The Cullen house had been tense all evening.

Everyone could feel it.

Ever since the tracker situation escalated and the danger around Bella grew heavier, the atmosphere had shifted. Conversations were shorter. Movements sharper. Even the normally relaxed laughter that usually followed Emmett around had gone quiet.

And then it happened.

Edward had snapped.

“Will you just shut up for a minute?”

The words had cracked through the room like a whip.

Except you hadn’t been talking.

Your thoughts had been loud—worry, fear, frustration. Edward’s gift had picked them up, and his already frayed patience finally snapped.

The room went silent.

Bella froze.

Alice looked horrified.

Rosalie’s head slowly turned.

And Emmett…

Emmett had gone very still.

He hadn’t said anything in that moment. Hadn’t raised his voice. Hadn’t reacted the way everyone expected the strongest Cullen to react.

He simply walked over to you.

“C’mon, babe,” he murmured quietly, his hand warm and steady as it wrapped around yours. “Let’s go.”

No anger.

No scene.

Just calm.

Which, somehow, was worse.

—

Hours later, after he’d driven you home and made sure you were safe, Emmett returned to the Cullen house.

The lights inside were dim, the forest outside silent.

Edward was on the balcony.

Of course he was.

Leaning against the railing, staring out into the darkness like he always did when his mind was spinning.

He heard Emmett coming before he saw him.

“Back already?” Edward said flatly.

Emmett stepped out onto the balcony.

The wood creaked softly under his weight.

For a moment, he didn’t speak.

He just stood there, arms loosely at his sides, watching Edward with a look that was unusually calm.

Too calm.

“The next time you lose your cool with her,” Emmett said finally, his voice quiet and even, “I suggest you find a different approach.”

Edward slowly turned his head.

One eyebrow lifted.

“Oh yeah?” he said dryly. “Why’s that?”

Emmett took a step forward.

Moonlight caught his face.

His expression wasn’t angry.

It was something much worse.

His dark golden eyes had gone cold.

Because anyone who knew Emmett knew something important:

The big guy didn’t get quiet unless things were serious.

“Because if you don’t,” Emmett said calmly, “it’s gonna put me and you in a position where things will definitely go south.”

The words weren’t loud.

They weren’t even threatening.

But the weight behind them was unmistakable.

Edward studied him.

He could hear Emmett’s thoughts perfectly clearly.

There was no bluff.

No exaggeration.

Just one simple truth sitting at the center of Emmett’s mind.

You don’t talk to my mate like that.

Edward exhaled slowly.

“Emmett—”

“No,” Emmett cut in, still calm. “You’re stressed. I get it. We all are.”

Another step closer.

“You’re trying to protect Bella.”

He nodded once.

“Good. You should be.”

Then Emmett’s gaze hardened.

“But don’t take it out on her sister.”

The silence stretched between them.

Edward finally looked away first.

“…Noted.”

Emmett held his gaze a moment longer, making sure the point landed.

Then the tension in his shoulders eased.

“Good talk,” he muttered.

And just like that, he turned and walked back inside.

But Edward didn’t miss the final thought that crossed Emmett’s mind as he left.

Because next time… I won’t be this nice.