In mid-March, Alice had a vision. The Volturi were coming.

The air in the room turned cold, despite the fire crackling in the hearth. Alice's vision had everyone frozen in place, their faces tense with a mix of dread and determination. Her expression was uncharacteristically grave as she stared into the distance, the remnants of her vision still lingering in her golden eyes.

"They'll be here by April first," Alice finished, her voice barely audible but cutting through the silence like a blade.

Carlisle was the first to speak, his calm demeanor steadying us all even as the weight of her words sank in. "Do you know what their plan is? Can we hide Bree?"

Alice shook her head, her frustration evident. "Hiding Bree won't change anything. Blaming her for Victoria's crimes is just their cover story. This isn't about Bree. It's about us."

Her gaze swept across the room, lingering on each of us. "They want to take us over. To make us like them so they can use us."

Esme's hand fluttered to her mouth as she gasped softly. Jasper folded his arms and began pacing, his brow furrowed. Emmett clenched his fists, the promise of a fight lighting his eyes, while Rosalie looked torn between fury and fear.

Beside me, Bella's grip on my hand tightened. I glanced at her, and the fire in her brown eyes sent a thrill through me. Even as a human, Bella was braver than most vampires I had known. "We won't let them take you," she whispered fiercely.

I squeezed her hand back, remembering to be gentle - my love for her grounding me in this moment of uncertainty. "We won't let them take any of us," I said, my voice stronger than I felt.

Carlisle straightened, his leadership radiating from him as he addressed the family. "Then we prepare. We defend ourselves and each other. This isn't the first time we've faced the Volturi, and it likely won't be the last."

Jasper halted his pacing as he looked at Carlisle. "We'll need to start strategizing immediately. Bree's training has come a long way, but we'll need to accelerate it. And Bella…" He hesitated, glancing at her.

"I want to fight," Bella said firmly, her chin lifting. "I may not be a vampire, but I've been learning. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines."

"Bella…" Emmett started, his voice low, but she cut him off with a sharp look.

"I'm not helpless, Emmett," she told him. "I'm not going to let them hurt Bree. Or any of you."

I felt a swell of pride and love for her, and I couldn't help but smile. "She's right," I said, drawing the family's attention. "Bella's been training hard. She's stronger than you think."

"I agree," Emmett said. "But a human, even a trained one, is still no match for a vampire - especially the Volturi."

Esme stepped forward, her expression softening as she placed a hand on Bella's shoulder. "We'll do everything we can to keep you both safe," she said. Her eyes darted to me, her lips curving into a faint smile.

As the conversation shifted to tactics and strategies, Bella and I exchanged a glance. In that moment, words weren't necessary. We were in this together, no matter what came our way.

The following days were a blur of preparation. The Cullens worked tirelessly, sharpening their skills and honing our defenses. Jasper and Emmett intensified my training, pushing me harder than ever before. Bella, despite her human limitations, insisted on joining every session. Her determination was both inspiring and heart-wrenching. I couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt.

Late one night, after everyone else had retreated to their rooms, Bella and I sat on the porch, the crisp March air wrapping around us. She leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder as we watched the stars.

"Do you think we'll win?" she asked softly, her voice trembling just enough to betray her fear.

I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. "We'll do everything we can. And no matter what, I'll protect you."

She tilted her head up to look at me, her brown eyes shimmering with emotion. "You're the one who needs protecting, Bree. You're the one they're after."

I shook my head, my lips curving into a small smile. "Maybe. But you heard Alice and Jasper - they really want them, for their abilities. I'm a nobody. But I'd fight the whole Volturi army alone if it meant keeping you safe."

Her hand came up to cup my cheek, her touch warm and grounding. "I don't want you to fight alone. Promise me we'll face this together."

"I promise," I whispered, and sealed it with a kiss that was both tender and desperate.

The atmosphere in the Cullen house grew heavier with every passing day. Though the family trained tirelessly, a shadow of doubt loomed over us all. Alice was relentless in her efforts, outlining Volturi tactics and drilling us on every possible scenario. Even Emmett, usually jovial and eager for a fight, grew uncharacteristically quiet as the reality of our situation sank in. This wouldn't be like the battle with Victoria's army. The Volturi wouldn't have newborns' raw strength, but their centuries of experience more than made up for that.

One evening, after hours of sparring and strategizing, Alice abruptly slammed the map she had been using onto the table and let out a rare sigh of frustration. Bella and I, seated together on the couch, exchanged a worried glance before approaching her.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Bella asked gently, her hand resting lightly on Alice's arm.

Alice turned to us, her golden eyes filled with sorrow. "I've been looking at every possible outcome, every variation of what might happen," she said, her voice quiet but taut. "I've been trying to prepare us for however the Volturi might come at us, whatever they might throw at us. No matter what we do, I keep seeing the Volturi defeating us."

The room fell silent. Even the usual hum of voices and movement from the others ceased as everyone turned their attention to Alice.

"There has to be something we can do," Bella said, her voice shaking. I could hear the fear she was trying to mask, and it made me grip her hand tighter.

"Maybe we need reinforcements," Emmett suggested, his deep voice breaking the tension. "Can we call the wolves? They helped us before."

Bella shook her head sadly, her expression pained. "The wolves won't come," she said, her voice soft. "They're upset with Jacob. He made himself miserable, and that made all of them miserable too. They're mad at him, and by extension they're mad at me. They don't blame me really, but they don't want anything to do with us right now."

Emmett's face fell, and Jasper spoke up. "What about your old acquaintances, Carlisle? Anyone who might be willing to help us?"

Carlisle's narrow face was somber as he answered. "I've thought about that, Jasper. There are a few who might come, but none of them could get here in time. The Volturi will be here by April. We're on our own."

The weight of his words settled over us like a shroud.

"Besides," Jasper said slowly, "you know as well as I do that blood-drinking vampires aren't the type to make a stand on principle. They might come if they knew we were going to win, but I can't see anyone coming when there's a chance we might lose."

I glanced at Bella, her brow furrowed and her teeth worrying her bottom lip. Her fear mirrored my own, but beneath it, I could see the determination that had drawn me to her from the beginning.

"We'll fight," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "Whatever it takes, we'll fight."

Bella turned to me, her brown eyes filled with emotion. She reached up to touch my cheek, her fingers warm and gentle. "We'll fight together," she said softly.

Later that night, Bella and I retreated to my room. The others continued talking downstairs, their voices a low murmur beneath us. Bella sat on the edge of my bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the worry etched into her face.

I sat beside her, sliding my hand into hers. "We're going to be okay," I said, trying to reassure her even as doubt gnawed at me.

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "Bree... I'm scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close. "Me too," I confessed. "But we have each other. And the Cullens."

She nodded against my shoulder, and I felt her relax slightly in my embrace. After a moment, she pulled back just enough to look at me, her gaze intense.

"You inspire me, Bree," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes. "The way you've grown, the way you fight for what you believe in... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her words sent a warmth through me that banished the chill of fear, if only for a moment. I leaned in, pressing my forehead to hers. "You make me want to be better, Bella. To be worthy of you."

Her lips curved into a small smile, and she reached up to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. "You already are."

In that moment, with Bella's arms around me and her love shining in her eyes, I felt a surge of hope. No matter what the future held, I knew one thing for certain: I would fight for her. For us. For our family. I wouldn't let anything tear us apart.

Bella and I sat together on the edge of the bed, but her warmth, her presence, seemed to fill every corner. She shifted closer, her eyes soft and full of that quiet strength I had come to love. Before I could say a word, she wrapped her arms around me and gently pulled me onto her lap.

I blinked in surprise, the gesture so unexpected that it took me a moment to respond. Bella was taller, yes, but I was the vampire. The stronger one. Yet, as her arms encircled me and her hand began to glide soothingly through my hair, I melted into her embrace without protest.

I tilted my head back to look at her, and her brown eyes met mine with a warmth that made my heart feel alive in a way it hadn't since my human days. There was no hesitation in her gaze, no doubt. Just... love.

"You're so beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible but brimming with feeling. Her hand moved to cup my cheek, and I leaned into the touch, my eyes closing for a moment before reopening to meet hers.

"Bella..." I started, but my words faded as she leaned down, her lips brushing against mine. The kiss was soft, tender, and filled with everything I couldn't find the words to say. I kissed her back, letting myself get lost in her—her warmth, her scent, her heartbeat thrumming steadily against me.

When we pulled back, her forehead rested against mine, and I couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped me. "I'm the big, strong vampire," I teased, though my voice was tinged with emotion. "I should be the one comforting and protecting you."

Bella smiled, her fingers tracing the curve of my jaw before sliding back into my hair. "We'll protect each other," she said firmly, her voice steady and sure. "That's what love is, Bree. We take care of each other."

Her words sent a wave of warmth through me, and I nodded, resting my head against her shoulder. It didn't matter that she was human and I was a vampire, that she was taller and I was stronger. What mattered was the way she made me feel—safe, cherished, loved.

I snuggled closer, her arms tightening around me as though she could shield me from the rest of the world. As we sat, wrapped up in each other, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, we could face whatever was coming.

The next day when I arrived home from school, the rest of the family had gathered, and I could sense the tension as I walked into the living room. The gray light filtering through the windows seemed to do little to soften the sharp edges of the conversation. Bella sat down beside me and took my hand in hers. Her pulse was steady, but her expression looked tight with unease. Around us, the family debate continued, their voices calm but firm, each one echoing the gravity of the situation.

"We need another weapon," Emmett repeated, leaning forward in his seat. His broad shoulders were tense, his expression unusually serious. "Something they won't expect. Let's face it—Bella's the wild card."

Alice shifted on the armrest of the couch, her gaze distant for a moment before she snapped back to the present. "It's true," she said. "Bella has always been... different. Edward couldn't read her, and I've seen glimpses—possibilities—of her as one of us. Strong, even stronger than we might imagine."

Rosalie scoffed, her voice cold but not unkind. "You don't turn a human into one us because of a theory, Alice. Bella deserves to live her human life. To have a family, to grow old—things she can't have as one of us. I won't stand by and watch you take that away from her."

"She's right," Carlisle said, his voice calm but resolute. "We mustn't force her into this life unless there's truly no other choice."

Jasper, standing near the window with his arms crossed, sighed. "What if there isn't another choice?" he asked, his Southern drawl more pronounced in his frustration. "Bella may be part of the family, but she's human. She's the weakest link in a fight, and the Volturi know that. No offense, Bella. They might target her first just to demoralize us. If they capture her, they could blackmail us into surrendering. If they kill her, it could break our spirits before the battle's begun."

Bella flinched slightly, but her hand tightened around mine. I could feel the resolve building in her even as she listened to the others speak about her future as if she weren't in the room.

"Jasper's right," Emmett said bluntly. "I admire your principles, Carlisle, but principles won't mean much if we're all dead. If Bella's turned, she might develop an ability that could tip the scales in our favor. At the very least she'll have a newborn's raw strength."

Carlisle's expression remained calm, though there was a flicker of pain in his golden eyes. "If we let the Volturi force us to turn humans into newborns just to have more soldiers, we're no better than they are. If we let fear turn us into monsters, then they've already won."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Carlisle's words pressing down on all of us. Bella finally spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "I don't want to cause more conflict. I was willing to have Edward turn me into a vampire before, and he was the one who said no. If me being human puts everyone at risk... I'd rather do what it takes to protect all of you."

I turned to her, my chest tightening at her words. "Bella, no," I said, my voice soft but firm. "You've already sacrificed so much. You don't have to give up your humanity for this."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with determination. "I'd give up anything for the people I love, Bree," she said. "That includes you."

I felt the familiar pull of her presence, the magnetic connection between us. I wanted to argue, to tell her she didn't need to do this, but I knew Bella well enough to see that her mind was already made up.

Alice stood, her delicate features set with resolve. "Let's not make any decisions yet," she said. "We still have time to prepare, and the future isn't set in stone. For now, we train. We fight. And we do everything we can to keep our family safe."

The others nodded, though the tension in the room didn't ease. As the family began to disperse, Bella leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder. I wrapped an arm around her, holding her close, and whispered, "No matter what happens, I'll protect you, Bella."

She tilted her head up to look at me, a small, sad smile on her lips. "And I'll protect you, too, Bree. Always."

My life revolved around school, training, and homework. The hours I spent with the Cullens learning to fight and strategize were grueling, but Bella's presence made it all worthwhile. She came by almost every day to train with us, her clumsy determination both endearing and inspiring. Even when she tripped or faltered, her resolve never wavered. It reminded me why I loved her so much—her courage, her relentless love.

At school, things were less intense but no less complicated. One afternoon, after biology, a boy I barely knew cornered me by my locker. He stammered through a few awkward compliments before finally blurting out, "Would you like to go to dinner with me? Maybe this weekend?"

I blinked at him, caught off guard. My first instinct was to let him down gently. "That's really nice of you," I said, trying to sound as kind as possible. "But I'm actually already seeing someone."

He hesitated, his face reddening but clearly unwilling to let it go. "Oh. Uh, is it serious? I mean, if it's not—"

I cut him off, my tone firm but still polite. "Yes, it's serious. She's in college."

That got his attention. His eyes widened, and he muttered an awkward apology before scurrying away. By the end of the day, it seemed half the school had heard the news. Bree Tanner was dating a college girl.

It was surreal. People who had barely spoken to me before now smiled or nodded in the halls. A few even congratulated me, as though I'd achieved some impossible feat. I didn't care much about their opinions, but I couldn't deny the amusement it brought me.

That evening, Bella arrived at the Cullens' house just as training wrapped up. As soon as I saw her, the day's events spilled out of me, and she listened, wide-eyed, until I got to the part about my supposed "college girlfriend."

Bella burst into laughter, her warm, melodic giggle filling the room. "College girlfriend?" she said, shaking her head. "I haven't even been in college for three months!"

I grinned, pulling her close. "Doesn't matter," I said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You're three years older than me. Besides, it's technically true, isn't it?"

Bella smiled, her expression softening. "You don't mind that I'm older?"

I took her hands in mine, gazing into her deep brown eyes. "Bella, I don't care how old you are or where you're going to school. I only care about you. Are you sure you don't mind dating a high school girl?"

Her answer was immediate, her voice steady and full of affection. "Bree, I've never considered you anything other than my equal. Age doesn't matter. What we have—what you mean to me—is all that matters."

Her words washed away every doubt or insecurity I'd ever had. Overwhelmed by the depth of my love for her, I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her, pouring every ounce of my emotion into that moment. Her arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and for a while, the rest of the world faded away.

"I love you," I whispered against her lips, my voice trembling with the intensity of it.

Bella smiled, her forehead resting against mine. "And I love you, Bree Tanner. More than you'll ever know."

As the crisp evening air settled around the Cullen house, Bella and I found a quiet moment to ourselves, away from the relentless training sessions and the tense conversations about the Volturi. We were sitting on the porch swing, the gentle creak of the chains the only sound besides the distant rustle of the forest. I could feel Bella's tension even before she spoke, her brow furrowed in thought.

"I've been thinking," she began softly, her gaze fixed on the stars above us. "About what Alice said—about turning me into a vampire. About why Edward couldn't read my mind. I've been trying to figure out if it's... something I can control. If it's an ability I've always had, buried somewhere inside me."

Her voice was heavy with frustration, and I turned to face her, waiting for her to continue.

"I've gone over every moment, every interaction I had with him—every time someone's powers didn't affect me. And I've tried... I don't know, concentrating? Trying to block thoughts, to block feelings. But nothing happens. It's like trying to flex a muscle that doesn't exist." She let out a sigh, her breath visible in the chilly air. "It's maddening, because if it is an ability, shouldn't I be able to use it to help? Shouldn't I be able to protect the people I love?"

Her words hung in the air, the weight of them pressing against my chest. I reached for her hand, threading my fingers through hers. She looked down at them, her expression softening, but the frustration didn't leave her eyes.

"Sometimes I think it's not an ability at all," she said quietly. "Maybe I'm just... broken. Maybe whatever made me immune to Edward's power is just some defect. And if that's the case, what good am I to anyone?"

I couldn't stand the sadness in her voice, the way it chipped away at her usual quiet strength. Without thinking, I pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her and resting my chin on her shoulder. She stiffened at first, then melted into me, her arms sliding around my waist.

"Bella," I whispered, my voice low but firm. "You are not broken. You're extraordinary. You're the strongest, most selfless person I've ever met. And whether or not this immunity of yours is an ability doesn't change that. You've already protected the people you love—you've protected me—just by being you."

She pulled back slightly to look at me, her deep brown eyes searching mine. "But what if it's not enough? What if I'm not enough?"

I cupped her face gently, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek. "You are more than enough. You always have been. If it turns out that this thing you have is an ability, we'll figure it out together. But even if it's not, it doesn't make you any less amazing."

A faint smile tugged at her lips, and she leaned her forehead against mine. "How do you always know what to say?"

I shrugged, smiling back at her. "I'm just lucky to have you."

Her laugh was soft, almost shy, and it warmed something deep inside me. I kissed her forehead, holding her close, and for a moment, the worries of the Volturi and the uncertainty of the future seemed to fade. All that mattered was Bella, here in my arms, safe and loved.

"Thank you, Bree," she murmured against my shoulder. "For believing in me when I can't believe in myself."

"Always," I said, my voice steady and full of conviction. "Always."

I was studying in my bedroom the next evening. The knock on the door was light but insistent, pulling me out of the spiral of thoughts I'd been drowning in since training ended. I set my pen down on the open notebook in front of me and glanced toward the door.

"Come in," I called, expecting it to be Alice - or maybe Jasper with to announce it was time for more training.

The door flew open, and Bella burst in, her face glowing with excitement, her arms cradling a stack of books that looked heavy enough to topple her over. Her eyes, rich and brown, sparkled like they held a secret, and her cheeks were flushed the perfect shade of pink from the cool March air.

"Bella?" I said, standing up. "I thought you were busy tonight. What's going on?"

Without answering, she strode toward my desk, dropped the books onto it with a thud, and turned to face me, her hands on her hips.

"Bree," she said, her voice full of determination. "I have an idea."

That was enough to make me suspicious. Bella's ideas lately usually involved some harebrained scheme to fend off the Volturi problem. I crossed my arms and tilted my head. "Should I be worried?"

She gave me a look that was half amused, half serious. "No. Well, maybe. But just hear me out first, okay?"

I nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

"I want you to hypnotize me," she said, her voice steady despite the absurdity of the request.

I blinked. "You want me to what?"

"Hypnotize me," she repeated, as if this was a perfectly normal thing to ask someone to do.

I stared at her, waiting for the punchline. When it didn't come, I shook my head. "Bella, vampires can't hypnotize people. You know that. It's not a real thing."

She rolled her eyes and stepped closer, closing the space between us. "I don't mean the way vampires do it in the movies. I mean real hypnosis. Like psychology. The way a therapist would do it."

I looked at her, baffled. "Bella, I don't know anything about hypnosis. Where is this coming from?"

She sighed, glancing at the books she'd brought. "I've been thinking about why Edward couldn't read my mind. Carlisle always thought it was just some natural quirk, but what if it's more than that? What if it's something I can learn to control? Something I can use?"

Her words began to make a strange kind of sense, but I still felt like I was walking on shaky ground. "Okay, but why hypnosis? Why me?"

Bella reached out and took my hands in hers, her touch warm and grounding. "Because I trust you, Bree. If anyone is going to help me figure this out, it's you. I don't want Carlisle or Jasper or—" She hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "Or anything. I want you to help me."

The conviction in her voice left me speechless. I felt my chest tighten with a mix of awe and anxiety.

"But Bella, I don't know anything about hypnosis," I said softly.

She gave me a small, mischievous smile and gestured toward the stack of books. "That's why I brought you these. You don't need to sleep, so you can read through them all tonight. Once you've got it down, we can give it a try."

I glanced at the books, their titles blaring terms like "Hypnotherapy," "The Subconscious Mind," and "Unlocking Inner Potential." It wasn't the weight of the books themselves that daunted me—it was the weight of the trust she was placing in me.

"Surely this is something Esme should do," I said, still trying to wrap my head around the idea.

Bella shook her head firmly. "No. The only person I want getting inside my head is my girlfriend. You."

Her words hit me like a lightning strike. Bella had a way of saying things so simply and directly that they left me completely undone.

"Bella..." I began. "What if I mess it up? What if I hurt you?"

Her expression softened, and she stepped closer, reaching out to take my hands in hers. The warmth of her skin seeped into me, grounding me despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my head.

"You won't hurt me," she said gently, her soft voice full of an intimacy that made my knees weak. "I trust you, Bree. Completely. Will you think about it. Please?"

My chest tightened at her words. I wasn't used to people trusting me like that—not with something so important.

"Bella," I whispered, shaking my head, "I'm not Carlisle. I'm not even Esme. I'm just me. I don't know if I can do this."

"That's exactly why I want it to be you," she replied firmly. "I don't want Carlisle analyzing me like some science experiment. You're different, Bree. You listen to me. You see me as an equal. That's why it has to be you."

I stared into her eyes, seeing nothing but hope and love reflected back at me. How could I say no?

I sighed and nodded. "Okay. I'll read the books. I'll try to learn everything I can. But I'm not promising anything, Bella. I don't want you to get your hopes up."

Her face broke into a radiant smile, and she leaned forward to kiss me, her lips warm and soft against mine. When she pulled back, her eyes were glowing with excitement again.

"Thank you," she said simply. "That's all I'm asking, Bree. Just try. That's all I need from you."

I watched her leave, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall. Then I looked at the books, taking a deep breath. The sheer weight of the knowledge I'd need to absorb felt crushing, but Bella's faith in me kept me rooted in place.

This was for Bella. For her trust. For her safety. For us.

With that thought, I picked up the first book and began to read.

The next day dawned bright and cloudless, the sunlight streaming through the gaps in my blackout curtains. It was one of those rare sunny Forks days, which meant I had the perfect excuse to skip school. Not that I'd have gone anyway—I had more pressing matters to attend to.

Carlisle had taught me speed reading and speed learning techniques over the last few months, and I was grateful for his instruction now. My vampire mind was quick to absorb new information, and I spent the day devouring every word of the books Bella had brought.

Hypnosis wasn't just about swinging pocket watches and melodramatic commands, as Hollywood liked to portray. It was a subtle, intricate art—a dance between trust, focus, relaxation, and suggestion. I read about learning patterns, how to create rapport, the structure of inductions, and ways to phrase suggestions for maximum effectiveness. The deeper I dove into the material, the more I realized how much finesse was required - and how much there was to learn.

I read until the words on the pages blurred into each other, my mind racing to connect all the pieces. By the time the sun began to set, I had done my best to memorize everything. But even with all that knowledge crammed into my brain, I couldn't shake the doubt nagging at the back of my mind.

Is this for real? I thought, closing the last book and setting it aside. Can I actually do this? Can I be a hypnotist, even for Bella?

A soft knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts, and my heart leapt. "Come in," I called, standing up just as the door opened.

Bella stepped inside, her eyes bright with excitement, her cheeks pink from the evening chill. She was carrying a small notebook, probably filled with ideas or notes she'd been jotting down throughout the day. But it was the way she smiled at me—warm, confident, and full of love—that erased every ounce of doubt from my mind.

I didn't wait for her to say anything. I crossed the room in two strides, pulling her into my arms. She laughed softly, wrapping her arms around my waist and looking up at me with those expressive brown eyes.

"Did you read everything?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

"I read a lot of it," I said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Not sure I memorized it all, but Bella... are you sure about this? Are you sure you trust me with something like this?"

She smiled, reaching up to touch my cheek. "Bree, I've never been more sure of anything. You're the only person I want doing this. I trust you completely."

Her words filled me with a strange mix of pride and humility. Bella trusted me. Not just with her safety, but with her mind. Her very essence.

I took a deep breath, my resolve hardening. I wasn't just a vampire. I was her vampire. The woman I loved wanted me to hypnotize her, and I was going to do it.

"Okay," I said softly, taking her hand and leading her to sit on the edge of my bed.

She followed without hesitation, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Let's do this," I said, my voice steady, though my heart felt like it might burst.

Bella smiled, her expression full of trust and anticipation. "I'm ready."

And in that moment, so was I.