For the first time in the two weeks since the Cullens vanished, Dan and Ash Nightsun sat down together for a meal. It wasn't difficult to avoid each other—Dan worked grueling twelve-hour shifts as a fireman, while Ash spent his evenings lingering with friends, returning home only when exhaustion left him no choice.
But tonight, Ash had come home to the sight of his uncle cooking dinner, and something in the air told him it would be easier to stay rather than provoke a confrontation. Not that he had much of a choice—Dan would have made him sit down one way or another.
The food, as always, was excellent, but the silence between them was suffocating, pressing in like a thick fog.
Dan broke it first. Clearing his throat, he looked at Ash, his expression unreadable.
"We have a meeting after this," he stated. "On the Quileute reservation."
Ash paused mid-bite, his fork hovering over his plate before he slowly set it down. His sharp blue eyes locked onto his uncle, suspicion flickering across his face.
"Why?" he asked. "With who?"
"With Billy Black and some of his men," Dan replied, his tone measured. "You're coming with me. We're calling off the hunt—this madness ends tonight."
The fork slipped from Ash's hand, clattering loudly against the wooden table before hitting the floor. For a moment, there was silence. Then, Ash let out a sharp laugh, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You're kidding, right?" His voice held a forced lightness, as if hoping his uncle would laugh along with him. "Damn, you got me good there, Uncle. That was almost believable."
Dan didn't so much as blink. "I'm not joking, kid. Finish your dinner. We leave soon."
The smirk faded. Ash scoffed, leaning back in his chair.
"No way." His voice turned cold. "I told you—the hunt only ends when they're dead."
Dan's expression hardened, but his voice remained level. "You will not talk about people that way." There was a quiet authority in his words, one that Ash used to listen to—used to respect. "Every person, supernatural or not, has the same right to exist as we do."
Ash stared at him, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "You sound like a damn activist," he muttered. "But these aren't marginalized humans, Dan. They're monsters. Beasts that lurk in the dark. You know that."
Dan sighed, rubbing his temple. He had expected resistance, but the raw hatred in Ash's voice made his stomach twist.
"And if I refuse to go?" Ash challenged, voice dripping with defiance.
Dan didn't hesitate. "Then I'll drag you there kicking and screaming."
A muscle in Ash's jaw twitched. He pushed away from the table, walking toward the kitchen, grabbing a new fork before chucking the fallen one into the sink.
"Fine," he bit out. "But if something happens, that's on you."
"Good thing you're not going to do anything," Dan said easily, but the weight behind his words was impossible to ignore.
A Tense Arrival
The car ride was thick with silence, a far cry from the easy conversations they used to have only weeks ago.
Ash stared out the window, scowling. He should've gone to that party with Jessica instead. At least that would've been fun. The vampires would've stayed in Forks, making them easier to track. And he wouldn't be here, being forced into some ridiculous truce.
The road ahead was dark and uneven, the only light coming from the old car's headlights. It was eerie, but it didn't faze Ash. If anything, it was almost poetic.
Because no matter what lurked in those woods, he knew one thing for certain.
He was the scariest thing out here.
The legends always said that hunters don't feel fear. That wasn't true.
They just learn to replace it with something else.
Ash had been an easily frightened child once. But as he grew older, as the hunt consumed more and more of his life, that fear had rotted away—leaving behind something much darker.
Bloodlust.
It was intoxicating, addicting—the sheer satisfaction of the hunt, the kill. He could still feel the phantom sensation of lost opportunities, of Edward Cullen slipping through his fingers because of Dan.
He clenched his fists, a familiar itch creeping under his skin.
"Are you trying to radiate an aura, or is that unintentional?" Dan asked suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was casual, but his eyes flicked toward Ash with barely concealed wariness. "I know auras aren't real, but… you've got something rolling off you right now."
"Isn't that natural?" Ash replied with a polite, almost amused smile.
Dan frowned. "They're not going to like someone dripping with bloodlust on their territory. Tone it down."
Ash scoffed but said nothing.
As they pulled up to an old house on the reservation, the orange glow of a bonfire illuminated the figures gathered outside. The pack was here.
All of them.
Ash stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind him as his gaze swept over the group.
"Glad to see you're all in one place," he remarked. His tone was light, but his smile was anything but. "That makes things much easier."
Dan shot him a sharp glare. "Behave," he warned, his patience running dangerously thin. He turned to Billy, inclining his head slightly. "Billy. I, uh, brought some pound cake. It's not poisoned, I promise. The kid didn't get anywhere near it."
Billy chuckled, but the tension didn't ease. "Put it on the table," he said before gesturing to the fire. "Sit, and we'll talk."
"No way they're sitting down," one of the men—Sam—said firmly.
"Sam, try to contain yourself," Billy said evenly. He had likely expected this.
Ash studied the pack, taking in their rigid stances, the hostility in their eyes. His smirk widened.
"Interesting reception," he mused.
Dan shot him another warning look. "I'm sorry for his behavior," he told Billy with a tired sigh. "He's got… a long way to go."
Billy nodded. "Daniel, I'm glad you're on our side. But I have to question your ability to rein in your nephew."
Dan sighed again. "That's a fair concern. If he was younger, it'd be easier. But he's almost eighteen—I can't just lock him up. I need to trust him to make the right choices."
Ash almost laughed. The right choices?
Billy studied him for a long moment. "The Cullen's told me about your presence here. It unsettled the pack, knowing hunters had been living under our noses."
He let that sink in before continuing. "We've agreed on something akin to a restraining order. Ash will not set foot on our land, nor approach any pack member. If he does, we won't be responsible for what happens to him."
Jacob, who had been silent until now, sneered. "You hear that? Step one foot on pack lands, and we'll kill you."
Ash snorted. "I'd like to see you try, Jakey," he said, voice smooth, taunting. "I've faced bigger, badder wolves than you."
Jacob bristled, stepping forward, but Sam held him back.
"We'll agree to those terms," Dan said.
Billy's gaze sharpened. "He has to agree."
Ash almost rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said. "As long as none of you hurt a human. That's my term. If you do… I'll tear you all to pieces."
His smile was nothing short of menacing.
Jacob glared. "Then stay the hell away from Bella."
Ash's expression darkened. "You supernatural bastards just don't know when to quit, do you? Bella's been through enough. Let her live her life as a human."
No one said anything.
Dan exhaled. "We should go."
On the drive back, his mind churned with unease. His friendship with Billy? Likely ruined. His nephew? Possibly getting worse.
And as he pulled into the driveway, a cold realization hit him.
Ash had never actually called off the hunt.
------
Hello, dear readers!
Now, I know what some of you are thinking—"Didn't you say you wouldn't be able to post chapters regularly because of your exams?" And yes, that still holds true. However, today, I have decided to bless you all with my unmatched generosity. Because, as you all know, my generosity knows no bounds. Seriously, if generosity were a superpower, I'd be flying around in a cape right now, throwing chapters at people like confetti.
Alright, alright, I'll tell you the real reason. Have you ever noticed how, when you sit down to study, your brain suddenly becomes a philosopher, a daydreamer, and a professional overthinker—all at once? Well, that's exactly what happened to me. I was diligently studying (for show, of course—my mother was watching), and my brain, in its infinite wisdom, decided, "Hey, wouldn't it be fun to think about literally everything except studying?" Suddenly, my mind was running at superhuman speed, throwing possible book scenarios at me like an overenthusiastic movie director. And just like that—boom!—I became enlightened and wrote a chapter at rapid speed.
So, congrats! You're getting a chapter today. But—and listen closely—this still counts as this week's chapter. Meaning, I technically only owe you two more chapter this week. Or maybe, if luck, time, and my sudden bursts of productivity align, I might give you more. Who knows? Life is full of surprises.
Now, one last thing before you go!
I've noticed that none of you have responded to my posts for the last two chapters. I mean, what happened?! Did you all take a vow of silence? Did your keyboards break at the same time? Did an army of vampires steal your internet connection? Come on, guys, it takes literally seconds to type a response! And who knows? Maybe if I see more reactions, I'll be feeling extra generous and drop even more chapters.
So, go ahead—respond now!
Or else, I might just start writing cliffhangers on purpose.
Alright, that's all from me. Enjoy the chapters, and I'll see you soon!