By the time Leah and I arrived at the Cullen house, the place looked abandoned.
The tall, glassy structure loomed out of the trees like a dark monument, all lights off, windows reflecting nothing but forest and sky. No cars. No movement. The house was sealed tight, silent in a way that felt intentional, like it was holding its breath.
Sam, Paul, and Jared were already waiting there. All three were standing, tense and alert, their eyes snapping to us the moment my car crunched to a stop on the gravel.
I stepped out of the car, the cold air hitting my face. The forest felt wrong, too still, like it knew something bad was coming.
"I have to say," Sam started immediately, folding his arms over his chest, "I don't like the idea of working with vampires."
Leah shut the car door a little harder than necessary and walked up beside me. "Then don't," she said flatly. "No one's forcing you."
Sam held her gaze for a moment, then exhaled slowly. "If what you told me is true," he continued, looking back at me now, "we're going to need all the help we can get if we want to survive this."
Paul scoffed, arms crossed, his weight shifted back on his heels. "And miss the fight?" he said with a sharp grin. "Not a chance."
Jared nodded once, jaw set. He did not look excited. He looked ready.
Sam turned fully toward me. "None of us have ever killed a vampire," he said. "So if you have advice, we'll listen."
I didn't like being the one giving orders, but this was not the time for modesty. I nodded and stepped forward, planting my feet firmly in the damp earth.
"You might be slightly faster than vampires in a straight line," I said, keeping my voice steady, "but don't let that fool you. They're more agile than you, and stronger. A lot stronger."
Paul's grin faded just a little.
"Always work in pairs," I continued. "You're three, so you move together. Cover each other's blind spots. Never assume one of you can handle one alone."
Sam nodded, focused, absorbing everything.
"I would have suggested pairing one of you with Leah," I added, glancing at her briefly, "but that won't work. Different packs. You wouldn't be able to communicate."
Leah rolled her eyes but did not argue.
"Newborn vampires' advantage is that they're incredibly strong. Stronger than older ones in many cases. If one gets its hands on you, it won't hesitate. Bones break easily for them. Necks too."
The clearing went silent.
"They're inexperienced, though," I went on. "Impulsive. They act on instinct and emotion. Most of them will attack head-on. That's your advantage. Let them overcommit. Make them sloppy."
Paul clenched his fists, a low growl rumbling in his chest before he forced it down.
"When the Cullens arrive," I said, "you stick close to them. Don't chase. Don't wander. Do not try to be a hero. If you get separated, you die."
That landed hard.
"I'll try to keep everyone safe," I finished. "But I won't lie to you. My priority will always be Leah."
I turned toward her as I said it.
She had her arms crossed now, eyebrow raised, clearly unimpressed.
"And don't give me that look," I added. "I know you can take care of yourself. But this is an entire army we're talking about."
She huffed quietly, shaking her head, but there was a small, unmistakable smile tugging at her lips. She hated being protected, but she liked knowing she mattered so much to me.
Sam exhaled slowly. "All right," he said. "We stick together. We listen. And we don't do anything stupid."
Paul clicked his tongue. "Define stupid."
Jared shot him a teasing look. "You."
Sam nodded, "what he said."
Paul smirked but nodded anyway. "Fair enough."
The forest shifted as a breeze passed through the trees, leaves whispering like a warning. I glanced toward the dark Cullen house again. Empty. For now.
"They'll be here soon," I said quietly.
…
We killed time the only way people waiting for a war ever do.
With pointless conversation and half-baked plans that kept looping back on themselves.
Sam went over positioning again, tracing lines in the dirt with the toe of his boot while Jared listened quietly and nodded. Leah leaned against my car, arms crossed, eyes scanning the tree line every few seconds. Paul paced like a caged animal, muttering under his breath.
Every five minutes or so, he made it everyone's problem.
"What's taking these leeches so long?" Paul complained, kicking a pebble into the undergrowth. "They know there's a deadline, right?"
I rolled my eyes. "They're coming from Alaska," I said. "The trip usually takes a full day. I honestly don't even know how they're planning to make it in time."
As if summoned by sheer irritation alone, a familiar, light voice drifted from the trees.
"We have a plane."
Alice stepped out of the shadows, her pixie-cut hair catching what little light filtered through the canopy. The air seemed to tense instantly.
Sam, Paul, and Jared stiffened, muscles coiling, eyes locked on the treeline as the rest of the group emerged behind her. Pale figures moved with unnatural grace, their footsteps soundless, their presence pressing against my senses like a storm front.
I felt Leah shift beside me, alert but steady.
"We left it in Port Angeles," Alice continued casually, as if she were explaining why she was late to dinner. "Then we ran the rest of the way to save time."
Of course they have a plane...
Carlisle stepped forward, hands relaxed at his sides, his calm presence cutting through the tension like a blade through fog.
"Hello, Mike," he said warmly. "Leah. Sam. Jared. Paul."
I nodded, returning the gesture. "Carlisle. It's been a while."
"It has," he agreed, then turned slightly. "You already know my family. And these are our cousins from Denali. Tanya is their leader."
A blonde vampire stepped forward, tall and striking, her golden hair falling perfectly over her shoulders. She smiled at me, slow and unmistakably flirtatious, and extended her hand.
Before I could even react, Leah moved.
She stepped directly in front of me and took Tanya's hand instead, her grip firm, her smile tight but polite.
"Leah," she said flatly.
I bit back a grin.
Tanya blinked once, then laughed softly, clearly unbothered. "Ah. Hello Leah," she said, eyes flicking briefly toward me before returning to her. "You're cute too."
She winked.
Leah immediately took a step back, as if physically recoiling from the word.
I could not stop smiling.
Tanya turned back to the group, unfazed. "These are my sisters, Kate and Irina," she said, gesturing to two women who stood slightly behind her, one with sharp, watchful eyes and the other quieter, almost wary. "And Eleazar," she added, nodding toward a broad-shouldered man with an assessing gaze, "and his wife, Carmen."
They inclined their heads politely.
That was when Paul decided the universe had been quiet for far too long.
He nudged Jared with his elbow and said loudly, "You know what? I would have totally asked her out if she didn't smell like death."
Every single head snapped toward him.
Tanya's smile vanished in an instant, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You don't exactly smell like roses either," she shot back coolly.
Paul's face split into a grin. "See?" he said, pleased as hell. "Totally wife material. Such a shame."
I braced myself for violence.
Instead, Tanya stared at him for a long second, then laughed, a sharp, amused sound. Kate rolled her eyes. Irina looked horrified. Carmen hid a smile behind her hand.
Emmett's booming laughter echoed through the trees.
Sam pinched the bridge of his nose.
Carlisle sighed, deeply and patiently, like a man who had seen this exact scenario play out far too many times.
Leah muttered, "I can't believe we're trusting our lives to this."
I leaned closer to her and whispered, "Hey, if nothing else, it's going to be memorable."
She snorted despite herself.
The tension eased, just a little, enough for everyone to breathe again. But beneath the awkward jokes and uneasy introductions, the truth lingered heavily in the air.
An army was coming.
And whether we liked each other or not, we were all standing on the same side now.
…
Carlisle gestured toward the front door with an easy, composed motion. "Let's follow this conversation inside, shall we?"
He moved ahead of us, unlocking the door and pushing it open. The Cullen house was dark and silent, the vast glass walls reflecting the forest like black mirrors. The lights came on as we entered, footsteps echoing softly against polished floors as everyone filtered in.
The tension followed us inside.
It clung to the air, sharp and restless, like the house itself knew what was coming.
No one wasted time settling in. Carlisle disappeared down the hall and returned moments later with a large, folded map. He spread it across the long dining table, weighing down the corners with his hands. Everyone crowded closer instinctively, wolves and vampires sharing the same space with only a thin layer of discipline holding instincts in check.
Alice stepped forward, eyes already distant.
"They'll pass through here," she said, placing a finger on the map. "They're planning to use the lake to mask their scent. Water will scatter it enough that they think we won't pick them up in time."
Her finger slid northward, stopping at a narrow clearing between dense stretches of forest.
"We intercept them here," she continued. "Before they reach town."
I leaned in, studying the terrain. Open enough to maneuver, but still boxed in by trees. Good. Newborns wouldn't think tactically. They'd charge.
I straightened and stepped forward. "We should work in pairs."
Several heads turned toward me.
"Sam, Jared, and Paul will have to work together," I continued. "Because of the pack link. You move best as a unit."
Sam nodded once, already on board.
"You," I said, looking toward the Denali coven, "have an extra person. I suggest one of you works with Leah."
Leah's head snapped toward me, brows lifting slightly.
I turned to Tanya. "Can you do it?"
Tanya smiled without hesitation. "Of course."
Then she tilted her head, eyes flicking back to me. "And you?"
"I'll fight alone."
That got a reaction.
Kate's eyebrows rose. Eleazar's gaze sharpened, openly assessing. Even Carlisle studied me more closely.
"I'm the strongest one here," I said calmly.
That earned me several raised eyebrows.
Before anyone could comment, I added, "I'm not trying to sound conceited. You'll see later. I'm stronger and faster than vampires."
Silence.
I let it sit for a second before continuing.
"I'll focus on providing cover. If anyone gets overwhelmed, trapped, or grabbed, I'll intervene. That will be my job."
Leah opened her mouth.
I looked at her. "And no," I said preemptively, "this is not up for debate."
She scowled at me, but didn't argue. Not yet.
"Carlisle, can you get some blood?"
Carlisle inclined his head slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You want human blood."
"Yes," I said. "If we can make the newborns lose control early, it'll break their coordination completely."
Carlisle nodded. "That makes sense."
I glanced around the room. "Does anyone here have concerns about maintaining control?"
Jasper stepped forward immediately. "I do," he said honestly. "If we're using blood as bait, I'd rather feed now."
I nodded. "Alright. Do it."
"I'll meet you at the clearing," Jasper said, already turning toward the door.
Carlisle folded the map carefully. "I'll retrieve the blood bags," he said. "Once that's done, we'll head directly to the clearing."
Everyone began moving at once, quiet but purposeful. Final preparations. No more jokes. No more small talk.
Leah stepped closer to me as the room cleared, lowering her voice. "You better not get reckless."
I met her eyes. "I won't."
She searched my face for a long moment, then nodded once. "Good."
Outside, the forest waited.
…
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