– January 1993 –

– New York City –

"You can't be serious!" Alice Cullen's usually soft, tinkling voice screeched through the penthouse, as her eyes grew impossibly wide in her fury.

Jasper took a deep breath. He knew this wouldn't be easy for her, but he had hoped she wouldn't react this way. He should've known better. It was the same every time he or anyone else made a decision that went against one of her visions.

"We both knew our relationship wouldn't last forever. I know you like to think we're mated, but I've always told you we're not. What we've had has been fun and I will always cherish our time together, Ali, but it's run its course…"

"No!" She snarled. "No! This isn't happening. This isn't what I've seen!" With narrowed eyes, she looked up at him. "Why are you doing this? Since Peter took you out before Christmas, you've been acting differently. You won't touch me … you won't kiss me … every time I'm close to you, you recoil! I've practically begged you to have sex with me! I even wore your favourite black silk, and you still rejected me. Why? What's changed? I think I deserve the truth."

Knowing that Edward was nearby listening, Jasper kept his mind clear and his empathic shield in place. There was no way he would tell the Cullen's about his young, vulnerable mate.

"I've already told you, nothing happened when Pete and I went out," he lied smoothly. "He wanted my opinion on a Christmas present for Charlotte. That's it."

"Well, something must've changed! You didn't just come to this decision overnight. We've been together for forty years! You don't throw what we have away on a whim. Is there someone else?"

"No," he answered, sighing. "I've told you a dozen times, Ali. There is nobody else. I've been thinking about this for a long time…"

"No!" She shrieked. "No. You haven't. I would've seen it! This is not what I've seen for us… This is not…"

Jasper took a deep breath. Trying to hold back his temper and The Major's wasn't an easy feat. "I'm sorry this has caught you by surprise. I know how much you hate that. But some things defy prediction. This is something I've been considering for months…"

"No!" She interrupted again. "No. No. No. This isn't happening … this isn't what I saw …"

"We've been drifting apart for years…" Jasper tried again. "Last year, I spent more time in Texas with Peter and Charlotte than with you. If we were truly bonded, we would find being separated unbearably painful and would never want to be apart."

She glared up at him. "So, I'm supposed to drop everything and follow you around like a sick little puppy dog? That's never going to happen! And if you expect me to live in Hicksville, you've got another thing coming, Buster! I wouldn't step foot on Peter's land if you paid me!"

A low, dangerous growl reverberated through Jasper's chest. He didn't like her speaking of his true family like they were worse than the dirt beneath her ugly designer shoes.

"Well done, Alice, you've just proven my point," his voice was low and steel hard. "You and I may be compatible in the bedroom, sweetheart, but that's where it ends. I prefer to be in Texas on the farm. You want to be in a big city, spending your day's shopping or planning parties, or going to high school every damn day. That is not the life I want…"

Hands on her tiny hips, she interrupted him again. "Then why am I just hearing about this, huh?"

Jasper snarled, losing his grip on The Major. "I've told you!" He shouted. "Time and time again, I've told you what I want, Alice. You're the one who doesn't listen … or maybe you do listen … you just don't give a damn what I want because it doesn't line up with your precious visions!"

He took a deep breath, calming himself down. He was aware of the ears listening in on his conversation. It was one thing—in a long line of things—he hated about this damn coven. There was no privacy with a psychic and a telepath constantly reporting to Carlisle every time someone upset their delicate sensibilities.

God forbid a man could think or daydream without upsetting ickle biddy Eddies innocent virgin mind.

"I'm sorry this has caught you by surprise," he said calmly, "and I'm sorry I've hurt you, but our relationship is over."

Alice's eyes narrowed. "Well," she huffed, "I don't accept that. If our relationship were over, I'd see it and I don't … so you aren't leaving…" She insisted. "Now the holidays are over, we'll go away somewhere, just the two of us…"

Her eyes glazed over as she searched the future.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Alice…"

"Ah, there it is. You'll take me to Paris. Remember the Christmas we spent in Paris in seventy-three? Just the two of us. It'll be the perfect way to reconnect and put these silly ideas out of your head."

"Alice…"

"And I think it's time we get married. You've been dithering around long enough. I know Carlisle has talked to you about it. He feels it's not right for us to be together without saying our vows, to show the entire supernatural world that we belong together."

"Alice…"

"You'll have to propose, of course," she continued, ignoring him. "But, don't worry, I'll write down what I want you to say and, of course, I'll pick out the ring. I wouldn't trust you with something I'll never take off! You have no taste in jewelry whatsoever! I know exactly what I want, I can see it already! And I'll plan the honeymoon—"

"ALICE!" Jasper shouted. "There will be no trip to Paris. No proposal. No wedding. And no honeymoon."

"Of course, there will, silly! I've seen it."

"I don't know what you've seen, sweetheart, if you've seen anything, but our relationship is over. When the family leaves tomorrow, I will not be joining you in Portland."

Can't say it much clearer than that. Want me to give it a try?

Alice smiled brightly. "That's fine, my love. Stay here with Peter and Charlotte and then go back to Texas. I'll plan everything! Oh, Jazzy..."

The Major suddenly roared in the back of his head. NO!

A deep, vicious snarl burst through him as she cooed the pet name. "Never refer to me as 'Jazzy'. My name is Major Jasper Whitlock. From now on, I think it's best if you refer to me as Major."

She rolled her eyes. "I swear, lately, you've been acting so weird. Now," she brushed her hands down her silk blouse, "I need to pack. Carlisle will throw a hissy fit if I'm not ready to leave tomorrow morning. As soon as we get back to Portland, I'll start planning our trip to Paris and your proposal! Oh, I'm so excited! A wedding finally!"

"Alice!" Jasper growled. "Our relationship is over…"

"Don't be silly," she laughed happily then, as if someone had flicked a switch, all the happiness and excitement drained away, leaving only deep, unyielding desperation and manic possessiveness unlike anything he'd ever felt. "Make no mistake about it, Jasper Hale … you and I will always be together. You. Are. Mine. And I will not allow anything or anyone to come between us. Now," she stepped closer to him, pressing her hand against his chest, "be a good boy and do as I say or I will make life very, very difficult for you, understand?"

In the words of our Captain … this one's nuttier than a fricken fruit cake!

Jasper smirked and took hold of her tiny wrist, still resting on his chest. "If this is the path you wish to go down, Mary-Alice, by all means, do your worst. I have no qualms about ripping your pretty little head from your shoulders."

"You wouldn't dare," Alice practically purred. "You're not that man anymore."

Perhaps it's time we introduce her to the kind of man we are…

His smirk widened. Moving faster than even Alice's advanced eyesight could see, Jasper ripped off her left ring finger, causing the pixie-like girl to cry out in pain.

"I'll keep this," he said calmly, pocketing the finger. "Consider it a reminder of what happens when you play above your station."

He let Alice's wrist go, giving her a little push away from him.

"Now Mary-Alice, there will be no trip to Paris, no proposal, no wedding, and certainly no honeymoon. I warned you when we first started fucking that I would never marry a woman who isn't my True Mate. Our relationship is over. I'm sorry this has caught you by surprise and that I've hurt you. That was never my intention…"

"No! This isn't happening…" she whispered. "I didn't see. You're not supposed to … he was supposed to be gone … I did everything I was told …" she shook her head. Her eyes narrowed as she straightened. "When did The Major return?"

Jasper smirked. "Oh, child," he sighed, "The Major never left. Did you really think you could get rid of him so easily? Let's make this perfectly clear … I am Major Jasper Whitlock. I am the most feared motherfucker in the South. I am the God of War! There is no curing me … no getting rid of the beast Maria created… I am always Major Jasper Whitlock … you can dress it up however you like but no amount of ugly ass loafers and sweater vests is going to change the fact that I am MAJOR JASPER WHITLOCK!"

She shook her head. "No. I saw … you locked that part of you away…"

His smile widened. "You think it's as simple as that? Just lock up the other side of myself? Forty years together and you still have no concept of who I am … or what I am…"

He sighed and turned away from her. "We're done here. Stop planning our future together, there won't be one. And do not look into my future. It is no longer yours to control."

With his words hanging in the air, Jasper walked out of the room, leaving Alice in complete shock and horror.

As soon as Jasper was gone, Edward sped into the room. "What was that, Alice? I thought you had him under control?"

Alice took a deep breath and looked up at her brother. "Don't worry, Edward." A twisted, deranged smile lit her face. "The fun is just beginning. We'll have Major Whitlock on our side in the end. Trust me. I've seen it."

୨୧

– January 1994 –

– Texas –

୨୧

Jasper Whitlock was ready to kill someone!

He single-handedly fought newborn armies when he was in the Southern Wars. Thousands of vampires have died by his hand. And now he led the greatest, most powerful guard the supernatural world has ever known.

But dealing with the Cullens was going to drive him insane!

No. That wasn't true. It's not all the Cullen's. Just three of them.

After Jasper told them about his mission, Rosalie and Emmett secretly joined the Volturi guard last March. Rosalie was, of course, pissed at first, but her anger soon ebbed when she realized the threat they were up against. Carlisle, Alice, and Edward.

She and Emmett went through basic training a week later and completed their specialty training after that.

No surprise to Jasper, Emmett was a genius mechanical engineer. Put a computer in front of him and there was almost nothing he couldn't do. He was single-handedly going to bring the Volturi into the twenty-first century with his security enhancements and cameras. He'd even built drones to help track and locate criminals, and earbuds they could use in the field during missions.

Rosalie, though, was a surprise. She was a born tracker. While she didn't possess a gift like Demetri's, she had exceptionally keen hearing and a powerful sense of smell. Demetri quickly took her under his wing and began her training.

While they were in Volterra, Rosalie also began seeing Louisa, the Volturi's personal therapist. Jasper wasn't privy to their conversations, but from the complete change in Rosalie, her sessions were doing wonders for her. It was nice to see her finally happy and living a healthier life.

Rosalie and Emmett exceeded all of Jasper's expectations and were doing wonderfully. So much so, that—after nine months with the Volturi—he felt comfortable sending them back to the Cullens to watch over their biggest threat while he dealt with the threats aimed at his young mate.

Finding Maria had been … difficult…

"How could you do this, Jasper?" Carlisle Cullen screamed down the phone, breaking Jasper out of his thoughts.

He winced, holding the receiver away from him.

"Alice is devastated!"

Alice Cullen had been a thorn in his side since he broke off their relationship last January.

She couldn't seem to grasp what he was telling her, refusing to believe their relationship was over and that he wasn't her mate. She kept insisting she'd seen them together.

I do believe I warned ya … this is what comes of datin' someone who's not playin' with a full deck…

The wedding was yesterday…

A month ago, Jasper received his tux, which Alice had picked out for him. She meticulously planned every detail of the grand event. As per her visions, Alice transformed the Cullen home into a magical winter wonderland. Edward provided tasteful classical music. Esme took all the wedding pictures and filmed the ceremony. Rosalie was Alice's maid of honor. Carlisle would walk her down the aisle. Emmett was Jasper's best man. And, from what he'd been told, she'd invited over a thousand guests.

Didn't know she knew that many folks.

The only thing Jasper had to do was show up…

"She's inconsolable, Jasper!" Carlisle screamed. "How could you stand her up on your wedding day? She's your soulmate!"

A low growl rumbled through Jasper's chest. "I've been—"

"And what about me?" Carlisle continued in his tirade. "All our friends and family were present. The Denalis came down from Alaska. The Irish coven was there! We even invited Amun and his mate! This is a nightmare! I had to tell them you were delayed, and we would try again next month! It was very embarrassing for me, Jasper!"

Jasper closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You know, I've been very patient this last year, but my patience is wearing thin, Carlisle. Listen to me very carefully because I will not say it again. My relationship with Alice is over. I will not marry someone who is not my True Mate. Alice is not my True Mate!"

Carlisle huffed. "Well, of course she is, Jasper! She's seen the two of you together!"

"She also saw me standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her, and yet, here I stand, far away from the delusional harpy who's trying my patience! I will not have this conversation with you again, Carlisle. I am not her mate. Get her under control, or I will happily separate her head from her pretty little neck!"

"This is ridiculous, son…"

Another growl rumbled through Jasper. "I ripped her ring finger off the last time I saw her. If we were truly mated, do you think I'd be able to harm her so viciously? Do you think I'd ever be able to threaten her if she were my mate?"

"Her visions…"

"Are wrong," Jasper insisted. "If she's having visions—and I doubt she is—they're wrong. It's more likely she's forcing the vision to see the outcome she wants. I know what a mating bond feels like, and Alice and I do not have one."

"Then you've been using her!" Carlisle roared. "Admit it! You used her for your own sexual gratification. She meant nothing to you!"

Jasper held the phone away from his ear as Carlisle continued yelling at him. With a heavy sigh, he rested his head against the window and took a few deep breaths.

"Ya know," Pete smirked, entering the room, "the greatest thing about this modern era," he took the cell phone from Jasper's hand, "is it's so easy to communicate …" He smiled brightly as he ended the call. "Or not…"

"He'll just call back…"

"Ah, another great thing," Peter grinned, "caller ID. You know exactly who's calling! If you don't want to talk to them, don't! Easy peasy."

Jasper chuckled. "I swear, between Carlisle and Alice, I feel like I'm losing the will to live…"

Pete tossed Jasper his phone and then took a seat on the couch. "Could be what they want…"

Jasper turned to his brother. "Explain."

Pete shrugged. "They're evil," he said simply. "This is probably all just a game to them. I doubt Papa Cullen is all that upset you stood ickle bitty Alice up. Fuck. I wouldn't put it past them to pull a stunt like this to tarnish your reputation. Maybe to even manipulate you into rejoining the coven after the breakup…."

Jasper dropped into his favourite armchair, a deep frown marring his handsome face as he considered Peter's words. "Because when I broke up with Alice, their control over me ended…" he realized. "I left the coven and haven't been back for a year now…"

Pete nodded. "And this farce of a wedding would bring you back into the fold and ensure you're linked to Alice and the coven through a sacred bond that even the Volturi honor."

Jasper grinned, a plan forming in his mind.

"Aw hell," Peter sighed, "ya ain't considerin' marryin' that McNugget, are ya?"

Jasper shook his head. "I'm a mated man, Pete. I won't ever disrespect my beautiful Issy by joining with another woman … in any way…"

"Good. I don't wanna have to kick your ass for upsetting my future sister because you couldn't keep your little Major in your pants!"

Jasper smiled. "She'll be worth the wait … no matter how long it is…"

"From what my shits telling me, it's gonna be a long wait…"

Jasper frowned. "How long?"

"Three decades…"

Jasper sat back in his chair, letting the information sink in. Outwardly, he didn't react. His mind was reeling with possibilities and strategies as he gazed out the window.

"Tell me everything you know, Captain."

Peter sat up a little straighter, recognizing that he was speaking to The Major and not his brother.

"To keep her safe, Issy's parents have bound her magic," he began.

The Major nodded.

"Her mother and father have separated. Her mother and grandmother will move Issy to California for a few years, then relocate to Phoenix, Arizona when Issy is ten. Around this time, her mother will meet her True Mate."

"Do you know who he is?"

"A man named Phil Dwyer. Baseball player. Witch. Comes from a powerful coven. He's a good man and will treat your mate as if she's his own."

The Major nodded.

"In the winter of 2005, Issy will move in with her father…" Pete took a deep breath. "She'll meet the Cullen's on her first day of school and soon after begin dating Eddie…"

The Major tensed. "I'm assuming I'm not there when this happens?"

"Correct. We'll be dealing with a crisis in Italy that'll keep you away from the coven for a few years."

"No one else can handle this crisis?"

"No."

"We can't deal with it sooner... if we know it's coming?"

"No." Peter sighed. "I've tried looking for alternative ways to go about her dating Eddie boy. For whatever reason, it's meant to happen and we can't interfere."

"What happens if we interfere?"

"You'll lose her…"

A low growl rumbled through Jasper. "She'd choose him…"

"Never."

Realization hit him hard. "When you say lose her … you mean she'd be … be killed?"

"Yes, Major." Peter nodded. "If we interfere and stop her dating Edward … no matter how we play it, it always ends in Issy's death. I don't like it anymore than you do, but she's safer and will come out of the relationship stronger if we allow it to play out naturally."

The Major nodded.

"The relationship will be quick and end within a few months. But she'll form connections to a few key people."

"Who?"

"Esme. They'll develop a strong bond. Issy is very close with her mother and grandmother, and Esme will fit right in with the two women. They'll also help Esme develop into a much stronger woman."

The Major nodded. "Who else?"

"Emmett and Rosalie. We'll need Rosalie to always be on alert and keep an eye on the situation. But I would recommend she doesn't get too close to Issy. We need Alice and Edward to feel like they're in control, and the best way to do that is for Rose to distance herself from Issy."

"But not Emmett?"

"No. Issy and Emmett will develop a strong sibling bond. He's going to adore her."

The Major nodded.

"Immediately after Issy's eighteenth birthday, the Cullen's will leave town. Issy will be devastated, but she will get through it and come out of the relationship stronger. Three years later, Edward, Carlisle, and Alice will disappear for the next sixteen years."

"Where do they go?"

"No idea." Peter shrugged. "But, in that time, whoever they're working with will enact their plan, forever changing our world and the human world."

The Major nodded again, considering all the information given to him. "Do we have any idea what those plans are?"

"Not a clue," Peter answered. "But I know it's gonna be a fuckin' disaster that'll claim hundreds of human and vampire lives." He shook his head. "The kings will be furious, and the cleanup will occupy us for years to come..."

"Do you have any idea who's behind whatever's coming?"

"No. All I know is Carlisle, Edward, Alice, and Maria are key players, but there's someone higher up pulling their strings."

The Major sighed. "Any chance killing them all now would stop this unknown disaster from happening?"

Peter chuckled. "I wish it were that simple, Major. Carlisle, Alice, Edward, and Maria may be important to what's coming, but they're all replaceable."

"So, basically, you're telling me there's nothing we can do to prevent what's coming…"

"Pretty much," Peter nodded. "Bright side; what's coming will be a disaster of epic proportions, but if it all works out the way I'm seeing," he smiled, "you, Major, will be beyond happy. The world will change, but if we survive the coming wars and chaos, peace will follow. And it'll all be because of your girl, Jay. She's the key to all of this … she is our hope and our future happiness."

"But I can't interfere in her life for the next three decades?"

"Correct," Peter nodded. "I don't know exactly what's in store for her. I wish I did because whatever it is, she's going to suffer. But she will survive. She will come out of it stronger. And she will have connections to the world that will help us fight the coming battles."

As Peter's words lingered, Charlotte danced into the living room, a radiant smile on her beautiful face. She perched on the arm of the sofa beside her mate. "Sometimes life has to happen," she told them wisely. "Knowing the future is a wonderful gift but," her smile widened, "sometimes life just has to happen the way it's meant to, without psychic interference." She reached forward and placed her hand on Jasper's. "I know you miss her and the next thirty years will be hard on you, but once it's over, you'll have eternity with her. Let her have this time to grow and experience the world. That way, when you two come together, she'll know her mind and herself."

"And you don't get stuck with another fruit cake," Peter grumbled.

Charlotte giggled lightly. "Your mate will be a grown woman. She will not be an immortal teenager. And honestly, our world needs more adults with rational, mature minds and less impulsive teenagers."

Peter chuckled at her words, but he agreed with her. He and his mate were … older than typical vampires. He was thirty-two when Jasper turned him and his beautiful Charlotte had just celebrated her thirtieth birthday. She was a firm believer in only turning adults and allowing children to be children. Even teenage children. Otherwise, you're likely to end up with a world full of Edward Cullen's…

The Major sighed. "All right, you both make valid points. I won't interfere in her life and, if she's meant to date Eddie, I'll stay away…"

This is gonna suck…

Peter smirked. "The winter of 2024," he stated. "That's when you'll reunite with her and from that point on, you will never leave her side, Major."

That's somethin' at least …

Jasper sighed. "She does love Christmas…"

Pete chuckled. "And you'll make such a pretty Christmas present…"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I'm assuming you're going back to the Cullens … to learn all you can from them until they disappear…"

Jasper nodded. "We need as much information as we can get. If I can figure out who they're working with, we can plan accordingly."

"What do you want us to do while you're playing house?"

Jasper's eyes narrowed. "Find Maria. I want to know exactly what she's up to and why she's so desperate to get her hands on my mate!"

Pete nodded. "And Tala?"

"We need to know if she's connected to Maria and whatever she's up to, or if she's working alone," Jasper answered. "But don't approach either of them. If you find them, call and I'll send the team to help with the takedown. I want them both alive so I can question them myself."

"Aye aye, Major," Pete grinned and saluted Jasper.

Char rolled her eyes, but he could feel the amusement rolling off her as she gazed back at her mate. The love mates share was staggering. Jasper had never felt anything that compared to the ferocity with which vampires love their mates. He yearned for the day he would be reunited with his sweet Issy. The love he felt for her already made his heart ache. But, if nothing else, he was a patient man. He'd wait an eternity if it meant having her in his arms again. There was nothing he wanted more.

AN: So, there it is. Jasper will need to be patient. But the time will fly.

I wonder what's going on with Carlisle, Alice, and Edward?

In the next chapter, we're going to take a look into Bella's life and see how her parents are protecting their little girl from all the vampire attacks.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you thought in the comments. xoxo.