Chapter 17

Rhea watched, her red eyes sharp and focused as Emmett and Jasper sparred in the clearing behind the Cullen house. They moved with a speed and precision that made the battle almost hypnotic, each motion a careful dance of power and skill. Jasper's every step was calculated, smooth and exact, his instincts honed from years of battle. Emmett, by contrast, was all raw force, each punch and block filled with brute strength. She could see how the differences between them created a fascinating balance.

Rhea shifted her stance, observing Jasper's techniques closely. He was fast, anticipating Emmett's every move, sidestepping just before each hit landed. Rhea wanted to absorb everything she could; they all needed every bit of training possible for what lay ahead. She'd fought before, but never against an entire newborn army.

"You see how he moves?" Edward's voice came softly beside her, a hint of amusement in his tone as he joined her to watch. "Jasper's teaching him to think like a soldier. Newborns fight with strength and recklessness; it's their first instinct."

Rhea nodded, studying the scene with even more intensity. Jasper took Emmett down again, flipping him onto his back with surprising ease. Emmett groaned, but the grin never left his face as he jumped back to his feet, ready to go again. Jasper's face remained stoic, focused, yet there was a light of excitement in his eyes—a reminder of his old life as a soldier, a part of him that Rhea understood still lingered under his calm exterior.

"Newborns go straight for the kill," Jasper said, glancing over at Rhea and Edward as Emmett took a break. "They're faster and stronger than any of us when they're newly turned. And they don't care about tactics, only destruction."

Alice joined them, her eyes alight with a quiet determination. She crossed her arms and nodded toward Jasper. "He's right. They won't hesitate; they'll come at us with everything they have."

The air was filled with anticipation as the Cullens gathered to watch the sparring, everyone attentive to Jasper's every word. He was, after all, the only one with firsthand experience facing an army of newborns. Even Rosalie, often distant and detached, was listening closely.

Jasper moved to stand in front of the others, his expression serious. "The newborns are dangerous, but they're also predictable. That's what we need to remember. They'll attack head-on, and we need to be ready for it. Strength and speed will only get us so far. We have to outthink them."

Rhea nodded, taking in his words. This was the reality of their situation. She glanced around at her family, each of them steeling themselves for the fight to come. For all their supernatural abilities, they were up against something that posed a real threat.

Rhea stood at the edge of the clearing, watching as the members of the pack entered the scene in their massive, wolf forms. They were impressive—each wolf's coat reflecting different shades of brown, grey, and russet under the filtered sunlight. They held themselves with an air of cautious respect, their gazes fixed on Jasper as he prepared to address them all. She could sense the tension in the air as the Cullens and the wolves faced each other, two groups brought together by a shared, dangerous purpose.

Jasper glanced over at the wolves, his gaze sharp but composed. "Thank you all for being here. We're going to need every advantage we can get against these newborns, and that includes understanding what we're up against."

The wolves stood in a line, watching Jasper intently, their ears perked, their expressions focused. Rhea noticed Jacob's familiar russet form in the center, towering slightly above the others. She wondered what he thought, having to be here and listen to Jasper speak about vampires and their world. For a long time, vampires had been the enemy for him, but now, they were in this fight together.

Jasper looked around at the group, his serious gaze reinforcing the weight of his words. "Newborn vampires are incredibly strong. Much stronger than any of us here. When someone is first turned, they're flooded with the power and instincts of a vampire, but they lack control. It's raw, uncontrollable power fueled by thirst and aggression."

He moved his attention to Emmett, who nodded and stepped forward as Jasper gestured to him. "Newborns will rely solely on their strength, throwing everything they have into each strike. They don't calculate or consider—they attack. Their goal is to destroy anything in their way."

Emmett clenched his fists, his muscles tensing as he threw a powerful punch into the air. "They're relentless," he added. "They don't tire out or hesitate, which is what makes them so dangerous."

Jasper continued, gesturing to the surrounding forest. "They'll come at us fast and without restraint. They won't hesitate to destroy any of us if we're in their way. And we're talking about an army, not just a few. This is going to be a fight where we'll have to stay sharp and focused, because they won't give us a chance to regroup."

Rhea could see the wolves tense at Jasper's description, their sharp eyes trained on him. She watched as Jacob's form in particular stiffened, his muscles bunching up under his fur. She knew he understood the gravity of what Jasper was saying, but hearing it like this, with everyone around them gathered in grim silence, made it feel more real.

Jasper moved back, scanning the entire group before he spoke again. "This isn't going to be a fight where we just use brute strength. We have to work as a team, using both the wolves' agility and our family's experience. We're going to fight together, to protect each other and to protect Forks. That's the only way we'll have a chance."

The wolves looked at each other, communicating silently as they often did. Rhea could feel their tension begin to shift, as if they were coming to an unspoken understanding with Jasper and the Cullens. Despite their long-standing differences, there was a respect forming, a silent recognition that they were all willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect the people they cared about.

The practice continued, and Rhea found herself feeling a renewed sense of determination. The wolves were here, their quiet strength and fierce loyalty standing alongside the Cullens' calculated skilled tactics. Rhea knew that as strange and uneasy as this alliance was, it was exactly what they needed.