Aro held his hands out to us, almost apologetic. Behind him, the larger part of the guard, along with Caius, Marcus, and the silent, mysterious wives, were already drifting quickly away, their formation precise once again. Only the three that seemed to be his personal guardians lingered with him.
"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence," he said sweetly. "My friend, Carlisle—how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders."
"Leave in peace, Aro," Carlisle said stiffly. "Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region."
"Of course, Carlisle," Aro assured him. "I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me."
"Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again."
Aro bowed his head, the picture of remorse, and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around. We watched in silence as the last four Volturi disappeared into the trees.
It was very quiet. I did not drop my shield. "Is it really over?" I heard Bella whisper to Edward.
His smile was huge. "Yes. They've given up. Like all bullies, they're cowards underneath the swagger." He chuckled.
Alice laughed with him. "Seriously, people. They're not coming back. Everybody can relax now."
There was another beat of silence.
"Of all the rotten luck," Stefan muttered. And then it hit.
Cheers erupted. Deafening howls filled the clearing. Maggie pounded Siobhan on the back. Rosalie and Emmett kissed again—longer and more ardently than before. Benjamin and Tia were locked in each other's arms, as were Carmen and Eleazar. Esme held Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace. Carlisle was warmly thanking the South American newcomers who had saved us all. Kachiri stood very close to Zafrina and Senna, their fingertips interlocked. Garrett picked Kate up off the ground and swung her around in a circle.
Stefan spit on the snow. Vladimir ground his teeth together with a sour expression.
Aro held his hands out to us, almost apologetic. Behind him, the larger part of the guard, along with Caius, Marcus, and the silent, mysterious wives, were already drifting quickly away, their formation precise once again. Only the three that seemed to be his personal guardians lingered with him.
"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence," he said sweetly. "My friend, Carlisle—how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders."
"Leave in peace, Aro," Carlisle said stiffly. "Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region."
"Of course, Carlisle," Aro assured him. "I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me."
"Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again."
Aro bowed his head, the picture of remorse, and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around. We watched in silence as the last four Volturi disappeared into the trees.
It was very quiet. I did not drop my shield. "Is it really over?" I whispered to Edward.
His smile was huge. "Yes. They've given up. Like all bullies, they're cowards underneath the swagger." He chuckled.
Alice laughed with him. "Seriously, people. They're not coming back. Everybody can relax now."
There was another beat of silence.
"Of all the rotten luck," Stefan muttered. And then it hit.
Cheers erupted. Deafening howls filled the clearing. Maggie pounded Siobhan on the back. Rosalie and Emmett kissed again—longer and more ardently than before. Benjamin and Tia were locked in each other's arms, as were Carmen and Eleazar. Esme held Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace. Carlisle was warmly thanking the South American newcomers who had saved us all. Kachiri stood very close to Zafrina and Senna, their fingertips interlocked. Garrett picked Kate up off the ground and swung her around in a circle.
Stefan spit on the snow. Vladimir ground his teeth together with a sour expression.
And I was blindsided from a flash of Blonde. She tackled me so fast I flew thirty feet and landed very painfully. She had her arms around me and I had a shocked expression. Everyone watching laughed at my expense and I scowled at them all; Paul and Embry the most as they fell to the ground laughing. I'm starting to regret telling Rebekah I would talk to Niklaus about Embry. I could say all bad things. I might just do that if he doesn't shut up. Viktor was laughing too but he somehow pried the blonde original off. How? I don't even know. In later their for another second or so. "Come one little sister." He helped up. "Hold on. Ugh. I think my spine needs time to realign itself." I snapped. He grabbed ahold of the front of my shoulders and bottom of my torso and pulled. Hard. My spine snapped back in place with a sickening crack. I sighed. "Much better." Some just looked horrified. Others amused. Emmett of course was the first to break. He belted a loud laugh. Others soon followed. I sighed looking around. This is my family. The wolves had all turned around and went to Emily's after howling a parting. Rebekah and I would no doubt be joining them.
Rebekah and I walked through the bushes that surround Sam and Emily cute little house. We were and shoving each other. Viktor was behind us. Shaking his head amused. Emily was the first to notice us and squealed catching everyone's attention from inside. She hugged us tightly. "Oh I'm so glad you guys are okay. Too much testosterone." She joked and we laughed as did Viktor catching her attention to the newcomer. "Who's this?"
"This is my biological brother. Viktor, this Sam's imprint and Fiancé Emily Young. Emily, this dumbass is my brother, Viktor Cole." She politely shook his hand, smiling at him. She loved out of the way when the boys came rushing out of the house. Embry and Paul right up front, each going to their respective imprints. Paul reached me and his lips found mine. We forgot about everything else and it was just us against the world. My arm hooked around his neck as his hands caressed my hips.
He picked me up my legs instinctively wrapped around his hips as his rested almost possessively on the top of my ass.
The pack wolf whistles. That brought us out of our stupor. Leave it to Paul to basically lip rape his imprint in front of the pack as said imprints brother watches. I pecked his lips as he pats grabs my ass and sets me down. "Blame her, she's hot." Was his reply as Viktor stared him down. "You know when I wanted to meet my sisters boyfriend formally I didn't want you to have kids in front of me." Came Viktors exasperated reply. Paul shook his hand.
I smiled seems all is good. That night was filled with bright, contagious happiness no one could stop them. And Vanessa and Paul really did celebrate with unexpected surprises.