Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc, are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N This story was originally beta'd by Savage Grace, the new version is revised and edited by LetsJustDance, who gave me some pointers. Thank you girls, for everything.

The menace

Chapter 6

Jasper Whitlock POV

Last chapter:

…If she was not going to submit then I would have her begging to go to the toilet. I turned my back on her and jumped through the opening, closing it behind me. Her screams got to me smoldered by the thick stone floor.

Now was a good time to go for a hunt.

Now

I carefully closed the outside door, locking it safely. I could not afford someone to come inside and take what was mine. I would kill whoever tried to take her away from me. I took a deep breath to clear the rage that was seething inside of me at her defiance and at the thought of her being taken away. I stopped outside between the trees to feel the violence of the storm that was still raging. Her screams were not audible now. Maybe I should have left her some water or food. No…she did not deserve it. She would be tamer when I went back and then I would take care of her.

I pondered what I was going to eat.

Human or animal?

The thought of drinking the biter blood of an animal, even if it was one of the predators, after having the girl's sweet and warm nectar in my mouth and circulating in my body, almost made me gag. But I only drunk three or four mouthfuls of blood from Isabella; if I take more she would die on me. I know it; I saw it happen again and again in my past. I did not want that. Some primeval part of me wanted her alive. Wanted her as mine! I felt connected to her. I felt a pull to her.

And for the unlife of me I could not see why. It is not as if I believed that she was my mate. I don't believe in that. I never did. I knew what love was. I saw it and I knew it could be strong enough to bind people together for a long, long time, even in vampire standards. Hell, some of the Volturi have been together for the last thousand years or more, and they were as happy as a creature like us can be. I could understand the feelings of being whole, of being protective, of doing anything for the one that holds your undead heart.

I was whole when I drank human blood. I felt complete in the heat of battle. But mating? A supernatural attraction and overwhelming feelings that told you that you found the other part of your soul? The one that made you never want another woman or man again? That was crap. Folklore! Not for a vampire like me!

I could feel the lust that some mated couples had for someone other than their mates from time to time. I could feel how bored they sometimes were from having sex with the same partner over and over again. I knew a lot of vampires and not a single one of them has escaped these feelings – some of the Cullen's included. Well, every vampire - except Edward. That one was not very interested in it. Sometimes I wondered if he was a eunuch or gay. I mean it was not normal to be a virgin since the day he was changed, and I mean, that was back in 1917! He had to have the world's worst case of blue balls.

Even Esme. A woman that I respected. She lived with a man that she respected, cared for, but didn't love. I was the one who could feel the longing, the need mixed with the shame, the guilt, the remorse and the regret which overwhelms her. I seriously doubt that she is mated to Carlisle.

That is one of the reasons why they keept themselves isolated from other covens and preferd to mingle with humans: To diminish the temptation. It was difficult and it took a lot of work to fuck a human if we wantd her or him to live.

The Cullen's only contact in the vampire world - and it was sparse was with the Denali's. I have had all those females as mine, time and time again; they were single, loved what they were and well, let's just say that I was horny. They understood some of my needs better than anyone in my coven and they were just too happy to be fucked like there was no tomorrow.

For me, mating is only an illusion made to embellish and romanticize the true nature of a vampire. We always were curious creatures, much too fickle, easily distracted, too hedonistic in our views to be exclusive. Especially those like the Cullens, pretending to be a family.

I felt the burning in my throat increasing as I went through the forest. I was hungry.

Human or animal? I asked myself again. If I deliberately decided to go and grab me some human, I knew I was in deep shit with the Cullens. I knew that they would be informed that I had deliberately chose to go against their diet.

And suddenly I was aware that the thought that they are going to be pissed with me isn't bugging me that much. I stopped surprised. I really didn't care!

Right now, right in this moment I felt like I was on the edge of forever and a move to the left or to the right would change my path and my destiny. I could be worried - I should be worried - but I wasn't. I was excited. I was feeling free and alive.

Something inside of me was awaking and was raging against my old peaceful, yet boring, life.

The same life that I had tried to protect by taking the girl! How fucked up was that? This feeling was powerful, borderline overwhelming. The shift was bringing back my old self, the sadistic, power hungry bastard that I had been so long ago, when Alice had come to me and taken me to the Cullen's. It was filing me with thoughts of blood, of war, of power. Thoughts that I had left behind in exchange for my tame life with the Cullen's, dangerous thoughts to have in a house where a mind reader and a seer lived. Alice!

My wife…Alice…it has been almost two days since I last talked to her! And her well being did not even cross my mind. I did not miss her. I felt nothing. I had my whole mind focused on this beautiful naked woman that waited for me at the cabin. The girl! Isabella was her name.

It was her fault that I was changing. Contrary to common beliefs the change in my species was not instantaneous. It was a slow and most of the time confusing and painful process. That is why it happened very rarely. Usually it implied that the vampire would completely change the orientation of his life, abandon friends and covens, sometimes even the so called mates and companions.

I could feel myself in that storm. Changing and shifting and losing myself.

I felt a vibration in my back pocket. I had reached a high peek and I had service. I looked at my phone. Peter!

"Hello fucker!"

"Hello Major Whitlock. It is good to see that you are making your come back. You were missed."

What? I thought to myself. How was he already aware of this?

"How do you know?"

"Well I got some calls from your frantic boring little wife, and from your equally boring little family. Or should I say ex wife and family?" I looked at the phone again. Doing a quick check, I saw that I had seventy missed calls and nearly as much messages. Fuck!

"Mind your own business, fucker. What do you know?"

"Only what they told me. That you abandoned the family and kidnapped a human girl to torture. The Cullen's are looking for you. I must warn you that they want the girl back." I roared my anger to the forest. Fucker's, they wanted to take what was mine. My prey, my Isabella.

"Calm down, brother, I got your back. I have a new identity for you and for the girl ready. I am also taking care of your money. Transferred as soon as I got the call. You are a fucking billionaire bro!"

"Now, don't be too harsh on the girl, I know how you are. Give her time. She has managed to awake you from your sleep. She can be good for you, if you let her. Ah, and you must destroy the phone." Yes, she had awakened the monster in me, and she was changing me. And I did not know where this was going to go. I said nothing. He just continued.

"The mind reader is behind this too. He came back from Alaska as soon as you left Forks, and is looking for the girl. It seems that he is convinced that she is his mate just because she is his singer, and thanks to your lovely ex wife so is the rest of the family." What? The eunuch wanted this girl? Was he out of his mind? He fled so he would not kill her, and all of the sudden she was his mate? No…she was mine. I was ready to kill them all if needed, but no one was going to take her from me. And Alice again was betraying me, therefore sealing her fate.

"She is mine. I will not give her back. I have some thing's to figure out, but she is mine. I have supplies for a few weeks and then I will be on the move by the end of the month. Come meet me here at our old hiding place in Texas, the one from our days together. Later we will move to Texas. Take care, as Alice is probably watching for us make no decisions concerning me. We will communicate by the internet secure account from now on." I hang up. I snarled at the thought of my wife. No, she was no longer my wife. She had betrayed me one too many times, now her and the family were my enemies.

My choice was made. Today's menu is human. I am going to hell, but I am going happy and sated.

I would not hunt an innocent; I would try Peter's approach. There were plenty of criminals in the world and my gift could help me find them. I took off from the mountain top and I ran all the way down. I arrived to the outskirts of a small town on the other side of the mountain and found a dealer. I was on him and my lips were attached to his neck in seconds. His sweet nectar soothing my burning throat and quenching my thirst. His emotions were too dull from the shock and from drugs to hurt me. I drained him in minutes.

I felt good. I felt great, I was fed. I was full. And for the first time in many years I am sated and my throat didn't hurt. I felt no regret and no guilt. No, I just felt satisfaction.

I had made my path, and for once I had made my own destiny, I had chosen my own way. Not others for me as it had been since the beginning of my unlife.

Maria made me a vampire without asking. She made of me a murderer and a bloodthirsty monster, and again I had no choice.

Peter and Charlotte decided to rescue me and we became nomads. Of course back then I was already depressed and disgusted with Maria and her manipulations. I knew that it was only a matter of time until she tried to get me killed. Leaving her had been a question of survival. Again it was not my choice and I lost the only home I ever knew since becoming a vampire.

Alice came and said that we were mates, that we were destined to be together and to be a family with the Cullen's. Again, I had no choice, after all she was a seer, and she saw the future, maybe she was right. And she saw our destiny together. It had to be true so I followed.

She said that in order to be with her and with the Cullen's we had to give up human blood and turn to animal. Again I had no choice. If I wanted a house, my woman and some comfort, I had to follow.

No one ever asked what I wanted out of life or death in this case. But this, now, that had been my choice. For the first time since 1864 I had made a choice without thinking about consequences, risks or anyone else but me. And damn I felt good.

I knew I still had a few more minutes before it was too dangerous to have the phone on. I picked out my phone again and checked my messages. They were from all from the family and varying in degree of intensity and persuasion. Summarizing the contents it meant that I was screwed and the shit had hit the fan. It was with an amused smile that I sat up on the dead dealer to read them. He was still warm.

Carlisle:

"Son, come home. Don't hurt Isabella. We can help you."

"Jasper, be reasonable, you can't do this. The girl has done nothing to us, and you are endangering the family."

"Jasper Hale, call me back. We have matters to discuss. We are moving out of Forks. I was made aware that you withdrew all your money from our accounts. Are you splitting from the family? "

"I have retired your name from the Cullen family, as you did not answer my calls or messages. If you want to come back, you will have to render Isabella to us safe and sound."

"Jasper I must warn you that by not presenting Isabella alive and well to us, you are going to commit a very serious crime, to which my family cannot be held accountable. I am invoking my right's as your coven leader to order you to return the girl to us. Your non-compliance will have severe consequences."

I got tired of his speech and of his ordering me around and moved on to Esme.

One Cullen I actually respected. She had the courage, when needed, to shed her motherly and subservient wife mask and do what she had to do for her coven. While Edward was going through his "rebellious" period, just before going back to Carlisle, he was not careful and caught the attention of the Volturi. He entered a bar in France, grabbed and killed four rapists unaware of several eyewitnesses. The story had caused some trouble and had been in the newspapers and eventually it had reached the ears of Caius. He immediately dispatched a team to apprehend Edward, and to bring Carlisle and Esme to Italy.

When they got to Italy, Caius and Marcus were all for their blood; even Aro was very upset about Edward's almost-exposure of our kind, and with Carlisle for not having a strong hand on his coven and son. Things were pretty bad, especially because of Edward's childish raging outbursts and Carlisle's weak handling of them, until Esme took the situation into her hands.

She actually had the balls to offer herself to the three Volturi brothers in exchange for Carlisle's and Edward's lives. The three kings accepted her proposal and Carlisle had to see his wife being taken away from him, knowing full well what was going to happen. In the end, none of the brothers or Esme was seen for three days. She managed to get them to pardon the two of them and they left Volterra. It is no wonder she is highly esteemed in Volterra and has been offered a place to stay several times.

I once asked her - when we were alone on a hunt - how she felt about what she had done. Her answer left me open-mouthed as she smiled a true and bright smile.

"I love Carlisle, Jasper; he is my husband and a good man and I am grateful to him. But, let me tell you something, those three men in Volterra are magnificent. I was completely, absolutely and thoroughly ravished by all of them and I enjoyed and loved every single moment of it." My eyebrows must have been glued to my hairline because she laughed gently and continued.

"Were they good to you?" the Volturi's reputation was not the best.

"Sweetheart, those three days with those men made me feel more of a woman than ever in my life. I was treated like a woman and not like a fragile porcelain doll. Many were the moments when I thought about never come back, and just stay in there with them like they wanted. Only my obligation towards Carlisle made me leave with him." She had a faraway look in her eyes, and longing washed over me in gentle waves mixed with regret and more love than I had ever felt from her.

"You left someone."

"Yes, and it was the most difficult thing I ever did in my life." She sighed, and I was blown away by her emotion. So much love and sorrow. She must have seen the question in my face.

"Marcus. He took my breath and my heart away. But please do not tell. It is my secret and my pain; no one is aware but me and now you. I made my peace with it and with my feelings. I was young then, and married to Carlisle, and I take my duties seriously. But Marcus really spoiled me for any other man, and if things were different and I was free, I would happily live there with him forever. They are not the monsters that Edward and Carlisle made them out to be. In my last night with them they helped me to come to terms with what I felt and who I was in my new life as a vampire; they were kind and considerate with me. And they understood my decision. Never once did I feel like an object or a whore with them and, had Carlisle not forbade me to talk to them or see them ever again; who knows what might have happened?" Her resignation and pain were overwhelming for a second before she composed herself. She smiled at me, ruffled my hair and walked away, leaving sadness in her trail. I had never again thought about it.

Until now; now, I only saw another soul trapped in the Cullen inferno. Tied down by loyalty and bonds imposed on you, and being kept away from what she really wanted by emotional blackmail. I was not alone.

I read her messages.

Esme

"Jasper, honey, please let Isabella go. We can fix this. Alice is beside herself with worry and heartbreak. Please call us."

"Jasper Hale, you aren't thinking straight. Come home. We can help you. I can help you."

"Jasper, please, don't do this."

"Jasper, I know you are sacrificing yourself for us. Do you remember what I had to do for this family? How I sacrificed myself? How I still sacrifice myself? Come back, bring back Isabella unharmed and we can work things out. You know it. I will stand by your side. I love you, dear, remember that."

Sorry Esme, not this time sweetie. And then a last one that made everything okay.

"I understand. I love you so much my son. I just hope that Isabella did not have to suffer for your freedom. And I wish I could be set free too. I will always be by your side and you will always be in my thoughts."

Maybe one day I could help you Esme. I passed on to the next.

Alice

"Jasper, please don't. Please don't drink from her. You will destroy this family and our marriage."

"Please I love you. Don't do this; you will set things in motion that will ruin our family's life."

"Please Jasper, I am sorry I did not mean to explode on you. Just please don't become the monster you once were. Let Isabella go."

"Please. I beg of you, don't destroy what we have. I love you so much."

"She is Edward's mate, Jazzy. His one chance at happiness and love. Please let her go."

"Don't you do it, you bastard!"

"Jasper, I cannot do this anymore. Why have you drunk from her? I have to save you from yourself, please forgive me. I can't live with what you are going to become if you continue on this path."

"You are a monster, a monster. I regret ever meeting you. I hate you. You are ruining everything."

"I hate you. I hate you and I will kill you and her."

Well, who would have thought that she had it in her?

Rose and Emmett

"Hey Jazz man, let the girl go. We are here for you."

"I understand why you did it, Jasper. Make it quick. They are looking for you." That's my Rosalie. My sister to the bone, until the end.

"Jazz, Rose and I understand your motives, but you have to let the girl go; Edward is out for blood. It seems that Alice has had a vision and she is Edward's mate. He is livid and in hunting mode. He wants her here with him. They are talking about going to look for you and getting her back. I don't want to, but I cannot go against my sire if he orders me to go. You know that. Take care of yourself man."

Yep, the damn sire bite would make him obey like a puppy and Carlisle would do it, even if it went against Emmet's own wishes. Edward always was his golden boy, and he always tried to find him a mate. If he believed that this girl was his mate he would be moving heaven and earth to find her, turn her and give her as a pretty wife to his eunuch son. Over my dead body was she going to mate with him!

Edward

"Give me back my mate."

"I am going to hunt you down and I am going to kill you, you bastard."

"If you harm a hair on her head I will make you suffer for eternity."

Yes Eddie boy, like you would have the chance to even make a suitable opponent to me. I could not care less about his threats. He couldn't track shit, and not even Alice knew where this cabin or my hiding places were located.

These messages were nothing and they are not going to change my mind. Well, I guess I would have to take my precautions to protect this new found freedom and what is mine.

I had nothing to worry about Peter or Charlotte, they always guarded my back. They always have guarded my back and now that my head was clear I could see how ungrateful I have been to them.

I shunned them away from my perfect life just because the Cullen's didn't approve of their diet and were afraid of letting these powerful and fearless vampires into their homes. I had been an awful brother, friend and sire.

They had stuck with me through and through and all I did was turn my back on them. But now I was coming back and I would show them my appreciation.

I got up and smashed the phone against a rock; that way Edward could not trace the satellite calls or the phone. I had a computer hidden in the car and the cabin had a wireless internet connection. Like the car it was unknown to them. I picked up the hunter's corpse at my feet and found a cliff. I threw the body over the cliff. It fell into a deep crevasse hidden from view, overhead, by hanging branches and outcroppings of rock. In less than a month there would be nothing left. The wild animals would take care of the corpse.

I ran to my cabin. Two hours had passed and I needed to take care of my girl. Having her with me was giving me a purpose, even if she was the cause of the downfall of my life. I mentally listed what I had to do with her. I had to take her to the bathroom. Bathe her, because sure as hell she wasn't going to do it alone. Then I would feed her.

My cock just got hard thinking of it. So much pleasure. I was going to make her see stars. And she was going to make me see stars. I would have to see what stimulates her. I already knew she feared pain.

I would have to show her how much pleasure could be found in it.

No one had been near the cabin, not even animals; they knew this was the dwelling of the world's greatest predator. The emotional climate coming from the house was the same. Desperation, anger, sorrow, need - and that one made me laugh; she needed a human moment. Resistance, pain, defiance, horror, determination, hunger and thirst; I let the beautiful cocktail engulf me before going in.

I walked heavily towards the cooking area, reveling in the increase of her emotions and of her fear when she heard me in the house.

I checked the food I had made earlier and heated the soupe. I placed them beside the still burning fire place so that they would stay warm, and walked towards the bathing area to make it ready for her.

I passed in front of the mirror and I checked my eyes – crimson, the eyes of a murderer. These were the eyes of a well fed vampire; and, instead of the guilt that usually wracked me after my slip ups when I was with Alice and the Cullen's, I only felt peace and satisfaction. I felt like another small piece of me was coming back.

I went to the bed and took my clothes off, leaving them in a pile on the floor. They had blood in it and it was still too soon for her to see that. I stood naked. I would see now what her reaction to my naked body would be. I knew she was a virgin - her scent wasn't tainted by any male - but I had no idea of her experience. Her reaction to me would set my course with her during the day. She better get used to plain old me. I chuckled at my own thoughts.

I opened the trap door and steadied myself for the onslaught on my senses, before jumping down, landing in front of her. Oh, she was feeling brave and combative, and…oh…my dirty girl…is that lust...and are you staring at my cock?

Yes…that was what I was waiting for. I walked towards her and she tried to bypass me. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me. I had a hard time, even being a vampire to stop her from fighting me, she only would hurt herself. Her screamed obscenities and insults were going to be dealt with later. First her needs and then the pleasure.

I secured her in my arms and jumped up to the first floor. I took her to the toilet and to keep her still I turned her in my arms and gave her a hard swat on her ass, the pain of it reaching me immediately as she stilled and shut her mouth. I sat her on it holding her down by her shoulders. Her eyes and mouth were level with my cock and - as her hot, shaking breath reached it - I became hard and twitched, making her lust spike and shame and anger flood her.

Her entire body was flushed red and her eyes were full of tears, but she could not take her eyes from my cock.

"I am going to give you some time to have your human moments. Use them wisely, because they will be your last until tonight. Then I will bathe you." I turned, and closed the door but not before hearing her peeing and a muttered"fuck you" from her.

I heard her going through the disgusting motions natural to humans and their digestive system. And once again I had to marvel as she finished washing her hands. She took some deep breaths and I felt her resolve as she steeled herself. Her fear was high but nearly equal to it was defiance and determination. I walked to the toilet and stepped in. She was in the middle of the room with her arms crossed on her chest. She was feeling self conscious but her need to defy me was stronger than her shame at being but naked in front of me.

All her posture exuded defiance and resistance; her head jutted upward and hate burned in her eyes. I knew then that she was going to be a fighter. She knew what was to come and she was defying me. She would fight me all the way.

And for the first time I felt something for the girl. I felt respect. It would not change her fate, but I appreciate a fighter. I too, had to fight to survive. My body shows how hard I had to do it.

I smiled at her and heard her heart beat skip a little and red paint her face. And then she locked eyes with mine and I saw her surprise and felt her horror. She had noticed my red eyes.

I let her have the time to digest it.

"Your…Your eyes are red…you really are…" she could not finish, oddly entranced by my eyes and by her emotions.

I only nodded as I took my time to ogle her body, making her squirm under my gaze, her arms and hands trying to hide what were mine. She really had a nice figure, much better than Alice's; she had a bit more of weight on her which gave her some curves. Her tits would fill my hands where Alice's didn't and her small stature was sure to make her tight as hell, even if my cock was a lot smaller than what it really is.

As I ogled her, she did the same to me. There was the same spike of lust and unconsciously she licked her lips when she saw my abs and the path of hair leading to my cock. Desire rocked through her before she became angry with herself again. She even resisted her natural instincts and desires. Was she another control freak as Edward? Maybe she is his mate then - if you believe that shit - but she sure as hell she is not going to mate with him. Not before I have my fill of her and spoil her for any other male.

And why the fuck does that make me feel bad? And why do I want to destroy any fucking male that dares to touch what is mine? Fuck!

I steeled my face and grabbed her arm. Her gasp of pain told me I had been too rough. It was going to bruise. I eased my grip and took her towards the shower. She screamed when the cold water hit her body at first and begun to fight my hold, but again two quick hard swats on her ass made her see reason. When the water warmed she just stood there limp. I washed every inch of her body, marveling at how soft and warm she was. I took my time with her breasts and nipples. I decided to play a little so I send her small doses of lust and need. It worked as I wanted as I massaged and pinched her nipples, pulling and rubbing them between my fingers roughly, making her eyes close as she gasped and moaned. So she liked it rough! Good to know.

I chuckled and she immediately was flooded with embarrassment, shame and anger. Self-loathing was thrown in the mix and that I could not have, not when I was pleasuring her. She could feel that later. I pinned her to the tile, and the hand that had been on her breasts, descended to her mound cupping it hard, making her try to flee from my touch and scream. I flooded her with more lust and she immediately started panting.

With my knees I spread her legs as far as I could with her standing and immediately I attacked her slit and clit. I kept a slower pace and I laughed when her screams turned to loud moans and whimpers, and she started to buck against my hand wantonly. The scent of her arousal permeated the room and her feelings now were nothing more than lusty as I inserted a finger and then two in her thrusting in and out, sweeping her clit in soft moves with my thumb. She almost lost it when I inserted my third finger. She bucked wildly against my hand trying to have more to reach release.

Nope, not yet.

"Please. I need…" She moaned, making me look at her.

"I want to hear you scream my name. Remember my name? Scream it to me and then I will let you feel this." Again I swept her clit listening her moaning turn to desperate.

"Please."

"My name or I will stop. Mister Whitlock will do." She screamed when my other hand that was holding her against the wall grabbed her left breast and I pinched her nipple, making her scream again. She was almost there. Not until she said what I wanted to hear.

"Say it. Say it, my sweet." I spoke huskily, licking the shell of her ear.

I felt her conflicted feelings; she desperately wanted the release that I was denying her but at the same time, despite the pleasure she desperately wanted she did not want to give in to me. She did not know she was fighting a losing battle as I increased her level of lust and want.

"Say it." I palmed her mound and hitting her sweet spot, inside with my fingers, I heard the thing that made my already shitty day a good one.

"Yes…please…Mister Whitlock." She screamed and I almost came in happiness as I pinched her swollen clit and made her release, bucking wildly against my hand, panting desperately. Her release gushed from her to my waiting hand and fingers with every shudder and whimpered moan, and now I had to perform my final act.

I held her against the wall, and when she opened her eyes to look at me, I felt her bliss and post- orgasmic high slip into horror and despair as she realized what had happened. I held her eyes as I took my hand out of her folds and licked my fingers one by one in front of her eyes. Showing her how she had caved. How I had defeated her. How just a few touches from me had made her give in to my will and surrender. By undermining her confidence and self-esteem, soon she would be mine.

"You did well, Isabella. Today you will be rewarded. Now let's get out of here. You have to eat." Her eyes widened and her mouth opened to retort but nothing came up. I had won this battle and she knew it.

She had taken the first step to surrender. It would take time but she was going to learn.

A/N So, what do you think about our Esme? And about what vampires are truly like? Is Jasper right? There is no such thing as soul mates? As Jasper already defeated Bella?

Tell me your thoughts. I promise to answer to all of you who review.