Carlisle took a deep breath as he watched John and Axel leave. He knew vampires didn't need to breathe, but it was an old habit he used to collect his thoughts. John and Axel were unorthodox creatures.
The Cullen family had encountered many different types of vampires over the years, but these two were unlike any other, both in their physical strength and their attitude. John's leadership and Axel's cold-bloodedness stood out the most.
"I don't think we should trust them," Rosalie said, crossing her arms. "John is too calculating and Axel too strong. It could be dangerous to even be on the same side as someone like that."
"Axel's power took us all by surprise," Jasper agreed. "The presence of such a powerful vampire could tip the balance right away. They say he's capable of attacking an army single-handedly. If so, this is a far cry from the vampires we know."
Alice closed her eyes as if to catch a glimpse of the future, but her face quickly tightened. "It's hard to see them. Especially Axel... It's like he's in a fog. His future is blurry."
Edward listened to his brothers in silence and then nodded. "John's mind is almost completely closed. I can read very little about him, I can usually at least understand what people are thinking on the surface, but John's mind is closed like a wall. Axel can protect his mind as well."
Bella frowned as she stood beside Edward. "But they want to help us, don't they? I mean, at least for now?"
"It seems so," Carlisle said calmly. "But we don't know their background or their true intentions. They're not vegetarians like us, they have their own rules. We don't fully understand how they are different from us."
"But we have a common enemy," Emmett said, "and that makes them allies, at least for now. If there really is an army of vampires, it would be hard to fight without their help."
"The problem is... When this war ends and they're still alive, what are they going to do?" Rosalie's voice was harder than ever. "What if they turn against us? Or become a bigger danger?"
Edward squeezed Bella's hand. "John and Axel don't seem to be enemies right now. But as Rosalie said, there's no telling what might happen in the future."
"There's one thing I don't understand," Bella said suddenly. "Why did they listen to Carlisle so carefully? Why would such powerful people want to help?"
Carlisle smiled slightly. "Axel, though a warrior, is obviously kind. John is smart and strategic, but he's also kind. I haven't seen John in many years, but I know him. That may be why he wants to make a deal with us."
Alice paused for a moment. "Still, the outcome of this war is uncertain for us. I have a feeling that this war won't end with the destruction of this army of vampires. We might be in for something bigger."
Esme finally joined the conversation she had listened to in silence for so long. "You may be right to worry about them, but remember that we have had to trust others in the past. John and Axel seem to be on our side for now. We can approach them cautiously, but it wouldn't be right to turn our backs on them completely."
"Esme is right," Carlisle said. "The real question now is how dangerous our enemy is. If what John says is true, we're dealing with an army of vampires. And that's something even the Volturi used to worry about. We need to know our enemy better before we fight them."
"Alice, can you see anything of their movements?" asked Jasper.
Alice shook her head from side to side. "Their future is not clear. It's like a constantly changing path. But one thing is certain: When this war comes, things will never be the same again."
Bella sighed. "Just to be on the same side as such powerful beings is frightening. But it's clear that we need them. If there really is an army of vampires, we won't be enough on our own."
"Yes, but we have to be careful, no matter what," Edward said, squeezing Bella's hand. "We don't know their history, their motives. John seems to respect Carlisle, but that doesn't mean we can trust him. Axel is too mysterious."
Rosalie crossed her arms. "I think we should test their limits before they cause any danger. We can't fully trust them until we know how powerful they are and what they're capable of."
"We'll know more in time," Carlisle said. "But for now, we need a plan. We need to gather more information over the next few days. Jacob and his pack's tracking skills are crucial to finding the enemy."
Edward nodded. "Then we must talk to them. Perhaps they are discussing it among themselves right now."
Jacob paced the large meeting room. Everyone in his pack was on edge. The presence of John and Axel, dealing with the Cullens, and the impending war all weighed heavily on them. Leah leaned against the wall with her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face. Embry and Quil looked at each other but did not speak. Sam waited, looking straight at Jacob. Billy Black sat in the corner of the room and listened quietly.
"Is this war any of our business?" Paul asked, sounding as impatient and angry as ever. "Why are we getting involved in the vampires' conflict among themselves? Our job is to protect our city and our people. If the Cullens can't protect themselves, that's not our problem."
"It's not just the Cullens' problem," Sam said seriously. "We're talking about an army of vampires. If they get out of control, La Push and Forks are in danger. We protect our territory, but we can't ignore this threat."
"John and Axel are another problem," Leah said in a stern voice. "John seems to want to control everything, and Axel... I have a strange feeling about him. Don't you feel something when you look into his eyes? Like... like a predator."
Jacob frowned. "Axel is really strong. But for now he is not our enemy."
"For now," Leah added. "But will he stay that way forever?"
Billy had been silent until then, but finally he decided to speak. "We can't run away from this war. If John and Axel are going to fight with the Cullens, we have to define our role. Wolves have always protected their lands and their people. If the vampire army is a threat, we need to be ready for it."
"Then what do we do?" Embry asked.
Jacob thought for a moment. "We will work with the Cullens. But we'll also keep an eye on John and Axel. If anything goes wrong, we will protect our people first. And we'll do our best to find out where our enemies are hiding."
Sam nodded. "Then we must get to work now. If a war comes, we must be prepared."
There was a moment of silence in the meeting hall. They all felt the weight of the coming conflict. Outside, the wind howled through the trees. Maybe the storm was closer than they thought.
I apologize for not posting recently, dear readers. I haven't updated because I was studying for my exams.
I will go back to my usual routine and probably post a Q&A about the universe and the book tomorrow. If you have any suggestions for the female lead, please let me know. I have most of the ideas decided, but I haven't finalized anything.
If you want to support me patreon com Talamo