Shadows in the Woods

Bella woke the next morning with a heavy sense of unease. The events of the previous night played on repeat in her mind—Rosalie's intervention, the rogue vampire's malicious grin, and her own vulnerability in the face of danger. But more than anything, Rosalie's quiet, unguarded admission echoed in her thoughts. Because I do.

She couldn't untangle her emotions. Part of her was frustrated by Rosalie's mixed signals—pushing her away yet leaping to her defense without hesitation. Another part was terrified of the implications. Vampires weren't supposed to care about humans beyond thirst and predatory instinct. And yet, Rosalie had cared enough to risk herself for Bella.

Charlie noticed her distracted mood at breakfast. "You okay, Bells? You look like you didn't sleep a wink."

Bella poked at her toast. "Just a lot on my mind."

"You sure it's nothing serious?" Charlie's concern was subtle but genuine.

Bella nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just need to get out for a bit."

Charlie gave her a once-over but didn't press further. "Just be careful if you head into the woods. There've been reports of animal attacks lately."

Bella's stomach churned at the reminder, but she forced a casual smile. "I'll stick to the main trails."

Instead of heading into the forest, Bella drove into town. She needed to clear her head, and wandering aimlessly through Forks felt safer than staying cooped up at home. However, her mind kept drifting back to Rosalie. The way her golden eyes had burned with anger and something deeper—concern? Fear? It was impossible to tell.

Bella pulled into the parking lot of the local diner, intending to grab a cup of coffee. As she stepped inside, she was surprised to see Rosalie seated at a corner table, her presence as striking as ever despite her attempt to blend in with the human crowd.

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, neither of them moved. Then Rosalie's jaw tightened, and she looked away, clearly displeased by the encounter.

Bella hesitated. Part of her wanted to leave and avoid another confrontation, but a stronger part of her—the one that refused to back down—pushed her forward. She approached the table with tentative steps.

"Mind if I sit?" Bella asked softly.

Rosalie didn't look at her. "It's a free country."

Taking that as permission, Bella slid into the seat across from her. An awkward silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the clinking of dishes and murmured conversations from the other patrons.

"I wanted to thank you," Bella said finally. "For last night."

Rosalie's gaze flicked to her, cold and guarded. "You shouldn't have been out there."

"I know," Bella admitted. "It was stupid. But I'm still grateful you showed up when you did."

Rosalie didn't respond immediately. She stared at her full coffee cup, her fingers tightening around it. "You don't understand what you're dealing with, Bella. The world you're stepping into—it's not safe."

Bella's brow furrowed. "You think I don't know that? I'm not some naïve girl who thinks life is a fairy tale. I know about you, Rosalie. I know about the Cullens, you told me."

Rosalie's eyes snapped to hers, anger flashing across her face. "You don't know anything."

"Don't I?" Bella challenged. "You're vampires. You drink blood, even if it's not human. You're faster, stronger, and more dangerous than anything else in this town. And yet, you save people. You live among us, pretending to be normal."

Rosalie's lips pressed into a thin line. "If you know all that, then you should know to stay away."

Bella leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I can't."

The vulnerability in her words seemed to disarm Rosalie, if only for a moment. The vampire's shoulders sagged slightly, and she looked away. "You're impossible," she muttered.

Bella smiled faintly. "So I've been told."

As they sat in silence, a sudden commotion outside drew their attention. Bella turned to see a group of people gathered near the edge of the parking lot, their voices raised in alarm. Without thinking, she got up and headed toward the noise, Rosalie following reluctantly behind her.

When they reached the crowd, Bella's stomach dropped. A large, mangled animal carcass lay in the dirt, its injuries too gruesome to be the work of an ordinary predator. The sight of it sent a shiver down her spine.

"That's not a bear," someone murmured.

"Wolves, maybe?" another suggested.

Rosalie stepped closer to Bella, her voice low and urgent. "You need to leave. Now."

Bella turned to her, alarmed. "What is it?"

"Not here," Rosalie said sharply. "Get in your truck."

Something in her tone brooked no argument. Bella nodded and followed her back to the parking lot, where Rosalie climbed into the passenger seat without waiting for an invitation.

As Bella drove, Rosalie kept her gaze fixed on the road ahead, her jaw tight. "The vampire from last night wasn't alone," she said finally. "There's another one in the area—probably more."

Bella's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Why are they here?"

Rosalie hesitated. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that you stay out of their way."

"You think they're after me?" Bella asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"They're opportunistic," Rosalie said. "You're human. That's enough of a reason."

Bella's heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Then why haven't they attacked yet?"

Rosalie glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "Because they're waiting for something. Or someone."

The weight of her words settled heavily between them. Bella didn't need her memories of her previous life to know that Forks was becoming more dangerous by the day. But despite the fear gnawing at her, a strange sense of determination began to take root.

If the vampires were waiting for something, Bella would find out what it was. And no matter what, she wouldn't face it alone.