A/N: I hate writer's block. That being said, I finally finished this chapter. Things are heating up and it doesn't exactly look good for Charlie. Is Paul's dad going to be able to do something? Read and find out. Enjoy!

Chapter 25 – Planted

Edward got as close to his supposed family's home as he dared. He knew they weren't on his side, they were on his. His… Jasper Whitlock. Why? Why did they have to side with him? Edward had been the first son, the one who had stood true to the family, the one that had followed orders minus that one small rebellion stage, and he was the one that they should support. Not Jasper! That southern vampire had provoked the vampire world in the past, had slipped up time after time, and yet they were helping him keep Bella at his side. Did they not realize that Jasper, or as Bella called him JW, was just a ticking time bomb. It was only a matter of time now before that Texan murdered the brunette, drank her dry and killed her.

He couldn't allow that to happen. It was his sworn duty to protect Bella, and besides, he knew they belonged together. They were destined for each other. She just had to realize it as well, and if only they knew the truth, then to hell with everyone else.

In his delusional state of mind, Edward had convinced himself that it wasn't Bella's blood he craved, but her as a person. He believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that this human was destined to be his mate and the possibility that he could be wrong was unfathomable. Jasper could never be a proper mate to Bella and Edward was sure he could never love her the way the mind reader could, ergo Edward was her mate. He wouldn't accidentally kill the brunette. He wouldn't force her into anything, as he was positive Jasper and his family were doing at this very moment in time… probably under the control of Jasper's gift. No, Bella belonged to him.

Staring at the house, he tried to listen for both the voices sounding off in everyone's. Throughout the years he had mastered his gift and had learned to listen to all of the voices (both internal and external) and pick out anything that was relevant. He did the same today. Still unable to listen or see anything from Bella's mind, he could pick up on the others in the house. It wasn't as clear as if he were there in person, but it was enough for now.

His head shot up and his eyes widened. Alice had seen Bella running towards him, away from Jasper. That proved that the brunette didn't want to be with the southern vampire. That proved that she wanted to be with him. He needed to rescue her, however, storming the castle was not a sound plan. Patience would be the key to winning the prize.

"He's here. Less than a mile away," Alice's voice rang through the distance.

Moving quickly, Edward stood from his crouch and ran in the opposite direction. It had only been a matter of time before he had been discovered and as it was, his presence had been hidden longer than he had originally anticipated. Alice's vision had holes and Edward would expose them and use them in order to take what belonged to him.

The moment Edward vacated the premises and was "out of range", Alice shook her head, breathing a sigh of relief, "He's gone."

"Do ya'll think he took the bait?" Jasper questioned her.

Nodding, the pixie like woman answered, "Yep. He took it and then he got out of Dodge when he found out I knew he was here."

Jasper ran a hand through his hair in agitation, "Well that will at least buy us a little bit of time. I need you to keep your eye on him though. I don't think it will take long for him to come up with some sort of concoction for takin' Bella." He pulled his mate close and held her tight as he ordered, "Darlin', I need you to do everythin' I say. That vampire is dangerous and so is James, and you makin' decisions on your own or runnin' off halfcocked…" Pausing, a shudder ran through his body as he thought about what could happen.

"I just want to help get rid of them," Bella muttered, her voice muffled by Jasper's chest.

"I know, but you have no idea what we are dealing with and we at least have an inklin'. Accordin' to our house guest in there, James likes to make everythin' a game and he will use whatever means necessary to draw you out. Don't forget that he is also after Alice, and we need to make sure both of you are safe. Edward is also dangerous because he can read everyone's mind but yours. If you go runnin' off to him, I have no idea what will happen to you. I need you to listen and trust me."

"I do trust you JW… but what if…?" A hand covered her mouth and eyes met hers preventing her from saying anything else.

"No what if. I will do anythin' and everythin' to make sure you remain safe. Trust me. Goin' out on your own is not goin' to do anythin' but create more confusion, and could result… I refuse to lose you!"

Words failed her and instead of speaking, she nodded her agreement. She trusted Jasper to keep her safe and to find her father. Without any other option available, she would put all of her faith in the man that managed to find refuge in her heart seven years ago, and who remained there to this day.

Giving her a brief kiss on the cheek, Jasper straightened up and held her tight again, "Good."

In the other room, Laurent spoke up, "If he is tracking Bella, he may have already traced her to this house. Are you prepared for James?"

"That is a possibility, but I don't think he will get far considering the odds. Unless he has another gift you haven't disclosed," Jasper swiftly entered the other room and confronted the prisoner.

"As far as I know, it is only the tracking abilities. He depended on Victoria's gift to get us out of tight situations, and since she is dead, he no longer has her abilities to help him. However, he is over two hundred years old and he knows how to survive. He wasn't with Victoria the entirety of his existence," the nomad explained leaning as far back as he could in an attempt to get away from the threat looming in front of him. Laurent knew very well who the man glaring at him was, as one did not live as long as he had as a vampire and not know about the Southern Vampire Wars or Jasper Whitlock. The southern vampire was dangerous, as the battle scars covering the visible and invisible skin could attest. No, this was not the man Laurent or anyone should cross. Jasper could be a deadly enemy or a blessed ally, and Laurent knew if he wanted to live, he needed to play nice.

"We are fully prepared for him to trace Bella's scent to the house, but do not think of myself or my family weak."

"That is not an assumption I was in the process of making. However, James will come for her and I want to know if you are prepared for when he does. I'm not sure what he will do or how he will go about it, but he will come for both of them," Laurent gestured towards the two women standing behind his antagonizer.

"I am aware of that, and when he does, we will be prepared."

"How can you be so confident?"

"I'm not a complete fool and I understand my enemies should not be underestimated, but do not make the mistake of underestimatin' me." Jasper was prevented from continuing when his phone started to ring. Glancing down at the caller ID, he noticed Peter's name lighting up the screen and immediately answered, "What is it?"

"We ran into a couple of your wolf buddies at the border. They aren't letting us on their land and we traced Charlie's scent to the water's edge. I think he is further up the beach, but we can't get close," Peter answered as he stared down on of the dog's patrolling the border.

They had increased their numbers along the border due to the threat of the nomads and Sam was tracking down Paul with the remaining pack members, and that meant he was looking for Charlie as well, but the treaty remained intact and the wolves did not want to let any vampire on their land. The cold ones were still a threat and they could not be trusted… even if they did drink from animals instead of humans. The pack would not risk the lives of the people on the reservation. They could handle vampires, and if the ones in front of them wanted to fight, then they would take care of the four facing them right now.

"I want you and Char to come back here. Have Em and Rose stay there. If they hear anything about Charlie, I want to be notified immediately. Edward is back sooner than we thought. We planted a little bug in his head, but between him and James, we need to remain on the offense."

"Understood Major! Should we seek out Edward or James?"

"Not yet. Let's regroup and come up with a plan first. If we can, I want to cage both of them at the same time, but that might not be possible. However, if you run across one of them, do what you can."

"Will do. We will be back soon," Peter declared before disconnecting the line and passing on the orders to the others. He could feel the contention rolling through the air and boiling around them, and soon it would not be able to be contained. Would they wind up in a war with the wolves as well as two renegade vampires? He hoped not and prayed that with the capture and destruction of the vampires in question, the animosity would disappear, or at least return to where it was before the nomads showed up and started to wreak havoc on the Pacific Northwest.

As he pocketed his phone, Jasper was sure everyone but Bella had heard that conversation… both sides. And his mate, well she probably pieced together most of what was said without hearing Peter's side of it. He could feel it in the emotions coming from her. Glancing over his shoulder, it was more than apparent she was close to her breaking point and he rushed to her side and swept her up in his arms. Within seconds they were in his room and he was laying her on the bed, sending her calming, harmonious vibes. "Darlin', your dad is fine. We just ran into a little snag, but we aren't the only ones lookin' for him. So are people on the reservation. We are gonna find him. Alright?"

"I know you will, I just…"

"I understand. Let's just take a little break together."

"Don't you need to be downstairs with the others?"

"They can handle it right now without me, and you're more important. You're my priority right now. As long as you're ok, I'm ok."

Her eyes broke their contact with his and she looked down at the hands that were fisted together on her stomach, "Thanks JW. My dad and I haven't had the best of relationships and I really only moved up here because my mom got married. I didn't want to be in the way or burden her because she wanted to be with her husband. I feel so out of place sometimes when I'm around him, and then you show up just when I need you again and rescue me… again." Her eyes lifted and met his, "I always wanted to see you again and never thought I would. I planned on living here for two years to finish school and then move away to college. To bear living with my father while I was here. I mean I love him because he is my dad, but we haven't been close for a long time. I wanted to fix that bond, but I also didn't think it would be completely mended. Now that he is missing, I think about all the things I could have done to reach out to him, to have a better relationship with him, and I really want another chance at it."

"And ya'll will get the opportunity to mend fences. He will be found and both of you will have all the time in the world to build that relationship again. Trust me darlin'. You aren't gonna lose him just yet." He ran his fingers over her cheek and then through her hair in an effort to calm her down some more. His gift could have done it wholly and completely, and yet, he knew she didn't like it when he did that to her, and he wouldn't betray her trust. Not in this. One day he might have to do just that, but not today.

Readjusting so that they lay down in the bed together, her head pillowed on his chest, he continued to stroke her hair. Her scent intoxicated him and had already become the addiction he never wanted to get rid of. This was his mate, the other half of his soul if he had one, the woman that was made for him, and although he had to let her go once, he didn't think he would ever be able to again.

"JW?"

"Hmm?"

A yawn halted her words momentarily and she knew the man beneath her, whose heart she couldn't hear beating even as she lie over it, had used his gift so that she would feel drowsy and sleep for a time. "JW, if it comes down to a choice or decision…"

"Yes?" He pressed when she didn't immediately continue.

Another yawn. "Change me before they can get me."

"Bella, I don't think it'll come down to that," Jasper whispered listening to her deep even breathing as she drifted off to sleep. Kissing the top of her head, he exhaled and looked up at the ceiling above him. The last thing he ever wanted to do was paint her into a corner and force the change upon her. "Dear God in heaven, don't take her away from me and don't let any harm come to her." He wasn't sure if he still believed in God, but there were times when he found himself praying as he had when he was a little boy growing up in the country. Now though, if He truly did exist, Jasper wanted His help in keeping the brunette in his arms there forever… or for as long as their existence allowed it. James was coming for Bella and Alice. Edward was coming for Bella. Charlie was missing. All hell was breaking loose and Jasper only knew he would do anything to make sure nothing happened to his mate or his family… even if he had to give his own life.

Reservation…

Just as Jesse reached the door to the cabin, a loud thud and growling coming from behind forced him to spin around and confront something he had heard legends about and never expected to see. Three giant snarling wolves stood there. He was frozen where he stood, and when one of them opened its powerful jaws and snapped, Jesse's world went black. His last thought was that of the son he couldn't protect from monsters.