A/N: Happy Valentine's Day!

– Jasper's POV –

How the fuck did I not see this comin'?

Strike that.

I know how I didn't see this comin', how the hell did Alice not see this? She's a fuckin' psychic! Surely, she should've seen somethin'!

The strong, fierce, independent woman who'd sat in the Cullen living room, not two hours ago, shocked the ever-lovin' shit outta me! I wasn't expectin' her. I wasn't expecting this! As soon as I locked eyes with her and her scent washed over me, I froze.

I froze!

Me!

Major Jasper Whitlock. Froze. But, fuck me, I wasn't expectin' this!

Isabella Swan.

Alive.

A vampire.

And my True Mate!

There was no denyin' it. No way Edward could rebuff me or claim her as his. Not when every molecule within me—The Major and The God of War—knew the truth. Isabella Swan is ours!

We just have to convince her of that.

She ain't gonna be easy to tame.

Tame? Fuck! You've been livin' with these pansies fer too long if you think you can tame a woman like our mate! She's wild and free, just as we should be, instead of wastin' our lives locked in this prison.

I looked around at the Cullen living room. Beige walls. White furniture. Generic art on the walls. Nothin' of substance. Even the books on the bookshelves were pristine and untouched! It was all so . . . sterile. Don't matter how much you try to pretty it up, this place was a prison. Well, to me and The Major. The other's seemed perfectly at home here.

Isabella is a nomad. There's no way she'll conform to the Cullen way of life.

Not now. Maybe if she'd been turned back in 2005 life would be different. Now though, she's tasted freedom. She lives by her own rules. No one judgin' her. Lecturin' her. Tellin' her what to do, what to eat, where to live, how to dress! Her choices were hers. I envy that.

We can have that, too.

But if I leave, what'll happen to the rest of 'em?

Who the fuck cares! Are you anythin' more than a glorified bodyguard to this Coven? Oh, excuse me, family! A family, might I remind you, we no longer belong to thanks to Eddiekins and his lapdog.

I sighed.

We should've taken control and tossed both their asses in the fire when Alice dragged us to this fucked up Coven!

I can't say I didn't agree with him. I did. Life would've been easier if I'd done what was necessary back then. But, who's to say that would've been any better? Maybe Alice wouldn't have found her mate. Or worse, maybe she would've found him earlier and then Bella never would've been born, leavin' me alone for eternity. Life happens the way it's meant to. I wasn't meant to kill Carlisle and Edward when we joined this Coven.

Let's not focus on what could've been. No point. Can't go back and change it now. Our focus needs to be on Isabella. Our mate is out there alone. Do you think she knows we're mated?

I'm not sure.

She's attracted to us. I felt her desire. Watched her appraise me, those lovely deep brown eyes lingerin' on mine for a moment longer than everyone else's. She was curious. Probably about our change in diet.

I'm fuckin' curious, too. How the hell are her eyes still brown?

No idea.

So much about her has changed. She's sassy. Angry. Stunning. distrustful. Fiery. She ain't the same old Bella Swan we knew in Forks, that's for damn sure! This is an entirely different woman. And she is a woman. Gone was the little girl she used to be. Sat before us was a grown woman. With life experience, a past I ached to learn about, and stories I yearned to listen to.

Watchin' her stalk Edward, showin' far more patience than I ever would've been capable of was sexy as hell! She was controlled, keepin' her temper in check, but I could feel the anger bubblin' beneath the surface. If he pushed her too far, she'd strike and I had a feelin' he wouldn't survive that. None of them saw it, not even Charlie. They saw her as the same Bella she was back in Forks, which is likely why her story about huntin' and killin' the woman shocked everyone so much. The Bella Swan we'd known never would've done such a thing.

But this woman is not Bella Swan.

No. She isn't. She's somethin' far better.

Our Isabella.

I'm surprised I didn't feel somethin' sooner. Usually, there's a draw towards yer mate. It's often subtle, just a pull, an inkling, or the need to be at a certain location. Most don't understand what they're feelin' and ignore their instincts, which is why it takes so long for some to find their mate or their mate is human and they don't find them at all. Even worse, they do find them but don't realize what the bond means and end up feedin' on them!

It was somethin' I've always feared. I spent almost a century mindlessly killin' humans. I felt very little back then. What if I'd killed my mate? I never felt a pull or draw to anyone or anythin'. I didn't feel it when Bella was human. I didn't feel anythin' when we left Forks. Or in the last eighty-five years. Only when our eyes locked did our bond lock into place. At least, for me. I'm not sure what she's feelin' besides a deep attraction to me. She wanted me. But I couldn't be sure she knew what the attraction meant. She was curious, and there was a fuckton of disappointment. I ain't sure what that's about. I'd never deny her or reject her.

But maybe she thinks we would.

As far as she knows, I'm a Cullen. She probably thinks I'm as dedicated to the human charade as the rest of them.

She couldn't be further from the truth!

Or it could be her past. We left her. There's a lot of pain and anger within her, maybe that's what drove her way.

That and Edprude's fuckin' mouth! Damn fuckin' boy!

I do feel a little bad for him.

Why the fuck would you go and do somethin' like that?

I think he might've been mated with her. Well, the Bella we left in Forks. I felt their love, hers especially. She was devoted to him. He was the one who held back. If he'd stayed and turned her—if he'd been honest with her and respected her—they could've found peace together and been happy.

Nah. I don't see it. Once she was turned, she would've met us and recognized our bond. Maybe if she'd remained human, as Dickwad wanted, they would've stayed together. But even back then, she wanted this life. That was always gonna drive a wedge between them.

You're right. Life's always gonna happen the way It's meant to, no matter what plans you make. I believe, Bella was meant for this life. She's thrivin' as a vampire! Maybe Edward could've been part of that if he'd grown and changed with her. Maybe not. We'll never know.

Like the little, insecure boy he is, shit got hard and he ran away. He left her. He abandoned the girl he called his mate. And from what Bella has said, that girl has been erased.

She's like the phoenix. Reborn. Risen from the ashes. The girl she was has been burnt away. From within the flames of transformation, a new woman emerged. One better suited for us than the boy.

Matin' isn't just about a connection. It isn't an instant spark and bam! You're together for the rest of eternity. It takes work. You have to choose to be with one another. It's about commitment and dedication. About understandin', love, and respect for one another. The Cullens take that for granted. They think because they're paired off they'll always be together.

Sure, there's the initial bondin'. It's all instinct and overwhelmin' desire. But after that, when yer libido settles, a relationship that's going to span eternity takes work.

There's no way Edward could handle a woman like Isabella. Just from his reaction to her feedin' on the young woman proves that. He was disgusted by the whole thing. Hell, the entire Coven felt the same!

But me? Her story went straight to my cock.

Course, we're the only ones who knew she was lyin'. Well mostly. Somethin' happened. But what she told Fuckwad weren't the whole truth. She was testin' him. And he failed. Spectacularly.

I ain't against takin' a human to my bed and feedin' on them. Fuck. I've done it plenty of times in the past. There ain't no way I'll share her with another male. She's mine. Only mine. The only cock that'll enter her body from this point forward is mine! But I ain't opposed to watchin' her with a female . . .

If that's somethin' she'd like to indulge in, who are we to stop her?

Well, once we've found her.

I ain't worried about her goin' too far. Our bond has manifested now. She won't be able to disappear fer long.

Whether she knows it or not, she's already mine. She'll only be able to go so far before our bond pulls her back to me. Not that I plan to be too far behind her! No way I'm letin' my little minx go now I've found her! Where she goes, I go.

The Major was right. There ain't no point stayin' here now. I doubt Isabella will want to stay with the Cullens and, frankly, I'm ready to leave. I've been splittin' my time between here and my own Coven, just to ensure these pansies stay protected. But The Major had a point, all I am to these fuckers Is a bodyguard. Time for them to grow up, I think! Let them take care of themselves. I've got a mate to find!

I was just plannin' my exit from the Cullen house, packin' up a few essentials, when Alice let out a shrill scream and everyone went runnin'!

Fuck! What now?

"Edward!" She panicked. "He was up in a tree and then . . . then his future went black. He's gone! I can't find him."

Damn. Fuckin'. Boy!

It wouldn't surprise me if he'd gone missin' and got himself into trouble to thwart my plans to mate with Isabella. The child won't accept she's mine. God forbid she prefers me to his pompous ass!

I was shocked when Charlie's phone rang and Isabella's bell-like voice filled the panicked room.

So, the little shit had been stalking my mate. Not just that, he'd broken laws! Violatin' her privacy. Enterin' her home without invitation. Trespassin' on her marked territory. These were all violations of Volturi law. Punishable offenses. Maybe not with death, but imprisonment, forced servitude, loss of . . .

Fuck me! Never mind, the fiery little beauty had taken care of it herself. She tore him apart and took several pieces as punishment.

Hot damn! That's my kinda woman! I wonder what pieces she took?

Fuck me. She was nothin' like the child we left behind. She was growlin' down the phone, speakin' some pretty damn unpleasant home truths about Edward and his treatment of her when she was human.

She'd grown and matured. And damn, she was a force to be reckoned with! The sound of her growl went straight to my dick!

Everyone was shocked by her words and the deplorable way Edward had treated her and broken up with her. To be honest, I don't know why they were actin' so surprised. We all saw the way he was with her back then! I brought it up to Carlisle on numerous occasions. Emmett and Rosalie did, too. But as usual, we were ignored!

I'm not surprised she hates the little turd, and by extension the rest of us! We left her. Packed up in the middle of the night and fled the next day, without a word to her. Just as Edward wanted!

Esme was sobbin'.

Carlisle was seethin'. Not because of Bella or what she'd been through. Oh no! He was upset about her treatment of poor Edward!

Emmett was seethin', though for an entirely different reason. He'd been forced to leave his little sister. Ordered by his Sire and Coven leader. And trust me, that ain't an order you can refuse!

We did it.

But Emmett ain't us. He ain't strong enough to break an Alpha Order.

Back then Carlisle ordered him away from Forks and Emmett had no choice but to comply. But ever since, his relationship with Carlisle and, to an extent, Esme, has been strained.

Emmett only stays with the Coven for Rosalie. She refuses to leave her family and, Emmett, as her mate, has no choice but to comply with her, too.

If I've learned anythin' from watchin' Pete and Char, it's when yer mate speaks, you damn well better listen or risk losin' a limb. Our female comes first. Always. No matter what.

Alice wasn't upset. She was fuckin' livid. Outraged! Like the rest of us, she'd been ordered by Carlisle to leave Forks, but, unlike Emmett, she had free will. Carlisle is her Coven leader, not her Sire. It was her choice to listen to him.

I know she regrets her decision. It was only Edward's badgerin' that forced her to relent and obey his demand that we all leave without saying goodbye. Because of that, Alice has always blamed herself for Bella's death. She was inconsolable when she had the vision of Bella lying dead in a meadow. Needless to say, her relationship with Edward never recovered. She finally saw him the way Emmett, Rosalie, and I did. As nothin' more than a spoilt, insolent child.

I was happy Alice had finally seen the light. For a while, I was concerned Edward would lead my best friend down the wrong path. Those two together, with their combined gifts, could potentially cause a lot of fuckin' problems.

Ali ain't anythin' like the boy, thank fuck!

"Except for my father, if I never see any of you again, it'll be too damn soon. Why the hell I'm risking my ass to save all of you is anyone's guess. I should've just let her kill you all and be done with it!"

What does that mean? Let who kill us?

I ignored The Major.

A low continuous growl reverberated through my chest. If that boy has ruined my chance to be with my mate, I'll kill him myself! Fuck, I might just do that anyway!

There are ways to handle a reluctant mate. Forcin' her is an option but I'd rather not go that direction. Hopefully, she'll be willin' to meet with me. From the emotions she was givin' off earlier, I don't think she'll resist the pull to our bond. If I can talk to her and apologize for my stupidity and careless actions toward her, it'll be a start. I ain't stupid enough to think she'll forgive me right away. I just need her to be open to it in the future. We can go at her pace and take our time. I ain't in any rush. Fuck, I've waited two hundred and twenty-six years to find my mate. I'll wait for her. However long it takes.

Edward's tactics of badgerin', manipulatin', lyin', and glamourin' sure as hell took their toll on her emotions and psyche. She doesn't trust any of us! Not even her father. I can't blame her, though. She doesn't know his story yet. Hopefully, she'll give him the chance to show her he ain't a Cullen.

I'm concerned about her mental state. After months of glamourin' and then being turned unexpectedly and spendin' eighty-five years alone . . . that's got have taken its toll on her mind!

I agree. But we ain't gonna know anythin' until we can get to her and hopefully, she'll let us apologize!

Admittedly, I didn't think much of Bella Swan when she was human. Fuck. As far as I could see she was nothin' but a weak, pathetic child. She followed Edward and Alice around like a mindless automaton! And now I know why! Edward was glamourin' her! Using his looks, his scent, and his breath to fog her mind and make her compliant to his demands!

And that sure as hell is illegal! Punishable by death! One I will happily deliver if my mate wishes it!

The only reason to ever glamour a human is to ensure our secret is kept and our species is not exposed. Glamouring is extremely dangerous and should never, ever be used on a human more than once. If it can be avoided, it should never be used on a child! Bella, at seventeen, was a child. There can be severe consequences to a developing mind if glamouring is continuous!

Fuck me, she and Edward were together for almost seven months! It's no surprise she suffered when he left. She was goin' through withdrawals. I'm surprised she hasn't suffered long-term effects!

Who the hell knows what her mind is like now? Just because she's a vampire that doesn't mean the consequences of his actions have been erased. Turnin' a human who's been glamoured as much as Bella could have serious consequences.

You remember David, Maria's human pet? Look what happened to him when Maria accidentally turned him!

I remember.

I may not have liked Bella much as a human, but she didn't deserve that!

I turned to Alice. "Did you know?" I growled. "That he was glamourin' her?"

She nodded. "I suspected as much when we were in Phoenix." She admitted. "In the hotel, she was too jittery. Restless. All she wanted was him. She was totally dependent on him! You remember what she was like. You had to intervene on more than one occasion just to get her to calm down. I knew then, something wasn't right but I didn't have any proof. I watched them together afterward and when I saw him glamouring her, I went straight to Carlisle."

There was only concern, compassion, and sincerity in her emotions. Alice is a skilled manipulator. She knows how to lie and get her way. But, this time, I believed her. It helped that her mate stood beside her, glarin' down at my little Pixie of a best friend. She could lie to me, to all of us, but she'd never lie to Charlie. That would be a complete violation of their matin' bond and she loved him too much to ever hurt him or his daughter.

I looked at Carlisle and then back to Alice. "And then? What did Carlisle do?"

"He assured me he'd speak with Edward and deal with it. I saw that he would and I believed him." She admitted. "Over the summer, it seemed like Bella was doing better. Carlisle told me it would take time for Edward's influence to leave her system but she would make a full recovery. He said he'd spoken to Edward and reprimanded him for using such horrid tactics." Her eyes shifted to Carlisle. "And again, I believed him."

This time I turned to Carlisle. "Did you speak to the boy, Carlisle?" I asked. "Did you ensure he stopped glamourin' her? Did you do anythin' to help her!?"

Carlisle bristled. "I am the leader of this Coven Jasper. I make the decisions around here, and how I choose to raise my progeny is of no concern to you! You didn't even like Bella!"

"You're right. As a human, I found her weak and pathetic. But I didn't know she was bein' glamoured by your progeny. Nor did I know she is, and was then, my mate!" I roared.

There was another round of gasps from Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, and even Charlie.

"She's your mate, Major?" Charlie asked, looking stunned. "My Bells?"

My Bells now, Pops.

I nodded in confirmation, my attention still on Carlisle who was now lookin' paler than usual. Unlike him, I had no qualms about killin' the pathetic little boy and he knew it, too.

Before today, I saw Edward as a nuisance. A bug to be flicked away. He wasn't worth the time and effort it would take to kill him. And, as far as I could see, he wasn't doing any harm to anyone, he was just a spoilt child, worshiped by his Sire.

Until today.

Today I met my mate.

And now, if she asked me to kill him, if he upsets her, hurts her, or steps one toe out of line, I won't hesitate to squash him like the bug he is.

"I told you that boy weren't her mate, Carlisle." I seethed. "I warned you to keep him away from her, that he was only interested in her silent mind and the scent of her blood. But as per usual, you never listen! Yer more interested in yer favourite son, unable to see past his needs and wants, makin' everythin' you do fer him and him alone! It makes me wonder if you two are mated by the way you act toward him!"

From the roar of outrage that came from Carlisle, as well as the shame, guilt, and sheer force of his desire I may have just hit the nail on the head!

Fuck me, are they mated and can't admit it? Have they been denyin' the truth for a hundred and seventy-two fuckin' years?

How have they survived this long without claimin' one another?

It sure as hell explains a lot!

"This is my Coven, son," Carlisle hissed.

"I ain't yer son," I snarled. "And, lest you've forgotten, Carlisle, I ain't a member of yer Coven anymore, either. You and yer boy made sure of that after Bella's birthday party. The only reason I come back here every few months is to ensure yer safety and the safety of those I call my friends! If it weren't fer me bein' associated with this farce of a Coven, you'd all have perished long ago!"

With that, both Esme and Rose seemed to sober up. Esme stopped her pathetic sobbin' and looked up at the man who was supposed to be her mate. How the hell didn't she know?

Maybe she did know and went along with the lie. But why?

"What did you do, Carlisle?" She hissed. "Did you allow that boy to throw Jasper out of our family?"

"He is not of my venom, what does it matter what I do?" Carlisle asked, to the shock of everyone else, but none more than Alice and, to some extent Charlie.

Alice has always feared one day Carlisle would turn on her and throw her out because he isn't her Sire. He turned all the others, but she and I came to them to join of our own free will. And, for a while, they accepted us. Though, I've often wondered if Carlisle only did so due to our gifts and how we could benefit his family.

"What does that matter?" Esme exclaimed. "They're our family!"

Carlisle shook his head. "Family is venom, Esme. Edward, you, Rosalie, and Emmett. They are family. The others are Coven. and I am their leader. What I say goes. If I choose to throw Jasper out, that is my prerogative as Coven leader."

"Good to know where ya stand, Carlisle," Charlie said suddenly. "Ali, baby, I'm calling in my mustache favour!"

I smirked. Alice had promised Charlie one favour—anythin' he wanted and she couldn't say no—if he let her shave his mustache off before she turned him.

She leaned forward, reachin' up on her tippy toes. Still, he had to bend to allow her to kiss his cheek. "Save your favour, my love." She purred. "I already know what you want and I agree. I'll need one hour."

"Oh, and Carlisle," she turned her glare on Carlisle, "I'd look into saving the fortune I've acquired for you over the years because I won't be helping you anymore. And with the way Edward spends, you'll be destitute by the end of the decade!"

With that, she darted up the stairs. "Jazz, why don't you come with us? For good this time! Seems anyone, not of Carlisle's venom is subject to be kicked out of their home if they upset his lordship!"

Charlie smirked. "I think it's time we go find our girl, don't you, Major?"

Fuck yes!

– Peter's POV –

Oh fuckin' hell's bells!

Trouble was comin' and it was comin' fast!

I could sense it. Feel it. I just didn't know which direction it was comin' from.

What I did know, for sure, was my newbie little sister was smack dab in the middle and there ain't no way I can allow anyone to hurt a hair on her precious little head. The Major's waited a long time for his mate, ain't no one gonna take that from my brother!

But shit, it ain't gonna be easy! She's dead set against bein' anywhere near that damn fuckin' Coven, Jasper included! Can't say I blame her but fuck, she's gonna have to get past that. At the very least, open the door to The Major or we're all fuckin' doomed and I'm too pretty to die!

"Char, Sweets," I called, "Trouble's comin' our way!"

We were staying at some swanky hotel for a couple of days, enjoying the peace away from the overly dramatic Cullen Coven. They've changed a lot since Charlie Swan joined them; that man was a godsend to the Coven! But damn, no matter how much they change their appearance, a few of 'em can't keep their opinions to themselves! It's no wonder The Major splits his time between them and us.

He's said, he'd like to stay with us full-time, but he's worried to leave the Coven unprotected. Carlisle still refuses to allow most of 'em to learn to fight. Emmett's there, but that ain't enough to deter an enemy like The Major can. He's the only thing standin' between the Coven and those who see them as an easy target.

Now he's a mated man, that's all gonna change. There ain't no way his mate will abide by Cullen rules or spend her eternity goin' to high school! It'll be a fuckin' miracle if she agrees to live in the same state as the Coven who abandoned her!

Hopefully, The Major will learn quickly; when yer mate speaks, you damn well listen! Males may be more volatile and aggressive. We're fighters, warriors, and protectors. But our females can be just as formidable and it's always best to take yer mate's opinion into account. She's likely to stop ya doin' somethin' stupid or startin' a damn war!

The Major's never had a partner he can confide in completely. Hopefully, he'll accept his new mate and the role she'll take on within our Coven. After all, she'll be just as important to me and Char as The Major!

"What kinda trouble, Buns?" Char asked, joining me on the balcony.

I turned to face her, smiling when I saw her dressed in one of the complimentary bathrobes. I pulled her into my arms and sat her on my lap as I explained all I knew. It weren't much.

"Do you know where she's headed?" Char asked.

I tilted my head to the apartment building opposite our hotel room. "The penthouse is hers. She'll be here in Seattle for the night, meetin' up with someone, and tomorrow she's off to," I sighed, "Mexico."

"Mexico!" Char hissed, her whole body tensin' up. "What the fuck is she doin' goin' to Mexico?"

I shrugged. "No idea, Sweets. So, question is, do we intervene?"

My beautiful mate growled. "Of course, we damn well intervene! We can't let The Major's mate go anywhere near that wretched harpy. You know what she'll do if she gets her hands on The Major's beloved!"

She was off my lap and dartin' back into the hotel room. "Call The Major!" She shouted over her shoulder. "Get him here. Now! This is an emergency!"

I shook my head and pulled out my cell phone. No way I was going to disobey an order from my mate.

Fuck. She's scarier than Maria!