The house was quiet by the time everyone finally left.
The smell of fried fish still lingered in the air, mixing with pine and salt from the open windows, but the laughter had faded, leaving behind that strange hollow calm that always came after something good. Sue and Harry had gone to bed, Seth had already fallen asleep, and even Leah had gone to her room to give me space, sensing I needed it.
I stood in the living room for a moment, staring at nothing.
Then I walked outside and pulled my phone from my pocket.
Alice answered on the second ring.
"Mike," she said. "I was hoping you'd call."
"I found him," I said without preamble. My voice sounded steady, even to my own ears. "It was one of Victoria's newborns, although he didn't know her, he said he'd been changed by someone named Riley, who must be Victoria's decoy. There's a base on the east outskirts of Seattle. An old warehouse. About fifty of them, maybe more."
Silence.
"Alice?" I asked, frowning. "Hello? Are you there?"
The line stayed open, but she didn't answer.
My grip tightened on the phone. I could almost picture her now, frozen mid-step, eyes unfocused, caught in a vision she hadn't asked for.
"Alice," I repeated, sharper this time. "Talk to me."
Almost thirty seconds passed before she finally inhaled.
"Mike," she said, and the way she said my name made my stomach sink. "They're already moving."
I straightened instantly. "What?"
"Victoria felt the shift," she said quickly. "She sensed the danger. She's not waiting anymore. She decided to attack early."
Cold spread through my chest.
"We're coming back to Forks," Alice continued. "All of us."
"There's no need," I said automatically, even as my mind raced. "I can handle it. I'll ask the pack as well."
"How many wolves do they have?" she asked immediately.
I opened my mouth.
Then stopped.
Images flashed through my head, each one landing heavier than the last.
Sam, Jared, and Paul.
Then there was Leah and me.
That was it, only five.
My silence stretched just long enough to give me away.
"…Mike?" Alice prompted gently.
I exhaled through my nose. "Yeah. About that. The pack's still small. Really small."
There was a soft huff on the other end of the line. "I thought so."
But she didn't sound smug, instead she sounded concerned.
"I'll ask the Denali," she continued. "This is big enough that they won't ignore it."
She paused mid-sentence.
I held my breath.
"Yes," she said suddenly. "They're coming."
My stomach twisted tighter. "How bad is it?"
Alice did not answer right away.
"That newborn you killed?" she said slowly. "He was right at the time. There were around fifty."
My heart pounded.
"And now?"
"There are almost a hundred," she said.
I closed my eyes.
Almost a hundred newborns.
They hadn't been idle. They had been accelerating, turning people faster, burning through humans like kindling.
"How long?" I asked. "How long until they arrive?"
Another pause. Shorter this time, but heavier.
"Five hours," Alice said. "We'll be there in two so we can plan."
I swallowed hard. My throat felt dry. "Alright. I'll contact the pack. We'll hold until you arrive."
"You're not alone in this," she said firmly. "Don't try to be."
"I won't," I promised.
The call ended, leaving me alone with the sound of the wind and trees.
I lowered the phone slowly.
Five hours.
That was all the time we had before a newborn army hit Forks.
I ran a hand through my hair and turned toward the door, already shifting mentally into command mode.
I had to tell Leah and call Sam.
Whether we were ready or not, the war was coming early.
…
I climbed the stairs slowly, every step heavier than the last. The house felt different now, like it was holding its breath. Laughter had drained out of the walls, leaving only creaking wood and the faint rush of the ocean in the distance.
Leah's door was cracked open.
The light inside was low and warm, spilling into the hallway. She was sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, hair still damp from her shower. The moment I stepped inside, she looked up.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a second, gathering myself. Then I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Victoria's coming," I said. "With an army. They'll reach Forks in about five hours."
Leah's eyes widened.
"You're kidding me," she said.
I shook my head. "I wish."
The surprise lasted only a heartbeat. Then her expression hardened, jaw setting, eyes sharpening into something focused and dangerous.
"Alright," she said. "What's the plan?"
I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees.
"First, we call Sam," I said. "He'll want to help, even if it's insane. The Cullens are on their way too, and they're bringing backup."
Leah absorbed that silently, already thinking several steps ahead.
"How big an army are we talking about?" she asked.
"Close to a hundred," I said.
She let out a slow breath through her nose. "That's a lot of newborns."
"Yeah."
She reached for her phone without hesitation. "I'll call Sam."
Then she paused and looked at me. "Are you going to tell Bella?"
I shook my head immediately. "No. Let her sleep. It's better if she doesn't know."
Leah studied my face.
"They don't have her scent," I continued. "And we're not letting them get anywhere near Forks. We'll stop them before they reach town."
Silence settled between us for a moment.
"You should sleep too," I added. "You don't need to get involved."
She narrowed her eyes on me.
"Not a chance," she said flatly. "I'm coming with you."
I let out a quiet sigh, more tired than frustrated. "Worth a try."
She huffed. "You know better than that."
A faint smile tugged at my mouth despite everything. I did know. There was no world in which Leah Clearwater stayed behind while a fight like this was coming.
She dialed Sam and he answered at the third ring. He sounded surprised that Leah was calling, but she didn't bother with pleasantries and immediately started to explain the situation. I watched her while she talked, the way her posture changed, the way command slipped naturally into her tone.
When she hung up, she turned back to me.
"He's in," she said. "All of them are. Jared and Paul too. They're heading out now, we'll meet at the Cullen house."
"Good," I said. "Every second counts."
She got off the bed and stood in front of me, resting her hands on my shoulders.
"We'll handle this," she said quietly. "Together."
I nodded, reaching up to lace my fingers with hers for a moment, grounding myself in the warmth and certainty of her presence.
Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the trees faintly against the house.
…
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