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EDWARD POV
Edward ran with more strength than he had used in weeks. Every branch snapping beneath his feet, every burst of cold air hitting his face, only added urgency to his momentum.
He knew he wouldn't catch up to Nate easily, but he had one advantage: Alice.
If Nate were with her, he would have been forced to slow down, even if only slightly. Maybe that gave Edward a chance.
He followed their trail through the forest, tracking the mixed scent of both of them. At one point, he felt the temptation to stop and turn back. Every interaction he'd had with Nate had ended poorly—tension, silent threats, or stares on the verge of conflict. But this time was different.
He wasn't looking for answers.
He wasn't going to demand anything.
He just wanted to warn him.
The Romanians were not trustworthy.
He had heard it straight from Stefan's own mind. They were broken, consumed by an obsession so corrosive that they no longer distinguished allies from tools, companions from acceptable sacrifices.
They were willing to burn the entire world if it meant watching the Volturi collapse in flames.
And no matter how skilled, powerful, or lethal Nate was…
Edward feared they would drag him into the abyss as well.
That fear pushed him to run even faster.
When the scent became fresher, more recent, he knew he was close. A few kilometers ahead, he finally saw them: Nate and Alice, standing among the trees, as if they had been waiting for him for minutes.
Edward stopped abruptly, digging his feet into the ground. Unease ran through him like lightning. Alice offered him a soft, almost reassuring smile.
"Nate sensed your scent a few seconds ago," she said calmly. "We figured you might have something to say… something you didn't want the rest of the family to hear."
Edward blinked, surprised by how accurate she was, though not enough to argue.
Nate barely glanced at him—quick, impatient, as if he were already eager to keep moving.
Edward took an unnecessary breath, trying to organize his thoughts. Every word he wanted to say was stuck in his throat. When he looked at Alice, he noticed she was watching him with more than curiosity—she was patient. Maybe if he said it to her… maybe Nate would actually listen.
His expression hardened as he gathered his courage.
"I'm almost sure you already know, Alice… you're his mate. But that's exactly why I don't understand it."
His voice trembled between frustration and fear.
"Why do you allow Nate to ally himself with the Romanians?"
Alice's calm gaze tightened just a little, but Edward continued before either of them could interrupt.
"I've read their minds. I spoke with Stefan. Alice… you two need to be careful. The Romanians aren't well. They're… broken."
He searched for the right words, but none of them did justice to what he had seen.
"They're willing to sacrifice everything. Themselves, Nate, anyone near them… as long as it destroys the Volturi."
The silence between the three grew taut, like a rope about to snap.
"You need to convince him to stay away from them," Edward insisted, taking a step toward her. "They have no limits. Being marked by the Volturi would be an acceptable outcome to them—maybe even desirable—if it brings them closer to their revenge."
He ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.
"When I read Stefan's mind, I realized they're only holding themselves back for now. They follow Nate with patience… but that patience won't last. Very soon they'll do something big, something impossible to hide, something that will force the Volturi to intervene."
His voice dropped to a whisper filled with genuine fear.
"And when that happens… they'll drag Nate with them. They'll push him into a direct war. A war even he might not survive."
Edward let his arms fall to his sides. His unnecessary breath trembled.
"I didn't come here to fight. I didn't come to argue. I just… please. Understand me. I don't want you two condemned because of the Romanians' mistakes."
The forest fell silent, expectant.
Now all that remained was to see how Nate and Alice would react.
Nate shot him a sideways look, but this time there was no spark of disdain, no trace of the usual quiet hostility he used to direct at him. Instead, Edward spotted something different—almost imperceptible: a flicker of empathy… or perhaps curiosity.
And in that instant, he regretted—more than ever—the day Nate learned to block his mind completely. Right now, when he most needed to glimpse the thoughts of the man who had broken every rule of the family simply by existing, Nate's mind was an impenetrable wall.
Alice, on the other hand, didn't have that opacity in her gaze; she had an edge.
Her expression hardened, a complex mix of reluctance and resignation, and when she spoke, her voice carried a surprisingly serious, almost bitter tone:
"I know, Edward. Everything you just said… It's something I've had in my head for a long time. Those vampires look at Nate as if he were their weapon. The tip of their spear. Every time their eyes focus on him, all I see is ambition… and I hate them for it."
The word hate echoed between the three of them.
"I hate them because they didn't hesitate to approach him when he was at his lowest, just to drag him into their plans. I hate them because they pull him farther and farther away from a peaceful life, day by day. They want to push him into a meaningless war, a war they already lost centuries ago. But no matter how much I distrust them… none of that compares to how much I trust Nate."
Edward's eyes widened in surprise. Even Nate seemed affected: his expression softened, the tense line of his mouth loosened, and a faint shade of regret appeared in his eyes.
Alice continued, with the bare honesty of someone who had decided not to lie to herself for even a second longer:
"Not even I know exactly what Nate plans to do with those two. All I know is that, for some reason, he needs them. And I'm certain he wouldn't go near them unless it were absolutely necessary. For me, that's enough."
Edward frowned, and the words escaped him too quickly, driven by anxiety:
"But Alice… even if you trust him, you have to recognize that those vampires have spent centuries manipulating anyone who crosses their path. No matter how exceptional Nate is, the Romanians have manipulated and ruled over hundreds of vampires before him."
Alice shook her head, this time with a calmness that was firm, almost solemn.
"Never a vampire like Nate. That's why they follow him. That's why they bow their heads. They believe in him… even if it's for the wrong reasons."
Her eyes gleamed with unshakable conviction.
"And I do too. That's why you should believe in him as well."
Her sincerity hit Edward with unexpected force.
He couldn't find an answer.
He could only lower his head, with nothing left to say.
A resigned sigh slipped from Edward's chest without him even realizing it. Alice's faith wasn't unfounded; it never had been. And yet, every time she spoke of Nate with that serene certainty, Edward couldn't help remembering how many times he had underestimated Nate in the past… back when he was still human.
But now things were different.
There was something about Nate—something nameless, without clear shape—that felt like a contained force, a steady presence that didn't need to impose itself to be noticed. A silent conviction that made it seem as though, if he chose to, there was no obstacle he couldn't overcome and no creature that could successfully challenge him. It was unsettling… and overwhelming at the same time.
And yet none of that eased Edward's worry completely. Not while Alice walked so close to him. Not while she carried that lingering sense of debt toward Nate.
That was the true curse of immortality: mistakes didn't disappear. They didn't fade with time. They followed you, trailing behind like eternal shadows, reminding you of every bad choice even centuries later.
And Edward feared this one—leaving them to handle things alone, trusting blindly that everything would be fine—would become one of those endless mistakes.
He lifted his gaze, defeated yet resolved, and nodded. Then, against all odds, he took two steps toward Alice and, in a gesture made awkward by how uncommon it was, he hugged her. It was brief but firm enough to convey a concern he didn't know how to put into words.
In an almost inaudible whisper, he murmured:
"I understand… I'll try. I'll trust him. Just as I trust you."
Alice smiled immediately, with that effortless way she had of finding light even in the cracks of tension. Though she tried to keep her tone playful, it was clear the gesture had touched her.
"You'll see—before you know it, we'll all be together again. We could even have a double wedding with you and Bella! It would be perfect."
Nate's throat-clearing was instant, discreet but unmistakable. Edward looked at her in disbelief. Only Alice could ruin a solemn atmosphere with an absurd joke… and somehow make it work.
Edward let out an involuntary smile—small, genuine. Then he turned toward Nate. With slow movements, he pulled something from his jacket: a phone. He held it in his hand for a few seconds before extending it toward him.
Nate took it cautiously, as if unsure of what to expect, but Edward spoke before he could ask anything.
"You might need my help at some point. Knowing what others are thinking is always useful… especially when it comes to the Romanians. If you need me, call me. I'll do what I can to be there. I'll come up with an excuse so my absence doesn't raise suspicion with my family. And as I promised, they won't know anything about the newborns or your arrangement with the Romanians."
Nate looked at him in silence for a few seconds, evaluating, maybe surprised by the gesture. Finally, he nodded.
"Thank you, Edward."
Edward responded with another slight nod and took a step back, ready to leave. But something stopped him. He turned again, this time with a hint of hesitation.
"Bella's number is in the phone, too. I understand why you want to keep your distance right now… and honestly, I agree it's for the best. But if one day you feel ready to talk to her, I know she'd be happy to hear from you."
He didn't wait for a response.
He simply dipped his head slightly and, with a soft impulse, vanished into the trees. His departure dissolved into a breath of air that rustled the leaves before fading completely among the forest's shadows.
.........................................................
On the way back, Edward felt a small weight lift from his chest—almost imperceptible, but enough to let him breathe more clearly. The worry was still there, anchored as always, but he had noticed a change in Nate's eyes. He didn't know if it was simply the usefulness of his ability, or the inevitable insistence Alice would undoubtedly exert… but at least there was now the certainty that they would call him if something went wrong. And for Edward, that was already a start.
With a faint smile, he picked up his pace, moving between the trees like a silent blur. His mind drifted between two plans: going for the silver Volvo to take Bella for a drive around town, or heading straight to his room to spend the rest of the day with her. Either way, he knew Bella wouldn't give him a single moment of peace; he'd have to provide more explanations than he wished for his absence. And even so, he increased his speed, eager to return.
In a particularly long stride, something in the air struck him full force. A familiar scent, sharp, impossible to mistake. He skidded to a stop, leaving a groove in the damp earth as he frowned and cautiously inhaled again.
A Quileute wolf.
A shadow of doubt flickered across his mind.
Were they planning to ignore the treaty now that Nate was gone?
Or was it simply a wolf who had temporarily separated from the pack?
He didn't have time to speculate. Within seconds, a massive russet wolf emerged from between the trees and stopped in front of him. It was agitated, panting heavily, as if it had run nonstop from miles away. It carried a small linen pouch carefully between its teeth.
Edward didn't need to read his mind to know who it was.
Jacob.
A dense unease settled between them, inevitable, as their eyes met. And then, unwillingly, Jacob's mind surged into his in a chaotic torrent: Bella flashed in his thoughts for the briefest moment… but it was enough. In that second, Jacob considered dropping the pouch and attacking Edward. They were alone, in the middle of the forest, far from any witnesses. To Jacob, it had felt like a chance handed down by fate.
But the image of Nate burst into his mind like lightning.
And that impulse evaporated instantly.
Jacob shook his head violently, ejecting the instinct, reminding himself of the treaty… and, more painfully, of the image of a devastated Bella.
Edward, who had witnessed that entire whirlwind of thought as if it had happened right before him, asked calmly:
"What are you after, Jacob?"
The wolf let out a low, tense growl until the image of Nate walking away crossed his mind again. It was just a flash, but enough for Edward to understand. He connected the dots in a second, almost amused by the irony.
Apparently, he wasn't the only one who had something to deliver at the last minute.
Nor the only one who felt he owed Nate something.
In a steady voice, Edward instructed:
"If you follow the path north, you'll find him quickly. They can't be too far. Just hurry."
Jacob froze for a second, surprised perhaps by how easy everything had been. Then he gave a single nod and shot off in the direction indicated, moving with the brutal, fluid speed only his wolf form could offer.
Edward watched him disappear among the trees, wondering—for just a moment—what was inside the pouch and what exactly Jacob intended. The doubt lingered a few seconds… until he remembered he had a more urgent matter to attend to.
It was time to return to Bella.