"HELLO THERE, LITTLE ONE," HE GREETED me with a warm smile, extending his hand towards me. His towering figure loomed over me, much like Siobhan or Liam. His rugged face was adorned with a thick layer of stubble, and his lips curved upwards in a friendly manner. Although his approach was amiable, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance when he referred to me as 'little one'. However, I knew he didn't mean any harm by it. I shook his hand and returned his smile.

"My name is Garrett," he introduced himself. "And what might your name be?"

"I'm Violet," I replied, "Violet Khotler from the British Coven."

"Ah, the British Coven," Garrett tilted his head, "I must say, I wasn't a fan of the first British invasion, and the second one is even worse."

"I haven't been a vampire for very long," I admitted nervously, "so I'm not sure if I can fully understand."

Garrett smirked, "So, how long have you been a vampire?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "It's been a while."

"So, you're like a baby vampire then?" he teased.

I folded my arms, "I wouldn't say that. I'm seventeen."

"And I'm the President of the United States," Garrett quipped, causing me to chuckle. He joined in on the laughter, "I'm just kidding, of course. The Volturi would have my head if I were."

"Now that I agreed. How long have you been a vampire?"

"Around two hundred years," he answered. "I was born during the American Revolution, in New England. I willingly fought for the colonies' right to self-govern. I was what people would call a true believer in the American dream.

"I got transformed around 1780, during the war. I was transformed by accident in the aftermath of the battle. I was with an isolated group of ten soldiers when a vampire attacked us, knocking me unconscious. I woke up three days later as a fully-fledged vampire. I'm always curious and willing to investigate a mystery, and after my transformation, I strove to understand what had happened to me."

"And did you find out who did it?"

"No," Garrett shook his head, looking at the ground. "And it seems like I'll never know."

Then, he turned his head to me. "What about you? How did you get turned?"

"I ran away from home," I began. "Bunch of bikers showed up and a vampire named Victoria came out of nowhere and saved me from them." I sighed sadly. "Or I thought she was saving me."

"I got a feeling there's more to than."

"She made an army of newborns with one goal: to kill Bella." I turned my head to him. "Bella was human at the time. I don't recall the whole reason for it but it got something to do with Edward killing her mate."

Garrett nodded. "I understand. She lost her mate and she wants justice."

"I wouldn't say justice," I disagreed. "Revenge, yes. Then, the wolves showed up and killed the newborns. Except for me, unknowingly thanks to my invisibility."

"Hey, that's useful."

"Then, I saw the Volturi. Well, the Volturi guards to be precise." I clarified myself. "And after they left, Carlisle took me to the British Coven and they became my family ever since."

"At least your story got some kind of a happy ending," Garrett said and began to walk away. "Well, nice to meet you, kid. I'm going with Kate to hunt."

"Okay," I replied and he walked towards the Denali Coven.

As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on Bella. She was leaning against the wall, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her golden eyes were scanning the area, taking in every detail. I couldn't help but feel drawn to her, so I walked over and stood beside her.

"Hey," I said softly, causing her to turn her head towards me. "You okay?"

Bella let out a deep sigh before answering. "Well, aside from the Volturi coming to kill us and not knowing where Alice and Jasper are, I'm fine. At least for now."

My heart sank at her words, and I couldn't help but fidget with my sleeves. "Sorry I asked," I muttered.

"It's not your fault," she replied, her voice heavy with worry. "I wonder why Irina wanted to come this way before she discovered Renesmee."

"Maybe she wanted to make amends with you at the wedding," I suggested. "I mean, she did it with me, and I'm thinking it might have been the same reason."

Bella nodded thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the room once again. "I can't believe they all came to stand as witnesses."

"We're defending you all," I reminded her. "Especially Renesmee."

As I spoke those words, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. We were all here, standing together, ready to fight for what we believed in. And no matter what happened, we would do everything in our power to protect each other.

"Words cannot express the depth of our gratitude," Bella spoke with a hint of emotion in her voice. Her gaze shifted towards the red-eyed vampires, their thirst for human blood adding a layer of complexity to the situation. The nomads that Rosalie and Emmett sent were unpredictable, but it was Peter who had fought alongside Jasper as a newborn that made things even more challenging.

With a nod towards the cowboy-belt kid, Bella continued, "And then there's Jacob." Suddenly, a putrid scent filled the air, as if a dog had just taken a dip in a muddy lake. I turned my head to the right and saw Jacob approaching us, his presence almost unbearable.

"Jacob," I said, my nose wrinkling in disgust. "You're in dire need of a shower."

"I'm not that bad," Jacob chuckled, his carefree attitude not matching his pungent odour.

I turned to Bella, hoping she could confirm my olfactory distress. "You smell it too, right?"

Bella nodded, her nose scrunching up in agreement. "Yeah, Jake. You definitely need a shower."

I gestured towards her, relieved to have someone else on my side. "See? Even Bella agrees."

Jacob sighed, his eyes scanning the room filled with vampires. "There sure are a lot of red eyes around here."

I couldn't help but interject. "And golden eyes, don't forget about us."

I chuckled to myself, amused by my own joke. Jacob and Bella looked at me, perplexed by my sudden outburst.

"What's so funny?" Jacob asked, his confusion evident.

"I was just thinking of that Tina Turner song when I said 'golden eyes'," I admitted.

"You mean the James Bond movie?" Jacob asked, trying to keep up.

"Yeah, that one," I confirmed.

Bella's tone turned serious, interrupting our banter. "Jakr, they agreed not to hunt in the area."

I noticed Amun's hateful glare towards Jacob, and I couldn't help but wonder if he knew what Jacob truly was.

Jacob shrugged, his nonchalant attitude returning. "They'll feed somewhere."

"How many of the Quileutes have been transformed?" Bella inquired, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Thus far, about seven," he responded, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. "But I anticipate that number to increase soon."

My mind was reeling with confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling with bewilderment.

Jacob's eyes flickered with a fierce intensity as he began to explain the intricacies of their tribe's unique instinct called phasing. It was a power that was only activated when a member of their tribe encountered the scent of vampires and sensed the need for protection. There was no set age for the gene to activate, only the number of members required to counter the approaching vampires.

"We used to believe that only males could phase," Jacob continued, his voice tinged with surprise. "But then Leah Clearwater phased, and she's a direct descendant of the spirit chiefs."

My mind was blown. "So that means Seth...?" I trailed off, my eyes widening with excitement.

"Is also a direct descendant of the spirit chiefs," Jacob confirmed, his chest swelling with pride.

I couldn't help but feel envious of their rich heritage. "That sounds amazing," I murmured, my voice filled with longing. "I wish I knew my family tree."

Jacob's hand landed on my shoulder, his eyes filled with a sense of comfort. "You will someday," he assured me.

Suddenly, Jacob's face turned stern, and his gaze shifted to the side. "Make that the eighth one," he muttered before racing out of the house.

As Bella and Edward discussed the arrival of the last witness, I began to interview the cowboy Peter, eager to uncover the secrets of the nomads.

Peter was a wanderlust vampire, traversing the vast expanse of North America with his beloved mate, Charlotte. Theirs was a bond forged in the fires of passion and strengthened by the trials of nomadic life. It was during their time in the Mexican coven, under the leadership of the fearsome vampire Maria, that Peter met Jasper. The two became fast friends, brothers in arms, and their bond was unbreakable. Jasper's mate, Alice, was also drawn into their circle of trust, and the four of them were inseparable.

Peter's transformation occurred in the roaring twenties, a time of great change and upheaval. Charlotte followed suit five years later, her transformation a result of Maria's insatiable thirst for power. She was but a pawn in Maria's game, a mere tool to be used and discarded. But Peter would not stand for it. He and Jasper hatched a daring plan to rescue Charlotte from the clutches of the evil coven, and they succeeded. It was a turning point in their lives, a moment of triumph that would forever bind them together.

Years passed, and Jasper and Alice eventually parted ways with Peter and Charlotte. But fate had other plans for them. When the Volturi threatened the Cullens' very existence, Jasper knew that he had to act. He suggested that they seek out Peter and Charlotte, who could testify against the Volturi's accusations. And so it was that Alice and Jasper found their old friends and brought them to Forks.

The Cullens were wary of Peter and Charlotte at first, unsure of what to make of these two nomadic vampires. But as they learned more about their past and their struggles, they began to see them in a new light. Unlike the Denali coven, who had reacted with fear and hostility to Renesmee, the Cullens were more open-minded. They had never encountered an immortal child before, and they were willing to listen to Peter and Charlotte's testimony.

As I delved deeper into the mysterious world of the Cullens, I stumbled upon a fascinating tale of two nomads. The first, Mary, hailed from the rugged shores of Nova Scotia and underwent her transformation at the tender age of 28. Despite befriending the Cullen family, Mary's values on human life differed greatly from theirs, leading her to wander alone and rarely keep in touch with her acquaintances. It was only when Emmett and Rosalie sought her out and sent her to Forks, citing a family crisis, that Mary's path crossed with that of another nomadic vampire, Randall.

Randall, born in sunny California in 1945, was transformed in 1963 and had always considered Carlisle a close friend. Like Mary, he was summoned to Forks by the Cullens, with little explanation beyond the urgent need for his assistance. It was during his journey to the Cullen abode that Randall encountered Mary, and the two formed an unlikely bond as they made their way to the family's doorstep.

As I immersed myself in the details of their stories, my senses were suddenly heightened by the sound of footsteps echoing from the attic above. Intrigued, I made my way towards the source of the noise, eager to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the walls of the Cullen house.