*Jasper’s POV

  I told Peter about Annabell wanting to py hide and seek. Even though I thought it was a joke and I took Peter’s ugh as a firmation. However, on Saturday m Annabell got up early and quickly got ready, waiting for him to show up. When he did, I uood that it really wasn’t a joke. And so I ulled into a game of hide and seek. At first I wasn’t sure and didn’t even hide. Wheer warned me that she’ll be angry about it, I hid myself at least a little.

  Annabell found me right away of course, so the round I tried harder. heless, she found us both every time and started to pin that we’re n. That certainly was not the case. No matter how well we hid, she found us. I doubted even seeing person would find us, but she did.

  “It’s your turn to hide now.” Stated Peter after pining iurn, about her being too good.

  Remembering how well she hide. Or more like sneak around and escape. I reminded her to not waoo far away. The threat was still very much real and present at the most ued times. It was also one of the reasons why I took a mention of this game as a joke, thinking they couldn’t seriously want to fool around, hiding in the forest when there might be an enemy lurking around, hiding too. But I was wrong.

  “You’re it.” Decred Annabell, giving me a mischievous grin and folding her arms while she waited for me to start ting. It got me worried aed at the same time. I took Peter’s adviy heart a while ago and learo listen out for her heartbeat. Little did I know that it wouldn’t help me now. Not long after I closed my eyes and started ting, it felt as if Annabell disappeared. I couldn’t hear her nor feel her emotions. I opened my eyes at the surprise but she was still standing there, grinning like a moment ago. So I closed my eyes again and resumed ting. This will be harder than I thought… Crossed my mind.

  I finished ting and looked to the spot Annabell stood before. This time she was gone. I looked around but didn’t see her anywhere near so I slowly made my way betweerees, trying to spot her or hear her again. She promised to stay close… I was trying to push away thoughts about her not keeping her word and browsing deep forest alo I couldn’t find a trace of her.

  I didn’t see Peter either, which gave me a tiny hope that if she did go further into the forest, he was keeping an eye on her. When suddenly… he fell from a tree a few meters ahead of me. What the fuck…? He not only fell from a tree, straight on his face, he was gasping for air as if he was drowning with how hard he was ughing.

  “Well… that’s one.” I ented, watg my brother and wondered what in the world was wrong with him.

  “That doesn’t t!” He shouted, still lying on the ground, ughing. “Bro, if you knew…!” Shook Peter his head. “I couldn’t hold onto the damn branymore as I was trying to not ugh out loud!” He could hardly talk and arently uo stand up, clutg his stoma a fit of ughter.

  “Dude, just what are you doing?” I asked, slightly taken aback. “Wait. If you’re here, where’s Annabell?” I was growing ed again while sing the bushes around him, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But Peter just punched ground in a new fit of ughter instead of a reply.

  “Gi-gi-gimme… a … sec.” He got out. Frowning, I waited for him to calm down. It took him several minutes. “You seriously don’t know where she is?” Questioned me Peter, finally standing on his feet while still chug here and there.

  “Would I ask if I knew?” I retorted, getting annoyed.

  He attempted to keep a straight face for a bit. “Did you notice she always found you first? You should be able to fioo. Even when she’s hidden by her shield.” He ma for a few seds and then burst out ughing again, spping his thighs.

  I scowled at him, thinking. He was right. Every time we were hiding, Annabell first found me and theer. I trated and tried closing my eyes. She couldn’t see, nor had my talent to feel others’ emotions, yet she found me so easily. “I feel your presence arouhat’s what she told me before and she always reized me…

  I imagined her presehe way she made me feel. She was my warmth and light. Slightly shocked I realized that I truly sense her too. My sight and ability to feel what she felt, when she allowed me to, kept me from notig it before. She really was close as promised. Fog more… Her warmth- “Annabell…” I breathed out as my eyes shot open in disbelief and I saw Peter’s curious look turn into a grin.

  *Annabell’s POV

  “Are you even trying to hide?” It was quite funny at first how bad they were at hiding from me but now I was getting frustrated. I seemed to find them too fast every time, as if they didn’t really try to hide at all.

  “Of course we are.” Laughed Peter. “You are too good at this. You’ve always been. It’s your turn to hide now.” He pined.

  “But don’t go too far away, ok?” Demanded Jasper, giving me an idea.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll stay close. You’re it.” I gri him and waited for him to start ting, meaning he’d have closed his eyes. The moment I covered myself with a shield to hide my emotions and the sound of my breathing abeat, I could hear Jasper pause in surprise before he tinued. I went behind the er of my house and waited. Whearted searg and I sensed him moving further away, I quietly followed him. I ght behind him and was careful to not touch him, but now I could predict his movements and not let him see me.

  He walked through the trees for a while as I shadowed him and I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from giggling, sensing we were getting closer to Peter. Suddenly there came a sound as if something fell on the ground close by and it was followed by Peter’s nearly hysterical ughter, ing from the same spot. “Well… that’s one.” Muttered Jasper. Apparently taken ababsp;

  “That doesn’t t!” Shouted Peter between fits of ughter. “Bro, if you knew…! I couldn’t hold onto the damn branymore as I was trying to not ugh out loud!” He got out of himself. Don’t you say another word, you traitor! I warned him silently, frowning, unsure whether he could see my face or not.

  “Dude, just what are you doing?” Jasper paused. “Wait. If you’re here, where’s Annabell?” He asked and I could hear a hint of worry in his voice. Right here and safe, darling. I thought, smiling, while Peter obviously wasn’t able to talk.

  “Gi-gi-gimme… a … sec.” He stuttered, trying to calm down. “You seriously don’t know where she is?” He theioned Jasper, while still occasionally chug. Don’t you dare…!

  “Would I ask if I knew?” Grumbled Jay in response.

  “Did you notice she always found you first? You should be able to fioo. Even when she’s hidden by her shield.” Pointed Peter out. No! e on! My only advantage…I couldn’t believe he spilled it out for him. If Jasper found out on his own, it would be fine. But not like this. Pissed off, I balled my hands in fists.

  Jasper stayed quiet and I k’s just a matter of seds before he figures it out. The moment I turo make a run for it, I heard him whisper my name and k was too te. I mao get barely three steps away before he caught me around my waist. “There you were…” He chuckled. “I think I told you, you ’t outrun me, love. Or do you wish for me to chase you again?” Whispered Jasper by my ear while gently brushing my hair back from my shoulder, before his lips lightly touched my nebsp;

  The pleasurable shiver from his touch, caused my ao evaporate and I rested my back against him, tilting my head to give him better access. I remembered his words well and my heartbeat quied. Jasper’s lips slid ay skin down to the crook of my neck where he kissed me and theraveled back up to my ear. “Why did you try to run?” He inquired.

  It reminded me that we’re not alone and some of my anger returned. “Because this wasn’t fair! Peter told you how to find me…” I was frowning again and annoyed I freed myself from his hold to scowl at the culprit, who was just stupidly ughing this whole time. “Now I have lost my only advantage.” I admitted in a quiet voibsp;

  “I’m gd I find you like this.” Jasper tried to cheer me up. Gently holding my hand.

  Giving him a small smile I had a better idea. “Pete, you rui, so you are it now. I’d like to see you fihout the e Jasper has.” I challenged him.

  His ugh died down at once. “Wait, Annie! No, I didn’t mean… e on!” He pleaded with me. “I could hardly find you as a kid, girl. How am I supposed to find you now? You got better!”

  “That’s your problem. You shouldn’t have told him.” I dismissed his arguments, putting my hands on my hips and waited for him to start ting.

  “Well, if you don’t have anythier to do today…” I heard him mumble as he went to the house and started ting. I turned around and wao go hide, when Jasper grabbed me, lifting me in his arms.

  “I’d certainly know of somethier.” He chuckled and took off. Not too far he suddenly leaped up and I found myself sitting in his p on some branch of a tree.

  “Jay!” I gasped. “Will this really hold us?” I was not doing well with heights. Especially when I had only a small, unstable or breakable stuff supp me in there. Aer fell off of a tree just a moment ago. I would fare differently than him though. Although I was only guessing how high I really was right now.

  “Of course it will. But even if it doesn’t, I won’t let anything happen to you, my love.” Stated Jasper softly, pulling me closer in his embrace. “If you fall, I’ll catch you. But I’m not about to let go of you, so you rex, angel.” His soothing deep voice reassured me and Jasper rested his forehead against mine.

  “I’d like to visit mom today…” I whispered. “I haven't been there sihe day I found out that Peter came back.” Since Jasper came to my life I slowly stopped feeling lonely and when I got injured I couldn’t go either. Now it’s been weeks and it made me feel a little guilty. Especially since…

  “Visit mom?” Asked Jasper fused.

  “Yes.” I smiled sadly at him. “It's the sed anniversary of her death today… She always loved the p the forest too, even though she didn’t have time to go with me often. So I spread her ashes around the piree…” It’s not like I could put her into a cemetery anyway. “She loved nature the same way I do. I just wish I’d known what she was thinking, trying to keep me from finding my mate.” I frowned. Because that was ultimately what she did.

  Making me fet about the supernatural would prevent me from learning about Jasper. “If mom wasn’t killed, I’d never remember…” Jasper just silently listeo me, gently stroking my back. “Why am I allowed to have only one of you?” Putting my arms around him, tightly embrag him I reassured myself that I’m truly not alone. “I never knew my father. her of them. And if I still had my mom, I’d probably never get to be with you like this…”

  “I’m here, my beloved.” Jasper caressed my cheek. “Life was very unfair to you. But we’re together now. Everything is going to be alright." I felt him kiss the top of my head and was happy for having a mate like him. "Do you want to go now or wait for Peter to find us?”

  I totally fot about Peter for a moment. “Would serve him right if we just left…” I muttered. Then I sighed. “I’d like to go now. you send him a message that he stop searg, please?”

  “Of course.” Jasper kissed my nose a Peter a message before jumping down with me in his arms again. I let him carry me to the piree, where we paid our respects together and then we walked home hand in hand.

  "Do you remember the surprise for another day I mentioned?" He asked when we were almost back at my house. "It's another day today, angel. I'd like to take you on a date tonight." Jasper seemed unusually nervous.

  "I'd love to." I smiled at him, squeezing his hand.

  Out of the blue he stopped walking. "What is she doihis early again?" He asked, obviously annoyed.

  "Who?"