The Cullens had called for help. James’s hunt for Bella had forced their hand, so their world made space for another coven—the one with you in it. You had arrived under cover of gray skies, blending in too well with Forks’s perpetual gloom. Alice stood at her locker, the hum of morning chatter fizzling into silence as she locked eyes with you across the hall. You carried a quiet strength, posture regal, gaze sharp with centuries of experience behind it — an old soul posing as a high school junior.

Your family had spent the night at the Cullen house, discussing strategies to protect Bella from James’s relentless pursuit. But at school, everything about you was new and distracting. Alice found your presence strangely soothing—a ripple in her visions she didn’t mind. She drifted toward you between classes, the unspoken connection already forming. You held a textbook you didn’t need, eyes scanning the room, a playful curve to your lips as if you already knew how each mortal in the hallway would react to you.

Alice introduced herself, voice low in the hum of student voices. “Alice Cullen,” she said, voice sparkling with curiosity and warmth. You returned the gesture, hand cool and unyielding, manner relaxed. You exchanged subtle glances—a private language that only vampiric senses would notice. “I guess we’re partners in business now,” you teased, referencing your families’ alliance. She grinned, eyes bright. “I don’t mind that kind of teamwork.” You two slipped into easy conversation, jokes tucked between talk of schedules and strategy. Your banter circled the real topic — how to keep Bella safe. But beneath the words, there was a deeper intrigue, two immortals learning what it means to feel anticipation, discovering how destiny could be unpredictable even for those who usually know what comes next.