In the parking lot, Lucas chatted easily with the Cullens, bonding quickly with Jasper and Emmett. The two seemed to take him almost instantly, treating him like an old friend.
Lisa and Alice were also laughing and talking with him, their conversation light and warm.
Rosalie, however, remained quieter. She joined in occasionally, but for the most part, she simply watched Lucas, her golden eyes lingering on his face as if trying to memorize every detail and looking at his smile he gives when he talks.
While Edward and Bella were looking at each other. Bella's gaze occasionally drifted to Lucas and the other Cullens.
"I thought they weren't friendly…"she mused, before returning her attention to Edward.
As she reached for her truck door she heard a screech of tires shattered the calm.
"Look out!" someone yelled.
Bella's head snapped toward the noise, her eyes widening in horror. A van skidded across the icy pavement, spinning toward her far too fast. Fear rooted her to the spot; her body refused to move.
Lucas saw it instantly. His eyes narrowed, the world around him sharpening as he activated his Transparent World. He inhaled deeply, drawing in a lot of oxygen, his muscles tensing which Cullens noticed.
He was about to dash forward—
—but a blur of pale skin and dark clothing flashed past him. Edward.
Before Bella could react, she was swept into Edward's arms, his body shielding hers as her back slammed into her truck. His hand shot out, pressing hard against the van's side. The metal crumpled like tin foil, the vehicle screeching to a dead stop inches from her face.
The air smelled of burnt rubber. Bella's heart pounded, her breath coming in shaky bursts. She stared at Edward, who was so close she could see every flawless detail of his unmoving chest.
"You okay?" His voice was low, urgent.
Bella blinked, still in shock. "How did you—?"
"Don't move," he interrupted, glancing toward the crowd now rushing over.
A moment later, Edward was back at the Cullens' side. They exchanged sharp, silent glares with him, their expressions clearly saying, "We'll talk at home."
Edward's jaw tightened. "What, you wanted me to let her die?" he muttered, his voice clipped but quiet enough not to draw attention.
No one replied. Instead, several pairs of eyes flicked toward Lucas. Rosalie's gaze lingered on him longer than the rest—there was fear in it, mixed with something else in Rosalie eyes.
Lucas raised his brows. "Don't look at me like that. All I saw was a man saving a girl from dying, and I respect him for that." He gave Edward a small nod and an easy smile.
His sincerity seemed to catch them off guard. Jasper, scanning him subtly, found no hostility—just genuine respect.
Lucas didn't press further. His attention returned to Rosalie, whose face still carried traces of fear. Without hesitation, he reached for her hand, squeezing it firmly. He gave her his warmest, most reassuring smile.
Rosalie froze for a moment, then returned the gesture, her fingers tightening around his. A strange warmth bloomed in her chest.
"I'll tell you everything—everything you deserve to know," she said quietly, her tone shaking but her eyes burning with determination.
When Rosalie had seen Edward save Bella, she hadn't felt anger. Deep down, she knew that if Lucas had been in Bella's place, she would have done the same without hesitation.
"Well, Edward," Lisa said sharply, glaring at him, "looks like we have a long talk ahead of us."
Alice's lips curved slightly. "Maybe it's time we were a little more… straightforward. Like Lucas." Her tone was playful, but her eyes were serious.
Emmett clapped his hands once. "Alright, enough talking. Let's go. Bella's headed to the hospital—we should follow the ambulance."
Edward said nothing, only walking toward his car, the rest falling in behind him.
Rosalie glanced at Lucas. "Come with me," she said softly.
He nodded, sliding into the passenger seat of her sleek Mercedes.
As she started the engine, Rosalie's mind was a storm. "I never imagined I'd meet my mate like this. I wasn't ready to tell him the truth—not yet. I just wanted time… time to be with him before risking everything."
She feared that if he knew what she truly was, he'd leave. At least if that happened later, she'd have a few precious memories to hold onto.
But as she looked at Lucas now, she saw no fear in his expression—only concern for her.
That realization brought a rare, genuine smile to her lips.
.
.
.