Chapter Two

Jasper

What had drawn me to the Olympic range? I'd been on my way to the Blue mountains to meet up with Emmett and Edward for a hunting expedition when I'd been pulled to the west. Something told me I needed to get there and quickly so I poured on the speed and I'd only been there a short while when I smelled bear but close to it was the scent of a human, a scent that dragged me ever closer until I came to the edge of a small clearing where I saw a young human girl sitting on the ground fiddling with her shoe. She wasn't aware that there was a large bear closing in on her. It started its attacking run and all I could think was that I needed to get between them. I ran across the clearing knocking the child over and wrestled the bear to the ground snapping its neck as it bit down on my arm. She looked up with frightened eyes then closed them again and as I got up I saw the bear had lost one of its canines in the attack. I licked the blood from it and without conscious thought put the tooth in the little girls hand before picking up the bear and disappearing into the trees before her friend arrived on the scene. The bear became dinner for me and the scavengers where I left its drained carcass.

I was going to be late meeting the others but that wouldn't worry them, it would mean more for them. As I ran I wondered why I had been drawn to that particular spot, was it to save the child? If so then why? I didn't like puzzles or mysteries, they unnerved me. I decided to speak to Carlisle about it when we returned home, he might have some idea but I wouldn't tell the others, Edward would only make fun of me and Emmett would probably come up with some nickname for me. I wondered whether to tell Alice or not, she couldn't be jealous of a child could she? Maybe she'd seen it already, if so she hadn't rung me. Would the child remember what happened? No one would believe her anyway, what had she seen? A man fight a bear? They would think she'd found the tooth on the ground and made up a story to explain how she got it. Somehow though I knew I wouldn't forget the incident, the child's face and scent would remain with me, a tiny memory that would stay in my mind always.

Carlisle

It wasn't often that Jasper asked to speak to me in private so I was only too pleased when he knocked on my study door. I thought there had been something on his mind since he and the others got back from their hunting trip the day before. Something was bothering him and I could see it was upsetting Alice too.

"Carlisle do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Of course come in. Is there something troubling you Jasper?"

"Not troubling so much as puzzling me really."

I listened as he explained what had happened in the forest.

"I don't understand why I was drawn there or what it all means. Does it make sense to you?"

"Well I have a theory but I need to ask you a couple of questions first. This child, was it a girl or a boy?"

"A girl."

"And she was alone?"

"Yes but there was another child close by, a boy I think."

"What do you think made you give her the bears tooth?"

"I don't know, it just occurred to me to leave her a memento."

"Of her narrow escape from the bear or of you?"

"I don't know, I never thought about it really."

"Jasper are you happy?"

"Happy? I'm not sure I understand the question Carlisle."

"Do you feel fulfilled? Content? Do you think you are where you want and need to be?"

"I found some peace Carlisle and Alice makes me happy."

"Happy or fulfilled? Does your body light up when you see her? Could you imagine a world without her presence?"

"What's this got to do with what happened Carlisle?"

"The very fact you aren't answering me tells all I need to know. Jasper, you met your mate in the forest and you saved her life. One day you will meet her again and then you will understand my questions. I'm sorry son but I don't think Alice is your mate I never did even though she introduce you as mates. She is a very special person and a good friend to you but she's not the one."

"No, I don't believe you Carlisle. How could that little child possibly be my mate? She's human for a start and only a child."

"And she will grow up to become a woman, a woman who will call you back to her when the time is right. You have no control over it Jasper, its our nature, our bodies recognise our mate and it will happen as I've just described.."

Jasper

I didn't want to believe Carlisle's words, it felt as if I'd been unfaithful to Alice, the one who had saved me from the darkness of despair. She had told me we were mates and I'd believed her, I loved her, my little pixie girl, how could I possibly be destined for another? But I couldn't erase the memory of the child's face, her scent, and it did something to me, it had created an ache deep inside me, one that I'd never felt before and had no way to ease.

"Should I talk to Alice? Why didn't she see what happened Carlisle?"

"I can't answer that Jasper. I don't know but I think if you talk to Alice she might well agree with me. I think Alice loves you but I don't think she's in love with you. I have an idea that you might be surprised by her reaction if you tell her but its your decision."

I left Carlisle's study more troubled than I'd entered it only to find Alice waiting for me downstairs. She took my hand with a smile and suggested we went for a walk by the river. As I walked beside her I felt a sadness in her but it was a sweet sadness.

"What's wrong Alice?"

"Nothing more than I expected Jazz, it's just come a little sooner than I'd hoped. I know you spoke to Carlisle and I know he told you something that disturbed you. Will you tell me."

"Did you see anything while I was away?"

"No, only your hunt with the others but something else happened, something I wasn't able to see, something very important and my guess is that it relates to your mate."

That shocked me into silence,

"Its OK Jazz, I knew one day I would have to let go, say goodbye and watch you walk into your future."

"You knew? Why didn't you tell me Alice?"

"If I had you wouldn't have come with me. Besides it didn't matter, not as long as you hadn't met your true mate and we've had fun haven't we?"

"You stood by me? You helped me, went through all this knowing you weren't my mate? Why Alice? Why bother?"

"Because you are worth it and I saw another damaged soul who needed help. It hasn't been wholly a one way street Jazz, you've helped me too. Helped me see that it's not impossible to make a life as a vampire, to overcome terrible hurdles and be a better person as a result. I have one final gift for you."

"Another? What this time?"

"I can tell you where and when you will meet her again if you like but I warn you that by telling you I could change the future so I'm going to keep silent and watch. Until that time no one else need know we are anything less than they saw yesterday or the day before. Let them believe we are mates and lets carry on shall we? I do love you Jazz and I know you love me but just not enough to die for and that's the ultimate test."