The storm had been building all afternoon — low rumbles echoing over the mountains, clouds thickening until the evening sky felt heavy, almost electric.
Alex had barely finished making coffee when a light, quick knock came at his door.
When he opened it, Alice was standing there in a dark hoodie and that infuriatingly mischievous grin she perfected.
"Perfect weather," she announced. "You're coming with us."
He blinked. "That's one way to say hello. And where am I coming with you?"
"You'll see. Grab a jacket." She turned without waiting for an answer.
Outside, Rosalie was already behind the wheel, waiting with that calm, detached expression that secretly made Alex grin inside. From the corner of his eye, Alex caught someone else in the back seat — pale skin, wide human eyes. Bella Swan.
When Alex slid in beside her, Bella gave him a small nod in greeting… but also a quick, puzzled glance. He could see it — the flicker in her eyes, well not expecting me here.
"uh...how do you know the cullens alex"" Bella said finally.
Alex replied easily, his tone casual but warm." well bella its a very long story , maybe actually short you know the two beautifull girls in the front seat, well i know them."
hearing this bella confuse thinking of asking edward later.
That didn't seem to clear anything up for her. If anything, Bella's frown deepened slightly. Alex caught Alice's smirk in the rear‑view mirror.
The Cullen Field
The drive took them deep into the forest until the trees opened into a wide clearing.
Lightning flickered across the sky, turning the world silver for a heartbeat.
The Cullens were already scattered around the field — Emmett balancing a bat on his fingers, Jasper tossing the ball so fast it blurred, Carlisle and Esme chatting quietly at the sideline.
Bella stayed close to Edward, watching the scene with fascination. Alex noticed her gaze flick between family members with a mix of awe and caution… but every so often, her eyes slid back to him.
bella asked me " alex are you going to paly with them isn't it dangerous for you"
alex casually replied " don't worry about me bella i'm special"
hearing this bella had a confused expression, so she just shruged and waited side of the game at a safe distance with other two cullens iris and edyth.
The first crack of the bat was like a gunshot, startling Bella enough to step closer to Edward — Alex just grinned, ready for it.
Rosalie blurred through the outfield to snatch the ball from midair, earning a few teasing shouts from Emmett.
When Alex was handed the bat, he rolled his shoulders, letting an almost imperceptible shimmer of power hum through him.
Jasper's pitch came in like lightning. Alex swung clean — the ball sailing impossibly high until it vanished into the storm clouds.
From the sidelines, Bella's mouth opened slightly. She glanced at Edward, then back at Alex as though silently asking if he'd seen the same thing she just did. Edward's brow furrowed, but he said nothing.
As the game went on, Alex ran bases like he'd always belonged here, trading playful banter with Emmett and Rosalie, exchanging high‑fives with Alice. He even caught one of Jasper's impossible throws, earning shocked laughter. He didn't miss the way Bella kept sneaking glances at him — not hostile, just… searching, as if trying to place him in the picture she thought she knew.
At one point, when Alice zipped past third base, Alex leaned sideways toward Bella and said in a low voice, "Told you it'd be a good show."
Bella blinked, studying him like she wanted to ask a dozen questions — but, for now, she just said, "Yeah… I guess so," her tone carrying more confusion than agreement.
It happened just after Emmett laughed loud enough to shake the storm — movement at the far edge of the clearing. Three figures emerged from between the trees, watching.
In an instant, the Cullens' mood shifted.
Carlisle stepped forward calmly, Rosalie moved closer to Alex without even thinking, and Edward's arm slipped protectively in front of Bella. Alex noticed her gaze dart rapidly between the tense family and the strange newcomers, confusion sharpening into unease.
The game had paused mid‑laugh.
On the far edge of the clearing, three figures emerged from the treeline like they'd always been there. The storm seemed to dim around them, lightning flashing just enough to outline their pale skin and glinting eyes.
The leader walked in front — lean and sharp‑eyed, with browned skin that suggested he'd been out in the open more than most vampires. His movements were fluid, predatory, yet oddly casual. Laurent, my mind supplied — the diplomat of the bunch if the canon held true.
To his left prowled a woman with a wild mop of vivid red curls that caught every flash of lightning. Even without the canon memory, instinct screamed she was trouble. Victoria — the patient predator, the one who could wait years if it meant sinking her teeth in.
And then there was the one in the middle distance, something feral in his stance even when still. Dirty‑blond hair fell into his eyes, his entire body humming with a hunter's focus. James. I didn't need mind‑reading to clock the way his gaze skimmed the group like we were pieces on a chessboard — and how it lingered on one piece in particular. Bella.
And so the game just got its plot twist, I thought grimly.
The Cullens reacted in perfect sync, their easy warmth replaced with silent, ready alignment. Carlisle was already stepping forward with deliberate calm, the air between them stretching thin like glass about to crack. Rosalie shifted half in front of me without realizing, a subtle human‑shield move she'd never admit to. Alice's hand found my arm — not fear, but tension ready to spring.
Edward's arm anchored Bella to his side. She looked between their faces, clearly thrown by how quickly the atmosphere had turned.
Laurent lifted his hands slightly, a gesture of greeting more than surrender.
"Mind if we join your game?" he said, his smooth French accent threading through the storm. "We were just passing through and heard… quite the racket."
Carlisle's voice was level, cordial. "Of course. We were just finishing a few innings."
There was the faintest shift in the family's positions — like chess pieces protecting their key squares yeah not like in the canon the weird position and sissy like hissing . In canon, it's feel like weird scene well for me but in front me it is nothing like in the canon.
James sniffed the air once, a faint smile twitching at his lips. It wasn't friendly. Easy there, Captain Tracker, I thought. You pick the wrong prey and this goes south. My fingers itched — not in fear, but in the urge to be ready in case I had to bend reality for an exit or defense.
Victoria wandered closer in a slow arc, eyes curious. She wasn't looking at Bella first — she was scanning each Cullen like she was memorizing them. When her gaze slid to me, her brow furrowed just slightly, like there was something she couldn't quite pin down.
Get used to that look, I told her silently. Edward's still wearing it.
"We don't get many opportunities for sport this far north," Laurent continued, smooth and all charm. "Perhaps we might have a friendly round? We'll, of course, follow your rules…"
Esme's smile was polite, her voice softer but no less guarded. "It's up to Carlisle."
Carlisle gave the gentlest nod. "You're welcome to join us for a short game."
While Laurent smiled in return — all perfect manners — James' gaze flicked again to Bella. His nostrils flared like he'd caught an unexpected scent , his favorite snack. And just like in the memory of the books, Edward noticed instantly; his body tensed, jaw tightening.
Oh yeah, I thought, here we go — the dominoes are tipping.
The next moments were pure Cullen diplomacy: Edward inching Bella subtly back toward Alice, Rosalie shifting closer to box me in from James' line of sight, Jasper's calm seeping just enough into the air to keep anyone from making an ill‑timed move.
Bella glanced at me once more, her expression clearly reading What the hell is going on? I gave her as much of a calm face as I could, because explaining "vampire territorial drama" and you are the snack here mid‑game wasn't in the cards.
"Perhaps introductions are in order," Carlisle said smoothly. "I'm Carlisle. This is my family."
Names and nods were exchanged. The Cullens spoke with even tones, while the nomads gave theirs — Laurent all courtesy, Victoria with a sly edge, James barely concealing the glint in his hungry stare.
The storm rolled again above us, louder now, and I could feel the tension woven into every rumble.
Finally, Carlisle glanced toward the sky. "It's getting late. We should call it a night — our visitor here has somewhere to be." His emphasis on visitor was subtle, but the message hung there like lightning ready to strike.
Laurent's smile didn't falter, but his eyes sharpened a fraction. "Understood. We'll be on our way." He gave a small, almost courtly bow before turning toward the trees. James followed last, lingering long enough to throw one last glance over his shoulder — not at Bella this time, but at me — before disappearing into the shadows.