AN: Hey guys, long time no see. I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in ages, it's been pretty hectic at home lately and I just haven't been able to work up the drive to write. Buuut, it is finally here although I won't be surprised if I don't get any reviews on it because you all got so sick of waiting for an update that you don't bother chacking for them anymore...

Anyway! On a happier note, thankyou to those of you lovely reviewers who answered my question in the last chapter. The results were unanimous and I'm glad to report that I will be writing in the letters and Jake and the Cullen's reactions, however it won't be in this chapter as I originally intended, but in the next chapter because I was originally going to do this chapter as chapter thirteen but I thought it fitted better before the reactions.

Anywhooo, on with the story ^_^

Disclaimer: Okay, I've really been spending the time between my updates trying to persuade Stephenie Meyer to give me the rights to Twilight, or at least Seth and Alec... But so far she hasn't caved...

Enjoy!

Chapter 12 (Orders)

ALEC POV

It was normal for Alec to be silent- well more silent than usual- in the aftermath of a fight with another coven. He generally felt guilty because his "gift" was used as a means to massacre people who were, more often than not, actually not guilty of committing the crimes of which they had been accused. It sickened him that his power, which had originally manifested because he was trying to escape pain, was now being used to remove other people's right to defend their own lives.

However today Alec had no reason to feel guilty because (despite his best efforts) his power had not affected either the Cullen's, their 'witnesses' or the so-called werewolves- which led to the real reason for his silence at the moment.

Alec had been informed by his sister, Demetri and Felix that the scent of the Quileute wolves was foul. An observation that was further enforced by the reactions of the other, less trained Volturi members when the wolves had first entered the clearing to stand by the Cullen's.

What really had Alec disturbed was the fact that the wolves smell hadn't repulse him in the slightest; in fact he found the scent somewhat refreshing. To Alec most of the wolf-pack had smelled of the coast, wet sand and salty water. A smaller number (only two) had smelled of the forest surrounding the area, moss and moist soil. It was as if the wolves didn't have a scent of their own, rather they absorbed the most pleasant scents from the areas in which they lived.

And then there was the wolf who had been interrogated by Aro... 'Seth' Alec remembered.

Seth had come close enough to Alec that he could have reached out and touched him if he so chose, and while Alec had felt even Jane flinch back slightly at the wolfs supposed stench Alec himself had almost felt himself drawn to the boy. He didn't smell repulsive in the slightest, nor did he smell of a particular landscape like the other wolves. Seth smelled... 'Clean.'

There was really no other word that Alec could think of to describe it. He didn't smell clean as in sterile, like bleach or disinfectant. More like the clean that you can smell after a big rain storm, when all of the dirt and grime has been washed away and the whole world suddenly feels brand new. It was a very refreshing scent -unlike that of any creature Alec had ever met- and it had appealed to him greatly.

The appeal of the Seth's scent was the only plausible reason that Alec was willing to consider that would justify going against every single one of his orders by stopping his sister from harming the young wolf with her burning gaze. Any other reason he refused to consider. After all, he'd only met the wolf for the first time today, so there was absolutely no way that he could care about the boy's well being already... It was completely impossible...

Alec was so caught up in his confusing thoughts that he almost failed to notice when Aro signalled the guard to halt. He managed to stop himself just in time to avoid any unnecessary attention from his sister or the Volturi leaders.

Unlike in human armies, it did not take several minutes for the Volturi guard to cease all noise and movement, so it was only a matter of seconds before Aro had the attention he desired and he soon began to speak, a deadly glint sparkling deep in his red eyes.

"We have been humiliated." He began in a dangerously quiet tone, "Never before in the history of vampires have the Volturi been thwarted in such a manner. It is even more disgraceful that those who humiliated us are a coven of human-lovers and their pet dogs."

At mention of the wolves, many of the vampires surrounding Alec hissed. Whether they were agreeing with Aro's opinion or simply remembering the disagreeing smell of the wolves Alec couldn't tell, and to Aro it didn't seem to matter.

"Do not fret my dears, for we will not allow this humiliation to go unchallenged!" He yelled and Alec began to feel a sickness deep in his stomach. One that, were he still alive Alec was sure would make him want to vomit.

Aro continued, "I have read Edward Cullen's thoughts and through them I have realised that the simplest way to hurt both the traitor-coven and their werewolves is through the abduction of the small wolf Seth Clearwater."

The guard had gone eerily silent, even for vampires and Alec felt the churning in his stomach increase, although he couldn't comprehend why.

"Seth Clearwater was the youngest member of the werewolf in the pack for a long period of time and as such, many of the elder pack members see him as their little brother," Said Aro.

"In addition to this, Seth was the first wolf to befriend the Cullen's and they also see him as a member of their family, even some of the Cullen's vampire witnesses (he spat the word with disdain) have come to like the boy in the short time they have known him. Of everyone we fought today, Seth Clearwater is the only one of whom all of this is true and therefore it is only logical that his removal will harm the most of the traitors."

The clearing was still silent, but out of the corner of his widened eyes Alec caught sight of a few of the guard nodding and he caught sight of a violent, almost sadistic look in his sisters eyes that may possibly have scared him to death if it had been directed at him... And he hadn't already been an un-dead vampire.

After a pause for what Alec assumed was dramatic effect Aro continued with his speech, the same dangerous glint shining in his eyes, "As your leaders, Caius, Marcus and I will choose one of you, whomever we believe is best able to complete this task quickly and efficiently. But first I have to ask, are there are any of you here who do not wish to be chosen for this task?"

None of the guard raised even the slightest objection, so after several seconds Aro nodded and smiled sadistically, "Very well, I commend each and every one of you for your bravery. We will now take a few moments to decide on who we are to send. Please feel free to talk among yourselves whilst we reach our decision."

Alec probably would have laughed at the patronising tone that Aro addressed them with if it weren't for the fact that he was feeling decidedly unwell and for some odd reason that he could not fathom, Alec found himself hoping with all of his might that he would be the one chosen for this mission.

MARCUS POV (approximately five hours earlier)

Marcus was shocked; his head was still reeling from what he had seen occur between Alec and the werewolf Seth earlier in the day. Truthfully, in all his thousands of years as a vampire Marcus could not remember ever seeing a relationship bond so strong, and he had definitely never witnessed one form with such speed.

'This imprinting of the werewolves truly is a marvellous thing,' he thought to himself. Marcus almost felt sorry for everyone else in the world who (perhaps with the exception of Edward through his mind reading) would never have the privilege of beholding something so pure and beautiful.

Just thinking of the strength of Seth's imprint on Alec had Marcus remembering his own mate and the happiness and love she had brought into his life. However, remembering Didyme also unearthed the heart wrenching pain that had come with her death and the knowledge that he would never again see her in this lifetime.

Having experienced the pain that the loss of a mate caused, Marcus knew firsthand exactly how Seth, and to a lesser extent Alec- who was as yet unaware of the imprinting, would be feeling now. Right then and there Marcus swore that he would do everything in his power to reunite the two and give Seth the chance to win Alec's heart that he so desperately deserved.

MARCUS POV (present)

Marcus eventually realised that coming up with a genius plan was a lot harder than it seemed. However it turned out that he needn't have worried because, with his power hungry speech of revenge and the plot to kidnap Seth, Aro had practically handed a genius plan to Marcus on a shiny silver platter.

Now all Marcus had to do was convince Aro that Alec was the vampire best suited for the job. And he had to do it without giving anything away...

ALEC POV

Alec could hardly believe his ears. He had actually been chosen as the guard member who would 'retrieve' Seth from the Cullen's and bring him to Volterra. An endeavour that he estimated would take at least three weeks, depending on how difficult it was to pry the wolf away from his protectors.

Alec still didn't know exactly why the prospect of spending a long period of time alone with Seth appealed to him so much and he didn't question it. He was the happiest he'd been in years and he didn't want to spoil it for himself by over thinking everything. The last thing Alec wanted to do was to fall back into the state of apathy that he had felt for the five centuries until the scent of rain washed the bland thoughts from his mind and brought him back to life.

Of course Jane had objected to the Volturi's decision under the pretence that Alec was needed at Volterra, although he knew that she was simply angry because she had wanted to be the one to go after Seth. She wanted to finish what she had started in the clearing. Luckily with a few choice words from Aro and Jane grudgingly agreed that Alec's talent of being able to subdue people without hurting them was the best choice of weapon for bringing Seth back in an appropriate state of physical and mental health. He was also the only fighter with the ability to incapacitate both the Cullen's and the wolves which would enable him to take Seth and escape quickly with a minimal amount of fuss.

While he was being debriefed by Aro, Alec noticed Jane walk away 'She's probably gone to sulk,' he thought to himself. He himself was barely listening to Aro's instructions on how to handle a possibly violent situation and about how he didn't want Alec to hurt Seth too much.

'No problem there,' thought Alec, and that made him stop and think. There had to be something seriously wrong with him if he was promising himself that he wouldn't harm a boy that he had only met for the first time twelve hours ago, a boy who was centuries younger than him and oddly just happened to be a werewolf, the sworn enemy of Alec's very race, no matter how good he smelt.

It was then that Alec started to realise that going on this mission mightn't be the best idea after all. He was about to voice this to Aro when he suddenly remembered the look on his sisters face when she had realised that she wouldn't be the one to go after the wolf boy. Frankly, it had been downright terrifying and although Alec was incredibly confused about what he was suddenly feeling for the young werewolf, he knew that he could never willingly submit an innocent person to his sister's torturous stare and so he resolved himself to go, despite his uncertainties.

He parted with the Volturi several hours later, after having listened to Aro ranting for what felt like a lifetime. As he made to exit the ring of his coven though, he was stopped, shockingly enough, by Marcus who stared deep into his eyes and began to speak softly.

"Good luck with the werewolf Alec, I have every faith that you will succeed in discovering what it is that you seek."

Alec suspected that Marcus was not speaking solely of bringing Seth back to Volterra and it unnerved him. He nodded his head in thanks and began to turn away but was stopped once more by a gentle but firm hand on his arm and he turned back to look at Marcus, who apparently hadn't said all that he'd wanted to.

"Alec, I just want you to promise me that whatever you encounter in your travels, you will do your utmost best to keep an open mind and give anything a chance, even if it seems impossible."

If it hadn't been for the serious look in his eyes and that fact that he was pretty sure Marcus didn't have a sense of humour Alec would have thought that he was simply trying to mess with his head, however as Marcus' eyes bored into his own Alec couldn't help but believe that this was incredibly important so he did all that he could do and nodded to the Volturi leader, "I promise." He said softly.

With a small nod of acknowledgement Marcus finally released Alec's arm and patted him on the shoulder before whispering "Good luck," and turning away.

For several seconds Alec simply stood in wonderment and confusion, staring at Marcus' retreating back before shaking his head slightly and returning to reality. With a final look at the confusing older vampire, Alec turned and walked into the forest, hoping that by finding Seth he would finally get some of the answers he was looking for.

Alec had only been walking for about two hours, perhaps less. He didn't feel the need to rush himself and go sprinting into the trees, it wasn't as if there was a time limit on how long he had to find Seth and bring him back. Besides, Alec had always liked being on his own, especially among the trees as there weren't many in Volterra, and there certainly weren't any forests.

Only a few minutes later Alec's peaceful thoughts were interrupted as he caught a new scent.

To most people the smell of rain wouldn't seem out of place in a forest, especially a forest in Forks, Washington, but Alec singled it out immediately, letting his senses become overrun by the fresh scent for the second time that day.

He was surprised to find Seth's scent so far from La Push and he was further shocked when he realised that the scent was only fresh, no more than an hour old.

Listening to his instincts Alec cautiously began to track the scent through the trees until he could hear the accompanying breathing and heart beat. He warily entered a break in the foliage and instantly noticed the body curled on the leaf litter gathered amongst the roots of a large tree.

Although he remained wary, Alec deemed it safe to get closer and so he crept silently towards the sleeping boy until he reached a position where he could clearly see his face and Alec's suspicions were confirmed.

The boy was Seth.

Alec was incredibly confused as to why the young werewolf was out sleeping in the middle of the forest when he knew full well that there were hostile vampires in the area, but he knew he wouldn't get any answers while Seth was sleeping, and looking at his peaceful yet somehow deeply sad expression, Alec didn't have the heart to wake the boy. Instead he settled himself among the roots of a close by tree and resigned himself to the wait.

SETH POV

Seth woke up slowly, sunlight filtered through his eyelids and creating an orange glow before he slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to get use to the bright light. Eventually he managed to work up the will power to actually sit up and stretch, his joints popping loudly after having laid in such a cramped position all night.

Only when he finally stood up did Seth register the fact that he wasn't alone. He could sense eyes watching him and he spun quickly to the right, preparing to phase and defend himself in necessary.

As he finished his turn Seth laid his eyes upon the person watching him and swore he almost passed out from the shock of seeing the absolute last person in the world he would have expected to be there... Alec.

So is it okay? I'm sorry if it got confusing that I switched POV's so ofted this chapter, I was going to split it into two chapters but since I've already made you wonderful people wait so long I decided to upload it as one. Was Alec's POV good? Practically all of this story is planned out to be in Seth's POV but if you guys think that I did even okay writing Alec's then I'll do a chapter of him every now and then ^_^
I really hope that this chapter was even half-way worth the wait that you had.

Please review!