xx. reborn

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CHAPTER TWENTY:
REBORN

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BELLA CULLEN'S FADING HEARTBEAT echoed in Verona's ears as she, Alice and Jasper stood staring into the forest. In an unspoken agreement, the trio had put aside the tension between them, knowing that the fate of their coven was more important than their differences. While Edward and Jacob were inside trying to revive Bella as Rosalie took care of Renesmee, the others were rushing back from their hunt to help them fight against the pack. No one wanted to fight them; they considered the wolves their allies, not enemies. But when it came down to it, they'd do whatever they needed to. Even if that meant the loss of an allegiance that had lasted for several decades.

"They're coming," Verona breathed, dropping into a defensive crouch as the harsh thump of paws against soil overpowered Edward and Jacob's fighting voices. Alice and Jasper copied her actions, Seth and Leah's wolves slinking out of the shadows to join them. But even with their assistance and the support of Carlisle, Esme and Emmett once they returned, the wolves would outnumber them. The pack was continuously growing, and Sam was the type of leader that rushed into battle with anyone willing to fight for him. It would be a miracle if they managed to defeat the pack, especially with the added pressure of Renesmee's birth.

Verona's eyes darted from the forest as the house behind her went quiet, Bella's heartbeat ceasing completely as Edward let out a pained cry and Jacob shouted in anger. Verona wasn't given the chance to grieve, however, as the wolves burst into the yard with fearsome snarls. They didn't hesitate to launch towards them, and so the fight began.

Verona and a brown-furred shifter she remembered to be Jared Cameron collided in a mess of fur and marble. Jared bit and scratched at her with relentless fervor, his sharp claws leaving cracks along her skin as Verona's hands yanked at his fur, causing him to howl and leap away from her. He was quick to turn to Jasper, who had crashed into his side from where he'd been fighting Embry Call. Verona breathed a sigh as she glanced around the yard; Carlisle, Esme and Emmett had arrived, but even with their help, the coven was struggling to keep the pack at bay.

Verona's wide eyes locked on Alice's tiny frame, which was pressed under Quil Ateara's furry figure. She rushed towards them, shooting Edward a sorrowful glance as he joined the fight, his sights set on Sam. Alice gasped in momentary relief as Verona latched onto Quil's back, the two sisters teaming up to defeat him. He struggled against their advances, but was quick to give in, lying there panting in exhaustion.

"You good?" Verona asked, gripping Alice's arm as she gasped for instinctive air.

"Yeah," Alice nodded, shooting a regretful look down at Quil's injured form. "You?"

Verona shrugged, having no words to explain how she was feeling as they shared one last glance before separating. Alice moved to fight alongside Jasper while Verona joined Seth and Leah, who were struggling against Paul Lahote and Embry Call. It was three against two; but if Verona knew the pack, they wouldn't go down without a fight. And she was right. Even with the civil blood between Verona and the wolves, Paul bared his teeth at her and launched towards her without remorse. For a moment, she managed to dodge his advances with ease, but that ease was quick to change as he latched onto her arm with his teeth, attempting to rip the limb from her body. She let out a scream and pushed against him with wide eyes, terror pooling in her stomach as Alec's face flashed through her mind. She fell to the ground, an agonising burn shooting up her arm as Paul loomed over her. It was then that Jacob rushed outside, taking in the chaos around him.

"Stop! It's over!" he shouted, not afraid to stand against his former alpha. "If you kill her, you kill me."

Sam paid him no attention, roaring and rushing towards him. Jacob was quick to phase, clothes shredding as he landed on his paws, dark brown fur replacing russet skin as he prowled towards them, ears pinned back in warning. 

"Jacob imprinted," Edward muttered, and Verona eyed the blood coated around his mouth as she scrambled away from Paul. "They can't hurt her. Whoever a wolf imprints on can't be harmed."

The Cullens looked towards the pack, waiting for their reaction to the news. Sam was growling as he eyed each of them them in annoyance, but the wolves knew they couldn't harm Renesmee now that Jacob had imprinted on her. Verona wasn't too pleased to hear that her niece was already subjected to a supernatural bond, but she knew that despite how frustrating Jacob could be at times, he would protect her in a way that a friend or brother should. It was him preventing anyone from harming her, and the wolves had no choice but to accept it.

Edward seemed to be thinking the same thing, for he allowed his lips dripping with liquid crimson to twist into a triumphant smirk. "It's their most absolute law."

With one last lingering glance, Sam turned on his heels and disappeared into the forest, snarling for the rest of his pack to follow him. They did so without hesitation, and soon the Cullens and Jacob's pack were left standing in the darkness, Bella's heartbeat restarting in a rapid hum. They looked towards their house in surprise; Edward's venom had worked, and she was going to become a vampire just like them. Just like she always wanted.

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ALICE FOUND VERONA IN her room once the fight was over. She, Rosalie and Esme had spent the past hour attending to Bella's transitioning body, washing away the blood that stained her skin from Renesmee's birth and replacing her destroyed nightgown with a brand new blue dress. Verona knew that Bella wouldn't be pleased when she woke up, but she made no move to say so to an eager Alice as she retreated the confines of her bedroom, lost in her thoughts. 

While the battle against the wolves hadn't affected her physically, it had impacted her already fragile state of mind. For that brief instant where Paul had gained the upper hand in their fight, Verona had truly believed everything was over for her. Sure, she was going down fighting for her coven, but there was a part of her that wanted to be selfish and run for the hills. If Jacob hadn't imprinted and Paul had succeeded in killing her, she would've never gotten to see Alec again, never gotten to fix things between them. She wouldn't have met her beautiful niece or reconciled with her coven, who she'd been at odds with ever since Bella became pregnant. Just thinking about that scared her, terrified her to no end. Things could've gone so wrong that fateful evening, and even though they hadn't, Verona couldn't stop thinking about the what-ifs.

"Verona?" Alice's voice had her snapping out of her thoughts, eyes darting towards her bedroom door as Alice pushed it open. Her sister sent her a warm smile, one that reminded Verona of every moment she got to spend by her best friend's side, and she moved to sit beside Verona on her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," she shrugged with a forced grin, and Alice nodded in understanding, neither of them speaking for a moment.

"Everything seems different now, doesn't it?" Alice muttered as she and Verona listened to their family moving around downstairs, Renesmee's racing heart something they were all yet to get used to. "Bella's transitioning, she and Edward have Renesmee, life feels on track again. It's strange."

Alice was right. Verona had sensed it the moment she laid eyes on Renesmee, who was giggling from where she in Edward's arms, the gorgeous baby girl a replica of her mother. Bella and Edward's story was coming to a close; they got the happy ending they deserved and they could look towards their future with ease now. But in the back of Verona's mind, something was missing. Something had always been missing from her life, and that feeling only grew when she met Alec and any chance of a future together unraveled around them. She didn't know how she managed it, but something always seemed to go wrong for her without her even trying.

But despite that growing emptiness, she gave a hum of agreement with her sister. "I guess so."

There was another knock on the door, and Rosalie peeked into the room with bright eyes. In her arms was Renesmee, who gave a toothless grin at the sight of her aunts. "Do you guys want to join us downstairs? We're going to watch a movie."

"Sure!" Alice beamed, bounding from the bed and leading Verona along with her. "What movie are we watching?"

"Haven't decided yet," Rosalie shrugged as she bounced Renesmee on her hip, the baby girl giggling and picking at the sleeve of Rosalie's shirt with childish wonder. "But the boys are contemplating a sport's movie, and I need your help stopping them."

"Oh, count me in," Alice exclaimed before releasing Verona's arm to rush downstairs. A moment later, Verona and Rosalie heard Emmett and Jasper groaning in annoyance, Rosalie smirking in triumph. Just like it used to be.

As she moved past her desk, Verona's eyes lingered on Alec's letters. She pushed past the temptation to reach for them, Rosalie's confused voice bringing her out of her reverie. "Verona, you coming?"

"Yeah," she nodded, before following the blonde out of her room.

And not once did she look back.

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