Under the Cursed Moon - CH - 65

Harry had arranged everything meticulously. He knew that the Cullens couldn’t turn Bella into a vampire in Forks without violating their long-standing agreement with the Quileute tribe. The treaty had to be honored, but that didn’t mean he would let Bella die because of it. His Montana ranch was the perfect place—secluded, heavily warded, and away from prying eyes.

The preparations were made swiftly. A secure portkey was created, set to transport Bella and the Cullens directly to the ranch when the time came. Meanwhile, Harry ensured that everything was ready in Montana: medical supplies, blood-replenishing potions, enchanted medical equipment, and even an isolated wing of the ranch set up specifically for Bella’s labor and recovery.

When the time came, Bella had deteriorated even further. She was barely conscious, her skin translucent, her breath shallow. Edward carried her to the portkey, his face a mask of pain and determination, while Rosalie and Carlisle made sure everything they needed was within reach. With a final nod from Harry, they activated the portkey and vanished from Forks.

The moment they arrived at the ranch, the atmosphere changed. Unlike the rainy gloom of Forks, the Montana sky stretched wide and endless, the air crisp and clean. But none of them had time to admire the scenery—Bella’s condition was critical.

"Get her inside, now!" Hermione barked, leading the way into the prepared wing of the house. Edward rushed Bella into the makeshift hospital room, placing her carefully on the large bed that had been enchanted to provide optimal support.

Carlisle immediately took over, his hands steady as he began checking Bella’s vitals. "Her heartbeat is faint, but steady. We have to move quickly."

Rosalie stood beside Bella, gripping her hand. "We’re ready. Just tell us what to do."

Hermione uncorked a series of potions and started handing them to Carlisle. "This will strengthen her heart rate temporarily. This one should dull the pain without making her weaker."

Bella groaned as another wave of pain wracked her body. Edward knelt beside her, brushing damp hair away from her forehead. "Stay with me, love," he whispered.

The birth was not easy. The baby was strong—unnaturally so. Bella's body, already frail, struggled to keep up. Her screams filled the room, and even though the Cullens had prepared themselves, it was still agonizing to witness.

As the minutes dragged on, Harry paced outside the room, his fists clenched. He had seen many battles, faced countless horrors, but this… this was different. This was a fight for life, a battle against nature itself. And despite all his power, he could do nothing but wait.

Inside, the tension was suffocating. Carlisle’s voice remained calm as he directed Edward and Rosalie. "She’s losing too much blood. We have to get the baby out now."

Hermione, standing close by, nodded sharply. "Rosalie, be ready to take the baby the moment she’s free."

Edward’s face twisted in anguish. "Bella, hold on," he whispered. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then took a deep, shuddering breath. With a final, desperate effort, he carefully delivered their daughter into the world.

The first sound of the baby’s cry was like a shockwave through the room. Rosalie, already prepared, gently wrapped the newborn in a soft blanket, stepping away quickly to give Edward space.

Bella barely reacted. Her breaths were weak, her body too far gone.

Edward’s eyes snapped to Carlisle. "Now?" he asked, his voice filled with dread.

Carlisle nodded gravely. "Now."

Edward didn’t hesitate. He leaned down and bit Bella’s neck, then both wrists. His venom spread rapidly, and the transformation began.

For the next three days, Bella lay still, unmoving, caught between life and death. The entire ranch was in a tense state of waiting. Edward never left her side, his hand constantly in hers, whispering reassurances even though she couldn’t respond.

The baby, meanwhile, thrived. She had inherited her father’s golden eyes and her mother’s delicate features, but her heartbeat was strong. Renesmee, they named her.

Harry, Hermione, and Leah stayed nearby, ready for anything. Hermione continued monitoring Bella’s transformation, ensuring that there were no unexpected complications.

Then, on the third day, as the golden Montana sun spilled into the room, Bella’s eyes snapped open. They were no longer brown but a deep, vivid crimson.

She was awake. She was alive.

And she was something entirely new.

The transformation had done more than just save Bella’s life—it had reshaped her into something otherworldly. Her once frail body had been replaced with one of perfect symmetry, grace, and strength. Every movement was fluid, effortless, and her senses were heightened beyond comprehension. The world around her seemed sharper, clearer, as if she had been looking through a fog all her life, and only now could she truly see.

But along with this newfound strength came the undeniable thirst. The burning in her throat was relentless, a searing hunger that clawed at her insides. The moment Bella opened her eyes, she had to grip the edge of the bed to keep herself from lunging at the nearest heartbeat she could hear.

Hermione, ever prepared, had anticipated this moment. Before Bella could even speak, a goblet filled with deep red liquid was pressed into her hands. "Drink this," Hermione instructed firmly.

Bella hesitated, staring at the goblet. "Is this... blood?"

"Not human blood," Hermione clarified. "It’s Blood Replenishing Potion. It should help you get your bloodlust under control, just like it did for the Cullens."

Bella brought the goblet to her lips and drank hesitantly. The moment the potion touched her tongue, a wave of relief coursed through her. The burning in her throat eased slightly, though it did not disappear entirely. The sensation was odd—satisfying yet lacking the raw power of real blood.

Edward, who had remained tense throughout the process, finally spoke. "How do you feel?"

Bella looked at him with wide, crimson eyes. "Stronger. Faster. More... aware." She took a deep breath, surprised at how easy it was. "But the thirst... it's still there."

Hermione nodded. "It won’t go away completely, but it will make it manageable. That’s why we’re keeping you here for now."

Bella frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You can’t leave the ranch until you prove you have complete control," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "You’re not just any newborn, Bella. You’re going to be living among humans. You need to be perfect."

Edward agreed. "She’s right. Newborn vampires are... unpredictable. The thirst can be overwhelming, and a single mistake could be deadly."

Bella opened her mouth to argue, but then she realized—they were right. She thought about Charlie, about Teddy, about the people in Forks. The last thing she wanted was to be a danger to them.

Harry, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "That’s why we brought you here. This ranch is perfect for training. There are no humans around for miles, only wildlife. You’ll hunt animals here until you have absolute control over your instincts."

At the mention of hunting, Bella’s throat burned again. She swallowed hard, gripping the goblet tightly. "When do I start?"

Hermione smiled approvingly. "Right now."

The first hunt was unlike anything Bella had ever experienced. The moment she stepped outside, the scents overwhelmed her—the earth, the pine trees, the rushing water in the distance, and most of all, the unmistakable presence of prey.

Harry and Leah led her into the forest, with Edward staying close by her side. Bella’s muscles tensed as her heightened senses locked onto the heartbeat of a large elk nearby. Instinct took over before she could even think, and she was gone in a flash, her speed propelling her forward like a force of nature.

She barely registered Edward shouting after her.

The elk turned its head just as she pounced. There was no hesitation, no need for a second strike. Her teeth sank into its throat, and warm blood filled her mouth. It was euphoric, intoxicating, but nowhere near as satisfying as she had imagined. It dulled the hunger but didn’t erase it.

When she finally pulled back, panting slightly, she realized that she had drained the animal completely. She wiped the excess blood from her lips, her mind racing.

Edward landed beside her a moment later, his golden eyes assessing her carefully. "You lost control for a second," he observed.

Bella’s shoulders tensed. "I... I didn’t think. I just acted."

Leah chuckled from behind them. "That’s what newborns do."

Harry nodded. "It was expected. But the fact that you stopped after one kill is a good sign. Some newborns would have taken down an entire herd before regaining their senses."

Bella frowned. "So, what now?"

"You keep hunting," Hermione said as she arrived with another goblet of Blood Replenishing Potion. "And every time, you try to exert a little more control. The goal is to stop before you drain the animal completely. Learn restraint."

Bella looked at the goblet warily. "And this? How long do I have to keep drinking it?"

Hermione shrugged. "That depends on you. The Cullens still take it occasionally to help maintain control. But you’ll know when you don’t need it anymore."

Bella took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Let’s do it again."

As Bella gained mastery over her bloodlust, another mystery unfolded before the Cullens—the rapid growth of baby Renesmee. Unlike human infants, she wasn’t developing at a normal pace. Within just a week, she looked like a toddler, her features refining, her hair thickening, and her expressions becoming more complex. It was clear that she wasn’t just any vampire-human hybrid; her existence defied the logic of both species.

Carlisle was the first to notice the alarming rate of her growth. "This isn’t normal," he said as he observed Renesmee, who was already attempting to walk on wobbly legs. "She’s growing too fast."

Edward, ever the concerned father, ran a hand through his hair. "What does this mean? Will she keep aging like this? If she keeps this pace, she’ll be an adult within a few months."

Hermione had already anticipated the question and had spent hours buried in every magical and non-magical book she could find. When she finally emerged from the library at Harry’s ranch, she shook her head in frustration. "There’s nothing. No record of any creature like Renesmee. No history of vampire-human hybrids growing at this rate."

Alice, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, sighed. "And I can’t see her future. It’s like she’s shrouded in mist. Every time I try to look forward, she disappears."

Hermione frowned, considering this. "That could be a side effect of her unique nature. If she exists between the magical and the supernatural world, then both might be rejecting her from prophecy and divination."

Jasper, ever the voice of reason, crossed his arms. "Then we have no way of knowing what will happen to her. That’s dangerous."

Bella, who had been silent while holding her daughter, tightened her grip protectively. "She’s still my child. We’ll figure it out."

"Of course we will," Carlisle assured her. "But we need to monitor her closely."

Hermione nodded. "I’ll keep researching. Maybe the magical archives have something we missed. If not… we may need to go to the source."

Harry, who had been watching from the corner of the room, finally spoke. "If the magical world has no answers, then maybe the Volturi do."

The room fell into an uneasy silence.

Edward’s expression darkened. "That’s the last thing we need—to draw their attention. If the Volturi find out about Renesmee, they might see her as a threat."

Harry shrugged. "They’ll find out eventually. It’s better if we control the information rather than let them come sniffing around on their own terms."

For now, however, Renesmee was healthy, if abnormally fast-growing. The Cullens agreed to keep her existence hidden from the supernatural world as long as possible.

After a month of rigorous training and monitoring, Bella was finally ready to return home. She had mastered her thirst to an impressive degree—so much so that she could stand close to humans without feeling the overwhelming urge to attack.

Hermione, ever prepared, handed Bella a small velvet pouch. "These are emergency vials of Blood Replenishing Potion. If you ever feel your control slipping, drink one immediately. It should help suppress your thirst for a while."

Bella took the pouch gratefully. "Thank you, Hermione. I don’t know what I would’ve done without all your help."

Hermione smirked. "You’d probably have drained someone dry."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Not funny."

Edward stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Bella’s back. "Are you ready to go home?"

Bella took a deep breath. "More than ever."

The Cullens and the Blacks prepared their belongings and made the necessary arrangements. The journey back to Forks was going to be an interesting one—especially with a rapidly growing half-vampire baby in tow.