Chapter 74

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"Take me home!" Bella screamed, drenched, her eyes wide with panic as she clung to Edward's arm. "Edward, please, take me home now!"

"No." Edward's voice came out firm, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his internal struggle. "Bella, I can't."

"Charlie's there!" she shrieked, her voice cracking as water streamed down her face, mixing with tears she couldn't control. "If James goes to my house, Charlie will be in danger! Edward, please!"

Edward shut his eyes tightly, his hands trembling as his breathing quickened, desperation flashing across his face as he saw her pleading.

"Take me!" Bella screamed again, her voice echoing through the clearing as the rain kept falling, heavy like a heartbeat.

Nate stepped forward, his face serious, his gaze cold, cutting through the moment.

"Alice," he said calmly, not looking at Bella, "did you see Charlie in your vision?"

Alice, frowning, shook her head as raindrops slid down her dark hair.

"No… I only saw James. He was at Bella's house, searching every room… but I didn't see Charlie."

Bella turned to her, her trembling hands reaching out toward Edward, begging.

"That doesn't mean he won't come back! Charlie could return at any moment, Edward! If he gets there and James is there—!"

Edward's chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, his golden eyes dark and full of fear as he looked at Bella, trapped between his instinct to protect her and the helplessness of not knowing how.

Then, Nate stepped forward again, calmly positioning himself in front of her.

"Bella, if you go now, you can't do anything," he said firmly, his eyes locked on hers. "You'll only put yourself in danger. And you'll put Charlie in danger."

"But—" Bella began to protest, but her voice broke into a sob.

Nate was already pulling out his phone, his movements quick but steady, stepping a few paces away from the group as he shielded the device from the rain with his hand.

The phone rang once, twice, before Charlie's raspy voice answered on the other end.

"Yeah?"

"Charlie! It's Nate," he said in a friendly, relaxed tone, as if they weren't standing in the middle of a forest with a hunter after them. "Hey, sorry to bother you, but I need a favor."

Charlie let out a grunt. "What's going on, kid?"

Nate chuckled softly, keeping the tone light. "I promised to take dinner to my grandma, but something came up and I won't get there in time… think you could drop something off for her? I'll pay you back later."

On the other end, Charlie let out a rough laugh. "Ah, Nate, no problem. I was planning to grab something for dinner anyway. I'll swing by and keep the lady company for a bit."

"Thanks a lot, Charlie," Nate said warmly before hanging up.

For a moment, only the murmur of rain and a distant thunderclap could be heard.

Nate turned back, slipping his phone into his pocket, returning to his serious posture as he looked Bella in the eyes.

"He won't go near your house now," he said firmly. "We have time to think."

Alice tilted her head, a small smile forming as she watched him, a silent glint of respect in her eyes. Bella, still trembling, managed to take a steadier breath, though fear remained in her eyes like a reflection that couldn't be erased.

Carlisle stepped forward, his brow furrowed, his voice low but firm.

"We need to think about what we're going to do now."

The sound of rain hitting the leaves mixed with the tense silence as everyone processed his words. Nate, eyes still on Bella, asked calmly:

"Bella, among your things… do you have anything that could attract James? Something personal, with your scent."

Bella shook her head immediately, her voice low and cracked.

"No… just school stuff… and some memories from Phoenix."

Nate narrowed his eyes, speaking softly, almost as if thinking aloud.

"Laurent said James is a tracker. He saw that a direct confrontation won't work, not against you all… Logically, he'll try to find a way to draw Bella out."

Bella's eyes widened, a shiver running down her spine as a slight tremor shook her shoulders.

"You think he'll go after my dad?"

Edward, brow furrowed and jaw clenched, crossed his arms as he thought.

"The most practical move would be to go after Charlie. It's the quickest way to force you to give yourself up, Bella." His gaze hardened. "But staying in town would be dangerous for James… We know the terrain better. We'd find him before he could do anything."

Nate nodded, eyes fixed on the ground.

"The safest bet is that he'll go after your mother… at least, that's what I would do."

As he said it, he lifted his gaze, meeting the Cullens' eyes. Emmett raised an eyebrow curiously, while Rosalie pressed her lips together in slight annoyance. Carlisle tilted his head slightly, evaluating calmly.

Bella hugged herself, panic returning to her eyes.

"My mom… she's in Jacksonville. He wouldn't know how to find her, would he?"

"But James doesn't know that. From your stuff, he could assume she's still in Phoenix," Nate explained calmly.

He fell silent before looking at the group seriously.

"I don't think James will stay in town much longer. He must think you're tracking him."

Carlisle's brow furrowed.

"You're making a lot of assumptions, Nate. Vampires aren't always so logical. He could linger around town… or head to your grandmother's house right now."

A shadow of concern crossed Nate's face before Alice suddenly raised her hand.

"Wait!" she exclaimed, her glassy eyes focused on something invisible. "No… Nate's right. I see James leaving the city."

Relief washed over the group like a whisper. Bella let out a shaky sigh as Emmett relaxed his stance.

"Then we're on the clock," Nate continued. "We could go to Phoenix and wait for him there. Even ambush him."

Carlisle tilted his head.

"It's a risky plan."

Bella lifted her gaze, her voice trembling.

"Nate, you don't have to get involved in this. James only wants me, not you."

Alice intervened firmly, her voice laced with anxiety.

"It would be better if Nate stayed here, safe, in Forks."

Edward, face tense, stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Nate.

"Please," he said roughly, "come with us. Help me keep Bella safe."

Alice glared at him, her voice cutting through the air.

"Edward! It's not fair to ask him that! You can't drag him into this!"

"Edward, no!" Bella screamed, tears mixing with the rain. "He doesn't have to risk himself for me!"

Rosalie scoffed, crossing her arms.

"And what exactly is he supposed to do?" she asked coldly. "What can he do that we can't?"

Edward turned to Rosalie.

"I was able to hit Victoria thanks to Nate's thoughts!" he snapped in frustration. "He saw her moves before she made them. If it hadn't been for him, she would have gotten away."

Silence fell heavily. Everyone looked at Nate.

Nate lifted his gaze, taking a deep breath before speaking clearly:

"I can't stay on the sidelines if my presence can make a difference."

The air loosened with a beat. Alice looked away in frustration, Emmett nodded, Bella let out a sob, and Edward closed his eyes in relief.

Carlisle nodded seriously.

"Then we'll do this together."

The rain continued to fall as the decision was sealed under the soaked forest.

"So… how are we going to do this?" Bella asked softly.

Nate took a deep breath.

"We have to go to Phoenix. As soon as possible."

The Cullens looked at him, expectant.

"When James finds out your mother isn't there, he'll look for another way to find you," he explained. "But if he finds out you're also in Phoenix with minimal company, he might take the risk to attack."

It was Jasper who broke the silence:

"So you plan to use her as bait."

Nate held her gaze. Internally a little surprised because it was the first time he'd spoken to him.

"I know it sounds terrible, but yes. If James is as good a tracker as Laurent said, he'll try to separate her from you all. If we force him to approach, we'll have the advantage."

Edward clenched his fists.

"We won't put her life at risk for a plan we're not even sure will work!"

"I'm willing to try!" Bella shouted with determination. "I don't want anyone else to be in danger because of me."

Carlisle stepped forward, his voice calm.

"Nate, how sure are you this will work?"

"Sure enough… to go with Bella myself."

Nate took a deep breath before continuing:

"I'm going to make a call. I think there's a way to keep Charlie and my grandma safe while we're gone." His eyes swept over the group. "But I think some of you should stay in Forks in case Victoria is still around and we need backup."

Emmett stepped forward, his voice firm.

"I'll go to Phoenix with you."

Nate shook his head.

"No. Neither you nor Jasper should go."

Emmett frowned.

"Why not?"

"You both fought James and nearly killed him. If he senses you nearby, the chances of him coming close will be much lower."

Esme asked softly:

"Then… who will go with Bella?"

Nate breathed calmly before answering:

"The smartest move would be for Edward, Rosalie, Bella, and me to go."

Rosalie raised an eyebrow skeptically while Carlisle nodded, reflective.

"Carlisle and Alice could arrive later as reinforcements."

Jasper crossed his arms before asking:

"Why Edward and Rosalie?"

Edward, reading Nate's thoughts, answered firmly:

"Because it makes sense. James knows I wouldn't leave her alone, he saw how I reacted when he tried to attack her, and if I'm not there, he'll get suspicious. Plus, if Victoria is nearby, only I can read Nate's mind to coordinate. As for Rosalie, James hasn't fought her, he might underestimate her, and that could lower his guard."

Nate nodded in agreement.

Alice glared at him, her eyes sparking.

"No. I'm going with you."

Nate sighed, trying to remain calm.

"It's better if you're with Carlisle. If you see anything, you can alert the group immediately."

"No!" Alice insisted stubbornly. "My visions can change in seconds, Nate. It's better if I'm with the most vulnerable group so I can warn them right away."

Silence fell again as the rain kept hitting the leaves, filling the air with a constant heartbeat.

Nate breathed, brow furrowed and jaw clenched, before nodding reluctantly.

.............................................................

Bella stared out the backseat window, her hands trembling in her lap as Nate's car moved along the wet road.

"How are we even going to justify a trip to Phoenix, Nate?" she asked in a low, anxious voice. "It's Saturday night. There's no way we can leave without Charlie or your grandma getting suspicious."

Nate, one hand steady on the wheel, glanced at Bella before returning his eyes to the road.

"We'll have to lie, Bella. I don't think James will wait long if he senses an opportunity. Besides, if we need to stay longer, we can always say we missed a flight or something."

Bella shook her head, frustration creeping into her voice.

"Charlie will never agree to let me leave just like that." She sighed with resignation. "If your lie doesn't convince him, he'll put himself and the Cullens' secret at risk."

Nate let out a short sigh, his gaze hardening as his fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel.

"Leave it to me. I'll do the talking. You all just need to pretend to be happy."

Bella swallowed, glancing at Edward, who squeezed her hand gently, trying to calm her. Alice, sitting in the front passenger seat, kept her eyes fixed ahead, hands clasped in silence.

When they arrived at Nate's house, they saw the lights on and Charlie's patrol car parked by the curb, glistening under the rain.

The group paused for a moment before going inside, tension hanging between them like a cold mist.

Nate took a deep breath, forcing a smile as he turned to them.

"Just follow my lead, okay?"

He took Alice's hand, intertwining his fingers with hers naturally. Alice gave him a calm smile, understanding the role she needed to play.

Edward draped an arm around Bella's shoulders as they walked behind them, maintaining a polite smile while Bella, stomach twisted in knots, tried to force a smile of her own… but she knew she was a terrible actress.

The door creaked softly as Nate turned the knob, and the smell of warm soup and coffee filled the air.

Inside, they saw Charlie sitting at the table with a mug in hand, chatting with Nate's grandmother, who was quietly knitting. Both looked up when the group entered.

Charlie's eyes landed on Bella first, then Edward, and finally on Nate and Alice's intertwined hands, raising an eyebrow with caution.

Nate's grandmother squinted, setting down her needles as she leaned forward with curiosity.

It didn't take her long to approach the young people, poorly hiding her curiosity, tilting her head as she took a closer look at Alice. Then, with a quick motion, she leaned toward Bella, whispering with a mischievous glint in her eyes:

"Is this the girl you mentioned?"

Bella, her heart pounding in her throat, forced a clumsy nod with a shaky smile.

The grandmother moved closer to Alice, looking her up and down with almost ceremonial seriousness, as if inspecting every inch. Alice held her gaze with elegance, offering a small, polite smile.

"Good evening, Mrs. Winter. My name is Alice Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was soft, controlled.

The grandmother nodded slowly before turning to Nate with a cunning smile.

"She's pretty and polite, huh? No wonder you never talked about girls, boy, if your standards were this high."

Nate let out a small laugh, though his pulse pounded in his temples.

"Please don't overwhelm her, Grandma… we're just starting to date."

The grandmother burst into delighted laughter while Alice dipped her head in a graceful nod, playing along discreetly.

Meanwhile, Charlie set his mug down and stood up calmly, though his eyes watched every move of the young people carefully. Crossing his arms, he shot a quick glance at Edward and then at Bella.

"Seems like Dr. Cullen's a lucky man if he managed to get his kids to date my Bella and now Nate too."

Nate seized the moment naturally, raising an eyebrow with humor.

"He's actually quite pleased. Alice took me to meet him today."

Edward, catching on immediately, added with a polite smile while reading Nate's thoughts:

"Actually, we came to talk to you to ask for your permission, Mr. Swan. You see, my father bought a beautiful painting in Phoenix and planned to take a flight to pick it up and spend a day there with my mother… but when he found out Alice and I are dating, and that Bella is from Phoenix, he offered to pay for our tickets so we could pick it up and spend a day there."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, frowning with that familiar suspicious-cop expression.

"A Saturday night, with school on Monday?"

Bella, her voice trembling, forced herself to speak, swallowing before she did.

"Yeah, it's just… I mentioned I lived there, and… I still have the house key. I thought I could grab a few things I left behind."

Charlie rubbed his chin, looking at Bella with concern.

"I don't know, Bells… sounds too sudden. It's late, and I don't like the idea of you traveling just like that."

Nate raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture, his tone firm but friendly.

"Don't worry, Charlie. Alice and I are going too. The boys and girls will have separate rooms, and if I see Edward trying to cross the line with Bella, I'll put him in his place."

Edward let out a brief, polite laugh, though internally, everyone felt the tension.

Charlie's frown deepened as he turned his gaze to Bella.

"You know I trust you, Nate, to look after Bella… but I still think this is a bad idea."

It was then that Nate's grandmother stepped in, her broad smile and sparkling eyes warm as she placed a hand on Charlie's arm.

"Oh, come on, Charlie, don't you remember what it's like to be young and in love? They're good kids, and my Nathaniel will take care of your daughter, you can be sure of that. Even Dr. Cullen is okay with letting his daughter go. You have to admit, this town can be a bit… stifling for young people."

For a moment, a spark of memory crossed Charlie's eyes, his posture relaxing slightly, as if for a second he saw himself in Edward and Nate's shoes.

Charlie let out a long sigh, dropping his gaze to the floor as he ran a hand through his hair in exhaustion.

"I don't like this…" he muttered before looking up at Bella with that mix of concerned father and suspicious cop in his frown. "But I know that if I say no, you'll be mad at me for days."

Bella forced a trembling smile, her stomach twisting, as Edward gently squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.

Charlie took a deep breath.

"Alright. You can go… but," he pointed a firm finger at Bella, "you're going to call me the moment you get there, and again when you're about to leave. I don't care if it's late, I want to know you're okay."

Bella nodded quickly, her eyes tearing up as she managed a nervous smile.

"Yes, Dad, I promise."

"And all of you—" he glanced at Edward, Alice, and Nate with a warning look, "—have to promise you'll bring her back by tomorrow night at the latest. Bella has school on Monday, and I don't want her to miss it."

"I promise, Mr. Swan," Edward said calmly.

"We promise," Alice added with a soft smile.

Nate nodded seriously.

"You can count on it, Charlie."

Charlie exhaled, his shoulders dropping as his gaze softened slightly while looking at Bella. Then he looked at Nate with resignation.

"I trust you, kid."

"Thank you, Charlie." Nate gave him a small smile before turning toward the stairs. "I'm going to run up and grab some clothes real quick. Won't be long."

Charlie sat back down, muttering a soft "kids…" under his breath while Nate's grandmother patted his shoulder with an amused smile.

Bella let out a breath of relief, her smile still trembling as Edward gently caressed her hand. Alice, standing beside Bella, glanced uncertainly toward Nate as he climbed the stairs, debating whether she should follow him or not.