Chapter 9:
Him
She heard a sound from behind her and slowly turned around. Standing at the edge of the trees was the last person she would have expected. Standing in the shadows was Jasper, but he was different; larger; but all at the same time, he had a softer look to him. He smiled shyly at Payton and slowly walked out of the trees and onto the beach. Payton's breath caught as she took him in. He didn't have a shirt on, and his muscular body rippled as he walked.
"Payton," he said in his gravelly voice.
"Jasper," responded Payton in a weak voice.
Jasper smiled again and pointed to the space on the log beside her and asked, "Is that seat taken ma'am?"
"No," blushed Payton. "Sit down."
"Thanks," said Jasper as he sat down. "So what are you doing here all by yourself?" Payton pointed to the brace and Jasper said, "Oh."
"Yeah. I reinjured it on Tuesday."
"What happened the first time?"
Payton usually didn't talk about things like this, but for some reason she confided in Jasper. "Well my parents as you know died in a crash, and I lived. But I did get hurt. I cut my head open in the back, resulting in this lovely pink scar at the back of my head and my wonderful hair cut. My leg was also mangled. The doctors thought that I would never be able to use it fully ever again. I proved them wrong. I can walk, but I am suppose to wear this brace. I hadn't put it on since I arrived here, and on Tuesday I reopened the scarring a little as I fell."
"Ouch," said Jasper as he shifted his weight ever so closer to Payton. The movement was caught by Payton and that made her shiver with delight. She felt different around Jasper, but it was a good type of different. It was like she finally had someone, and that in its self made her happy.
"So do you want to go for a short walk?" asked Jasper. He looked over at Payton and smiled again.
"Sure," said Payton. Jasper got up and extended his hand out to Payton. "But there is one thing."
"What is that?"
"I promised the doctor that I would take an easy. I really don't want to break that promise."
"Don't worry. I want to show you something, and we will take it nice and slow."
"Okay," said Payton, placing her hand in his and let him gently pull her to a standing position. He started to walk slowly, and Payton walked beside him at a comfortable pace.
They walked towards the trees, but before entering them, Jasper lightly placed his arm around Payton's waist, ensuring that she would safely maneuver through the trees and underbrush. They maneuvered over an unseen path, taking their time. As they were walking, Jasper said, "I am sorry about the way I acted on Monday. I was going through a rough period."
"That's okay," said Payton, focusing on her breathing. Jasper's arm was warm, even through her coat, and it felt right. She wanted to lean into him, but was afraid of what might happen if she did.
"So how was the rest of the week?" asked Jasper in a whisper.
"It was okay," said Payton. "I couldn't help but notice that someone was gone," she hinted.
"Sorry," said Jasper again. He looked down at Payton and let another smile pass his lips as he gazed down at her. He wanted to badly to make her see what a fool he had been, and he hoped beyond hope that she would forgive his rudeness from Monday.
"It is just a little bit farther," said Jasper as Payton slowly got tired. "You going to make it?" he asked with a worried tone in his voice.
"Yeah, just tired I guess."
"Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, hoping that she would say yes.
"I am way too heavy for you to carry me."
"No you aren't," he said, swooping her up into his arms.
She let out a whoosh of air as he lifted her, hardly breaking stride. "Are you sure I am not too heavy?"
"You, my dear, are a light as a feather." 'And beautiful,' he thought as she sighed and let him carry her.
He carried her the last leg of the hike, and soon he was in the place that he loved most. He set Payton down on the ground and said, "This is where my parents always went when they were growing up."
"Beautiful," sighed Payton as she looked around. The meadow was long and narrow, but was full of life. It was lined with trees that opened up to the sky above. A pale stone stood in the middle of the grass, and was about table height. There were late fall flowers, but mostly it was just grass. "It is so pretty." She turned to Jasper who was still in the shadows and said, "Thank you for sharing."
"I'm glad you like it," he said stepping into the meadow. He carefully took Payton's hand and led her over to the stone. At a closer look, Payton could see that something was written in it. She looked closely and read:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
"Psalm twenty-three," she breathed.
"My parent's wedding verse."
"What happened?" she asked, turning to him.
He looked away and thought for a moment. "My father left for work one day, and when he got back home, my mother was gone. We didn't know what happened to her." He looked down at Payton and then said in barely a whisper, "Then we found her body. That was when Roger first changed. Then everything fell into place."
"Where did you go this week?" asked Payton, changing the topic. "Aaron said that you were 'out of town.'"
"I guess you could say that." Payton raised her eyebrow in a question and Jasper continued, "Well you know the legends, so I don't have to tell you about that. And you can probably guess that I am now part of what the boys call the gang."
"Is it a gang?" asked Payton, slipping into a sitting position. She leaned her back against the rock, and looked up at Jasper.
"Well," said Jasper thinking again. "It is more of a family. One big, happy family."
"Are you happy?"
"I am not sure yet," said Jasper, taking a seat beside Payton. "I just got home, and this is all very new to me. I am not even sure how much I can tell you."
"Do you need to ask someone?" asked Payton.
"Do you mind?"
"Not really. Just don't leave me here. I don't think I will be able to get back to the beach, and Harry said that I shouldn't go into the forest."
"Well in that case," said Jasper quickly standing up. "I will be back in a minute."
"Okay," said Payton, smiling up at him. "I'll be right here. Waiting."
"Be right back," said Jasper as he quickly rushed into the trees.
Payton smiled and hugged herself around her middle. The butterflies wouldn't stop, and that made her feel wonderful. She started to count, and before she reached five hundred, Jasper was walking back through the trees.
"Ask away," he said, sitting beside her once again. "I know what I can tell you."
"Okay," thought Payton. "What are you?"
"I am the legend. I am a decedent of the last son. I am a protector."
"Okay. How do you change?"
"We change overtime. As you can see, I grew."
"I think everyone can tell," laughed Payton. "You are huge."
Jasper laughed with Payton and then said, "Once we grow, we change inside."
"Like how?"
"We run a higher internal temperature, our minds become in sync with our brothers, and we change our mindset. We think of others ahead of ourselves." He looked over at Payton and said, "Do you understand?"
"So let me get this. You are a wolf from the old legends, you changed this week, and you now have brothers who are also known as the Q gang. Did I get everything?"
'No,' thought Jasper. 'You forgot the part that I really like you.'
"I think you got everything."
"So what are you doing later this evening?" asked Payton with a devilish grin on her face.
"Is this an invitation for a date?" asked Jasper with mock horror.
"It could be," said Payton. "Your choice."
"I'll see if I can come. I'll have to ask Roger if I can leave. There have been some problems in the area."
The color drained from Payton's face as she thought of the possibilities of what the 'problems' could be. "What kind of problems?" she asked in a quavering voice.
"The type of problems that I will keep away from you," said Jasper as he slowly lifted his hand to her face. He brushed his finger along her jaw and watched as her eyes slowly closed. She leaned her face into his hand, and sighed. He slowly brought his finger back along her jaw, and then leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.
When he pulled away, Payton let out a small 'ooh' and covered her mouth. "Sorry," murmured Jasper as he looked down.
"Don't be," said Payton taking one of his hot coppery colored hands. She lifted the hand up to her face and placed her cheek in it. Jasper slowly cupped her face again. This time it was Payton who leaned in for the kiss, but like the first time, there was a rush of heat that passed through them.
"I should get you back," whispered Jasper as he stood up.
"Fine," said Payton slightly dejected. "Let's go."
She started to walk out of the meadow when Jasper swooped her into his arms. She let out a small giggle and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So what do we tell the others?" she asked.
"They already know."
"Really?" asked Payton.
"Yes. And they were taking bets on how long it would take us to make a couple."
"That is not fair."
"Why?"
"You shouldn't bet on people. It is rude."
Jasper laughed and kissed Payton once more on the lips before walking out of the meadow and onto the pathless trail that led back to the beach.
By the time they got back to the beach, the sun was setting, and the bonfire was roaring. "You go and sit over there. I'll be there in a second," said Jasper as he pointed to the fire. Payton nodded and walked into the circle of light.
"Where is Jasper?" asked Aaron.
"Why would Jasper be here?" asked a girl that Payton did not know.
"Jasper is our friend Mallory," replied Aaron in a harsh voice. "He is welcome."
"And who is this?" asked Mallory in the same snotty voice.
"I'm Payton," said Payton before A.J. or Aaron could answer for her. "I am Dr. Patterson's daughter."
"Oh the bitch's kid?" responded Mallory.
"What was that suppose to mean?" demanded Payton.
"You know what. And stay away from my boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend?" asked Payton. "Really. He seems quite single at the moment."
"If you were smart, you would stay away from him. He is mine." Mallory stood up and stocked over to Payton. "So get lost Minnesota. No one wants you here."
"Fine," said Payton, turning from the group and walking slowly up the beach to where the cars were parked. She passed the cars and walked up the road, hoping that Harry was home and she could call the doctor to come and pick her up. She laughed at herself for thinking that she was wanted, and continued down the road.