The reception was in full swing under strings of twinkling lights and the soft glow of lanterns. The massive wedding cake stood as the centerpiece, drawing admiring (and critical) glances.
Jessica stared at it with a skeptical expression. "Just thought it'd be bigger."
Eric nodded beside her. "Yeah."
Alice swept over to them with a bright smile. "Hi, guys!"
Jessica recovered quickly. "We were just saying how pretty everything is, you know. Just saying."
Alice beamed. "Well, thanks so much. You don't think it's too much?"
Eric and Jessica shook their heads vigorously. "No. Not at all."
Emmett stood up with a mischievous grin, tapping his glass for attention. "Excuse me. Is this on? Hello? I'd like to propose a toast. To my new sister. Bella, I hope you've gotten enough sleep these last eighteen years. 'Cause you won't be getting any more for a while."
There were scattered laughs and awkward chuckles. Bella buried her face in Edward's shoulder, mortified but smiling.
Jessica was next, standing with dramatic flair. "Well, Bella was just like everybody else — totally mesmerized by Edward. Or 'The Hair,' as I call him. And then, suddenly, Edward is all about Bella. Even though she's not the captain of the volleyball team." She laughed. "I'm just kidding! Or the president of the student council."
More laughter rippled through the guests. Bella shook her head, grinning despite herself.
Charlie stood up next, looking both proud and slightly intimidating in his tux. "Edward will be a good husband. I know this because I'm a cop. I know things. Like how to hunt somebody to the ends of the Earth." He paused, then added with a serious look, "And I know how to use a gun."
The crowd laughed, but the Cullens exchanged knowing glances.
Alice's toast was light and fashion-focused. "Now that you're my sister, you'll have to get over your aversion to fashion. Skirts, heels, handbags…"
Renee stood and sang a soft, lullaby-like song, her voice sweet and emotional, bringing tears to many eyes.
Esme gave a warm, heartfelt toast. "I'd like to thank Renée and Charlie for bringing such a wonderful person into the world and into our lives. We will cherish and protect her forever."
Then it was Mame's turn.
He stood slowly, glass in hand, looking slightly out of place in his dark clothes among the formal attire. The crowd quieted expectantly.
"Well," Mame began, voice carrying easily, "I'm not really one for toasts. But I was told I needed to give one." He raised his glass toward Renee and Esme with a small, genuine smile. "And a mother can make anyone do anything for her child. Hahaha."
There were warm chuckles. Mame's expression shifted as he looked toward Edward.
"I'll be honest and say I don't really like Edward. Or 'Edweird,' as I like to call him." He glanced at Jessica with a nod toward her earlier toast, earning more laughter. "But… if he makes Bella happy, then I guess he can live for a while more. Hahaha."
The guests laughed, thinking it was just brotherly teasing. Mame continued, looking directly at Charlie.
"And Dad, you're gonna have to get in line because I will hunt him down first."
The crowd erupted in laughter again, assuming it was all in good fun. But the Cullens, the wolves (including Jacob who had slipped in), Bella, and Edith Cullen knew better. Their smiles were tight, the moment awkward beneath the surface.
Mame raised his glass. "To Bella. My sister. Be happy."
Everyone cheered and drank.
Edith Cullen approached Mame quietly afterward, standing a careful distance away.
"Mame… can we talk for a second?" she asked softly, her voice gentle, the blood singer pull evident in her eyes.
Mame turned to her, polite but distant. He forced a small, cool smile — not wanting to ruin Bella's day. "Not today, Edith. This is Bella's moment. Let's not make it about anything else."
Edith looked like she wanted to say more, but she nodded, respecting his boundary for now. Mame gave her one last polite nod and moved away to rejoin the edge of the crowd, keeping his anger carefully buried.
Edward's Toast & Jacob's Surprise
Edward stood last, glass in hand, looking at Bella with pure adoration.
"It's an extraordinary thing to meet someone who you can bare your soul to. I've been waiting, what seems like a very long time, to get beyond what I am. With Bella, I feel like I can finally begin. So I'd like to propose a toast to my beautiful bride. No measure of time with you will be long enough. But let's start with forever."
The guests clapped as Edward pulled Bella away from the crowd for a moment of privacy.
"Another one of your gifts just arrived," he whispered.
Jacob stepped out of the shadows, looking devastatingly handsome despite his casual clothes.
"The best man didn't have time to get a tux," he said with a small smile.
Bella's face lit up. She ran to him, jumping into his arms. "Jacob!"
They hugged tightly as Edward watched with quiet understanding.
Edward pulled Bella gently away from the crowd, leading her toward a quieter part of the reception grounds.
"Another one of your gifts just arrived," he whispered with a small smile.
Bella turned and saw Jacob stepping out of the shadows, looking devastatingly handsome in a simple button-down shirt and slacks. No tux, but he carried himself with the same easy confidence he always had.
"The best man didn't have time to get a tux," Jacob said, a bittersweet smile on his face.
Bella's eyes lit up. She ran to him, jumping into his arms without hesitation. "Jacob!"
They hugged tightly, the embrace filled with years of friendship, unspoken feelings, and the ache of what could have been. Edward watched from a respectful distance, understanding the moment.
Jacob pulled back first, looking at her. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"Doesn't matter," Bella said, voice thick. "Everything's perfect now."
Jacob offered his hand. "Will you dance with me?"
Bella took it. He pulled her close, and they began to sway slowly to the soft music playing under the twinkling lights. For a few precious minutes, it felt like old times — just Bella and Jacob, before vampires, wolves, and impossible choices had complicated everything.
Jacob's voice was low near her ear. "This is how I'm gonna remember you. Pink cheeks. Two left feet. Heartbeat."
Bella's eyes filled with tears. She tried to hold them back, but one slipped down her cheek.
Jacob pulled back slightly, thumb gently brushing it away. "Come on, you're not supposed to be the one crying at your wedding."
Bella laughed through the tears. "Everyone cries at weddings."
Jacob's expression grew more serious as they continued dancing. "So… you're really going through with it? Spending your honeymoon… writhing in pain?"
Bella hesitated, then nodded. "I didn't want to spend it as a human. I don't plan to be human during the honeymoon."
Jacob stopped dancing. His face twisted with horror. "You can't be serious. Tell me you're not that stupid."
He grabbed her arms, grip tight but not painful. "Bella, no. You can't do this."
Edward was suddenly there, appearing in a blur. "Jacob, calm down."
The tension spiked instantly. Jacob's eyes flashed with anger. "You're going to k*ll her!"
Sam and the rest of the pack materialized from the shadows, moving quickly to intervene. They grabbed Jacob, pulling him back before the situation could explode.
"Let's go, Jake," Sam said firmly, voice low.
Jacob struggled for a moment, eyes locked on Bella with a mix of love and devastation. "This isn't over."
As the pack dragged him away, Mame stepped out from the trees where he had been watching silently. His black coat shifted in the breeze, expression dark and unyielding.
He looked directly at Bella, voice carrying clearly despite the distance.
"If you return as one of them," he said, cold and absolute, "only death will await you here."
The words hung heavy in the air. Bella froze. Edward's jaw tightened. The Cullens nearby exchanged uneasy glances. Even Edith Cullen, standing a short distance away, looked pained as she watched Mame.
Jacob shot Mame a look — not of anger, but of grim understanding. They were still on the same page about this one thing but Jacob was beginning to be on Bella's side of her turning.
Mame turned and disappeared back into the shadows without another word, leaving the reception in tense silence.
The journey began in Rio de Janeiro, the city lights glittering like jewels as Edward and Bella stepped off the plane. From there, they took a private boat out to the secluded paradise of Isle Esme — a breathtaking gift from Carlisle, an island of white sand, turquoise water, and lush greenery.
Edward carried Bella over the threshold of the beautiful villa with effortless grace. "You're so beautiful," he whispered as they stood on the moonlit beach, the waves gently lapping at their feet.
They swam together in the warm ocean, skin against skin, the night air filled with the sound of waves and their shared laughter. They made love under the stars, passionate and tender, the mate bond between them stronger than ever.
The next morning, Bella woke to Edward's horrified gaze. Bruises bloomed across her arms and shoulders where his hands had gripped her in the heat of the moment.
"I'm sorry," Edward whispered, voice breaking. "I can't… I won't hurt you again."
Bella reached for him, fierce and determined. "I'm not. I'm fine. Really. It was worth it."
But the second time they came together, the passion was tempered by Edward's fear. Bella woke from a beautiful dream, crying because she wanted it to feel real — to feel human.
Edward held her through the night, the bond between them whispering reassurance against Mame's distant threats.
Back at the Cullen House – The Pregnancy Discovery
They returned to Forks two weeks later. The moment they stepped through the door, Bella felt ill. She rushed to the bathroom, throwing up violently.
Edward was at her side instantly, holding her hair back. "Bella?"
She waved him off weakly. "Hey, don't come in here. You don't need to see this."
When she finally emerged, pale and shaky, she looked at the calendar on her phone. "How many days has it been since the wedding?"
"Fourteen," Edward answered. "Why?"
Bella's eyes widened. "I'm late. My period… it's late."
She stood in front of the mirror, hand hovering over her stomach. Suddenly, she felt it — a strong flutter, a movement inside her.
"Whoa!"
Carlisle was called immediately. After a careful examination, his face grew grave. "It's growing rapidly. Incompatible with your body. It's starving you by the hour. Your heart may give out before you can deliver."
Rosalie became fiercely protective, standing guard like a lioness. "It's a baby," she insisted, voice sharp. "Not an 'it.'"
Alice shook her head, frustrated. "I can't see the fetus. I can't see Bella's future anymore."
Edward was horrified. "We have to remove it. Now."
Bella refused, hands cradling her belly. "No. It's a miracle. I can feel him… or her. I'm keeping this baby."
Alice had quietly slipped away earlier and returned with Mame in tow. She had hoped he could talk sense into his sister.
Mame entered the room, black coat still bearing traces of the forest. His eyes immediately locked onto Bella's stomach. He knelt down in front of her without hesitation, one hand hovering just above her belly but not touching.
"You're still human," he said softly, voice low and certain, "and so is she."
The room went dead silent.
Rosalie blinked. "Who are you talking about?"
Mame looked up, eyes fierce. "Her." He nodded toward Bella's belly. "She is not an 'it.' She is my niece."
The Cullens stared in shock. Edward's eyes widened. "How… how do you know it's a girl?"
Mame's voice was calm but ironclad. "Because she is. And if you want to do anything to her, you will have to go through Rosalie and me first. Right?"
Rosalie stepped forward immediately, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mame. "Yes."
The tension in the room thickened. Mame rose slowly, eyes never leaving Bella's stomach. "She's family. My blood. I won't let you hurt her."
Word spread fast.
Jacob returned to the Cullen house upon hearing Bella was sick, storming through the door with barely contained fury. When he saw her — pale, exhausted, but fiercely protective of the growing bump — he froze.
"You're pregnant," he whispered, voice breaking. "With his… thing."
He argued fiercely with Edward. "You're going to kill her! This thing is draining her dry!"
Edward's face was tormented. "I know. I want it gone too."
Bella refused. "It's not a thing. It's our baby."
Jacob looked between them, devastated. "Bella… you can't do this. It'll kill you."
But Bella was resolute. And in that moment, Mame and Jacob who were most of the time on the same side but this time Mame was protecting this "baby" as he said was an innocent and he cant really let them kill her.
The days after the pregnancy revelation were a slow descent into hell for Bella.
Her body was failing faster than anyone had anticipated. The hybrid child grew at an unnatural rate, draining her of strength, nutrients, and life itself. Bella's once-vibrant skin grew pale and paper-thin. Dark circles formed under her eyes. She could barely keep food down, and even water seemed to make her retch. Her ribs ached constantly from the growing pressure inside her, and she moved with a hand protectively cradling her swollen belly, each step a visible effort.
The Cullens hovered constantly. Carlisle monitored her vitals with increasing concern. Alice paced, frustrated by her blocked visions. Rosalie remained fiercely protective, rarely leaving Bella's side. Edward was a constant shadow of guilt and fear, his golden eyes tortured as he watched the woman he loved wasting away.
Mame visited often, silent and brooding in the corner, his black coat like a dark omen. He said little, but his presence was heavy — a reminder of the ultimatum he had given.
One evening, as Bella lay on the couch wrapped in blankets, barely able to sit up, Jacob stormed in again. He had been coming and going, unable to stay away despite his horror.
"Look at her," Jacob said, voice rough with anger and pain. "She's dying. That thing inside her needs food. Real food."
The Cullens looked confused. Carlisle frowned. "We've tried everything she can stomach—"
Mame stepped forward from the shadows, voice calm but certain. "Blood. She is part vampire. It figures she needs blood. For now… she is taking it from Bella."
The room fell silent.
Carlisle nodded slowly. "I have O negative laid aside for Bella. Just in case."
Mame shook his head. He removed his long black coat, folding it neatly and setting it aside. He rolled up his sleeve, exposing his arm.
"No," he said firmly. "She starts with mine. If she is bent on becoming a vampire, she needs to drink my blood first. Before anyone else's."
He looked directly at Edith Cullen, who stood nearby, her expression complex. Then his gaze returned to Bella.
Bella's eyes widened in horror. "No… Mame, you can't—"
Mame's voice was iron. "Then the baby dies. Bella along with you. It's your choice."
His other hand moved to his holstered gun. He drew it smoothly and pointed it at Carlisle.
"If he moves to get that blood… he dies."
The Cullens froze. Edward's eyes flashed with alarm. Rosalie stepped closer to Mame, silently aligning with him. Edith looked torn, the blood singer pull warring with the horror of the moment.
With no choice, Carlisle moved carefully. He made a small, precise cut on Mame's wrist. Blood welled up immediately.
Mame extended his arm toward Bella, wrist near her mouth. His expression was sad — deeply, profoundly sad — but resolute. He did not stop her.
Bella hesitated, tears streaming down her face. But the child inside her kicked hard, demanding. With a broken sob, she took his wrist and drank.
The room watched in stunned silence as Bella fed from her brother's blood. Mame's face remained stoic, though his free hand clenched into a fist at his side. The sadness in his eyes deepened, but he held steady.
She drank.
And for the first time in days, some color returned to her cheeks.
Bella's condition deteriorated rapidly in the final hours.
She tried to walk across the room to get water, but her legs gave out. She collapsed with a sharp cry as several ribs cracked audibly from the pressure of the growing child. Even Mame, who had given her a significant amount of his blood earlier, looked pale and unsteady, leaning against the wall for support. He had lost a dangerous amount of blood himself, but he refused to leave.
"The baby is coming," Carlisle said urgently. "Now."
They moved Bella to the prepared room. Rosalie tried to perform a cesarean, scalpel in hand, but the moment she saw blood welling from the incision, she froze, eyes darkening with hunger.
Emmett grabbed her immediately, pulling her away. "Rose, no!"
Alice and Jasper took her from the room to keep her from losing control. Carlisle took over, his hands steady despite the chaos.
Edward stayed at Bella's head, whispering encouragement through her screams of pain. "You're doing so well. Stay with me, love."
Mame stood guard near the door, one hand on his gun, the other clenched at his side. His face was ashen, but his eyes were sharp.
Carlisle worked quickly, delivering the baby — a girl — with a single, careful cut. The infant let out a strong cry, healthy and alive.
Renesmee.
The moment Jacob saw her — tiny, perfect, with Bella's eyes — something shifted inside him. His world tilted. Gravity changed. He saw flashes of her future: a child laughing, a teenager smiling, a young woman full of life and power. He imprinted instantly, becoming fiercely protective in that single heartbeat.
"She's… beautiful," Jacob whispered, voice hoarse.
But Bella was fading fast. Her heart rate dropped dangerously. Edward reached for the syringe of venom, ready to inject it directly into her heart.
But Bella was fading fast. Her heart rate plummeted dangerously. Blood loss and the trauma of the birth were taking their toll. Edward reached desperately for the syringe of venom, ready to inject it directly into her heart to begin the turning.
Mame tried to move, but his body betrayed him. He was too weak from the blood he had given Bella. His legs buckled slightly, and he had to brace himself against the wall, gun slipping from his fingers.
"No…" he rasped, voice barely audible.
Edward didn't hesitate. He bit down on Bella's neck with precision, injecting his venom directly into her bloodstream. Bella's body jerked once, then went still as the venom began to spread.
Mame watched helplessly, too drained to stop it. His eyes met Edward's for a brief, charged moment — a silent promise that this wasn't over.
The room fell into a heavy, anticipatory silence as Bella's transformation began.
Jacob stood protectively near Renesmee, eyes flicking between the baby and Bella. He had imprinted — she was his to protect now, too.
Mame slid down the wall slightly, breathing hard, but his gaze never left his sister.
The war over Bella's future had just entered a new, irreversible phase.