Chapter: A Vision Before the Storm
One Week Earlier – Cullen House
The house was quiet, rain tapping softly against the massive windows. Esme arranged flowers. Carlisle read. Emmett was demolishing something on the Xbox. Jasper tried not to look like an ex–Civil War ghost.
And upstairs—
Alice froze.
Her eyes glazed over.
A vision hit her like a lightning strike.
Two shadows.
Two siblings arriving in Forks.
One girl—Bella.
But the boy…
The boy was glowing.
Not literally, but the future pulled around him. Like gravity twisted slightly wherever he'd stand. Two threads shot from him like silver cords.
One snapped toward Edward.
The other shot toward Rosalie.
Alice gasped.
The vision sharpened—The boy sitting sleepily at a cafeteria table. Hood up. Head down. And Rosalie… staring like she'd found the one thing she never believed she'd have.
Alice came back to herself with a sharp inhale.
Esme touched her shoulder. "Sweetheart? What did you see?"
Alice swallowed. "Rosalie and Edward's mate… arrives in a week. They're siblings. Humans."
The room went still.
Edward's jaw tightened. "Alice…"
"No, Edward," she said calmly. "I saw it. Clear as anything. They're both connected to him."
"I'm not turning anyone." Edward's voice was flat, cold. "I won't damn her like that."
"You don't have a choice," Alice said gently. "Fate's already wrapped around them."
Rosalie appeared in the doorway, having overheard enough. Her brows were drawn together, unsure, suspicious, but—
Hope.
Real hope flickered behind her eyes.
Something rare enough that even Jasper felt it.
"Me?" Rosalie asked quietly. "Are you sure?"
Alice smiled. "I've never been more."
Rosalie looked away, suddenly nervous. "I… don't know how to handle that."
"You don't have to yet," Alice whispered. "Just wait. You'll see."
Emmett snorted from the couch. "Damn. Rosie's gonna get a mate. And Eddie's gonna get one too. Double trouble."
Edward glared. "I'm not interested."
But Rosalie…
She was.
Even if she'd never admit it.
Not yet.
Back to Present – Forks High Cafeteria
He still felt it—
That stare.
Like someone was reading the shape of his soul.
He peeked again, tiny and slow.
Rosalie hadn't looked away.
Her golden eyes were locked on him, sharp, intense, confused—like she was trying to figure out why every instinct she had was screaming mine at the sight of a sleepy boy who looked like he'd fall over if a strong breeze hit him.
He shrank slightly in his seat.
Why is she staring like that? Did I do something? Did she smell something? Is it the clones? Can vampires smell clones?!
He turned back around quickly, heart thudding in his too-soft chest.
He wasn't used to attention.
Especially not from someone who looked like she could bench-press a werewolf.
Across the room, Rosalie stiffened.
Her fingers curled on the table.
Her voice barely audible to the family.
"That's him."
Alice smiled knowingly.
Jasper felt her nerves and almost choked. Edward's jaw clenched, his eyes flicking to Bella in frustration.
Emmett whispered, "Well damn."
And the sleepy, delicate-looking boy at the table…
had no idea that the most beautiful vampire in school wasn't staring at him because he looked weird—
but because fate had wrapped around him like vines, and she felt it in her venom and bones.