The pack barbecue ran a little later than normal. The pack still had work in the morning, so it didn't go really late, but Jackson didn't have me home until after nine thirty. According to Jackson, most of the barbecues ran until about eight when the parents then went home to tuck the children in.

Jackson drove me home afterwards and walked me to the door like a gentleman. I wrapped my arms around his neck when we reached the porch and gave him a long, goodnight kiss. Both of us were smiling softly as we pulled back and Jackson rested his forehead against mine. "Good night, Cecilia," he whispered.

"Good night, Jackson," I answered just as quietly as I stared into his eyes.

He reached behind me and opened the door before taking a step away. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

My heart just about melted into a puddle and I couldn't resist stepping back to him, our chests brushing as I gave him one more lingering kiss and then backed into the house. I leaned against the closed door, after locking it, and sighed. I was falling hard and fast for that boy. Man. Werewolf. Whatever.

Shaking my head and smiling to myself, I headed upstairs. Xavier was waiting for me in my room, sprawled across my bed and watching my door expectantly as I walked through it. "You're home late," he commented.

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a droll look. "It's not even ten, Xavier," I told him.

He laughed and I knew he was just teasing me. He was out far later than this on the nights he spent at the club. "I know. How did the meeting with the pack go?" His face lost all humor as he became serious and protective.

I collapsed onto the bed beside him and we both scooted back to rest against the headboard, stretching our legs out in front of us. "I had an idea while they were talking," I told him. "They liked it, so at least we have a plan, now."

"That's my cousin," he told me proudly, nudging his shoulder against mine. "What did your genius mind come up with?"

"I told them that we should send a spy over to Bane's pack. A girl that could pretend to be in love with Jackson and propose to help Bane if he got me out of her way. Lisa is a talented actor and their best female fighter. We decided to send her."

"It's not bad," Xavier replied, his face thoughtful as he looked at the dark tv across from us. "What's next?"

"If she can get Bane to trust that she just wants me out of the way so that she can get to Jackson, then she will feed him the bait. Tell him that Jackson and Eli have a meeting with an alpha in the next state and will be gone all weekend with their highest fighters. Add in the fact that I'll be at the pack house for protection while Jackson's gone and we don't think that Bane will be able to resist."

Xavier nodded in agreement. "He'll think your vulnerable and he'll take the chance to attack, given you don't leave any holes. What's going to happen if Bane decides to check it out and realizes that you won't be at the pack house."

"That won't happen," I told him, shaking my head. "I have every intention of spending the weekend at the pack house. As far as my parents will be concerned, I'll be spending a fun weekend with my new friend, Alice."

"No," Xavier replied. "No, no, no. You're not going to be anywhere near this battle, Cecilia. You're not a werewolf, you're not a vampire, and you'll be nothing but a distraction. You can't help in this fight."

"Just relax, Xavier," I told him, rolling my eyes. "I'll be at the pack house for the battle and I won't be anywhere near the fighting. For this to work, my parents need to think that I'm having a sleepover with Alice and Bane needs to be able to check and know that's what I'm doing. This whole thing could blow up in our faces if he finds out that I won't be at the pack house."

Xavier's face plainly showed the confliction he was feeling. He didn't want me anywhere near this battle. I'm sure he'd rather I was in another state, but that was impossible if this plan was going to work. "Can't you tell your parents that you're staying with Alice and then go somewhere else? Like to Aiden's? Or Taylor's, Lisa's or Kayla's?"

I shook my head in stubborn refusal. "No. He could check that out, and I don't want to be that far away when this happens. I'm not stupid, Xavier. I know I wouldn't be any help in this fight, but I wouldn't be able to handle being so far away that I didn't know what was happening. There are too many people I care about fighting to protect me. At least at the pack house, I'll have Alice as an active connection to what's happening."

He ran his hands down his face, his sigh showing the stress he was feeling. "Fine, but you have to stay locked up tight in that pack house and keep your phone on you. If anything, and I mean anything, moves around the house, you call me. I'll keep my phone on with the sound up near the battle and if I hear your ringtone, there'll be a coven of vampires at that pack house in two seconds flat."

I smiled at the protectiveness and conviction I heard in his voice. I had no doubts that was exactly what would happen if I made the call. I understood where he was coming from. I'd been trained from a young age to defend myself, but I knew where I stood against vampires and werewolves. Bane had shown me a couple of times that I was out of my league. "I promise."

"Alright then," Xavier replied, ending the conversation and standing up. "Let's go."

"What?" I asked, taking his hand and letting him pull me off the bed. "Where are we going?"

"Fangs," Xavier replied as if it should have been obvious. "The entire coven is there, waiting for an update on the plan, and we have to go let them know what's going on. We do need to find you some different clothes."

"It's ten o'clock at night," I retorted. Then I crossed my arms and glared at him. "And I look just fine!"

A grin overtook his face as he shook his head. "Not for Fangs, you don't," he answered.

"I swear to god, you're not getting me in another outfit like last time," I warned him. "The last thing I want is Jackson getting mad at me again. I'll have enough of his anger to deal with after this battle when he realizes that I helped orchestrate the coven's help after he expressly told me they didn't want it."

Xavier snorted. "We don't care if he wants our help, he's getting it. And I'm not going to dress you like last time. We'll find you something cute and classy. They all know you're a good girl, anyway, and no one would dream of kicking you out. Jerome would have them for dinner."

I couldn't help smiling at his statement. I couldn't imagine Jerome eating anyone for dinner. Not a vampire, at least. He was just so friendly and outgoing.

Xavier disappeared into my closet while I was distracted and came back out with a light pink sundress. It was made from a spandex mix material so that it hugged my body and was super comfortable. He threw it at my face and went back into the closet for a pair of really cute, white, high-heeled sandals that looked excellent with the sundress. "Appropriate enough?" he asked me sarcastically.

I couldn't help teasing him as I picked it all up. "Actually, I think I might be showing too much skin if I wear this one. Don't I have any turtlenecks in there?"

"Haha," he replied, rolling his eyes. "Go get dressed so we can leave. I'll go talk to your mom. She'll let you go if I tell her we're going to see Levi, and she'll deal with Uncle John for us."

I grinned as he left the room and headed into the bathroom to change. My dad would throw a fit when Xavier said we were going out this late, but my mom would set him straight. She loved it when I was out doing "teenage things" and she'd make sure my dad let me do them. As evidenced by everything with Jackson.

Five minutes later, I was ready to go and Xavier was bouncing impatiently on my bed. "You're finally ready?" he asked me when I walked out of the bathroom.

"Well, if you'd have let me wear what I had on, we wouldn't have even had this problem," I told him, sticking my tongue out at him.

He laughed and led the way downstairs and to his car. I was never going to drive my cute little car again if they kept taking me everywhere. Oh, well. Less money to spend on gas.

The drive to the club was short and I could feel excitement tingling through me. I loved going to the club and seeing the coven, even if Jackson did strongly disapprove of it. The atmosphere was always energetic, but happy and the vampires were all fun and crazy to hang out with. I'm sure there are evil vampires out there, but you'd never know it with this coven.

A loud cheer went up when Xavier and I started down the spiral staircase into the club. It made me feel cared for that they were all so excited to see us and that they cared enough about me to want to help with the Bane situation. Xavier had explained to me the way they treated dormants, but it was still so surreal to me.

I grinned and waved to everyone. A handsome, black haired vampire appeared in front of me so quickly that I didn't see him coming, a goblet of blood in his hand, held out in offering. He wiggled his eyebrows and waited for my response. I remembered him. He was the one that had gotten me to try blood the last time I was here.

I shook my head. "I'm not drunk enough for that, Ashton," I told him with a laugh.

He smirked in reply. "Try it, gorgeous. You liked it when you were drunk. You've gotta try it sober at least once."

I made a face, debating my answer and leaning towards no. It was just too weird to contemplate. "Try it, try it, try it!" everyone in the club started chanting together and I couldn't help laughing when Xavier joined them.

I wasn't one to bow to peer pressure, but what could it hurt? Ashton was right, I did like it when I was drunk. "Fine!" I yelled at them, accepting the glass from Ashton as they cheered in triumph. I swirled the viscous liquid around the cup a couple times before taking a gulp of it. It tasted sweet and tingly, giving me an immediate burst of energy. I raised the glass in salute and received another cheer from the vampires.

I took another sip as Xavier and I walked towards the bar to greet Jerome. "You guys bring us some news?" he asked after shaking Xavier's hand and giving me a warm hug. We nodded in response.

I started in surprise when Jerome leaped on top of the bar and called for everyone's attention. "Xavier and Cecilia have brought us some news. Is everyone ready for what they have to tell us?" I watched Ashton pull his phone out of his pocket and begin recording. I wasn't worried about this video. I knew no one outside of the coven would ever see it. Everyone else nodded with a quick shout of confirmation.

Jerome extended a hand for me and when I grabbed it, he yanked me onto the bar like I was lighter than a feather. To him, I probably was, but it felt like I flew up there. Xavier leaped up behind me on his own.

The club was the quietest that I'd ever heard it as everyone waited for us to speak. I decided to start when Xavier nudged my arm. "I just wanted to tell you guys how much it means to me that you want to help me with the Bane situation," I told them, heartfelt sincerity lacing my words. "I never knew that I had vampire genes until Xavier told me a couple weeks ago, and I'm completely overwhelmed by how amazing you all are."

Everyone smiled and raised their glasses. "You're family now," someone in the crowd said and everyone murmured their agreement. "Even if you never join us in immortality, you reached out to us and we'll always reach back," another vampire added.

I felt like my smile would split my face right open. I would never be able to put into words how much I appreciated their support. Jerome patted my shoulder and gave me a friendly smile and a nod.

I continued to explain the plan. "Well, we came up with an idea that should lure Bane to attack the pack this weekend," I told them. "We don't know exactly when it will be, but it could be anywhere from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. I should know before the attack as we sent in a spy, and I'll be able to give you advanced warning."

"How are you going to communicate with us?" someone in the crowd asked. With all the lights that were still on and the fact that I still didn't know everyone in the coven, it was hard to tell who it was.

"I'll text Xavier as soon as I find out. If he's not already here, he'll come get you guys. If our spy is able to send us information with enough time, I'll come with Xavier and tell you myself, but that possibility isn't very likely."

"Where will you be during the attack?" I recognized Lewis as he stepped closer to the bar.

"I'll be at the pack house," I told them, knowing that they probably weren't going to like it any more than Xavier did.

"Isn't that a little too close to the fight?" Jerome asked, worriedly. "Everyone here knows that you can fight any human that might come your way, but you won't be able to take on the wolves. It would be wiser to keep you farther from the fighting in case one of Bane's wolves gets through the battle."

I shook my head. None of them were going to change my mind on this one. "No. One of the reasons that Bane will be attacking where we want him is that he knows I'll be at the pack house. That needs to be solid if he checks it out. There's also too many people I care about going into this fight. I won't be far enough away that I don't know what is going on. If anything moves outside the pack house, I'll call Xavier. His phone will be on nearby and if I call, that means I need help. But I'll have a couple wolves in the pack house with me as well."

Jerome nodded. "Alright, if you're sure that's where you have to be. We'll be there in two seconds flat if we hear Xavier's phone go off," Jerome repeated Xavier's words from earlier and every one of the vampires present nodded in agreement and my heart warmed even more.

"I'm fine with that," I replied with a smile.

Jerome raised his goblet of blood in salute and smiled. "To family."

We all copied his motion, lifting our glasses into the air and saying, "To family!" before drinking whatever was left in our goblets.

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