I second that Emotion

by Omnifarious777

Jasper was turned into a vampire during the civil war. He developed in a bloody world of consumption, power, rage, and thirst. In this new life he brought his own gift to read and manipulate emotions. His creator used him for his abilities but after over a century of feeling all that he did it was time to leave and so he did. Now he's alone, but not for long.(A unique Jasper story)

14. Take CARE

DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight not me. I'm just playing around with the characters we all love. :-)

***PLEASE READ NOTES at the end***

-Beautiful but ominous title. You'll just have to read to find out... ;-) *Wink Wink* ;-)

-I haven't gotten many responses of late. :-( :-( :-( I hope everyone is still happy with the direction of the story.

***WARNING*** The Citrus in this chapter may be a bit more in the MATURE over TEEN direction.

Chapter#14: Take CARE

JPOV

I ran without hesitation, back to Alice. Would she still be asleep? In the grand scheme of things I knew it didn't matter if I saw her first or if I was even there when she woke. We would see each-other eventually and that was all that mattered. Again logic lost to all that was new to me though. I wanted to be there when she woke up. I wanted her to wake in my arms. I wanted to see her eyes open and be the first to see her smile.

As I approached my hotel room I could tell she hadn't woken. Her breathing was shallow and light, signaling that she was unconscious. It was actually incredible that I could hear her at all with how soft her breaths came. Despite this I heard her over the other two in the room that were awake. Since vampires didn't actually need to breathe we didn't do it much in our sleep. It was mostly reserved as a defense mechanism since we couldn't smell without breathing. I got to my room and Esme smiled in greeting but my eyes went straight to Alice, laying next to her mother who sat perched beside her on the far side of the bed.

Alice was curled into herself deeply and her smile wasn't there. She didn't look sad exactly just not happy. I frowned and without a word or glance to either of them I went to the bed and knelled on the ground beside her, stroking her cheek gently. Almost immediately she smiled softly and I smiled in response.

I continued to gaze at her, lost in her presence, as she slept soundly. I wasn't so lost that I forgot the other two were here, though I hadn't even looked at Edward yet, but they certainly weren't of any concern to me. "Is everything okay?" Esme spoke softly. I shrugged while not taking my eyes off Alice.

"Yes and no. I'm fairly certain that the wolves will leave Alice alone now though. That's what matters." I smirked as Alice crinkled her face slightly in her sleep.

I heard Esme exhale and Edward step closer to the three of us. I immediately tensed at his approach. I wanted to berate myself for acting this way around him but I couldn't seem to help it. Another male near her, particularly in her vulnerable state, was excruciating. He halted and I knew that he'd heard my thoughts. I focused a bit more on blocking him but it was hard since my mind was everywhere. "What happened?" CONCERN was the singular emotion coming from him as he spoke.

I chuckled with zero humor. "The wolves didn't appreciate me coming in your clans place... in Alice's place." I shook my head as I pushed back the aggression.

"Did they attack you?" WORRY Esme was worried for me and I smiled in earnest at her question. Edward had made a wide circle to the other side of the bed to stand with his mother, though he kept a distance from the bed.

"Yes and no... again."

"What does that mean?" HESITATION. That was typically Carlisle's go-to emotion which made me have an idol thought of whether or not a sire can pass on a trait to their creations. Edward acted a great deal like him, but without the senseless compassion. He cared but he wasn't led with blind faith either. I could respect that.

"I actually attacked first... both times." I glanced up and saw both of them exchange shocked glances. WORRY, came from both of them now so I knew that they were wondering what had led to me attacking first, as well as what the result was. We hadn't known each-other long but they knew I didn't attack first. They were anxious for details but I needed to go slow to stave off the feelings that had caused the problems to begin with.

"Perhaps we should discuss this with everyone after Alice wakes up?" Esme spoke calmly with LOVE radiating from Alice's name. I smiled and nodded, still keeping my eyes on Alice. They left after that, Edward saying he would tell Carlisle everything was okay.

No sooner had the door closed, I laying with Alice. Immediately she curled into me and I wrapped my arms around her back tightly. She curled her head into my chest and I sighed deeply while closing my eyes. I wasn't going to deny the truth in my words when I'd spoken to Paul. It wasn't idol and it wasn't a deception spoken to get my way. I was never much for dishonesty though apparently I was quite good at lying to myself. Looking at Alice as she curled into me I didn't know how I didn't see how special she really was to me. I'd known she was the most beautiful creature I'd ever met, inside and out. I'd known that she was far to good for me. I'd known that I wanted to be better because of her... for her. I looked down and stroked her face.

How did I not see what was happening between us? Every inch of my body wanted her. I suppose it would be easy to dismiss this and explain it as sexual attraction but I knew that I wanted so much more than her body. I certainly wanted her body, even now with everything going on in my head, I knew I wanted that. I want it all though. I want her mind, her spirit, her energy, everything. Aside from the wants what I need is her heart. Does she feel the same for me? I know she cares for me but she cares for everyone. That's one of the things I love about her just as it's also the thing that aggravates me.

Does she care for me as much as she does her family? I wouldn't dilute myself enough to think she cared for me more than them, seeing as they were her family but the truth was I wanted her to. I wanted to be her everything, just as she was mine. If the world turned black I would get past it so long as I had her by my side. Maybe that was wrong. Maybe it was bad that everything else I had, however little that was, meant nothing compared to her, but it was the truth.

I felt overwhelmingly vulnerable when I considered that I might not mean as much to her as she did to me. It didn't matter in the end because what I felt was irreversible. Was that sad? Was it bad that even if her feelings weren't the same I would keep mine regardless? Maybe I truly was a masochist or perhaps a cynic because I didn't think that way. I believed that maybe that was what love was. Truly it had to be unconditional. I would have to love her even if she didn't love me.

LOVE. I could feel it in me. My body clenched and shook ever so slightly under the weight of the emotion. I had done everything in my power to avoid this emotion for a couple decades but now I could feel it. It was different now. Before I felt eager and determined because of it. I had wanted to please and impress Maria but that's not how this felt. I didn't feel eagerness or determination. Those emotions felt shallow compared to this. My feelings now were so much deeper, there was DEVOTION, FEAR, POWER, WEAKNESS, PEACE, HAPPINESS. I smiled at how I could feel such opposite things at the same time. The old me would be rejecting this, questioning it but I couldn't anymore, I didn't even want to. This is what my pixy had done to me and I wasn't going to deny it, especially to myself.

I brought my face closer to hers as I continued to stroke her face gently. I hoped I wasn't being to rough with her. I shook my head and smirked at my absurd thoughts. She was a vampire and it was a gentle caress. Why would that be to rough? I was always so worried she could break though. Was this because of what I was? Was it because she was so small? Was it because of who she was, beautiful and kind? Or was it for the most likely reason? The urge to protect her was only growing in me. Even from my own touches my mind focused on using the utmost care to ensure she was safe at all times.

I watched her for a long time and she seemed to relax considerably because she smiled a little more and stopped all movements, clearly relaxed. I continued to stroke her face with my hand, unable to stop touching her. I wanted so badly to kiss her but didn't want to wake her. The sunshine was coming from the window brightly so I got up and closed the blinds. As soon as I turned around I saw her beginning to stir. I ran to her at full speed, not wanting to be away from her when she woke. I curled back into her as her eyes began to flutter. I stroked her face and smiled as she scrunched her nose up slightly.

Her eyes fluttered open and I smiled at her bright golden eyes. "Good afternoon, Darlin." She smiled while averting her gaze downward and pursing her mouth cutely. I grabbed her face softly and brought her eyes up to mine. "You're so beautiful when you sleep." I smiled a little more as she coyly smiled in response to my words. I stroked her brow and held her cheek before speaking again. "Though I must say, I certainly missed your eyes." True to form she got shifty from my words and tried to pull away in embarrassment. She was so cute I couldn't resist anymore. I leaned in and captured her mouth before she could pull away.

Within a couple seconds or maybe just one, I rolled myself on top of her as she simultaneously wrapped her arms around my neck. My lower half rested between her open legs and I tried not to dwell on that but it was very difficult to do. She made soft humming sounds that just spurred me on further. I pressed my body tightly to hers as I tilted my head to kiss her deeper. She opened her mouth slightly and I responded by easing my tongue very gently into her mouth, causing a soft gasp to come from her. She slowly met her tongue with mine and the sensation was overwhelming.

My left arm laid on the bed beside her head, with my hand lightly touching her hair, while my right hand held her face to mine. I considered pulling my weight off her but since she clutched me tight I figured she must like my weight. Her arms held true, grasped tightly around my neck and I moved my right hand to her arm, stroking it up and down repeatedly. I shifted my head more as the kiss deepened even more and moans escaped us both. Hers were soft and seductive while mine were deep and dominating, almost a growl.

Each time we kissed it seemed to become less and less enough for us. Originally I had little desire to deepen things but now that's all I could think about. I wanted her badly and it was becoming harder and harder to ignore. LUST, DESPERATION, FEAR... She was nervous, I could tell from her shaking body, imperceptible to a human but obvious to me. What was strange was that I couldn't sense much nerves from her, she seemed to be disguising her feelings a bit. I didn't think it was on purpose as hiding how one feels is next to impossible. Instead I think she was both confused by and lost in her feelings, causing it to be next to impossible to read them all as she didn't fully know what she felt.

I pushed aside analyzing her and focused on feeling her. Emotionally and physically she was incredible. Waves of AFFECTION, DESPERATION, LUST, and so many other feelings poured from her. I tried to push past the lust but when it combined with my own that became impossible. Without meaning to I made a big mistake. While feeling her lust for me I pushed my own at her, giving her a double dose of the emotion just as I felt every-time we were together. As soon as I realized what I did I froze.

I didn't want to manipulate her in any way. Utilizing my gift in this capacity was definitely a way to take advantage of her which I would NEVER do. She wasn't the empath, she wasn't used to this onslaught of feelings. I began to pull back to look at her. "Please don't stop." I froze again at her words. What did they mean? What didn't she want me to stop? The accelerated emotions? What we were doing now? Did she want to go... further? I continued to pull back again and she whimpered slightly. REJECTION, WORRY, AFFECTION, DESIRE, NEED. Each emotion hit me like a tidal wave and a part of me snapped. She was worried I was rejecting her? She wanted me. She needed me. She desired me. I literally felt my eyes darken at the cascade of feelings that overtook me, and none of it was even caused by her. When she felt desire and need for me it intensified my own ten-fold. When she was worried I didn't want her or felt rejected by my pulling away it made me want to claim her immediately to remove any doubt she had in my desire for her.

I felt a rumble in my chest and realized I had growled slightly at her emotions. So quick that she gasped I sat back on my haunches with her firmly straddled in my lap. My right hand held her neck just below her ear while my left grasped low on her back just below her waist. Both gripped her tightly but it was difficult to lighten my grasp. The last thing I wanted her to EVER think was that I didn't want her.

My right hand angled her head to face me and I didn't let her look away. I didn't know if I was more angry at myself for making her feel such things or if I was angry at her for actually feeling that way. "Why do you doubt my feelings for you?" Her eyes widened and she shook her head quickly.

"I don't." Her words were soft but firm. I waited for her to elaborate. She tried desperately to lower her gaze but I held her head firmly and frowned disapprovingly. "I just... I don't understand why you always... hesitate, I guess." I tilted my head in confusion. "You seem to want to be with me one moment then just as quickly you stop. I guess it just leaves me a little... lost." Her last word was whispered and I knew that wasn't the emotion it left her feeling.

"Darlin I don't do that in hesitation, I do it out of restraint." She looked at me with her wide beautiful eyes and I just wanted to kiss her again. "That may sound like the same thing but it isn't. Hesitation suggests not knowing what you want while restraint means you know EXACTLY what you want..."

"Isn't it... this what you want?" She spoke quickly, interrupting me, while her eyes were slightly shifty and I knew she would be red if she was human. I smiled at her innocence.

I pulled her head close and spoke with my lips brushing hers as I did. I knew she didn't understand what I was getting at but I couldn't bring myself to speak the words bluntly, it felt disrespectful. "I didn't say this wasn't what I want, beautiful." I spoke ultra quietly while I accented the word 'I' though I doubted she noticed, thanks to my ministrations. My hand traced up her spine incredibly slow then back down until I reached her backside, keeping my hand there. As soon as I did she gasped and her eyes widened. She pulled back from me slightly in shock but I kept both hands in place. She didn't realize it but she was proving my point. Using both my hands on both body parts I pulled her close to me with pressure that was between sensually slow and aggressively fast.

I brought my mouth to her ear and kissed it before whispering to her. "It's not about what I want my dear one. It's about us. Its about what WE want and what WE need." I said we but I meant her. I was still positive that she was willing because I was but I wanted her to be FULLY ready before we went farther. Her body trembled and due to her proximity to my lower region I felt it and had to close my eyes to maintain focus.

"I do want this." To accent her point she lifted her body up slightly then lowered it ever so softly. I groaned as quietly as I could but she most certainly heard me. I opened the eyes I hadn't consciously closed and met her wide nervous ones. I used my right hand and brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Darlin, I know you want me." She again pursed her lips sheepishly but maintained eye contact. I smirked and shifted her head to present the other ear to me. I brushed the hair aside and kissed her ear lobe softly before gently nibbling it causing a loud gasp to escape her mouth, making me smirk. "And you have no idea how much I want you." I debated doing what I was about to do but chose to prove my point. I laid her back down and put her legs around my waist, making sure they held me tightly. She looked puzzled but happy as she gazed up at me. My whole upper body was angled high above her while our lower halves touched intimately. Without taking my eyes off her I ground myself down on her just once so she would 'feel' my point, as it were.

She gasped loudly and looked down at where I was pressed to her. Her eyes went back to me and I leaned down to kiss her softly. She kissed me back and made no effort to loosen her grip on me. I rested my forehead to hers as I gathered my thoughts. What was I trying to say again? All I could focus on was the touch of her body to mine and the feelings that washed over me, hers and mine.

LUST, WANT, AFFECTION,... Her emotions were only getting louder for me and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to pull away, I wasn't even sure I could yet. Every part of me needed confirmation that she was safe and the safest place for her was with me. Despite my desire to stay close and get even closer I couldn't shake the worry that I was pressuring her. She slowly and gently started to nuzzle my neck and kiss it softly. She was so gentle and sweet and every gesture that reaffirmed that only served to arouse me more. Every part of my body craved everything that she was. Despite it being so different from everything I'd ever known, it was all I seemed to need. I took a deep breath and she continued kissing all around my neck slowly and softly. My eyes closed and I lowered my head to the pillow for a brief moment as she continued kissing me and I continued to breathe very slowly with each touch. Her hands gently slid up from my neck to my hair, then down my shoulders, arms and back before repeating the circuit again, so slowly

I truly didn't know if she was doing this on purpose or if she was actually this innocent in her actions. Regardless of intent she was seducing any resistance out of me. I loved her light touches so much that I couldn't think of anything else when she gave them to me. When she gave me those light caresses with her lips on top of it all I was completely at her command, she just didn't know it. She continued kissing my neck all over and I held myself over her but kept my eyes closed.

She kissed me for awhile and I had no will left to stop her. Why did I even want to? I felt her hands move to my front and begin to rub my chest. This was new. She'd never really touched my chest before. It felt amazing, comforting. HESITANCE I opened my eyes and glanced down at her but her eyes were on her hands as they stroked me. She leaned up and kissed my neck again and once again I closed my eyes. Her hands continued to stroke my whole chest and I felt a vibration as she continued, deep in my chest. "You're purring." Her voice was soft and I nodded while breathing out but didn't open my eyes.

She gave me a deep lingering kiss on my neck and even added suction for the first time. I let out a sound that was a cross between a growl, a purr, a whimper, and a moan. She didn't let go and I was so distracted I didn't notice her hands had shifted. The next thing I knew her hands were UNDER my shirt. I immediately opened my eyes and looked down at her and her eyes were on mine. Her hands didn't move but the touch was still amazing. She just looked up at me as if waiting for something. "Is this okay?" She was asking permission? I continued to stare at her for a moment before nodding. She stroked my chest all over and I watched the movements from over my shirt, occasionally glancing at her eyes. She gave me a small smile then wrapped her arms around my back and gently pulled at me, signaling that she wanted my weight on her. I smiled and plopped down next to her, pulling her to my chest.

Her hand was still in my shirt and she continued to softly caress my stomach and chest. "Darlin, we need to get back to your house." Her hand stopped and she got up from my chest to look at me. PUZZLEMENT. She was cute when she was confused. Her brow furrowed, nose scrunched up and lips pursed slightly. I chuckled at her and gestured with my pointer finger for her to bend back down. She began to lean down but it wasn't fast enough. At vampire speed I pulled her to me and gave her a very small but sweet kiss before kissing her nose and smiling at her cute response. "Some things happened while you were sleeping and I'm sure they want to know the details. Her eyes widened but she stayed in my grasp.

Her eyes glazed over and I knew she was getting a vision. I watched as her eyes came back into focus. She looked more confused than before. "Something happened with the wolves. They wanted to meet with all of us... except you. You went?" I nodded and she sat up, sitting next to where I laid out beside her. Her arms wrapped around her knees as she looked at me. "You left?" She clearly put a lot of effort into keeping a straight face but she couldn't hide her feelings from me. SADNESS, DISAPPOINTMENT, CONFUSION, HURT. I sat up immediately and pulled her into my arms. It had apparently been a bigger deal for her than I had thought for her to sleep with me. I knew it was a big thing for me but I didn't realize it had meant the same to her.

"Shhh, darlin. Only your safety could have pulled me away from you." She looked up at me and I let out a deep breath. "The wolves... they wanted to discuss a violation in the treaty." She kept her confusion but thankfully the hurt was gone. "They caught your scent on our side of the boundary and matched it to the one that had accompanied mine when we went to the beach together." Her eyes widened. GUILT, WORRY, CONCERN. "Shhhh." I grabbed her to my lap as I leaned back against the headboard. I kissed her gently before she could apologize, express guilt, or anything else. I only ever wanted her happiness. "It's alright, sunshine. I met with them and everything is fine."

"You went alone?" Her eyes widened and immediately her arms and eyes began to roam my whole body, clearly looking for injury. I smirked but didn't stop her.

"Yes, darlin. I went alone. Esme and Edward sat with you when I left."

"Why would you do that? You could have been hurt." I didn't think she'd even heard me mention her family having been here. Her eyes were wide and pleading.

I shrugged and her eyes narrowed. I smiled at the domination she was displaying but that was very unconvincing coming from her. She huffed and I pulled her closer to me, kissing her deeply for a brief moment. I moved to her ear and whispered as softly as I could. "Don't be angry darlin." I followed that up with a light kiss and nibble on her ear lobe before releasing her and giving her a wicked smirk. She tried to maintain a look of displeasure but her emotions were certainly the opposite. "Who would I take? I have no coven." As soon as I said the words her face dropped to complete sadness. She had done this before when I said this but the emotion only seemed to get worse each time I said it. Why? She knew I didn't have one like she did.

"You have me." Her words were a whisper and I pulled her chin to me before she could look away. I moved her to straddle me, keeping our eyes locked the whole time.

"Yes I do." I waited a moment before I spoke again. "You are very much mine." I spoke softly but with clarity. Her eyes widened and I knew understanding was dawning on her. I spoke quickly before she could respond to my veiled declaration. "The whole point of going however was to protect you so obviously I couldn't bring you." I smiled playfully to cut through the tension that was now between us for the very first time.

I cleared my throat. "So I met with them, things didn't go well at first but in the end they agreed to back off from any ill-intentions against your family... or you."

She tensed. "They wanted to hurt my family because of me." I shook my head at her while stroking her hair gently.

"No they wanted to use what happened as an excuse to hurt your family, despite how innocent they knew your presence had been." I spoke with anger. Her eyes stayed locked with mine.

"Are you okay?" I smiled and nodded. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. I smiled at the sweetness of this creature. "How did you get them to back down? What did you say?" CURIOSITY I took a deep breath and kept my eyes on hers. I rubbed my hands back and forth on her arms, still wrapped around my neck, her hands were clasped behind my neck and she sat back a distance waiting for my answer.

"I essentially told them that any quarrel they had with you they had to take with me instead." She smiled widely and I stroked her face with my fingers as I returned the smile. I took a deep breath before continuing. Could I get the words out? I don't think I'd ever been nervous before but right now I felt it in my whole being. "They may have pushed me with veiled threats... toward you." I held her gaze and she watched me closely. "I may have made some less then veiled threats back." She smiled cutely and I winked. "Then I told them that... you were mine and that was all they needed to know." Her eyes stayed on mine as I spoke.

"Yours?" The words were soft and her eyes didn't leave mine. We starred intently at each-other for the longest brief moment of my life. I remembered every moment of my transformation into becoming a vampire, with each agonizing moment feeling like an eternity. These couple moments felt long just like those had but not in a bad way. I didn't want to scream and make this stop. I wanted to freeze these moments forever. I didn't know what to say and I didn't know what she would say and that scared me. I didn't know what to do to make the moment better and I was terrified that something would make it worse.

"Mine." The word came out without me meaning to say it. It was a claiming word. Perhaps to some it's insulting or demeaning but nothing was further from the truth. Yes she was mine, in every way, but I was hers as well. It wasn't about possession it was about completion. She smiled and made small sniffling sounds indicating she would be crying if she could. "Baby, come here." I went to grab her close and she sniffled louder while shaking her head.

"So that makes you mine?" She smiled shyly with a giddy expression. I kept my eyes on her and she swayed her body ever so slightly as I stared at her. I smirked and began pulling her close to me. As soon as my arms encircled her she let out a little squeak causing me to chuckle. I brought her lips to mine but held back from kissing her. She pouted noticeably making me laugh loudly.

"All yours."

…...

Somehow I was able to pull away from Alice to get us to her home. We traveled fast but not full speed as we ran through the forest together. It was already early evening by the time we got there and it was clear they were anxious to see us as all of them met us outside as soon as we were within range. I frowned as Alice released my hand and went to her father to hug him. I didn't mind her hugging him... much... but I hadn't stopped touching her since I got back from meeting the wolfs and I was less then comfortable parting now after everything.

Esme hugged her next before shooting me a kind smile. I nodded in return and preceded to follow them all into the house. We went to the living room again and everyone went to their usual seat so I went to mine. It was odd to think I had a 'spot' in this house but I seemed to as it was the seat no one else took now that I was around. I had no sooner sat down that I noticed Alice walk away from her parents who she typically sat with and came toward me.

I smiled and reached for her hand. She smiled widely in response and grasped my hand enabling me to pull her sharply forward where she fell onto my lap. She huffed in fake annoyance. EXCITEMENT, HAPPINESS, LOVE. I wondered if the last emotion was for her family or me. She shrunk down into my lap comfortably, giving her a slouched appearance as her legs were slung over my right leg and she tucked her head into my neck under my chin. I smiled down at her and she continued to smile cutely.

She grabbed my hand, pulling it to her lap and I mindlessly intertwined our fingers before looking up towards her family. My right hand was intertwined with both hers while my left was wrapped around her back with my forearm up so I could play with the tips of her hair. The whole family looked at us in shock, among other feelings. I ignored them and glanced back down at her. She was averting her gaze from them and me but had a small smile on her face.

This really wasn't me. Not only was I not an affectionate person, but I certainly wasn't one openly. In the century plus relationship I'd had with Maria, the closest thing we'd done in front of others was kiss briefly. We never touched, held one-another, or caressed publicly. I didn't mind the privacy of our relationship at the time, even liked it due to my guarded nature. Now though I wanted to keep Alice close. I wanted to touch her, just to feel her. I wanted to keep her close, just to ensure she was safe. I wanted to hold her just to see her smile. I wondered if this was the mate bond that our kind valued so much or if it was in response to something else? Alice was bright, beautiful, friendly, and open. Was I like this now because she was? Because THIS was who my mate was?

MY MATE. I smiled at the thought that I had found something so precious. I had never been under the delusion that Maria was my TRUE mate. I cared for her, loved her even, but I knew she wasn't my other half. Over a century and I knew Maria hadn't been the one, and after just a few days and I knew without a doubt that Alice was.

"So..." I had to smile outwardly at Emmett trying to cut through the awkwardness that Alice and I's affection seemed to create. I wondered how long it would take for the family to try to get information from Alice about the dynamic of our relationship. They most likely wanted to get her alone for that interrogation but they would be facing disappointment on that end seeing as I had zero intention of letting her out of my sight anytime soon.

"Where do you want me to start?" I couldn't shake the small smile I wore as I watched the family try to process how to feel, how to act, or what to say.

"How about what happened when the wolves realized you were there, not us." Esme spoke softly and I nodded in agreement. So the beginning it was...

…...

I had just come to the point in the story when I had accused the wolves of violating the treaty themselves by crossing the border as wolves, in order to get Alice's scent. The family put together on their own that the reason I'd put that stipulation in my arrangement with the tribe was for this very reason, to protect Alice. I had given great detail in my story, not just for them but for Alice. I didn't want to keep anything from her. She was watching me intently as I told the story and I caressed her non stop in comfort. Her body was on edge and when I had described the brief fighting that had taken place she whimpered slightly. The bond between us causing her instincts to protect me, even with simple comfort, as she rubbed me continuously during the story.

"What did they say to that?" Emmett chuckled.

"They didn't get much of a chance to say anything. The other two 'secret wolfs' reappeared on the field and right after that Peter and Charlotte did as well." I shot narrowed eyes at Edward and he smirked while shrugging.

"You never said I couldn't tell them where you were." He chuckled and I shook my head in annoyance even though truthfully I appreciated his concern.

"Well as soon as Peter and Charlotte showed up the wolves tried to turn my accusations of hidden numbers on me. They claimed I had represented myself as a coven of one but had two hidden companions from the start." The family looked at each-other then back to me. "I ignored the accusation entirely since it came from the pack hot head, plus I had already explained my companions to Sam prior so I was hiding nothing." I had given the family details of my run in with the pack on the beach though I omitted Jamie. I didn't know how they would respond to me 'befriending' a human and I wasn't going to be lectured about it.

"I get the feeling that something bad happened at that point." Edward spoke again and I shrugged to hide my discomfort. I really didn't want to get into the details of WHY the brief fight broke out. I may not mind the family seeing my affection for Alice but telling them of our bond didn't sit right with me. I worried that if it was out in the open, our bond would be cheapened somehow.

"The wolves pushed me... to far and I attacked them." I wasn't going to lie and claim that the wolves started the fight but I hated that I knew I would have to tell them the why.

"What did they say to piss you off?" Emmett chuckled and I could read deep CURIOSITY come from him. I knew I came off as the quite the 'cool customer' so the idea of me losing my temper was understandably a point of interest.

"The new one accused me further of having a mate when he saw Charlotte standing with me." Alice stiffened minutely and I instinctively pulled her closer to my body, rubbing my left hand up and down her arm. My right hand was still intertwined in her lap with both her hands and I rubbed them reassuringly. I hadn't taken my eyes off the family so I wasn't sure if they noticed us but judging by their interest in the story I would say they hadn't.

Emmett laughed. "And that pissed you off enough to attack?"

"Not at all. What pissed me off was an insignificant child speaking of such a sacred thing he knew nothing of." The family nodded clearly in agreement.

"So what did they say to make you attack?" Edward spoke carefully and I saw his eyes flash between Alice and me. He was keeping his emotions passive but I could tell he was theorizing to himself and from his glances his ideas were probably accurate.

"The hot headed one, Paul..." I practically spat his name through my clenched jaw. I must have been more than a little obvious with my hostility as the whole family tensed. I realized immediately that I had radiated out a small version of the hatred I'd held for Paul on that field. I reigned it in thanks to Alice leaning up and giving me one gentle kiss on the neck. "... He decided to try and toy with me. He mentioned the tribes beliefs that our species mates for life and that he had thought I had feelings for..." I REALLY REALLY didn't want to repeat his insulting term of my mate but they needed to know everything. I felt a low growl in my throat that I knew they could hear. I clutched Alice closer out of instinct but kept my eyes on the family. "In his words, '… the Cullen leech, Alice'." The family clearly didn't like the insult directed at her either as I heard a few growls but I took no solace in their solidarity. Those words still rang in my head making me want to kill Paul desperately.

"What did you say or do?" It was Rosalie that spoke for the first time now. She was CURIOUS, INTRIGUED, ANGRY, DISGUSTED. Seeing as most of those feelings were normal for her I didn't know which were directed at me and which were for the wolves. There was challenge in her words too though and that got my attention. She was challenging me about what I did in response to them insulting her sister.

My eyes locked with Rosalie and I decided exactly what I would do. She may be challenging me to defend her sister but I took it as an accusation that I would ever NOT defend my mate. "I rushed Paul without hesitation and slammed him into a tree, intent on killing him right there." I heard the family gasp, Alice included, but my eyes stayed on Rose. "Unfortunately the other hot head rushed me and I was forced to release Paul to fight him off." SURPRISE came off Rose though I didn't know why exactly. She could see I cared for her sister, why wouldn't I defend her. I glanced towards the rest of the family, determined not to hide what happened now. "A fight broke out between all of us though my focus stayed on Paul so I'm not sure of everything that happened between Peter, Charlotte, and the rest of the pack. I did hear the youngest wolf, Seth, hurt and I stepped in to save him and calm down the fight." I saw Esme smile happily at me and I almost rolled my eyes at the 'Cullen mom' who was probably viewing Seth as a little boy that needed to be protected.

I looked down at Alice and her focus was entirely on me. EAGER, NERVOUS, SHY, HAPPY, LOVE. I froze as I looked at her, knowing that this time without a doubt that emotion was for me. I caressed her face with our locked hands. LOVE, DEVOTION, DETERMINATION. I sent all that I felt right at her and she sniffled slightly, indicating she would cry if she could. This was the first time we'd told each-other 'I love you' and although we didn't say it out loud we did say it in a way that was all ours. I caressed her face and gently touched below her eyes to soothe her before looking back at the family. I didn't look at any of them enough to gauge their reactions as I didn't want anything they expressed to sully the moment Alice and I had shared.

"After the fight halted I grabbed Paul again, who had shifted back human due to his injuries, and slammed him once again against a tree. I told him that if he ever spoke of Alice like that again I would kill him. I was cutting off his air supply so he could barely speak." I spoke clearly though I could hear the hesitation in my voice. "I told him and all of them that Alice was MINE..." I made sure to lace complete possession to the word as I spoke it to the Cullen's perhaps to let them know as much as the wolves now did, that this wasn't up for debate, it was fact. "... and that they didn't need to know anything else." The implication behind that sentence being that Alice was protected due to our 'treaty' which protected my mate plus the silent understanding that any threat against her meant they would suffer at my hands.

My eyes went back to Alice before absorbing any of the Cullen's responses to my declaration. I smiled at her and she smiled back as silence filled the room.

END NOTES:

*** It's funny how I think I will get to a certain point in a chapter but the other stuff takes up so much more time than I thought so I end up closing a chapter earlier then intended.

*** I don't do super long chapters so that you guys get faster updates.

*** Some lovey stuff, plot, and suspense. What more could you want? :-)

*** Jasper and Alice actually laid it out about their relationship and exactly what they are. YAY!

*** Anyone getting frustrated by Jasper and Alice's more G-rated physical relationship than we may want? remember that they've only known each other a couple days and Jasper is a southern gentleman. :-)

Chapter (SONG) Title: "Take CARE" by Drake featuring Rihanna- This song is beautiful. I absolutely love the music in this song. It matches the feelings perfectly. The chorus of "If you let me, here's what I'll do. I'll take care of you..." are such simple but beautiful words.

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