A/N: Oops this is gonna be longer than I thought. o3o;;; I have a problem and an obsession with these two, whoops.
The changed rating is for some blood & violence themes; nothing extreme, but after getting a story taken down because of a rating issue, figured I'd better be safe than sorry. lol.
Enjoy even more angst.
Blood Bound
Chapter II :: Our Connection
Things are peaceful and Alec is content for the first time in his entire life.
He finds a new home with the Cullens; more importantly, with Carlisle. He still isn't used to someone lavishing every bit of their attention on him, making sure he wants for nothing and ensuring hunger will never be an issue again, but Alec can't say he hates it.
No, he absolutely loves it. He's never felt as loved as he has with Carlisle and his family, and Alec knows he can never be without this. He can't go back to his life of being alone and having no one to call his own. He can't bear the thought of going to bed and not having Carlisle to curl up against and having him hold him like he's the most precious thing in the entire world.
As time goes on, Alec starts to notice little things. Sometimes they have to leave for a few hours to do god knows what; Alec's asked, but all he gets in reply is a soft smile and a kiss upon his forehead. It's irritating, but he figures it's not important if no one will tell him what's going on.
It's always the hardest when Carlisle leaves. Alec sits around, antsy and worried out of his mind, but he starts to pick up on the fact each time Carlisle or any of the Cullens have to depart, their eyes are onyx over topaz.
It's weird, but it's yet again another thing he doesn't question. The mysteries will be solved eventually, or at least he assumes so. He knows his love wouldn't keep him in the dark unless it was absolutely necessary, so Alec learns to live with not knowing.
Unfortunately, his knack for danger keeps following him, even after Carlisle promised him he wouldn't be hunted anymore. He wanders out of the Cullen home for a few minutes, intent to get some fresh air and think, when he hears a low growl.
Turning around, Alec doesn't have time to react as the creature knocks him to the ground and digs its fangs into his shoulder. An agonizing scream spills from Alec's throat and that's all it takes for the creature to be ripped away from him with a roar of fury.
He looks up enough to see Carlisle tear into the beast, but he quickly looks down, feeling sick to his stomach. His beloved is at his side seconds later, and Alec forces himself to look up, flinching at the blood.
A pained sound enters his ears, eyes going wide when he sees the look of fear and agony on Carlisle's face. He shakes his head, placing a hand on his cheek. "Not you. Not what you did. The blood," Alec tries his best to reassure.
The pained expression eases, but Carlisle nods, lifting Alec in his arms and carrying him in. The others look alarmed, but their father shakes his head before going up the stairs into his and Alec's shared room.
"I'm so sorry, darling," Carlisle whispers, and Alec hates the agony in his love's voice. "I didn't want you to find out this way."
"I know you kept me in the dark for a reason. And if you think this changes anything, no. I don't care what you are. I fell in love with you."
Alec leans forward, pressing his forehead against Carlisle's chest, breathing in his scent. It always serves to comfort and ground him, but soon he registers pain, and he lets out a whimper. That spurs Carlisle into action; he doesn't move his precious one, something Alec is grateful for, but he examines the wound and hisses, something that makes Alec look at him wearily.
"It's deep. I'll have to clean and dress it–..." A cold hand presses against Alec's forehead, making him let out a pleased hum, "You're getting a fever. Damn it."
"Carlisle?" Alice's voice calls from the doorway. "Get what you need to treat him. I'll stay with him until you come back." Something must have flashed in his eyes, because Alice gives him a placating smile. "I'll protect him. Go."
Cool lips press against Alec's forehead, and he sighs, nuzzling close to Carlisle. Strong, secure arms wrap around him for a brief moment before pulling away, and the loss of contact makes Alec let out a pained noise.
"Oh, darling. I'll be right back." Frigid fingers tangle themselves in his hair for a precious few seconds before Alec feels, rather than notices, Carlisle leaving. He whimpers, burying himself in the blankets, desperate to chase his beloved's scent, and Alice sits beside him, placing her own cold hand on his forehead.
"He won't leave you for long," Alice reassures. Alec feels himself start to shake, either from fever or something else, he isn't sure. But Alice lets out a sharp breath, darting out of the room, and the trembling increases tenfold.
Why does he feel so utterly alone?
"Carlisle!" Alice yells after her father, and Carlisle looks over his shoulder, a confused expression on his face. "You can't leave him. I'll go grab it; just tell me what you need."
If his heart still beat within his ribs, Carlisle knows it would have sped up at the tone Alice used. He tells her what he needs and runs back upstairs, to where Alec is buried under the blankets, shaking so violently it scares the shit out of him.
"Alec, shhh, sweetheart." Carlisle is quick to get in bed, tucking Alec close to his body, and the shuddering ceases a little. "I'm here, I'm right here."
Alec moans in pain, burying his face against Carlisle's neck and shoulder. He really, really doesn't like how hot his mate's body is. "I-I-..." Alec groans, moving closer, and not even air can get between them. "So alone…"
"I'm right here, darling," Carlisle whispers against Alec's hair, weaving his fingers through blond strands. "Right here."
Alec nods, eyes slipping shut before he falls asleep seconds later. That's concerning. Alec often fell asleep rather quickly when they were cuddling, but not that fast. Carlisle can hear his heart hammering loud and fast, something he doesn't particularly like. It's faster than normal, almost too fast.
Thankfully, Alice returns a few minutes later with everything he asked for. Knowing he won't be able to move, lest it send Alec into another state, he walks Alice through what she has to do. Alec doesn't so much as mumble or moan in pain, another thing that sounds alarm bells in Carlisle's mind.
The doctor in him tells him Alec should be reacting to the pain. However, the beast within demands him to get Alice away, he needs to take care of him. But centuries of self control make Carlisle able to hold it back, but a fierce possessiveness takes over once Alice finishes dressing and cleaning the wound.
She takes one look at him, a little smile on her face, before she walks out of the room and shuts the door behind her. Alec continues to doze, his breathing less labored and ragged than earlier, and that, at least, makes the doctor in Carlisle worry less.
The beast is furious and enraged. He should have protected him. He shouldn't have let his precious, beloved mate get injured in any way.
Alec saw him tear into the lynx. When he wakes up, he'll have no choice but to tell him what he, and his family, is.
I fell in love with you.
Carlisle hopes that still rings true.
Alec's dream is best described as a nightmare. He sees himself as an old man, and while he expected Carlisle to look the same, he still appears as young and dashing as he did the day they met. Then it shifts to his beloved standing over his grave with a lifeless look in those topaz eyes he loves so much, and still he looks young and beautiful.
Eyes snapping open, Alec gasps, feeling a familiar chill. He tilts his head back, and relief floods through his body when Carlisle smiles at him before capturing his lips at a bit of an awkward angle, but Alec returns it with fervor.
"You gave me quite the scare, sweetheart," Carlisle whispers when they break apart, and Alec blinks. "You've been asleep for over fourteen hours."
"Huh?! Oh god, I'm so sorry," Alec mumbles, turning in his love's arms and peppering his face with kisses. Carlisle chuckles, but Alec can hear the strain in it. He pecks his lips before moving away, placing a hand on Carlisle's cool skin. "What's wrong?"
"I have to tell you something, my love. And I should have told you sooner, but fear of losing you held me back," Carlisle murmurs, leaning their foreheads together. Alec keeps his hand on his beloved's cheek and he reaches for it, taking his hand within his, and they stay this way for a good few minutes until Carlisle takes a deep, ragged breath. "Have you heard the rumors of Cold Ones?"
"Yeah, briefly," Alec replies, blinking. Cold Ones. Carlisle and his family are always cold, never warming up no matter if the heat is on full blast. "Is that what you are?" A haunted look, a hesitant nod, and Alec rolls his eyes. "You could have told me before, you doofus. I told you, I fell in love with you. Doesn't matter if you drained every bit of blood out of me, the last words I'd tell you would be 'I love you'."
"Darling, Alec, no." Carlisle kisses him again, almost desperately, and Alec wraps his arms around his love's shoulders, pressing his beloved against the bed frame. Before it can get any more heated, any more passionate, Carlisle breaks the kiss with a shake of his head. "My family and I don't hunt humans, we feed from animals. I would let my head be torn from my shoulders before I ever harmed you."
It's Alec's turn to shake his head, pressing his forehead against Carlisle's shoulder. "I couldn't live without you. Don't talk of dying so easily."
"And I you, my beloved Alec. The day you cease to exist is the day I too shall fade."
Alec looks into topaz eyes before connecting their lips once more. And again, before it can become too inflamed, Carlisle breaks the contact. "Why won't you ever let us do more?" Alec questions, knowing his tone is borderline pleading.
"That's the one thing I don't know if I'd be able to control myself," Carlisle murmurs. "And remember what I told you."
Alec sighs, nuzzling his nose against Carlisle's throat, who holds him closer in reply. "Will we be able to once I'm like you?"
That gets a response. His love's body goes rigid, and Alec blinks, looking up. Carlisle lets out a breath, placing his lips against Alec's forehead in a soft, domestic kiss. "Yes. But I want you to enjoy your mortality for as long as you can."
"Do it before I get gray hairs, okay?" Alec jokes, and Carlisle actually laughs, making Alec grin.
"Of course, darling."
2 years later…
Alec has to admit Bella is an interesting character. She seems so much like him, a loner without any plans of getting attached to anyone. But, as Alec learnt about the Cullens, they draw people in and he watches as Bella and Edward become close, happiness brimming through him.
Edward was the last of them who was alone. Alec finds himself glad he found his forever, just as Alec did in Carlisle. And, being the only humans, Alec and Bella find themselves hanging around each other, and, for the first time, Alec can say he's found a friend in the teenage girl.
"How did you meet Carlisle?" Bella asks him as they're hanging out at the Cullen residence. "Have you been with him for a long time?"
"Three years," Alec replies with a smile. "And it's pretty dumb how we met, but I can't imagine life without him now. He was the missing piece my soul needed to be whole."
Bella smiles, reaching over to take Alec's hand. "I understand that feeling. I never thought I would love anyone as much as I do Edward."
"The Cullens are wicked bastards, aren't they?" Alec jokes, and Bella laughs.
"What does that make the ones who love the wicked bastards?"
Alec's cheeks flush as Carlisle sits beside him on the couch, pulling him close. Edward comes over a minute later, doing the same with Bella, and the humans look at each other and grin a little.
"It means you live up to your title of seducing innocent humans," Alec teases, and Carlisle rolls his eyes, fingers tangled in Alec's hair.
"Hardly."
Bella's phone rings, and she picks it up, chatting with someone; her father Alec realizes after hearing her speak to him. She hangs up, giving Edward an apologetic smile. "Dad wants me to come home since it's getting late."
Edward sighs, and Alec can see the pain of being without her. "Alright. I'll drop you off and see you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Bella swears, kissing him. Alec respectfully looks away, giving them privacy even though they're sitting right across from each other.
He couldn't imagine if he had to live in a separate home from Carlisle.
"I don't think you two would survive if you had to separate," Edward remarks, and Alec blinks, forgetting Edward could read his mind. "Your bond is one of the strongest I've ever seen, even though you're not officially mated yet."
Alec's cheeks burn as Carlisle chuckles, kissing his hair. "He's right. I lived without you for centuries; I'm not about to let you go anywhere else but my arms."
"G-God, Carlisle, that's so cheesy," Alec complains, hiding his face in his beloved's shoulder. Bella giggles and he dares a look at her. "Don't laugh, you."
"Haha, I'm sorry, you two are just so cute together," Bella says, a little smile on her face, and Alec lets out a groan of embarrassment. "Okay, I get it, stopping now."
"Let's get you home before you kill Carlisle's mate of embarrassment," Edward jests, and Alec throws a pillow at him. He laughs and Alec can hear him and Bella walk out of the room and the shut of the door behind them.
"Are they gone?" Alec gripes.
"Yes, my dove," Carlisle teases, and Alec looks up, poking his forehead. "I'm sorry, but seeing you flush like that really is the cutest thing I've ever seen."
"Not you too," the mortal complains.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything else besides this."
Carlisle tips Alec's face towards him, and each time they kiss, Alec swears fireworks erupt in the pit of his stomach and if it was possible, his heart would explode with love for this precious, incredible man he has the honor to call his.
Air, at least for Alec, becomes an issue, forcing him to break the contact with an annoyed huff. Carlisle looks confused, head tipped to the side in a way Alec finds way too adorable, and he explains, "I'll be glad when I don't need to breathe."
He doesn't expect his mate to chuckle before it erupts into laughter. Alec moans in embarrassment, smacking a pillow at his beloved as he grumbles about 'idiot vampires', which makes Carlisle pin him to the couch with a smirk. "Idiot vampires, hm?"
"Uh–" is the only sound which leaves Alec's lips before Carlisle digs his fingers into his sides. "Ah, haha, no, no, I'm sorry, hahaha!"
A pleased hum leaves Carlisle as he stops his assault, lifting Alec into his lap and resting their heads together. Alec lets out his own content noise, nuzzling close to his love, and they sit in silence for a good while until the mortal yawns. "Alright, bedtime for you."
"I can stay up–... I mean, yeah, I'm getting tired," Alec mutters at the look his mate sends him. "I'll also be glad when I don't need to sleep either," he grouses.
Shaking his head, a bemused expression on his face, Carlisle lifts Alec in his arms and carries him to their room. Opening the door and kicking it shut, the vampire gets them settled on the bed, a soft smile on his face when Alec curls closer to him and yawns again. "Rest now, darling," Carlisle whispers against Alec's ear, smirking a little at the shudder it wins.
Alec wants to resist; he truly does, but vampire hypnosis is a powerful thing, and he falls asleep within seconds.
The sound of Alec's heart beating within his chest and the soft breaths he emits while he slumbers makes Carlisle settle against the headboard, keeping his arms tightly wound and secure around his precious, beloved Alec. He can't help but feel something is about to happen, something that will shake their worlds forever, and Carlisle can't say he particularly enjoys the feeling.
He'll have to ask Alice about it later. But for now, holding his dozing partner is the only thing on his mind.
You have to play baseball in a thunderstorm?
That was the first thought which entered Alec's mind when Carlisle told him such a thing. He arched an eyebrow, inquiring why they couldn't play it in regular weather, but his mate gave him a smirk and pecked his forehead, telling him it was a surprise.
Alec didn't really enjoy surprises, but when it came to Carlisle, well, he found he enjoyed them a tiny bit more.
Not much. Just a little, which is a fact he constantly reminded him of.
They were going to take a car, but Alec admitted, with a little blush, he loved when Carlisle carried him. And, well, the blond vampire was never one to deny his love of anything, so he did what he asked, and eventually Edward and Bella joined them.
As they play the game, Alec could understand why they need the cover of a thunderstorm. They're loud, he thinks to himself, rolling his eyes when Edward snickers at the thought. But when Carlisle gets a home run, Alec can't help but jump in his arms, kissing him and exclaiming, "Good job, baby!"
Carlisle laughed against his lips, kissing him again before setting him on the ground. But Alice goes still all of a sudden, and she yells, "Stop!"
Alec doesn't understand what's going on, but he notices the way Edward wraps his arm around Bella, keeping him close to her. He doesn't miss the low growl Carlisle emits, tucking Alec against his side, but soon he understands what's going on.
Three vampires approach them and the first thing Alec notices about them is their red eyes. They feed off humans. Fear pulses through his blood, and his body trembles just slightly, but in reply, Carlisle tightens his grip on him.
"I believe this is yours," the dark skinned vampire says in lieu of a greeting, tossing the ball. Carlisle catches it with his free hand, leveling a look at him.
"Thank you."
Alec tries to appear strong, so they won't think he's mortal, but as the vampires introduce themselves – Laurent, Victoria, and James – he can't deny the abject terror of them finding out about his mortality and attacking.
A violent thought rips through his mind of his beloved's head being ripped from his shoulders and he lets out a low, pained sound. James looks at him, eyebrow cocked, but says nothing to the noise.
Alec drowns out the conversation – the only part he hears is Carlisle introducing himself and his family, and Alec feels his heart swell when he realizes he's included in it. But a gust of wind blows his hair, and James turns, teeth bared.
"You brought a snack."
Alec gasps when he's thrown behind Carlisle and his mate lets out a noise he never heard before. "He's with me," his beloved says. "I would suggest leaving. Now."
"I can see the game is over," Laurent tries to placate. "We'll go now."
James stares at Alec, then Bella, smirking before walking away with his mate and Laurent. The Cullens and humans look amongst each other before Edward speaks up.
"I read James' mind. Alec and Bella just became his most exciting game ever."
Alec shudders. Game? But he lets out a noise when Carlisle lifts him in his arms, and he can't help but curl closer to him. "What's going to happen?" he asks in a weak voice, hating how it sounds.
"I won't let him hurt you," Carlisle snarls. "As much as I hate the thought of killing another creature, I can't let anything happen to you. I won't."
"I'll take Alec and Bella away from here," Alice says, giving a grim smile at the looks the two give her. "They'll expect you to protect your mates. Emmett and Jasper can help you lead him away."
Alec notices Jasper's look at leaving Alice to protect them alone, but he nods after a minute. "Our kind can be killed. It's hard, but possible."
"Rip him to pieces and burn the body," Emmett says with a grin. "That's what he gets for threatening our family."
Alec looks up into his mate's eyes, seeing them dark, angry onyx over warm topaz. He taps his cheek, and Carlisle looks at him. He leans forward, kissing him, the only way he knows how to reassure his beloved.
"I'll be okay. I promise."
I was a fool, is the only thought repeating in Carlisle's mind like a mantra as they begin the plan of leading James away. He lets his son have a moment with his mate before he approaches, and Alec's hand immediately reaches for his, gripping it to the point that if Carlisle was human, there would be bruises.
"If anything happens to you–" Alec's voice breaks. "I can't live without you, Carlisle. I can't. I fucking can't."
"Nothing will happen to me, darling," Carlisle reassures, squeezing Alec's hand in return. "From the moment we met, you became my world, the person I promised to protect forever. And I swear to you I will come back to you." A soft smile rests on Carlisle's face as he traces Alec's cheek with his fingers. "I cannot live without you either."
Alec bites his lip, tears dripping down his cheeks. Without another word, he bolts out of the car and slams into Carlisle, holding onto him so tight like he's afraid this is the last time they'll ever hold one another. Carlisle breathes in his scent, gripping him for a precious few seconds before breaking the contact.
He kisses him a final time, breathing against his lips, "Go."
Alec nods, getting in the car, and Alice speeds off. The pain of being separated rips through Carlisle's entire body and soul, but he steels himself, focusing on the task at hand.
James will die.
It's Alec's first time being in Phoenix, and he can't say he particularly enjoys the heat. They end up at some kind of hotel, where Alice has another premonition; a ballet studio Bella recognizes as one she went to when she was younger.
Alec steps out as they talk, the sun warming his skin. Hearing a scream nearby, Alec runs towards it, eyes widening when he sees James feeding on a human who's very much dead.
The tracker looks up, smirking. "Always wanting to help others. Stupid, silly Alec. That will be your downfall."
A hand wraps around his neck, and Alec's world goes black. When he comes to, he's in the same ballet studio Alice saw in her vision, making him quiver. So, this is it, then. Figured my knack for danger would get me killed sooner or later.
James shoves his head against a wall, making Alec let out a pained hiss and his vision spin dangerously. The tracker throws him to the floor, slamming his foot into his ribs, making Alec let out a scream of pain.
"Delicious," James sneers. He grabs Alec's phone and dials a number. "Talk."
"Alec? Alec, where are you?" Bella's voice comes through the speaker. "You have to come back, now."
"B-Bella–" Alec screams when James presses his foot harder against his already broken ribs. "D-Don't come here!"
"Alec?! What's wrong, where are you?!" That's Alice's voice, and she sounds so damn fearful Alec wants to reassure her, but he can't as James takes the phone from him.
He laughs, "Choose. Either give me Bella, or your poor little Alec dies."
This time James pulls on Alec's arm, making him let out another agonizing scream. "Better do it quickly; I'm not sure how much longer I can play with him until I get bored."
James throws Alec's phone to the floor, smirking at the sweat starting to build on the human's body. He breaks a mirror, taking a piece of the glass and tearing it into his other arm. Alec can't do nothing but whimper, his body becoming overloaded with pain.
The last thing he hears before he passes out is James' sadistic laughter.
When they realized they only distracted James for a few moments, the raw terror Carlisle felt in his very core would have made him cry if he was able to. Instead, he grips the steering wheel so hard the rubber rips from underneath his clenched fingers, and his sons can do nothing as he breaks every traffic law to get to his mate and the rest of their family.
Edward's phone rings after a minute, and he picks up, immediately asking, "Is Bella okay?" However, his expression soon turns grim and terrified as he gives Carlisle a sideways glance. "Alright. Stay put." He hangs up, and Carlisle can immediately tell it's bad. "James got Alec. He told Alice to either give him Bella or he dies."
It doesn't register at first. But once it does, the windows shatter as Carlisle roars, almost dislodging the steering wheel but managing to control himself, just barely. He looks at Edward, eyes pure onyx, telling him, "Take the wheel."
That's all the warning his son gets before Carlisle breaks the car door, bolting out of the car. He barely hears his sons call for him, but Jasper and Emmett appear beside him a few moments later, grim looks on their faces.
Carlisle doesn't need to read minds like Edward does; he knows what his children are thinking. We won't let him die.
It takes them mere minutes to reach the ballet studio, and the first thing Carlisle smells is Alec's blood. It makes him snarl as he breaks through a window, seeing James hovering over his beloved mate with a sneer on his lips.
Anger.
Rage.
Agony.
Fury.
That's all Carlisle feels as he attacks James, using the element of surprise to get the upper hand. The battle lasts mere seconds; he never used all of his power before, but all his despair and pure, unadulterated rage makes it so he's unable to control himself. But a pained noise from Alec and his children's arrival makes Carlisle quick to rush to his side, smoothing back blood soaked hair.
"Alec, my darling, I'm right here," Carlisle whispers, growling at the extent of Alec's injuries. He hears his children tear James apart and burn his body, but his focus is on none other than his beloved. "I'm right here," he repeats, the doctor in him winning over the beast which screams kill, kill, kill.
Alec's ribs are shattered, his shoulder is dislocated, and the wound from the glass shard is deep. With an angry snarl, Carlisle realizes he won't be able to help him by himself – he'll need the help of a hospital. With that decree in his core, he lifts Alec in his arms, nodding at his children who do the same back.
I won't ever fail you again.
The first thing Alec registers is pain when he opens his eyes. He's lying in a rather uncomfortable bed, and the sounds of beeping echoes in his ears. The last, and most important, thing he notices is a cool hand gripping onto his fingers.
His eyes look over, barely managing a smile at his mate, who looks agonized and fearful. "C-Carlisle…"
"Alec. Oh, my beloved Alec," Carlisle whispers, voice broken, as he leans over him, dusting his knuckles over Alec's forehead. It makes everything feel okay in his world, even though the pain he's in is excruciating. "You're alright. Everything's okay now."
"B-Bella?" he manages to croak.
"She's alright. Edward is with her." A ragged breath leaves Carlisle as he brushes away Alec's hair from his face. "I thought-..." his voice breaks, "I thought I lost you."
"N-Never," Alec rasps. "I knew… I knew you would come."
"Your faith in me is misplaced," Carlisle starts to say, but Alec shakes his head.
"I-I love you," is his simple answer, and Carlisle's face breaks for a brief few seconds before he kisses Alec's forehead.
"I love you too, my darling. More than you can possibly imagine."
The nurse comes in to check his vitals, and Alec lets her, or, should he say, Carlisle lets her. He keeps a tight grip on his mate's hand as she checks him over, and once she's done, he reaches up, his good arm wrapping around Carlisle's shoulder.
"I love you," he whispers, stronger this time.
Carlisle leans their foreheads together, a tight, but loving smile on his face.
"And I you."
Alec finds himself grateful this ordeal is over, and waves away Bella's apologies when she comes in, sobbing and saying she could have never forgiven herself if he truly died. Edward reassures her as best he can, and even Carlisle comforts her, telling Edward's mate it didn't come to that, and they should be grateful.
They overcame this trial, and Alec hopes with all his heart there won't be another one.
TBC...