Touch The Soul | P. LAHOTE

Romans 12:21

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"

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Mary returned to the Uley home to find Sam, Jared, and Emily sitting in the living room. Moments later, Paul finally decided to join them, preferring to stand at the doorway, unlike the others. Each one had a distinct expression. Jared was clearly nervous as his eyes flickered between Sam and Paul, while the other shifters subdued their anger enough to sate their curiosity.

"I thank you for being here and for being willing to listen. I am sure tis not easy, "Mary began, trying to remain polite despite the tension brewing in the air.

"Do we have a choice?" Paul scoffed to quickly receive a glare, not from Sam, but from Emily.

"Can we put our personal feelings aside for five minutes and just listen to what she has to say?" Emily advised the pack. Mary could already feel herself respecting Sam's imprint, her words were unwavering and her eyes sure as they reached out to the shifters. It did not matter, Emily's heart extended to those who needed it and Mary couldn't help but admire the woman.

"Why should we listen to her? She's just some stupid leech" Paul spat with a vitriol so bitter.

"Because she knows a lot more about shifting than all of you, show them" Emily turned to Mary, gesturing to her pocket. Mary could only smile softly, thanking her boys for the going away present, it really was coming in handy.

Just like Emily, Mary placed the photo on the coffee table, allowing the boys to take a look. With this, for the first time, Paul entered her space, his curiosity possessing his body to investigate the photo.

"Shit! That's Ephraim Black-" Jared jumped up as he held the picture, "and your grandads- look Paul! Uncle John's in this!". To say Jared was excited was an understatement, he was the sole reason Sam and Paul leaned closer to peek at the photo.

"They were my... friends, for the lack of a better term-" Mary began, "per your treaty with the Cullens, while they report to the Volturi themselves, I make a report about Quileute shifters on the Volturi's behalf"

"Volturi? What the hell's that?" Jared asked innocently, his head perking up like a puppy.

"Like you have Elders so do we. The Volturi are our judge, jury and executioner. They are our leaders and our justice system, our sole authority"

"Sounds pretty corrupt" Paul huffed, unable to take his eyes off the photo.

"So some may say, but they provide order nonetheless"

"So what you're like their... what?" Jared urged Mary to fill in the blanks.

"Think of me like a... field agent, my resistance to human blood is uncanny amongst the Volturi and so I am entrusted to do this as one of my many responsibilities"

"So you did this back then as well?" Sam gestured to the photo.

"With great difficulty until it was not" Mary awkwardly chuckled as she cautiously took the photo from Jared before smoothing it down and pocketing it out of habit.

"You all look chummy" Jared japed to Paul and Sam's disappointment.

"Oh yes, when forced to have a vampire tailing you for a decade, friendship is inevitable"

"A decade? We didn't agree to this, Sam what the hell are the Elders playing at!" Paul erupted, abruptly straightening in his anger.

"I am sure it will not be a decade. Rest assured I will be gone as soon as possible. Neither I nor the Volturi can afford such precious time" Mary reassured.