The sun slanted through the tall windows of the Cullen house, casting golden beams over the polished hardwood floors. Though vampires, the Cullens had long since adapted to the human world, and the warm daylight offered nothing threatening to them—except perhaps the small tensions of curiosity and expectation that Alice could always feel before something extraordinary. Today, that tension was electric.
Alice moved lightly through the hallway, her thoughts flitting between fashion sketches and household arrangements, when suddenly her gaze caught something impossible. A sharp pulse ran through her mind, freezing her in place, and the sketches slipped from her hands, fluttering silently to the floor. Her eyes glazed over as she saw the vision unfold before her: a man and a woman, running together, laughing and intimate, yet strangely separate from the sun itself, untouched by its light. Around them, two other women moved with them, their presence almost ethereal, yet rooted, fierce and real.
The sight was brief, yet every second packed a weight she could feel in her bones. The man, towering and protective, exuded authority without arrogance; the woman beside him was delicate but fierce, her aura marked by something deep and unwavering. In that moment, Alice knew: this was a triad, an extraordinarily rare formation, one that defied convention and even centuries of Cullen understanding.
"Edward…" she whispered, her voice trembling, carrying both awe and urgency. "I… I see their mates. A triad. There's a man and a woman… and two others bound with them. It's—intense."
Edward's eyes, ever so perceptive, narrowed immediately. "Show me," he demanded, his voice clipped, sudden. He stepped closer, every movement precise, controlled—but there was an edge, a sharpness to it that made Carlisle glance up from his papers with a frown.
"Edward, wait—" Carlisle began cautiously, but Edward's senses had already connected to the vision Alice was sharing.
"I… I can't fully read their thoughts," Alice said, blinking rapidly. "But their bond—it's beyond what I've ever felt. And the man… he's human, but his presence is overwhelming. He and the woman… they're connected somehow, like family, but…" Her voice trailed off.
Edward's face darkened. His jaw tightened. "Damn their souls," he hissed, stepping back abruptly, anger coiling like a serpent in his chest. "They will not be toyed with. I will not allow interference. Not from anyone. They are theirs to protect, but—" He cut himself off, swallowing hard, struggling with the surge of protective instinct already hammering in his veins.
Jasper glanced at Carlisle, eyebrows raised. "Is he—"
"Yes," Carlisle said softly, gesturing for calm. "The man is human, but triad laws are clear. One partner is dominant, typically tasked with protection and provision, especially when one member is mortal. The bond—although not fully formed in this human—already triggers instinctive responses. He will seek to prove himself worthy, safe, and protective of his mates. Even minor gestures—like hosting them comfortably, ensuring their needs are met—will be amplified by the bond. The more he demonstrates his capacity to protect and provide, the more secure the women will feel, and vice versa."
Alice's vision pulsed again, showing flashes of intimacy. The two women—Rosalie and Tanya—were entwined, not in human lust, but in a fervent expression of closeness, physical and emotional. They had loved each other for nearly seventy years, their bond carved deep into their immortality, yet even they had felt the absence of something. The man in the vision was what they had longed for without realizing it.
Edward hissed. "Their mate is human?" His voice was sharp, protective, a growl threading beneath the surface.
"Yes," Carlisle said, nodding. "And the law is explicit: a triad cannot be attacked or killed unless they themselves prove a threat to the vampire world. The human partner is especially protected until fully integrated. This bond also amplifies defensive instincts in the vampires; one partner can unconsciously lend their gifts to protect the others. And," Carlisle added, eyes locking with Edward's, "this triad is exceptionally rare. You will see firsthand that their unity is formidable, even at a distance."
Rosalie's golden eyes narrowed in thought as she paced, the leaves of the surrounding forest rustling with her motion. Tanya followed closely, her soft, protective presence steadying Rosalie's rising anxiety. "I feel… used," Rosalie admitted quietly, her voice trembling with something she had hidden even from Tanya for decades. "After all these years, I worry… do we deserve him? Will he truly care for us as we care for each other?"
Tanya stopped her mid-step, placing her hands gently on Rosalie's shoulders. "Stop that," she hissed, her voice firm but gentle. "You are not used. You are the heart of this bond, as much as I am. His mate bond—what you are seeing—does not diminish your worth. It amplifies it. He seeks balance, strength, protection. And he will see us. All of us. No one is unworthy."
Rosalie's breath hitched as Tanya's words sank in. The tension eased, replaced by a warmth that had been absent for decades. Their lips met briefly, a soft kiss to reassure, grounding each other, before growing into something deeper, primal, and intensely intimate. The forest around them blurred as their hearts synced, as centuries of longing and suppressed desire melded into physical expression. Rosalie's insecurities, Tanya's steady reassurance, the warmth of shared immortality—it all exploded into a raw, fierce intimacy that left them both trembling yet fulfilled.
Meanwhile, in the Cullen house, Alice's vision continued to unfold. The man and the woman, caught in the web of the triad bond, moved naturally, effortlessly. Their laughter was rich, echoing, yet tinged with the undercurrent of destiny and connection. The woman's presence was gentle yet resolute; the man's gaze, though unseen in its entirety by Alice, radiated both authority and tenderness. Carlisle's brow furrowed as he observed her reactions. "The intensity," he murmured, "even as a human, he feels every pull, every instinct. The bond manifests without touch, without proximity. Rare… unprecedented even."
Edward paced, agitation mounting. "And if anyone dares to harm them?" His voice was low, trembling slightly with restrained fury.
"They would face Volturi consequences immediately," Carlisle explained. "The law is unyielding. Any malevolent intent toward a triad risks immediate retribution. The human, while vulnerable in age and mortality, is shielded by the others, both defensively and actively. And once this bond is acknowledged, the triad's unity grows exponentially."
Alice's vision sharpened again, showing the moment when the man would first meet his mates. The women's bodies shifted, not in lust, but in anticipation and preparedness—centuries of survival instincts melding with the human's presence. Tanya placed a hand over Rosalie's, grounding her. "We are ready," Tanya whispered. "We have waited for this, not for centuries alone, but for the one who completes our bond."
The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the Cullen estate, as Edward's mind churned. "Damnation," he whispered under his breath, "I will not—" His voice cut off sharply as the vision ended abruptly, leaving only the sense of inevitability, of longing, and of protection etched in his mind.
Outside, Rosalie and Tanya moved through the forest, hunting as was customary, but their pace carried a new intensity. The bond called, pulling them forward, heightening their awareness. They found a clearing, and for a moment, the world held still. Rosalie turned, eyes glimmering with vulnerability. "I fear I am… unworthy," she confessed, her voice barely above the wind. "After everything, I… I don't know if I can be enough."
Tanya's eyes softened, yet her grip on Rosalie's hands tightened. "You are," she stated, voice low and commanding. "Do not ever doubt it. The bond chooses us as we are. You are never unworthy."
Rosalie leaned into Tanya, letting the centuries of tension and insecurity melt away in the warmth of their closeness. Their kiss began softly, exploratory, but soon deepened into a passionate, intimate connection, each movement and touch deliberate, tender, and raw. Tanya guided, comforted, and reassured as Rosalie surrendered to both desire and trust. Every glance, every brush of skin, conveyed understanding, love, and a fierce commitment that had built over decades.
The forest around them seemed to recede, leaving only the two women, entwined physically and emotionally, bound by their shared past and the powerful pull of the unseen mate waiting for them. Tanya's hands traced along Rosalie's back, grounding her, while Rosalie's fingers dug gently into Tanya's shoulders, anchoring herself. Their breath mingled, hearts beating in sync, an unspoken promise of protection, love, and loyalty.
Back at the Cullen house, Carlisle observed Alice's lingering traces of the vision. "They will meet him soon," he said quietly. "And when they do, everything—their patience, their bond, their centuries—will align."
Esme, sitting beside him, reached over, placing a hand on his arm. "It is rare, indeed," she murmured. "But I trust that the triad will thrive. The bond will protect, guide, and bind them together."
Edward remained standing, jaw tight, eyes burning. "I will not let them falter," he whispered. "Not if I can prevent it. No one will ever harm them while I—while we—are here."
Alice's vision ended with the image of the human male's eyes piercing steel blue, full of determination, care, and a fierce love waiting to be awakened. The women's longing, centuries in the making, was palpable even as the image faded. Carlisle nodded, satisfaction mingled with concern. "It begins," he said softly.
Outside, the forest sighed around Tanya and Rosalie as the day gave way to night. Their bodies pressed together, minds entwined, hearts racing not with fear, but with anticipation. The mate was out there, waiting. The bond hummed with a subtle, insistent pulse, promising both trials and ecstasy, protection and passion.
And somewhere beyond, in the human world, the man moved forward unknowingly, yet inevitably, drawn toward the women who had waited centuries, and the triad's story began in earnest.The sun slanted through the tall windows of the Cullen house, casting golden beams over the polished hardwood floors. Though vampires, the Cullens had long since adapted to the human world, and the warm daylight offered nothing threatening to them—except perhaps the small tensions of curiosity and expectation that Alice could always feel before something extraordinary. Today, that tension was electric.
Alice moved lightly through the hallway, her thoughts flitting between fashion sketches and household arrangements, when suddenly her gaze caught something impossible. A sharp pulse ran through her mind, freezing her in place, and the sketches slipped from her hands, fluttering silently to the floor. Her eyes glazed over as she saw the vision unfold before her: a man and a woman, running together, laughing and intimate, yet strangely separate from the sun itself, untouched by its light. Around them, two other women moved with them, their presence almost ethereal, yet rooted, fierce and real.
The sight was brief, yet every second packed a weight she could feel in her bones. The man, towering and protective, exuded authority without arrogance; the woman beside him was delicate but fierce, her aura marked by something deep and unwavering. In that moment, Alice knew: this was a triad, an extraordinarily rare formation, one that defied convention and even centuries of Cullen understanding.
"Edward…" she whispered, her voice trembling, carrying both awe and urgency. "I… I see their mates. A triad. There's a man and a woman… and two others bound with them. It's—intense."
Edward's eyes, ever so perceptive, narrowed immediately. "Show me," he demanded, his voice clipped, sudden. He stepped closer, every movement precise, controlled—but there was an edge, a sharpness to it that made Carlisle glance up from his papers with a frown.
"Edward, wait—" Carlisle began cautiously, but Edward's senses had already connected to the vision Alice was sharing.
"I… I can't fully read their thoughts," Alice said, blinking rapidly. "But their bond—it's beyond what I've ever felt. And the man… he's human, but his presence is overwhelming. He and the woman… they're connected somehow, like family, but…" Her voice trailed off.
Edward's face darkened. His jaw tightened. "Damn their souls," he hissed, stepping back abruptly, anger coiling like a serpent in his chest. "They will not be toyed with. I will not allow interference. Not from anyone. They are theirs to protect, but—" He cut himself off, swallowing hard, struggling with the surge of protective instinct already hammering in his veins.
Jasper glanced at Carlisle, eyebrows raised. "Is he—"
"Yes," Carlisle said softly, gesturing for calm. "The man is human, but triad laws are clear. One partner is dominant, typically tasked with protection and provision, especially when one member is mortal. The bond—although not fully formed in this human—already triggers instinctive responses. He will seek to prove himself worthy, safe, and protective of his mates. Even minor gestures—like hosting them comfortably, ensuring their needs are met—will be amplified by the bond. The more he demonstrates his capacity to protect and provide, the more secure the women will feel, and vice versa."
Alice's vision pulsed again, showing flashes of intimacy. The two women—Rosalie and Tanya—were entwined, not in human lust, but in a fervent expression of closeness, physical and emotional. They had loved each other for nearly seventy years, their bond carved deep into their immortality, yet even they had felt the absence of something. The man in the vision was what they had longed for without realizing it.
Edward hissed. "Their mate is human?" His voice was sharp, protective, a growl threading beneath the surface.
"Yes," Carlisle said, nodding. "And the law is explicit: a triad cannot be attacked or killed unless they themselves prove a threat to the vampire world. The human partner is especially protected until fully integrated. This bond also amplifies defensive instincts in the vampires; one partner can unconsciously lend their gifts to protect the others. And," Carlisle added, eyes locking with Edward's, "this triad is exceptionally rare. You will see firsthand that their unity is formidable, even at a distance."
Rosalie's golden eyes narrowed in thought as she paced, the leaves of the surrounding forest rustling with her motion. Tanya followed closely, her soft, protective presence steadying Rosalie's rising anxiety. "I feel… used," Rosalie admitted quietly, her voice trembling with something she had hidden even from Tanya for decades. "After all these years, I worry… do we deserve him? Will he truly care for us as we care for each other?"
Tanya stopped her mid-step, placing her hands gently on Rosalie's shoulders. "Stop that," she hissed, her voice firm but gentle. "You are not used. You are the heart of this bond, as much as I am. His mate bond—what you are seeing—does not diminish your worth. It amplifies it. He seeks balance, strength, protection. And he will see us. All of us. No one is unworthy."
Rosalie's breath hitched as Tanya's words sank in. The tension eased, replaced by a warmth that had been absent for decades. Their lips met briefly, a soft kiss to reassure, grounding each other, before growing into something deeper, primal, and intensely intimate. The forest around them blurred as their hearts synced, as centuries of longing and suppressed desire melded into physical expression. Rosalie's insecurities, Tanya's steady reassurance, the warmth of shared immortality—it all exploded into a raw, fierce intimacy that left them both trembling yet fulfilled.
Meanwhile, in the Cullen house, Alice's vision continued to unfold. The man and the woman, caught in the web of the triad bond, moved naturally, effortlessly. Their laughter was rich, echoing, yet tinged with the undercurrent of destiny and connection. The woman's presence was gentle yet resolute; the man's gaze, though unseen in its entirety by Alice, radiated both authority and tenderness. Carlisle's brow furrowed as he observed her reactions. "The intensity," he murmured, "even as a human, he feels every pull, every instinct. The bond manifests without touch, without proximity. Rare… unprecedented even."
Edward paced, agitation mounting. "And if anyone dares to harm them?" His voice was low, trembling slightly with restrained fury.
"They would face Volturi consequences immediately," Carlisle explained. "The law is unyielding. Any malevolent intent toward a triad risks immediate retribution. The human, while vulnerable in age and mortality, is shielded by the others, both defensively and actively. And once this bond is acknowledged, the triad's unity grows exponentially."
Alice's vision sharpened again, showing the moment when the man would first meet his mates. The women's bodies shifted, not in lust, but in anticipation and preparedness—centuries of survival instincts melding with the human's presence. Tanya placed a hand over Rosalie's, grounding her. "We are ready," Tanya whispered. "We have waited for this, not for centuries alone, but for the one who completes our bond."
The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the Cullen estate, as Edward's mind churned. "Damnation," he whispered under his breath, "I will not—" His voice cut off sharply as the vision ended abruptly, leaving only the sense of inevitability, of longing, and of protection etched in his mind.
Outside, Rosalie and Tanya moved through the forest, hunting as was customary, but their pace carried a new intensity. The bond called, pulling them forward, heightening their awareness. They found a clearing, and for a moment, the world held still. Rosalie turned, eyes glimmering with vulnerability. "I fear I am… unworthy," she confessed, her voice barely above the wind. "After everything, I… I don't know if I can be enough."
Tanya's eyes softened, yet her grip on Rosalie's hands tightened. "You are," she stated, voice low and commanding. "Do not ever doubt it. The bond chooses us as we are. You are never unworthy."
Rosalie leaned into Tanya, letting the centuries of tension and insecurity melt away in the warmth of their closeness. Their kiss began softly, exploratory, but soon deepened into a passionate, intimate connection, each movement and touch deliberate, tender, and raw. Tanya guided, comforted, and reassured as Rosalie surrendered to both desire and trust. Every glance, every brush of skin, conveyed understanding, love, and a fierce commitment that had built over decades.
The forest around them seemed to recede, leaving only the two women, entwined physically and emotionally, bound by their shared past and the powerful pull of the unseen mate waiting for them. Tanya's hands traced along Rosalie's back, grounding her, while Rosalie's fingers dug gently into Tanya's shoulders, anchoring herself. Their breath mingled, hearts beating in sync, an unspoken promise of protection, love, and loyalty.
Back at the Cullen house, Carlisle observed Alice's lingering traces of the vision. "They will meet him soon," he said quietly. "And when they do, everything—their patience, their bond, their centuries—will align."
Esme, sitting beside him, reached over, placing a hand on his arm. "It is rare, indeed," she murmured. "But I trust that the triad will thrive. The bond will protect, guide, and bind them together."
Edward remained standing, jaw tight, eyes burning. "I will not let them falter," he whispered. "Not if I can prevent it. No one will ever harm them while I—while we—are here."
Alice's vision ended with the image of the human male's eyes piercing steel blue, full of determination, care, and a fierce love waiting to be awakened. The women's longing, centuries in the making, was palpable even as the image faded. Carlisle nodded, satisfaction mingled with concern. "It begins," he said softly.
Outside, the forest sighed around Tanya and Rosalie as the day gave way to night. Their bodies pressed together, minds entwined, hearts racing not with fear, but with anticipation. The mate was out there, waiting. The bond hummed with a subtle, insistent pulse, promising both trials and ecstasy, protection and passion.
And somewhere beyond, in the human world, the man moved forward unknowingly, yet inevitably, drawn toward the women who had waited centuries, and the triad's story began in earnest.