Chapter Twenty-Three:
The next morning I'm woken up by my alarm clock blaring. And soft, cool fingers trace my sides. A velvet voice fills my ears. Sweet as honey. I smirk into his chest. I place my hands on either side of him, my fingers landing on my blankets beneath us. I push myself up and smile at him.
Jasper's POV:
My beautiful mate fell asleep on top of me and in my 160 years of living I've never felt more at peace. She calms me more than anyone I've ever known. And the way she's laying on top of me makes me want to bring the world to its knees if anything happens to her. I let out a soft growl, I dared not to move a muscle.
I closed my eyes, her scent enveloping my senses completely. I'm glad she's my mate. Someone to ground me. Finally a human I don't lust after for their blood. But I could never hurt her. I'd rather be torn to pieces and burned than to hurt her. I guess that's what the mate bond is.
I know I can never sleep again. And in this instance I'm glad I can't. My thoughts are stirred when my mate shifts and quietly lets out soft snores. I look at her with a massive grin on my face. She completely trusts me. She trusts me when she's at her most vulnerable state. I hear shuffling outside of her room. I was immediately tense. I pick up Charlie's scent, and I calm some.
How long was I thinking for?
I look at her bedside alarm clock, 4:35 am is shown in bright red. I sigh. Her alarm will be going off soon.
I lay my head back down on her pillow, and close my eyes again. I go into a meditative state. Her scent calms whatever nerves I have.
The first beep of her alarm makes my eyes open. And after a few more, I can hear her heart rate shift. I move my arms, my hands at her sides. Rubbing softly. Her silky warm skin calls to me. My hands itch to do more to her. But I won't. I couldn't. Her heart rate picks up, and I smile.
I lean my head forward to the chell of her ear. "Time to wake up princess" I say gently. She moves her arms around my chest, and pushes herself up so she's looking at me.
And by the gods, she's so beautiful. But beautiful is too little of a word to describe her beauty. She's mesmerizing. I know I'm staring by the way her face flushes with slight embarrassment I can feel run through her.
Her voice may as well send me to the high heavens "Good morning cowboy"
I chuckle just loud enough for her to pick up on "Good mornin' darlin'". I continue on "How'd you sleep?" I ask her gently.
"Really good. Thank you Jas. I know it couldn't have been easy for you with Bella and Charlie here" She says.
"Darlin', you don't gotta worry about me. I'm more than good with you here. You keep me grounded" I say, opening up to her a little bit.
She drops the subject, at least for the time being. She gets off of me, much to my displeasure. But as much as I want to be there for her 24/7, and be able to protect her from the dangers of her world, and mine too. I need to let her make her own choices. I can't take that away from her. While she's getting ready to go out of her room, and into the unknown of the house, my thirst hits me like a ton of bricks.
"Ally" I muttered out to her. She rushes over to me, fear washed over her face.
"What's wrong jasper?" She asks me, scared.
"I'm gonna pick you up for school, okay." I say gently. Breathing in her scent. I sigh against her head as it calms me down, but more importantly, calms my thirst.
"Okay Jas. Are you sure you're okay?" She asks, a frown spreading across her face.
If only she knew how bad my thirst is.
"I'm fine darlin, I swear. Now. Go get ready. I'll be back a little earlier to pick you up so we can talk before school" I say gently to her.
Her frown leaves her face. And I am a man of my word. I just said it a little bit differently. I'm not fine right now, but I will be soon.
I kiss her forehead, lifting her head. I kiss her lips. They're so soft and plump. If I were human, I could stay like this forever.
Breaking away, I leave out her bedroom window. The ache in my non beating heart returns, almost more painful. But I surpassed it and ran home. Where I know a family meeting will be held. And Edward will be there. I growl into the trees. But before I go home, I'll need to hunt quickly.
Stopping near the house, I extend my senses, latching onto a deer nearby. I follow the scent, and tackle the deer, tearing its throat open, I feast.
Feeling better, I ran up to the house. I see Emmitt first. He gives me a smirk and a pat on the back.
"Finally did it?" he asks with a wide grin.
I give him a pointed glare. "Where is he?" I ask, probably a little too harsh. I can see the understanding in his eyes.
"Carlisle" is all he says.
An unnatural grin spreads across my face.
I walk inside the house. I see Edward and Carlisle exit his study.
"Family meeting," Carlisle says with authority.
As much as I wanted to tear into Edward. I also wanted to hear Carlisle's verdict.
Once everyone was in the living room, sitting. With Carlisle and Esme standing. He began.
"As much as it pains me to say this, Edward will still be in this coven. I've decided to give him one last chance to prove himself, and make amends." Carlisle said addressing everyone, saving me for last.
I almost growled aloud, barely suppressing it. I wanted to tear his throat out for even wanting to touch my mate. Edward and I locked eyes. And I could tell he is reading my mind.
"Jasper, let me explain," the filth said.
"Go on then" I said harshly. And this time I couldn't keep the growl suppressed.
"I wasn't thinking. And I'm sorry for putting your mate in danger by being reckless. It will never happen again" he said. I could feel the sincerity from it. But that didn't mean he was automatically forgiven.
I gave him a nod. That's all I could muster for him.
Carlisle adjourned the meeting after that. We all went to our bedrooms to get ready for school today. I dressed myself in jeans, white undershirt, and a brown striped sweater that was no doubt gonna get stolen by a certain brown hair and green eyed beauty. I smiled to myself.
Rushing downstairs, I greeted Carlisle and Esme with a much more clear head.
"I'm gonna go pick up Ally, and bring her to school" I say, almost heading out the door to my truck. While I usually prefer my bike, today it's raining, and I don't think my mate would appreciate coming to school soaking wet.
Pulling my keys out, I unlock my truck and get in. Starting it up, I wait a few minutes before I head over to Ally's house. Arriving there, I can hear Bella screeching at her. It doesn't make me happy, and I want nothing more than to tear the human limb from limb, but my mate needs to make that choice.
While I'm waiting for her to leave her house, I send her a quick text.
I'm here*
I don't get a response back, but I hear her pounding heartbeat come closer. Stepping out of my truck, I stand in front of the passenger door, waiting for her arrival. Once she leaves her house she makes her way over to me. A bright smile takes over her face when she sees me. And I feel like the luckiest undead man alive. She makes my undead heart swell.
I wrap my arms around her small frame, her head nestled under my chin. And I can feel eyes on me. I look over to the front door to see a gawking Bella. Outright staring at my mate. A low growl leaves my lips, as I feel jealousy and hatred emit from the sickly looking girl.
My mate rouses from her comfortableness at the growl that leaves my lips. And she looks over her shoulder at Bella. I can feel her slight pain at not being accepted by Bella. I let a much softer growl resonate in my chest, sounding like a purr. My little lady sighs and leans back to me.
"Come on Jas, let's go" she says gently.
Still holding her hand, I opened up the passenger door for her, and shut it gently. Going around the front of the vehicle I get into the driver's side. I'm glad I left the heat going in the truck.