I don't own anything Twilight; that belongs to the great Steph Meyer. I do, however, own a lot of pictures of Joe Manganiello for he is my inspiration for Peter in this story, lovely beard and all. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Crimson Knight

Chapter 4

"Those were some very impressive moves you demonstrated back there nomad. What is your name? Is this territory claimed by you?" Well now is a good as time as any to clear the air. I didn't want to tell them who I was, but I saw no other way around it.

"My name is Peter Whitlock. I do not live in the area; I'm visiting my brother and his family." My words left puzzled looks upon the faces of the nomads. James was the leader of this mini coven he was the only one to speak to me at this point.

"Are you one of THE Whitlock brothers?" Oh fuck! Now see, this is why I didn't want to mention who I was. Not everyone knows of us. But then again, so many do know.

"Yes that would be me and my brother Jasper." His eyes lit up with excitement. This worried me on a weird level. Why the fuck was he so excited? I decided that this point would be a good time to remove my jacket and replace that excitement with a lot of fear.

I unzipped my jacket and slid it off my shoulders, and all at once, the three nomads started to growl and take a step back. My scars always brought this reaction out in other vampires. I don't have near the scars that Jasper does. I'd earned what I have now before I knew about my shield. Seeing the fear replace the excitement made me feel just a bit relaxed, but I was still very much on guard.

"Now, would you be Major or Captain Whitlock?" What the fuck did it matter which I was to this guy. This James fool doesn't know how to stop pushing buttons.

"I am Captain Peter Whitlock; if you have no further business in town then I suggest you move on thru. The territory west of here has been claimed by my brother's family."

"We do apologize we had no Idea that the territory had been claimed." Something about this dude just pissed me off. He needed to move his little coven on thru. They are further west now than they were when Japer and I ran across their scent in Seattle.

"Yes, well, the territory is claimed, so if you'd kindly head out of the area, that would be much appreciated." I was trying to be as polite as I could to these nomads.

"Do you yourself reside within a coven Captain Whitlock?"

"I am a nomad like you for the most part." I just wanted to get their asses on the move and get back to Forks. Can't this guy just shut the hell up?

"I am looking to grow my own coven here Captain, we would love it if you would join us and take your nomad lifestyle on the road with us. We'd very much like your company." Oh Hell no! I don't need a fuckin' coven. I had had enough of that shit with Maria's controlling bitch ass.

"I'm not interested in joining a fuckin' coven. I'm sure you can understand." I couldn't help but be a little irritated with him. He didn't look happy with my response, but like I give a fifth of a fuck.

"Alright Captain, I can understand you don't want to join us now. But if you change your mind please let me know, the invitation will always stand for you and your brother if he wishes to leave his 'family' as you call it." He just didn't know when to stop.

"I'll pass the message along, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. Jasper is just fine with the family he has now." He gave me a nod as did the others upon my final words.

"It was nice seeing you in action Captain Whitlock. I've heard so much about you and your brother while we were traveling thru the south side of the country. It truly is an honor meeting you."

"Ass kissing will get you no further James. I suggest you heed my warning and move on as soon as possible."

By the expression James held on his face, he didn't want to heed my warning, so I decided to take action. As I stepped forward from my position the sun reflected off my scars and skin sending rainbow prisms all around. The sun refracts the venom scars differently, and they become much more intensified to vampire vision. To a human, it would only look slightly different.

I took no more than one step forward, and the dark haired vampire named Laurent took off in a sparkling flash in the opposite direction. Victoria raised her hand to James' right shoulder pleading him to follow suit. James hesitated for a few moments before he put his arm around Victoria, and they left following in Laurent's direction.

"The offer will always stand Captain Whitlock, for eternity." James stated over his shoulder as they bolted away.

Why this vampire wanted me to join his coven, I may never know. He didn't know me; he only knew my reputation, a reputation that would always be there. Jasper and I would never be able to live that shit down, not that I particularly wanted to either. Its part of who I am.

It's pretty much labeled 'fucked up' when some vampire asks you to be a part of their coven without even meeting you beforehand. I could've fucked all their shit up just for asking; he put himself and his coven at risk by doing so.

The thought that something is off with this guy came to me, and I shot Jasper a quick text asking him to meet me at the boulder we talked on a while ago. As I approached the clearing, I sensed that Jasper was ready and waiting for my arrival.

"What's the concern Peter?" He seemed worried about me. I just smiled at him.

"I went to Port Angeles to hunt. When I finished my meal, I'd started to head back when a vampire called me out. I was caught by surprise by the ones we came across in Seattle, Jasper! Me, the stealthy bastard that I am was blindsided by not only one unknown but three unknown vampires." His mouth hung open in shock.

"What are you telling me?"

"What the fuck do you think I'm telling you Jasper? I'm telling you that the three unknowns are making their way west. I spoke to the coven leader; his name is James. I warned them that this territory is claimed and they should move on thru." He was stone still like I'd never said anything to him at all.

"Jasper! Wake the fuck up!" He shook his head in attempt to clear his haze or whatever the fuck was going on with him.

"Look man, I had to revert to showing my scars to get him to understand that I meant business. He even knew who we are Jas. Not that many don't, but he was close enough to me to watch me kill my meal." He finally blinked in recognition of what I was telling him.

"Peter, did he say what he wanted?"

"Yeah he said he wanted me."

"What? Like wanted you wanted you?" He had that damn little devil smirk going on, and I wanted to punch it off his face.

"No, you fucking asshole! I don't roll like that, and your emotional ass knows it. Once he found out who I was, he wanted me to join his little coven; he also wanted me to extend the invitation to you as well."

"I don't want to leave my family, Peter, if that's what you're asking me, to join this coven with you-"I had to stop him right there cause I wasn't listening to it anymore. That's complete bullshit.

"Look, bro, I'd never ask you to join another coven, and you damn well know it. Not after the shit we went thru with that bitch Maria. I'm just giving you the information, so we can process it together and figure this shit out. Damn! I'm not jumping on any coven band wagons again." I kicked the large rock I was standing next to and launched it into the air.

"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions Pete; I was just worried that you wanted to join with him. I know we'd said many times that we'd never do that again, but I just couldn't process. You kind of caught me off guard with that one." He smiled with relief, and I heard the rock finally make contact with a tree off in the distance.

I know how he feels about it, though. I'd be pretty pissed off if he wanted me to go all gung ho wild again. I'll never cross that line, but now I'm not saying I wouldn't do what I had to do to protect what's mine. That is a completely different story all in itself.

"Do you think they're going to come back this way?"

"I'm not sure. They took off once he realized how serious I was about them moving on; one fucker took off as soon as I started to step towards them."

"Yeah, I could only imagine why." He said between laughs.

"Hey, let's get back to the house. I really need to wash up and change my clothes. Some humans just can't hold themselves."

"Alright, I was about to hit the shower as well before you texted me. What do you think we should do, Captain? I'm thinking we don't need to say anything to the family unless it comes down to it." I nodded in agreement.

"That sounds good to me, Major. You know as well as I do that it's better if they don't panic unless there's a reason to, and right now, we have no reason to have your family worry." Jasper and I have always confided in each other about many things. We never let any official planning go beyond us. If we were outnumbered, we'd never let the others know till it was time, because people in panic never make the wisest of choices.

We made it back to the Cullen place, and I could hear everyone inside. The human girl, Bella, was still there; I could hear her upstairs with Alice. Apparently, it was time to have her hair put in curls and makeup done as well.

I headed up to my room and took a shower. I slid on some clean jeans and a tank top because I like to wear comfortable clothes regardless of who's around. I never have cared for what anyone else thought. Jasper always tried to hide as many of his scars as he could since it turned out that his wife wasn't that fond of them.

For years, I've tried to get him to loosen up about them, but he was always so worried because Alice didn't want anyone to see them. It made me angry with her; she is his mate she's supposed to accept him for everything that he is. It's his past; it's not like he can change them or make them go away because she don't want 'em there.

As I made my way downstairs, I heard a lot of commotion. Emmett was excited about something again.

"I can't believe you beat me again, Jelly Bells." His booming voice rang out. Everyone except for Carlisle was gathered in the large living room while Emmett and Bella were competing at some sort of video dance contest.

"Well, Emmett, I've got moves you've never seen. Besides, I don't have perfect recall of the moves like you do!" Bella whooped as she spun around with the Wii remote in her hand. She sure was a site to behold. Her beautiful smile lit up the room as well as her laughter. I couldn't help but laugh at this too.

Everyone turned toward me as I entered the room. Edward let out a low growl upon noticing my lack of proper attire as he likes to put it.

"Oh cut the shit, Eddie. I'm joining the festivities." I put on my best gentlemanly smile. Bella had her brown eyes trained on my now bright crimson ones once again; I winked, and her blush lit her skin up like a little red light bulb.

"Alright one more round; winner takes all!" Emmett just could never let it be if someone defeated him on those damn video games.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, Emmett; you'll have to exact your revenge later because it's our turn." Alice chirped from the sidelines pulling Jasper up with her. "Jasper and I are going to have a go at it this time." I raised my eyebrow to Jasper who just smirked at me.

"Bro, just sit back and watch me master the moves." He laughed as he took the Wii remotes from Bella and Emmett.

"Alright we'll see. You stole most of my moves back in the 80's anyways." I loved to taunt him about dancing "What are you grooving to anyways?"

"It's called The Michael Jackson Experience. Alice likes to dance to 'Don't stop till you get enough,' and you and I will do 'Beat It' when this one's done." He was excited to bust a move evidently.

"Beat It? I'd prefer 'Bad,' but whatever you want is fine. If you want to lose that's ok with me, but like Bella said, I've got moves you've never seen before." He reached to give me a high five.

"Alright man."

Emmett sulked in the chair beside Rosalie because he had to hand over the reins to someone else for awhile. The music started to play, and Jasper and Alice took their spots in front of the wide screen TV bolted to the wall.

Bella took a seat on the large sofa beside Edward and Esme. I relaxed against the back wall propping one bare foot behind me, arms across my chest watching my brother and his wife's family in good spirits while the Major busted a move to Michael Jackson.

"Jelly Bells, we're doing 'Billy Jean' or 'Thriller' when this is done." Emmett stated still sulking in the chair like a little boy.

"That's fine with me, Em. We'll go again after Jasper and Peter have their turn." She said while looking at me once again. Edward glared at me then looked down at her smiling face.

"I should probably take you home soon, love; Charlie might be worried if you're gone too long." Oh this little fucker was really pushing it today.

"We're all having a great time, Edward, besides Charlie will be out late tonight. He's out on the Rez with Billy fishing." She seemed very upset that he wanted to push her outta here. I know it's because of me; he's not fooling anyone.

"Oh nonsense, Edward, it's still early. You know your father will want to see Bella when he gets in from his shift at the hospital; besides, Charlie will understand if she's later. You know that." Alright, score for Esme for putting the dumb shit in his place.

"You're up, Peter." Alice said handing me the Wii remote.

"I'll get you a glass of water, love; do you need anything else while I'm in the kitchen?" Edward was trying to suck ass now that he'd upset her.

"No, I'm fine with just water. Thank you." Eddie boy bolted off to the kitchen to get Bella a glass of water to drink.

"Look, Jasper, I think we should let Bella and Emmett settle their score then we can play. She might have to go home soon and not get to play." He nodded in agreement, so I walked over to Bella. She stood up as I handed her the remote.

"Here you go, doll; you play first, so we can watch you boogie down and kick Em's ass again. We don't need to hear him sulk all night because you had to go home before you two had your showdown."

Just then Emmett jumped up and yelled, "Hell Yeah!"

"Emmett, language." Esme chastised them all for their 'dirty words' as she called it, but she never once tried to correct me on mine, and I'm dirtiest one of them all.

"Now get up there and shake that ass, girl!" Bella blushed profusely at my words.

"Peter, you step away from her, you dirty stinking dog!" Edward growled from the kitchen door when he came into the room. I was too close for comfort to Bella for his liking.

"Fuck you! I'm not gonna hurt her!"I growled back.

Instantly, he bolted in front of me, grabbed Bella, and flung her hard behind his back trying to get her away from me. A large crash and a scream came from Bella as she came down hard across the side table and the crystal vase that set upon it.

Edward snapped his head down instantly.

"Edward…..a…are you alright?" Bella managed to choke out. Her body was trembling lying on the floor, and she had a fearful look in her eyes.

At that moment, I took a deep breath. The scent of blood hit me full force, and in that instant three things happened at once: 1) I threw my shield out around me to encompass Jasper, Alice, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie; 2) Edward had Bella against the wall with his hand around her neck, her feet were dangling in the air, and his teeth were bared snarling in her face. 3) Alice screamed, "Get her out of here, Peter!"

"God! Get her out of here!" Again Alice screamed.

I was off like a lightning bolt. I grabbed Bella around the waist with my left arm while I plowed Edward in the jaw with a right hook dislocating the left jawbone and fracturing his chin in fifteen places. Edward's head snapped back, and he flew across the room making a large crack in the hard wood floors along the way.

With Bella clinging to my left shoulder and her legs around my waist, I barreled thru the front door out into the forest. I lifted my shield off Jasper and the others and covered Bella with it as I made my way thru the woods. Bella's body shook with fear; she began crying as I ran. I smelled the salty tears as they made their way down my neck and chest.

I ran hard thru the forest. I launched us onto a tree branch and swung us from limb to limb by one arm as I held Bella tight to my body with the other. I felt oddly like Tarzan at the moment swinging thru the vines with his Jane.

Moments later, I stopped high in the trees. I couldn't hear anyone following us, so I perched us up in the branches 50 feet in the air. I sat on a thick branch with my back propped against the large tree trunk with Bella's still shaking form around my chest and waist. She was still crying, so I held her. I held her till the sun began to set in the western sky.

She finally began to calm herself; she looked up at me and gave me a timid smile. I smiled back at her. She had been crying for twenty-seven minutes and gotten mucus and tears all over my shirt and her face. But, damn, she's still a sight for sore eyes.

"Are you alright, Bella?" I whispered to her as I wiped the tears off her cheek. My hand felt the fire of her skin; the warmth of her body alone was mesmerizing.

"I didn't hold you too tight, did I?" She didn't respond with words; she just shook her head no.

"I'm glad I didn't hurt you. Can we take a look at your leg?" She gave me a puzzled look.

"I'm ok, really. It all happened so fast. I was frightened. I'm sorry for crying. I was just shocked in the speed of it all."

"Your leg doesn't hurt at all?"

"No. My leg is fine. Why do you ask?"

"Are you sure, Bella? Because you're bleeding pretty good from what I can smell."

"B..bl..bleeding? I'm bleeding?" She stammered out, fear crossing her face instantly.

"You have nothing to fear from me, Bella. I will not hurt you. Focus, focus on me, Bella. Do you see my eyes? Can you tell me what color they are?"

"Umm…Yes, your eyes are a very beautiful crimson red." She held my gaze for some time before looking away. Fuck me. She's beautiful.

"W..wh…why did you ask me that Peter?"

"The color of my eyes is important when it comes to certain things, doll. They become darker when I don't feed and I'm thirsty, as you must notice with the Cullen's." She shook her head 'yes' in understanding.

"They also become pitch black when bloodlust affects me, and since I have no bloodlust at this time, they are the sexy red that we both adore so much." I said that last part with a wink earning me another beautiful smile.

"Edwards's eyes were black, Peter. They were so black when he looked at me." Her body began to tremble again in that moment.

"Yes, they were black doll. I reckon you already know why I got you outta there when I did." She shook her head 'yes' again in response.

"Thank you very much for getting me out of there Peter."Fuck me if I didn't like the way my name rolls off her tongue. It gave me the shivers. Hell, I've never shivered before; this is something new to me.

"You're welcome; now, let's take a look at that leg, doll."

She hesitated for a moment before bringing her right leg up a little and then putting it back down again.

"I'll fall if I move my leg up, Peter. We have to get down first."

"That's ridiculous. I've got you; you'll never fall even if we were a thousand feet up."

"Okay, if you're sure. I trust you." Well, holy shit! That shocked the fuck out of me right where I sit.

"I'm glad, Bella. Truly, you never have anything to worry about with me. I'll never hurt you, and if I can help it, I'll never let anyone or anything hurt you either." What the fuck is spewing out of my mouth? Fuck me all to hell.

Bella lifted her leg, so we could inspect the damage that was done. I'll be damned if I thought there were this many cuts. Bella had several gaping wounds on her leg from the crystal vase that was broken when she was thrown into it slicing her leg in many places starting with the area four inches above her inner right knee.

Bella gasped at the damage we found and the blood that was leaking down her leg into her shoe. She started to panic.

"What the hell? Why didn't I feel this till now?" She was puzzled. I knew the adrenaline that was pumping thru her blood was the reason she didn't feel the cuts before now.

"Adrenaline. It's all thru your blood right now and then fear over powered everything. The human mind shuts off things it doesn't want to deal with at times."

"What am I gonna do, Peter? My dad's on the reservation fishing right now, and I can't go back there bleeding like this." I lifted my back off the tree and removed my shirt for her to wipe some of the blood on. It would help, but her cuts were still bleeding pretty badly.

"Thank you for your shirt, but I'm going to need at least fifty stitches." She looked very pissed off at the moment. I was too because stitches were going to fuckin' leave scars on those beautiful legs of hers.

"How could you possibly know how many stitches you're gonna need, Bella? Are you taking classes to become a doctor?" I thought she was only in high school at the moment.

"I'm an expert on injury, Peter. I've had so many in my life now." Okay, I guess that explains it then, the klutz in a house of vampires. How very interesting.

"Damn, now I'm going to have nasty scars all down my leg. I don't want that! Damn it!" I couldn't believe her profanity. She looks too sweet to swear.

"I'll have the stitches for weeks, and then I'll have scars for the rest of my life."

"Ya know, doll, scars aren't so bad. I've got quite a few myself." I said stating a fuckin' fact.

"I don't see any scars, what are you talking about, Peter. Vampire's don't get scars?" Could she really not see them that well? I'm sitting here in just a pair of jeans. I've got scars on my arms, chest and such, and she can't see them? I lifted my arms from around her and put my forearm up to her face, so she could inspect my arm and the scars.

"Do you see how the rays of the setting sun reflect off this skin right here differently?" I pointed to a few scars in one area by my elbow. "Those are venom scars. They happened when I was bitten and venom was injected into my body." She grabbed my arm and looked closer, shock hitting her when she saw the teeth impressions in my skin.

"I really don't see much difference between the two Peter. It just looks a little bit silvery looking, and it sparkles a bit more. Is that all it does?"

"Well, to your human eyes they are very much the same, and in a brighter light, they would stick out more. To a vampire and their eyesight, they are a beacon to stay away from me, that I am dangerous." She looked up into my eyes when I finished my words.

"I don't know if I believe that you could be dangerous, Peter. You haven't hurt me."

"I am a dangerous man, Bella. I always have been. I am a human drinking vampire; I should actually be your worst nightmare. But now, that just might be Edward Cullen." She winced, understanding hitting her full force. Tears began to fall down her cheeks again.

"Hey now, don't start that shit again. I understand you're hurt, but we need to take care of this bleeding problem you have. I'm in complete control of myself, but enough is enough. I am a vampire after all, remember?" I couldn't help but laugh because I fuckin' chastised her for cryin', and in the same breath, I warned her about bleeding too much, and then reminded her, of all people, that I'm a vampire.

"Alright, Peter, what do we do? I can't go back to the Cullen's house like this, and my dad can't take me to the hospital right now, but even if he could, I don't want those stitches to leave a scar." I thought maybe there was more to it than that, so I asked.

"You don't like needles do you, doll?" I earned a laugh with my question, and she shook her head no.

"No, not at all, I can't stand them."

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to review my story. Thank you all for reading let me know how much you enjoyed it by leaving me a new review for this chapter.

A special thanks again to my girls Juliangelus & noncanon4me! You know what you do, and you know what you mean to me ladies!