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The journey from Alaska to Forks had passed in the blink of an eye. For a human, it would have been a distance demanding entire days on the road; for Nate and Alice, running at the maximum speed their bodies could withstand, it was nothing more than a prolonged blink. Less than a day after departing, they were already skirting the damp, eternally green forests that heralded their proximity to Forks.
The humid air of Washington hit their skin differently. There was a distinct scent in the atmosphere—a mix of wet earth and salt from the nearby sea. Nate sensed it with every inhalation, but his face remained serene, almost impassive. On the outside, he seemed calm; inside, however, a turbulent river of thoughts and memories dragged him uncontrollably.
Alice, on the other hand, could not hide her concern. Every so often, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, with that gaze of hers that seemed to read not only the present but possible futures as well. Nate did not need to hear her to understand what was running through her mind: he knew his self-control was not yet perfect. Spending long stretches in a populated area, surrounded by human scents, was testing a muscle that had only just begun to strengthen.
When they neared Port Angeles, they stopped. The silence of the forest closed in around them, broken only by the crunch of branches beneath their feet. Alice was the first to speak, organizing the details with a precision that seemed rehearsed.
"My family says the Quileute have been watching their every move. We can't just walk into Forks like nothing's happening. If they mistake us for nomads, they might attack."
Nate tilted his head, considering. He wasn't worried about fighting. He knew what he was capable of, and inside him, that certainty burned like red-hot iron. But he also understood what was at stake: if he were to injure one of the wolves, even unintentionally, the fragile peace talks between the Cullens and the Quileute would shatter into pieces.
They ended up settling at the outskirts of Port Angeles, where the city blended into the forest. There, amid the thickets, they remained like statues, motionless, while Alice pulled out her phone with a quick, natural, almost mechanical gesture. She dialed Carlisle.
The patriarch's voice answered immediately, calm as always, but with a hint of expectation hidden between the syllables:
"Understood. Stay there. We'll send someone to guide you. In the meantime, we'll disperse. It's better that the Quileute don't sense your arrival… If any of them discover that Nate is here, they could pressure Jacob into refusing to speak with him. That contact must be made discreetly, by surprise."
Alice nodded silently, though Nate, listening to every word, barely pressed his lips together. He exhaled softly, as if releasing a weight he had carried in his chest.
For him, the idea was simpler: enter the reservation directly, find Jacob, and speak to him face-to-face. He was convinced that with Jacob present, no conflict would erupt. And even if it did, Nate knew—with the cold certainty that came with his new immortality—that he could walk away unscathed.
Minutes passed slowly as they remained still in the forest. The wind carried the scent of the sea, and the distant calls of birds mingled with the whisper of leaves. It was Alice who broke the silence, her voice calm, though her eyes scrutinized him with unease.
"How are you?"
Nate blinked, surprised by the question. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed Alice's steady gaze, one eyebrow raised in expectation. Before he could answer, she lowered her voice slightly and clarified:
"I mean, about returning to Forks…"
The words lingered in the air, heavy with invisible weight. The name of that place had the power to awaken in Nate memories of another life: faces, laughter, promises. And among them all, one in particular shone brighter than the rest.
Nate quickly suppressed the thought; he didn't want to worry his partner any further. With a serene smile, tinged with slight fatigue, he replied to Alice, "I'm fine. These aren't the conditions under which I wanted to return, but I think I can handle it… Though, to be honest, I'd rather resolve this quickly and finally start hunting Riley…"
Alice nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting understanding and some concern. She knew that at that moment, Nate was still not ready to fully immerse himself in his family's lifestyle. This small "mission" was merely a temporary stop, a precautionary step before he could reintegrate completely. Her mind calculated every risk, but her heart, though outwardly unshakable, longed for the closeness she could not relinquish.
With determined movements, Alice approached Nate and embraced him, resting her head against his firm chest. Nate returned the hug without hesitation, feeling the intensity of his own contained strength. His mind was a whirlwind of memories, thoughts, and plans to execute, but Alice's proximity gave him a brief respite from his worries. The touch of her hair against his chest, the contact of their skin… it all seemed to hold time in a perfect instant. They stayed like that, motionless, like statues in the shadowy forest night, letting Washington's damp breeze caress their faces and stir the leaves around them.
Finally, Nate lifted his gaze, focusing on the horizon with a hard, measured expression. He stepped away from Alice slowly and, in a flat, almost indifferent tone, said, "Looks like they sent your sister for us…"
Alice's eyes immediately lit up. Anticipation electrified her chest, and the forest air seemed to fill with expectation. Only seconds later, the unmistakable scent of Rosalie drifted through the trees, mingling with the fresh smell of damp earth.
The sound of rushing air heralded her arrival before they could see her. Rosalie appeared through the forest mist, impeccable as always, her imposing and elegant presence dominating the surroundings effortlessly. When she laid eyes on Alice, a natural smile appeared on her face, a mixture of joy and relief that seemed to soften the sharpness of her features. Without losing a moment, she extended her arms and hugged her sister tightly, letting the connection between them fill the air with intense, familiar warmth. Alice returned the hug, feeling each worry dissipate for a moment in the safety of the reunion.
Rosalie's eyes shone with a faint light, as if this brief meeting had awakened a contained relief after weeks of invisible tension. "I'm glad to see you," she said, her voice caressing each word softly, almost like a whisper blending with the forest's humid air.
Then, slowly, she turned her gaze to Nate. Her tone shifted, becoming more formal and courteous, with a calculated edge that betrayed no emotion. "Welcome back, Nate."
Nate responded with a slight nod, aware of the attention Rosalie was giving him. He noticed in her eyes a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, as if she were trying to read every thought, like a feline evaluating every move before deciding its next step. He sighed softly; acclimating to this new coven would require starting from scratch. Though he had already lived with the Cullens, he had never felt completely comfortable. Carlisle and Esme inspired trust and affection; although he didn't fully share Carlisle's life philosophy, he couldn't deny that seeing them evoked nostalgic memories of his own parents. Emmett, with his open and reliable energy, was also easy for Nate to relate to; his simplicity and uncomplicated nature were pleasing.
But the others… they were more uncertain territory. Rosalie had always looked at him with some disdain, and although he knew how to handle it, now that his emotions were more intense, he wasn't sure he could avoid friction. However, from what he perceived, this time she seemed cautious, measuring each word and gesture as if aware that a comment or unpleasant action could awaken something dark in Nate.
Then there was Jasper. Although he had never had a relationship with Alice, it was evident that his feelings for her remained, silent but noticeable. Nate wasn't jealous, but he couldn't deny that his mere presence acted as a constant reminder of what might have been, a shadow slipping into every thought.
And Edward… the matter with Edward was even more complicated. Nate had promised himself to remain indifferent, especially for Alice, but every time his mind conjured Edward, he felt a spark of anger flare in his chest, difficult to ignore, difficult to control.
He remained lost in thought for a few seconds, reviewing every detail, every gesture, every shared silence with the family. Finally, he shook his head slightly, trying to clear the tangle of emotions, and with a polite, almost mechanical smile, asked, "Shall we go?"
Rosalie nodded with elegance, letting her shiny hair move gently in the night breeze, and indicated they should follow her. Alice wasted no time, taking Nate's hand, and together they began to run after Rosalie, moving with feline agility through the forest shadows. Every step was sure and calculated, a reminder of their immortal nature, while the humid night air caressed their faces and the wind's whisper among the trees accompanied their movements, creating a hypnotic rhythm that marked their path toward the Cullen house.
The closer they got to the Cullen house, the more Forks' memories struck Nate's mind. The forest's humidity, the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves, all transported him to his past. But more than any memory of the place, his thoughts centered on his grandmother. Just imagining her sparked an urgent feeling, an impulse to pass by his old home, almost hoping that, upon opening the door, she would be there to greet him. The image was so vivid that for a moment, his steps slowed, and for a second, time seemed to stop. However, he soon shook his head. He knew the house had been empty for a long time, and he was the only surviving member of his family. The certainty hurt like a cold seeping to the bone, a reminder of the loneliness that had enveloped him since attaining immortality.
Alice, sensing his silent sadness, gently squeezed his hand. The contact was simple, yet enough to bring a small relief. Nate allowed himself a brief moment of calm; though he would never see his parents or grandmother again, he would have Alice by his side for all eternity. That thought made him smile faintly, a brief gesture that quickly turned into determination. To secure that future, he needed to resolve many things first. Among them was the reason that had brought him back to Forks.
As they advanced, the forest began to clear, revealing the contours of the Cullen house in the distance. Its windows reflected the moonlight, creating a silver halo that seemed to mark the entrance to a world both familiar and distant. Rosalie, walking with calculated elegance, commented cautiously, "Looks like the plan worked… I don't sense any Quileute nearby." Her voice was measured, and her eyes shone with the moonlight's reflection, evaluating every shadow among the trees.
Nate sniffed the air with the precision of his vampiric nature, sensing the tranquility emanating from the house. "Nothing smells off," he said, low and confident. "I'm sure Carlisle and Esme are inside."
Rosalie hesitated for a moment, scanning the surroundings as if searching for any hint that might contradict the sense of safety. Finally, detecting the familiar scent from inside the house, she nodded slightly, wordlessly.
Alice, sensing Nate needed a touch of lightness, crossed her arm with his and, in a cheerful tone contrasting with the tension of the moment, said while looking at Rosalie for confirmation, "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?"
Rosalie didn't smile; her expression remained distant, and her voice was barely a whisper: "Yes… quite…"
Without further delay, they approached the entrance. The solid wooden door creaked slightly as it opened, and the warm, familiar air of the interior greeted them, mingling with the night breeze still filtering through the doorway. Carlisle and Esme stood at the threshold, the patriarch's figure upright, imposing yet welcoming, and Esme radiating her usual serenity, warmth, and protection.
Carlisle received them with his usual calm, enveloping smile, radiating a warmth that seemed to fill the quiet foyer. His eyes shone with a deep, tranquil light, reflecting genuine joy at seeing Nate and Alice; there was a hint of satisfaction in his gaze, as if he truly felt pleased to have them back. Nate couldn't help but notice that this joy wasn't mere courtesy but a sincere emotion emanating from every gesture of the patriarch. "It's been a while… but welcome back home," Carlisle said, his voice as firm as it was gentle, softly resonating between the walls, carrying a comforting warmth that seemed to envelop them and momentarily dispel the tension accumulated from the forest and the journey.