Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of SM.

/!\ Some parts of the story aren't suitable for a young audience. I'm responsible for what I write, not for what you read. Let's not focus on the original timeline of the books. I'm not gonna put a specific date.

Beta-reader is @cerealgoblin

"The feeling of love is the highest frequency you can emit."

Rhonda Byrne

Chapter 8

Jasper's pov

Jasper left the classroom with a sudden urgency, his movements almost too quick for the human eye to follow. As soon as he was out of sight, hidden in a shadowed corner of the hallway, he leaned against the cool brick wall and inhaled deeply, though the air barely filled his lungs. He didn't need the air to breathe , but the act itself was an old habit—something to ground himself in moments like these, when the storm of emotions inside him became too much to bear.

His chest rose and fell, the sensation strangely foreign, like his body was betraying him. He hadn't felt this way in over a century—, not since he'd been human. It was as if the steady, dead silence inside him had been replaced by a heartbeat that shouldn't exist. He pressed the palm of his hand against his chest, feeling the solid weight of muscle and bone beneath his skin.

Of course, his heart wasn't beating. He was dead—he had been for so long that he'd nearly forgotten what it felt like to be alive— in this way. Standing here, his emotions were so raw, so visceral, and for a moment he could have sworn he felt his heartbeat.

It wasn't just his own feelings, though. That would have been easier to deal with—, something he was used to managing. This was something else entirely. The emotions he had felt in the classroom had been overwhelming—suffocating, even. The curiosity, the nervous energy, the subtle, growing desire that simmered under the surface of every single person's mind as they glanced at Bella Swan. He had felt it all.

And worse, he had felt his own attraction to her, a pull that he couldn't explain and didn't want to acknowledge.

Jasper clenched his jaw, trying to steady the erratic thoughts racing through his mind. What was wrong with him? Why had his emotions been so heightened, so out of control? He was usually the calm one, the one who could sense and manage the chaos around him with ease, effortlessness and proficiency.

Jasper had lived through countless battles, and faced horrors most couldn't imagine, yet here he was, unraveling, piece by piece over a single, human girl, in a high school classroom.

Bella Swan.

Her name echoed in his mind, stirring something within him, something deeper;something he couldn't quite grasp. He closed his eyes, trying to focus, trying to shut out the swirling emotions that still clung to him from the classroom. He had never experienced anything like this before.

When Jasper had first seen Bellaher the day before today, in the parking lot—, something had shifted inside of him. It had been subtle at first, like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness. But then, as he looked at her—really looked at her—it was as if the world around him had completely fallen away. All the noise, the distraction, the ever-present hum of other people's emotions had faded into the background, leaving only her.

That had been distressing, disconcerting and startling enough in itself, the way the whole world seemed to fade away, except for her. But today, in the classroom, the feelings, and emotions between Jasper and her had been so much worse.

Their eyes had met, and for a brief moment, nothing else had existed. It was just him and Bella, suspended in that strange, unspoken connection. He had felt her emotions—or at least, he'd thought he had.

That was the most unsettling part. He'd never been able to sense her before, just like Edward couldn't read her thoughts. It was as if she existed outside the realm of their abilities, immune to their gifts. But today… today had been different.

Jasper's hand gripped the edge of the brick wall behind him, his knuckles white with the tension, effort, struggle and resistance that it took to not accidentally break the whole wall down in his turbulent emotions.

Jasper didn't want to admit it, but for a split second, when he was looking at Bella, he had felt something from her. It wasn't a clear feeling, it wasn't distinct, pellucid, easy to understand and see like the emotions he could easily pull, comprehend and categorize from others.

It was more like a wave—powerful, almost overwhelming. And the strangest part? It mirrored his own feelings. It was sort of like a mutual attraction, but it was raw, almost painful in its intensity, as if they were both being pulled toward each other against their will.

He shook his head, trying to dispel that thought. It didn't make sense. None of this did. Bella shouldn't be able to feel anything like that for him—she barely knew him. And yet… her gaze had held something, something. Something that made his chest tighten, and his dead heart almost ache with a longing that Jasper hadn't felt in over a century.

The intensity of it was too much. Too much.

Jasper was used to managing emotions—his own and everyone else's. He could calm a room with a single breath, and ease tension proactively, before it even took root. But this… he didn't know how to manage this. It was like trying to contain a wildfire with nothing but his bare hands as help.

He raked a hand through his hair, frustrated by his own inability to control what was happening inside of him. He hadn't felt this out of control since his early days as a vampire, when the thirst for blood had been all-consuming, when every moment had been a struggle to maintain some semblance of humanity.

But this wasn't about blood. This was something else entirely, something he didn't even have the words for.

Jasper's mind flashed back to yesterday in the parking lot—, to the first time he had seen her. He had been standing beside Alice when, watching as Bella had first come in his sights. At first, he hadn't thought much of herit, —she was just another human, another face in the crowd.

But then… something had shifted. The air felt like it had changed, and for the first time in longer than Jasper could remember, he had felt something stir inside of him, something unfamiliar.

It wasn't her beauty that had drawn him in, although she was undeniably striking in her own quiet way. It was something deeper that drew Jasper in, something he couldn't name, couldn't articulate even with his vast vocabulary. And then, for the first time since his transformation into a vampire, an immortal, he could have sworn he'd felt his heart move. At least, that's what it had felt like. A phantom beat, like the ghost of his humanity coming back to haunt him. It had left him shaken, uncertain and thrown off balance.

At first, Jasper had tried to brush it off, he told himself, tried to convince himself that it was nothing, just a fleeting moment of confusion. But now, standing here, he couldn't deny it any longer…— something about Bella affected him in a way that no one else ever had.

Jasper's thoughts flickered to his brother. Edward hadn't been able to read her thoughts, and they had all assumed it was some quirk of her mind, some anomaly that shielded her from their abilities.

But now Jasper wondered if there was more to it than that. Perhaps Bella wasn't just immune to Edward's gift—perhaps she was immune to all of their gifts, at least in part. Except today, that theory had been shattered. Jasper had felt her emotions, even though it was just for a moment. Her emotions weren't clear and they weren't precise, but they had been there—pulsing in his direction. Bella had been emitting a wave of attraction, confusion, and a quiet, but steady desperation.

It intimately mirrored Jasper's own emotions.

Jasper cursed under his breath. This connection, desire, it was dangerous. He didn't fully know what was happening, and didn't understand why Bella affected him this way, this deeply, but he knew it was something he could no longer afford to ignore. He had spent decades honing his control and keeping himself in check, but Bella was unraveling all of his progress without even knowing.

And then there was Alice.

Jasper winced, guilt gnawing at the edges of his mind as he thought of Alice. Alice had sensed something yesterday, too— he could tell by the way she had looked at him, her dark eyes filling with a quiet understanding. She hadn't said anything, hadn't spoken out loud but she didn't need to. Alice always knew. And that was what worried him the most. He didn't want her to know, he didn't want her to see what was happening inside of him, because he didn't even fully understand it yet, himself.

Alice had always been Jasper's anchor, his guide through the chaos of his life as a vampire. Alice had shown him a different way, had and helped him find peace in the madness. JasperHe couldn't let this… thing between him and Bella jeopardize his and Alice's relationship, their bond.

But even as he told himself that, even as he tried to push Bella from his thoughts, he couldn't shake the memory of her eyes locking with his in the classroom. The connection between them had been undeniable, and it scared him more than he was willing to admit.

Jasper, his mind still racing, couldn't stay here, couldn't linger in this confusion any longer. He needed space, needed time, to figure out what was happening to him. Whatever it was, it was only going to get worse,— he could feel it progressing, rolling out of hand already, like a storm brewing on the horizon, ready to consume him whole.

Jasper clenched his jaw, trying to focus, to think clearly. The logical part of his mind knew that he needed to stay far away from Bella, to keep his distance. Jasper had to maintain control, to protect both her and himself from whatever this connection was. But his instincts, —the part of him that had always been driven by raw emotion, were pulling him in the opposite direction.

When he had looked into Bella's eyes in class, it had been impossible to ignore the connection, the bond between them. It wasn't just attraction—it was something that went beyond the physical realm. It was as if they were drawn to each other on a level that defied explanation. And that terrified him.

For so long, Jasper had prided himself on his ability to control the emotions around him, to manipulate the feelings of others with ease. It was his gift, his curse, and his lifeline all at once.

But with Bella, it was different. He couldn't control her emotions the way he could with others. He could feel them, yes, but there was something about her that kept slipping through his grasp, something that made him feel more human than he had in over a century.

And that scared him more than anything.

Jasper pressed his back against the brick wall, his fingers curling into fists as he struggled to regain control. He couldn't let this continue…—he couldn't let himself be consumed by these feelings that he had spent much too long fighting to control. For peace, humans and for his family, Jasper wasn't just about to let himself unravel now—not over a girl he barely knew.

But the problem was, it already felt like it was too late.

He couldn't deny the way his chest tightened when he looked at her, or the way his emotions spiked whenever she was near. This feeling, this bond, it was like a force beyond his control, pulling him closer to her, no matter how much he resisted.

And the worst part… he wasn't sure if he wanted to stop it.

Jasper exhaled again, his body tensing as he gently pushed away from the wall. He couldn't stay hidden here forever. He needed to clear his head and find a way to deal with whatever this was. But deep down, he knew that avoiding Bella wouldn't be enough. Something had indefinitely changed between him and her, and it was a deep change, layered and vibrant, something that Jasper knew he couldn't undo.

As Jasperhe walked back towards the school, his thoughts still raced, and Jasper couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whatever was happening between him and Bella, it wasn't going to go away. And he had no idea how to handle it.

All he knew was that it was dangerous. For both of them.

———

Edward's pov

Edward was leaning against the wall of the hallways at school, his senses heightened as the muted sounds of the school buzzed around him. The mundane noise of lockers slamming shut and footsteps echoing down the corridor provided a shallow distraction from his thoughts and needs, but his focus was entirely elsewhere.

Jasper's thoughts had become chaotic and unrestrained quickly. Jasper's thoughts seeped into Edward's consciousness like a steady drip of water that Edward couldn't shut off.

Edward hadn't meant to listen in, at least not at first. He'd just been standing in the hallway, lost in his own turbulent thoughts about Bella—how he had been unable to read her mind, how he couldn't explain the strange pull he felt towards her. But then Jasper's thoughts flooded through his mind, sharp and unguarded, his mind without warning, Edward had heard everything.

And what he heard left him stunned.

Jasper—his brother, the one who always prided himself on control and emotional detachment —was thinking about Bella. But it wasn't just a passing thought about Bella, it went far deeper than that.

Edward could feel the intensity of Jasper's confusion, his frustration, and worst of all, his attraction to Bella. It hit Edward like a punch to the stomach gut.The raw, deep, visceral emotions coming from Jasper, took Edward off guard.

The possessiveness that surged through Edward was immediate and violent and it ripped it's way through his body. Edward clenched his fists and his jaw tightened as he struggled to contain the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Jasper wasn't supposed to feel anything for Bella too. No one was. Edward had already made up his mind—Bella was off-limits, to himself, —to all of them. And yet, here was Jasper, struggling with his own unwanted desires, and Edward could feel it all.

Edward closed his eyes, trying to push Jasper's thoughts out of his head, but they kept flooding in. Jasper's confusion over why he couldn't control his feelings, the way Bella had looked at him, and the connection he'd felt when their eyes had met, it all rushed through Edward's mind like a waterfall.

It was maddening. Edward didn't want to hear any of it, he didn't want to acknowledge that someone else could be feeling the same pull towards Bella that himself had been fighting with.

But the more he tried to shut it out, the more Jasper's thoughts seemed to resonate with his own, and that infuriated him.

Bella wasn't just any human. Edward knew that now. She was different, special in a way he couldn't quite put into words, and that terrified him. From the moment he first saw her, he had been drawn to her, despite every logical reason he had not to be. And now, as if the situation wasn't complicated enough, Jasper was experiencing the same thing, the same pull.

Edward's possessiveness flared, the intensity of it catching him off guard. He had no right to feel this way. He was with Alice and had been with her for so long that the thought of anyone else had never even crossed his mind. Alice was his partner, his constant. Their relationship was built on centuries of trust and promises they had made to each other.

And yet, here he was, feeling this overwhelming desire for a human girl he barely knew. Worse, he wasn't the only one—-Jasper's emotions mirrored his very own, and that realization gnawed at Edward like a festering wound.

Edward tried to calm himself, push away the jealousy and anger inside of him, but the images from Jasper's mind kept resurfacing. Edward caught flashes of Bella's face in Jasper's mind; the way her eyes had locked with Jasper's, and the way Jasper's emotions had spiked when he and Bella were in the same room. Edward's hands tightened into fists again as his frustration climaxed from seeing Jasper's thoughts.

Edward needed to calm down. This—problem he and Jasper shared wasn't just about Bella anymore, itwas about control and loyalty.

Edward had prided himself on his discipline, on his ability to resist temptation. He had kept his distance from Bella, even when every fiber of his being screamed at him to get closer, to be nearer to her. But now, Jasper was slipping and it made Edward's own control feel even more fragile.

How was Edward supposed to reconcile this? How could he stand by and watch as someone else—someone as close to him as Jasper—began to feel the same draw toward Bella that he, himself had been struggling with? It wasn't fair. It wasn't right.

Edward's mind raced, the conflicting emotions swirling inside him like a storm. He was angry with Jasper, furious even, but deep down, he knew that his anger wasn't truly directed at his brother. No, this was about Edward himself, about the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about Bella, about the way she had become an unshakable presence in his mind, even when he tried to push her away.

He knew he had no claim on Bella. She was a human, and he had no right to interfere in her life. But the thought of someone else—anyone else, even Jasper—being close to her, feeling what he felt, made something primal and possessive rise up in him. It wasn't logical. It wasn't fair.

But it was there, burning just beneath the surface of Edward's restraint.

Edward opened his eyes, his gaze hardening as he glanced in the direction Jasper had gone. He wanted to confront Jasper, tell him to stay away from Bella, remind him of the risks, the dangers and the fact that they couldn't afford to get involved with a human, no matter how tempting they were. But what right did Edward have? He felt like he was in over his head. Edward was in no position to lecture anyone else right now about self-control when he could barely hold onto his own.

His mind flickered to Alice and a wave of guilt washed over him. Alice trusted him, believed in him, and needed him. They had been through so much together and built a life based on understanding and commitment.

And yet, in this moment Edward was torn between his loyalty to Alice and this inexplicable attraction, lust, and need for Bella. Edward's thoughts felt like a betrayal to Alice even if he hadn't acted on his impulses. But, just thinking about Bella this way, this deeply was enough to make Edward feel like he was crossing a line.

But the truth was undeniable—Edward wanted Bella.

Edward didn't understand it, the pull to her. And, Edward didn't want to admit his lust, but it was there, deep inside him, gnawing at his conscience. And now, knowing that Jasper might feel the same way, the need to keep Bella close, to protect her, had only intensified.

Edward flexed his wrist, uncluncing his fist. He couldn't let these feelings continue to rupture his control. He had to regain his composure and figure out a way to keep Bella safe—from Jasper, from himself, and from everything that threatened to pull her into their world.

But even as he thought that, Edward knew that his own desires, his own instincts, his own lust would be the hardest thing to control.

———

Edward stood at the far end of the hallway, his gaze trained on Bella as she made her way towards her locker. There was something about her movements, the way she absentmindedly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, the way her brow furrowed as though lost in thought that fascinated Edward, pulled him in deeper. Edward could hear her heartbeat, it was steady but faint, like the distant pulse of something he shouldn't be attuned to but couldn't help but listen for.

Stop, he told himself. This has to stop.

But Edward couldn't turn away. His feet felt as though they were glued to the floor, and his mind felt unwilling to pull his attention elsewhere. The familiar pull he felt towards her was unbearable, tugging at him with a force he had never anticipated and never wanted. Yet, there it was—an undeniable urge, a need that gnawed at him to be close to her, to know her.

Every time Edward saw Bella, the pull towards her felt harder to resist.

She's human.

She's fragile.

She's not yours.

Edward repeated those words in his head like a mantra, but none of it seemed to matter behind the ache, the force he felt pulling him towards Bella. It didn't matter that he had Alice were lovers, it didn't matter that his relationship with her was built on years of trust and commitment.

The only thing in Edward's mind, the only thing that mattered was the inexplicable force pulling him toward Bella Swan, as if something inside him recognized her on a deeper level, far beyond rational thought.

He loathed it.

He loathed himself for it.

Just then, Bella reached her locker and opened it with a soft metallic clang. She began to put her books inside the metallic box, her movements methodical, routine. Edward watched her from the shadows, his fists clenched back again at his sides, as he tried to contain the tumult of emotions that warred inside him. He should leave. He should let her be. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be dragged into the tangled mess of his life, of his family's existence. And yet…

I have to protect her.

Before he could stop himself, he started walking toward her. His footsteps glided soundlessly along the linoleum hallway, and Edward knew that Bella was unaware of his approaching presence.

He could hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing, the steady thud of her heartbeat. The sound was hypnotic, pulling him closer. Edward's hands moved out before him like he was out of his body and he saw himself reach out and gently touch her shoulder.

The instant his fingers made contact with her, a wave of desire and lust surged through him, so much more powerful than the desire towards her had felt before he'd made contact and the feeling nearly took his breath away.

It wasn't just attraction—it was primal, visceral, and it scared him more than anything he had ever felt before. His fingers tightened slightly against her shoulder, and he could hear her heart jump in response to his grip. That sound, that unmistakable spike in her heartbeat, sent a shiver through him and Edward quickly let his grip go flaccid so as not to mistakenly hurt her. Bella turned her head quickly, startled, and then her wide brown eyes met his.

For a split second, Edward was frozen, trapped in her gaze. She looked up at him, her lips parting slightly in surprise, her breathing quickening as the tension between them crackled like static electricity. The scent of her was overwhelming, the warmth of her skin beneath his hand was intoxicating. Edward was so trapped in his reaction to her that he barely noticed hers—but then he saw the confusion in her eyes, the hint of fear, and it snapped him back to reality. He dropped his hand, taking a step back as guilt flooded him.

What are you doing? Edward chastised himself. She's afraid. Of course, she is. She doesn't know you, know what you are, or what you're capable of.

He felt sick with himself, a knot of self-loathing tightening in his chest. He hadn't meant to touch her, hadn't meant to get this close. But he had to tell her. He had to warn her.

"Bella," he began, his voice cold, harsher than he intended, "Don't approach my family." He told her.

Bella blinked, her confusion deepening. She was still trying to process what had just happened, the sudden change in his demeanor and the sharp edge to his voice. He could see her heartbeat picking up again, but this time it wasn't in fear—it was hurt. He could hear it in the way her pulse quickened, feel it in the way she recoiled slightly from him, see it in her face; her dejected look, eyes downcast, smile ceaseing.

"You shouldn't communicate with them. Don't even look at them." The words came out in a low hiss, each syllable laced with warning. "Don't interfere in our lives. Especially Jasper and Rosalie. Stay away from them."

He saw the shock register on her face, the way her eyes widened in disbelief. Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came. For a moment, neither of them moved. The hallway seemed to narrow around them, and the students in the hallway faded into the background of their conversation. It was just the two of them—standing, looking at eachother there, locked in a twisted sort of confrontation that neither of them fully understood.

Edward could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air, the impact they had on her. He wanted to walk away, leave her before he caused more damage, but something kept him rooted in place. The guilt of hurting her gnawed at him, but the need to protect her warring with the knowledge that he was only hurting her by being close.

Just as he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.

"Who is Jasper?" She breathed out, confusion and hurt evident in her small voice.

The question was soft, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt through him. He turned back to face her, his expression hardening.

"Jasper," he repeated, his voice laced with something that felt almost like disgust. "The one you stared at as if your life depended on him during your Spanish class."

The words were sharp, and cutting and he regretted them as soon as they left his mouth, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he watched as Bella's face paled, eyes water her shock, hurt and embarrassment evident on her face. Her heartbeat faltered and then picked up again, faster this time.

Edward could see the confusion swirling in Bella's eyes, mixing like paint with the hurt he'd caused her with his abrupt, harsh words but he couldn't take it back now. He couldn't stop himself. He couldn't let her get close. Not to Jasper. Not to any of them.

This had to end now.

Without another word, Edward turned on his heel and walked away, his steps quick and deliberate. He didn't look back, even though every instinct in him screamed to do so. He didn't allow himself to see the expression that was left on Bella's face; the confusion and pain he had caused.

It was for the best, he told himself. He was doing this for her protection, to keep her safe.

But was that really what it was only truly about?

The question echoed in his mind, unwelcome and unsettling. He knew what he had said, but the truth was far more complicated. He wasn't just trying to protect Bella from Jasper. He was also trying to protect Bella from himself, from the dangerous pull he felt every time he was near her. He didn't want to admit it, he didn't want to confront the truth that was gnawing at him like a festering wound.

He was jealous.

Edward was jealous of the way Bella had looked at Jasper. He was jealous of the connection that seemed to spark between them in that brief, stolen glance. It shouldn't matter to him—he was with Alice, after all. His loyalty was to her. And yet, every time Bella crossed his path, every time he heard her voice or saw her in the halls, something in him twisted. The possessiveness, the desire, the lust—it wasn't something he could control, and that terrified him more than anything else.

As Edward walked away from Bella, his hands clenched into fists at his sides and Edward's mind continued to race. He had told Bella to stay away, had tried to sever whatever connection might be forming between her and his family. But deep down, he knew that wasn't enough.

He couldn't escape her. He couldn't escape the way she made him feel, no matter how hard he tried.

And that realization—the understanding that he was losing control, losing restraint, that Bella was slipping through his grasp even as he pushed her away—was more terrifying than anything he had ever faced before.

Hello, this is user-arabella. Thanks to my beta reader @cerealgoblin for her wonderful job. If you like pack stories, you're gonna love it. Thanks to all the readers. I' gonna check ur review this weekend! xx

ps: this fanfiction is a slowburn.