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The Denali family received the news that Nate and Alice would be staying with them for a while with evident satisfaction. Among knowing looks and kind gestures, it was Laurent who showed the greatest enthusiasm. His lips curled into a brief smile, but in his eyes ignited a calculating gleam that did not go unnoticed.
"With Eleazar's experience in gifts, he could help you better understand yours… whatever it may be," he said softly, his voice smooth as a caress, though charged with a curiosity that seemed to measure every reaction from Nate.
Nate did not let himself be swept up by their enthusiasm. He remained upright and still, that absolute stillness that seemed inherited from death itself. He merely nodded briefly, without disturbing the unchanging calm on his face.
The Denalis then mentioned they would be taking a plane back home to Alaska. The idea of distance and isolation seemed like the perfect refuge for anyone seeking silence… but Nate kept his gaze low as he responded:
"I'd rather go on foot. I wouldn't like being locked up with so many humans for so long."
The phrase echoed softly in the muted factory space, filtering through the rusty beams and suspended dust. None of those present tried to persuade him. They all understood, more or less, that for someone like him, being too close to so much human blood was an unnecessary risk.
The farewells were brief: measured hugs, handshakes that didn't try to hold on. Before leaving, Tanya barely nodded toward Alice, drawing a half-smile on her lips.
"We look forward to your arrival."
The Denali group walked away amid the hollow sound of their footsteps on cracked concrete, their silhouettes blending with the dusk outside. The Cullens lingered a few seconds longer, as if no one wanted to break that fragile calm moment.
Jasper stepped forward, placing himself in front of Nate. There was no distrust in his gaze, but a meticulous scrutiny, like someone listening to an irregular heartbeat. Nate held eye contact with the same serenity, and deep down, part of him found it ironic to recall that not long ago, standing in front of the Cullens had seemed like a mortal risk.
"I have trouble controlling my thirst, too," Jasper said in a warm tone that contrasted with the underlying edge in his words. "If you want, I can go with you to Alaska. I could use my gift to calm you… I can feel how your emotions rise and fall too quickly."
Nate observed him silently. The stale air stirred his hair slightly before a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I appreciate that… but I won't always be able to rely on your gift to keep myself controlled. It's best to learn the hard way first."
The silence that followed was dense but not uncomfortable. Jasper nodded with silent respect before looking away and heading toward Esme, who waited with her hands clasped and a calm expression, as if she had anticipated the response beforehand.
Emmett approached afterward, his shadow stretching long over the rust-stained floor. There was a spark of amusement on his face, as if the earlier tension had dissipated. He raised his hand to give a friendly pat, but Nate moved with feline speed, effortlessly dodging the contact.
Emmett let out a low laugh, unbothered. He looked at Nate differently now. After seeing him hold Alice so delicately, Nate no longer seemed like a latent threat, but a strange predator capable of containing something fragile without breaking it.
"I hope that when you come back to Forks, you tell me the whole story of your transformation," Emmett said, crossing his arms with a competitive gleam in his eyes. "I also want to see what you can do now."
Nate held his gaze for barely a moment before nodding politely, without adding a word.
Esme, almost as if waiting her turn near Jasper, took a few steps toward them. Her walk was silent but gentle. She stopped in front of Nate, her eyes filled with a tenderness that needed no explanation.
"Although the circumstances aren't ideal," she began softly, "I want to welcome you to our family. I know I could never replace your parents or grandmother, but now that you're with Alice… as one of us, I hope you can trust me as you would a member of your own family."
Nate looked at her as if weighing the weight of each word. Then, a minimal smile — so fleeting it might have been imagined — appeared on his lips.
"I hope to be in your care."
The gesture lit a light on Esme's face. She nodded affectionately before returning to Rosalie, who waited a few steps behind. The blonde looked at him for only a moment, as if wanting to say something, but then her attention drifted toward one of the broken windows, lost in thoughts she did not share.
Carlisle, who had calmly followed every interaction, raised his voice with natural authority:
"Go ahead to the vehicles," he instructed the others. "I just need to finalize some details with Alice and Nate before joining you."
The rest of the Cullens nodded silently, giving Nate and Alice a last glance before disappearing in a swirl of air and dust, melting into the shadows of the old factory. Carlisle watched them leave with a faint smile that faded almost immediately, replaced by a heavy sigh.
He slowly turned to Nate, fixing his golden eyes on him with a mixture of curiosity and warning.
"Now then," he said firmly but not hostilely. "I stayed silent because I thought there had to be a good reason… but I can't pretend ignorance if you're putting yourselves in danger. What do you have to do with Vladimir and Stefan?"
His words echoed in the large empty space, as if the peeling walls returned the sound.
Carlisle took a step forward, his voice growing serious.
"They don't work for anyone, and it's clear Stefan was distracting us to give you time. I wasn't the only one who noticed… maybe that's why Tanya offered her home. But I also smelled Vladimir here. It's clear he left with the newborns. So, Nate… what's going on?"
The silence that followed was dense, charged with invisible tension. Nate, far from looking away, held the gaze with calculated calm. Alice, sensing Carlisle's direct and piercing scrutiny, instinctively moved closer to Nate and hugged him at the side, as if to place herself between him and any threat.
Nate gave Alice a brief, calm smile — a gesture more to reassure her than himself. Then he looked back at Carlisle.
"Honestly, I was only planning to tell Alice," he confessed in a low, almost intimate tone but heavy with intent. "But I think it's good you know too… I just hope this stays between us."
Carlisle held the gaze without blinking, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded slowly.
"You have my word, Nate."
Nate's expression changed sharply. His features hardened, and the warmth he had shown moments before vanished, replaced by calculated coldness.
"My father was involved with them," he began, his voice low but heavy with a weight that resonated in every syllable. "He discovered them… and in exchange for letting him live, they asked him to find people with the potential to awaken abilities."
Carlisle's eyes widened, surprised by the magnitude of the revelation. Alice, who already knew the story, said nothing; she only tightened her grip on Nate, her fingers clutching his clothes as if she could protect him from a memory that had already marked him.
Nate continued, not averting his gaze from Carlisle.
"My father found several prospects… but for different reasons, couldn't recruit any. In the end, the Romanians asked him to locate a 'child of the moon' who was in D.C. They wanted to use him as a weapon against the Volturi."
Carlisle nodded slowly, his look growing more grave.
"We are forbidden any dealings with the children of the moon. The Volturi have hunted them for centuries… they say they are immune to vampire gifts. I understand why they would want to use them."
Nate tilted his head slightly, accepting the observation.
"My father found him. He tried to help him, to understand him. And in the end… he convinced him to talk to the Romanians. But the Volturi arrived first."
His eyes darkened, and the tension in his jaw betrayed him before he spoke the next words.
"They forced the wolf to kill my father… then killed my mother."
Alice, unaware of that last part, opened her eyes in disbelief. Her grip grew firmer, as if to anchor him to herself. Carlisle, who had already suspected a tragic ending, let his face show silent compassion.
Nate took a breath, as if finishing the story required one last effort.
"In the end, we found the Romanians in D.C. I helped them find the wolf… and he confessed everything himself."
Carlisle, somewhat subdued, lowered his voice.
"So… the Romanians now have the support of a child of the moon."
Nate slowly shook his head.
"They don't. I killed him myself."
Both Carlisle and Alice reacted instantly, though differently. Surprise showed on their faces, but Alice felt no pity for the child of the moon; what disturbed her was imagining Nate risking himself without what she considered a sufficient reason.
Carlisle leaned forward, incredulous.
"What? So… you were already a vampire then? Alice gave you the bite?"
Alice shook her head firmly, her voice tinged with reproach.
"If he had been a vampire before I left, I wouldn't have been so worried about him."
Then she turned her head toward Nate, her eyes evaluating him with a mix of anxiety and suspicion.
"Did the Romanians bite you? Did they force you?"
A flash of anger lit Alice's gaze, like a spark threatening to become a fire. Nate ran a hand slowly down her back, trying to ease the tension gripping her.
"No," he answered calmly. "I asked for the bite. I killed the wolf while still human. After killing him, the Romanians talked to me. They only wanted to manipulate me… but they said something that convinced me."
His tone changed, becoming sharper as he looked away from Alice to fix Carlisle with a cold stare. The coldness of his gaze contrasted with the warmth he shared with his partner.
"Carlisle… why didn't the Volturi intervene when the presence of newborns became more evident in this city?"
Carlisle seemed stunned by the question, as if the weight of those words cracked his usual calm. He remained silent for a few seconds, long enough for the tension to thicken in the air of the old factory.
"The Volturi don't act over every little thing that happens in the vampire world," he finally answered, measuring each word. "They might have intervened at another time… when the situation attracted more attention. It was lucky they didn't. If they had interrogated Victoria, they would have found out about you and Bella, and we would have had no choice but to turn them."
Nate nodded briefly, though unease lingered in his eyes.
"So… what will happen to Charlie? He was present when the newborn attacked my grandmother. He was the target himself. Do you think the Volturi will let your family leave the secret so exposed? Even if you don't tell me, Charlie and Bella already know the truth. And there's also the pact with the Quileutes, Alice's visions… besides you being the second largest clan, not counting your close relationship with the Denali."
His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew colder, almost calculating.
"If I were Aro, I'd see you as a potential threat."
Carlisle reacted with a slight expression of skepticism, though his eyes showed a flicker of concern.
"You're letting your resentment take over, Nate. The Volturi wouldn't attack us without reason. We've lived in peace for a long time. They know me… they know I would never crave their power. Also, Charlie hasn't awakened yet; we don't know how much he remembers. He saw Jacob transform… maybe the shock erased some memories or made him think much of it was a dream."
Nate blinked, surprised by the mention of his friend's transformation, but didn't let the reaction show beyond a slight raising of his eyebrows. His voice, however, was direct and sharp:
"So your bet is to leave your family's safety to the goodwill of others? Maybe you're okay with that, Carlisle… but I'm not that stupid."
Alice, who had been watching Nate's every gesture, noticed the fury igniting in his gaze. Softly, she placed her hand on his face, as if trying to put out that fire.
"Please… don't talk to my father like that."
The contact seemed to ground him, and Nate relaxed his shoulders. Carlisle shook his head softly before speaking, his tone full of patience.
"I understand you, Nate… I really do. But I don't want to spend my eternity always expecting the worst. I believe in the goodness of people. I believe that as long as we stay peaceful, no one will mess with us. I've lived like that for centuries, and I've never regretted it."
Nate studied him carefully, as if weighing those words. His reply came in a murmur, but with the strength of unbreakable conviction:
"You really remind me a lot of my father, Carlisle… but I can't live that way. I won't stand by and watch the people I love get killed again."
Carlisle intervened quickly, his voice harder now:
"And you're going to protect them by joining the Romanians? Starting a war? Nate, the Romanians won't hesitate to sacrifice everything you love to achieve their goal. They're just using you."
Nate shook his head slowly, eyes fixed on Carlisle's, each word charged with intent:
"No, Carlisle… I'm the one using them."
Nate took a deep breath before speaking, as if organizing thoughts he had long held back.
"The Romanians are desperate. They hide behind that haughty facade, those confident smiles… but deep down, they'd already given up. They thought that if they waited long enough, a third faction would rise against the Volturi. And then… they met me."
His voice hardened, but his eyes shone with something more calculating.
"I'm their last hope. Since I found out about my grandmother, I swore I wouldn't let something like that happen again… especially not to someone I love."
At that moment, he turned his head toward Alice. His gaze changed completely: from cold and calculating to a deep, almost painful softness, as if everything he was saying had in her its most intimate reason.
"I pretended to accept their war. I showed them what I could do, made it clear that not even together could they defeat me. I got them strength… a small army of newborns to start with. But what they don't understand is that they aren't loyal to them."
He looked back at Carlisle, harshly.
"They fear me. I terrified them on purpose, enough so that they would never dare imagine betraying me. The Romanians will waste time training them, filling their heads with stories against the Volturi, convincing them I came to free them."
"They will do whatever I tell them. As long as they believe I have a plan, the Romanians will wait centuries if needed. And if they're right… If in the end they come looking for Alice somehow, then I'll have the power to respond. Not just with the newborns: the Volturi have sown seeds of dissatisfaction throughout their reign. I just have to find those people, those waiting for the slightest excuse to rebel. If the worst case comes… we won't be defenseless."
Carlisle and Alice looked at him, mouths agape. Carlisle was silent for a few seconds, weighing every word, until he spoke quietly:
"Your plan has too many inconsistencies, Nate. The Romanians could betray you. What you're doing could leak out. The Volturi could think you're gathering an army to overthrow them… to take their power. Even I have my suspicions. And, even if you don't seek to rule, the Romanians must not return to power. The times they ruled were terrible, for humans and vampires alike. The Volturi, though imperfect, maintain some order in the world. They are necessary."
Nate smiled calmly, without offense.
"I can guarantee you I'm not interested in power. I just want to spend my eternity in peace. That's always been my wish. And I promise you the Romanians will never rule again. But I think it's best we leave this conversation here. The only thing you should care about is that I will keep Alice — and your family — safe. Everything I do and will do will be under that principle."
He leaned slightly forward, with quiet but firm conviction.
"I've thought about all your concerns myself. Since I turned, the answers have come with more clarity than ever. I won't do anything that puts my partner in danger… but I won't be defenseless either. You must trust me on this. I have several plans in mind. And if at any point you feel I'm putting yours at risk, don't hesitate for a second to turn me in. Your family should always be your priority."
Carlisle stood still, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and warmth.
"Nate… but now you're part of the family too," he said with a sincerity that caught him off guard.
Nate raised his eyebrows slightly, and although his face didn't change drastically, a faint, tired smile appeared on his lips. It was a subtle gesture, but enough for Alice to feel a glimpse of the human Nate she once knew, a fleeting spark of vulnerability.
No words were spoken for several seconds. Silence settled, but it wasn't uncomfortable; it was dense, filled with questions neither father nor daughter wanted to ask at that moment. Alice and Carlisle decided, without saying it, that those answers could wait.
Carlisle was the first to break the pause, his voice tinged with resignation and some hope.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Nate… though I think you always have. I said it the first time you entered my home, and I say it again now: you're extraordinary. I just ask one thing… never lose sight of what truly matters."
Nate held his gaze silently, as if weighing the weight of those words, and finally nodded. Alice, thoughtful, held a little tighter to his arm, as if to remind him he wasn't alone.
"I think I'll be going then," Carlisle continued, preparing to leave. "One more thing, Nate… I hope you can talk to Edward and Bella soon. Bella is worried about you, and Edward…" he paused while weighing his words "doesn't know how to face you. He's a good boy, and believe me, he did everything he could. Don't hold it against him."
Nate looked at him with a neutral expression, not allowing emotions to show. Then he replied in a controlled tone:
"When I feel ready, I'll find them. First… I want to control my thirst. And my emotions… Jasper was right when he said I'm a bit unstable."
Alice gave him an understanding smile.
"That's normal, Nate. It happens to all newborns."
He returned the gesture, silently grateful for her support. Carlisle smiled warmly, and just as he turned to leave, Nate stopped him.
"Wait… before you go, I have a question. You know many vampires, right?"
Carlisle, not fully understanding where this was going, tilted a smile.
"Yes. I've been in contact with many clans and covens. Why?"
Nate thought for a few seconds, as if weighing the importance of what he was about to do. Finally, he reached inside his jacket and began searching for something.