Still drunk on the power coursing through his transformed body, Veer—*Narasimha*—surveyed the rocky outcrop around him. The stone formations jutted from the mountainside like ancient monuments, some as large as houses. His enhanced vision picked out details that would have been invisible to human eyes: the layered sediment that spoke of millennia, the fracture lines that revealed structural weaknesses, the sheer mass of stone that represented tons upon tons of compressed earth.
*Let's see what I can really do.*
He approached the largest boulder—a granite monolith easily twelve feet tall and probably weighing several tons. In his human form, it would have been an immovable object. Even with supernatural strength, most vampires would struggle with something this massive.
But Narasimha wasn't most supernatural creatures.
He placed his hands against the cold stone, feeling the rough texture against his palms. Power hummed beneath his skin, divine strength that felt limitless, eternal. The boulder's weight seemed almost... theoretical.
With careful pressure—he was still learning to control this form—he pushed.
The massive stone shifted with a grinding sound that echoed across the mountaintop. What should have required heavy machinery and careful engineering moved as easily as rolling a basketball. He adjusted his grip and pushed harder.
The boulder rolled, gathering momentum as it tumbled down the rocky slope, crashing through smaller stones and sending reverberations through the mountain that probably registered on seismic equipment in Seattle.
*That was... effortless.*
His golden eyes fixed on an even larger formation—a stone outcropping that was technically part of the mountain itself, a rocky shelf that jutted out over empty air. It had to weigh twenty times what the boulder had.
Veer positioned himself beneath it, braced his legs, and *lifted*.
The stone groaned in protest. Hairline fractures appeared where it connected to the main rock face. And then, with a sound like controlled thunder, the entire shelf broke free. Narasimha held it above his head for a moment—several tons of solid granite suspended in the air by divine strength alone—before hurling it out into the darkness.
The crash, when it came, shook the forest for miles.
In the distance, car alarms began going off in Forks. Dogs started barking. And somewhere in the back of his enhanced hearing, he caught the sound of startled voices, people waking up and wondering what the hell was happening to their quiet little town.
*Oops.*
The rational part of his mind—the part that remembered being Veer Dwyer, responsible teenager—began to reassert itself. This kind of display would have consequences. Questions. Investigations.
But the divine part of him—the part that *was* Narasimha, protector and warrior—felt nothing but satisfaction. He was what he was. Power like this wasn't meant to be hidden completely. It was meant to stand guard, to be ready when needed.
*Though maybe I should dial it back a notch before the National Guard shows up.*
He took a deep breath, letting the transformation begin to recede. The golden mane shortened back to human hair, his frame condensed to merely exceptional human proportions, and his features returned to their Hollywood-handsome baseline. The divine power remained, but contained, controlled, sleeping just beneath the surface until needed.
By the time he jogged back through the forest toward the Swan house, he looked like nothing more dangerous than a teenager who'd gone for a very long, very fast run.
But the destroyed mountaintop behind him told a different story. And every supernatural creature within fifty miles now knew exactly what kind of power had just announced itself to their world.
As he climbed back through his bedroom window and settled into bed, Veer allowed himself one last grin.
Tomorrow was going to be very interesting indeed.
—
Meanwhile, in the Cullen house, ten vampires sat in absolute silence, processing what they'd just witnessed through enhanced senses and Alice's supplementary visions.
"Did he just..." Emmett started.
"Rearrange part of the mountain? Yes," Alice replied serenely. "Among other things."
Eleanor was vibrating with barely contained excitement. "That's our mate. Our divine, mountain-moving, absolutely magnificent mate."
"We're going to need to invest in property insurance," Esme murmured, though she was smiling. "Just... as a precaution."
Edythe remained silent, but her eyes were bright with something that might have been anticipation.
And in the forest, every werewolf in the area was suddenly, inexplicably certain that the balance of power in their supernatural ecosystem had just shifted in ways they couldn't yet comprehend.
Tomorrow's school day was shaping up to be memorable.
—
Veer woke to sunlight filtering through his curtains and the immediate, unfortunate realization that his midnight adventure had come with wardrobe casualties.
His sleep shorts—what remained of them—looked like they'd been through a paper shredder. Tattered strips of fabric clung to his waist and thighs, leaving him looking less like a responsible teenager and more like someone who'd just escaped from a particularly dramatic jungle movie.
"Right," he muttered, carefully extricating himself from the fabric remnants. "Note to self: divine transformations are not compatible with standard sleepwear. Definitely need to invest in some heavy-duty spandex if I plan on making midnight mountain-rearranging a regular hobby."
The image of shopping for superhero-grade underwear made him snort with laughter, which probably wasn't the most dignified reaction to discovering you'd accidentally cosplayed as Tarzan in your sleep.
A quick shower in the shared bathroom revealed no other damage—his skin was unmarked despite his bare-footed forest sprint, and he felt better than he had any right to after basically no sleep and a supernatural workout. Divine constitution apparently came with excellent recovery time.
Dressed in jeans and a simple blue button-down, Veer made his way downstairs to tackle breakfast. Charlie's kitchen supplies remained predictably sparse—eggs, bread, and coffee that was serviceable but uninspiring. As he worked, whisking eggs and buttering toast, his mind wandered to the proper moka pot he'd used in his previous life in Mumbai. The coffee it produced had been strong, aromatic, perfect for starting the day.
*Another item for the shopping list,* he decided. *Right after industrial-strength exercise shorts.*
"Morning, chef," Bella's voice interrupted his culinary nostalgia. She appeared in the kitchen doorway, hair damp from her own shower, looking marginally more awake than she had the night before.
"Morning. Perfect timing." He slid a plate of eggs and toast across the counter to her, followed by a mug of coffee. "Fair warning: the coffee's adequate at best. We definitely need to upgrade Charlie's caffeine situation."
Bella took a sip and made a face that suggested 'adequate' was generous. "Add it to the list. Speaking of which, we seriously need to go grocery shopping. Charlie's idea of food storage is apparently 'hope someone else handles it.'"
"I noticed. Problem is, we're kind of dependent on Charlie for transportation until we figure out the car situation." Veer gestured toward the window, where the Pacific Northwest morning mist was doing its best impression of a London fog bank. "And I'm not walking to the grocery store in this weather."
"We could ask Charlie to—" Bella started.
"Ask Charlie to what?" the man himself interrupted, appearing in the kitchen with his uniform shirt half-buttoned and his hair sticking up at odd angles. The sight was so familiarly Charlie that Veer felt a warm surge of affection.
"We were discussing the tragic state of your food supplies, Uncle Charlie," Veer said, handing him a plate and coffee. "Bella and I need to go grocery shopping before we all starve or die of scurvy."
"Hey, I've got plenty of food," Charlie protested, then paused as he surveyed his own kitchen. "Okay, maybe not plenty. But I was going to—"
The sound of vehicles pulling into the driveway cut him off. Charlie's expression shifted to something that looked suspiciously like relief mixed with expectation.
"Right on time," he muttered, then louder: "Come on, you two. There's someone I want you to meet."
Veer and Bella exchanged curious glances as they followed Charlie outside. Two vehicles sat in the driveway: a modified pickup truck with hand controls clearly visible through the windshield, and a familiar red Chevy truck that looked like it had survived several decades through sheer stubbornness.
"Billy!" Charlie called out, his genuine pleasure obvious as a man with long black hair and kind eyes maneuvered himself from the modified truck into a wheelchair with practiced ease.
"Charlie," Billy Black replied warmly, then his gaze shifted to the teenagers. "And you must be Bella. Haven't seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper."
But it was the young man emerging from the red truck who caught most of Veer's attention. Jacob Black had grown since their last fishing trip—taller, broader through the shoulders, with the kind of easy smile that suggested he found life generally amusing. He moved with the unconscious grace of someone comfortable in his own skin, though Veer's enhanced senses picked up something else: the faint tremor of barely controlled energy that suggested Jacob's supernatural transformation wasn't far off.
*Right on schedule,* Veer thought. *Though he doesn't know it yet.*
"Veer!" Jacob's face lit up with genuine pleasure. "Man, I didn't know you were coming with Bella. How've you been?"
"Can't complain," Veer replied, accepting Jacob's enthusiastic handshake and noting the strength behind it—not supernatural yet, but definitely above average. "Though I have to say, you've grown since last summer. Billy's been feeding you better than he feeds himself, apparently."
Jacob laughed, that easy, infectious sound Veer remembered from their fishing expeditions. "Growth spurt. Dad says I'm eating him out of house and home."
"Jacob's been helping me fix up that old truck," Billy explained, gesturing toward the red Chevy. "Thought Bella might want it for getting around. Beats depending on her old man for rides everywhere."
Bella's eyes widened as she looked between the truck and Charlie. "You're giving me a truck?"
"It's a welcome home gift," Charlie corrected quickly, though his tone suggested the price would be purely nominal. "Can't have my daughter walking to school in this weather."
"It's got character," Jacob added with a grin that suggested he was being diplomatic about the vehicle's more obvious shortcomings. "I've gone through the engine, replaced what needed replacing. She'll get you where you need to go."
Veer studied the truck with interest. It was exactly as he remembered from the movies—battered but functional, the kind of vehicle that would survive a nuclear apocalypse through sheer mechanical spite. More importantly, it would give them the independence they needed.
"What do you think, Bella?" he asked.
Bella was still staring at the truck like she wasn't sure if it was a gift or a practical joke. "It's... very red."
"That's the spirit," Jacob said cheerfully. "Want to take it for a test drive? I can show you all the quirks—and there are a few."
"I bet there are," Bella muttered, but she was smiling.
As the group migrated toward the truck for Jacob's impromptu automotive tutorial, Veer hung back slightly, observing the dynamics. Charlie and Billy fell into the easy conversation of old friends, their voices carrying the comfort of decades of shared experience. Jacob was already launching into an enthusiastic explanation of the truck's various mechanical personalities, while Bella listened with the polite attention of someone trying not to seem ungrateful.
*Perfect,* Veer thought. *Transportation, character development, and the beginning of Jacob's integration into our lives. Plus, now we can actually get to that grocery store.*
"So," he said, approaching Billy's wheelchair, "thanks for this. Both of you. Bella and I were just discussing how to solve our transportation problems."
Billy's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Charlie mentioned you two might need wheels. Besides, that truck's been sitting in my garage taking up space. Better it gets some use."
"And Jacob did a good job with the repairs?"
"Jacob's got good hands," Billy said with paternal pride. "Takes after his mother that way. Mechanical things just make sense to him."
From their position near the truck, Jacob's voice carried clearly: "...and sometimes the heater sticks, but if you hit the dashboard right about here, it usually cooperates..."
"Definitely takes after someone," Veer agreed, grinning.
The morning was turning out better than he'd expected. Transportation secured, grocery shopping made possible, and the natural progression of relationships beginning exactly as they should. Soon Bella would be driving to school, Jacob would be part of their extended social circle, and the supernatural drama could begin in earnest.
But first, they really needed to stock Charlie's kitchen with actual food.
And he still needed to find that moka pot. And spandex shorts.
Priorities were important, even in a supernatural soap opera.
—
As Jacob finished his enthusiastic tour of the truck's various mechanical quirks, Veer approached with the casual air of someone who'd just had an idea.
"Hey, Jacob," he said, leaning against the red truck's tailgate. "Mind if I ask you something? You seem to know your way around cars pretty well."
"Thanks," Jacob replied, wiping his hands on a rag with obvious satisfaction. "I've been working on engines since I could hold a wrench. Dad taught me the basics, but mostly I just like figuring out how things work."
"Right. So here's my situation." Veer glanced toward where Charlie and Billy were deep in conversation about fishing spots. "Bella's got her truck now, which is perfect. But I'm going to need my own transportation eventually. I've got some money saved up from working part-time jobs in Phoenix, plus some inheritance from my mom that I've been sitting on."
Jacob's eyebrows rose with interest. "You looking to buy something?"
"Maybe. But here's the thing—I don't want some boring, reliable sedan that gets me from point A to point B without any personality. I want something with character. Something that might need work." Veer grinned. "Something that could be a project."
"A project?" Jacob's eyes lit up with the unmistakable gleam of someone who'd just heard his favorite topic mentioned.
"Yeah. I mean, I don't know much about cars yet, but I'm a fast learner. And I figure if I'm going to be in Forks for the long haul, I might as well have a hobby that doesn't involve staring at rain." Veer paused meaningfully. "Plus, I'd need someone who actually knows what they're doing to help me out. Someone who wouldn't mind teaching a city boy the difference between a carburetor and a alternator."
Jacob was practically bouncing on his toes now. "Man, are you serious? Because I know about three different cars that are sitting in yards around here, just waiting for someone to give them some love. And there's this place up in Port Angeles that gets interesting trade-ins sometimes."
"What kind of interesting?"
"Well, there's this '69 Camaro that's been sitting behind Garcia's garage for two years. Engine's seized, body's got some rust, but the bones are good. Or there's a '67 Mustang fastback that would be amazing if someone put the time into it." Jacob's hands moved as he talked, sketching shapes in the air. "Oh, and there's this Jeep CJ-7 that would be perfect for around here—good in all weather, easy to work on, parts are cheap."
Veer listened, genuinely interested. The idea of having a project car appealed to him on multiple levels. It would give him a legitimate reason to spend time with Jacob, strengthening that friendship before the supernatural drama hit. It would provide a normal, human hobby that could serve as cover for his less explainable activities. And honestly, the idea of building something with his hands sounded appealing after a lifetime of more cerebral pursuits.
"What's your gut instinct?" he asked. "If you were going to pick something for a first project, what would you go for?"
Jacob considered this seriously, his expression thoughtful. "Depends what you want to do with it. The Camaro would be a beast when it's done, but it's a big project. Might take a year or more. The Mustang's more manageable, classic look, holds its value. But honestly?" He glanced toward the forest-covered hills surrounding them. "For Forks? I'd probably go with the Jeep. It's practical, fun to drive, and you can take it places the other cars can't go."
"Plus it's probably more forgiving for a beginner?"
"Exactly. And Jeeps are like Legos—everything's modular, parts are everywhere, and you can upgrade as you go." Jacob grinned. "Plus, if we mess something up, it's not like we're destroying a priceless classic."
Veer nodded slowly. "Okay, I'm interested. What would something like that cost? Ballpark?"
"The CJ-7 I'm thinking of? Probably around three grand as-is. Maybe another two or three to get it really nice, depending on how fancy you want to go." Jacob paused. "That's not too steep, is it? I know some people think any project car is throwing money away."
"Three thousand for the car, maybe six total to get it done right?" Veer did quick mental math. His inheritance from his parents was more than enough to cover it, and he'd always been careful with money. "That sounds completely reasonable. Especially if I'm learning something and having fun doing it."
"Really?" Jacob's excitement was infectious. "Man, this would be so cool. I've been wanting to do a full ground-up restoration, but Dad's truck is about as ambitious as we can justify right now."
"Ground-up might be a little ambitious for my first project," Veer said with a laugh. "Maybe we start with 'get it running and safe' and work up from there?"
"That's probably smart. But if you really want to do this, we should go look at it soon. Cars like that don't stay available forever, especially once word gets around that someone's actually interested in buying."
Veer glanced toward Charlie and Billy, then back at Jacob. "What does your schedule look like? I know you're still in school, but maybe this weekend we could drive up and take a look?"
"Definitely. Saturday work for you?"
"Perfect." Veer extended his hand, and Jacob shook it with the kind of firm grip that suggested he took agreements seriously. "Partners?"
"Partners," Jacob agreed, grinning. "Fair warning though—once we start this, I'm going to be bugging you constantly with ideas for upgrades and modifications."
"I'm counting on it," Veer replied. "After all, what's the point of having a project if you're not constantly making it more complicated?"
As they rejoined Charlie and Billy, both older men looked up with expressions of mild curiosity.
"You boys planning something over there?" Charlie asked.
"Veer's thinking about getting his own car," Jacob announced. "We're going to look at a Jeep this weekend."
Billy's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Another project, Jake? I'm going to have to start charging you rent for garage space."
"It's Veer's project," Jacob protested. "I'm just... consulting."
"Consulting," Billy repeated with the tone of someone who'd heard that particular justification before. "Right."
"It'll be fun," Veer said diplomatically. "And educational. Jacob's going to teach me how not to accidentally electrocute myself with jumper cables."
"That's a valuable life skill," Charlie agreed solemnly. "Especially around here."
As the group began to disperse—Billy and Jacob heading home, Charlie getting ready for his shift—Veer felt a quiet satisfaction settle over him. One conversation, and he'd managed to secure transportation independence, strengthen his friendship with Jacob, and set up a perfectly normal hobby that would give him legitimate reasons to spend time away from the house.
Plus, the idea of having his own vehicle when the supernatural drama inevitably hit was appealing. Something told him that being able to disappear into the forest at a moment's notice was going to be useful.
Even if he had to learn how to change his own oil to make it happen.
—
Twenty minutes later, Bella and Veer were navigating the winding road to Forks High School in her newly acquired truck, which had already demonstrated several of the "quirks" Jacob had mentioned.
"Okay," Bella said, wrestling with the steering wheel as they rounded a curve, "either this truck has a very strong opinion about where we should be going, or the alignment is completely shot."
"Jacob did mention it had personality," Veer replied, bracing himself against the door as the truck lurched slightly to the left. "I'm starting to think 'personality' might be auto mechanic code for 'mild driving hazard.'"
The heater had indeed stuck in the 'on' position, turning the cab into a mobile sauna despite the cool morning air. Bella had cracked her window, which helped with the temperature but added the steady hiss of wind and the occasional spatter of mist to their sensory experience.
"At least it's reliable," she said, though her tone suggested she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
"Define reliable," Veer said as the engine made a sound that could generously be described as 'assertive' while they climbed a modest hill. "Because I think Jacob and Charlie might have different definitions than the rest of us."
Despite the truck's mechanical eccentricities, they made steady progress toward the school. The road wound through dense forest that pressed close on both sides, creating a tunnel effect that made the overcast sky seem even more enclosed. Occasional clearings revealed glimpses of the Olympic Mountains in the distance, their peaks lost in low-hanging clouds.
"So," Bella said, clearly trying to distract herself from the truck's various sounds and vibrations, "are you nervous? About starting over, I mean?"
Veer considered the question. He was about to walk into a cafeteria full of teenagers while knowing that several of them were vampires who were cosmically destined to be attracted to him. He'd also spent the previous night discovering he could transform into a divine lion-man and rearrange mountainsides with his bare hands.
"Nervous isn't exactly the word I'd use," he said carefully. "More like... anticipatory? It's going to be interesting, that's for sure."
"Interesting is one way to put it," Bella muttered, downshifting as they approached the school grounds. "I'm just hoping to get through the day without embarrassing myself too badly."
The first glimpse of Forks High School was exactly as underwhelming as Veer remembered from the movies. A collection of brick buildings arranged around what could charitably be called a campus, with the kind of architectural ambition that screamed "built in the 1970s with a limited budget." Students were scattered across the grounds, most of them clustering near the building entrances to avoid the persistent drizzle.
"Well," Bella said as they pulled into the student parking lot, "at least it's... compact."
"Intimate," Veer agreed. "Very intimate. I bet everyone knows everyone else's business within about five minutes of anything happening."
"Wonderful," Bella said flatly. "My favorite kind of social environment."
As they climbed out of the truck, Veer's enhanced senses immediately began cataloging information. The scent of wet earth and evergreens dominated, but underneath he caught traces of something else—the distinctive lack of scent that marked vampires, faint but present. They were here, somewhere on the campus, probably already aware of his arrival.
"You okay?" Bella asked, noticing him scanning the area.
"Just getting my bearings," he replied. "Big change from Phoenix."
They gathered their backpacks from the truck bed, where Jacob had thoughtfully provided a tarp to keep their belongings dry. The administrative building was clearly marked, and they joined the small stream of students heading in the same direction.
"At least we're not the only new kids," Bella observed, nodding toward a girl with distinctly urban styling who was also heading toward the office. "That's something, right?"
"Definitely," Veer agreed, though he suspected their newcomer status was going to be the least remarkable thing about their time at Forks High.
As they approached the building, Veer caught sight of their reflection in the glass doors. Bella looked exactly like the character from the movies—brown hair, pale skin, slightly overwhelmed expression. But his own reflection still caught him off guard sometimes. The divine enhancement had left him looking like someone who should be on magazine covers rather than navigating small-town high school politics.
*Right,* he thought as they stepped inside. *Here we go.*
The administrative office was warm, fluorescently lit, and staffed by a woman whose enthusiasm for her job was both genuine and slightly overwhelming.
"You must be Isabella Swan and Veer Dwyer!" she exclaimed before they'd even fully entered. "I'm Mrs. Cope. We're so excited to have you here at Forks High!"
"Bella, please," Bella said automatically.
"And just Veer is fine," he added with a smile that made Mrs. Cope blush slightly.
"Of course, of course. Now, I have your schedules right here, and maps of the campus, though it's small enough that you'll figure it out quickly. Let's see..." She shuffled through papers with practiced efficiency. "Bella, you're starting with English with Mr. Mason, and Veer, you have AP History with Mr. Varner. Lucky you both—Mr. Varner is one of our most popular teachers."
Veer accepted his schedule and map, noting that he shared several classes with Bella throughout the day. Lunch was at the same time, which meant they'd face the cafeteria together.
*The cafeteria,* he thought. *Where everything really begins.*
"Now, you'll need to have your teachers sign these slips and bring them back at the end of the day," Mrs. Cope continued, handing them each a small stack of papers. "And if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to come see me. We want you to feel welcomed here."
"Thank you," Bella said politely. "This is really helpful."
As they left the office, comparing schedules, Veer noticed the way other students' conversations quieted slightly as they passed. Whether it was because they were obviously new, because they were related to the police chief, or because of his own enhanced appearance, he couldn't be sure. Probably all three.
"First period," Bella said, checking her schedule. "Here goes nothing."
"See you at lunch," Veer replied. "Try not to let anyone overwhelm you with excessive friendliness."
"I'll do my best," she said dryly.
As they parted ways, heading toward their respective first classes, Veer felt that familiar tingle of anticipation. The day was just beginning, and already he could sense the currents of attention and curiosity swirling around them.
Somewhere in this school, three vampire sisters were preparing for their first glimpse of their supposedly destined mate. Somewhere else, Edward was about to encounter Bella for the first time and have his carefully controlled world turned upside down.
And Veer was walking into AP History with divine powers, meta-knowledge of everyone's secrets, and the kind of looks that were probably going to complicate his attempts to blend in.
*Just another day at the office,* he thought, and pushed open the classroom door.
—
Meanwhile, in the student parking lot, eight figures emerged from two luxury vehicles with the kind of fluid grace that made ordinary human movement look clunky by comparison. From Edward's silver Lexus came the telepath himself, his bronze hair catching what little light filtered through the overcast sky, followed by Alice with her pixie-like features bright with anticipation, Jasper moving with his characteristic careful control, and the two sisters who had spent the night contemplating their cosmic destiny.
Jessamyn stepped out with tactical precision, her honey-blonde hair perfectly arranged despite the morning mist, golden eyes scanning the campus with the kind of assessment that missed nothing. Beside her, Edythe moved with refined elegance, copper hair gleaming, her marble features composed but alert.
From Rosalie's red BMW M3 convertible came the rest of the family: Rosalie herself, devastating and imperious, followed by Emmett's cheerful bulk, and finally Eleanor, who practically bounced out of the car with barely contained excitement.
"Easy, Eleanor," Jasper murmured, feeling the waves of anticipation rolling off his sister. "You're broadcasting your emotions loud enough to affect half the parking lot."
"Can't help it," Eleanor replied, her auburn hair catching the breeze as she surveyed the school grounds. "Today's the day we meet him."
Edward, however, was standing very still, his expression shifting from mild irritation to something approaching alarm as the thoughts of every female student on campus crashed into his consciousness like a tsunami.
*"Oh my God, who is that?"*
*"He looks like he should be in movies, not sitting in AP History..."*
*"I wonder if he has a girlfriend..."*
*"Those eyes... how is that even natural?"*
*"I bet he's one of those city boys who thinks he's too good for small town girls..."*
*"Challenge accepted..."*
"Edward?" Alice asked, noticing his increasingly tense posture. "What's wrong?"
"The new students," Edward said through gritted teeth, his voice tight with concentration. "The male—Veer Dwyer. Every girl in school is..." He paused, searching for diplomatic phrasing. "...mentally undressing him."
The effect of this announcement on his three sisters was immediate and pronounced.
Edythe's refined composure cracked like fine crystal, her golden eyes flashing with something that looked distinctly possessive. "Every girl?"
"What exactly are they thinking?" Jessamyn asked, her Texas drawl becoming more pronounced as it always did when she was managing her temper.
Eleanor's expression shifted from excitement to something that would have made apex predators reconsider their life choices. "Be specific, Edward."
Edward ran a hand through his bronze hair, clearly uncomfortable with his role as unwilling messenger. "I'd rather not repeat the details. Let's just say that teenage female imagination is... thorough."
"How thorough?" Edythe's voice carried the kind of silky menace that had once made Italian nobles rethink their political allegiances.
"Jessamyn," Alice said quickly, placing a calming hand on her sister's arm, "remember what we discussed last night. He's meant for all three of you. These girls can think whatever they want—it won't change fate."
"Fate's one thing," Eleanor said with deceptive cheerfulness, "but if some little human thinks she's going to make a play for our mate..."
"He's not technically our mate yet," Edythe pointed out, though her voice suggested she was trying to convince herself as much as her sisters.
"Details," Eleanor waved dismissively.
Edward was pressing his fingers to his temples now, clearly struggling with the mental noise. "It's not just him. The female—Bella Swan. Half the male population is..." He grimaced. "Similar thoughts. Similar levels of... detail."
Jasper winced sympathetically. "That must be unpleasant for you."
"You have no idea," Edward muttered. "Mike Newton is already planning to offer to show her around campus. Tyler Crowley is debating whether asking her to the dance would be too forward. Eric Yorkie is composing what he thinks is poetry in his head."
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Typical human males. No subtlety whatsoever."
"At least they're just thinking about asking her on dates," Emmett pointed out cheerfully. "From what Edward's saying, the female population is a lot more... creative... about the new guy."
All three sisters turned to look at him with expressions that made him take a step backward.
"Not helping, Em," Jasper said quietly.
But Edward had gone very still, his expression shifting from irritation to confusion to something approaching concern.
"What is it?" Alice asked, immediately alert.
"I can't..." Edward paused, his brow furrowing with concentration. "I can't hear them."
"Can't hear who?" Edythe asked.
"Either of them. Veer Dwyer, Bella Swan. Their thoughts are completely silent." Edward's voice carried a mixture of relief and profound uneasiness. "That's never happened before. Ever."
The implications of this hit the family simultaneously. In over a century of existence, Edward had encountered exactly zero humans whose thoughts he couldn't read. The sudden appearance of two such individuals on the same day, in the same family, could not possibly be coincidence.
"Both of them?" Alice asked, though her expression suggested she already knew the answer.
"Complete silence. It's like there's nothing there, which should be impossible." Edward looked genuinely disturbed by this development. "Everyone else is broadcasting loud and clear, but these two... it's like they don't exist, mentally speaking."
Eleanor grinned suddenly, her earlier possessiveness transforming into delight. "Well, that's convenient. Means you can't accidentally spoil any surprises when you're brooding dramatically in corners."
"Eleanor," Edythe chided, though there was fondness in her voice.
"I'm just saying, if we're going to have a complicated supernatural romance, it's nice that someone won't be able to narrate our every thought to the family dinner table."
Alice's eyes had taken on that unfocused quality that indicated she was sifting through possible futures. "It's not just convenience," she said slowly. "The silence... it's part of why this works. Why you three can share him, why Bella and Edward..." She smiled mysteriously. "Some things are meant to be discovered naturally."
"Cryptic as always," Jasper observed, though his tone was affectionate.
"Where's the fun in spoiling everything?" Alice replied.
As they gathered their bags and prepared to head into the school, Edward cast one more bewildered look toward the administrative building where the Swan cousins had disappeared.
"Almost a century of reading minds," he muttered, "and now I meet two people in one day who are completely immune. What are the odds?"
"In this family?" Emmett laughed. "About average."
They moved toward the school entrance with their characteristic inhuman grace, drawing their own collection of admiring stares from the student body. But for once, Edward wasn't the most discussed topic of female conversation at Forks High.
That honor belonged to a seventeen-year-old with divine power and a smile that could stop traffic, who was currently sitting in AP History class, completely unaware that three of the most dangerous beings in the world were planning their introduction.
The morning, Edward reflected as they entered the building, was shaping up to be far more complicated than usual.
And in a family of vampires, that was saying something.
---
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