*Addi's POV*

After a long day of homeschooling with Esme, I finally closed my math textbook, feeling a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "Why is math so hard?" I complained, with a playful pout, while I tossed my pencil on my notebook. "I mean, who decided that letters should be in math anyway? It's like they want to confuse us on purpose!" I added. I heard Esme chuckle, softly, at my complaints. "I know it can be tricky, but just think of it as a puzzle. Once you find the right pieces, it all starts to make sense." She said. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "A puzzle? More like a jigsaw with half the pieces missing! I think I'd have better luck training a cat to do math than figuring out these equations." I stated.

After our lighthearted banter, I excused myself and headed upstairs to my bedroom. I felt the familiar comfort of my space beckoning me, but just as I reached the top of the stairs, a spark of curiosity ignited within me. Instead of heading straight to my room, I decided to explore the house a little more.

As I wandered down the hallway, my gaze drifted over to the portraits lining the walls, each one capturing a moment in the Cullen family's unique history. I stopped to admire the faces, wondering what stories they held. Moving further along, I discovered various artifacts that seemed to whisper tales of the past.

But it was when I spotted the graduation cap display that I couldn't help but chuckle. The caps were neatly arranged, each one a testament to a milestone the family had achieved. I recalled the lighthearted family joke about how many times each member had graduated, and a smile spread across my face. "Looks like you all just can't get enough of school." I whispered to myself, with a smile creeping across my face. The light-hearted family joke made me feel even more at home, and I appreciated the warmth that enveloped me as I wandered through their shared history.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I could barely hear a voice coming from the corner of the hallway—it was Carlisle, and I realized he must be in his office. Curiosity piqued as I quietly approached his door, straining to catch more of the conversation.

"I promise. She's doing excellent," Carlisle said, his tone calm and reassuring. I furrowed my brow. Who was he talking to? Just as I was about to knock, Carlisle glanced up and spotted me at the door. A hint of surprise crossed his face, and he held up a finger to signal to the person on the other end of the call. "I'll call you back." He said before ending the call.

"Addi!" He greeted, warmly, with a smile spreading across his face. "What can I do for you?" "Oh, I was just exploring the house and happened to come across your office." I replied, a little sheepish but still excited. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important." I added. Carlisle shook his head, with his expression gentle. "Not at all. I was just in the middle of a call, but it's always nice to see you. Is there something specific you were hoping to find?" He asked. I shrugged, looking around the room filled with bookshelves and various artifacts. "I just wanted to see more of the house. It's so interesting." I answered. "Feel free to look around." He encouraged, stepping aside to let me enter. "This office is filled with stories, just like the rest of the house." He added.

I, then, stepped into Carlisle's office, eager to uncover more about the family I was getting to know. I was immediately captivated by the array of paintings lining the walls—each one a beautiful depiction of nature, life, and moments frozen in time. My eyes then drifted to the expansive bookshelf, packed with medical texts that spanned from present-day practices to those from the 20th century and even earlier. It was a treasure trove of knowledge and I felt a surge of curiosity.

"Wow. You have so many books." I exclaimed, running my fingers along the spines. "What made you want to become a doctor, especially being...well, you know, a vampire?" I asked. Carlisle turned to me, with a thoughtful expression. "It was never about what I am; it's about what I wanted to do. I've always had a deep desire to help others and I wanted to find a way to do that while maintaining control over my instincts." He answered. My gaze met his, with admiration blooming within me. "That's really impressive, Carlisle. It must take so much self-control to resist the urge to feed on human blood." "It does. I guess you can say it took years of practice." He replied.

"But it's worth it. I feel fulfilled knowing that I can make a difference in people's lives without harming them." "You really do make a difference." I said, earnestly. "Especially for me. You and your family took me in when I had nowhere else to go and I can't thank you enough for that." I told him. Carlisle smiled, a warmth radiating from him. "I'm glad to hear that, Addi. It's a privilege to help you and to have you as part of our family." He said. Feeling a swell of gratitude, I continued to explore the office, with my heart full of appreciation for the man who had chosen compassion over instinct. I knew I was in good hands, and that thought brought me a sense of peace.

"If you don't mind me asking, Addi, was your father always like what he is today?" I heard Carlisle ask me. I hesitated, feeling the weight of the question settle heavily on my heart. "No." I admitted, softly. "He was never like that before my mom got sick. He was always happy, supportive, protective, and there for us. He was the kind of dad who made us laugh and took us on adventures." I explained. But my gaze dropped to the floor as the memories were flooding back. "But once my mom died, it was like something inside him snapped. It was as if...something possessed him and turned him into the person he is now. He became a shell of who he used to be." I said.

Carlisle listened intently, with his expression filled with empathy. "That sounds incredibly difficult, Addi. Losing a loved one can change people in profound ways, and it's not always easy to understand how or why." "Yeah." I continued, with my voice sounding shaky. "It's like he lost all hope and just...gave up. I tried to reach him, to bring back the dad I knew, but he was already too far gone. It's hard to see someone you love turn into someone you don't recognize." I told him.

"I can't imagine how painful that must be." Carlisle said, gently. "It was. I mean, I had to grow up fast because of everything I went through. I had to take care of myself and I had missed out on so many opportunities that most teenagers get to experience when they're getting close to adulthood. It's like I skipped right over a big part of my life." I said. Carlisle nodded sympathetically, his eyes filled with understanding. "That's a heavy burden to carry. What do you see for yourself in the future?" He asked.

I paused, considering his question. "Honestly, I never really thought about it much." I admitted, a hint of uncertainty creeping into my voice. "But I do hope that one day I'll meet that special someone. I want to have someone who cares for me, loves me for who I am, get married, and eventually start a family of my own." I responded, with a small smile on my face. Carlisle smiled softly, sensing the warmth in my words. "That sounds beautiful, Addi. I...I know that moment will approach one day when the time is right." He reassured me. I looked up at Carlisle, smiling and my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Carlisle. I really appreciate that. It's nice to talk about these things. It makes me feel hopeful." I responded.

Then, my gaze was, suddenly, drawn to a captivating painting on the wall and I felt compelled to approach it. With Carlisle by my side, I examined the artwork that depicted a scene with Carlisle in it, surrounded by three figures standing tall and imposing, with their expressions being a blend of wisdom and menace.

"Wow, this is fascinating!" I commented, studying the details of the artwork, chuckling a bit as I looked at Carlisle in the painting. "You still look exactly the same now as you do in this painting hundreds of years ago. That's incredible." I mentioned. Carlisle chuckled, with a hint of humility in his voice. "I appreciate that, Addi. I suppose time has a different effect on me than it does on most people." He said.

I leaned in closer to the painting when my blue eyes were drawn to the three beings in the center. "Who are these three?" I asked, pointing to the figures with raven hair, dark brown hair, and blonde hair. "Those are the Volturi Kings." Carlisle answered, as his tone seemed to shift slightly to denote the weight of the topic. "Aro, Marcus, and Caius. They're powerful vampires who oversee our kind and enforce the laws of our world." He explained.

I frowned slightly, intrigued but wary. "Who are the Volturi and what do they do exactly?" I questioned. Carlisle took a moment before answering, while choosing his words carefully, "The Volturi are essentially the ruling coven of vampires. They ensure that our existence remains a secret from humans and maintain order within the vampire community. They can be quite formidable and they don't take kindly to those who break their laws."

My eyes grew wide, with a blend of intrigue and worry evident on my face. "So, they're essentially like the vampire law enforcement?" "In a way, yes." Carlisle replied, with a hint of seriousness in his voice. "But their methods can be harsh. It's important to tread carefully around them." He added. I nodded, slowly, as I felt a chill at the thought. "That sounds intense. I guess it's good to know there are some rules in place, but it must be scary to cross them." I said. "It can be." Carlisle acknowledged, as his gaze was lingering on the painting. "But remember, not all vampires are like the Volturi. There are many who value kindness, compassion, and the well-being of others. You've already seen that in our family." He mentioned.

As I continued to stare at the painting, my focus locked onto the figures of Aro, Marcus, and Caius. I felt an inexplicable tugging sensation in my heart, one that grew stronger with each passing second. Suddenly, the feeling became overwhelming and I immediately exclaimed in pain, while I was clutching my chest.

"Addi!" Carlisle's voice was filled with concern as he quickly moved to my side. Without hesitation, he guided me to a nearby chair, urging me to sit down. "What's happening? Are you alright?" He asked, as he knelt down beside me. The pain subsided almost as quickly as it had arrived, leaving me bewildered. I took a moment to breathe, trying to gather my thoughts. "I don't understand." I answered, feeling shaky. "I was just focusing on the Volturi Kings on the painting, and then...I felt this tugging feeling in my heart. It hurt and, then, it was gone." I said.

Carlisle looked at me, with his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Tugging feeling?" He questioned. I nodded in response as I was still in the process of just happened. "It was weird. I've never felt anything like that before. It was almost like something was trying to pull me in." I replied, while I noticed Carlisle was examining me closely to make sure that I was doing fine.

"Maybe it was just stress from working too much or school." I suggested, trying to rationalize the strange sensation. "That's certainly possible." Carlisle replied, adopting a reassuring tone. "Life can be overwhelming at times, especially for someone as ambitious as you." He added, and, then, he reached for his stethoscope. "Let's just check your heart, shall we?" He said, and placed the cold end of the stethoscope against my chest, listening intently as he focused on the steady rhythm of my heartbeat.

After a moment, he smiled, pulling back the stethoscope. "Everything is perfectly fine, Addi. You have a very healthy heart." He confirmed. Relief washed over me as I smiled back. "Thanks, Carlisle. I guess I just need to take a breather now and then." I said. "You're doing a lot, and it's important to take care of yourself." He reminded me, gently. "If you ever need to talk or just want some time to relax, don't hesitate to reach out." He recommended. I nodded, in response, feeling comforted by his presence. "I will. I really appreciate everything you do for me. I'm gonna head back downstairs." I said, as I exited out of his office and headed down the stairs.

*Third Person's POV*

Deep down, Carlisle knew what that tugging feeling was—an early sign of the mating bond forming between Addi and the Volturi Kings. It was a revelation that carried heavy implications and he hesitated to share it with her, knowing it could create unnecessary worry. He couldn't shake the feeling that the bond she felt was significant, but for now, he chose to keep that knowledge to himself, allowing her the space to process her emotions without the added weight of what lay beneath the surface.