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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑
|| rational decisions ||

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"SAM'S LOST THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE YOU ON OUTNUMBERED, so he's not gonna come at you head on." Jacob explained from in front of the fireplace to the Cullens, "He's got the place surrounded and he'll wait for his opportunity."

"He won't get through without a fight." Emmett spoke up from beside Jasper and Arlina and Carlisle looked over at him with a shake of his head.

"No fights. We won't be the ones to break the treaty." Carlisle told his family and Arlina nodded.

"The treaty is void, at least in Sam's mind." Jacob told them and Arlina took a step forward.

"Well, not in ours, we respect it no matter what." Arlina told him and Jacob looked down to his feet with a curt nod.

"Carlisle, no one's hunted for weeks." Emmett walked up beside Arlina with a look of concern and Esme looked up at him.

"We'll make do." Esme told him and swallowed, knowing he'd struggle with that. The redhead put her warm hand on his arm, reassuring her best friend that it'd be fine.

"You've done us a great service, Jacob." Carlisle told the shapeshifter with a nod, "Thank you."

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

ARLINA AND EMMETT SAT AT THE SMALL TABLE IN THE CORNER OF THE LIVING playing chess while Bella rested on the couch. Arlina found it hard to keep her mind off of all that was happening but Emmett managed to somewhat try.

"Is that a rat?" Emmett asked, pointing to Arlina's feet and she jumped out of her seat, looking down at the floor, causing him to laugh quietly, "It's so funny that you, a vampire, is scared of a small thing like that."

"Shut up, Emmett. You're not funny." She dropped herself back into the chair with a huff, glaring at the boy and he put his hands up in mock surrender with a playful grin on his face.

"Would you guys be quiet?" Edward hissed from across the room at the desk and Arlina looked down, already stressed enough as it is, she didn't need Edward being horrible and grumpy too. She could understand how he was feeling, the love of his life was slowly dying right before his eyes and he couldn't do anything about it, but he didn't need to take his rage out on everyone else.

A couple of days later, Arlina was staring at her phone on her bed, looking at the numerous texts she had sent her mate with no response. She was so confused, but mostly concerned and scared, so she pressed on his contact and hovered over the call button for a few moments.

Closing her eyes tightly, she forced herself to press the button and put the phone up to her ear, listening to the noise of the ringtone but nothing else came other than the voicemail note which wasn't even his voice.

She threw the phone down on the bed in frustration, leaning back onto her pillow as she covered her face with her warm hands. There was a voice in the back of her head screaming at her to go to Italy and see if he was okay, but she simply couldn't. She had to stay in Forks and keep an eye on Bella, she didn't know what the pack would do if they somehow got to the human even with her family's protection.

"She'll be okay, you know?" Alice walked in, plopping herself down on the bed beside the phone that sat there with Alec's contact still open, the girl placed her hand on Arlina's thigh comfortingly, "Everything will be okay, I've seen it. Go."

"Are you sure?" Arlina removed her hands from her face and sat up with her eyebrows raised, she was unsure but she knew she could trust her sister.

"Of course, please go. I can't handle you sulking anymore." She laughed slightly, pulling Arlina up from the bed, "Just don't tell anyone else and be back soon, Bella's due in a couple days."

"Okay, Alice. Thank you." Arlina nodded at her, rushing around the room to pack a few things before she slung the backpack on her shoulder with a nervous smile.

"I'll tell everyone after you've left." Alice nodded at the girl, rubbing her hand on the redhead's arm reassuringly before watching her leave the room.

She sped out of the house, careful not to alert anyone of her plans. Arlina knew that the pack was out there, ready to pounce on any of the Cullens, so she secretly snuck out and took a shortcut through a place that not even Carlisle knew about.

On her way to the small town of Volterra, she couldn't help but regret her decision to leave Bella. But, she had no choice, she was sick of being worried about Alec and needed to make sure her mate was perfectly okay.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VOLTURI CASTLE GAVE HER A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA, and she walked inside with no hesitation, bumping into Felix and Demetri on her way.

"What a wonderful surprise!" Demetri put his arms out for a hug, expecting for the girl to jump into his arms but she didn't. She only stood still and stared at him, "Oh..."

"What's got you so down, firestarter?" Felix spoke up, looking at her with worried eyes. He had grown close to Arlina and didn't enjoy seeing her so down.

"Is Alec okay?" She spoke up and they both had a look of realisation in their faces as they both hummed.

"Oh, yeah, he's-" Felix was cut off by the boy they were all speaking about.

"Arlina!" Alec smiled wide as he pushed past his friends, walking towards his mate, he was honestly shocked to see her standing there but that wasn't a cause for concern at that exact moment.

"Alec." Arlina jumped into his arms, latching onto him tightly as if she was afraid that if she let go, he would disappear and never return. He chuckled lightly as he wrapped his slender arms around her slim frame, resting his head on hers, "I was so worried about you."

"Why's that?" Alec scrunched his eyebrows together with a small smile and she pulled back, her arms gripping his biceps.

"What do you mean?" She shook her head with a confused look, "You haven't answered any of my texts or calls."

"Oh! Jane broke my phone. I sent letters though, did they not arrive to you?" He placed his cold hand on her warm cheek, rubbing his thumb against it gently, he just couldn't help himself but touch her.

"No, they didn't." She looked into his eyes, he didn't understand the amount of relief she felt knowing that he was okay and she smiled, leaning into his touch.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, my love..." Alec looked at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world and Demetri groaned from behind them, causing them to both look at him.

"He has a point. This isn't a romance novel." Felix spoke with a goofy smile, but it dropped when Alec sent them both a glare. Demetri shook his head, turning around so he didn't have to witness what was to happen next as if he's a kid watching an intimate scene on the television with his parents present.

Alec turned his head back around to look at the beauty before him once again, and he smirked before he leaned in, planting his lips softly onto hers — and he smiled into the kiss, not aware of the possibly threat going on in Forks.