Under the Cursed Moon - CH - 66

When the Cullens finally returned to Forks, it was Teddy who was the most ecstatic about their arrival—not because of Bella or even Emmett, who had always been his favorite playmate before, but because of Renesmee. Ever since Hermione had explained to him that Renesmee was a fast-growing baby, Teddy had been utterly fascinated. A baby that could grow in mere days? It sounded like something straight out of a storybook. But for Teddy, who had experienced his own supernatural changes since birth, the concept wasn’t as hard to accept as it would be for others.

Unlike the other children in Forks, who might have found Renesmee’s rapid growth unsettling, Teddy saw nothing strange about it. After all, he had been raised in a household where magic was as normal as breathing, where werewolves were protectors, and where vampires were allies rather than nightmares whispered about in dark corners. To him, Renesmee was just another extraordinary part of his world.

The Cullens, despite their increasing social interactions with the people of Forks, still kept a polite distance from most of the town’s residents. Their unique nature made it necessary to avoid unexpected visitors, something that worked in Renesmee’s favor. She could grow and learn in the safety of her home without too much scrutiny, at least for now.

But Teddy was determined that she wouldn’t grow up alone.

From the moment the Cullens stepped foot back into town, he insisted on visiting them. "Mum, Dad, please! I need to see her," he begged, looking up at Harry and Hermione with big, pleading eyes. "She’s a baby, right? Babies need friends. And I’m the best friend ever."

Harry chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Well, that’s not wrong."

Hermione exchanged a look with him before nodding. "Alright, Teddy. But remember, Renesmee is different. We don’t know how fast she’ll grow or how she’ll react to other people. Be patient with her."

"I promise!" Teddy said excitedly, bouncing on his feet.

Leah smirked from the side. "Guess we better warn the Cullens that Hurricane Teddy is on his way."

And so, it was decided. Teddy would be one of Renesmee’s first real friends, someone who could accept her without fear, someone who could run through the woods with her, laugh with her, and remind her that even though she was different, she was never alone.

When the shapeshifter pack arrived at the Cullen residence, they came in force. Large, looming figures in their wolf forms, their amber eyes burned with anger as they surrounded the house. The tension in the air was suffocating. It wasn’t just a casual visit—it was a call to war.

The treaty had been clear: if the Cullens ever turned a human into a vampire within the borders of Forks, the pact would be broken, and the wolves would be free to attack. And now, with Bella no longer human, the pack was prepared to fulfill their duty.

Carlisle, knowing that things could escalate beyond control, had immediately reached out to Harry. The moment Harry received the call, he wasted no time. With a swift incantation, he teleported straight into the Cullen household.

The atmosphere was thick with hostility when he arrived. The shapeshifters stood in their wolf forms, growling, their hackles raised. Sam Uley stood at the front in his human form, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Carlisle.

"You broke the treaty, Cullen," Sam accused, his voice steady but laced with rage. "You knew the consequences."

Edward, who was standing in front of Bella protectively, clenched his fists but said nothing. He knew this confrontation was inevitable.

Harry stepped forward, his presence commanding as he looked at Sam. "The treaty was not broken," he said firmly.

The pack collectively bristled, a few of them growling lowly.

Sam narrowed his eyes. "You expect us to believe that? She’s a vampire now!"

Harry nodded. "Yes, she is. But where was she turned?"

The question seemed to catch Sam off guard for a moment, and he hesitated.

"In Montana," Harry continued. "Not Forks. The treaty explicitly states that no human will be turned into a vampire within the boundaries of Forks. There’s nothing in your treaty about a vampire being turned somewhere else and coming back."

A ripple of murmurs passed through the pack as they processed his words. It was true. Their treaty bound the Cullens not to create new vampires in their territory, but it never dictated what could happen beyond its borders.

Jacob, who had remained silent until now, took a step forward. He looked at Bella, his jaw clenched. She was still Bella—at least in body—but she was different. Pale, immortal, eyes burning like molten gold. His best friend, the girl he had once loved, was now something else entirely.

"You knew this was going to happen," Jacob said quietly, his voice almost unreadable.

Bella, standing next to Edward, looked at him with sadness in her expression. "I didn’t have a choice, Jacob."

Jacob let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well… I guess it doesn't matter anymore."

Edward tensed beside Bella, watching the exchange closely. But there was no anger in Jacob’s voice, only acceptance—an acknowledgment that their trio, once balanced in three different worlds, was now irrevocably changed.

"It does matter," Bella insisted. "I didn’t want to lose you as a friend."

Jacob exhaled deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "We’re on different sides now, Bells. That’s just how it is."

Sam, realizing that the fight they had come for was no longer justified, turned to his pack. "We’ll be watching," he said coldly. "One wrong step, and the treaty is off."

With that, the wolves turned and disappeared into the trees one by one, their large forms blending into the forest.

Jacob lingered for a moment longer, his expression torn between what once was and what now had to be. Then, without another word, he turned and left as well.

Harry watched them go before turning to Bella. "You’re safe for now. But you’ll need to be careful. Even if the treaty technically wasn’t broken, they’re not happy."

Bella nodded, understanding. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry gave a small nod before looking at Edward. "Make sure she stays in control."

Edward nodded solemnly. "She will."

With the immediate threat gone, the Cullens and the Blacks knew that things would never be the same. The balance of their world had shifted once again, and only time would tell where it would lead them next.

Renesmee Cullen was a well-kept secret of the Cullen family. It was safer that way. The outside world would never understand the impossible nature of her existence, nor could they accept the fact that a child could grow so unnaturally fast. If anyone outside their circle met her once and then saw her again two months later, they would know something was wrong. Her rapid growth rate would raise far too many questions—questions that had no logical, human answers.

It wasn’t just her physical changes that made her a mystery. Renesmee was gifted. She had an ability unlike anything even the Cullens had ever encountered. With a simple touch of her hand, she could communicate her thoughts, feelings, and memories directly into someone’s mind. It wasn’t invasive like Edward’s telepathy, nor was it something that could be blocked like. Instead, it was a warm, seamless connection, a transfer of emotions and experiences that could make even the most hardened person understand exactly what she felt in that moment.

Despite the extraordinary nature of her existence, Renesmee was thriving. She was not just growing fast—she was growing strong, intelligent, and deeply aware of the people around her. She understood, even at her young age, that she was different. She rarely fussed, never cried for attention, and showed an eerie understanding of the need for secrecy.

Yet, for all the measures taken to keep her hidden, there was one person who could not be kept away—Teddy Lupin.

Unlike adults who would have struggled to grasp the absurdity of her rapid growth, Teddy—being a magical child himself—was completely unfazed. He was a boy who could change his appearance at will, a child who had grown up surrounded by magical beings, shapeshifters, and vampires. The idea of a fast-growing girl with the ability to share memories with a touch wasn’t nearly as strange to him as it would have been to others.

When Teddy finally met Renesmee, it was an instant bond.

She touched his hand, and for the first time, Teddy experienced what her world was like—the warmth of her parents, the love of her family, the wonder she felt toward the world. Teddy, in turn, showed her what it was like to fly on a broomstick, to wrestle with Jacob and the other wolves, to sit on Harry’s shoulders as he watched Quidditch matches.

From that day on, Teddy was her constant companion.

Despite their efforts to keep her existence a secret, the Cullens soon realized that hiding Renesmee forever was not an option. She was too intelligent, too curious, and too aware. And with Teddy now in her life, she had more reasons than ever to explore the world beyond the Cullen house.

But secrecy could only last so long before the outside world came knocking. And with Renesmee growing at an alarming rate, it was only a matter of time before someone noticed.

Charlie Swan sat in his living room, staring blankly at the walls, a deep sense of loss weighing heavily on his heart. Ever since he had been told that Bella had died, a hollow emptiness had settled within him. He had always known she was stubborn, always chasing after things he didn’t quite understand, but never in his wildest dreams had he expected to lose her so suddenly. It didn’t feel real. His daughter, gone. Just like that.

Jacob Black, who had been visiting Charlie almost daily since the news broke, sat across from him, clearly uncomfortable. He had spent days agonizing over whether or not to tell Charlie the truth. The Cullens had insisted that secrecy was necessary—that Bella’s transformation couldn’t be explained, and that no human, not even her father, could know the reality of what had happened to her. But Jacob couldn’t stomach watching Charlie grieve a daughter who was very much alive.

After a long silence, Jacob finally spoke. “Charlie, we need to talk.”

Charlie sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. “What about, kid?”

Jacob hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Bella… she’s not dead.”

Charlie’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell are you talking about, Jacob?” His voice was rough, laced with barely restrained emotion.

Jacob took a deep breath. “She’s alive, Charlie. She didn’t die. The Cullens… they lied.”

For a moment, Charlie just stared at Jacob, his face unreadable. Then, in a low, dangerous voice, he asked, “Why would they lie about something like that?”

“Because…” Jacob swallowed hard. “Because Bella isn’t the same anymore.”

Charlie leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists. “What the hell does that mean, Jacob? Speak clearly.”

Jacob took a deep breath. “Look, I can’t explain everything, not in a way that makes sense to you. But Bella… she changed. She had to. It was the only way she could survive. She’s not sick, she’s not hurt. She’s just… different now.”

Charlie stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Take me to her.”

Jacob hesitated. “Charlie, you need to prepare yourself. She doesn’t look the same. She’s—”

“I don’t give a damn what she looks like,” Charlie snapped, his voice thick with emotion. “She’s my daughter.”

Jacob nodded, relieved that Charlie wasn’t rejecting the idea outright. “Alright, let’s go.”

The drive to the Cullens’ house was tense. Charlie gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, his mind racing. He had no idea what to expect. What could possibly have happened to Bella that would make the Cullens fake her death? He had a million questions, but no answers.

When they arrived, the Cullens were already waiting for them. Edward stood near the porch, his expression unreadable, while Carlisle and Esme hovered nearby. Bella stood in the doorway, her golden eyes wide, her face more radiant than Charlie had ever seen it.

For a long moment, Charlie simply stared at her.

“Dad…” Bella’s voice was soft, hesitant.

Charlie exhaled sharply. “Jesus, Bells.”

She took a step forward, but stopped, unsure of what to do. “I’m still me, Dad.”

Charlie shook his head slowly. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you don’t look like my Bella.”

Bella swallowed. “I know. I—Dad, I had no choice. I was dying. This was the only way.”

Charlie’s eyes flickered toward Edward, his expression darkening. “You did this to her.”

Edward nodded, his voice quiet but firm. “Yes.”

Charlie’s hands curled into fists. “Why?”

“Because if I hadn’t, she wouldn’t be standing here right now,” Edward replied evenly. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, Charlie. It wasn’t what Bella wanted either. But she had a choice, and she chose to live.”

Charlie looked at Bella again, really looked at her. She was beautiful in a way that didn’t seem real—too perfect, too flawless. But she was still his daughter. The way she looked at him, the way she shifted nervously on her feet, the way she bit her lip—it was all Bella.

His Bella.

Charlie sighed heavily, rubbing his face. “You’re really okay?”

Bella nodded. “Better than okay. Stronger, healthier. Just… different.”

Charlie looked around at the Cullens, his gaze hard. “Does anyone else know?”

Carlisle stepped forward. “No. And it’s best if it stays that way.”

Charlie let out a slow breath. “I don’t like this. I don’t understand it. But I lost your mother, Bella. I thought I lost you too. And I don’t think I could survive that.” He paused, looking at her again. “You’re still my kid, no matter what you are.”

Bella’s face crumpled with relief. “Thank you, Dad.”

Charlie pointed a finger at Edward. “But you—if you ever put her in danger again, I don’t care what you are, I will find a way to take you down.”

Edward simply nodded, accepting the threat without argument.

Jacob, who had been watching silently, grinned. “Told you he’d handle it better than you thought.”

Charlie exhaled and shook his head. “Yeah, well… I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this. But if my daughter’s alive, that’s all that matters.”

Bella smiled, and for the first time since her transformation, she truly felt like everything would be okay.