Twilight: Shadow (Fanfiction)

Elias had endured everything the academy had thrown at him tactical drills, combat scenarios, grueling endurance tests but none of it compared to the silent war inside him. The mate bond had gone from a gentle pull to an unbearable weight, pressing down on him with every breath, demanding he move.

But he couldn't.

Not yet.

He forced himself through another combat simulation, taking controlled shots at moving targets while maneuvering through an urban course. His movements were flawless.

Too flawless.

But he forced imperfections into his actions, made himself look human.

"Blackwood!" Sergeant Walker's voice cut through the speakers. "Good shooting, but I want to see how you handle real stress. No more safety nets. Let's turn this up a notch."

A signal was given, and suddenly, the lights in the room flickered red.

Sirens blared. The moving targets now simulated erratic movements, hostages mixed in with hostiles, unpredictable attack patterns.

Elias gritted his teeth.

He could see everything, react faster than the simulation intended. But that was the problem. He was too fast, too efficient. Even holding back, he still outperformed the others by a wide margin.

As the simulation ended, recruits around him muttered among themselves.

Jordan whistled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Damn, man. You got nerves of steel."

Sam, their squad's strategist, narrowed her eyes. "Not just nerves. You move like you know what's coming before it happens."

Elias just smiled. "Maybe I'm just lucky."

They didn't believe him.

And that was dangerous.

---

It happened on a night endurance drill.

The academy often tested recruits by leaving them deep in the Washington wilderness, with only a map and compass, forcing them to navigate back alone. Elias welcomed the solitude it gave him time to clear his mind.

But something was wrong.

A low, guttural growl echoed through the trees.

Elias stilled. His senses sharpened. Something was watching him.

Then-

The gunshot rang out.

He was already moving before the sound registered. His vision locked onto a figure ahead.

One of the academy's instructors, clutching a bleeding leg near an overturned ATV. His rifle was empty.

A bear loomed in the darkness, massive and agitated.

Elias didn't think. He moved.

The bear lunged, but Elias was faster. He intercepted the beast, his strength overpowering it as he shoved it back with unnatural force. The animal skidded across the ground, dazed. For a moment, it stared at him.

Then, sensing something greater, something wrong, it turned and fled.

Elias exhaled sharply.

The instructor gaped at him. "What the hell—"

But Elias barely heard him.

Because at that moment, something inside him snapped.

His body tensed, his vision swimming as his own shadow twisted unnaturally beneath him, writhing like it had a mind of its own. A deep pulse resonated in his chest.

Power.

Ancient

and...

Unshackled.

Pain flared across his skin. Black markings ignited along his arm and shoulder, glowing faintly before settling into an ink-like tattoo.

His transformation had awakened.

The moment passed, the power settling within him, controlled but different. Stronger. More defined.

The instructor, still recovering, stared at him in shock. "Blackwood… what the hell was that?"

Elias forced himself to breathe. To ground himself.

"Adrenaline." he lied smoothly. "Guess I don't know my own strength."

The instructor hesitated.

Then nodded. "Hell of a thing. You just saved my ass."

Elias offered a tight smile. "Just lucky."

But he knew better.

This wasn't luck.

This was who he was meant to be.

---

Alice's POV

Alice gasped, clutching the couch as a wave of energy crashed into her.

Jasper was at her side in an instant. "Alice?"

She barely heard him.

The bond had always been there, but this.

This was different. It wasn't just a pull anymore. It was raw, unshackled power.

Her hands trembled. She squeezed her eyes shut, reaching out.

Searching.

And then-

She saw him.

Shadows coiled around Elias, darker than night itself. His form was changed, power thrumming beneath his skin. The markings on his arm pulsed like living ink. He stood tall, his expression unreadable. Until his gaze turned toward her.

Their eyes met.

Alice gasped, yanked back into reality.

The Cullen family had already gathered around her.

Rosalie expression was grim. "What did you see?"

Alice barely found her voice. "He's awakened."

Carlisle frowned. "Awakened? Again?"

Jasper tensed. "Something new… I could feel it. It's not like anything I've sensed from him before."

Edward's gaze darkened. "And whatever it is, it's more unlikely any vampire ability we've encountered."

Alice's breath hitched. The bond was stronger than ever.

But he wasn't coming yet.

He was still resisting.

And so was she.

---

Elias stood before the academy's administrative office, his uniform neatly pressed. His graduation was in a few days, and the final part of his training. His assignment was being decided.

Elias sat before Captain Reynolds, the placement officer, his posture straight, unreadable. His graduation was approaching, and this was the final step to his official assignment.

Reynolds leaned back, scanning the file in his hands. "Blackwood, you've got one of the top performance records we've seen in years. Tactical precision, adaptability, quick decision-making. Honestly, you'd fit in anywhere."

Elias nodded but said nothing.

Reynolds continued, flipping a page. "Because of that, the brass wanted to put you in a bigger city. Seattle, maybe even federal routes in the future. But there's one issue."

He set the file down and met Elias's gaze.

"You're too much of an unknown."

Elias remained impassive. "Unknown?"

Reynolds gestured to the papers. "You passed every background check, but there's not much to go on before a few years back. No childhood records, no clear personal history just a clean slate. And while that's not unheard of, it makes people nervous when someone this good comes out of nowhere."

Elias understood immediately. They couldn't place him in a high-profile position because they didn't fully trust him yet.

"So, Forks." Elias said, keeping his tone neutral.

Reynolds nodded. "A low-risk environment. The department wants to see how you handle long-term duty in a small town before considering a transfer to a bigger station. Think of it as a proving ground."

Elias forced a small smirk. "A trial period."

Reynolds shrugged. "You could say that. You'll be working under Chief Charlie Swan. Good guy. Respected. If you impress him, doors will open for you."

Charlie Swan.

Elias gave a slow nod. "Understood."

Reynolds studied him for a moment. "You don't seem too surprised."

Elias exhaled through his nose, keeping his expression unreadable. "Let's just say I had a feeling I'd end up there."

Reynolds chuckled. "Good instincts. You've got a few days before graduation. Get your affairs in order."

Elias stood, giving a crisp nod before exiting the office.

As soon as the door shut behind him, his hands clenched at his sides.

A low-risk environment.

A proving ground.

They had no idea that Forks was the last place on Earth where things would remain low-risk.

Because she was there.

"Fate is a path forced upon but not on me. The mate bond is a pull I cannot deny. One dictates, the other calls but the choice to follow is mine."

And once he saw her, there would be no turning back.