Silence was a less than common occurrence when it came to the Uley pack members; or what was the left of them, at least.

Before this entire vampire-hybrid-baby situation came to be, the wolves spent most of their time as a unit. Whether they were on patrol, hanging out at the house, or journeying away from home to a restaurant, bar, movie theater, or other fun establishment, everyone preferred to be together as often as possible.

Life had become stressful ever since Bella rekindled her relationship with Edward a few months ago. The longer they were together, the more issues arose for those protecting Quileute land. Difficulties ranging from more dangerous vampire sightings to more civilian deaths to a higher threat of being harmed made it difficult to fully relax.

So, in order to make the most of their days, pack members would fill their afternoons/evenings with laughter, shared stories, hugs, and an overall pleasant atmosphere before usually falling asleep with a close companion or romantic partner. Then, the next day, they would do so all over again with the intent of making as many lasting memories as possible.

Now, there wasn't much time to do anything except remain vigilant.

A few newer shifters were positioned in La Push to keep watch in case anything happened. More seasoned members, specifically those who made up the normal group, were stationed around the Cullen house.

They were far enough away for their scents or quiet sounds to not be picked up. Staying behind shrubs or thick clusters of wide trees allowed them to blend in with their surrounding environment. A recently taught skill of putting up mental walls was used to keep Edward from reading anyone's minds. 

Taking such precautions was deemed practically useless, however, since none of the Cullens dared to step foot out of their house.

Days flew by with several developments: vampires starved themselves; wolves stood watch on either side of an expansive territory; Bella's health continued to deteriorate.

And the unborn child was growing so fast, birth was most likely going to happen within the coming hours.

Marshall knew the Uley pack members were going to need their strength if a fight broke out. He himself hadn't been available recently, being rooted to La Push's boundaries for multiple purposes. Regardless, a self appointed mission was bestowed upon him in the name of helping those who couldn't fully take care of themselves like normal. Tiring himself out by, quite literally, running all over the place to give assistance in any way possible made the vampire feel less panicked for his family's safety.

"Delivery."

Several pairs of tired eyes turned toward him.

Sam, Jared, and Paul were the group currently waiting on standby. The trio had wanted to give their younger members time to rest after a long night, so the older men took it upon themselves to extend a shift of six hours to that of ten. 

Growing fatigue was evident in sluggish blinks, ears not reacting to certain noises, and faint grumbling coming from empty stomachs.

Marshall presented a bag full of hot Chinese takeout, holding it with two hands to make sure nothing was jostled.

He offered a gentle smile when everyone phased back into humans. 

They plopped right on the ground with exhausted sighs. No one bothered to redress as doing so would be a waste of time. After eating, they were just going to transform again anyway. May as well spare any traces of energy they still had left until their positions were swapped again.

"It's nothing crazy. Just three portions of pork fried rice with wings, wontons, and egg drop soup. I also got each of you a water and an energy drink. It might not be as great as Em's homemade stuff, but..."

"It's more than enough, Marsh." Sam offered an appreciated nod which the others mirrored. "Thank you."

"Course. Here, one sec..."

He reached into a second bag and took out a long, thick blanket. It was laid out to give everyone a space to eat that wasn't on top of a mound of dirt or half-rotted leaves. Marshall also wanted to give them a place to finally lie down without the threat of small, pointy sticks attempting to cut through fragile skin.

As soon as Marshall sat down after passing out food, Paul wrapped his warm hands around his imprint's waist. A tired sigh accompanied him when resting his head on the vampire's shoulder.

"You really should eat, Tiger. There's not a lot of time."

"I know, Honey Bun. But I haven't had you in my arms for days. I've barely even seen you or heard your voice. Just give me a second to hold you before we have to split up again. Please."

Marshall pressed a hard kiss into short brunet hair. A deep inhale helped to eradicate the harsh stench of sweet copper coming from a far distance away.

It was a smell which almost tore a deep, possessive growl out of him.

He kept his back pointed toward his old house because, with complete transparency, he didn't trust himself to not kill any of his old coven mates on sight.

Not only was Marshall pissed at his old family members for leading to Jake, Leah, and Seth's desertion—he had also reached the point of no return when any remaining pack members were forced into a constant state of alertness for the sake of keeping literally everyone else safe. Not sleeping enough was one thing. Having to watch his closest friends—his own husband—be reduced to an embodiment of walking stress was something else. They weren't eating or drinking as much as they should've been. They weren't able to spend time with anyone on the rez because leaving a post would create a window of opportunity for their enemies to hunt. Those on active duty weren't even able to ease their heightened mental fatigue because the Cullens, in their attempts to get rid of any outliers, might take to killing innocent people just to make sure Bella could deliver.

People like Sam, Jared, and Paul just had to be up, ready, and observant at all moments. Because of a family who were more concerned about personal desire than they were the rest of the human world.

In Marshall's eyes, the Cullens didn't deserve to walk away from this scot-free. Not when their decision could lead to so many people dying or, worse, a confrontation with the Volturi.

Plus, if Bella were to actually succumb to her injuries, Edward was definitely going to try to save her. And his method of doing so would go against the treaty. Meaning, in simple terms, the Cullens' rightful punishment, whether Bella lived or not, was death for the entire group.

However, a direct order to kill had yet to be made since no one would wander beyond enclosed walls.

For now, all Marshall could do was make sure his loved ones were fed before heading back to check on-

A brief vibration was felt on his thigh. Frowning, he took his phone out to look through a quick message from Emily.

Daily Dose of Serotonin:

Brad is vomiting again honey

If you can please come back soon

He might need you to keep him comfortable

That was another reason Marshall was so angry.

Leah's decision to protect the Cullens coupled with Brad's request of her staying away had recently led to some changes in the latter's health. He'd been complaining of headaches and restlessness. Hunting had become an issue because he was starting to reject blood before it could fully be absorbed into his body. Separation anxiety showed its hideous face as well, making departures, like leaving to bring food, a scene filled with tight hugs, desperate hand holds, and frequent promises of a quick return.

While these symptoms were fleeting, they were still horrifying to witness. Especially by someone who was just trying to protect himself and the people he loved.

A soothing, apologetic hand was dragged along Paul's back. "Sorry to cut our meeting short, my love. Brad's not doing too hot right now, and Em is getting worried. So I'm going to have to-"

A certain fragrance wafted into Marshall's nose. The earthy scent coupled with that of wet dog grew in intensity, meaning its owner was trying to approach.

His head darting in the direction of the smell caused everyone else to tense.

"What is it? One of the Cullens?" Sam asked.

Marshall shook his head. "Mm-mm. Keep eating. Don't worry, there's not a threat or anything like that. But I'll make sure to deal with it myself before heading back home."

"You sure everything is fine? If this is a time we need to attack, we can-"

"I'm positive. Please, take a few minutes to yourselves. Trust me."

Sam's shoulders lowered. "Okay- if you say so."

Marshall cupped his husband's cheeks to plant a series of soft kisses all over his face before giving a final one on the lips. They shared a quick hug, along with a heartfelt reminder of "I love you". A friendly salute was given to his other friends in goodbye too.

He vanished within the blink of an eye.

It only took Marshall a solid three seconds of running with enhanced speed to bring him face to face with the person attempting to initiate a discreet gathering.

He leaned against a tree with crossed arms, scarlet eyes pulled into a menacing glare. "What do you want?"

"...Hi...Marsh. I... figured you were my best person to talk to- since you're more aware than most how important the soulmate bond is. How it can make you constantly worry when you're away from your special person. So- um- I was just wondering if you could tell me how Brad is doing-"

"Do you really think you're in a position to care? If you're even being genuine in the first place."

A small squeak escaped Leah, her words getting caught in her throat. "C'mon, it's not like that-"

"It's exactly like that," Marshall interrupted through gritted teeth. "You made the decision to come protect those assholes, knowing damn well they'll feed you to the wolves, no pun intended, if it means getting what they want in the end. You're nothing but security to them: something to be used for their benefit and dropped when that usefulness runs out. And you're aware of this. But you still choose to stand beside them. You picked them over your own imprint. Yet you think you're entitled to know how he's doing? When he specifically asked you to stay away because you clearly don't know who to be faithful to?"

"What, like he's faithful to me? When he outright told me he'd pick you over me any day? Besides, I didn't choose those damned leeches over my imprint," Leah argued. "I chose to protect Seth. He just so happened to be on the enemy side, so-"

"I've been Brad's number one person for years, and he made sure to tell you this before either of you tried to start anything serious. And he wasn't the one who opened the door for something more, who basically promised an eternity of companionship, only to go back on his word after a couple of weeks. You did."

"Marsh-"

"I'm not having this conversation with you. I don't need you to attempt to tell me why standing by the people who ruined my livelihood is a good thing. All I'm saying is that you don't have the right to try and play nice with both sides when you're willingly placing yourself as a shield in front of the person who threatened to kill Brad- all because you sympathize with Bella being pregnant. Because you needed an excuse to get away from Sam."

Marshall turned to leave.

He didn't pull his arm away when it was grabbed.

"Fine, yes, you're right. I don't care for the other leeches, but I do sympathize with Bella. And they're protecting her, so I'm protecting them. I know me standing beside Seth probably wouldn't do much in terms of keeping him out of a fight with our- I mean, your pack. But you have to see things from my perspective, Marsh."

See things from her perspective?

Imagining himself in other people's shoes to give them the benefit of the doubt was one of the biggest reasons Marshall was tethered to an abusive family for so many decades. Why he was damaged so horrendously without even realizing how bad his wounds were in the very beginning.

Leah's situation was different. However, she needed to understand why certain actions had to be thought out before it was too late to come back from her mistakes.

"He misses you."

Leah's fingers twitched. "What?"

"Brad. He misses you." Marshall clenched his jaw at the thought of his best friend and how he'd been struggling so much because of their parting. "He doesn't want you around until you make up your mind because he doesn't want to be strung along the way he was in his last relationship. He was honest with you about ours in its entirety because he wanted you to accept him. To accept that he has people in his life who mean more to him than a romantic partner. Just like how Seth means more to you than a romantic partner. Brad wants you to understand him because he wants you to be in his life. But he's not going to settle for someone who doesn't care about all of him, soulmate or not."

Marshall weighed the repercussions of his next statement. It only took one mental image of Brad curled up on the couch, snuggling with a fuzzy blanket and hiding his pained features, to shatter any reluctance to continue.

"You really want to know how he's doing? Fine. His body has started sending him signals to force him into submission. The bond he shares with you is trying to tear him apart so he'll go against his own morality for the sake of reuniting with you. And he's been fighting it. Hard. Because he doesn't believe in pursuing a toxic fate where he isn't able to make his own decisions. He has no interest in being with a partner who cares more about getting her own way and having all the control than she does healing her inner wounds. And that's why he told you to leave. Because he's hoping his absence will help you change. That you'll grow up and finally leave things in the past. That you'll realize, just because he told you he has people he cares about more than you, doesn't mean he wants that information to scare you. Not everyone is out to get you, Leah. Not everyone is out to hurt you.

"Brad wants to be by your side, but he's not going to be with someone who can't decide for themselves. You want to protect him, you want to protect Seth, you want to protect the Cullens. Well, I'm so sorry to pop that little bubble of yours, but you can't protect everyone without killing yourself. Believe me. You can't be on both sides and think clashes aren't going to happen. You can't try to be in a relationship with a man who knows what he wants out of life when you clearly still have deep scars about your past that still alter the way you think today. That's not fair to anyone involved. All it does is cause pain."

"Is- is that why you're so upset?" Leah asked, her voice wavering. "Because my decision to stand on this side has hurt you?"

"I'm upset because your decision to stand on this side has hurt Brad. Your decision to stand on this side has hurt you. And even knowing the Cullens only see you as a pawn in the grand scheme- knowing you'd still stand before them as a protector when all they do is use people- I can't stand idly by for something like that. You could get yourself killed, Leah. Then Seth won't have his sister. Your mom won't have her daughter. Brad won't have one of his most important soulmates. And you won't get to live the life you could've because you refuse to really think your actions through. All for the sake of protecting a bunch of bastards who don't deserve it. How am I supposed to support something like that?"

Marshall freed himself from Leah's hold. He walked away from her with a harsh ache settling in his chest in response to leaving a loved one behind.

At the current moment, it wasn't right for her to see how much he still cared since she clearly didn't about herself.

Dejection kept Leah glued to her spot. 

"What am I supposed to do, Marsh..?"

He glanced over his shoulder. "I don't have the answers for you, Leah. Choose to keep protecting the Cullens. Choose to leave them and go back home. It's not up to me. But in order for you to really start growing, you need to make a concrete decision. Make a choice, and fucking stand by it. No more of this half-assed I'll-be-on-all-sides bullshit. Whatever you pick, own up to the consequences of your decisions. Maybe when you're able to finally start doing so- maybe when you're able to realize what it is that's really important to you... maybe life will treat you better than it has."

*

The sky was dark by the time Marshall returned to La Push.

Emily's house was illuminated by yellow rays coming out of the first floor windows. A single bulb on the porch gave additional vibrancy to the steps and front door leading inside. Two moths were waltzing together, transfixed by the light source dangling from a wooden plank.

Brad was sitting down by himself. His upper body was propped against a support beam. His covered legs were stretched out, and only his socks poked out of the bottom of his blanket.

Marshall gave a tender ruffle to curly hair before sitting down. He pulled his friend in for a much needed cuddle session.

"...I'm sorry. I know you had to help the guys and-"

"Don't ever apologize for having to depend on me. Unless I'm in a dire situation, you know I'd drop pretty much everything for you."

Brad turned his head to breathe in natural pheromones secreting from a hidden bonding mark. "How are things over there?"

"The guys are exhausted, but they're managing. Better now that I was able to bring food. In terms of the Cullens, they're still playing the coward game by imprisoning themselves in their house to keep from going through a confrontation they won't win."

"Will you step in if things take a turn for the worst?"

That statement could be taken in two ways: one being if Bella were to die from trying to deliver a child who was incompatible with her body, and two being one of the wolves getting hurt while attempting to deal with the Cullens once and for all.

Marshall already knew his answer.

His only faint uncertainty came from how far he was going to go.

No doubt, if given an opportunity, Edward would be the first to experience a brutal death. 

If any of the other Cullens tried to kill the wolves, they would be put on the chopping block as well.

But what if there was an off chance, a slim possibility, of the hybrid child not being as much of a threat as they feared? What if the child was able to distinguish between right and wrong once it got its first glimpse of the real world? What if a situation arose in which the child didn't have to, or couldn't, be destroyed?

If that were the case, what would happen to them?

Who deserved to be spared if it meant the child could grow with proper guidance?

For now, Marshall couldn't say.

Carlisle and Esme were too lenient as parents, often letting most of their children do whatever they wanted to keep the peace. Emmett only cared about appeasing Rosalie. Rosalie was too self-centered. Jasper was too unhinged when it came to his bloodlust. Alice depended too much on her future insight to worry about what was happening in the present. Edward wasn't redeemable in any fact. Bella probably wasn't even going to live to see her own daughter take her first breath.

It was difficult to say what members of the family were less corrupt than others.

Then again, the chances of having to choose someone to live was slim to none.

There wasn't a point in worrying about something that wasn't going to happen.

"Hermano?"

Marshall leaned his head against Brad's. For a long time, neither of them said anything. They simply held each other close, breathing in the other person's scent. Cuddling with each other was a concrete method used to drive away feelings of pessimism, stress, and negativity.

It was also a silent declaration of, "I'm here, you're okay, and everything will be fine."

A phrase both vampires benefitted from.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make sure our family is kept safe. If it means slaughtering anyone who stands in my way, so be it. Doesn't matter who they are."

"...I know killing them will be for more than just putting the world in danger. But...what're you going to do if you can't?"

Marshall didn't answer.

His gaze darted toward the forest when hearing a series of pained, distressed howls coming from a far off point in the forest.

'Bella's dead. Everyone's ready to head out,' Paul informed, hastily cutting communication.

He was giving the option to stay at home and continue keeping watch over Brad to spare Marshall the stress of having to see his old coven mates again.

While Paul's actions and worry for his imprint were sweet, right now, they weren't necessary. 

Marshall peeled off his leather jacket to drape it over his friend's shoulders. "I promise I'll come back.  Will you be okay without me?"

Brad snuggled into the material. "Yeah. Getting fresh air has helped a lot. Just...be careful. Come back home as soon as you can."

"I will. And don't worry- I'm not planning on hurting Leah, Seth, or Jake. It's just time for me to tie up some loose ends. Once and for all."