The hours passed quickly as Emmett and I spent time together, and I treasured every moment. It helped distract me from worries about Bella and the baby, and it eased his focus on his thirst and the struggle it brought.

I left the room where Emmett was, telling him I was going to check on Bella. I hurried down the stairs, arriving just in time to see Carlisle stop Jacob. I raised an eyebrow at Carlisle, who then gestured for me to follow. Jacob went ahead, and I trailed behind him. I glanced over at Bella and Edward, seeing them being all lovey-dovey, which brought a smile to my face. We reached a room on the ground floor, lined with bookcases. As we entered, I heard something being placed on the table. Glancing over, I saw the remaining blood bag for Bella.

"So, that's the last of it?" Jake asked cautiously, as he was the one who had placed the blood down, before he glanced at Carlisle and Esme, as I stood to her left.

"Bella could deliver as early as tomorrow," Carlisle stated, his arms crossed. He glanced at the blood bag and then back at us. My hands grew clammy as nerves kicked in, my whole-body shuddering at the thought of Bella possibly dying during childbirth. "If she's going to have any chance at all, she'll need more blood," Carlisle concluded.

"And you need to feed," Esme interjected, addressing Carlisle. "You have to be at your strongest for her. We need to go tonight." Esme's tone was filled with determination, underscoring the fact that they needed to go and be at their strongest for Bella.

"Carlisle, you're the enemy now," Jake stated firmly, his voice filled with tension. "Sam won't hesitate. You will be slaughtered." He turned away, taking a few strides from us.

"Emmett will come with us," Esme assured, giving Jake some reassurance that they could handle themselves with Emmett with them. But despite his strength, he hadn't had blood in weeks, and I was deeply concerned.

"That won't be enough," Jake said, turning back around to face us.

"We have no choice, Jacob," Carlisle said, his gaze filled with sorrow as he faced Jake, fully aware that there was no alternative. "If there's any chance to save her, we have to try," Carlisle said firmly.

Jake's eyes narrowed. "You'd risk your lives for her?" The question hung in the air, but the answer was clear. Every member of the Cullen family, without exception, would risk their lives for Bella just as they would for me. And I, too, was ready to put everything on the line for her.

"Of course we would," Esme responded without hesitation. "Bella's part of our family now, just like Charlotte is." She briefly met my gaze, her words softening my expression.

"Yeah," Jacob said, his thoughts clearly shifting. "I can see that now... This really is a family." It took him a while to realize it, but it was better late than never. "Just as strong as the one I was born into." His gaze drifted towards the double doors, where he stared out into the forest. "I know what I have to do." He held a determined expression.

Before he outlined his plan, which would give the Cullens a good chance of evading the wolves, I turned to Esme and Carlisle. "Let me help," I said firmly once Jake had finished. "I can cast a cloaking spell to give you a head start, but it won't last for long."

"Every moment counts," Carlisle said with a nod, a smile of gratitude on his face as he agreed to let me use my magic to assist.

"Thank you," Esme said softly, her voice full of warmth as she gently squeezed my hand. I returned her smile, feeling a warmth spread through me as her hand slipped from mine. Without hesitation, I turned and left the room, heading straight for my grimoire. I needed to find a cloaking spell that would effectively conceal them.

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

As night began to fall, the civil twilight lingered, casting enough light to see clearly. In the foyer, the soft glow of the remaining light filtering through the windows cast a sheen over the room. I stood with my grimoire open in my hands, its pages illumined by the house light. Carlisle, Emmett, and Esme stood before me, their expressions a mix of anticipation and concern.

Emmett's voice, tinged with worry, broke the silence. "Are you sure about this?" His question was laced with genuine concern, and his intense gaze met mine, drawing my attention away from the intricate text on the page.

I raised my gaze to meet Emmett's concerned eyes, allowing myself a moment to truly focus on the depth of his black orbs.

"It's for Bella," I said softly, trying to convey the gravity of the situation with my gentle expression. "Just..." My voice faltered as the unsettling thought of him being in danger flashed through my mind. I hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "Just be careful."

"Always," Emmett replied with a cocky smirk, leaning down to place a brief, tender kiss on my lips. Once his lips were removed from mine, he took a few steps back, standing next to Carlisle and Esme.

"Are you ready?" I asked, glancing between Carlisle, Emmett, and Esme, who nodded in silent agreement.

I took a deep breath, drawing the cool night air into my lungs, and let it out slowly. As I closed my eyes, I began to focus on my own will and my own power that I held.

"Phasmatos radium calaraa, nullum visa laris," I intoned, the words of the cloaking spell slipping from my lips with careful precision. A soft, shimmering light enveloped them as the spell took effect, creating a protective barrier specifically designed to conceal them from werewolves while still allowing me to see through it. "Go," I urged quietly. Emmett's gaze lingered on me for a brief moment before Carlisle and Esme disappeared in a swift blur. I managed a fleeting, reassuring smile at Emmett before he too vanished.

I let out a deep breath as I closed my grimoire with a decisive snap, holding it close against my chest for a moment. I made my way back up the stairs and found my way to Bella and the others. Bella was flanked by Alice and Rosalie. As soon as she noticed me, the three of them turned their heads to meet my gaze and greeted me with warm smiles.

Suddenly, I came to an abrupt halt, as if some unseen force had seized control. In an instant, I was plunged into a black abyss, the sensation of falling overtaking me for a brief moment before I found myself firmly planted in the forest. Nearby, I saw Esme tumbling down a slope, while above, the wolves regained their control. It was clear that my spell had faded quickly, unable to hold its potency as they moved farther away. Clearly, it didn't buy them enough time.

Growls reverberated in my ears as the wolves thundered down the slope, their senses keenly attuned to the threat before them. They stumbled over their own massive paws but quickly recovered, adopting a fierce attack stance. Snarling and baring their teeth, they encircled Esme, who braced herself, knowing she had to fight.

"No!" I shouted, and as the word escaped my lips, veins erupted from the earth, snaking out and ensnaring the wolves. The thick, dark tendrils wrapped around their paws and necks, pulling them back and restraining them from closing in on Esme. Their jaws snapped open, their growls slicing through the air as they desperately tried to bite their way free. But for every vine they tore apart, more seemed to sprout up in its place, ensnaring them further.

I was suddenly yanked back into the suffocating darkness, my vision consumed by the void. Moments later, I blinked my eyes open to find myself still in the same spot. Alice stood before me, her hand gripping my shoulder, shaking me urgently.

"Charlotte," she said, her voice laced with worry. "Thank God you're ok," she rushed out, her relief palpable. I noticed Bella, now standing with an expression of concern, alongside Rosalie, who shared the same anxious look. "What happened?"

"I... I don't know," I stammered, my voice trembling with uncertainty. I had no idea what had just happened or why I had projected myself to Esme. How did I even sense that she was in danger? "But I'm fine," I assured, glancing at Bella as her tense expression softened.

I shook off the recent events and put on a brighter smile as I walked closer to Bella. Despite not knowing Esme was in danger, I was glad I could help her. Was my magic still growing? Was it becoming more powerful? These questions raced through my mind as I took my position on the couch. Fear gnawed at the back of my mind.

It was a powerful emotion, especially in a witch's arsenal...

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