บท 7: Agreement and Tensions
Chapter 6: Agreement and Tensions
The wind whistled through the trees, carrying with it the echoes of the recent battle. The dust of the nomad vampires settled slowly to the ground, shimmering in the dim light filtering through the leaves. Ethan, still in his wolf form, watched the Cullens from the other side of the river. He made no aggressive move, but the tension in the air was palpable, like a taut string that could snap at any moment.
Carlisle was the first to act, as he always did. With calculated steps, he advanced to the edge of the river, keeping his hands in sight, in a gesture of peace. His expression was calm, almost diplomatic, although the tension in the atmosphere could not be ignored.
"My name is Carlisle Cullen," he said in a serene voice, loud enough for Ethan to hear from a distance. "We are a family of vampires, but we don't hunt humans. We have an agreement with the Quileute tribe. We are here to live in peace, as we have before."
Ethan did not react immediately. His eyes, a deep golden color, were fixed on Carlisle, but they also seemed to observe the entire Cullen family at the same time. His breathing was controlled, but the atmosphere around him seemed charged with a primitive, almost savage energy.
Carlisle, noticing that Ethan was not responding, began to introduce the members of his family. First was Edward, then Edythe, Jasper, Alice... until he finally reached Rosalie.
When her name was spoken, Rosalie stepped forward, and it was then that Ethan seemed to awaken from his outward calm. Their gazes met, and for a second that seemed like an eternity, the rest of the world ceased to exist for both of them.
Rosalie.
The name echoed in Ethan's mind like a distant but powerful echo. Something deep inside him reacted to her presence. It wasn't just physical attraction, it was something more... something more primitive and complicated. He felt the need to be near her, to protect her, although he knew he should keep his distance. He was a vampire, one of the creatures he was destined to destroy if they got out of control.
On the other side, Rosalie stood still under Ethan's intense gaze. Her thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of emotions. Why was this beast looking at her like that? She had met other wolves, but none had looked at her the way he did. It was a connection she didn't understand, but she couldn't deny that something drew her to him.
The silence between them was almost tangible, and although neither expressed it aloud, they both felt that something had changed in that moment.
Carlisle, without noticing the tension between them, continued speaking.
"We have maintained a peace agreement with the Quileute tribe for years. We don't hunt in their territory, and they allow us to live here without conflict. We hope that with your arrival, Ethan, this pact will remain in effect."
Ethan finally broke his silence. His body, still tense from the previous battle, but his eyes remained fixed on Carlisle. He nodded, tacitly accepting the agreement. He knew about the existence of that pact. His father had told him many times, but Ethan had never imagined that he would be the one to keep it.
"The pact continues," Ethan said in a deep voice, almost a growl. "But stay on your side of the territory. There will be no problems as long as you respect our lands."
With those words, Ethan took a step back, preparing to leave. However, before he left, his eyes returned to Rosalie's. That inexplicable connection tightened again, and for a brief moment, everything he felt for the vampires vanished. It wasn't hatred that he experienced when he looked at her. It was... something more.
Rosalie, for her part, couldn't help but return his gaze. Her heart, if it could beat, would have done so forcefully. What was this feeling that this wolf awakened in her? She was used to being admired, to being seen as something beautiful, but the way Ethan looked at her was different. It was as if he could see beyond her appearance, as if he saw something in her that even she didn't understand.
Finally, Ethan broke the visual connection, turning towards the forest. He disappeared into the thick of the trees, leaving the Cullens in silence, reflecting on what they had just witnessed.
Minutes later, on the Cullen side.
When Ethan left, a palpable relief washed over the family. The air became lighter, although the tension did not completely dissipate. Carlisle was the first to speak, breaking the charged silence.
"That wolf is different from any other shapeshifter we've ever met," he commented, looking at each of his family members. "His power is evident, but he seems to have control over himself. We must be careful, but I don't think he wants a conflict."
Edward, with his eyes still narrowed, nodded.
"It's impossible to read his mind," he said, with a mixture of frustration and intrigue. "Not a single thought. It's as if he has an impenetrable wall."
Edythe, equally intrigued, added:
"It's strange. I don't feel anything, not even a hint of his emotions. It's as if he's completely shielded. I've never experienced anything like it."
Alice, always enigmatic, remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"I saw it in one of my visions," she murmured. "But I didn't think it would be this strong. What we face with him is... different. Beyond what we've known."
Rosalie, who had been silent until then, turned towards the trees where Ethan had disappeared.
"He's... different," she said softly, almost to herself. No one else in the family noticed, but in her words there was a mixture of curiosity and something more, something that even she didn't fully understand.
Carlisle nodded, determined. "We must maintain peace. As long as we respect his territory, there should be no problems. But we cannot underestimate this new creature."
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