CHAPTER 3

BELLA'S POV

The scent was faint, almost drowned out by the dampness in the air, but it was still there. Edward and I moved swiftly through the dense forest, our feet barely making a sound against the mossy ground. The rain would wash away the vampire's trail soon, so we had to hurry. It had rained earlier in the day, and now the drizzle had started again, threatening to obliterate any trace of our target. Reports of another disappearance had come that morning—a hiker this time. The pack had tracked the scent to the border of our territories, but out of respect, they hadn't crossed over. Even after seven years of cooperation, the lines between the Quileutes and the Cullens were maintained, at least for everyone except Jacob and Renesmee. They could cross over any time they wished, a silent acknowledgment of the unique bond we shared. As I ran alongside Edward, my mind couldn't help but drift to a time not so long ago. There was a sick irony in the situation—another hostile vampire hunting in these woods, preying on anyone unlucky enough to cross its path. Victoria had hunted here, once. The memory of her felt like a distant nightmare. Back then, I had been the weak, vulnerable human, and she had been coming after me. Now, the circumstances were different. The prey wasn't clear, and that was what troubled me. Carlisle believed the vampire might be drawn to our territory for the thrill of hunting near a powerful coven. But Edward had a different theory—he thought it was after something specific. The mountains loomed in the distance, the trail leading us right to the road at their base. We came to a sudden halt. Edward's hand tightened around mine as we both realized what had happened. The scent ended abruptly, and what remained was the sharp, unmistakable smell of gasoline.

"He had a car waiting," I muttered, scanning the road.

Edward nodded. "I was right. This one's definitely after something."

I squeezed his hand, feeling the tension between us. Edward's theory was becoming more convincing by the second. If this vampire was merely hunting for sport, it wouldn't be this careful, this calculated. Its movements were deliberate. It was avoiding us, staying ahead of both the pack and the Cullens. We hadn't seen anything like this since Victoria. Edward turned toward me, his golden eyes meeting mine. After all these years, the intensity of his gaze still took my breath away. He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against my lips before pulling back just enough to speak.

"We should follow the trail into Seattle," he suggested. "It's heading that way." I was about to respond when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Alice. I quickly answered.

"Ren's back," she said without preamble. Her voice had an edge to it. "I think you need to hear this." Edward's eyes narrowed in concern as I relayed the message. We exchanged a glance, and I nodded to him. There was no hesitation. The hunt would have to wait.

"We're on our way," I told Alice before hanging up. With a silent agreement, Edward and I turned back toward the forest, our figures blurring into the trees as we raced back toward the house. Whatever was waiting for us there, it was important enough for Alice to call.

The house was filled with a tense silence, all eyes fixed on me. Renesmee had just delivered the news, and now everyone was waiting, watching my reaction. I had been back in Forks for only two weeks, but it had been long enough to feel the weight of the supernatural world creeping in once again. A werewolf had imprinted on Eugene, my cousin. The cousin I had never been close to before. He was just ten when I became a vampire, but in the past few weeks, a soft spot had begun to grow in my heart for him. He reminded me of myself—my human self—the part I hadn't realized I missed so much. Even Edward had noticed the resemblance in character. Eugene was kind, thoughtful, and utterly unaware of the dangerous world he was now being dragged into. And now this.

"Who exactly imprinted on my cousin?" I asked, my voice barely betraying the storm inside me.

"Kira," Renesmee replied.

Kira Harlan. Paul's cousin. Jacob's been giving me stories about her over the last few weeks. Impulsive. Hot-headed. The youngest of the pack, and less controlled than Leah's cousin, Lila. Last week, they wolves almost caught the mystery vampire. They set a trap for him, hoping to catch him offguard and surround him, but Kira moved in too soon, alerting the vampire and just like that, he slipped away from their grasp. My grip on the edge of the counter tightened as the information sank in, i released it before i could damage it. It was Esme's favorite. This was bad. Really bad. The room remained silent, everyone still waiting for my reaction. They all knew how much I hated the idea of anyone from my family being pulled into this life. Especially not Eugene. He had just lost his parents six weeks ago. He had no idea what he was stepping into.

"The last member of the pack to imprint was Jacob," I said quietly, thinking aloud. "That was seven years ago. Why now?"Edward was already standing beside me, his calm voice a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt.

"The phenomenon doesn't follow a pattern, love. There haven't been many new additions to the pack since then."

Esme spoke next, her voice soft but filled with concern. "What does this mean for us exactly?" I glanced at Alice, her face unreadable but her voice laced with warning.

"Well, he's Bella's cousin. The wolves will have to tell him about their secret, and it's only a matter of time before he finds out about ours."

I drew in a sharp breath. No. Not now. Not when the Volturi were stirring again. Alice had been having visions for weeks—blurry, always changing—but the constant undertone was there. The Volturi were up to something, and we had no idea what it was. They wouldn't come against us directly, not after last time. But that didn't mean they were any less dangerous. Carlisle had already suggested we cancel all of our travel plans. Emmett and Rosalie had been planning a tour of Africa, but they'd canceled last minute. We couldn't afford to split up. Not with this much uncertainty in the air.

"Jacob's en route," Edward said, breaking through my thoughts. "He wants to discuss this with us. He's bringing Kira and Lila with him." I nodded, already sensing Jacob's presence as Edward did. He wasn't far.

"Sure, let them come. I'll prepare something for them to eat," Esme said, moving gracefully toward the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Renesmee breathe a sigh of relief. I knew why. Every time Jacob left on patrol, she worried, and I couldn't blame her. She always asked to go with him, but we couldn't risk it—not now. Not with the hostile vampire still lurking. Even Jacob couldn't guarantee her safety, and the thought of something happening to Renesmee... I shook it off, trying to focus on the present.

"I'll let them in," I said, moving toward the door as the others stayed in place. The cool air hit my face as I opened the door, and I inhaled deeply, instantly recognizing Jacob's scent. It was familiar now, a mix of earth and the forest, something that had grown comforting over the years. I heard him before I saw him, the subtle sound of him phasing back into human form behind the trees. A smile tugged at my lips as my best friend emerged from the shadows, shirtless as usual, his hair still damp from the rain. His grin easy, but his eyes serious.

I heard Renesmee's fluttering heartbeat suddenly increase it's pace as she appeared behind me. As I stepped aside, Jacob walked into the house with a confident ease, but I wasn't surprised when Kira Harlan and Lila Clearwater showed up just seconds behind him, both looking a little tense. My eyes immediately shifted to Kira, sizing her up without meaning to. She was striking—beautiful in that effortless way the Quileute wolves all seemed to possess. Her long dark hair was hard to miss, though Jacob had complained about it to her more than once -he never really stopped telling me about his day. She'd told him she wanted to keep it long until after her birthday next week. I recalled how werewolves' fur mirrored their hair length, and though hers wasn't as long as Jacob's had been, it still stood out. She had an athletic build, too, shown off by the short-sleeved white shirt and shorts she was wearing. She was the kind of girl who'd keep Eugene on his toes—impulsive and bold.

I turned to Jacob, giving him a quick hug. "Hey."

"Hey, Bells," he greeted back, but his eyes were on Renesmee. The tension that had lingered in his posture instantly melted away as he crossed the room and embraced her. Renesmee, smiling as always, kissed his cheek in return. It was moments like these when the air lightened, even if just a little.

My attention shifted to Lila Clearwater, standing beside Kira. She had the familiar sharp features of her cousin Leah, though there was something softer about her. Her expression was less stormy, less guarded, but I could tell she was still on edge. Both of them were. They were young wolves, and their unease was clear as they stood in a house filled with vampires. It was a natural reaction, one I'd seen enough times by now to understand.

"Lila, Kira," I greeted, offering a small nod, trying to ease their nerves. "Come in."

They exchanged a glance before stepping inside, their eyes taking in everything as if they were entering enemy territory, despite the alliance that had been strong for years. The tension between our species had never fully faded, and in moments like these, it showed.

I led them into the kitchen, where the rest of the family waited. Edward was already at my side, his calm presence grounding me. Alice sat perched on the counter, Esme by the stove, and the others in various spots around the room. It was quiet, too quiet, as if everyone was holding their breath.

Jacob and Renesmee had their own world going on in the corner, but I could see Jacob glance at me, a silent nod that it was time to get down to business.

"All right," I said, breaking the silence. "Let's get to the bottom of this."

Kira stood a little straighter at the mention, her eyes flickering between me and the rest of the Cullens, clearly uncomfortable but trying to mask it. I could almost hear the thoughts racing in her head, wondering what I was thinking, what I'd say. Honestly, I wasn't sure myself. But we had to deal with it, one way or another.

I glanced at Jacob, silently urging him to speak first.

He cleared his throat, his face serious again. "We're here to talk about Kira imprinting on Eugene. And what that means moving forward."

My stomach twisted slightly at the mention of my cousin's name. I couldn't imagine him being pulled into this. Not after everything he'd already been through. Kira's face softened slightly, her eyes searching mine for some kind of reaction, but I kept my expression neutral. I needed to hear more before I could form an opinion.

"We know it's a lot to take in," Lila added, her voice surprisingly steady. "But it happened, and we can't undo it."

Alice leaned forward, always the first to address the elephant in the room. "The timing couldn't be worse." Kira bristled slightly, her hands shaking at her sides, but she didn't say anything. It was Jacob who stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm.

"No one's blaming anyone, Alice. It's not something any of us can control." he said. I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Imprinting was sacred to the wolves—an unbreakable bond. But it complicated everything. Eugene didn't know the truth about the pack or the Cullens. How long could we keep him in the dark before he found out?

"We can't afford to take chances," Edward said, his golden eyes fixed on Jacob. "The Volturi are watching. The last thing we need is more exposure."

Jacob nodded. "We know. But Kira's connected to him now. We have to figure out a way forward that keeps everyone safe—especially Eugene." The room fell into silence once again. We all knew the risks. The Volturi had been quiet for years, but Alice's visions were a constant reminder that things could change in an instant. And now, with Eugene unknowingly tied to the supernatural world through Kira, it felt like another layer of danger had been added to an already precarious situation. I looked at Kira, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. She was young, impulsive, and now bound to my cousin. But she didn't choose this any more than Eugene did.

"What do you suggest?" I finally asked Jacob, my voice calm but heavy with unspoken questions.

Jacob glanced at Kira and then back at me. "We tell him. Sooner rather than later. He deserves to know the truth before he's caught off guard. And we'll figure out a way to protect him, whatever happens."

I nodded slowly. He was right. Eugene had to know. But I couldn't shake the dread gnawing at me. How would he react? Would he be able to handle it?

One thing was certain—we were about to find out.

EUGENE'S POV

I turned off the engine of my old Volkswagen Rabbit and sat there for a second, listening to the rain hammer against the windshield. First day of school, done. I wasn't sure how I felt about it yet. Mostly, I just felt… numb. Grabbing my bag, I stepped out into the downpour, slamming the car door behind me. The rain soaked through my jacket almost instantly, but I didn't care. I wasn't in the mood to rush.

Sue was waiting for me behind the door when I stepped inside, her usual warm smile in place. "Hey, kiddo. So, how was school?"

I forced a small smile and shrugged. "It was great," I said, though the word came out flat, empty.

Sue raised her eyebrows like she didn't quite believe me. "Make any friends?"

I hesitated, kicking off my shoes. Apart from Kira Harlan, the girl from Algebra, I hadn't exactly gone out of my way to talk to anyone else. I could've lied, told her I made a bunch of new friends, but what was the point? "I only talked to one person. Kira Harlan."

Sue's face lit up like I'd just told her the best news ever, and I immediately regretted saying anything.

"Old Kara's grandkid?" she asked, excited. "That's great. Though she did get expelled from the reservation's school. She's quite the wildcard."

She was probably going to start asking a million questions, and I really wasn't up for it. Before she could, I mumbled, "I've got homework," and bolted for my room, shutting the door behind me. I dropped my bag by the desk and sank into the bed, letting out a long breath. I couldn't stop thinking about that girl.

Kira Harlan.

The name echoed in my mind. I hadn't even really thought about it before, but now, lying here in the silence of my room, I couldn't stop thinking about her. There was something about her, something that tugged at me, as if I should know her from somewhere. But that didn't make any sense. I never met her before today. Yet, there had been a strange, unshakable familiarity between us, like she was someone who had always been part of my life, even though she hadn't been.

"What's wrong with me?" i muttered, shaking my head.

I needed a distraction, something to clear my thoughts. I needed a shower. The rain outside was coming down harder now, beating against the roof. Just as I was about to get up, I heard the sound of a car pulling up outside, its tires splashing through the puddles. Weird. No one usually came by at this time of day.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I walked over to the window. Through the rain, I saw it—an unfamiliar Bentley parked right behind my beat-up Rabbit. The sight of it made me pause. That wasn't just anyone's car.

It was Bella's.

Even now, I couldn't believe how young she looked. Barely nineteen, even though she was actually in her mid-twenties. There was something surreal about it, like she hadn't aged a day since I last saw her. I watched as she got out, holding an umbrella over her head, and walked toward the house, her steps slow and graceful, like nothing in the world could rush her. I could hear Sue's excited voice from the porch, greeting her like she hadn't seen Bella in years. There was a lot of loud chatter downstairs—Sue asking how Bella's been, Bella's soft voice responding, though I couldn't quite make out what she was saying. The two of them talked for a few minutes before I heard footsteps heading up the stairs. A soft knock came at the door before it cracked open, Sue peeking in.

"Eugene," she said, smiling like she had some secret she couldn't wait to spill. "Your cousin's here. She wants to take you out for dinner. It's about time you two catch up."

Dinner? With Bella? I hadn't expected that. I stared at her for a moment, my mind catching up. Bella had barely spoken to me in years. Sure, she came to my parent's funeral... but this? The last time i saw her before the funeral was when i was ten, when I came to Forks with my parents to attend her wedding.

"Uh... yeah, okay," I said, a little thrown off, but I slowly stood up. There was no point in saying no. Besides, maybe it'd be good to catch up. Still, as I headed downstairs, a nagging feeling tugged at me. Something about this felt off. Like there was more to it than just dinner.

I didn't know I was right. Something big was waiting for me, and my world was about to get a whole lot weirder.

Hey there. So here's my new chapter, hope you enjoy. Expect the next one in just a few hours. And before you ask... Yes, i'm that idle. Anyways let me know what you think. The next update will still be A legacy of Shadows then after that i'll update Super Saiyan infinity by two chapters as well. Bye.