The Cullen's were enjoying a game of baseball with Edwards's mate, Alice, when three nomads entered the clearing, and Jasper could see and feel that they were going to be causing trouble. Hell, they have already brought suspicions from the town seeing as they were hunting in their territory. Jasper knew that there was going to be a fight when the wind shifted, causing Alice's scent to go through the clearing.
"You brought a snack?" the stranger asked, with an incredulous expression while taking an involuntary step forward, causing Jasper and his companions to crouch into fighting stances.
He tensed, and his body clenched, ready for battle, and he almost reveled in the awakening of his long-buried instincts of war and bloodshed. It had been so long since he had been challenged. As much peace as the quiet, conflict-free life with the Cullen's brought him, a part of him really missed a more exciting life.
He could feel that this was not going to end well. These vampires were not the civilized ones that the Cullen's were used to; these embraced their dark nature and reveled in it. Jasper could feel their eyes studying them, looking for their weaknesses, as any experienced fighter did. He knew that Emmett was a good strong fighter and Rosalie – whom he personally trained - could hold her own, but Carlisle and Esme were tame like lambs, too kind and gentle to harm someone. Edward on the other hand trusted too heavily on his gift, was rash and impulsive, and had never really wanted to learn more than basic defense or attack moves. If a vampire fought on instinct or had a gift that counteracted theirs, Jasper knew that Edward was fucked.
Jasper made a quick assessment of their adversaries. They were human drinkers. Freshly fed. They were savage and untamed. They had battle scars showing that they were capable fighters. The blonde shared a mating bond with the female. The woman and her mate were gifted. They had the arrogance of a highly gifted vampire. The nomads knew he was an experienced fighter just by his stance alone, but when they caught a glimpse of his scars, their fear went through the roof. They knew that while they could possibly take out a couple of the Cullen's, they also knew that they would not be leaving alive.
Just as the nomads were making a lunge forward, a female voice rang through the clearing.
"I don't think so. I have been hunting you for quite some time, over a hundred years. You have come very near to exposing our world," the voice said before all three nomads' heads were on the ground before they had even known what was happening.
"Thank you. Who are you?" Carlisle asked, and they could sense that this woman was a very old and powerful being.
"You can call me Isa. To put it simply, I am the creator of vampires. Well, I created all creatures. Vampires, shifters, and wolves. I have been around since time began," she said, and Jasper was stunned. When her beautiful crimson eyes locked onto his, he felt their mating bond form. He has finally met his mate after so many years. He felt the major stir in the back of his mind.
"You created vampires! Why?" Rosalie exclaimed before she knew what she was doing, and she quickly learned her place when Bella sped towards her and backhanded her across the face. It didn't hurt, but it was demeaning.
"You will watch who you are talking to, infant! I created this race to bring some order into this wretched world. The humans were killing their own kind, so I decided that there needed to be a food chain. If they want to hurt and kill people based on their skin color or race, then they can be hunted for the animals that they are," Bella said as her eyes went solid black. "Who is the coven leader?" she asked as she calmed herself as her eyes flashed towards Alice, making Edward stand in front of her protectively.
"I am. My name is Carlisle Cullen," he introduced himself. He was going to ask if she would join their coven, but that thought quickly died when her eyes met his.
"Do not get any ideas. You are not and never will be my coven leader. There is only one I will submit to, and that is my mate. I will be leaving soon, as I have friends that I live with who are waiting for me," she said. "Who exposed our race? I created these rules to keep us safe from discovery," she said as Jasper moved to stand beside her. He was leaving with her.
"No one did. Alice figured it out for herself. My eldest confirmed it," Carlisle said.
"I see. Well, seeing as I can clearly tell that they are a mated pair, I will give you a deadline. Alice Branden is to be turned after she graduates from college. If she is not, I will change her myself," Bella said, and they could hear the promise in her words and stance.
"Duly noted," Carlisle said as Jasper held this woman in his arms, making her body relax from the tense way she was holding herself.
"Do you need to collect anything you may need before we leave?" she asked her mate, looking up at him. Jasper could feel the shock in the Cullen's' emotions.
"You're leaving?" Esme asked, causing Jasper's brow to raise as the Major pushed through and came forward.
"You thought I would stay without my mate? You are insane. I follow where ever she goes. Darlin, what is your name?" he asked his little mate.
"Isabella. I come from a time that there was no need for maiden names," she said.
"Beautiful name. To answer your question, I require my motorcycle and my truck. I have everything of importance at Peter and Charlotte's," he said, watching her eyes widen.
"Those are the friends I live with. I have been living with them since shortly after you left them after the wars," she said.
"If I had accepted any of the invites, then we would have been together all this time," he murmured to himself.
"Maybe, or maybe not. I only live with them six months out of the year. I am normally away checking in on covens and nomads, making sure that they are keeping the secret," she said, watching as his eyes darkened in protective rage. He hated the thought of his mate keeping their race in line without anyone to protect her.
"You are not doing that any longer without me," he said in a strict tone of voice, making Bella lower her eyes in submission.
"Yes, Sir," she said, knowing that response would drive him crazy. He held her waist in a vice before he tossed her on his back, racing towards the Cullen's and getting his truck and bike.
They needed to be alone.