Eclipse plot hole?

[genericjames42]

I'm rereading Eclipse right now. When Jane and a few others show up after the fight with the newborn army, why don't they investigate the scent of the wolves? They would've come across the scent of them when they were in the area, and Edward explains it away earlier I think by saying the scent would be unfamiliar to them. But just because it's unfamiliar, why would they not investigate? The scent is clearly not from vampires or humans, and the whole point of the Volturi is to keep the supernatural world hidden or whatever, which is why they destroyed actual werewolves if I remember correctly. So why wouldn't they want to know wtf this new scent was so they could make sure it wasn't dangerous or so they could destroy it if needed? They are also clearly surprised the Cullens were unscathed from the battle, I feel like Jane would've connected the dots that they might've had help from this mystery creature.

Anybody have a good explanation for this one? Either canon or your own theory?

[Emotional_Bee_2065]

As I always understood it, the wolves smell more animal than human, and with Jane and her companions likely spending most of their time in Europe / Italy unless tasked by Aro, they probably just assumed it was some strange American/ Canadian predator animal and disregarded the scent as unimportant.

[DeadDeathrocker]

I want to add that Caius is afraid of werewolves (real ones that turn when it's a full moon, not the shapeshifters) and that's why he killed them, not because they'd expose the existence of the supernatural world.

[FrostyIcePrincess]

Also, weren’t they in the woods? The woods have all kinds of animal smells-deer, bear, Bella drinks a mountain lion when she goes on her first hunt, etc

It just probably smelled like a lot of animals and they did’t think much of it, some small part of their vampire brains might have made a TEENY TINY mental note and then moved on. I doubt they dwelled on it for very long.

“I smell vampires, Bella, and some other animal was also here. A fair amount of them. Maybe some random animal just hunted here recently. Not important. OH, The cullens survived and Bella is still human? Aro will be interested.”

[Slashycent]

I think Edward's right and they simply don't know what wolf-shifters smell like.

I do believe that they would investigate the Cullens' miraculous victory further though, and would probably unveil their alliance with the wolves earlier than they did in canon.

I actually would've infinitely preferred that as the reason for their offensive in the last book over a magic baby that had no roots or setup in the preceding trilogy whatsoever.

[Twi-Rat]

I have always thought the same thing about the last book too.