Five years. That's how long it had been since Edward left the Volturi behind and reluctantly joined the Cullens. Life with them was… tolerable, though hardly fulfilling. The Cullens lived a strange existence, clinging to humanity like a lifeline, despite what they were. Still, he'd grown accustomed to their ways, even if they often felt foreign to him.
During the weekdays, Edward traveled to nearby towns and cities, immersing himself in the world he had long avoided. His life with the Volturi had been singular in focus: missions, decisions, and an unyielding loyalty to Aro's ideals. Now, he was free of that, though freedom came with its own emptiness. He traveled not to explore, but to escape the monotony of weekends spent with the Cullens.
On those weekends, however, he returned to the family Carlisle insisted was his. Carlisle posed him as a distant cousin, a convenient lie to explain Edward's presence in their tight-knit community. During this time, Edward had met the Cullens' so-called cousins—a vegetarian coven in Alaska.
Eleazar, a former Volturi guard, was among them, but to Edward's surprise, he was not their leader. That role fell to Tanya, the eldest of three sisters. Tanya, Kate, and Irina had lived under the shadow of their mother's execution for centuries, victims of the Volturi's wrath—or so they claimed. Edward had listened to their stories with quiet disdain.
Their mother had created an immortal child, an unforgivable act in vampire law, and the resulting chaos had led to the destruction of their entire village. Edward saw no innocence in such reckless actions. Whatever her intentions, their mother had invited ruin upon herself and her community. He kept these thoughts to himself at first, unwilling to stir conflict. He wasn't defending the Volturi, not exactly. But he found their actions justified.
The tension between Edward and the sisters reached a breaking point during one of his visits.
"You must have heard it firsthand," Tanya said, her voice sharp and accusatory. "What the Volturi did to our family. Do you still think they were right?"
Edward's gaze was cool, his tone measured. "What your mother did was reckless. She created an immortal child, knowing the consequences. Entire communities don't fall apart because of children—they fall apart because of the adults who create them without thought for the destruction they cause."
Tanya's expression shifted from flirtatious to furious in an instant. She had made her interest in Edward abundantly clear from the moment they met, but now that interest was replaced with seething anger.
"You defend them," she accused. "You're no better than they are."
"I'm not defending anyone," Edward replied, his voice as icy as his skin. "I'm stating the truth. Hybrids are no threat. They're more vulnerable than vampires, and they can be killed as easily as any human child. Your mother's actions weren't about creating a hybrid—they were about hubris."
Kate stepped forward then, her golden eyes blazing. "You think you can come here and insult our family?!"
Edward's sharp gaze flicked to her. He had already sensed her gift, the electrical current she could channel at will. He was on alert, and his instincts proved correct.
Before Kate could attack, Edward moved. In a blur of motion, he dodged her charge and caught her arm, twisting it behind her back with precision. His grip was firm but not cruel.
"Don't," he said quietly, his voice low and commanding. "You wouldn't win."
Kate struggled, her frustration mounting, but Edward held her fast. Tanya looked ready to lunge at him herself, her fury palpable.
It was Carlisle's intervention that diffused the chaos.
"Enough," Carlisle said firmly, stepping between them. His voice, always calm, carried an authority that made even Kate stop struggling. Edward released her arm, his expression unreadable.
"Tensions run high, but this is not how we resolve things," Carlisle continued, looking between Edward and the sisters. "Edward is not your enemy, nor are you his. We are family."
Edward said nothing, his cold gaze meeting Tanya's for a brief moment before he turned away. He had spoken the truth, but truth was rarely welcome in these circles.
Later, as he walked away from the house, Edward reflected on the encounter. The Cullens and their cousins clung to ideals of unity and forgiveness, but he saw the cracks in their foundation. Tanya's bitterness, Kate's impulsiveness—they were far from the idyllic family they pretended to be.
But Edward didn't care. He wasn't here for them. He was here because Carlisle had offered him something he hadn't realized he wanted: distance. Distance from the Volturi.
And yet, even in this quiet new life, chaos found him. Perhaps it always would.
Life with the Cullens had its fleeting moments of amusement. One such moment came on a stormy afternoon, when Emmett decided they should play baseball.
"Perfect weather," Emmett had declared, grinning as thunder rumbled in the distance. His enthusiasm was infectious, even if Edward found the idea somewhat juvenile.
It was a relief, though, to have a distraction. Edward appreciated the chance to compete. Emmett and Jasper were naturally competitive, Alice was bouncy and full of energy, and Rosalie—though less inclined—would occasionally join in to prove she was better than Emmett.
This particular game was an energetic one, with thunder rolling overhead and their laughter echoing across the field. Edward even found himself smiling as Emmett groaned after a missed catch, Jasper taunted him, and Alice danced around the bases, gloating. For a moment, everything felt normal.
But that was when they came—three nomads, stepping out of the shadows like predators into the light.
Edward was the first to notice their approach, his senses alert as he caught their distinct scents. The others stopped playing, their gazes shifting toward the newcomers.
"Hello," one of them said, stepping forward with a confident stride. He introduced himself as Laurent, but it was clear he wasn't the leader. That role belonged to James, whose sharp gaze surveyed them with calculated precision.
Edward's mind immediately dove into their thoughts. Laurent's were calm and polite, without any immediate threat. James, however, was another story. His thoughts were chaotic, darting between curiosity and a sinister excitement Edward found disconcerting.
"We heard you playing," Laurent continued. "It's rare to find others of our kind gathered like this."
Carlisle stepped forward, his voice calm and inviting as he introduced their family. "We're the Cullens. We live nearby. You're welcome to join us for a game if you'd like."
James grinned, his sharp teeth glinting. "We'd love to."
Edward studied him carefully. He couldn't detect any immediate intent to harm, but something about James's thoughts gnawed at him. Still, he said nothing as the nomads joined the game.
James joined Edward's team, while Laurent and the red-haired woman—Victoria—joined Emmett's. The game resumed, and despite his unease, Edward found himself engaged. James was a skilled player, quick and calculating, though his amusement with the game bordered on unsettling.
By the time the game ended, with Emmett's team emerging victorious, Edward's attention had shifted entirely to James.
That's when he saw it. A flicker of memory in James's mind—an image of a hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and the sweetest scent James had ever encountered. The memory sharpened, revealing a young girl with dark hair and frightened eyes. Edward's chest tightened.
Alice.
The girl in James's memory was Alice.
Edward felt the realization strike like a thunderclap, louder than the storm above. James's mind was spinning with fragmented memories—ones that Edward could now piece together far too clearly.
The hospital. Alice's scent. The hunt that followed.
Edward's gaze flickered to Alice, who stood a few yards away, oblivious to the danger brewing. She was laughing at something Rosalie had said, but her posture betrayed a subtle unease. Perhaps she could sense the tension in the air, or perhaps James's proximity had unknowingly triggered a dormant fragment of her human life.
James's thoughts sharpened, his focus narrowing on Alice. Edward could see it all: the moment James had found her scent, the exhilaration of the chase, and the fury when another vampire had intervened. That vampire—probably Alice's creator—had taken her from him, turning her before James could claim her as his prize. Edward's jaw clenched. This wasn't just a memory. It was obsession.
And now James recognized her.
James started to move casually toward Alice, his thoughts brimming with malicious delight. A coven of six, will try to protect a little vampire. How quaint. And her mate—the one with the scars—he'll be fun to break.
Jasper, who had been watching Edward closely, stiffened. "Edward," he said under his breath. "What's going on?"
Edward didn't respond. His focus was locked on James, his mind already calculating. The nomad was dangerous—not just to Alice, but to anyone he fixated on. Edward had seen vampires like him before during his time with the Volturi, sadists who reveled in torment. Caius had been ruthless, yes, but governed by rules. James, on the other hand, was chaos personified.
Edward's mind was already made up. He didn't need further confirmation of James's intent; the nomad's thoughts were far too vivid, brimming with sick anticipation.
No confrontation was necessary.
Without warning, Edward moved. In a blur of speed, he reached James before anyone could react. The crack of bone was instantaneous as Edward's hand closed around James's neck, twisting it with a force that left no room for recovery. The head came off cleanly, the body collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Victoria screamed, her shrill voice echoing across the field, and turned to flee. But Edward was faster. He darted toward her, cutting off her escape before she'd taken more than a step. She hadn't even processed her companion's demise when Edward grabbed her by the arm, dislocating it in one swift motion.
"Don't even try," Edward said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion as he forced her to the ground.
Emmett and Jasper recovered from their shock and quickly moved to assist. Emmett pinned Victoria's thrashing body while Jasper immobilized her remaining limbs, removing them with surgical precision.
Laurent froze in place, his eyes wide with panic as he raised his hands in surrender. "I had no part in this!" he blurted out, his voice trembling. "I didn't know—"
Edward's piercing gaze silenced him. "Then leave," he said icily, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Before I change my mind."
Laurent didn't hesitate. He vanished into the forest, his retreat marked by the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves.
The storm above rumbled ominously, mirroring the tension in the field. The Cullens stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief as they processed what had just transpired.
"What in the world just happened?" Carlisle demanded, his usually calm voice tinged with alarm.
Edward didn't respond immediately. His focus shifted to the remains of James and Victoria, calculating the best way to dispose of them quickly.
Alice's voice broke the silence. "Edward…" she said softly, her tone laced with confusion. "Why? Who was he?"
Edward turned to face her, his expression softening slightly. "He was the one," he said, his voice quieter now. "The one who hunted you. The one who changed your life forever."
Alice blinked, her golden eyes widening in surprise. "I… I don't remember."
"You don't need to," Edward assured her firmly. "Not anymore."
Esme stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Edward, this isn't like you. You've never… not like this."
Edward's jaw tightened. "He was dangerous. You didn't see what I saw in his mind. He wouldn't have stopped. Not with Alice. Not with any of us."
Emmett let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Man, you don't mess around, do you? One second he's here, the next… poof."
Rosalie folded her arms, her expression guarded. "You could've warned us before you decided to play executioner."
Edward ignored the comment, turning instead to Carlisle. "We need to burn the remains. Now. Victoria's scream could've attracted attention."
Carlisle nodded, though his face was grave. "We'll handle it. Jasper, Emmett, help me gather the pieces."
As the family worked together to dispose of the bodies, Edward couldn't shake the tension that coiled in his chest. His decision had been necessary—of that he was certain—but the swiftness of his actions, the violence of it, weighed heavily on him.
James was gone, but the threat wasn't over.
For now, the storm above masked their actions, the rumble of thunder echoing across the mountains. But Edward's thoughts remained clouded. He had protected Alice, protected his family.
If there was a next time, he thought grimly, they wouldn't come alone.
The storm rolled on above them, the crackle of thunder echoing in the clearing. Carlisle stepped forward, his expression a mix of shock and disapproval. "Edward, this was unnecessary," he said, his voice firm yet tinged with concern. "We could've handled this differently. Violence isn't always the answer."
Edward turned to face him, his expression cold but resolute. "You didn't see his mind," he said evenly, his golden eyes meeting Carlisle's. "He wasn't going to stop. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. He would've hunted Alice down until he succeeded or died trying. I simply ensured it was the latter."
Carlisle's lips pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowed. "But we could've reasoned with him—"
"There's no reasoning with someone like James," Edward cut him off, his voice low but full of conviction. "He's not like us, Carlisle. He doesn't have a conscience, only a hunger for chaos and destruction. If I'd hesitated, he would've acted, and we would've been the ones caught off guard."
Jasper, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Edward's right." His tone was calm but carried a weight of experience. "I've seen men like James before—both human and vampire. They're predators through and through. The longer you let them exist, the more dangerous they become."
He glanced at Edward, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "You made the call, and it was the right one. Quick, decisive, and necessary."
Edward gave a small nod of acknowledgment but kept his gaze on Carlisle, whose stance remained uncertain.
"I don't take this lightly," Edward continued. "But I will protect this family, Carlisle. I'll protect Alice. And if that means making difficult decisions, then so be it."
As the Cullens worked together to dispose of the remains, Jasper found himself glancing at Edward with newfound respect. For all his cold exterior and apparent detachment, Edward had acted not out of impulse but out of necessity. Jasper, who had lived through centuries of war and chaos, recognized the clarity and courage it took to make such a decision.
"You know," Jasper said quietly as they gathered the pieces of James's body, "you might be colder than you let on."
Edward glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Sometimes, cold is what's needed."
Jasper gave a small nod, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Well, at least now I know you're not just the brooding type."
Edward didn't respond, but a faint flicker of amusement crossed his features before he returned to the task at hand.
Carlisle, meanwhile, remained quiet, though the tension in his posture spoke volumes. He didn't agree with Edward's methods, but deep down, he couldn't deny the truth in his reasoning.
As the fire consumed the remains of James and Victoria, Edward stood at the edge of the clearing, his gaze fixed on the flames. He had acted decisively, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it. The safety of his family came first, and that meant being prepared for whatever came next.
Because this wasn't the end. He could feel it. This was only the beginning.
As the last embers of the fire flickered out, Emmett clapped Edward on the back, grinning. "You know, you might just be the most exciting thing to happen to this family in decades."
Rosalie scoffed, her golden eyes narrowing. "Exciting? He's a walking storm cloud. Chaos follows him everywhere."
Edward smirked faintly, turning to glance at the family gathered around him. "Maybe chaos is exactly what this family needs."
And with that, Edward strode off into the forest, leaving behind the distinct sense that life with him would never be predictable.
Now we get to witness again Edward's erratic nature. Please let me know what you think.