Tempus | Alec volturi | Joel Courtney |

† nine †

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" The tests of life are not to break, but to make you. "

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A L E C

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Dirt. 

Dirt is all I could taste as I sunk my teeth into the mountain lion that I found prancing around in the forest. 

For a moment I couldn't help but admire their resistance to human blood and continuous diet of this. It was a huge commitment to stick to this foul tasting substance.

Why am I doing this again?

Right, for her. My beautiful mate, with whom I've been apart for over six centuries. This was nothing compared to the pain I felt in the past. If anything, this was an extremely small price to pay for getting her back. 

I dusted my clothes off, as I stood up and took a deep breath - wrong move. The aftertaste was even more disgusting than the original. I bit my tongue, suppressing my gag reflex and hoping I wouldn't spill my lunch out. 

Don't throw up. Don't throw up. Don't throw up. Oh god. 

With a few shaky breaths, I controlled the strong desire to vomit it all out. 

I strolled through the forest for a while, before breaking out in a sprint towards the castle. I desperately needed to brush my teeth. I scowled at the thought - if this was my state now, how was I supposed to survive the next two weeks?

I walked out the back, and dropped in the drain behind the castle. I walked through the dark tunnels, unbolting the metal door and going straight to the reception from the almost invisible wooden door ahead.

I kept my eyes down, avoiding the tour group that was wandering around. Just two weeks and I will be back to my original diet again.

Due to being distracted by my wandering thoughts and burning throat, I bumped into a figure, my eyes falling on them immediately. Carly looked up at me, with an impressed smirk on her face.

"Wow." She drawled. "You actually did it."

"Yes I did." My retort was immediate. "It wasn't that hard."

"Mountain lion right?" She smirked. "Try deer - it's harder."

"I will if I find it." I scowled. 

"Where is Maddelyn?" I asked after a moment of silence. She hesitated for a moment.

"She's. . . feeding." 

"What!" My eyes widened. 

"Aro found out about your first task. He didn't mind as long as one of us had to change our diet instead." She explained. "Maddy offered to do it." 

"Sh - what - Aro ugh!" I stuttered, throwing my hands up. I can't believe he was forcing her into the diet. If she didn't want to do it, I would never force her. In anger, I sped to my room, sat down on my chair sulking and waited for her to return.

An hour had passed, making me more jittery than usual. Feeding times usually take fifteen minutes - half an hour if it's extra messy. She hasn't come back when she should have been here thirty minutes ago. 

I was debating going to the feeding room, but I hesitated knowing that the scent of blood would be too much and make me snap.

All my thoughts were halted immediately, when I heard a loud crash followed by a cry of pain - my mate's cry. I roared, running out of my room and speeding down the halls. I didn't think twice when I threw open the double doors of the throne room and pounced on the attacker, successfully pinning him down. When he was immobilized, I glanced at his face once before deciding to snap his neck. That is when I realized who I had almost killed.