A/N: As always, you can find the full chapter on AO3. ;3

Blood Bound
Chapter V :: Beginning

His entire body felt like liquid fire. Alec wasn't sure how long he was unconscious with fire and ice burning through his blood, but the first thing he saw when he came to was his mate, gripping tightly onto his hand with a haunted look in onyx eyes.

Alec sits up, faster than he expects, and looks around the room. Everything was so much clearer than when he was human; he could see every speck of dust and the fibres of the carpet. It was a bit weird if he was being honest with himself.

Guess that's something I'll have to get used to.

Another thing Alec notices is how it feels like another soul is tied together with his. He can feel every emotion this soul possesses; the fear, the longing, the absolute love it has for him. Finally locking eyes with Carlisle, Alec realizes it belongs to him. Their bond is finally equal on both ends, and Alec doesn't know how he went without feeling this tethered to his mate for all the years they've been together.

"Hi," Alec murmurs, using his newfound speed to sit on Carlisle's lap. His lips find his beloved's and he weaves his arms around Carlisle's shoulders, particularly enjoying the fact that he can kiss his mate without the need for oxygen.

The newborn can feel Carlisle's relief and it makes him purr in content. Yes, he wants his mate to feel like this all the time. Relieved, happy, content, utterly in love with him. But after a few minutes of breathless kissing, Carlisle breaks the contact with a soft, loving smile.

"Remember you're a lot stronger than me right now, my darling," he whispers against Alec's lips, holding him in place when Alec jolts. "You won't hurt me. Just a reminder."

"Stronger than you, huh? Does that mean I can have my wicked ways with you?" Alec questions, smirking. A ragged breath leaves Carlisle at those words and the smaller vampire finds himself surprised when he's thrown on the bed, his mate hovering over him with desire burning in onyx eyes.

"You need to hunt first, rascal," his mate murmurs and those words ignite an entirely new fire in Alec's core. His throat burns and his breath is choppy as he struggles to get air. "Shh, shh, it's alright, my love. Just come with me."

Carlisle pulls Alec up and together they run through the forest until they come across a lynx. Seeing the creature reminds Alec of how he found out about Carlisle and his world, and it makes a strange feeling pass through his stomach. But he grabs the animal and drinks from it, then a couple deer, and the parched feeling finally lets up.

A grin rests on Alec's face once he's full and Carlisle looks confused for a brief second before Alec shoves him against a tree, devouring his lips. A low, possessive growl drips from his mate as he spins them around until Alec's flush against it, and if the newborn thought Carlisle kissed him before, it was nothing compared to the fierce way he devoured him now.

Wrapping a hand around the back of his head, Carlisle continues to have his way with Alec's mouth and it makes Alec's own growl slip from his lips, the sound thoroughly silenced by their connected mouths. He isn't sure how long they kiss with air no longer being an issue; all Alec knows is when Carlisle breaks the contact, his eyes are black with lust, but also soft with love for the man before him.

"Careful, darling, or we may not make it home," Carlisle snarls, and Alec growls back, connecting his lips to his mate's throat and sucking on the skin. Carlisle hisses and his hands find Alec's shoulders, grasping onto him like branding irons. The only way to leave a bruise on a vampire's flesh is for it to be caused by another's venom, so Alec finds himself pleased when a hefty one is left behind.

"There, I'd like to see anyone try and take you from me now," Alec hums, satisfied with his handiwork. He doesn't expect to be shoved into the tree again, and it cracks with the force of the impact, but a soft snarl leaves his throat when Carlisle finds his neck and bites on his flesh, leaving his own mark on him.

"You truly are a devil," his mate whispers, placing his hands on either side of Alec's head. Alec smirks, running his fingers across Carlisle's chest, loving the quiet hiss it wins. "As much as I wouldn't want to consummate the bond in a forest, if you keep this up, I may have no choice."

"Wouldn't want to give some poor hikers a show, eh?" Alec says cheekily, and Carlisle growls, eyes flashing. "Thought not."

"No one can see your beauty but me," Carlisle snarls, and Alec purrs at the tone, sliding his hands across his mate's body until it reaches his shoulders. He pulls him down for another kiss, letting Carlisle take control of it as he knows he's the submissive one and at his mercy. His mate lets out a possessive sound at Alec's realization of their status and the tree breaks in half when Carlisle slams Alec into it.

The kiss seems to last forever, and Carlisle is always the one to break it, as Alec would much prefer to kiss him for hours without stopping. A soft nuzzle against his shoulder and a hushed whisper of, "We should return," makes Alec nod, and together they find their way back, with the Cullens and Bella looking amused when they walk through the door.

"Guess you guys didn't actually have sex in the forest, huh?" Bella jests, and Alec's glad he can't blush, otherwise his face would have gone bright red. Carlisle coughs, sounding mildly embarrassed, and the rest of the Cullens groan at the human's words. "What? You were all thinking about it."

"Doesn't mean we want to picture it," Emmett mutters, the Cullens making noises of affirmation. "But we should all really go somewhere else for a while."

"Why?" Bella looks confused. Edward sighs, whispering something to his mate, and she goes bright red. "O-Oh. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense."

Alec narrows his eyes, mildly annoyed, but a soft nibble to his ear calms his nerves. "I would suggest you all go now."

They don't need any further persuasion. A few minutes later, the house is empty save for Alec and Carlisle, and Alec growls, shoving his mate into the wall. He captures his lips once more, loving the soft, possessive noise Carlisle emits. He's quick to turn the tables and turn them until Alec's against the wall, his tongue shoving its way into his mouth and mapping out every corner and crevice.

Ten minutes go by before Carlisle pulls back, gripping Alec's arm and dragging him into the bedroom. He throws him onto the bed and follows him in seconds, rocking his hips against his mate's and snarls at Alec's own submissive noise.

"Mine," Carlisle growls, and Alec throws his arms around Carlisle's neck, thrusting his hips up just when his mate presses down, grinning at the ragged breath it wins.

"Yours," Alec whispers against Carlisle's lips, pulling him down so their bodies are pressed together. Their lips find each other once more, and Alec lets out a low sound as his mate shreds his clothes; there's definitely no saving them.

A growl slips from between Alec's teeth as he realizes Carlisle still has his clothes on, his hands finding his shoulders and slipping his jacket off. Alec finds himself a bit surprised he has more self control as to not rip Carlisle's clothes off, but he chalks it up to a mystery that'll be solved another day.

Getting the hint, Carlisle makes quick work of the rest of his clothes, finding Alec's lips once again once they're both bare. Alec snarls as his hands run across hard planes of muscle – every bit of this man belongs to him and it makes a possessive sound drip from his throat. No one can have Carlisle but him.

"I'll say it again; you truly are a devil," Carlisle whispers against Alec's lips, grinding their pelvises together. Alec groans at the contact, burying his face within his mate's shoulder. "But what does that make the man who's seduced by said devil?"

"An idiot," Alec murmurs, teeth finding Carlisle's shoulder and biting it. His beloved hisses as Alec marks him with fangs and venom, and once he's done, Alec pulls back with a satisfied smirk. "But I guess the devil is even stupider for falling in love with him."

A soft chuckle leaves Carlisle at those words, his own fangs finding the other side of Alec's neck and leaving yet another love bite on the side he didn't mark earlier. "Yes, I suppose you have a point there."

Alec thrusts his hips up just as Carlisle thrusts down, making twin moans slip from the mates. Weaving his arms around his beloved's shoulders, Alec pulls him down so his lips are plush against Carlisle's ear, whispering, "Fuck me."

The two days Alec was screaming and writhing in pain were the worst ones in all of Carlisle's existence. But being joined with him, having their bond settle and feeling every ounce of love Alec has for him almost makes those two days of hell worth it.

Carlisle never wants his mate to suffer, but feeling Alec's soul tie together with his makes him selfish in that he's beyond relieved at feeling their connection settle and ease into what it was always meant to be. And now that Carlisle can feel Alec in every way possible, he never wants to be without it – it would kill him all over again.

He isn't sure how many days go by with them reconnecting in the most profound way, but when they're finally sated and settled, Alec nuzzles his nose against Carlisle's shoulder, a pleased hum dripping from his lips.

"That was something else," his little rascal says cheekily, making Carlisle snort and roll his eyes. "I could get used to it."

A bemused sigh slips from Carlisle as he buries his nose in Alec's hair, breathing in his unique scent. It carries bits of his own as well, making a soft, possessive growl slip from Carlisle's throat. "You really are a rascal, you know that?" he teases, weaving his arms around Alec and holding him close.

"You love me that way," Alec jests, leaning up to capture his mate's lips. The kiss lasts for a good while before Carlisle pulls away with an amused smile. "Admit it."

"I love you no matter who you are, even if you're rather hard on the head at times," Carlisle murmurs against Alec's lips, chasing them once more. Breaking the contact after a few minutes, he dusts his knuckles across Alec's forehead, almost missing the warmth of his skin, but there's something quite sexy about his mate being unbreakable and strong. "But could you at least attempt to not give me a heart attack?"

"Maybe," Alec remarks with a grin. Carlisle rolls his eyes, shoving him against the headboard, the wood cracking at the pressure. "Oh, you wanna go again, do you, big guy?"

"Hardly. You've worn me out for the next few decades."

Alec laughs, pulling Carlisle down so he's on top of him. He cuddles close to him, letting out a happy hum. "Guess that's old age creeping up on you, huh?"

Carlisle lets out a playful snarl, rocking their hips together, making Alec let out a gasp. "Old age, hm?"

"I stand corrected," Alec replies with a chuckle. "Anyway, isn't Bella and Edward's wedding soon? I lost track of time… hopefully we didn't miss it."

Casting his eyes to look at the calendar, Carlisle shakes his head. "It's tomorrow."

"Oh wow, we almost did miss it."

Rolling them so Alec's on top of him, Carlisle nuzzles his shoulder. "I suppose we can consider ourselves lucky we didn't."

"Wait a sec," Alec blinks. "...Do we even have proper clothes for the wedding? Gah, I've never even gone to one before, how am I supposed to dress–"

Carlisle silences his mate's ramblings with a kiss, pulling back once he feels Alec calm. "Relax, my darling. Alice has everything under control."

"How–... oh, right." Alec laughs, tucking his head under Carlisle's chin and purring. "Guess we should get out of bed now, huh?"

Letting out a mischievous sigh, Carlisle says, "We should. But does that mean I'm going to let you out? Doubtful."

"C'mon, baby, the wedding's tomorrow. Once that's over, we can jump into bed and you can have your way with me for the next year if you want," Alec says, laughing when Carlisle growls in approval. "Figured you'd like that. Up and at 'em!"

Snorting, Carlisle pulls Alec out of bed, kissing his neck. "I'll hold you to that."

"Good, you better."

The wedding is every bit beautiful as Alec thought it would be. And, once it's over and the newlyweds are off to their honeymoon, he finds himself in Carlisle's arms on the couch, soft purrs slipping from his mate as he gently nuzzles him. Alec's inner beast lets out its own content purrs as he realizes their mate is marking him as his, but a noise by the door makes Carlisle's head snap up.

Alec grins when he realizes it's Raven. "Hey there," he greets his oldest friend, and Raven grins back, leaning against the doorframe. "Haven't seen you in a while, where've you been?"

"Oh, you know. Hunting," Raven replies. Alec winces when he realizes Raven hunts humans over animals, making his friend sigh. "I went far away from here. Part of me wishes I could be as strong as your mate and his family, but I'm afraid that's impossible for me."

"I'm not asking you to change," Alec reassures, feeling Carlisle send soothing emotions through the bond, making him melt in his mate's arms. "It's just… hard."

"I know, starshine," Raven whispers, and everything is quiet for a few minutes before the black haired vampire smirks. "You guys really went at it for a week, huh?"

Alec laughs when his mate coughs in embarrassment. "It was the best sex of my life, I'll tell you that."

"Please don't give him details," Carlisle complains, and Alec chuckles, nuzzling his nose against his mate's shoulder.

"Don't worry, babe, that's only between us. Besides, I don't want to give Ray even more fuel to antagonize you," Alec jokes, making Carlisle groan and hide his face against his neck. "Alright, alright, I get it, stopping now."

Raven bursts out laughing. "As much as I love you, starshine, I really don't want details of your sex life."

"Noted."

Two weeks go by before their worlds flip upside down. Alice sees something – what, exactly, Alec doesn't know, but it's enough to send her into a tizzy and call Bella. Feeling the air shift, Alec nuzzles his mate as he takes the call, hearing Bella say she thinks she's pregnant.

Pregnant.

A violent wave of memories wash over Alec, and by the time he's front and center, he feels physically and emotionally sick. He doesn't register Carlisle's hands on his shoulders nor the heavy tone of worry and concern his voice carries for him. All Alec knows is he needs to get out, and do so before Bella gets back.

He can feel the fear in the bond, and Alec gives the best smile he can muster, pecking Carlisle's lips for a brief few seconds before he looks out the window.

"I–... I have to get out of here."

"Alec?"

He hates the lisps of agony in Carlisle's voice, and he places his hands on his cheeks, taking in a ragged breath. "I can't. I can't stay."

"Why? What did you remember?"

Alec doesn't miss the tight grip on his shoulders, the anxiety and panic in his mate's eyes, and Alec wishes he could kiss it away. But he can't. He needs–... he needs to leave.

"I just– let me go, Carlisle. Please."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

Alec growls, feeling the shock through the bond at the sound. "Let. Me. Go."

"Alec–"

Before any other words can be said, Alec uses his strength to break out of Carlisle's hold and rush out the door, bolting through the forest so fast he knows an older vampire wouldn't be able to keep up with him.

He can't do this. He can't watch Bella go through the same thing Aria did and die a painful, horrendous death.

Maybe vampires really are monsters, after all.

Two weeks. Two weeks without Alec, and it's been absolute hell.

Carlisle knew not to chase after him when he left, even though his beast screamed at him to do so. Alec remembered something, something horrible, and it spooked him enough he had to leave. And while Carlisle wishes he could go after him, Bella needs him, so he stays, the doctor in him winning over everything else.

The bond is still there, so Carlisle can feel the agony and despair Alec does, wherever he is. He also feels like his throat is parched, so he knows his mate is going without drinking, and for newborns, they can't last nearly as long as older vampires without sustenance.

Please, my darling, don't starve yourself. If you do-... A pained whimper, I don't know how I'll survive without you.

Carlisle's entire self already feels hollow and empty without Alec by his side, and that's knowing he's alive out there somewhere. If the bond ever snapped, if it ever told him Alec no longer existed, Carlisle doesn't want to think about what he would do.

He went centuries without his mate. Thinking of spending the rest of eternity without him makes him feel sick and void. There's no life without Alec; Carlisle knows this as truth.

Bella's condition worsens as the pregnancy goes on, and he eventually tells her what he told his son – she won't be able to carry to term. Carlisle can see how hard it is on Edward, to see his mate dying before him and not being able to do a damn thing about it, and it makes him miss Alec that much more fiercely.

It would be a lot easier to deal with this if Alec was beside him, offering him strength and courage.

Everyone can see how hard dealing with Bella's failing body and being without his mate is on Carlisle and they try to offer him respite whenever they can, but he waves away their concern with a tight smile. This is what he's meant to do, helping others, even at the cost of his own peace of mind, and tells them not to worry about him.

It doesn't help he hasn't hunted for weeks and he keeps feeling Alec's thirst get worse and worse. But everything changes when Carlisle starts to feel Alec's body wane from starvation, and it makes a painful howl drip from between clenched teeth.

Alec is dying, and there's not a fucking thing he can do about it.

Eventually, he has to hunt, to be as strong as he can for Bella when she delivers, although he knows he won't be his best, feeling Alec's starvation and failing body. But once Bella has the child, Carlisle knows he'll be leaving, to try and find Alec and save him from his own starvation.

He knows his family will understand when he leaves. Alec's become his life, his very reason for existing, and he won't let him think he's a monster who deserves to die. When that thought crosses Carlisle's mind, it makes a tortuous whine leave his throat. God, does Alec truly think such a thing…?

While he and Emmett hunt, he gets a call from Alice telling him Bella's starting to deliver. He gives her the best advice he can, telling her he'll be there as soon as he's able, but he knows he won't make it in time. He has to trust his children that they'll be able to help Bella have the child.

When he returns, the fight has already started with the werewolves. He's barely able to focus for a reason he isn't able to decipher, but once they realize Jacob imprinted and the child can't be harmed, Carlisle grips his chest, breathing ragged.

"What's wrong?" He isn't sure who said it, but suddenly someone falls down the mountain, and Carlisle lets out an agonizing roar once he realizes who it is.

Alec.

He rushes to his side, feeling the bond start to fray at the seams. No. No. No. Alec can't-... he can't be dead. Not now. Not now!

"Get some blood from inside, now!" Carlisle screams at no-one in particular, pulling Alec close to him. His head lolls to the side, body far too cold even by vampire standards, and Carlisle presses their foreheads together. "Alec, my love, please, please don't die. I can't live without you. Come back to me, I'm begging you…"

A soft noise leaves Alec's lips; if Carlisle wasn't a vampire, he wouldn't be picked up on it. Red eyes open slowly, a garbled noise leaving his mate's throat, and he gasps for air. "C-Carlisle…"

"Alec, sweetheart, I'm right here." They're taking too long getting the blood. Why are they taking so long?

"I-I'm… sorry…"

"Shh, shh, don't apologize. You've done nothing wrong. But you need to live. Can you do that, baby? Can you live for me?"

Alec's eyes roll back in his head before they focus, garbled gasps the only reply Carlisle gets. Someone's beside him a minute later with blood, and Carlisle places it against Alec's lips, seeing him resist before his raw instincts kick in and he chokes it down within seconds. Feeling the bond settle, feeling Alec come back to life, makes Carlisle sob as he buries his nose in Alec's hair, breathing him in.

"God, I thought–..." I thought I was going to lose you when our lives together were just starting. He can't bring himself to say the words, so instead captures Alec's lips in a soft, gentle kiss, feeling Alec let out weak purrs as he kisses him back.

Carlisle feels Raven's presence, and it makes his inner beast roar in fury. Stay away, stay away, he's mine, mine to protect. Get away from him.

"You remembered Aria, didn't you?" Raven asks, voice hard. Alec nods, and Carlisle narrows his eyes.

"Aria?"

"She was part of our group growing up. She fell in love with a vampire and he impregnated her, and all we could do is watch as her body failed and she was ripped apart giving birth," Raven murmurs. "I'm sorry I didn't come after you, starshine. I should have. But I knew your mate needed someone to keep tabs on him, so that's why I stayed behind."

"It–" A gasp. "It's okay. I'm glad… I'm glad you kept him safe."

"You need more blood if you're going to survive," Raven says softly, looking at Carlisle. "I'll hunt some animals and bring them back for you, if that's okay with your mate?"

Carlisle nods. "Thank you, Raven."

"It's fine. I'll be back."

With those words said, Raven bolts into the forest, and Carlisle lets out a shuddering breath, aligning his forehead with Alec's and letting everything his mate feels wash over him.

Fear.

Longing.

Despair.

Agony.

Loss.

"I thought I was the same monster who killed Aria. That's why–..." Alec's voice cracks. "That's why I starved myself. I thought I didn't deserve a future."

"Oh, my darling," Carlisle whispers, dusting his fingers across Alec's cheeks. "I should have stopped you. If you perished, I would have followed. I can't be without you, without this connection."

Alec gives a weak smile, nuzzling his forehead against Carlisle's shoulder. "It was hell, feeling your sorrow, but I thought I was doing us both a favor by staying away. I know better now." He gives a weak, tired smile. "Besides, Bella will be okay, I can feel it."

Carlisle holds Alec close, nuzzling his mate to soothe him. Alec purrs and the sound is still weaker than what Carlisle would like, but the fact his mate is here, alive, and won't ever leave him again makes his own beast purr.

Raven returns some time later with a few deer, a couple lynxes, and a bear, and Carlisle watches as Alec drinks from each one of them, feeling the connection become stronger and stronger with each animal he drinks from. And then, finally, he feels Alec's strength back to where it should be, and he throws him against the ground, capturing his lips in a possessive kiss.

Alec is right where he should be, with him.

TBC...