Chapter Seventeen [Peter-Bella Combo POV]

Peter's POV

Training was going good and I was honestly surprised this puppies knew the basics. Jake must have been working with them, from what I heard from the Collin kids; the nomads have been traveling through here quite a bit over the last few years. They even had five new teens that had just joined them this past summer. When Aro calling and was screaming at us from the other end of the line, I knew it wasn't a good thing. Jasper and I excused ourselves and headed towards the Cullen house to take the call in private.

“Alright, we are out of hearing range.” Jasper said as he placed the phone of the kitchen counter top.

“You have broken the rules, Major! Your punishment was to be turned human and stay human!” Aro's normally weak voice was a higher pitch and his Italian accent was a lot thicker than usual. “When I gave you the punishment of becoming human again I was hoping you would see it as a gift and not something you would just throw away as soon as you got the chance to!”

“Aro, sir, you have to believe me when I say that I don't want this.” Jasper sighed. “I honest to god wish that I didn't want to do this but Bella is in danger. With Edward and Alice after her and fucking Maria as well... fuck, I couldn't just sit around and hope that your guard members could get to them before they got to Bella. I wouldn't let that happen.”

“You made one of my guards men go against my orders. So did Peter and Charlotte.” Aro hissed. “You should be punished again for your actions!”

Jasper began to pace the room. His hands were gripping his blond curls tightly and I was actually afraid he was going to pull his hair straight out of his head. I listened as Aro continued his rant about how he was coming out here and straightening our asses out himself. Jasper was still pacing and all of a sudden I was hit with a splitting pain in my upper left arm. Then a moment later a pain in my right wrist that felt as if someone had just tried to rip it from my body. I gritted my teeth at the pain and took in ragged breaths through my nose. Jasper was now talking to Aro again and that when I felt a sharp sting across my cheek.

What the fuck?

After another even sharper sting came across my jaw, I heard it.

I love you, Jasper. I'm so sorry. Bella's sweet voice drifted through my thoughts.

My head snapped up towards Jasper and he was wearing the same expression I am sure I had as well. “Bella,” he whispered. And we both ran out of the kitchen and back to the clearing we left everyone training in.

The sight we came upon was not good. Everyone was picking themselves up off the ground. I was scanning the group of our friends and family when Jasper grabbed my shirt. “She's not here! Bella is not here!”

Jacob looked towards us then raised his face to the sky and inhaled deeply. The primal growl that escaped his lips was deep and deadly. He said something in a tongue I was unfamiliar with and the older boys of his pack were at his side in an instant. “Jasper, Pete.. this way!” He shouted, jerking his thumb towards the east.

We all took off as fast as we could and it wasn't far into the forest that I came upon a scent that I wish I had never to smell ever again. Fucking Maria! Her scent was mixed with three others. Two of which could still be smelt in the Cullen house from Alice and Edward's old rooms, the other; unfamiliar.

An ear splitting scream pierced the air around us and it only made us push ourselves harder through the brush of the forest.

When the voice of Alice reached my ears, I pulled Jasper to a stop and we continued closer to the voice at a fast walk. I didn't want to take the chance of Alice or anyone hearing us coming up on them and giving them the chance to run. When we could see the clearing ahead of us, I thought Jasper was either going to collapse and start sobbing or he was just going to go rushing out and kill the closest person. To my surprise the only thing that happened was he tighten his jaw and stalked faster through the trees.

I stopped next to Jasper and dropped into a crouch to see what was going on. Alice had her tiny ass hand gripping Bella's chin and her nails were cutting the skin, making small trails of blood to run down her hand and arm as well as down Bella's chin and neck. I noticed that Maria and some unknown women was holding down a struggling Edward. The low rumbling in his chest was nothing but a constant growl that was completely vicious sounding for such a pussy of a man.

Alice had pulled Bella close to her face and I watched in horror as she licked the trail of blood from her hand. The sickening smile she had plastered on her face made my stomach turn. I could only imagine what was going through Bella's mind right now. From here a could smell the salty tears that were in her eyes, her chest has heaving with the harsh breaths she was taking. I had let myself get distracted from Alice for only a moment and I almost didn't notice Alice lean into Bella's blood soaked neck.

Jasper and I were both up from our crouched positions and getting ready to go get our Bella back when I saw a blur of silver and sandy blond rush passed us and collide with Alice and the bitch that was holding down Edward. Alice gave a yelp of surprise as her tiny frame flew across the small clearing and the women the small wolf slammed into rolled a few hundred yards away before dropping into a attack stance.

The three of us standing in the brush bolted out to help out our wolf brothers. Just as Jasper was stepping towards Bella's fallen body, Maria let out a screech and stormed Jasper only to be grabbed onto by Jacob whom had leaped in front of them and phased on the flat. His massive jaw was locked into Maria's shoulder and she was clawing at her face and eyes trying to free his stone grip.

Then the pain hit.

Bella's POV

For the second time today, everyone around me dropped to the ground, only this time; I wasn't standing alone. The women that was hit by Seth was standing, what looked to be a hundred or so feet away from where I stood. Her ruby eyes were burning into mine and you could visibly see a shimmer pulse around her entire body and her fists were clenched into tight balls. I chanced a glanced behind me to see Jasper and Peter both completely twisted in agony on the clearing floor. I took the chance of looking away from the women once again only this time I ran to Jasper's side. I grabbed his face and made him look up at me.

“Jazz, listen to me baby. That bitch is hurting you. You're an empath, pushing it back at her.” I pleaded with him.

The tortured look in his eyes told me that he didn't want to do it. “N-no... hurt.. you.” He gasped out in short sharp breaths.

“I will be fine.” I said, looking over to see the women stalking towards me now. “Fucking do it, Jasper!”

The pain was sudden and it took the breath clear out of my lungs along with a high pitched scream. But just as fast as the pain came, it was gone and I was being ripped away from Jasper's hold; only to meet the crazed eyes of Alice once again.

Peter's POV

Alice had Bella once again by the throat and her teeth bared. A growl echoed from Jasper and myself at the sight and we both charged the pixie bitch. I locked my arms around Bella as Jasper got a hold of Alice around the back of her neck. His fingers tighten on her neck and I watched as Alice's eyes grew wide. The hold she still had on Bella's throat was too tight and I was trying my damnedest to pry the bitch's fingers from my sister's throat.

I felt Bella's body go limp in my arms and at that moment I watched as the fire in Jasper's eyes lit up. He was no longer my brother, the one that you could fucked around with or sit and have a serious conversation with. No. He had channeled the fuckin' God of War and that fucker is a possessive bastard. What he just saw was his mate get hurt and the only target he saw at the the saw girl he had by the neck. He was gulping and I knew that there was no way in hell he could talk because his glands were working over time and the venom just wouldn't stop coming. With a feral snarled, Jasper bared his teeth causing venom to leak from his mouth and down his chin. He closed the distance between his mouth and Alice's neck; in one switch clean move, her head was detached from her body.

Jasper tossed Alice's head over his shoulder like a wadded of piece of trash. He then grabbed onto the hand that had a death grip around Bella's throat and ripped the fingers clean from the hand. I didn't even fight him when he pulled Bella from my arms and dropped to the ground with her. I hated to turn away from my brother and sister at this very moment but by the sound around me, it seemed I was likely needed elsewhere.

I turned to find Maria being circled by Edward and three wolves. Not only did this shock the hell out of me, to see Edward helping the wolves, but it was the first time I had ever seen her actually look completely fucking terrified. Every time she would try to step between them to run, one of the wolves would snap their teeth at her and she would shrink back into the center of the circle and try again.

I stepped up behind Edward as he growled low and deep at the visibly shaking women. He had either felt me walk up or heard my thoughts and he stepped aside for me to pass him. Standing in front of the women that caused so much pain for well over eighty years for me and my wife and over a hundred years of complete fucking brutal torture, had me a little smug to see her as the one cowering in fear now. When she noticed who it was standing before her, I could see the venom pool in her eyes. She knew after today she would be nothing but ash in the wind. I gave her a small smile when I felt the strong wave of fury slam into me and the sob that escaped her mouth.

Jasper pushed up beside me. The growl was building in his chest again. Deep and low and fucking scary. Maria took a step back, only to be pushed by Jacob's large head; back into Jasper's reach. His arm snapped forward and his long fingers dug into the stone flesh of Maria's throat. You could hear the sound of something crushing and I could only imagine that it was most likely her windpipe. Maria gasped out a shaky breath and started to struggle in his grasp.

With a curt shake of his head and a couple deep swallows of venom, Jasper spoke. “A hundred and forty years.” He growled. “That was how long I had to deal with the fucking consequences of you and your god damned sisters. Because of you, I took so many innocent lives and turned them into monsters only to kill them shortly after again. I had to deal with the problem of staying away from anyone with a pulse for most of the time after I left you because I was scared shitless I was going to kill again.”

Maria's knees gave out and she was now hanging from Jasper's tight grip, sobs were racking through her body.

“Because of you I missed out of seeing any of my real family again. Because of you...” his fingers flexed only to dig deeper into his flesh, “I had to deal with all of that shit along with the pity looks of my family every time they caught a glimpse of my scars.” Jasper sighed. “But I guess I should thank you as well.”

Edward growled behind me at Jasper's words but my grin only grew. I knew what was coming next.

“Because of you, Maria. I found the one women that loves me for me. She doesn't care about my past or my scars or that I can be a cruel son of a bitch when I need to be. She loves me endlessly and if it wasn't for you changing me, then I wouldn't be here now. That girl over there,” he pointed back at Bella whom was now awake and holding Jasper's shirt to her throat as she watched the exchange happen. “That women is my everything and I never would have met her if you hadn't changed me all those years ago, so I thank you for that.”

Maria clutched at Jasper's hand, trying to pull it away from her throat. “Jas... jas- per. I...”

“Shut up!” Jasper hissed. “Just because I thanked you for that doesn't mean you are off the hook. I promised myself something the night I found out you were helping out fuckward and that pixie bitch of an ex wife of mine. Wanna know what that promise was?” He whispered the last part. When she didn't answer him, he simply tightened his grip even more and leaned in closer to her face. “I promised I would rip you apart slowly and make you watch as I tossed the pieces into a fire.”

Her eyes went wide and she struggled even more only to have Jasper completely close his fist and ripped out the entire front of her throat. The venom began to leak from the opening and you could see the edges of her skin trying to fuse back together, making the seeping hole give off a sizzling sound and that alone made my stomach churn.

I hadn't noticed that the wolves had phased back until I was helping Jasper rip the limbs from Maria's now non-responsive body. I really gotta start paying more attention. Paul had one hand cupping his junk as he went around the clearing, gathering the pieces from the women they must have taken care of while Jasper and I were trying to get Bella away from Alice. Seth was in a oversized tee shirt that was barely covering his goods and the faint blush on his cheeks, as he stole glances towards Bella to see if she was looking; it only made it more obvious that he was well aware of his state of undress.

The fire beside us would flame higher with white and purple and black every time we would throw a piece of this demon women into it. The smell of burning vampire flesh was disgustingly strong and was filling my nose, making me want to retch up the deer that Jasper forced upon me early this morning. It was horrid going down and I honestly didn't want to find out how it was coming back up; so I cut my breathing off and prayed that we could leave this clearing soon.

I felt him walk up behind us as we were bent over picking up the small remaining pieces or our once Nazi leading bitch. Jasper turned first and the shock that hit me, let me know that he was yet again projecting his feelings. I turned my head and was shocked myself to see that Edward was standing there, looking every bit the seventeen year old he was, his head was ducked in embarrassment and shame; as he held out Alice's head in his hands. Jasper was stunned to say the least. He just stood there looking completely...

Just fucking talk to him, Edward. I said calming in my head knowing he would hear me and cutting off my mental musing.

Edward gave a shaky breath before he pushed the lifeless head into Jasper's hands. Jasper still had a look of complete disbelief on his face and whispered a gentle, “Thank you.”

Jasper calmly walked passed Edward and dropped the head of Alice to the ground as he collapsed in front of Bella once again and pulled her into his arms. His shoulders began to shake and I knew this was a very rare moment for Jasper. His emotions, along with the rest of our, we getting the best of him. He had his face buried into Bella's chest as she rocked him softly and cried along with him. Her fingers combed through his hair and she was making shushing sounds through her sobs. “It's over baby.” She whispered over and over again.

I hadn't noticed how much it had gotten to me until a sob escaped my own lips making every person in the clearing to turn and look at me. Paul gave a chuckle but I knew he felt the same way. I flipped him off as Bella motioned for me to come over to her and the three of us sat there holding each other. Shortly after Paul and Seth joined us and Seth had tears in his eyes.

“We thought we were going to lose you, Bells.” Seth sobbed.

Bella only clucked her tongue at him. “Really Seth, how many psychotic vampires have come after me and I survived it?”

Seth rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. And how many times have your guard dogs come to the rescue?” He shot back earning chuckles from everyone and a smack to the back of the head by Paul.

A throat cleared behind us and we turned towards Edward. His eyes were filled with venom tears that couldn't spill and his breathing was uneven. “I just wanted to say something to everyone. I know what I've done and I know what my punishment will be and I promise you all that you can have at it but I just want to say one thing first.” He took a deep unnecessary breath. “I'm so very sorry that I've done this. It was a terrible, horrible thing to do. My own actions caused your relationship with Jasper, Bella. I know that now. I honestly had no idea that Alice was going to do something like that. The visions she showed me before we came here, were lies. She showed us together again and her and Jasper together. They showed that I only needed to get you away from everyone to talk and it would be okay with us. I am so sorry.” He was sobbing by the end.

Bella began to push against all of us. “Let me up guys.”

“Bella... w-what? You cannot seriously tell me you're going to him!?” Jacob shouted.

Jasper hissed. “Fuck off, Jake. If she wants to go talk to him, that is her choice. She wont be going out of my sight but I will not what she can and cannot do. And neither will you.”

Jacob snarled but crossed his arms over his chest leaving his very naked self exposed for all to see. Bella grunted at this and through Jasper's bloody shirt at him. “Cover it up before I come over there and rip it off.” she growled.

Well, hell. Who knew she had it in her.

The guys all laughed as Bella made her way over to Edward. She reached a hand up and touched his cheek in what looked to be a very intimate way only to slap him. We all winched with her when she cradled her hurt hand under her bent elbow of her other. Edward was shocked but said nothing. Good boy.

“I should let Jasper rip your ass apart,” she spat. “Not only did you come to claim me as yours after you fucked it all up to begin with but you hurt my family. You and the little decapitated bitch over there put Charlie and Sue both in the hospital. Sue was in a coma, Edward. A coma. Charlie had a fucking heart attack. To think after six years of being away from all things supernatural that in less than a few short weeks it all changed.”

Bella's bottom lip trembled as she stood there, both of her hands injured and her tiny upper arm and shoulder were completely twisted from the break she had. Yet she still stood her ground. “Jasper and everyone were back in my life and come to find out that he was my perfect other half. He is perfect.” She heaved a sigh and shook her head trying to moved some stray hair from her eyes. Edward, without thinking I'm sure, reached up and moved them for her; earning him growls from Jasper and the wolves. “Don't do that again.” She glared. “But you have no idea what it was like for me Edward. I get a phone call from Seth telling me I have to come home. I had to listen to my little brother crying because he thought for sure that Charlie and his mom were hurt beyond repair. Not only was I on the verge of panic attacks the entire way here but then I had to deal with overactive werewolves and the big lug hurt my soul mate.” She sent a glare at Jacob this time and he quickly turned his head to avoid it.

“What I am trying to say Edward, is that, you really fucked up this time. You messed up when you both jumped to conclusions about a vision that I am sure you don't even know where it came from. Jumping into bed with Alice, of all people, it had to be my best friend. It sort of makes me think that Alice planted the vision for you as bait so she could take you away from me. She did say you were meant for her and by the crazy shit she just pulled today I am sure you probably have the same thought. Anyways, I'm just gonna cut to the chase here; my body is fucking aching and I think both of my wrists are broken and I really want to get home so Carlisle can fix me up... but, I know you're sorry for everything. I can see it by just looking in your eyes. I will not agree or disagree with how Jasper and the guy punish you though. You have messed with all of us and everyone knows that fucking with family never leads to anything good in the end. I'm just sorry that we couldn't talk this through in the beginning instead of all of this shit happening.”

Edward just dropped his gaze to his feet and nodded his head.

A clapping to our right alerted us that we had company. Stepping out from the tree line were Aro, Marcus, Demetri and Heidi. Aro was clapping with a rather happy smile on his face. “I see that someone has been around the major too long. His filthy mouth has rubbed off on the beautiful child.”

Paul gave a snort before murmuring, “That's not the only thing he has rubbed off on her.”

“Shut it!” Bella hissed.

“Ah! She is charming, isn't she?” Aro smiled to Demetri who smiled back in return with a nod. “But! No time for chit chatting young ones, I am here for a reason. Isabella? Your answer will be the faith of the rest of you family. Do you wish to be changed? I am sure you know of all the things you will be giving up and...”

“I want to stay human.” Bella whispered, cutting him off.

Aro gave a nod. “Alright then. We all need to go back to Carlisle's lovely home. Come along children.”

Jasper threw Alice's head into the still burning flames before he scooped Bella up into his arms and the rest of us followed Aro and his guard through the woods and back to the giant white home that Esme had built. It truly was a beautiful home and I wondered why they just didn't come back here to live with them being human and all now. We came to a stop in the back yard of the house and I was running for my wife as soon as I saw her.

Charlotte sobbed into my shoulder as she wrapped herself around me. “God I thought we had lost you all.” Then she fucking slapped me. “Next time, don't fucking run off so damned fast without anyone else even knowing what was happening. By the time everyone was up Brady had told us that we were to stay put. It fucking killed me Peter. Never. Again.”

I kissed all over her face. “Never again. I swear it.”

*** Bella's POV ***

It has been five long day.

My decision to stay human resulted in Jasper, Peter, Charlotte and Edward being changed back yet again. It killed me to know that all of them were going through so much pain again but this time it was my fault. Aro was worried about this change because he said that he hadn't ever had the reason to do this more than once so he wasn't surprised when the third day rolled around and they were all still slowly progressing back to human. I laid in our bed with Jasper. I watch yet again as his cold stone features grew soft and warm. I could hear his heartbeat again and the sound of his lungs as they filled with needed air. I had a wet warm wash cloth with me at all times to wipe away the cold sweat that covered his face and upper body.

We had changed him into a pair of pajama pants once Aro had bitten him so he wouldn't have to be anymore uncomfortable then he would have to be. We left his shirt off because Carlisle said he had a fever most of the time during the first transition.

I witnessed a lot of things over the passed years. A lot of them were terrible things. But nothing hurt worse then seeing Jasper in pain like this. He had done this twice, three times if you count in Italy, for me; and he was all too eager to go through it this time.

I must have dossed off at some point during the night. I hadn't been sleeping much because I just wanted to watch Jasper to do anything possible to help ease his pain. Not much helped but he did seem to calm slightly at my touch. Something warm was blowing against the side of my ear. I swatted my hand at it because it freaking tickled and I was too tired for this. My hand made no contact with anything but as soon as I settled back with my arm comfortably under the side of my body, the warm air was back.

I scrunched my nose and swatted at it again only this time I propped myself up on my elbow to see what it was.

I was met with the beautiful blue-gray eyes that I had fallen in love with. They were full of humor and sparkling in the dim light of the room. A smile spread across my face as I looked into Jasper's eyes. He reached out and brushed his knuckled across my cheek and gave me his gorgeous little grin.

“Hey darlin'.”