Bella's old truck grumbled to a halt outside the small cabin, its engine ticking as it cooled. The girl in the driver seat killed the ignition and sat for a moment, her hands gripping the steering wheel, while the gentle winter breeze played with strands of her black hair that had escaped her ponytail. The oak trees whispered secrets above the place, their leaves rustling like an impatient audience waiting for the show to start.

"Okay, Kiara, just breathe," she muttered to herself, her voice a low rumble that matched the distant sound of the La Push beach waves.

She hadn't been this close to Paul since their blow-up. Kiara knew she was short-tempered, but so was he, and their argument had been explosive. For the sake of the pack and their weird, extended family of fur and fangs, they needed to smooth things over. She'd planned on running over, feeling like she hadn't stretched her legs in a while, but Jacob had asked her if he could bring the truck round to theirs as Bella had asked him to replace a few parts. No run for her.

Stepping out of the truck, she slammed the door a little harder than necessary and began pacing on the gravel driveway, each step crunching underfoot like she was grinding her anxiety into the earth. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this anxious to just speak to someone. With everything moving so quickly with Renesmee's birth, she hadn't really had much time to feel... anything.

"Kiara?"

The voice cut through her internal debate, and she spun around, her heart thumping against her ribs. There stood Paul, leaning against the doorframe, his posture rigid, arms crossed over his chest - a human barricade of muscle and unreadable expressions. He had on a pair of khaki shorts, a black t-shirt resting on his usually bare torso.

"Hey, Paul," she managed, her voice steady despite the sudden dryness of her throat.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he said, his tone guarded, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "What's up?"

"Can't I drop by an old friend's place without having an agenda?" she replied, trying to inject some of her natural sarcasm into the words. But the joke fell flat, landing between them with a thud.

Her attempt at light-heartedness couldn't mask the undercurrent of tension that rested between them. There was too much unspoken between them to brush her sudden appearance off, even if she had always been able to do so before. Paul's brow furrowed, his own anxiety almost palpable in the space that separated them.

"Kiara," he repeated, his voice softer now, a hint of the old warmth seeping through, "why are you really here?"

And for a moment, just a heartbeat, she wanted to turn tail and run back to the safety of that stupid, ugly truck and away from the vulnerability that eye contact with Paul always seemed to demand of her. He'd always been able to see right through her. Always.

Kiara shuffled her feet, scuffing the dirt with her worn converse as she sought for the nonchalance that always seemed to evade her at times like this.

"You know," she started, her voice steadier than she felt, "since the packs... look, we're all talking again. Figured you and I should probably do the same."

Paul's posture shifted ever so slightly, a subtle loosening of his shoulders that suggested his defences were coming down.

"Yeah," he said, nodding slowly. "I guess that makes sense."

She watched him, noting the way his eyes darted away for just a moment before meeting hers again. There was a vulnerability there that she hadn't seen in him since they were teenagers, sneaking out in the night to get drunk in his cabin before her father even realised she was gone. Long before their world had been upended by phases and imprints, before every emotion got magnified tenfold.

They might not hold that attraction to each other anymore, but there was something so deeply platonic in their veins that would never leave them. They both knew that. Sure, they had their imprints - and they were so grateful for them - but platonically... they'd always be tied together.

"Look, Paul," Kiara breathed out, crossing her arms not in defense but in an unconscious mimicry of his earlier stance. "I'm not saying it's going to be like before. But we gotta start somewhere, right?"

"Right," he agreed almost too quickly, his voice laced with a relief that Kiara picked up instantly. The slight quirk of his lips was a telltale sign he couldn't quite hide. It was a small thing, that almost-smile, but it spoke volumes.

Kiara could practically hear the unspoken words hanging between them - the apologies from Paul, the regrets from them both, and the 'what-ifs' from Kiara that had accumulated like fallen leaves at their feet. Something else too. Hope, maybe. Or the beginning of healing.

"You wanna sit?" he asked, voice low and rough like gravel tumbling in a stream. He gestured towards the small bench nestled against the weathered wood of his cabin with a kind of hesitant grace.

Kiara's lips curved into a gentle smile as she moved towards the offered seat. The nostalgia wrapped around her heart like a warm blanket as she perched on the edge, the worn wood familiar under her fingertips.

"Remember how we used to sit here last Summer, just... watching Jared and Sam make fools of themselves?" she chuckled, glancing sideways at Paul, her eyes twinkling with the memory. "All that time, and I had no clue about the whole shapeshifter thing."

"Ha, yeah," Paul's laugh was a soft exhalation, more air than sound, but it carried with it the remnants of happier times. "We didn't even have a clue you'd end up being one of us either, Kie. Let alone an alpha."

There was a flicker of pride in his gaze when he said 'alpha', as if despite everything, he couldn't help but admire her strength. A silence settled over them, his words lingering. It was broken only by the slight rustle of fabric as Kiara tugged absently at the sleeves of her sweatshirt, her fingers playing with the frayed edges.

"Aren't you too warm for that?" Paul's brow furrowed slightly, concern lining his features as he eyed the thick material of her sweatshirt. He looked down at his own t-shirt, noticing that she was also in thicker jeans too.

"I've been running a bit cool lately," she admitted, her voice carrying an undertone that suggested there was more to the story - more she wasn't ready to share just yet. He knew that would happen, that there would be things in her life that he lost the privilege to hearing about. He just hadn't expected it to sting as much as it did.

Kiara let her gaze wander over Paul's features as the silence stretched between them. His usual laidback persona seemed muted, his natural glow almost dimmed. A frown creased her brow as she noted the sag of his shoulders, the bags under his eyes, the slight hollow on his face...

"Paul," she began, her voice gentle yet probing, "are you doing okay? Really?"

She leaned forward, peering into his eyes. They were clouded, like the sky before a storm, hiding thunderous emotions within their depths. His gaze flickered away from her almost as if the eye contact had burned him, his head turning to look into the trees instead.

"What do you mean?" There was a faint tilt to his head, a question in his guarded expression.

It was then she caught it - the scent that lingered around him, not quite right, mixed with the salty tang of the ocean and the earthy musk of the forest. It was undercut by something else, an aroma of unrest that Kiara hadn't noticed until now. An aroma that she immediately knew, one that she knew all too well.

"You've been looking... well, kind of how I did when I first tried to shake off my... you know," she said, trailing off as the memory of her own turmoil surfaced. "When I was trying to reject my imprint."

His gaze skittered away, landing on a point somewhere beyond her shoulder. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his response. Kiara watched as the muscles in his jaw twitched ever so slightly, betraying the inner struggle he kept cloaked behind a facade of indifference.

Shit - she was right.

"Paul," Kiara pressed on, her voice soft but insistent, "you're punishing yourself, aren't you?" Her words hung in the air, delicate but laden with concern.

The silence that followed spoke volumes. He didn't have to confirm anything; the subtle shift in his posture, the way his hands clenched into fists then relaxed, conveyed the admission he wasn't ready to voice out loud.

Kiara reached out tentatively, her hand hovering just above his arm before making contact - a touch meant to ground, to remind him that despite everything, she was there for him. Her own action almost surprised her, but she pushed her amusement to the side.

"Look at me, Paul. I don't care if we're speaking or not," she said, her words slicing through the tension like a knife through butter. "You can't keep doing this to yourself."

"She won't see me, Kiara," he admitted, a note of defeat lacing his tone. A sigh slipped out from between Paul's lips as he finally met Kiara's gaze. "And maybe... maybe that's for the best. She deserves someone better... someone good."

"Stop it," Kiara said, her voice firm yet gentle. "Do you even hear yourself? You're one of the most loyal and passionate people I know. I've seen how you are with Rachel. I can't imagine her being in love with anyone else."

"How can you say that? I literally tried to kill you? How the fuck is that being loyal?"

Kiara didn't flinch at his words, instead shooting him a sad smile.

"You were loyal, Paul," she murmured, her voice a little tighter now. "Just not to me."

Paul's shoulders slumped, his defences crumbling under the weight of Kiara's sincerity. He knew what she was getting at, and it was true. He'd chosen a side, and he had planned on seeing it all the way through - no matter what it had cost. He knew he was wrong now, but that didn't change that.

He leaned back, his gaze drifting off to a point somewhere in the distance. The sun was dipping lower in the sky, painting long shadows across his face, giving him an almost ethereal glow. It was as if he were gathering the strength from the last rays of daylight for what he had to say next.

"Kiara," he began, his voice thick with unspoken apologies, "I regret it, you know? Not going with you when you left Sam's pack. I was so caught up in my own anger and loyalty... thinking I was protecting something sacred." He shook his head, staring at his hands clasped between his knees. "I didn't see it until Jacob imprinted on Renesmee. Then... everything clicked."

She watched him, her dark eyes reflecting the fading light, a soft breeze ruffling her black hair. There was no judgment in her posture. She just wanted to hear where this was going.

"Paul, I didn't get it then," Kiara admitted, her voice steady, even as she picked at a loose thread on her sweatshirt once more, a newer nervous habit she couldn't quite shake. "But I do now. It's going to take some time to forgive you for how far you went, you know the whole 'trying to kill me' thing... but I can see where you were coming from."

It was clear that her words had reached him, piercing through the thick veil of self-doubt that had clouded his judgment.

"See, if anything threatened Rose..." She trailed off, a fierce protectiveness flaring in her eyes, a glimmer of the alpha within. "I don't want to think about what I'd do."

They fell back into a comfortable silence, Kiara crossing her ankles as the breeze turned colder with the sun having started to fade.

"Are you gonna take over Sam's pack?" Paul asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them like a blanket of snow. She shook her head, a loose strand of black hair falling across her eyes.

"No," she replied, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. "I wanted to talk to you first, before telling the rest. I don't want the alpha title. And... I'll be leaving Forks eventually with the Cullens. Sam's done well for years. I'm content with my own little crew."

Paul remained silent, his gaze fixed on a point somewhere over Kiara's shoulder. Then, as if pulled by an invisible string, his eyes met hers once more.

"Would you... would you take me?" His voice wavered, betraying the vulnerability he so rarely showed.

Kiara's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. She knew what he meant. She just needed to hear it.

"Can I join your pack? Leave Sam's?"

There it was. For a moment, Kiara was speechless. Thoughts raced through her mind, too quick to catch.

"Paul, you don't have to make this decision for my forgiveness." Her voice was firm, but not unkind. She needed him to understand that her forgiveness couldn't be bartered or won - it had to be earned and felt.

"It's not about forgiveness, Kiara. I miss my best friend."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, a glimpse of the boy who used to be her closest confidant. His brown eyes held a sincerity that resonated deep within her, almost like things had never changed between them.

"If you can't forgive me, that's something I'll live with. But I just want to be there for you."

Kiara leaned back, the old wooden bench beneath them groaning in protest as she stretched out her legs. The sun had finally dipped below the horizon, leaving a watercolor sky of purples and blues that seemed to reflect the vibe of La Push.

"Paul," she began, her voice tinged with a weariness that belied the day's emotional toll, "you should sleep on it." She watched him closely, the way his jaw clenched slightly, a telltale sign of his internal struggle.

Paul's eyes flickered toward her, a storm of thoughts behind his guarded gaze. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the truth in her words without surrendering to them completely.

"Come with me to Sam's?" Kiara offered, her tone lighter now, an olive branch extended in the cooling twilight. "I've got to let everyone know my decision... that I'm not taking over and reshaping La Push into some sort of shapeshifting wolf empire."

A huff of laughter escaped Paul's lips, the sound rough but genuine.

"Mega pack, huh?" he mused. "Sounds like something straight out of a comic book."

"Exactly," she replied with a soft chuckle, pushing off from the bench and standing up. "And I'm no superheroine."

Paul wasn't so sure he agreed with that. She certainly wasn't like the rest of them - she was like a diamond in a coal mine.

The gravel crunched beneath their feet as they walked back towards Bella's truck, a small grimace in his lips as he looked at the beat-up junk. He'd never understood Bella's obsession with the thing, and he'd kind of figured that the Cullen's would have bought her a replacement by now. He didn't really care too much - he was just glad that Kiara had decided to come get him.

As Paul opened the passenger door and slid into the seat beside her, the corner of his mouth twitched upward, trying and failing to suppress the smile that was threatening to break free. It was a small victory, and Kiara caught the brief glint of happiness in his eyes before he could hide it away.

For the first time in a long time, they both allowed themselves to just breathe—to exist in this fleeting moment of peace. And for Paul, that unspoken truce, that single conversation free of conflict, was a spark of hope in the quiet night.

_____

Laughter bubbled up from Kiara's chest as she playfully pressed her lips to Rosalie's. The sound of Emmett's exaggerated groan echoed in the grand foyer of the Cullen household, blending with the rustling of autumn leaves outside like a familiar melody.

"Get a room," Emmett teased, his voice wrapped in mock disgust but softened by the undercurrent of familial warmth.

"Jealous, Em?" Kiara shot back, her eyes dancing with mirth. "It's hard being this loveable."

Rosalie broke into a rare smile reserved only for such moments with Kiara. Emmett, however, scowled and huffed as Beverly giggled, simply rolling her eyes at their back and forth banter.

"Be safe," Kiara whispered to Rosalie, as the group of Cullens prepared to slip away into the thick embrace of the forest for their hunt. They had nothing to really worry about - the packs were untied, and no known threats were hiding in the trees.

"Always am," Rosalie replied, her voice low and reassuring, before turning to join her family. With a final wave, the vampires dispersed, leaving behind nothing but the echo of their departure.

As the door closed with an elegant click, silence fell over the house like a soft blanket. Kiara turned to face Carlisle, her expression morphing seamlessly from lighthearted to solemn.

"Kiara?" he prompted gently, encouraging her to speak.

Esme, the only other vampire that had chosen to stay behind, hovered close by. Her keen senses picked up on the tension that now threaded through the air, causing her lips to form a tight line as she noticed the way her (hopefully) future daughter-in-law was looking at her husband.

"Is everything alright, Kiara?" Esme asked, her voice laced with worry.

Kiara shuffled her feet, the heavy silence wrapping around her like a shawl. She glanced between them both, biting down on her lower lip - a silent preamble to the storm of words brewing within her. Her fingers nervously fiddled with the small necklace around her neck, the one Alice had given her before Edward and Bella's wedding.

"Carlisle," she began, her voice an odd mixture of hesitation and directness. "You think you could break out your doctor's bag for some old-school testing?"

The confusion was almost comical on the refined features of the vampire before her. Carlisle's head canted to the side, his brows knitting together in a display of concern that would've been amusing if Kiara's nerves weren't tap-dancing on a high wire.

"Testing?" he echoed, his tone laced with both curiosity and worry. "What kind of changes are we talking about here, Kiara?"

"Just some things... I've noticed lately. Nothing major, I swear. But I figure better safe than sorry, right?"

Esme stepped forward then, her hand finding its way to Kiara's shoulder, a touch as light as a feather yet heavy with empathy.

"Have you spoken to Rosalie about this?" Esme inquired, her voice soft as silk but firm with the undercurrent of matriarchal authority.

"Nah, no point stirring the pot unless there's something actually cooking, you know?" Kiara said, giving a dismissive shake of her head, a flicker of her trademark stubbornness shining through.

They began to move, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors as they headed towards Carlisle's office, as Esme continued to try and figure out what was going on.

"Edward won't be out of the loop for long," Esme added, a note of caution threading her words. "He'll catch wind of this conversation as soon as he's back."

"Let him," Kiara countered with a sly grin, her confidence swelling. "He owes me big time since I played superhero with his daughter. Besides, a little mystery never hurt anyone."

The trio entered Carlisle's office, the space brimming with books and instruments, a testament to his centuries-spanning pursuit of knowledge. Kiara kind of hated this room now - it was a reminder of the chaotic moments in her life that constantly brought her back in here.

"Alright," Carlisle said, rolling up his sleeves metaphorically as much as physically. "Let's see what's going on with our resident shapeshifter."

His voice carried a lightness to it, but beneath it was the unyielding concern that he couldn't hide. Kiara hopped onto the examination chair with more grace than she felt, the leather squeaking under her. Shaking her head, she focused back on Carlisle.

Kiara swung her legs back and forth like a pendulum, the motion almost in rhythm with the ticking clock on Carlisle's wall. She hadn't intended to turn this into a science experiment, but here she was.

"Okay, so it's like... my body's personal thermostat is out of whack," Kiara began, her voice steady despite the oddity of the situation. "I've noticed when I don't eat or drink much, by nightfall I'm practically chilly."

Carlisle stood before her, his face etched with thoughtfulness as he mulled over her symptoms. He absentmindedly tapped a finger against his chin, a habit that seemed to bypass his vampiric stillness.

"A fluctuation like that would certainly be cause for alarm in a human," he mused, his tone light as if discussing an intriguing puzzle rather than a medical anomaly. "But you, Kiara, your healing abilities are... exceptional. They're likely compensating. It might not be a cause for concern at this point..."

He noticed her pointed gaze and cleared his throat.

"...but of course, I'll run some tests."

Esme hovered nearby, her presence nurturing as ever. The lines of worry that had briefly taken residence on her features eased at Carlisle's analysis.

"Are you in any pain?" Esme asked Kiara, noticing how she was finding it hard to just sit still.

"Nope, nada," Kiara replied with a quick shake of her head. "Honestly, I feel pretty good. It's like everything's been dialed up a notch. My eyesight's insane in wolf form... like, high-definition insane. And my hearing? Let's just say I could probably eavesdrop on a flea's heartbeat at the moment. It comes and goes."

"Interesting," Carlisle said, his fascination clear as daylight. "It seems you may be experiencing enhancements across the board."

"What, like Mario Kart power-up mode?" Kiara quipped, the corner of her mouth lifting in a half-smirk. Her sarcasm was a shield, a deflection from the uncertainty gnawing at her. Carlisle and Esme very clearly had no idea what she even meant, but they smiled at her anyway.

It was these moments, nestled within the bizarre tapestry of their lives, that made her grateful for this strange, makeshift family. With the deftness of someone who had done it thousands of times, Carlisle drew a sample of her blood, his hands steady and sure.

"Let's take a look at what's going on under the hood, shall we?" Carlisle suggested, half to himself, as he deposited the sample onto a glass slide. Kiara watched him, curiosity piqued, as he slid the specimen under the microscope and peered into the eyepiece. Esme stood close by, her expression a blend of maternal concern and intrigue.

Carlisle's eyebrows rose, and a quiet chuckle escaped him, releasing a sound not quite fitting the situation, but it was so inherently Carlisle that it didn't stir worry. Kiara craned her neck, trying to see what about her now could possibly amuse a vampire of his age and wisdom.

"Something funny?" Kiara prompted, the corner of her lips twitching despite the unease that tickled her spine.

"Quite the opposite," he answered without looking up. "It's fascinating." He straightened then, gesturing for Kiara to come over. "You have a unique physiology, Kiara. Even by our standards."

"Your blood cells," Carlisle began, his voice laced with an academic enthusiasm that could make even the driest subject matter seem compelling, "the venom cells from our kind—they were latched onto yours, coexisting. But now..."

"They've merged?" Esme guessed, her voice soft but certain.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Kiara sighed, leaning back in the chair and groaning. She was truly fed up of this. Why couldn't she just have a single moment without something utterly stupid and bizarre happening to her? It was like some force from above was tying with her life, throwing in plot twists for no apparent reason.

"Indeed." Carlisle nodded, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "They've become something new. A hybrid of sorts. It's as if they've... evolved."

"Evolved?" The word echoed in Kiara's head. Evolved into what? Images of monstrous creatures from myth and legend flitted through her thoughts, none of them comforting. Her wolfish pride balked at the idea of being anything other than purely, simply that.

"Your body has adapted, creating a symbiosis I've never seen before. You're still very much Kiara, yet enhanced."

"Am I going to grow fangs or sparkle in sunlight next?" she said, though there was no humour in her tone. Carlisle bit back a smile, knowing that she was probably already picturing herself on display like a mirrorball.

"Unlikely," Carlisle assured her, a smile touching his lips. "But rest assured, we'll monitor this closely."

"Great," Kiara sighed, the sarcasm back in full force. "Always wanted to be a science experiment."

Kiara shifted uncomfortably in the medical examination chair, her foot tapping an erratic rhythm against the sterile floor. The idea of harboring vampire attributes made her insides squirm; it was as if her very DNA was betraying her lupine heritage. She could almost hear the collective growls of her ancestors echoing through time, their disapproval resonating with her own.

"Can we... just keep this between us?" Kiara asked, her gaze flitting from Esme's compassionate eyes to Carlisle's analytical ones. "I mean, until we really get what's happening here."

"Of course, Kiara," Esme said softly, squeezing her shoulder before stepping back. "Your privacy is paramount, and we respect that."

The vibrant peals of Bella's human laughter intertwined with Jacob's deeper, more resonant chuckles drifted up through the floorboards, pulling Kiara back to the present.

"Speaking of handling things..."

With that, Kiara turned on her heel and strode toward the staircase, the sound of her loved ones' joy acting as a siren call.

Carlisle's smile fell as she left the room.

____

Bella's laughter tinkled like wind chimes as she watched Renesmee extend her small, mittened hand towards the sky, trying to catch the unique snowflakes that meandered down from the grey canopy above. Each crystal of ice vanished upon touching her warm skin, leaving behind only a droplet of water and a delighted giggle.

Not far from them, Jacob's hulking wolf form pounced playfully around the girl, his thick fur ruffling with each movement, impervious to the chilly embrace of the snow. Kiara rolled her eyes, knowing fine well the other pack brothers would tell him he was degrading their image.

"Can you believe this?" Bella said, her thick coat a stark contrast to Kiara, who stood beside her in just a sweater and jeans, her breath visible in the frosty air but her demeanor unbothered by the cold. "Finally, some peace... and we get to enjoy it with a bit of winter magic."

Kiara's lips curled into a smirk, her eyes gleaming with the same mischievous spark that often danced in Jacob's.

"I know, right? It's been non-stop chaos. I can't remember the last time we just hung out, without the world ending or something."

"Girl talk has been on short supply," Bella agreed, pulling her coat tighter around her as if to emphasise the normalcy they had both craved for so long. She didn't really feel the cold, but it was a human habit she'd seemingly kept up.

"Definitely overdue," Kiara nodded, her gaze following the playful antics of her brother and niece. She then glanced back at Bella, her expression softening. "But hey, look at us now—catching up in the middle of an enchanted forest. Pretty perfect, huh?"

"More than," Bella said, the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile that reached her eyes.

They shared a moment of comfortable silence, each woman lost briefly in their thoughts before Bella broke the quietude.

"Honestly," she smirked at Bella, "I blame you and Edward for kick-starting this whole insanity epidemic. You two getting... busy set off some cosmic alarm."

Bella's laughter rang out, clear and unguarded.

"Well, if that's the case, I'm not sorry. Not one bit," she said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Especially now that we're both... well, you know."

"Vampires?" Kiara teased, arching an eyebrow. "Immortal? Unbreakable..."

"Exactly," Bella nodded with a wicked grin. "It's different, intense... more than I ever imagined." Her cheeks might have flushed if they still could. She glanced over to where Renesmee and Jacob were lost in their own world of snowflakes and giggles and barks - a picture of innocence amidst the talk of passion that the two girls were having.

"Can't say I'm surprised," Kiara replied with a knowing smile. "Immortal bodies, all that strength? Sounds like a recipe for mind-blowing -"

"Okay," Bella cut in, laughing, "your turn. Spill about you and Rosalie."

"Ah," Kiara sighed, her smile softening as she gazed into the distance, likely picturing her fierce, blonde lover. "Our first time was on your wedding night. Believe me, it was... more incredible than any dream... We didn't have much time after that - with the whole Nessie stuff - it was a lot, but things have been... really great since then. Euphoric, even."

Jacob's massive wolf form, a russet blur against the snow-draped forest, abruptly ceased its playful frolicking with Renesmee. Instead, he cast a pointed glare across the clearing towards Bella and Kiara. His large, expressive eyes said more than words ever could: enough about his sister's romantic escapades.

"Oops," Kiara murmured under her breath, a smirk playing on her lips as she caught Jacob's not-so-subtle hint. "Looks like we're scandalising the wildlife."

"Guess we should change the subject," Bella agreed, her voice laced with amusement as she wrapped her coat tighter around her. She glanced at the mark on Kiara's collar, where Rosalie's love had left an indelible impression. "How's the bite, by the way? Still bothering you?"

Kiara reached up instinctively, her fingers brushing over the now-familiar scar. The sensation was odd - like a constant reminder of something simmering just beneath the surface, dangerous yet thrilling. Her conversation with Carlisle from earlier that day rang in her head, a shiver almost travelling down her body.

"It's weird, you know? To have venom in me but not... change." She shrugged, attempting nonchalance. "But I'm getting used to it."

Bella studied Kiara's face, searching for any signs of discomfort or regret. She wasn't sure Kiara was being fully truthful with her, but she knew better than to probe.

"Good to hear you're managing it," Bella said, nodding, reassured by her friend's apparent ease.

"Managing is my middle name," Kiara quipped with a grin, her gaze briefly flickering to the spot where Renesmee was jumping in the air - higher than any human child would have been able to do so.

"Hey, look at that," Kiara suddenly said, her head tilted to one side like an inquisitive pup. She pointed toward a cluster of frosted pine trees in the distance where flakes drifted lazily down. "I guess we're not the only ones enjoying the snow."

Bella followed Kiara's gaze and squinted, finding the outline of a figure partially obscured by a veil of white snow. A sense of familiarity nudged at her, instant recognition crossing her face as she looked at the woman.

"Irina?" she called out tentatively, her voice cutting through the silence.

The figure stiffened, a deer caught in the headlights of recognition, then turned and fled with a swiftness that spoke of more than mere surprise - a flight edged with fear or perhaps guilt. Irina's retreating form was soon swallowed by the thickening screen of trees, leaving behind nothing but a fleeting sense of unease.

"Well... that was fucking weird," Kiara said, Renesmee shouting out that she needed to put money in the swear jar. Kiara glared at her, rolling her eyes. For a kid with immortal parents and a never-ending bank account, she really did like to fleece her and Emmett for money at every chance.

"Always the elusive one," Bella murmured, frowning slightly. "Or maybe she's still not over that thing with Laurent."

As Bella watched her daughter and her best friend's brother, a surge of contentment filled her. It felt like a pause in time, a breath drawn in deep to savour the peace they'd fought so hard to find.

"Things are really looking up, aren't they?" Kiara mused aloud, her voice soft, almost wistful. Bella nodded, her heart echoing the sentiment.

"Definitely," Bella replied.

Even as the words left her lips, Kiara couldn't shake the feeling that this quiet interlude was just the calm before another storm. She just hoped she was incredibly wrong.

____

"I have to report a crime. The Cullens... they've done something terrible... twice."

//.//

Hey!! Do you guys think my dialogue sounds natural?

I've been trying to make it less rigid and more normal but not sure if I'm there yet lol. It's crazy how much my writing has grown since I started this book!!! I used to struggle to write 2000 words a chapter and now I'm writing 5000 word chapters with ease. Crazy!

Here's a little of teaser of what's to come:
- Alice will be smashing a favourite vase in the next chapter...
- Kiara finally gets to spend some time with Bree...
- Some rather interesting changes in the pack dynamics...