*Annabell's POV

  I got irritated more and more. These two! I was somewhat gd they are near but I felt like a child that needs supervision 24/7. When I finally had enough of it and made my way to the tree they were obviously camping on, Jasper came down.

  Wheook me in his arms. My world would spin even if he didn't. I couldn't help it. Happy, Jasper is near, I forced myself to not think about the trouble I'm causing him.

  Suddenly as if his joy vanished, he sat me down again, somewhat stiffly. "Did you have a visitor?" Jasper asked, his voice dangerously low, resembling a warning growl. I was fused.

  "What visitor?" What visitor should I have and why would it make him angry all of a sudden? Does he mean...? Then it clicked. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! "How dare you ask me something like that?! For ohat's none of your business! And two, I didn't!" Even if I could think of another man, when in the world would I meet with him? I spent nearly two days at Jasper's house and since I was brought home he didn't leave the viity of my house.

  "None of my business!?" He practically screamed back. Furious. "Of course it's my business! You're my mate, damn it!" He exploded.

  His mate...? Under different circumstances I'd be dang out of joy but what does it mean to him? That he do as he pleases and that I am his possession? Don't you dare treat me like that! "And what about it?! Mating bond and love are two different things and I won't let you act like I am your property just because of it! You have nht to accuse me of betrayal when there is nothing to betray!" My voialler. My own words hurt me more than I'd let him know. I told him I like him the night before, but he never said anything of that kind. I wasn't far fr. Hating myself for that. If I'd allow myself to shed a tear in front of him now, it would be the end.

  "There's a st of another man on your clothes." He said quietly, but it sounded like he was talking through his teeth. Then I remembered how I couldn't find my T-shirt. I would swear, I left it on the chair by the desk like I usually do. But when I finally found it, it was lying on the bed. Please, tell me it was Catelyn. I wished, pulling out my phone. It isn't even Saturday though and she did not call me... but still. I was ging to that hope because the other option was too much to handle.

  Dialing Catelyn's number I nearly started to pray. There were only three phone numbers I needed, so I khem all by heart. It seemed to take her forever to pick up, even though it beeped only twice before I heard her voice. "Hello Annabell, I was just about to call you. I'm sorry dear, but I ake it this week." She started apologizing. firming my suspis, sending my heart to the ground. "I'll e by on Monday and make you sagne. Are you ok?" She asked worried, since I was calli an unusual time.

  "Oh, ok. Yes. Bye aunt Catelyn." I quickly reassured her and hung up. Desperate to keep my voice from crag. "Someone was in my room." Barely notig Peter ing down to us I tinued. "The window was closed when I left the house. I always close it. And Catelyn didn't e yet. So it must have been somebody else. Someone I don't know and toug my things..." I hugged myself as a cold shiver run down my spine when I realized it might have been the monster from Tuesday and that he probably came in the night. If I was sleeping home...

  "So Aake it, you are under our nonstop prote as of this moment. We'll stay on guard." Said Peter without his usual joking tone.

  "But..." I wao object. I always hated to bother people. "No buts. There is a killer after you and now he obviously knows where you live. No way we're leaving you alone." He tinued almost angry. I tried to focus on how annoying that is instead of hoy it makes me to know that Jasper will be close. "But you o hunt." I pointed out. They ot guard me around the clock without feeding.

  "We'll be taking turns." Said grumpily Jasper. "Ok." I gave in. "When you decide who's first turn, then e help me please." I said tired uing, turned away and started walking back to the house. When I sensed Jasper behind me I just called. "See you sooe." He only ughed. "Sure thing, Annie."

  *

  "So... what do you need help with?" Asked Jasper curiously wheered the house. I made my way to my room before answering. "Well, first I'd like to know if he touched anything else in here and... then I'd need help with st my washed clothes in the closet." I said bit sheepishly, pointing to a basket of fresh undry.

  I waited in the doorway while Jasper ied my bedroom. After a while he finally spoke up again. "It seems only your T-shirt and the pillow on your bed." What a creep. I went to the bed, took the pillow and threw it out of the window. "Shoot, I missed." Escaped my mouth when I heard the tud of the pillow nding. It fell on the ground instead of the swing I was aiming for.

  I expected Jasper to ent my as in some way, but he didn't say a word. Even though I felt his eyes ohen I remembered the Tee. I took a bck shirt from the closet. "Turn around please. And don't peek." I told him. Jasper didn't say anything again and when I was sure he finally did what I asked for, I turned my ba too, pulling the Tee over my head and throwing it on the floor by the window. Then I quickly put on the shirt. "You look again." I said reag for the basket and spilling its tents on the bed.

  I heard Jasper clear his throat. "Ehm, Annabell, you... missed a button on your shirt." He said and something in his deep voice made my heart race. I quickly ied the buttons on my shirt with my fingers and sure enough, I missed o was the one on my chest. Cursing myself for rushing through the buttoning the shirt I turned away again, hiding my embarrassment and who knows how much was visible through that gap. When I fixed it and twice, made sure it's right this time, I hesitantly turo Jasper and the clothes on my bed.

  "Um... you help me with putting them away? All I need you to do, is to tell me the color." "Ok." He said but ended up helpio fold some shirts and jeans and even putting them to their pce as I expined him what belongs where. "And where do I put this?" He asked when we were almost done. I found his hands to find out iece of clothing he's holding. Pushing aside the sensation from toug his skin, I thought I'll have a heart attack when I realized what he had in his hands. It was my bra. Snatg it out of his hold I quickly hid it behind my bad put it in its p the drawer. Shoved it in there, in fact. "I-I thought I put all of the underwear away before ing to ask for help." I stuttered shutting the drawer closed.

  "You know Ann, you're adorable when you're blushing." He suddenly whispered to my hair from behind me. I felt him slip my hair behind my left ear and his fiips gently sliding along my cheek and down my exposed neck, resting on my shoulder. I closed my eyes, sav his touch. "Please, don't be angry with me anymore." He pleaded.

  I wasn't pletely on board with the way my body reacted to him. I like to have everything under trol but when it es to Jasper I'm losing my ground. I'd never show such weako a this man saw me trembling in fear, pleading for help and even falling unscious. He saved me, helps me all the time. But why? Because I'm his mate?

  "Why?" My voice came out as a whisper too. "What, angel?" His voice as gentle as his fingers before.

  "Why are you doing all of this? And don't say 'because I'm your mate'. What does it eveo you?" I hated that my voice broke at the end.

  "You still don't know, darling?" He whispered sweetly, pg his lips on my neck, sending a spark through my entire body as his hands went around my waist, embrag me. I was waiting for an answer but his embrace was so fortable, sht, I nearly missed it. "I love you Annabell. I loved you sihe first night I found you in the woods."

  It took my breath away. I was drowning in happiness. Quite a while ago I realized I fell for him, hard. Now he's telling me he feels the same? "I love you too, Jasper." I admitted smiling to myself and leaning against his chest I put my hands over his.