After Alice thoroughly explained to her family what she, Alex, and Lucina had been doing for the past month, the expressions on Emmett's, Rosalie's, Jasper's, and Jane's faces froze in mild shock. What struck them most was how everything was directly connected to Alex's work.
For ten years, they had listened to Alice's stories about her visions, other worlds, and strange creatures, but only now did they realize that none of it was just fantasy. Alex himself had once confirmed that his arrival in their world wasn't accidental but tied to a specific purpose.
While Alice enthusiastically explained what they had discovered, Alex sat relaxed in his chair, enjoying the way Lucina gently massaged his head. His gaze casually drifted across the Cullens' faces — a mix of astonishment, curiosity, and faint horror.
He even caught himself thinking that Carlisle had probably been deliberately shielding his family from the true supernatural world. Even Jane, who had lived for a thousand years and once served the Volturi, now preferred to keep her distance from the life she once knew. Alex didn't blame Carlisle — in fact, he mentally gave him "five stars for wisdom." Because of that, the Cullen family lived in peace, unlike other vampire clans wandering the world with hollow eyes and empty souls.
The conversation about Alex's, Alice's, and Lucina's discoveries dragged on. Alice answered dozens of questions — about cursed places, demons, angels, and why Alex was searching for someone named Crowley, known as the "King of Hell." Alice tried to avoid the topic, but Alex saved her by telling them about an ancient book of curses owned by Crowley's mother. That only led to more questions, and the evening slowly turned into an informal "campfire night" with scary stories.
Eventually, everyone moved to the gazebo in the backyard, where Alex fired up the grill. Emmett and Jasper each held a beer bottle, helping him cook the meat, while the girls settled in the gazebo — but the discussion continued.
"So that's why you're so obsessed with those cursed places," said Emmett, flipping the meat so it wouldn't burn.
"Something like that," Alex replied, taking a sip from his can. "But right now, I'm interested in just a few specific places."
"And what places are those?" Jasper asked, turning toward him.
"First — Mount Massive Asylum. It was shut down after the patients rioted. But in reality, they were conducting human experiments there. Details are scarce — everything's classified, the documents destroyed. Then there's the Abaddon Hotel, and a couple of towns — Springwood and Derry."
"I might be interested in the towns," Rosalie drawled, leaning against the gazebo railing, "but why the old asylum and that crumbling hotel?"
"Because I think that's where the Red Door is," Alex answered seriously, crushing the empty can in his hand. "And if it's there… nothing good will come of it."
"The Red Door?" Emmett frowned. "Sounds creepy. And why do I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?"
"You have," Alice interjected, hopping onto Alex's lap. "I painted it, remember?"
"Wait… you mean that painting with the bright red door and the blood seeping out from underneath?" Rosalie shuddered. "That's your most disgusting work, honestly."
At her words, everyone else remembered that very painting. Even as vampires, they had felt an eerie, sticky sense of dread just looking at it. Back then, they all begged Alice to hide it — and though she did so reluctantly, she eventually agreed.
Alex looked at Alice questioningly, but she only smiled and shrugged — the painting was hidden, but she wouldn't say where. Alex quietly whispered in her ear that he'd like to add that piece to his "collection of creepy things" in the Red City. Alice eagerly agreed.
"So what exactly is this Red Door?" Jane asked, leaning on Jasper's shoulder.
"The Red Door only appears to those who've experienced strong negative emotions — despair, hopelessness, guilt," Lucina explained, lighting a cigarette. "It leads to a realm where the nightmares of the one who opened it become real. In essence, it's a gateway to a personal hell."
"Hmm, I kind of get it, but kind of don't," Emmett muttered, scratching his head thoughtfully.
"Want me to show you?" Alex offered, lazily shrugging.
"You planning to take me to a cursed place?" Emmett snorted. "I mean, I'm all for adventure, but dude, I'm not going on a date with you. Sorry, not my type. And Rosalie won't be too happy if you grab my hand when a monster shows up."
He burst out laughing, and the others joined in. Even Lucina smiled faintly, exhaling a stream of smoke toward the sky.
After Emmett's remark, everyone stared at him with blank expressions while he smugly flipped the meat on the grill, occasionally throwing mocking glances at Alex. A good-natured smile appeared on Alex's face, but his eyes clearly betrayed the urge to stab the grilling fork straight into Emmett's leg. Emmett caught that look instantly, grabbed the long fork, and hid it behind his back, perfectly aware that one wrong word — and the metal would end up in his thigh.
But even if Alex decided not to resort to violence, he always had a reliable ally — Alice. And she seemed to be waiting for just that. With a sly smile, Alice lifted her delicate leg and kicked Emmett square in the back with surprising force. He toppled forward, tumbled a few times, and landed face-first in the grass.
Alice huffed, as if she'd done something completely ordinary, then hugged Alex and whispered that she'd go on any date with him — even to a cursed place — as long as they didn't have to bring that "musclebound gorilla" along.
Rosalie struggled to hold back laughter as she helped her husband get up. Emmett spat out a few blades of grass that had gotten into his mouth and, as if nothing had happened, returned to the grill. The others were now laughing openly.
"Actually, we don't have to go anywhere," said Alex, shaking his head and glancing at Emmett. "I can show you the Red Door right here."
"And how are you going to do that?" Jasper asked, raising an eyebrow. "Show us a video? Or maybe send your drone to a cursed place?"
"No," Alex replied with a faint smile. "Zhang Ya will help with that."
The four Cullens exchanged puzzled looks before turning toward Alex's shadow. The shadow stirred as if coming alive, began to distort, and soon took on the outline of a girl with long black hair. A pale, bloodstained hand emerged from the darkness.
Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Jane instinctively took a step back. A moment later, Zhang Ya fully stepped out of the shadow — pale, fragile-looking, yet radiating such a suffocating presence that even vampires felt instinctive fear.
Alice, still sitting on Alex's lap, cheerfully waved at her. Zhang Ya gave a faint nod in return, which was more than enough for Alice — she knew perfectly well what Zhang Ya truly was.
Alex gently took the girl's hand, slightly suppressing the terrifying aura emanating from her. Even restraining almost all her influence, he knew that her mere presence could drive a weak-willed person insane.
"Here it is — the Red Door," Alex said quietly, as blood began to seep from beneath Zhang Ya's feet, spreading across the ground in a thin line. The puddle widened, and soon a tall, cracked door emerged from it — its paint peeling, streaked with something dark and dried.
"If anyone wants to take a look," Alex added calmly, "do it quickly. Few ever come back from there willingly."
The vampires fell silent. Their supernatural senses clearly warned them that the door radiated something alien and dangerous. Rosalie instinctively took a step back, moving closer to Lucina. Jane frowned, showing no intention of approaching.
Emmett, however, couldn't resist. Curiosity and foolish courage got the better of him.
"Come on, it can't be that bad," he muttered, walking up to the door.
He reached for the handle. It was sticky — covered in dried blood. A sharp metallic smell hit his nose, but to his surprise, it didn't trigger his bloodlust. Slowly, he turned the handle and opened the door.
A rasping, guttural sound came from within, making everyone's hair stand on end. Before Emmett could even blink, the door swung open from the inside.
Beyond it lay the dark, crimson-lit streets of the Red City. Standing on the threshold was a woman with long black hair hiding her face, dressed in a torn white gown stained with blood. Horrid, grinding noises escaped from her chest, and with every step came the sound of cracking bones.
Emmett froze. Even his vampire courage faltered.
The woman slowly lifted her head, and for a moment, everyone saw her eyes — filled with indescribable rage.
"Kayako, don't even think about it," Alex said calmly, still holding Zhang Ya's hand.
The sound stopped. A dead silence filled the air.
The rage in Kayako's eyes vanished instantly the moment her gaze fell upon Alex and Zhang Ya, who stood before her with calm, composed expressions. The hoarse, guttural sound coming from her throat ceased at once. She smoothed down her torn dress, folded her hands neatly over her stomach, and, with a grace that seemed almost out of place for a ghost, bowed politely. Then Kayako quietly closed the Red Door behind her.
Alex knew that within the Red City, Kayako was slowly regaining her sanity. She was no longer the deranged spirit she had once become after death — but she was still not someone to be trifled with.
Rosalie, Jasper, Jane, and the stunned Emmett stood in silence, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Just moments ago, Emmett thought he had accidentally unleashed a furious female ghost from the underworld — and now he'd seen how one calm word from Alex made her bow and vanish as if nothing had occurred.
The Red Door soon melted away into a pool of blood, and Zhang Ya — like a shadow — silently slipped back into Alex's darkness.
"I… didn't mess up, did I?" Emmett asked cautiously, scratching the back of his head.
"No, it's fine," Alex replied calmly with a faint smile. "These ghosts are generally obedient. There are a few… particularly unruly ones, but most behave themselves."
"Who was she?" Rosalie asked, unable to hide her unease. "Why did she become a ghost?"
Alex sighed.
"A long story. Her husband…" — he paused for a moment, choosing his words. "He was a miserable bastard. Weak, jealous, and insecure. Kayako once loved another man back in college and occasionally wrote him letters — just to remember the past. But her husband found her notes and, instead of talking, beat her nearly to death. In the end, he pushed her down the stairs. Then, deciding that their son Toshio wasn't his child, he drowned the boy."
Rosalie clenched her fists.
"Since then, a curse known as Kayako was born," Alex continued. "Anyone who crosses the threshold of her house is marked. A curse is born where death intertwines with rage and despair. And when someone dies consumed by that darkness, a new shadow is born. Kayako is just one such embodiment. Her victims…" — he paused again. "Let's just say the number is in the hundreds. And if she marks you — you'll die, no matter where you are."
Rosalie lowered her gaze, her voice trembling with suppressed fury.
"Another woman with a shattered fate… I understand her. When something like that happened to me, I killed everyone who was responsible. And I don't regret it. Only… now I regret doing it too quickly."
Alex chuckled softly.
"Ah, Rosi-chan…" he said. "Too bad we didn't meet earlier. I would've shown you how to deal with bastards properly — slowly, with feeling, with soul. Heh-heh… But if you think about it, you have something now that you didn't before — a husband who loves and protects you. Like Bu-chan said, everything that happens to us is part of our path. Even if the past was dark, there's always something in the future worth smiling for. Just look at Emmett — aren't you glad you met him?"
Rosalie couldn't help but smile as she looked at Emmett, who immediately flexed his muscles to show how strong a protector he was. His goofy but genuine grin made her laugh. All regrets about the past faded away. Once, she had cursed her fate as a vampire — but now she knew that thanks to Alex, she and Emmett might even have a chance at children.
Rosalie laughed brightly and smacked Emmett's stomach.
"Idiot," she said warmly.
Alex watched her, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew that of all the Cullens, Rosalie had drawn the bitterest fate. But he also knew much about the others — about how Alice, for example, had erased the horrors of the asylum her father had sent her to by forgetting her past entirely. And while Alice herself no longer remembered, Alex remembered everything.
He was also waiting for one thing — a meeting with a vampire named James. The very hunter who had once pursued Alice. At the thought of it, his lips stretched into a predatory smile, and his eyes darkened, losing all light.
"Um… Alex?" Emmett asked cautiously. "I don't know what you're thinking right now, but your smile… and your eyes… it's scary."
Alex blinked, as if snapping out of his thoughts. His face quickly returned to its usual expression.
"Just thinking," he said casually, clearing his throat.
But no one believed him. Especially Alice, who squinted, studying his gaze. After ten years of visions, she had learned to read Alex almost like an open book — and she knew he was hiding something.
Lucina, standing nearby, noticed the same thing. She had seen that look more than once — empty, soulless, appearing only when it concerned someone close to them.
While Alice teased Alex about his "creepy smile," Lucina just sighed. She understood — it was all about Alice. She decided that later, when they were alone, she would find out exactly what he was planning.
Once all the chaos with ghosts, curses, and other mystical events finally settled, the conversation smoothly shifted to lighter, calmer topics — memories of the past.
Sitting by the grill and sharing stories, Alex couldn't hold back his laughter upon hearing how Emmett became a vampire. He wasn't laughing because Emmett had nearly died from a bear attack, but because of how Rosalie recounted that Emmett had called her an angel descended from the heavens, and how he had been glad to become a vampire just to be near her.
Emmett frowned at Alex's laughter and tried to hit him, but Alex skillfully dodged and ran around the grill, laughing and repeating the romantic lines Emmett had once said while courting Rosalie. Lucina, Alice, and Rosalie, watching the scene, could barely contain their laughter — their husbands were behaving like children.
Then Lucina, smiling, decided not to be outdone and told an awkward story about Alex himself — about his date with Hestia, which had been chased by a whole crowd of goddesses trying to stick their noses where they didn't belong. She mentioned in detail how Alex had to turn into a child to escape and how he distracted the pursuers so Hestia could safely go home.
Hearing this, Emmett burst into loud laughter, almost falling while chasing Alex. Now Alex was chasing him, holding a stick and shouting threats and playful insults.
Jasper, sitting slightly apart and quietly chuckling, thought he would escape such a fate. But Jane, noticing his satisfied expression, just smirked and moved closer to the girls. Joining Rosalie, Alice, and Lucina, she began sharing the most awkward moments from Jasper's life.
When Alex and Emmett heard that it was now Jasper's turn, they looked at him in unison — and he looked as if the ground had vanished beneath his feet.
In the end, it turned into a scene where the girls competed to tell funny stories about their husbands, while Alex, Emmett, and Jasper sat aside, shifting with laughter and teasing each other about who was the bigger loser.
But the fun was quickly interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up. The men exchanged glances — and, as if on cue, dashed inside the house to watch the scene unfold from within. They knew perfectly well who had arrived: Edward was bringing Bella home. Missing this scene was out of the question.
The trio stepped out onto the porch and settled in comfortably, watching Edward gallantly help Bella out of the car. At that moment, Charlie came out of the house, holding a shotgun.
The drama reached its peak. Bella froze, seeing her father with the weapon, and Edward instantly went pale — even for a vampire. Alex, wasting no time, grabbed a bag of popcorn and passed a handful to Emmett and Jasper. The trio stifled laughter as they watched the "movie" unfold.
Edward's expression at that moment could be described as a mix of panic and terror — he clearly had no idea what to do. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Alex, Emmett, and Jasper on the porch, chewing popcorn and observing him like sports commentators. Seeing him glance their way, the trio simultaneously gave him thumbs-up, as if to say: "You've got this! Probably…"
Charlie, meanwhile, listened to Bella's indignant words but kept his eyes on Edward. Even though Edward was a vampire, he felt uneasy standing next to Bella's father with a hunting rifle. Bella, blushing, barely managed to drag Charlie back into the house, reassuring him that everything was fine. Before the door slammed, Charlie threw Edward one more warning look.
Alex barely managed to stop himself from facepalming. After all, he had literally spoken to Charlie earlier that day, asking him to act like a caring father — but apparently, Charlie had taken it far too literally.
Bella exhaled heavily, feeling both irritation and embarrassment. She was about to say something to Edward when she noticed Alex, Emmett, and Jasper on the neighboring porch with popcorn, nodding approvingly and clearly enjoying the show.
This only made Bella blush harder, and she buried her face in her hands. Edward, trying not to smile, stepped closer and gently hugged her.
The embrace didn't last long — he was still struggling to suppress his thirst, especially feeling her heartbeat and that intoxicating scent. Letting go of Bella, he quietly said he'd come by again tomorrow, and, gathering the last of his self-control, kissed her on the lips. Bella looked as if she wished the moment could last forever.
After saying goodbye, she went inside — where her furious father with the shotgun awaited and a long conversation ensued.
Alex, Emmett, and Jasper, watching the doors close, high-fived in unison, and Alex smirked:
"Edward made it. This time."
After Bella disappeared inside, Edward was about to leave, but Alex called out to him and invited him to join the group. After all, they could still be considered friends — even if Alex liked teasing him, calling him "the vampire with bipolar disorder."
Edward saw no reason to refuse and agreed. Besides, the Cullen family often gathered at Alex's place — it always had a cozy, almost human-like atmosphere.
When they returned to the backyard, Emmett, glowing with excitement, couldn't resist immediately telling the girls what had just happened. Hearing that Charlie had threatened Edward with a shotgun, the girls laughed heartily, and Rosalie nearly choked from laughing.
But the laughter quickly turned to curiosity — everyone was eager to know how the date had gone. After all, since Edward had started spending time with Bella, he had finally stopped acting like the gloomy, depressive melancholic he had been for so many years. Now, something alive — something human — had awakened in him.
When the conversation turned to Edward's confession that he was a vampire, Rosalie crossed her arms and said seriously:
"This isn't for you to decide, Edward, whether Bella becomes a vampire or not. That's her choice. Don't forget that our life now isn't all that different from a human one. And remember what our local Demon King told you — we have a soul. I'm sure Bella will make her choice herself and tell you when she's ready."
Edward frowned, staring at his beer bottle, and muttered:
"I still don't want to do it…"
Alex, sitting nearby, sighed heavily and lit a cigarette.
"Listen, it's better if you turn her yourself than let her find another way. Trust me, I know Bella — once she decides something, she won't stop. So just talk to her about it. Right now, you're at the beginning of your relationship — enjoy this time. Make memories with her. Talk about anything except vampires. And when you realize she's ready, just be a man. Get down on one knee, take out a ring, and say: 'Bella, are you ready to spend eternity with me?' No philosophical suffering about monsters and morals."
Alice, sitting next to him, wrapped her arms around Alex's neck and smiled:
"Maybe it's too early to talk about eternity, but Alex is right. Let everything happen in its own time. I waited for him for ten years. And now, hehe… I have the best husband in the world, who loves and spoils me. And even four wonderful daughters."
She gently kissed Alex on the cheek, and the others smiled. Edward nodded thoughtfully. The very thought of losing Bella caused him pain — the same pain he had long forgotten. His dead heart seemed to come alive for a moment, painfully contracting.
Alex hoped that Edward would finally stop acting like a martyr, endlessly insisting he didn't want Bella to become a "monster." All this did was hurt them both. And now, with a spiritual connection established between them, they could no longer be far apart. Their fates were intertwined — literally.
To prove it, Alex raised his hand and approached Edward. Edward looked at him in surprise, unsure of what he was doing. Alex placed his palm over Edward's eyes — and for a moment, everything around him vanished. Edward saw a scarlet thread stretching from his chest to Bella's house, right into her room.
When Alex removed his hand, Edward looked stunned. The others exchanged confused glances, not understanding what had happened.
"Hey, what are you doing there?" Emmett chuckled. "Are you trying to blind our brother?"
"No," Alex replied calmly, rolling his eyes. "I just showed him the red thread of fate that connects him and Bella."
"Oh, do Emmett and I have one too?" Rosalie asked curiously, tilting her head.
Alex sighed heavily.
"Rosie, are you serious? Or did your brain suddenly turn to jelly?"
"I'm just asking," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm curious how it looks."
Alex shrugged and, not wanting to argue, repeated the same gesture. In an instant, Rosalie gasped — a scarlet thread stretched from her wrist, connecting her to Emmett.
Removing his hand, Alex smirked, watching their astonished faces.
"Well, if anyone else wants to check their fate — step right up," he said with a grin.
But Jane, Jasper, and Emmett shook their heads simultaneously. Even without any threads, it was clear who was connected to whom.
Meanwhile, Edward continued gazing toward Bella's house — where his thread of fate stretched.
After midnight, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Jane, and Edward said their goodbyes to Alex and headed home. Once the door closed behind them, Alex, Lucina, and Alice quickly tidied up the backyard before heading to bed. But instead of going upstairs, Alex went down to the basement — to check on Albert and Greg.
He deliberately positioned Albert so that he could see what had happened to Greg — a subtle warning of what awaited him if he proved useless or refused to reveal Crowley's location. Once he was satisfied everything was under control, Alex left GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Claptrap to keep watch over the prisoners. Honestly, they didn't care how they spent their time — as long as there was internet and electricity. The mountains of snack wrappers scattered across the floor were just part of the "work atmosphere."
After tossing Albert a few threatening-but-friendly parting words, Alex went upstairs. But no sooner had he approached the bed than someone grabbed his hands and, before he could react, pinned him to the mattress.
The next morning, Alex woke to someone persistently poking his nose. Opening his eyes, he met bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief. Long black hair braided into twin pigtails and a wide grin — it could only be Hestia, who had decided to wake him and make breakfast.
Seeing the goddess first thing in the morning, Alex just smiled — the day promised to be wonderful. He hugged Hestia tightly and kissed her on the cheek. She giggled, snuggling into him in response. After a little playful lying around together, they finally got up: Alex went to wash up, and Hestia followed as usual, helping him "straighten his face" — massaging his cheeks and forehead so his expression didn't look too stern.
When they finished, Alex quickly kissed the goddess, making her braids bounce cheerfully. Hestia, beaming, dragged him downstairs to show off the breakfast she had made with all her love.
Alex had always enjoyed Hestia's cheerful nature — she rarely felt sad or angry. Her kindness and warm energy lifted everyone around her. She seated Alex at the table and, resting her chin in her hands, watched him eat like a child awaiting praise.
She had recently been learning to cook from Erina, and judging by the taste, her progress was impressive. Alex ate with delight, nodding with a satisfied smile, while Hestia's eyes shone ever brighter. As they had breakfast with Alice and Lucina, the goddess and the girl chatted nonstop, filling the house with light and laughter.
Alex wasn't surprised that Alice and Hestia quickly became friends — both were sincere and emotional, easily finding common ground with anyone.
When it was time to head to school, Alice and Hestia hugged like old friends. Alex only intended to lean in and give the goddess a goodbye kiss, but Hestia had her own ideas: she leapt onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist, cupped his face in her hands, and planted a firm kiss before jumping into the opening portal.
The portal closed, leaving a faint golden shimmer behind.
"Hestia, as always… one big bundle of cheerfulness," Alex chuckled, looking at the spot where the goddess had just been.
"Yeah, she's amazing. And how should I put this..." Alice said, placing a finger on her lips as if searching for the right words.
"Friendly?" Lucina guessed, stepping out of the house.
"Almost… She's like a sister and a mother to everyone," Alice replied thoughtfully.
"That's what a goddess of the hearth is for," Alex said with a soft smile, closing the door. "Being around her makes you feel like you're home."
Alice nodded, fully agreeing with him. Even so, she appreciated Hestia's presence — the goddess left behind a sense of warmth and comfort, as if the house had become a little brighter.
As they approached the Impala, Alex and the girls noticed Edward arriving to pick up Bella for school. Alex, still in a good mood, waved at him with a light smile and got behind the wheel. This unexpected cheerfulness confused Edward — he was used to seeing Alex as someone who would never miss a chance to tease him, and here he was — smiling and calm.
But Alex paid no attention to the glances around him. With Lucina and Alice, he got in the car and headed to school.
They arrived quickly. Alex stepped out, inhaled the cool morning air, and smiled — the day promised to be good. When he spotted the Cullens, he waved to them and, accompanied by the girls, headed toward his friends.
Of course, this behavior did not go unnoticed. Everyone was used to seeing Alex's expression indifferent to school, lessons, or crowds of teenagers. His smile and calm demeanor even surprised the vampires.
"What's gotten into you this morning? Where's that usual look of someone who'd rather be anywhere else?" Emmett asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hestia stopped by this morning. That's why he's so cheerful," Lucina replied, leaning on Alex's shoulder.
"Wait… the real Hestia? The little goddess with blue eyes and braids?" Rosalie asked, crossing her arms in surprise.
"That's her!" Alice confirmed with a smile. "She's… radiant. As soon as she appeared, the house seemed alive. I don't even know how to explain it, but her presence was simply wonderful."
"That's what a goddess is for," Jane noted, holding Jasper's hand. "Or is it just her, not the other gods?"
"Depends on the god," Alex smirked. "Take Loki, for example… you know she's tricking you, but there's nothing you can do about it. She's very playful, but… don't gamble with her. Once, I had to remind a couple of gods that losses should be accepted with dignity. Or I'll help them accept it — personally."
Everyone laughed. For the vampires, gods were still something distant and almost mythical, so no one pressed further.
Just before the bell rang, Alex received a message on his phone — from Loki.
"I'm offended," she wrote. "Looks like this little one brought you more joy than I did. So I'll just take a bottle of wine from Valhalla. Since you traded me for this shrimp."
Alex just smirked. He knew perfectly well that Loki was simply looking for an excuse to get some wine. He replied with a heart emoji. A minute later, a photo arrived — Loki in a seductive pose, wearing her trademark mischievous smile. Alex, of course, saved the picture in his private collection.
Lucina, noticing him put the phone away, squinted.
"Loki?"
"Yep," Alex replied briefly.
No further questions were asked — Lucina's expression said it all.
The school day passed surprisingly calmly. The only notable event was Bella sitting at the main table with the Cullens for the first time — Edward himself had invited her. She looked a little embarrassed, but Alice and Rosalie quickly helped her relax.
When classes ended, Alex suggested a trip to Port Angeles — a walk for the whole group, now that Bella was officially "part of their circle." No one objected, especially Bella, who wanted to get to know Edward's family better.
However, once the group reached a clothing store, the guys faced the oldest and most terrifying fate of all men — waiting while the girls tried on outfits.
Fortunately, Alex had planned ahead. He pulled out several portable gaming consoles, and soon all the guys were absorbed in playing, occasionally glancing up to answer questions like:"So, does this look good on me?"
By now, each of them had learned to give only the "right" answers to avoid consequences.
After the store, everyone headed to a local diner. While the girls chatted about their own matters, the guys continued playing, not bothering them. Even Edward, to everyone's surprise, looked calm and let Bella freely interact with the others.
He was already thinking about the moment he would invite Bella to his home to meet his parents. And now, after spending time with Alice, Rosalie, and Jane, Bella genuinely felt more at ease being part of their strange but close-knit family.
To be continued…
(Hmmm... I'm still thinking about which horror movie plots to add. But I think I'll decide soon, and then I'll move on, either in between the Twilight plot, or I'll finish it after the Baseball game. But I think the first thing after that will be a small supernatural plot element, and then I'll move on.)
Early access to chapters on my patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter