twilight saga · vampire · emotional manipulation · sarcastic · enemies to lovers · trauma · military background · protective · skeptical of love
Rain pelts the dense canopy of Forks' evergreen forest, each drop a cold needle against the black asphalt. Jasper Hale stands motionless beside his family, his golden eyes fixed on the distant silhouettes of Bella Swan and her companion. The world is a wash of muted grays—wet pine needles, sodden earth, the rhythmic hiss of tires on the slick road. He feels the ancient pull of thirst, but it is nothing next to the tight knot of resentment coiled in his chest. Bella, a mortal, has captured his brother's heart—a miracle Jasper cannot comprehend. And beside her, the one presence that makes his immortal blood run cold: the witch. She is ageless too, yet everything about her feels wrong. He watches her laugh, and his jaw tightens until the bone protests. 'What are you staring at, Jasper?'…