Chapter Thirty Seven

Jasper

After hunting I felt much better although resuming a diet of human blood had reminded me exactly why I had turned to animals and would go back to it as soon as I could and the healing process speeded up so to save energy for that Peter and I walked back to the rendezvous point.

"How did Bella get here?"

"She just quizzed Darius then disappeared saying she was coming to Volterra to get you."

"Darius?"

"Yeah, we found out the Volturi were looking for a human turning into a vampire slowly who was connected to a warrior. All of us were under observation and you were the only one we couldn't contact then Bella appeared at the ranch and it clicked, the human turning and the warrior."

"There's a lot I don't understand Peter and not just because my memory is hazy."

"Yeah well losing your fucking head will sure mess with your thought processes. Man I don't know how you survived that."

"It wasn't easy but Alice told me Bella would find me eventually."

"Alice? I have news for you Major, Alice isn't quite the little angel you think she is. I did warn you about the bitch."

"Yeah I remember."

"Garrett had a short conversation with Alice Cullen and it told us a lot. She was enjoying the drama far too much. We both have a nasty feeling she's in this up to her pretty little neck."

"Well lets hope Bella can fill us in a bit, then I'll know what to do. You can go now Peter, back to Charlotte, I'll be OK."

Peter

I looked at him in disbelief,

"I was wrong, your head is really screwed up. Leave? Why the fuck would I want to do that when I'm having so much fun Major? Besides I like Bella, but don't tell her I said that. What do you plan on doing anyway? Do you think the Volturi will leave you alone?"

"Now Caius is dead, yes I think so. Bella just pointed out to Aro Volturi the alternative. She was great in there Peter, like a warrior herself."

"Warrior? Yeah OK I'll give her that, she's got fucking guts."

We walked into the rest stop where we'd parked the car to find the others waiting. I thought Bella looked guilty but she smiled and came forward into The Majors arms and I decided they needed a few minutes so Garrett and I wandered off to compare notes.

Jasper

Bella examined my face,

"You look better for feeding."

"On humans Bella. All the blood Felix gave me was human blood too."

"You had no choice and it is the best, especially when you are as injured as you were. Are you really feeling better? I can't imagine how terrible the ordeal must have been for you."

"No worse than your ordeal over the past couple of years, suffering a slow change and then confronting the Volturi in their lair."

"You know the worst thing of all was Carlisle's lies."

"Sorry?"

She looked at me keenly,

"When did you leave Forks Jasper?"

"After I took you outside when you had your accident. Alice told me I needed to be there to save you but I had to leave straight after and not contact anyone until you found me."

"So you don't know what happened after the party?"

"No, but I'm beginning to wish I did".

"It's all starting to link together but I don't understand why. Alice told Carlisle she had seen us out in the garden in a compromising position during my party and that it wasn't the first time. She accused us of having some kind of relationship. She also said the run to Phoenix was because Edward had found me with one of the guys from school, also in a compromising position."

"Why would Alice say that? Why would she tell me she was doing all she could for us because we were meant to be together and then accuse you?"

"That's not all, Carlisle came round the next day and told Charlie all about it. That's when they found the present from you in the truck, the one Emmett put there."

"And they thought that proved Alice's words? Surely your father laughed at the accusations?"

"No just the opposite in fact, he seemed quite happy to believe every word Carlisle said. At school they knew about it too, Lauren heard Alice and Rose talking and it was soon all over Forks. They were all waiting to see if I were pregnant. In the end my dad couldn't take any more and he sent me back to my mum in Florida."

"Did she know?"

"Yes, she couldn't decide between you, Carlisle, or someone else entirely. She was more angry that I stood by my assertion it was all lies. She wanted me to admit it and apologise and I wouldn't. Phil told the guys on the team so I had them to ward off too. I was glad to get away, go to college and then Sue sent the bracelet and that set me on your path. I'd discovered that I might be transforming into a vampire and I was scared. You were the only one who could help me, the only one I even contemplated trusting. I hate the thought James venom is in my body, it makes me feel unclean but Garrett seemed to think it was you."

"It was, Alice told me afterwards that by sucking his venom out and introducing some of mine as a temporary aid until you got medical attention I had joined us, formed a connection."

"She could have been lying, that's all she seems to do"

"No, I think she was telling the truth there because the longer I waited for you the weaker I became, the more it hurt. That's why the Volturi were able to take me so easily."

"So we are meant for each other?"

"Yes"

I looked at the ground unsure how she would take the confirmation and then I felt her love flood into me and her hands on my face as she lifted my head to kiss me.

"Well something good came of it all and now we owe Emmett. It must have been him who set up the puzzle".

"Or Alice we still don't know for sure"

"We will though. That's our next task to find him."

"Is that why you were in Volterra willing to give evidence against Carlisle?"

"Partly yes. After Carlisle's visit I lost everything, no one believed me any longer, not my father or my mother. We still speak and I see them occasionally but I lost their trust because of Carlisle and Edward and that's something I can never get back."

"What about me? Don't you blame me too?"

"No, you did what you had to in order to save my life and I'm grateful for that. I always thought if anyone could be trusted it was you."

Peter

Right they'd had plenty of time to get reacquainted and it was time to fly back to the States so Garrett and I wandered back,

"So kids, you ready to fly back? If my ears were working right we have a few people to look up. Cullens! I just love the idea of chasing those particular ass holes."

Bella looked at me with a smile,

"You might just get your chance Peter but I want to talk to them first."

My phone went then and I looked at the message,

"Fuck! Well Bella, if you want to speak to them we should get back because the remaining Cullens have just turned up at the ranch, minus the evil pixie that is."