Dorothea Caddel, is born into a wealthy family that can easily give her a plane or a planet to her wishes but what if something deep is hidden in the mask of a perfect family, a devil that she fears but soon learns to accept as love. That story chan...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It's 1956 now.
The past five years had been filled with countless school activities, much to the dismay of some of the Cullen boys. Yes, you heard it right—after three long family vacations, Carlisle decided it was time for the children to attend school. It had been too long since they last stepped into a classroom, and Carlisle, always the protector of knowledge, was concerned about their lack of education.
The boys—Dean, Emmet, and Edward—protested bitterly. They hated the idea, but in the end, they were forced to comply. On the other hand, Dorothea, despite her older age, occasionally joined them but mostly spent her time at home with the Denalis. Though Carlisle and Esme had hoped Dorothea would find something productive to do, she much preferred the peace and solitude of the Denali household.
Carlisle tried to convince the boys that Dorothea, who had been homeschooled for years, was better suited to spending her time in more intellectual pursuits. She'd spent years studying under Carlisle's guidance, learning alongside him as he worked. The boys had to admit that they couldn't compare to her discipline, so they'd grudgingly agreed to let her follow her own path.
Today was no different. The siblings piled into the car, heading off to school, with Carlisle on his way to work. Esme busied herself with a magazine while the Denalis went off to do their own thing. Dorothea, watching her family leave, sighed.
"Esme, may I go out for a while?" Dorothea's voice was quiet, but Esme was always quick to oblige. "Where to, honey?" Esme asked, glancing up from her magazine.
"Nowhere, really. Just thought I could use some fresh air before diving into more paperwork."
Esme gave her the green light, and Dorothea disappeared into her winter coat, her usual slothful self not bothering with anything more appropriate for the weather. A simple coat would do.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
She stepped outside, greeted by the crisp Alaskan air. She avoided the town, knowing full well that it was teeming with humans who would never leave her in peace. The last thing she needed was to be polite and smile at every person who tried to get her attention. The silence of the woods was inviting, and she was thankful for it, taking a slow, deep breath and soaking in the serenity of nature.
Alaska's beauty was incomparable, and Dorothea often found herself contemplating just how much she loved this place. There was a peace here that she didn't feel back in Forks. Her family, though beloved, had a way of overwhelming her. Out here, in the middle of the woods, she was able to just exist, away from the prying eyes of her siblings and their loud, animated personalities.
As she walked, her thoughts began to wander, and a familiar scent suddenly struck her. It was subtle at first, but it grew stronger as she moved. Dorothea's heart skipped a beat as memories of him flooded her mind. She didn't need to think—her feet started moving, and before she knew it, she was running.
His scent filled the air around her as she pushed through the crowds in the town, her eyes scanning desperately for any sign of blonde hair or familiar red eyes. The world seemed to blur around her, her pulse quickening with each step.
"Jasper..." she murmured under her breath, as if speaking his name would somehow make him appear. She didn't dare speak louder; the fear of drawing attention, of being found weak, overwhelmed her. She had spent so long resisting her feelings, afraid of what might come next, but everything inside her screamed for him.
She continued running, her heart pounding, but the mass of humans surrounding her only made it worse. The scent, the noise, the movement of people—it was all too much. She crouched down, her hands trembling as she covered her face, trying to block everything out.
"Darlin'?"
Her heart stopped at the sound of that voice. She knew that voice, deep and comforting, like an anchor in a storm. She froze, unsure of what to do, but then she felt his rough hands gently take hers. The world slowed as he spoke again.
"Darlin', your emotions are all over the place. Take a deep breath and calm down."
Jasper. Of course. He was here. But she couldn't bring herself to look at him. How could she? She didn't know how to face him, not yet. She didn't know how to face the future that seemed to loom over them, unknown and frightening.
But then, as his hands left hers, a wave of panic hit her. She couldn't stand the thought of him leaving. Without thinking, she launched herself at him, burying her face in his neck as she clung to him tightly.
"Don't leave me, please. I'm frightened," she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with a raw vulnerability that she could no longer hide.
Jasper, sensing her distress, didn't hesitate. He lifted her in his arms and carried her away from the crowd, into the seclusion of the woods. His grip never loosened, and Dorothea, despite the chaos of her emotions, found solace in his touch. He wouldn't let her go, not now.
They reached a small meadow with a frozen lake nearby. Jasper gently placed her back on her feet, his hands brushing over her body to check for any signs of injury. Dorothea, however, didn't focus on any physical wounds. She was too consumed with the emotions that tore through her.
Finally, her gaze met his. She gasped, taking in the sight of his once ruby-red eyes now golden, soft like Carlisle's. Without thinking, her hands reached up, her fingers tracing the lines of his face as she took in the subtle changes.
"How you feelin' now, darlin'?" Jasper's voice was soft, though a trace of concern lingered in his tone.
"Been better," Dorothea replied, her voice soft but steady, though her heart still raced with the weight of everything that had happened. Her gaze remained locked with his, and for a brief, suspended moment, it felt as though the world had faded away, leaving just the two of them in perfect silence.
Suddenly, Jasper's deep laugh echoed through the air. Before Dorothea could even process it, he tackled her onto the soft snow of the meadow. She gasped, then burst into laughter at the surprise. "S-Stop! J-Jasper! Oh, heavens! Wh-What are you doing?! No!" Dorothea attempted to push him off, but her laughter made it impossible for her to catch her breath and regain control.
Jasper's smirk widened as he tickled her, trying to coax that smile out of her that he adored so much. But Dorothea wasn't done yet. She rolled them over, making Jasper the one lying beneath her, his golden eyes now reflecting pure affection.
"If you're going to make me wait for you, Mr. Whitlock, at least you could offer me a kiss to make up for the trouble," Dorothea remarked, her tone firm, though the mischievous glint in her eyes gave away her true feelings.
Jasper's smirk deepened, a playful glint in his golden eyes. "My apologies, ma'am," he murmured, his voice low and warm as he leaned up, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that felt like home.
The kiss was slow at first, almost tentative, as if they were both savoring the moment they had so longed for. But soon, the kiss deepened, the urgency of their emotions finally spilling over. It was a kiss full of promise, full of the future they would share, no matter how uncertain it seemed.
For Dorothea, this was it. There was no more running. No more fear. She had found her place, and it was with him.
