Despite the looming threat, I made a conscious effort not to let it dampen my spirits. Returning to the party, I immersed myself in the lively atmosphere, mingling with Jessica and Angela. We danced the night away, lost in the moment, relishing in the simple joy of being carefree teenagers. For that night, I refused to let the weight of the situation define me; I was determined to embrace the fleeting moments of normalcy amidst the chaos.

I found myself at the punch table, indulging in numerous cups of the refreshing drink. The vigorous dancing had left me parched, and each sip brought relief to my dry mouth and quenched my thirst. I released a sigh of relief as I set the cup back on the table. As I turned, I spotted Emmett making his way towards me. He looked different from earlier, now clad in a vest he had worn previously, paired with a shirt and jeans. It seemed like he had made an effort to dress up for the party.

"What's the special occasion for?" I teased, my eyes wandering his outfit while raising an eyebrow as Emmett approached. He chuckled, halting just inches away from me.

"You," he replied smoothly, eliciting a grin from me as my heart skipped a beat. "Carlisle told me," Emmett announced, drawing my attention away as I realised, I'd forgotten about it until he brought it up. He seemed to pick up on my change in demeanour solely from my body language. "Would you like to dance?" he asked, shifting the conversation, but I returned my gaze to meet his golden eyes.

"I'd love to," I replied with a bright smile, accepting his large hand. He guided us into the other room, where the party was still going. As we entered the dance floor, slow music began to play. I caught a glimpse of Alice darting away; she must have seen this moment, knowing Emmett's decision to ask me to dance and selecting a slow song for us.

I met Emmett's gaze, a giggle bubbling up from within me as I closed the distance between us. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers interlocking at the back. I felt his arms encircle my waist. We moved together in sync with the music, swaying gently to its rhythm, lost in our own world amidst the crowd.

"Do you think we'll be alright?" I asked, breaking the silence between us as I met his gaze, my eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Do you think we'll win this?" I gestured to the impending fight with the newborn army, seeking reassurance in his eyes.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Emmett's voice was deep and reassuring, promising his protection.

"And I won't let anything happen to you," I murmured softly, making my own promise to protect him and the Cullens.

"Charlotte," he began, holding my gaze intently. "There's something I need to say," and for some reason, I already knew what he was about to confess. He seemed to be struggling to find the words.

"Tell me after we win," I said gently. "Something for us to fight for." He couldn't help but smile that boyish one that I just couldn't help but swoon for.

"I don't think I could hold it for that long," he remarked with a deep laugh. I shook my head, a smirk playing on my lips. "But for you... I'll do anything," he whispered, his laughter fading as his tone became serious, perfectly matching his husky voice. His words made me smile even brighter. I turned my head away, blushing under his intense gaze.

For the rest of the night, we danced closely, our bodies moving in perfect sync. I didn't want to leave his embrace, savouring every second of feeling his strong arms around me. Though his skin was cold, I imagined a warmth radiating between us, filling me with a sense of comfort and belonging...

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

Training day finally arrived. I had told Emmett and the others that I would meet them early, and Emmett insisted on coming to get me. He was outside my house at the crack of dawn, ready to go since he didn't need any sleep. I tucked my grimoire into the crook of my arm and descended the stairs. I wore a pair of tight-fitting leggings made of stretchable fabric, perfect for athletic activities. A sports bra supported me beneath my t-shirt, and I completed the outfit with a pair of trainers, ready for the intense training day ahead.

Emmett drove us to the house, his confident grip on the steering wheel guiding us through the familiar route. As we arrived, he effortlessly scooped me up into his arms, the strength in his muscles evident as he carried me with ease. With purposeful strides, he navigated through the dense woods until we reached a clearing, where the rest of the Cullens awaited.

Each member of the family was dressed in sporty attire, their clothing chosen for comfort and flexibility during training. Emmett stood out with his casual yet rugged look, clad in a grey and white shirt that hugged his toned physique. The sleeves of his shirt ended just before his forearms, revealing the strong muscles beneath. Adorning his right wrist was a thick bracelet bearing the Cullens' crest, a symbol of unity and strength. Despite his choice of jeans, Emmett exuded confidence, his sensible choice of footwear, and trainers, reflected his readiness for the activities ahead.

Emmett carefully set me down on the ground, and I exchanged a quick smile with the other Cullens. Despite the early hours, I was wide awake and eager to start our practice session. I approached Esme, extending a warm smile as she enveloped me in a sideways hug, returning the morning greeting.

Alice approached with a radiant smile, almost skipping toward me. "So, how was the dance?" she inquired, her grin growing wider. While her question seemed innocent, it was evident that they all noticed the increasing amount of time I was spending with Emmett and vice versa.

"it was lovely. Thank you," I replied, expressing gratitude for the pleasant evening, and appreciating the normalcy of the dance. My gaze shifted from Alice to Emmett, who was engaged in conversation with Jasper. When he felt my eyes on him, he turned to meet my gaze.

"Charlotte," Jasper's accented voice drew my attention, prompting me to shift my gaze to him. His untamed hair dangled, giving him a rugged look that suited him perfectly. "Want to show us what you got?" His Texan accent filled the air, adding a touch of charm to his invitation.

They knew what I was, but they had never really seen me in action before. Witches could be anything—attackers, defenders, or offensive forces. Whatever was needed, I could become it. There was a spell for nearly everything. With a firm nod, I handed the grimoire to Alice, who accepted it with a determined grip, as if she would put her life on the line to protect it.

I strode towards Jasper, the ground beneath my feet crunching with each step on the dirt and twigs. Emmett stood a few steps to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, prepared to observe my abilities. Despite his watchful gaze, I could detect a hint of concern in his eyes, albeit faint. Jasper led me to a spot a few paces away, allowing me ample space to perform the spell without any interference.

I turned on my heels to see Jasper positioned a metre or two away. Our eyes met, and he nodded, indicating that we were prepared to begin our training session. I understood that he wouldn't go easy on me; he needed to gauge my abilities accurately.

In a flash, Jasper surged toward me with remarkable speed, closing the distance in mere moments.

"Vites vestis!" I exclaimed, the words tumbling out of my mouth instinctively, drawing upon spells I had studied diligently the previous night in anticipation of today's training.

With startling swiftness, the earth seemed to respond to my command, erupting with coiling vines that snaked towards Jasper's feet. In an instant, they entangled his foot, halting his charge just inches from me. His focus shifted downward, his muscles tensing to break free, but before he could act, another vine emerged from the ground, looping around his wrist and preventing him from reaching the one ensnaring his leg. Before he could react further, a flurry of vines burst forth, wrapping around him with rapid precision. In a matter of moments, Jasper found himself engulfed, each limb bound tightly by the resilient vegetation, rendering him completely immobilised.

He writhed within his leafy confines, exerting all his strength in hopes of breaking free. However, with each twist and turn, the vines responded by constricting tighter around him. Sensing his distress, I swiftly intervened, flicking my hand downwards with a precise gesture. As if on cue, the vines obeyed my command, retracting with remarkable speed back into the earth. In an instant, Jasper was released from his vegetative prison, left unharmed and sprawled on the ground.

"Well," Jasper broke the silence, rising to his feet with a bemused expression. "Didn't know you had that in you," he remarked with a chuckle, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration. "Can you handle a few of us?" Jasper inquired, clasping his hands behind his back as he paced back and forth. "With the sheer number of newborns we might face, it's possible you'll find yourself surrounded. Do you think you can handle that?" He asked, arching up an eyebrow.

"Let's see," I replied, feeling a surge of confidence. His smile in response hinted that he appreciated my answer.

"Esme, Carlisle, Emmett, with me," Jasper's voice echoed, signalling the start of the exercise. I positioned myself in the centre as they formed a circle around me. With each of them focused on me, I turned slowly, meeting their gazes one by one. A silent understanding passed between them as they prepared to make their move.

As the four of them surged towards me with lightning speed, every detail seemed to slow down, each movement becoming deliberate and intense. Despite the urgency of the situation, I didn't have enough time to utter a spell before the sensation of impending harm loomed over me. In a split second, I vanished from the centre of their encroaching circle, reappearing several feet away. They skidded to a halt, narrowly avoiding colliding with each other, confusion etched on their faces.

With a swift motion, I raised my hand into a claw-like shape, invoking the incantation "Ah sha lana!" A surge of energy rippled outward, causing the four of them to writhe in agony, clutching their heads as if in torment.

Before they could recover, I summoned another incantation, "Vodux!" With a sweeping motion of my hand, a powerful force flung them backwards, sending them sprawling in opposite directions, their forms tumbling through the air. The sound of their bodies hitting the ground echoed like rocks crashing into the earth. However, they managed to skid to a stop, their momentum gradually dissipating as my control over them waned.

As they swiftly regained their footing, I sheepishly made my way back to the centre of the field. "Sorry, that was a bit intense," I apologised, feeling a twinge of guilt for the force of my spell.

"It's fine," Carlisle reassured me. "It's good to know you can handle yourself," he added, his gaze shifting between me and Jasper, who nodded in agreement.

"Now we'll practice what happens if one gets too close," Jasper announced. "Emmett," he called, selecting him to face the brunt of my power. Emmett nodded confidently, ready for the challenge. Esme and Carlisle wandered back over to Alice and Rosalie, who watched intently.

"Can you access your power without using words?" Jasper asked, locking eyes with me.

"Yeah, but it won't be as powerful," I replied, rubbing my arm for a moment. It felt strange discussing my magic with him.

"We'll see how it works," Jasper said, nodding to Emmett. I turned to face Emmett, who was just a few steps away. His eyes locked with mine, hesitating for a moment until I gave him the go-ahead.

He didn't charge at me, but he strode towards me with determined steps. I exhaled, bracing myself for his touch. When he reached out, he gripped my shoulder gently, knowing his full strength could easily shatter it. As soon as his hand made contact, an unseen force blasted him backwards, sending him flying like a shooting bullet. Emmett was thrown off his feet and slammed into a nearby tree. The impact wasn't enough to break through the trunk, but it cracked under the force of his collision.

"Not powerful, you say," Jasper remarked, striding forward and stopping beside me, giving me a sideways glance.

"If I had used a spell, he would have flown through that tree," I replied casually, chuckling softly. Jasper just smirked at my comment. Before Jasper could speak, Emmett rose from the indent in the tree, brushed off the dirt and bark, and strode out without a scratch on him.

"I've been thinking about something," I announced, turning halfway to face Jasper. He gave me his full attention. "I should tell Jacob and the pack what I am," I said softly into the forest air. "I don't want them distracted when I start waving my hands and unnatural things happen. It's better to get it out of the way now so they can focus on the battle." Though I addressed Jasper, my words were meant for everyone there.

"It would be better if there were no surprises," Jasper stated, giving me a firm look. "We'll tell them," he nodded which I countered with a nod of my own, agreeing with him.

I stepped aside and made my way back to Alice and the others, while Jasper and Emmett resumed their conversation. As I approached, Alice handed back my Grimoire with a wide smile, and I mouthed a 'thank you' to her for looking after it. Holding the book close to my chest, I crossed both hands over it and observed Jasper and Emmett as they engaged in their training session.

*****************