(this is the last chapter i have made i dont know when ill come back life is not easy at the moment.)
Carlisle snapped back first. "Well, that was unexpected, but why are you here?" Charles smiled. "I just reawakened my vampiric bloodline, so up to this point, I was human. But I ran into James," Charles said, pointing to James's ashes, "and was going to introduce myself and ask for your permission to hunt that scum and his coven, as well as ask if I could live in your territory." Carlisle glanced back at Edward and Alice. Edward looked like he was in pain, while Alice smiled brightly and nodded. "Well, it seems you are more than welcome to stay in our territory," Carlisle stated with a kind but obviously concerned tone, probably because Edward had tried to read Charles's mind and found out it was not a good plan, as Charles had effectively slapped Edward out of his mind with force.
Charles smiles brightly at Carlisle. "Well, I will take my leave then, but I must apologize to your son there. I react with violence to mind invaders, so please don't do that again."
Carlisle snaps his head back at Charles, his eyes widening. "Easy, Carlisle. I meant no harm; it was an automatic response my mind has."
Carlisle seems to calm some. "I would ask you to leave now. I must discuss your hunting in our territory. Though legends say you can survive off any source of blood, I expect you to control yourself while here," Carlisle says, his tone more stern.
The forest was still burning when Charles disappeared into the night, leaving only drifting ash where James had once been. The scent of scorched earth lingered long after the stranger's footsteps faded.
Carlisle exhaled slowly."Everyone inside. Now."
They moved swiftly into the house, the tension following them like a storm cloud. Edward pressed a hand to his temple, jaw clenching.
Esme touched his shoulder. "Edward?"
He grimaced. "I tried to read him. I couldn't get in. At all."He swallowed, shaken. "It wasn't a shield. It was an attack. His mind pushed back like— like a furnace slamming shut."
Jasper crossed his arms, golden eyes unsettled."His emotions were... wrong. Calm on the surface, but underneath— rage hotter than anything I've ever felt from a vampire. Sharp. Controlled. Purposeful."
Alice, sitting on the stair railing, stared into nothing for a moment before whispering,"He was telling the truth."
Carlisle turned to her. "About what?"
"Everything. He's old. Older than any of us, even if he doesn't remember all of it. But there's more…" She frowned, face tightening as a flicker of uncertainty crossed her features. "I can't see him clearly. It's like my visions slip around him."
"That's impossible," Edward breathed.
"No," she corrected gently. "It's terrifying."
Rosalie huffed. "So now we have a fire-wielding, mind-crushing, impossible vampire running around calling humans his mates. Wonderful."
Carlisle remained calm, though his eyes were tight with concern."He asked for permission. He followed coven law. He protected someone instead of killing her."He turned toward the window, watching the smoke drift between the trees."But make no mistake—James wasn't wrong to fear him."
"What do we do?" Esme asked softly.
Carlisle answered without hesitation."We watch. We learn. And above all, we do not provoke him again."
Alice stood, eyes distant."He's going home. To her. And whatever happens next… it's important."
That made Edward look up sharply."Important how?"
Alice shook her head. "I don't know. I can't see the path, just the weight of it."
A heavy silence settled over the Cullen living room.
Beyond the window, the last ember in the forest finally died out.
CHARLES POV — RETURN TO AVERY
The ride back felt longer than the journey to the Cullens, even though he pushed his speed close to breaking human physics. His flames were gone, his rage smothered, but the echo of it simmered in his bones. Every instinct screamed at him to check on Avery—his mate, his center, the reason his sanity held.
Her house came into view.Lights on.Door unlocked.Her heartbeat—fast, nervous—pulsing like a beacon he could feel in his teeth.
Charles forced his hands to steady before he opened the door.
Avery stood in the middle of the living room, clutching his helmet to her chest. She looked up the second he entered—fear flickering, then confusion, then relief washing over her face so strong it weakened his knees.
"You… you came back," she whispered.
Charles swallowed. "Of course I did."
She took a hesitant step toward him, eyes searching his face for danger or humanity—he wasn't sure which.
"I heard what you said," she confessed softly. "About… mate. And you moved so fast, and you burned him, and—"Her voice caught."—and I don't know if I'm supposed to be afraid of you or grateful you saved me."
The words hit him like a blade.He stepped closer slowly, letting her see every movement, every breath.
"Avery," he murmured, voice low and steady. "I could never harm you."
Her breath shook. "But you aren't human."
"No," he admitted. "But I was raised as one. I lived as one. The part of me that's… not human… it only reacts to protect those I care about. And you…"His chest tightened."…you're the one person I'd never allow anything to hurt. Not even me."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Avery stepped forward and placed his helmet on the table with trembling hands.
"Okay," she said softly."Then tell me what you are."
Charles nodded once—relieved, terrified, grateful—and began.