Online Predator Chapter 66

Jasper sat up in the tree, just watching. After hearing Emmett, after learning that if Maria got to Forks that she'd kill Bella, well, there was only one thing in his mind. Jasper needed to go back, he needed to protect Bella. If he was with Maria, he'd be able to do it. It was a sacrifice he had to make. As he sat, he sent Bella a message on Twitter.

hunting_grounds: I love you

There was nothing more to say than that. He loved her, that's why he was doing this.

Bella didn't reply.

Everything had happened so fast with Emmett, that as Jasper sat and observed, he realized that he had never told her that he was safe. He hated that he had forgotten.

Jasper: I'm okay. You were right, it was just a human, one of the Cullens actually

He decided not to tell her about where he was. If she asked, he would, but until she did, she didn't need to know. He knew she probably wouldn't be able to understand why he'd gone back, how it was to protect her. If he could keep Maria close, if he could keep her happy, then he could save Bella's life.

The plan had been simple, track down Maria and her army, which wasn't hard to do as Jasper had ran with the army for 150 years. Then, he was going to simply rejoin them like he had before. He knew Maria probably wouldn't just accept him back, but it's what he needed to do. Only problem, when he got there, the promise he'd made to Bella changed everything. He couldn't go back, not when he told her he wouldn't.

So, for now, he was far enough away, sitting in a tree, just observing everything. Maria was in her tent as always. She had a new vampire in charge of the newborns, someone who Jasper didn't know, but someone who wasn't new to this world. Then there were twenty newborns, most fresh, savage beyond belief. As he always knew, this would be a tough fight if it came down to that.

He wasn't foolish enough to take them all on. Part of him still wanted to rejoin the ranks, it was his home. He knew he could protect his mate if he could just keep Maria happy, but he couldn't betray Bella like that. He'd felt her fear, how she was certain he'd run back to Maria, and he had, but this was different, he wasn't back with Maria, he was just watching.

The hours ticked by and Bella didn't reply. Jasper wanted to call her, but he didn't want to risk being discovered. At this point in time, he was gaining as much information on Maria and her new army, so he'd know how to destroy them. He wouldn't go back to Maria, he wouldn't, but part of him still ached to. It was what he knew. Being with Bella was nice, but it was hard too. Adjusting to life outside the war was a constant battle, but being here, Jasper felt a small sense of peace. He knew how this life worked.

Something in camp shifted and drew his attention away from Bella. Maria had left her tent for the first time since he had been here. Jasper watched her, she was just as beautiful as ever. He wanted her, he needed her. No, he told himself, she is nothing compared to Bella. Even so, there was something about her, they'd been close for so long and part of Jasper ached to be with her, he wanted to show her that he was back, that he never left her.

Jasper dug his fingernails into his leg, hoping the pain would snap him out of it. It did. He couldn't go back to her, he knew that. Maria didn't love him, she just used him, she took everything from him, and although it led him to Bella, that didn't make anything right. He was starting to see the truth, to understand it, to accept it, but he wasn't quite there yet. He kept watching, silently hoping that he'd get there. He wanted to be the one to kill her, he did, but it was hard.

Maria's new second in command was called Elliott. The more Jasper observed him, the more something niggled inside him. He was too far away to get a good look or read on any of the newborns. He could see Maria clearly but that was because he knew her well. This newcomer, he seemed familiar, but Jasper had no idea why. He was tall, built like a bear, and had brown hair, but that's all he could tell from his vantage spot. Why did he seem familiar? Had Jasper met him before? Maybe from a while ago? He wasn't sure.

Elliott leaned closer to Maria and Jasper watched them interact. The push and pull, Maria's actions, how she would let him get close, but then draw back. It was finally starting to sink in for him. To see the manipulation first hand, to see her doing it to another. She was good, too good at this. Elliott didn't stand a chance and Jasper felt sorry for him.

All these years Jasper had felt indebted to her. He thought she had needed him, and she had; for his gift, for what he did with the newborns, but now, seeing Elliott in his role, he realized the harsh truth, he was replaceable. He had been replaced. It stung as he realized that he could've left the first time he went and saw Bella, Maria still might've come after him, but what did that matter now? But, he also could've left years ago, a century ago. Why had he stayed with her for so long? He knew now that she had manipulated him into it, just like she was manipulating Elliott.

She had to die, Jasper decided. Not only was she gunning for him and his mate, but she needed to die not only for what she had put him through, but for the thousands of humans and newborns she'd selfishly used and then killed. It was all on her, Jasper realized, not him. Yes, he had a say, and maybe he'd been too scared or too stupid to realize the truth; that he could have taken control of his life and left long ago, but she was too good. She had manipulated him. He'd done those things to please her, but not anymore.

Jasper knew where he needed to be. He'd gained as much information as he'd get. He jumped out of the tree and started running back to Forks, running back to his mate. He shouldn't have left her in the first place, but he didn't regret it. He felt ready to kill Maria, he wasn't sure if it'd be that easy when the time came, but he felt ready to free himself from her, once and for all.

Midway back to Forks, a searing pain struck Jasper in the arm and his steps faltered. He growled, wondering what the hell that was. His arm felt like it was on fire. He looked at it, it was fine, nothing was wrong with it. Then he realized something, Bella, it had to be because of her, he needed to get back to her, right now.

Bella was at the Cullen house and Jasper didn't pause to assess the situation, he just ran in, scooped her up, and ran out of there. He stopped briefly on the reservation. Bella's arm was torn open, she was losing a lot of blood. Her heart was slow as was her breathing. Shit. Jasper took off running again. He didn't want to stay close to Forks, not when he didn't know what had happened.

All he knew was that Bella was injured and she'd been in the Cullen's house. He'd kill whoever did that to her, he didn't care who it was or why they'd done it. They injured his mate and they deserved to die. Jasper ran all the way through the Olympic National Park and stopped just on the other side of Seattle.

He knelt on the ground, keeping Bella in his arms.

"Bella?" he asked quietly, not wanting to cause her any more pain, "Bella, please."

"Jas-Jasper," Bella said, her eyes fluttering open. "You… You…"

"Don't speak," he said, "I'm going to take you to a hospital. They'll make you better, they will."

"Jas...per," she said, "it… no… don't."

"Who did this to you?" he asked. "I'm going to kill them, I will."

"I… I… I…" Bella coughed and Jasper held her tighter.

"It's okay," he told her, "Seattle's close, I'll take you there, they'll help you."

"No," she said, "just… just change me… please, Jasper."

"I can't."

"Why?" she asked. "Do you… Do you not want me?"

"No." How could she think that?

"Why?" Bella asked, coughing again, this time some blood come out of her mouth and Jasper knew that wasn't a good sign. She must be more injured than just her arm. He clutched her to him tighter.

"I'm afraid," he told her, "I know what Charlie said, but I've changed thousands of humans, Bella, and they've all been savage. I don't want you to have to go through that, I don't want you to become savage."

"It's… It's not you," she said putting her hand on Jasper's cheek. "I… I refuse to believe that. Just… Just do it. You… You want to be with me forever, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"I… I thought you went back to her," Bella said, staring up into her mate's eyes. "Em… Emmett told me what happened. I was… I was sure you went back, but… you're here. I… I should've had more faith in you."

Jasper didn't know what to say, he had gone back to Maria, but not entirely.

"Please, Bella," he said, "let me take you to a hospital, let me get you some help."

"It's… It's too late," Bella's eyes closed before she opened them again. "I think… I think I've lost too much blood, just… just change me, Jasper. I… I won't come out savage and… and if I do, we'll… we'll figure it out, but… I trust you. Please, Jasper... Please. …I ...I want it to be you. I… I… I…"

Bella closed her eyes and this time they stayed closed. Her heart rate decreased some more and her breathing became shallower.

"Bella, please," Jasper said, clutching her to his chest. "Hold on, you've got to hold on. I'll get you to the hospital, I will."

Bella didn't respond, she just continued to grow weaker in his arms. Her time was running out, he knew that. He wanted to change her, he wanted to make her his forever, but what if she turned out savage? What if it was his venom? And now was not the right time, not with Maria and the fight, it was risky, but what choice did he have?

"I'm sorry, Bella," Jasper said as he pulled her neck towards his mouth. "I love you. I love you so fucking much and I'm so sorry this is happening to you."

He sunk his teeth into her neck, relishing the taste of her blood one last time. As he did, he had one thought in his mind; he hated that this choice had been taken out of his hands and someone was going to pay for that.