Moonlight
Summary: You and Edward Cullen used to have a romantic relationship. But fate seemed not to believe in the possibility of a vampire and a potential she-wolf being together. Years after your separation, you return to Forks. Edward is committed to Bella Swan, and Jacob Black has his own pack. What happens when, upon your return, you begin to transform into a she-wolf and both Edward and Jacob seem eager to revisit the past with you?
Author's Note: I suggest you interact with this chapter. The characters in this fanfic do not belong to me, but to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight universe. The story blends events that happened in the Twilight saga movies with invented ones. If you're enjoying the fanfic, please interact. This story will contain inappropriate language, explicit content and violence.
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
Now that you’re standing at the Cullen residence, Jace cradled carefully in your arms while he sleeps peacefully as if the world isn’t falling apart around him, you can’t help but feel like everything has come full circle. The large glass house stands quietly among the tall trees, the forest around it wrapped in that same stillness you remember so well.
Jace’s small body is warm against yours, his soft breathing steady and calm, completely unaware of the tension that seems to follow the adults around him.
Behind you, the gravel shifts under approaching footsteps as Jacob Black walks up beside you, adjusting the baby bag hanging from his shoulder. “You know you need to knock so they know you’re here, right?” he comments casually.
You glance at the door before looking back at him, shifting Jace slightly so his head rests more comfortably against your shoulder. “They’re vampires,” you reply quietly. “They probably smelled us from miles away.”
Almost as if agreeing with you, Jace lets out a tiny sleepy sound, his nose scrunching slightly before relaxing again. Jacob lets out a small laugh at that, leaning closer and gently touching Jace’s tiny fingers. The baby instinctively curls them around Jacob’s finger even while still asleep.
“Don’t be like that,” Jacob says softly, his voice warmer now. “You know they’re probably dying to meet the newest member of the family.” His eyes linger on Jace for a moment before he looks back at you.
You take a quiet breath before lifting your hand and knocking on the door.
You barely have time to lower it before the door swings open, revealing Alice Cullen practically glowing with excitement.
“Y/N!” she exclaims, immediately rushing forward and wrapping her arms around you in an enthusiastic hug. Jace ends up caught right between the two of you and the sudden pressure makes him stir, letting out a soft grumbling noise in protest.
“Sorry, baby,” a calm voice says from behind Alice.
Rosalie Hale steps forward from inside the house, her sharp gaze immediately landing on the sleepy baby. “Your aunt isn’t exactly used to being careful,” she adds, crossing her arms while Alice quickly pulls back, her golden eyes widening with concern.
“Oh no—did I wake him?” Alice whispers urgently, leaning closer as if inspecting him for damage.
Jacob chuckles quietly behind you. “You’re lucky he sleeps like a rock.”
Jace shifts slightly in your arms, his small hand moving against your chest before settling again, still deeply asleep despite the commotion. Alice places a hand over her heart in relief before her excitement returns just as quickly.
“Can I hold him?” she asks immediately, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Rosalie steps a little closer too, her usual composed expression softening as she looks at the baby. “Let them come inside first, Alice,” she says, though her eyes never leave Jace. “You’re blocking the doorway.”
Alice gasps softly as if she had just realized that. “Right! Sorry.” She steps aside quickly, gesturing toward the inside of the house with an eager smile. “Come in. Everyone’s been waiting to meet him.”
“The guests have arrived,” Rosalie Hale announces as you and Jacob step fully inside the Cullen residence.
The familiar interior greets you instantly,wide glass walls, soft light filtering through the trees, and the quiet efficiency that always seems to surround this house.
In the kitchen, Esme Cullen and Carlisle Cullen are finishing preparations for a meal. Even though most of them don’t eat human food, the habit of welcoming guests properly has clearly remained. On the other side of the room, Jasper Hale and Emmett Cullen are setting the table, placing plates and glasses with casual precision.
One presence, however, is noticeably absent. Edward. For a brief moment, you feel a small wave of relief settle in your chest.
“Where’s my nephew?” Emmett suddenly says, abandoning the table the second he notices you and Jacob. He strides toward you enthusiastically, though he slows a little when his eyes land on Jacob, clearly remembering exactly who he is.
Before the moment can grow awkward, Rosalie speaks again, her tone carrying a faintly sly edge.
“Don’t overwhelm Y/N and the little one,” she says smoothly. “Otherwise she might run away again.”
Carlisle immediately glances toward her. “Rosalie, we talked about how those kinds of comments are unnecessary.”
“And besides,” Esme adds gently as she approaches you, wrapping you in a careful side hug so she doesn’t disturb the baby in your arms, “we’re a family now. And this baby will not grow up surrounded by hostility.” Her warmth makes your shoulders relax slightly.
You glance around at all of them before speaking. “I’m sure everyone has a lot to say,” you admit. “But first… each of you can meet Jace.”
You gently place Jace into Rosalie’s arms, simply because she’s the first one standing close enough. She takes him a little awkwardly at first, clearly not expecting to be chosen, her posture stiff for a second as she adjusts her grip.
But when Jace shifts slightly in his sleep and settles comfortably against her chest, something in Rosalie’s expression softens. A small smile appears on her face, one that very few people ever get to see.
“He’s like this most of the time,” you explain, watching them. “Calm… affectionate.” Jace lets out a tiny sleepy sigh as if to prove your point.
“You probably already know this,” you continue, your eyes briefly flicking toward the empty space where Edward should be, “but he’s Edward’s son and mine. Which means he’s a hybrid.”
Jasper pauses halfway through placing a fork on the table. Emmett’s eyebrows shoot up. Even Carlisle watches a little more carefully now.
“He sleeps through almost anything,” you add. “And his favorite blood type so far is B positive.”
Emmett lets out a low whistle. “Well,” he says with a crooked grin, leaning slightly closer to inspect the baby in Rosalie’s arms, “kid’s already got good taste.”
“You must have gone through quite an ordeal during the pregnancy,” Carlisle Cullen says, his tone both concerned and deeply intrigued, the analytical part of his mind clearly working through the implications. “To be honest, there are no documented cases of a hybrid surviving the gestational period.” The room grows quieter at that.
Before you can answer, Esme Cullen gently places a hand on Carlisle’s shoulder, her expression soft but knowing. “Dear, I doubt Y/N wants to relive something like that right now.”
Carlisle’s expression shifts slightly, realizing she might be right.
You give a small breath, adjusting the strap of the baby bag still hanging loosely from your shoulder while watching Rosalie hold Jace.
“Jacob’s help was essential for my recovery,” you say, glancing briefly toward Jacob Black, who leans casually against the back of a chair but keeps a watchful eye on everything happening in the room. He shrugs a little at the attention, though his posture straightens slightly.
“But I should say,” you continue, your voice calm despite the weight of the words, “if I hadn’t become a hybrid myself… I would have died.” That statement lands heavily in the room.
Jasper slowly lowers the glass he had been placing on the table. Emmett’s grin fades into a more serious expression. Even Rosalie briefly lifts her gaze from Jace to look at you.
Carlisle’s eyes sharpen with sudden focus.
“You transformed?” he asks carefully, clearly trying to reconstruct the medical sequence in his mind. “During the birth?”
You nod faintly.
“The venom was the only thing that could stop the damage,” you explain. “My body was already failing. My heart slowed down to the point where…” You pause briefly, deciding not to finish the sentence.
Jacob speaks instead, his voice quieter than usual. “She wouldn’t have made it otherwise.”
Silence settles over the room again.
In Rosalie’s arms, Jace stirs slightly but doesn’t wake, his tiny hand curling gently against the fabric of her sleeve as if the tension around him doesn’t exist.
Carlisle exhales slowly, a mixture of relief and fascination crossing his face. “Remarkable,” he murmurs, though the word carries genuine concern rather than cold curiosity.
Esme squeezes your arm gently. “You’ve both been through more than anyone should have to.”
Across the room, Emmett finally breaks the heavy mood with a soft chuckle. “Well… surviving a hybrid pregnancy and turning into one yourself?” He glances between you and the baby. “Kid’s already got the most hardcore origin story in the family.”
Even Rosalie lets out a quiet breath that almost resembles a laugh while she carefully adjusts Jace in her arms. But one chair in the room remains empty. Edward still hasn’t appeared.
“Which is why the Volturi want the child,” Jasper Hale finally says. The atmosphere in the room tightens immediately.
You nod slowly. “Precisely,” you reply, your voice steady even though the concern in your mind is impossible to fully hide. “That’s exactly why they want Jace. And not just him. They want his parents as well… as subordinates.”
“They see potential,” you continue. “A hybrid mother… and a vampire father.” Your eyes flick briefly toward the empty space where Edward Cullen should be. “To them, that combination is something worth controlling.”
Jasper’s posture shifts slightly as the strategist in him takes over. “If we’re going to protect that baby,” he says thoughtfully, “we’re going to need more than a small coven of vampires, one guy who turns into a wolf, and a single hybrid.”
While he speaks, Alice Cullen gently lifts Jace from Rosalie’s arms. She cradles him easily before turning toward Jasper with a soft smile, holding the sleeping baby so he can see him better.
“Look at him,” she murmurs. “He’s hardly the terrifying threat they seem to think he is.”
Jace lets out a tiny sleepy sound, stretching one small hand before letting it rest again against Alice’s arm. For a moment, Jasper’s serious expression softens slightly.
Then Rosalie Hale speaks, her tone firm and unmistakably protective. “Obviously we’re going to protect the baby,” she states. “He’s family.”
That single word settles over the room like a final verdict. Emmett Cullen crosses his arms with a confident grin, while Esme Cullen nods warmly. Carlisle Cullen gives a calm, approving incline of his head. No one argues. In the Cullen house, family isn’t negotiable.
The front door opens almost at the same moment, and Edward Cullen steps inside.
“My son,” he says softly as he walks straight toward Alice Cullen and gently takes Jace from her arms. Alice lets him go with an excited smile, stepping aside to watch.
Edward lifts the baby easily, holding him up before lightly tossing him into the air and catching him again with effortless vampire precision. Jace is already awake now, and the moment Edward catches him again, a bright laugh escapes the baby.
The sound immediately draws everyone’s attention. Edward smiles faintly, something softer than his usual guarded expression as he bounces Jace lightly in his arms, clearly enjoying the way his son laughs at the movement.
“Careful,” Rosalie Hale says automatically, watching the small arc Edward throws the baby through the air. “He’s a baby, Edward.”
“He’s fine,” Edward replies calmly, lifting Jace again just enough to make him giggle once more.
A moment later, another presence appears at the doorway behind him. Bella Swan steps into the Cullen residence, her eyes briefly scanning the room and the gathering inside. Emmett Cullen notices her first.
“Well,” he comments with an amused grin, leaning back slightly, “looks like the house is crowded today.”
Edward glances toward you before speaking, his expression suddenly more measured.
“I brought Bella because I believe any support against the Volturi will be necessary,” he explains.
His eyes linger on yours as if he feels the need to justify the decision. You cross your arms slightly, the irritation on your face clear.
“She’s your wife,” you say flatly. “You don’t need to justify bringing her into your own house to me.”
For a moment, the room grows quieter. Edward holds your gaze, while Jace happily grabs at the collar of his shirt, laughing softly, completely unaware of the tension settling between the adults around him.
“My ex-wife,” Edward Cullen corrects quietly.
The words fall into the room like a stone dropped in still water. Your eyes snap back to his.
For a moment neither of you moves. Around you, the entire house seems to fall silent. Even Emmett Cullen stops whatever comment he was about to make, and Alice Cullen glances between the two of you with open curiosity.
Edward holds Jace securely against his chest while meeting your gaze, his expression controlled but tense. You tilt your head slightly.
“She still looks like family to me,” you reply, your voice calm but edged enough to make the meaning clear. A subtle reaction moves across Edward’s face before he answers.
“About as much family as the second father of our son,” he says evenly, his gaze sliding briefly toward Jacob Black. The gesture is small, but unmistakable.
Jacob doesn’t move from where he stands near the table. His arms remain crossed, though his jaw tightens slightly at the implication. You don’t hesitate.
“He’s not the second father of our son,” you correct firmly, your eyes never leaving Edward’s. “He’s an uncle. A godfather, if anything.”
Your tone sharpens just a little as you continue.
“And more importantly,” you add, “he’s a leader. Someone Jace can look to when he grows up and eventually has to be part of a pack.”
At that, several glances shift toward Jacob again. Jacob exhales slowly through his nose but remains silent, clearly choosing not to step into the middle of the argument.
In Edward’s arms, Jace grabs a fistful of his father’s shirt and babbles happily, completely unaware that the tension in the room has climbed several degrees. Across the room, Carlisle Cullen watches the exchange carefully, while Esme Cullen looks mildly concerned. The conversation has clearly stopped being about logistics. Now it’s personal.
“Unless you’ve forgotten,” Edward Cullen replies coolly, “our son is half vampire. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll have a pack to belong to.” His eyes flick briefly toward Jacob Black before returning to you. “We don’t even know if the Quileute would accept him as one of their own.”
The words make your anger rise almost instantly. Before you can answer, Jacob speaks.
“He’ll always have a place in my pack,” Jacob says firmly, his voice steady but unmistakably protective. His posture straightens slightly as he meets Edward’s gaze. “Whether the others accept him or no, Cullen.” The room grows tense again.
Edward’s jaw tightens just slightly, but before either of you can push the argument further, another voice cuts through the moment.
“If the two of you would like more privacy for this,” Rosalie Hale comments dryly, “we can step outside.” Only then do you and Edward seem to realize the entire room has been watching the exchange.
Emmett Cullen is leaning against the counter with obvious interest, Alice Cullen looks like she’s mentally cataloguing every second of the argument, and Jasper Hale stands quietly nearby, clearly aware of the tension filling the room.
Carlisle Cullen finally steps forward slightly, his calm presence cutting through the charged atmosphere.
“Let’s all take a moment to settle down,” he suggests gently. Beside him, Esme Cullen nods in agreement, offering a warm but firm smile.
“Perhaps we should start with something simpler,” she adds. “Like sharing a meal together.”
In Edward’s arms, Jace lets out a happy little sound and grabs at his father’s sleeve again, blissfully unaware that he has just been the center of a very serious argument.
“I’m not hungry,” you say firmly.
The room quiets a little at your tone. You take a breath before turning away from Edward Cullen and addressing the others.
“I need a moment,” you say. “If you could watch Jace while I step outside.”
Jacob Black nods immediately, understanding without you needing to explain anything. Edward still holds the baby, Jace now awake and playing with the collar of his shirt, making small amused sounds. Without waiting for more responses, you head toward the door and step outside. The door closes behind you with a soft click.
For a moment you just stand there, trying to calm the frustration still running through you. You cross your arms, staring out toward the trees surrounding the house. Footsteps approach from behind a few seconds later. You don’t need to turn to know who it is.
The door opens again and Edward Cullen steps outside before closing it behind him. “Running away again?” he asks.
You let out a quiet scoff. “I didn’t run. I removed myself from an unnecessary argument.”
Edward walks a little closer, stopping a few steps away from you. “You always do that,” he says.
“And you always start them,” you shoot back, finally turning to face him. For a moment neither of you speaks.
“Jace is inside,” Edward says after a second. “Safe. Surrounded by people who care about him.”
“I know that.”
“Then what exactly are you so angry about?”
You stare at him in disbelief. “You really have to ask?”
Edward exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “You come back after months, with our son, and somehow every conversation turns into a fight.”
“That’s rich coming from you.”
His red eyes narrow slightly. “You’re the one who disappeared.”
“You’re the one who made it impossible to stay.” The tension between you both rises instantly.
Edward takes another step closer now, his voice lowering. “We can keep arguing in circles in front of everyone inside…” He pauses, looking directly at you. “…or we can finally deal with this.”
Your eyes narrow slightly. “Deal with what?”
“With us.” He gestures briefly toward the house.
“Because now that we’re alone,” he says quietly, “we need to settle this.” You hold his gaze, the tension between you thicker than before. And neither of you looks ready to back down.
TO BE CONTINUED...
