgent.

But I couldn't bring myself to condemn her to death without at least trying to understand why she'd been here and who she was. "No, Rosalie," I said, my voice steady with resolve. "Let's bring her back with us. Maybe we can find out why she's here."

Rosalie hesitated for a moment before nodding in reluctant agreement. "Fine," she conceded, her voice tight with apprehension. "But Emmett is holding her on the way back."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as we prepared to bring our captive back to the safety of our home.

"What's your name?" I asked the frightened girl. The presence of my two bodyguards probably didn't help her feel safer and I tried to make myself as friendly as possible by crouching down to be at eye level with her. "I'm Bella," I offered. "And shadow one and two over there are Emmett and Rosalie, they are just making sure we're all safe."

The girl looked at them anxiously before focusing back on me. "She wanted to kill me," she whispered, her head moving slightly in Rosalie's direction.

"She's only worried you might want to hurt us," I reassured. "Can you tell me your name?" I asked again.

"T…Tracey" she finally said.

I smiled warmly. "Thank you, Tracey. Now, Emmett is going to hold onto you while we go to our home. I need you to be calm about it. We will hear you out with the rest of our family there. Can you do that for me?"

She looked between us three, and beyond, probably weighting her chances at escaping. It was a minute before she reluctantly nodded. I nodded to Emmett, indicating it was alright for him to move. Tracy braced herself as he came close but she did do as requested and didn't fight back. I glanced back at Tracey one last time, feeling a sense of unease settle over me as I wondered what secrets she held and what dangers lay ahead.

Esme was waiting for us on the front porch as we emerged from the trees. She was holding my phone and came to put it in my hand.

"It rang twice already, I was going to answer if it rang again," she said.

Just then, my phone did ring again, and I glanced down at the screen, my throat tightening when I saw Phil's name displayed prominently.

"My mom's calling," I murmured, assuming that my mother had once again left her own battery run out.

Esme reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Go ahead, Bella. We'll be right here if you need me," she offered.

With a grateful nod, I answered the call, steeling myself for the lies I needed to tell. As I held the phone to my ear, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the friends and family who now stood by my side, ready to help me face whatever challenges came my way. "Hi, mom," I said, trying to sound as if I was struggling to catch my breath. I was supposed to suffer terribly from a chest infection.

"Hey Bella, it's Phil. You okay, kiddo? I was actually looking for your mom. She was supposed to arrive in Forks a few hours ago but I can't reach her. Sorry if I spoiled the surprise," he said, sounding jovial, even though I could hear the hint of worry tainting his words.

My eyes snapped right back up towards Esme, panic surging through me. At the mirrored confusion and anxiety painted on her soft features, I concluded she had no idea what was going on either.

Where was Renée?


AN: longest chapter to date and more cues to what's coming throughout - did you catch any hints?

Thank you for the love you show this story every chapter!

Please review and let me know what you've liked in this one 3