Edited 9/2/2022

Chapter Twenty-Four, The Battle

Groaning as the alarm went off at six in the morning. Valerie really didn't want to get up, but Alice had predicted the battle would start around eight, so she knew that she and Jace needed to be on the Rez way before then.
"Come on darlin'." Jasper laughed, kissing Valerie's neck successfully waking her up, the bond humming happily between them.
"Okay, I'm up." Valerie laughed, turning to face him and kissing his lips. "Good morning Jasper, did you hunt enough last night?"
"Morning my love. I did, don't worry. I love you." Jasper replied, kissing her lips.

"I love you too. We should let Jace sleep." Valerie decided, Jasper agreeing with her as they would have breakfast at the Rez. After one last kiss and cuddle Jasper and Valerie reluctantly got up and out of bed quickly getting dressed. After doing her morning routine, she quickly got dressed in black, underwear, black ripped jeans with black socks and plimsolls, a black crop top, a burgundy cardigan, and her black leather jacket. While Valerie was throwing her hair up into a high messy bun, she saw Jasper was dressed and sat on the bed with Jace in his arms who was also fully dressed. Valerie knew he was getting as much time with their son as he could.

Jasper was in black trousers, a bluish-grey top, black zip-up jumper and black trainers. Jace was wearing cream trousers, a white and blue striped T-shirt just peeking out under a navy button up cardigan and Scooby-Doo trainers.
"Are you alright darlin'?" Jasper asked, wrapping one arm around Valerie holding her close when she sat next to him. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" Jasper asked, concerned.
"No, Jasper. Of course you didn't." She assured, resting her head on his shoulder so she was closer to him and their son, who was fast asleep in his arms.
"Good." Jasper said, kissing her head and just holding Valerie and Jace close.

The couple had descended into a comfortable silence despite what was going to be happening soon.
"Please be careful Jasper, I can't lose you, we can't lose you or any of you." Valerie begged, feeling tears build up making her vision go blurry.
"I promise sweetheart," Jasper said, wiping away a tear, "that we will all come back to you and this will all be over." Jasper said, kissing Valerie tenderly and lovingly. Just then they heard Cara's car pull up and went downstairs to let Cara and Leah in.
"Hey guys." Valerie said, smiling tightly as they grabbed Jace's things. Valerie and Sam thought it would be better if Cara and Leah load the buggy, car seat and changing bag into the car so Jasper's scent wasn't on anything so they couldn't track them, which Jasper agreed to.

"Hey Val, hey Jasper." Cara and Leah greeted, as they gave Valerie a tight hug.
"We should get going." Cara said.
"Promise me you and Jace will be okay. Stay on the Rez at all times. Promise me Valerie." Jasper asked desperately, looking deep into Valerie's eyes as his forehead rested on hers with Jace between them as the bond hummed between them, still settling from consummating the bond the night before.
"I promise Jasper." Valerie said, her voice breaking and tears building in her eyes again. "We won't leave Seth's side. Please be careful Jasper." She asked again.
"I promise my love." Jasper said, kissing Valerie passionately.

Once they pulled apart Valerie hugged Leah and Cara asking them the same even though they would be taking her to the Rez, Valerie wanted them to know how much they mean to her. They were her pack and she hated she couldn't be with them.
"We promise Val. But we'll be fine." Cara said, Leah nodding in agreement.
"I see you completed the bond last night." Leah whispered teasingly in Valerie's ear, trying to lighten the mood. Valerie didn't even blush; she just nodded with a happy smile upon her face.
"I love you." Valerie said, kissing Jasper one more time.
"I love you too." Jasper said, tears in his eyes, kissing her back. Once they pulled back he kissed Jace's head, nose, cheeks and lips. "I love you too lil' man. Be good for Mama and I'll see you soon." Jasper said softly, before handing him to Leah.

They shared one last kiss and hug before she jumped on to Cara's back to get to the car. Looking out of the window Valerie's eyes locked on to Jasper's as they pulled out of the driveway before Jasper disappeared into the forest.

***

Once they parked outside the Clearwater's, Seth came rushing out grabbing the buggy and the changing bag out of the car, Leah got Jace and Cara gave Valerie a piggy-back into the house.
"Val." Seth cried, pulling his Alpha into a hug as soon as Cara set her down once they'd entered the house.
"Hey Seth." Valerie smiled, hugging him tightly.
"Mum made us some breakfast." Seth said, pointing to the kitchen where jugs of orange juice, plates of pancakes and bowls of fruit lay on the table.
"Everything's going to be fine Val." Leah said, bringing her best friend into a tight hug after she'd laid Jace down in the travel cot.

"I know. I'm just scared for all of you. And I hate that I can't be with you helping my pack." Valerie said tearfully. Instead of answering they all pulled her into a group hug.
"Don't cry Val. We're all going to be fine." Leah said, squeezing Valerie tightly. At that moment Jace woke up crying for his breakfast.
"Let's get you some breakfast baby." Valerie said, picking him up kissing all over his face.
"We have to head over to Sam's now, to head to the battle. We'll see you later." Leah said, bringing Jace and Valerie into a hug followed by Cara.

"Please be safe." Valerie asked.
"We will. Seth you need to hurry up and eat and get in wolf form." Leah told her brother sternly as they left. As soon as they left Seth and Valerie sat down to have some breakfast, hoping everyone would come back alive and unharmed.

***

Jasper's P.O.V:

Standing in the clearing with my family around me, I knew the army would be here in any minute and none would leave here alive. I would make sure of that.
'Let me take charge.' Major suggested.
'Go on then.' I agreed, smirking as I knew the hell he would bring. As we stood waiting for the army to arrive, and by the sounds of it we wouldn't have to wait long, I felt and let Major take complete control.

Major's P.O.V:

"Victoria's mine!" Rosalie growled.
"Well, Riley is mine!" Emmett growled.
"You can have them as long as you leave Bella to me." I ordered. Just then we heard running through the trees and we all got ready. Looking behind us briefly I spotted the wolves in position in the trees and behind the large boulder behind us, every single one of them ready to pounce. As the first newborns broke through the trees we raced towards them each of us concentrating on our own newborn so as not to be surprised, but kept one eye on each other. Apart from Carlisle and Esme who worked together as instructed. Reaching my first newborn, I made short work of him, punching his head off, literally. Then throwing the next onto the ground popping her head off with a hard well placed squeeze.

After I dispatched my tenth one, jumping onto its back, ripping its arms and head off when it went for Esme's turned back, I noticed the wolves had joined in the fray. We were lucky as it seemed Bella hadn't told them, or they hadn't believed her, either way the newborns were being taken completely by surprise by the wolves but I knew never to get overconfident in battle as that could get you killed. Seeing that everyone was doing okay I joined back in itching to get to Bella who stood on the edge of the clearing smirking.

Twenty minutes later, I heard screaming as I dispatched another newborn getting closer to Bella who was trying to escape Leah and Cara. But what she didn't know was; she was being herded right towards me. Looking up I noticed it was Riley and Victoria who had screamed as Rosalie tore Victoria's arm off and then her head and Emmett had torn off Riley's - the intruder's- arm before popping his head off. Seeing a newborn attempt to run past me towards Emmett in a fit of rage. Throwing my arm out I caught him around the throat, spinning us around and pinned him to the floor standing on both of his arms.
"This is for putting my mate and son in danger." I growled, lowly and fiercely.

Adding pressure to his arms causing them to crack and him to scream in agony, before I tore his head off. Jumping off the body and running to Bella, flipping over Sam and landing on Bella's back before she could escape.
"You think I'd let you live, really?" I hissed dangerously. And not giving her a moment to move or answer I slowly tore one arm off and then the other. "You should have realised from that I'd never let you live." I growled. Standing on her back with all of my weight making her waist crack, I grabbed Bella's hair, yanking her head up.
"This is for Valerie." I hissed into her ear, before giving her head one hard yank tearing not only her head off but her body in two from the amount of pressure I put on her back.

Looking around I saw only a few remained and were being torn apart by Iris with her Telekinesis after one had gone after Alice, some by the wolves and the others by Emmett after he saved Paul from being crushed. Finishing off the last newborn I saw one appear out of hiding and attack Leah, who was trying to throw him off. Racing towards her at the same time as Jacob. Reaching them first I tore the newborn off of her then let Leah have at him.
"Are ya alright?" I asked her gruffly, when she finished. My mate would never forgive me or herself if her best friend, and incidentally our son's mate, got hurt. Leah nodded huffing which I supposed meant 'thank you' in wolf.

Throwing the two scums into the fire, taking great satisfaction in them burning, where they could do no more harm to Valerie or Jace. I could even feel Jasper agreeing with me.  Though I do wish I was able to take my time to draw the pain and torture out longer. But that would have been too risky with a battle raging around me, and I did actually want to return to Valerie and Jace.
"Having fun?" I asked Rosalie, who seemed to be getting as much satisfaction throwing Victoria's body into the fire as I had.
"That's because I am." Rosalie sassed, smirking in satisfaction as she watched the fire turn Bella to ash.
"Why is there a newborn?" I asked angrily, spotting her near Esme and Carlisle.

"She doesn't mean anyone any harm, Major. She wasn't fighting but hiding when Carlisle and Esme found her. They offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender, and she took it. Her name's Bree Tanner and she didn't and doesn't want to hurt anyone, she's only fourteen." Rosalie explained in a rush.
"Fine." I said gruffly. "But, she can't be near Valerie or Jace until she's learned control. No matter what her wish is, it counts for nothing if she has no control." I said sternly.
"Emmett and I will teach her, I promise. You know how much I love Valerie and Jace, I'd never put them in harm's way." Rosalie agreed.

However, before more could be said Alice gasped announcing the Volturi were coming.
"They won't destroy her Rose." I promised, seeing her worried look, she smiled gratefully at me as I turned towards the pack. "Sam, you all need to leave. The Volturi won't honour the truce. Please make sure Valerie, Jace and Seth are alright." Sam nodded and howled to the others and they all took off into the woods. And not a moment too soon.
"They're coming!" Alice called worriedly, as the last wolf left. Iris wrapped her arms around her as we all stood next to each other hiding Bree behind us, though I stood behind Carlisle for added protection for Bree.
"Well they timed their arrival well." Rosalie scoffed.

"Probably hoping some of us would be picked off." Iris and Emmett said at the same time scoffing, before playfully glaring at each other.
"Impressive. I've here seen a coven escape an assault of this magnitude intact." Jane said, looking over all of us.
"Well, not completely intact, you're missing a member....the mind reader, Edward." She continued, staring expectantly at Carlisle.
"We got lucky." Carlisle said. "I informed Aro that Edward had been destroyed by Major months ago."

"I doubt you got that lucky." Jane sneered. "But regardless what of the human? Bella Swan, who was not a mate to the mind reader?"
"She's in there." Iris said, pointing to the fire.
"She was a part of this assault?" Demetri asked.
"Yes. She was hellbent on destroying Valerie and Jasper's mate-ship as they are soulmates, because of this she joined the army and is no longer a problem." Carlisle explained diplomatically.
"Well, they were stupid." Felix scoffed, a smirk stretching across his face. "Going against the Major, Ares the God of War. Even I would be hesitant." He stopped at the looks he got from Jane and Alec but I couldn't help but smirk that one of the supposed great Volturi guard members was scared and hesitant to go against me.

"It seems anyway, that we missed an entertaining fight." Alec said, a sardonic grin on his face.
"Yes." Jane agreed. "It's not often we're rendered unnecessary. You missed one." She said, spotting Bree behind me. I suddenly got an overwhelming sense of fear coming from her, even the waves of calm I sent as I stood in front of ready to fight, did nothing.
"We offered her asylum in exchange for her surrender." Carlisle explained hesitantly.
"That wasn't yours to offer." Jane snapped. "Why did you come?" As she went to use her powers on me to get to Bree, Felix stopped her.

"Do not start a war with him." Felix warned, a restraining hand on Jane's shoulder. She seemed not deterred at first and as I was getting ready for another fight she stopped.
"Who created you?" Jane asked, annoyed.
"I...I don't know. R-Riley said our thoughts weren't safe." Bree stuttered terrified.
"Her name was Victoria. She first created the army to avenge the mate Edward killed. But she didn't care who died after she found out I killed him, too hellbent on revenge to care anymore." I explained. "She turned Bella as part of her revenge as she knew we'd kill Bella."

"Felix." Jane said, motioning towards Bree.
"She didn't know what she was doing." Esme snapped, causing Jane to stop Felix. "We'll take responsibility for her."
"The Volturi don't give second chances." Jane denied.
"She's under my protection so you just try." I growled, feeling the anguish coming from Rosalie, Esme, Iris and Alice. Everyone was tense for a moment before Jane finally relented.
"Fine. But if she slips up we'll be back, and none of you will get a second chance." Jane threatened glaring at all of us before they took off quicker than Carlisle could finish saying 'thank you.'

"Welcome to the family lil' lady." I greeted kindly. "I'd love to stay but I got a fiancée and a son waiting for me." With that I took off through the woods running towards the Rez.
'Let me back in control. Otherwise they might think we're out of control.' Jasper said.
'Fine.' I huffed, releasing my control. As long as I see our mate I don't care.

Jasper's P.O.V:

Exiting the woods and walking through the Rez I was met by Sam.
"Are they alright?" I asked anxiously.
"They're fine, all three of them." Sam said relieved. "Seth's a little put out he couldn't do anything as the plan worked. But he's glad he protected them." He assured me, leading the way to the Clearwater house. The walk to the Clearwater house was silent but it was a silent companionship and it felt like a heavy load had been lifted off of my shoulders.

Walking up to the back of the Clearwater house I spotted Valerie looking out of the window, a wide smile appearing on her face as soon as she saw me. She tore out of the house running down the hill towards me.
"Jasper!" Valerie shouted, her voice filled with so much emotion.
"Val!" I shouted, running towards her at human speed. As soon as she reached me she jumped into my arms, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around me as I kissed her passionately.
"Are you alright? Is Jace? Where is he?" I asked worriedly.
"We're fine Jazz, calm down. Jace is down for his nap. Are you alright? Is everyone else alright?" Valerie asked worriedly, checking me over.

"I'm perfect now you're back in my arms darlin.' And everyone else is fine too. You're free from danger now my love, just like I promised, and we gained a new member too. Her name's Bree Tanner. She's only fourteen, she was hiding the whole battle until Esme and Carlisle found her. Emmett and Rose are taking her in as a daughter but I won't let her near either of you until she's learned control." I said sternly. Valerie just smiled and kissed me.
"I'm sure she would be fine but better safe than sorry. I'm glad Rosie and Emmett have a daughter now, they've always wanted one." Valerie said happily.

"Speaking of. Let's get you and Jace home." I said, following Valerie back inside. After thanking everyone for helping in the battle and Seth for protecting Valerie and Jace, I ran home to pick up the car and drive back to the Rez to pick Valerie and Jace up for some cuddles and movies.
"Jasper." Leah called, before I got in the car. "Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't reached me in time, that newborn would've broken my neck and killed me." Leah said gratefully.
"Leah, you don't need to thank me. I've come to see you all as friends over the last few months. We'll see you later, thank you for helping win the battle." I said sincerely.

"You don't have to thank me either. If your father hadn't been there I would have lost mine. And I couldn't bear the thought of Valerie and Jace losing you. You've grown on me too. Plus, you're my Imprints father." Leah said, smiling shyly. Smiling back at her I bid everyone goodbye and got in the car. As soon as we got home Valerie and I spent the rest of the day cuddled under a blanket watching Netflix with Jace asleep in our arms.
Later that night after Jace had gone to bed, Valerie and I made love, using protection obviously. Afterwards we cuddled in each other's arms, Valerie laying on my chest drawing patterns on one of my scars on my shoulder, feeling very content.

"Darlin', have you thought about giving Jace any more siblings? A mix of the two of us?" I explained further when I felt her become confused as I ran my fingers through her hair.
"I thought that wasn't possible." Valerie asked, shocked. "I would love to have another boy with your blonde curls or a girl..."
"A little girl with your blonde curls." I interrupted, smiling at her. "It's impossible for female vampires. But there are Legends, The Ticuna Legends, of Dhampires. Half human and half vampire. Depending on how much vampire gene the baby has, it can grow exceptionally fast, and has been known to kill the mother before and after the birth if they don't drink blood. Which is obvious if you think about it. Plus, you're a werewolf, darlin, so you're naturally stronger than a human and they'd be like the hybrid you spoke about." I said, rolling my eyes, making Valerie giggle.

"But there have also been cases, where the baby gets an equal balance of both genes and the pregnancy is like a normal one. If you do decide to have more darlin', I will take every precaution possible to ensure your safety and to ensure your health, to make sure you survive the pregnancy and birth. I will not let you leave me, leave Jace, or the possible other children, for nothing is more important to me than you and Jace. And, obviously Jace and the babies..."
"Babies?" Valerie asked, with a startled laugh.
"Well, you could end up having multiples, as you are a twin, darlin'." I said, kissing her head, laughing when she slapped my chest calling me cheeky.

"Anyway, we would treat all our children the same. None of our children will ever be put above the other. They will be treated equally, but if you don't want to, my love, then that's fine. I'm perfectly happy with you and Jace, I just wanted to know your thoughts." I said firmly. Valerie suddenly shocked me as she climbed onto my lap straddling me and kissing me passionately, my hands holding her hips. As I felt the love, adoration and happiness surging from her.
"I love you so much." Valerie said, after pulling back slightly. "I can't put into words how happy you just made me, Jazz." Valerie said, kissing me again.
"Is that a yes?" I asked curiously.

"Yes. Yes. Yes." Valerie cried happily, a wide smile on her face as she kissed all over mine ending at my lips. "I've always wanted at least four kids and I know that you will do your all to ensure mine and Jace's health and well-being. You've proven that more than enough babe."
"Four? Hmm." I asked, spinning us around so Valerie was beneath me kissing her all over. "It's a good job that's what I wanted when I was human too isn't it." I teased, kissing her lips and making her laugh.
"Well it doesn't have to be exactly four." Valerie laughed, squirming away from my tickles. "But what about waiting until our honeymoon?" Valerie asked nervously.

"Sounds perfect darlin'." I said, wanting to take her nerves away as I kissed her happily. Settling down to cuddle for the night content in each other's arms. Everything is now perfect and in under a month's time this wonderful woman besides me will be my wife and soon we will be adding to our family. But no matter what I would always treasure my eldest, my Prince Jace Christopher Bordouex-Swan who stole my heart the first time I saw him, just like his mother did the first time I met her.