The Cullens had finally noticed.
It was only a matter of time.
Edward's absence had thrown them off balance, left them exposed in ways they weren't used to. And while Bella drifted further from them, sinking deeper into my web, the others had been watching.
Waiting.
And now, they had decided to act.
Forks Forest – Midnight
The rain had stopped, leaving the woods damp and silent. Mist curled through the trees, the air thick with the scent of pine and wet earth.
I stood in the clearing, knowing I wasn't alone.
They had been circling me for the past ten minutes, their footsteps too light for human ears, their breathing unnecessary. But I wasn't human, and their stealth meant nothing to me.
I smirked. "Are you going to keep lurking in the shadows, or are we going to have a conversation?"
A breeze rustled the leaves. And then—
They stepped into the moonlight.
Alice. Jasper. Rosalie. Emmett.
No Carlisle. No Esme.
This wasn't a family meeting.
This was a warning.
Emmett crossed his arms, his usual easygoing nature nowhere to be seen. "You've been spending a lot of time with Bella."
I smirked. "Not my fault your brother abandoned her."
Rosalie's glare could've burned through steel. "He left because of you."
I chuckled. "Oh, sweetheart. You give me too much credit."
Jasper tilted his head slightly, golden eyes sharp. "What do you want with her?"
I met his gaze. "Isn't it obvious?"
No one spoke.
Because they already knew.
They could feel it.
Jasper, especially—his gift let him sense emotions, and I knew mine were dark, tangled things. He could feel the pull I was creating, the slow, creeping shift happening in Bella's mind.
And that terrified them.
Alice stepped forward, her delicate features unreadable. "You're pushing her. Manipulating her."
I smiled. "And?"
Her jaw tightened. "She's not yours."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "She's not his, either."
Emmett took a step closer, his massive frame tense. "You think this is a game?"
I grinned. "Of course it is."
Rosalie's hands curled into fists. "You don't love her."
My smile widened. "And you think Edward does?"
That struck a nerve.
Rosalie's glare darkened. Jasper exhaled slowly, trying to keep the tension from boiling over.
Alice took another step forward. "Leave her alone."
I tilted my head. "Why?"
"She doesn't belong in your world."
I laughed. Actually laughed. "And she belongs in yours?"
Silence.
Because they weren't sure anymore.
Because they had seen the doubt in her, the hesitation, the way she didn't run from me, the way she listened.
I exhaled, my tone softening just slightly. "She's already slipping away from you."
Jasper inhaled sharply, his fingers twitching. He could feel the truth in my words.
Alice's expression hardened. "Edward will come back."
I smirked. "And when he does… what if she doesn't want him anymore?"
That hit harder than any insult could.
Because Edward had left thinking he was protecting her.
But instead, he had abandoned her to me.
And I was never going to let her go.
Emmett let out a frustrated breath. "You don't know her like we do."
I chuckled. "You're right. I don't."
Then I took a step forward, my voice dropping lower.
"But I will."
Rosalie snarled. Jasper's entire body tensed. Alice's lips pressed into a thin line.
They hated this. Hated me.
But they also knew—
There was nothing they could do to stop it.
Not without her.
And Bella?
She was already choosing.
She just didn't know it yet.