I couldn't sleep at all last night. Worry kept me tossing and turning, and every time it got quiet, my mind raced with anxious thoughts. But I did find a spell in my Grimoire to keep the newborns on the battlefield. It was a relief before I finally fell asleep.

I stood at the edge of the trees, observing as Bella pricked her finger and spread the blood on the bark. She had smudged her blood on several trees throughout the battlefield. I had explained the spell's purpose to her, and she appeared fascinated by it.

"Are you sure it will work?" Bella asked sceptically, after marking the tree and then joining me. I was astral projecting to her location. As I had planned to spend the night before the battle with the Cullens, and then proceed from there. So, physically, I was at the Cullens' place.

"Yes. Your blood will link the trees, creating an invisible barrier. Once they cross it, they won't be able to leave," I explained, aiming to reassure her of the plan's effectiveness. It was something small that could help us in the long run. "Are you sure you'll be okay up there, with both of them?" Bella had mentioned that Edward had proposed again, this time with a ring, though I hadn't seen it. It was Edward's condition for turning her; he wanted to be married to her first, which was considerate in its own way.

"I'll be fine," Bella replied, halting in front of me. "I'm more worried about you being there," she expressed concern about my presence on the battlefield. "They're vampires, Charlotte," she emphasized, her worry evident. "If you can't speak or get overwhelmed," her anxiety was palpable.

"Bella," I interjected firmly, her mouth closing as her eyes locked onto mine. "I'll be fine. I'm ready," I assured her with a determined look and a firm nod of my head. But she still held concern in her expression.

"Be safe," Bella said, offering me a soft smile. I nodded in response. As I fluttered my eyes closed, I felt my astral body snap back to my physical one. Opening my eyes, I found myself staring out of the window in Edward's room.

I spun on my heels to face the bed, and there, sprawled across it, was Emmett. His broad frame leaned against the headboard, and my Grimoire rested in his hands, its pages spread wide. He peered at the intricate patterns and ancient text; his brow furrowed in concentration.

"How do you read this?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze still fixed on the mysterious symbols and words before him.

"With ease," I replied, a playful smirk dancing on my lips as our eyes met, his grin mirroring mine. "At first they were words and symbols, that I couldn't decipher," I mused, moving closer to the bed and gracefully settling on the edge, facing him. He waited in silence for my response. "Thanks to my Grams' patient teaching, the words and symbols soon became easy to decipher," I reminisced, a smile spreading across my face as memories of late-night study sessions flooded my mind—hours spent mastering even the simplest spells.

Emmett remained silent; his gaze fixed on the pages. "Nope. Can't make heads or tails of it," he admitted with a hint of frustration, his efforts evident. I couldn't help but chuckle at his response.

"You're not supposed to," I clarified, reaching over to take the book from his hands, then settling back on the edge of the bed with the open Grimoire. With the book in my hand, I began, "I was thirteen when my powers fully manifested." I softly closed the book and placed my hand on its leather cover. "My Grams always said witches usually come into their power on their sixteenth birthday. I guess I was just early three years," I added with a chuckle, meeting Emmett's gaze.

"Were you not scared?" Emmett inquired.

"No," I replied. "My Grams made me feel special like being a witch was a natural part of who I am. She never kept it a secret," I explained, my voice soft and soothing. "I remember those bedtime stories about vampires and werewolves," I chuckled at the memory. "She used to tell them to make me behave, and for the longest time, I thought they were just stories. Until..." I gestured towards Emmett.

"Until a dashing, young, and handsome man entered your life," he teased with a playful grin, each word escaping his lips like they were his own delightful creation.

"Young, definitely," I quipped with a smirk. "But dashing and handsome?" I paused, scrunching up my nose in mock contemplation. "Hmm, I'm not entirely convinced," I teased, the laughter bubbling between us, mingling with Emmett's deep, husky chuckle.

"Admit it," Emmett insisted, a playful glint in his eyes. "You find me wildly attractive," he teased, his ego seemingly inflating with each word.

"My lips are sealed," I teased, raising my eyebrows playfully. Emmett, however, took it as an invitation. He pushed himself away from the headboard and shuffled closer. Leaning forward, his eyes locked onto mine, and I found myself leaning in as well. Our lips met, and the familiar spark ignited between us. Each kiss with Emmett was electric, charged with passion and intensity, as if the world around us faded away, leaving just the two of us in that moment.

Our mouths moved in perfect sync, heat surging to my cheeks and up my legs. Despite the electrifying connection, I gently pulled back, laughing softly to myself as I bit my bottom lip.

"You sure know how to make a girl feel special," I remarked, his face inches from mine. The golden hue of his eyes dazzled me, even at this close distance.

"Because you are," he replied in a low, gentle voice, making my heart flutter. "Whatever happens tomorrow, just know I—"

"No," I interrupted, pressing my fingers gently against his lips. "Finish that when we win," I instructed, giving him a stern gaze. I didn't want to hear it until we had survived and won the battle. After a moment of silence, I lowered my hand and pressed my lips against his, not giving him the chance to speak. The kiss was brief but filled with passion. I knew what he was going to say, and it frightened me a little...

The hours slipped by as I spent the day with the Cullens. I chatted with Alice and Rosalie, helped Esme cook my dinner, and listened to Jasper recount tales of his past. Carlisle shared stories from his extensive memory, being older than the rest of them. Throughout it all, Emmett never left my side. His unwavering presence was a testament to his devotion, and though everyone noticed, they said nothing. They simply smiled, happy that he was happy, that we both were.

In bed, Emmett and I found peace under the covers, wrapped in each other's embrace. His arm draped around my shoulder as I nestled closer, finding comfort in the stillness of his chest beneath my head. Before slipping under the covers, we exchanged a few words, mostly about the impending battle tomorrow, expressing our hopes for a smooth victory over the newborn army.

As sleep began to claim me, I felt his tender kisses raining down on my head, enveloped in his comforting embrace, feeling utterly content and safe. As sleep finally embraced me, the last sensation I felt was his gentle kiss and his whispered "good night," before everything faded away.

....................

I awoke to the warmth of the bed enveloping me, but the absence of Emmett's presence beside me felt palpable. The room, bathed in the soft light of dawn, held a sense of stillness as if it too were bracing for what lay ahead. My gaze swept over the familiar surroundings, taking in every detail, yet my thoughts remained fixed on the impending day. The weight of anticipation settled in my stomach, a mixture of nerves and determination intertwining within me.

I adjusted my position, propping myself up against the headboard, and gently rubbed my eyes, dispelling the lingering traces of sleep.

"Morning," Emmett's voice cut through the air, prompting me to lower my hands from my eyes. I saw him standing in the doorway with a tray of food. "I brought you some breakfast," he said as he walked into the room, and an appreciative sound escaped my lips.

"You didn't have to," I remarked as he reached the bed in seconds, settling on the edge and placing the wooden tray over my lap. The tray held a plate with a stack of pancakes, and blueberries scattered around the edge. Two blueberries sat on top of the pancakes, spaced evenly to resemble eyes. Below them, a swirl of whipped cream formed a smile, with two points sticking out to look like fangs.

I chuckled at the whimsical presentation he had clearly put effort into. "Vampire pancakes, huh?" I remarked, lifting my eyes from the tray to meet his.

"It made you laugh," Emmett replied with a smile. "And I thought I did good," he added, glancing at the food briefly before looking back at me.

"You did good," I responded softly, feeling a strong urge to lean over and kiss him, but the pancakes looked too delicious to resist.

"I'll be downstairs, waiting for you," Emmett said, his voice lowering with the weight of what was to come. I nodded, and he rose from the bed, heading to the door and leaving the room.

I ate the pancakes in silence, savouring each bite, and drank the fresh orange juice he had provided. I could totally tell Esme made these pancakes, and that Emmett had added the silly vampire face. The gesture made me smile and allowed me to forget, if only for a few moments, what today would bring.

After finishing the last bite of pancake, I delicately set the tray on the other side of the bed. Sliding off the bed, I approached my bag positioned a few feet away. With careful consideration, I selected an outfit that provided both comfort and flexibility. After slipping on my jacket, I secured a wristband and gathered my hair into a practical ponytail, ensuring it wouldn't get in my face during the fight.

Exiting Edward's room, I descended the stairs and reached the first floor, where everyone was already assembled. They were all dressed in black, the universal colour of battle attire. My gaze naturally gravitated towards Emmett, who I couldn't deny looked striking. His low-neckline shirt revealed a glimpse of his muscular chest, adding to his imposing presence. He wore fitted jeans secured with a belt and a black jacket.

"Are you ready?" Emmett asked, stepping forward to meet me halfway. I couldn't lie; inside, I was a bundle of nerves. My stomach churned, and I felt like I might throw up the pancakes at any moment.

"No," I found myself saying, speaking the truth. "But I'm not running away either," I explained further. "The army is threatening this town, Bella, my Grams, you guys... And I know I can help," I let out a shaky breath, exhaling through my pursed lips.

"We'll understand if you want to stay," Carlisle added, his voice gentle, making me shift my gaze past Emmett to meet his eyes. "No one will judge you," his words were like velvet, offering comfort and understanding.

"They'll be more likely focused on you," Jasper's voice echoed, drawing my attention to him as he stood near Alice.

"Then I'll gladly be their focus," I declared, summoning as much determination as I could. Their smiles were reassuring, though Emmett's expression shifted when he realized I might become a target. But before he could voice his concern, I silenced him with a kiss. It was a moment of shared understanding, the tension melting away as our lips met.

I deepened the kiss, conveying everything I wanted to say in that moment. When we finally pulled away, I smiled "A good luck kiss." I announced, but all he could do was smile.

Everyone began to descend the stairs and head out the door. Emmett and I were the last to leave. Just as I was about to take a step, he scooped me up in his strong arms, and in a blur, we were running. In mere minutes, we arrived at the field where Jasper had planned for the battle. As we came to a stop, I noticed the field was wide open, surrounded by the forest on all sides. In the centre embedded into the ground was a large rock, but it poked out of the surface a good few metres —perfect for the wolves to make their entrance.

"How long do you need?" Emmett asked as he sat me down. My feet touched the ground, and as I cast my gaze around the field.

"A few minutes," I replied, glancing over my shoulder to meet his gaze. Emmett nodded in understanding. I turned my attention back to the field and the trees encircling us. Inhaling the pine-scented air, I felt that deep connection to nature, grounding myself. With each breath I took, a gentle wind whispered through the field, rustling the leaves and stirring the branches. I could hear it weaving through the trees, and it felt as though the very bark of the trunks was swelling with each inhale, responding to the rhythm of my breaths.

A faint line of energy began to encircle us, flowing through the trunks of the trees. It was barely visible to the naked eye. I had to squint to see it clearly, but it was there. As it completed its circuit back to the final tree, I felt the connection solidify. The line of energy faded back into its own unseen realm.

"It's done," I announced, turning back to face the Cullens, who were poised and ready for the impending battle. "Once they enter, they won't be able to leave," I explained, making my way over to them. I positioned myself to Emmett's left, with Alice on my other side.

My breath shuddered as nerves shot through me, causing my hands to tremble at my sides. Suddenly, an icy chill enveloped my right hand, but it was quickly met with his large fingers wrapping around mine, offering comfort and steadiness to my nerves. I turned my head to the right, meeting Emmett's expectant gaze.

As he offered his boyish smile, a warmth spread through me, melting away my nerves. His smile had a way of easing my worries. Meeting his gaze, I found myself lost in the depths of his golden eyes. At that moment, I understood what my Grams had said. The unwavering devotion reflected in his eyes spoke volumes. He would do anything for me, be anything for me. It was all there, written in the depths of those golden orbs.

His head jerked away from mine; his gaze fixed on the treeline in the distance. I knew what it meant instantly—they were close. Giving his hand a tight squeeze, I sought comfort in the small gesture, even if he might not have felt it. It was more for me than him, a reassurance in the midst of this. Reluctantly releasing his hand, we exchanged one last fleeting look, though it felt like an eternity at that moment.

My gaze fixed on the treeline, my hands clenched into tight fists, bracing myself for what was to come. I was prepared—to protect Bella, Emmett, his family, our town, and my Grams. But above all, I was ready to defend myself.

I was no longer the frightened girl I once was. Now, I was a force to be reckoned with...

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