A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 35-

Jasper's POV-

What the damn hell had just happened here?

It was unbelievably horrifying to another extent.

I simply couldn't believe my eyes at the moment, or did not wish to believe of what they were implying, the latter much more plausible than the former, I know.

Anyhow, the point of focus here was that Edward Cullen and Maggie…. were mates.

No kidding there!

And I could state this with surety not only because Edward had moaned out 'mate' while consummating, nope, I could feel the emotions radiating from them while in the act.

It was obvious.

They were mates.

Their bond was instant and forever, the dark red light of love making its way almost instantaneously in their mind and hearts, leaving no room for another in there.

It was over the second their eyes met the others for the first time, the result of which being that Maggie and Edward were now mated forever.

Sadly, so.

Poor Maggie!

Anyhow, the more important question here was….

How?

What?

Why?

This was unbelievable!

From where had this twist in the tale arrived?

And why had it even arrived, being the better question to ask.

Okay, so I admit, that I had hoped for Garrett and Maggie to turn out to be mates….

Hear me out before you pass your judgment; now generally, I didn't bother with the love life of my friends or acquaintances- let's admit it- it is more of a 'girl' thing to do, but after having experienced mating first hand, I was all in for wanting the same happiness for two people I had known since decades now.

They both were lonely, though neither would outright accept it. I had even often heard Maggie hope for her mate to arrive- yearning for that love and companionship that one could find in their mate, and from Garrett, the feeling of loneliness and desperation multiply tenfold whenever he was in company of a mated pair, his sole hunts becoming much more frequent in that scenario.

It just made sense to wish for them to pair up.

They could be there for one another, each of their problems solved, with two of my friends coupling and becoming a mated pair.

It would all have worked out.

They would have been happy, and I would have been happy for two people who had been there for me when I needed the help and support.

I may never admit this out loud, but having Garrett to help with the newborn Bella was a blessing in disguise for me. Sure, Bella had never been the typical uncontrollable newborn who needed four hands to simply hold her back, but I was still reassured that needed I go hunting unexpectedly, there was someone to make sure that Bella was safe and not at a risk of losing control and causing a massacre that would have come back to bite us in the ass. Also, the fact that Garrett had readily agreed to jump into a fight that was not even his to bother with, just because my mate and I would be at risk, had gained my respect for the man.

He was a good friend, almost like extended family to me…. family that you cared enough about to show concern for…. family that you wished to see happy.

And what can I even say about Maggie….

Hmm….

She was simply a gentle soul that deserved happiness.

Her emotions were as pure and genuine as one's could be. She never lied, not even by omission. She never wished ill on another, no matter how much the person deserved it. I had often assumed it to be her young age that kept her naïve against the bad of this world, but over the years I had come to believe that maybe this was her gift.

She was a pure soul, that being the ultimate gift that nature could give to someone.

And so, how could one not wish good for her?

You tell me?

It was simply impossible to wish ill for someone like her…. your conscience would kill you with the guilt of doing so.

Anyhow, I had hoped that Maggie and Garrett would discover the other to be a mate- both their problems solved in one go, but unfortunately, it hadn't happened so.

From some unknown- unwanted twist, Edward Cullen had entered the picture, jumping in at the very last minute and ruining the entire script for the rest of us.

Seriously, what was he even doing here?

Didn't he need his mommy to feed him his meals and calm him down when he felt scared at night from the monsters creeping under his bed?

No really, the way the Cullen 'Kids' behaved, you would assume that they were five and needed their mother to sing them a lullaby before putting them to sleep each night.

They really- actually- behaved like rebellious, overly dependent toddlers. The good old doctor even gave them a monthly allowance so that they could go shopping and buy unneeded toys…uh…things for themselves.

It was par ridiculous!

Anyhow, the point here was, why was he even here?

Who on earth was stupid enough to invite him?

I had not known of the Cullen's traveling by themselves though, they always roamed around in that horde of theirs, possibly incase someone decided to beat them up on seeing that they were about to open their mouth and impart their hardly there- knowledge.

Not like it would be of much help in case their opponent could fight.

Let me tell you a secret, though I doubt it is much of a secret- one look at them and you could guess this out- anyhow, none of the Cullens could fight to save their lives. Heck, they could not even defend their life if someone decided to attack and beat them to a pulp. They were that very useless in the fighting department, their coven leader having only taught them of how to pretend to be human, and apparently humans did not fight or even learn enough skills to save themselves from an attack….as believed by Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

Seriously, has the man never met one strong human in his centuries' long experience of mingling with humans?

How is something like that even possible?

Heck, I have come across so many physically and mentally strong humans on my various hunts over the centuries. Of course, it wasn't like they could actually stop me from killing them, but several of them did try their level best to save their life. They would scratch me, bite me, kick me….and do everything earthly possible to save their lives in those few seconds. I could respect that, it was definitely annoying at that moment, but it showed the strength that that human held- the will to live.

Then how was it possible that Carlisle Cullen had never realized this fact in his centuries' long existence?

How was it that he considered humans to be weak and helpless, mirroring their actions by pretending to be as helpless as them?

Okay, so maybe I have never really valued human life- and I know, I know- practice what you preach- but never had I even made the mistake of believing that in order to maintain your humanity, you need to pretend to be as weak and helpless as one can.

You can be a human feeding vampire, and yet stay miles away from the tag of a monster.

Look at Maggie…

Or Bella….

They had managed to keep their inner goodness, refusing to give in to their surroundings, no matter what the temptation.

"Jasper," a soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts, my mate staring up at me from under those pretty light red eyes of hers, a question in those very eyes currently meeting mine.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded my head, managing a small smile in agreement.

She sighed, accepting my answer. "Who is Edward Cullen? I don't believe that you have ever told me about him."

It was my turn to sigh as I looked at her, shaking my head with a frown on my face. "Bella, Edward is from the Cullen coven, as the name suggests. He is Alice's brother." I frowned wider, continuing. "He is also one of the most judgmental people to exist. He has his firm views on life and love, and anyone who goes against them is directly unworthy of respect in his eyes. He considers himself to be a monster of the worst level, believing that even hell would be too good for him. Only he knows why he thinks so though; it is all in his mind. He has made up this evil persona of himself in his head, refusing to believe anything other than that."

"Oh," she whispered. "Poor Maggie!"

Poor Maggie, indeed.

"Is she…stuck with him?"

I sighed, giving her a brief nod. "Yes, they are mates. Their mating bond was formed the second their eyes met."

"Isn't there someway out?" she pleaded, waving her hands in air. "Something that can reverse this effect?"

I frowned, letting out a breath. "Unfortunately, no. Mating is forever. There is nothing that can undo it. If Maggie or Edward refuse to accept the bond, for example's sake, both of them with suffer and hurt till the end of their existence. It hurts to reject the bond, and of course they would never be able to take another as their mate. It sucks all in all."

"Crap," she gulped. "This seems horrible. I am so glad that you are my mate, not that I don't sympathize with Maggie. It would suck to be mated to someone like that."

I smiled at her, kissing her on the forehead lightly. "I too am glad that you are my mate. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves here, there have been incidents before wherein the mating bond has permanently altered one of the partners, making them a better version of who they were before they met their mate."

"If it is so," she let out a breath, "I can only hope that Maggie brings out the best in her mate."

I nodded my head, agreeing with her. "You ready to go back?"

"Do we have to?" she grumbled. "I mean, I like Maggie- she is really sweet, but not all that much that I want to see her do 'that' with her mate. Now, I know that it is perfectly natural, but come on, I am no voyeur and would much rather prefer they do their 'bonding' in the comfort of their bedroom in their house. Look, it just makes sense, you know, we have private bedrooms for a reason and….."

I could not resist myself then. I just burst out laughing, shaking my head to myself.

Bella was simply adorable.

"What are you laughing at?" she raised an eyebrow in question, almost offended by my laughter.

I shrugged in response. "Has anyone told you of how cute you are?"

"Oh," her eyes narrowed in realization, her head nodding in agreement a few seconds later. "Yes, sure people have, but it all stopped after I burnt one of those unfortunate idiots who thought that it would be a good idea to tell me this." Her shy wink towards the end of that sentence let me know that she was just kidding, obviously, Bella did not use her power to harm humans- that was one of her strictly followed rules.

"Oh, really," I could not help but tease her a little, completely taken by the smile that appeared on her face at this action of mine.

"Yup," she popped the p, grinning wide. "If you don't believe me, I wouldn't mind giving you the details of all those boys that have in the past."

"Uh-huh," I mumbled, raising an eyebrow. "Sure do; it will help me in making the list of all the people that I need to kill."

"Jasper," she gasped, leaning ahead slightly, her eyes never straying far from mine. "Am I crazy for finding this possessiveness of yours attractive?"

I let my arms wrap around her torso, pulling her unimaginably close, her hands coming to rest on my shoulders. "I wouldn't know that, darlin', but either way I am one lucky bastard for having such a beautiful mate, dropped down from heaven just for me."

"Oh," she smiled. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Whitlock."

"That's the plan." I winked at her, my lips leaning forward to meet hers, her hands running through my hair as I attempted to pull her even closer, refusing to let there be an inch of space between us. She gasped at that action, my tongue slipping into her mouth without a second's delay, her fingers roaming through my shoulders informing me that she didn't mind much.

I pulled her even closer, not willing to let her go.

She was mine…. now and forever.

Nothing was ever going to take her away from me.

I would not let anything take her away from me.

That was a guarantee.

"Ahem," The sound of a throat clearing forced me to look up, growling at the audacity of the person who had deemed it appropriate to interrupt us. I pushed my mate slightly behind me, looking up to meet the eyes of one Edward Cullen, Maggie standing a little behind him, almost as if the wimp was capable enough of protecting her.

What a joke!

"What are you doing here, Whitlock?" he demanded to know, trying to act all cool and in control.

I rolled my eyes at that. "Look, Kid…"

"Jasper," Maggie admonished me. "This is my mate, Edward. He deserves that respect of being referred to from his name."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I am sorry, Maggie."

I could understand of how Maggie was feeling at the moment. It was strange to be recently mated- the unfamiliar emotions and sudden protectiveness coursing through you was enough to render you insane. I could even sympathize with her on that front.

Edward- the idiot though, smirked in response, almost as if he was any worthy of the respect, I was forced to provide him with.

"You are not, stupid reincarnation." I made sure to inform him of the facts, his gift of mindreading of exceptional usage.

He scowled at me, wrapping an arm tighter around Maggie.

Maggie sighed, her hand going ahead to rest on that of her mate's.

Poor Maggie!

She may not have even wanted this, but now she was stuck with this.

It was unfortunate.

"Oh," Edward frowned all of a sudden, his eyes fixated on Bella, curious and questioning.

I growled at him, warning him- one wrong move and he would be in pieces, with one leg thrown in the Pacific Ocean and the other in the Atlantic.

He rolled his eyes at my warning- that is exactly why I refer to him as an idiot- still staring at Bella in question.

Maggie though, assumed his stupidity to be curiousness, giving him a small smile. "This is Bella- Jasper's mate."

"Is it now?" he grinned evilly and widely. "I know of her, and once Jasper left Forks, we found out everything there was to know in the matter. One call to Aro and we had all the knowledge earthly possible, but my sources had informed me that you were dead?" he turned to look at Bella, almost as if she were supposed to answer that question for him.

I glared at him, ever ready to rip him apart.

Edward, I am warning you.

I spoke into my mind.

Had he been smart enough, he would have taken a step back and let the matter go, but no, we already know the answer to that question, for Edward simply laughed, way too pleased by the current circumstances.

"Have you not told her about it?" he questioned; amusement thick in his eyes. "Wow!" he laughed louder and possibly happier. "You are some mate."

"Edward," I glared at him. "Don't."

He waved me off, still looking at a confused Bella, smirking in satisfaction. What a sadist this man was? "Don't worry; I will tell you the truth. I am not like this selfish asshole here." He pointed towards me. "I don't play with people's feelings. I feel sorry for you for being stuck with this man though, but nonetheless, you deserve to know this wolf in a sheep's clothing that calls himself your mate. You should know that he is a liar and has lied to you since the second you woke up in this new form. He has no plans of ever telling you the truth."

"What truth?" Bella whispered, shell-shocked by his words, as was expected to be.

I took my head in my hands. It wasn't supposed to happen in this manner.

I should have told her everything earlier itself.

I would have saved myself from this at least.

Edward smiled; way too happy by this latest development. "It will be my pleasure to tell you. The thing is…"

This was it.

The cat was coming out of the bag, and I had no choice but to let it come out.

I sighed, shutting my eyes.

"Jasper was sent to…"

"Enough," Maggie's loud voice forced me to open my eyes and look at her, her stance angry as she glared at her mate. "Can I talk to you in private, Edward?" she demanded of him.

Edward frowned at her, annoyed at being interrupted, his emotions uncannily similar to that of a kid whose candy had been rudely taken away.

"Can it wait?" he asked her pleadingly.

"No, I doubt it can." Maggie growled at him, pulling him away from where we stood, leaving him with no choice but to go with her.

I sighed, shaking my head.

Good riddance, I would say.

"Jasper," Bella's voice was a mere whisper as she looked at me. "What was that about?"

I sighed, letting out a breath.

It was finally time for the cat to come out of the bag, making its presence known to all far and wide.

"Bella, the thing is…."