Disclaimer: SM owns all recognizable characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The plot herein is mine.
This story contains mature themes and is suitable for those eighteen and over. This is the continuation of 'What Tomorrow May Bring'.
Summary: The sequel to 'What Tomorrow May Bring'. Jasper and Bella are separated by Victoria's gift. Alice and James are sadistic mates who destroy other covens. Vicky is their weapon but she has a plan. Reunite Jasper and Bella and join their coven. Simple enough right?
AN: Jasper and Bella meet the Cullens. This picks up after chapter 29 of What Tomorrow May Bring.
Jasper Whitlock, 1950
She slammed me into a tree attacking my lips, causing the tree to creak under the pressure of our bodies. She moaned into my ear and ripped at my clothes. I loved her like this. So unbridled and filled with passion. I loved being at her mercy while she ravished me. It was the best way to spend time with my mate.
"Shouldn't you be hunting, Bella?" I asked in a slight mock concern while she sucked and nipped at my neck. Truthfully, I didn't want her to stop. I just loved messing with her. She growled in response, meaning I should shut up and enjoy this but I loved to piss her off. It made the lovemaking ever better. There was nothing better than Bella wild and filled with abandon so I persisted, "I've already hunted. We should get you something to eat."
She growled at me, groping my crotch. Now I was the one who wanted to forego getting her to hunt and settle for ravishing her for days.
I loved her ferociousness when she wanted me.
"Right after we're done." She hissed at me.
"It always starts out this way," I reminded her. "And then you'll smell something delectable and I'll take second place to your meal of choice."
"It won't happen this time," Bella moaned, grinding her body against mine.
"It will."
Just as I said it, she went rigid, pulled away to sniff the air, and then took off with a snarl.
It happened every time.
I laughed and ran off after her.
We hadn't gone to Forks right away as we had talked about. Instead, we took time to travel as a family. Bella adored that Samuel had bonded with us. I loved how close they were. There was a sense of a mother and son bond between them and they damn near inseparable now. Samuel looked to Bella as the mother he no longer had. And I was his father. While Peter and Char were his uncle and aunt. To him, we were not coven. We were a family. It made Bella to hear him say this when he declared it to us. She was beaming with pride of her…son.
Samuel, in turn, was very protective of his mom. This made Peter admired Samuel's familial love for my mate and was proud to consider him his nephew.
During our travels overseas, Bella avoided all talks of Forks. To her, we would deal with it when we returned to the States. In the mean time, we traveled everywhere her little heart desired. I reveled in her happiness as she took in the sights and enjoyed the history of everywhere we went. She smiled brightly and shone like the sun with happiness and love for us as we visited each location.
Among our travels, Bella loved Paris and every day I spent with her in that city sent me in a state of euphoria because of her infectious happiness. It made me promise her that we'd return to the city of love in the near future.
When we returned home, Forks still wasn't on the agenda. I didn't bother to push any talks of it either. I knew it was on her mind, but she was avoiding it, so why say anything? Whatever happened there made Bella unhappy. It was something she couldn't control and that bothered me.
It was difficult because I wanted to know what she saw, but she would never tell me and I wouldn't force her. Bella was stubborn. She thought whatever it was, she could handle it on her own and she wasn't going to ask for help until the last minute.
We settled down in Seattle for a while and I grew comfortable. It was a nice enough place. I liked it. Bella appeared happy and that made me content. Life became easy. We would hunt and live our lives how we saw fit. It was all I needed. Just my mate and my family. I didn't need any more mayhem. For me, those days were hopefully behind me and never coming back.
But as I had grown comfortable, Bella started to mention Forks and the Cullens. I didn't like it. But I reserved my opinion on it. I knew my mate only saw the future if it surrounded me, but whatever reason she had for talking about them, she wasn't sharing a thing. All I could feel was her fear, but she wasn't saying a thing. I tried on more than one occasion to get her to talk but she only promised me that no matter what we would make it through.
"Just tell me," I had tried persuading her.
She looked up at me sadly. Her beautiful golden eyes shone with sadness. She caressed my cheek while I eagerly wanted to shake her for refusing to give me the answer I craved. "No matter what, I'll find you."
Bella was scared and I hated it.
I didn't push her and she turned away from me that day after plastering a smile on her face and rejoined my brother-in-law in conversation. He looked at me worriedly but I just bristled and stalked off in anger. I knew whatever it was, she probably told Peter and not me. And I couldn't help the jealousy I felt.
I tried again another night as we lay under the stars after making love. I had taken her hunting not just to be alone with her but to also interrogate her and she knew. So I just dived right in. "What are you afraid of?"
She didn't answer me. She just laid on my bare chest, caressing it.
I continued. The anger rising in me. "Whenever you think of Forks or of the Cullens, you grow scared. Why?" I wasn't afraid to beg. I needed to know. I had to so I could protect her.
She remained silent and then she got up to look me in the eye while she said, "I'm scared of losing you. I'm afraid of being trapped by whatever is coming and not being able to save you. I'm afraid of what it will do to us if we part again."
"Tell me what is so I can get rid of it," I begged her, but she never explained any further.
I was felt in the dark to await this force that was going to try and destroy us.
My mate was so damn stubborn!
She was running ahead of me now, teasing and laughing. "Keep up!"
I growled and pushed myself to go faster, but it would still be hard to catch up with her. My mate had amazing speed. I had yet to meet another vampire who was as fast as her. Watching her run ahead of me was fueling my desire. Her long hair was flowing in the wind and her enticing scent was flooding my brain with lust.
She stopped and I stopped.
She sniffed the air and I chose to distract her by sending her all my lust. She turned to me with a smirk that almost made me shiver in anticipation, "Don't distract me." She growled and I growled back.
"Try and stop me." I said, challenging her because we always had the best sex after fighting.
She sauntered over to me, invading my space by pressing her sexy little body into mine, leaned in and inhaled deeply while rubbing herself against me. "I love your scent." She moaned, taking the shell of my ear between her teeth and nibbling on it. "I love it all over me."
Just as I was about to pull her into a kiss, she pushed off of me and ran off, laughing.
"Hey!" I complained. "No fair!" I ran after her.
"All's fair in love and war, sweetheart!" She replied as she dashed between the trees, trying to evade me.
We ran farther into the woods until I began to wonder where the hell Bella's prey was. "Where are we heading, darlin'?" I asked her.
"Just a little further!"
For the last year or so, I have been tempted to follow her animal diet. And though I hadn't said anything, Bella knew and had already seen the outcome. Her knowing smirks told me so. I was going to try it. I knew I would too. I was living in denial for a while.
She came to a stop and growled. I stopped some ways away, giving her room. Her prey had to be close.
This was my favorite part. The part where all I could imagine doing was grabbing her and taking her from behind until she screamed for me. But I never dared to. I knew my mate and interrupting her while she fed wouldn't be the smartest thing to do so I kept my distance. I leaned against a tree and watched Bella as she dropped into a crouch and climbed onto the boulder in front of her like a cat.
Mmm…my little vixen.
She rose up slightly, stalking her prey as she was about to attack. Her emotions were a swirl of contentment and lust, especially when she glanced my way. I sent her my own lust, wanting her to hurry up so I could have my way with her. I wanted her legs wrapped around me while I fucked her. I needed to feel her womanly warmth around my hungry member as I pushed into her welcoming depths. There was nothing better than feeling her fingers digging into my back while I pounded into her.
"Stop!" She hissed at me. "Or you won't get it."
"Sorry," I whispered. I was projecting again.
I pushed my lust aside and opened my senses to the task at hand. I could hear the heartbeat of whatever animal Bella was stalking and I felt her excitement grow. She loved the thrill of the hunt. Then Bella snarled, making the animal run off so she could give chase. This was her favorite part. She loved chasing her targets.
Bella was about to launch off the boulder when she stopped abruptly and smelled the air. I smelt it too. Vampires. I grew alert. But Bella wasn't. She wasn't as angry as she usually was when we came across other vampires either. She was…happy?
She turned to me with a smile, "They're here! It's them!"
Bella leapt off the boulder and ran north. 'Them' could only mean the Cullens and they were close.
I took off, chasing after my mate.
While Bella wouldn't tell me in great detail what would happen in my mystery future and what it had to do with the Cullens, she did share that they would become great friends to our family.
But it was still unsettling to know that she chose to carry the burden of my future on her shoulders.
Loud angry growls pulled me from my thoughts. One of them belonging to my mate. My anger rose immediately and I pushed myself to go faster. Whoever has angered my Bella was about to feel my wrath.
"No one touches my mate," I thought as I ran toward the feral sounds.
Carlisle Cullen, 1950
Alice was being unusual today. It was odd she didn't want to leave the house, much less, come hunting with us. She has been acting suspicious all morning, snapping at everyone and even going as far as to lock her favorite brother, Edward, out of her thoughts.
She was desperately trying to keep her thoughts guarded, and while it hurt Edward, he was adamant she would discuss whatever was bothering her with us when she was ready. I hoped he was right. Alice knew I loved her like a daughter and she could talk to me about anything.
Then again, I could be worried over nothing. Maybe Alice just wanted to go shopping alone. If anything was seriously wrong, she wouldn't behave the way she has been. Alice adored us and we loved her. She was truly a gift to my family. She had the best personality I have ever come across. She was always upbeat and happy and was such a relief in my household. It was wonderful to have her around.
Though at times, Alice could be different. She hid it well, but it was always there. I could see it so could the rest of the family but we all looked passed it. Well, all except for Rosalie, my other daughter. She and Alice were always arguing over something. Alice, happiness aside, could be overwhelming when she wanted something to be done her way, and Rosalie wasn't about to be controlled by anyone.
I have tried to talk to them about it, but they have yet to come to a mutual understanding. Rosalie saw Alice's bubbly personality as a show. She thought it was a cover for something else, and refused to fully accept Alice's place in our family. Even though I have told Rosalie how hurtful she was being, Rosalie hasn't given up her suspicions.
Rosalie and Emmett came walking out of the woods, interrupting my thoughts. "Where's Edward? It's time to go," I said.
"Went after a mountain lion," Rose sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes.
"Well, let's wait for hi…" Loud, angry growls caused me to stop short and disrupted the silence. All our eyes snapped to the direction it was coming from before we took off into a run.
When we caught up with the growls, Edward and a female vampire were circling each other.
"You idiot!" She hissed at him angrily. "You scared away my prey." She dropped in a crouch and so did Emmett and Rose, ready to protect Edward. The female vampire wasn't scared though. It seemed as if she welcomed the challenge of taking on three vampires.
She glanced at them and smirked at them teasingly while I stared at her in fascination. This female vampire was riddled with scars. Immediately, I began to wander if she was a part of the wars in the South some years ago.
My fascination aside, I didn't want a fight. I wanted to find a peaceful solution to this quarrel.
"I scared him away?" Edward growled at the woman. "That was your fault, you…"
"I dare you to say another word to my mate, boy," Another vampire said as he emerged from the trees. He was tall, blond and riddled with same battle scars as his mate. I have never seen anything like it, but it was obvious these two were fighters.
"She scared away my kill, Jasper," Edward said to the male vampire. His name was Jasper.
"This is the mind reader," The woman growled to the male vampire. She knew of Edward?
"Edward?" Jasper, the male vampire, said and Edward nodded in acknowledgement.
Jasper turned to the woman. The way they moved told me she meant something to him, quite possibly this was his mate. "Bella, don't you think you should get out of the crouch then?" he chuckled and said to her. He had a deep southern accent when he spoke. As did the woman. Yes, they had to be a part of the fights. "We can always find you another prey."
"Not before I teach Eddie a lesson." She snarled at Edward.
"Don't call me that!" Edward shouted and Rose giggled. We all knew how Edward hated being called 'Eddie'.
"Make me!" She challenged.
Rose got out of her crouch. "I want to see this. I don't know her but I like her."
Emmett chuckled, getting out of his crouch as well. "This is going to be good. She looks like she can fight."
My children wanted to see a fight between Edward and Bella, but I wanted to diffuse the situation. I wanted to get to know these strangers. "Hello, I'm Carlisle Cullen and this is my family," I said, addressing the male vampire, Jasper. I wanted to show him that we were civilized and meant no harm. His red eyes snapped to mine. He looked at me as if he was assessing something. Was he gifted too?
He stretched his hand for me to shake, and I moved toward him and took it. "I'm Jasper Whitlock."
"Carlisle Cullen," I repeated.
He let go of my hand and smiled when Edward growled at Bella, who found it amusing.
"Edward, please calm down." I told my son.
Jasper chuckled and Bella laughed, "Yes, Edward, be a good boy and back off. Don't make me do something you'll regret."
"I don't like being threatened," Edward snarled.
"Don't force my hand," Bella warned him.
"My mate is a talented fighter, ruthless even. She only fights to win, Edward," Jasper cautioned him.
"I can see it in your thoughts," Edward sneered at Jasper, "but why do you know so much about us?"
"What do they know?" I asked my son.
Edward got out of his crouch and Bella followed suit with a smirk. They eyed one another with soft growls until Jasper and I parted them.
Bella moved over to her mate, nuzzling his neck before placing her head on his chest in an effort to calm herself.
Edward began to speak Jasper's thoughts. "Jasper is an Empath. He can read, control and manipulate the emotions around him. Bella can amplify his gift if she wants to. He knows about us because of his mate, Bella. I can only read his thoughts though."
"Why?" Rosalie asked.
"Because Bella is a shield. She is also oddly clairvoyant when it comes to her mate," Edward explained.
"How do they know about us?" Emmett questioned.
"Bella. Somehow she sees our families' lives becoming intertwined."
"Snitch," Bella hissed at Edward from her place in Jasper's arms. He chuckled and Rosalie laughed while Edward growled at Bella. She stuck her tongue out at him in a childish manner, making me chuckle.
Bella snapped her golden eyes to mine with an open smile causing me to recall why we were all here. The statement jumped out of my mouth before I could have the good sense to stop it. "She doesn't take blood from humans."
Jasper and Bella exchanged a look and then chuckled at me. He answered while she hugged herself to him. "No," Jasper said. "From the first moment she opened her pretty red eyes to me, she has chosen to drink from animals." He smiled down at his mate. There was a sense of admiration in his tone as he spoke of her. "She's more like you than me, Carlisle."
"That's amazing," I said in astonishment. It was fascinating to hear of a newborn choosing their diet. "Doesn't it bother you?"
"No." He chuckled. "I'm happy when my mate is happy. My Bella is very smart," Jasper continued in admiration. "She's been a great addition to my family."
It was wonderful to know he considered his coven a family.
"Yes," I said softly as I thought of Jasper and Bella's scars. I wanted to know about them. But how do I ask without sounding offensive?
"Ask," Jasper said calmly. "I promise to answer with the upmost honesty."
"I'm very sorry for staring," I told him truthfully, not realizing that I was, but they were both so…fascinating. Their scars looked terrifying. The first reaction to seeing them was fear. But I wasn't afraid. For some reason, I felt confident and calm. "Your scars are horrific. I should be fearful of you, but I can't find it in me to be."
Jasper smirked and I went on with a chuckle at the realization of what was happening to me, "Your empathy?"
He nodded.
"Thank you. As I said, I find them striking. Were you two in battle?"
"Yes, we were," Jasper replied. "And our scars are a reminder of what we never want to be again. "
"But if forced to, would you go back to it?" I was quick to ask.
"I will always do what's necessary to protect my family," he said. "I was in countless battles, Carlisle. I was a part of the Southern Wars and my maker wanted an army at her disposal to conquer and rule over territories. I assisted her by training her newborns and leading them into battle for her victory."
"I see," I said, enraptured by his tale. "And your mate was a part of this life?"
"Briefly," he said solemnly.
"He didn't want me to be, but I refuse to let him fight alone," Bella said, moving out of Jasper's embrace to stand by his side. He nuzzled her hair and then kissed her cheek affectionately before she turned to Edward, warning him. "Now, you, boy, don't cross me again. I will not be as lenient next time around."
Edward scoffed and rolled his eyes at her. Jasper growled deeply and Edward snapped his eyes to him. He seemed to tremble and Bella laughed.
"Jasper, stop it. You're scaring poor little Edward." She teased.
Rose interjected to address her brother. "I don't think Bella is joking around, Edward. Neither is Jasper. You should take them seriously."
Bella gave Rose a devilish smirk. "We're not, and don't try to read my mind, Edward. You'll never get through my shield unless I want you to," she drawled.
These two were fascinating. Not only were they once fighters, both were gifted. Jasper was a human drinker mated to an animal drinker and they didn't seem to have a problem with it. How extraordinary!
"I would like you to meet the rest of my family," I said to Jasper and Bella. Edward gave me a hard look which I chose to ignore.
Bella smiled warmly at me. "We would love to meet them."
"Well, can you follow us home now?"
"Yes," Jasper said.
"That's wonderful." I looked back at Rosalie and Emmett and they seemed to be in agreement. Edward was pouting. Rosalie smacked his arm and told him to stop acting like a baby and he stomped off. "You'll have to excuse my son."
"It's alright," Bella said with a light chuckle. "Edward and I will get along fine."
"I hardly know you!" Edward shouted.
"Watch yourself!" Jasper growled in his direction and Edward went silent.
"Jasper, behave," Bella said, smacking her mate's arm. "You're scaring the poor boy."
Jasper laughed. "He'll learn to watch his tongue around you."
Bella shook her head and apologized for her mate. "You'll have to excuse my mate. He's very protective of me."
We started our trek home. I couldn't wait for Esme and Alice to meet the Whitlocks. I was sure Esme would be happy to meet the couple and Alice would be intrigued by them.
"We would like you to meet our family too," Bella said. "I think you and Peter will get along."
"Peter will try Carlisle's patience," Jasper said to her.
"Peter can be a gentleman when he wants to be!" Bella said defensively.
"You'll have to excuse my mate. She lets her brother get away with his bad attitude," Jasper shared. "Peter is a good brother, but he's trouble with a capital 'T'. Watch yourself when you meet him."
"Thank you for the warning."
Edward was leaning up against a tree when we stepped out of the woods in front of our home. He was staring at Jasper with a look of concentration on his face, while he read his mind. Bella intervened. "My brother will love teasing you, Edward."
Rosalie giggled and Edward growled under his breath. Jasper growled back and I apologized for Edward again. What was with him? There was no way he could defeat Jasper. He was a trained fighter. He would rip my son apart without a second thought.
"Who are you?" Edward asked harshly, directing the question to Bella. Jasper moved to step in front of her and closer to Edward but Bella stopped him.
"It's okay, my love," she said to her mate with a kiss to his cheek. "Edward has every right to ask."
I was thankfully for Bella's intervention as Jasper calmed at his mate's touch. "It's okay," Bella said to him, adding, "I would be suspicious too."
She turned to Edward and us with a sigh and then revealed all she knew. "Carlisle, Esme seems wonderful. She's loving and nurturing. She'll be there for Jasper when I cannot. Our lives will soon be intertwined and as much as I hate the reason, I can't stop it. I see that now. I can only hope and fight for a better ending than the one I have foreseen."
We were all stunned by her confession. Jasper took her by the shoulders and turned her to him. "Bella, what's going to happen?"
She looked sad now. "No matter what. We're going to win. You'll see to it."
They exchanged another look. Edward turned away and ran into the house after saying Jasper's thoughts were private. Rosalie and Emmett left too. But I waited for them.
Bella looked a lot happier when she turned her attention to me. "Now, there's someone living with you I'm longing to see. Where's my little friend, Mary Alice?"