A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews last chapter! Peter got pretty jealous of me letting the Major answer reviews awhile back, so I promised him that he could answer the reviews from this one, which is dedicated to gredelina1, whose comments always make me grin. ~Sari~

Disclaimer: All characters belonging to the Twilight Series are the property of Stephenie Meyer, I'm just playing with them; however, I do own a copy of Where The Wild Things Are. This story contains mature content, and if you're not 18, you shouldn't be reading it.

Chapter Seven

Picking Up The Pieces

Bella's POV

Fear. Rage. Hatred. I'd never felt such intensity of emotion before and there was no way in hell I could even attempt to control it at the moment. I could hear the screams and wails and sobs coming from me, but all I could do was beat my fists against Jasper's chest and try to keep from shattering apart as the maelstrom moved through me. He'd done this to me, turned me into a vampire against my will, and I was enraged that my life as I knew it was over now. It was his fault! He and Peter had me in their arms, and while a part of me was vaguely grateful for the comfort their embrace was offering, the larger part was looking for a way to strike out at those responsible for my new situation. I wanted to claw and tear and destroy, and the sheer strength of those needs was as frightening as it was shocking.

Heartache. Revenge. Agony. Images ran through my mind of my parents' deaths at the hands of those evil fucking vampires, and oh how I wished they were in front of me right now. My fingers bent into claws as the thoughts of what I wanted to do to those bastards followed the images almost faster than I could process them, and the fact that they were already dead only served to add fuel to the rage that was consuming me. I'd never get the chance to rip and slash them to pieces, making them suffer as they died at my hands. The need for vengeance was almost overpowering, and knowing it was beyond my reach drove the fury higher, making my shouted words nearly incomprehensible even to me.

Desperation. Fury. Bloodlust. The burn in my throat had intensified into a fiery agony as I twisted and writhed within their arms, unable to contain myself, barely able to endure as the red haze descended upon me once more. All I could do was feel and scream until all rational thought fled and I was utterly consumed by the internal tempest of emotion.

Peter's POV

We'd been holdin' pumpkin for the last hour as she worked through the emotions that had built up inside her since she'd watched her parents bein' slaughtered by those fuckers, but even knowin' that she wasn't goin' to easily accept the news that she'd been changed, none of us could have been prepared for the sheer pain and heartache that was bein' screamed out of her. It ate at my insides that all we could do was hold her as we tried to keep her from shatterin' into pieces while she worked through her grief, and I just hoped we were offerin' her even a small measure of comfort as we rocked her in our arms and the Major worked his mojo. Even though she was a vampire now and more durable, she still felt so small and fragile as we surrounded her, and I would have done anythin' at all if it meant that I could take this burden from her and carry it myself. She didn't deserve this sufferin', and my resolve to take her pain out of the hides of the fuckin' bastards who'd caused it grew even further as the minutes passed.

Suddenly, the Major shuddered, his hold on her tightenin' as she finally lost all control of herself, her screamed words becomin' almost unintelligible as the emotional tempest pulled her under. I saw his eyes turn pitch black as he struggled to maintain control, and his muttered words finally brought about understandin'.

"Her thirst is out of control. She needs blood now!" he almost snarled, tryin' to keep his own bloodlust under control as he was bombarded by the strength of hers. I nodded at him, then called out to Char to bring blood mighty fuckin' quick. It was takin' both of us to control her, her newborn strength makin' the job more difficult as the seconds passed by.

Finally, she was runnin' outta the house with six bags of blood, and she'd just barely reached us before pumpkin was tearin' the first of the bags outta her arms and drinkin' it down. Char knew better than to do anythin' other than hand pumpkin the bags one by one as she drank, and I threw her a quick wink of thanks as pumpkin started calmin' down once her thirst was fully satiated. The Major and I were able to relax our hold some on her as the out-of-control screamin' and writhin' gradually faded into helpless sobbin' and she collapsed into our arms, her face buried against the Major's chest. I could tell it was just about killin' him to listen to her in so much pain, so I kept whisperin' words of encouragement as we let her work through the emotions wrackin' her tiny body, while I coped by keepin' my mind busy on other things.

Right after pumpkin had broken down, the Major had given orders for the others to clean up the debris from the fight and start packin' for a move, though he hadn't yet decided on our new location. Now that we'd been found, there was no way we could stay here any longer. I knew there was only one way those fuckers had found us so fast; we had a fuckin' traitor among us, and that burned my ass like nothin' else ever could. There was absolutely nothin' that I hated more than a fuckin' turncoat, and when I found out who the culprit was, they were gonna be wishin' that they'd never been so much as a twitch in their daddy's pants by the time I was done with them. I hadn't spent all those years in that fuckin' cuntbag's army just twiddlin' my thumbs. I'd learned more ways to torture and kill a vampire than I could count, and I was gonna fuckin' unleash every one of them on their mangy, betrayin' ass. No one fucked with my family.

I had to quickly tamp down the rage that was buildin' up in me, since I didn't want pumpkin to feel it. She had enough on her plate already and didn't need to be bogged down with any extra worries at the moment, though that didn't mean I wasn't already plottin' my strategy to flush out the fucker that was messin' with things they ought not to be messin' with. I had suspicions as to who the traitor might be, but I needed proof before I went accusin' someone of such a heinous crime; I couldn't afford to have them talk their way outta things due to lack of evidence. Vampire law was pretty fuckin' clear as to what happened to traitors, but you had to be able to prove the betrayal beyond any doubt or you were just askin' for a whole shitload of trouble. While I wasn't afraid of trouble, I did like my head sittin' right where it was, and Char would be pissed at me if I lost it over somethin' stupid like not havin' my ducks all lined up in a neat little row when I went after the bastard. She was mean like that.

As my eyes scanned the clearin', they fell on Max as he was keepin' an eye on the fire until it went out, and that twitchy feelin' came back right quick. He did all the right things, said all the right things, but there was somethin' about him that set the hairs risin' on the back of my neck, and that was somethin' I'd learned not to ignore. He asked too many questions. While there was nothin' inherently wrong with that when walkin' into a new situation like this one, his questions seemed off somehow, and too many of them were focused on pumpkin. I didn't like it, at all, and I knew I was gonna be diggin' hard into that fucker's past to see what I could find. He wasn't my only suspect, but he was the only vampire here that I didn't know at least reasonably well, so I was gonna start with him and work my way down the list until I found the traitor and went to town on their fuckin' ass.

I saw the Major eyein' me curiously, and knew he could feel that somethin' was up, but I just shook my head slightly, lettin' him know without words that it wasn't the time to get into it. Our focus had to be on pumpkin right now, and there'd be time later to fill him in on the suspicions that I knew he had to already be havin' himself. He'd trained me, after all, and everythin' I knew I'd learned from him. He nodded once to show he'd gotten the message, then turned his attention back to pumpkin, doin' all he could to ease her pain as she started to quiet down, her sobs taperin' off into occasional pained cries.

Unknown POV

I was standing in the shadows, glancing out the window at the scene below me and chuckling at the sight of everyone rushing around to follow the Major's orders as if he'd hung the moon and then walked on water. Fucking sheep is what they were, all brawn and no brain, and she was the worst of them all. She was nothing. Nothing. Why couldn't they see that? She was an abomination that should have been strangled at birth, and I was determined to rectify that oversight at the earliest possible opportunity.

They'd been so focused on her that they'd missed what was right under their incompetent noses. Me. There was a time I might have felt sorry for them, but that ship had long ago set sail. Now I saw them for what they really were, nothing more than pathetic little sheep being led to the slaughter by one of their own. It was the perfect revenge, and I couldn't wait for the day they finally realized the truth. Not a single one would be spared. They had always taken me for granted, never questioning my loyalty, and it had been all too easy to fool them, barely worth the time and effort. Soon, though, they'd understand their stupidity, and perhaps then they'd wish that they had shown me a little more fucking appreciation.

I was going to thoroughly enjoy tearing Bella into small pieces right in front of their eyes.

Bella's POV

Time passed slowly. The occasional sob still shook my chest as I lay nestled between Jasper and Peter, basking in the comfort their sheltering arms offered as I tried to calm myself from the emotional storm. I found it so much easier to maintain at least a semblance of control now that the red haze had lifted from my mind with the satiation of my thirst. It was frightening how deeply the thirst could affect my mind and body, and I was going to have to make sure I never let it get out of hand like that again. I did not like feeling out of control, and as I rested within their embrace, I tried my best to make peace with the new changes in my life.

I wasn't happy, not by a long shot, but I no longer felt the overwhelming anguish that had sent me to my knees, ripping through me without mercy as the deluge of memories flooded my mind. A tenuous sense of acceptance was gradually replacing the pain and rage I'd felt earlier, and the feeling of Jasper's fingers running soothingly through my hair helped to smooth the last ragged edges of my nerves, the caress surprisingly comforting. The purr rumbling steadily beneath my cheek lulled me with a sense of security, and I found myself instinctively nuzzling against his chest as I curled my body more fully into his. I didn't understand why I reacted to him the way I did, but never in my life had I felt so safe as I did in that moment, and after the craziness that had so quickly overtaken me, I needed to feel safe more than anything else.

Though I wanted someone to blame for what had happened to me, to despise Jasper for changing me without my consent, I couldn't find it within me to do so, not anymore. As angry as I'd been when I'd first found out what I was, I knew that he hadn't really had a choice when push came to shove, and after everything he'd done for me, he didn't deserve my hatred. I was sure that it would take me time to work through the anger, but even as the rage momentarily flowed through me once more, I knew it wasn't fair of me to focus it on him. He and the others had saved my life more than once since rescuing me, and despite my shocked unease at finding myself in this situation, there was a part of me that somehow simply knew it was where I belonged. I had no idea where this feeling was coming from, but it was undeniable, and the simple fact of the matter was that what was done couldn't be undone, and I had to find a way to come to terms with it.

I was a vampire, though I had no real idea of what that meant, other than that I needed blood to survive and the thirst could be all-consuming if I let it get too bad. My boring, uneventful life had turned into a crazy nightmare like something out of a horror movie, and I felt as if I was just barely hanging onto my sanity in the midst of it all. What would happen to me next? My hands reflexively tightened their grasp on Jasper's shirt as a hard shudder went through my body, the depressing turn of my thoughts chasing away the sense of comfort and security that I'd felt just moments earlier.

"Shhh, darlin'. Everything's going to be alright. I promise," his soft, southern drawl whispered close to my ear, fluttering the curls next to it as it washed over me like warm molasses on a hot summer's day. I slowly raised my eyes to meet his, searching for the comfort I so desperately needed within their depths as I struggled to hold back the fear and uncertainty that were building within me once more. The gentle fingers that had been stroking my hair came to rest against my cheek, their touch feather-light and now warm against my skin as they caressed it softly.

"How, Jasper? How is anything going to be alright? It's all fucked up," I whimpered, the moisture in my eyes refusing to fall; I couldn't even cry properly to release some of the anxious pressure in my chest. His hand moved to curve around the back of my head, gently pulling it to rest against him once more as he rocked me slowly back and forth as he would a distressed child.

"You need to trust us, darlin', trust me. We're not going to let anything bad happen to you, we're going to help you through this every step of the way. You're not alone, and you never will be again." His soft words shouldn't have been as comforting as they were, but I was desperate for reassurance and couldn't resist their lure.

"Promise?" I whispered, feeling even more like a frightened child, but unable to help myself. More than anything else at the moment, I needed to know I wasn't alone in this.

"I promise," he answered, his voice steady and sure, and I felt the barest brush of his lips across the top of my head. I'd almost forgotten that Peter was behind me until his soft drawl echoed Jasper's as his arms gently squeezed my waist.

"I promise, too, pumpkin."

Jasper's POV

I nestled my mate close to my chest, thankful beyond words that the emotions tearing her apart seemed to have finally calmed. The last few hours had been emotionally exhausting, and I wanted nothing more than to spirit her away to somewhere secluded so we could both relax and take some time to ourselves. Unfortunately, that wasn't a possibility with the current situation, and while I hated to have to rush her, we needed to get moving before another group of enemies arrived to make things difficult. Even as I'd focused on her needs, my mind had been working furiously, and I knew we had to have a traitor in our midst. It was the only explanation for how we'd been found so quickly after bringing Bella here, and I was filled with rage at the mother fucker who'd betrayed their own for personal gain. When I found out who it was, there was going to be fucking hell to pay, and I would make an example of them for anyone else who had so much as a single thought of betrayal running through their mind.

From the emotions that had been coming from Peter earlier, I was pretty damned sure that he'd reached the same conclusion and was just as angered as I over the possibility that we'd been betrayed. I had a few suspicions of who it might be, and I was certain he did as well; we'd both have to keep our eyes open from now on. It was just another thing to add to the ever-growing to-do list that I'd been mentally compiling as I comforted my mate. She was the only good thing to come out of this whole damn mess.

Looking down at her now, I felt my heart swell with love for the tiny woman cradled in my arms. She had a strength that astounded me, considering everything she'd been through, and I loved that she was so obviously feeling the effects of the mating bond between us. Having her close to me like this felt so right, and it only increased my determination to make sure that nothing and no one ever had the chance to hurt her again. She was mine, and I took care of my own. Her hair was so soft beneath my fingers, and her scent calmed the beast within, leaving me absolutely certain that he loved her just as much as I did. It felt rather odd being in such agreement with the demon that I struggled to keep caged most of the time, but I was also reassured that he would never be able to harm her when freed from his prison.

Bella sighed softly against me, and I looked down as I felt her nuzzling against my chest once more, her teeth biting softly into her lower lip. I wondered if she had any idea how fucking sexy that looked, and my mind immediately went to thoughts of replacing her teeth with my own. Her taste was firmly embedded within my memory, and I wanted nothing more than to sample it on my tongue again, to hear her soft moans as I pressed her body to mine and showed her what I could make her feel. That day was coming soon, very soon, and my cock twitched at just the thought of being buried within her heat. I had to shake those thoughts aside for the moment; now wasn't the time or place for what I had in mind, and when I finally claimed her, I wanted the time and privacy to explore every single inch of her body at my leisure. I leaned down to whisper softly to her, cognizant of how loud sounds could be difficult for a newborn to withstand.

"We need to move, darlin'. Are you feeling better now?" I asked. She sighed, but nodded her agreement and began to extricate herself from our hold. I stood quickly, bringing her upright with me as Peter also rose, reluctantly releasing her to look around and take stock of the situation. The yard was cleaned of the fight's debris, and I could hear the sounds of packing throughout the house.

"Peter, find out how long until we're ready to move out. We're heading to the house in Colorado. When you find Sam, send him to me. I need to know how many wolves are coming with us," I ordered. He nodded once, then ran toward the house after giving Bella a quick hug.

"Thank you, Jasper," she softly whispered to me, and I looked down at her, brushing a few stray curls back behind her ear.

"For what, darlin'?" She looked uncomfortable for a moment, her teeth worrying her bottom lip once more.

"For rescuing me... helping me. Everything is so confusing, and knowing I'm not alone to deal with it all makes it easier. Thank you," she finished, giving me a shy smile before ducking her head. She was so fucking adorable.

"There's no need to thank me, Bella. It's my pleasure, and my job, to look after you. Your safety and well-being are my first priority, and they always will be." I knew it would take her time to realize just how important she was to me, but I could be patient until she did.

"Why?" she asked, small lines wrinkling her forehead as confusion overtook her features. I raised my thumb to those lines, smoothing them gently as I answered her question.

"There are several reasons for that, darlin', but I'm afraid we don't have time to get into them right now. I promise that we will, though, as soon as we get settled into the new house. I'll tell you everything." I knew that now wasn't the time to talk about mating and what she was, we needed quiet and privacy for that particular conversation.

She nodded, looking as if she wanted to question things further, but realized the truth of my words. I only hoped she would be as reasonable in her responses when she learned everything.

"Alright, Jasper. I'll wait, but I expect you to tell me everything when we have that talk," she conceded.

"I'll always be honest with you, Bella. That's one thing you can count on from me." I smiled at her as she nodded in acceptance, but before I could continue, Sam came out of the house and interrupted the conversation.

"Major, Peter said you wanted to see me?" he asked, coming to a halt next to us and offering Bella a small smile.

"I need to know how many wolves you're sending with us to Colorado," I said, getting back down to business. "Some will need to stay behind and watch the reservation, and they need to be warned that more company will likely be coming. They are to avoid contact with the enemy if at all possible."

"Jacob, Embry, Quil, Jared, Seth, and Leah will be accompanying you to Colorado. I'm keeping Colin, Brady, Paul, and myself back to patrol the reservation. We'll be able to handle things here, and I'll keep you updated on the situation. Six wolves should be enough to add to your numbers for the moment." I wasn't pleased at the thought of having to deal with Jacob, but I wanted a man I could trust here to keep an eye on things.

"Alright, that sounds good, but warn Jacob that I won't be putting up with any of his shit. He's got a big mouth and doesn't always know when to shut it. I don't need that aggravation right now, and I won't hesitate to shut him down hard if necessary." Sam nodded his head in agreement; he knew exactly how much of a fucking ass Jacob could be at times, and I knew he'd pass on the warning.

"Peter said to tell you that everyone will be ready to roll out in about an hour, they're finishing up the last of the packing and getting the vehicles ready."

"Good deal," I said, pleased at the efficiency being displayed. I reached out to shake Sam's hand, and was pleased when there was no hesitation in him at taking it. It was hard for him to work with us, being sworn enemies and all, but he was handling it better than I'd ever expected him to. "Take care of yourselves, and at the first sign of real trouble, call us. We'll come."

"The same to you," he replied, and then turned away and loped off into the woods, no doubt planning to change and fill the other wolves in on the situation.

Taking Bella's small hand in mine, I urged her toward the house so I could complete my own packing. We had a long ride ahead of us, and I wanted to get on the road as soon as possible.

Aro's POV

I was most displeased. When Demetri had informed me of his failure, I'd been tempted to have him torn apart, but Caius had talked me down from my rage, reminding me how useful Demetri's talents were to us. It would be a shame to waste them over a single failure, no matter how large a failure it happened to be. We'd been so close to having the chosen one in our grasp, and to lose her now set my teeth on edge. The fact that he was also having difficulty picking up her trail after losing her personally made it even harder to remember Caius' words and not order his death. I had no patience for those who failed me.

I walked over to the large desk set in the center of my study, taking a seat in the plush chair behind it as my hands moved over the papers scattered across its surface. The prophecy was far older than I, and it had taken years to transcribe it fully out of the ancient language of the Spiritwalkers. Picking up the piece of aged parchment, my eyes scanned over it briefly, reading the prophecy in its entirety though I had long ago memorized it.

Many millenia will pass before the time of the Chosen One, she whose body is scented with magnolia and jasmine. Upon her right palm will be etched the mark of those who walk with the Spirits – seven stars joined by the glyph of Destiny. In the year the Grand Trine forms the equilateral triangle before the First Point of Libra, the spirit of Kajura shall be placed within the body of a human child who is pure of heart, and shall lie dormant within until she nears her eighteenth year when the tenth planet is found. The spark will then be ignited as she is transformed into a Cold One, the only hope of Light as a great war is visited upon the supernatural world, threatening all who inhabit the earth. The Seven will call upon the Stone of Lyranoth, summoning forth the spirit guardian, through which the Chosen One will be imbued with part of their essence to call forth her true nature. Great power will she wield, and through her will the balance be swayed between Light and Darkness.

Marcus had located the prophecy buried deeply within the catacombs of an ancient temple outside of Athens, Greece some fifteen-hundred years ago, and word of it had quickly spread throughout the supernatural world. It was obvious that whomever controlled the chosen one would have the advantage in the war spoken of in the text, and I fully intended to be that person. The Volturi had held power for over two-thousand years now, and I refused to relinquish it to anyone. We'd defeated the Romanians, and we would easily defeat those who now stood against us, especially with the chosen one by my side. I had no doubt of my ability to sway her loyalties toward me with the help of Chelsea; I simply needed to get my hands on her. I was pulled from my thoughts by the ringing of the phone and I eagerly picked it up, hoping for good news from Demetri when I answered it.

"We trailed them to a small town in Washington, but they'd already moved on, Master. It seems they were smart and left in vehicles, so there's no scent to track. I've already got people working on learning their new location, and as soon as I get any information, I'll head there directly if you wish." His voice was almost drowned out by my growl of frustration, and I barely restrained myself from throwing the phone against the wall in my anger.

"Do not return to Volterra without her, Demetri. For your sake, I hope you find her quickly," I snarled, then hung up without waiting for his reply. He knew better than to cross me, so there was no need to go into detail on what would happen should he fail me again; even Caius would not be able to spare him my wrath.

I wanted that girl.

Peter's POV

It was a long fuckin' drive to the house just outside of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and I was already bored outta my skull. If it weren't for the Major and pumpkin sittin' quietly in the backseat of the truck, I'd have thought about askin' Char if she wanted to play with Peter Jr. for awhile, but I had a feelin' that the Major would shut that down right quick if I tried it, and I wasn't puttin' my balls at risk for the sake of a little happy time. Nope, my mama hadn't raised a fool.

Pumpkin had been pretty quiet since we left the house, and I was worryin' about her. By the look on the Major's face, he was as well, and I started lookin' for ways to break the silence and draw her outta that shell a little bit. I wasn't sure if jokin' around was the way to go, so I decided to keep it nice and light, go for the simple conversation rather than the fun and games. Personally, I'd prefer the fun and games, but hell, ya can't win 'em all. So I looked at her in the rear-view mirror, gave her my best shit-eatin' grin and started the conversational ball rollin'.

"Hey there, prettypire. Why don't ya tell us a bit about your gorgeous self? We got a long drive ahead of us, and I ain't one to do the silent drivin' thing." I heard Char snicker next to me, and threw her a look; I had a feelin' she was about to smart off.

"You and silent have never, and will never, be used in the same sentence, Peter," she snorted, and I saw pumpkin crack a grin as she looked at Char, noddin' her head as if she was agreein' with that statement. I opened my mouth to wholeheartedly defend myself against such spurious claims, but before I could get around to speakin', pumpkin put her two cents in.

"She's right, chilipire, I haven't heard you shut up since we started packing. I think you just like the sound of your own voice," she teased, chucklin' through it all. Even the Major cracked a smile.

"Now see here, pumpkin. I sure as hell can be quiet when I want to. I just don't often feel the need to keep myself from sayin' what I'm thinkin'."

"Awww, babblepire, it's ok. You don't have to pretend with us. You can just admit that quiet isn't a word in your dictionary. We like you anyway." I raised my eyebrow at her, and damn if the little pumpkin didn't simply stare back at me, raisin' her own eyebrow and refusin' to back down. Char was cacklin' away next to me, and the Major was tryin' like hell to keep a straight face and failin' horribly. What was this, pick on Peter day? Hmph.

"Is that a challenge, pumpkin?" I asked, certain that I could win any challenge the little filly decided to throw at me. "I can be as quiet as the rest of ya, damned tootin'." Pumpkin looked at me for a moment longer, then smirked as she responded.

"Alright, Petey. You be completely quiet for the next thirty minutes and I'll take back my words." It was obvious from the tone of her voice that she didn't think I could do it, but it was gonna be a piece of cake. However, I wasn't gonna do this for somethin' so simple as a retraction of her words. Oh hell no, I was gonna make this fun, and the Major was gonna love me for it.

"That's not good enough, pumpkin. I want somethin' when I win," I grinned at her, and she looked nervous for a moment before straightenin' her shoulders with a look of resolve.

"Alright, what do you want if you win?" she asked. The nervous tremble in her voice was barely audible, but it was there, and my grin widened.

"When I win, you have to kiss the Major there. Not one of those little pecks, but a real fuckin' tongue-usin' kiss that'll knock his socks off and make him forget his name." Her eyes widened, and so did the Major's, and it was all I could do to not bust out laughin' at the two of them. If she was still human, I know her blush'd be so hot, her cheeks would be tomato red by now. She stuttered for a few moments as she tried to reply, then a mischievous look entered her eyes, and I felt a bit uneasy for the first time.

"Alright, Petey, but when I win, you have to kiss the Major just like that. Tongue and all," she said, and I thought Char was gonna laugh herself into a convulsion at her words, vampire or not. Pumpkin was grinnin' like the cat that ate the damned canary, while the Major was glarin' at me fit to kill. Before I could let common sense overrule me, I decided to accept the challenge.

"You're on, pumpkin. Say when."

"Peter?" The Major's voice was stern, not a drop of amusement present in it.

"Yes, Major?" I asked, preparin' myself for the verbal onslaught I was sure was headin' my way.

"If you lose, I'll be tearing your arms off and beating you with them. Understood?" There wasn't a single doubt in my mind that he was dead fuckin' serious about that, too.

"Understood, Major." What the hell else was I gonna say to that? If possible, Char was laughin' harder, and pumpkin had joined in, holdin' her sides and just chortlin' away. I hmphed and kept my eyes starin' straight ahead at the road as I waited for the command to start.

"Time starts now, Peter," pumpkin said, and I glanced at my watch as I started silently repeatin' to myself in my head, "Don't talk, don't talk, don't talk." The next thirty minutes were gonna last forever, I was sure of it.

Jasper's POV

Peter better not even think of opening his fucking mouth for the next thirty minutes. There was no way I was kissing that mother fucker, and I had meant every single word of my threat. If he lost this bet, I'd be tearing his arms off and beating him from one side of Colorado to the other. Count on it. On the other hand, if he won, I'd have to do something nice for him when I had the chance. I'd never turn down an opportunity to have Bella's lips locked with mine, not to mention her body, and by the look on her face, she was thinking along those same lines and wasn't finding that idea exactly distasteful either. My smirk of satisfaction may have been overkill, but hell, I was a man, and what man wouldn't enjoy the fact that his mate wanted him?

Bella cleared her throat, her eyes carefully avoiding mine, and it was obvious she was looking for some way to take the focus off the subject at hand as she asked a question.

"Why do they call you Major, Jasper?" she asked, looking honestly curious even if she had been simply searching for a distraction.

"I was a Major in the Civil War before being turned, and the name just stuck with me afterward." I could tell that Peter was having a hard time keeping his mouth shut, wanting to add more to the simple answer, and I smirked at him knowingly, receiving a glare in response as he returned his gaze to the road.

"How old were you when you were turned? You look too young to have achieved such a high rank in the military." She raised her eyes to my face, her expression a mixture of curiosity and surprise.

"I was twenty. I'd lied about my age to get into the military because I'd so badly wanted to be a soldier, but even with that, I was the youngest Major in history when I received the promotion." She mulled that over for a few minutes, then continued with the interrogation.

"What did you do after you were turned, since you couldn't go back to the war?" The question I'd been afraid of. My eyes met Peter's in the rear-view mirror, and I saw compassion in his as I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts. Char had stopped laughing and I saw the same expression on her face as she half-turned to face the backseat. The last thing I wanted to do was tell my mate this particular story, but she had a right to know, even if it meant she feared me afterward.

"My beginnings weren't like most other vampires, Bella. I came into this life the hard way, and while I'll tell you my story since I promised you honesty, it's not an easy one to hear, or to tell. I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, and you might not think much of me once you hear them all." The seriousness of my tone let her know that I wasn't joking, and she gazed steadily into my eyes for long moments before replying, her words sounding as if she was carefully thinking before speaking.

"You don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable, Jasper, but I'd like to know, and no matter how bad it might be, I won't think less of you for it. You've saved my life more than once, and you've been nothing but kind and generous towards me. That tells me everything I need to know about the kind of man you are now, regardless of who you may have been back then." I was surprised by her words and the unspoken support they contained, but I was still worried about her opinion of me once she learned just how much of a bastard I'd been. Even I couldn't stomach some of the things I'd done while with Maria, so how could I expect anyone else to? I sighed deeply as I nodded my agreement, then began my tale, hoping against hope that she wouldn't run screaming once she knew it all.

"My company was assigned to evacuate women and children from Galveston. It had been a long day, and I was heading back for one last check to make sure we hadn't missed anyone when I came upon three strikingly beautiful women walking down the side of the road in the dark. My first thought was that we'd missed them in the evacuation, and I stopped to see if they needed assistance. My upbringing wouldn't let me just ride by them, no matter how tired I was, and that was the last mistake I ever made as a human." I closed my eyes, remembering back to that night and everything my decision to stop had set into motion. I kept my eyes closed as I started speaking again, not wanting to see Bella's reaction to everything I was about to say.

"As I dismounted, their leader introduced herself as Maria, and the next thing I knew, she was at my side, her teeth sinking into my throat as her arms held me still. I think it was pure shock that originally kept me from fighting back. In my time, women weren't looked at as a threat, and even the thought that one could overpower a man was laughable. By the time I got past my shock and natural hesitance to strike out at a female, I was already weakened from blood loss, and then the burning began."

"When I woke three days later, I had no idea what I was. My throat was on fire, confusion ruled my mind, and that bitch had left me in a shack with six helpless humans, of which three were women and one a child. Before I could even stop to think, my newborn instincts kicked in, and I was attacking the first one, draining them all dry in a matter of a few minutes. The bloodlust took over completely, and when I was finally satiated and realized what I'd done, all I could do was sit in the corner and weep in my shame." I paused to take a deep, unneeded breath, refusing to taste her emotions, well-knowing the disgust she must be feeling at my actions. I clasped my hands between my knees and kept my eyes shut as I continued with the story. I knew they'd likely be black with the emotions reliving this was causing, and I didn't want to frighten her unnecessarily.

"You have to understand that things in the south are very different than they are up here. The vampires down there fight to control feeding grounds, cities, and they create newborns to fight those battles. A newborn is stronger and faster than an older vampire for the first year of their life, so they make the perfect soldier. At the end of their first year, they're destroyed and new ones made to replace them. It's a simple and cost-efficient way to fight a war, and Maria was building an army of her own, which is why I was turned. She was hoping that with my training as a soldier I'd make a good addition to her forces."

"The first few weeks with Maria were like a first-class ticket to Hell. She broke me down to the point where I'd have done anything for her. She was my Sire, the only thing I knew in this new world I'd been thrust into, and she made damned sure I was fully dependent upon her. The slightest word of praise made me try even harder to please her, and her disappointment was crushing when it came. She turned me into her obedient pet until it was all I knew, and the last of the man I'd been had vanished. Only the demon remained, and even as the last of my humanity began to fade, it reveled in my new life." I could feel the shame overcoming me as I remembered how she'd broken me, and my voice roughened as I continued speaking, working to keep from projecting my emotions to the others.

"That training I'd had in the military did end up serving me well, and once I began fighting for her, I fought with a ferocity she'd never seen before, using strategy and tactics I'd picked up from my own time in war. Once she discovered my leadership abilities and my power as an empath, she put me in charge of training the newborns and keeping them in line, as well as destroying them at the end of their usefulness. Newborns are hard to control, since they're ruled by their thirst and think of little else for months after being turned. You've seen yourself how powerful and overwhelming the thirst can be at first. As an empath, I was able to more easily keep them in control, and she quickly promoted me to her right-hand man."

"Empath?" Bella asked, and I dared to glance quickly at her face, looking only long enough to see the adorable way her brow puckered in confusion before I closed my eyes once more.

"Yes, I can feel and manipulate emotions, which is how I was able to help you earlier when you were upset. I can take emotions away from someone, or give them manufactured ones, whichever a situation calls for."

"I should have realized," she responded. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, please continue." I nodded once, then picked up the story where I'd left off, dreading the next part of my tale as it would be the most difficult for her to hear.

"It's not a problem, darlin'," I said, then steeled myself to continue. "For the next eighty years, I knew nothing but death, chaos, and destruction, killing thousands of humans and vampires alike. Once she learned how to fully release the demon from its cage, she did it often for the sole purpose of amusing herself, and whole towns fell to its bloodlust. There were times I'd come back to myself days later, my clothes drenched in the blood and venom I'd spilled in the interim while the demon had come out to play. Before long, we had the largest territory of any vampire in the southern half of the continent, and Maria controlled it all with an iron fist. I had no idea there was any other way to live as a vampire, and I longed for the release of death on a daily basis. I was dead inside, and the emotions of those I killed were eating away at my sanity. As hard as I tried to die, though, I couldn't seem to do it. I won every fight, and as I'd developed a reputation for being a badass, merciless son of a bitch, most were afraid to even try to take me on." The memories were flowing over me in a steady stream, and I clenched my fists as I struggled against them. The old feelings of self-loathing and shame filled me, and it was all I could do to keep from breaking down into broken sobs. As I struggled, I heard Charlotte's voice speak up for the first time since I'd started my story.

"They called him the God of War," she said quietly, her voice tinged with compassion. "To this day, the mere mention of his name is enough to make most vampires tremble with fear and run in the opposite direction. He was legendary even back then, and his fame has only grown in the years since." My eyes opened to glare at her for sharing that little piece of information with my mate; as if Bella didn't already have enough of a reason to despise me. She smiled softly at me in apology, then turned around to face the front once more. I took another deep breath before I started speaking again, glad that the story was almost over.

"Then I met Peter. From the day I changed him, he got on my nerves because he refused to leave me alone. Despite my reputation, and the fact that I snarled more than spoke, he'd find an excuse to spend a few minutes with me every day. Sometimes he'd tell a ridiculous joke, others he'd simply sit next to me chatting about anything and everything, and somehow he became my friend without me quite realizing what was happening. Eventually, he became my own right-hand man, helping me with the newborns."

"Unbeknownst to me, however, he'd fallen in love with one of them. He'd felt the mating bond with Charlotte and begun plotting a way to get them both away from Maria before it came time to destroy the newborn group she belonged to. I remember thinking he was acting strangely the day it was finally time to destroy them, and as we entered the shack where they were kept, he suddenly threw Charlotte out the door, yelling at her to run as he dragged her off into the forest surrounding our camp. I let them go, though I could have easily caught and killed them. I was just so tired of the constant death, and there was something about the bond between them that I'd felt before their escape that made me want to give them a chance at finding something better out there." I breathed a sigh of relief at nearing the end of the tale.

"It was about five years later that they came back for me, talking about a new way of life they'd found in the north that didn't involve death and destruction, but peace and freedom. They asked me to leave with them, and I walked away without a backward glance. I spent about a decade wandering with them, but the emotions of the humans I killed to survive were still crippling me and preventing me from truly getting over my time with Maria. One day I met a woman in a diner in Philadelphia and she told me of a coven of vampires who survived on animal blood instead of human. I went with Alice to meet them, eventually taking her as my wife, though she wasn't my true mate and we've since divorced and gone our separate ways. We joined the coven, and I've been an animal-drinker ever since, though Peter and Charlotte are my true family, and always will be." I rubbed my hand down my face, feeling drained just from reliving the memories of that time in my life. I was afraid to taste Bella's emotions or even glance at her face, unwilling to feel and see the shock and disgust that was sure to be there.

As the silence stretched into minutes that seemed to last an eternity, I simply sat with my eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable fallout to hit.

Bella's POV

As I sat there listening to Jasper's story, it was impossible to name all the emotions that were streaking through me. He'd warned me it would be difficult to hear, and he hadn't been lying; it was horrifying and shocking, but also heartbreaking and full of sorrow. When he finished, I knew he was waiting for a response from me, but I needed a little time to process everything I'd just heard. I'd been feeling sorry for myself over everything that had happened to me the last few days, but after listening to what his entrance into this supernatural world had been like, I knew I'd had it easy comparatively speaking. His story put my own into perspective for me, and while I knew it had to have been painful for him to share it with me, I was grateful that he had.

I couldn't even begin to imagine what it had been like for him, waking up into a nightmare world of death and despair. I could feel the shame and self-loathing emanating from him, and I realized he must have been projecting his emotions without being aware of doing so. If what I was feeling was even just a fraction of the pain he was in, I had no idea how he'd managed to survive it and become the man he was today. I wasn't unaware that he was expecting me to react badly to what he'd told me, but I simply couldn't. There was no disgust or fear in me toward him at the moment; all I felt was pride in what he'd managed to accomplish after everything he'd been through. To go from that kind of start in this life to the animal-drinking, compassionate man he'd shown himself to be was nothing short of a miracle, and it exemplified a strength and determination within him that was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I was awed, and it suddenly became very important to me that he know exactly how I was feeling. This strange connection I felt to him never ceased to confuse me, but everything within me was screaming at me to offer him the comfort he'd so willingly given to me when I was in need.

Without really thinking any further, I simply acted on my instincts, moving to straddle his lap as my hands rose to cup his cheeks between them. I vaguely heard Charlotte's gasp of surprise as his eyes opened wide in shock at my sudden move, staring into my own that were mere inches away. His hands automatically came up to grasp my hips as I began to speak, and my quiet voice was the only sound in the cab of the truck.

"Jasper, I'd be stupid if I didn't have a very good idea of what you're expecting me to feel in response to what you've just told me. But what are you feeling from me right now?" I asked.

He looked at me uncertainly for a long moment, and then his expression began to change into one of shocked wonder.

"Pride, awe, and sorrow," he whispered, just barely able to get the words out in his shocked confusion. "How...?" he started to ask, then couldn't seem to decide how to finish the question as his hands on my hips tightened their grasp. I raised one hand to softly push a stray lock of hair from his eyes, then gazed squarely into his once more as I answered his unspoken question.

"Jasper, your story is horrifying, yes. It breaks my heart that you had to suffer through that kind of introduction to this life, and it puts my own into perspective better than anything else ever could have. I'm utterly amazed that you managed to survive what you did, but far more amazed and awed that you managed to become the man you obviously are today in spite of it. While there's no denying you did some horrific things in your time with that fucking cunt, you didn't know any better, and once you did learn that there was another way, you immediately grabbed onto it and never looked back." I could feel moisture pooling in my eyes, and my voice was rough with emotion as I continued, interrupting him when he started to protest my words.

"Our actions define who we are, Jasper, and your actions since I've known you have shown me just how good a man you are, despite the past. The past is over and done with, and it can't be changed no matter how much we'd like to go back and redo the things we're ashamed of. Redemption and forgiveness exist for a reason, and it's time that you forgive yourself and realize that you've managed to overcome the monster you were to turn yourself into someone you can be proud of today. Just like I'm proud of you. I'm so fucking proud of you, Jasper. It takes one hell of a man to accomplish what you have, and if I have to fight a war, there's no one I'd rather have standing at my side than you, my God of War."

Utter silence reigned in the truck for several moments before I suddenly found myself tightly pressed against Jasper, his lips claiming mine in a passionate kiss that took my breath and left me no choice but to respond in kind. My hands crept up into the hair at his nape, tangling gently within it as his tongue deftly stroked my lower lip, demanding an entrance that I was only too willing to give. Heat rose within my body as our tongues dueled for dominance, his hands wrapping around long strands of my hair as he tilted my head to the side, deepening the kiss still further until I couldn't tell where he ended and I began. As he explored every inch of my mouth with his talented tongue, all rational thought fled, and my head tilted back in submission as I gave in to the need quickly rising within me. Lost in his kiss, I vaguely heard Peter's voice before the last of my senses ignited and all I could see or hear or feel was Jasper.

"Damn, I didn't even have to win the bet!"

A/N: The First Point of Libra is what ancient astrologers called the Autumnal Equinox, which occurs between September 21-22. The Grand Trine is when the sun, moon, and six planets aligned at the apexes of an equilateral triangle when viewed from the earth, and is called the Harmonic Convergence, which occurred on August 24, 1987 (Bella was born on September 13, 1987 between these two events). The tenth planet of our solar system was found on July 29, 2005 (this is the year Bella turns 18). ~Sari~

Recommendation: A Moment Changes Everything by heavyinfinitya Jasper/Bella story that goes in a different direction and runs the gamut of emotions all the way through. Bella is sassy, Jasper is the ultimate fantasy, and Peter does what he does best.