"Are you okay, little flower?"

"I, uh," Bella frowned. "I've never seen a vampire act like a vampire before…"

"Mm." Qetsiyah nodded. "The Cullens did everything they could to shield you from seeing anything remotely vampiric."

"Uh-huh," Bella nodded. "It was a little … startling at first. All that blood. I've never really thought about their strength. He ripped that one guy in half and all his insides became outsides," she cringed. "It was kinda gross. But, um," she looked over at Qetsiyah, "is it, umm, wrong that I, uh," she cleared her throat, "found Jasper to be very sexy. With all that growling and…" she took a deep breath. "Oh jeeze. It's weird, right? And wrong? I-I shouldn't find that to be so … sexy..."

Qetsiyah smiled and placed her hand on Bella's. "It's not wrong at all. You just witnessed your soulmate avenging your child. Jasper has a violent streak that rivals his brothers. He is vengeful, wicked, and, when necessary, monstrous. He has an unquenchable bloodlust and a desire to lead and dominate. Vampires are notoriously violent creatures. As their mate, you are drawn to all aspects of them, even the darkest parts."

Bella nodded.

The violence would take some getting used to. She figured that was natural, though. This was her first proper look into a traditional vampire's true nature. The Cullen's were cuddly, fluffy bunnies compared to what she'd just witnessed.

"What happened next?"

୨୧

Jasper stared at his mother in absolute shock. "I'm sorry, momma, run that by me again."

"It's simple. I want you to turn me into a vampire."

Jasper blinked. He looked over at Alice who was playing with her toys with not a care in the world.

Becoming a vampire hadn't really changed her. Her mind was far more fragile than he expected. She spent the first week curled up in his arms, refusing to even consider moving. She wouldn't tell him about what happened with the Gemini coven, and he figured he might never know the full story.

That was fine. He could live with not knowing. His little girl was safe, and that's all that mattered. He wouldn't force her to recall it if she didn't want to.

His mother refused to leave. She'd even offered her blood so that Alice could complete the transformation and didn't starve.

At first, Jasper was reluctant, but there weren't many other options. He used his gift to ensure Alice felt no bloodlust. He wasn't sure how she'd handle feeding right now, and he didn't want to test the fragility of her mind by asking her to kill someone.

Somehow, that just seemed so wrong.

"I don't think I'm following, momma. One more time…"

Beatrice sighed. "It's not that difficult to comprehend, Jasper! I have lived the life everyone expected me to live. When my father demanded it, I was married off to your father. God rest his soul. He was a good provider and a good husband. It wasn't love at first sight, but we grew to care for one another. Our love was enough to give us seven beautiful children. And because of that, I have dozens of grandchildren and a wonderful extended family. But now that I'm older, it is time for me to live my life as I choose. And I am choosing to remain with you and Alice."

"And if this Maria woman is as bad as you say she is, you're going to need help. Mary-Alice needs stability in her life, son. Not war and constant battles. Her mind has shattered. It's been that way since she lost Isabelle and I have been with her every day since then. And I want to be with her now."

"You're asking me to turn you, momma. To make you into a vampire."

"I am." She nodded. "And don't give me some long-winded spiel about bloodlust and a vampire's true nature. I know all of that. You are not the first vampire I've met, young man…"

Jasper's eyes almost bugged out of his head. "When did you meet a vampire?"

"Katherine, Isabelle's old friend, was a vampire. And, a few years back, I met a lovely man named Franklin. He was a little sweet on me," she blushed, "but when he tried to hurt Alice, I had no choice but to kill him…"

Alice nodded her head. "Uh-huh. He was a bad man. I didn't like him so much."

"So you see, I can handle myself. I know what I'm getting into. I know what I want. Now. Are you going to turn me or not?"

୨୧

"I like her," Bella smiled.

୨୧

Jasper stood watching as the home he shared with his wife burned. It had broken his heart to burn her home, but it was the only way to ensure the Gemini coven didn't come after Mary-Alice.

"It's okay, my love," Isabelle said softly, watching Alice jump and dance as she tried to catch the fireflies. "You saved her. That's what matters. Not our home. You can rebuild."

When Jasper turned away from her and headed over to Alice, Isabelle sighed. She didn't enjoy being on The Other Side. Watching over those she loved most but not being able to speak to them or interact with them.

"You ready to go, Princess?"

Alice's eyes lit up, and she darted over to her father, leaping into his arms and laughing happily. "C'mon, Meemaw!" She called. "We gotta go!"

Jasper looked toward his newly turned mother.

He couldn't deny it; immortality suited her. She had barely any bloodlust. She took to compulsion with ease. It took her mere days to learn to harness her strength and speed. And, somehow, despite being in her sixties, vampirism seemed to make her look younger, more youthful.

Traditional vampires weren't like cold ones, where their beauty was supernaturally enhanced. But, somehow, his mother looked more radiant than he'd ever seen her. Perhaps it was just because she was happy and felt a sense of freedom as a vampire that she'd never felt as a housewife and mother.

"All right, little Darlin', I'm comin'."

"Where we goin', Daddy?"

Jasper looked down at her, resting her head on his shoulder, and then over at his mother. "Mexico."

୨୧

"Did he just say Mexico?" Bella asked.

"Uh," Qetsiyah cleared her throat. "Yes."

Bella's eyes narrowed. "Maybe I misheard him. But I swear that's where Edward told me Jasper spent the first century of his life … fighting in the Southern Wars…"

"You didn't mishear him…"

"So, you're telling me that imbecile—who's about to find himself with boils on his penis—took my daughter into a warzone?"

"Yes," Qetsiyah nodded. "And no."

Bella's eyes narrowed as wisps of purple began to slither over her fingers. "What does that mean?"

୨୧

Jasper took a deep breath as he leaned against the porch railing.

Running from Maria was never an option. She had a dozen trackers in her employ and an entire coven of witches who owed her their lives. There was no way he'd be able to run on his own, let alone with his mother and Alice in tow.

The last place he wanted his mother and daughter was Mexico, though. But his choices were slim. Either he set them up in a home—heavily guarded by only those he trusted—and returned to Maria's army, or take them into camp. And there was no way in hell he'd allow his daughter anywhere near Maria's territory.

It was bad enough that they were in Mexico, a hundred miles from the wars. He would not allow them any closer.

"Major?"

"Report."

Behind him, Elizabeth—or as everyone called her Betsy—stepped out onto the porch. She was a spectacular beauty. White-blonde hair, dazzling baby blue eyes, flawless tanned skin, pouty lips. Curves that could make a man weak in the knees. If he wasn't a married man, it would've been his honor to court her.

Her beauty, however, wasn't the reason he'd turned her. He had planned for her to fight beside him in the wars. He trained her himself and she exceeded all his expectations. She may be petite, but she took on cold ones three times her size and decapitated them with ease. She had a fire in her and had won his trust through years of hard work and loyalty. In no time, she climbed the ranks and became his second in command.

"Your mother is settling in and Alice is in the backyard exploring the flowers with Camila and Benjamin," she began. "The owner of this home, Diego Vargas, has been compelled not to invite anyone in without my say-so. He will also never leave the house without an escort and has no immediate or extended family."

Jasper nodded.

"The team will constantly surround the house and land. The witches have also begun warding the home. Nobody will enter without an invite. Not even cold ones."

"The Gemini coven…"

"Won't even know the house is here," Betsy assured him. "Not only is the house fully cloaked and warded, but the witches have also cloaked Alice and Beatrice from locator spells, tracking spells, and anything else that could be used to find them. I believe the fire at their old home will be enough to convince the Gemini your mother and daughter are dead."

"But, just in case, I've arranged for the newspapers to spread the word of the horrible massacre that happened on the Whitlock Ranch. Beatrice Whitlock and her granddaughter, Mary-Alice, were the only casualties, trapped inside their home when the fire started. The perpetrators fled from the property and were, unfortunately, attacked by a pack of wild animals."

Jasper nodded. "Very good. Anything else?"

Betsy hesitated. "When are you leaving?"

"Maria gave me forty-eight hours to be back in camp or she'd send out the trackers and kill whomever I'm protecting. She's not happy I wouldn't tell her who I found."

"That could become a problem. If she thinks you're hiding something, nothing will discourage her from discovering the truth, especially if she believes whatever it is you're hiding could split your focus, encourage you to leave the wars, or be used to blackmail you."

Jasper nodded.

"And you can't compel her…"

He sighed. "No. Her gift makes that impossible. Thankfully, her sadistic mind control doesn't work on traditional vampires."

"Thankfully," Betsy murmured.

"How many of the team are in the field?" Jasper asked.

"Six traditional, three cold ones, and two shifters."

Jasper nodded.

Betsy placed a comforting hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Spend some time with your daughter before you have to leave," she suggested gently. "Who knows how long it'll be before you're able to return…"

୨୧

Bella took a deep breath. A flood of emotions surged within her. Anger. Fear. Happiness. Love. Concern. Rage. They pummeled through her like hailstones battering a rooftop.

She was overwhelmingly thankful that Jasper had saved Alice from the pyre. And, admittedly, she was relieved and happy that he'd turned her, despite her broken mind. She was also happy to see Beatrice was still alive. That was unexpected but also a relief. When Jasper couldn't be with Alice, her Meemaw was still with her.

Bella watched as Betsy trained Beatrice to fight and protect not only herself, but Alice as well. For a sixty-five-year-old woman, she could kick ass! As she learned about her new power and life as a vampire, she became a ruthless protector. She didn't take pleasure in the kill like most vampires, but she did what needed to be done if Alice was ever in danger.

The Gemini never attacked again. They believed Beatrice and Alice were dead. The Whitlock family mourned for their mother but, as humans do, they moved on with their lives. All the Whitlock boys were married with children. Bella saw snippets of their lives when Isabelle would check in on them, but she mostly stayed with Alice.

If she wasn't with Alice, she was with Jasper. She watched as he trained, as he fought, as he lost himself to the bloodshed and the never-ending barrage of hostile emotions. As the years passed, he grew more and more depressed. The Jasper that she knew and loved was slowly slipping away.

It was when he was at his worst that Isabelle witnessed the birth of not only The Major but the mighty God of War.

Bella watched the carnage as The Major ripped through newborn armies single-handedly. She watched as the God of War terrorized villages and bathed in the blood of his enemies … and his victims.

Maria was a cruel, sadistic bitch. She took great pleasure in causing other's pain. It was nothing for her to rip off the limbs of a cold one and toss them into the fire for no other reason than her own sick, twisted enjoyment.

She asked Jasper, again and again, what he was hiding in that house.

But he refused to tell her about Alice.

So, she punished him.

She tortured him.

She denied him blood.

She ripped into his flesh and tore out his organs, knowing he'd heal.

Then she'd repeat the process.

And still, he would refuse to tell her.

So, the punishments continued.

She asked again, and again, and again…

And he still refused to tell her.

He took the punishments. He took the pain and brutality. And when Jasper couldn't take any more, The Major stepped in. He kept Jasper safe and stood guard over the God of War. He was fierce in his strength, and he loved Alice as much as Jasper. She was their child. There was nothing Maria could do to weaken their loyalty and love for their daughter.

Maria sent trackers and spies to the house to discover what he was hiding. None came back. Betsy remained ever vigilant. Each time a threat appeared, it was snuffed out.

Nobody ever got close to Alice. She had some idea of what was going on, but Jasper, Beatrice, and Betsy never discussed the gory details with her. She didn't need to know the specifics.

Jasper explained that he'd have to go away for a long time, but that he'd always come back to her. Over the years, he told her stories of his work but kept out the ugly details. She knew Maria was dangerous. She'd seen more in her visions than any of them realized. They tried to shield the truth from her as much as they could.

To keep her safe, Beatrice and Betsy decided it would be a good idea to train Alice. They never expected her to have to fight, but they wanted her to know how to protect herself should the time ever come.

Thankfully, it never did.

Camila and the witches helped Alice practice her magic. Betsy and Isabelle closely monitored the spells and lessons Alice learned. There was no reason to teach her offensive spells or dark magic. So, they taught her how to heal butterflies, revive plants, and nourish the garden. She learned how to protect herself with shields and how to alert someone she was in trouble.

Years after Jasper rescued Alice, Maria believed she found the answer to her problems.

Peter, Jasper's brother, and sire, joined Maria's army.

Maria was sure Jasper would tell Peter who was in the house, and then Peter could tell her.

Still, Jasper refused.

When Peter discovered the house, he was reunited with his mother, whom he hadn't seen in almost three decades. Though, he was furious with Jasper for turning her into a vampire. Beatrice quickly smacked him upside the head and told him she was an independent woman and would do what she liked, whether he approved or not. He soon learned not to get on his mother's bad side. As a vampire, she had a quick temper.

Meeting Alice was a whole other ballgame. Bella watched as Jasper introduced Peter to Alice. She saw the immediate dislike as he looked down at the tiny girl tucked into Jasper's side.

She didn't know why Peter took an instant dislike to Alice. Nor was she sure why Jasper hadn't told Peter the truth. Instead, he told Peter that Alice was his mate. She wondered if it would've been better to tell Peter that Alice was his daughter. Maybe he would've been much less hostile if he'd known the truth.

"He was protecting her," Qetsiyah said gently when she voiced her question. "By this point in his life, he knew how vampires would react to Alice. If males thought she was unmated, she'd be open to their advances. Because of her power, especially her foresight, any male who sought power would want her at his side."

Bella nodded. "That makes sense. But in the long run, it couldn't have been easy. What if he wanted a companion?"

Qetsiyah shook her head. "Jasper has remained completely faithful to you, Bella."

Her eyes widened. "Come again?"

"Jasper has never been with another woman…"

Bella blinked, stunned. "He's been a vampire for one hundred and forty-five years and you're telling me he's never…"

"Never," Qetsiyah nodded. "Jasper has never had an interest or desire for any other female. You're his soulmate, Bella. Even when he was human, his love for you was extraordinary. When he became a vampire, he remained faithful to you."

That was unexpected.

Bella knew her mates were nowhere near innocent. Kol made it clear that he and Nik had very active sex lives before they met her. She figured it would likely be the same for Elijah, too. Finn had been in a box for the last nine hundred years, so he wasn't getting much action. But she certainly wasn't expecting Jasper to have never been with another woman.

That was … Well, if she was being honest, it was humbling. She felt honored that the love he felt for her was so deep and irrevocable that it altered him, even in immortality. Her heart felt heavy as a warmth she recognized from the mating bond with Kol and Nik spread through her.

"There are a few things that you may not like…"

Bella frowned. "There are a lot of things about my past life that I don't like…"

୨୧

With a snarl that resonated around the house, Jasper threw Peter through the front window. He took out the porch swing and tumbled across the grass, but was back on his feet before Jasper left the house.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Jasper?" Peter growled. "Can't you see that tiny slip of a girl has got you wrapped around her finger! Just let me kill her and we can go back to how things used to be!"

Another snarl rumbled through Jasper's chest. "You want her, brother," he spat, "you'll have to go through me!"

"So be it!"

Isabelle watched from the porch as the two brothers collided. Snarls and growls echoed through the quiet garden. Jasper fought with deadly accuracy. Every punch threw Peter a little further from the house. At one point, his teeth grazed Peter's shoulder. Blood poured from the wound.

Peter was no amateur. He gave as good as he got, unafraid to do his brother a little harm. After all, they'd both heal, and he had no interest in killing Jasper. He simply wanted to beat some sense into him.

Betsy, growling softly, darted into the garden. It was dangerous to come between two fighting vampires, but she was no stranger to a little violence.

"Enough!" She snarled, shoving Peter back and placing a hand on Jasper's chest. "You're scaring Alice."

It was enough to stay Jasper's hand. There was nothing in the world that mattered more to him than that little girl.

Taking a calming breath, he turned away from his brother and headed back toward the house.

"We aren't done here!" Peter snarled.

"Yes. We are."

"Me or her, brother!" Peter yelled. "Choose."

Jasper turned back to Peter. "Why do you hate her so much?"

"She isn't the one for you, Jasper. She's changed you. She's manipulating you. Can't you see how much you've changed?"

"And what's wrong with that?"

"You aren't you!"

"No, Pete. I'm just not you," Jasper growled. "I'm not following you around anymore. I have something in my life that gives me meaning and purpose. Something I want to protect. Why can't you be happy for me, brother?"

"Because she's evil!" Peter snapped. "I saw what she did to you, Jasper! I know what she is. And she is no vampire! She's … she's an abomination!"

Betsy shook her head. "You idiot."

There was a round of gasps from inside the house.

Alice whimpered.

"What exactly did you see?"

"She's using magic on you! She touched you and her hand glowed! That's not normal! She is not normal! Just let me kill her and you, me, and momma can leave Mexico. We'll go find Nik and Elijah. I'll introduce you to a whole new world. Away from this madness and manipulative witches!"

"A little advice," Betsy mock whispered, leaning closer to Peter, "you might want to learn when to shut up. You're just digging yourself deeper."

Peter growled. "I didn't ask for your opinion, woman."

Betsy snarled in response.

"Make your decision, Jasper. Me or her."

Jasper looked back at his brother. "You know, if I'd been able to get back to Texas and my Belle, she might still be alive. I have to live without her for the rest of eternity. To live with this never-ending pain in my chest." He shook his head and turned his back on his brother. "I choose Alice. She is the only thing I have left of my Belle. I will always choose her!"

Betsy watched as Jasper strode back into the house without looking back at his brother.

"You know," she sighed, "for someone who claims to be linked with The Fates and all-knowing, you really don't know shit, Peter."

୨୧

"Daddy!"

Jasper gently pulled Alice into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. "Shhh. Baby. I'm here. I've gotcha.'

"I be good," she whimpered. "I don't wanna go away. I be good! I promise."

"You are the best little girl in the whole world," he whispered into her hair. "Daddy won't ever let you go," he promised, holding her a little tighter.

.

..

…

In the doorway, Beatrice sighed heavily. She felt like she was choosing between her children. In a way, she was.

Peter was as stubborn as a mule. If he believed Alice was an abomination now, what would he think if he knew the truth? Would he understand? Would he accept her? Or would he do something terrible?

She wondered if it would be better to tell him. But she knew Jasper would never risk Alice's life. If Peter still saw her in such a negative way … well, she feared Jasper would kill Peter to keep Alice safe. Though she could understand it, she couldn't bear the thought of that happening.

Peter is still her son. Her firstborn. Her baby. She loves him as much as she loves Jasper and Alice. Reuniting with him, though hard, was a blessing. Not only was she lucky enough to have her baby boy back, but also her firstborn, who'd disappeared so many years ago.

She hadn't expected Peter's reaction to Alice. And, honestly, she didn't understand it. How could he not see the resemblance between Alice and Jasper? How could he not see there was no mate bond between them? If he's the mouthpiece of The Fates, why haven't they clued him in on Jasper and Alice's relationship?

It was baffling.

The only thing Beatrice could come up with was that The Fates worried Peter still wouldn't accept Alice and chose not to inform him of the truth.

୨୧

Bella's nails dug into the armrests. "Is there more I need to see?"

"Nothing big," Qetsiyah answered. "Now that your memories are unblocked, you may have visions of the past, possibly dreams now and again…"

She nodded. "How do I wake up?"

Qetsiyah stood. "Follow me."

Bella did as she was told and followed Qetsiyah out of the auditorium and toward the entrance of the movie theater. She felt like she'd been here for weeks. She was ready to wake up. To see Alice. To reunite with Jasper. And to officially introduce herself to Peter.

AN: This is the last chapter of Bella's past life. In the next chapter, we will return to Forks where Jasper is reuniting with Klaus and Kol.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you thought. I'll see you in the next one. xoxo