A/N: Hi everyone! :) I would like you all to know that my story (Pink Mugs and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream) has been nominated in the poll to find the Top Ten Favorite Fics completed in February over on www . twifanfictionrecs . com

If you would like to vote for Pink Mugs, please visit the website and show the story some love. :)

I really enjoyed reading the reviews for chapter 25. Bella is definitely a vampire magnet, but she is also too curious for her own good.

Is Alexander good? Evil? Read on to find out.

Rated M for language.

Bella cursed her vampire radar for being deadly accurate, no pun intended.

Karma was a bitch indeed, and it was probably punishing her for ditching Jake and prancing around Phoenix with a bunch of Dracula wannabes.

The state of Arizona was supposed to be fang-free, so how on earth did she manage to attract a vampire so fast?

Alexander refused to answer her questions and confiscated her purse along with her beloved iPhone. His hands were surprisingly warm for a bloodsucker but she chose to keep that tiny nugget to herself.

"Where are you taking me?" She demanded while he swiftly unlocked the doors to a black Rolls-Royce Phantom.

'Why, to dinner of course.' He sarcastically replied, forcing her to sit in the passenger seat. 'Chasing after you has done wonders for my appetite.'

Bella shuddered and wrapped her fingers protectively around her neck. "Touch me one more time and I swear you'll regret it."

Alexander climbed behind the wheel and unlocked the doors. His sapphire eyes were fascinatingly feline but devoid of their earlier predatory gleam.

'If you promise not to cause a scene or try to jump out of this car, I will refrain from manhandling you.'

Bella stared at him in disbelief, the tinted windows hiding her presence from the nearby cars and moving pedestrians. "You freakin kidnapped me!" She yelled. "And it just so happens that my dad's the Chief of Police and my boyfriend is Alpha. You so don't wanna mess with those two, especially when they're pissed off."

'Duly noted, Bella Swan.' Alexander coolly remarked, driving past a neat row of town houses before taking a right and steering the Phantom towards a solitary hill in the distance.

"Seriously? Did you not hear what I just said or are you purposefully deaf?"

The calm vampire shot her an exasperated look in response. 'My ears are allergic to nagging, and right now, you're excelling in it.'

"You know, sarcasm is actually a good look on you. It brings out your inner leech." Bella retorted, folding her arms across her chest.

Alexander clenched his chiseled jaw, but his voice remained even tempered and melodious. 'Bloodsucker, leech…I see you've already mislabeled me as a monster.'

"Gosh. I had no idea you were offended, Count Chocula."

She was rewarded with a humorless chuckle and a spectacular view of a Tudor style mansion perched on top of the lonely hill. 'Your insults are a drop in my ocean, gorgeous. I frankly don't have the time nor the energy to be offended at the moment.'

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.

.

The iron gates swung open for the sleek Phantom and Bella held her breath in anticipation. She was nervous and borderline curious, especially when Alexander parked the car in front of the huge mansion.

Bruce Wayne came to mind and she wondered if Alexander's family was rich enough to hire an English butler.

Probably yes…she mused as the vamp in question killed the purring engine and climbed out of the car. He elegantly walked around to the passenger side and opened the door.

'Get up.' He ordered.

"How gentlemanly of you." Bella sneered.

There was no way in hell she was leaving this comfy leather seat. NO way.

The mansion could be a deathtrap or worse, a sophisticated vampire eatery.

Alexander probably kidnapped her so he could parade her in front of his fang-familia. She was the ultimate prize; the Alpha's imprint presented on a silver platter.

How revolting…she shuddered.

'I get it. You don't trust me, but believe me when I tell you that my family is not interested in your blood.' He drawled while examining his impeccably manicured fingers.

"Really? Then what exactly are you interested in?" Bella bit out.

The impatient vampire sighed and fixed her with an equally intolerant stare. 'Your help.' He replied through gritted teeth. 'So here I am swallowing my pride and asking you to please get your sassy derriere out of the goddamn car.'

The stunned brunette swallowed and slowly got to her feet. "You need my help with what?" She curiously asked.

Alexander closed the passenger door and ushered her to the mansion. 'My brother will explain.'

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.

.

Bella watched him unlock the front door with a nervous knot in her stomach.

Call her crazy, but she somehow knew he was telling the truth.

'My niece and nephew are right behind the door so take a deep breath, okay? Your heart is beating remarkably fast.' He observed, his sapphire eyes changing color in the bright lights of the foyer.

Bella cautiously followed him inside and was greeted by excited squeals and two strawberry-blonde children with identical amber eyes.

'Uncle Alex! Uncle Alex! We heard your car all the way from upstairs!' The little boy jumped up and down in excitement, his freckled face glowing with uncontainable happiness.

Alexander crouched down in front of the two kids and ruffled their hair affectionately. 'You two should be in bed by now.' He softy chided them, leaning closer to sniff the girl's Barbie pajamas. 'Chloe? Did you attack the cookie jar with your Pjs? You have enough crumbs in here to feed an army of mice.'

The freckled blonde covered her mouth with one tiny hand and giggled adorably.

Bella watched their interaction in complete and utter shock. She was beyond speechless.

'Uncle Alex?'

'Yes, Angel?'

The older vampire turned his head to smile at his adorable nephew.

'Wanna see my baby fangs?' Angel grinned, revealing two rows of healthy milk teeth.

Alexander chuckled and scooped both kids into his arms. 'Why don't you show Bella your super fangs?'

'Who's bewwa?' Chloe frowned, resting her curly head on top of her uncle's shoulder.

'This is Bella.' He introduced his niece and nephew to the astonished brunette.

'She's pwetty.' Chloe giggled. 'Is she your gurlfwend?'

'No.' Alexander shook his head in amusement. 'She is going to help us go back to California.'

'Yay!' Angel clapped his hands together. 'Chloe! Did you hear what uncle said? We're going home!'

'Is Mr. fwuffy still there?' The cherubic faced girl asked her uncle before sucking on her thumb.

'Yes. Mr. Fluffy and Mrs. Fluffy. All of your pretty ponies are waiting for you, princess.' Alexander kissed the top of her head and motioned for Bella to follow him down the corridor.

They ran into a very attractive woman along the way. She was tall, graceful and most importantly, human.

'Mommy!'

'Sofia. Your spawn is high on sugar.'

'Tell me about it.' She sighed, taking Chloe from him. 'It's past your bedtime, guys.'

'Mommy! Mommy! This is Bella and she's going to take us home.' Angel beamed, pointing a chubby finger at the flustered brunette.

Sofia balanced her daughter on one hip and wrapped her other arm around her son's shoulders. 'Does Gabriel know you brought her here?'

'Not yet.' Alexander grabbed Bella's arm and tugged her down the corridor. 'But he's about to find out.'

'Alexander Coldbane, your brother is going to stake you!' Sofia shouted after him, shooting Bella an apologetic look.

'Yes, but he'll thank me later.'

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.

.

'I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, Miss Swan.' Gabriel Junior offered the Alpha's imprint a steaming cup of tea. 'Alex is quite fond of theatrics and more often than not, he acts before he bloody thinks.'

Bella gratefully accepted the hot beverage and nursed it in her lap. She was emotionally drained and tired of glaring daggers at Alexander who was sitting across from her with a Cheshire grin on his lips.

"He should be the one apologizing, not you." She addressed Gabriel who was strikingly handsome with his fiery red hair and crystal blue eyes.

He was in his early forties but looked much younger.

'Dream on, gorgeous.' Alex scoffed, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

'Manners, child.' The older vampire scolded his brother. 'You should be bloody grateful that Isabella's willing to hear us out.'

'Grateful. Yes.' Alexander rolled his sapphire orbs. 'Should I kiss her feet since we're at her mercy and all?'

"Jesus. Why are you so cynical? Did you wake up on the wrong side of your coffin this morning?"

Gabriel sat down in his armchair and held back a chuckle. 'Don't mind him. He's just a grumpy, ill-mannered git.'

"Fine." Bella straightened her posture and decided to ignore sarcastic Alex. "Now tell me why I'm here." She demanded.

Gabriel reached across the coffee table and handed her an old piece of paper. 'Hold on to this for now.'

"Umm…okay."

She placed the paper next to her and eyed her tea suspiciously.

To drink or not to drink. That was the question.

'If you think we poisoned the fucking tea, then hand it the fuck over.' Alex spat in an offended tone.

Bella's head snapped up, lips pressed into a thin line. She was this close to throwing the tea in his face when Gabriel struck him upside the head. Hard.

'You see what I have to deal with on a daily basis?' He complained.

Alex rubbed the back of his neck in pain. His cheeks were as red as the carpet beneath his leather shoes.

"Oh my God!" She gasped. "Y-you blushed! How on earth did you…"

'I told you I was not a monster.' Alex scowled. 'But you chose to judge my book by its cover.'

"B-but.." She stammered. "Your eyes are way too vamp-ish."

'My brothers and I are hybrids.' Gabriel explained. 'Half human, half vampire.'

'Our mother was a living, breathing human being.' Alex chimed in.

"What about Chloe and Angel?"

'Genetically speaking, they are more human than vampire.'

Bella slowly digested their words while sipping on her lukewarm tea.

She had so many questions, starting with: "Did you write Becoming Dracula?"

'No. Becoming Dracula was written by my father, Gabriel Senior.'

"Oh. I see." She nodded. "Is he in California?"

'Nope. He's traveling the world and the seven seas.'

Gabriel shot Alex a warning glare before focusing his undivided attention on the curious brunette. She was their only hope after all. 'Before we get to my father's whereabouts, you need to hear the whole story, beginning with our forced exile from California.'

"Whoa. You were exiled? By whom?"

'Read the paper I gave you, Miss Swan.'

Bella opened the folded paper and realized that is was some kind of peace treaty.

"The Napa Valley Wolfpack..."

'Fucking Beta bitch.' Alex swore under his breath and leaned forward in his chair. 'She's the reason why we're stuck in this hellhole.'

Bella ignored him and scanned the rest of the treaty. "It says right here that the treaty was signed in 1891 by Chief Redhawk."

'Yes. Chief Redhawk respected our father and so did his son and grandson. They had no qualms about us living in Monterey.'

"Then why were you all exiled from the state of California?"

Alex buried his face in his porcelain hands while Gabriel poured himself another glass of scotch. 'The Alpha's father passed away last year. He was our only ally, Miss Swan. He treated us like normal folks, unlike his son and daughter.'

"So the new Chief hates you on principle. Because you're hybrids." Bella logically deduced.

'Precisely.' He concurred.

'Chase is not exactly Chief material.' Alex snorted in disgust. 'His sister treats him like a puppet.'

'That she does.' Gabriel nodded in agreement. 'She is absolutely incorrigible. Nothing like her late father. She tore the treaty in half and threatened to kill us all, even little Chloe. She thinks we're demons in disguise.'

Bella leaned forward and placed her empty cup on the table. "Chase…" She tested the name on her own tongue. It was strangely familiar.

'Yes. Chase and Elissa Redhawk.'

Elissa…

Chase and Elissa.

"Holy shit!" She suddenly jumped to her feet. "I-I know them! They were in Washington a few days ago."

'Are you sure?' Alex perked up, his sapphire eyes wide and alert.

"Yes!" Bella nodded vehemently.

She instantly recalled the conversation she had had with Leah during the magazine photo-shoot in Black's garage:

'Sweet my ass.' Leah snorted while shooting daggers at Elissa. 'Miss Rainbow Brite over there is a mean vamp killing machine. There's a reason why she's the Beta of her pack.'

'She is ruthless.' Gabriel stated, bringing her flashback to an end. 'And so is her wolfpack. They seized our land and took control of our winery.'

'Father tried to cross the border a few weeks ago but…' Alex swallowed, looking extremely distressed. 'He was attacked by one of her filthy mutts.'

Bella wrapped her arms protectively around her waist and felt a wave of sympathy towards Gabriel and his awfully annoying sibling. "Is he…umm…dead?"

'Therein lays the crux of our problem, Miss Swan.' Gabriel sighed and stood up from his chair. 'See, our father is on his death bed…' He held out a polite hand and pulled her to her feet. 'And his dying wish is to be buried next to our mother.'

.

.

.

Gabriel's words tugged on Bella's heartstrings, especially when he took her upstairs and showed her GC's frail body. His skin was sickly pale and his right arm was still bruised from the wolf's lethal bite.

She had to do something.

She needed to call Jake.

'Alex. Please drive Isabella home. She's not our bloody hostage.'

The auburn-haired hybrid fished out his car keys, sapphire eyes dancing with amusement. 'You lived in the UK for four years and the only word you picked up is bloody. Do you even know what it means?' He teased.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and told him to –sod off!- in a thick British accent.

Those two behaved like normal siblings and Elissa had no right to banish them from their home.

Bella knew right from wrong, and what the Beta did was bloody wrong.

"Give me back my phone." She requested in a firm, decisive tone.

'You took away her phone. Are you bloody insane?!' Gabriel scolded Alex for the umpteenth time.

'Pipe down, bro. I meant no harm.'

'Do not tell me to pipe up or down! You give the young lady her phone right now. I'll drive her home.' He snatched the keys from Alexander's hands and marched down the spiral staircase.

'Charming, isn't he?' Mr. Sarcastic drawled from beside her.

She was just about to take her purse from him when her iPhone started ringing.

It was Jacob.

'My oh my. Inappropriate calls in the middle of the night. Maybe I should answer this Jake dude and let him know you're otherwise preoccupied.'

"You idiot. Jake's the Alpha!"

'Splendid. Maybe I should introduce myself.' Alex batted her hand away when she tried to grab the phone from his elegant fingers. The playful glint in his eye taunted the hell out of her.

"Gimme the damn cell phone!"

Alex ignored her and pressed the green button. 'Hello. Bella Swan's mobile. Please hold.'

"Haha. Very funny." Bella followed him down the stairs until they reached the main hall where he finally returned the silver iPhone. "Hey. Sorry about that. Some people have no boundaries whatsoever."

'Yeah. I noticed.' Jacob dryly said. 'Are you still at the book party?'

"No!" She chuckled nervously. "There was an incident of sorts and I was relocated."

'Hmmm…you sound off.' He deadpanned. 'Should I be worried?'

Bella swallowed and continued staring at her sequin flats. "No…err...I mean, maybe?" She stammered. "Ugh. It's kinda complicated."

'I see.' The Alpha was awfully calm which only meant that he was seconds away from exploding. 'So, you've been in Phoenix for less than 48 hours and things are already fucking complicated.'

"Jake. Don't be an ass."

He growled dangerously low and tried NOT to jump to conclusions at one in the morning. 'Tell me everything. Now!'

Ten minutes later…

'Fucking hell, Bells! What in the fucking fuck were you thinking?'

'Tsk…Tsk. Language, Alpha.' Alexander snickered.

Bella dragged a hand over her face and leaned against the wall next to Mr. Sarcastic. "Did I just hear squealing tires? Jake, are you driving?!"

'Yeah.' He grunted.

"Where are you going?"

The Alpha was so angry; his BlackBerry was shaking in his hand. 'You fucking lied to me, saying you were at a BOOK party, so why the hell should I tell you where I'm going? Huh?'

Bella flinched, his harsh tone threatening to put tears in her eyes. "I swear I was at a freakin book party! The book Gabriel wrote. Keira was with me. She talked to you on the phone."

'Whatever.' He muttered angrily. 'You can tell those leeches to go fuck themselves for all I care. Hybrids or not, they should know better than to bring YOU into their fucking mess!'

'Desperate times call for desperate measures, imbecile.' Alexander snarled, his sapphire eyes burning holes into Bella's iPhone.

'Bite me, asshole.'

"That's enough!" She stomped her foot in irritation. "Elissa created this mess, not them. She violated the treaty and kicked them out of their own estate."

'Yeah? If that's true, then why didn't they call the cops on her ass?'

'Because dear Alpha, the Chief of Police is wrapped around her little finger.' Alex drawled. 'She says jump, he says how high.'

Bella pinched the bridge of her nose and remembered that Embry was hooking up with Elissa on a regular basis. She also had him wrapped around her Beta fingers.

"Jake. You need to find that biatch and fast. She's umm…"

'Spit it out, Bells.'

"She's having sex with Embry." She revealed in a rush.

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Back in Washington…

'HOUSE KEEPING!' A livid Jacob banged loudly on his best friend's door.

Leah was there for backup in case he decided to strangle Embry. She had no idea what was going on per se, but Bella's text made it clear that the cat was finally out of the bag.

'Maybe we should just barge in and give them a proper wakeup call.' She suggested while playing a round of Angry Birds on her phone.

The Alpha grunted caveman style and kicked the door down.

'My thoughts exactly.' She grinned, skipping over to Embry's bedroom.

The shaggy haired Beta was hurriedly putting on his boxers when Jacob barged into the room unannounced.

'What the hell Jake?! You scared the crap out of me.' Embry protested.

'And me!' Elissa scolded from under the wrinkled sheets. Her olive skin was flushed and her sex hair was beyond ruffled.

'Oops.' Leah smirked from the doorway. 'Look what the wolf dragged in.'

Jacob stomped over to the bed and pointed an accusing finger at the Californian she-wolf. 'YOU!' He seethed. 'You knew my imprint was going to Phoenix where you fucking banished the Coldbane family. You fucking KNEW!'

Elissa wrapped the sheets around her body and sat up against the headboard. 'So?' She raised a devil-may-care eyebrow in response. 'They're pathetically harmless. A poor excuse for vampires if you ask me.'

Embry and Leah exchanged puzzled glances while Jacob struggled with his Alpha temper. 'If they're as harmless as you say they are, then why the fuck did you banish them in the first place?'

'Because we run a tight ship back in Cali.' She boasted, combing her fingers through her wavy hair. 'And hybrids don't belong on our land, no matter what daddy said. He had a soft spot for Gabriel. I hated him. End of story.'

'Hate doesn't justify your actions.' Jake argued. 'Hell, I hated the Cullens, but my job was to uphold the treaty, not destroyed it.'

'Who are you? The morality police?' She snorted in response. 'Save me the lecture, Black and mind your own business.'

Jacob glowered at Elissa before tugging violently on the bedspread. She shrieked and clung to the sheets as he pulled her across the bed like a fish stuck in a net.

'You're fucking my best friend behind my back, so I'm making this my business.' He bent down and picked up her bra and orange dress before tossing them on the mattress. 'Now get dressed before Leah does it for you.'

Embry strode up to Jake and demanded an explanation. He was angry at his best friend for barging in and acting like an ass towards Elissa.

'Little Miss Sunshine here is as bitchy as they come, Emb.' Leah sashayed into the room to drape an arm over his bare shoulders. 'You could do much better in my opinion. And by better I mean Marina.' She smirked.

'The only bitch in this room is you, Clearwater!' Elissa shrieked once more, the cracks in her sweet armor starting to show.

Embry's eyes widened in disbelief. His Californian bedmate was red in the face and shrieking like a banshee. 'What the hell…'

'That's right. Show him your true colors.' Leah taunted, moving to stand beside Jake. 'Emb, meet the real Elissa Redhawk.'

'Oh shut your pie hole already.' Elissa disappeared under the mountain of sheets, taking her dress with her. 'Pathetic wolfpack.' She muttered under her breath.

Embry was stunned. He never expected her to be so…mean.

'Listen up, Redhawk.' Jacob kicked the side of the bed to get her attention. 'Bells told me what you did to the Coldbanes. She ran into Alexander and now, thanks to you, his family is officially her little pet project.'

'Typical Swan.' Leah chuckled in amusement. 'Remember those puppies she rescued in the middle of a storm last year?'

'Yeah, but we're talking hybrids here. I've never dealt with hybrids before.' The Alpha sighed. 'Apparently, they reproduce and shit.'

'Interesting.' Leah mused.

'No. Not interesting. They are an abomination.' Elissa flung the sheets away from her orange-clad body and rolled out of bed. 'And your imprint should be punished for her actions. You're not going to let her get away with this, are you? She needs to know who's boss. All imprints do. '

'Get away with what exactly?' Embry frowned, crossing both arms in front of his chest. 'Because I know Bells and I trust her judgment.' He stated. 'You, on the other hand, are a complete stranger to me.'

'Embry…' Elissa reached out to touch him but he recoiled from her olive fingers.

'Killing vampires is one thing, but violating treaties, preying on the weak and punishing imprints is something else entirely.' He shook his head in disappointment and stormed out of the room.

'Go Embry!' Leah cheered him on while giving Elissa the stink eye.

Jacob leaned against the wall and let out a tiny wolf whistle. 'Damn, Redhawk. I had no idea you could screech like an owl.' He smirked.

Elissa huffed and gave him the finger. 'And I had no idea you were such a pussy, Black. Letting your imprint walk all over you and fraternizing with the enemy. Tut tut. What a shame.'

The Alpha clenched his fists and closed the distance between them in one angry stride. 'Put your fucking shoes on and go wait in my car.' He ordered in an authoritative tone.

'Nu-uh. I'm not going anywhere.' She stubbornly replied. 'And please save your breath because there is no chance in hell I'm ever going to change my mind about that shitty old treaty.'

'Oh you will.' Jacob sneered. 'Or our sponsorship deal is off. You can kiss it goodbye on your way back to Cali with your tail between your legs.'

Elissa's eyes widened before narrowing to tiny slits. 'You-you can't hold this over my head!'

'Oh yes he can.' Leah said in a sing-song voice. 'Wanna know why? Because he writes all those checks that keep your Formula team happy.'

Elissa slid her feet into her golden pumps and shot them both a murderous glare on her way to the door. 'No one threatens a Redhawk! Not even the descendant of Ephraim Black. Do you hear me, Jacob? No one!' She shouted before spinning on her heels and storming out of the room.

Leah sidled up to Jake with a sigh. 'There goes our Californian orange. Someone needs to squeeze some sense into her before she becomes the next she-wolf Hitler.'

'Fucking Chase.' Jacob swore. 'He spoiled her rotten and now she's running the pack instead of him.'

'Yeah. You know Chase. Ladies are his Achilles' Heel, especially his baby sister. The question is, what are you gonna do about it?'

Jacob fished out his car keys with a smirk on his lips. 'I have a flight to catch.'

A/N: Next time on The Alpha Next Door: A steamy reunion in Phoenix. ;) It's about time too.

Thanks for reading!