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With their superhuman speed and lack of need for sleep, the trip to Alaska felt shorter than they had anticipated. The night stretched above them like a dark ocean, and the world around them blurred into a succession of shadows and fleeting flashes. Forests, hills, and rivers faded behind them like stains on a canvas that shifted without rest.
They avoided populated areas with precise instinct, always keeping far from artificial lights and the murmur of cities. Nate, though recently fed, began to react to certain human scents drifting in from a distance—sweet and warm, a temptation brushing against his throat. A single gust of wind from the wrong direction was enough to draw his attention. Each time it happened, Alice would take his hand firmly, that cold but reassuring contact steadying him, and she would quicken their pace until the fragrance dissolved into the wind.
It was halfway through Canada, in a dense, damp forest near a small town, that Nate's thirst became too evident to ignore. The burn in his throat spread like invisible embers, and no icy breath of night air could extinguish it. Alice stopped, watching him closely, her head tilted slightly. Her voice, soft but firm, broke the silence.
"I think it's time you fed. For newborns, thirst comes more often… and we're only halfway there."
Nate nodded, knowing that fire would only grow. Alice's eyes lit with a hint of anticipation.
"We could hunt together. This forest is full of animals."
He looked at her for a few seconds, letting the silence weigh before answering with a question he had been carrying for some time.
"The Romanians told me the vegetarian diet weakens vampires. How true is that?"
Alice paused, her gaze fixed on him, as if weighing how much truth to tell.
"There are many advantages to our lifestyle. It helps us maintain control… to keep from losing our minds. But yes, drinking human blood gives a slight boost in strength. Honestly, though, I think the difference is minimal, Nate."
He lowered his gaze to the leaf-strewn ground, then lifted it again with an almost apologetic expression.
"The truth is… I'd rather stay as strong as possible for now."
Alice's brow furrowed slightly.
"So you want to attack some humans?"
"No," he replied immediately, his voice firm. "But I think sneaking into a hospital and stealing some blood bags would be a better alternative."
She studied him in silence, evaluating not only the idea but the impulse behind it. Finally, she spoke.
"It's a temporary solution, Nate, but it won't help you learn control. Still… I understand. I'll support you. I'll go get them for you."
Nate held her gaze, silent gratitude in his expression.
"I really appreciate it. It'll only be for a while… then I'll learn your family's lifestyle. Besides, red eyes aren't exactly easy to hide."
A light laugh escaped Alice, and before he could say anything more, she spun on her heels and vanished into the trees. The darkness swallowed her in a blink, and the wind stirred by her passing left behind a faint whisper.
Nate stood still, feeling the forest close in around him. With Alice near, the ferocity inside him seemed kept at bay, as if her mere presence soothed the beast that had lived within him since his turning. But alone, in the absolute silence, that balance broke. A wave of anger began to spread through him, slow but relentless.
Victoria was dead, yet his mind quickly wandered to Riley. He didn't believe he was gone. He wasn't sure how powerful the Quileute spirit warriors were, but he was certain Jacob couldn't take down a vampire on his own. He was still young, and deep down, doubtful.
From there, his thoughts strayed to Jacob and Edward. A flash of disappointment cut through him like an icy blade. He felt both had failed him. To different degrees, yes… but neither had been able to protect his grandmother.
He hoped his stay in Denali would be long. He didn't want to keep Alice away from her family, but he knew that if either of them appeared before him at this moment, keeping his anger in check would be a fight he might lose.
The forest remained still around him, save for the distant crack of a branch under the weight of some nocturnal animal. Nate sank to the damp ground, unmoving, trying to smother the swell of emotions drowning him. As a newborn, everyone had warned him that his emotions would be amplified to the point of being unbearable. Now he understood—it hadn't been an exaggeration.
Alice had been gone only a few minutes when a pang of unease pierced him. It was more than worry—it was a physical need, an invisible pull urging him to find her, to not let her out of his sight.
Fortunately, a figure soon emerged between the trees, gliding through the shadows as if she had always belonged to them.
Alice returned with light steps, and Nate's eyes went to her instantly. In her arms, awkwardly stacked, were several blood bags—so many they seemed to almost swallow her small frame in plastic and dark red. The contrast drew an involuntary smile from Nate, and the sharp pang of anger consuming him began to dissolve like smoke.
With a mischievous smile, Alice let the bags drop in front of him.
"I think this will be enough for a few days."
Then, with a fluid motion, she took off the backpack she'd been carrying and set it aside.
"I did buy the backpack."
When she opened it, Nate saw more blood bags inside, neatly arranged. Instinctively, he began counting them, his mind calculating how to ration them so he wouldn't have to go out again soon… but the moment he tore open the first one, all planning vanished. The thick, metallic scent hit him hard, and the thirst—that voracious instinct beyond reason—took over.
He leaned into the bags, drinking from several in quick succession, without pause, feeling the liquid heat slide down his throat and ignite every fiber of his body.
When he finally let out a satisfied breath, Alice took the backpack and casually slung it over her shoulder again.
"I'd better hold onto this. That way, we avoid raiding more hospitals than necessary."
Nate, a thin line of blood still marking the corner of his lips, wiped it away with his forearm. He murmured his thanks, noticing then how the scent that had intoxicated him was also affecting Alice—barely perceptible in the way her pupils dilated for an instant before she averted her gaze.
Nate smiled at the sight of her wrestling with her own instinct, her eyes on him for a second before she looked away.
"You know, even though I'm full, I could help you hunt. It'll be fun."
Alice tilted her head, and a slow smile curved her lips. "Sure… I could use a meal too."
"What do you feel like eating?" Nate asked, curious.
She gave a thoughtful shrug, her eyes glinting playfully. "The men in our family tend to go for bears or big cats… but I'm fine with a deer or a fox. Though I admit, hunting larger animals is much more fun."
Nate understood perfectly. He closed his eyes, letting the forest's silence speak to him. He heard the soft crack of branches under the hooves of several moose moving slowly. Above, in the canopy's tangle, tense squirrels hid, frozen, aware of his presence. Farther away, a cougar stalked, its breathing controlled and low, waiting for its prey to make a mistake.
He was about to choose the big cat when a deep, powerful huff broke the air. The sound was dense and resonant in his ears. He smiled faintly. A bear. Without words, he inclined his head toward the right direction, and Alice understood instantly.
As they moved through the undergrowth, the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves lingered around them. Nate, eyes on the path, broke the silence.
"I want you to tell me about the Denali… about the vampires I'll be living with."
Alice glanced at him with curiosity, her eyes shining under the moonlight filtering through the treetops. "You've already seen them," she said with a calm smile. "They're a big group, like us… mostly women. But now, with Laurent and you, there will be three men. That's good; Eleazar was starting to feel a bit lonely."
She paused, choosing her words carefully. "They're good people, but Kate might challenge you a couple of times. She was impressed by how quickly you beat her. With her gift, she felt practically invincible. Tanya, on the other hand, will probably want to talk to you… she was interested in Edward not long ago, so she might ask you a lot about Bella."
Nate took in every detail, memorizing the information. His gaze stayed fixed on the forest rushing past them, every tree and shadow blurring into green and gray. Then Alice seemed to remember something else. Her expression tightened slightly, her shoulders hunching a fraction, and her voice lowered with a hint of unease. "Ah… and if you can, it's best not to mention the Volturi around them."
Nate raised an eyebrow; curiosity sparked. "Why? Are they connected to them?" he asked as the wind cut across their faces, carrying the damp scent of the forest and the faint smell of nocturnal wildlife.
Alice hesitated for a moment before speaking, as if reliving a painful memory. "Their creator was killed by the Volturi. She was like a mother to them… but she committed the crime of creating an immortal child. When the Volturi found out, they killed her and the child. The others survived because Aro read their memories and saw they knew nothing," her voice dropped, heavier and trembling. "It left deep scars on them…"
Nate felt a knot in his chest, an instinctive reflection of empathy. He, too, had lost his mother to the Volturi, and though rage bubbled beneath his skin, he chose to remain silent, letting the information settle as they moved deeper into the forest.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and foliage. The crunch of dry leaves underfoot and the space between the trees seemed to set their own slow, expectant rhythm. Then, a deep huff split the night, reverberating among the trunks. His senses caught the smell of fur and disturbed soil; it was a large bear, alert and dominant, aware of them. Nate nodded to Alice, and together, moving cautiously, they approached their target, every muscle tense and every sense sharpened.
Nate leapt forward, landing in front of the bear, which froze for a moment, startled by his sudden presence. Its eyes gleamed, and a deep roar vibrated in the air as it sniffed at him cautiously. Suddenly, the bear rose on its hind legs, swiping claws that cut through the air with a menacing hiss. Nate dodged each strike with feline precision, his movements smooth and quick, barely disturbing the dry leaves on the ground.
With a mix of amusement and puzzlement on his face, he turned to Alice, still evading the animal's attacks. "So, how are we supposed to do this? Do I kill it in one blow or… what?"
Alice let out a soft laugh, the sweet sound breaking the forest's tense air. "Actually, only Emmett plays around with bears," she said, her eyes glinting in the shadows. "The rest of us prefer to go straight for the neck and feed."
Nate nodded in understanding, muscles taut as he dodged another swipe. With a calculated leap, he landed behind the bear, his hands gripping the back of its neck. With precise force, he shoved it to the ground, feeling the resistance of its heavy body. The bear whimpered, clearly frightened at being unable to move. Its paws flailed, stirring leaves and dirt, its hot breath mingling with the night's cold air.
Alice watched for a moment, her gaze tracing Nate's every movement. Her voice, barely a whisper, slid between the trees. "Now I understand why you're so terrifying… You can be incredibly forceful."
Nate shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "I think of myself as more practical," he said, leaving enough space for Alice to approach the animal's neck.
She didn't hesitate. With an elegant, swift leap, she lunged at the bear's neck, her fangs sinking eagerly into its warm skin, drinking in the heat of its blood. Her eyes gleamed with an intense golden light as she fed, absorbing the animal's vitality, while Nate stayed at her side, watchful, every sense attuned to any sound or movement in the forest that could interrupt her hunt.
Nate stood watching Alice for a while as she fed. The scent of fresh blood was intense, almost stinging, and he understood why vegetarianism didn't have many adherents among vampires: human blood gave off a heady, deep aroma, while animal blood carried a harsher, earthier note that wasn't entirely pleasant. He drifted briefly into thought about how feeding from such an animal didn't appeal to him, but his attention stayed on Alice, whose manner of drinking was as precise as it was elegant.
When Alice finished, she pulled back from the bear's neck and took a deep breath, her golden eyes shining with satisfaction. Nate, distracted in his thoughts, asked, "So… what are we supposed to do with the body?"
Alice shrugged, a soft laugh mingling with the whisper of wind through the trees. "We just leave it here. Other predators in the forest will take care of it."
Nate frowned slightly. "Sounds a bit strange… it could leave traces."
Alice looked at him calmly, as if the answer were obvious. "My family's been doing this for years. Trust me… it works."
He nodded slowly, realizing there was no reason to doubt the coven's tradition. With the tension of the hunt dissipating, they continued on their way. Their bodies moved with precision, almost skimming the ground as they advanced through the forest in silence. Every shadow, every scent, every distant crack was caught by their heightened senses, but neither reacted.
It took them several hours to cover the remaining distance, crossing the rest of the country with practiced efficiency. Luckily for Nate, Alice had visited the Denali house several times before and knew the optimal route. Finally, night gave way to day, and day to evening, when at last the Denali house came into view—elegant and serene, its façade bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.
At the door, the Denali coven stood together, watching the newcomers' arrival. Their gazes met Nate's and Alice's, assessing them with curiosity and a trace of expectation. The air between the groups was charged with a mix of formality, anticipation, and the subtle tension that always accompanied meetings between vampires.
Alice squeezed Nate's hand lightly as they approached—a small gesture that carried trust and complicity—while he, aware of the long journey and what was to come, prepared himself to meet the new coven.