I stood in the window waiting for the wolves to dare step foot on this property. Peter, Charlotte, Carlisle, and Jasper were by my side. We were on the front lines. Esme was also there, but Carlisle had specifically requested that she stay out of any complications unless the situation was dire.
Rosalie was upstairs with Jesse and Morgan. She was the last resort, and I trusted her with that responsibility completely. I did not doubt that she would do anything to protect my boys. She was one of the fiercest women I had ever met, especially when it came to children. I almost wondered if her love for my children rivaled my own at times.
Emmett and Alice were patrolling the perimeters of our home making sure the wolves wouldn't be able to get through. As soon as they decided to attack we would know. Alice would see it.
We stood there for what could have been hours, just waiting. My eyes were trained on the horizon when I spotted Emmett walking with a mysterious figure in tow. I focused on both of them realizing the second person was Jacob.
"He's bringing them to us," Peter whispered, his eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
If Jasper was concerned he didn't show it, "Jacob would have transformed by now if he wanted to hurt him."
"Maybe he's waiting to get closer to us before he strikes. He thinks he'll take us by surprise."
"No," I disagreed, I knew Jake better than anyone, "He wouldn't do that."
Peter glanced over at me, studying me with his red eyes, "I hope you're right."
"I am," I promised. I couldn't believe that Jacob would want to hurt us. I just couldn't. There had to be another explanation.
Emmett approached the house practically dragging Jacob along with him. He had his arms secured tightly to his back. I knew Jacob could get out of his hold by transforming and the fact that he hadn't was a good sign. We filed out of the front door to face them both.
"Jacob said he wanted to talk to us, but I wasn't going to let him walk in here alone," Emmett explained.
Jake pulled against Emmett's grip, "Would you get him off? I'm not here to fight you. I'm not in Sam's pack anymore, but I know what they're planning."
"Let go of him, Emmett. We can trust him," Jasper said.
Emmett hesitated, looking at Carlisle for instruction. I didn't know why it brushed me the wrong way. I understood that Carlisle was the leader, but these were my kids - our kids. It was their safety on the line. Why couldn't he take Jasper's word for it?
"Release him," Carlisle agreed.
Jacob huffed rubbing his shoulder, sore from where his arm was pinned, "They're planning on starving you out for a few days. They want you weak before they attack. They're trying to kill your kid, Bella. They think he's a threat and they won't even try to understand anything different. They're just scared of what he could do."
A growl erupted in my throat. I tried not to attack Jake, reminding myself that he was not the one plotting all this. He was just the messenger, and it appeared like he wanted to help.
"Why did you revolt?" Peter questioned, not quick to trust.
"I'm not killing my friends' kid. And besides the one short vampire - the one with black hair, sees the future - she promised that he wasn't a danger. We shouldn't be killing each other over this. We've had this treaty for as long as I can remember, and it isn't time to end it now."
"Them," I couldn't help but correct him, "You keep saying kid, but there's two. And they have names."
He gave me a look that said that detail was irrelevant. I held my ground, and he gave up pretty quickly, "Sorry. I should have brought a card or something. I was a little short on time."
I couldn't help but smile, a ghost of a laugh on my lips, "That's all right."
"Do you have a plan?" Carlisle asked, putting us back on track.
Jacob bit his lip softly, "Sort of."
"That's reassuring," Jasper mumbled under his breath.
Jake sent him a sharp look but didn't say anything about the interruption, "They're expecting you to stay here where it's safe, but if you were to attack first then-"
"We don't want a fight if we can avoid it," Carlisle interrupted.
"Don't we?" I asked. If they dared threaten my children then they deserved to be taken down.
"Let me finish," Jake said in exasperation, "If they see you unafraid like that they might just back down. They know how outnumbered they are, and they are terrified of losing a brother. They might be less secure in their plan, and more open to negotiations. We just have to show them that you are prepared to fight."
Jacob was interrupted again. This time another person was running toward us from out of the forest. We were all prepared for a surprise attack, but after a moment I realized there was no threat. It was Seth, the wolf that had protected me from the newborn army.
"Kid? What are you doing here?" Jake shouted in surprise.
Jasper seemed nervous, "Where's Alice? Did she try to stop you?"
A small ache appeared in my heart. It appeared every time he worried about Alice. I hoped it would go away after I turned, but it still bothered me. I did my best to let it go. They were friends and it was fine for him to worry about her. He wanted me, otherwise, he wouldn't have turned me. I had to stop being so jealous.
Seth smiled, "Oh! Alice was with my sister. She said we could help! We're in your pack again Jake!"
"Leah's here too?"
Seth nodded, "We left right after you did! Sam tried to make us stay, but it was almost like we couldn't hear him. As soon as we decided to follow you Sam couldn't boss us around anymore. We follow a new alpha now."
He shook his head, "You have to go back. This isn't a pack and I'm definitely not alpha. Go back to Sam before it's too late."
"I want to help! Besides, I don't think I could go back if I tried. I can't hear the pack at all anymore! I promise I won't cause any trouble."
Jacob thought it over for a while before sighing, "You're not joining in the fight, so don't even ask. Maybe you can hunt for the Cullens if they let you."
Seth beamed at all of us. He seemed happy to just be involved.
Alice and another girl, Leah I assumed, met us only a few minutes later. We stopped talking over our plans and looked to Alice for insight.
She did not disappoint, "We don't have to fight at all. We found a way to end this forever, without any conflict."
"That's not true. There will be conflict," Leah whispered, running a nervous hand through her hair.
"There won't be bloodshed, and that makes all the difference," Alice smiled softly at the girl. She sighed and nodded in return.
"How?" Jacob and I asked at nearly the same time.
Leah breathed out slowly and took Alice's hand in hers, "We've uh... imprinted."