Darling Nikki ↠ Charlie Swan

chapter three

chapter three ~ Into the woods

"Are you married?" I asked before I could stop myself, my curiosity taking over.

Charlie spluttered a little, clearly caught off guard by the question. "Oh, uh, no. Divorced," he answered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

I could tell he didn't expect the conversation to head in that direction, but it wasn't something I was going to gloss over. We'd been talking about everything from the weather to his daughter, Bella, but I was genuinely curious about him, too. He was such an interesting guy—warm, down-to-earth, and a bit of a mystery. I'd never met anyone quite like him.

"Oh, Jake tells me that you have a daughter who recently got married," I continued, trying to keep the conversation moving forward.

Charlie's expression softened, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, Bella. At first, I was against it, but she's stubborn, so I just accepted it because I want her in my life." He paused for a moment, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. "I just want her to be happy, you know? Even if I didn't agree with her choices."

I nodded, understanding more than he probably realized. I'd been there—sometimes you have to let go of your expectations and accept things for the sake of the people you love. "Awe, you sound like a good father," I said, smiling at him.

"Thank you," Charlie said with a quiet laugh. "Thank you for cooking for me. Since Bella left, I've been eating at the diner most of the time."

"Oh no, we can't have that," I replied, shaking my head. "From now on, I'll cook for you. Just come over anytime, or I can come over and have something ready for you to eat." The words slipped out so naturally, as if I'd been offering to take care of him for years.

Charlie smiled, and I caught a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. But then, something shifted between us, and before I knew it, he was leaning closer. There was a tension in the air—something unspoken that neither of us had addressed.

Then it happened. Without thinking, I leaned in too, and before either of us could process it, I found myself pressing my lips against his.

It had been years since I had kissed anyone, and the sensation of his lips against mine sent a ripple of warmth through me. His hand came up, cupping my face gently, and I felt his fingers brush against my skin. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized that this was happening—this kiss was real.

Charlie's hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and I wanted to melt into him, but then my mind caught up with my emotions, and I pulled away. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks—I was pregnant. And this, whatever this was, would only complicate things.

I grinned cheekily, trying to lighten the moment. "We can take it slow, Charlie. Besides, I'm pregnant, and I'm sure you don't want to deal with my kind of baggage."

Charlie seemed to recover quickly, nodding. "Actually, I agree. We should take it slow, only because I want you to be comfortable, and I want to get to know you. Really get to know you."

I smiled, feeling a little lighter. "I would like that," I said softly.

"Me too," Charlie responded, his voice sincere.

The tension between us didn't feel heavy anymore. Instead, it felt like something new was blossoming—slowly, cautiously, but undeniably there. It felt nice, and that terrified me a little. But at that moment, I wasn't ready to worry about it.

Later that afternoon, I found myself running through the woods, my breath coming in quick gasps as I struggled to stay on my feet. My large belly slowed me down, but I kept pushing myself forward, knowing that I had to stay ahead of the Volturi guard chasing me.

"Mommy's going to protect you, sweetie," I whispered to my belly, trying to calm myself, to steady my nerves. My baby. My daughter. I had to keep her safe.

"Why did I have to come into the woods?" I muttered to myself, my feet tripping on roots and twigs, but I couldn't afford to stop. Not when I was being hunted.

I glanced over my shoulder again, but saw no one—just the dark shadows of the trees stretching out in front of me. Maybe I was imagining things. But then I heard a laugh—cold and mocking—that made my blood run cold.

I turned quickly, and there she was. A woman with red eyes, a predator in every sense of the word. I knew exactly what she was, and I knew exactly what she wanted.

"Stay the hell away from me, bloodsucker!" I shouted, my voice raw with fear and fury.

But the woman didn't flinch. Instead, she smirked and continued walking toward me, her confidence infuriating. "Aro will be pleased to know that your kind still exists," she said with a chilling certainty.

"Too bad you won't be able to tell him," I shot back, my power flaring up as anger surged through me. I couldn't stand the thought of this vampire taking anything from me—or my daughter. The Volturi had to be stopped, and if it was up to me, I'd make sure they never came near us again.

The woman's expression faltered for a moment, and I took that as my opportunity. With a force of will, I sent her flying through the air, crashing against a tree. I didn't pause to savor the moment. I was already calling on the trees around me, the branches growing thick and fast as they wrapped around her like ropes.

The vampire struggled, but I could feel her power waning as the branches tightened.

I took a deep breath and walked toward her, feeling a dark satisfaction twist in my chest. "I'm going to enjoy ripping you into pieces," I said, my voice low and steady.

The woman screamed in rage, but it was already too late. The tree branches tore her apart, the sound of snapping limbs and breaking bones filling the air. I didn't hesitate. With a flick of my wrist, I set the remains on fire, watching as the flames consumed her.

I was about to turn and walk away when I heard it—the snap of a twig, the unmistakable sound of someone—or something—approaching.

I froze, every muscle tensing.

"You all might as well come out," I said, my voice sharp. "I already know you're there."

A pack of wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing in the dim light. Sam stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

"Nikki," he said cautiously, his voice deep. "You have some explaining to do."

I took a slow breath, gathering my thoughts as I looked at the wolves standing in front of me. They were all here—every one of them. I couldn't hide what I was anymore. It was time to tell them everything.

"Sure," I said, a wry smile curling on my lips. "It's only fair you know what your baby sister will be capable of doing in the future."

Sam and the others exchanged glances, and I could see the mix of concern and wariness in their eyes. They didn't know everything yet—but soon, they would. And for the first time, I felt like I wasn't alone.