Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Sixteen - Denied

"Do you think Tanya's family would be willing...?" Edward's voice was thoughtful, cautious. "Another five mature vampires would make an enormous difference. And then Kate and Eleazar would be advantageous on our side. It would be almost easy, with their aid."

"We'll ask," Carlisle answered, brisk and professional.

Jasper held out a cell phone. "We need to hurry."

The room shifted around us in a flurry—Bella and Edward moved to the loveseat, whispering softly to each other. I felt Jasper's hand at my wrist, guiding me gently to the couch. Without thinking, I sat in his lap, tucking the blanket over both of us. The coolness of him, the familiar strength, made the edges of my anxiety dull, if only slightly.

Carlisle's voice was low and quick, almost too fast for me to follow as a human. He was greeting Tanya, racing through the situation. I could sense the urgency in every syllable.

Then something changed in his tone—sharp, surprised. "Oh... we didn't realize... that Irina felt that way."

Edward groaned, his voice tight. "Damn it. Damn Laurent to the deepest pit of hell where he belongs."

"Laurent?" Bella whispered, paling.

My own chest tightened. I remembered the spring—Laurent, his attempt on Bella, the look of panic on her face when she told Dad and Harry about the wolves. I shivered slightly, curling closer to Jasper.

"There's no question of that," Carlisle said firmly. "We have a truce. They haven't broken it, and neither will we. I'm sorry to hear that... of course. We'll just have to do our best alone." He shut the phone without waiting for a response.

"What's the problem?" Emmett murmured to Edward, clearly confused.

"Irina was more involved with our friend Laurent than we knew. She's holding a grudge against the wolves for destroying him to save Bella. She wants—" Edward paused, glancing at Bella.

"Go on," she said evenly.

His eyes narrowed. "She wants revenge. To take down the pack. They would trade their help for our permission."

"No!" Bella gasped, voice sharp.

I couldn't contain it. I felt my stomach clench and my heart pound in a way that had nothing to do with the fear of the newborn army. "That's... that's insane!" I practically shouted, the words spilling out before I could think. "We're not bargaining with revenge! We can't—this is about humans, about protecting people—not some vendetta!"

Edward's tone cut through my outrage, flat but firm. "Don't worry. Carlisle would never agree to it." He hesitated, then let out a low, resigned sigh. "Nor would I. Laurent had it coming,"—there was a subtle growl in his voice—"and I still owe the wolves for that."

"This isn't good," Jasper rumbled, his voice deep and steady, vibrating through my chest. My fingers instinctively tightened on the blanket as I leaned into him. "It's too even a fight. We'd have the upper hand in skill, but not numbers. We'd win... but at what price?"

His arm tightened lightly around my stomach in a loose, grounding hold, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. His coolness and calm steadied me, even as my mind spun with the implications. I pressed closer against him.

The others began moving about the kitchen, voices low but urgent, arranging plans and arguments. I stayed where I was, still curled into Jasper's lap, letting him anchor me as the weight of everything threatened to overwhelm my thoughts.

He tilted his head slightly, sensing my restlessness. "You're thinking too hard," he murmured, low and calm. His hand smoothed along my side in a way that was both grounding and intimate. "You can't control what's happening out there. Not yet."

I let out a shaky breath, resting my forehead lightly against his chest. "I just... hate feeling so useless," I admitted quietly, almost to myself. "It's like we're about to walk into a storm, and all I can do is... watch."

Jasper's lips curved faintly, a small, almost imperceptible smile. "You're not useless," he said gently. "You're here. You're present. That counts for something."

I tilted my head back to look at him, and even in the dim kitchen light, his eyes held that same calm, steady heat that had always drawn me in. He always seemed... untouchable, yet so accessible if you let yourself get close.

"Come with me," he said suddenly, rising slightly from the couch and tugging me to my feet. I followed without hesitation. The others were too absorbed in their conversation to notice. He led me down the short hallway, fingers brushing mine occasionally, until we reached the quiet of the living room.

Once the door clicked behind us, he let me sit on the couch again, settling behind me. I leaned back against him, feeling the familiar press of his chest against my back, the warmth radiating from him. His arms wrapped loosely around my waist, and I let my hands rest lightly over his.

"You know," he murmured, voice low and teasing, "you could stay like this forever, and I'd let you."

I laughed softly, the tension in my chest easing just a fraction. "Forever, huh? You make it sound like it's a vacation from... everything out there."

"It kind of is," he said, nuzzling the back of my neck just lightly. "A safe spot. Just for us."

I tilted my head against him, closing my eyes for a moment. The chaos outside—the planning, the threats, the newborn army—felt almost distant here. For a heartbeat, it was just him and me, and I let myself sink into it, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a comfort I could cling to.

"And..." I whispered, feeling bold, "I like being your safe spot too."

He tightened his hold just slightly, a subtle affirmation. "I know," he said softly. "And I trust you... more than anyone."

I shivered slightly at the weight of his words, the intimacy of the moment settling deep in my chest. For all the fear and chaos waiting beyond these walls, right now I had this. Jasper. Calm, patient, protective... and entirely mine.

I rested my head back against him again, letting out a quiet, contented breath.

I felt him shift slightly behind me, the press of his body sending a shiver through me. His arms wrapped around my waist, solid and steady, but... impossibly cold. My fingers traced along his forearm, and the chill bit gently against my skin.

"You're freezing, Jasper," I whispered, leaning back just enough to see the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"And yet, my little firebrand stays," he murmured softly. "How is that possible?"

I laughed, tilting my head back against his chest. "Maybe I like a challenge, sweetheart."

"Persistent," he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face, the ice-cold touch of his fingers sending sparks up my arm. "I don't know whether I should be impressed or alarmed, darling."

"Both," I said with a grin. "Keeps you on your toes, my soldier."

He shifted again, the chill of him pressing closer to me, stark against the warmth of my body. I let out a little laugh, half in surprise, half in delight. "You make freezing feel... hot, Jasper."

He tilted his head, lips brushing the side of my hair. "You do things to me, Tiff... even sitting quietly like this."

I shivered against him again, feeling the strange, thrilling contrast of his cold body and the heat pooling in my chest. "Sounds like torture, my love," I murmured.

"The good kind," he said, tightening his arms around me just enough to ground me, his icy touch making my skin tingle. "And necessary, my darling."

I rested my head fully against him, closing my eyes. Cold as he was, the strength, the calm, the undeniable presence of Jasper wrapped around me like a shield. The world outside the kitchen, the threat in Seattle... it could wait. Here, in this quiet, frozen warmth, I could simply be me—safe, adored, and utterly captivated by him.