A/N: Hello all! After a long wait here is the next chapter. Thanks to everyone for sticking with this story. I hope to be better about updating in the future. *fingers crossed* Much thanks to my beta, Ealasaid77, for working her magic and turning this chapter around so quickly. Enjoy.

"I wish all of our time together could be like this, just the two of us enjoying each other. Instead, our relationship has to be pushed to the wayside while we deal with the antics of James and his crew." Edward was angry and had every right to be.

"You are absolutely right, Edward, but I promise you this. Even with everything going on, I will always make time to show you and tell you how I feel about you so you don't ever forget it, no matter what," I promised him. "Now, let's get up and face the day."

Chapter Fifteen

After Jasper and I showered, I made myself breakfast and was just cleaning up when Emmett appeared at the door.

"Hey, Emmett," I said opening it and motioning for him to come in. "Would you like some coffee?"

Sitting down at the table, Emmett smiled and nodded his head. "I'd love some, Edward, thanks. Jasper around anywhere?"

"He just ran out to get some breakfast for himself," I smirked. "I would think he'd be back shortly."

"That was foolish," Emmett snapped. "You shouldn't have been left alone, even for a minute. Jasper should have called me if he needed to run out!"

"Emmett, it's okay. All the doors and windows are locked, and Jasper did a sweep of the street before he left. He hasn't been gone that long, really."

"It's just not right, Edward. If I had known, I would have come earlier," Emmett explained as he sipped his coffee.

"Come earlier for what?" Jasper asked as he came in the door. Stopping by the stove, he grabbed himself a cup of coffee and kissed me before heading over to the table.

"To stay with Edward while you went out hunting," Emmett responded angrily.

"Whoa, Emmett, chill. Edward was fine. I made sure to check everything before I left, and I stayed local, so I was close in case of anything," Jasper stated.

Emmett was not appeased. "Whatever, Jasper, just don't do it again, okay? I'd feel better if Edward wasn't alone at all, at least until we have a better idea about what's going on."

"You're right, Em, sorry for worrying you. But, you know I would never do anything to hurt Edward or put him in danger. Right?" Jasper inquired.

"I know, Jasper, just don't do it again." Emmett stuck his hand out across the table and they shook on it.

"Are you guys done pounding your chests over me or what?" I questioned. Both of them turned to look at me as if they had forgotten I was there.

"Yes, baby, come sit." Jasper pulled out a chair for me so I joined them at the table.

"I found out a little bit about what's going on," Emmett blurted out. Jasper and I froze in our chairs as we waited for Emmett to elaborate.

"Well?" I demanded feeling a little exasperated.

"After I left here last night, I made a few phone calls to some old friends. What I found out is a little worse than we thought," he stated ominously.

"Don't leave us in suspense, Emmett! Tell us what you found out," Jasper demanded.

"It seems that there is a werewolf pack congregating not too far from here. There are also some shifters in their group, James being one of them. I'm not really sure what all of them shift into. I think some, like James, shift into wolves. The others into some other animals, mostly of the feline variety, lions, tigers, panthers etc," Emmett explained.

"Werewolves? Shifters? Are you kidding me?" I gushed in astonishment.

"Wish I was kidding but, unfortunately, I'm not. Apparently there is a little war going on between two packs for control, and the head of the one James belongs to feels Edward would be an asset to him in fighting this war," Emmett finished.

"That's impossible!" I shouted. "Wolves? I can't read the minds of animals, just people. How would I be of any help at all?

Jasper reached over and caressed my hand, pulling it gently into his. "You would be a tremendous asset to him, Edward. While you may not be able to read their minds when they are in their wolf form, you could certainly do it when they were in their human one. That's the advantage he's looking for from you."

"Jasper's right, Edward. Now that we know what they want, it's even more important to keep you safe from harm," Emmett sighed as he poured himself another cup of coffee. "This is crazy, I mean, how many of them are there, and how are we supposed to keep Edward safe from everyone?" Emmett questioned us as he threw his hand up in the air in frustration.

Jasper squeezed my hand tightly. "We'll protect Edward the best we can. Maybe Carlisle and everyone can help."

"I'm still confused, all right. Let me try to get this straight. James, who was somehow turned into something that can shift into a wolf, is part of a pack of other, regular, werewolves. Am I getting it right so far?" I looked at both of them for confirmation.

"You are on the right track so far, Edward," Jasper said smiling at me. His smile was like a ray of sunshine in the dark, gloomy atmosphere my kitchen had become during this conversation.

"Before I move on, I have a question? How did James become a shifter? Was he bit by another shifter?" I felt stupid for asking this question, but I felt as clueless as a Yankee at a hoedown.

"That's how it happens," Emmett confirmed. "He had to have been bitten by a shifter in order to be turned into one. Most shifters are born that way, when two shifters breed, and you said James wasn't this way when you knew him, right?"

"No, he wasn't. I sensed the change in him as soon as I saw him the other day. His aura was very different from the last time we were together. Now I know why," I responded.

"This is more serious than I thought," Jasper mused. "If both of these pack leaders think you can be an asset to them in their fight for control, they have nothing to lose by coming after you with everything they have. Leaving for a while might be the best way to keep you safe."

"We've already talked about this, Jasper. I'm not leaving. This is my life and I don't want to have to run away from it. They can't force me to read minds for them," I assured him.

"Of course they can force you, Edward. All they would have to do is get their hands on someone close to you, like one of your friends. If you have to choose between not helping them and saving your friend, you are going to save your friend, you know that. That's why leaving would be a good thing," Jasper reiterated.

"No, that's not an option for me. We will have to figure out some other way to handle this situation. Do we know who both of these pack leaders are?" I questioned Emmett.

"Not really, no. I mean, I have their names, but I really don't know anything about either one of them. My sources are going to try to find out more information for me as soon as they can without stirring up anyone's interest," Emmett responded.

"Until then, we need to be extra diligent about your safety, Edward. Alice, Esme, and Carlisle will definitely have to be involved now. Emmett, you stay with Edward while I make a quick visit to them," Jasper stated.

"Sure thing, Jasper. Let me just call Rose and tell her about the change in plans." Grabbing his phone, he headed into the other room to make his phone call.

Turning to Jasper, I shook my head in frustration. "Really, Jasper? Again? Are you never going to get it?" I snapped.

"What are you going on about, Edward? Get what?" Jasper was confused, and I could see that. He probably didn't even realize what he did.

"Making decisions for me like I'm a child and not even in the room? Have enough respect for me to at least ask me my opinion, even if you aren't going to factor it into your decision-making. Humor me," I growled out. "I'm tired of everyone running circles around me, and trying to take my life into their hands. You, these….. wolves or whatever the hell they are. I'm done, Jasper, and I want out."

"Out of what? Our relationship? Fine, I won't force you to be with me if you don't want to, but I'm still protecting you, Edward. That's a given," Jasper sadly replied.

"You're just not getting it, Jasper. I want out of everything, this relationship, this war, and this life. You know, I thought coming back to my hometown was going to solve all of my problems for me, but that's not the case. Instead, my problems have doubled, no tripled, since I've been home," I railed at him. "It's just so damn frustrating and I want it over with already."

Jasper sat there stunned into silence by my outburst. His fists were clenching and unclenching and his jaw was tight with his anger. Pushing his chair away from the table, he stood up and made his way over to where I was sitting. Leaning over me, he was so close I could smell the green apple shampoo we used that morning waft over me. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to try to calm my nerves.

"Open your eyes, Edward, and look at me," Jasper yelled. My eyes shot open immediately never having heard that tone in Jasper's voice before.

"You are going to listen to what I have to say," he demanded. "Got it?"

"Yes, I got it," I responded shakily. While I knew Jasper would never hurt me, he was scaring me with his behavior.

"Good. While I can understand your frustration at the situation, you have to realize that it is out of my control. Your interaction with James was something from your past and has nothing to do with me. He had already made plans with this pack leader to deliver you. My presence in your life has only fueled his fire to obtain you as revenge against me. Are you following me?" he asked.

While I understood what Jasper was saying was true, it was still hard for me to separate him from the situation but I needed to try. "Yes, I understand that all of this was in motion before you came into my life, but I must also say that it seems that all of the bad things started after you showed up. It's very hard for me to separate you from all of the bad experiences I've had, but I'm trying. Maybe separating for a bit would be for the best," I reiterated my statement from earlier. "It may help me work through things a little easier."

Jasper sighed and sat back down. "If that's what you really want, Edward, I won't try to stop you. But, I have to tell you that it's not what I want, not by a long shot."

"I'm well aware of that, Jasper," I said reaching my hand across the table to grab his. "And just because we are not together that doesn't mean I don't want you or need you, because I do. My mind is a jumbled mess right now and I really need to sort some things out. I do promise that I will go along with you and Emmett as far as what you feel I need to do for my safety. You won't get a fight from me on that," I promised him.

Squeezing my hand, Jasper smiled at me sadly. "Good to know, Edward. Listen to Emmett today and I'll see you when I get back." Jasper got up from the table and intercepted Emmett as he was on his way back into the kitchen.

"Edward will bring you up to speed on what's going on. I'm heading to visit Carlisle and them. Keep in touch," Jasper told him before he left the house.

Emmett's gazed followed Jasper's exit, and then made its way back to me. "Spill it now so we can get over it and move on," he suggested.

Taking a deep breath, I repeated our earlier conversation for Emmett, including my promise to follow all of his suggestions regarding my safety.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do, Edward?" he asked me. "I mean, it seems that you are punishing Jasper unfairly for things that are out of his control. You realize that, right?"

"Believe me when I say that, yes, I do realize that. It's just a really confusing time for me and I need some space to sort out my thoughts. My feelings for Jasper remain the same, they haven't changed," I explained.

"Well, I guess I have to go along with it even though I think you are wrong for doing it," Emmett conceded. "Let's go, we have to pick up Rosalie on the way."

It was a silent ride on the way to Rosalie's. Part of me knew Emmett was right for being upset with me. My actions were unfair towards Jasper considering that he was as much a victim in this as I was, but his appearance in my life was associated with the start of all the bad things and I just couldn't separate the two. My words to him last night came back to me and I felt bad that I had broken my promise to him so quickly but the damage was already done.

"Good morning, Edward," Rosalie gushed as she got into the car. "Ready for another day of high school?"

"Sure am, Rosalie. Good morning to you, too." It really wasn't a good morning for me, but Rosalie didn't need to know that. This strong feeling of unease was settling over me, and I wasn't sure what was causing it. Was it the demise of my relationship with Jasper? Even though I knew I did the right thing by taking a break, I also knew I was wrong for taking out all of my anger and frustration on him. Was my unease caused by the darkness hanging over my head? The idea of me being sought after by a wolf pack sounded like the plot of a bad horror movie. Unfortunately it wasn't a movie, it was reality.

"You're pretty quiet, Edward. Everything okay?" Rosalie asked.

"Not really, Rosalie. But I'll be all right," I mumbled while trying to smile.

When we arrived at school, we all went our separate ways. Reaching my classroom, I locked the door and leaned back against it while closing my eyes. My whole body was trembling and my heart was racing. What the fuck was going on? Vampires? Wolves? I mean, why me? Sliding down the door, I sat on the floor and cradled my head in my hands. My feelings were all over the place. I was feeling so many different things right now and they were all battling for dominance; anger at Jasper and James was foremost in my mind with frustration at the whole situation playing a close second; sadness at having to hurt Jasper's feelings was tied for third with the fear I felt because these people were after me.

Hearing the noise volume in the hallway increase, I picked myself up off the floor and made my way over to my desk. As I approached it, I saw a manila envelope placed in the middle of the desk with my name written on the outside. The fear took over its rightful place at number one as an ominous feeling of dread washed over me. This was not good at all, I could sense it from where I stood. Opening that envelope was going to be my downfall, but I had to do it. It was from James, that much I was sure of, as I recognized his cologne on the envelope.

My hands were shaking like an old man's with Parkinson's as I picked the envelope up and tried to open it. After the third try, I managed to get it open and I dumped the contents onto my desk. There were photographs, three of them, and in all of them James was smiling at the camera with his arm around my cousin, Alice. The only problem was, Alice wasn't smiling. Alice was terrified.