Meeting at the Border

Chapter 14: Meeting at the border

Rosalie ran hurriedly through the trees of the forest, the cold midday wind caressing her immortal skin. She was nervous, so much so that she had taken longer than she would have liked when deciding what to wear to this meeting. After all, it wasn't just a chance encounter; It was the first time she would really meet Ethan, beyond the looks and the mystery. She had stood between several outfits, undecided, until her watch reminded her that she would be late. Now, with every step, she only hoped that Ethan was still there.

Finally, she reached the river that marked the boundary between Cullen and Quileute territory. The crystal clear water flowed slowly, but Rosalie barely noticed it; Her attention was completely on the figure emerging in front of her.

Ethan, in his imposing beastly wolf form, was standing on the other side. His dark fur moved slightly in the wind, and his golden eyes, intense and penetrating, locked on Rosalie's. For a few seconds, neither of them moved, but Rosalie's nervousness was replaced by something else... a sense of anticipation.

Gently, Ethan returned to his human form in front of her, his muscles relaxing and his expression taking on an unexpected warmth. As intimidating as she was in his wolf form, his smile was warm, almost disarming. Without saying a word, he jumped onto a large rock in the middle of the river and, with a wave of his hand, invited her to do the same.

"On this rock," Ethan said, with a spark of amusement. in the eyes—no one is breaking the treaty. Here, neither crosses the other's territory.

Rosalie let out a soft laugh, grateful for the comment that broke the tension. Gracefully, she jumped to join him on the rock. They stood face to face, a tiny gap separating them, but the closeness between them was undeniable.

Ethan extended his hand towards her, her smile widening

"Let me introduce myself formally. I'm Ethan Black. I've been looking forward to meeting you, Rosalie. —His words were sincere, with a touch of nervousness that made it even more charming.

Rosalie, surprised by the naturalness with which he had made her feel, returned the smile and took his hand

~. ~ —Hello, Ethan. I'm Rosalie Hale. —He said her name softly, as if nothing more needed to be said, but inside her, something had changed. The tension she had felt toward Ethan since their first meeting faded, leaving only a growing curiosity to learn more about him

For the next few hours, the conversation flowed so naturally that time seemed to disappear. They talked about their families, their pasts, but there were also small moments of comfortable silences, of glances that lasted longer than usual. Ethan, despite being the alpha of his pack, had a humility that disarmed Rosalie, and his easy-going sense of humor made her laugh in a way she didn't experience with the Cullens.

Ethan, for his part, didn't. He could stop admiring Rosalie's beauty and strength, but beyond that, he was fascinated by her intelligence and hidden vulnerability. Every time his eyes met, there was a connection, an understanding that seemed to go beyond words.

Between flirtatious comments and light laughter, they both began to realize what was happening between them. Something deeper than a simple physical attraction was emerging.

As the sun began to set, the sky dyed orange and purple, a distant howl was heard. The sound was clear and loud, and Ethan recognized it instantly: his pack was calling him.

With a slight exhale of resignation, Ethan looked at Rosalie.

—I must go... If they suspect anything, the things will get complicated. —Her tone was serious, but her gaze was filled with promise.

Rosalie nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. She knew that if someone in Ethan's pack found out what was happening that would shake her position as alpha in front of the others and therefore the consequences would be unpredictable

—No one must know. —Ethan murmured—. At least, not for now. Okay?

Rosalie looked at him with a sad smile and nodded. They both knew that what they had was dangerous, something never seen before, two natural enemies who are destined to hate each other's guts are in love with each other, but despite everything, they couldn't stop. This meeting would not be the last.

Before Ethan transformed again, they both remained silent for a few more seconds, memorizing the moment.

—Will we meet here? —Rosalie finally asked, pointing to the rock they were on.

Ethan nodded, his smile lighting up his face again

—This will be our rock. Here, neither of them crosses into the other's territory. This will be our meeting point.

With one last glance, Ethan transformed into his wolf form and, after a brief howl in response to his pack, he quickly walked away, disappearing into the trees.

Rosalie He stayed a moment longer on the rock, looking at the place where Ethan had disappeared. Her mind was full of thoughts, but above all, there was one certainty: she would see him again. And that rock would become her little refuge, the place where their worlds could coexist, at least for a while.