Quick Note:This is chapter is in 3rd p.o.v but it focuses mainly on Jasper's thoughts. I tried to make each break represent a chapter of the story so it's not going to explain everything, just the moments Jasper felt were significant. And this chapter is my longest so far.

The day started as any other day. It was gloomy weather with a light drizzle casting over Forks, so light that it wasn't noticeable to the human eye, and the town had this turquoise tint over it. Much like every other day, Alice was the last person to be ready for school and everyone sat piled in the living room, not actually worried about their attendance. You do something long enough and it begins to lose its value- attendance had long lost its value. The pixie-esque brunette didn't keep her siblings waiting for long, however, because in a matter of second she came bounding down the stairs. What no one had been prepared for was the excited squeal she let out as she stopped just before the final step- her hands clasped in front of her while her body shook with what Jasper felt was enthusiasm. His brow cocked sensing this abrupt emotion- Alice hadn't been feeling this way earlier in the morning, in fact it had appeared abruptly before she descended the staircase.

"We have to go! Today's a big day!"

On his left, Edward perked up- having given into his own curiosity and reading Alice's thoughts. Jasper's copper-haired brother sat up animatedly from his slouched position on the couch's arm. His eyes widened a fraction of an inch, his mouth opening to say something, but Alice was quick to dash in front of him and cover his mouth with her tiny hands.

"Edward don't spoil the surprise!"

His dark blackening eyes flickered over to his blond brother and back to Alice with a question inside them. Jasper's brows furrowed noticing that whatever the two had seen clearly related to him- Alice nodded, her excitement returning tenfold. From Edward, Jasper felt a flicker of anticipation being overshadowed by mountain of vicarious happiness aimed toward him.

"Alice"

It was a warning, one that promised nothing really as Jasper didn't have the heart to raise a finger to the woman who offered him a new, better, happier life. She knew this to be true and simply offered him a beaming smile that stretched ear to ear and caused her nose to scrunch adorably. Rosalie seemed to notice something in that smile because she appeared before the brunette with sudden vigor and with her back turned to her "twin" she mouthed a single word to Alice that, from Jasper's perspective, caused the smaller girl to bounce on her toes- the sheer excitement she cradled within her little body trying to find a method of escape.

Although Rosalie simply crossed her arms and sauntered back into the awaiting hold of her mate, Jasper could feel the same vicarious happiness spreading through her as it had with Edward. Emmett shook his wife lightly, his eyes pouting for not being in the loop, but Rosalie just smiled at him. Although she refused to risk exposing the good news, she gave him a light peck- her emotions shifted to the love of a mate.

"Alice"

"Jasper, don't worry about it! I promise it's not a bad thing! I just want you to be surprised is all!"

"It's always a surprise with you, aint it"

Alice didn't respond directly to the comment, instead she forcefully turned the larger male around to face the doorway and began pushing him out the door.

"We'll make it on time if we leave now!"

Emmett groaned dramatically and Rosalie had to drag him by his collar.

Esme rushed downstairs to bid everyone goodbye before they left. She was left alone for the majority of the days and she honestly took care of the "kids" as if they were her own. Alice ran to Esme once she managed to shove Jasper into the car, with Emmett's assistance. Jasper tried to see what they were talking about but Edward was undoubtedly team Alice and took to tackling the blond against their dark-haired brother- who was eager to play rough.

Jasper had missed what was obviously shared by the look of sheer pleasure on Esme's face as Alice hopped into the passenger's side and Rosalie took to the driver's seat. Jasper waged that if Esme could cry, she would be- the overwhelming love she had for them coupled with the hope she was radiating towards Jasper was all the evidence he needed. Not that he could focus for long- Emmett wasn't done playing.

They pulled into a lot full of cars and no students. The usually buzzing atmosphere was quiet and dull as the Cullens pulled into an open spot and poured out the car. Jasper took one breath and held it- there was something in the air that was different from the rest- it smelled heavenly, yet it didn't ignite the burning in his throat. Whatever it was, Edward must've taken notice as well by the way his steps stuttered, and a hand flew over his nose.

"Bro, you ok?"

It was odd to hear the question being directed at the Cullen with the second-best control in the group. Edward's eyes flew to Alice in response who stood in a daze, eyes glossed over as she checked the future for an outlier. She was back in the next second, blinking unnecessarily before turning her golden eyes onto her brother.

"I didn't see her, but you'll be fine! You won't hurt her or anyone, I saw us going home like normal"

"Her?" Emmett stepped up with a cocked brow, his arms folded questioningly. Rosalie's positive emotions from earlier dimming slightly and pooling with confusion as her eyes flittered to Edward in surprise.

"I don't know how i missed it, but Edward's singer is here too"

"Please tell me it's not the same pers-"

"She's not, she's different"

Jasper held back a groan that Emmett had no problem letting out- Edward's singer clearly had to do with whatever Alice was hiding from him. Meaning he still had no clue what was really going on because she seemingly chose to omit certain information from coming to fruition.

Rosalie and Edward, however, visibly relaxed in understanding and were satisfied with their answers, much to Jasper's dismay.

"Will I see...her today?"

Alice gave Edward a sullen nod, Jasper could feel guilt building inside her as Edward struggled to maintain control over his bloodlust. Bloodlust that only worsened Jasper's own predicament.

Edward shot him a guttered "sorry", having heard Jasper's annoyed thoughts, but the blond shook his head.

"The blame doesn't fall on you, and it doesn't fall on you either, Alice- we'll get through this as we always do"

Jasper's words coupled with him pushing out a wave of calm to ease everyone's nerves did much in regaining the group's composure. Edward straightened his shoulders and stood tall, his face a little contorted but his control once again reigned.

"That's a Major for you" Emmett followed his words with a heavy sounding pat on Jasper's shoulder- but it was easily dismissed by the proud admiration Emmett resonated for Jasper that allowed him to smirk pridefully.

"Don't you forget it, brother"

Rosalie attempted to scoff but her laughter was audible to her siblings as she pulled Emmett to her side and began to stroll towards the building.

"Well now we're late for sure, we can talk more at lunch"

Alice bristled at the end of Rosalie's parting, but was quick to recover by linking her arm with her remaining brothers and leading them to the campus. Whatever it was that bothered her affected Edward who groaned hearing her thoughts but allowed her to usher drag them into the building.

This was the side of the Cullens that they didn't permit others the luxury of viewing.

After dropping Alice off to class and parting ways with Edward, Jasper found relief in his own bloodlust not being mixed with his brother's. Edward tried his best, but Jasper could always feel what people tried to hide. His classes went by as expected- lackluster and uncomfortable. He tended to stay in the back of the room, the seats beside him always empty, but his name still finding itself in the mouths of his peers whose eyes rarely left him. It was moments like this that Jasper thanked his military lifestyle giving him the ability to work a poker face. The attention and scents didn't bother him as they used to, but with the scent from earlier lingering in the air- Jasper was slowly becoming restless. Something in him was dying to follow the scent- but even though the burning didn't accompany it, Jasper was scared of what he'd do if he found the unfortunate soul who'd garnered his attention.

His classes had gone too slow for his liking, time went by slower when in suffering. And that's what he was doing- suffering. Alice's behavior this morning only popped into his head twice but nothing he forced his attention on remained in focus for long. The more he took in the scent the less he was able to smell the tantalizing scents of the students around him- but there wasn't enough of it for him to fully block out the ones that ignited his bloodlust.

When lunch finally pulled around, Jasper had to fight with himself against going off on his own to the source of the faint scent. He knew better than to chance it, so he settled for his usual routine of meeting with his siblings for lunch. Despite his common sense telling him not to stray from his coven, the instinctual urge was screaming for him to submit to it. As his siblings came into view, Jasper was hit with a wave a desperation emitting off of Edward. It was a needy animalistic urge to kill- and it only amplified Jasper's own urge to hunt.

Edward gritted his teeth, his face stuck in a contortion of anger as a compelling desire he was unfortunately all too familiar with reared its ugly head. Despite it all, Jasper had been getting better and he used the built resistance to revolt by emanating a sense of control and faith to his brother. Although he still brooded, Edward's features had calmed significantly at the overpowering feeling of resistance Jasper conjured for him. This all took place as Jasper strolled towards his coven at an even pace, albeit a little fast.

Edward gave his brother an appreciative grin as they all collectively made way to the cafeteria. Jasper nodded but he couldn't be bothered to say anything when his attention zeroed in on Alice's jumbled nerves- excitement, happiness, anticipation, nervousness. They were swimming around hazardously within her small frame and it showed by the way she bounced on her toes as she stepped into the building. Alice turned to him as Rosalie and Emmett pushed pass the double doors, ignoring all the eyes that fell on them as Rosalie strutted effortlessly to the table with her husband in tow.

"I'm so happy for you, Jazz!"

It was clear that Alice was referring to something that had yet to happen, as she usually did. The girl often spoke of the future like it was the past, which to her it probably was.

Jasper never got the chance to question her though, because in the moment that they'd stepped through the door- the scent, that damn scent that'd been taunting him in faint wisps, unexpectedly hit him full force. Jasper had taken a staged breath of air, for appearances sake, and he'd been overthrown. The blond vampire stuttered in his steps at the sweet, yet somehow spicy smell of vanilla and rosemary blended seamlessly. It flooded his senses and in that moment; he'd never felt so...full.

His eyes snapped over to the source in a fraction of a second and he was bewitched by the ethereally beautiful brown-skinned woman who sat with her head down and her big brown eyes the color of molasses with honey specs not on them. Jasper found himself displeased that her eyes rimmed with thick curled lashed were settled on the unappetizing tray of food in front of her instead of him.

"yeah, cause they're all together. Like, Together-Together, the blonde girl, Rosalie, is dating the big-dark haired boy, Emmett, they're like a thing- I'm not even sure that's legal"

Another displeasing thing he noticed was the voice of another brunette that Jasper was more familiar with, even if he couldn't remember her name. She had been a resident of Forks her entire life and had not been pleased when Edward rejected her advances their first year at Forks. It was clear she was harbored ill feelings for the Cullen family as she introduced them to- it was in that moment that Jasper realized the other newest member of Forks High. A tall, pale, attractive girl with long brown and a doe-like eyes. She did nothing to deter him from the stunning sight beside her, however, and his attention easily found itself stolen as a melodic voice danced through the air.

"barely, they're not related. They're just minding their business" her voice was as enchanting as her beauty to him.

Dark shimmering eyes cut up to gaze daringly into those of the Cullens personal narrator- the girl, her name returned in a flash Jessica, sputtered for a response for a moment before a bespectacled brunette spoke in defense of the Cullens as well. Jessica seemed to snap out of her shock enough to weakly respond to their defenses.

"It's still weird"

"She's beautiful Jazz! We're gonna be such good friends!"

It was Alice who managed to break his trance before anyone could notice is blatant gazing of the enticing woman before him. Like everything with the Cullens, this went unnoticed by many because it occurred within a such a short amount of time

Jasper took a minute to respond, he was too busy collecting his bearings while berating himself as they passed her table. Jasper held his breath, unable to trust his himself not to make a scene. Something very similar to the bloodlust, but undeniably more dangerous had ignited inside him with every breath of her he took.

"Alice, what is it that I just experienced?"

Alice giggled excitedly and twirled in front of him as the passed by the table after what felt to be an eternity.

"That's her, Jazz! Your true mate!"

Although she tried to contain her excitement to keep her voice low- Alice's words sounded loud coupled with the staggering amount of exuberance she was harboring. Jasper felt overwhelmed by emotions as his family conjoined at their table. His siblings heard everything, and even Rosalie couldn't find it in her to ruin the moment with her very real concerns pertaining to a human mate.

"My man, I can't wait to meet her"

"You'll love her Em! She likes to play rough!"

Emmett grinned hearing about another potential contender in his games, completely disregarding the fact that she was human. Alice saw it, so it must work out somehow.

Jasper, however, didn't miss the correlation and went to reprimand his brother's future actions- but he stopped short feeling the surface of his skin buzzing in delight. Without needing to check, he knew she was looking at him. He picked up the way her heart stuttered when his eyes eagerly slid to lock into her gaze- a humming in the air sounded but Jasper denounced it as his mind playing tricks. Because in the same moment everything in him opened up to her like a floodgate. Jasper was surprised by how strong the pull was- to look into her eyes had given him such a strong sense of fulfillment that he was taken aback. He watched her brows furrow in confusion as her eyes trailed his features analytically, his own gaze dropped when her full pink lips huffed out in a pout that him yearning. For what exactly? Jasper was too afraid to find out.

She was the first to pull away and Jasper frowned feeling her self-admonishment. Although he agreed, it was felt terrifyingly good to just be acknowledge by her.

His head snapped to his mind-reading brother who found the time to chuckle in his own time of dismay.

"You better think before you speak, brother"

It was a very real warning coming from the Major himself- but Edward didn't seem to care as he voiced his thoughts to the table.

"He's absolutely enamored by the mere thought of her"

Alice winced as the words left Edward's mouth and she lightly patted said brother on the back in a grimace.

"You're gonna pay for that one, Teddy"

Jasper bit the toothpick in his mouth as his lips curled in a smirk that held unwanted promise.

"Damn right"

Edward was eager, however, to slip into the distraction his family provided him. He could no longer even manage the sight of the brunette with long straight hair and big doe eyes, too fearful of the little restraint he had left to deny the burning in his throat.

Jasper's history class started as it usually did. The teacher began to take attendance as his students settled down throughout the classroom. The class wasn't too large so there were a couple of open seats available, but most of them were around or near Jasper. Not that he minded, the less people around him the easier it was to tame the burning in his throat every time he took in a staged breath of air. Jasper could hear footsteps approaching the door outside but didn't pay them much mind. He exhaled before slowly sucking in another wind of air- he took in a larger gulp of air then he planned to as a familiar scent flooded through the open doorway. With his head down, his eyes snapped up in a predatory gaze as his mate- his mate - entered the small room and blushed with an apologetic grin aim at the teacher. Mr. Morrison's irritation vanished upon being captured by those sweet brown eyes and he waved her off in a random direction, which she smiled at before quickly shuffling over to the rows of tables- hurriedly examining which seat to choose. She didn't seem to realize who she sat by as she settled her things beside him- Jasper found himself questioning if the bond had unknowingly pulled her to him or if he'd accidentally made his seat seem the most appealing to her. She still hadn't taken notice as she placed her bag down and was startled by the teacher's projection of a name.

"Anita Rodriguez!"

Her head snapped to attention with surprisingly sharp reflex and her eyes seemed to brighten as her heart raced in her chest. Jasper clenched his jaw, unearthly annoyed that she'd been startled or was he annoyed that he'd already felt a little protective over her? His human mate, Anita Rodriguez. The name chimed in his head like a symphony.

"Sir?"

There it was again- her voice serenading him as she spoke. It was a soft voice, but it had a feminine gruff to it. Jasper also noticed the northern metropolitan accent that contrasted with his own. His lips quirked noticing how fate worked, to set him with a northerner when he himself used to be a confederate soldier. Jasper grimaced at his own thoughts he'd long come to terms with what that part of his life meant to others. He also knew that his mate would mostly disapprove of this if she were to ever find out. He'd cross that bridge when it came.

Anita, his mate, had been shy to talk to him but once she felt comfortable Jasper was pleased to see her move confidently and speak her honest thoughts- even when she didn't mean to. Jasper was surprised on more than one occasion by her bold demeanor, but her blush added a layer of innocence to her that gave lay to some not so innocent thoughts. Jasper was quick to tame that part of the bond as they went through the worksheet they'd been assigned, and he was happily taken aback by his mate's apparent knowledge of history- which she brushed off to small reading. Although they breezed through the questions, it took longer than it should've to finish because Jasper had become aware that he took pleasure in teasing her. Especially when it came to calling her Darlin' with a little extra drawl. He was enjoying the way her heart drummed in her chest too much to realize for the first time in many many years- his hunger was on the back burner of his mind.

Jasper had returned to school the next day to a big shock- his mate was avoiding him. It wasn't just him, however, the only person she seemed to speak to was, who he found out to be Bella Swan, Edward's singer.

"Jazz, you're gonna scare her if you keep staring like that" it was Alice who chastised him for his unabashed staring. His mate had lingering feelings of fear in her system and was substantially more guarded than she had been the day before. Jasper's attention divulged for no longer than a second to give Alice an unbothered look before roaming back to his mate.

"Jazz, she's right, you know"

"He wouldn't be so hung up if she wasn't playing hard-to-get, she's avoiding him"

Jasper winced at Rosalie's words, feeling a slight sting at hearing it aloud. Rose gave him an apologetic gaze for her insensitivity, but her feelings hadn't changed.

"She's not playing hard to get, something's off, I don't see her as well as I did yesterday, something's changed"

The table fell silent, the four of them simultaneously swearing at Edward for making an abrupt trip to Alaska when a simple mind-sweep would be all they needed to answer their questions.

Anita's phone went off and her heart raced after looking at the screen, a sense of embarrassment flooding her system before she delivered a swift kick to Edward's singer beneath the table. The kick must've been light because the pale brunette wasn't fazed and gave a devious smirk to Anita.

"Finally noticed Jasper Cullen staring at you, huh?"

Anita's back straightened as the words left Jessica's mouth and it opened up for a rain of teasing to befall the frazzled Hispanic girl. Jasper noted he didn't like it so much when others were doing the teasing. But it was enough to prompt the girl to shift her head enough for their eyes to meet, Jasper couldn't stop the smirk he felt as her faced tinted rose, her wavy tresses falling to cover her face like a curtain. Her head snapped back to her table and he could feel the excitement and delight she felt- but it was overpowered by confusion and fear. Jasper sighed in momentary defeat, he needed to be patient- she's only human at the end of the day.

The day did not end as planned. In an attempt to calm her nerves Jasper only scared her off. She had somehow been able to feel him pushing a wave of calm onto her, and he knew that she correlated it to him by the look of fearful understanding she directed at him as she blocked him out. For the first time since his days in the army, Jasper found himself fearing for his life. She knew he had a gift and it seemed she also had one, but her beating heart and rosy cheeks told him that she was indeed mortal and very much alive. Anita ran out the door, slamming it in his face to deter him- but when he pushed it open, she was gone. It wasn't that he couldn't see her in the sea of students- it was that she had disappeared and was nowhere in sight.

Jasper bristled- did she know about him? What he was? What his family was? Would she try to expose them?

Alice appeared beside him, her face as upset as it could get before scolding him for scaring Anita off. Jasper tried to explain the situation but there was so much he couldn't explain since her didn't yet have any answers.

By the time his family regrouped Anita was gone, her scent faint in the air.

For a week the two had been playing a dangerous game. Dancing around each other without ever making contact. It wasn't the way Jasper liked to handle things, but every time he was ready to end it- Anita sensed him and her internal conflict showed itself to him. He didn't want to pressure her, but he needed her to know he hadn't given up on getting answers. Carlisle offered she could just be a gifted human, but Jasper knew it went beyond that. She was more than human, and he had a burning desire to find out what because regardless- she's his mate. They're not meant to be apart after finding each other, it's not how the bond works.

Edward had returned to school after his reboot trip. His eyes were a fluorescent golden and he shinned in health. Edward had been willing to take a peek into Anita's mind for him and he confirmed that there was something different about the way she regarded their family. She knew something, but her mind tiptoed around the idea- she was trying her best to deny something about the family.

"So she knows" Rosalie spat, arms shaking as she glared at said girl with much malice.

"She won't tell" Alice said this firmly in response. She always got attached too quickly, it wasn't her fault when she could literally see her future with someone.

"But that could change, your visions aren't always correct"

Alice huffed indignantly, taking personal offense at Rosalie's claim.

"Anita won't tell anyone, she knows it's not her secret to tell"

"Humans are fickle, Alice, what she believes today could change tomorrow-"

"But it won't" Alice could be the most stubborn out of the entire family, even for someone who could see the future.

Emmett attempted to calm his wife, but the bell rang, and they were all forced to separate knowing their livelihood depended on a seventeen-year-old girl's ability to keep a secret.

To say he was surprised by Anita's shift in character would be a lie. Anita had been vehement in her attempts to blockade him from getting to her. However, after their brief meeting in the parking lot, that swelled Jasper with pride to hear his mate was a strong independent woman, Anita had chanced a look in his direction. It happened to be when he was preoccupied with giving into temptation- his mate was stunning and the way those leather pants hugged her legs only accentuated her curvy figure. He hadn't realized what he was doing until his eyes had trailed from her toned legs to her thick thighs taking time to rest on her full hips. He shamefully lamented over the jacket she wore that hide the rest of her figure before his eyes fell on her plump permanent pout lips that were pulled at a corner of her face. She was smirking, Jasper blinked in surprise as his eyes met her glimmering brown orbs. He had been caught. If he could've, he would've blushed at the wink she threw his way- but the fluttering nerves she emitted revealed her bashfulness of the situation.

Lunch passed and Jasper was eager to see what awaited him in history. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he was nervous to see his mate. Had earlier been a fluke on her part? Was she ready to let him in? Or was she still planning on shutting him out.

To his delight, Anita had come around to whatever she had been so conflicted over. He could still feel the internal battle inside her, preventing her from making the first move. Jasper was more than ready to get into the swing of things, however, and took that first step for them. Although the start was rocky, but it a matter of minutes they spoke to each other like there was no pause. Not that Jasper planned to let that go, it was something they needed to address, but the look in Anita's eyes said it wasn't something she planned to gloss over either. They'd cross that bridge when it came too.

Everything would've gone smoothly, had the teacher not made the class attempt to work together as a whole Since people saw how friendly he was with Anita, they believed he would offer them the same cordial attitude, many people came to their table under the ruse of needing assistance. Even with Anita beside him, he was beginning to feel the burn in his throat as the two were constantly being intervened. He stopped talking, he stopped breathing; he couldn't chance it- not with her so close to him. Anita picked up his slack and had even begun to get annoyed for the both of them. It was clear people were flocking to the duo specifically and Anita lied saying it was distracting them from their work. Anita ended up having to do the rest of the work, she didn't ask him what was wrong, but she did check up on him. He could only offer a wordless nod and the concern look she sent his way was coupled with understanding. Jasper felt she truly did understand what was happening. Their work was collected, and the bell rang. Jasper waited for the class to clear out, he didn't trust himself to move, his hands were gripping his knees so tightly in the back of his mind he thought they'd shatter.

Anita packed her belongings slowly as students packed their bags leisurely. He froze as warmth enveloped his right hand and he glance down to see it was Anita's ringed hand tenderly reassuring him. What followed next left Jasper in a state of awe. The scents around him began to alleviate until the vanished entirely, next went the sound of blood pumping throughout the body and hearts pounding like a devilish drum- tempting him to act. It was absolutely silent in a room full of students and Jasper knew it had to do with the glazed overlook in Anita's eyes. Despite it all, Jasper could still smell Anita's tailored scent, he heard her heart drumming in her chest along with the humming souring from her ring. But she was always an exception to him- he could never hurt her.

When the class cleared, Anita jumped out of her seat, bag already prepped on her shoulder and in a familiar scene, she ran out the room. Had it not been for the hope she left him with, he would've surely chased after her- only this time he would've caught her.

"See you tomorrow, Jasper"

His name falling from her lips caused his chest to rumble appreciatively.

She doesn't know what she's gotten herself into.

He wasn't surprised that Anita was nowhere to be found in the halls after he exited after her. Whatever it was, she did it often. As long as it wasn't to get away from him, Jasper didn't mind it.

Alice ran up to him with a beaming grin before squeezing him out of excitement.

"I told you she wouldn't tell!"

"You can thank me for that, we had a little girls-talk in physics today"

Jasper gave his "twin" an exasperated look that he knew conveyed his doubt in Rosalie's interference. He wouldn't believe that it was truly the push Anita needed to overcome her concerns and throw caution to the wind.

"Whatever you say, darling sister"

"I'm serious!"

His family conjoined at Edwards car like they always did, Emmett and Edward poking fun at the blond while Rosalie added her usual snarky remarks every now-and-then and Alice gushed at the prospective member of the family. Apparently, Bella's future was harder to read than Anita's. Something that caused Edward's teasing to lessen as he contemplated what it meant. Jasper had just opened the backseat door when everything went to shit.

Jasper felt it before anything- a sudden overwhelming sense of dread flooding his system and immobilizing him in his spot. Emmett nearly ramming into his shoulder due to the abrupt pause in steps. Alice gasped, her hands flying out to grasp Jasper's lower arms in a deathly grip as her eyes glazed over for a second. She blinked out of her haze and her head snapped in the direction of Fork High's two newest additions: Bella Swan and Anita Rodriguez.

This utterly horrifying sense of dread was resonating out of Anita in waves- her body was rigid and her eyes glazed much like Alice's when she gets a vision. Jasper was caught in a loop- his nerves screamed for him to go to her, but his conscience reeled him in, restraining himself from moving. Jasper watched as Anita seemingly broke free from her gaze and her eyes snapped pass Bella into an obscure direction- her hand extending out to Bella, who stood an arm's length away.

In this same time frame the Cullen family winced- ears ringing due to the screeching sound of rubber being forcefully slid across an asphalt road, metal squeaking in protest at the strain being applied to the large vehicle that was heading straight for the two very human very breakable civilian girls.

"Jasper no, she's going to be fine!"

Alice had been prepared as usual, her tiny arms holding great strength- yet still struggled to restrain the blond who had jolted forward to the Puerto Rican brunette with rose-tinted cheeks, bronzed skin, and teary eyes that she used to stare death in the face.

Emmett's large bear sized hands clamped down on Jasper's forearms, squeezing his brother while simultaneous pulling him back.

"Don't do it brother"

Rosalie followed shortly, gripping his left arm while Alice focused on restraining his right. Out of all of them, Jasper was the most equip for battle, they needed to be cautious when constraining him. One wrong move and he'd be free in a second. The three worked on getting him into the car, door already open to accept him but Jasper managed to grip the top of the door and the metal was giving beneath his fingertips. Had it not been for Alice holding him back, he would've taken the door off it's hinge by now.

Jasper let out a growl- one that surprised himself to hear. It was feral, full of unbridled rage and a deadly promise to those who obstructed his goal, he was beginning to lose grip of his self-control the more he ran out of time to save her. The van was moving tantalizingly slow in his eyes, but he knew it would only take a couple of seconds before it reached her. A girl he'd known for less than a month, just over a week. A girl that was just beginning to open up to him. A girl he knew to be his mate. Jasper watched as her big shimmering molasses brown eyes fell into his line of gaze, she spoke to him without ever saying a word. His mate was calling out to him and he was being forced to watch her die, by the hands of his own family. He felt that unhinged part of him begging to be released to remind his family why he was called Major.

"Do you want her to find out? Like this?"

It was a surprisingly insightful question coming from the least insightful member of the Cullen household. It was enough to put a temporary pause on Jasper and Emmett took this chance to pounce on his brother- shoving Jasper deep into the car.

What Jasper, nor anyone else apparently, didn't count on was for Edward Cullen to also feel this itchy desperate need to act. So, while everyone was distracted by Jasper's abnormal display of concern and underlying threats- Edward dashed pass them. He was completely indifferent to the idea of being caught, because in this moment all he could think about was reaching Bella in time. Although he couldn't read her mind, he didn't need to. The reality of the situation dawned upon her rather quickly and mortification sprawled across her face in an instant. Her eyes wide and tears quickly brimming her waterline- she was going to die- he wouldn't let her.

Jasper's moment of relief was quickly washed away when he could feel Edward's sole concern not on Anita- he had managed to rip his arms from Alice and Rosalie's supernaturally strong grasps- but he was too late. Edward had clipped the end of the van, successfully saving Bella from being hit- but sending the front of the van sliding to where Anita stood. Even from inside the car, with Emmett doing his best to prevent Jasper from view of the accident- the blond could clearly see Anita's fate.

Bella screamed out for her closest friend in a hopeless anguish as the two vehicles shook from the aftermath of the collision and Emmett had to slam Jasper into the car's seat to prevent him from tearing the car inside out and exposing the family. Edward had been lucky not to have been caught, the same wouldn't apply to Jasper, who gripped his brother's arm so tightly that a small muffled cracking could be heard beneath the fabric of Emmett's shirt. Jasper's mind was a frenzy- he'd seen it, no human could've avoided it- she was- no- yes? Was his mate- had she- how? Edward! Alice?

Alice entered from the other side of the car, doing her best to separate the two who had begun to wrestle for dominance. Emmett becoming increasingly worried of his own fate as Jasper's strength began to overrule his own.

"Anita's alive, Jasper! She's not hurt, she's ok!" Her words fell on deaf ears. Jasper was on the brink of losing it.

Jasper pushed Emmett off him in a rush, a sharp clink breaking through the air, Emmett now cradled his shoulder. Finally managing to exit the family car, Jasper was ready to attack and give his family hell for allowing his mate to die such a meaningless death when he could've-

"Tyler! Ty-Wake up my mans!"

It was her voice, his mate- Jasper's attention snapped immediately in response to the hypnotically melodic voice of his beautifully inclined mate. She stood at the driver's side of the van that just moments ago threatened her very existence and worried over the driver that Jasper was more than ready to tear apart at the very sight. Jasper couldn't stop his chest from rumbling in relief when he saw that Alice had been absolutely correct- his mate was perfectly healthy. He wanted to snatch her away from Tyler's van, distance her from the thing that nearly took her from him. However, noticing her good condition had allowed him to calm considerably and he had enough sense not to approach her.

Not a single mark rested on her flawless skin, although she smelled daringly enticing- there was not a speck of blood on her. In fact, had he not seen it for himself- he would've never suspected her to have been involved in a life-threatening collision accident.

"No way, that van should've smushed her"

Alice was quick to deliver a sharp smack to the back of Emmett's head, scolding him for not being careful with his words as Jasper's dark eyes fell on his dark-haired brother in a dangerous gaze. Emmett muttered a quick apology while rubbing his sore shoulder that he managed to relocate in time, knowing inherently that this was not one of his and Jasper's brotherly bouts. Rosalie was wise to keep quiet, but Jasper could feel the anger radiating off her, had he not had a good suspicion that it was directed toward his brother, Edward- he was sure he would've snapped by then.

Jasper's dark golden eyes trailed back to his fragile mate and roamed freely- more so checking her conditions than checking her out.

Edward was by their side in an instant, Jasper bit back a growl- his anger pertaining to Edward's disregard for Anita's safety had lingered. Edward understood this and quickly offered a sincere apology.

"Jasper I'm sorry, in that moment all I could think about was Bella"

Rosalie intervened.

"Not here- you've already risked our exposure once. We'll talk about this at home"

The others silently agreed, eyeing the two males in poorly hidden contempt. Today could've ended very very badly. Jasper and Edward had the decency to be ashamed and followed their siblings into the car. Jasper's shaded golden once again casting a glance in his mate's direction- she was cradling Bella into her arms when he caught a snippet of their conversation as Rosalie pulled out of the parking lot.

"I saw- the van! You were in the middle! I thought-"

"I know, hey I know, I'll explain later- I promise but for right now we need to get you checked out- ok?"

"You don't even have a scratch on you or-"

"Bella, not right now, I promise I'll explain later"

His eyes traveled to Edward, who had been there to see Anita dodge the van in time- but he was taken back by the hard look Edward directed towards Anita as they drove off.

"What is it?" The question came out gruff and hostile- Jasper was trying not to take offense at the look Edward had given Anita.

"I didn't see her dodge the van" Edward's words came out heavy and just as hostile as Jasper's. Emmett chimed in, trying to ease the tension.

"Heard Anita is really good at softball, she probably out ran it-"

"No, Edward's right, Anita didn't run from it- I saw it"

Rosalie's grip audibly tightened on the steering wheel.

"You saw it? As i you knew-"

"I saw it just before it happened! It was too spontaneous of a wrong turn for me to have seen it any sooner"

Rosalie sighed irritably but let it go, knowing there was nothing to be done about it.

"What do you mean, she didn't run from it? She couldn't have just vanished-"

"However, that is exactly what she did"

Edward cut Emmett off, the brunet opened his mouth to rebuttal but his words died in his throat as Edward's word rang loudly in the air. It implied too much for them to ignore it. Edward had seen it, Alice had seen it- so it must've happened as they said it did.

"She just vanished?"

Jasper spoke up, not wanting the conversation to die there- this was his mate they were talking about, after all. He had a right to know what exactly took place due to his family holding him back from intervening.

"When I saved Bella, I accidentally sent the van Anita's way, just as the van was about to hit her, she snaps her fingers and disappears- like magic"

Despite the seriousness in Edward's tone, Emmett laughed at the incredulity of the scenario. It was too much for even a vampire to comprehend.

"She's human! There's no way-"

"I saw it, Emmett! Before everything happened I had a vision that Anita would take herself out of the van's path- well initially she was going to stop the van- but then Edward got involved-"

"She was going to stop the van? How the hell would she have done that?"

This time Alice was silent, and they knew that meant she didn't have an exact answer. She defeatedly shrugged her shoulders but was quick to recover with fiery vigor.

"Listen! I don't know how exactly! But if Edward hadn't jumped in, Anita would've stopped the van! I heard it- in my vision Bella saw it happen!"

Everyone turned to Edward for validation, much to Alice's dismay. However, he did validate her story.

"The how is blurry, but she's right- in her vision Bella claims Anita stopped the van and Anita doesn't deny it"

They made it to their house in no time and Edward quickly departed- heading toward the hospital to "get some answers"- but the siblings new it was to check up on Bella. Esme walked into the living room and was quick to notice her "children's" disheveled appearances- specifically Jasper and Emmett's.

"Boys, we talked about this- wait until you get home to roughhouse" her words were scolding but it was her soft angelic tone that made them feel shame. Especially when Rosalie was quick to blame Jasper's inability to control himself. Esme listened as Alice took up explaining everything that happened as well as her and Edward's revelations about Jasper's mate. Esme listened patiently, not once interrupting the story, already knowing about Jasper's other half residing in the same school as them.

"It's not your fault, Jasper, a mate bond is very strong, no matter how new. She was in danger and you reacted as any mate would. However, is this the first instance you noticed Anita was a little different"

Jasper was a man that didn't beat around the bush, he was quick to give a response.

"No ma'am, Anita's always raised my suspicion since the beginning, she was able to purposely block me from feeling her emotions and has always been able to…evade confrontation"

"Evade how?"

"I'm not sure, one moment she's there, the second she walks out the door she's gone"

Esme was silent as she pondered these occurrences, but something was clearly on her mind.

"Esme, do you know something?" It was Alice who questioned the mother of the coven, successfully pulling Esme out of her thoughts.

"Yes, I have an inkling, but it would be better to discuss once Carlisle arrives. He would be able to confirm my notion"

Alice and Emmett huffed childishly at their mother's words. Rosalie glared silently at the ground- unwilling to admit that her curiosity had been piqued. Jasper studies Esme's face, he could feel the uncertainty radiating off of her and decided, for now, he would say nothing. It wouldn't benefit him any more than waiting for Carlisle to return home.

So, they waited.