A/N: I can't believe we're already on chapter 12! But don't worry, we aren't even close to being done. I'm aiming to keep it to less than 40 chapters. But sometimes the muse takes over and there's nothing I can do. :)

Enjoy xoxo

– Bella's POV –

It was so nice to be out of the car.

The Riverside Hotel was beautiful. The staff was friendly, helpful, and very professional. None of the females, or males, looked like they wanted to jump my mate nor did they glare at plain, boring me for being with him.

Jasper booked us into another luxurious, ridiculously expensive suite. But even I have to admit, it was gorgeous! A King-sized bed. Pillow-top mattress. Soft, cozy-looking pillows and a thick-down comforter. A garden tub I planned to take full advantage of while we're here. A flat-screen television with HBO and cable!

Okay. So, I was a little impressed. But, you know, I've never done any traveling before. This was luxury to me.

The first order of business was food for the human. I was in desperate need of something other than salad. I wanted protein. I was exhausted! I put it down to being on the road, possibly Jasper constantly drinking from me, and maybe a lack of nutrition. I haven't been able to eat very well these last few days.

My change in diet was easy while we were in Forks. I could just run to the store. But it wasn't as easy being on the road and finding a restaurant that served something conducive to this new diet. Frankly, it would've been easier to eat a hamburger or a big juicy steak, but for whatever reason, I couldn't stomach it anymore. I may have given up meat, but that didn't mean I could survive on salad and greens alone. I needed something hot. Something substantial. With a lot of protein.

At least I think I need protein.

Maybe I just need food.

I don't know.

And a good night's sleep.

In a bed. Not in the truck.

"Why don't you take a nice hot shower," Jasper suggested, brushing his lips against mine, "and I'll order you dinner. When you're done, I'll shower and then we can relax, maybe watch a movie . . ."

I smiled. "You don't want to join me in the shower, Major?" I asked, my fingers playing with the hem of his shirt.

"Mm." He purred, pressing soft kisses to my neck. "If I join ya, Darlin'," he brushed his lips across mine again, "I'm gonna spend the rest of the night worshipin' this lovely body and you'll never get fed. Yer needs are far more important than my desire to ravish you."

Damn.

"Okay." I relented. "You choose a movie and order dinner. I'll shower."

He smirked and kissed me once more. "Good girl."

Is it weird I liked it when he says 'good girl'? Coming from anyone else I'd likely bristle and feel like I'm being referred to as the family pet. But from him, it made me feel cared for, wanted, and . . . sexy.

In a BDSM, kink setting, it wasn't weird at all. But we haven't talked about that yet. We've talked about sex. I know all about his past and he knows mine. But before anything kinky can happen, I'd like to make love to my mate the vanilla way, without all the bells and whistles.

My body is more than ready to take that step. We've fooled around some, we just haven't gone all the way. I've been a little hesitant. My body is there, but I'm not sure my mind has caught up.

How do you know when you're ready to take that step?

I guess, if I have to ask, I'm not there yet.

– XOXO –

The shower was fabulous! Although, that could be because I haven't showered in a few days. I was feeling icky and gross. And it was nice to be clean. Plus, the water was hot and soothed my aching muscles.

Another change I've noticed; there's no longer any hair on my body except atop my head. And of course, eyebrows and eyelashes. I'd look weird with no eyebrows. Trust me on that. I accidentally burned off an eyebrow once and it was not a good look for me. But there's no hair anywhere else on my body. Not on my legs. Arms. Under my arms. Or on my nether region. I am completely hairless; as smooth as a baby's bottom from neck to toe.

I've got no idea where the hair went. I've always had hair in all the places it's supposed to be. I used to shave my legs and under my arms. I even toyed around with different pubic hairstyles, but I'd never gone, nor did I want to go, completely hairless down there.

But it seemed Fate or whoever's in charge of body hair had other ideas. One morning, not long after the ballet studio incident, I woke up and it was gone . . . not a hair in sight.

It was like magic.

Until recently, I wondered if it was a vampire thing, that maybe they were hairless. And, as I'm still convinced Jasper accidentally—or possibly on purpose, I'm not sure—left his venom inside of me when he bit me in the ballet studio, it was having some effect on me. That theory was squashed with one look at my sexy mate. He has a whisper of hair across his chest. Hair under his arms. On his forearms. And a sexy happy trail leading from his belly button to his beautiful cock.

For someone who was turned in eighteen sixty-four, he's well groomed. But still, there's hair where it should be.

It's sexy. And I never thought I'd say that about body hair! But it makes him . . . manly. And sexy.

I don't care that the hair on my legs and under my arms is gone. Shaving was always a pain in the ass. But to not have pubic hair . . .

I ran my fingers across my smooth pussy lips.

I don't mind the way it feels. And I like it even more when Jasper touches me. My pussy's always been super sensitive. It's just . . . weird.

I guess it all depends on preference. Jasper doesn't seem to care one way or another. And if he does, he hasn't said anything to me.

There wasn't anything I could do about it, regardless. What's gone is gone. I'd like to know why this change was necessary, but it's not like it's going to make much difference. The hair hasn't grown back in six months, and I doubt it ever will.

When I was clean, I switched off the shower and grabbed a big, fluffy white towel, wrapping it around my body.

I quickly towel-dried my hair, leaving it down to air dry, and then stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed.

"Feel better, Darlin'?" Jasper asked, wrapping one of the soft, white bathrobes the hotel provided around my body. I shimmied out of my towel as he tied the waist belt and then pressed a soft kiss to my lips.

"Mm. It's nice to be clean." I smiled.

He smiled, too. "Carlisle called," he said, leading me over to the King-sized bed.

"Oh? Is everything okay?" I asked, crawling into the middle of the bed and making myself comfortable.

Damn. It was nice. Soft. Cozy. With lots of pillows. All that was missing was a soft blanket.

"Edward's disappeared."

My head snapped up. "What do you mean, he's disappeared?"

He sighed. "Carlisle thinks he overheard our conversation and took off. Ali says he's not headin' towards Forks but she ain't sure where he's goin'. He's making random, nonsensical decisions. One minute he's goin' to find you and kill me. Then he's going to Japan. Then he's huntin' humans again. Then he's plannin' to race cars for the twenty-twenty-three NASCAR season."

Makes sense, I guess. If anyone knows how to get around Alice's sight, it's the one person who spends as much time in her head as she does.

"So, he's trying to throw her off by making decisions that he'd never, in a million years, be stupid enough to try. Isn't it just a case of process of elimination?" I asked. "I can understand Japan; who wouldn't want to go to Japan?" I continued. "But Edward doesn't like to travel. He once told me he has no desire to see the world, preferring to stay close to Carlisle and the family. So, I doubt it's that. I can't see Mr. Self-Control changing his diet. That would mean he could no longer hold himself above the rest of you, and feel superior to you all."

Jasper nodded in agreement.

"And he might think he's a good driver," I said, "but any time Emmett's watched NASCAR he's always scoffed and turned his nose up at the sport. Though, I can't see why it looks like a lot of fun to me. Then again, Edward's idea of fun is listening to the most boring piece of classical music he can find and playing a good game of air violin."

"Which only leaves one option," Jasper said calmly, having already come to the same conclusion.

"He overheard our conversation with Carlisle." I nodded. "He knows we're mated and is coming to find me and kill you."

Jasper nodded. "Carlisle doesn't think Edward would confront a newly mated male, especially not while we're surrounded by humans and where there's a chance you could be hurt," he told me. "He thinks he'll head straight to Pete's place and do it there."

That would make sense. Any rational vampire probably would do exactly what Carlisle has suggested. But this is Edward we're talking about. I'm pretty sure all rational thoughts left the building about six months ago.

A rational man would not harm his so-called mate. A good rational man would not cause the so-called love of his life pain or fear. He would not manipulate her or abuse her or his own family!

I took a deep breath to calm myself as Jasper took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Do you think that's what he's going to do?" I asked, hoping he was smart enough to see what Carlisle and the others couldn't.

"I don't think we're dealin' with the Edward the family has all come to know and love anymore," he told me.

I frowned. "I don't understand . . ."

"After I spoke with Carlisle, I called Pete to give him a heads up, just in case Edward decided to do the right thing and head there first."

I nodded.

"Pete reminded me of his time with his Singer . . ."

"Singer?" I frowned. "Oh no. I don't sing," I assured him. "I can't. I sound awful. And I've certainly never sang for Edward."

He smiled. "No, Darlin'. Not that kinda singer. This is about yer blood," he told me. "When we find that one person whose blood calls to us more than anyone else's, yer known as a Singer. Because yer blood sings to one particular vampire."

"To the rest of us," he went on, "yer blood smells fuckin' fantastic. But to Edward, ya smell like the best thing in the world. There ain't words to describe how potent and beautiful yer blood is to him. And there ain't anyone who'll ever smell like you do to him. Yer his Singer. Yer meant to be his, only his. To be enjoyed, drained . . . and then buried."

Oh.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Well, that got dark fast, didn't it?

"It ain't pretty, Darlin'," Jasper said softly, brushing his fingers down my cheek. "Singers, like you, with blood that calls to one vampire, ain't meant to last in our world."

"But I'm still alive . . . Edward hasn't drank from me . . ."

Jasper nodded. "Which is why I don't think we're dealin' with the Edward we all know and love, but a much different beast. The war between Edward's impeccable control, the scent of yer blood, and his need to drain ya dry is slowly sendin' him around the bend!"

"Pete reminded me what could happen to a vampire who's denied the blood of their Singer," he went on. "And it ain't good, Darlin'. Hell, I don't think Edward's been firin' on all cylinders fer months now. He's just managed to hide his true intent from the rest of the Coven."

I didn't want to ask this question. But I needed to know. "What happens to a vampire who's denied their Singer's blood?"

"They go insane."

Well, at least he didn't sugarcoat it.

"Yer blood, Darlin', calls to Edward in the extreme sense. It shouldn't be somethin' he can ignore or deny himself. As far as I know, no vampire ever has. I couldn't. Emmett couldn't. Ali couldn't. Pete couldn't. Not even Esme could deny the pull to her singer."

"In a way, yer very lucky. Edward's fightin' the draw to yer blood. But I think that's what's affectin' his control. It's the reason his personality has changed so suddenly. Why he's become abusive and controlling. He can't allow anything to happen to ya. He must above all else keep yer blood safe and uncontaminated."

"That's why he made you suck out James' venom so that I wouldn't change and my blood wouldn't be lost to him," I realized.

"At the time, I didn't realize what he was doin'," he admitted. "I just thought he wanted to change ya himself. We all thought you were his True Mate and I figured he was bein' possessive. That ain't uncommon. I know, I couldn't bare it if another man's venom ran through yer veins instead of mine. Instinct would force me to mark ya. To claim ya. And to replace the venom with my own. I figured Edward was sparin' ya that pain by askin' me to save ya. It wasn't until yer blood hit my tongue that I realized what ya mean to me and that Edward had been deceiving all of us."

"Is that why he changed after the ballet studio? Because you'd tasted my blood?" I wondered.

"Yes and no," he answered. "He was certainly jealous that both James and I had tasted ya blood but it was likely more to do with the minuscule drops of my venom still lingerin' in yer tissues after I bit ya. My venom, even such a small amount, would've changed yer scent. Edward would've smelt that. He would've recognized it as another male, yer True Mate, claimin' ya and that's what's likely caused his change."

My mind felt overwhelmed with all the new information. It was a lot to take in and process. But there was one thing that stuck out above everything else he'd just told me.

"So," I frowned, "you've known for the last six months that I'm your True Mate? You knew in the ballet studio when you tasted my blood. You knew how he was treating me. You knew he was lying to me and the family. And you still left? Why?" I demanded.

Now I was thinking about it again, with a clear head, I was pissed.

It made no sense.

Why would my True Mate leave me to suffer in the hands of a boy who's drawn to my blood more than anyone else, when he could have stepped in and put a stop to the abuse and manipulation?

Jasper sighed and ran a hand through his head. "Because I was an idiot."

. . .

. . .

. . .

That wasn't the response I was expecting. But at least he's able to admit it.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to process everything.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you're so overwhelmed with information that you don't know what to think or feel?

That's where I'm at right now.

He'd spent six months watching me. He'd seen everything Edward had been doing and all my struggles to get away from him, and he hadn't done anything.

I couldn't process that.

Why wouldn't he step in?

Why wouldn't he stop Edward?

In the grand scheme of things, six months isn't a long time. And I wasn't necessarily suffering as much as I could have been. Let's face it, things could have been a whole lot worse. And I had a small buffer with the Cullen family.

At least I wasn't attacked.

Or killed.

Or drained.

Though, if Edward had slipped in his control, I could have easily been dinner. What if that had happened and Jasper wasn't there to stop it? What if it wasn't a decision on Edward's part and Alice didn't see in time? Why was my life on the line when the situation could've easily been remedied?

Then there are the shifters to consider. What if they'd chosen to attack sooner? What if Peter hadn't seen their attack? What if they'd taken me? Or if Charlie had taken me to La Push instead of them coming into Forks? It would've been easy for Charlie to invite me to dinner in La Push and I would've been completely unaware of the danger!

There were a lot of "What if's". And they could've all been avoided had Jasper taken me away the moment he tasted my blood and realized our bond. So, why didn't he?

For a long moment, Jasper and I were silent. He could feel my emotions and likely knew I needed a second to process everything.

A soft sigh left his lips as he turned into me, taking my hand in his. "I'm so sorry, Bella," he said gently. "I didn't wanna leave ya. I was ready to take ya away the moment yer blood hit my tongue and I realized what ya meant to me. What we would one day come to mean to each other. But," he sighed and leaned back into the bed, legs stretched out, looking all angry and sexy, "Ali said I needed to wait. That you weren't ready and it wasn't time."

"Not time?" I question. "Not time for what?"

"I dunno, Darlin'." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "Every time I've been tempted to come to ya or take ya away, she's called or texted me to tell me to wait, that it ain't time yet."

I nodded. "And because you trust the 'All Knowing Pixie' you didn't use your brain and think for yourself but relied on her subjective visions to guide you."

You know, I'm so sick of psychics interfering in my life and thinking they know what's best for me!

I like Jasper's gift. I like that he always knows what I'm feeling and we're connected on a deeper level. I trust him and I don't see his gift as an intrusion.

Same with Peter. Jasper trusts him. After everything I've learned, I don't think he'd ever do anything to hurt Jasper or, by extension, me.

But Alice and her so-called subjective visions . . . No more! That gnome needed to keep her nose out of my future!

Jasper stiffened and turned to look at me. "You don't trust Alice?"

"No. I don't." I huffed, then sighed. "It's hard to trust someone when they're never completely honest with you."

"The future is—"

"Volatile, I know." I nodded. "And she can't share everything she sees or it'll change the outcome of the future. I get it. I do. I'd hate to have a gift like hers because of the pressure it puts on her tiny shoulders and the strength it must take to see the things she sees."

"But from my perspective," I continued, "I was in an abusive relationship with a vampire who wanted to violate me and drain me of my blood. He could've slipped and lost control at any moment. Take that in for just a minute, Jasper. My life—the mortal, human, fragile life of your True Mate—was on the line. Every. Damn. Day. For six months."

"I tried to get away," I went on. "I tried to leave him. Alice even tried to help me! But he was always two steps ahead of me. Was that because she was also helping him?" I wondered. "And why is it she couldn't find a moment alone with Carlisle or Esme or Emmett, or even you, and tell someone, anyone what was happening between me and Edward?"

"Every day. For six months. I was terrified that boy was going to kill me. What could be so important to the future, that I had to go through that kind of stress, pain, and fear?" I asked. "What if he'd lost control and she didn't see it because it wasn't a decision? I could have cut my finger while chopping vegetables. You've seen firsthand how I can be distracted by something and almost cut off a finger! What if I'd tripped and skinned my knee? Or got a freaking paper cut! No decisions necessary!"

"I know Edward is strong and he has impeccable control. But does he have enough control to withstand the draw of his Singer's blood outside of my veins?" I questioned. "And what about Edward? He's potentially going to go insane and she's done nothing to help him or stop it! Get Carlisle involved. Send the boy away until I'm a vampire. Hell, turn me! Eliminate the draw of my blood. Anything is better than letting him suffer. And for what?"

"What's so important about the future that she would ever risk your mate's life? She considers you to be her best friend, her brother, one of the most important people in her life; so why is she so comfortable risking my life, the life of your mate?"

Jasper was silent for a few minutes, taking in all I'd questioned and asked. He looked a little dazed and I wondered if he'd even stopped to question half the stuff Alice has done since I showed up in their lives or if, like the others, he'd just done what she wanted.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter. They all trust her. She's their family. There's no reason they shouldn't trust her! I, on the other hand, had every reason not to trust her. After all, she knows all about my mating with Jasper and the abuse I've suffered at Edward's hand but has done nothing to stop it.

I don't know if she has an ulterior motive. Maybe she doesn't care. Maybe she really can't do anything due to what she's seen in her visions.

No.

No.

I can't believe that last option.

There's always a choice. And if you can, you choose to help. You don't watch as your so-called best friend is abused, manipulated, and put in dangerous situations every day.

"I, uh," Jasper ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know, Darlin'. All she had to do was say somethin'. We all know what it means to find yer Singer. Carlisle spent years with the Volturi. He, better than anyone, knows the risks of denyin' yourself yer Singer's blood. He'd believe her. And if he didn't, I would have."

"I . . . I . . . I never even questioned her motives," he admitted. "She told me to wait. That it wasn't time. Every time I decided to go to ya, she'd text or call, or appear and tell me the same line; it's not time. She said you weren't ready. That you had to come to me. And I believed her because she'd never steered me or the family wrong before. It wasn't easy. Watchin' ya struggle every day, fightin' with Edward, feelin' his bloodlust and emotions changin', seein' how possessive he's become. I couldn't understand how any other situation could be worse for ya than what Edward was puttin' ya through. But she was adamant I had to wait."

"Wait for what?" I asked softly, calming as I saw my mate struggling. I didn't like seeing him hurting, seeing him struggle to come to terms with this information.

"I, uh," he frowned, "I don't know. All she said was that it wasn't time. I had to wait fer you to come to me. And I did. And you did come to me; the day you came lookin' fer yer sketchbook."

I took his hand in mine. "Baby," I whispered, leaning into him, "I was ready, I felt our bond and knew that I belonged with you, the moment you sank your teeth into my wrist. I would have gladly gone with you."

"But Alice and Edward told me when you woke up in the hospital room you freaked out . . ."

"I was upset," I admitted. "But that was because you weren't there and I didn't know where you were or why you'd left me. I was angry with Edward for being there instead of you. But I was never upset about what we shared in the ballet studio. I've never felt safer than when you came crashing through the window to save me."

"She lied." He realized, his eyes darkening.

"She did." I agreed. "But," I smiled, leaning into him, "we're together now. Our bond is strong. We will never be separated again. In a couple of days, surrounded by the whole Cullen family, we will be able to question her and Edward. And with your gift, Major, she won't have a choice but to answer you honestly."

"If she shows up with the others."

"Oh, she'll show."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Easy." I smiled. "Whatever future she's working towards—that needed us to only be together on her timetable—must be closing in, otherwise, you'd still be waiting for me to come to you."

"Unless the shifters decision to attack you forced her hand and she had to get us together earlier than expected," He suggested.

Oh boy.

Bad thought. "You don't think she's working with the shifters, do you?"

I told you, it's a horrible thought.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Alice is a morally good vampire. I'm fairly sure she's a selfish bitch only out for herself. I think maybe she's let her gift go to her head and she sees herself as more powerful than she is. But the idea that she's so evil she'd conspire with shifters to kidnap and rape me . . . it doesn't fit.

Oh hell.

Another bad thought.

"Maybe her plans don't involve us at all. We could just be pawns in whatever game she's playing. Maybe she wanted to keep us apart so that the shifters could get to me before you and I could complete our mating bond."

"It's a possibility," Jasper agreed. "But, let's not jump to conclusions, Darlin'. We want solid facts, not speculations."

He was right.

It's easy to speculate. But the truth is, we don't actually know anything for sure. Maybe this is all innocent and Alice is the same good, bubbly, kindhearted woman she's always been.

Maybe there is a damn good reason we needed to wait to get together. I can't think of what that might be, but it's possible.

Or, maybe she's a vicious, cruel, coldhearted bitch who's going to die a painful fiery death for fucking with my mate.

Right now, it's anyone's guess.