Jasper Whitlock
The vampires who had my mate turned and all I could see was red.
"Oh, oh, oh, look, Char, it's Jasper, it's Jasper. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Peter said, holding Bella's neck too tightly.
"I'm not an idiot," Charlotte said. "How have you been, Major?"
I didn't answer them. They had my mate, one careless move and she would be dead.
"Let the girl go," I said firmly.
"Nope, no way," Charlotte said, "we caught her fair and square."
"Let her go," I boomed and Peter faltered.
"Don't listen to him," Charlotte said, "he doesn't command us anymore."
"But, but, but, it's Jasper," Peter said. "Jasper's the best, remember when he let us go, we owe him."
"We owe him nothing."
Bella started laughing hysterically and it had us all focusing on her.
"What's going on?" Charlotte asked.
"Yeah," Peter said, holding Bella off the ground now, "what's so funny, pipsqueak?"
He was going to snap her neck, if not on purpose then accidentally.
"Let her go," I commanded, quietly calm, and Peter let her drop.
I didn't run and save her, I didn't want to reveal my hand. The fall wasn't far, Bella was fine. She was still laughing.
"What's going on?" Charlotte asked. "What's her deal? What's funny? Tell us."
Bella looked up at them. "Jasper was right," she said.
"About what?" Peter asked. "Please tell me."
"How do you know him?" Charlotte said. "Are you trying to trick us? She's tricking us, watch her, Petey."
"She is mine," I said. "Come here, Bella."
Bella got up and came over to me. I pulled her behind my back, but she climbed up so she could look over my shoulder. I didn't care, it was easier to protect her this way.
"Ooh," Peter said, "is she your pet? I thought she smelled familiar. That's why I grabbed her, she reminded me of home, plus, she's sweet. I'm sorry, Jasper, I didn't mean to, of course she's your pet."
"She's not my pet," I growled.
"Oh, a snack then?" Peter said.
"No."
"I'm confused. Not a pet, not a snack, then what? …Ooh, is she one of those emotional support humans? I've heard about them, some fancy vamps have them, but we know it's just a better name than pet. More politically correct, you know."
"Can I tell him?" Bella asked me.
"No."
"What are you doing here?" Charlotte asked. "And what are your plans with this one?"
I stayed silent.
"Let me tell them," Bella said, "you can't stop me."
She was right, but I didn't know how they would react. I had managed to get her back from them, but things could change. I had trained both of them and it would be a tough fight.
"Jasper," Peter whined, "I miss you, can I have a hug?"
"What's his problem?" Bella asked. "Did he lose his head as a newborn?"
"How does she know about us and our world?" Charlotte asked, dropping into a fighting stance. "Why would you tell her these things? Are you going to kill her?"
"No."
"Change her?" Charlotte asked.
"No."
I could feel Bella's amusement and then she laughed lightly. I couldn't help but smile. Here she was, in an extremely unpredictable situation and she didn't care. Bella kissed my neck and Peter and Charlotte looked on in shock.
"She is your pet," Peter said, "human with benefits, I see how it is. You hear about the Cullens? They're doing that too. Is that the new thing? Hey, Char, maybe we should try it."
I growled loud enough for the ground to shake.
"I love you," Bella said.
I could feel her resolve. No.
"Ooh," Peter said, "I hope our human loves us."
Bella slid off my back and stood by my side. I knew what was coming and I didn't like it one bit.
"I am Jasper's mate," she said, grabbing my hand.
"No way," Charlotte said, "impossible. The Major would never take on a human mate. What is this? What's going on?"
"This is amazing," Peter said. "A human mate, I always knew it, I don't know how, but it makes sense."
"You're deluded," Charlotte said.
"Don't listen to her," Peter said, "we're so happy for you, Jasper, so when's the change date? Are we invited? I want to come and partake, I bet she tastes sweet."
"I'm not changing her."
"See," Charlotte said, "I knew it. You can't be mates if you're not going to change her."
"Are we done here?" I asked. "Bella and I have plans."
"Ooh, what kind of plans. Can we come?"
"No."
I could feel Bella's amusement again. What was going on with her?
"Bella is mine," I stated. "She is my mate. You are not to kill her. We are leaving now. Don't follow us."
I turned to leave, pulling Bella with me.
"But, but," Peter said, "but, Jasper, I miss you. Come back please. We can go get a drink together, not Bella's blood though, some other human. She can watch. I don't know what you two are into, but Char and I don't mind."
Bella stopped and turned back to them. "We can't," she said simply and I would've left it at that, but she kept going, "after we're done with this, we can get a drink."
Peter's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked.
"Yes," Bella said, "I want to meet you again, under better circumstances. If you promise not to drink from or kill me of course."
"Of course," Peter said, "I would never do that to Jasper."
"And you?" Bella asked Charlotte.
I held my breath. Charlotte was always unpredictable.
She took her time to answer.
"I don't believe she's your mate," Charlotte said. "I'm not sure what's going on here, but I will not harm her."
That was good enough for me. Bella and I made it back to the car and we drove away.
"What happened?" I asked as soon as we were far enough away.
"I don't know," Bella said, "I was looking at the souvenirs and then I wasn't there anymore. Do they have gifts?"
"Only Peter. He can elude, he can elude when tracking, he can elude the mind, he just eludes."
"I don't understand Peter's ability."
"He eluded us."
"How?"
"Tell me what you think of him having met him?" I said.
"That he clearly has brain damage and isn't a threat to us at all," Bella answered honestly.
"He eluded you," I said. "He wanted you to think that about him, so he made it come about."
"I'm not sure eluded is the right word for that," Bella said.
"It doesn't matter what it's called, it's what he does. He's not brain damaged, he's not over-excited, he's not stupid. He gets everyone to underestimate him, but I never did, I could feel his deceit from day one."
"You cared for them?" Bella asked.
"Yes."
"But not anymore? You weren't very friendly to them."
"They had you. I had to get you out."
Bella's amusement was back. "I love you," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Your lack of communication has always annoyed me, but seeing you with them, how you didn't give them anything, well, thank you for trying with me. I can see it more clearly now and if you don't want to answer, then don't. I can learn to live with it."
That's why she had been so amused? I guess I didn't give Peter and Charlotte much except for one-word answers, but they didn't need any more than that.
"Are you ready to go to Whitefish now?" I asked.
"Yeah," Bella said, putting her feet on the dash, "but I doubt Carlisle Cullen will be as interesting as Peter and Charlotte."
We drove in silence for a bit.
"We're not going back to see them after this," I told her firmly.
"Yes, we are," Bella said. "I was curious before I met them and now I want to see the real Peter and not this act he puts on."
"You might not like the real him," I said.
"Who cares? I have you and that's all I need."