HM

The forest surrounding the Cullen home had never felt quiet. Not truly. There was always the distant movement of animals through the trees, the whisper of wind between the branches, the occasional footsteps of one of the Cullens returning from a hunt. But tonight, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Y/n stood alone among the trees. Her long red hair moved gently with the wind, contrasting sharply against the pale skin of her face. She looked eighteen, perhaps even younger at first glance. Small, delicate, almost harmless. It was an illusion. She had been eighteen for longer than most vampires could comprehend. There were vampires who had lived for hundreds of years and never once heard her name. There were others who knew the legends surrounding her but had never seen her face. Ancient stories spoke of a red-haired vampire who appeared throughout history without explanation, leaving behind bodies, disappearances, and unanswered questions. No creator. No family. No beginning. Only Y/n. She had eventually found the Cullens and remained with them for years, becoming an unusual addition to their family. Carlisle had never demanded that she follow their diet, and Y/n had never pretended to share their beliefs about human blood. Her eyes remained a deep, unmistakable crimson. Tonight, however, she wasn’t thinking about feeding. She was watching the sky. Somewhere far beyond the trees, vampires were approaching. The Volturi. Y/n had known they would come long before the others had begun preparing for their arrival. Something about their presence felt different this time. Heavier. There were too many of them. Too much power. And somewhere among them was someone she had never met. Someone whose existence she could already feel in a way she couldn’t explain. Inside the Cullen home, the others were gathering around Carlisle. Witnesses had arrived from every direction, vampires who had traveled great distances to stand beside the family. Y/n had no int