Lunar Legacies

Chapter One

DISCLAIMER: These characters are not mine, they belong to the goddess, Stephanie Meyer.

The sun had barely risen over the dense, ancient forests of Forks, Washington, casting a golden light through the mist that still clung to the trees like a veil. The early morning was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves as a soft breeze swept through the evergreens. Renesmee Cullen stood at the edge of the Cullen family’s expansive backyard, her golden-brown eyes fixed on the treeline as she took in the familiar, comforting scents of the forest. The world around her was waking up, but Renesmee had been awake for hours.

It had been almost seven years since the chaotic events surrounding her birth and the near-war with the Volturi. Seven years since she had brought her family, and the wolf pack, to the brink of destruction—only to pull them back in the most unexpected of ways. She had grown rapidly in that time, aging far faster than any human child, and now, at what looked like seventeen years old, she was on the cusp of adulthood—if that’s what one could call her unique state of being.

Half-vampire, half-human, and entirely unlike anyone else in the world, Renesmee had spent her life in a delicate balance between the two worlds. But as she stood there, the cool breeze lifting strands of her long bronze hair, she knew that balance was shifting. Something was changing, both within her and around her, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

The familiar voice broke through her reverie, and Renesmee turned to see Jacob Black emerging from the trees, his dark hair tousled, a grin on his face. He was dressed casually in a simple T-shirt and jeans, his usual attire, but there was something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. That familiar, intense warmth she had known since she was a child had only grown stronger with time.

“Hey, Jake,” she greeted him, smiling as he approached. “You’re up early.”

Jacob shrugged, stepping closer until he was standing beside her. “Could say the same for you. You’ve been out here for a while.”

Renesmee tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. “Were you watching me?”

“Always,” Jacob replied without hesitation, his voice warm and teasing, but there was a seriousness behind it that Renesmee didn’t miss. It was a reminder that, no matter how much time had passed, he was always there for her, always watching out for her.

She looked away, back at the forest, her smile fading slightly. “I was just thinking about… everything. About how much has changed.”

“And how much hasn’t,” Jacob added softly, his gaze steady on her.

Renesmee nodded, a small sigh escaping her lips. “I feel like I’m caught between two worlds, Jake. Always have been. But lately, it’s been different. I don’t know what it is, but something feels… off. Like I’m supposed to be doing something, going somewhere, but I can’t figure out what.”

Jacob was quiet for a moment, considering her words. He had always been able to sense her emotions, ever since the moment he had imprinted on her as a baby. Their connection was deep, beyond the physical, and he knew better than anyone how much she struggled with her dual nature.

“Maybe it’s because you’re growing up,” he suggested gently. “You’ve been through more than most people could even imagine, Ness. And you’re right—things are changing. But that doesn’t mean you have to figure it all out right now.”

Renesmee bit her lip, her fingers absently playing with the silver bracelet on her wrist—a gift from Jacob, one she never took off. “I know. It’s just… what if I’m not meant to stay here, Jake? What if there’s something out there I need to find?”

Jacob tensed slightly, his easygoing demeanor slipping just for a moment. He had always known that Renesmee was different, destined for something beyond the small, secluded life they had in Forks. But the thought of her leaving, of her facing unknown dangers without him by her side, was almost unbearable.

“I don’t know, Ness,” he said carefully. “But whatever it is, wherever it is, you won’t be alone. You’ve got your family. And you’ve got me.”

Renesmee turned to face him fully, reaching out to take his hand. His warmth spread through her, grounding her in the present, easing the tension she hadn’t realized had been building up inside her. She smiled up at him, grateful for his unwavering support, for the comfort he always brought her.

“Thanks, Jake,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Jacob squeezed her hand, his expression softening. “You won’t have to find out.”

They stood there in silence for a while, watching the sunlight filter through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. The world was waking up, and with it, a new chapter of Renesmee’s life was beginning. She didn’t know where it would take her or what challenges lay ahead, but she knew one thing for certain—she wouldn’t face it alone.

And whatever was out there, waiting for her, she would meet it head-on, with Jacob by her side.