The forest around our home was eerily quiet, cloaked in an unnatural stillness. Since the confrontation with the Volturi guards, I had felt something stirring within me—something powerful, as if my very existence was evolving into something beyond comprehension.
It began suddenly that night. I had been sitting in the clearing, Selene close by, when the first wave of pain struck.
A sharp, burning heat shot through my chest, forcing me to my knees. "What's… happening?" I rasped, clutching at the ground.
Selene was at my side in an instant, her hands steady as they gripped my shoulders. "Jason!" she said, her voice calm yet urgent. "What's wrong?"
The rest of my coven appeared almost instantly, their faces etched with concern. Victor stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "Boss, what's going on? This feels… off."
"It's not just him," Joan said, her voice low and analytical. "Do you feel that? The air itself is changing."
The fire in my chest spread, coursing through my veins. It felt like I was being reforged from the inside out, my very essence being dismantled and rebuilt. My body grew taller, my muscles stronger, each motion imbued with newfound power.
Selene knelt directly in front of me, her dark eyes steady and focused. "Jason, you're transforming. Don't fight it. Let it happen."
Her voice grounded me as the overwhelming heat began to shift into something else. The pain ebbed, replaced by a surge of energy unlike anything I had ever experienced. Slowly, I stood, taller and stronger than before.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the pool nearby. My hair, once dark, was now a shimmering white, cascading in silken waves. My features were sharper, impossibly perfect, and my golden eyes burned with an intensity that matched the raw power coursing through me.
Victor let out a low whistle, crossing his arms. "Well, that's… something. You've officially leveled up, boss."
Joan studied me carefully, her expression unreadable. "It's not just physical," she murmured. "Your presence is overwhelming. This is more than just strength—it's an evolution."
Selene's hand brushed my arm, her touch grounding and steady. "Whatever you've become," she said softly, "it's exactly what we need to face what's coming."
The next evening, we approached the Cullen residence. It was time to let them know the storm that was brewing.
Our approach was silent, but there was no doubt they would sense us coming. My coven moved behind me in perfect unison, each of them radiating power and beauty. Selene walked closest to me, her presence magnetic as ever.
The Cullen house came into view—a sleek, modern structure that glowed softly in the moonlight. I knocked firmly on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness of the night.
The door opened to reveal Alice, her golden eyes widening as she took me in. Her gaze lingered on my towering frame, my long white hair, and my sharp features.
"Jason," she murmured, her voice almost reverent.
The rest of the Cullens gathered quickly, their faces a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Emmett leaned casually against the doorframe, though his usual smirk faltered as his eyes scanned me.
"Holy… You look like a damn god," Emmett said, his tone equal parts astonished and impressed.
Rosalie's gaze flicked over me, her lips pressing into a thin line. "He's not just strong," she said sharply. "He's… something else entirely."
Carlisle stepped forward, his expression calm yet curious. "You're extraordinary," he said, studying me with a mix of fascination and caution. "Your presence alone is unlike anything I've ever encountered."
Edward, who had been standing silently, narrowed his eyes as though trying to read my mind. His brow furrowed. "Your mind… it's like a wall now. I can't see anything."
"We're not here to make an impression," I said, my voice deeper and more resonant than before. "We're here to deliver a warning."
Selene stepped closer, her sharp, confident voice cutting through the room. "The Volturi came for us," she said. "They demanded our allegiance. When we refused, they attacked. They didn't survive."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.
"You killed members of the Volturi guard?" Carlisle asked, his tone cautious.
I nodded. "They left us no choice. And now we're enemies of the Volturi. They'll come for us—and when they do, they won't stop with just our coven. They'll come for anyone they see as a threat."
Esme's expression turned to one of concern. "You think they'll come after us as well?"
"They won't care if you're involved," Joan said coolly. "They'll assume you're allies—or worse, that you'll oppose them. The Volturi destroy anything they perceive as a challenge to their power."
"You're not asking us to fight with you?" Edward said, his tone skeptical.
"No," I replied firmly. "This isn't a call to arms. This is a warning. Be prepared. When the Volturi come, no one will be safe."
Alice stepped forward, her eyes locked on mine. "You've changed so much," she said softly. "And now everything around us is changing too."
Selene's voice cut through the moment. "This war is coming whether you want it or not. Decide now where you'll stand."
With that, we turned and left, the Cullens standing in silence as the weight of our warning settled over them. The Volturi would come, and the lines were already being drawn.