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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭,crested with powdered snow from the previous night's harsh storm. Seth and Jacob had run Emma and Bella up the mountain the previous day to where Edward and Carlisle had set up a campsite. Seth was decided too young to fight – against his wishes – so he was tasked with protecting the human girls with Jacob, who had willingly signed up to stay with Bella for the night before heading to the battlefield the following morning. It also helped that their wolf scents masked their own, which would make it harder for Victoria and the newborns to track them.
The night had been a bad one. Snow fell nonstop, dropping the temperature below freezing, and the tent shook from the harsh winds. Luckily, Seth had helped warm Emma up with his scorching body heat and thick fur in his wolf form. In their own tent, Jacob had done the same for Bella though in his human form, much to Edward's disappointment. He was forced to confront how much better Jacob was a match for his human mate, no matter how much he loved her.
If Bella was to remain human – which was what he wanted for her, though she had a different opinion for her future – Jacob was better for her health, for her safety, for her. Charlie liked him loads better too.
Luckily, the torturous night had passed and the sun had already broken the horizon. But that also meant that the army was arriving at any moment.
Seth and Edward were patrolling the area one last time, so Emma took the final moments of assured peace to watch the rising sun. She said a silent prayer that her mate and family below would be safe, as well as the wolves and Bella.
Once the guys had returned, Emma pressed a light kiss to the top of his large head before walking over to Bella's tent, where she was finally emerging. "Good morning, Bella."
Bella smiled weakly, knowing it was anything but. "Hi, Emma, Seth." Edward then appeared, and Bella glanced around with confusion. "Where's Jacob? Did he already..."
"No, not yet," Edward replied. "He's still checking to see if the woods are clear before he goes." Seth looked to Emma, and she understood that he wanted to find Jacob. She nodded and Seth then ran off with his nose in the air. Emma glanced back at the couple and sensed they were having a moment, so she walked back toward the mountain side to watch the sun. Still, she couldn't help but eavesdrop in the quiet morning.
"I'm really sorry about last night," Bella told Edward. "It couldn't have been easy for you."
"Definitely won't make my list of top ten favorite evenings," Edward joked lightly.
"You have a list?" Bella asked with amusement. Emma smiled to herself, knowing full well she shared a list of her own with her doctor, and the previous evening had soared to gold. If Edward had heard her thoughts, he didn't show it.
