“H-how do y-you know she’s gone?” I gasped. My insides are constricting with fear I have never known. My blood froze. A chill that has nothing to do with the night breeze ran through the entire length of my spine.

“I though she was with you.” Jacob murmured.

“Answer my question! Damn it!” I clenched my hands into tight fists.

The grey भेड़िया growled and walked threateningly towards me until her glistening sharp teeth were only centimeters away from my forehead.

“There’s nothing that could scare me now except…”

“Except what?!” Jacob demanded his eyes narrowing into slits.

“She isn’t over at Charlie’s?” If they have decided to act now I know she couldn’t be anywhere near Forks now. I just have to ask, to check…to keep the hopelessness and the fear from crippling me.

“How do you…?”

“Is she या is she not?” I saw Jacob try to control his anger and irritation towards me.

He took a deep unsteady breath. “She’s not at Charlie’s या at the cottage या at the cliffs. Edward can’t find her in Port Angeles. The pack didn’t see her anywhere near La Push. She wouldn’t go anywhere without telling her parents. Seth found her phone lying on the ground near the highway, crushed.”

I tried to steady my heartbeats. Think Vincent. Think Vincent. Overwhelmed with fear for the safety of the woman I loved, I have no choice but to surrender myself to my enemies.

I started to dash towards the Cullen Mansion.

“Hey, where are आप going?” Jacob hollered.

I didn’t answer.

It’s time to face the Cullens. Time to face judgment. I thought grimly.

* * *

I stopped in front of the porch steps, Jacob and the two वेयरवोल्फ right behind me. I moved stoically towards the front door. I took a deep breath and tried the doorknob. I stepped into the living room and faced the Cullens.

Bella was pacing, her face etched with worry. Edward was on the phone, his face grim. Alice hunched on the steps, her eyes squeezed tight. Esme wringing her hands beside Carlisle who was staring through the glass wall. Rosalie sat on the sofa, her brows pulled together. Only Jasper and Emmett looked up as I entered the room.

In an instant, before I could even blink या utter a single word, I flew into the air and crashed into the wall. The दीवार shuddered in the impact.

“Nooo!!!” Jenny shrieked in horror as she came out of the kitchen. She meant to run to me but Seth, now in his human form, restrained her द्वारा grabbing her द्वारा the waist.

Emmett and Jasper crouched in front of me, ready to attack, growls ripping through their chests.

“Let me go Seth! Let me go! He’s my friend!” Jenny shrieked trying to free herself from Seth’s iron grip.

Jacob only stared, bewildered. Well, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking I’m weak. I extracted myself from the wall, my left rib, where Emmett’s kick has landed, screamed with pain in the process.

Emmett growled even और menacingly. I have no doubt that at this very instant he could break me in half. A brief backward glance and I saw a huge dent in the shape of my body has formed on the wall.

“Oh for God’s sake, Emmett. He’s Vincent! Nessie’s boyfriend!” Jenny wailed.

“He’s Nessie’s boyfriend?! Boyfriend?!” Emmett roared incredulously, not taking his eyes away from me. Jasper remained crouched, staring intently at me, sizing me up.

“Please…” Jenny was sobbing now.

“Emmett, Jasper, step back please.” Carlisle softly said.

“I mean आप no harm.” I कहा raising my hands in surrender, as if I am some criminal surrendering to the authorities.

“Oh, I bet!” Emmett spat.

“Emmett!” Carlisle reprimanded quite harshly. “We do not treat our guest like this.”

“Guest?! He was the one who flooded Nessie’s room with roses. Don’t आप recognize the scent?!” Jasper कहा through gritted teeth.

“Oleander and spearmint, I remember.” Rosalie crept forward, her eyes narrowed dangerously into slits.

Jacob, having heard Jasper’s words, trembled violently and let out a howl of outrage. His eyes burned with hatred. They formed a tight semicircle around me, Emmett and Jasper at the center. I was cornered but even facing the possibility of dying before I get to explain myself, I have no plans of escaping. I have to tell them what I know.

Only Edward, Bella, Alice and Esme hung back. I caught Edward’s eyes. He growled then took a deep breath.

“Before we kill you…” Edward began.

Bella and Esme gasped in shock at the same time.

“Edward, no! Please…Nessie will be devastated.” Jenny screamed.

“Shhh…listen baby. No one’s going to be killed. Not in front of you.” Seth said.

“Oh you!” Jenny’s fists hammered his chest. “Let me go!”

“You better bring her upstairs. I don’t want her to see…”

Before Edward could finish, Jenny fainted in Seth’s arms.

“Baby..Baby…Geez!”

Carlisle sighed. “Bring her to Nessie’s room, Seth. Esme please…” he looked meaningfully at his wife.

Esme nodded and followed Seth upstairs.

All eyes turned to me at once.

“Explain yourself, Volturi.” Edward कहा ominously.