Jasper's POV

It had been a few days since we'd joined Bella's army. In that time, I'd spent almost the entire time training or hunting. Hunting was the activity I was on my way to doing now. I was with Peter in an a dark alley waiting for some low lives to feed on.

I hadn't really spoken to Bella since that first day. I guess one could say that I was avoiding her. I still had not figured out how to approach things with her. Bella had been through things I couldn't even imagine. I was afraid to make a wrong move and have her afraid of me. I never wanted Bella to fear me. The rest of the world, sure, but not my mate.

"She's not gonna put up with it for long," Peter suddenly said.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Bella. She's gonna get irritated with you avoiding her like this. She already has actually," Peter said.

"Peter, did you suddenly come into contact with Edward's gift?" I asked. I swore he just read my damned mind.

Peter laughed. "I guess you were thinking about her. Well, she is your mate and you're avoiding her. Of course you'd think of her. It's probably damn painful to avoid her like this."

It was painful. The mating bond was not meant to be ignored. I didn't want to ignore it either. I just wanted to figure out how to handle it without hurting Bella further. I could not live with myself if I somehow screwed up and forced Bella to relive what Aro did to her.

"Is it Alice that's making you hesitant?" Peter asked.

I growled just from hearing that bitch's name. I hated her guts. I couldn't believe I'd been with her for so long. She was worse than Maria. Maria was an sadistic, torturous bitch, but that was a fact I always knew. She didn't pretend to be anything else. Alice had deceived me for decades. That wasn't what made me hate her so much though. Oh, I hated her for it, but it was what happened to Bella that made me wish I'd left her alive just so I could torture her. I blamed Alice almost completely for what happened to Bella. I blamed Edward as well, but not to the extent that i did Alice. She was the one to set the whole thing in motion. I didn't know if she knew exactly what would happen to Bella, but it was still her fault even if she didn't. She'd ensured Bella was vulnerable by setting things up for them to leave her. "No, it's not about that bitch! Even if I didn't hate her guts, you know very well that Bella is everything to me! I wouldn't even be able to stand the thought of another woman after the mating bond took full effect, which it started the moment Bella and I met again both being vampires."

"Yeah, I thought so, but then what's the problem?" Peter asked.

I glared at him. My brother was an idiot sometimes. How could he not understand what the problem was? He likely knew even more about it than I did. "What do you think, Peter. Bella's been through hell. I don't wanna screw up and scare her.

Peter only laughed in response, making me want to to tear both his arms off. I found nothing funny about any of this. He seemed to notice my anger though because he quickly stopped. "Come on, Major, does Bella really seem easily frightened? She leads a freaking army. She inspires fear."

"Yes, but that could change should I screw up. If I accidently make a wrong move, I could remind her of Aro and…"

"And scar her. There ain't any chance of that, at least not now. A few decades ago, maybe, but not now. You screw up and do something she doesn't like, she's more likely kick your ass. She's not gonna be afraid you. She ain't even afraid of Aro anymore. She just hates his guts and wants him dead. She's not fragile," Peter assured me.

I still wasn't sure. I knew he was probably right, but I didn't wanna make a mistake. I knew that some women flashed back when reminded of their attacks and I didn't want Bella to ever confuse me with Aro.

Soon I caught the scents of a couple of humans, murderers, the perfect meal. "Let's go. I have a couple." With that, we started towards the scent.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

After hunting, Peter and I went back to the compound, both of us separating to go to our respective rooms. I planned to shower and then read for a while before my next training session with Emmett and Rosalie in a few hours.

When I got to my room, Bella was waiting outside for me. She looked very annoyed. "Hey, Bella. Are you okay?"

"I'd like a word inside," Bella said.

I nodded and motioned her to lead the way. I watched her open the door and walk in before following her and closing the door behind me.

"I don't appreciate being ignored," Bella said in a hard tone.

I cringed. It appeared Peter was at least right about her not putting up with him avoiding her. "I wasn't trying to ignore you, Darlin'."

"You have been avoiding me. I have barely spoken to you since the night I brought you here. Tell me why!" Bella demanded.

Hearing the dominance in my mate's voice had me wanting to claim her right there. She was hotter than ever before right now and I wanted her. It took a lot to resist and caused me physical pain. My chest ached and I felt sharp pains in my stomach. "I don't wanna hurt you."

Bella growled, turning me on even further. "If I wanted to hear that God damned crap, I'd go find Edward! I don't think I heard much else when we were together. Oh, and it might have escaped your attention, but I am just as strong as you."

"I didn't mean physically. I'm worried about making a wrong move and scaring you," I told her.

If I thought that would at all tame her anger, I was wrong. She snarled loudly and glared murderously at me. "You freaking asshole! You are under the impression that I don't know the difference between you and Aro? And also that I am so weak that I still fear that bastard?"

"No, not weak. You're far from weak, Bella, but maybe still affected by what he did," I said.

"You mean afraid and that is the same thing. I am not weak or fragile, Jasper. I will not be treated that way!" Bella yelled.

"I know you're not. I just don't want to cause you pain. I know that sometimes people can have flashbacks of their attacks while with someone else," I said.

Bella laughed, surprising me. "Are you under the impression that you're my first since Aro raped me? That is far from fact."

Now it was my turn to growl. The idea of anyone touching my mate had me ready to track them down and rip them all apart. No one had any business touching my mate. It already royally pissed me off that Edward had so much as put his hands on her.

"Calm down, Jasper. It's not as if you've been celibate. I am not Edward. I had no desire to go without for over a hundred years. The first few were to get over the possibility of flashbacks that you're so worried about. I took the bull by the horns. I was not going to be weak. I was going to get over any fear that I had. I found some vampires that were more than willing to help," she said.

I growled once more. The more she spoke of sex with other vampires, the more angry and possessive I became. The beast in me wanted to claim her right now.

Bella smirked. "You want me. I can see the conflict in your eyes. Stop being a coward and get your ass over here," she said as she took a step towards the bed.

That was all the prompting I needed. Without even thinking about it, I charged forward and pushed her down on the bed. I got on top of her and started kissing her fiercely. Then I started removing her clothes. There was no stopping now, though Bella didn't seem to want that anyway.