Nate turned his head toward Alice, his brow slightly furrowed.
"How long until the Romanian arrives?"
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, as if carefully revisiting that vision that still pulsed in her memory like a lingering echo. When she opened them again, her expression had turned calculating—colder, more analytical.
"I think tomorrow. In the vision, it was night, so most likely he'll arrive at dusk."
Nate clicked his tongue in frustration, the short sound carrying more than enough irritation. The news weighed on him like a stone on his chest. It meant losing an entire day of travel, right when the Quileute were already at the edge of their patience, and every minute of delay could become the spark that lit a confrontation.
Alice watched him in silence, trying to read beyond the hardness of his features. Her eyes softened just slightly, and in a delicate voice she asked,
"What will we do?"
Nate didn't answer right away. He stood motionless for a few seconds, letting the mountain's icy air fill lungs that didn't need it, but that still helped him think. His gaze drifted to the dark treetops, where snow piled up on fragile branches. At last, he let out a short, heavy sigh.
"The best thing is to wait for the Romanian. I don't think he came all the way here just to chat, especially not alone. Something must have happened, and he'll likely want to discuss it with me."
Alice nodded slowly. She didn't like the idea of crossing paths with the Romanians again—not in the slightest. She had sworn long ago that she would never be on good terms with them, not after what happened in Washington, D.C., and how they had tried to manipulate Nate into accepting the bite, as if they had planned to turn him into a pawn in their power games. Nate had been clear with her, though: that choice had been his, not theirs. Still, the wound of distrust remained open.
Yet beneath the shadows of her unease, a spark of relief flickered inside her. After that unavoidable interruption, she would soon see her family again. Even in the midst of tensions and grim news, the simple idea of reuniting with them filled her chest with a warmth that even Alaska's eternal ice couldn't extinguish. She truly missed them.
Nate, noticing that mixture in her expression, tilted his head toward her.
"We must return to the Denali house. This day of waiting will be enough to say our farewells properly. My only concern is how they'll react once they learn that a Romanian is coming to visit."
Over the past months, Nate had come to understand Tanya's deep disdain for the Romanians. It wasn't just about their reputation—those fallen kings who once ruled cruelly—nor solely about their historical antagonism with the Volturi. The true reason was subtler: any connection with Vladimir or Stefan immediately stirred suspicion in Aro, Marcus, and Caius. Laurent himself had once warned him: in the Volturi's eyes, any relationship with the Romanians was a stain that never truly faded.
Alice remained thoughtful for a moment, then let out a serene smile that contrasted sharply with the tension of the situation.
"The best thing is to be honest with the Denali. In the worst case, we can leave and wait for the Romanian in the nearby woods."
Nate nodded, though not entirely convinced. As they walked back along the snowy path, the silence between them was finally broken by his curiosity.
"Which Romanian is coming to the house?"
Alice narrowed her eyes, replaying the fragments of her vision as if they still unraveled in her mind.
"It was Vladimir."
Nate clenched his jaw, his face hardening instinctively. To him, Vladimir was the more troublesome of the two. Stefan could be just as poisonous, yes, but his was the venom of a snake—insidious, slow, whispering. Vladimir, on the other hand, was pure conflict; he sought it and provoked it, as if confrontation itself was his natural sustenance.
With an attempt at humor, his lips twitching into the faintest smile, Nate muttered,
"I hope the Denali decides not to let him into the house. If Vladimir crosses that threshold, I'm pretty sure Kate will want to fight him."
Alice chuckled softly, a light laugh that, for an instant, soothed the tension like the murmur of a stream in a frozen forest. She found Nate's effort to ease the atmosphere after so much grim news almost endearing.
They walked the rest of the way in silence, letting the crunch of snow beneath their steps fill the air. Finally, after several minutes, they reached the Denali residence. Warmth spilled through the tall windows, standing in stark contrast to the biting cold outside. From afar, the house glowed like a golden refuge in the middle of a white world.
The large windows revealed pale wood reflecting the soft artificial light, bathing everything in a welcoming glow. Inside, each member of the family was absorbed in their own tasks. Tanya, seated in the main room, was reading with a concentrated expression, her fingers sliding slowly along the edges of the pages. Kate was playing idly with a piece of metal, bending and twisting it between her hands as though it were nothing more than a toy. Carmen whispered quietly with Eleazar near the silent piano, their voices an intimate murmur. And in a corner, almost hidden among their laughter and whispers, Laurent and Irina kissed shamelessly, lost in a world that seemed to exclude everyone else.
None of the Denali were surprised to see them enter through the main door. They had already heard them slip out through the bedroom window earlier and assumed it was one of their usual nightly escapades—the kind that ended with them getting "romantic" away from prying eyes.
Tanya lifted her gaze from her book, raising an eyebrow mischievously. Her playful smile glimmered with restrained teasing.
"So soon? I thought you'd take longer."
She half expected them to blush or shoot back a witty remark. But the seriousness on Nate's face wiped away her playful expression in an instant. Something in his hardened features sparked a twinge of alarm.
Nate took a few steps toward the center of the room and spoke in a grave tone that immediately shifted the atmosphere.
"Forgive me, but we have an announcement…"
The Denali stopped what they were doing one by one, as though they'd caught the edge in his voice. Tanya closed her book gently, Kate let the metal rest on her lap, Carmen and Eleazar turned from the piano, and even Laurent and Irina, who had been laughing only moments ago, lifted their eyes. Now, all of them were watching.
Nate scanned their faces calmly, recognizing in each the bond and support they had given over the past months. When he finally spoke again, his tone was softer—almost grateful.
"I'm deeply thankful for all the time and support you've given us these past months… but it's time for us to leave."
A heavy silence filled the room, immediately broken by Carmen's surprised voice.
"What? So soon? I thought you still needed more time to master your self-control."
Her words seemed to open doubt in the others as well, and they fixed Nate with questioning looks. Even Kate, who rarely showed interest in such delicate matters, studied him seriously.
Nate sighed. His voice grew deep, heavy, as though carrying a burden he could no longer postpone.
"There are things I must take care of. The vampire who attacked Forks is still free. And besides, we just spoke with Carlisle… it seems there's a chance of conflict with the Quileute wolves. I need to go help them. I'm close to one of them, so I'm hoping I can settle it through dialogue."
Tanya set her book aside and stepped forward, determination lighting up her eyes.
"In that case, we can go with you. If there are more of us, it might serve as a deterrent."
Kate grinned, a fierce glint sparking in her eyes as she dropped the piece of metal she still held.
"That's a good idea. Besides, if a fight breaks out, you'll need me."
Nate opened his mouth to respond, but Alice stepped in before he could, cutting firmly between them.
"No… you've already done too much for us. You even came with us to Seattle when we fought the newborns. We can't keep depending on you. If we can't reach an agreement with the Quileute, then we'll just leave Forks. This won't turn into a fight."
Nate turned his gaze toward her, studying her words. It would have been a relief to take the Denali with them—more strength, more backing, more security. But Alice was right. They couldn't drag them into yet another conflict that wasn't theirs. And though he didn't say it aloud, Vladimir's impending arrival had already sown ideas in his mind that might prove useful if things escalated.
Tanya looked ready to insist, but Nate raised a hand, stopping her with a calm firmness.
"It really isn't necessary. As Alice said, everything will be resolved through dialogue. I don't want to hurt the Quileute. Their reasons aren't bad… they're just being stupid."
A heavy silence followed, thick with invisible tensions. The Denali exchanged glances, each weighing the implications with their own judgments and reservations. The warmth of the home no longer seemed quite so warm: there was a shadow in the air, warning that what lay ahead would not be easy.
The family looked at one another, the silence moving through the room like an icy current. It was Laurent who, with slight hesitation, dared to ask aloud:
"When will you leave, Nathaniel?"
Nate glanced at him sideways, furrowing his brow slightly before replying firmly:
"Tomorrow. That's another thing I had to tell you. One of the Romanians is coming; I'll wait for him in the nearby woods. He won't approach your home, but I think it's best for you all to stay inside tomorrow night. Nothing good would come if, somehow, the Volturi found out you had contact with them."
The reactions were varied. Some exchanged looks betraying old suspicions: everyone knew, even if never spoken aloud, that Nate had history with the Romanians. Tanya had been the only one to ask him directly months ago; his evasive answer then had made it clear there was more than he was willing to reveal.
Now, Tanya spoke. Her solemn tone seemed directed not at Nate, but at the rest of her family.
"Then tomorrow, none of us will leave our home." Then she turned her gaze back to Nate, locking eyes with him. "Just remember, there is no shame in asking for our help. If the situation worsens, one call will be enough—we'll come as quickly as possible."
Nate thanked her with a faint smile, inclining his head in acknowledgment.
"I appreciate that more than you can imagine."
Sensing the air growing too heavy, Alice stepped forward and spoke with a lively voice, trying to lift the shadow that had begun to creep over the room.
"Hey, since this is our last night here, why don't we play that board game you love so much? It would be a good way to spend the evening."
Smiles slowly returned to the Denali faces, their desire to keep the farewell from being clouded by melancholy shining through.
Eleazar was the first to stand, raising a hand decisively.
"Wait! This time, I'm on Nate's side."
But Alice, wearing a mischievous smile, quickly grabbed her partner's arm.
"Sorry, he's with me. It's our last night here, after all—we've got to keep the tradition… and end it with me beating you again."
Laughter erupted naturally, washing away the earlier tension as though it had never existed. The echo of jokes, the pieces sliding across the board, and the glimmer of shared looks filled the room for hours, until the night was consumed and gave way to the dawn of a new day.
..............................
The following day passed in preparations and farewells. From the earliest hours, the Denali house was imbued with a different energy, almost solemn, as if everyone sensed that the day would mark an inevitable change. Nate and Alice had decided to travel to Forks on foot, running through the forests—a journey that for them posed no great effort. The distance wasn't far, but they preferred the cover of trees over highways. Neither of them wanted to risk some human recognizing Nate near Forks.
Alice and Carmen were the first to leave at dawn. They offered to procure blood bags from medical reserves so that Nate could feed during the journey. The serenity in their gestures barely concealed the tension of knowing that soon they would part ways. Meanwhile, the rest of the family divided their time, some choosing to spend Alice's final hours with her, while others stayed with Nate, sharing training sessions and last words of advice.
The Denali no longer treated them as guests. They had become part of the coven, and their departure felt like a painful fissure in the routine they had shared over the past months.
Eleazar, Laurent, and Kate were the ones who remained with Nate. The day was filled with sparring, corrections, and friendly bouts. Nate, who had arrived at the clan burdened with anger and caution, now found himself surprised to receive words of encouragement from Eleazar, the respectful gaze of Laurent, and—above all—the thinly veiled melancholy in Kate's eyes. She was, without doubt, the one most affected by the farewell. Since Nate's arrival, her training had reached a higher level: her movements sharper, her style more disciplined. She knew that improvement wouldn't have been possible without him, and the thought of fighting again without his presence left an emptiness she struggled to conceal.
The afternoon waned in clashes and learning. Nate exchanged techniques with Laurent, who by now could no longer be easily defeated by an average vampire. He listened as well to Eleazar's final tactical insights—always analytical, always measured. But it was his fights with Kate that carried the greatest intensity. In them, there was release, a need to put everything into each movement, as if the language of blows could say more than any farewell. Nate even felt tempted to let her land a strike, but he knew Kate too well: it would have been an insult, and he wasn't willing to disrespect her that way.
When daylight vanished behind the mountains and the cold began seeping through the windows, they all gathered in the main hall. The atmosphere had shifted: gone were the carefree laughter and bustle of other nights, replaced by a dense silence, heavy with unspoken goodbyes lingering in every gesture, every prolonged glance beneath the warm glow of the fireplace.
Alice returned then, the blood bags hidden in a discreet bag. She settled beside Nate, her fingers brushing lightly against his in a brief touch—enough to remind him that he would not face what came next alone.
Words began to flow, slowly at first, as each member of the clan expressed their warnings, wishes, and affection. It was the last moment together before the darkness of night carried Nate and Alice toward Forks.
Tanya stepped forward and wrapped them both in a warm embrace, murmuring that they would always be welcome back, for with them, they would always have a home. The others nodded with the same conviction, and even Kate—who rarely allowed herself such displays of closeness—approached to hold them tightly.
Nate smiled, and this time it wasn't the measured, cautious smile he so often wore. He smiled truly, baring his teeth, letting gratitude shine openly on his face as he whispered sincere thanks for everything they had done.
With their packs slung over their shoulders, they took their first steps toward the exit. Night had already fallen upon the Denali house, the swirling snow beginning to whip around them when, just before they set off running, Laurent placed a firm hand on Nate's shoulder.
All eyes turned, confused. No one understood why Laurent would stop him at that moment, but with a serious expression, he asked Nate for a few minutes. The two of them walked a short distance from the door, away from the group. The icy wind and crunch of snow beneath their feet were enough to muffle their voices so that not even the sharpest senses among the others could decipher what was being whispered.
At last, Nate simply nodded gravely and clasped Laurent's hand. Their gazes locked in a silence laden with meaning before he turned back to Alice, who waited expectantly.
With a calm smile, Nate told her softly that they needed to head into the forest immediately, before Vladimir approached the house. Alice nodded without hesitation, though several of the Denali furrowed their brows at the mention of that name. None, however, spoke.
Carrying two large camping bags each, Nate and Alice dashed into the woods. Snow whipped against their faces, but they pressed forward light-footed, urgent, determined. Only minutes passed before Alice halted abruptly, her eyes gleaming with recognition.
"This is the place," she whispered, pointing to a clearing where the snowfall seemed heavier. "This is where I saw him in my vision."
Nate nodded gravely. "Then all that remains is to wait."
The forest silence stretched, broken only by the murmuring creak of snow-laden branches. Uneasy, Alice glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"Hey… what did Laurent tell you? He sounded really serious when he spoke with you."
Nate opened his mouth to answer, but at that moment, both of them caught a scent they knew all too well. Nate's relaxed expression hardened instantly, his face turning cold and severe, as if the warmth of moments before had never been there.
Alice lowered her head slightly, resignation in her eyes. The air grew heavier, almost electric, until a honeyed voice, dripping with false cordiality, broke through the silence of the clearing.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Nathaniel?"
The echo of Vladimir's words slid between the trees, as cold as the snow falling upon them.
AUTHOR NOTES: Hey guys! Today we're back with the chapters! Thanks to those who waited patiently. After resting and meditating a lot, I came to the conclusion that the pace of one chapter a day is going to stagnate me. You know, writing is about being inspired and having the idea, and for several days I found myself writing just to be fulfilled. So from now on, the chapters will come out every other day (I'll clarify because I feel like it's read weird in English: we'll have a chapter on Wednesday, no on Thursday, Friday on, and so on). And thanks again to those who waited