I don't own Twilight.
Chapter 6
Jasper didn't have to wait long for Bella and Charlie to fall asleep. He wished he could talk to them first but he had to honor the treaty. He just hoped he could convince the Quileute's to come clean with Bella and her father.
Bella was knee deep in the supernatural and Charlie was in charge of the safety of the residents of Forks. His ignorance of what was really happening in his jurisdiction made him vulnerable. Both deserved to know what dangers there were. What danger they were in.
He silently looked in on both of them before exiting the house. He then made one patrol around the house. Finding nothing out of the ordinary he headed toward the treaty boundary. He figured if he ran along the line enough one of the 'pack' would make contact with him.
He was a little surprised that there were shifters in the tribe. Carlisle had made it sound as if there weren't anymore. This could be a fool's errand and the rumors were just that rumors. He had to be sure though.
If there were shifters they were crossing the treaty line and they would only do that if they had a very good reason. He needed to know that reason. He had promised Alice to keep Bella safe…even if he hadn't he would protect her.
His thoughts turned to Bella. How could he have fallen in love with her? Alice hadn't been gone for long. How could he fall for Bella in a week but not for Alice in fifty years?
He had no doubt in his mind what he felt for Bella was real and strong. What he had felt for Alice was…gratitude. It made him feel guilty to acknowledge it but he had always known.
With Bella he felt…like himself. With Alice he always felt like he was trying to be what she wanted. He had always been trying to please her. His thoughts felt disloyal to Alice but they were true. She had never demanded it from him he had just felt he owed her. Alice had been wonderful but she had always deserved better from him. He could never be enough for her.
Was he enough for Bella? He stopped mid run the thought hitting him like a thunderbolt. It would kill him if he wasn't. Now that he had basked in her friendship, her comfort and caring he didn't want…couldn't be without it.
When he had realized his love for her he had almost blurted it right out. It had been so real so overwhelming but something had held him back and now he was glad. He couldn't tell her, she was dating his brother. His wife had just died a week ago, for crying out loud. Vampires weren't supposed to get over their mates death. Just look at Marcus.
Besides Bella loved Edward. That thought made him want to punch something. He had always ignored their relationship in the past. Now that he thought about it he had never even seen them kiss. He closed his eyes and clenched his fist. How could he watch that? Would he be able to without ripping Edward apart?
Edward was a good man in spite of his recent actions. Jasper knew that he was just acting out his grief. Edward was the darling of the Cullen family and a bit spoiled. He tended to throw a fit when things didn't go his way and he had loved Alice very much. The two of them had been very close.
All in all Edward was a better vampire than Jasper was. Edward's crimes were minor in comparison and while he was a little immature he did love Bella. Jasper had watched him struggling with and overcoming the call of her blood. Jasper wasn't sure he would have been able to do that.
Bella wasn't his singer and sometimes the urge to bite her was almost overwhelming. It had been since the day he saw her in that lunch room and felt her emotions as she looked over his family.
If he really loved her he would have to let her be with the one she loved. When Edward finally pulled his head out of his ass and came back for Bella he should leave. But how could he leave her? The thought of not seeing her made him feel as if his dead heart were ripped out of his chest.
How could he stay? Seeing her with Edward would be worse. He would want to rip the boy apart, brother or not. That would hurt Bella and he couldn't do that either.
One day at a time…That's what Alice would say when he first started traveling with her and he was struggling with his blood lust. It applied now too. He would protect her and when Edward showed back up he would do what was best for Bella. Whatever that was.
He began to run again. His thoughts returned to Bella but now they were calmer and he settled for remembering the many good moments he had with her.
An hour into his run he began to hear someone on the other side of the treaty line. He stopped his run and turned to face whoever was there.
Two enormous wolves came into view. Jasper stared at them in awe. He had heard the stories but Carlisle had not done them justice. They were intimidating but beautiful in the way that animals were. He couldn't help the feral grin that lit his face. What he wouldn't give to run with them once.
"I need to talk to you." He said to them. He easily sensed their human emotions, he would have known that they were shifters even without the stories and their…well…supernatural appearance.
One of the wolves jogged behind a tree and soon a man came back.
"I am Sam Uley. I am the Alpha of my pack." He said with enough pride coming off of him to almost choke me.
I decided that giving him respect was the best way to handle this. "I am honored. My name is Jasper Whitlock." He inclined his head to him before continuing on.
"I believe Carlisle added our names to the treaty." Carlisle had told him he did but Jasper needed to make sure.
"He did. Is that why you are so close to the boundary?" Sam asked.
"No. I wished to ask you why you crossed the lines." Jasper said sending out calm and hoping that he wouldn't think Jasper was challenging him.
The wolf beside Sam growled.
"We thought all the Cullens had left. We are sorry for our mistake. When we realized you were still here we drew back." Sam said his eyes hard and not matching his conciliatory words.
"I am not concerned about you crossing the border. I am concerned for the Swan's welfare and was wondering if there was a danger I didn't know about?" Jasper told them.
"We had heard you were staying with them. None of us are happy with it. Charlie is best friends with our fathers and Bella has been friends with Jacob for a long time. Do they know what you are?" Sam said now projecting hostility.
"Bella does but I wasn't sure I should put Chief Swan in danger with the knowledge of Vampires." Jasper answered honestly.
"Do they know about you?" Jasper challenged.
"We crossed the border following a red headed vampire. She seemed to have figured out our treaty lines and was crossing just when we were about to catch her. When your family left we crossed to find her. Now that we know you are here it won't happen again." Sam said ignoring Jaspers question. He started to turn away.
Red head…he had to mean Victoria. Fear rose in him. She had to be here to get at Bella. He hadn't felt a mating bond between her and James. Victoria and Laurent had seemed more frightened of James but he may have been wrong and if he was Bella was in danger.
"Wait!" He called out.
Sam stopped and turned toward him.
"We killed a member of the red head's coven. She could be here seeking revenge. "Jasper told him.
Sam smirked. "Well good luck with that leech." He said and started to turn again.
"She wouldn't come after me. You can see my scars, they would frighten her more than they frighten you. She would go after Bella." Jasper called out.
Sam froze at that. A wolf to the left howled and moments later a young man came bounding toward Sam. Jasper cursed under his breath. He hadn't even sensed the other wolf he was either getting to complacent or the wolves were very good at masking their presence.
"We have to get her Sam. If she stayed at the reservation she would be safe." The boy exclaimed.
Jasper wasn't sure she would be safe there.
"I don't know if Bella would agree to that but I was hoping that we could work together to protect her." Jasper interrupted.
"Why would we work with you leech!" The boy snarled.
Sam just looked Jasper over.
"Did you tell Bella about us?" Sam asked.
"No but I think we should. I think both the Chief and Bella should be told everything." Jasper told him.
Sam was silent for a longer time and Jasper was reminded of Edward when he was 'listening' to thoughts.
"We will have to bring it before the council. For right now leech tell them nothing about us. I will talk to you here at the same time tomorrow night and will tell you the council's decision." Sam said and turned away. This time Jasper didn't stop him.
He watched with wonder as Sam shimmered and changed into a giant wolf. The wolf that had stood beside him the whole time followed him into the woods. The boy who had yelled at him gave him a hard glare before turning and changing. He ran after his pack mates and Jasper watched till he could see them no more.
He decided that maybe he should take a look around before going home. Home, he smiled at the thought. The Swan's house was the best home he had ever known and if he had decided anything tonight it was that he was going to enjoy every minute that he had there and protect them both with everything he had.
Bella sat on the bed in her hotel room. She stared around her in shock. Had everything been a dream? She heard the door opening and turned to see Jasper coming through it.
He smiled at her softly and she returned the smile though hers was a little more shy. She hoped his friendship hadn't been a dream.
"How are you feeling darlin'?" He asked.
How was she feeling? Her heart seemed to be beating faster than normal. Surely he could hear that. She didn't want him to hear it. It wasn't right that her heart beat so around him. Edward was her mate. He was out looking for James right now to protect her.
"Scared." She whispered unable to take her eyes from his. He was so gorgeous.
Alice suddenly appeared by her side and laid a hand on her shoulder. Bella turned to her guiltily. Did she know how much Bella lusted after her husband? Alice looked sad and Bella's guilt intensified.
"I know how much you want him Bella?" Alice said getting up from the bed. She took off her wedding ring and handed it to Bella.
Bella took it even though she tried to will her hand not to.
"We all do." Alice said before walking out the door. Bella felt as if her face was burning with embarrassment. They all knew?
Suddenly she was standing in her old dance studio. There was a fire in the corner. James was standing in front of it and Alice was standing in front of him. Alice was looking at her sadly and Bella felt her heart breaking.
Bella tried to call out to her but her voice wasn't working. A noise behind her caught her attention and she turned to see Edward coming in the room growling fiercely. She began to panic as she realized what was about to happen.
Bella turned back to Alice and reached out a hand to her.
Alice gave her a small smile. "For you Bella." She whispered then charged James throwing them both into the fire.
Bella was about to scream when the scene changed and instead of the studio she was back in her hotel room looking up at an angry Edward. She heard a moan beside her and turned to see Jasper crouched down beside the wall his face buried in his hands. His whole body radiated his pain.
She reached out to touch one of his hands but stopped when she saw his wedding band.
"It's your fault." Edward spit at her.
Jasper looked up at her his face a picture of agony.
"Jasper…" She whispered as she woke up.
She sat up quickly and pulled the pillow from behind her hugging it to her chest. A sob erupted from deep inside her. It was her fault…Edward was right. Alice's death…Jasper's pain…her fault.
"Bella." A woman's voice called. For an instant hope flared in her and she thought it was Alice. She looked where the voice came from but could only see the vague outline of a woman.
The woman slowly walked into the light of the moon coming through the window. First she noticed the hair and then the eyes. Both were red.