NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Unraveling Fate
Chapter 3: Unraveling Fate
The Cullen house felt unnervingly quiet as Alice sat in the living room, her thoughts a tangled mess of possibilities. The vision she had seen earlier still clung to her like a heavy fog. Esme and Elijah. Bella's older brother, connected to Esme, of all people. Alice knew that she couldn't keep this revelation to herself, no matter how complex or dangerous it might turn out to be. She needed to tell the family—her family. This wasn't just about one person; it was about the entire fabric of their lives unraveling.
With a sigh, Alice pushed herself off the couch and headed toward the staircase. She walked slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. It wasn't just the shock of the revelation that weighed on her, but the unknowns—how would they react? How would Edward react when he learned that his soul mate's connection was tied not only to his sister but to Esme, the woman who had been the emotional cornerstone of their family for years? Would there be anger? Confusion? Or would they find a way to understand this? Alice wasn't sure, but she had to tell them.
"Everyone, we need to talk," Alice said as she entered the dining room, where the family had gathered for dinner. The moment she spoke, all eyes turned to her, sensing the seriousness in her voice. Jasper, who had been absently toying with his glass, sat up straighter. Edward's expression shifted, his brow furrowing with concern. Even Carlisle, usually the calm and composed leader, looked up at her with a hint of anxiety.
"What's wrong, Alice?" Edward asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Alice took a deep breath, her gaze flicking between the faces of her family members. "I had a vision today. One I didn't expect, and I don't fully understand it yet. But I need to tell you all, and I need you to listen carefully."
Carlisle leaned forward, his usual calm demeanor not faltering. "Go on, Alice."
Alice hesitated only for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I saw Elijah. He's Bella's older brother."
The room went silent. For a split second, nobody moved or spoke. Bella had never mentioned an older sibling, and no one in the Cullen family had ever known about him. But then Alice continued, her voice quieter, yet firm.
"I saw him clearly. He's here, in Forks. He's the same age as Bella, but... there's more. He's not just any boy. He's Esme's soulmate."
A collective gasp went through the room. Esme's hand flew to her chest, her eyes widening in shock. She had known there was a connection—she had always known there was something missing in her life—but this revelation was more than she could have imagined.
"Esme..." Alice's voice softened as she turned to her. "I know this is hard to understand, but I saw it. The bond is real. Just like mine with Jasper, just like Edward's with Bella. Elijah is yours."
Esme, who had been quiet and composed up until now, blinked, trying to process the enormity of Alice's words. "But... how? I don't know him. I've never met him."
"I know," Alice replied gently. "I don't fully understand it either. All I know is that the bond is there. He is your soulmate, and he doesn't know it yet."
"Does he... feel it?" Jasper asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could sense the emotions swirling in the room, and he wasn't sure if they were coming from Alice or the family.
"Not yet," Alice confirmed. "But the connection is undeniable. He just doesn't know how to recognize it." She paused, glancing at Esme. "And neither do you, until you meet him."
Esme's face reflected a mixture of confusion, awe, and something deeper—longing. The idea of having a soulmate, someone meant for her in a way she never thought possible, was overwhelming. But she couldn't deny the flicker of hope that sparked in her chest.
"I've never even heard of him," Esme whispered, almost to herself. "And now you're telling me he's... here? In Forks?"
"Yes," Alice said, her voice steady. "He's at Forks High School. I saw him today. He's... different. But the connection between the two of you is as strong as it gets. He doesn't want to know about it yet, though. He doesn't seem to believe in the idea of a soulmate, so it's going to take time for him to accept it. And I'm not sure how it will play out with Bella and Edward."
Carlisle sighed deeply, his gaze now focused on the table as he processed the information. "This is... unprecedented. We've never had a situation like this before."
"Edward?" Alice said, glancing at him. "How do you feel about this?"
Edward's face was set in an unreadable expression, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something—jealousy, confusion, and concern, all at once. "I'm not sure what to think," he admitted, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "I understand that Esme has a bond with Elijah, but... Bella and I have always been the center of this family. Now we have a new variable—her brother, who, like us, is connected to this strange supernatural world. How will this affect us? And what about him? How does he fit into all of this?"
Alice let out a breath, shaking her head. "I don't know. I wish I had all the answers, but I don't. All I know is that we have to figure this out. There's no going back now."
Carlisle looked up, his calm, wise demeanor taking over. "We will figure it out, together. We always do." His voice was firm, a steady presence in the storm of emotions that swirled around them. "But this will require patience. And we must tread carefully, especially with Elijah. We don't know how he'll react to all of this, or how it will affect Bella and Edward."
Esme's eyes softened as she looked at the family, the weight of the moment sinking in. "I... I just don't know what to do. This is all so overwhelming."
Alice reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It will be alright, Esme. Trust me. When the time is right, everything will fall into place."
But even as Alice spoke those words, she couldn't help but feel the weight of what was to come. Elijah's arrival in their lives wasn't just a chance encounter—it was a shift in the very fabric of their world. A new soulmate. A new destiny. And it was all connected to Bella. The ripples of this change would spread far beyond Forks, and no one could predict where they would lead.
But one thing was certain: the Cullen family would never be the same again.