Under the Cursed Moon - CH - 77

Alice sat still as stone, her golden eyes locked in a faraway gaze as another vision overtook her.

She had been monitoring the Volturi’s movements with her ability, tracking them as they moved through Forks. Each time she tried to look ahead, the same scene played out—the Volturi crossing the territory, steadily approaching Forks.

It had been consistent. Predictable.

Until now.

Because this time, the vision changed.

The scene before Alice was no longer just the Volturi moving through the woods.

Now, two figures stood before them, blocking their path.

One was Teddy.

The other was the blonde woman Alice had seen before—the one she had later learned was Luna Lovegood, a friend of Harry’s.

The air was tense, charged with something dark and violent.

Alice watched in horror as the Volturi advanced on them. She could see Aro, Caius, Marcus standing back while their guards closed in.

Then, chaos erupted.

Luna moved like a force of nature, her wand flashing as she cast magic unlike anything Alice had ever seen.

With effortless grace, she destroyed the first wave of Volturi guards, her spells cutting through vampires like blades of light.

The Volturi reeled back in shock—they had not expected a witch to fight like this.

But then, Alice’s vision shifted—her gaze locking on Teddy.

And what she saw made her breath hitch.

Teddy was changing.

Not into his direwolf form.

Not into something Alice had ever seen before.

His body expanded, rippling with unnatural power. His fur darkened, his claws lengthened, his eyes burned with golden fire.

He wasn’t a shapeshifter anymore.

He was a Lycan.

A creature of myth, stronger than any wolf, faster than any vampire.

And he tore through the Volturi ranks like a demon of vengeance.

He ripped apart their soldiers, his strength shattering them like they were made of glass.

His roar sent even the strongest vampires staggering.

He moved too fast, too violently for even the elite Volturi fighters to match.

For a moment, Alice thought they would win.

That Luna and Teddy would destroy the Volturi here and now.

But then—the vision darkened.

The battle turned.

The Volturi adapted.

Jane struck first—her ability overwhelming Teddy, sending him to his knees.

Alec followed, his power cutting through Luna’s defenses.

The remaining guards swarmed them, overwhelming even their unnatural strength.

Alice’s hands trembled as she saw the ending.

Luna fell first, her body collapsing after a brutal onslaught of vampire attacks.

Teddy, even as he fought until his last breath, was eventually brought down.

The last thing Alice saw was Aro standing over their lifeless bodies, smiling.

And then—darkness.

Alice gasped, her body jerking back into the present.

She was still in the Cullen household, surrounded by Edward, Carlisle, and the others, but the vision lingered in her mind, burned there like a curse.

Carlisle was at her side immediately. “Alice? What did you see?”

Alice’s voice shook as she answered.

“The Volturi…” she whispered. “They’re going to kill Teddy and Luna.”

The room fell silent.

Edward’s face hardened, his hands clenched into fists.

Carlisle’s normally calm expression was filled with fear and urgency.

“They will die,” Alice continued, her voice weak, uncertain. “Unless we stop it.”

The Cullen household erupted into chaos.

Alice’s vision had changed everything.

They had always known that the Volturi were coming to kill them, using the excuse of an immortal child as their justification. That was why they had gathered witnesses, why they had worked so hard to prove that Renesmee was not a threat.

But now, the situation had escalated into something much worse.

Teddy was in danger.

And if Teddy died, Harry wouldn’t just kill the Volturi—
He would wipe out every vampire in his path.

No mercy.
No reasoning.
Not even towards friends.

Carlisle knew Harry’s nature better than most.

Harry was ruthless when it came to those he loved.

The entire vampire world would pay the price if the Volturi killed his son.

They had only one option now—

They had to go to Harry’s land.

They had to intervene before the Volturi attacked Teddy.

If they could stop the confrontation before it started, if they could make the Volturi focus on Renesmee, then perhaps they could prevent a disaster.

Carlisle turned to the room, his voice calm but urgent.

“We leave now,” he said. “All of us.”

The witness vampires who had come to support the Cullens nodded in agreement, some out of loyalty, others out of self-preservation.

The Quileute shapeshifters—who had already promised their alliance—stepped forward, ready for battle if it came to that.

Even those who had been neutral before were now tense, knowing that if Alice’s vision was correct, this was not just about Renesmee anymore.

This was about stopping Harry from going to war.

Without wasting another second, they moved.

The Cullens, their allies, and the shapeshifters all rushed through the forests, their supernatural speed pushing them forward as they raced toward Black's Estate.

They knew that the Volturi were already there.

They knew that Luna and Teddy were alone.

And they knew that if they didn’t make it in time…

The entire world would burn in Harry’s rage.

Luna and Teddy watched from behind a tree, their eyes locked on the Volturi, who had suddenly halted.

The dark-cloaked figures had stopped mid-step, their heads turning sharply, their red eyes scanning the thick forest around them.

They were searching for something.

Or someone.

Some of them even sniffed the air, their expressions growing tense.

Luna, ever calm, simply lifted her wand, her voice a soft slur of incantation.

A gentle pulse of magic shimmered around them, masking their scent entirely.

Now, no vampire—not even the Volturi’s best trackers—would be able to sense them.

Teddy huffed softly, pressing against Luna’s side as they observed.

The Volturi looked different than before.

They weren’t moving with their usual unshakable confidence.

Instead, they looked… tense.

For the first time, they were hesitant.

Luna’s sharp eyes caught movement from the other side of the clearing.

And soon, more figures emerged from the trees.

They weren’t Volturi, but vampires dressed in various clothing styles, each distinct from the uniform black cloaks of the Volturi.

Teddy’s ears perked up, and he recognized them immediately.

“It’s the Cullens!” he whispered excitedly to Luna.

Luna, ever curious, tilted her head. “Ah. So those are the ones who stand against the Volturi, are they?”

Teddy nodded quickly. “Yeah! The one in front is Carlisle—he’s the leader, kinda like their dad. And the big guy is Emmett—he’s really strong! Oh! And that’s Benjamin—he can control the elements! And that one—”

As more vampires arrived, Teddy named them one by one, explaining their powers in a rushed, excited whisper.

Luna listened intently, fascinated.

Unlike wizards, these vampires had no magic—at least, not in the way she understood it. But their gifts were remarkable, their abilities as supernatural as any spell.

More and more vampires appeared, coming from all directions.

These were the witnesses—those who had come to see what the Volturi would do.

The Volturi were outnumbered now, and they knew it.

Luna could see uncertainty flash across some of their faces.

Then, from another direction, even more figures appeared.

Luna’s sharp eyes spotted them immediately—large, towering wolves, their fur blending with the forest shadows.

“The shapeshifters,” Teddy whispered.

Luna hummed softly, watching as the Quileute pack stepped into view, moving with deliberate confidence.

And at the front, standing tall, was Jacob Black.

But he wasn’t alone.

Perched on Jacob’s massive wolf form sat Renesmee Cullen.

Teddy’s heart jumped in excitement.

His best friend was here.

Beside Jacob, Edward and Bella appeared, walking with purpose, their expressions unreadable.

The moment the Cullens saw the Volturi standing still, without attacking, they all let out a visible sigh of relief.

Teddy, watching carefully, frowned.

“That’s… not the expression the Volturi were expecting.”

Luna blinked. “What do you mean?”

Teddy’s tail flicked anxiously. “They expected fear. Or anger. But the Cullens… they just look relieved.”

And it was true.

The Volturi were waiting for the Cullens to react in panic, to be afraid.

Instead, they were met with caution, but not weakness.

The moment was tense.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

It was like standing at the edge of a battle—one wrong move, and everything would explode.

Luna, gripping her wand tightly, exhaled slowly.

She could feel it.

The storm was coming.

The tension in the clearing was palpable.

The Volturi, standing in their perfect formation, had expected resistance—a fight, or at least a desperate last stand from the Cullens.

But instead, they were met with something unexpected.

Witnesses.

Many witnesses.

Aro had anticipated only the Cullens, or perhaps a few allies, but the sheer number of vampires who had come to see this judgment unfold had changed everything.

He could no longer act freely.

He could no longer attack without consequence.

And so, with his signature charming smile, Aro stepped forward.

“My dear friends,” Aro’s voice carried across the clearing, smooth as silk, “the Volturi have received information that an immortal child was created. As you all know, such a thing is a grave offense—one that threatens the secrecy of our world.”

He gestured gracefully, his expression warm and welcoming.

“We are simply here to investigate the matter.”

Carlisle, standing at the front of the Cullens, stepped forward slightly.

As the leader of his coven, he was the one who would speak.

His golden eyes locked onto Aro’s, and his voice was steady.

“If this were only an investigation,” Carlisle said, his voice carrying strength, “then you would have sent one or two representatives.”

His words echoed in the clearing.

“But instead,” Carlisle continued, his tone calm but unwavering, “you have come with your entire army. This is no investigation, Aro. You came here to kill us all.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the witnesses who had gathered, some nodding in agreement, others watching Aro carefully.

Aro let out a gentle laugh, his smile never faltering.

“My dear Carlisle, you misunderstand us!” he said, his tone light, almost playful. “We did not come here with most of our army to kill you.”

He spread his arms wide in an almost theatrical gesture.

“We came here because an immortal child is no small matter. You know this.”

He took a slow, deliberate step forward.

“We did not know the situation. We did not know what to expect. An immortal child is powerful, uncontrollable, a danger to our kind.”

His red eyes gleamed as he spoke, shifting between Carlisle and Edward.

“So, of course, we brought enough guards to ensure our safety.”

Carlisle Stands His Ground

Carlisle did not back down.

“There is no immortal child here,” he stated firmly.

Aro’s smile never wavered, but his gaze shifted slightly—toward Renesmee.

The moment his eyes landed on her, Aro’s expression changed.

For the first time, genuine fascination flickered in his gaze.

Renesmee was unnatural—a beauty beyond human, beyond vampire, her very presence radiating something otherworldly.

Aro’s interest deepened.

Carlisle, seeing the way Aro looked at Renesmee, immediately clarified.

“She is not an immortal child,” he said, his voice clear. “Renesmee was born to Edward and Bella, when Bella was still human.”

A hushed murmur spread through the gathered vampires.

Even among the witnesses, shock and disbelief rippled through them.

Aro’s lips parted slightly in intrigue.

“Fascinating…” he murmured, his fingers twitching slightly at his side.

He had never heard of such a thing before.

A child born of a vampire father and a human mother?

This was new.

This was unprecedented.

Aro’s curiosity peaked, and he did what he always did when he wished to see the truth for himself.

He stepped forward, slowly, toward Renesmee.

A wave of tension washed over the Cullens, and the shapeshifters bristled, muscles coiling as they watched Aro approach.

The Volturi did not react, but their guards were ready, waiting for any sign of attack.

Aro lifted his pale, delicate hand, extending it toward Renesmee.

“I would very much like to see for myself,” he said smoothly.

Renesmee looked up at her family, waiting for their approval.

Carlisle and Edward both hesitated, but they knew—this was necessary.

If Aro saw the truth in her, he would have no reason to attack.

After a long pause, Renesmee took a step forward.

She reached out her small hand…

And placed it in Aro’s palm.

Aro’s fingers grazed Renesmee’s palm, and at that moment, he was inside her mind, seeing everything she had ever experienced.

What he saw shocked him.

For the first time, the Cullens had told the complete truth.

This was no immortal child.

Renesmee was something else entirely.

Aro’s red eyes widened slightly, a rare moment of true astonishment crossing his normally composed face.

When he pulled his hand back, he turned to his Volturi brothers and the entire assembly.

“They speak the truth,” Aro announced.

A ripple of shock went through the Volturi ranks, as well as the gathered witnesses.

Even Caius, who had been impatiently waiting for a reason to destroy the Cullens, looked momentarily stunned.

Aro exhaled slowly, as though still processing what he had seen.

“In all my immortal years,” he continued, “I have never encountered such a thing. A child born of a vampire father and a human mother… how extraordinary.”

A slow, knowing smile curved his lips.

“And yet,” he added, “this presents us with an entirely new dilemma.”

He turned back to Carlisle.

“The child is, indeed, not an immortal child. However, no one can predict what she will become.”

The subtext in his words was clear.

What if Renesmee grew too powerful?
What if she became a threat to all vampires?

Aro folded his hands gracefully, his eyes gleaming with calculated charm.

“For her safety… and for the safety of our world… I propose that she comes with us to Volterra.”

A cold silence settled over the clearing.

Aro smiled pleasantly, continuing, “She will be treated well under our watchful eye. We will ensure that she does not lose control… and that she does not become a danger to anyone.”

His words were gentle, but his meaning was anything but.

Carlisle’s expression hardened.

Edward’s eyes blazed with fury, his hands curling into fists.

Aro knew exactly what he was doing.

He had just eliminated all arguments the Cullens could make.

They couldn’t claim Renesmee wasn’t dangerous—because no one knew that for sure.

And by extending an invitation to any Cullen who wished to come along, he had taken away the argument that he was “stealing” the child.

It was a clever trap.

If the Cullens refused… it would look like they were hiding something.

If they accepted… they would be walking straight into the Volturi’s hands.

As the tense silence stretched on, no one noticed the small figure moving through the trees.

Luna Lovegood had been so focused on Aro’s words that she had momentarily forgotten about Teddy.

And Teddy, filled with outrage, was no longer standing behind the tree.

Before she could stop him, he had stepped into the clearing.

His voice, small but fierce, rang out:

“You can’t just take Renesmee away!”

Every single vampire turned, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice.

A child’s voice.

A human child’s voice.

The Cullens froze.

The shapeshifters stiffened.

Even the Volturi, with all their centuries of experience, were momentarily stunned.

And then, Aro’s red eyes landed on Teddy.

A small boy.

A human child.

In the middle of a battlefield of vampires.