KIDNAP ATTEMPT

  Rosalie moved like a phantom through the dense forest, her steps soundless against the damp earth. The dark golden hues of her eyes flickered under the moonlight as she tracked a herd of deer through the shadows. Hunger clawed at her insides, her throat burning like it had been set ablaze. She knew she needed to feed, but the very idea of drinking human blood repulsed her. Even feeding from blood bags made her uneasy. The fear of losing herself, of becoming something uncontrollable, was a nightmare she couldn’t shake. Carlisle had planted that fear within her long ago, and despite everything, his words still lingered in the recesses of her mind. That's why it had taken her so long to feed, her ability to make a decision prevented her until now. The hunger is clawing at her, pushing her to hunt the old way.

  She inhaled sharply, trying to focus. The scent of warm, pulsing blood filled her senses, but it wasn’t human. It was an animal. Her mate, Isabella, had told her the truth—animal blood made her weaker. Her senses dulled, her strength waned, and eventually, death for a vampire like her was dangerous. But what other choice did she have? If she refused to feed, the thirst would drive her mad.

  Another sigh left her lips as she crouched low, ready to pounce on a buck grazing a few feet ahead. But then—

  A shift in the wind. A scent—one that made her entire body stiffen.

  She wasn’t alone.

  Rosalie straightened, her golden eyes narrowing as she turned her head slightly. The presence of others slithered around her like an invisible rope tightening. She should have noticed them sooner, but her hunger had dulled her senses more than she’d realized.

  Carlisle. Edward. Jasper.

  Her former coven.

  She let out another breath, this one slow and measured, preparing herself for what was coming. Her throat ached, but she ignored it. Now was not the time to be distracted by hunger.

  “This is private property,” she said, her voice hoarse but firm. “What the hell do you want?”

  Edward smirked, his bronze hair gleaming under the moonlight as he stepped forward. He was positioned to her right, Jasper to her left, and Carlisle in front of her. They were boxing her in.

  “We’re here to kill you, of course,” Edward said smoothly, his tone casual, as if he were discussing the weather.

  Rosalie sighed again. Frustration would be the theme of the night. She had expected something like this, but she had hoped—foolishly—that they would leave her alone.

  “Where is Isabella?” Jasper asked, his Southern drawl barely masking the malice in his voice.

  Rosalie laughed, though it hurt to do so. Her throat burned, and her body ached from hunger, but she refused to show weakness.

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  “This isn’t funny,” Carlisle said as he stepped closer, his grip tightening around something in his hand. It gleamed in the dim light. A knife.

  Rosalie arched an eyebrow. “And what exactly do you plan to do with that?” she asked, her tone laced with amusement. “You know you can’t hurt me with it.”

  Edward took a step forward, his smirk widening. “Are you sure about that?”

  Jasper moved a fraction of an inch closer, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. They weren’t here to talk. They were here to take her by force.

  “Just come with us willingly,” Edward said, his voice deceptively gentle. “The knife isn’t for you. It’s for Isabella.”

  A growl rumbled from Rosalie’s chest, low and menacing. “If you hurt my mate, I swear I will tear you apart.”

  Jasper lunged, grabbing Rosalie’s arms and locking them behind her back in a vice-like grip. She struggled, but the hunger had drained her strength, making her weaker than usual.

  Carlisle stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he lifted the knife. “You’re coming with us,” he said. “Isabella will have no choice but to follow. Then, she will meet her end.”

  A growl, deep and filled with pure rage, shattered the tension in the air.

  “Are you sure of that?”

  The voice sent chills down Rosalie’s spine, but this time, they were not from fear.

  Isabella.

  She moved like a wraith through the darkness, her demon silhouette form barely visible against the dense trees. Her icy blue eyes glowed, locked onto Carlisle with murderous intent. The air around her was thick with power, an unseen force pressing against their chests like an oncoming storm.

  Jasper flinched his grip on Rosalie momentarily loosening. It was all the opening she needed.

  With a snarl, she twisted in his grasp, slamming her elbow into his ribs. Jasper grunted, stumbling back as Rosalie spun, her fist connecting with Edward’s jaw. The crack of bone echoed through the night as he staggered, clutching his face.

  Carlisle raised the knife, but before he could strike, Isabella was there.

  Faster than any of them could react, she grabbed his wrist, twisting it until the blade clattered to the ground. Carlisle let out a pained gasp, his usual calm composure fracturing as Isabella’s grip tightened.

  “You think you can take my mate from me?” Isabella’s voice was deadly quiet, her eyes burning. “You think you can kill me?”

  Carlisle tried to wrench free, but Isabella was stronger. Her nails dug into his skin, drawing blood, her lips curling back in a snarl.

  Jasper recovered quickly, launching himself toward Isabella, but Rosalie was faster. She intercepted him mid-air, slamming him into the ground with enough force to leave a crater in the dirt. Jasper groaned, struggling to get up, but Rosalie was relentless. Her fists came down again and again, fueled by rage and desperation. Not even her hunger stopped her from putting Jasper in his place.

  Edward rushed forward, his face twisted with fury, but Isabella turned her attention to him. With a flick of her wrist, she sent him flying backward, his body crashing through the trees with the sickening crunch of breaking wood.

  Carlisle, now free from Isabella’s grasp, took a step back, his face pale. For the second time, fear flickered in his eyes.

  “This isn’t over,” he hissed.

  Rosalie stood beside Isabella, her breathing heavy, her fists clenched. “You’re right,” she said, her voice unwavering. “It’s not.”

  Carlisle, Jasper, and Edward exchanged glances. They knew they had lost this fight, for now. Without another word, they disappeared into the darkness, their figures fading into the night.

  Rosalie let out a slow breath, her body trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. She turned to Isabella, who was still watching the trees where they had vanished, her icy blue eyes glowing.

  “You came for me,” Rosalie whispered, her voice raw with emotion.

  Isabella turned, her expression softening. She reached out, cupping Rosalie’s face in her hands. “Always.”

  Rosalie closed her eyes, leaning into Isabella’s touch. The fear, the hunger, the exhaustion—it all faded in that moment.