Cora had finally managed to settle herself next to Jasper and a wave of calm washed over her. She glanced up as he brushed her lower back and lightly traced patterns as he relaxed her worrying mind.
"They'll be here in four days," Alice said as Will held on tightly to the small pixie-like vampire.
"This could turn into a bloodbath," Carlisle said and Daniel agreed.
"Well let's turn this fucker out." Seb said, jumping off the table he sat on and clasping his hands together. Cora, Carina, and Kiera all shot him a warning look.
"Who's behind it?" Edward asked, keeping close to Bella.
"I didn't see...not anyone either of us recognized, anyway," Will said, rubbing the top of Alice's shoulder.
"Maybe one..." Alice added and Edward looked into her mind.
"I know his face. He's local. Riley Biers."
"He's that kid that went missing in Seattle way back when?" Will asked and Cora nodded, taking her hand away from her mouth.
"There's no way that kid started this. There has to be someone else behind this." Cora said, glancing at Paul who tightened his jaw and crossed his arms.
"Whoever is doing this is staying out of all the action," Alice said with a frown.
"They have to be playing with the blind spots in your visions," Daniels said to Will and Alice.
"Either way, the army is coming and there aren't enough of us to protect the town," Jasper said, tightening his grip on Cora and looking deadpan at Paul.
'Woah Woah Woah." Paul said, holding his hand to interject.
"What damn army?" Jake asked incredulously.
"Newborns," Kiera said before going back to nervously nibbling on her thumb.
"Our kind. Vicious sons of bitches. Mean too." Seb said, earning a smack from Kiera in the chest. He was never tactful.
"What are they after?" Jake asked, his voice getting louder.
"Well..." Will said, rubbing his neck.
"They were passing around Bella's scent," Alice said, looking away from the pack.
"They're after Bella? What the hell does this mean?" Jake said, getting angrier with the minute.
"It means an ugly fight," Daniel said, looking pointedly at the boy.
"With a lot of lives lost," Carlisle added.
"Alright...we're in." Jacob said and Cora snickered.
"No, You'd get yourselves killed. No way." Bella said in protest.
"It's already been decided. I had Cora speak with Sam a few days ago, Bella." Jasper said, rubbing Cora's back lightly in support.
"Edward!" Bella exclaimed and Edward shrugged.
"I don't control them...and besides...it's more protection for you."
"Jasper?" Carlisle asked, looking to the major who stared down the pack.
"They'll give us the numbers/ Newborns won't know they even exist...that'll give us an edge." Cora nodded and looked to the pack.
"We need to set up a time to train-"
"They're gonna get hurt, Cora." Bella protested.
"We'll all need some training..." Daniel butted in, taking a step forward.
"Luckily, fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has." Carlisle added.
"You're more than welcome to join us." Carlisle said to the pack before them.
"Alright..."
"Sick. Let's kick some ass." Seb butted in, excited that there was finally some action around here.
Cora left the boys to their devices, planning and plotting with Bella to get schedules arranged. She glanced at Paul who fell behind the pack and nodded towards the hall.
"Hey, something up, angel?" He asked, worry plastered on his face. Cora crossed her arms in an attempt to hold herself together.
"You don't have to do this." He chuckled deeply and smiled thoughtfully at the small vampire.
"You know I wanna be where the action is, sleepless beauty. Not gonna happen."
"Paul, you could seriously get hurt."
"So could lover boy in there." Cora's face fell and she turned to look at Jasper who was looking intently at Carlisle and Sam. She didn't even think about Jasper getting hurt. The man seemed indestructible.
"Look," Paul said, tearing her attention from her cowboy and to her wolf. He grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look up at him.
"I'm not going anywhere, princess. So you better be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed next time I see you on the practice field. This time, I won't go so easy on you." He smirked as she scoffed and pulled her under his arm as to press a kiss to the top of her head.
"How about I go easy on you this time? Hmm?" She laughed, shoving him off as they reentered the room with everyone. Sam and the pack left after solidifying plans for the next day and Alice dragged the women about the house to clean up the mess left by the teenagers of Forks.
"Should be good." Rose said out of the blue, making Cora cock her head at the blonde as she tugged down a streamer.
"Tomorrow, I mean. Emmett could use the crap kicked out of him sometimes." She chuckled and pulled at the lanterns around the house. Going hand to hand with Jasper would be fun but Cora had a feeling he might implement some rules in regard to her abilities.
"Penny for your thoughts?" She sighed and leaned back into the strong chest that the drawl belonged to and smiled up at Jasper.
"You can have them free of charge, sir." She smiled, turning in his embrace to peck his lips but being stopped by the confusion on his face.
"Gift from Paul, I take it?" He asked as he palmed the pendant that hung between her breasts.
"Yeah...it was." She trailed off, taking the medal from him and tucking it back where it was.
"That's very nice of him."
"It is, isn't it. I don't have to worry about you two tomorrow...do I?" She asked warningly, making Jasper smile.
"Whatever do you mean?" Cora jabbed him in the chest and placed her hands on her hips.
"You know damn well what I mean. I don't need you two wrestling around tomorrow like a couple of lovesick idiots." Jasper tugged on her hips so she stumbled into him, his attempt to make her smile. It worked.
"Trust me when I say the only person I can't wait to wrestle around with if you." He said, leaning down to steal the kiss he denied her earlier.
"Who said you had to wait?" She propositioned, capturing her bottom lip between her teeth.
"I don't think Alice will appreciate that very much." Will called as he carried a handful of trashbags passed the couple.
"Mind your business!" Cora called after him as she tugged Jasper's hand up to his room for some privacy.
Cora and Rose snickered as Emmett hit the dirt for the fifth time since they had all gone deep into the woods behind the Spencer home for training.
"Again!" He called and Rose sighed.
"It baffles me how he can just get his shit rocked again and again and it doesn't even phase him." Cora said just ask Emmett's jeep came through with Edward and Bella inside.
"Oh joy." Rose said unenthusiastically. Cora bumped her with her hip and chuckled.
"Be nice. It's not her fault she's the way she is." Rose frowned at the vampire next to her and Cora shrugged.
"Okay well maybe it is but it isn't entirely her fault." She said, trying to reason with the blonde. Rose went to Emmett and Cora pulled herself into Jasper who had his arm already out for her as sticks cracked in the distance signaling the wolves' arrival. The one she recognized as Sam snarled and Seb hopped off the hood of the truck and rubbed his hands together.
"They don't trust us enough to be in their human form." he said, patting Edward on the chest.
"Don't worry, Eddie. I got this." He winked, excited for the prospect of translating.
"They came..." Daniel called, crossing his arms.
"That's the important part." He said, glancing at Carlisle who nodded.
"Bastian, Edward...will you translate?" Carlisle asked, gesturing for Daniel to go ahead and start.
"Welcome. We can't put into words how grateful we are that you've all agreed to come today." Daniel started then looked to Carlisle who gestured to Jasper.
"Jasper has experience with newborns. He'll teach us how to defeat them."
"They want to know how the newborns are different from us." Edward translated and Jasper gave Cora a squeeze before walking up to where Daniel and Carlisle were. She felt a bump against her hip and smiled seeing her slender sister next to her, a reluctant smile on her face. She knew this was hard for Cora.
"They're a great deal stronger than us because their own human blood lingers in their tissues." Daniel explained.
"Our kind is never more physically powerful than in our first several months of this life." Carlisle finished.
"Daniel and Carlisle are right. That's why they are created. A newborn army doesn't need thousands like a human army, but no human army could stand against them." Jasper said, his eyes scanning the pack as he spoke. Cora noticed the regalness of him and how he presented himself. It made her feel like she was seeing him for the first time.
"Now the two most important things to remember are, first, never let them get their arms around you. They'll crush you instantly. And second, never go for the obvious kill. They'll be expecting that, and you will lose..." He trailed off for emphasis.
"Emmett!" he called, making Cora jump a bit back into Kiera as the group shifted toward the two large men.
"Don't hold back."
"Not in my nature." Emmett smirked before rushing Jasper who dug his feet into the dirt, stopping the force but ultimately being tossed through the air and landing on his back but automatically getting back up to rush Emmett who swung high. Emmett missed as he swept over Jasper's head and Cora cringed as her mate stiff-armed his brother into the ground.
"Never lose focus." Jasper said before helping Emmett up and looking at the group of vampires in front of him. Edward clasped Carlisle on the shoulder and the two went at it, Edward rushing Carlisle and swinging high while Carlisle went low, sweeping at Edward's feet to knock him back. They held onto one another in a locked hold. As soon as Carlisle let up his grip, Edward slammed him to the ground and glanced at the group for approval.
"One more thing." Jasper said, getting Edward's attention just as Carlisle took him down.
"Never turn your back on your enemy." Jasper said with more sass than intended. Kiera knocked into Will who smirked as they stood apart from one another next. She took a step forward and Will rushed his sister. Kiera jumped high, evading his attack and making Will almost run into a tree trunk. As he turned back with a swing, Kiera flipped back, locking her legs up around his neck and pulled him down to the ground, flipping them both backward.
"Ohhh, shit." Bastian snickered before being pulled away by Rosalie to practice themselves.
"Why haven't you gone up there yet?" Questioned Jasper who was watching the two in front of him diligently.
"No one wants to be my sparring partner." She smirked and her eyes flashed white for a moment.
"Dirty little trick, but it'll help us in battle." He said with a smirk as Rose put Bastian in the ground.
"Come on," Jasper said with a nod and a tug of the hand of Cora who obliged, standing far enough away from him so they could start. She smirked as he reached out for her and she dodged it, flipping backward to evade his swings. She lost her footing causing Jasper to spin her around, holding one arm behind her back as the other hand craned her neck up as he almost begged for a kiss. Cora twisted her arm back and shoved him, causing them to tumble around until he had her pinned down. Cora's eyes flashed and suddenly Jasper lost all control of his limbs and Cora flipped them, pinning the cowboy to the ground and stealing her kiss.
"What was that first thing? Never lose focus?" She teased as she let him up. Jasper clapped his hands together after brushing himself off and addressed the group.
"That was decent practice but trust me when I say it barely compares to the real thing." Cora looked off towards the pack that had started to leave but kept her eyes on Paul who stood his ground. She gave Jasper's arm a little squeeze before leaving him to speak with Daniel and Carlisle.
"Hey fluffy." She smiled, ignoring the look of defeat that Paul gave her. She sat down on a fallen log next to the large silver wolf who bumped her lightly with his head as she sat.
"You know, you can still back out. I wouldn't be mad." She teased, half-serious with her proposal. Paul shook his head and nudged her hand, prompting her to pet him a bit. She wasn't exactly a fan of him in wolf form simply because she didn't know how to interact with him but she was learning.
"I'll take that as a no, then. Just.." She huffed and turned towards the beast.
"Just be careful alright? I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." She trailed off quietly. Paul nudged her once more before padding off after the pack. Cora pushed herself to her feet and scanned the area for Jasper, seeing him near the Jeep with Bella.
"Feeling alright, kitten?" Came Daniel's voice next to her and she nodded, crossing her arms to try and hold herself together. Daniel threw an arm around her waist and pulled his daughter close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"He knows what he's doing."
"I know. Doesn't mean I don't worry." She shrugged as Daniel gave her a squeeze before joining his wife with Esme and Carlisle. Cora rushed over to where Jasper stood with Bella and Alice who rubbed his shoulder before disappearing.
"And of course, Cora." He said as she arrived.
"And of course Cora what?" She inquired, slinking under his arm and holding onto his waist.
"Has everything to do with my reason for living now if that's what I am." He smirked and she rolled her eyes.
"Enough of the heavy. Let's go home, I want to sit on the porch and watch the sun go down." She said with a mischievous look in her eye as she pecked his cheek before rushing off after Kiera and Sebastian back to the Spencer home.
This is all she had ever wanted. Sitting out on the deck with a fire and surrounded by family.
"God, you want to talk about drinking, I used to pound 'em." Sebastian said, making Kiera smack his chest as she leaned back into his lap.
"Very evident by the way I found you sprawled out in the middle of nowhere." Cora teased, settling back into Jasper's chest, taking comfort in the way he held her close.
"It isn't my fault the whole brigade left without me!"
"What kind of brigade?" Emmett asked, making Jasper perk up.
"Don't let him fool you, he was a glorified circus clown." Will said, steadying Alice as she had returned from seeing Bella home and sat atop his knee.
"Hey! Hey! Entertainer." Cora scoffed and rolled her eyes before retorting.
"You mean stuntman. Come on Seb." She reasoned as Kiera pecked Bastian's head.
"Idiot or not, I love him." She said with a smile, making everyone else groan.
"Well, someone has to." Will said snidely, making Alice hit him lightly.
"What happened with you Kiera, if you don't mind." Emmett said, adding on the last part as Rosalie knocked her knee with his. Kiera smiled and shrugged.
"It isn't all that interesting, I'm afraid." She chuckled and the group booed her, tossing patio pillows in her direction.
"Alright, alright! It was my senior year of high school. I was the last to be found by Daniel and Carina." Will cleared his throat and Kiera rolled her eyes.
"Alright! And Will and Seb and Cora, respectively. Happy?" Cora nodded with a chuckle, urging her to continue.
"Well, it was 1999 and I had lived in Colorado for most of my life. I was set to move to New York as soon as school ended...I got accepted to NYU for dance and comparative literature...I.." She took a deep breath and Sebastian gave her a small squeeze.
"I went to Columbine." As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone either averted their eyes in silence or just gasped.
"Cora was working as a trauma nurse in town at the time and I had substantial bleeding...she saved me." She said reaching out for her sister who happily grabbed her hand and gave a squeeze.
"Of course, Will saw me coming so it was no surprise." She chuckled.
"So you were all a few years apart from one another until Kiera?" Alice asked and Bastian nodded.
"Waiting damn near nine decades for her. Worth every second." He smiled, pecking her mouth.
"How long did you and Will...try?" Rose asked, gauging the room.
"I really think we should all be mentally preparing for this war. I-" Cora shushed the man behind her and gave his hand a squeeze, indicating that she was alright.
"For...Shit...How long did we try?" She laughed, looking at her brother.
"Christ, at least four decades." He chuckled, glancing up at Alice with a brightness that Cora had never seen on his face before she entered his life.
"Well, good thing, hmm?" Alice said, bringing him in for a kiss as the rest of the group shared more stories. Cora pulled herself from Jasper and tugged on his hand, ignoring the chance to say goodnight to the rest of the group before they retired to her room.
"If it makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to talk about it." Jasper said, not wanting to prod.
"Every step I've taken in this life was a step closer to you. How could I be uncomfortable?" She asked, playfully tugging on his belt buckle to pull him towards her in order to kiss him.
"I love you Cora."
"I love you Jasper."
AUTHORS NOTE: In Honor of Midnight Sun, Here's an early chapter. Hope you love it!