A/N: Starting today, I am finally back on a regular writing schedule. This month turned out a little crazier than I thought it would and I didn't have much time to update. I actually started work on this chapter over a week ago and wasn't able to finish it between my family and getting sick. I hope everyone else well and let's continue with the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 20 – Confrontation in the Woods

Groaning, Bella started to swat at the being who was trying to interrupt her sleep. Slowly blinking her eyes open, she found her mate's grinning face, which looked like he was fighting to hold in his laughter, and then her eyes moved towards the window… pitch black outside, "What time is it?"

"About 3:30 in the mornin' darlin'. I need you to get up and grab your clothes for today," Jasper gave her a small understanding and loving smile before shaking her again in order to get her moving.

"What? Why are we going to the school…?" She was cut off before she could finish her question.

The southern vampire shook his head, "I never said you were going with me to the school, but I'm also not going to leave you here unprotected. So get movin'. I am takin you over to my house and you will stay with Esme and Carlisle. I think Rose will be there too, but I don't trust your safety to her. You can take a shower and get ready for school at my place."

That was probably a good thing because Bella didn't trust Rose to protect her either. Getting out of bed, she grabbed her clothes and threw them in a bag as she muttered, "You could have let me sleep and just carried me to your house."

"I could have, but if you would have woken up after I left… well let's just say I would rather not deal with a woman's wrath."

"Damn vampire hearing," she mumbled, but she could not argue with his logic. If she would have woken up in a different house or on the way to his house without an explanation, Bella might have felt a bit slighted. This was better, but turning around she asked, "Why can't I go with you?"

"I refuse to send you into the lion's den. We aren't sure what these vampires are capable of and I don't need the distraction of you being there. None of us do. It may be difficult to deal with them and the last thing I want is one of them getting to you."

Another point made and accepted, but that didn't mean she liked it. She hated it. Hated knowing that Jasper was putting himself in danger; that the others were as well. In moments like these, it truly sucked that she was nothing more than a weak, easy to kill human.

He could feel the frustration and anxiety flowing from his mate and he wrapped her into his embrace from behind, "Darlin', you mean more to me than anyone else on this entire planet. I love you and I will do anything and everything it takes to make sure you're safe. If fighten bad guys is what I need to do, then so be it, and that includes keepin' you as far from the fight as possible. I don't know what I would do if somethin happened to you… I can't know because I can't live without you."

"I wish I could do more. I wish I wasn't just a human," Bella whispered.

Sighing, Jasper kissed her neck before turning her around so he could look into her eyes, "Darlin' one of these days we will cross that bridge if that's what you truly want, but now is not the time; and if you choose not to change, then I will remain by your side until the end and then meet you in the hereafter."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, "I love you Jasper."

"I love you too Bella, and I will do everythin in my power to keep anythin bad from happenin to you," his accent stronger with emotion.

Snickering quietly, Bella said, "You're making it sound like your some sort of superhero."

"Only hero I want to be is yours," after making that declaration, Jasper leaned down and captured her lips. When he ended the kiss, he whispered against her swollen ones, "Ready to go honey?"

"Yah," she nodded and then allowed him to take her bag. Before they jumped out the window, she wrote a little note for her father informing him she had left early to go to school for a project and that Jasper had picked her up. Hopefully he wouldn't question it. With that done, Jasper once again wrapped his arms around her and carried her out the window and into the darkness. Dawn was still a ways off and she prayed with the rising sun, victory would be theirs. She couldn't lose Jasper again.

Leaving Bella behind turned out to be harder than he thought it would be. There was a part of him that raged and warred against another yelling that he was her mate and there for he was the one that should stay and protect her. Forcing that part of him to quiet down, Jasper kept reminding himself that leaving her at the house while he went to the school with Peter, Charlotte, Alice, and Emmett was actually doing more for Bella's safety than staying behind would be doing. He needed to confront these nomads and make sure they could never bother his mate again… and then he would take care of Edward.

Once the small group arrived at the school. Jasper asked Alice, "Alice, are ya'll gettin anything?"

Alice closed her eyes and when they popped open, she looked directly at Jasper, "They will be coming from the east. They don't believe they will encounter any resistance and will be here about half an hour before the first bell rings for school. If we don't stop them, the school will be hit."

"Are there still only three of them?" Peter questioned.

Nodding her head, the seer answered, "Only three. Two males and one female."

Jasper stood there thinking for a minute before he pulled out his phone and called his coven leader. Carlisle would keep Bella at the house until the major called back and let the other team know it was safe to bring her to school. If these nomads saw Bella before or during first period, there would have been no purpose in leaving her behind, and leaving her with Esme and Carlisle was safer, more controlled, less distracting. Hanging up the line, he eyed his troops and gave orders, "Peter scope out the area. They may be coming in from the east, but we have seen plans change before. I want to make sure you know the area. Charlotte go with him. Alice keep a watch on our visitors through your visions. When dawn breaks, I want to be in position. Peter and Charlotte, I want you up in the trees. They will probably try to escape and you two know maneuvers Emmett and Alice don't. Em and Alice will stand with me when we greet the guests. Since they are coming in from the east and the wind is blowing easterly today, they shouldn't pick up our scents too early and with Peter and Charlotte up in the trees, their scent should be masked, at least somewhat."

"Wouldn't it be better if Peter and Charlotte stood with you?" Emmett inquired curiously.

Already shaking his head before his brother finished, Jasper explained, "If one of the nomads tries to escape, Peter and Charlotte have a better chance at catching them than ya'll do. They have experience and skills neither one of you have. Don't get me wrong, both you and Alice know how to fight, but ya'll can't match their experience. From a military standpoint, it makes more sense for them to remain in the trees and cover us. I want both of you to be behind me and flanking me. We are going to stay out of sight until they are close. We should be able to smell 'em coming. I want you two to remain hidden until I tell you to come out."

"Got it," Emmett accepted the explanation and waited for his next set of orders.

Everything was set and ready for the confrontation. Peter and Charlotte were hidden in the trees and used the branches as camouflage. Alice and Emmett were hidden behind two giant trees flanking Jasper, who was also hidden about 100 feet in front of them. Now they just had to wait for the enemy to come.

About thirty minutes before the first bell sounded, the sound of a bird reached Jasper's ears and his head flew up. With his eyes narrowing, he knew it was time. The call was from Peter informing his leader that the trio of nomads had passed him; and he knew it was Peter and not a local bird because his friend chose a call from a bird that is only found down south. Stepping out from behind the tree, the strangers stopped in their tracks about 200 feet from him. Everyone else would stay hidden until a signal was given. Jasper was ready to fight.

"Well, well, it looks like the little girl has her protector around after all these years," the blond in the middle stated.

The comment gave Jasper an unsettling feeling and he called out, "You seem to know me, but I have no clue as to who you are. Care to tell me what the hell you're talkin' about?"

Chuckling, the leader's smile increased, "Oh well then, let me fill you in… Ten years ago, you were in Phoenix looking for information. You helped a little girl return home."

"How would you know what I was lookin for?"

Another dark chuckle, "Because I'm James and you were going to meet me, but I decided you weren't worth my time and I didn't feel like giving you anything. That little girl though… she was definitely worthy of it and you interfered. You still are. You were the one that chased me yesterday, weren't you?"

His adversary seemed too loose and carefree while facing an enemy. Jasper knew that was either a sign of confidence or stupidity. Even he knew better than to underestimate a potential threat, having faced many different types of beings during the Southern Vampire Wars, "I was. What do you mean by she is worthy and I interfered?"

Suddenly James face grew serious and he glared at Jasper, "I mean, that girl is mine and no one else will have her."

"You will never lay a finger on her," Jasper growled with deadly intent.

James started to laugh again. A dark rumble that seemed to be conjured up from the deepest pits of hell, "Oh we'll see about that."

Feeling like he was about to lose control, Jasper bellowed, "Find someone else's blood to drink!"

"Who said I wanted to drink her blood. I plan on making her one of us… and eventually, she will be mine," James sneered.

If he had less experience, if he had been an unseasoned warrior, if he had not been so desperate to protect Bella and therefore needed to keep his head, Jasper might have leaped at the man and ripped his head off at that very moment… and something tells him, he would have lost. He could feel the confidence and cockiness James was feeling, and feeling those while facing someone like Jasper who had multiple visible bites, that meant that other vampire was probably just as seasoned, and maybe more. Jasper had to stay on guard and careful; however, he did not miss the widening of the eyes, the jealousy, the possessiveness, or the small gasp that came from the redhead. It appeared James already had someone who thought of him as hers, and that could make her just as dangerous to Bella's health. The other man that stood with James showed little reaction to that statement and seemed to be afraid of Jasper, as he should be. Scowling, Jasper narrowed his eyes and snarled, "You will never touch my mate."

"We'll see about that," James smirked and ordered the other two forward. He could already tell that Bella was not in the vicinity, therefore, he would let his coven take care of the protector and he would search out he girl… or that was his plan until two more vampires jumped in his way, "So he wasn't alone this time. I had a feeling that someone was watching us. Well, you are easy enough dealt with." Charging Peter, he decided he was the deadlier of the two targets and the woman would be easier dealt with once the male was out of the way.

Peter was ready for him and side stepped before grabbing the enemy and throwing him to the ground. It was unsettling that the only reaction out of the blond was to laugh as he got to his feet, but he would not let the other vampire get in his head. Allowing his eyes to momentarily leave the enemy, he spotted Charlotte behind James ready to pounce and he got ready for the next charge from the enemy.

James knew the woman was sneaking up behind him. He could smell her and hear her steps as she approached over pine needles and rocks. As quiet as she tried to be, she was still noisy. Waiting for her to spring, the moment he felt her move, he whirled around and caught her by the throat, pinning her to a tree.

"Charlotte!" Peter cried out. His mate was not supposed to be caught or in danger. Yes, they were dealing with dangerous people and in a dangerous situation, but she was not supposed to be grabbed like this.

The moment when James ordered his coven forward, Jasper knew he would have to deal with them before he could take care of James. The redhead was proving to be a thorn in his side, even after the other man had quickly surrendered, apparently valuing his life more than losing it. The moment, he and Emmett finally pinned the woman with the help of Alice's instructions, they heard the cry from Peter.

"Go, we can handle her," Alice instructed her longtime friend as she ripped off a leg and threw it several feet away, "See, she can't get away now. We'll take care of her. Go to Peter."

Quickly getting to his feet, Jasper ran the short distance to where Peter and Charlotte were and found a very concerning situation. Charlotte was being held to a tree by a hand wrapped around her throat, cracks forming as the appendage continued to squeeze, and one arm missing. Peter stood there unable to stop James from ripping apart his mate. There was only one thing Jasper could even think to do at that moment, he rushed James in the hopes of throwing him off of Charlotte and then ripping his head off; however, that isn't what happened.

Seeing the approaching threat, James laughed and threw the woman at his attacker. It would only buy him a couple seconds, but that was all he needed. Once he was free from the woman, he took off. He could hear someone following, however, if he was correct, the pursuer would no longer give chase once he jumped the ravine… and he had been right.

Jasper could see where James was headed and did all he could to catch the madman before he could reach the border to the Quileute land, but it was no use. He did not have Edward's speed and although he closed some of the gap, he was still two steps too far back from catching his enemy. James got away.

Rushing back to his comrades, Jasper checked on Charlotte and saw Peter reattaching her arm; and then he checked on the others. A small fire had been started and a body burned brightly. Scanning the surroundings, he grabbed the other stranger and growled, "Where would he go? Where are you staying?"

"We move camp all the time. It isn't like we have to stay in one place. I don't know where he is," Laurent choked out.

"Tell me what you do know!" Jasper was quickly losing his patience and temper.

"He has tracking abilities. Since the girl wasn't here, he could possibly be trying to find her, but I don't know for sure," the stranger had surrendered and now wondered if his life was still forfeit.

Jasper growled, "All ya'll bring him to the house after the other body is ash. I'm goin' there now. If this James can really track Bella, I need to hurry."

"We got this!" Emmett declared.

"Don't worry about the redheaded bitch or this bastard here. Go protect Bella. After I'm done with Char, we'll follow," Peter announced and returned his focus to his mate.

Bowing his head slightly, Jasper took off as swiftly as possible. He had to reach Bella, he had to make sure she was alright, and he had to make sure James never found her. There was nothing Jasper wouldn't do to make sure Bella remained safe, and if James could indeed track Bella, then it might only be a matter of time before he finds her either at the Cullen house or her own... either destination put others in danger, but it would be best to lead him away from any humans, and that meant Charlie.