THIRTY-THREE

I suddenly heard a rumble and felt Carlisle's calm and reassuring presence vanish from my mind, leaving me with the feral personality. In the distance, I heard the vague sound of Waylon and Willie singing 'Momma don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys'. I knew this could only mean that Jacob, indeed, was attempting to cross into the Cullens' territory and that Jasper was calling Carlisle to discuss what to do.

I could feel the agitated wildness of the beast pounding through my heart and soul and sought to soothe it. It's okay. You're going to be seeing me again soon enough, I think. This seemed to delight him. And I can still talk to you even when I'm outside.

When I finally opened my eyes, I found Carlisle talking rapidly to Jasper. I was grateful when he slowed speech when he realized that I had pulled myself out of my trance-like headspace. He put the younger vampire on speaker phone and I quickly learned that Jake had tried to cross the line close to where Alice was patrolling. Apparently, he underestimated the little pixie's speed and strength. Of course, Jasper had also called Sam, who was bringing the pack to Cullen territory to retrieve their trouble-maker.

While my mate continued to talk with the Texan, I tugged my jeans back on, along with Carlisle's shirt. I then gathered the articles of his discarded suit, folded them, and placed them aside on top of the chest of drawers to be cleaned later. Opening the closet doors, I grabbed a pair of his jeans and threw them to him before mouthing my inquiry of whether or not I should grab a shirt for him. At his silent answer of no, I closed the doors, but not before grabbing his leather jacket and one of his scarves.

Sadly, there was not much we could do but wait - wait for either Jake to attack or for the pack to show up.

Either way, it seemed that Carlisle was not going to wait patiently, and I was watched as he dressed in a flash and began pacing around our room like a caged tiger. It reminded me so much of the time he had lost control when Jessica pulled one of her first stunts. The only difference between this time and last time was that he far more balanced and less likely to attack with reckless abandon than before. But even with better control, sharing one soul now meant I felt the waves of emotion from both Carlisle and the creature hit me like a brick wall. I was flooded with a spectrum, from love and lust to uncertainty and sheer rage. After taking a deep breath and recovering for the force of the moment, I softly queried, "Are you going to be okay?"

"We will be fine, cara mia," he returned evenly. When I raised an eyebrow and repeated the pronoun, he chortled. "Would you prefer that I refer to us as he and I, me and I... it and I? I do hope not that particular one, because that one is quite rude." Despite the seriousness of the situation, he still had it within him to calm me with his teasing words. "Perhaps you can start calling us Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde—" I rolled my eyes— "or Beauty and the Beast?"

"I'd be careful, gorgeous," I drawled. "The idea has merit."

He pounced and pinned me to the bed as he leaned over me. "Do not even think about it, mia streghetta."

I gaped up at him, completely astounded at the turn-around in my mate's temperament. Before, the Beast (Carlisle would just have to deal with the term) would have roared and raged. The fact that Carlisle and the Beast now seemed as calm as they probably could be under the circumstances, and even more so that they functioning as one unit, was nothing short of miraculous. "How can you be so... peaceful?"

He gazed down at me thoughtfully for a minute. I could feel him searching into the depths of his mind. "Before," he answered smoothly, "the animal had to fight to get out. It was not only my anger and fear of him turning me into a monster but his rage at being restrained that caused such tension within me. It was, in fact, a situation of man versus monster. The constant war, as you can imagine, caused a lot of inner turmoil. But despite being cold and lonely, until you, he still did not have as great a need to be free. So any strife between us before was never as quite intense as it has been recently. Once you enter our life, he not only desired to be free but needed to be free. His constant state of agitation at being imprisoned in his cell only served to exacerbate our frustration at not being able to have you immediately." He sighed and closed his eyes as full realization sunk in. "In short, by caging him, I made my own hell between the two halves of my mind. I also plunged us even deeper by ignoring my bond with you and refusing him access to you. Now that I have accepted him... some peace should be restored to my torn soul."

As I reached out to touch his marble cheek, I could feel in my spirit that the Beast was crouched down and rumbling softly inside the back of Carlisle's mind. I briefly thought that he was experiencing my touch through my mate's body before realizing that he was not receiving comfort from me but rather he was trying to comfort his conscious half! It was as if he were stroking himself against the walls of Carlisle's mind, like a cat wrapping itself around its master's leg, to assure him that there was no lasting damage.

"Carlisle?" I questioned in a whisper, not wanting to cause any disturbances between animal and master. Some small part of me felt like I had no right to witness their reconciliation. I was both relieved and honored when I felt both halves reaching out to my soul to let me know that it was okay to approach them, physically or spiritually. But feeling that this was not the time to slip into a world of unconsciousness and not wanting to abandon Carlisle, I simply pushed warmth and love toward the Beast as I gazed at my mate's eyes. "Are you okay?" I asked for the second time that night.

"Yes, m'uzzola" was the murmured answer. "He understands what I was trying to do. He understands my fears, as unfounded as they apparently were. While he is disappointed that he was not free for centuries past, the delight we experience at having our mate has eclipsed the pain of the past. I'm borne no ill will, and we both are at peace with the other... Though he is a bit smug at my having been wrong about the entirety of his nature. It seems that a cage was never need," he said sadly, "as his respect of me alone would have held him in his most times."

"Most times," I repeated, "but I'm guessing not in situations like with Jacob."

My mate rumbled darkly. "No. Which is why you must stay near me when the little mutt arrives. If I myself still had the will and the compassion to leave him alive, then the Beast may have submitted to my request. However, I also wish to rid this plane of his existence, so the boy has no hope without your presence to still us both, bella mia."

He looked like he was about to say something else when he froze, sniffing the air and cocking his head to the side in surprised curiosity. "The pack is here. They wish to come into the yard. Apparently, I am being viewed as extremely volatile. Sam does not wish to further agitate my state of mind." He turned and stared deeply into my eyes. Do not allow them to see that I and the Beast have begun to merge. This could be to our advantage, as they do not expect me to be at all sensible at the moment. While you were able to calm us before, we were not under such a heavy threat as we are now. Jacob Black will not simply walk away without a fight, and they will expect me to accept that challenge as a monster. So until it nears the point of no return, do not interfere. The mutt needs to learn that he cannot even attempt take what is mine without paying a price. Do I make myself clear, mia passerotta?

I nodded firmly. "Perfectly."

I took his offered hand and walked slowly with him down the stairs. I missed the cool marble of his touch as soon as he released my grip to open the door. I made no sound as he stepped in front of me and assumed a defensive posture so abruptly that I had to reach out with my soul to search which half of my mate was in control. I was surprised to find the Beast pacing frantically back and forward in Carlisle's subconscious. It was only after ascertaining from both that it would be okay, that I gently pushed all the calm and love that I could into the back of Carlisle's mind, shaping the feelings into a soothing hand that stroked over his pale form in the depths of my mate's psyche.

I frowned in exasperation when I felt my right arm fall asleep. I wanted to growl aloud when both Carlisle and the Beast alerted me to their amusement. I'm glad you both find my attempts at comfort entertaining. I could just let you both suffer. That shut them both up. Good boys! And they say you can't teach old dogs new tricks.

They both growled. Loudly.

Thankfully, Sam and the pack were unaware of my and my mate's spiritual connection and believed that his rumbling was from feeling threatened. "Doctor Cullen," the wolves' leader said respectfully with a nod, which Carlisle returned. "Bella." He nodded to me and I returned the gesture, before he spoke again. "I suppose that you will be speaking on behalf of your mate and your family?"

Yes, Carlisle spoke through our bond.

"Yes." When I was questioned about whether or not we may have changed our decision about Jacob's execution, I repeated my mate's words carefully. "At this time we have not decided. Jacob not only threatened me verbally but he broke from your pack and began to track me and my mate. While we again find ourselves with the right to demand his life, we try to hold ourselves to a higher standard."

I took a slow deep breath as Carlisle's voice filled my soul with the words I needed to say. "We wish to hear directly from Jacob Black, and are willing to extend him mercy one last time. However, if he disregards that mercy and wishes to challenge Carlisle, as we feel he will, then both Jacob and my mate will engage in the challenge without any help from either faction. If their fight comes to the point of death, then we reserve the right for my mate to kill him in the challenge in lieu of execution. Those are our terms."

Sam glanced to the side just as a snarl erupted from my mate, and I looked to see Emmett and Rosalie dragging Jacob's sluggish body through the tree-line. Jasper was close behind and was obviously exercising his power over the young werewolf. When the teen was dropped to the ground, the alpha-wolf looked back to us and nodded sharply. "Only when he is fully out of the control of your vampire's power will I allow you to follow through with your terms. They are accepted."

.

The instant they faced off against each other, I knew that some part of the house was going to end up being demolished. And neither was allowed help from their factions, meaning Jasper could not settle Jacob at this point and the other wolves had to shift back to their human forms so as not to communicate with Jacob.

Considering how much he disliked violence, I knew that my mate had probably never given himself any kind of credit when it came to his potential prowess in a fight. However, I was aware that the keen mind he most certainly had possessed as a human had only been enhanced with his inhuman instincts and sharpened by the century he had spent with the Volturi, where he had obviously had retained more knowledge than he cared to admit when it came to the art of fighting. It was clear in how he took his time, how he knew that the impulsiveness of the youthful and barely-trained wolf would be his weakness. And as I silently predicted, within two or three minutes, Jacob grew tired of the circling game and launched himself full-speed at the waiting vampire.

Carlisle simply waited patiently for the massive canine to come to him.

I tried not to let my concern bleed through, because even I could see that it was a trap waiting to happen. If I could see that, then surely Jacob would too.

He does, I heard deep within my soul. I want him to.

It was agonizing to watch Jacob soar through the air toward my mate, who crouched. It was almost unbearable to see his furry form twist at the last minute in midair, as if trying to reach the back of Carlisle's neck. Almost instantly, thought, the vampire's plan became clear as he wrenched sharply around. He fisted his stone hand in the thick fur of the dog's collar and slammed him to the ground. He could have ended it then, but my mate was cold, calculating and out to severely punish the obsessed teenager.

Some of the other Quileutes growled and trembled, clearly wanting to phase to help their friend, deserter or no. A sharp command from Sam and promises of ugly repercussions stopped them.

As my mate paced, waiting for the stunned wolf to clamber to his feet, I sent out waves of love and of pride, making sure that both man and Beast knew that no matter what the outcome was, I would always adore him and be nothing but proud of the majestic creature that he was. I kept my smile to myself when I felt pulses of gratitude and reverence. The warm feelings soon disappeared as Jacob rose to his feet and snarled furiously at my mate, lunging instantly for Carlisle's throat.

This was a mistake as the vampire anticipated this move and acted accordingly.

As I watched the fight, it occurred to me that if Jacob had any brain at all, he would go for my mate's ankle. It was not that I wanted him to win, but it only made sense to me that if you destroyed the main area of mobility then you pretty much won the fight. It was as those thoughts were being translated through my spirit that I felt a short yet an intense rush of pride directed from both Carlisle and the Beast, letting me know that my theory was a good one.

Everyone, including me and Jasper, winced as Jacob went crashing into the front steps. I heard the distinctive cracks of several bones and hoped that Jacob would be smart enough to just stay down, to give in before it got worse. For a moment, I thought the volatile wolf had done just that, but as the vampire drew closer to the whimpering dog, I realized that this is what he wanted: Jacob wanted to get Carlisle close to him so he could have a good shot at his throat, but my mate seemed to know this as well and kept his face away from Jacob's as he reached to pull the werewolf from the rubble.

We knew he would lunge. It was obvious. But it was only when Carlisle began to drag the bloody, matted carcass from the stone ruins of the steps that Jacob made his move, twisting with every bit of his strength to snap not at my mate's throat but his wrist.

I bit back a scream as the crunching metallic sound of the vampire's hand being torn from his body rung through the air. I hit my knees as the most ungodly pain filled my own body, though it disappeared just as soon as it came. I recognized that my mate had not meant to let me feel that - the first shock of agony stunning his control and letting the sensation flow from his body to mine. However, it seemed like my brief moment of pain fueled my mate's rage.

I could feel the shift from Man to Beast as he attacked the back of the russet neck, sinking his teeth deep into the flesh before slinging Jacob's battered form clear across the yard. I was relieved when this gave him a moment to make a grab for the detached hand and hold it firmly it to his venom-seeping wrist as he cradled his arm to his chest and began circling the wolf.

I should not have been surprised that my mate was going to fight injured the way he was, even though everyone present knew that it would take a few moments before for his body would even began to fuse itself together. But it appeared that both Man and Beast were tired of being what they viewed was 'nice', so when Jacob charged again, the Beast did not wait. Instead, he kept his injured hand pressed against his chest as he blurred forward at full-speed.

The wolf leapt only a few feet into the air, presumably to ram the vampire with the brunt of his force in his mid-section, but to my surprise, Carlisle's body hit the ground. He slid on his side through the mud beneath the animal and his good hand shot out to catch one of the wolf's hind legs.

He snapped it the bone clean into.

The canine howled in agony as he collapsed to the ground, struggling furiously to his good three paws as the Beast approached him. Knowing that he could not outrun the vampire at this point, he waited, snarling viciously and snapping when the Beast was within reach. And as Jacob lurched forward and attempted to lock onto the Beast's good wrist, my mate blurred away, moving so fast that I could not see where he grabbed the wolf. The only thing I saw was the russet dog being slammed to the ground in the center of the yard where he then lay panting and broken.

I knew that being a werewolf, his body was much studier than a normal canine, but my mate had not exactly been easy on him, despite the short length of their fight. And from the look on the Beast's face, it was not yet quite over.

As the powerful vampire made his way to the fallen wolf, Jacob quickly phased back, which set off a mix of emotions in my mate: anger that the boy was obviously trying to gain sympathy being in a more vulnerable form, exasperation that the boy was too stupid to realize that phasing injured could have killed him (which in turn would have taken the pleasure away from the Beast), relief that he had won this current battle, and worry that this might not be the end of it if he showed mercy on the obsessed teen.

The Beast allowed Carlisle to take control and my mate knelt over Jacob, his good stone hand pressing into the boy's throat as he snarled. "Once again, I find myself in the unique position of having your life in my grasp, and once again, I find myself telling you that it is not me that you owe should I spare your troublesome existence." He pressed down harder, making the teen gasp and choke beneath him. "What angers me most is not that you are simply trying to take my mate from me, though I admit that infuriates me more than you can imagine. No, what angers me the most is that for someone who seems to worry so much about her wellbeing, you do not seem to care what separating her from me would do to her."

His finger tips dug into the tan flesh. "She is not simply my mate, you ignorant whelp, but I am hers, in every sense imaginable. I have not simply claimed her with words, you foolish mutt. I have claimed her mind, her body, her heart, and her soul. Her soul is now my soul, just as my soul is hers. If you take that from her now, she dies. She will die a slow agonizing death of loneliness and misery."

He lowered himself almost completely to the ground, hissing to low for my human ears but allowing me to feel it through our bond. I will only tell you this once, boy: Isabella is mine. She is mine and mine alone. She belongs to me. I would kill even my own son if he attempted to take her and she would allow me to do so. So know that I have no reservations in ending your obnoxious existence... However, I will let you walk away once more. You survived one more time, dog. But I swear to you that the next time I see you, if you chose to continue on this course, no power on this Earth will stop me from tearing your body into shreds.

He released his grip on Jacob's throat and placed his good hand on the teen's arm, still speaking under his breath. Keep this fresh in your mind as well, boy: She has been claimed, sent into her heat, and mounted by me. I have mated her thoroughly. He tightened his hand around the arm that he held when his defeated opponent flinched. Yes, mutt, she is mine in that way. She has submitted to me and will only ever submit to me, so I can assure you that she will never give your obsessive and hormonal advances even a first glance, much less a second.

He growled darkly, the sound rumbling from his chest and throat. Today is the last time you will have to walk away, change your path, and keep your life. So I am warning you to stop sniffing around my bitch, whelp, or else I will demand your life. Remind yourself every day, until it is forever ingrained in your mind: Isabella will never be mounted by you, pup. She will never be bred by you. She is not your bitch. She belongs to me.

He unwrapped his fingers from Jacob's arms, though his palm still rested on the boy's limb. "Let this be a reminder to you to never again attempt to take what is yours."

With that, he suddenly slammed his palm down on the werewolf's arm and, ignoring the excruciating wails of agony, stood and carried me back toward our home. He effortlessly jumped over the rubble that was once the front steps and locked use away inside our private den.

.

TBC

Sorry. It's midnight where I am, so no tagline tonight either!