While Lucas was practicing Sun Breathing in the woods, the Cullens were sitting in the living room.
Jasper and Emmett were sitting together, while Lisa, Alice, and Rosalie sat close by. Carlisle sat beside Esme at the center, while Edward was at the piano, playing softly.
"So, you're telling me he already knows we are vampires, and he has already accepted you as his fiancé?" Esme repeated their words in surprise, while Jasper and Emmett smirked knowingly.
"Yes," Rosalie replied with a smile, her heart racing with pride at the thought of Lucas accepting her.
"Well, that's was very fast and maybe good. If he isn't afraid of us and has accepted the mate bond, that means he truly cares about Rosalie even it's was their first meeting," Esme said with a gentle smile.
"He's a very good young man—and mature," Carlisle commented with a thoughtful nod.
"I can't read his mind… and that makes him dangerous," Edward said coldly while continuing to play his piano.
Rosalie's smile instantly vanished. Her golden eyes blazed with fury as she shot up from her seat. "Dangerous?!" Her voice shook the room. "How dare you call him dangerous, Edward! He's the one who trusted us enough to reveal his ability and tell us he already know that we are not human. Do you think a real threat would ever do that?!"
Edward's jaw clenched, but Rosalie wasn't done. She stepped forward, her voice sharp as knives. "And don't you dare compare him to Bella. At least Lucas has the courage to stand in front of us and not hide like a coward. What about your little stunt in the parking lot? Didn't that almost expose us? What if Bella talks, about that to others? Or does your mate get a free pass because you say so?" Her glare was merciless, every word dripping with venom.
"But Bella is simple! She doesn't have any special ability like he does!" Edward shouted back defensively, his voice strained.
Rosalie snapped, her tone fierce. "Simple?! That doesn't make her safer, Edward—it makes her naive and you also can't read her mind. And don't you dare insult Lucas just because you can't read him."
"Enough!" Carlisle's commanding tone cut through the storm, though Rosalie's chest was still heaving with restrained fury. Edward and Rosalie froze, but the fire in Rosalie's glare didn't waver for even a second.
"Edward, for God's sake, don't behave like a child," Lisa said in annoyance, crossing her arms. "And don't forget—it was you who nearly exposed us in front of the entire school."
Edward's voice rose in frustration. "So what do you want me to do—see her dead?!"
Alice's voice was sharp now, unusually so. "That's hypocritical, Edward. You risked exposing us to protect Bella, yet you call Lucas dangerous for doing nothing but being honest with us?"
"And it's not like we're saying you were wrong for saving Bella," Jasper added calmly, though even he was eyeing Edward with disapproval.
Carlisle placed a steady hand on Edward's shoulder. "Edward, Lucas is Rosalie's mate. Through it, we are connected to him whether you like it or not. If anything, we are the guilty ones for pulling him into our world."
"Even if he was not Rosalie mate, he will still be my buddy," Emmett said with a grin, trying to break the tension. "I don't care what you think."
"And Edward," Esme said softly but firmly, "you should be grateful he didn't hesitate to accept Rosalie. If he had refused the bond…" She glanced at Rosalie with worry and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It would have broken her."
Rosalie's chest tightened. She managed a smile for Esme, but the fire of her anger still burned beneath it, directed entirely at Edward. Jasper, sensing the storm raging inside her, quietly reached out with his gift to calm her emotions.
Edward didn't answer. His face twisted with frustration as he stood abruptly and stormed out of the house.
"Leave him for now," Carlisle said with a sigh, his eyes following Edward.
Turning back to Rosalie, Carlisle spoke gently. "Don't let his words cut too deep. We all know Lucas is different from other humans. But he's good—and I've already accepted him."
Rosalie gave him a grateful nod, though her voice was still icy when she muttered, "No one will ever insult him again. Not while I'm here."
Esme quickly tried to shift the mood. "Alright, enough of this. Can anyone tell me more about Lucas?"
"He's my first human friend—and he'll always be my best friend," Alice said with a mischievous smile.
"Yeah," Lisa added warmly. "He's honest, straightforward… he told Rosalie exactly how he felt about her without hesitation."
"And he didn't hesitate to help Bella when she was in danger," Emmett said, recalling the memory. "He inhaled so much air and was ready to dash forward. All in all, he's kind."
"He's funny and a genuinely good person," Jasper said with a faint smile. "Even after I told him my hands were stained with blood, he didn't look at me with disgust. That meant a lot."
Esme's heart warmed as she listened. "So, in all your words, he is an excellent young man." Her gaze shifted to Rosalie, who couldn't hide the radiant smile on her face. She was proud of Lucas—and she already start missing him fiercely.
Carlisle's tone turned serious once again. "But remember, trust is fragile. Especially you, Jasper—when Lucas mentioned your bloodstained past, I saw anger flicker in his eyes. You felt it too. Be careful, and always keep control."
Jasper nodded silently because he know Lucas was angry, but he also know he not disgust and it's valid for him for being angry. Alice squeezed his hand gently, while Rosalie also nodded, realizing she had to think of her family as well as Lucas. But deep inside, her resolve was set: no matter what, she would always stand with Lucas—and God help anyone who dared to call him dangerous again.
The Cullens all understood—it was only the first day. Their trust in Lucas was delicate. But with time, it would either break… or grow into something unshakable.
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