.⋆♱⃓ Viɔʞʏ ♱⃓⋆.

Hello guys !!

I finally decided it was time to escape Wattpad, the end of and era really, and come to Tumblr bcs my friend @simpfordemetri introduced me to it and I thought why not.

Bear in mind, this is literally my first time writing on this platform and writing Twilight ffs, but I’m open for any requests.

As you can tell, I’m a simp for Victoria and Rosalie so most of my one shots probably’ll go about them, but

IM OPEN FOR ANY REQUESTS !!

So send me any idea and I’ll try to write it out :))

(i also watched The Vampire Diaries so i can write about that as well)

Thnx you guys! Hope you enjoyyy!!

The forest was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the kind of remote wilderness outside Forks where humans rarely ventured after dark. James moved like a shadow, his blonde hair catching faint moonlight as he tracked the prey’s erratic path.

Victoria glided beside him, her fiery red hair a stark contrast against the gloom, her movements precise and predatory. They’d been on this one’s trail for hours, a lone hiker, female, mid-twenties by the smell of her blood, laced with adrenaline and fear after she’d realized something was wrong. Not that it mattered. Prey was prey.

— She’s close.— James murmured, his voice low and edged with that familiar thrill. His lips curled into a predatory smile, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. — Her heart is racing. She must’ve sensed somebody is watching, how pathetic.—

Victoria’s eyes gleamed crimson in the darkness. — Good. I’m tired of the chase. Let’s end it… now.— She was faster than him in bursts, all agility and vicious efficiency. James preferred the game, the prolonged terror, the way fear made the blood taste sweeter.

They closed in silently. The woman stumbled through the underbrush ahead, backpack discarded somewhere behind, breath coming in ragged gasps.

Branches whipped at your arms, leaving shallow cuts that only heightened the vampires’ hunger. You’d seen flashes of movement, too quick to be animal, and panic had taken over completely.

Victoria struck first. In a blur of motion, she slammed into Y/N from the side, pinning your body against a moss-covered tree trunk with inhuman strength. Her hand clamped over the girl’s mouth, muffling the scream that tore from your throat. Up close, her face was beautiful in a terrifying way and her red hair was brushing Y/N’s shoulder. James, was pale but his skin was flawless, his eyes burning with bloodlust.

— Shh.—she hissed, fangs glinting as she leaned in, inhaling the scent at your neck. — There’s no point in screaming. It makes the whole situation more exciting for us… and tastier.— She looked back at James with a excited smile, her red eyes glimmered softly.

Y/N thrashed wildly, nails scraping uselessly against her marble-hard skin, legs kicking at nothing. Victoria laughed softly, a cold, mocking sound. — Oh she’s a feisty one James, this is gonna be fun.—

He emerged from the trees, circling slowly, his gaze locked on you with intense focus. For a moment, the hunt’s satisfaction gleamed in his red eyes. Then something shifted. Deep in his chest, an instinct older than his vampire nature surged forward, an unbreakable pull, a recognition that hit like a freight train. Y/N’s scent wasn’t just appealing; it was everything. The mate bond snapped into place within seconds, rewriting his priorities in an instant. Not Victoria. The one he’d been waiting for without knowing it.

— Stop Vic.— His voice cracked like a whip.

Victoria’s head snapped toward him, her grip on you tightening instinctively, she looked confused and a bit disappointed. —What? James, she’s right here. Do you really want to keep this game going?—

— I said stop! — He was beside her in a fraction of a second, one hand shooting out to grab her wrist, yanking it away from your mouth. You gasped for air, eyes wide with terror as you stared between the two monsters. James’s touch on Victoria was firm, possessive in a way that had always been theirs, until now.

She bared her fangs, confusion flashing into rage. — What are you doing?! This is our hunt and I’m starving! We haven’t eaten for weeks! —

James didn’t release Y/N. Instead, he positioned himself between Victoria and Y/N’s trembling form, his body coiled like a spring. — She’s not food. Not anymore.— His voice was steady, but laced with that dangerous edge he usually reserved for challenges. — She’s mine. My mate.—

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Victoria’s eyes widened, then narrowed into slits of pure jealousy and fury. A low, guttural growl built in her throat. — Your what? Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve been together for decades. You’re mine, James. This human is nothing but a snack.—

Y/N tried to scramble back, but James’s hand shot out, fingers wrapping around your upper arm in a strong grip not enough to break bone yet, but enough to hold you in place.

His skin was ice-cold, unyielding. — Don’t move.— he ordered flatly, not even looking at you. To Victoria, his tone sharpened. — The bond doesn’t lie. I feel it. Her blood calls to me in a way yours never did. Back off.—

Victoria lunged at him with a whirlwind of claws and snapping teeth. They collided with a sound like cracking stone, tumbling across the forest floor in a blur of violence. James was stronger, more relentless, but Victoria was faster and fueled by betrayal. She raked her nails across his chest, drawing dark venomous lines that healed almost instantly.

— You’d throw us away for her?!— she snarled, dodging his counter and kicking at his legs. — After everything? The hunts, the centuries we’ve travelled together? Laurent and I followed you!—

James grabbed her by the throat, slamming her against a tree hard enough to splinter the bark. — It’s not about you Vic. It’s a bond, I can’t ignore it, so if you want to, fight me on this and I’ll end you myself.—

His eyes flicked briefly to Y/N, huddled against the roots of another tree, hyperventilating, blood trickling from scrapes on her arms. The scent was intoxicating now, pulling at every fiber of his control. He couldn’t let you go. Not with the bond screaming in his veins. Humans were fragile. You’d run. You’d die out here without him, or worse, someone else would claim you.

Victoria struggled in his hold, her face contorted with jealousy so raw it twisted her features. — Then what? You expect me to watch you fawn over this thing? Drain her and be done with it!—

James released her with a shove, turning his full attention to you. You tried to bolt, but he was on you before you could take three steps. His arms locked around your waist from behind, pulling your back flush against his chest. — Enough running.— he growled close to your ear, his breath cold. No softness, no false comfort, just raw possession. — You’re coming with us.—

— James, no!— Victoria started, but he cut her off with a glare.

He didn’t hesitate. His fangs sank into the side of Y/N’s neck with brutal efficiency, the venom flooding the wound even as he drank. The pain was white-hot, searing through your veins like liquid fire. You screamed, body convulsing in his unbreakable hold, but he held firm, one arm pinning your torso, the other tilting your head to give him better access.

The blood flowed hot and rich, flooding his senses with the mate bond’s confirmation, this one. Yours. He drank deeply, precisely, careful not to kill. Just enough to weaken you into unconsciousness. Her struggles grew sluggish, vision blurring at the edges as strength fled your limbs.

Victoria paced nearby, fists clenched, watching with undisguised hatred. — This is insane. She’s going to turn or die, and then what? We’ll have a newborn on our hands? They’re weak and distracting. We should kill her now and move on.—

James pulled back after long moments, your blood staining his lips and chin. You slumped limp in his arms, chest rising and falling shallowly, eyes fluttering closed. Unconscious, but alive. The venom would burn, healing the wound just enough to keep you stable for now. He lifted you effortlessly, cradling your body like a prize.

— She’s not dying Vic, I won’t let her.— he said, voice cold and final. — And she’s not turning yet. We’ll take her. Figure the rest out later. You can either come with me or stay here and sulk. Your choice.—

Victoria stood there for a long beat, chest heaving with suppressed rage, her jealousy a living thing coiled tight in her chest. She wanted to rip Y/N from his arms and tear out your throat. But James was the tracker, the leader. Without him, the life they led, the freedom, the endless hunts, would crumble. She had no other choice.

— Fine.— she spat, the word dripping venom. — But don’t expect me to play maid to your pet human. And if she slows us down…—

— She won’t, and you better behave yourself around her when she wakes up.— James adjusted his grip on you, already moving through the trees at a pace that would have been impossible for any human to match. Victoria fell in beside him reluctantly, shooting poisonous glances at your unconscious form.

The night swallowed them as they vanished deeper into the wilderness, the mate bond thrumming in James’s veins like a new obsession.

Some time later, they arrived at the abandoned cottage that sat deep in the Olympic Peninsula’s ancient woods, far from any trail or road. Its weathered wooden walls sagged under years of neglect, moss clinging to the roof like a shroud.

Broken windows let in drafts that carried the scent of rot and damp pine, but to James and Victoria it had always been a serviceable den, someplace to retreat when the hunt grew tedious or they needed to lie low. A rickety table, a few mildewed chairs, and a sagging cot in the corner were the only furnishings. It smelled of old blood and dust.

Y/N woke slowly, her body heavy as lead. Fire still licked through her veins from the bite, a dull throbbing ache centered on the wound at her neck. It had scabbed over unnaturally fast thanks to the venom, but every heartbeat sent fresh waves of nausea through her. Her head pounded. She was on the cot, wrists bound loosely with coarse rope to the frame—not enough to stop a vampire, but more than enough to hold a weakened human.

Victoria sat across the room in one of the chairs, legs crossed, her red hair spilling over her shoulders like blood. Her crimson eyes fixed on Y/N the moment her eyelids fluttered open. She didn’t move at first, just watched with the cold patience of a cat toying with a half-dead mouse.

— Well, well, look who has risen from her deep sleep.—Victoria drawled, her voice silky and mocking, She rose gracefully, circling the cot with slow, deliberate steps. — James really did a number on you. Drained you just enough to keep you compliant. He’s a smart man , I suppose. But humans are so fragile.—

Y/N tried to sit up, but the rope bit into her wrists and dizziness slammed her back down. — Who… what are you?— Her voice came out hoarse, cracked from screaming earlier.

Victoria laughed, a sharp, humorless sound that echoed off the walls. — It’s always the same annoying questions…— She leaned closer, inhaling deeply near the bandaged neck. — What are you… what do you want?— She deeply inhaled and softly, closing her eyes, then sighed out of excitement accompanied by a soft smile.— And you smell divine. Fear and that pathetic spark of life… mmm. James may think you’re special, but to me? You’re just a snack. An easy meal I could snap up whenever I wanted.—

She reached out, trailing one ice-cold finger down Y/N’s cheek, pressing just hard enough for her nail to draw a thin line of blood. Y/N flinched, heart hammering wildly. Victoria’s eyes darkened with hunger and something uglier, jealousy that twisted her perfect features.

— Look at you, trembling. Pathetic. What makes you think you’re worth ruining my decades with him? He and I burned through covens together. We hunted together. And now he brings home a human?— Her voice rose, laced with venom. She gripped Y/N’s jaw suddenly, forcing her head back against the thin mattress. — I should just end you right now. Rip out your throat and be done with this nonsense. James would get over it eventually.—

Terror clawed up Y/N’s throat. She struggled against the ropes, legs kicking uselessly. — Please don’t—

— “Please”.— Victoria mocked, baring her fangs in a cruel smile. She climbed on top of her prey, straddling Y/N with effortless strength, her weight pinning her down like a marble statue. Her face hovered inches from Y/N’s, breath cold and scentless. — Begging already? How boring. I like it when they fight a little.— Her fingers tightened on Y/N’s jaw, tilting her head to expose the bite mark. — Just a taste. He won’t even notice if I take a little…—

Her fangs grazed her skin.

The cottage door opened violently inward with a crash of splintering wood. James stormed in, his blonde hair disheveled, clothes stained with fresh blood from his hunt. His eyes blazed with fury as he took in the scene.

— Get off her!— The words were a low, lethal snarl.

In the next instant he crossed the room in a blur, slamming into Victoria like a freight train. She was hurled backward off the matress, crashing into the far wall hard enough to crack the timber. James positioned himself between Y/N and her, body coiled and ready, fangs fully extended.

Victoria recovered instantly, launching herself at him with a scream of pure rage. They collided in the center of the room, a whirlwind of claws, fangs, and shattering furniture. The table exploded under their weight as they grappled. Victoria raked her nails across James’s face, drawing black venom that sizzled and healed. He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her down onto the floorboards, which splintered beneath them.

— You dare touch what’s mine?— James growled, voice guttural. — I told you. The bond is set. She’s not prey anymore.—

— She’s a human!— Victoria spat, kicking up and flipping their positions. She pinned him briefly, eyes wild with jealousy. — She’s weak and temporary. You’ll tire of her when she turns or dies, and then what? You’ll come crawling back to me like im some little toy you own? I made this coven with you!—

James bucked her off with brutal force, sending her skidding across the floor. He was on her again before she could rise fully, fist connecting with her jaw in a crack that would have killed any mortal. — There is no going back. I won’t let her go!—

— Then I won’t stay!— Victoria shoved him away, rising to her feet in a fluid motion. She wiped venom from her lip, breathing hard, not from exertion, but from the storm of emotions. Her gaze flicked to Y/N, still bound and shaking on the matress, then back to James. Hatred and hurt warred on her face. — If this is how it’s going to be, protecting your little pet while I watch, you can have her. I’m done. Laurent can find me if he wants. Don’t every come looking for me, James.—

She didn’t wait for a reply. With one last poisonous glare at Y/N’s huddled form, Victoria turned and vanished through the broken doorway, red hair flashing like a warning before the forest swallowed her.

Silence fell, broken only by the creak of settling debris and Y/N’s ragged breathing.

James stood motionless for a long moment, staring at the empty threshold. Then he turned toward Y/N. His expression was unreadable, cold calculation mixed with that intense, possessive focus. He crossed to the cot and sliced through the ropes with a flick of his nail. Y/N didn’t dare move.

— You’re awake.— he stated flatly. No apology. No softness. He examined the fresh scratch on her cheek with clinical detachment, then wiped the blood away with his thumb, bringing it to his lips for a brief taste. His eyes half-closed for a second, savoring. — Victoria’s… gone.—

Y/N swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper. — What are you going to do to me?—

James’s gaze locked onto hers, red eyes burning with the weight of the mate bond. — Keep you. You’re mine now. The venom will work its way through you eventually, but not yet. You’ll stay human a while longer.— He lifted her from the cot effortlessly, carrying her toward the darker corner of the cottage as if she weighed nothing. — Rest. Or don’t. It doesn’t matter. No one else touches you. Not while I’m here.—

Y/N’s body tensed in his arms, every instinct screaming at her to fight, to run, even though she knew it was futile. His chest was hard as stone against her side, cold seeping through her torn clothes like winter air. He set her down on a pile of old blankets in the corner, less a bed than a makeshift nest, and stepped back just enough to loom over her. The cottage was dim, lit only by faint moonlight filtering through cracks in the walls, but his eyes seemed to glow.

— What… what do you mean, yours?— Y/N whispered, pushing herself up on shaky elbows. Her neck throbbed where he’d bitten her, a constant reminder of the venom crawling under her skin. — You attacked me. Drank from me. Victoria tried to kill me. Explain this. Please.—

James watched her for a long moment, his head tilting slightly like a predator studying wounded prey. He didn’t sit. Instead, he paced a short distance, boots crunching over debris from the fight, before turning back. His voice was low, matter-of-fact, stripped of any warmth.

— It’s the mate bond. It’s a vampire thing, and it’s undeniable. One scent, one look, and it’s set. You’re not just food anymore. You’re the other half. The pull.— He gestured vaguely at his own chest. — I felt it the second I got close enough. Victoria was never that. She was convenient. A hunting partner. This is different. Deeper. Blood calls to blood.—

Y/N’s breath hitched. —Bond? Like… imprinting? You kidnapped me because of some vampire instinct? I have a lifec people who’ll look for me—

— None of that matters now.— James cut her off sharply, closing the distance in one fluid step. He crouched in front of her, one hand bracing on the wall beside her head, caging her in. Up close, his face was flawless and terrifying: sharp jaw, full lips still faintly stained with her blood, those crimson eyes boring into hers. — Humans die and they run. They weaken. But you’re mine to keep. I’ll hunt for you. Protect you from others like us. The venom’s already changing you slowly, making you stronger, healing you faster. In time, you’ll turn. But until then…—

His gaze dropped to the fresh scratch on her cheek, then lower, tracing the curve of her neck where the bite mark pulsed. The air between them thickened. Y/N could feel the chill radiating from his body, but something else stirred too, the way his nostrils flared subtly, inhaling her scent like it was intoxicating. Her heart raced, loud enough for him to hear, betraying fear and an unwelcome flicker of heat under her skin.

— You’re trembling.— he observed, voice dropping an octave. Not mocking like Victoria, but intense, almost clinical in his hunger. — Not just from fear. I can smell it. Adrenaline. Your blood is rushing. The bond works both ways, even if you’re still human.—

Y/N swallowed hard, trying to lean away, but the wall was unyielding. — Don’t. You’re a monster! You nearly killed me.—

James’s lips curved into a faint, predatory smirk, the same one he’d worn during the hunt. — I did kill parts of you. But I stopped. For this.— One cold finger brushed along her collarbone, tracing the edge of her torn shirt where it clung to sweat-damp skin. The touch was light, but possessive, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. He didn’t pull away. — You feel it too, don’t you? That pull. Heartbeat spiking when I get close.—

The tension crackled. He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers, cold breath ghosting over her lips. Y/N’s hands came up instinctively, pressing against his chest, like an immovable marble. She meant to push him back, but her fingers curled slightly into his shirt instead, the fabric cool and stained. His eyes darkened further, pupils dilating as he tracked every micro-expression on her face, every quickened breath.

— Stop looking at me like that.— she breathed, voice unsteady. The words lacked conviction. The venom made her body feel hypersensitive, every brush of his skin against hers amplified, the danger of him mixing with something darker, more primal.

— Like what?— James murmured, his hand sliding to her waist, gripping firmly enough to hold her in place without bruising. —Like you’re already mine? Because you are.— He tilted his head, lips hovering just above the bite mark on her neck. Not biting, not yet, but close enough that she could feel the sharp edge of his fangs. The proximity made heat pool low in her belly despite the terror, the mate bond twisting her responses into treacherous territory. His free hand moved to her jaw, thumb pressing lightly over her racing pulse. — Fight it if you want. It won’t change anything. Victoria left because she knew. This… this is inevitable.—

The cottage seemed smaller, the silence heavy except for her ragged breathing and the faint creak of old wood. James didn’t kiss her, not yet. He held there, suspended in that charged space, his body a wall of cold strength caging her warmth. The tension coiled tight: his control fraying at the edges, her fear bleeding into reluctant awareness of how his touch lit nerves on fire. One wrong move, one deeper inhale of her scent, and the predator in him might snap.

Y/N’s fingers tightened on his shirt, torn between shoving him away and pulling him closer. — This is insane.— she whispered, but her body arched slightly toward him, betraying the bond’s insidious pull.

James’s growl was low and rough, vibrating through his chest. — Insane or not, you’re not leaving this cottage until I say so.— His grip on her waist tightened, drawing her flush against him as the night deepened around them. The explanation had shifted into something far more dangerous, raw, unspoken need hanging thick in the air, waiting for one of them to break.

The venom in Y/N’s system had begun to truly stir. What started as fire in her veins now twisted into something sharper, more treacherous, heightened senses, a feverish heat blooming beneath her skin that made every point of contact with his cold body electric. Her heart hammered erratically, but the fear was fracturing, edged out by an involuntary pull that made her thighs press together and her breath catch. His scent, earth, blood, and something ancient, flooded her nostrils, intoxicating in a way it shouldn’t have been.

Y/N’s fingers twisted tighter into his shirt, no longer pushing. — I… I shouldn’t want this.— she gasped, voice strained as another wave of venom-laced heat rolled through her. Her skin felt too tight, too sensitive; the bite on her neck throbbed in time with the ache building lower.

— But you do.— James’s voice was a dark rasp, devoid of tenderness but thick with raw hunger. He didn’t ask. One hand fisted in her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat fully, and his mouth descended, not to bite, but to drag his cool lips and the sharp edge of his fangs along the sensitive skin. The contrast of his icy touch against her fevered flesh drew a broken sound from her throat.

In a blur of motion, he had her pinned beneath him on the mattress, his body a cage of unyielding marble. The torn remnants of her shirt gave way under his fingers with a sharp rip, baring her to the chill air and his burning gaze. James’s eyes raked over her, possessive and unblinking, as he shed his own blood-stained shirt in one fluid movement. His chest was pale, sculpted perfection marred only by faint fading lines from Victoria’s earlier claws.

— I know you feel it.— he said, voice low and commanding as he pressed his hips down, letting her feel the hard length of him through their remaining clothes. — The venom changing you. I can feel it.— His hand slid down her body with deliberate pressure, cupping her breast, thumb brushing roughly over the peak until she arched into him despite herself. Y/N’s moan was involuntary, the venom amplifying every sensation until pleasure bordered on pain.

— James-…— His name slipped out like a curse and a plea. She hated how needy it sounded, but her body betrayed her, hips rolling up against him as fresh heat pooled between her legs.

He made a rough sound of approval, fangs grazing her collarbone as he shoved her pants down her legs with impatient strength, the fabric tearing slightly. There was no gentleness in him, only the predator claiming what was his. His own clothes followed in a rush, and then he was naked against her, skin like polished ice sliding over her flushed, burning body. The size and strength of him overwhelmed her; one of his hands easily pinned both her wrists above her head while the other gripped her thigh, spreading her open.

Y/N gasped sharply as he thrust into her in one powerful stroke, burying himself to the hilt. The stretch was intense, bordering on too much, her human body struggling to accommodate his cold, unyielding thickness. But the venom surged in response, dulling the edge of discomfort into a white-hot wave of pleasure that made her cry out, back bowing off the blankets.

James hissed through gritted teeth, holding still for a fraction of a second as her walls clenched around him. His red eyes locked onto hers, wild and intense. Then he began to move, deep, punishing thrusts that rocked the old floorboards beneath them. Each snap of his hips drove the air from her lungs, the cold of him shocking against her feverish core, heightening every slide and drag until she was writhing beneath him.

Y/N’s legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, heels digging into his lower back as the venom pushed her higher. Everything felt magnified: the scrape of his fangs along her shoulder, the bruising grip on her hip, the relentless rhythm that had her moaning and gasping without shame. She could feel herself getting wetter, slick sounds filling the cottage with every thrust, her body yielding to the mate bond’s demands.

James released her wrists only to grip her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze as he drove into her harder. — Look at me.— he growled, voice strained with the effort of control. — This is what you are now. What we are.— His free hand slipped between them, fingers finding her clit with ruthless precision, circling and pressing in time with his thrusts until her vision blurred.

The tension coiled tighter, unbearable. Y/N’s nails raked down his back, leaving red lines that healed instantly, but the venom in her made her stronger, her grip fiercer. She came with a sharp cry, body seizing around him, waves of intense pleasure crashing through her heightened senses. James didn’t slow. He fucked her through it, growling low in his throat as her orgasm squeezed him, before his own release hit. With a final, deep thrust, he spilled inside her, cold and copious, hips grinding against hers as he rode it out with a guttural sound that was almost a snarl.

They stayed locked together, his weight pressing her into the blankets, both breathing hard, hers ragged and human, his unnecessary but present from the exertion. James’s forehead rested against hers for a moment, red eyes half-lidded as he savored the scent of sex and blood and bond mingling in the air.

— You’re not going anywhere.— he murmured against her lips, voice dark with satisfaction. He shifted, still buried inside her, drawing a whimper from Y/N as aftershocks rippled through her oversensitive body. — Not now. Never.—

THE THIRD SCENT — PT.2 (JAMES & VICTORIA X READER)

The group made it back to town faster than expected, the rain easing up just enough to let them hike out without turning into a total disaster. Everyone was soaked, muddy, and buzzing from the storm, laughing about how the “hangover hike” had turned into a full-on downpour adventure.

They checked into the creaky little hotel on the edge of Forks, the one they had eyed earlier as a backup plan after the camping night got cut short. The rooms smelled like old pine and damp carpet, floors squeaking under every step, but it felt like a relief after the chaos in the woods.

Y/N trailed behind the others as they hauled their packs inside, her head throbbing worse with every minute. The buzzing warmth from the venom had turned into something sharper, more insistent. She told herself it was just the hangover mixed with the weird bite she still didn’t fully understand, but deep down she knew something was seriously wrong.

In the small lobby area, the group sprawled out on worn couches and chairs, ordering pizza from the front desk guy and cracking open the last of the beers they had saved. Laughter echoed off the walls as they replayed the night before.

— That storm came out of nowhere, — one of the girls said, kicking her boots off and laughing. — One minute we’re telling stories, next minute it’s like the sky was pissed at us.—

— Told you the legends were real, — the boy grinned, taking a big bite of pizza. — Maybe it was the “vampires” getting mad we were camping in their spot.—

Ethan sat on the arm of one couch, watching Y/N closely. She had been quiet the whole way back, avoiding his eyes, brushing off his attempts to walk next to her on the trail.

— Hey, Y/N. You okay? You’ve been acting kinda off since the hike.—

Y/N flinched at the sound of his voice. It wasn’t just loud, it felt like it drilled straight into her skull. Every noise in the lobby was amplified: the creak of the old floorboards, the hum of the fridge behind the desk, even the rain still tapping on the windows outside. Smells hit her too hard, the greasy pizza, her girl-friend’s perfume, the damp wool of everyone’s clothes. It was all too much.

— I’m fine, — she muttered sharply, turning away from him and dropping into a chair in the corner. — Just tired. Leave me alone for a bit.—

Ethan blinked, looking hurt. — Whoa, okay? Last night was… I thought we had fun. Did I do something wrong?—

She didn’t answer, pressing her palms to her temples. The lights in the lobby felt blinding, like they were stabbing her eyes. Her skin itched and burned under her damp clothes. The venom was spreading, turning her body into a battlefield she didn’t understand. She could hear the heartbeat of the guy at the front desk from across the room. She could smell the faint trace of blood under someone’s bandaid from a blister on the hike. It was overwhelming. Terrifying.

Her friend noticed and waved her over with a smile. — Come on, Y/N! We’re playing cards. Loser buys the next round when we find a real bar tomorrow. Don’t be a downer.—

— I said I’m fine, — Y/N snapped, her voice harsher than she meant. She stood up quickly, the movement too fast for normal, nearly knocking over a lamp.

— I just need some air or something. Don’t wait up.—

She headed for the hallway toward the rooms, ignoring the confused looks from her friends. Ethan started to follow.

— Y/N, wait up. Talk to me. You were all excited about this trip and now you’re treating me like I’m some stranger after what happened last night.—

She whirled on him in the narrow hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing loudly in her ears like angry hornets. His cologne, the same one from the night before, hit her like a wall, mixing with the memory of his skin and making her stomach twist with confusion and nausea.

— I said leave me alone, Ethan! — she hissed, stepping back when he got too close. — Last night was a mistake, okay? Just… go have fun with the others. I don’t want to deal with this right now.—

Ethan stopped, looking genuinely stung. — A mistake? Damn, Y/N. Alright. Whatever. I’ll give you space.—

He turned and headed back to the lobby, shoulders tense. Y/N leaned against the wall for a second, breathing hard. Her veins felt like they were on fire again, the same burning from the bite spreading deeper. She could hear every word her friends were saying back in the lobby even from down the hall.

— She’s probably just hungover and freaked out from the storm, — one of her girl-friend’s was saying.

— Yeah, but she was fine this morning, — the boy replied.

Y/N slipped into the room she was sharing with her friend, closing the door behind her. The quiet didn’t help. The walls were thin. She could still hear everything laughter, cards slapping on the table, Ethan’s quieter, hurt voice. Outside, a car passed on the street and the engine roar made her wince. Her reflection in the small mirror looked pale, eyes a little too bright.

— What is happening to me? — she whispered, gripping the edge of the sink. Another wave of burning pain rolled through her body. She doubled over, biting her lip to keep from making noise. Her senses kept cranking higher. She could smell the dust in the carpet fibers, the faint mold in the bathroom grout, the leftover whiskey on her own clothes. It was too much. She wanted to scream but held it in.

After a few hours, night had fallen over Forks, bringing that thick, endless drizzle again. Down at the hotel’s open bar area, Y/N’s friends were now loud and having the time of their lives. Music spilled out, mixed with laughter and the clink of glasses as they turned the night into a proper party after the rainy hike. Y/N had told them she was feeling sick and was going to bed early.

She stood alone on the small balcony of their room, leaning against the wet railing with a cigarette between her fingers. The smoke curled up slowly in the damp air. She took a long drag, hoping it would calm the fire still burning under her skin. It didn’t. Everything felt wrong. Too loud. Too bright. Too much.

She stared out at the dark trees behind the hotel, trying to make sense of it all. The bite. The sudden strength this morning. The way those two strangers in the woods had looked at her like she was something special. Her eyes ached strangely. When she caught her reflection in the glass door, the usual color was fading into an eerie crimson glow. She blinked hard, rubbing her eyes. But then, her senses caught something, a presence.

She spun around fast, her heart was hammering, almost breaking out of her chest.

Victoria and James stood behind her, having appeared in a fast but completely silent movement. Victoria’s red hair looked almost black in the low light, her eyes soft and intense. James leaned against the railing a little further back, arms crossed, his expression guarded and distant.

Victoria spoke first, her voice low and warm.

— There’s no need to be afraid. You’re already ours—

Y/N jumped, pressing her back against the railing. — How the hell did you get up here? Stay away from me!—

Victoria took one slow step closer, a gentle smile on her face. — We felt you. The bond pulled us here. You’re changing, and it’s calling to us.—

James stayed back, jaw tight. He watched Victoria look at Y/N with that open adoration and it clearly pissed him off. — This is insane, Vic. She’s still fighting it. We should just-…—

— No, — Victoria cut him off firmly, possessive fire in her eyes as she focused completely on Y/N. — She’s ours, and we’re not killing her for no reason. Can’t you feel the pull getting stronger? Look at her eyes, James. She’s turning. She’s the third we’ve been missing.—

Y/N’s hands shook as she stubbed out the cigarette. — Third what? This is all bullshit. You two are crazy. Vampires aren’t real. This is just some weird myth from the stories I read. It can’t be true. I’m not… whatever you think I am.—

Victoria’s expression softened even more. She wanted to reach out and hold her. — It is real. Let me show you.—

In a smooth motion, Victoria picked up a metal ashtray from the small table and crushed it effortlessly in her hand like it was made of paper, then dropped the twisted metal at Y/N’s feet. She moved in a blur to the other side of the balcony and back again before Y/N could even blink.

— See? We exist. Vampires. And that bite you got last night started your transformation. It takes three days. Your body is burning right now because the venom is changing you. You need to come with us. We can help you through it. Keep you safe.—

James shifted uncomfortably, still jealous and distant, but even he couldn’t fully ignore the growing pull. He felt a faint tug toward Y/N, like something deep inside was waking up. — Victoria’s right about one thing. You’re changing. But this whole mate thing… — He glanced at Victoria, then back at Y/N, voice rough. — It’s complicated. You were with that boy last night. You’re not ready for this.—

— I don’t want any of this! — Y/N snapped aggressively, stepping forward without thinking. She shoved James hard in the chest, not realizing her new strength. He actually stumbled back a step, surprise flashing across his face.

— Stay the hell away from me! Both of you! This isn’t real. I’m going home after this trip and forgetting any of you existed.—

Victoria moved instantly, placing herself between them protectively, one hand hovering near Y/N like she wanted to steady her. — That’s not how it works. Your body is getting stronger already. You don’t know your own power yet. Please. Come with us. We won’t force you, but the change is going to get worse. The pain, the hunger… we can guide you.—

Before Y/N could argue again, the door to the room slid open. One of her girl-friends, stepped out onto the balcony, looking concerned.

— Y/N? You okay in here? I heard voices and wanted to check if you were still feeling sick—

James and Victoria blurred away in the same instant, disappearing silently into the night like they had never been there.

Her friend blinked, frowning. — Who were you talking to? I swear I heard people out here.

Y/N forced a shaky breath, trying to act normal even as another brutal wave of venom fire rolled through her body. — Nobody. Just… talking to myself. The storm messed with my head, I guess. I’m fine. Really.—

The girl stepped closer, worry clear on her face. — You don’t look fine. You’re pale as hell. Come inside and—

Y/N’s vision suddenly swam. The burning exploded through her veins all at once, worse than before. Her legs gave out. She collapsed forward, the world going fuzzy and dark around the edges.

— Y/N! — the girl gasped, catching her just in time. — Oh my god, she fainted! Guys! Help!—

The ambulance ride to the small Forks hospital was a blur of flashing lights and overwhelming noise. Y/N drifted in and out of consciousness, the venom burning hotter than ever through her veins. Every siren wail felt like knives in her ears. Every bump in the road sent fresh fire racing under her skin. By the time they wheeled her into the emergency room, her body was trembling uncontrollably.

A human doctor, Dr. Ramirez, leaned over her, shining a light in her eyes while nurses hooked up monitors.

— Her vitals are all over the place. Blood pressure spiking, heart rate erratic. What happened? — he asked her friend, who had ridden with her.

— She just collapsed on the balcony. Said she felt sick earlier. We thought it was a bad hangover or something from the camping trip, — her girl-friend explained, voice shakyy.

Y/N’s eyes fluttered open for a second, the crimson still hidden in the harsh lighting. — It hurts… everything hurts… — she whispered hoarsely.

Then the convulsions hit hard. Her body jerked violently on the bed, muscles seizing as the venom pushed deeper. Monitors started beeping wildly.

— She’s seizing! Get the crash cart ready! — Dr. Ramirez shouted. — Hold her steady, don’t let her bite her tongue!—

Y/N’s world narrowed to pure agony. She thrashed against the hands holding her down, a low groan escaping as another wave ripped through her. The pain was worse than the initial bite, like her bones were melting and reforming all at once.

— We need backup in here! Page Dr. Cullen, now! — Dr. Ramirez called urgently. — This isn’t responding like a normal seizure.—

Carlisle arrived within minutes, moving with that calm, graceful efficiency that always put people at ease. He took one look at Y/N on the table and his golden eyes sharpened with recognition.

— Let me see her, — he said quietly but firmly, stepping in beside Dr. Ramirez. He gently turned her head and spotted the bite mark on her neck, still faintly bruised but clearly a vampire bite. The venom scent was unmistakable to him.

Dr. Ramirez frowned. — Her symptoms don’t make sense. No fever, no infection markers we can see yet, but she’s burning up internally. This looks like some kind of toxic reaction, but…—

Carlisle placed a steady hand on Y/N’s shoulder, his voice soft. — I’ve seen something similar before. Rare cases. Let me take over here. You can step out and update the family. I’ll take over from here.—

The other doctor hesitated, clearly suspicious, eyes flicking between Carlisle and the unusual bite. — Are you sure, Dr. Cullen? This doesn’t look like anything standard.

— I’m sure, — Carlisle replied calmly, meeting his gaze with quiet authority. — Trust me. I’ll call you if I need anything.—

Dr. Ramirez nodded reluctantly and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Alone now, Carlisle worked quickly but gently. He adjusted the IV, added something from his own discreet supplies that he kept for situations exactly like this, the same careful mix he had once used on Edward, Esme, and Rosalie during their transformations centuries ago. His hands moved with practiced compassion as he leaned close to Y/N’s ear.

— You’re going to be alright, — he said softly, his voice full of genuine empathy. — I know the pain you’re in. The fire, the burning… it feels endless, but it won’t be. You were bitten. The venom is changing you. I’m going to help ease it as much as I can right now.—

Y/N gasped as another convulsion tried to hit, but Carlisle’s steady presence and the medication seemed to dull the edges just enough. Her crimson-tinged eyes met his for a moment.

— Who… are you? — she managed through gritted teeth. — It feels like I’m dying…—

Carlisle smiled gently, placing a cool hand on her forehead. — My name is Carlisle Cullen. I’ve helped others through this exact change before. You’re not dying, it’s actually the total opposit. You’re becoming something new. I wish I could take all the pain away, but I can only make it bearable for now. Breathe through it.—

The worst of the immediate convulsions eased under his care. Y/N’s body still trembled, but the fire receded to a heavy, constant burn instead of explosive agony. She could feel her senses still heightening, the beep of machines too loud, the smell of antiseptic burning her nose, but Carlisle’s calm voice anchored her.

After stabilizing her enough, Carlisle stepped out to speak with her worried friends gathered in the waiting area, all of them jumped up immediately.

— Is she okay? — Ethan asked, looking guilty and concerned. — She was acting weird all day and then just collapsed.—

Carlisle’s expression was perfectly composed, kind but serious, the picture of a compassionate doctor. — She’s stable for now, but I’m afraid she’s slipped into a coma. We don’t know the exact cause yet. It could be a severe reaction to something she encountered on your hike, possibly an unknown toxin or bite. We’re running tests. She’ll need to stay here under observation.—

One of her friends covered her mouth. — A coma? Oh god…—

— Can we see her? — Ethan pressed.

— Not yet, — Carlisle replied gently. — She needs complete rest. I’ll update you as soon as there’s any change. In the meantime, try to get some rest yourselves. This might take a few days.—

The friends nodded reluctantly, whispering among themselves as they left to wait. Carlisle watched them go, his mind already turning over the complications, the unknown nomad bite, the unusual transformation signs, and the faint scent of other vampires lingering near the hotel earlier.

He returned to Y/N’s room, sitting quietly beside her bed, ready to ease her pain through the long night ahead.

The next morning, Carlisle stepped through the front door of the Cullen house just as the weak Forks sunlight tried to break through the clouds. The family was already gathered in the spacious living room, the usual comfortable tension hanging in the air. Edward sat at the piano, fingers resting silently on the keys. Esme stood by the large windows, arranging fresh flowers. Rosalie lounged on the couch with her arms crossed, looking bored but alert. Emmett leaned against the wall, tossing a baseball idly between his hands.

Alice and Jasper were still out hunting.

Carlisle set his bag down and sighed softly, his golden eyes serious. Everyone turned to him immediately.

— I need to speak with all of you, — he said calmly, his voice carrying that natural authority mixed with deep empathy. — Last night, a young woman was brought into the hospital. Her name is Y/N. She was bitten… by one of our kind. The venom has taken hold. She’s transforming.—

Esme’s hands stilled on the flowers. — Oh, honey. Is she alright?—

— She’s stable for now, — he replied, moving to stand beside his wife. — I eased her pain as much as I could, the same way I did for each of you. But the change is progressing. She’s strong-willed. Confused. And… there’s something more.—

Rosalie straightened instantly, her beautiful face hardening with defensiveness. — You’re not seriously considering bringing a newborn into this house, are you? We barely keep control as it is. A fresh vampire — especially one bitten by some rogue nomad. She could expose us all.—

Esme turned, her expression warm and immediate. — Rosie, we can’t just leave her to suffer alone. She’s innocent in this. Carlisle helped you when you needed it most. We’re a family. We help.—

Edward closed the piano lid with a soft click, his voice calm but firm. — You were in that exact position when Carlisle found you, Rose. Burning for days, terrified, with no one who understood what was happening to you. Would you have wanted us to turn our backs then?—

Rosalie shot him a sharp look. — That was different. I didn’t ask for any of it. And we’ve worked hard to build the life we have here. A newborn could ruin everything.

Emmett stopped tossing the ball and grinned, though his eyes were serious. — Hold up. If she was bitten recently, that means there’s at least one new vampire in the area we don’t know about. Hunting on our territory. —

Carlisle nodded. — That’s what concerns me. The bite wasn’t from any of us. A nomad, most likely. I covered it as best I could at the hospital — told her friends she’s in a coma from an unknown toxin. But we need to be careful.

Just then, the front door opened. Alice and Jasper stepped inside, their clothes slightly muddied from the hunt. Alice’s pixie-like face was tense, Jasper right behind her radiating calm influence to balance the room.

— We felt the tension from outside, — Alice said quickly, her eyes darting around. — What did we miss?—

Carlisle filled them in briefly. Jasper’s military posture stiffened slightly, while Alice tilted her head, visions flickering.

— We found traces while hunting, — Jasper reported, voice steady. — Several attacks. Animal carcasses drained sloppily, and a couple of human campers with bite marks. Someone’s being reckless out there.—

Alice nodded, confirming. — New vampires. At least two or three, moving through the area. —

The room grew quieter. Rosalie muttered something under her breath about complications, but Esme placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Before anyone could respond further, Emmett grabbed the local newspaper from the side table and flipped it open. His expression darkened.

— Guys… this is bad. Listen to this. — He read aloud: — “Young woman from hiking group found unconscious and later pronounced dead at Forks Hospital. Officials report suspicious bite marks on the neck, raising concerns of possible animal attack or foul play in the area. Tourism officials urge caution in the woods…”—

Carlisle’s face grew grave. He took the paper, scanning it quickly. The article mentioned Y/N’s name indirectly through the group, the hiking trip, and the unexplained “coma” turning fatal in the report. Someone had clearly leaked or twisted details.

— This is going to draw attention, — Carlisle said quietly. — The town is already suspicious after everything that’s happened in recent years. If the Volturi hears about uncontrolled bites and a possible newborn outbreak on our territory… they will come for us. We need to decide how to handle Y/N carefully. She may not have three full days if word spreads.—

Edward stood up. — We can’t abandon her. Not if she’s already changing.—

Outside, hidden in the trees near the hospital, Victoria and James watched and waited, the mate bond pulling them harder towards the girl who was now caught between two worlds.

THE THIRD SCENT — PT.1 (VICTORIA & JAMES X READER FANFICTION)

The bus drove in a slow pace towards the dark and cloudy sky of Forks. The raindrops tapped slowly on the window, creating a slow but repetitive monotone rythm. Y/N was following the compass of the dripping raindrops on the window, her earphones playing a soft The Smiths song, perfect for the ocasion really, it really romanticezed the place she saw through the window.

England was nothing compared to the United States, but Forks came close.

The freezing wind, the grey and depressing clouds hanging above her head, the green woods.

But the only difference here was the mountains, this mountain woods were what caught her attention here.

Her hypnosis was interrupted by her friend tapping her shoulder softly.

— Y/N, we gotta get off now.—

— Is this our stop? Already?— She raised an eyebrow looking a bit confused.

— That’s what it says on the map.— her friend shrug her shoulders softly. — Come on guys! This is our stop!— She called their other friends in the seats surrounding theirs.

As soon as the bus stopped, the group of 6 got off and took their backpacks with them.The air hit them immediately, cold and damp, carrying that fresh pine scent mixed with rain. Y/N pulled her hood up and grinned, already feeling the thrill.

This was not just a hiking trip, this was THE TRIP. The one they had been planning all year when Y/N started about these amazing mountain woods she heard about in Forks. And since all her friends loved hiking, they decided that would be their next group destination.

— Sooo what are we gonna do now?— one of the boys asked curiously.

— It’s pretty early, what if we go out for some beers and then dinner, they should have a pub out here right?— One of Y/N’s other friends said looking around the small town street.

— Doesn’t it get dark here earlier??— another girl asked.

— Yeah, but if we go towards the mountains around 6-ish, i think we should be all set up before sunset.—

— Let’s go out and explore a little then!— Y/N said excitedly.— I’ve got all these notes from the library back home. Old articles about weird sightings, people disappearing near the woods. This place is supposed to be full of stories.—

One of her friends laughed softly. — You and your creepy research again. We’re here for hiking, not ghost hunting, Y/N.—

— Hey, the hiking is better with a little mystery, — Y/N shot back with a grin. — Imagine if we actually see something. Vampires, giant wolves, whatever the legends say. It beats sitting around back home.—

One of the boys called Ethan, fell into step beside her, that familiar easy smile on his face. He had been flirting with her for months, nothing official, just those lingering looks that made things interesting.

— Lead the way, researcher. I’m in for whatever as long as it includes beer first.—

They found a small local pub after asking a local for directions. The place was dim and cozy, with wooden tables and the low hum of conversation from a few locals. They grabbed a booth, ordered pitchers of beer and some greasy burgers.

— Okay, spill it, Y/N, — One of the boys said after the first round arrived. — What’s the craziest thing you read about this area?—

Y/N leaned forward, eyes bright. — There are reports of people with super pale skin, never out in the sun, moving way too fast. And howling at night that doesn’t sound like normal wolves. One article from years back talked about a whole family that just… vanished after moving here. It’s all connected to the mountains and the rez nearby.—

— Sounds like that new vampire book everyone’s reading, — her friend teased, taking a sip. — You sure you’re not just chasing fiction?—

— It’s more than that, — Y/N insisted. — The Quileute stories go way back. Protectors, cold ones who drink blood. I printed maps of sighting spots. We’re camping right in one of the hotspots.—

Ethan chuckled, his knee brushing hers under the table. — You’re gonna get us all killed with this enthusiasm. But I like it. Makes things exciting.—

The group laughed and kept talking, the beer flowing as they shared more stories and jokes.

— Bet you ten pounds we see absolutely nothing but rain and trees, — the boy said, passing the pitcher.

— You’re on, — Y/N replied with a grin. — And when I win, you’re buying the first round back home.—

By late afternoon they had stocked up on supplies and started the hike toward the mountains. The forest swallowed them whole as they climbed. Towering trees dripped constantly, moss thick and slippery under their boots. The trail grew steeper, but the views made it worth it. They reached a quiet clearing with a small stream nearby around six, the perfect spot.

Tents went up fast amid groans and laughter about the mud.

— These stakes better hold or we’re all sleeping in a puddle, — one of the girls complained, hammering one in.

Y/N helped Ethan with his tent, their hands brushing more than necessary. — This is gonna be awesome, — she said softly. — Thanks for coming. I know it’s kinda random.—

Ethan’s eyes met hers, warm and close. — Wouldn’t miss it. Especially with you leading the weird research crew.—

Soon the bonfire crackled to life, pushing back against the chill. Drinks came out, cheap whiskey burning warm in their cups, more beer cracked open. Sandwiches, chips, and marshmallows roasted golden on sticks passed around. The fire popped and spit sparks into the misty air.

Y/N sat close to the flames, legs tucked under her. — Okay, serious story time. This area has so many legends. People disappearing, sightings of things that aren’t human.—

The boy took a swig and smirked. — You mean the sparkly vampires? Come on Y/N, that’s just the book.

— Not just the book, — she shot back, eyes bright.

— Real reports of cold ones who hunt at night. Massive wolves protecting the rez. We’re basically sitting in the hotspot right now.—

Her friend leaned in, the fire lighting her face.

— Alright, you’re freaking me out a little. What if we actually hear howling tonight?—

— Oh calm down, nothing is gonna happen babes.— one of the other girls answered.

Laughter rippled through the group as they kept talking, sharing more drinks. The stories grew wilder, voices dropping low when the wind picked up through the trees.

By eleven the chill and the alcohol finally won. Most of them yawned and headed for their tents.

— Night guys. Don’t let the vampires bite, — one of the boys called dramatically as he zipped his tent shut.

— See you in the morning, research queen. Try not to wander off and find Bigfoot.— another of her friends said before dissapearing into her tent.

After a while it was just Y/N and Ethan by the glowing embers. The whiskey had loosened everything, making the night feel warmer and cozier. Ethan looked at her, his gaze lingering.

Ethan poked at the embers with a long stick, sending a small shower of sparks dancing upward. He glanced sideways at Y/N, the firelight catching the easy smile that always seemed to play on his lips when she was around.

— So… you really think there’s something out here? — he asked, voice low so it wouldn’t carry to the tents. — Or is this whole trip just an excuse to drag us all into the middle of nowhere?—

Y/N laughed softly and bumped her shoulder against his. — A little of both, maybe. Come on, admit it. The stories are fun. All those old reports about cold-skinned people who never age, moving faster than anyone should. Doesn’t it make the woods feel… alive?—

— It makes them feel dangerous, — Ethan replied, but his tone was warm, teasing. He set the stick down and turned toward her more fully. — You get this look in your eyes when you talk about it. Like you actually believe we might see something tonight.—

— Maybe we will. — Y/N took another small sip from her cup, the whiskey burning pleasantly. She met his gaze, the fire reflecting in both their eyes. The forest around them had gone strangely quiet, just the crackle of the embers and the soft patter of rain on leaves.

— Life back home is so… ordinary. I wanted something different. Something exciting.—

Ethan’s smile faded into something softer, more intense. He reached over and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek.

— You know, I didn’t come on this trip just for the hiking.—

Y/N’s heart picked up pace. — No?

— No. — His voice dropped even lower. — I came because you’re here. Been wanting to do this for months.—

The air between them thickened. Y/N felt the buzz of the whiskey and the thrill of the night mix together. Before she could overthink it, Ethan leaned in slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away.

She didn’t. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss that quickly deepened as the months of flirting finally snapped into something real.

His hand slid to the back of her neck, warm against her cool skin, while Y/N’s fingers curled into the front of his jacket, pulling him closer.

The kiss tasted like whiskey and campfire smoke. It started sweet but grew hungry, both of them smiling against each other’s mouths between breaths.

— Finally, — Ethan murmured when they broke apart for air, forehead resting against hers. — God, Y/N… I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long.—

— Then don’t stop now, — she whispered back, a little breathless, a playful spark in her eyes.

He didn’t need telling twice. They kissed again, deeper this time, hands starting to wander. Ethan’s palm slipped under the edge of her jacket, warm against her waist.

The log suddenly felt too small, too exposed. Y/N pulled back just enough to glance toward the silent tents, then back at him with a mischievous grin.

— Your tent’s closer, — she said quietly, voice laced with excitement and nerves.

Ethan’s eyes darkened with want. — Yeah?—

— Yeah.—

He stood first, offering his hand. Y/N took it, letting him pull her up. They moved quietly across the small clearing, boots soft on the damp ground, stealing one more quick kiss before ducking into his tent. The moment the zipper closed behind them, the outside world felt far away. Inside it was warmer, cocooned in sleeping bags and the faint scent of pine and rain.

Clothes came off in a rush of clumsy laughter and eager touches. Ethan kissed down her neck, murmuring against her skin.

— You’re sure? — he asked, pausing to look at her.

— I’m sure, — Y/N replied, pulling him back down. — Just… don’t overthink it. Tonight’s for fun.—

Their bodies pressed together, the heat building fast in the small space. Whispers and soft gasps filled the tent as hands explored and hips moved. It wasn’t polished or movie-perfect, but it was real, urgent, and exactly the kind of impulsive night Y/N had been craving on this wild trip.

When they finally collapsed together afterward, tangled and breathing hard, Ethan pressed a lazy kiss to her shoulder and drifted off almost immediately, snoring softly with a satisfied smile.

Y/N layed there for a few minutes longer, heart still racing, a giddy little smile on her face. Eventually she slipped back into her clothes, careful not to wake him, and quietly unzipped the tent to head back to her own.

The woods were quiet at this hour, and there was no real cold, icy wind anymore, it was just the crickets that filled the background noise of the night.

She looked up for a minute, the sky was filled with stars, she softly smiled and let out a small sigh, it was so incredibly peaceful to her for some reason…

But then, a weird vibe came over her… she got goosebumps instantly, a small disembodied voice was heared, it was a whisper, but she could perfectly hear it.

The crickets stopped making any noise, sudden silence fell over the woods, like danger was about to swallow it whole.

— Ethan!— She whispered loudly, while walking back to the boy’s tent backwards, trying to not lose sight of any movement that happened in front of her eyes.

— Well, well, well.— a dark shadow appeared near the trees. — Aren’t you quite the investigator.—

A man with red eyes came out of the shadow and fastly ran towards his next victim. Walking around her in a slow pace, observing her from head to toe.

— You know everything about my kind don’t you?— he stopped in front of her.

She opened her mouth to start screaming but he rapidly raised her hand, making her unable to speak, she became mute, sound trapped in her throat, impossible to call for help.

— Oh oh.— He warned her. — Why do you have to wake your little friends up from their sleep? That’s not really nice, is it?—

He got closer and grabbed her throat in a fast movement. — Cause in the end, they’re here because of you… and you know what they say…— His thumb started to run down her neck, following the line of her vein pumping purely out of stress. — Curiosity killed the cat.—

Without being able to move, the vampire sank his fangs in her neck. It was truly soundless because of his ability to mute his victims in real time if he wanted to.

This time it wasn’t going to be any different.

The pain was liquid fire flooding her veins. Y/N jerked uselessly, eyes wide in terror. But suddenly the vampire froze mid-bite. His head snapped up, red eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness.

He hissed low, like he had sensed something, or someone, was watching. For a long second he stood completely still, listening. Then, without finishing the job, he pulled back, leaving her only half-drained. Venom still pumped into her system, burning and changing.

— Not worth the trouble tonight, — he muttered, wiping his mouth. He blurred away into the trees, gone as fast as he had appeared. Y/N collapsed to the damp ground, unconscious, venom raging through her body.

The next day, Y/N woke to birds chirping way too loud and her friends’ muffled voices. Weak sunlight filtered through the branches. Her head pounded, but a strange buzzing warmth filled her veins.

Everything felt sharper. Leaves rustled like thunder. She could smell the dying fire, wet earth, and Ethan’s cologne on her skin.

Her friends acted completely normal, laughing about hangovers.

— Man, that whiskey was a mistake, — one of the boys groaned.

— Morning! Hangover hike still on? — her friend waved excitedly.

Y/N stood carefully. — Yeah… I’m just gonna clear my head for a minute. I’ll be back soon.—

— Don’t go too far. — Ethan called sleepily.

She headed deeper into the woods alone. The buzzing took over. She tested it, jumping logs effortlessly, running at impossible speeds, snapping thick branches like twigs.

— Holy shit… It worked. The legends are real…

Thunder cracked. Clouds rolled in fast. Rain hammered down.

She kept pushing further, the forest alive in ways it never had been before. Every sound, every scent hit her hard. Part of her wanted to freak out. Another part felt thrilled, like she’d finally found the supernatural proof she’d been researching all year.

Thunder cracked overhead like a gunshot. Dark clouds rolled in unnaturally fast, swallowing the weak sunlight. Rain hammered down heavy and cold, soaking her instantly.

— One of them escaped babe.— Victoria’s voice was filled with excitement while holding James’s hand, looking down from the mountain seeing Y/N walk back to the campsite by herself.

James grinned, predatory and sharp — Breakfast is ready, let’s get her first, and then the other’s.— He jumped down the big ravine in a fast movement, being followed by Victoria. They landed silently in the storm, already moving like shadows through the trees. They had tracked the group for days. But as they closed in, something shifted.

Y/N spun around when she heard movement. Two figures blurred through the rain, stopping just ahead of her in the small clearing. A tall, athletic man with blonde messy hair and a dangerous smirk. A striking woman with wild red hair, eyes locked on her with intense focus.

— Stay away from me! — Y/N shouted, backing up fast, her new speed making her slip in the mud. — Who the hell are you? —

James tilted his head, inhaling deeply as he started circling her slowly, still thinking easy hunt.

— Running already, little human? We watched you last night with that boy. We’ve been tracking your whole group for days. Time to end the game.—

Victoria moved to the other side, cutting off escape, her expression hungry at first. — You came looking for monsters with all that research, and now you found them.—

But then, Victoria froze mid-step. Her eyes widened as Y/N’s changed scent hit her fully, the venom mixed with something deeper, magnetic, right. The mate bond slammed into her like lightning. Her whole body softened, fierce protectiveness and sudden, overwhelming love flooding her. This girl wasn’t prey. She was their mate.

— James… stop, — Victoria said sharply, stepping between him and Y/N. Her voice was full of wonder and steel at the same time. — She’s not just human anymore. Can’t you feel it? She’s changing… she’s a newborn. I feel it in every part of me. And… she belongs with us.—

James laughed darkly at first, still advancing. — What the hell are you talking about, Vic? She smells like flesh and fear. An easy meal. Move aside. We kill her and move on to the camp.—

He blurred closer to Y/N, reaching out with clear intent to grab her throat, still driven by the hunt.

Victoria moved faster than he expected, shoving him back with surprising force and positioning herself protectively in front of Y/N.

— Don’t you dare touch her! — she snarled, eyes flashing with raw possession. — She’s mine. Ours. Look at her, James. Really look. That pull… it’s the bond. I’m not letting you hurt her.—

Y/N pressed back against a tree, rain pouring down her face, heart slamming. She knew something was deeply off with her body, but this was chaos.

— What are you talking about? Stay away from me! Both of you! I don’t know what you want, but I’m not whatever you think I am. Just leave me alone!—

James’s expression twisted with intense jealousy. Seeing Victoria, his Victoria, standing so fiercely protective over this stranger, already looking at her with open love and adoration, burned hot in his chest.

— Vic, snap out of it! This is ridiculous. She’s just some half-venom girl from a random bite. We don’t do thirds. We don’t need anyone else. You’re mine. Let’s finish this and go.—

Victoria didn’t budge, one hand reaching back almost instinctively toward Y/N. — No. You feel it too, I know you do. Stop fighting it. She completes us. I love her already. She’s ours.—

James growled low, jealousy flaring brighter. He tried to circle around again, still intent on ending the hunt.

— Victoria, this is the venom talking or some trick. We’ve been fine as two for decades. Don’t throw that away for some confused human who was fooling around with a boy last night. Let me kill her. It’ll be quick.—

— Back off, James!— Victoria warned, her voice dangerous now, she was ready to kill James in that very instant and she shielded Y/N with her own inmortal life. — I won’t let you. She’s mine.

Y/N’s head spun with confusion. — Mate? Bond?— These words sounded familiar, and then it clicked, the research she had done, the whole reason of this trip. — You’re both vampires!— she screamed out.

Before James could push forward again, Ethan’s voice called out from behind her on the trail.

— Y/N? You okay? I thought I heard voices—

All three of them turned. Ethan stood there, squinting through the rain, eyes widening at the tall blonde-haired man and the red-haired woman standing too close to Y/N, tension thick in the air.

In a blur of motion, James and Victoria vanished into thin air, gone like ghosts.

Ethan rushed forward. — Who the hell were they? That guy looked dangerous. And who was the woman? What’s going on?—

Y/N forced a shaky laugh, still buzzing with adrenaline and utter confusion. — I don’t know what you’re talking about Ethan. You’re probably still drunk from last night. Seeing things in the storm. Come on, let’s head back to camp. I’m fine. Really.—

Ethan looked doubtful but let her pull him back toward the campsite, the rain still pouring. Y/N glanced once over her shoulder into the trees, heart racing.

Whatever was happening, those two, especially the way the woman had looked at her, it wasn’t over.