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Chapter 50, I Discover

Jasper's POV

I fucking loved my Stetson on Bella. I loved when she wasn't wearing it, and I loved it when she was wearing it and it fell off. Or I knocked it off her.

Hours of moans and gasps, growls and purrs; soaring to mind-numbing bliss and back — all because of a little thing like a hat.

I had never seen anything more erotic than my beautiful mate wearing my hat. Of course, I'd seen women wearing cowboy hats. I'd seen female vampires wearing them. None of them had ever affected me like Bella. Even if that was only due to our mating bond, I didn't care. I fucking loved it.

In Bella's arms, in our bed, I was in Heaven. Her feminine form was curled over my body, cradling me in her love, contentment, and happiness.

In my century-and-a-half of existence, I had never known such peace, such satisfaction.

Such love.

She was nestled under my arm, her head resting on my chest, with a single finger tracing one of the thick scars down my abdomen.

"Why is this one so thick?" She turned her head just enough to look up at me. "Peter has scars like it." Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. "I mean, uh, if you … um, if you don't want to tell me, that's okay." Embarrassed, she closed her eyes. "Probably not a good time to bring up Peter. Why can't I keep my mouth shut?" She groaned.

Hugging her to me and kissing her forehead, I pushed myself up a little higher against the pillows propped against the headboard. "It's okay. Don't be embarrassed. You can ask me anything." I kissed her forehead again. "He does have scars like mine." Steeling myself against the memories that threatened to intrude on our tranquility, I breathed in her soothing scent. No one calmed and centered me like Bella. "Maria. She cut us with her teeth. Over and over again to make it thicker and wider."

"Oh." Bella sat up, her long hair falling over her shoulders, and her face displaying her instant distress and anguish. Her left hand was braced against the mattress, and her right spread over my stomach, trying to cover the scar.

It was too long and ragged for her small hand to cover.

"I'm sorry, Jasper. I didn't mean to bring that up. I mean, I didn't mean to remind you about … uh, I'm really sorry." She dropped her head, feeling shame and at the same time sorrow. "I just wasn't thinking. Of course, every scar would be a bad memory for you and … God, I'm such a jerk!"

She started to turn away from me, and I caught her hand and brought it to my lips. "Pretty girl, don't turn away from me. Like I said, you can ask me anything. Never be afraid to ask. You're not a jerk." I kissed the palm of her hand. "Not every scar has a bad memory attached." I slowly moved her hand to place it over the scars of her claiming bites on my neck and shoulder. "These represent the happiest moment of my entire existence — when you made me yours. These show that you accept and love me, regardless of the things I've done. In spite of the things I've done."

Her bright red eyes sparkled with remorse and unshed tears as they peered into mine.

"Bella." I slid my hand up her back and pulled her toward me. My lips brushed over hers. "Before, I was always ashamed of them because I thought they showed everyone what a depraved monster I was, though it didn't keep me from using them to intimidate others. But then I found you, and you saw them. You weren't afraid. You know what they mean, and you love me anyway."

"I do. I do love you. So much." She kissed the corner of my mouth and her arm went around my chest. "Why did she do that?"

"To keep us in line. Show her power over us."

"Why didn't you fight her?"

"Her first words to me were 'You belong to me now.' She told me that's how it was, and I believed her. I was going crazy feeling all those emotions around me. I didn't understand anything that was going on, and I didn't know any different." I sighed and held Bella to me. "Because I thought I deserved it."

"You, er, I …" Bella's mouth opened and closed several times as she stammered. "You never deserved that!" Her arm tightened around me. "I can't know, but I think I have an idea. It's not nearly the same, but Edward treated me like … Everything he did made me feel smaller and smaller and worth less and less. I felt privileged to be in his presence. I never thought I was good enough because he kept trying to change me, and …" Indignation welled up. "How could she do that to you?"

Then her love poured into me; drenching me, filling me, and I gasped at the strength of it.

She cupped my jaw, and her eyes looked steadily into mine. "Jasper, they were never good enough. They made us feel small so that they could feel big. We were vulnerable and overwhelmed, and they took advantage and manipulated us." She quickly kissed me. "They found us at weak moments, but something in us was stronger than them, and we fought back."

"Bella — "

"Jasper, I'm proud of your mating bites on me, and I want everybody to see them. To me, my mating bites on you are beautiful. All of you is beautiful to me." Her hand caressed my cheek and slid down my neck and across my chest to my shoulder. "Every mark on you shows how strong you are. How hard you fought to stay alive and win. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have found you." Both hands were gripping my shoulders, and she threw her right leg over me to straddle my thighs. "We made it … you made it through all that to me, and I love you so much! No one will ever do that to you again!"

She had been getting more excited and speaking more quickly, and then her mouth crashed onto mine. I was lost in her again as her tongue slipped between my lips, and I tasted our combined essences of cinnamon, pipe tobacco, nutmeg, and leather. Our scents had been so intertwined it would be difficult to tell one from the other.

My arms went around her, and I held the back of her head as I rolled so that I was on top of her. Her legs slipped urgently over my hips and down each of my thighs, and she pushed her hips to mine. Her desire for me radiated out and warmed me to the center of my body, and I instantly needed to connect with her, join with her.

I slid the head of my dick along her sex, feeling how very ready for me she was; how much she wanted me. No one had ever expressed that depth of want and need for me, and I loved her more than I could even verbalize.

"I love you — my woman, my mate." My right hand glided down her side to her hip, and I held her as I slowly entered her, sinking into her slick heat. I marveled again at how warm she would feel to me whenever we made love. I pulled my lips from her and guided my tongue along her jaw to her ear. "I made it to you. I survived Maria so that I could find you." I breathed across her ear. "Every cut and slice — everything that I've been through brought me that much closer to you." I pulled back from her and thrust deeply into her, making us both gasp with the exquisite sensations. "Everything that has ever been done to me has made me appreciate you. Only you, Bella. Only you. Always you." I was so swept up in the feelings of being inside her, her hands on my body, her lips on my skin, her love flowing through me, I could barely speak, but I had to try and tell her how much I needed her — how much I loved her for who she was. How much I loved the way she wanted to protect me and care for me. No one had ever felt that way about me, and it seemed as though my heart melted then, and I fell in love with her again. I was with her and would do anything to always be with her.

She moaned against my throat as I slid into her again and again. "Jasper, I'm so glad you fought to live. I'm so glad you found me." Her soft lips trailed up the side of my neck. "I love you. So much."

And I knew she loved me. She filled me. She fulfilled me. All the years I'd lived, all the miles I'd walked; they all led to her. It had all been worth it.

.

-oOoOo-

We'd heard Peter and Emmett leave in my truck about seven o'clock, and a while later Bella had suggested that we had been in bed long enough.

"Why? Don't you like being in bed with me?" I asked. She was draped across my body, and I brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Though I might have to hunt again."

Her fingers trailed down over my chest and down the center of my stomach. "Yes, I do like being in bed with you." Her fingers stopped at my belly button. "Why would you need to hunt again? We just did yesterday, right?"

"I guess, technically, it was yesterday, but it was about midnight on Monday. Today is Wednesday, Darlin'."

"It is?" Bewildered, she sat up. "When the hell am I going to get the time sense like you guys have? I never know what day it is!" She frowned. "Hell! You always know what time it is without even looking. What time is it?" She looked around the room. "I never noticed there aren't any clocks in here."

"It's about nine o'clock. Peter and Emmett left about seven. Rose started painting the trim in her room about seven thirty, and Char started workin' on her jewelry stuff about the same time." I brushed my fingers over her cheek. "Peter should reach Casper in about another hour if they follow the speed limit. Otherwise, they might be there already."

"I heard all that. You know, I haven't even looked at Char's jewelry yet." She leaned over and kissed my belly button, sending a pleasurable shiver through me. "Why would you need to hunt again? Didn't you say you could go like three to four weeks?"

"Massive loss of venom." I smirked at her.

"Loss of venom? How did you lose …" Her eyes opened wide, and she stared at me, embarrassed.

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "That's right, my lover." I moved the tips of my fingers under her chin. "Every time I come, it's a loss of venom." I grasped her jaw and drew her to me. "Nobody does to me what you do. I come so much and so hard," I kissed her sweet lips, "I've needed to hunt a bit more to replace the venom I've lost." I captured her face and kissed her. "Where's the hat?"

"Uh, hat?" She backed away from me. "I don't know where the hat is?"

I slid my hand down her arm and wrapped my fingers around her wrist. "I like that hat on you. I should have told Peter to pick up a few for you in Casper." I lifted her hand and licked her fingers. "I'm ready to lose some more venom."

"Um, we should take advantage of the cloudy day and run the perimeter," she said matter-of-factly, reminding me of my own words. She slid her free hand over my hip and down my thigh. As her palm reached my knee, she bent over and kissed my hip, her deep red eyes watching me.

My breath caught with the sight of her lips so close to my rapidly stiffening dick. Her pale pink tongue flicked out and touched the skin over my hipbone, sending a jolt of electricity through me. As I sucked in a breath, she yanked her hand from mine and scrambled from the bed, heading for the closets, a definite sense of mischief left in her wake.

"Oh, little girl." I inhaled deeply and blew it out. "That was … just downright mean." I leapt off the bed, and she squealed when I cornered her in her closet. "Bella, that was uncalled for." I stepped closer to her, my eyes traveling over her naked curves and her breasts hidden by her hair.

Her eyes dropped to my hard dick, and she gulped. Her eyes flicked back up to mine. "We need to run the perimeter, Major." She cleared her throat and reached for a T-shirt on the shelf to her side, then reached slowly for a pair of those boy shorts I liked so well. "We have responsibilities, you know." She turned her back to me. "We need to get dressed."

I darted forward, caught her around her waist and pressed my aching dick against her ass. My right hand slid up her belly to her right breast and squeezed it gently, teasing her stiffening nipple with my fingertips. I pressed my jaw against hers, forcing her head to my shoulder. "Maybe we should get dressed." I placed my teeth over my mating bite, and slid my left hand down to her slick folds. "Yesssssss." I kissed her by her ear. "We really should get some clothes on."

My fingers slid to her clitoris, and I gently circled it while I kissed and sucked at her neck.

She dropped the clothes she was holding and was panting and pushing her ass against me. I shifted my position enough to slide my dick in between her legs, and she groaned with her increasing lust, her eyes closing.

"What do you want, my cruel, cruel demon lover?" I slid my right hand to her left breast, holding her against me.

"Jasssssper," she hissed, arching her back and reaching forward to grab hold of a shelf.

The pace of my own breath was picking up as she responded to me. "Do you want to feel my dick inside you?" I rubbed her clitoris more quickly. She was so fucking wet. "Do you want me to fuck you until you come?"

She crushed the shelf she was holding into dust, groaned again, and pushed back against me.

I took that as a "yes."

I stooped just enough to ease the head of my dick to her entrance. "Bend over," I said, thickly.

When she did, I slid my dick into her, watching it disappear inside her, and she broke the next shelf down. She snatched her hands away and braced her hands against her knees.

Gentleman that I was, I moved her hair out of the way and clamped my right hand down over her shoulder to hold her as I began to thrust into her, curling over her back. "Oh, fuck. You are so good. So fuckin' good."

"F-faster," she said, panting. "Please, faster."

I couldn't form words; I could only moan against her neck, but I moved my fingers more quickly, bringing her closer to her orgasm as I pumped into her.

When I felt her muscles spasm and begin to tighten, I moaned into her ear. "I know you're gonna come. I can feel it. Come for me. I want to feel you tighten around my dick when you come. I love it when you come all over me."

And she did.

I grabbed her hips and shoved my dick into her as she moaned and groaned and squirmed against me. Her back arched, and she reached out to grab hold of something and broke out two more shelves.

The bursts of sensation from her ignited my own orgasm. My mind was stunned by the force of it — I couldn't even fucking see — and I threw my head back and growled as my balls pumped my venom into her.

"Oh, oh, oh, my God, Bella," I gasped out as I bent forward over her, wrapping my arms around her and holding her to my body. "Oh, fuck, I love you."

Her hands slid over my arms, giving them a gentle squeeze before pushing them away. She wiggled away from me, my dick slid out of her, and the shock of pleasure I felt from that made my legs go weak.

She pushed me upright and was holding me and kissing my throat. "Oh, Jasper. You … I love you. You make me feel so good. Every time, you make me feel so good." She kissed my lips. "But maybe we shouldn't do this in the closet."

-oOoOo-

We'd finally gotten dressed — I'd put on another black V-neck T-shirt because she liked them — and run the perimeter, leaving the clean-up of the broken shelves until we got back. Bella had done very well handling her clothing and not ripping anything, though it had taken her a while. She had to concentrate on her hands, but she had done it. She was improving quickly.

As we made our way counterclockwise around the boundary lines, Bella had kept a steady pace and every time I tried to distract her, she brushed my hands away. When I had trapped her against a rocky outcropping, she deftly broke my hold and raced away, laughing her ass off.

I had to admit, I was proud of my mate for learning how to block and escape a hold so well. The pride was mixed with no small amount of consternation, however. I couldn't seem to keep my hands off her, and she didn't have too much trouble removing them.

Though if she had brought the hat, I might have tried harder.

It was probably a good thing she'd left it at the house. We might not have made it all the way around in less than a day. Or two.

In spite of Bella having fun at my expense, it had been nice to see our territory in the daylight for a change. I had found myself missing the cloud cover of Forks for a few moments — being restricted to running the lines at night had been a bit of an inconvenience. But I couldn't deny I loved seeing my shimmering, gleaming mate in the bright sunlight. I'd never seen a more beautiful woman.

Even in the diffused light of the cloudy day, she had a soft glow that captivated me. Her deep purple T-shirt seemed to bring out the pink of her soft lips. Well, I thought any color looked good on her.

"C'mon, Jasper. Quit dawdling. We have to get back and clean up all those shelves I broke." She ran up to me and grabbed my hand. "Or you made me break." She smiled up at me.

I brought her hand to my lips. "I'd be happy to make you break the rest of the shelves."

"No, ya don't. We have to clean that up and measure for new ones. And isn't there some laundry in the dryer?" She sighed lightly. "Think I'd like to try reading a real book. I miss it."

"Yes, Darlin'." I kissed her hand again. "Try reading the comics. You haven't done that yet."

"Yeah, you're right! Let's go!"

With that, she was gone again..

.

-oOoOo-

After Bella had cleaned out the larger broken pieces of the shelves and run them out to the new fire pit over toward the barn, she sat on the floor in the closet busily picking out every splinter, chip, and bit of wood she could find and dropping them in the little trash can from the bathroom. She was moving slowly so she wouldn't tear the carpet apart.

"I hate that I keep breaking things."

She looked up at me as I joined her from the other closet. Shelves from it would fit in hers. "Darlin', you really have nothing to worry about. You are doing so well." I knelt down beside her, took her right hand and kissed her knuckles. "You're doin' much better than any other newborn I've seen."

"But I have to concentrate so hard on my hands not to smash things. It's a wonder I haven't broken the bed!" She flung her left hand out.

I had to smile at her. "You haven't broken the bed or ripped the sheets because your hands have been on me." Trailing my fingers up her arm, I leaned closer to her. "You could put your hands on me now."

She snatched her hand away. "Would you stop? Jeez, Jasper. Weren't you talking about sending measurements to Esme? Go back in that other closet and measure it. Besides, I'm almost finished here and then I want to go look at Charlotte's jewelry. I haven't seen any yet." Bella leaned forward and picked some more tiny bits of wood out of the carpet. "She's been tapping and hammering since this morning."

From down the hall came Charlotte's voice. "You can come and look any time, Bella. Peter took some orders to mail out, but I've got plenty more I've been workin' on."

"Okay, Char!"

Chuckling, I kissed the top of Bella's head and stood up. As I turned away from her, my phone vibrated. I took it out of my pocket and flipped it open.

It was Peter. Since it was about one o'clock, they should have been on their way back, if they weren't already. I wondered if his truck had broken down. "Captain."

"Major, you're gonna have company."

I stiffened. "Human or vampire? How many?" Immediately, I wondered where Rosalie was. I needed to have her with Bella, Charlotte, and I. I sent my senses out, hoping she wasn't too far away. I thought she was near the barn.

"I don't know. Not many. Maybe one. Vampire."

"Hold." Pulling the phone away from my mouth, I called to Charlotte. "Charlotte, get Rose back here. She's at the barn, I think."

Hearing my tone of voice, she knew there wasn't time to ask questions. She barely made a sound as she dropped her tools and darted outside.

Bella was on her feet, her hands at her mouth, and her worried eyes on mine. I slid my arm around her, pulling her trembling body into my side, and asked Peter, "When?"

"Soon. Emmett and I can't get there before he shows up. Even if we left Casper right this second and ran, we wouldn't be able to intercept him. I think he'll be comin' in from the northwest."

"He? A male? A lone male?"

"All I can tell ya, Major, is I think it has somethin' to do with Bubba." He paused for a second. "Me and Em are runnin' back. It'll be a bitch because there's no trees to speak of. We'll leave the truck for now." Another pause and his voice dropped to a raspy whisper. "Jasper — my girls …"

"I'll take care of our girls. We'll stay inside for now. When you get here, you and Emmett split and come at the house from two different directions."

"Check."

"Right." I snapped my phone shut.

"Peter said he's looking for me?"

I couldn't help but see the fear in her eyes. I placed my hands on either side of my mate's face. "Bella, you have to stay as calm as you can. Remember there are four of us here. This is why we've worked with your shield and why we've been training. We'll shut the windows and close the curtains so he can't see in, then we'll go downstairs." I darted through the upstairs, checking windows and closing the curtains, then Bella and I went through the first floor, and I did the same.

As I drew her back into the family room, Charlotte and Rosalie returned.

"What's going on, Jasper?" Rosalie had a few grease smudges on her T-shirt and jeans, and was busily wiping her hands with an old towel.

I looked into each of their eyes. "Peter called and said we were going to have company. He didn't know when, but he and Emmett wouldn't be able to get here before the visitor arrived. They're running back. Probably take them two hours or a little less. He didn't know how many, but he said 'not many'. For now, we'll stay in the house. I'll try to feel them and determine how many there are."

"What if there's more than four?" Bella clutched at my shirt. "What are we going to do if there's more than that? What if they break into the house?

"Bella, listen to me." I took hold of her chin and made her look into my eyes. "Darlin', I won't let anything happen to you. It could be just curious nomads passing through, but we've been that route before."

Rosalie gave me a rather sardonic look.

"That James nomad?" Charlotte asked. At my nod, she patted Bella's shoulder. "Bella, Carlisle isn't here to try and talk us into just talkin' if they seem like a threat. They can lie with their mouths, but they can't lie with their feelin's. And remember, you aren't a little human anymore."

"Right." I looked into Bella's eyes. "If I feel even a hint of any danger, I will drop him."

"But Jasper, what if …"

"I can control up to about twenty-five. Probably more. In Maria's army, we never had more newborns than that at any one time. We didn't need them. Most other covens had up to about twenty. They're too hard to control." I hugged her to me. "You need to stay calm. You cannot run."

She nodded and leaned into my chest.

Charlotte peered up into my face. "Jasper, are you gonna show your scars? I could put on a tank top."

"No. The T-shirts show enough."

"What do you mean?" Rosalie asked.

"I used to take my shirt off so the other vampires would see more of my scars."

"It would scare the hell out of them," Charlotte said, nodding. "Half the time the battle was won before it even began."

"Sometimes," I admitted. "It was a good way to fuck with them." I didn't want to admit that, quite often, I used the scars to terrorize my enemies instead of my talent so that I could beat and tear at them. I'd been filled with so much anger and hate then, I wanted to fight and feel my hands on them, ripping them apart. I'd had nothing to lose so it hadn't mattered if I let them in close to me. It was more of a challenge if they fought back. It was part of the reason I had so many scars. But now I had something to fight for and protect — something to live for. I hugged Bella more tightly and kissed the top of her head.

Rosalie just nodded and looked anxiously toward the curtained windows.

"We don't know who it might be. It could be Demetri — it could be someone we've never met before. As soon as I sense him, I'll let you know." I took hold of Bella's arms and pushed her back far enough so that I could look into her eyes. "Bella, we'll go out onto the porch before he gets here. I want you on my left side." I turned to Charlotte. "I want you on Bella's left. Rosalie, I want you on my right. I want you all to stay close to me. He'll know how many of us are here, so there's no reason to try and hide anyone inside, though he might think the other male members of our coven are hiding."

"He'll probably think we can't fight at all," Rosalie interjected.

"Ah!" Charlotte raised her hand, pointing her finger upward. "We could do the harem thing. That throws 'em off."

"Harem? What are you talking about?" Bella's eyebrows drew together, and she was staring at Charlotte. "If it's Demetri, he knows who I am."

"But the Volturi think you're Edward's mate, so what are you doing with Jasper, right? It might not be him. If a strange male or two comes up to the house and sees Jasper with three females, it makes him look even more like a strong male. They'll think we're all Jasper's. That's where most male vamps' brains go anyway." A smirk spread across Charlotte's pretty face. "Won't even enter their minds that we can kick their asses."

Her cursing showed that Charlotte was getting into the fight and protect mindset.

"Wait a minute!" Bella threw her hands up and backed away from us. "Won't he smell Emmett and Peter?"

Charlotte planted her hand on her hip. "You haven't met many vampires, Bella. We're a big coven, and we're all mated. You don't know how unusual that is. Findin' a mate isn't exactly rare, but not every vamp has one. The strange vamp won't automatically think we have mates. Most males wouldn't leave their females behind with a male like Jasper, so he or they will think we belong to Jasper even though they smell other males. They might think Jasper sent the other ones away for a while."

"But …"

"It could work, Charlotte," I said, watching Bella. "Darlin', it would give me a reason to be touching Rosalie and Charlotte. That would keep them both in contact with your shield — if it's Demetri. We know he can't track you. Edward couldn't hear me, but we don't know if your shield will block Demetri from sensing me, and it'll protect Rosalie and Charlotte."

"Okay." Bella looked back and forth between all of us. "If it is Demetri, I don't want him to get his radar on you. What do you mean 'a male like Jasper'?"

"Well, look at him, Bella." Charlotte extended her hand toward me. "He's big and tall, he's good lookin', and the scars make him look like a badass. Remember how you reacted to my and Peter's scars?"

Huffing, Bella glanced up at me and then to Charlotte. "Jasper, you know I think you're beautiful, but … uh, aren't all vampires gorgeous?"

Rosalie cocked her head at Bella. "Like Charlotte said, you haven't seen a lot of vampires. Even though our looks can draw in practically any human, not all vampires are gorgeous. Even among us, Jasper is exceptionally handsome."

I was starting to get embarrassed, but before I could say anything, Rosalie sighed very loudly.

She crossed her arms. "That harem idea would work better if Jasper's scent was on us."

Bella's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Charlotte grinned at her. "He has to rub his scent all over us and breathe on us. It would be even better if his venom was on us."

"Wha..? What the hell? Jasper!"

Bella looked up at me, and even if I wasn't able to feel it, it wasn't hard to tell she was starting to get mad. At least she wasn't scared anymore.

I held my hands up to her. "Darlin', I don't have to kiss 'em or lick 'em. I can lick my hands and wipe it on their clothes when I, uh … hug them."

"There's plenty of his venom on you," Rosalie said, just one corner of her mouth curving upward. "And don't think I like the idea of his venom on me. He's my brother. Besides that, it'll upset Emmett."

"It's better if it's on our skin." Charlotte volunteered, tapping her chin with a finger.

It was a good idea, and I didn't want Bella pissed off at me, but Charlotte was right. It would be better if my venom was on their skin.

Bella was getting annoyed and a sliver of jealousy was working its way through. "Are you guys screwing with me? Are you doing this to piss me off so I won't be scared?" Her hands had closed into fists. "Because if this is a joke …"

Charlotte placed her hand on Bella's trembling shoulder. "Bella, you know what a good sense of smell we have. It's not a joke — it would be more convincin' if Jasper's venom was directly on our skin. He can put it on our arms while he hugs us and breathes in our hair."

She held her hands rigidly at her sides, shut her eyes, and clenched her teeth. "I don't want him hugging you."

"It would be more like rubbing himself on us." Charlotte offered helpfully. Which really wasn't helping because Bella's anger was beginning to pulse off her even though she was struggling to control it.

It was not a good time for her to be getting possessive, jealous, and violent.

I caught hold of her chin with my left hand and forced her face up to mine. "Bella," I said firmly. Her eyes snapped open, and I could see they were darkening. "I'll use any advantage I have to keep you all safe." I stepped closer to her. "We can't assume the vampire coming here is Demetri. We can't assume he is friendly. We can't assume he is dangerous. We can't even assume there is only one. Like Charlotte said, you haven't met many vampires at all, and you don't understand how they are. You've known the Cullens, but they are unusual. Whoever it is will automatically think I'm the coven leader because I'm the male and because all of you defer to me whether you realize you're doing it or not." I took another small step toward her. "Since I am here alone with three females, most males will assume they are mine, and we don't want any strange males thinking I'll share. Putting my scent on Rosalie and Charlotte will help to protect them."

I could eliminate her objections by knocking her out while I put my scent all over Rosalie and Charlotte, but I didn't want to resort to that. I could appeal to the protectiveness she felt over them, and I wasn't above using what charm I could on her. Drawing her to me and keeping my eyes on hers, I slid my hand gently down her throat and over her shoulder. "This is what we are going to do. I am going to put my scent on them both. Their scent will be on me. If you don't think you can stand to watch without getting upset, go in the kitchen where you can't see us."

Her eyes had widened and her emotions had calmed, though the jealousy and anger were still there. "But can't we go find him in the woods?"

Reaching for the sense of protection and responsibility I felt for her and all of them, I let it flow to her. "No. We don't know how many there are. We don't know where he or they are. We'll wait together for them to come here. I don't want any of us separated from the other. If it's Demetri, I want Charlotte, Rosalie, and I to be shielded from his gift for as long as possible. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Jasper," she said in a breathy voice.

"Our coven is safer here, Bella." I slid the fingers of my right hand through her hair and tilted her head up. "We will work together to keep Charlotte and Rosalie safe for Peter and Emmett. We will do whatever we need to do." I kissed her, holding her lips to mine until she responded to me, and her arms went around my waist.

She ended our kiss and whispered against my lips, "Did you just dazzle me?"

"No, Darlin'. You would feel the difference. I'm your sire, your mate, and your coven leader. It was the tone of voice." I ran my fingers through her hair and down her back. "We've been given a warning about this visitor. Next time we may not have any. We'll handle whatever comes up."

"I'll, uh, go in the kitchen and straighten up the toys." She kissed me lightly and stepped back from me as I let her hair fall through my fingers.

Her emotions were smooth, and she was annoyed, but her jealousy had dropped down considerably. A feeling of possession and protectiveness were hovering over it all.

When I heard the first can rattle in the kitchen, I licked my hands and smirked at Rosalie, opening my arms wide.

She squeezed her eyes shut, grimaced, and stepped toward me. "Just get it over with you ass."

As I pulled her to me, applied my venom to her arms, and then hugged her tightly, I said, "it's not that bad, Rose. At least I smell good." I exhaled into her hair. "Put your arms around me. Rub my back. It's a hug, for Christ's sake."

I licked my fingers and smeared them across the back of her neck.

"Jasper!" she hissed.

"We must be thorough," I whispered into her ear. "Don't go in the kitchen. Bella's still agitated. She's doing well, but …"

A cupboard door slammed, and we could hear her grumbling.

"See? She didn't rip it off and throw it across the family room." I released Rosalie and turned to Charlotte.

She grinned up at me, her arms extended and fingers wiggling. "C'mere, oh exalted coven leader."

There was one in every crowd. I sighed heavily into Charlotte's hair as I slid my hands down her back.

.

-oOoOo-

Bella had pouted for a while and wouldn't look directly at me, but she wouldn't let go of me either. She kept sniffing me and rubbing her face against my chest as I stood in the middle of the living room.

"Darlin', of course their scents are on me." I ran my hand down over her head and back.

"You know I love them, but I don't like their scent on you."

"Bella, you don't have anything to worry about. How do you think Rose feels when your scent is all over Emmett?" I whispered in her ear.

"But that's different. He's like my brother. You know that." Then she ducked her head. "And Rose and Char are like your sisters." Her embarrassment trickled through. "I feel like such a jerk being jealous all the time. I can't help it."

"I know. It'll get better." I kissed her head. "Eventually."

"You're jealous of Peter a lot." She peeked up at me finally.

"And I can't help it. I expect it'll get better. Eventually." Then I stiffened as I felt another consciousness at the very edges of my range.

"What is it?" Bella clutched me more tightly.

Rosalie and Charlotte jumped up from their chairs, their eyes on me.

"He's coming. From the northwest like Peter said. I only feel one. He's curious. He's feeling anticipation, confidence." I kissed Bella's forehead and stepped toward the front door. "We'll wait for him on the porch."

They followed behind me, Bella's hand on my belt. Charlotte, as my strongest fighter, was bringing up the rear.

I pulled Bella to my left side. As Charlotte moved in beside her, Rosalie moved into my right side, and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her against me. "Remember, Bella, for the time being we are pretending that you are all my women. Try not to get upset at anything the vampire might say. Don't react to what I might say or do." I knew he wasn't close yet, but I couldn't keep myself from testing the air and trying to pull his scent to me.

I could feel the tension building within me. An unknown male had come into my territory — was coming near my mate and my coven — and I definitely did not like it. Generally, vampires would go around such well-marked boundaries unless they were looking for news or gossip. They might even have news to share, but I didn't think that was it. The sound of Peter's voice when he had said "Jasper … my girls" told me he was worried. That could have been because he was away from his mate. But he had said "girls." Evidently, he felt more strongly for all of them than he had let on or I had been able to pick up on.

Rosalie was nervous, and Charlotte was determined. Bella began trembling again, and her fear and worry were working its way through to me.

I spoke very softly to her. "Bella, try not to be afraid. We are together, and we are all strong. I still feel only one."

"But what if there's another one that has a shield, and he's blocking you?"

Charlotte slipped her arm in between Bella and me and hugged her. "Bella, listen to me. Vampires with gifts are rare. The Cullens havin' so many in one coven is really unusual. Though ya gotta admit you all seem to draw 'em like flies." She chuckled and squeezed her. "Don't borrow trouble, sugar. If there was another vamp, and he had a shield of some sort, he would be hidin' the other guy, too."

"That's right, Darlin'." I kissed her head again. "Mostly, we'll play it by ear, but we'll appear to be all together. He'll see that you're a newborn, but I want you to act … confident, like Rose."

"Like the first time I met her and she was being all Ice Queen Head Bitch?" Bella whispered into my side.

"Hey! Thanks a lot, Bella." Rosalie complained, laughing. "I'm just very self-assured, like Jasper said." She reached around in front of me and smacked Bella on the shoulder.

When Bella started to reach for her, I tightened my grip on them both. "Cut it out. Confidence is good. Don't get cocky."

That bit of tension had been broken and Bella had been distracted from her fear, giving her a chance to contain it. She was doing well.

Having fought with Charlotte before, I wouldn't have to give her a pep talk — she was wary and vigilant, but not afraid. I thought Bella and Rosalie might benefit from hearing my voice.

Keeping my voice low, I whispered to them, "He's coming closer, but not moving quickly. Bella, shield us from him, but I need to feel him. Like when we were playing war in the woods. Remember?"

She nodded her head against my side.

"You're doing fine. I still feel one. He's not afraid, but he is guarded, cautious. He's curious."

The vampire's wariness and guardedness increased as he came closer. A flutter of appreciation arced through it all. Our scents were all through the woods around the house. Which one had caught his attention?

"We may not be able to hear him, but see the pine tree that has the big knot about ten feet up?" They nodded. "He's coming from that direction."

Then I heard him coming through the woods. It was interesting that he would make enough noise to alert us to his presence. I knew when Bella, Rosalie, and Charlotte heard him because Bella twitched and Rosalie and Charlotte stood straighter.

"He's near the edge of the trees. Remember, there's only one of him — there are four of us. He's hiding well, but we'll see him soon."

He stepped cautiously from between the trees and stood still. Like Peter had said, the Volturi were arrogant. The tall male was wearing boots, blue jeans, and a charcoal grey T-shirt that was printed with a large, distressed version of the Volturi crest.

I raised one eyebrow at him. I was a little surprised to see a member of the Volturi guard in a T-shirt and jeans. I had expected one of the infamous cloaks.

I wasn't sure which one, but from the descriptions I'd heard of them, I could guess. He was about my height and had a slimmer build. He was about fifty feet away. I would be able to drop him, and Bella would be able to hold him with her shield, but he didn't know that.

Bella gasped and pressed more firmly against my side.

Speaking to her quietly so the vampire wouldn't hear me, I asked her, "Shielding us?" She nodded. "I can still feel him. Remember how this feels. Remember, you can hold him with your shield at this distance. Do you recognize him?"

"I … I think maybe it's Demetri. He looks different to me. It's not Felix. Felix is as big as Emmett."

"Oh, shit." Rosalie hissed. "Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?"

Bella snorted, and I covered her mouth with my hand. I dipped my head down toward her and kissed her forehead, never taking my eyes from Demetri. "Shhhhhhhh. Don't lose focus. He's the only one I sense. Shield us. Tilt your head up. He'll be able to see that you're a newborn, but show him you belong to me." Being faced with a strange male made me want to show him who Bella belonged to. Her right arm went around my waist underneath Rosalie's. She brought her left hand to my stomach and spread her fingers.

I had thought Demetri's gift of feeling the tenor of a mind was closer in than fifty feet, but I didn't want to take any chances if I didn't have to. "Yes, Darlin'. I can feel your shield, but I don't see it. Very good."

Speaking to calm and reassure my newborn would not seem unusual. "I love you. You're doing so well," I murmured to her.

Rosalie leaned against me. "Bella, remember — you are a fucking vampire."

Almost chuckling at Rosalie reminding Bella of her own words soon after she awoke as a vampire, I could feel Bella's confidence grow.

"Yeah, and we're the Whitlock Coven." Though she was nervous, her pride swelled and her love flowed out and around us.

My own heart nearly burst with love for her. It was difficult to maintain a merely cautious look on my face. I had worried a bit that her fear would overtake her, and I would have to subdue her while I fought off the strange vampire, but my mate had astonished me again.

I drew my left hand slowly down Bella's throat, gathered her hair so that my mating bites would show, and placed her hair down her back over Charlotte's arm around her waist. I moved my hand over her shoulder to Charlotte's, then ran my fingers through Charlotte's hair and down her back. I brought my hand back up to cup Charlotte's neck. I slid my right hand down Rosalie's side to her hip and pulled her a little closer to my side. Those were blatantly possessive gestures that any male would understand, and having my arms behind them would hide the scars on my arms, but the scars on my neck would practically glow like neon signs. The scars on Charlotte would do the same. He would know he was facing two experienced fighters.

I decided I would wait for him to speak first.

The vampire's eyes moved over all of us and stopped on Bella as expected before flicking back to me. A newborn would bear watching. The vivid, bright red of her eyes would give it away, but even her moment of humor was not a bad thing. As it should, it would make it look like she was anxious, though she was controlling that very well also.

Demetri studied us quietly and took two steps away from the trees. He was testing the air and listening. He would already know that there would be six of us. He was watching for the other males to show themselves. He moved slowly forward another two paces and raised his chin.

"Major Jasper Whitlock. It is a distinct pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. We've heard so much about you."

He took quite a chance saying my name. He could have been wrong. I wasn't surprised he would be aware of who I was. The Volturi would have descriptions and possibly even photographs or sketches of vampires involved in the Southern Vampire Wars; probably even the known members of the Cullen coven.

It wasn't the usual greeting one vampire would give to another. Especially when encroaching on another's territory. Perhaps he was attempting to disconcert me with his subtle challenge.

Bella twitched against me. Ducking my head toward hers, I whispered, "It's okay, Darlin'. You're doing fine. Remember, stay calm just like you are now, no matter what he says." She shifted slightly against me.

Demetri projected an instant of disappointment and decided to change his tactics. "Major Whitlock, your … companions are exceptional." He moved forward another step.

I tenderly stroked Charlotte's neck and, turning toward Rosalie, I kissed her temple and slid my hand up to her waist while looking at Demetri from the corner of my eye. "Yes, they are," I answered him in a low voice.

Charlotte sighed and with her left hand reached for Bella's left shoulder and slid her hand down her arm to her elbow. Rosalie hummed lightly and snuggled against me, sliding her right hand over my stomach. I almost wished I could have a photograph of our positions. We could hardly be closer to each other, and it would make great ammunition to use against Peter later.

Demetri's eyebrows rose slightly and the very corners of his mouth curved upward. Curiosity and puzzlement flowed from him. A touch of envy colored his emotions. "Indeed. Most especially the exquisite Isabella. She had been attractive for a human, but she is an extraordinarily lovely vampire." Demetri's deep red eyes studied Bella again as he stepped closer, and the appreciation I had felt from him earlier came to the forefront. A tendril of desire curled around his emotions.

That answered one question.

He must have noticed the bites on her neck, and I thought he was trying to get a reaction out of me. It wasn't going to work. Instead, he got one from Bella.

She tensed, and I felt just the beginnings of anger from her.

I bent my head toward her. "Why are you angry?" I had to admit a little anger was better than fear.

She raised her head to speak into my ear, keeping an eye on Demetri. "He's fucking with us, and trying to make us nervous and shit. Why is he looking at me like that? Why doesn't he just say whatever he really wants to say?"

I moved my lips to her ear. "Because he's fucking with us. You see the game he's playing. Why don't you ask him? It would probably surprise him. Keep in mind that the longer it takes him to say whatever is on his mind, the more time we give Peter and Emmett to get here."

She nodded and turned her head to face our guest. She lowered her head and raised her eyes to his. It was a look that had quite an effect on me. I wondered what it would do to our guest.

Unfortunately, he liked it quite a lot. Brushing my chin over the crown of her head, I inhaled the scent that was more like mine every day, but was still so uniquely her.

"Demetri, I remember you," Bella said at the slow human speed. "Why are you here?"

I kissed her temple and said, "I think he can't sense any of us, so he'll try to get closer. I'll have to kiss Charlotte and Rosalie to tell them." I felt the barest increase in pressure from her fingers on my stomach, and she sent me a little shot of acceptance. I let my gratitude and pride flow over her.

Flexing my fingers on Charlotte's neck, I reached around Bella and kissed Charlotte right in front of her ear to repeat my message to her, then turned to Rosalie to tell her as I nuzzled her ear. I gave them all a quick dose of the pride I felt in them.

Moving closer, Demetri was about forty feet away. "I came at Aro's request to see if the Olympic Coven had abided by the agreement Edward had made with the kings. I arrived in America several weeks ago. Seattle is a lovely city, by the way." He took another step toward us, bringing his hand up and placing a finger over his mouth. "But I detected quite a bit of vampire activity there. Before making my report to Aro, I watched them, of course." He turned to the side and took several steps before turning back, pacing unhurriedly. "It seems a vampire was making newborns at an alarming rate, yet she left a youngling male to watch over them. The female who changed them had no contact with any but the youngling. She had told him he was her mate. All a ploy to control him." He flicked his fingers at the air. He turned back, bringing himself a bit closer. "The female sent the young male on several excursions to a small town called Forks and to a nearby Indian reservation."

The intensity of Demetri's gaze increased. "The male was named Riley. He seemed quite interested in a human's home. Intriguingly, the home of Isabella Swan. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that she had died in a tragic automobile wreck. Memorials for young persons are so … sorrowful."

Bella gasped, and I clutched her more tightly to me, sending her my reassurance. I whispered quickly to her, "The wolves will keep Charlie safe. Bella, stay strong for me. We have to let him talk. He'll tell us more."

I had suspected heavy newborn activity in Seattle. Demetri was implying it had something to do with Bella. Could the male he was speaking of be the same one that had been all over Forks? Letting just the corners of my mouth raise in a barely-there smile, I raised an eyebrow, encouraging him to continue. He seemed eager to talk. Or maybe it was an eagerness to try and goad us into some action.

Demetri seemed pleased at the reaction from Bella as he continued his measured steps, bringing him closer. "It wasn't difficult to observe the guests at the memorial for young Isabella. There were some unusual native youths in attendance also. I'd be curious to hear more about them." He glanced up at us and his gaze returned to the ground as he walked. "Only four of the Cullens were there. I had been through their territory earlier and found the scent of eight vampires. It seemed Aro's old friend Carlisle had added a new female."

His eyes shifted to Bella, and he smiled faintly. "Lovely." He gestured imperiously in the air. "That is neither here nor there, as I've discovered who the new vampire is." He turned and moved a bit closer. "It was easy enough to elude the young male as I followed him back to Seattle where he reported his findings to the female. Interesting conversation they had. She'd had a rather elaborate plan for revenge and was unhappy with his report of Isabella's death. She tore him apart and burned him. Then she set the abandoned warehouse on fire. She took a human right off the street and threw him into another large building where her newborns were kept. As several fought each other for the human, she quickly disabled the rest. She was quite meticulous in her planning. She had fuel cans stored throughout the buildings. It was a spectacular fire. There were several detonations and fires from gas lines. In fact, that's what the humans thought it was — gas line explosions. It saved me from having to do it to eliminate that small problem. It was on the thirty-first — the same day as the lovely Isabella's funeral. Perhaps you were aware of it."

Rosalie stiffened against me and Bella began to tremble. That was the day we had left Forks. Bella had spotted the large plumes of black smoke in Seattle as we had driven around the city. We had seen an explosion and the flaming column of burning gas. I held them both to me and stroked their backs, trying to calm them. Charlotte pushed against Bella, holding her more tightly into my side.

Demetri was again pleased and stopped as his eyes rose to take in Bella's and Rosalie's reactions. His anticipation grew and it made me wonder what else he might have to reveal. The group of newborns I had been concerned about had been destroyed, according to him. I wondered why he was telling us about it. They were somehow connected to Bella or Edward, or the male — Riley — would not have been roaming through Forks. The sample of vampire scent the wolves had brought to us must have been that male. None of us had recognized his scent. He had been scouting for the female. Who was the female? What revenge?

"The female was too thorough. She was caught by her own handiwork, but she did manage to escape. There may be burns on her arms where her clothing had ignited, though the worst damage was to her hair." Demetri raised his head and his eyes went to Bella. "Her beautiful … red … hair."

Red hair? I only knew of one female vampire with red hair who might have any interest in Bella.

As Victoria's name and an image of her face flashed through my mind, Bella's entire body jolted against me, she gasped loudly, and terror exploded from her, slamming into me. I had almost been ready for it. As I stumbled against Rosalie, hot rage burst from Bella, she snarled and leapt toward Demetri. My fingers missed her by only a half-inch. I aimed my leap for Demetri, my own rage boiling through me.

He snapped around to face us, his teeth bared. His hands moved in a blur, raising up to catch Bella. If he caught her, he would try to use her as leverage for … I had no idea what. Or had he come to America to take her? No one would ever take her from me.

His arrogance would be his downfall. He didn't know me or my mate at all. He would be expecting a typical newborn. Bella was anything but typical.

He had been aware of her mental shield as a human, but he was woefully unaware of her physical shield. He was utterly astonished as he was slammed to the ground on his back, and Bella's teeth were in his throat, her rippling snarls muffled.

..


"Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?" Jayne Cobb in the Firefly movie "Serenity."