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𝔼ℝ𝕀𝔸ℕ'𝕊 leg bounced nervously as he sat in the waiting room, the quiet hum of the hospital filling the air around him. His thoughts spiralled endlessly—Rain was gone, and no one had any idea where she was. The pack had taken shifts to guard Donna while she recovered, but Erian's mind was consumed by worry for Rain. Was she okay? Where had she gone?

The sound of the waiting room door slamming open shattered the tense silence, making him and the others jolt. The Cullen clan stood in the doorway, their expressions a mixture of urgency and frustration.

"Where is she? Where's Rain?" Alice demanded, her voice sharp as her eyes darted around the room. Paul and Jared were on their feet in an instant, stepping protectively in front of Erian. Paul's lip curled in a sneer. "Why are you here, bloodsucker?" he growled, his voice filled with barely restrained anger.

Alice didn't even glance at him, her focus solely on Erian. "Rain. She killed the fishermen tonight," she said, her words heavy with meaning.

Erian didn't flinch, didn't even blink. He simply stared at Alice with a blank expression, his nerves settling into a cold calm. It didn't surprise him—he knew Rain was capable of anything when she was pushed too far.

Alice, frustrated by his lack of response, grabbed the TV remote and turned it on. The screen flickered to life, showing a news report. The headline read: Mysterious Deaths at Sea – Authorities Investigate Incident at Local Fishing Grounds.

The footage cut to a shot of the dock, surrounded by flashing police lights and officers combing through evidence. The body of a man was being carried away, his face blurred, but the report detailed the gruesome injuries—a broken neck, signs of struggle, and a chilling mystery about how it happened.

Erian's eyes moved to the TV, his expression unreadable. He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, but he gave away no reaction. "Are you not going to say anything?" Alice pressed, her frustration bubbling over. Before Erian could respond, a voice cut through the tension. "Bella, why do you feel guilty?" Jasper's words were quiet, almost tender, but they sliced through the air like a knife. All eyes turned to Bella, who was clinging tightly to Edward's arm. Her face was pale, her lips trembling as she avoided everyone's gaze.

Erian's head snapped to her, his intense gaze locking onto Bella with unyielding scrutiny. Slowly, he stood, his broad frame towering over the others in the room.

"Bella," he said, his voice low and steady, though it carried an edge that made everyone uneasy. "Why would you feel guilty?"

Bella's fingers tightened around Edward's arm as she took a step back, trying to put distance between herself and Erian's piercing stare. Edward shifted to block her slightly, but Erian's gaze remained fixed on her, unrelenting.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," Bella stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Erian's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Don't lie to me, Bella," he said, his voice cold now, the calm before a storm. "You know something. Start talking."

"Erian, don't," Edward interjected, his tone warning.

"Stay out of this," Erian snapped, his eyes never leaving Bella. "If she knows something about what happened to Rain, I'm going to find out."

Bella's breathing quickened, her face crumpling as tears welled in her eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she choked out, her voice breaking. Erian took a step closer, his tone sharp. "What didn't you mean to happen? What did you do, Bella?"

"I—I didn't know the fishermen were going to—" Bella stopped herself, her words catching in her throat as she realized what she had just admitted. Erian's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. "You knew," he said, his voice low and filled with anger. "You knew they were after her, and you didn't stop them. You told where they were!"

"I thought they were just telling stories!" Bella cried, the tears streaming down her face now. "I didn't think they'd actually hurt anyone!"

"That's not good enough!" Erian roared, his voice echoing through the room. "Because of you, Rain lost control and killed those men! Because of you, my mate—" He stopped himself, his voice faltering as the weight of his emotions hit him.

The room was thick with tension, the silence oppressive as Bella sobbed quietly into Edward's chest. Erian took a step back, running a hand through his hair as he tried to calm himself.

Erian's glare was icy, his amber eyes burning with restrained fury as he stood inches away from Bella, his towering frame radiating anger. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick and suffocating. Bella shrank back slightly, her lips trembling as she struggled to meet his gaze.

"Those men," Erian said, his voice low but laced with venom, each word striking like a dagger. "Their blood is on your hands."

Bella's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "I didn't—" she began, her voice weak and faltering, but Erian didn't let her finish.

"You're so selfish," he spat, his words cutting through the air like a whip. His tone carried more than anger—it carried betrayal. "You only ever think about yourself, about your guilt, your feelings. And now, people are dead. Rain is out there, breaking under the weight of what she's done, and it's because of you."

Tears spilled down Bella's cheeks, but Erian showed no sympathy, his sharp glare pinning her in place. For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of Bella's quiet sobs. Erian's chest heaved, his emotions barely contained, before he stepped back, shaking his head in disgust.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out, the echo of his footsteps lingering long after he was gone.

༄.°

The early morning air was crisp and biting, the woods eerily quiet except for the faint crunch of Rain's footsteps on the dirt path. Her body trembled, the last remnants of adrenaline coursing through her veins, her thin clothes offering little warmth against the cold. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as she trudged toward town. Each step felt heavier than the last, but determination drove her forward—until the Cullen house loomed in the distance like a beacon of solace.

As Rain neared the house, the front door swung open, revealing Rosalie and Emmett standing in the warm glow of the doorway. The sight of her dishevelled figure, pale and trembling, made them spring into action.

"Rain!" Rosalie called, her voice tinged with worry. She reached her just as Rain's knees buckled. Emmett caught her, his strong arms steadying her as she collapsed into their embrace.

"Hey, we've got you," Emmett murmured, his voice gentle despite his usual playful tone.

Rosalie held her tightly, a protective hand smoothing Rain's damp hair. "Come on, let's get you inside," she said softly, her usual sharpness replaced by tenderness.

They guided her to the couch, where she sank into the cushions, staring blankly at the floor. Emmett plopped down beside her, casually turning on the TV and flipping to a game, but his eyes kept darting back to Rain, his concern evident. Rosalie disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a steaming mug of tea.

"Here, this will help," she said, handing the mug to Rain before sitting beside her. Rosalie placed a comforting hand on Rain's shoulder, her golden eyes soft with sympathy. Despite her usual aloof demeanour, there was an unspoken sisterly love in the way she stayed close, a silent promise that Rain wasn't alone.

The sound of the door opening broke the silence, and Alice breezed in, followed by Jasper. Alice's face lit up when she saw Rain, though her usual enthusiasm was tempered by the siren's fragile state.

"Rain," Alice said gently, her voice a soothing melody.

Rain didn't look up, her focus remaining on the untouched tea in her hands. Alice moved to Rosalie's side, her quiet discussion with her sister a mix of reassurance and defence of Rain's actions.

Meanwhile, Jasper approached Rain slowly, his movements deliberate and calm. He knelt before her, his piercing eyes searching hers for permission. Rain finally glanced up, her sea-blue eyes meeting his, and after a moment's hesitation, she gave a small nod.

Jasper closed his eyes, his gift enveloping her like a warm embrace. The tension in Rain's body melted away, and her trembling hands slackened, the mug slipping from her grasp. Jasper caught it effortlessly, setting it aside before Rain's head drooped. She blinked sleepily, her exhaustion finally overtaking her as she leaned forward into Jasper's arms bringing warmth in his hold.

"She's exhausted," Jasper murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Completely drained."

Emmett rose to his feet, his towering form surprisingly gentle as he took Rain from Jasper's arms. "I'll get her to bed," he said, his voice soft as he cradled her effortlessly.

Rosalie followed closely as Emmett carried Rain upstairs to a room they had prepared for her. The bed was plush and inviting, and Emmett laid her down with the utmost care. Rosalie tucked a blanket around Rain, then climbed in beside her, wrapping an arm protectively around the siren.

As Rain drifted into a deep sleep, her breathing even and peaceful for the first time in days, the room was filled with a quiet sense of love and protection. 

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By: SilverMist707

"Under the sea! Under the sea!"