Ethereal Bondsand Unmatched PowerThe Reincarnated Guardian of Twilight

Chapter 7: Missions, Rejections, and Cold Connections

Caspian Swan had been on a roll. The system's quests had been piling up since the van incident, and he tackled them with a precision that bordered on ruthless. *"Investigate the Cullens"* had led him to discreetly shadow their movements around Forks—catching glimpses of their too-perfect routines, overhearing snippets of their guarded conversations at school. *"Strengthen Protective Bond with Bella"* had him doubling down on his big-brother role, subtly steering her away from Edward's orbit with late-night talks and shared dinners at home. Each success boosted his XP, nudging him closer to Level 8, his powers humming stronger with every completed task. The system was his edge, and he wielded it like a blade.

But fate—or the damn wheel he'd spun in the void—had other plans. That afternoon, after finishing a solo quest in the woods (*"Eliminate Minor Anomaly: Rogue Spirit. Reward: +150 XP"*), Caspian found himself cornered. Not by enemies, but by Alice Cullen and Rosalie Hale. He'd been hiking back toward town, the dungeon's residual energy still crackling faintly in his veins, when the two appeared on the trail ahead, their golden eyes locked on him with an intensity he couldn't ignore.

"Caspian," Alice chirped, her voice bright but laced with something expectant. She stepped forward, her petite frame practically vibrating with energy. "Fancy running into you out here."

Rosalie stayed back, arms crossed, her expression a mix of suspicion and reluctant curiosity. "You're always alone," she said, her tone cool. "What's your deal?"

Caspian stopped, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow—more for show than necessity, thanks to his phoenix regeneration. He knew who they were, knew the soulmate bond the system and God had saddled him with, but he wasn't about to play along. "Just clearing my head," he said, keeping his voice even. "You two lost or something?"

Alice grinned, undeterred. "Not lost. We were actually looking for you. We've been meaning to talk—get to know you better. Maybe… hang out sometime? You, me, Rose—we could go somewhere fun."

"Yeah," Rosalie added, though her tone was less enthusiastic, like she was testing the waters despite herself. "You're new here. We could show you around. If you're up for it."

Caspian's eyes narrowed, his patience thinning. He didn't need the system to tell him what they were angling for—the bond was practically screaming in the air between them, a pull he refused to acknowledge. But he wasn't some lovesick pawn in their story. He straightened, fixing them both with a look that was all steel and zero warmth.

"No," he said flatly, cutting off any hope in Alice's expression. "Stop asking me. Do I look like I want to go out with you guys? I don't even see you as potential girlfriend types." He paused, letting the words sink in, then added with a shrug, "You're pretty great-looking, alright—congrats on that—but not my type. So, no thanks."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked off, his boots crunching against the gravel path. He didn't look back, didn't care to see their reactions. The system pinged in his mind—*"Quest Updated: Maintain Independence from Soulmate Bond. Progress: 25%"*—and he smirked. *"Good. Keep that percentage climbing."*

Behind him, Alice and Rosalie stood frozen, their golden eyes wide with a mix of shock and indignation. Alice's mouth hung open for a split second before snapping shut, her hands balling into fists. "Did he just—?" she started, her voice rising an octave.

"He did," Rosalie cut in, her tone icy but tinged with disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with him? Who says that?"

Alice spun to face her, her pixie-like energy now simmering with frustration. "He's our soulmate, Rose! He's supposed to feel it—supposed to want this! Every vampire in our family, every soulmate bond—it's instant. Edward's already half-gone over Bella, and they've barely spoken. So why's he acting like we're nothing?"

Rosalie's lips curled into a scowl. "Maybe because he's an ass. I didn't want this either, but at least I'm not rude about it. He should be committed to us—fate doesn't just hand out bonds like this for fun."

They stormed back to the Cullen house, the tension between them crackling like static. The rest of the family was scattered around the living room when they burst in—Edward at the piano, Jasper reading, Emmett sprawled on the couch with a grin, and Carlisle and Esme in quiet conversation. Alice didn't waste time, her voice sharp as she launched into the story.

"He said no!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Flat-out no—like we're some annoying classmates he can't be bothered with. 'Not my type,' he says. Can you believe that?"

Rosalie leaned against the wall, arms still crossed. "He's infuriating. Arrogant. Thinks he's too good for us."

Emmett let out a booming laugh, nearly falling off the couch. "Oh, man, I love this guy already. Shot you both down like that? That's ballsy."

Jasper glanced up from his book, his empathic senses picking up their fury. "He's not lying, though," he said calmly. "I've felt him at school. There's no attraction, no pull—not on his end. Whatever bond you've got, he's fighting it."

Edward's fingers stilled on the piano keys, his brow furrowing. "That's not how it works," he said. "Soulmates don't just… reject each other. Look at me and Bella—I can't stop thinking about her, even when I try. He's different."

"Different how?" Carlisle asked, stepping forward with his usual measured curiosity. "Alice, have your visions shown anything new?"

Alice shook her head, her frustration palpable. "Nothing clear. Just him—always him—standing apart, like he's pushing us away on purpose. I see flashes of power, of fire and light, but his thoughts, his feelings? Blank. It's driving me crazy."

Esme frowned, her maternal instinct kicking in. "Maybe he's scared. Or confused. This could be new to him too."

"Scared?" Rosalie scoffed. "He didn't sound scared. He sounded like he couldn't care less. I've never seen a soulmate act like this—every pair in our family fell hard and fast. Carlisle and Esme, Jasper and Alice, even Emmett and me—it was instant."

Emmett grinned at her. "Yeah, babe, you couldn't resist me."

She shot him a glare but didn't argue. The point stood: soulmates in their world didn't say no. They didn't walk away.

Carlisle clasped his hands behind his back, his mind turning. "If he's resisting, there's a reason. He's not human—we've established that. His powers, his presence—they're beyond anything we've encountered. Perhaps his nature gives him control we don't understand."

Alice paced, her agitation growing. "Or he's just stubborn. I don't care what he is—he's ours. He doesn't get to decide that's nothing."

Rosalie's eyes flashed. "Let him try. If he wants to play lone wolf, fine. But I'm not chasing him."

The family exchanged looks, the air thick with uncertainty. Caspian Swan was a wildcard, a soulmate who defied every rule they knew. Back in the woods, he kept walking, the system's quiet hum his only company. He didn't need Alice or Rosalie—he had Bella, his powers, and a story he'd rewrite on his terms. The bond could burn for all he cared; he wasn't here to fall in love. He was here to win.