Chapter 3: The Slip, Sir, The Slip

Jasper POV

It was an odd feeling, finally being taken care of by someone so sincere. This was all foreign territory to me. Alice and I were currently on our way to Montana, to meet the coven who she claimed to be our new family. Oh and it gets better – they drink the blood of animals. A turn-around for me, and it'll surely be a struggle.

We were there in a few days time. The look on their faces were priceless! Needless to say they were not expecting us at all. Once Alice explained our situation they all understood. They explained their way of life and how they blended in so well with humans. The blond female, Rosalie, had a cold attitude towards strangers it seemed. She was the mate of Emmett, a big brawny male with the characteristics of a teddy bear. Edward was a bit distant, but friendly. Carlisle and Esme were the perfect parent figures. I think I'll take a liking to this coven.

Weeks passed, and I was getting no better with tolerating animal blood. It tasted bitter, and never fully satisfied the burning in my throat. I was out with Rosalie, who had warmed up a bit towards me. She went her separate path and I went mine, which was a terrible idea. I was in the middle of taking down an elk when I caught the scent of a human close by. Immediately my instincts took over before I could stop them and I attacked. I couldn't help a groan of deep contentment as I felt the warm blood trickle down my throat... then I heard a gasp. Rosalie was standing a few yards away from me, a hand covering her mouth and nose as she looked at the sight. I snapped my head up to look at her with what surely must have been a murderous gaze – I was a monster protecting my prey.

All that came from her was a whispered "J-Jasper... how... why... oh my God... I'm so-sorry I can't..." before she sped off at top speed towards the house. I could sense her intense fear and restraint. I dropped the limp body, licking my blood red lips as I did.

What have I done?

I couldn't face my family. Not after what I had just done. I raced deeper into the forest and climbed up the tallest tree there was. I stayed there for hours until I heard Alice's twinkling voice far below.

"Jazzy, sweetheart, I know you're up there and that you can hear me." I relaxed a small amount.

"I'm a monster, Alice. You love a monster."

"You're not a monster. You're a man that is caught in a sensitive situation. Everyone slips up once in a while. Please don't take this so hard."

"But Alice I-" before I could utter another word she was in front of me with her lips pressed to mine, kissing me. This took me by surprise, but I welcomed the peace it brought. Soon we were so involved that she removed my shirt, and I had forgotten the response it could conjure. I felt her move her hands up my chest and stop once she felt jagged crescents. She pulled away to examine what she was feeling and gasped, but what I wasn't expecting was her next reaction. She smiled. She looked up at me with those gentle topaz eyes... and smiled.

"You're not... afraid?" I searched her emotions and could've sworn I felt an undertone of weariness.

"No I'm not... In my vision, when I first knew you were the one I was destined for, I saw snippets of your background, scars and battle included." she shrugged dismissively. Well, that was the end of that conversation... but I couldn't help the nagging feeling that she was hiding something... Something big.

Rose POV

As soon as I smelled the blood I knew what had happened. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew. I jogged to where I knew my brother was, and couldn't stop a gasp. He looked at me with blood red eyes and an intense stare. He looked half-crazed! I stuttered an apology and ran faster than I ever have to report back to the family. I had never been looked at like that before and I was truly terrified. I entered the house only to find the main room empty. I called everyone down and within seconds they were perched in their own spots, waiting expectantly. I told them what events took place and felt Emmett's big arms wrap around my waist as he whispered comforting words in my ear. Carlisle and Esme looked saddened, Edward looked a bit angry and Alice looked... smug?

"I'll go find him and bring him back. I'm sure he'll only listen to me." and with that Alice left.

There was massive amounts of tension in the room, and I couldn't stand it. Just as I was about to break the silence, Carlisle spoke up.

"I think it's best that we move away to somewhere more remote. I don't want to put any humans at risk." he looked at Esme with a sad smile "You get to decorate another house, darling." she smiled back but it quickly faded.

So the plan was set. We were to move once again. Great. I whispered to Emmett and we were off to do what we do best.

Esme POV

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My new son has already slipped up. It wasn't the first time one of my children have fallen victim to their instincts, but so soon? Something must have happened to him for this to have occurred so sudden, and as a mother it was my job to get to the bottom of it. I told Carlisle that I was going to look for a new house while he nodded silently in acknowledgment.

Edward POV

It's been a few months since the Jasper incident, and I have to say I was getting pretty sick and tired of his inner monologue. All he ever did nowadays was sit in his room and read and obsess over what had happened thus continuously torturing himself. Time to have a talk.

"Jasper, do you have a minute?" he looked at me with guarded eyes and gave a curt nod before following me out the door and into the dense forest. We settled on rocks in the middle of a lake, a few moments of silence passing before I couldn't take it any longer. "You have to stop this moping. It's not helping you move on. It's only making it worse." he looked as if I hadn't spoken at all.

"Edward, excuse my rudeness when I say this, but I don't see how it's any of your business. It was my fault we had to move, and so I suffer the consequences."

"But that doesn't put aside the fact that you're projecting your emotions at everyone else and the entire family has been upset lately. I have to listen to your thoughts every waking moment and let me tell you, it's getting irritating. You need to let this go. It was one human. It doesn't m-" he cut me off.

"You know absolutely nothing about what I've been through Edward. NO. IDEA. I killed countless humans and vampires alike in my Major days, and those are lives I'll never be able to give back. This-" he ripped his shirt open and I finally saw what he was always trying so hard to hide "is the product of my days as a puppet to a woman who I thought loved me but was only using me for her own advantage. Do you know how badly being used hurts? I spent years with this woman, and ended the lives of thousands without a second glance. I was hypnotized. I'm trying my hardest to adjust, and if all I'm going to get is lecture after lecture from all of you, then I don't see my place in the family." and with this he sped off into the water. I started to follow but then thought better of it, so instead ran back to the house.

"I have some news, everyone." they all came down with curious eyes. Except Alice. She had eyes that held no emotion, and her thoughts were swirling so chaotically that I couldn't read a single one.

"Edward, what is it? What's wrong?" Esme whispered with concern.

"Jasper has left us."