Chapter One

Alice

Seeing the expression on Jasper's face hurt me almost as much as I had hurt him and neither of us had intended that. I still loved him but as a friend, a very special friend but not as a mate, not as my husband. I was in fact relieved we had never made it official because I knew the thought that he would have to sign divorce papers would hurt him even more. I hadn't intended any of this, I had thought Jazz and I were for life until I got that vision, the one in which I saw the man who owned my heart, my real mate. I hadn't said anything, at first, I was too stunned, I didn't even believe it myself. My visions weren't always reliable, I'd been wrong in the past and this could be one of those occasions, but I didn't think it was. I was pretty sure I would be meeting him soon and I had no idea what to do when I did. Only that I couldn't avoid the meeting, not if the emotions I had felt were real, I just had to feel them again.

Of course, Jazz knew something was wrong, he always did. You couldn't hide your emotions from him like you could hide your thoughts from Edward, there was no escape. Apart from asking me if I was OK if there was anything I wanted to talk about, he left me alone to decide what and when I told him. I held off, like the coward I felt myself until it happened. I was in a store in Seattle, Rose was in the changing room and Esme had gone off to hunt down a pair of shoes to go with the new dress she had just purchased. I knew he was there before I saw him. That sudden excitement, that strange feeling in my stomach told me he was close by and as I turned around I saw him standing by a jewelry display smiling over at me as if we were old friends meeting after a long absence.

Without conscious volition, I found myself walking over to him my mouth dry and butterflies in my stomach. I thought I had felt love when I first laid eyes on Jasper, but that was a pale copy of the real thing.

"Alice? Alice Cullen?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

"I'm so glad I finally found you. I've been looking for a while. My name is Justin, but I'm afraid I can't claim any friendships in common."

"How did you know where I was? How did you know about me?"

"I...I saw you...I see things sometimes. Not...I don't see the future or anything clever like that. I see things that are important to me. That's how I saw you and I've been searching ever since. You are more beautiful than in my vision."

Clearing my throat to give me space to think I decided on the truth,

"I saw you too, I saw you coming in my future, you see I do see the future."

"I know, I found out a lot about you while I searched. The golden eyes gave me my first clue, they too are stunning."

I hadn't really noticed that his own eyes were, in fact, a kind of muddy brown and I understood with shock that Justin was a recent convert to an animal blood diet. He noticed my gaze and smiled a little self-consciously.

"I wasn't sure I would have time to change my diet before we met, but I have been trying very hard. Of course, without the aid of your mentor Carlisle Cullen, it is so much harder."

"So, why do it?"

His answer was as frank as it was short,

"For you."

Rose appeared at that moment looking at Justin curiously, but I had no idea what to tell her, all I knew was that I needed time to talk to him... alone, so I excused myself for the rest of the day. Nothing seemed to matter except discovering more about this man before me. He hadn't said anything, he just smiled at Rose who shrugged and promised to tell Esme I would meet them back at the house later. Once she was gone he spoke once more,

"That was a relief, I did wonder if you might just say goodbye and follow your sister. I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure what to say to her, how to introduce myself."

He held out his hand and I found myself eager to take it anticipating...I didn't know what but when I did there was a strange warmth that flooded through me, a sense of belonging, of peace and comfort but also the strangest thrill, almost as if we had suddenly been joined at the heart. We spent the rest of the day talking. About me and my past, Justin and his past, and then the future we could see spread out before us. This was a feeling I has never experienced with Jasper despite desiring him. Being with Justin was like having every nerve ending stimulated at once. If and when, no when, he and I finally made love I knew it would be the most intense pleasure I could imagine.

But first there was the problem of telling Jasper without breaking his heart, he had been so kind and gentle with me, always there when I needed him, my shoulder to cry on and my partner to laugh with. It just wasn't enough not any more, Justin was what I wanted, what I had to have.

"I know you are already in a relationship Alice and from what I've heard Jasper is a good man, I don't want to hurt him any more than I have to, but we both know that it has to end, your future is with me, not him."

I nodded my agreement,

"I have to go back Justin, I have to explain the situation to him face to face and hope he understands."

"I know and I will be here waiting when you have. I've been alone a long time and a few more hours or days won't hurt me. Just promise me you won't stay away too long."

I found myself melting into his arms, his heady scent sending me almost crazy with desire, but I wouldn't betray Jasper like that, I wouldn't sleep with another man until I had explained the situation to him. Of course, he took it far better than I had any right to expect, but then I was sure he could feel my emotions and knew I was only speaking the truth about Justin. He stood beside me for moral support as I told the rest of the family who was understandably shocked at the news. After taking their cue from him though, they all wished me luck and happiness and of course, they wanted to meet my mate but that could be very awkward for everyone as this was Jasper's home too.

He took my hand and addressed everyone,

"If this Justin is Alice's true mate then, of course, you should meet him after all, none of us will think any less of her for finding her heart's desire. I am happy for her and because of this I think she should bring him to the house as soon as possible."

Then he turned to me,

"You'll excuse me if I don't stay for the meeting Alice, I'm not sure I could bear to meet the man who has captured your heart, but I do wish you well. I think perhaps I will take a little while to consider my own future but don't worry, I'm sure we will meet again, especially as I have no intention of leaving the family."

Everyone was relieved to hear that and it would make no difference to us, Justin and I had even spoken about our next move. He wanted me to go with him to visit his home town of Roanoke Virginia where he had been renovating his family home, an old colonial estate. We decided that a fresh start would be best although he told me he would be delighted if the family came to visit and remained close to me and hopefully him in time. I didn't delay long, going back to Justin, having missed him so much that it almost hurt, and with a sigh of relief found him exactly where he had promised he would be waiting. I knew Jasper had absented himself to hunt and took Justin straight back to meet the rest of the family where he was received warmly although I could see a little reserve in both Rose and Esme's eyes. I understood this too, they loved Jasper and anyone who hurt him even inadvertently would need to prove himself. As for me, I was ecstatic and I finally understood the closeness between Rose and Emmett that had sometimes driven me mad. They just couldn't bear to be apart for longer than a few hours, maybe a couple of days maximum and being away from Justin for those few short hours had been almost unbearably painful. Now I knew that he was the one, my own true love.