The purr of the engine was a steady hum beneath them as Kal and Alice drove through the misty midday woods. Sunlight filtered weakly through the cloud cover, diffused and heavy with the scent of rain on the air.
Kal glanced sideways at Alice, who was practically bouncing in her seat, her hands tight on the steering wheel despite her light, graceful touch.
"So... baseball. In a storm," Kal said, arching an eyebrow. "Why not wait for better weather?"
Alice just smiled.
"It's the only time we can play," she said simply, as if that explained everything.
Kal waited for more, but she only shook her head, eyes glinting with excitement.
"You'll see," she added, her voice almost musical.
Kal chuckled softly, resigning himself to the unknown. He liked seeing her like this — full of life, anticipation thrumming through her.
They pulled up at the Cullens' house minutes later.
Outside, the rest of the family was gathering, energy buzzing in the damp air.
Emmett tossed a bat from hand to hand with casual ease, Rosalie was tying back her hair with an elastic hair tie, her mouth curved in a rare, eager smile, which fully displayed her beauty. Jasper leaned against the porch railing, twirling a baseball between his fingers with practiced elegance. Carolyn — standing close beside him — adjusted her cap, sharing an excited look with Esme, who had a duffel bag slung over one shoulder filled with gear.
Alice frowned slightly as she looked around. "Where's Edward?"
Carlisle, who was checking something in the trunk of his car, straightened and answered, "He took Bella back to the house to change. She wanted to be more comfortable for the game." He smiled warmly. "They'll meet us at the clearing."
Alice nodded, satisfied, and tugged Kal along by the hand toward one of the multiple SUVs the family kept.
The short drive took only about fifteen minutes, winding deeper into the green, rain-soaked forest. The road narrowed into a rutted trail that opened onto a wide clearing, the treeline standing tall and dark around them like silent sentinels.
The field itself was huge, at least twice as large as any baseball stadium. Rugged and flat, it was clearly worn from past games — grass and mud flattened into rough bases, each at least a quarter-mile apart, a suggestion of a diamond.
The Cullens spilled out of the cars, their excitement palpable.
Rosalie swung her bat in a testing arc, the wind singing as it cut through the air. Emmett was stretching dramatically, as if preparing for a gladiatorial match. Jasper and Carolyn tossed a ball back and forth with sharp, effortless throws.
Kal noticed the thunderheads stacking high in the distance, rumbling ominously.
And yet, no one seemed concerned.
A minute later, another engine growled into the clearing — Edward, with Bella sitting beside him, now dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans, looking small but determined.
Esme went over to greet them, her smile wide and welcoming. She turned to Kal and Bella after a quick hug for her son.
"You're our umpires," she announced cheerfully.
Emmett let out a cheeky laugh.
"She thinks we cheat," he said, nudging Jasper with his elbow.
"I know you cheat," Esme said sweetly, her tone light but firm.
Kal and Bella exchanged amused glances as they were ushered to their spots — Bella to home base, Kal to second base, a little on the first base side — to act as the umpires.
Esme clapped her hands together, her voice lifting over the rising wind.
"Call 'em as you see 'em Bella."
Lightning flickered in the distance.
Kal felt a strange thrill coil through him.
The storm was coming, and with it a game of baseball.
The Cullens split into teams with the easy, natural rhythm of a family used to friendly chaos.
Carlisle, Rosalie, Jasper, and Carolyn grabbed bats and stretched like they were preparing for war, smirking at each other.
Across the clearing, Emmett, Edward, Esme, and Alice fanned out to their fielding positions.
Kal drifted toward second base, feeling the electric tension building not just from the brewing storm, but from the family's excitement too.
Alice bounced onto the pitcher's mound, the ball spinning between her fingers like a coin.
Kal blinked, then called out, "You're pitching?"
She threw him a wicked, dazzling grin over her shoulder.
"I'm the best pitcher."
Emmett cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered, "She's got a deadly fastball!"
There was a roar of laughter from the others. Even Rosalie cracked a grin.
Kal chuckled, shaking his head slightly. He hadn't seen this side of them the night before.
Just for a second, he caught a strange distant look in Alice's eyes — a flicker, like a brief slip into another world — then she blinked, smiled sharper, and as the first lightning bolts fractured the sky far off, she turned to face Rosalie.
"It's time."
The air almost seemed to hold its breath.
Rosalie stepped up to bat, every line of her body coiled and deadly.
She twirled the bat once lazily, then planted her feet.
Alice's grin only grew wider.
She lifted her left leg nearly vertical — a move so graceful and ridiculous Kal's jaw nearly dropped. God damn, that was hot.
Behind him, Edward shot him a strange look.
And in the same breath she whipped the ball forward with terrifying speed.
The ball blurred — Kal tracked it as it barrelled towards Rosalie, before there was a sound like a gunshot.
BOOM.
Rosalie's bat cracked into the ball with impossible strength.
The impact echoed across the clearing, masked almost perfectly by the thunder that rolled overhead.
Rosalie shot forward like a bullet, blonde hair streaming behind her, eyes blazing.
At home base he heard Bella let out a half-laugh, half-gasp.
"Okay, now I see why you need the thunder."
Kal grinned. No kidding. Without it, half the county would have heard that swing.
Edward was already moving. A silver streak tearing across the field faster than anything Kal had seen on foot.
Kal felt a prickle of excitement. He could beat that speed in the air — but on the ground? Edward might have him beat for now.
"That's gotta be a home run, right?" Bella said, anxious.
At home base, Esme — calm and smiling — shook her head.
"Edward's very fast."
Kal turned in time to see Edward leap, snatching the ball off the ground like a predator claiming prey.
Without even breaking stride, Edward hurled it back across the field with a whip-like snap of his arm.
Rosalie was burning up the track toward home plate, fierce and unstoppable.
The ball cut through the stormy air and slammed into Esme's hands like a cannon shot.
"Rosalie, come home!" Carlisle called, urgency sharp in his voice.
Rosalie dove, sliding through the mud and grass toward home base.
Esme braced herself, slamming the ball down onto the base as Rosalie's fingertips scraped across it.
The field held its breath.
Everyone turned to Bella, who was crouched at home base.
The rain was starting now — fine needles of water making her hair stick to her face — but she stood firm. She deliberated for a second, and grimaced.
"...Out," she said finally.
Emmett whooped and threw his arms into the air.
"OUT! WHOO!"
Rosalie's head snapped toward him with a look that could kill a weaker man.
Emmett immediately backpedaled, laughing nervously.
"Babe, come on, it's just a game!"
Rosalie didn't answer. She stood up smoothly, brushing wet grass from her jeans, and as she passed Bella on the way back to her team, she shot her a glare of pure, unfiltered annoyance.
Bella shrank back a little behind the bat.
Kal smirked to himself. Rosalie did not take losing lightly.
"Nice kitty," Carlisle murmured to Rosalie, voice light and teasing, as he stepped up to bat next.
Across the field, Edward shook his head a little, smirking.
Rosalie rolled her eyes but said nothing, heading back to her team with stiff, angry steps.
Carlisle twirled the bat once expertly, then got into a relaxed batting stance.
Lightning split the sky again behind him, stark and brilliant, casting the clearing in a sudden flash of silver-white.
The storm was properly here now.
The energy in the air was wild — and so were the Cullens.
Alice tossed the ball lightly in her hand again, dancing back to the mound with easy grace.
Kal shifted where he stood at second base, still a little distracted.
Every time she moved, it was like watching a spark snap from a live wire — controlled chaos packed into that small frame.
She wound up — leg raising — before the ball whipped out from her hands at immense speed.
Almost instantaneously the ball had arrived in Jasper's hands with a smack, Carlisle's swing missing unceremoniously.
Kal had to admit he was impressed by Alice's skill.
"Bella." he heard Esme call with his enhanced hearing, "You have to call a strike." she reminded.
"Oh, right… sorry. Strike!"
Kal pulled his focus back just in time to see Alice lift her leg high again — practically vertical — and launch another pitch at Carlisle.
'Damn, that's still hot.'
Edward's eyes involuntarily flicked to Kal again, but quickly flicked back as the ball zipped through the air, almost too fast to track.
Carlisle met it with a sharp, precise swing.
Another heavy crack like Rosalie's earlier strike, and the ball popped off the bat, this time angled much higher in a slower, arcing shot.
Carlisle didn't waste a second.
He was sprinting toward first base the second the ball had left his bat.
Kal watched, impressed by the speed he displayed despite Carlisle's usually calm demeanor.
The man could move when he wanted to.
Both Edward and Emmett exploded into motion after the ball, twin blurs across the clearing.
Kal lost sight of them for a moment, then caught them in the corner of his eye as the ball started its lazy descent.
Without hesitation, both launched themselves upward — not a small jump, but a superhuman one — soaring at least twenty meters into the air, colliding midair with a crack of bodies.
They crashed down hard in a tumble of limbs, the ball thudding harmlessly to the ground beside them.
Kal heard Bella let out a squeak from home base.
Carlisle, meanwhile, slid into second base with a controlled skid, laughing lightly as he got to his feet.
He called out to his downed 'sons'.
"Still got it."
Edward laughed joyfully from the grass, brushing dirt off his jeans and flipping Emmett the bird, as Emmett shoved him playfully in the shoulder.
"Smooth," Emmett muttered, grinning.
"I was distracted," Edward defended, sending a look at Kal's back.
Alice just spun the ball in her hand again, ready for the next batter without missing a beat.
Jasper strolled up to the plate, flipping the bat casually through his hands.
He gave it a showy toss, letting go of the handle, allowing it to spin mid-air, before pushing the tip with his fingers, causing its spin to reverse and the handle to find its way back to his hand.
'No way he's aura-farming.'
But Kal had to admit — that was kind of cool.
Alice lifted her leg for another impossibly flexible pitch, and Kal's mind short-circuited briefly.
Again.
He shook his head, refocusing just as Alice fired the ball like a bullet at Jasper.
Jasper swung — a clean, violent crack — and blurred into motion, sprinting like a shot out of a cannon.
"Come on, baby!" Carolyn cheered.
Carlisle was already tearing for home.
Emmett barreled across the field after the ball, rain sheeting around him.
Kal watched as Emmett didn't just jump, but launched himself up, kicking off the trunk of a nearby tree to gain extra height.
He snatched the ball from midair with both hands, twisted mid-leap, and hurled it back toward home plate in a stunning display of athleticism.
"Out!" Bella declared.
"My monkey-man!" Rosalie said proudly.
Kal chuckled under his breath as Jasper returned sullenly.
Carlisle slid cleanly into home plate, mud splattering as he hit the ground in a smooth, practiced move, less than half a second before the ball arrived in Esme's hands.
"Safe!"
The Cullens whooped and laughed through the rain, the storm roaring louder overhead now.
The rain was coming down even heavier now, and Alice already had the next ball in hand.
Carolyn stepped up.
It was quieter.
No flourish. No bat tricks, no smirk, no dramatic stance. She adjusted her grip once, almost absently, and set her feet. If anything, she looked a touch uncertain — a fraction less composed than the others.
Kal tilted his head slightly.
Compared to Rosalie's coiled aggression or Jasper's easy swagger, Carolyn almost looked… tentative.
Alice watched her, head tilted, a small knowing smile tugging at her lips.
Her leg raised.
Kal still found that hot.
Edward's eye twitched.
Then Alice pitched. Fast.
Carolyn didn't swing.
The ball smacked into Esme's waiting hands.
"Strike!" called out Bella, louder and more confident this time.
Esme snapped the ball back to Alice, who once again wound up, before releasing a blisteringly-fast pitch.
"Strike!" yelled Bella for the second time as the ball found Esme's hands once again.
Alice once again received the ball, gearing up to throw her third pitch.
The ball tore through the rain in a tight blur, angled slightly off-center. Meant to force a forward hit.
Carolyn still didn't swing.
Kal's brow furrowed.
'Too lat—'
At the last possible instant, her body moved.
Not a full swing.
A twist.
Her torso snapped sharply, wrists turning just enough, bat cutting across the ball at an angle that felt almost wrong; like it shouldn't work.
CRACK.
Not as loud as Rosalie's. Not as heavy as Jasper's.
But sharp. Precise.
The ball didn't fly forward, it cut sideways.
Low and fast, skimming across the field at a slicing angle that bent out of expectation, tearing through open space where no one had been standing a second ago.
Emmett had already started moving — then jerked to a halt.
"—What?"
He'd committed the wrong way, clearly not having expected the angle of the ball.
Across the clearing, Edward had done the same. A half-beat. A misread.
But he hadn't committed as much as Emmett.
He exploded into motion, correcting instantly, pivoting with impossible speed as he tore after the ball — but the damage was already done.
Carolyn was moving.
She accelerated smoothly, feet barely seeming to touch the ground as she passed first in a blur, rain kicking up behind her.
Kal's eyes tracked her, then flicked to the field.
Edward was closing fast, a silver streak cutting across the grass, chasing after the ball.
"Go!" Emmett barked, already laughing.
In the field, the ball landed, skipping once, twice.
Edward's hand snapped down toward it.
Carolyn hit second base in a controlled slide, one hand bracing lightly as she came to a stop.
Clean. Efficient.
"Safe!" said Kal.
She didn't even glance toward third.
She could've pushed. There was space, just enough time.
But she had already decided to play it safe.
Edward came up with the ball just after, straightening with a small shake of his head, rain dripping from his hair.
Alice just grinned.
"I always tell you to watch out for Carolyn," she sang lightly.
Emmett jogged in, still laughing, pointing out toward where the ball had cut across the field.
"That was great! What even was that? Was it even legal?"
Carolyn only brushed damp hair back from her face, expression settling back into something calm, almost neutral again.
Rosalie stepped up to bat again, this time determined not to get out.
Alice pitched and the ball flew toward Rosalie. A loud crack and she tore away as Emmett and Edward chased after it. Carolyn soon made it home, followed seconds later by Rosalie — this time not out.
The rest of the inning dissolved into chaos.
Rain hammered down harder now, soaking through clothes, turning the clearing slick and treacherous. But it didn't slow any of them down.
If anything, it made it worse.
Faster.
Wilder.
Bats cracked like gunfire, barely masked by the thunder overhead. Emmett roared with laughter as he tore across the field, sliding through mud to snatch a ball one-handed. Edward blurred between bases, and flitted between trees, making good use of his speed to make a few impressive catches.
Rosalie hit like she had something to prove 0151 every swing sharp and aggressive. Carlisle liked to place his shots, threading the gaps in defense and making them difficult to catch with placement rather than brute strength — but that didn't mean he didn't have a damn good arm on him, which he had demonstrated by hitting a shot so far and with such strength the boom had been louder than any thunderbolt and he had been able to make a full circuit before the ball was returned to the diamond by Edward.
Jasper was a mix of the two, using both power and placement to score runs. Carolyn had made no more strange shots after the first, returning to a normal game, where she indeed was a weaker player.
"Safe!" Bella called again as Carlisle once again reached home.
"Wasn't even close!" Emmett shot back, already hauling himself upright.
"Keep telling yourself that," Rosalie snapped, already stepping back into position.
Jasper just smirked, flipping the bat once before sending another clean hit slicing into the storm.
By the time the final out was called, the clearing was a mess of churned mud and laughter, the air electric with leftover adrenaline.
"Switch!" Alice called brightly, already moving.
The teams began to rotate, easy and practiced.
Kal didn't move at first. He watched them. Then his eyes dropped to the bat resting near Bella.
A slow smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
He stepped forward.
"Can I have a go?"
The reaction was immediate.
Rosalie snorted.
"You?" she said, arching a brow. "You won't even see the ball."
Emmett barked a laugh.
"She's not wrong, man. Alice doesn't exactly throw slow."
Bella glanced between them, then at Kal, uncertain.
"I mean… it's really fast," she said, a little apologetically.
There was a brief pause.
Esme stepped closer, her expression gentle.
"Kal," she said kindly, "Alice's pitches are… difficult. Even for us, sometimes." A soft, almost regretful smile. "You probably won't be able to hit it."
The others remained silent. Alice's head tilted slightly.
Then she grinned.
"Oh, let him try," she said, voice bright with interest. "I wanna see what he can do."
Edward's eyes rolled dramatically.
'This is pointless', he thought, faintly incredulous. 'He has no idea what he's asking.'
Kal just shrugged lightly, unfazed.
"Maybe, I won't hit them," he said. "Or maybe… I'll surprise you."
There was something in the way he said it — calm, easy — that made Esme hesitate.
A beat.
Then a soft sigh.
"…Alright," she said.
Kal didn't wait.
He stepped forward and picked up an aluminium bat, testing the weight in his hands.He rolled his shoulders once, then adjusted his grip, fingers settling into place.
A slow breath.
He gave the bat a casual twirl. Then another. Then a smooth practice swing.
Edward's eyes narrowed slightly.
Alice was already walking back to the mound, smile widening with every step.
She turned, meeting Kal's gaze.
And winked.
Kal smirked.
'Yeah. This'll be fun.'
Alice lifted the ball, spinning it once between her fingers. She twisted, almost ready to pitch, then…
She stopped.
Mid-windup.
Frozen.
The smile on her lips didn't fade.
But her eyes changed. Blurred. Focused on something that wasn't there.
Kal and the others regarded her with worry. Thunder cracked above more forcefully than ever.
A second later her face fell, smile disappearing in a flash as her eyes regained clarity.
"Stop!" she screamed out.
Edward's eyes met hers, something flowing between the two of them in an instant. He was by Bella's side a moment later, frantic, before the others could even ask Alice what was wrong.
"Alice?" Esme's voice was tense.
"I didn't see — I couldn't tell," she whispered.
All the others were gathered by this time.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority.
"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," she murmured.
Jasper leaned over her, his posture worried. "What changed?" he asked.
"They were leaving, then they heard us playing, and it changed their path," she said, contrite, as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her.
Several pairs of golden eyes flashed between Kal and Bella.
"How soon?" Carlisle said, turning toward Edward.
A look of intense concentration crossed his face.
"Less than five minutes. They're running — they want to play." He scowled.
"Can you make it?" Carlisle asked him, his eyes flicking toward Bella again.
"No, not carrying her." He cut short. "And definitely not with the two of them. Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."
Here Kal wanted to cut in. To assure the others — besides Alice of course — he did not need protection and could look after himself. But he never got the chance.
"How many?" Emmett asked Alice.
"Three," she answered tersely.
"Three!" he scoffed. "Let them come." The steel bands of muscle flexed along his massive arms.
For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was, Carlisle deliberated. Only Emmett seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at Carlisle's face with anxious eyes.
"Let's just continue the game," Carlisle finally decided. His voice was cool and level. "Alice said they were simply curious."
All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds.
"You catch, Esme," Edward said. "I'll call it now." And he planted himself in front of Bella.
The others returned to the field, warily sweeping the dark forest with their sharp eyes. Alice stood by Kal's side, her hand firmly holding his own as the others fanned out. Esme loitered nearby, orienting herself near Kal.
Kal shot Alice a questioning glance, why hadn't she told anyone that he was able to handle himself. She responded cryptically.
"I have a feeling that now isn't the right time… just trust me on this."
She held his gaze for a second. Kal decided to put his faith in her. After all, it was always wise to bet on the person who could see the future.
"Bella, take your hair down," Edward said in a low, even voice.
She obediently slid the rubber band out of my hair and shook it out around her.
"Like that'll help." Rosalie scoffed, "I can smell her from across the field. And he's like a steak just waiting for a vampire to eat him."
Edward glared at her.
"Ignore her, stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please."
Bella nodded, her body unconsciously tensing up.
At the same time, Alice squeezed Kal's hand tighter.
…
They emerged one by one from the forest edge, ranging a dozen meters apart. The first male into the clearing — a man of average height with nondescript features — fell back immediately, allowing the other male to take the front, orienting himself around the tall, dark-skinned man in a manner that clearly displayed who led the pack. The third was a woman, a beautiful visage, pale white skin, and startling red hair. Kal could see that all three, unlike the Cullens, sported eyes a deep sanguine.
Their walk was catlike, a gait that seemed constantly on the edge of shifting into a crouch. They dressed in the ordinary gear of backpackers: jeans and casual button-down shirts in heavy, weatherproof fabrics. The clothes were frayed, though, with wear, and they were barefoot. Both men had cropped hair, but the woman's brilliant orange hair was filled with leaves and debris from the woods.
The three stopped and closed ranks before cautiously approaching the Cullens, their demeanor clearly showing the deference of a small pack of predators meeting a larger pack of the same species.
They carefully examined the well-groomed Cullens, the difference in appearance even more evident as Carlisle stepped forward to greet them, flanked by Jasper and Emmett.
The man in front was easily the most beautiful, his skin coffee-toned, his hair a glossy black. He was of a medium build, hard-muscled, but nothing next to Emmett's brawn. He smiled an easy smile, exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth.
"We thought we heard a game," he said in a relaxed voice with the slightest of French accents. "I'm Laurent, these are Victoria and James." He gestured to the fiery-haired woman and the average-looking man respectively.
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Carolyn, Edward, Kal, Alice and Bella."
He pointed them out in groups, deliberately not calling attention to individuals.
"Do you have room for a few more players?" Laurent asked sociably.
Carlisle matched Laurent's friendly tone.
"Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?"
"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."
"No, this region is usually empty except for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves."
The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into a casual conversation; it was clear to Kal that Jasper was using his ability.
"What's your hunting range?" Laurent casually inquired.
Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry. "The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali."
Laurent rocked back on his heels slightly.
"Permanent? How do you manage that?" There was honest curiosity in his voice.
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably?" Carlisle invited. "It's a rather long story."
James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the mention of the word "home," but Laurent controlled his expression better.
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome." His smile was genial. "We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had the chance to clean up in a while."
His eyes moved appreciatively over Carlisle's refined appearance.
"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand," Carlisle explained.
"Of course." Laurent nodded. "We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We were just passing through," he laughed.
"The humans were tracking us," came the redhead's — Victoria's — voice, "But, we lead them East. You should be safe."
"Excellent."
"So," spoke Laurent, "Could you use three more players?"
The other Cullens exchanged looks. But Carlisle's eyes never left the trio.
"Oh, come on. Just one game." came Laurent's voice again.
Carlisle sighed.
"... Sure, why not." he relented, "A few of us were leaving, you can take their place. We'll bat first."
He threw the ball at them, and Victoria's hand flew up to catch it.
"I'm the one with the wicked curveball." she said, her voice challenging.
"Well, I think we can handle that." quipped Jasper.
That caused a round of chuckles.
"We shall see." Victoria teased.
"Emmett, Alice, you can go with Edward, Kal and Bella to get the Jeeps," he casually added.
Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking. A light breeze passed, ruffling Bella's hair, Edward stiffened, and the second male, James, suddenly whipped his head around, scrutinizing Bella, his nostrils flaring. Then his eyes flicked to Kal.
A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarl ripping from his throat; a menacing, guttural sound like a leopard's snarl mixed with a tiger's.
Victoria rushed to her covenmates side and a few of the Cullens who had been hanging back mirrored her, Esme pushing Bella back, and crouched low like Edward. Alice and Carolyn stayed by their side, but they too were tensed up, ready for action. A chorus of snarls ripped through the air from both sides.
"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed in open surprise from the side.
Kal almost took a step forward, ready to fight, and surprise these vampires by giving them a serving of his fists rather than his blood. Almost. Another squeeze from Alice's hand stopped him. She gave him a look that begged him not to act, to trust her.
He locked eyes with her for a second before giving a small nod.
Neither James nor Edward relaxed their aggressive poses. James feinted slightly to the side, and Edward shifted in response.
"They're with us." Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James.
Laurent seemed to catch their scents less powerfully than James, but awareness now dawned on his face.
"You brought snacks?" he asked, his expression incredulous as he took an involuntary step forward.
Edward snarled even more ferociously, harshly, his lip curling high above his glistening, bared teeth.
Laurent stepped back again.
"I said they're with us," Carlisle corrected in a hard voice.
"But… they're human," Laurent protested. The words were not at all aggressive, merely astounded.
"Yes." Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisle's side, his eyes on James. James slowly straightened out of his crouch, but his eyes never left the two of them, his nostrils still wide. Edward stayed tense and crouched.
When Laurent spoke, his tone was soothing — trying to defuse the sudden hostility.
"It appears we have a lot to learn about each other."
"Indeed." Carlisle's voice was still cool.
"But we'd like to accept your invitation." His eyes flicked toward Bella and back to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the humans. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."
James glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent and exchanged another brief look with Victoria, whose eyes still flickered edgily from face to face.
Carlisle measured Laurent's open expression for a moment before he spoke. "We'll show you the way.
Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?" he called. They gathered together, blocking the both of them from view as they converged.
Alice moved instantly to Bella's side, letting go of his hand and Emmett retreated slowly, his eyes locked on James as he backed toward them.
"Let's go, Bella." Edward's voice was low and bleak.
This whole time she'd been rooted in place, seemingly terrified into absolute immobility. Edward had to grip her elbow and pull sharply to break the trance.
Alice and Emmett were close behind covering Kal, and hiding Bella as she stumbled alongside Edward, still stunned with fear. The main group hadn't left yet, still facing off with the newcomers.
Edward's impatience was almost tangible as he moved at human speed with Bella to the forest edge.
They reached the Jeep quickly, and Edward barely slowed as he flung Bella in the backseat. Kal slipped in right after her.
"Strap her in," Edward ordered Emmett, who slid in beside them. Alice was already in the front seat, and Edward was starting the engine. It roared to life and swerved backward, spinning around to face the winding road.