Page 115

"When Aro wants someone from a coven, it's never long before evidence turns up that proves that the coven in question committed some sort of crime." Eleazar said.

Everyone listened to the vampire speak, worry and realisation was etched onto their faces.

Bree tucked herself into Pearl's side. Talk of the Volturi unnerved her greatly. So she sought comfort in her mate's embrace.

Pearl stood tall in the room. Listening intently to what Eleazar was saying, but she refused to take her eyes off of the new arrivals. They were too eager for a fight, and they didn't seem to care about her family at all. That alone, made them untrustworthy.

Vladimir and Stefan shifted uncomfortably under the hybrid's gaze.

Her natural presence radiated power and authority.

The two vampires weren't too pleased to have gotten on her bad side.

But they had absolutely no intention of leaving.

They wanted the Volturi to fall, and this group, seemed like their best chance to make that happen.

"It happens so rarely, I never realised it was a pattern." Eleazar continued.

Carlisle took over. "Apparently, he always pardons one person whose thoughts he claims are repentant."

Eleazar then added on. "This person always has an ability, and they're always given a place within the guard."

When Edward spoke up, Pearl finally shifted her attention to her mind reading brother. Giving Vladimir and Stefan a brief relief from her piercing gaze. "This is all about Alice. He has no one like her."

Bella then had a realisation. "Which is why she left."

Pearl bit back her tongue. She wanted to clarify, she wanted to defend her sister and brother for their actions, but they had made her promise to stay silent about the true meaning behind their departure.

Emmet asked in a confused tone, "Why does he need witnesses?"

Carlisle and Esme's latest witness, Alistair, spoke up. "To spread the word that justice has been served. After he slaughters an entire coven."

A deep protective growl enveloped the room, replacing the solemn silence that hung in the air upon Alistair's comment. Pearl tucked Bree further into her side, as she let her growl finish.

Amun walked over to the members of his coven. "Benjamin, Tia we're leaving." He announced. Clearly wanting no part in what was inevitably going to happen.

Edward immediately spoke up. "And where will you go?

What makes you think they'll be satisfied with Alice?

What's to stop them from going after Benjamin next?

Or Zafrina or Kate or anyone else with a gift?

Anyone they want. Their goal isn't punishment, it's power.

It's acquisition. Carlisle might not ask you to fight, but I will.

For the sake of my family, but also for yours. And for the way you want to live."

A heavy silence hung in the room as everyone took in what Edward had asked of them.

Jacob looked over to Pearl with determination in his eyes. Pearl nodded at him and broke the silence. "The packs will fight."

Jacob added on, "We've never been afraid of vampires."

Tanya and the other members of her coven stood up. "We will fight."

Garret stepped forwards, his eyes were on Kate. "This won't be the first time I've fought a king's rule." He spoke assuredly.

"We'll join you." Benjamin spoke up from beside his mate.

"No." Amun tried to interject.

"I will do the right thing, Amun. You may do as you please." He answered, going against his coven leader.

The Amazon Coven and the Irish Coven then confirmed that they would fight as well. The other vampires who were nomads, stepped forwards, giving their silent support. All except Alistair, that is.

"That didn't take much." Vladimir commented quietly to Stefan.

Pearl's head snapped back towards them. She spoke in a cold and dark tone.

"Let me make myself very clear. I don't like you two.

And if it comes down to a fight, I will protect everyone in this room to the best of my ability.

Everyone, except the two of you. You aren't our friends.

You didn't come here to help. You came here for entertainment, and for the possibility of getting revenge on the Volturi.

And that, rubs me the wrong way." Another growl echoed through the room once Pearl finished speaking.

Vladimir and Stefan flinched at her tone. It was clear that she was the most dangerous one here, and they had managed to royally piss her off. If they wanted anyone to have their backs during this, it was her. The one known as the vampire shifter hybrid.

As people started leaving to settle somewhere for the night, Alistair walked up to Carlisle and said, "We'll see." Before retreating to the attic alone, running away from any form of socialisation.

Pearl watched the vampire discreetly, as he left.

Debating whether she could allow herself to take her eyes off of the two red eyed vampires that she disliked so much.

Eventually, the hybrid decided to go and speak with the nomad.

Trusting that her words of warning were enough to dissuade the two vampires from doing anything unseemly.

Leaving her coven and imprint downstairs, Pearl entered the attic with a confident posture. Her eyes scanned the area until she spotted the nomad huddled away in the corner. Alistair took notice of her presence and looked up at the hybrid.

"If you don't want to be here, you don't have to. No one is forcing you to stay. But your attitude right now, is really pissing me off. So if you want to hightail it and run, be my guest." Pearl said coldly.

Alistair stared at her for a moment, and then completely ignored what she had said.

Instead of addressing the topic she had brought up, he asked a question that was more focused on his interest right now.

"Why did you stay when you had the opportunity to leave?

According to what I've heard, you're supposed to be a loner.

So why stay and risk your life for them, when you could still have a future? "

With irritation in her voice, Pearl answered. "I won't leave my family behind."

"But their not family." Alistair immediately dismissed her statement.

"You aren't related to them, so their not your family.

You have no obligation to those vampires downstairs.

So why on earth would you give up your future for them?

" He pushed further. Alistair couldn't understand why she had chosen this path, he wanted to learn what the reasoning behind her actions was.

From what he has seen and sensed, Pearl is strong and capable.

It didn't make sense to him why she was so prepared to throw her life away from someone else.

"You're right. They aren't my family by blood.

But they are my found family. They took me in when I had nothing.

They had no obligation to do that for me, just like I have no obligation to fight for them.

But my coven chose to help me, and I'm choosing to fight for them.

Because unless I'm by my family's side, I have no future.

I'd be wandering the world with no purpose if it wasn't for them. " Pearl swiftly replied to the nomad.

"Wandering with no purpose still means you're alive." Alistair rebutted.

"How is that being alive? That isn't living.

That's just being there. To exist without a reason, is to stay forever stuck in limbo.

You'll never accomplish anything, nor will you ever find true happiness.

" The hybrid argued. After taking a breath, Pearl asked him, "You've always been running, don't you think it's time to stop?

" She paused for a second. "To run endlessly, is to live your life as a coward.

Is that really what you want to do for eternity? "

Alistair went silent and sent a glare towards Pearl.

Pearl paid it no heed, and simply continued, "Before I met the Cullens, I was living the life of a coward. I was running away from everything I'd ever known. And I had no plans of returning to it."

Alistair's glare lessened, being replaced by a small amount of curiosity.

"I met them by chance, and when I did, my intention was to leave.

I had no reason to stick around, nor a reason to give them a chance.

But I had plentiful reasons to leave though.

The people who had hurt me were here. And to me, that was enough to push me to run.

As I left to do so, I found my mate amongst the Cullen clan.

Suddenly, I was tethered to this place. I couldn't leave.

Even though a part of me wanted to." The hybrid revealed.

Alistair let out a noise of disapproval, almost asking her what's her point, since he clearly didn't have a mate here.

"Even with my mate here, I didn't want to stay. I didn't trust them. I didn't trust any of them. My blood family, had betrayed me, and if you can't trust the people you're born to, how on earth can someone expect you to trust anyone else?"

The nomad stayed seated on the floor, outwardly feigning boredom, but internally, he was intrigued by her statement. She seemed to share some of his key beliefs, so why was she still so insistent on fighting on the behalf of others?

"I kept my distance from the Cullens for quite a while, I didn't let them in. I didn't particularly let my mate in either. We've only just started dating, and we've known each other for over 6 months now. And that, is largely due to me and my trust issues."

"You seem rather close now." Alistair commented.

Pearl nodded her head. "I'd like to think that we are. But as I said, we've only just started the whole dating thing. We haven't even put a label on it yet." She replied to him.

Alistair hummed in acknowledgment. He hadn't discovered his mate yet. So he didn't feel like he could say anything in response.

Getting back on topic, Pearl proceeded with her explanation.

"What made me stop running and give them all a chance, was the decision to find a purpose for my life.

I first found that in being Bree's friend, now, it will be as her partner.

Then, my purpose got reaffirmed by the Olympic Coven.

I found my place in their family. And now that I have a reason to live, I'm gonna fight like hell to defend it.

I love my family, so if i die protecting them. .. I'll be at peace with that."

Before the vampire could reply, Pearl added in a firm tone. "I'm done running. You, can do what you like. But in my opinion, you aren't living. You're just surviving. And there's a difference between the two."

Pearl turned to leave the attic, but just before she exited the area, she finished her train of thought, "I will protect those that I care for.

I will also protect those that my family cares for.

Believe me or not, but that includes you.

I don't know why you and dad are friends, but the fact remains that you are.

And that is enough for me. My place in this world, is to protect and defend others.

Currently, I'm embracing that, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

.. Perhaps it is time you try and find your place in the world. "

Ending on that note, Pearl left the space of the attic, and allowed the nomad to resume his voluntary isolation.

With the hybrid gone, Alistair found himself with a lot to think about.

Pearl spent the remainder of the night by her imprint's side.

Although she had meant every word she had said about protecting her family and the witnesses, she'd be lying if she said that having all of these red eyed vampires around didn't put her on edge.

Having Bree next to her, assured the hybrid that they would be okay.

And with the nerves rising inside of her, she needed all of the reassurance she could get.

Bree was also glad to have her mate next to her.

She trusted her father's friends, but having Pearl nearby just in case something happened, brought her a great sense of comfort.

She knew how much stronger her mate had become, and she could sense the difference in how her hybrid carried herself around these other vampires.

Pearl was acting like a leader, an alpha.

It was clear to Bree that Pearl had already gained the respect of the many witnesses.

Although she wasn't entirely sure if Pearl was aware of that fact or not.

Bree was certain that if Pearl told one of the witness to do something, they would obey her.

If Carlisle Cullen wasn't already the leader of the Olympic Coven, Pearl McCarty could certainly take up the position of leader with little trouble.

After all, she'd already taken on the position as an alpha for many of the Quileute residents.

Whether she wanted it to be official or not, they all saw her as their true alpha.

And now, she was growing into a leader for vampires to follow as well.