Jasper and Edythe lingered beside their car in the school parking lot as the last of the students gradually dispersed around them, the usual noise and movement fading into the background.
Emmett and Rosalie had left earlier.
Edythe stood close to Jasper, leaning slightly into him while his left arm rested comfortably around her waist, both of them focused across the lot where Alice had just stepped away from Samael after pressing a kiss to his cheek and mentioning that she needed to prepare for their date.
Jasper's brow lifted slightly, and beside him Edythe reacted at the exact same moment.
"Wow," she murmured under her breath.
She turned her head toward Jasper, and he met her gaze. The two of them shared a brief, knowing smile that didn't need to be explained.
Jasper's expression settled soon after, returning to its usual composure. Beneath it lay the constant effort it took to remain this controlled while surrounded by so many humans.
When Alice started heading toward them, they didn't wait. Without a word, they turned and made their way to their black mercedes.
Jasper slid into the driver's seat while Edythe settled beside him, and only a few seconds later, the passenger door opened as Alice slipped inside.
The moment the door closed, she leaned forward slightly, her voice bright and full of restless energy.
"Alright, let's go home, guys! I have so much to do," she said.
Jasper allowed himself a small smile as he caught her reflection in the mirror, then briefly glanced at Edythe before starting the engine and pulling away.
The drive settled into a comfortable silence, filled only with the low hum of the engine and the steady rhythm of the road, but Alice, unusually, remained still in the back seat, her usual liveliness replaced by a distant gaze as though her thoughts were already far ahead, running through everything she needed to prepare.
After several minutes, Edythe turned slightly in her seat, watching her with quiet amusement before finally breaking the silence.
"So," she began lightly, "are you finally going to tell your dear sister what exactly is going on?"
Alice blinked, pulled back from her thoughts, and for a brief moment, she looked disoriented before her expression softened into a smile.
"Oh, right."
She began recounting everything, moving through the morning, the class, Samael, and most importantly, the fact that he had asked her out. Her voice was warm and animated as she lingered on certain details, as though replaying them while she spoke.
Edythe listened attentively, a soft smile forming on her lips as she let out the occasional quiet laugh, but as Alice reached the end, that expression gradually shifted into something more thoughtful, the amusement giving way to concern.
"Alice…" she said gently, though her tone carried more weight now, "have you thought about how you're going to tell him about us… about what we are?"
She paused briefly, choosing her words with more care before continuing.
"It's not something small, and it affects not only you, but him… and all of us as well."
Alice tilted her head slightly, her expression remaining calm and almost unconcerned.
"Oh, don't worry," she said lightly, "I think he already knows."
The air in the car shifted at once, the quiet ease from before seems to disappear.
Edythe's eyes widened, and although she opened her mouth to respond, no words came out at first as she processed what that meant.
Slowly, she turned her head toward Jasper, who was already glancing between her and the road, his brows faintly furrowed in thought.
Edythe turned back to Alice, her voice more focused now.
"What do you mean?" she asked, "Did you tell him?"
Alice shook her head immediately.
"No," she said, "It wasn't me. I didn't tell him. I promised you I wouldn't say anything before talking to all of you."
Edythe's expression softened slightly at the reassurance, though the concern didn't fully leave her features.
"Then how would he know?" she asked,"I didn't notice anything strange from him… nothing directed at us."
She hesitated briefly before adding,
"Don't shapeshifters usually hate vampires?"
Her gaze shifted toward Jasper.
A brief silence followed before he answered.
"We've only encountered wolves," he said calmly. "It wouldn't be wise to assume all shapeshifters behave the same way."
Edythe nodded slowly, considering that.
"I suppose not," she admitted, her gaze drifting slightly. "Still… whatever he is, he doesn't act like any of those dogs."
There was a trace of disdain in the last word.
She turned her attention again to Jasper.
"So what did you feel?" she asked more directly. "From him… toward us."
Alice, who had been listening quietly until then, leaned slightly forward, her interest clearly piqued, though for entirely different reasons.
Jasper gave a small nod as he kept his attention on the road.
"His emotions are very clear to me," he said in his usual calm tone. "There's nothing hostile, nothing that suggests suspicion in that sense."
He paused briefly, as if weighing how best to phrase the next part.
"But they are strong… stronger than anything I've ever felt before."
Alice straightened slightly at that, her attention sharpening even more.
"Not all of them," he clarified, "but some… especially the ones connected to Alice," he added, a faint, almost amused breath leaving him. "There are moments when I have to distract myself when you're both together."
Alice's expression lit up instantly, curiosity overtaking everything else.
"What is he feeling about me, Jasper?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. "Tell me!"
Edythe glanced at her, just a little caught off guard by the sudden shift, but she didn't interrupt.
Jasper met Alice's gaze briefly through the mirror, a small smile forming.
"It isn't just one thing," he explained. "It's layered, difficult to separate, because so many of the emotions overlap."
He paused again, then continued more deliberately.
"But if I had to describe it… it's a mix of strong obsession, possessiveness, and… desire."
Alice went completely still for a moment.
Then her smile deepened slowly, softer, her gaze drifting as her thoughts slipped somewhere more private.
Jasper returned his full attention to the road.
The words seemed to settle something in the car, though not entirely.
After a brief pause, Edythe turned to Alice, her tone more grounded now.
"Why do you even think he knows?" she asked.
Alice gave a small shrug.
"I'm not sure if he knows exactly what we are," she admitted, "but he definitely didn't believe any of my excuses."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"About Edward… about not eating… about sleep."
She continued, this time describing the moment he asked her out in more detail, the way he had lowered his voice, so no human could hear, the quiet conversation that followed, and the fact that he could hear her just as clearly.
That last part made Edythe's expression shift again, surprise flickering across her face.
By the time Alice finished, the car had already reached the house.
Jasper turned off the engine.
"We should discuss this with the others," he said.
Edythe nodded immediately, but Alice shook her head without hesitation.
"I really don't have time for that," she said quickly, "I have so much to do, and I already told you everything, so you can explain it."
Edythe opened her mouth to argue, but stopped as she looked at Alice, quickly realising it would be pointless.
She let out a soft sigh.
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
Alice brightened instantly.
"It's not such a big deal anyway," she added. "And Jasper didn't feel anything bad or strange from him, so it's going to be fine."
Then she turned slightly toward Edythe, adding more quickly,
"And don't take too long, I might need some help."
Edythe exhaled quietly, already resigned.
"Sure."
…
The moment they stepped inside the house, Alice disappeared upstairs without hesitation, her mind already entirely set on preparing for the evening.
Meanwhile, Edythe and Jasper gathered the rest of the family in the living room, where the discussion that followed stretched on for nearly half an hour.
Rosalie spoke the most, her voice sharp as she laid out her concerns.
"We know almost nothing about him," she said, her gaze moving between them. "Not what he truly is, not what he's capable of… and yet he already knows what we are, or at the very least suspects"
Samael wasn't like the shapeshifters they knew. The memory of that quiet growl still lingered, along with the sense of danger it had stirred in all of them.
Emmett, leaning against the wall just behind her, remained quieter than usual, the tension still present in his posture, even if he tried not to show it.
Rosalie continued, her tone no less firm.
"And if the Volturi find out about him, they won't stop to ask questions," she said. "They'll see something unknown, something they can't control… and that alone will be enough to put all of us at risk."
The weight of that settled over the room, leaving a brief silence behind it.
Esme spoke next.
"I've never seen Alice like this before," she said gently, her expression softening. "Not as she is now."
Her gaze moved between them as she continued.
"Think about how she was before her first vision of him… and how she's been since."
A faint, fond smile touched her lips.
"It's as though we only knew part of her before," she added quietly. "And now… we're finally seeing the rest. She's… happy. Truly happy, and I think we can all see that."
Carlisle nodded, and a faint warm smile appeared on his face before he spoke.
"I can see it as well," he said. "And I don't think we should dismiss what that means."
His gaze shifted between them.
"Whatever you felt today," he continued, shifting back to reason, "it was only a moment where something in him felt dangerous or unfamiliar."
His expression remained calm.
"Before that, none of you noticed anything at all."
"If Alice hadn't warned you beforehand, would any of you have paid him any attention?"
The room fell quiet, though this time the silence felt more settled, and no one voiced any disagreement.
"That alone suggests we should be cautious with our assumptions," Carlisle continued. "We should meet him properly… and see how it goes."
Esme gave a small nod in agreement.
"And regardless of what they choose to call this," she added gently, "for Alice, this is already real. She already sees him as one of us."
A quiet understanding settled over the room after that.
No one argued.
After a moment, Edythe spoke.
"Alice will probably need help," she said. "She isn't about to do anything simple, not for her first date."
A soft smile spread across Esme's face at that.
"Well then," she said lightly, a hint of warmth and playfulness entering her voice, "let me be a proper mother and help my daughter get ready for her first date."
That eased the tension further, small smiles appearing here and there as the weight of the conversation finally began to lift.
Carlisle returned her smile without hesitation.
"Of course."
…
Alice's Room
Alice stood in front of the large mirror, dressed only in her underwear, holding two dresses up against herself as she compared them carefully. Her expression was focused as she shifted slightly, studying how each one looked from different angles.
A knock at the door drew her attention.
"It's me, darling," Esme said softly. "May I come in?"
Alice's face brightened immediately.
"Of course!"
Esme stepped inside, and Alice turned toward her, lifting both dresses again.
"Which one is better?" she asked, holding them up expectantly.
Esme studied them for a moment, her gaze thoughtful—but before she could answer, Alice suddenly went completely still.
Esme paused, watching her quietly as the seconds passed.
After a moment, Alice blinked and shook her head slightly.
"No."
Esme tilted her head with a curious but gentle expression.
"What do you mean? Did you see something?"
Alice let both dresses fall onto the couch without another glance.
"Neither of them will work," she said quickly, already moving toward her wardrobe. "I need something black… or at least darker tones."
A soft smile touched Esme's lips.
"You saw something about tonight."
"Yes," Alice replied without hesitation. "They don't match his outfit."
She turned suddenly, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Can I borrow those earrings you bought in Milan? The ones from eight years ago?"
Esme let out a quiet laugh.
"I'm not entirely sure which ones you mean," she admitted, "but you can take anything you need."
"Thank you!"
After that, everything moved quickly. Clothes were pulled out, discarded, replaced, until, piece by piece, it all came together.
Esme stayed with her, helping where needed, her expression filled with quiet warmth.
Seeing Alice like this made her genuinely happy.
"I've seen it," Alice said suddenly, studying her reflection, "Tonight… how he looks."
"Mom, he's so handsome."
Esme's smile softened even more.
"I would have loved him anyway," Alice continued, her voice quieter now, almost thoughtful, "but… he's really unfairly attractive."
That drew a soft laugh from Esme.
"Now I'm curious," she said with a soft smile.
Alice stepped away from the mirror and moved to the centre of the room, turning slightly.
"How do I look?"
Esme's answer came without pause.
"Beautiful, dear."
Alice's smile brightened instantly.
"Thank you… and thank you for helping me."
Esme stepped closer.
"How could I not?" she said gently. "We all know how important this is to you."
Alice's expression softened, and she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her in a quick, affectionate hug.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Then she pulled back slightly, her smile returning with quiet certainty.
"You all worry too much," she added. "Samael is going to be good for us. He's not like the wolves."
Esme nodded softly.
"I know," she said gently. "And I trust your heart, Alice. You wouldn't choose someone who meant us harm."
Alice smiled, completely assured.
"Of course," she said lightly. "You'll see for yourself."
At that moment, the sound of a car approaching reached them.
Alice froze for a fraction of a second before lighting up instantly.
"He's here!"
Esme laughed softly at her reaction.
"Are you sure I look good?" Alice asked quickly, turning back toward her.
Esme smiled, amused.
"You look perfect."
Together, they stepped toward the window.
Outside, a grey Aston Martin had just come to a stop.
The door opened, and a man stepped out, tall and striking.
He wore a fitted black shirt with the top buttons undone, a tailored charcoal blazer layered over it, and dark trousers that fell perfectly over polished shoes.
In his hand, he held a large bouquet of deep red roses.
Samael.
Alice's lips parted slightly, her expression softening as she watched him.
She didn't say anything. She didn't need to.
Esme let out a soft hum as she glanced outside.
"You didn't exaggerate."
Alice nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed outside.
It made Esme let out a quiet chuckle.
"Come on," she said gently. "Let's go downstairs."
Then, with a soft, teasing warmth, she added,
"Let's show him how beautiful you are."
Alice nodded quickly, taking the words more seriously than they were meant to, which only made Esme smile more.
"Let's go."
And together, they left the room, heading downstairs.