I left the Cullen house alive.
Which, given the circumstances, felt like a solid personal achievement.
The drive home was quiet. Rain tapped against the windshield. The Mustang hummed like it approved of my life choices—or at least tolerated them.
I exhaled slowly.
"Well," I told you, hands steady on the wheel, "that could've gone worse."
No pursuit. No dramatic chase. No Edward trying to read my thoughts so hard his head exploded.
Progress.
The mansion lights greeted me when I arrived. Familiar. Safe. Empty.
I kicked off my shoes, collapsed onto the couch, and stared at the ceiling.
"Mate bonds," I muttered. "Of course."
Sleep came easily that night.
Which, in retrospect, was suspicious.
Next Morning: Muscles and Mistakes
Morning training never changed.
Rain. Fog. Forest.
Routine was stability.
I ran hard, breath steady, feet barely touching the ground. My body felt right—balanced, controlled, dangerous in the way a sheathed blade was dangerous.
I finished with strength drills, stretching as the forest slowly brightened.
"Okay," I said, wiping sweat from my face. "Today, let's try not to get emotionally ambushed."
The universe heard me.
And laughed.
Ambushed. Again.
I was halfway back to the mansion when—
"Adam."
I stopped.
Didn't sigh.
Didn't groan.
I was learning.
Alice stood to my left, cheerful as ever.
Rosalie stood to my right, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
They had coordinated.
That was worse.
"…Good morning," I said carefully.
Alice smiled. "You're getting predictable."
"That's rich coming from a precog."
Rosalie didn't waste time.
"So," she said flatly, "you knew."
I blinked. "About?"
She stepped closer. "The bond."
Ah.
That.
"Yes," I said simply.
Alice tilted her head. "Since when?"
"Since the moment it stirred," I replied. "Power recognizes power. It's not subtle."
Rosalie's jaw tightened. "And you didn't say anything."
"I didn't act on it either."
"That's not the same."
"It is to me."
Alice leaned in, elbows on her knees like she was about to watch a show.
"Why?" she asked softly.
I met their gazes.
"Because bonds don't erase choice," I said. "And I respect yours."
Silence stretched.
Rosalie searched my face, looking for lies, hunger, entitlement.
She found none.
"…You're infuriating," she said finally.
I smiled faintly. "I've been told."
Alice clapped once. "Okay! Emotional honesty achieved!"
Rosalie shot her a look.
Alice ignored it.
She turned back to me. "So what happens now?"
I shrugged. "Now? We keep living."
Rosalie frowned. "That's it?"
"That's it."
She studied me for another long moment.
Then—unexpectedly—she laughed. Quiet. Bitter. Real.
"…Fine," she said. "But don't think this makes things simple."
I nodded. "I never do."
They left together.
I watched them go.
"…Romance," I muttered to you. "Truly the most dangerous supernatural force."
One Month Later
Life… settled.
Which was terrifying.
Mornings: training.
Days: school.
Lunch: Cullens.
Evenings: mansion, music, silence—or sometimes not silence.
The bond didn't disappear.
It just… softened.
Less pressure. More presence.
Choice, not compulsion.
And then—
One morning, exactly one month later—
I woke up on my couch.
Not alone.
Alice was on my right, curled comfortably against my side, legs tucked up, attention fully locked on the TV.
Rosalie was on my left, leaning back, arms crossed—but close enough that her shoulder rested against mine.
I stared straight ahead.
Didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
"…When did this become my life?" I whispered.
Alice grinned without looking away from the screen. "Around movie three."
Harry Potter played on the TV.
Prisoner of Azkaban.
Of course.
Rosalie glanced at me. "You're awake."
"I've been awake for exactly three seconds," I said. "And I'm already tired."
Alice snorted. "You love it."
"I tolerate it," I corrected.
On screen, Harry flew.
On the couch, I was trapped.
Not unpleasantly.
Just… unexpectedly.
We watched in silence for a while.
The bond hummed quietly. Calm. Warm.
Finally, Alice spoke.
"You never explained everything," she said.
Rosalie's eyes flicked to me.
"Explained what?" I asked.
"What you really are," Rosalie said. "Not just shadows."
I considered them.
The trust. The time. The strange normalcy of this moment.
"Alright," I said. "But this stays here."
They nodded.
I raised my hand slightly.
Shadows rose—not threatening, not dramatic. Just present.
"I control shadows," I said. "But that's not all."
I explained.
The system.
The gacha.
The inventory.
The personal dimension.
Alice's eyes widened with every sentence.
Rosalie stayed quiet, absorbing everything.
"…You gamble with reality," Alice said finally, delighted.
"I hate that you phrased it that way."
I sighed. "There's one more thing."
I focused.
"System. Daily gacha."
[Daily Gacha Available.]
Alice leaned forward. "Ooo."
Rosalie crossed her legs. "If this is underwear again—"
"I'm jumping out the window," I finished.
Ding.
Light flared.
A ticket appeared, hovering gently.
[Reward: Harry Potter World Travel Ticket.]
Silence.
Then—
"…You're kidding," Alice breathed.
Rosalie stared. "Another world."
The system chimed again.
[Multiversal Travel unlocked.]
[Active Functions: Gacha, Inventory, Multiversal Travel.]
I leaned back into the couch.
Three functions.
Finally.
I stared at the ceiling.
"…Yup," I said calmly. "About time that happens."
Alice laughed, delighted.
Rosalie exhaled slowly.
"You're going to leave," she said—not a question.
"Eventually," I admitted. "Not yet."
The bond pulsed gently.
Choice.
I looked at them, one on either side.
"But when I do," I added softly, "it won't be running away."
They didn't answer.
Harry Potter continued on screen.
And for the first time—
The multiverse waited.
[Chapter Eleven Complete.]