Chapter Sixteen
Years later
Jasper kisses my cheek softly and pulls me close to him in our bed. I cannot help but smile when I feel his arms around me and snuggle closer. I open my eyes to look into the eyes of the man I love deeply.
"Good morning, beautiful," Jasper says with his crooked smile.
"Good morning," I giggle. Jasper kisses my lips softly and rolls us to cover me with his body, causing me to purr a little. "Feeling frisky?"
"Just a little," Jasper purrs.
"Well, it is going to have to wait a little. We have children to take care of," I say and then push him off.
"They are still asleep," Jasper groans. I grab my robe off the floor and head to the bathroom, only to stop and look at myself in the mirror. I try to tame my hair after my wild night with Jasper, but it is to no avail. My heart skips a beat at the possibility of being pregnant. "I can hear your heart racing in there. What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," I say with a wide smile. Jasper walks in the bathroom with nothing but our bed sheet wrapped around his waist with a mischievous smile on his face.
"You are a terrible liar, Mari," Jasper chuckles.
"So are you," I taunt. "Get dress before Annabelle comes in."
"So bossy today," Jasper purrs. I roll my eyes as I walk into the closet to get some clothes, thinking about all that has changed. Jasper and I have grown in our relationship after learning that I am healthy and can live a normal life, well as normal as a vampire and werewolf can get. Manny has grown up and moved in with Nessie while going to college. Christine and Christian are loving life here at home, even while having to live with their younger brother and sister. I grab my usual pair of jeans, Jasper's t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Jasper is dressed in the clothes from yesterday when I emerge from the closet and gives me his wonderful smile. We go downstairs to the kitchen to get breakfast started, but find Christine and Christian standing in the kitchen quietly talking.
"Good morning," I say with a smile.
"Mama, we need to talk to you and papa," Christian says with a look very similar to Jasper's serious look.
"What is the matter?" Jasper asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
"We are wanting to know if there is chance we could shift like Manny. We have been waiting for our moment, but nothing has happened," Christine blurts out.
"Well, that is a tricky question, my loves," I say with a sigh. "It was something that I went through when I shifted, but not Uncle Mattie. You two and the younger two are more vampire than you are wolf, of which can outweigh the wolf in you. But, there is still a small chance you could be like Manny."
"Mama, is there something we can do?" Christian asks. I give a sad smile as I walk over to embrace my babies.
"Give it time and just enjoy what you are able to do right now. You are alive, healthy, and well loved. Besides, if you are more vampire then you will be just like Nessie and live forever with me and your papa," I say softly.
"That is true," the twins sigh. I give them both kisses on their foreheads and then go to get their breakfast started like I wanted to do to begin with. I hear Ethan stomp down the stairs while groaning at Annabelle talking about something girlie.
"Mama, make it stop," Ethan groans.
"Belle, my sweets, calm down before your brother explodes," I giggle. Annabelle pouts before running to Jasper for comfort. Jasper gathers his baby girl in his arms and smiles while whispering sweet things to her.
"Are we still going to Meme and grandpa's today?" Christine asks.
"Yes, you all are going to staying with them for a little bit. Papa and I have some stuff that we need to in Italy," I say.
"How come we cannot go?" Ethan yawns. I try to hide my smile due to the thought of my trip with Jasper that has been in the works for a few months now.
"Because we have important stuff to do while we are there," Jasper says sternly. The children all mutter okay while I hand out their breakfast. Jasper walks up behind me once Annabelle releases him to eat. I turn to smile at him as he pulls me close to him. Our moment is interrupted when the house phone rings and Christine answers it.
"Mama, it is Manny and he does not sound good," Christine says. I jump to get the phone and take it into the study.
"Manny, what is the matter?" I ask quickly.
"Mama, we have a problem," Manny says gruffly. "Nessie found a dead vampire in the woods during a hunt and she said there was a wolf standing over it. The wolf was one of our new members with Uncle Jacob and Uncle Sam."
"Dear god," I gasp.
"What is worse is that the wolf was dad and he killed a guard of the Volturi," Manny says. My heart sinks and I suddenly realise that we are now at war with Volturi becuase of Embry.