The next day, Lucas woke up earlier than usual, excitement humming in his chest—today was the day of his date with his beautiful Rose as they had planned.
Reaching for his phone, he blinked against the glow of the screen before opening his chat with Rosalie. His fingers hovered briefly, then typed as though the words themselves were precious:
Lucas: Good morning, Rose 🌹.
He lingered for a moment, staring at the message. Within seconds, her reply lit up the screen.
Rosalie: Good morning, Luc. You're up early today ❤️.
A smile tugged at his lips. He quickly typed back, his heartbeat picking up.
Lucas: Couldn't sleep much. Too excited for our date 🕺.
For a brief pause, there was no response. Lucas imagined her rolling over and over in her bed, maybe laughing to herself. Then her message arrived, and he could almost hear her teasing voice wrapped in warmth.
Rosalie: Well, I'm also excited for a date with my Luc ❤️❤️❤️… Just don't keep me waiting.
Lucas grinned widely as her words wrapping around him like sunlight.
Lucas: I wouldn't dare. See you soon, my Rose 🥰.
Satisfied, he set his phone down and headed towards the bathroom to begin his routine—brushing, freshening up, showering, and finally combing his long hair with more care than usual.
Once done, he made his way to the kitchen and prepared a simple breakfast for himself. After eating, he quickly washed the dishes, already thinking about Rosalie's looking at him with smile.
Back in his room, Lucas opened his wardrobe and selected his outfit with care:black jeans, a black jacket, and a white T-shirt beneath. Dressed, he stood before the mirror, tilting his head as though studying not just his reflection, but the impression he might leave on her. His eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"Perfect," he murmured with a confident smile, before grabbing his car keys.
Stepping outside, he locked his door—only to feel the weight of several stares. Turning, he found Jessica, Angela, Bella, Mike, Eric, and Tyler gathered nearby across the road, their expressions frozen in shock while looking towards him.
For the first time, Lucas hadn't covered his hair or the slayer mark hidden beneath while going outside. Today, he was simply himself—for Rosalie.
Jessica's eyes widened comically. "O. M. G… so handsome."
"Yeah… tooooo handsome," Angela breathed, her voice full of awe.
Mike, Eric, and Tyler exchanged looks brimming with jealousy before glancing toward Bella, almost as if waiting for her reaction.
But Bella only studied Lucas calmly. She had already seen his full face before. Still, her thoughts flickered curiously. "Should I ask him about Edward now?" but she put that though away as she had a feeling that even she ask him about Edward he will not tell her anything and will try to let her stay away from Edward.
Lucas broke the silence with a friendly wave, his warm smile making the whole group shift uncomfortably from admiration to confusion. Almost involuntarily, they waved back.
"Never thought we'd run into each other like this," Lucas said lightly, sliding into his car before driving off toward Rosalie's home.
They stood there for a moment longer, shaking their heads, processing what they'd just seen. They hadn't expected to run into Lucas without his usual disguise—especially not like this.
---
Arriving at the Cullen house, Lucas parked and leaned casually against his car, texting Rosalie that he was waiting outside as his chest buzzed with anticipation.
But instead of Rosalie, the front door opened, and a graceful woman stepped out, her smile serene and Lucas instantly knew who she was when he she her.
Esme Cullen. Carlisle's wife. The mother figure of the Cullen family.
She walked toward him with elegance. "You must be Lucas. I'm Esme Cullen," she greeted warmly with a smile on her face as she looked at him.
Lucas straightened, offering a respectful smile. "It's good to finally meet you, ma'am. Rose always talks about how kind you are." and said while looking at her.
Her eyes softened at the sincerity in his voice. "Just Esme is fine," she said gently, already sensing the respect he carried.
But Lucas shook his head lightly, his tone humble. "I'm afraid I can't, ma'am. You're like a mother figure to Rose… and to my friends. Calling you by name wouldn't feel right. You've earned more respect than that."as he said with apologetic tone while dening to call her by using name.
For a moment, Esme was taken aback. The depth of his words, the earnestness in his eyes—it touched her. A tender smile broke through. "You're a good boy, Lucas," she said softly, and in her gaze was something more: quiet approval.
Lucas smiled, a little relieved, but before he could reply, Esme continued. "And thank you… for accepting Rosalie, even knowing what we are. Even knowing about the mate bond." Her voice was warm, but beneath it was the vulnerability of a mother who had watched Rosalie suffer in silence for so long.
Lucas shook his head with a gentle smile. "Please, don't thank me, ma'am. This isn't about me. Fate has brought us together, erasing the loneliness we both carried. Rose and I… we were meant to find each other." he replied to her, as for a brief moment, his eyes softened with memory he share with Rosalie throughout the week—the laughter they had shared, the quiet comfort, the sparks of love that kept growing stronger every day.
Esme studied him carefully, and then her smile deepened. Looking at the boy before her—the one who made Rosalie smile in ways she rarely had seen—Esme's heart settled with peace.
Rosalie had found her mate. And from the look in his eyes, Esme knew he would love her unconditionally.
.
.
.