Author's Note: I'm back! Life got really crazy for a while, but I'm going to try to get back into updating regularly again. Enjoy :)
Walking down the stairs Edward tried to ignore his intrusive thoughts. Who was that? How did they know Mia? Was this the babe she had been talking to? He could feel his lips curl up into a sneer at the last thought.
Reaching the living room he tuned into the conversation around him. Jasper was laying out a plan of action for Rosalie and Emmett. Walking toward the group he read Jasper's mind and quickly caught up to the present plan. Jasper sent Emmett and Rosalie upstairs to guard Mia before turning to his brother.
"I've already called Esme, but she and Carlisle were on their way to Seattle, so they won't be back for at least an hour. Edward, I need to talk to you for a minute." Gesturing toward the back door, Jasper ran out with Edward following closely behind.
They ran in silence until they were out of hearing range of everyone in the house. Edward turned toward Jasper who was blocking his thoughts from him.
"What is it Jas?" Edward waited impatiently, wanting to get back to Mia as soon as possible.
Jasper took an unnecessary deep breath as he prepared for the potential blowback from what he had to say. But he had to say it. He straightened his back and looked his brother in the eye.
"Edward, Bella isn't your mate and Alice isn't mine." Edward just stared blankly at his brother after the words left his mouth.
The silence was becoming uncomfortable as Jasper waited for Edward to react to what he had just been told.
"How do you know?" The question was whispered but Jasper still heard it.
"Alice...She's been planning this scenario for quite some time now." Edward was overcome with Jasper's memory of discovering Alice's treachery.
Jasper had been looking for his wife for about 10 minutes before he caught her scent miles away from the house. He was curious about what she could be doing as she hadn't told anyone she was leaving, not even him.
He was about a mile away from her when her emotions slammed into him. Anger, exasperation and...lust?
Jasper stopped running abruptly as the emotions registered to him. He could now hear her on the phone.
"No, I've been doing everything you asked, but I can't keep doing this. I have to have sex with that thing! Pretend that I love him, I feel like I'm betraying you." Jasper could feel the Major pushing toward the forefront of his mind, but he couldn't release him until he had more information.
"I know we have a plan baby, but it's been decades. I'm just tired of pretending, that's all." Jasper could hear whispering from the phone but whoever it was made sure to talk very quietly. It was only moments later that Alice responded.
"Yes, I took care of Mia like you said." Jasper held in his rage as it began to brew inside him. He listened for more. "He's going to meet Bella tomorrow and everything should fall into place from there." Alice let out a sigh. "I know, I love you too."
Jasper turned and headed toward the house before Alice could realize she had been caught, his mind racing the whole time.
"THAT BITCH!" Jasper was silent as he watched Edward take his anger out on the nearby trees. Once he was done he turned toward Jasper while he straightened out his clothes.
"You done?" Jasper was smirking, but they both realized the seriousness of the situation as Edward nodded and began to question his brother.
"How have you been hiding this from all of us? From me?" Jasper could feel the hurt and anger coming from his brother and his heart twisted with guilt at the betrayal he felt coming from him.
"I couldn't tell you right away Edward. Alice had the upper-hand and you would've confronted her and put us in danger." Edward hated to admit it, but he was right. He wanted to confront her now, but he didn't even know where she was.
"So what do you have planned?" Edward watched Jasper's eyes darken and knew he was now in the presence of the Major.
"A lot, but this attempt on Mia's life has sped things up. For now, I need you to continue acting the way you have been. As far as Alice knows, you think Bella is your mate and you love her." Edward was nodding but he wasn't really listening.
If Bella wasn't really his mate that meant Mia...his beautiful Mia. She was his after all! He turned toward the house without thinking, ready to claim her as his once and for all. He was stopped by Jasper's hand on his shoulder.
"Did you forget I can feel your emotions?" Edward became sheepish as he realized just what he was about to do. "I know it will be difficult, but you have to continue to act like Mia is just your ex. We can't let Alice know we're onto her, got it?" Edward nodded at his brother and they both began the run back to the house in silence, but Edward's heart felt a lot lighter.
Getting off the phone, Mia sighed heavily. Sometimes she wished for a less complicated life, but that would just be a fantasy. Too nervous to sleep, she slipped on her house shoes and headed for her door. Opening it, she met the backs of Rose and Emmett. She sighed again.
"I don't need bodyguards, I can protect myself." Rolling her eyes, Mia made her way downstairs toward the kitchen with her new shadows following behind her.
"We know that short stuff, but it's Major's orders." Emmett laughed and shrugged before turning serious. "But whoever wanted to harm you will have to go through me first." Rose nodded alongside her husband as Mia searched through the cabinets for a snack. Finding a pack of cookies she pulled them out and bit one before turning to her companions.
"I really appreciate it, but you know I will never let you get hurt because of me." Mia watched as Emmett threw his head back in laughter before pulling her into a hug.
"Little sis, I've really missed you and your jokes. You should be worried about who I'm going to hurt. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm pretty muscular." He gave her a wink as he let her go. "Isn't that right babe?" Emmett wrapped his arm around Rosalie as she rolled her eyes and looked at Mia.
"What this doofus is trying to say is that we're going to protect you, Mia. You're not alone." Mia could feel her eyes begin to water as she took in Rose's words. She tried to push them back, but the tears fell and Rose and Emmett had their arms around her immediately.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to get emotional it's just- I missed you guys. You don't even know how much." Mia pushed thoughts about her life without the Cullens away as she wiped her tears.
"We missed you too, we won't leave again. Edward can go suck it." Rose was dead serious and Emmett nodded along causing Mia to giggle.
"I can suck what Rosalie?" All three of them turned toward the newest occupant in the kitchen as he leaned on the doorframe. Mia looked up and he was already looking at her. She didn't know why, but the look in his eyes made her stomach clench.
"A dick, if you think we're leaving Mia again." Rose crossed her arms as Emmett wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"I would never do that again. It was a mistake the first time, there won't be a second." Edward responded to Rosalie but he kept eye contact with Mia as he spoke. He wanted her, and it was killing him that he couldn't have her right now.
"Damn right there won't be." Rose glared at him briefly before the vampires in the room turned their attention to the ceiling. Letting out a sigh Rose turned toward Mia.
"Jasper needs me and Emmett, are you going to be okay with him?" Ignoring Edward's presence completely, Rose watched Mia for any signs of distress, she was pleasantly surprised when she nodded and assured the blonde that she'd be fine. Sending one last glare toward her brother, she left the kitchen, Emmett following closely behind.
Mia did her best to ignore his presence as she turned toward the fridge for milk to accompany her cookies. She rolled her eyes when she found Edward leaning against the counter with a glass held out for her.
"Thank you." She said curtly as she grabbed the glass and poured the drink into it.
"You're welcome. I can do that for you." Grabbing the gallon of milk from her, Edward made sure to press his body to hers briefly as he passed her.
Mia let out a small gasp at the contact before steeling her nerves and leaning against the counter with her back turned to him. She had cookies to eat after all.
Edward smiled as he heard the gasp before continuing his task. After replacing the milk, he turned toward Mia who was now facing away from him. He let out a low groan as he took her in. She had changed from her work clothes earlier, but he hadn't noticed at first because of the threat, but now he noticed it all. Standing there in yellow shorts and a tank top, she looked like sin.
She wasn't even trying and she was everything he desired, and desire her he did. His eyes wandered over the figure he knew so well until it settled on the plump backside his hands ached to grab.
He was an inch away from her before he realized that he had moved.
He watched as her shoulders tensed briefly before she relaxed. She was ignoring him for now, but he would put an end to that soon enough.
Author's Note: Smut next chapter? Tell me what you guys think. Happy Holidays :) See you on the next one.