Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

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Nate woke up with the golden afternoon light slipping through the curtains and caressing his face. He blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the brightness while the steady beat of his pulse thumped in his ears like a soft drum that kept him anchored to the present.

He lowered his gaze slightly, without moving his head, and felt the softness of the sheet covering his naked skin, still warm from hours of sleep. The faint scent of wood, sweat, and a sweet aroma mixed in the air, giving the room a unique atmosphere.

A weight on his left arm and a cold sensation on his chest reminded him he was not alone. He carefully turned, feeling a slight pull in his hip, and there she was.

Alice was lying next to him, also covered by the sheet that outlined her figure, her messy hair falling over the pillow. Her golden eyes watched him warmly, and a calm smile lit up her pale face as she gently moved her fingers over his chest, tracing a slow rhythm that sent a tingling sensation up to his neck.

Nate allowed himself to smile back, breathing calmly before murmuring in a slightly hoarse voice:

"What time is it?"

Alice lowered her gaze for a moment, her fingers pausing on Nate's sternum before moving back up toward his collarbone.

"A little past four," she said softly, with that melodic voice that sounded like a breeze's whisper.

Nate opened his eyes a bit wider, surprised, before letting out a small laugh.

"I slept all day?"

He tried to sit up, but a dull pain ran through his back, arms, and hip, forcing him to let out a sigh of discomfort as he lay back down. Alice immediately noticed his grimace of pain, and her smile turned into a worried expression as she leaned slightly toward him.

"Nate… I'm sorry," she whispered with guilt, lowering her gaze. "I didn't think it would be that intense. I thought I could control myself, but I've never felt anything like that before. I got carried away… I didn't want to hurt you."

Nate turned his head slightly to look at her with a soft smile, breathing calmly as he watched her, letting the beat of his heart settle.

"I got carried away, too," he said honestly. "And I won't lie, I'd been thinking about this for a long time."

Alice lifted her gaze, a glint of relief and a hint of shyness in her golden eyes before smiling softly.

"It was incredible," she admitted, letting her fingers begin to move in slow patterns on his skin again, as if making sure he was still there.

Nate let out a soft laugh and looked at her with a shared understanding.

"Now I know I'll have to become a vampire soon," he joked, raising an eyebrow playfully. "It's the only way I'll be able to keep up with you."

Alice laughed softly, leaning toward him to give him a small nudge with her shoulder, though her touch was so controlled it barely moved him.

"You're an idiot," she replied affectionately.

For a moment, they both fell silent, looking at each other with that new calm that had settled between them. There was no tension or urgency, only a warm connection that felt stable, a bond that no longer needed to prove itself with words.

Alice raised a hand and brushed a strand of Nate's hair off his forehead, letting her fingers linger on his skin for a moment.

Nate's gaze, unintentionally, grew more intense, with a spark that Alice recognized immediately. She tilted her head slightly, a resigned smile on her lips, before sighing.

"For me, we'd stay like this all day," she said softly. Then she lowered her gaze slightly before returning her eyes to his with seriousness. "But you know we can't."

Nate took a deep breath, letting his fingers intertwine with Alice's as he nodded.

"I know," he said calmly. "We have to find the son of the moon. We can't just stay here waiting."

Alice held his gaze, her eyes shining with determination as the warmth of her grip brought him reassurance.

"I'm sure we will, and we'll be able to go home," she assured him confidently, leaning in to gently touch her forehead to his. "Together."

The moment stretched out in a silence full of meaning, with both of them breathing in sync as the sun continued to set behind the curtains, tinting the room with a soft orange glow.

Finally, Alice sat up with agile movements, with that lightness so characteristic of her nature, before smiling at him sweetly.

"Go on, take a shower," she said as she stood up, picking up her clothes with precise gestures. "I'll find you something to eat while you get cleaned up. That way, we can talk calmly, and you can tell me the next step."

Nate smiled gratefully, letting his body move slowly, though the pain in his hip and back still reminded him of what they had shared. He stood up with steady steps while Alice dressed with her back to him, each of them finding a quiet comfort in the other's presence.

When he was about to enter the bathroom, Nate turned around with a mischievous smile.

"Don't want to join me?"

Alice turned her head, rolling her eyes with amusement before tossing him a towel that landed softly on his chest.

"If I did, Nate, we'd never leave D.C."

Nate caught the towel, holding his smile as he watched her for a moment longer before closing the door behind him, letting the shower steam begin to fill the bathroom as he listened to the soft sound of Alice humming on the other side, creating a happy atmosphere for them both.

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After a long, pleasant shower, Nate dressed in comfortable clothes, drying his hair with the towel as he stepped out of the bathroom. With each step, he felt a slight pain in his hip and back, a persistent reminder of the previous night, though it didn't bother him as much now. He moved calmly, rolling his shoulders to loosen them before heading down to the dining area.

There, Alice was waiting, sitting cross-legged, her hair falling over one shoulder as she watched him with her golden eyes reflecting the warm light of the sunset. On the table rested an abundant meal: pasta with tomato and basil sauce, freshly baked garlic bread, fresh salad, and a cup of coffee that filled the air with a deep, comforting aroma.

Nate paused for a moment at the entrance, a genuine smile lighting up his face.

"You outdid yourself," he commented as he approached, still drying his hair with one hand.

Alice raised an eyebrow with amusement, letting out a soft laugh.

"I ordered it over the phone, it's no big deal," she replied lightly, though there was a hint of pride in her smile that she didn't bother to hide.

Nate sat down carefully, feeling a slight pull in his hip before adjusting himself. He began to eat with appetite, aware of the hunger that had built up after so many hours of restful sleep. Alice, as always, didn't touch any of the food; she simply watched him in silence, her chin resting on her hand and a serene expression radiating warmth.

"Slow down, it's not going anywhere," she commented softly, in a tone that made Nate smile.

Nate looked at her while chewing, feeling the peace her presence brought him. After a few bites, he wiped his mouth with the napkin and took a sip of coffee, setting the cup down with a soft clink.

"We need to talk about the plan to catch the werewolf," he said, in a more serious tone as he leaned slightly toward her. "The problem is that in my father's journal, it only mentions he's a man around thirty. There aren't many details, just that at night he frequents several bars."

Alice frowned slightly, her attentive gaze fixed on him.

"That's not much help," she admitted, with a hint of frustration.

Nate nodded, slowly turning the coffee cup in his hands.

"My father's last entry is a mess," he explained. "I think he was in a hurry, or maybe he ran into him by chance and didn't have time to write down more."

Alice tilted her head, observing him with interest.

"How do you think he could have identified him, without having a vampire's sense of smell?" she asked.

Nate took a deep breath before answering.

"There must be something that gives him away. Some physical trait, an attitude… something that connects him to the supernatural. Just like you all, with your skin or your eyes. Something that, even if subtle, sets him apart."

Alice straightened up, her posture filled with resolve.

"We could go together to those bars. I could identify him by his scent if he gets close enough."

Nate shook his head slowly, lifting his gaze to her, softness in his eyes.

"If you go with me, he'll be on alert. The moment he senses your scent, he'll back off. Not even the Romanians have been able to catch him, and they have centuries of hunting experience. I need to be the one to identify him first."

Alice looked away, a small line of worry tightening her lips. Her fingers drummed softly on the table as if trying to organize her thoughts.

"I don't like it," she murmured, her voice heavy with sincerity. "I don't like you going alone."

Nate reached out and covered her hand with his, feeling the familiar coldness of her skin, a kind of calm that only she could give him.

"I know," he said calmly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But it's the best way. I'll go to the bars, observe, and when I'm sure who he is, I'll let you know. Then, you and I, with the Romanians' help, can corner him."

Alice closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, searching for his gaze as she intertwined her fingers with his.

"All right," she agreed with a sigh, though her hand gripped his more firmly. "But I'll stay close, keeping my phone on."

Nate smiled at her warmly, leaning slightly toward her.

"Don't worry, as soon as I know who he is, I'll let you all take care of it," he said softly.

They stayed silent for a moment, sharing that space that seemed to pulse between them, full of calm and complicity. The sunset light illuminated their faces as the light breeze moved the curtains, filling the room with a quiet glow.

Alice smiled, though her gaze remained firm as she stroked the back of his hand with her thumb.

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