If there was ever a day that felt longer then any other in Alessia Cullens immortal life then it was that day...

Despite all the problems she had already gone through with her somewhat of a mate she now has to yet again deal with the vampire problem, only, it didn't seem to be the same pest as before. In fact, this one could possibly be more of a problem then any of the ones her family currently had... well either that or her brother was being his usual dramatic self.

The Cullens all sat around the main living room, Alessia sitting on the arm of the couch occupying Emmett and Rosalie, her fingers played with stands of light hair as she impatiently waited for her brother to stop going all spastic and explain just exactly what was happening so they could plan.

"Who was it?" Emmett spoke up first, leaning back in his seat to show how bored he was getting. Alessia didn't blame him, vampires tended not to be the most patient, ironic considering they could wait an eternity.

"Someone we know?" Carlisle offered, his voice calm as ever despite the situation.

"Just a stranger." Edward responded coldly, his voice distant as he was too lost in his own thoughts despite his tight grasp on the only human in the house. "I didn't recognize his scent. "

"A nomad passing through?" Esme offered up a solution.

"A passer-by wouldn't have left Bella's father alive." Alessia corrected her surrogate mother, sighing heavily as she too racked her brain for an explanation. The day had been going terrible already and since informing her brother of Bella's arrival home she had planned to go hunting or find a distraction to her flaming anger.

"His scent disappeared about five miles south of Bella's house." Jasper informed them all of what he'd come up with

"Someone's orchestrating this." Carlisle crossed his arms, his words laced with worry.

"Victoria?" Bella chose the obvious answer as the red headed women was the only one they knew that had this much of a vengeance against the human and coven.

Alice shook her head immediately, "I would've seen her deciding."

"It has to be the Volturi." Edward shot out, voice bitter as he spoke of their royalty. His sister rolled her lips into her mouth, his anger towards the grand coven rivaled her own. They were capable of something like this she had no doubt.

"I don't think it's the Volturi either. I've been watching Aro's decisions, too." And as Alice spoke the strawberry blonde noticed the despair in her tone. Alice was good at knowing things, hell it was her gift and the unknown was clearly terrifying the girl, like them all.

"So we keep looking. We also take shifts, guarding Bella at her house." Edward's curt words were not a option, a command to his entire family. Alessia glancing around knowing that his words would not be taken at all well from all Cullens.

Like clockwork Rosalie was the only one to speak, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Another protection detail?"

And this time Alessia didn't interrupt her because it was true, she loved Bella like a sister and would do anything to keep her brother happy but they'd already done so much. The family was stretching themselves thin trying to keep one girl alive when it would be so much easier to turn her, she thought, if only Edward would get out of his own ass and see the light.

Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for her brothers ticking time bomb of an expression to go off in one angry rant.

"Rosalie." Her name came out in one angry breath from Edwards mouth, clearly ready to argue. His eyes flickering to his twin sisters for support, but instead he only found an emotionless face as Alessia waited to be brought into the conversation and weighed her options. Truth be told she wouldn't be doing this for any other human, in fact she might even have killed them for causing this much trouble and she knew Edward would have probably done it as well, but because this was Bella, his Bella, it didn't matter. She could see in her brother eyes he would starve himself into insanity if it meant keeping Bella alive, which she found both beyond idiocy and intriguing.

"No, she's right." Bella broke the tension. "You can't protect me, watch my dad... and search for the intruder."

"And for Victoria." Rosalie continued to add onto the ever growing list.

"And keep yourselves fed." Bella finished off, leaving them all with their own thoughts on the matter because much as the Cullens wanted to help, Rosalie had a point and Bella knew it as well.

"I'm not leaving you here defenseless." Edward clarified, his tone straightforward and stubborn.

Bella's was much softer, a clear approach to getting him to see reason which Alessia had to admit was a useful tactic. "Well, I'm not gonna let you starve. And I wouldn't be unprotected, I have..."

"What?" Edward asked with a raised brow, as his girlfriends lips pursed and eyes raised.

Bella didn't stop to glance around the room before answering however, her eyes locked with the only person who could allow her to finish the sentence. Eyes softening as if to ask permission she stared back at her best friend, her boyfriends sister, and silently questioned whether her train of thought would be allowed.

Alessia didn't need words to figure out Bella, and not because she knew the girl like the back of her hand, no because whenever he was brought up a warmth filled her chest. His name didn't need to be mentioned for the odd act to happen, it just did whenever she dared to let him enter her mind.

Alessia rolled her eyes, elbow resting against her thigh while her jaw was supported by her fist as her expression drew glum. She sighed heavily instead of answering with a nod or shake of her head, instead she merely breathed, "oh fuck..."

Bella wanted to involve Jacob Black and his pack...

|•|•|•|•|

"Will you stop doing that thing with your face?" The strawberry blonde hissed at her copper haired brother, her arms tightening around her body in annoyance and slight hesitance.

Alessia could just feel the imprint pull begging her to walk inside and join her mate as he examined the Swan residence for the intruder. His heartbeat was quick, fast enough to be distinguished between Bella's softer one.

Edwar stared down at his sister who chewed her bottom lip, her clear signature of being uncomfortable with her situation. He chose to stay silent, instead crossing his arms and leaning against Bella's old truck in the same form his sister was. They looked as similar as ever, two rusted diamonds buried underneath mounds of pressure.

Alessia breathed a sigh of relief when the front door was opened and the stomp of her mates feet became clearer. His eyes left Bella's form, immediately falling towards the petite vampires and physically he relaxed.

Jacob absolutely despised the way she made him feel, with her small, Angel like features he was always tricked into believing she was pure. She was far from it, if the darkness in her eyes was anything to go by. He continued to tell himself that she was evil, she would bring him hell if he so much as allowed himself to fall for the her curvy lips and round eyes. He was mesmerized by everything but her hair, oh her hair, it was practically beckoning him to touch it. It's particular color a rarity he'd never been witnessed too, it wasn't red nor was it blonde. All he could imagine was flames from a bonfire, dancing wildly against the open air, gracefully moving with nature. Her hair was exactly like that, even now the little breeze that ran across the cold day kicked her hair up, framing her face effortlessly. He wanted to so badly run his fingers through the silky mess as he kissed her beautifully rose colored lips, savoring the sweet taste of her mouth in his own and for that he hated himself as well as her much more.

Alessia dropped her gaze from the werewolf, clearing her throat as Bella naturally walked over towards Edward and her eyes caught Jacob starting towards the human. A small ache sounded in her chest cavity, as of late the dormant organ seemed full of nothing but life and pain.

Jacobs traitorous eyes looked at the petite vampire once more before clearing his throat and meeting Edwards enraged one. "Whoever it was, he left his stink behind. It'll be hard to miss when we cross it again. We'll handle it from here."

Alessia sighed, knowing the cocky, dominant tone to his voice would gain a reaction from her brother. Edward scoffed, teeth gritting as he spoke. "We don't need you to handle anything. Or anyone."

"I could care less what you need." Jacob retaliated, stepping up Edward.

"Alright, we're done here. Let's go girls." The vampire went to turn around, Alessia noting how annoyed her brother grew.

She drew in a long breath and met Bella's eyes, knowing this was not the last of the argument. Her patience was running thin and the need to remain unbiased was growing short, if these two ever got into a fight she would have to stop it and one of them would be hurt.

"No, you're done here." Jake shouted, snatching Edwards arm and keeping him from walking away. He couldn't help himself, not only was Edward taking Bella away, the girl he loved, but he was also taking Alessia his imprint and that alone sent him into overdrive. He didn't want either girl to go, craving both their presences.

Alessia pulled her bottom lip into her mouth as her recent thought slowly began to unravel into reality. Thankfully Bella rushed forward, pulling them apart from one another with more determination in her voice then ever before she yelled at them both. "Stop. I'm tired of this. From now on I'm Switzerland, Okay?"

She watched on as both boys looked down at Bella with soft eyes, completely turning putty as her palms touched both their chests. Then, to her own surprise, they looked back towards her with hardened eyes, both of them questioning why she hadn't taken either of their side.

|•|•|•|•|

The days that followed Alessia felt even longer, she was on constant watch for Bella, as were her family and the wolves. When she wasn't guarding Bella's back at school along with Edward the girl found herself taking night watch at the Swan home.  Rain or not she was out there, leaning against the same tree until the sun slowly started to rise, her toes always on edge to run and attack.

While the rest of her family and even the wolves found themselves with a partner she preferred solidarity. So often there was nothing to do but stand as still as a statue and let her mind race, which more then often left her further confused.

Alessia had the night off one day, and instead of forcibly taking one of her families shifts, like she'd done in the past, the girl decided to run off into the woods and hunt.

Her feet barely connected the with soft moss below even though she was going much slower then before, this was what she considered peaceful, a break from her chaotic mess of a life lately.

There was a mountain lion not far from her, the tastebuds on her tongue thrived with need the closer she grew. It's steady heartbeat was her soul purpose, moving like a viper against the ground she could practically sink her teeth into the meaty giant.

"We are too far out..."

"Will you shut up Jared?"

"We are suppose to be back before sundown and somehow you thought a race was a bright idea..."

Alessia snapped back from her primal instinct, whirling around until she came face to face with a rampaging wolf. Once more she found herself defensively fighting as it shoved her to the ground. Alessia huffed in annoyance, debating wether she should just drink the moronic wolf, instead however she pushed it with one quick shove.

It landed not far off from her, shaking its fur wildly as it stood and then grinned its sharp teeth her way. Alessia rolled her eyes, flipping upwards so she landed on her feet and impatiently waited as the wolf trotted back to its companion and then both towards a thick bush.

"The next time you deem it funny to attack me when I'm hunting I will drink you for dinner Paul," Alessia snapped once she heard the rustle of pants being zipped up and long spines peeking out from the top of the trees.

Pauls warm laugh bounced off the empty clearing of woods, walking out barefoot with his friend behind him. The boy lifted his hands in mock surrender towards his newfound friend while a playful grin was plastered across his face. Alessia noticed the other boy, who was much lankier then Pauls naturally football build, had a confused expression on his face pointed towards his friend.

"Just making sure you're always on your toes," Paul shortly answered, dropping his hands pointing with his thumb towards the other wolf. "And Jared was curious about you, thought I was lying about you being pretty cool so I decided to show him."

Alessia once more flickered her eyes towards the boy, noticing how square his face was and even more so with the hair that framed his face, not long enough to be feminine but falling short of his earlobes. His expression was neutral although she could tell he wanted to sneer her way but she sensed fear in him, which slightly intrigued her as wolves tended to be smug.

Jared seemed to have felt the eyes on him as he crossed his arms and placed a neutral expression on his face. "So you're the famous vampire imprint?"

"And you're part of the famous transforming asshole club?" Alessia snapped back, raising an arched brow his way.

Jareds expression was stunned to say the least at her quick response, Paul belting out another laugh to see his friend being outdone. The Cameron boy was not one too quit so easily though as his eyes slit, "asshole association, get it right, and Paul I don't know why you're laughing that includes you."

Paul silenced his laugh and shrugged, "hey, I know it and live up to it."

Jared huffed at the lack of reaction before looking back towards Alessia, "so what's so special about you that Paul made me run this whole way and Billy Black asked to meet you?"

Alessia tilted her head, confusion going through her, the latter being news to her. "Paul seems to like getting his ass kicked. And... well I actually don't know who Billy is."

"Jakes father," Paul explained, "he asked me to come find you before the council meeting tonight. Oh and I will beat you one of these days."

Alessia felt her brain go into overdrive when Paul explained her mates father wanted to see her. What could he possibly want? Was he going to warn her to stay away from his son? The Blacks were alpha wolves, they had made the treaty with the Cullens years ago and it was their vow to uphold the treaty. What could he want with her?

Paul seemed to notice her entire change in demeanor, stepping forward slightly. "Alessia, Billy is much more level headed then his son. He just wants to see you, that's all."

Jared felt slightly bad for the girl, noticing how her walls immediately came tumbling down whenever Jacob was mentioned. He didn't know what to say seeing her like this after all the vile things Jacob had said, of course he knew they were all lies the wolf told himself. Truth be told he didn't have any personal grudges toward vampires besides the tales told to him but even those didn't make sense as he looked at the girl who seemed to be worrying over such a mundane task.

Alessia swallowed her fears and nodded her head, "lead the way."

|•|•|•|•|

Alessia didn't know what to expect when she showed up at the Black home, truth be told her mind completely shut off after agreeing to go see the elder. Her bottom lip rolled into her mouth once she jumped out of Pauls loud truck, fingers tightening over her loose, navy green top.

Paul and Jared stepped out right behind her, the latter grinning at the vampires expression, this was the first time he'd ever seen a fearful vampire. The trio walked up to the small cabin, Paul casually opening the screen door and looking back at the strawberry blonde. "You should probably wait here while I war—tell the old man you're here and make sure he's decent. Don't look so scared Alex, Jake's on patrol for awhile."

Alessia didn't even bother correcting his nickname as she nodded instead and leaned against her wooden pillar of the porch while Jared shut the door behind them. She was there less then a minute before Jared was making his way back and pulling the door open for her. "You're up."

Alessia pulled an annoyed face his way as he held the door open before her brown combat boots squeaked against the wooden floors. The cabin was small, and inside it felt even more so but she assumed it was enough for two people. She licked her lips and searched the small living room until she found a man sitting in a wheelchair, Paul behind him.

The man had long hair, and similar facial features to Jacob. Alessia could tell he had been a handsome young man, tall too. She briefly wondered if he'd always been disabled or if he'd ended up this way and how. His dark brown eyes bore into hers, making her slightly uncomfortable at how piercing they were. His thin lips were set in a line, face unreadable.

Alessia thought it to be rude to lurk into his mind despite the easy access so she simply clasped her hands together and waited for anyone to speak.

"Jacob hasn't said a word about you to me, but I knew he imprinted by the look on his face. It's an extreme rare look I gave his mother once before, I'd know it anywhere." Bully Black spoke up, voice neutral as his eyes shone with a little light. Alessia could tell by the way his eyes drifted off that he was in the past and she didn't need to read his mind to know the mother he spoke of had passed. "Jakes making a mistake, everyone knows it and I especially because you can never run from your imprint... vampire or human."

Pauls raised brow and grin were the least of Alessia's worries as she felt shock course through her body, she'd thought Billy Black would be the last person to ever agree to his son being with a vampire, to which she would have left with her head held high and only a tad need to murder but this had been unexpected.

"Well... that's a plot twist," Jared broke the tension, clamping his arm over Alessia's shoulders with a smirk.

"Jared shut up," Billy sighed heavily towards the teenagers.

Alessia took a small step forward, extending her tiny hand with a tight smile, "Alessia Marie Cullen, nice to meet you."

Billy was slightly taken aback by her quick change in demeanor but nonetheless clasped her tiny palm between both of his, "Billy Black, pleasure."

"I've killed people before, lots of people." She randomly spat out, full on diving into see what type of reaction the man would have.

Billy didn't even flinch, leaning back into his chair, "I've killed your kind before... all of us have."

"We are assholes, I understand. Just like I hope you understand I think your sons a complete asshole who has a stick shoved so far up his ass it's being used as a guide for his shit." Alessia shrugged, the two teenage boys in the room snorting out a life and silently agreeing with her.

Billy shrugged, muttering, "well, got me there. That boy is an asshole."

"Glad we are on the same page." Alessia nodded. "Now, if that's all I should be making my way back before Jacob finds out or comes back home."

"You're staying." Billy interrupted. "You're now just as much apart of this pack as Jacob is, and you'll be there for the meeting just like Bella will be, Jacob be damned."

"I don't want to cause you trouble..." Alessia drifted off, knowing that nothing good would come from her staying.

Billy shook his head, "you'll cause me about as much trouble as you would with Paul considering he won't shut up about you to Jacob. Don't worry, I can handle my son he may be a wolf but I'm his father. You will listen to the stories of how we became."

"I'm guessing this will be a lot of bashing my people huh?" Alessia questioned with a raised brow, knowing far well vampires were not a favored species of the shifters.

Billy's calm demeanor not once lessened as he nodded along, "you'd assume right... they are more intriguing then you'd thing though. Despite the vampire bashing, as you put it."

"I'll stay then," she nodded.

"Great! You can hold my plate full of hot dogs!" Paul joked from behind Billy, flopping down onto the nearest couch.

"Or I can shove them down your throat at one go, plate and all." Alessia snapped back with a sickly sweet smile.

"As much as I'd love to see that... id like to interrupt this viewing of Alessia handing Paul his ass to ask something." Jared quickly interrupted, passing Alessia and sitting on the couch. His finger pointed towards Alessia as clearly the question would be directed her way. "What can you do?"

"Do?"

"You know do! Your brother reads minds, that one short fairy girl can see the future, what can you do?" Jared clarifies, his eyes widening as this clearly intrigued him.

"Are you like your brother? Mind reader!" A childlike Paul leaned towards her. Billy beside stayed silent but pursed his lips in anticipation.

Alessia rolled her eyes at them but nonetheless responded, "yes and no. I can read your mind but my gifts are a little more advanced and different then that."

"Well? How?" Jared was the first to shoot questions.

Alessia paused, attempting to answer the question the best to her ability. "My brother can walk into a room or even a park and hear everyone's thoughts in the same moment and I can choose to hear them. For me every mind is like a Rubix Cube, and most are easy enough to access so long as I find the right way but some like Bella are slightly harder. Once I'm in though I can do anything I want, I can even link other minds with each other. My personal favorite though is manipulation."

"Like puppets? You can puppet us?" Paul clarified.

Alessia nodded with a grin.

Jared snorted and crossed his arms, "yeah right, not to me. I'm way too strong for that."

"Maybe, maybe not. Girls tough, and she's been alive over a century." Paul debated.

Alessia raised her brow at the challenge, what she'd neglected to inform them was they'd be unaware of her entrance into their minds therefore making it easier for her to access. Her eyes quickly flashed towards Billy who gently nodded his head, allowing her the chance to mess with the wolf.

Once she'd gotten the okay she went to work, accessing both their mind vaults rather quickly. The girl contemplated her next move, smirking when she'd come up with a plan.

In one quick command she lifted Pauls hand and smacked it across Jared face. Paul's face filling with awe as he watched his hand slap rather harshly across his friends, the sound echoing through the small cabin. Alessia forced Jared not to make a sound or move, the slap seemed to have been the hit of a feather as he stilled like a statue, and Paul slapped him once more, again not a move.

Alessia dropped the hold over them, laughing when Jared's hand flew up to both his cheeks and groaned in pain while Paul jumped up in hype. "That fucking hurt! Can you not control me not to feel that!"

Alessia smirked, "yes but that's for thinking I wasn't strong enough, that'll put you in your place."

|•|•|•|•|

"Paul if you try and hand me that plate of hotdogs one more time I'll detach your arm and use it to continue the bonfire." Alessia narrowed her eyes towards the wolf who once more tried to nudge his second plate of food into her lap.

Paul rolled his eyes, setting the plate down next to the log they were both sat upon, Alessia watching in slight horror as he practically inhaled each hot dog. She briefly wondered what they would taste like but decided not to ask the smell didn't seem that appealing. She'd met most of the elders and pack, most of which were very accepted when Billy presented her. Leah, the only female wolf, turned abruptly in the other direction any time they were in the nearest vicinity of one another but Alessia chose to ignore her as she seemed to already be in a sour mood before. Everyone else nodded at her, some with pity in their eyes as they knew her fate she however chose not to let that bother her and instead focus on the boys that made up the pack.

Jared and Paul had introduced her to Sam, Quil, Embry, and Seth who all seemed to warm up to her as the first hour went by. Soon enough they began to grow on Alessia as much as she grew on them and now she sat crammed between Seth and Paul, both munching away on food as the sky darkened. Sam, at first, had been the most apprehensive but all it took was one look from Emily, his imprint, and he was nodding at the petite vampire.

Seth from beside her laughed at her threat to Paul, standing as he had already finished eating. "Can you just do that now and keep him from eating more food, he's already going to eat 10 hot dogs."

Alessia laughed, looking at said boys narrowed eyes. "I make no promises pup, but the night is young."

"If you make one move for my arm we will really see who can win in a fight." Paul snapped towards her.

The strawberry blonde hummed in response, "go ahead I've only got a centuries more worth of experience on you, puppy."

Paul stayed silent after that, Quil whistling at her clear win in that conversation. After that the group went silent, eating their food quickly while Alessia drifted into her mind.

As much as she hated to admit it the girl wondered when Jacob would arrive, her stomach flipping with anticipation every time she turned in the direction of the parked cars. You will not let this boy ruin the night for you, she told herself, you're stronger then this, show him. As much as she wanted to believe that the girl knew it was lost hope as they were imprints and like it or not every minute from now until death would be spent worrying over one another.

She swallowed thickly when two heartbeats pronounced themselves and, as if Paul knew, felt the boys worried eyes bore into her along with his body grow closer.

Jacob and Bella stepped into the open meadow where the pack and elders were all currently talking amongst themselves, however, the moment the pair showed up everyone grew silent. Emily's dark eyes flashed towards Alessia, the girl painfully releasing a tight lipped smile, lying to the human of her pain. She was breaking apart on the inside, seeing Jacobs adoring smile pointed to her brothers mate.

It didn't take long for him to notice though, and once he did, the boy was livid. He stormed straight towards his father, Bella trailing behind him. Her eyes fell upon the vampire who shrugged her shoulders in response to her questioning look, Alessia was not about to explain herself to anyone when she barely knew why she was there.

"What is she doing here?" Jacob seethed, forcing his eyes to glare at his father and not fawn over the strawberry blonde. He always felt like two different people with her near and today was not an exception, the first person was disgusted with anything to do with her, counting off her flaws and reminding him over and over that she was a vampire, she wasn't right for him, Bella was. The second person was completely infatuated with Alessia, the very thought of her name sent waves of electricity through his skin and being in her presence only amplified that to a lightning storm setting off in his body, he could feel his mind reeling over every piece of her visibly and even if Bella was better for him she'd never be Alessia. There wasn't a moment that went by where these two experiences didn't happen and although he loved Bella it frightened him to know how easily that love would be shadowed if he allowed himself to fall for Alessia.

"What is she doing here," he repeated? through gritted teeth of pain and fury.

His fathers eyes moved between the vampire who seemed more human and vulnerable in that moment, to the actual human girl who seemed uncomfortable, and then back to his son who he had, as of late, lost all sense of awareness with. Billy chose his words carefully, knowing that there was never a moment more were words would impact not only his son, but anyone involved in the war raging inside his heart.

"Alessia is here, because she belongs here and you know it just as much as she does, everyone here, and your mother would have. Despite your belief of love for this girl you know that it's not real Jacob Black, until then though we will treat her better then you have in the last month. The sooner you become aware of this the easier it will be to gain her back before she and all of us grow tired of your games."

|•|•|•|•|

Why was this so long, it wasn't meant to be this long.

#AlessiaDeservesBetter