Chapter 76

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The drive to the Port Angeles airport passed in silence.

When they arrived at the airport, there were no unnecessary words. They walked quickly, backpacks slung over their shoulders, buying tickets with cash Edward had on him, careful not to draw attention. The flight was scheduled to depart in less than half an hour, which felt like seconds to the group.

Now, on the plane headed to Phoenix, the cabin was dimly lit, the steady hum of the engine filling the space with a soft murmur that slipped between breaths. Edward and Bella sat a few rows ahead, she dozing off with her head on his shoulder while he kept his gaze forward, watchful even in this seemingly calm moment.

Nate was seated next to Alice by the window. His hands rested on his knees, tense, while his eyes were lost in the darkness of the wing illuminated by the navigation lights.

For a moment, Alice watched him, her legs crossed, hands resting on her lap. Her golden eyes moved carefully, reading every micro-expression on Nate's face, every line of worry marking his brow.

"You're still somewhere else in your head," she commented softly, using that light tone she employed to keep her words from sounding like a reproach.

Nate blinked, pulling himself out of his thoughts, turning to her with a small, tired smile.

"I know," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "I'm just… running through every scenario that could go wrong."

Alice tilted her head slightly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

"You know," she said, looking him directly in the eyes, "even if I'd rather you didn't put yourself in danger, I admire what you're doing."

Nate raised an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity in his gaze.

"Admire what? That I'm throwing myself into impossible trouble?"

Alice let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

"No. The way you manage to stay calm… how you got people centuries older than you to follow your plan, how you make it all seem… under control," she said honestly. "Not everyone can do that, Nate."

He was quiet for a moment before smiling, a warm glint in his eyes.

"My dad used to say the best way to face a problem was to keep a cool head, even if you were shaking inside," he said, his tone a mix of nostalgia and a faint, almost hidden sadness.

Alice stayed quiet, smiling softly as she toyed with the edge of her sweater sleeve.

"He must have been a wise man," she said sincerely.

"He was," Nate replied, looking into the distance for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "I wish you could have met them… him and my mom."

Alice shifted a bit in her seat, lowering her gaze before looking up again with a small, curious smile.

"And how would you have introduced me to them?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes, as if trying to lighten the heavy air between them.

Nate blinked, surprised, before letting out a short, genuine laugh that made a couple of passengers turn curiously.

"Are you seriously asking me that right now?" he said, shaking his head in disbelief, though the smile on his face softened the hardness in his features.

"It's just curiosity, and I think it's healthy for you to stop torturing yourself for five minutes," Alice shot back, leaning in slightly toward him.

Nate breathed out, his smile turning softer, carrying a warmth he didn't try to hide.

"Probably… my mom would have sat you at the table and wouldn't let you leave without feeding you everything she could find. She was calm but sweet, a lot like Esme," he said, a warm light in his eyes. "My dad… he would have tried to act uninterested, but he'd be watching you like a hawk, trying to figure out your intentions… and in the end, he'd relax and crack a bad joke to break the ice."

Alice smiled, looking down for a moment, almost as if she could picture it.

"I would have liked to meet them," she murmured honestly.

"And they would have liked to meet you," Nate replied with a calm smile.

For a moment, they sat in silence, sharing that small refuge within the hum of the plane, as if time itself had paused.

Then Alice gently placed her hand over Nate's, giving it a careful squeeze.

"Thank you for looking out for us, even when you don't have to," she said, a smile lighting up her golden eyes.

Nate looked at her hand over his and laced their fingers together, squeezing gently.

"I'll do my best not to lose anyone else," he murmured, almost to himself.

Alice watched him silently, her smile tinged with a quiet sadness as the plane continued its course.

Several minutes passed without words, Nate staring ahead, his eyes blinking slowly as exhaustion finally began to catch up with him.

Alice felt the grip of his hand loosen little by little and looked at him tenderly as his eyes closed, his breathing evened out and his head tilted slightly back, finally falling asleep.

Carefully, Alice adjusted her jacket to serve as a pillow for Nate's head, letting him rest as the night continued on toward Phoenix.

"I hope you can rest, Nate," she whispered softly, closing her eyes as she leaned her head on his shoulder, allowing herself, if only for a few hours, to imagine a world where she could fall asleep like this.

A world without the threat of a hunter waiting at dawn.