Jasper Hale was not one to give up.
Hadn't that been proved in his days with Maria, even before his Vampire life when he was a proud soldier?
So why, after all he had been through, was he finding it so hard to accept Bella into his family?
He supposed it was because of her blood. In fact, he knew it was because of her blood: the sweet, flowery scent that teased his senses, made his throat burn for it. It was only natural for him, a vampire that had lived on human blood for a long time, to want it. Had he encountered her before, he would not have been able to stop himself. He was a monster, capable of snapping necks with one hand and sucking the life out of a body.
But Alice had come into his life, and with her came his self control. Because of her, he was who he was today, a quiet, kind man, reformed and with a new view on life. She made him realise that there was more to life than blood. There was also love. He knew now that his feelings for Maria were nothing more than lust for the power she seemed to radiate. She had 'trained' him to kill, to destroy, to create more of the terrifying creatures their 'coven' had become. Alice, however, was a light that never failed to shine brightly, creating warmth, comfort and happiness.
Then there were the Cullens. Since the day they had been welcomed into their home, Jasper had felt a sense of family. He knew, as he looked around at his brothers, sister, mother, father and Alice, that this was where he belonged. He had been accepted into a world where he was finally content.
So why were the fates trying to ruin it?
It wasn't that he didn't like Bella, he did, in fact he found her shy, caring nature rather endearing, and he, along with the rest of his family, was overjoyed at the fact that Edward had finally found a partner, but she was a human. And that was his problem. He found the vegetarian lifestyle hard, no point in denying it. And just when he felt safe, happy and at peace with his life, something was brought in to test him.
At the moment, he wasn't sure he could handle being in the same room as her, for fear his killer instincts would kick in and he would do something he would deeply regret. If he attacked her, he would have to leave, shamed and alone, having lost his only hope, his light and his world. The thought alone sent fear running down his spine, horror consuming him when he pictured Alice turning him away.
Jasper knew that to keep his family, the only people he ever truly loved, he had to resist the temptation. He had to try and ignore the calling of her blood, the sound of her pulse. If Edward could kiss her without losing it, he could stand to be near her. After all, he was strong, had been through a lot, and he could control himself. It would be hard, but, looking around at the seven people he loved, and the house he called home, he realised he would do anything to keep this. They had showed him how to love, how to live properly, and he could not afford to lose them. He was determined to resist the temptation, show he truly was a better man, for them.