Chapter 22- The Price Of War

April 1st 2007

Aro paced back and forth as Heidi spoke to him in hushed and panic tones.

"Verona is not even in charge anymore my lord. It's Hilda. She's lost her mind. She doesn't think we're creating enough newborns. She wants to join forces with Maria down south. And to make it worse, she is sending me and Veronica to spy on the Cullens and the wolves in forks."

Caius roared in the distance and shattered a table.

Aro, however, kept his composure. A maddening glint in his eye.

"Hmmm, Heidi my dear. Do not worry. I have a plan. Thank you for this information. Please be safe and remember Demetri will be watching over you in the shadows."

With that said, he hung up.

Aro looked up at his brothers, Caius seething with anger and Marcus displaying a rage like never before.

"Aro we need to stop them!" was Caius' roar.

"Peace brothers, I have an Idea. I think one of us should go and see our dear Maria and brood of children. Alongside our strongest guards and then I think a few of us should go to forks."

"Argh Aro what is your obsession with humans!" Caius exclaimed.

"Enough now, Caius. We need to think of a strategy. How about Caius, Corin, Felix and Santiago go to maria. While Aro, myself, Jane, Afton, and Alec go to forks. Sculpia and Anthenadora can hold down the fort so to speak." Marcus dictated.

"What!" Caius growled, however, Aro made sure to placate him. "Oh brother, tell me you won't enjoy destroying Maria for all the illegal activities we have allowed her to get away with. It's finally time to serve a dish of justice. You can even use your sword."

Caius's eyes widened.

"My sword! I haven't used that in centuries! DEMETRI WHERE IS MY GLADIUS! THE ONE I USED IN ROME!" he bellowed as he ran out the room.

"Well I suppose that settles it. Let us get the jet ready and Aro we should get the leader of the wolves phone number. I prefer to talk to a real leader and not Carlisle's demure personality." Marcus complained.

"Ah yes, our dear Carlisle. I think something has changed in our old friend Marcus. Even on the phone he sounds so much more… hardened, Feral.I can't put it into words. But we shall see with our own eyes."

…

"Alright everyone settle down!" Oscar yelled.

Tensions were high as another month of unstable newborns emerged. It was like a pattern. In February there had to be about ten of them. March was silent with no signs.

But now things had taken a turn for the worst. Random fires had been set all over Washington and beyond. Random acts of destruction. Buildings being broken into and vandalized.

Structures and homes were burning down randomly.

The news was calling it a serial arson. But they knew better. It was Verona and Veronica. They were toying with them. letting them know they were watching.

"Oscar they burnt down our village!" Alexander roared. "My people have been displaced! How do you expect me to fix that!"

Oscar pinched the bridge of his nose as everyone spoke at once. Alexander and the five people he brought with him, were centaur- shapeshifters. At the moment, crap had hit the fan as people like to call it. A few days ago, Bella and Charlie's house had been set on fire, the Refuge Seattle location had been vandalized, and Dr. Cullen's office had been trashed. They knew exactly where everyone was and the only safe place at the moment was the reservation and the house they had here.

"You could stay on the reservation." A voice spoke.

All eyes turned to see jacob pulling up his shorts a look of empathy and understanding on his face.

"Jacob! You have no right to offer that!" was Sam's sharp tone.

Jacob however ignored him and step closer to Alexander.

"My name is Jacob Ephraim Black, I am the future chief of the Quileute people. I am evoking my right to offer your people sanctuary."

"You would do that?" Alexander asked, moved by Jacob's offer.

"We know what it's like to have our lives destroyed by vampires." Jacob sneered as he glanced at the Cullens

"Jacob stand down!" was Sam's command.

However, Jacob turned to him and said "no you stand down Samuel Uley!These people have been impacted just as we have! We will help them!"

The order filled the air as all the wolves bowed before Jacob, all except one.

Paul stood unmoved and unphased. But the minute Sam made a move to attack Jacob, Paul was by his side within the blink of an the giant black wolf in a chokehold with his bare hands.

"Let it go Sam."

The Wolf bowed his head and Paul let him go. For the rest of the night, Paul and Jacob stood side by side.

"Anway, we have a few houses on the reservation that haven't been lived in for a while. Your people can be safe there. How many of you are there?"

"Fifteen of us.." Alexander explained. " My people are complicated in our history, if that makes sense."

"Giving the boy a lie aren't you?" A centaur with long red hair, a red beard and glowing red eyes.

"Hush now Clayton. Our histories are complicated,no need to bore the young man. Jacob was it? We will take you on your offer. We are greatful."

"While I don't mean to be a Debby downer, suppose we can get back to discussing strategy?" Jasper questioned. " it's obvious these ladies mean business. What is our plan?"

Oscar sighed and was going to speak but all supernatural ears turned to the sound of running.

Within seconds Aro and Marcus volturi stood before them.

"I believe we can help." was Aro's giddy laugh.

…

Oscar's eye twitched as he listened to the vampire king talk. Without hesitation, he lit a cigarette and began to pace back and beast within him was angry and concerned for his children. He turned to look where Paul sat on one of the porch swings, the rest of his refuge family sitting at his feet. Jacob was next to him standing with his arms folded, the pack behind him.

He then looked over to where the centaurs stood, Alexander glancing at Paul and Jacob from time to with curious eyes.

The Cullens seemed focused and a little frightened at every word that came out of the vampire's mouth.

It was then Oscar clapped his hands gaining everyone's attention and interrupting Aro's speech.

"Alright now! We have been at this for a few hours. How about we take a break and eat. At least those of us who can. Eliza? Ada, Yuto? Can you bring the food? Paul? Boys can ye bring the table from the garage? Jacob would it be too much if ye pack helped them grabthe chairs and what not?"

"Thats no problem at all."

"Hold up? We are trying to figure out war stratigies and you want to stop and eat?" Emmett asked.

Before Carlisle or Oscar could reprimand him, A bolt of lightning striked the tip of Emmetts foot.

"AHHH! Ouch!" Emmett screamed as he held his foot hopping up and down.

Laughter was heard around them from the other supernatural creatures.

"PAUL! Stop it!" Oscar reprimanded with a smile on his face.

"Oh dear?" Aro commented as he peered at Emmetts smoking foot." what caused that? A sudden elemental phenomenon?"

"Yeah if you call a Six eight always angry, always horny shapeshifter an elemental phenomenon!" Ray joked.

The Refuge gang and the pack burst into laughter at Rays description of Paul.

It was then Alexander's eyes widened.

"Wait? Are you saying that lightning bolt was from one of your wolves?"

Oscar looked back at Paul,who was carrying a giant mahogany table by himself. And looked back at alexander.

"You knew I never really asked the lad. Paul? Son? Can you control the weather?"

"Not exactly." was Paul's response.

"So how'd ye make the lighting strike then?" Oscar asked.

Paul gritted his teeth, put his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's complicated. It follows my emotions. Or when I'm threatened."

"Ok but how does the lighting strike? Only when you are angry?" Alexander asked as he and his fellow centaurs helped the group put up chairs.

"I am always angry." Paul hissed.

"Yeah, we noticed." was Jasper's sarcastic response. And like before a sudden lighting strike made it's way past Jaspers' shoulder.

"DARN IT PAUL! STOP IT! " Oscar ordered.

Paul leaned into a crouch, a hiss emitting from his mouth. His eyes darting from Oscar to Jasper, the latter who looked smug.

"Great gravy! The cats out the bag…" Ray sang as he leaned against the table. He loved to see his brother lose total control. It made for a good show.

It was then Carlsile hissed and slapped Jasper upside the head.

"ENOUGH. Your intentionally pissing him off! You've been trying to manipulate his emotions the whole time haven't you!" He accused his son.

Jasper sighed and put his hands up in surrender.

"You ain't wrong. I just couldn't help myself. The boy has so many complicated emotions, it's like a river of confusion and darkness. Besides, I believe whatever gift the boy is hiding can help us."

"And if it could ,what point was there to intentionally angering him? I told you all already, I will let the wolves tear you apart! What don't you all understand!?

Carlisle then looked maddeningly at Aro and asked " please tell me you brought jane?"

Aro looked at him wide and smiled as he clapped his hands.

"Oh Carlisle! I love it when your sadistic side comes out! I would love for you to use Jane for your corporal punishment!"

"Carlisle no! Honey maybe we should all just take a break like Oscar asked. Perhaps the children could go hunt. Miles away from home." Esme ordered sternly as she looked at all five of her adoptive children.

"Fine. All of you go! Get out of my sight!" Carlisle growled. His eyes black with anger and disappointment.

His children did so and he watched them go.

"Come Carlisle , introduce Marcus and I to your allies." Aro said as he tried to distract his friend from his familial troubles.

"I'd say it's time to kick the birds out of the nest. I thought your kind doesn't stay in big groups?" Oscar stated.

"We typically don't but a few of us are the exception. However, I have been rethinking that matter for a while."

"Carlisle!" Esme exclaimed.

The doctor shook his head,as they sat at the table.

" No Esme, we have treated them like children for far too long. They have been in our care long enough to know the rules of our world. Whatever they do here after they will have to face the consequences. Besides you and I need the space without them around."

"Ah! After we clean up this debacle you two should come stay with us in Italy! we would love to have you!" Aro cheered.

"Excuse me? Young man? I don't mean to bother you." Alexander spoke as he cleared his throat, taking the bowl of mashed potatoes someone handed him.

Paul arched an eyebrow at him as he sat at the table with no food in front of him.

"We'll aren't you going to eat?"

Paul shook his head, leaning back on the legs of his Chair, as if he were anticipating something.

"Very Well. May I ask where the human girl you all seemed to be so very protective of is? She smelled marvelous. Are there more strong bloods about? Or is she the only one?"

"What's a strong blood?" Jacob asked.

Alexander looked around the table in astonishment.

"Do you all not know what gift you have around you? The Strong Bloods were a clan of people whose scent attracted other supernatural beings. The scent either attracted them to kill or to be fiercely loyal. It honestly depends on the purity of ones' soul. The human you all have among you has a very pure and loving heart. I can tell just by her eyes. Sometimes, strong bloods have different gifts. However, most of them were killed centuries ago. Which is why I was so surprised to see her."

"That explains a lot." Carsile spoke as Oscar handed him a bottle of jack daniels. The Doctor couldn't help but chuckle and drank the bottle anyway. " When Edward first met Bella he wanted to kill her because her scent was so potent. It sang out to him. We sent him away until he could control to mention most gifts don't work on Bella."

"And yet your kind still managed to hurt her at every turn." Sam growled out.

Carlisle nodded his head in shame. " Something I regret at every turn."

"Hey, where is the lass Paul, we haven't seen her in a while." Oscar asked.

"She's been busy." was Paul's reply. While he was many things, the one thing Paul was at heart was a protector. He valued his mates privacy and would not share how many times,his wife had woken up sobbing not because her childhood home had burnt down but because her father could have been in it. He could have died. So at the moment, they were keeping her pregnancy a secret while Charlie settled in the blacks home. Bella swore up and down that Charlie could live with them but the chief of police refused. He knew what it was like to be a newlywed. He wanted to give them as much space as possible. Besides, if Charlie stayed with the blacks, that gave Jacob one less thing to worry about.

In fact none of them had seen Bella since the end of February,It was like she was hiding from them.

"Paul? Is she ok? Is there anything I can do?" Eliza asked softly in concern.

"I can have her call you when she's ready."

The answer seemed to satisfy Eliza as she went on to eat her food.

"Now that we have eaten. Let's discuss strategy. I believe king Aro has some information for us?" Oscar announced.

"Ah yes, as I was saying earlier. My spy Heidi,she is traveling with the enemy for us. Being our eyes and ears. She has informed us in a turn of events. It seems they are trying to recruit more people. Apparently Veronica and Heidi will be sent here to spy on us. Heidi will be informing us when. I say we ambush them.." Aro hissed with a dark sneer.

Paul leaned forward, with a dark smile.

"Tell us how.." he purred.

….

April 20th 2007

Paul stood in the clearing with his eyes closed. He channeled all his anger into the brewing storm.

"April showers…bring May flowers." He said aloud.

With a deep breath, he sought that seed of anger. The seed of resentment, and devastation that had held him in a chokehold for so long.

And then… he let go.

…..

"Argh! Where did all this rain come from!" Veronica yelled as she and Heidi ran alongside each other.

Heidi didn't say anything as she discreetly led Veronica right into Aro's hands.

"Just a little further Veronica! I can see the Cullens mansion just up ahead."

As promised the glass house came into light greeted them, not that they needed it.

"Come Veronica, let's break in and destroy the place! I know we sent the newborns to destroy the office but this time it will be fun for us!"

Veronica smiled, not being able to resist any sense of destruction by her hands.

Heidi led her to the back door, gently sliding open.

The minute Veronica was in. Heidi shut and locked the door, backing away into the night.

…

Veronica smiled in glee as she looked at the restored mansion.

"Maybe we should just burn it down." she said to Heidi.

However, it was then she realized that Heidi was nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe we should burn it down. Allow your sister to think she has a one up on us." A voice hissed.

Veronica looked up to see a man with golden eyes sitting on the stair well. A bottle of scotch in his hand.

"Your little group has brought along a lot of unnecessary trouble." he continued.

"Ah yes, so much trouble." a voice purred behind her.

Veronica whipped around to see a pair of glowing green eyes.

The sound of thunder and lightning made her jump ten feet in the air. The front door then burst open, and a half man half horse-like creature with glowing red eyes appeared before her.

"You should be dragged through the street witch!" it snorted as it stamped it hooves.

"Yes, yes, all that is good and well but allow us to see what the thought she had planned." A man with blood red eyes laughed maniacly.

Veronica gasped as she realized who it was.

"King Aro! Please no!"

Aro clasped her hand, as she begged.

"Oh now you beg child? Now you beg? After all the innocent lives you took! Causing other sot be without home and family! How dare you beg for mercy you-"

Aro stopped as he choked on his woods. A vision of horror playing before his eyes.

"You witch!" he roared, throwing her to the ground."Take her to the shifters! Don't let her get away! Tear her limb from limb!"

Veronica was dragged away, torn limb from limb, and then burned. The group of 38 gathered together to watch the ashes burn.

"Heidi. My dear, I am afraid you cannot stay. You need to report back to Hilda, show her the proof of the attack. We need to make it look real. I am afraid I must rip your arm off.I can have Alec make sure you feel no pain.

"I live to serve, master. They will pay." Heidi hissed.

It was then Alec made her fall into the dark, as Aro ripped her arm off.

The minute Alec let her up Heidi was gone.

"Where is Paul?" Aro asked as a distraught look came over his face.

"He's coming." Oscar announced.

A few minutes later, the storm stopped and Paul appeared.

"Paul, you need to get to Isabella. Verona and Veronica have killed Isabella's mother and stepfather."

…..

Bella clung to her husband and father as they broke the news.

Her sobs filled the house. Outside, her pack brothers and sisters mourned with her.

Their omega was shattered.