Jasper's POV

Life had settled down again. It had been three weeks since I'd met Leah. The newness and the drama with our relationship, seemed to have settled. We'd fought, had sex, and she'd got the approval of everyone in my family for different reasons. She'd met some of our extended friends and family and ignored their derisive remarks about her stench without freaking out. She'd fit into my life pretty easily.

Things had changed. Leah would be waiting when I got home from school. We spent lots of time together and I felt happier than I ever had.

Some things hadn't changed though. Bella Swan still came by every other day in tears and acting pathetic until Rosalie, Leah, or both would send her packing.

My family were opening up to my new mate and seeing Alice with Edward brought me a sense of deep satisfaction. Maybe I'd always be a little wary about trusting them with personal things, but I trusted both with my life and I cared deeply for each and wanted to be happy.

Edward and Alice had always been close, even before they mated. Now, they were almost ridiculous with how much they were together. They were best friends and lovers and mates and EVERYTHING to each other. Now I understood how unhealthy my relationship with Alice had been.

Yes, I'd been content for the most part, and I'd loved her and still did. But I wasn't IN love with her anymore and wasn't sure how long since I was. But even if Leah meant everything to me, she wasn't the only person in my life like I Alice had been.

The love I felt for Leah was the same passionate, consuming, never-lessening, true love that Alice and Edward, Carlisle and Esme, or Emmett and Rosalie felt. We were mated. Vampires can never fall out of love with their true mates. It's a fact. But I wasn't Alice or Edward and I wasn't completely happy with only one person in my life.

I couldn't tell Leah everything. No matter how many people say your lover should be your best friend, that isn't realistic. I don't want my mate to be my best friend. I want someone to talk about Leah with. And that's become Emmett.

I'm not stupid. I'm an empath. So I know Edward, being the more serious, would have seemed to more obvious pick. But I'm not prudish like Edward and even if I'm too respectful to say what Emmett says in mixed company, I'm still a man and I still agree with most of the things he says. Edward always felt more fondness for Emmett and Alice then I or Rosalie, even if he loved us as siblings too. Now that he has Alice, he doesn't seem to want or need anyone else nor does Alice seem to need anyone else.

Emmett, however, started hanging with me more often when Rosalie and Leah hit it off so well. We often hunted as a double date or all hung out together. I can honestly say, my life feels complete. With parents, siblings, a best friend, and a mate...it's all I ever wanted.

We were sitting on the large sofa in the livingroom of our house. Leah was on the cushion to my left, but turned so her feet were stretched over my lap. My hands were resting on her knees as I beat the living shit out of Emmett at Halo. Rosalie was lying over Emmett's lap on her stomach, painting Leah's toenails a deep blue color. My nose was closed off to keep from inhaling the polish fumes and all other senses were trained on the television. A feeling of peace and contentment came from both ladies and excitement was buzzing from Emmett. I felt completely relaxed and happy in my own home.

Suddenly, Rose sat up and Leah's head whipped around looking toward the door. Alarm and curiousity flared from Rose but Leah was pumped with anger, adrenaline, and nervousness. The game was paused and we could clearly hear snarling. Then a howl rose up and before I could really register that it was a gathering call, Leah was out of the door. I heard clothes rip and hopped up.

By the time I raced to the porch, I could see clothes lying shredded in the yard and a large grey wolf darting through the trees. "Rose, get some clothes for when Leah returns. Emmett, where is Esme?"

Edward and Alice had went into town shopping most likely, Carlisle was at work, but Esme was unaccounted for and I wanted to make sure she wasn't the trouble that the wolves were having. "Went to help out at the hospital." he answered.

I nodded, zipping off after my mate.

My protective instincts flared up when I met her at the treaty line. The whole pack stood on the other side, her brother and her circling a dirty-blonde vampire with blazing red eyes. I was so focused on his emotions, I didn't pay much attention to the pack communicating.

Seth shifted into his human form, followed by most of the pack as they yelled at him to shift back. Then Leah shifted and I growled lowly in my throat.

She was exposed in front of her pack and this stranger, and while I knew it happened alot, I didn't like feeling how they felt about it. Before I could pretend it was natural or even clinical but I couldn't deny the sudden spike of arousal and wonder. Then I felt it.

Coming from the vampire. He was aroused, surprised, in wonder even, but his dominating emotion was a dark and fierce possessiveness. I hurriedly enfolded Leah in my arms, trying to comfort her even though rationally I knew she couldn't know of his unholy desire to own her. She allowed me to shield her anyway and I felt his rage spike.

I turned as I heard his sudden running, amazed and shocked to see him hurrying away. The pack departed, running alongside him but on their own territory. I knew he wouldn't cross, he didn't seem stupid enough. Seth, though, stayed behind. He ran off into the trees and I could hear him dressing. I hurriedly unbuttoned my oxford shirt and offered it to my mate to cover herself.

When Seth returned, he wore only shorts while Leah only had a shirt. "Can you believe it, sis?" Seth asked excitedly. "Our first cold one! This is gonna be so awesome!"

Leah herself was a little more worried, but her adrenaline and excitement almost matched her brother's. As we walked back to the house, the wolves talking about their first chance at killing a human-killing vamp, I was overwhelmed with a sense of dread. For once, I was 200 percent sure that it was all from me.