CHAPTER SIX:
DEAREST VERONA

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MY DEAREST VERONA,

I can't stop thinking about you. I thought about sending this letter so many times, but I didn't want to upset you more so I didn't. However, I can't let you slip away from me. I know we're from two different worlds. I know our covens don't see eye-to-eye. But the fates have paired us together for a reason. So if you'd give me a chance, I would be honoured to get to know you.

I have waited so long to find you, my beloved. I hope deep down that you feel the same way about me.

SINCERELY, ALEC VOLTURI.

The words from Alec's letter were imprinted into Verona's brain. Short, but straight to the point; his thoughts were plain and simple. He wanted to know more about her, the person he was destined to spend forever with. He wanted to accept that bond between them, to begin their relationship. But Verona wasn't sure if she was ready for that. Sure, all she'd ever wanted was to find her mate. But now that she knew who he was, things had changed. Her inner demons were fighting against each other, a war between her heart and mind, confusing her more than helping her. She had no idea what to do, and it was unbelievably frustrating. 

"Verona?" Alice had been standing in the open doorway for several minutes now, golden eyes watching her sister with wariness. Hours had passed since Verona went up to her room, and so far, she'd done nothing more than read her letter over and over again. Alice was starting to worry about her. "Are you okay?"

Verona's eyes met hers, fingers still splayed around her letter's fragile edges. Part of her wanted to rip it to shreds and burn the pieces, to forget the words haunting her thoughts. But the part of her that yearned to accept his love was beginning to win her over, so instead, she folded the piece of paper and placed it back in its envelope.

"I don't know what to do."

Alice sighed, crossing the room to take a seat by her side. Verona rested her head on her shoulder, allowing her to embrace her in a comforting hug. Neither of them spoke for a moment, both just content in each other's presence, before the former moved away and peered at her with knowing eyes.

"I believe you need to think before you make any permanent decisions." Alice's gaze burned daggers into the letter her sister gripped onto, like if she stared hard enough, her problems would be solved for her. "You don't want to choose one thing then regret it further down the track. Because by then, it might be too late."

"But I don't want to make the wrong choice," Verona's sighed, her frustration evident as she ran a hand over her face.

"You won't," Alice whispered, knowing that much for certain. "Rosalie and the others will learn to accept the bond between you both. Sure, they might not be happy with it, but they're not the one suffering on their own. Don't let them influence what you want."

Alice was right. Verona knew that deep down, but she far too tired to admit that out loud. Alice, as if sensing this, gave one last sigh before she rose to her feet, reaching out to squeeze Verona's hand one last time.

"I'll give you some time alone." Verona watched her walk away, before she paused by the doorway and sent her a tiny, reassuring smile. "I'm here if you need anything, okay?"

With that, she disappeared downstairs. Once she was out of sight, Verona allowed her gaze to dart back to the letter in her hands. With a groan, she let it fall to the floor as she sunk back onto her bed, hands moving to cover her face. 

"What am I going to do?"

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MUCH TO VERONA'S CHAGRIN, she had school to next day. With so much on her mind, she had no idea how she was going to focus. But nonetheless, she went about her normal morning routine when her mother came into her room to rouse her from her thoughts, informing her of the time.

Her siblings chose not to mention the letter or anything to do with her mate during their drive to school, but Verona could tell from the looks in their eyes that it was plaguing their minds, haunting their thoughts just as much as it haunted hers. And in all honesty, she wasn't sure how to feel about that. They weren't the ones with a bond to the enemy. But on the other hand, she understood why they were concerned, so she brushed it aside for the time being.

Dozens of intrigued stares were what they were met with when they arrived in the parking lot; the enigma that disappeared then returned to their pathetic excuse of a town. Verona ignored the whispering teenagers as she passed by them, struggling not to roll her eyes at how insufferably human they were. Her siblings were a step ahead head of her, forming a line of untouchable gods and goddesses. She was about to follow them inside when she spotted a familiar head of bronze-haired a few feet away from her. Edward had returned the night before, but she hadn't gone to greet him with the rest of the family, having been far too immersed in her own thoughts to acknowledge his presence.

But now, he was glaring in the direction of a certain hot-headed shape-shifter (Jacob was back and just as annoying as ever) as he helped Bella onto the back of his dirt bike, shooting a taunting smirk at Edward as he revved the engine mockingly before disappearing out of the parking lot without so much as a glance back. Verona - while confused, managed to catch the gist of the situation - and she came to stop beside her brother, who's clenched fists trembled by his sides.

"Edward?" Her voice was cautious, eyes full of wariness as she glanced at the curious humans surrounding them. School was the last place to cause a scene. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he snapped, his furious voice screaming anything but.

"Are you sure?" When she was met with silence, she continued. "Bella's going to be okay. Just try and give her the benefit of the doubt, with whatever she's doing."

"Can you just mind your own business?" Edward was too angry to see straight, his voice straining as he glared down at her. "I am not going to take advice from a hypocrite like you."

Verona scoffed, ignoring how her heart sunk at the petty insult. "Okay, I know you're mad, but that doesn't give you the right to take your anger out on me. I was only trying to help you, but you can go back to brooding now. You're clearly a lost cause." 

Edward huffed, but said nothing as she turned away from him. Verona's burning gaze locked on the school's entrance, watching as the last cluster of students disappeared inside, the warning bell ringing overhead. In the end, she decided that she couldn't be there. She'd tried her best, but it was too much too bare at the moment. Which was why she didn't hesitate to spin around, shooting her brother's volvo an annoyed glower as it sped past her and out of the parking lot with a screech, disappearing down the main road in a blur of colour. She stormed at human pace towards the woods, only breaking into a sprint once she was positive that no one could see her.

And by then, she knew what she had to do. She couldn't continue the way she was any longer. It wasn't doing her or anyone else any good. At the thought, she ran faster, wind billowing through her hair and washing her doubts away.

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VERONA WAS RELIEVED TO find that her parents weren't home when she arrived. She knew Carlisle had the morning shift at the hospital, which meant that Esme must've ducked into town for a browse while everyone was out. Fortunately, that meant she had time on her own, to properly think about the decision she was on the brink of making.

That was how she came to be sitting in the dining room, a piece of paper lying on the wooden tabletop in front of her. She had a black pen grasped in her right hand, the end tapping against the table as her stomach twisted and turned with nerves. And these nerves, they were unlike anything she'd experienced before. They were something new, and she wasn't sure what to make of them.

After a moment of hesitation, her hand began to inch towards the piece of paper. The tip of the pen was hovering over the smooth surface as she started to speak words of assurance under her breath, the phantom feeling of her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

"You can do this." In all honesty, she wasn't sure that she could, but it was the thought that counted. "It's just a letter, Verona, not a declaration of love."

With one last nod, she began to write, the first line standing out to her before the rest began to blur together.

MY DEAREST ALEC,

I've been waiting a century to find you...