'Of course, it had to be you.' Alex growled. 'Your mother ever taught you not to take food that isn't yours?'

Paul licked his bloody muzzle. 'Well my mate did catch it, so it's mine as well.'

Giving him a snarl, she snapped her teeth. 'I. AM. NOT. YOUR. MATE!'

'Oh, but you really are.' Paul grinned, walking closer to her. 'You were meant to be with me and only me. Not with some blood sucker!'

'Deal with it! You imprinted on the wrong wolf ass hole.' Alex leaned down for the rabbits only to have them snatched by Paul. 'Take them, I can hunt again.' Turning to leave, she was pulled by her tail. That was it. Dropping to her side, she flipped onto her back giving him a kick on the jaw.

'Big mistake!' Paul growled.

Lunging for her, Alex rolled away. Scrambiling to her feet she took off towards the house. Paul was close behind and gaining. Just as she was in the clearance, Paul tackled her and pinned her. His teeth latching onto her. The pain was too much to bare. Her entire body was in fire, from inside to outside. You ever been bit by a poisonus snake? Well just like that. Alex hadn't even realize she was howling. The son of a bitch was marking her.

Carlisle was nose deep in files, he had heard Alex walk out. Knowing she was out hunting he kept working. About an hour later, he began feeling uneasy. Something was wrong, he just wasn't sure what. Walking out of his study, he checked to see his 'kids' safe. It wasn't until he felt the pain in his chest, causing him to yell out loud. Not thinking twice, he bolted out the door and slamming into Paul in less than a second. Knowing Edward and the others would hold him off, he turned to Alex. She was pale and sweaty. Pulling her blouse down a bit, he hissed at the bite mark. Paul had bitten over his in a show of claim. Turing to the wolf, all sense was thrown out the window. In a flash, he had Paul by the throat, throwing him against a few trees. Carlisle wasted no time in grabbing him again, only this time he didn't let go. His hands tightening around the wolves throat.

Alex had gained back a bit of sense, but was not able to move. Turning her head to the side, she spotted Carlisle suffocating Paul. She couldn't let him kill paul, Carlisle would never forgive himself for killing someone. "Ca-Carlisle." No one heard her. She needed to speak. 'Edward…Edward!' she screamed mentally at the vamp.

Edward appeared beside he in a flash. "You're okay?"

"Ye-Carlisle. Don't-don't let him-" She growled at not being able to talk. "Kill."

"Shhh, I understand." Making sure she was okay for the moment, he ran towards Carlisle. "Carlisle stop." The man simply hissed. "Alex needs you!" Carlisle paused at the mention of his mate. Letting go of the wolf he ran to attend her.

"Alice, make sure the children are not to see this. Jasper and Bella please help me prepare the medical room." Carlisle was back to his controlling self, but inside he was seething with anger. Picking Alex up gently he rushed to the house. Her breathing and heart beat were slowing down. Carlisle was scared, he was god honest scared. Laying her on the bed, he removed her clothes revealing the wound.

"Why is it hot?" Jasper asked, grimacing at the sight.

The bite was red and bloody. The edges were black and purple, smoke swept from within. Carlisle sighed. "She's fighting the claim. Alex had already accepted mine, her body and mind is fighting to reject Paul's bite."

"Carlisle is there anything you can do? She's in pain!" Bella exclaimed, not once letting go of her hand.

Carlisle shook his head. "It's something she has to do on her own. The body will reject it, all I can do is wait." Giving her a kiss on the forehead, he dropped on the seat beside her. Alex thrashed and groaned on the bed. The veins on her neck were visible and starined. Carlisle needed to calm her down, or she could hurt herself. "I'm sorry love."

Edward walked in. "Carlisle?" The man, jerked his head. "Should I call Sam?"

Carlisle was about to say no, but was cut off by Bella. "Yes. Have him come and pick up his brother. But not before coming to speak with Carlisle." Edward nodded, backing back out.

Carlisle gave her a small nod. "Thank you, Bella. I am not in the right mind."

"I know Carlisle, but we are here for you. All of us." Bella reassured. Cringing at the scream Alex gave.

"Thank you." Carlisle whispered, as he held Alex down the table. He spoke to her quietly. "It's alright Alex. Im here, your not alone."

Jacob, Seth and Lia ran into the house after getting a call from Alice. Seeing Edward and Emmet in the living room they walked in. Stopping to see Paul knocked out on the couch.

"What happened?" Jacob asked. "Alice said Alex was hurt."

"Where is she?" Seth questioned.

Emmet glared at Paul. "The mutt forced his claim on Alex. She's in the medical room right now."

Jacob didn't wait to hear what else Emmet had to say, he was already breaking into the room. He froze at the screams and wailing of Alex. Bella held her by the legs, as Carlisle held her upper body. The latter seemed to be in more pain than his mate. She was soaked in sweat, the wound on her shoulder wouldn't stop bleeding. Jacob released a small whimper. Not baring in seeing her like this, he walked out, stumbiling down the stairs.

"Jake?" Lia called. "How-how is she?"

Jacob swallowed the lump in his throat. "I dont know." His eyes locked onto Paul. Stalking towards the wolf, he was pulled back by Seth and Lia.

"Jake no!" Seth growled. "Not here!"

"Back off Jacob!"

Everyone turned to see Sam and Jared standing at the door.

"Because of him Alex is in danger!" Jacob roared.

"Jac-"

"You know what happens when one forces their claim Sam." Lia jumped in.

Sam sighed. "She's strong Lia."

"It's not the wolf Sam. It's the males." Lia agrued. "Paul just might have killed Carlisle's mate."

"And you know what happens when one losses a mate." Jacob added. "And we will be behind him on this one."

Sam growled walking over for Paul, only to have the vampire brother's block him. "Move."

"First you need to speak with Carlisle." Emmet hissed.

"Just follow the screams." Edward snarled.

Sam rolled his eyes, dragging Jared behind him as he dissapered.

"Jacob, can you please take the girls out." Bella asked, as she walked down the steps. "They can hear everything."

"Of course, I can take them into town." Picking each girl in an arm he jogged out of the house. "Lets go bug Charlie for a while."

"How is she?" Edward asked, once the girls were gone.

Bella shook her head. "Not good. The bleeding won't stop, she's hotter by the second, the pain seems to be getting worse and she is begingin to shift in and out. I'm worried Edward. There is a chance she wont survive this."

Edward pulled her into a tight hug. "No, she will. She must. A mate will do the impossible to stay with the one she loves. Alex will fight this and prevail. Just give her a chance. She has Sam to protect as well."

"I know. I know."

Seth and Lia glanced at each other. They too were scared, but prayed the alpha female overcame this.

Carlisle had used a bit of wolf's bane to sedate Alex for a while. It wouldn't last much, but it would give her a few moments of peace. He watched her sleep, the wound seemed to have stopped bleeding for a while. But the smoke was persistent. It wouldn't stop and it wont, not until a claim wins or she dies. Just thinking of her dead was enough to lose his humanity. Just then Sam walked in.

Sam caustiously walked into the room. He could smell wolf's bane, blood, smoke and a lot of emotions. "Carlisle?"

"This is what your actions have led to. I warned You to keep him away." Carlisle spoke in a calm and low voice.

Sam was actually a bit uneasy. He should have allowed Jared to walk in. "I didn't think Paul would dare a do such thing." His eyes were scanning the uncaustions wolf. She was pale, but breathing. "I am sorry Carlisle."

The elder vampire, ran a hand through his golden hair. "I am not going retaliate on Paul, at least not now."

Sam stiffed. "What do you mean by that?"

"If anything happens. If my mate di-" He chocked. "I will not let it go unpaid."

Sam wanted to yell and warned him not to even try, but he knew the significant of a mate. His was pregnant with their first child. If this ever happened to them, he would tear the bastard apart. "I understand. Please forgive me Carlisle." Giving him a stiff nod, Sam left dragging Paul behind him.

Carlisle went back to watching over Alex. He was going to have to leave her for a bit, but had made sure the others were close. She whimpered occasionally, but that was about it. She was in pain, but he couldn't give her anymore for it. Not to mention his control was slipping with his emotions. Taking a deep breath he slipped out of the room and down the stairs. His 'kids' sat scattered around.

"Would one of you please watch Alex, while I-"

"I'll go Carlisle." Bella whispered, she knew he needed to feed and get some air. "You go and I'll watch over her."

"Thank you, Bella. If anything changes let me know right away." Carlisle said.

Bella nodded. "Of course."

Watching him run off, she jogged into the room. Alex laid on the bed, stiff as a stick. She was whimpering, but in less pain. The wound still released a bit of smoke, but had eased up. Grabbing the wolves hand she sighed. "Come on Alex you can pull out of this. You have been through a lot, to let this beat you. Carlisle and Sam need you. We do as well. For the first time in my short vampire life, I have felt complete. So, have the others. You have finally completed the Cullen family, you cannot leave us now. It would kill Carlisle and destroy this family." Kissing her on the forehead she wiped the tear away. "Please come back to us."

Carlisle fought the puma for a good hour. He could have ended its life in a second, but it was a distraction. Dropping the dead animal on the ground he stumbled backwards. His back hitting the tree, as he slid to the ground. These were the moment he wished he could cry. Let all of his emotions run free, but he couldn't. Hell, he could feel the way his beat less heart cracked with every scream, cry and burn his mate felt. Seeing her trashing on the table, made him go colder than he was. Clutching his hair in his hands he took deep breaths. Feeling wetness down his cheeks shock him. Wiping them off he was surprised to see tears. This was wrong he shouldn't be able to cry. It was impossible! Regardless they kept falling, followed by a searing pain in his chest. It reminded him of the feeling he had when his father died. It was as if a hand was squeezing your heart and igniting a fire in the pit of your stomach. Not knowing what to do he allowed it to flow out. Releasing a scream, he hugged himself. He couldn't imagine the rest of his life without her. God cannot be so cruel to give her and take her so fast. But he vowed to himself and to her, that if she…he will find Paul and make him respond for what he has done.