Ch 2

JPOV

I'm glad Char and Peter went hunting tonight. Don't get me wrong, I love those two like family. Hell they are my family. But being around mates when you're a single empath could get frustrating in the sexual sense. All it takes is a giggle from Charlotte or a wink from Peter and those two are hot and heavy.

It was the same when I lived with the Cullens. Alice and I tried to make a go of it but her controlling visions made loving her impossible for me. A man likes to feel like a man and that includes picking out his own clothes and choosing his own path. I know she was trying to protect me but I'm supposed to be the protector. I'm the Major of the Southern Wars for God's sake, not some newborn pup needing to be lead around on a lead and sheltered. We knew we weren't real mates and finally broke it off about five years ago. Carlisle, the father and head of the Cullen coven, has a theory that gifted vampires don't mate. His son Edward, Alice, and I are all gifted and single and most other vampires with extra talents are nomads or in the Volturi.

Ah, the Voltui. They make me laugh. A bunch of ancient vampires that sit around an old castle pretending to protect our secret and congratulating themselves on being civilised. They have wanted me to join them for as long as I can remember but I always refuse. I got a gutful of doing other people's dirty work with Maria. I'd rather be my own man thank you kindly.

I thought about taking a run through the woods near our property. We had a beautiful home that used to be some kind of religious retreat. There were a dozen bedrooms and a spacious kitchen and more bathrooms than the Brady bunch could put to good use. The whole place was built out of logs and timber and Char decorated it with southern charm. All the rooms had beds and dressers and the living room was decked out like the southern equivalent of The Plaza. It still felt homey though with its throws on the back of the couches and cowboy artwork.

My ears pricked up hearing someone running through the woods and coming this way quick. I stepped out onto the large covered porch and took a deep inhale and recognised Peter's scent. In less than two minutes he was standing in front of me. I might have been really worried about the nervousness coming from him but the shit eating grin on his face told me that even though trouble may be coming, we would be able to handle it.

"Alright Peter, what's got you grinning like a school boy who saw his first set of tits?" I arched my brow in question.

Peter just grinned wider, "Congratulations are in order Major."

Him and his games. Peter may be one of the baddest mother fuckers on the planet but sometimes he acted like a damn child. "Alright, congratulations. Now what in the Hell am I giving congrats for?"

"Not to me Jasper, to Charlotte. I'm guessing right about now my wife is becoming a maker for the first time."

Holy shit what have they gotten us into this time? "What? You better explain right now Captain." I don't like surprises especially not ones that could throw everything to hell. Stress tends to revert me to my military state of mind and make me cranky as a possum.

Peter heaved a sigh," Ok shit head calm down. Char and I were hunting in Portland and came across four dick heads about to gang rape this woman. Boy she was fighting too. They were lucky they had her held down cause once she got up she got vicious scratching and slugging the shit out of one of them." A proud look took over his scarred face.

"Get to the part where we're adopting a baby vampire." My patience was wearing thin but I knew how Peter felt. Violence against women especially rape is just about the lowest of the low, other than doing that shit to a kid. I was happy to hear she had fought back, dangerous as it may have been.

"I know shit Major, you know that, and one thing I know is that this girl wasn't supposed to die. She even said she fought and she wasn't ready to exit the world. During the killing and commotion she got pushed and hit her head on a damn tree. Then she started having a damn fit. I felt scared Jazz, for her. There's some reason this woman couldn't die. I understand if you don't want to handle a newborn after all the shit fire with Maria, but Char and I are doing this. We'll leave if you want or you can get your ass away for awhile, either way the girl is staying with us."

Peter had never gone against me nor had he ever tried to force my hand. For one he wasn't dumb and he knew first hand how bad I could get if I got mad and two, we were family. I trusted him like I did no other fucker on earth. The thought of taking care of a newborn didn't make me happy but these two had stood by me through some horrific shit and I would do the same for them. That's just what family does.

I still wasn't too comfortable with the situation but I conceded a bit. "Peter of course ya'll can stay, but I am not on babysitting detail got that captain?"

"I don't think that will be necessary. Char is already all mother hen over her." We both smiled at the thought of Charlotte, the best female fighter either of us had ever seen, fussing over her baby chick.

"You go and set up a room for our newest addition. I'm gonna call Alice and see if she can give us any tips." I didn't really like talking to Alice much, she seemed to be holding onto some hope that we were gonna be with each other, but safety is safety.

Peter nodded and headed into the house while I pulled out my cell phone. I scrolled down and hit send for "pixi".

"Jazzy! How are you? Are you ok? I was getting ready to call you but I keep having so many visions, what's going on?" I know we don't technically need to breathe but that woman has the lung capacity of a damn hot air balloon I swear.

"Calm down Ali. It seems that Char and Peter are adding to our family, a woman they saved while hunting in the city. Can you tell me anything?"

Alice was quiet for a moment before she practically whispered, "No Jazzy I can't. It's like you've all disappeared."

My forehead bunched up at her worried tone. "That's not very comforting, what could it mean?"

"I'm not sure. I'll have to talk to Carlisle about it. Wait let me try something else."

She was silent again, this time for longer. "Hmm ok. I'm not positive about this but I think it's going to be ok. I can still see Rose and Emmett's future and they're happy, so are Carlisle and Esme. If something bad happened to you they'd be in mourning but they're not."

It was a roundabout reassurance but it would have to do for now. "Ok Ali, thank you."

"No problem Jazz. Let me know what happens with the new girl ok?" I ignored the hint of jealousy in her voice.

"Of course, I'll speak with you soon."

After hanging up I went in to check on Peter. Let's face it, Char is the decorator in the house. It looked nice though with calming blues everywhere.

"Isn't it supposed to be pink for a girl?"

Peter rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Shut the fuck up Jasper. I didn't plan for this shit. Besides she'll probably want to decorate herself after she stops wanting to eat everyone around."

We joked around a bit more but it wasn't long before we heard a truck tear assing up the driveway and we sprinted outside. Char pulled up and ran around the side to grab the woman who was softly whimpering out of the passenger side.

"Jesus Char why didn't you bite her yet?" Peter yelled in alarm.

"I did jackass, but she hasn't screamed. Maybe I did something wrong?" Venom pooled in her eyes, " Jasper check her for me please?"

I stepped up and grabbed the female from Charlotte's arms, her long sable mane falling over my arm. One of her small porcelain hands came up and grabbed my shirt. Her eyes opened and her pink lips parted,

"I burn." Her voice was hoarse and scraped against my heart with its pleading.

The pain coming from her was palpable and I had felt it so many times in the past. She was indeed changing. "Char you did fine. She's changing alright, I can feel it." I walked into the house barking orders for Peter to fill up the tub with cold water. It might only help a bit but any relief would be better than none. I laid her down on the cool bathroom tiles and she rubbed her scorching skin against them like a cat in heat. Her pale skin was flushed and I realised just how exquisite she was. Her pain felt more personal, more real than any I had felt and brother I'd felt shitloads. Hers was almost tangible.

I tried to stay calm and speak in a soothing way. "Darling I need you to listen to me ok? My name is Jasper and I'm not going to hurt you. I'm gonna try and help take some of the burning away. What's your name?"

Her lips were chapping from the fire raging within her but she managed to stutter," B-B-Bella."

"Ok Bella we're gonna take your clothes off and put you in a cold bath. It might shock you." She gave a slight nod in understanding while I started to undress her. I moved her around some so I could get her shirt off and was hit with the sight of bruising painted on her skin like grotesque art. Rage started swelling in me like I hadn't ever felt. My un-beating heart was being squeezed in a vice as I hesitantly took off her pants, leaving her in only her innocent white bra and panties. For fuck sake her legs were even worse. I hope they made those fucker's pay.

"We did the best we could Major." Charlotte must have felt my emotions as she spoke apologetically. Sometimes when they got bad I couldn't help but project.

"I need to go for a run." I stood up and hauled ass away from there, leaving Bella with her makers. I needed to make something bleed.