Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Preparations

The first days after the battle were strangely ordinary. Maybe "ordinary" wasn't quite the right word—after what we'd survived, life couldn't really feel ordinary—but it was peaceful. Quiet. For the first time in months, I didn't feel like the world was closing in on us.

I spent the mornings wandering the Cullen house, checking on Bella, helping her recover from the exhaustion and bruises, and making lists of everything that needed to be done before June 23. Boxes to pack, flowers to order, last-minute fittings... the usual chaos of weddings, magnified a hundred times because I was Tiffany Hale, marrying Jasper Hale, and every detail mattered.

Edward stayed close, always hovering, always alert, but somehow his presence was reassuring rather than tense. He would check on Bella and me, always polite, always quietly protective. Sometimes, I caught him watching Jasper and me with a faint, unreadable expression, and I would snort under my breath, nudging Jasper's shoulder when he wasn't looking.

Jasper was... Jasper. Calm, patient, steady, and yet there was that little mischievous glint in his eyes that promised he'd never let the mundane take over completely. He followed me from room to room, making sure I didn't overdo anything, teasing me about my obsession with lists, and, of course, reminding me I didn't have to be perfect—even for him.

Bella had her own quiet rhythm, slowly getting back into the swing of things. She helped with minor details when she could, gave honest opinions about colors and fabrics, and occasionally rolled her eyes at Jasper and me in a way only she could. There was Jacob too, quietly recovering, limping slightly but still cheerful, still teasing Bella in his own stubborn way. I couldn't help but grin when I watched them interact—it reminded me that life went on, no matter how close we'd come to losing it all.

Even Leah and Alice found their places in the chaos. Leah was quieter than usual, still processing everything, but she accepted my small attempts at cheer like the wolf she hid under her calm exterior. Alice, as always, flitted around like a whirlwind of energy, consulting her visions to make sure nothing was overlooked, occasionally pausing to offer advice or a mischievous grin at Jasper and me.

I spent one afternoon in my room, surrounded by boxes, books, and dresses, and for the first time in months, I allowed myself to think about what was coming. My wedding. Jasper's steady hand, his easy smile, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world who mattered. It made my chest tighten in the best way possible.

And yet, even as I packed, ticked off lists, and tried to calm my nerves, I noticed the little moments that made everything real. Edward hovering to ask if I needed anything, Bella laughing at a clumsy joke from Jacob, Alice flitting by with a small gift she insisted I open, Jasper's hand brushing mine as he passed by—all of it felt like pieces of a puzzle that had finally found their place.

June stretched ahead of us, seven days until I became Jasper's wife. Seven days of calm, laughter, planning, and tiny, perfect moments that reminded me life was worth every heartbeat—even after the storm.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt ready.