The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

"Are you ready?" Emmett asked Derek quietly.

"As I'll ever be," he answered seriously, before grabbing his mates hand. He stood in only a pair of cut off shorts, knowing he may have to phase later in battle.

We were all standing in the clearing, far away from innocent civilians. Bella was safely stowed away at our house with Larkin for protection, the fortress sealed from the inside. As a human with several vampires scents all around her, she could be in danger. We knew they were after Jake, but we couldn't be too careful. If these vampires had any of Victoria's wits, they could be planning anything. This could just be a distraction from their true intentions...

And that, is when it clicked.

"Of course," I murmured to myself, but it didn't go unnoticed.

"What is it Edward? Do you hear something?" My father asked in concern.

"Victoria," I said, as if that explained it. I met Alice's eyes, and she seemed to understand immediately.

"Of course," she breathed. "She was playing with the blind spots in my vision. Letting someone else decide."

"Letting Riley decide," I nodded.

"Of course she was," Emmett grumbled. "Coward."

Victoria is behind the army? Jake asked in his mind beside me. I nodded at my mate. Of course she is. At least now we know it's only one threat we have to worry about, not two separate ones. He had a point there; sort of. We still didn't know what part she would play in all of this.

"Do you hear anything?" Esme asked me. I focused my mind, trying to pick up any other thoughts within the vicinity. I only caught the minds of the pack, my family, and the Hale-McCall pack. The rest was only silence. Alice ran over the vision in her mind one more time, and I watched intently. Only minutes now, she informed me.

"Nothing," I answered them out loud. We were in a loose formation, wolves, humans and vampires mixing together with grave looks on their faces.

"If Victoria is behind this we must be cautious," Carlisle said seriously. "We all know how slippery she can be."

Understatement of the year, Jared snorted in the pack mind.

At least we get might actually get the chance to sink our teeth into her, Paul thought excitedly.

"Why do I get the feeling that the wolves are excited about her being involved?" Stiles observed.

"Because it's been a long time coming," Emmett answered for the pack in a steely voice.

Edward, you're on Victoria duty. She's slippery alright, you'll be our best shot at detecting her and getting her for certain this time. If she tries to run again, draw her back in. Make her take the bait, Jasper spoke in his mind, laying out the plan for me to see. I nodded subtly at him and I could practically feel Alice's frown, but knew she wouldn't comment. Jasper and I's communication techniques would be handy in a scenario like this, even if Alice didn't like not knowing what was going on.

"Does her being involved change anything?" Derek asked seriously, his eyes still searching the tree line in front of us.

His thoughts were worried for his mate, and his pack. The two held equal weight in his mind, and I was mildly surprised that Emmett had affected him so quickly. Derek didn't seem the type to accept so easily. But perhaps it was different, because they were meant to be mates. Rosalie stood close be Emmett's side, with Esme on her other. The fact that she was so close didn't seem to phase Derek in the slightest, which was another surprise. He seemed to see her the same way he hoped Emmett saw Stiles. As family.