Alec hesitated before he finally crouched down to examine me properly. His deep red eyes searched mine for something. The Cullen's stood where they were blank expressions on all their faces. It was a long time before anyone made a sound.

"Are you okay?" Alec whispered low in my ear, as if his voice would scare me if it were any louder.

I looked at him, trying my hardest to understand what had just happened. He resigned from the Volturi, something I didn't even consider to be possible. And for what? For me? He didn't even know me. He killed someone for me. Felix's death no doubt came with consequences I didn't even want to imagine. And for what he did to Jane, his sister, I could share his pain for a lost sibling.

Riley.

Riley was dead. My brother was dead.

"No." I muttered.

A hollow ache began to fill me. I was alone. The last of my energy left me as I curled into myself on the ground. I didn't care how vulnerable I looked in that moment, vulnerable what how I felt.

Alec made a sound of worry and quickly scooped me up into his arms before lifting me from the cold ground. Jasper was by our side then, a look of concern scrunching his face. He glanced nervously between me and Alec, as if he wanted to snatch me from Alec's arms and flee.

"Is she okay?" He asked.

I couldn't find any energy, any motivation to answer. I hadn't realized that Riley was my last connection to what my life had been. There was no going back. Part of me knew that I never could but now it's a fact, there was nothing to go back to. There was no family I had left. It was just me now. Even with the Cullen's, with Alec, how could they smile knowing they were they outlived their entire families?

"She's in shock." Alec muttered.

I could feel his voice vibrate through his chest. That full soothing sound that made me feel just a little warmer, a little more stable. I sighed, sinking a little closer into Alec's chest. Despite what he was, he felt warm here.

"She needs to rest." Alec continued.

He searched my eyes for a brief moment. The more I looked in his the more depth I saw in those small pools of red. I could feel the familiar tingle of his mind opening to mine, but it quickly retreated and suddenly my head was pounding. I wouldn't be able to use my gift for a while I realize.

"And she should probably feed soon."

Jasper sighed before a small smile brightened his lips. He reached out to smooth my hair down and gave my cheek a light pinch.

"She always needs to feed." He muttered with a chuckle.

"Alec." Carlisle called, bringing Jasper's attention away from me.

Alec turned to face them and they all seemed a little relieved to see me, unharmed, in Alec's arms. All the Cullen's stood before us. Not a single casualty. Like the Cullen family were just another fact, nothing could harm it.

"If you'd follow me, we can get Gwen some rest and a good meal." He paused. "Then I suppose we should discuss your living arrangements for the time being." Carlisle gave Alec a warm smile and waved him to follow as the Cullen's began to retreat back to the house.

I noticed the human the Volturi had retrieved was now gone. Then again so were the wolves. Seth had seem rather protective of that girl.

Jasper placed a hand on Alec's shoulder and gave him a small push forward. Alec turned to glower at him.

"We best get her somewhere safe before anything else can go wrong." Jasper muttered. "This one has a habit of attracting the wrong attention."

I turned to glare at him. It wasn't my fault all this happened, it was Edward's.

I start to open my mouth to give my retort but Jasper hushed me.

"Save it for later little fledgling. You don't have the strength now."

I sighed and this time closed my eyes. Since I was turned, I had not once felt truly tired, but now… I could feel the sleep begin to creep over me. I was told vampires can't sleep. That you'd live forever and not once feel the urge to rest your head for the night.

"Gwen, I need you to keep your eyes open for me sweetheart." Alec softly jostled me to keep me awake.

I groaned and he laughed lightly at my displeasure. His laugh sent another wave of pain through my head and I winced.

"He's right, Gwen. In your state we're not sure what would happen to you if you fell unconscious again." Edward said.

"I'm fine guys." I lie.

My voice is barley a whisper. I suddenly feel very tired again and the familiar grip of sleep pulls a little tighter and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. Alec tries to shake me again but my eyes refuse to obey. I hadn't realized they were already close. My head is all pressure and needles now. Just a short nap.

"Gwen!" Jasper yelled.

When I still didn't respond there was a furious snarl and my eyes snapped open. Alec's arms tensed around me and I could feel the beginnings of a growl rumble in his chest.

"Gwen, I need you to stay awake." Jasper insisted, ignoring Alec. "You have to understand that we don't know what will happen to you if you fall asleep. You might not wake up."

I glanced up at him and nodded. I could see the very real streak of concern on his face. There was a possibility I was fighting death, not sleep. The ache in my head was enough for me to believe he was right.

Alec shifted me in his arms and slowly placed me on the ground.

"Maybe walking will wake you up a bit, dove." He suggested.

Alec and Jasper took my arms as I tried to steady my feet and feel my legs again. They were wobbly at first but within a few minutes I was walking at a human pace.

The rest of the Cullen's were long gone now, probably already back at the house. A thick silence seemed to stalk us through the forest was we slowly made our way back home. A place that was now home to Alec too, if he chose to stay.

So much had changed in the short time I was here. It felt like years had passed, like I've know these people all my life. The Cullen's were my family know. They were all I had. And in this moment, that's enough.

I glance between Alec and Jasper, my boys, and a smile spread across my face. How did this all manage to happen to me?

"What's so funny?" Jasper mutters.

I simply shrug.

"Fate." I say. "Not once in my entire life did I ever picture myself here."

"As a vampire?" Alec's tone is amused. I shook my head.

"With a complete family and two amazing guys to walk me home." I clarify.

"Home?" Jasper questions.

I remember how I had accidentally called the Cullen house 'home' on one of you first hunting trips. Jasper wasn't too please that I had already began to set roots there. I remember how much he hated me… just a short few days ago. Everything happened so fast.

"Yeah." I say with more confidence. "Home."

Jasper smiles at me and pulls me into a half hug. He squeezes just a tad too tight and I gasped, my body was still returning to me and my head threatened to implode. Jasper quickly released me and suddenly Alec was between us. I half expected them to start tearing into each other. Jasper growls and Alec returns it with a snarl. They both crouch down, ready to attack.

I place a small kiss on Alec's arm and pulled him to look at me. He spun around faster than I thought he would. His eyes were burning with a hunger, a desire I hadn't seen outside of a hunt. They seemed to smolder like two burning coals and I could see the uneasiness that lurked deep in his eye.

"I'm fine." I tell him.

He sighs and relaxes under my touch.

"I know." He mutters.

The rest of the walk to the house was in silence. There was no more conversation and another thick cloud of tension draped itself around us.

Alec was still Volturi in Jaspers eyes. They were enemies not more than 20 minutes ago. This new, whatever this was, was going to take them some getting used to. I was the only thing they had in common. Everything else was polar opposite.

I glanced up at them again. Both had bright red eyes and furrowed brows. They were both deep in thought. Probably wondering about what happens next. Or possibly how they could kill the other and make it look like an accident.

When the house finally came into view I nearly cried in relief. Alec and Jasper had clearly been annoyed at the pace I was going, which caused their patience with each other to dwindle down to nothing. I thought they'd kill each other or at least kill me so they can be done with is faster.

Alec seemed to tense up as we entered the house. Instinctively he bared his teeth the moment he walked in. The smells of the house all ranging from human to wolf was enough to put anyone on edge but he was also on 'enemy territory' and greatly outnumbered. Even though he was no longer Volturi, I understand his unease.

I gently loop my arm with his and leaned into him for support. The walk here was not made without difficulty. My entire body felt like it was falling apart at the seams and my head was still pounding. But I put on a good face, no need to worry them all further.

Alec took in a breath and relaxed for me. His free hand came to smooth down my hair and gently cup my face before pulling me up for a short kiss. Instantly the pounding vanished from my head and I can think clearly again. My body still ached but my mind was clear.

I sigh in relief.

Someone cleared their throat. We both look up to see the entire Cullen coven and most of the wolves from the fight.

If I were human, I'd be bright red in deep blush.

"How do you feel Gwen?" Carlisle came to stand in front of Alec and me.

"Like I'm still being turned." I reply honestly.

Carlisle sighed. He reached for me but I was suddenly swept up. I looked up, startled. Alec held me in his arms. He had also taken a step away from Carlisle, closer to the door. His face looked mildly scared as his eyes darted around the room. I could feel how tense he was.

"I'll take her." Alec quickly spat out. "Where do you need her?"

Carlisle still stood as he was, had slightly reached out to where I had been standing. His eyes narrowed slightly and if I didn't know any better I could've sworn I heard him growl.

"My office." Carlisle said, his voice a mask of calm.

He turned to lead us up the stairs. When Alec hesitated Jasper nudged him forward again, earning a low snarl from Alec.

"Please calm down." I scold him. "They aren't going to hurt you."

"It's not me you should worry about." Alec muttered.

Edward scoffed and quickly came to help heard Alec up the stairs after Carlisle. Alec hesitated another moment before heading up the stairs.

Carlisle had been waiting to lead us the rest of the way. The office felt warmer, safer, than the first time I had been called in here. I guess because I wasn't bargaining for my life this time.

Carlisle gestured for us all to enter. Alec still held me close to him while Edward and Jasper, his arms crossed over his chest, followed.

"Alice? Rosalie?" Carlisle called.

Alice and Rose appeared in the door way a moment later.

"Can you two please take Gwen up to her room? I'll be up momentarily." Carlisle requested.

Again Alec's arms tightened around me and a soft growl started to form.

"Alec!" I scolded again. "Stop it."

He obeyed.

I carefully pulled myself from his arms, much to his distress. He caught me quickly when I started to wobble but I quickly shooed him away. His expression was stressed, clearly uncomfortable in his surroundings and of my condition.

"Behave." I told him as Alice and Rose lead me from the office.

I could heard Jasper and Edward snicker at my comment. I could only imagine how hard Alec was fighting the urge to kill them right now.

Rose picked me up and in a blink she was already setting me down in my bed. Alice and Rose fussed over me for a moment, making sure I was comfortable.

"Never thought my death bed was going to be so comfortable." I say.

"Don't say that." Alice snapped. "You're not dying here."

"So you're moving me somewhere else then?" I ask.

"Stop being so dramatic, Gwen." Rose sighed. "You're not going to die anytime soon. Carlisle picked up some blood from the hospital to fix you up. You'll be fine."

"Human blood?" I ask. That didn't sound like Carlisle.

"Don't get too excited, it's a blood bag." Emmett laughed as he emerged from the stairs in the middle of my room with Edward just behind.

I could see the bags of dark red fluid in his arms and my throat was sent up in flames. I hadn't noticed how thirsty I was. Too distracted by the pain in my body to notice the fire in my throat or the hollow twist in my stomach.

"Now Carlisle said you have to drink this slowly or you might make yourself sick." Emmett warned before setting three bags down beside me on the bed.

I hardly registered his words before my mind went blank and I snatched up the closest bag. I tore into it like a starving animal, not caring about how much spilled out on the bed and down my already ruined shirt. I gulped down the entire contents of the bag.

I hadn't tasted human blood in what seemed like months. I could still remember the sweet warmth as it spread through my body, easing all the fires and strengthening me. I remember how full and smooth the taste was as I drained it from my victims. The heat that filled my stomach and excited me to no end.

This was not the same.

The blood was cold and thick. It lacked the sweet aroma and taste of live blood. The chemicals added to the blood mixed, giving it a bitter and grimy taste. I instantly gaged and sucked in clean air, desperate to ride my senses of this horrible taste. I threw the bag at Emmett's face, he caught it.

"He warmed you." Edward chuckled. "If it were good, do you really think we'd still be out hunting animals?"

I glared up at him while I wiped my mouth clean of the disgusting liquid. I could even call it blood anymore.

"Carlisle said to finish all of them." Emmett was clearly amused by my disgust.

He leaned down to pick up the next bag. He showed me how to best drink from it by pulling off one of the top caps and handed it to me. I simply glared up at him.

"I'm not drinking that." I growl.

Emmett signed.

Edward snatched the bag from him.

"Doctors orders, sweetheart." Edward insisted before he moved to hold me.

With one arm holding my arms down and the other gripping my jaw back he forced the bags tube into my mouth. Alice and Rose grimaced and looked away as I gaged on more of the dead blood. I tried to struggle but I was much weaker then Edward at the moment. The blood slid agonizingly slow down my throat as Edward squeezed the last of the bags contents into my mouth.

When he released me I quickly spat the last mouthful of the blood I have refused to swallow into his face.

Edward snarled and quickly retreated from me in disgust.

"You little brat!" He growled.

Anger glinted in his eye as he began to stalk closer to me. I quickly scrambled out of bed and staggered to the wall closet to me. The blood had in fact helped my get some of my strength back but I could still feel how my limbs protested against my movements, making me slow. I was no match for anyone right now but I would still fight. I must've looked like an escaped animal. Pathetic. But that only made me angrier.

"Edward." Emmett stopped him. "She's having a bad day, this really isn't necessary."

"It certainly is not."

Everyone turned around to see who had just come it. I peered around Edward to see Alec and Carlisle had come up to check on me as well. They had seen me make a fool of myself, they must have heard the scuffle from down stairs. My room was starting to feel a little too crowded.

Alec looked totally bewildered. I could only imagine what he saw. My entire bed and I covered in blood as well as Edward, also splattered in blood. Me taking a pathetic looking defensive position against the far wall and again Edward, who was just about to wring my neck. Alec just stood there trying to contain himself. It was clear he was trying to not appear as vicious and savage as that glint in his eyes suggested he was about to be. Edward smirked at me and then him.

"I see you didn't like the blood bags." Carlisle strolled closer to me. Something in his expression suggested that my liking of the blood bags wasn't much of an option.

"They're revolting." I muttered.

"That's unfortunate." Carlisle was at my bedside now examining the remaining bags. "It seems you have one left to finish."

During my time here I have noticed a slight change in Carlisle. He wasn't that same gentle father figure I have first met. There was a slight edge to him now. Something most demanding and dangerous in his tone that suggested repercussion if his word wasn't followed. There was something in his eyes now, I slight fire that burned in them.

"I don't want it." I groaned.

The fire in his eye burned a little brighter then.

"Gwen, I don't have the patience for this right now." Carlisle proceeded to set up the bag, just as Emmett had showed me and walked over to me. "Drink." He ordered and handed the bag out to me.

"Fine." I muttered out of habit.

My eyes met Alec's. He was looking at me like I was weak. Something that needed to be protected because it was incapable of the task. I glance around at everyone. They all shared that same look of pity. A new spark of rebellion and anger shot through me.

"But only if you taste it first."

The room grew very still.

"Gwen-" Carlisle began.

"Don't tell me what to do!" I snarled, cutting him off. "I just saved your lives! And now you want me to drink that filth and you don't even know what it is you're asking of me!" I tried to sound calm now. "I won't drink another drop till you taste it Carlisle." I was breathing heavily now.

I let his name roll off my tongue like I was talking to an annoying sibling as I crossed my arms over my chest. No respect, all defiance. All instinct, no thought.

Carlisle stared me down for a long moment. He seemed to be battling with himself. There was anger present in the way he set this jaw. But he was the "leader of the pack" I had just challenged him. He could easily force me to drink the blood, but he would lose this fight if he did. I challenged his morals, his control of me.

Carlisle sighed.

"Very well." He said nonchalantly.

Carlisle tore the cap of between his teeth and didn't hesitate to take a large mouthful of the putrid blood. His back was to the rest of the room and his eyes slid up to meet mine. I could see the gold hue of his eyes being chased away by a new shade of red that burned with an intensity I couldn't handle. His mind seemed to reach out for mine and I was soon thrown so deep into Carlisle subconscious, I feared I'd never make it out.

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