Rosalie stood in the middle of her room, her gaze drifting out the window as Crescent Howl bustled with activity. The pack had been preparing for weeks now, eager to celebrate her 18th birthday with grandeur. It was the first time she would truly stand before them as not just the Alpha’s daughter but as someone they would soon see as their future leader.
“Do you think this is too much?” Rosalie asked, glancing down at the elegant gown Bella had insisted she try on. It was a deep emerald green, its silky fabric hugging her frame perfectly before flowing into a cascade of shimmering material at the hem.
Bella, sitting on the edge of Rosalie’s bed, beamed with pride. “Too much? Absolutely not. You look stunning, sweetheart.” She tilted her head playfully. “Though I imagine Alec might have trouble keeping his eyes off you.”
Rosalie groaned, turning to the mirror and fidgeting with the gown’s straps. “Mom, please don’t start.”
“What? It’s true!” Bella teased. “That boy is smitten, and you know it.”
Rosalie couldn’t help but smile at her mother’s words, though her mind quickly wandered to the tension brewing between Alec and her father. Kael’s protective instincts had only intensified since the ball, and Rosalie wasn’t sure if he was more concerned about Alec’s growing feelings for her or her own for him.
As if summoned by her thoughts, the sound of Kael’s voice boomed from downstairs.
“Absolutely not!” Kael growled, his tone unmistakably directed at Alec.
Rosalie sighed, exchanging a look with Bella. “I should probably go before Dad scares him off for good.”
Bella chuckled, standing and smoothing Rosalie’s gown. “Let me handle your father. You focus on enjoying your day, okay?”
Rosalie nodded, though a familiar unease lingered at the edges of her mind.
Downstairs, Kael stood with his arms crossed, glaring at Alec, who was doing his best to appear unaffected.
“I’m only going to say this once,” Kael said, his voice low and firm. “If your intentions toward my daughter are anything less than honorable, you won’t just answer to me—you’ll answer to the entire pack.”
Alec, to his credit, didn’t back down. “With all due respect, Alpha, I think Rosalie is more than capable of deciding who’s worthy of her time.”
Kael’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Bella stepped in, placing a calming hand on his arm. “Kael, give the poor boy a break. It’s Rosalie’s birthday, not an interrogation.”
Kael muttered something under his breath but relented, though his eyes never left Alec.
Rosalie arrived just in time to catch Alec’s amused smirk as he turned to her. “You look… wow,” he said, his usual confidence faltering for a moment.
“Thanks,” Rosalie replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I hope I didn’t miss anything important.”
“Just your dad giving me a crash course in overprotective parenting,” Alec joked, earning a sharp look from Kael.
Bella quickly changed the subject, ushering them toward the dining area. “Come on, you two. There’s still so much to do before tonight.”
As the day wore on, Rosalie found herself torn between excitement for the celebration and the strange pull that had been growing stronger within her. Her powers had been evolving rapidly in recent weeks, and while she felt more confident in her abilities, there was also an undercurrent of something she couldn’t quite name.
Later that evening, as final preparations were underway, Bella joined Rosalie in her room to help her finish getting ready.
“You’ve really come into your own, you know,” Bella said as she adjusted the necklace around Rosalie’s neck. The medallion—a gift from Kael when she was a child—gleamed faintly in the light.
“Thanks, Mom,” Rosalie said, though her voice was distant.
Bella frowned, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
Rosalie hesitated, debating whether to share the strange dreams that had been haunting her. Finally, she said, “Do you ever feel like… like there’s something out there you can’t quite see, but you know it’s watching you?”
Bella’s expression softened. “That’s a common feeling for hybrids, especially as their powers grow. Your instincts are sharpening, and sometimes that can feel overwhelming.”
“It’s not just that,” Rosalie murmured. “It feels… personal. Like it’s meant for me.”
Bella tilted her head, studying Rosalie carefully. “If it ever gets to be too much, you come to me, okay? No matter what it is.”
Rosalie nodded, though she wasn’t sure if her mother would truly understand.
As Bella left to check on the final arrangements, Rosalie stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric of her gown. She took a deep breath, trying to shake the lingering unease that clung to her.
But then, the reflection in the mirror shifted.
Rosalie froze, her eyes widening as the room around her dimmed. In the mirror, a dark figure appeared behind her, its form cloaked in shadow.
Her breath caught in her throat as the figure leaned closer, its voice a chilling whisper.
“You belong to me.”
Rosalie spun around, but the room was empty.