This story takes place after the Cullens left, had they never returned. The pack defeated Victoria before she was able to make her newborn army. Bella and Jake are a couple.

AU/A/N The Spirit Warrior Fund: The Spirit Warrior Fund, was created many generations ago, by the first "retired" pack. Early on the Elders/Pack members realized keeping their land safe from cold ones, wasn't a 9 to 5 sort of job. A monthly stipend would be given to all active members for their courageous sacrifices to their reservation.

AU/A/N Emily Young: She is Sam's imprint still, but the scars never happened. More will be explained as the story progresses.

AU/A/N Claire Young: Is still Quil's imprint, but she's sixteen. She's also Emily's sister, not cousin.

Even after killing Victoria, Sam and Emily's wedding had to be the most difficult day of Leah's life. But what happens the same day she meets Dr. Daniel Uley, Sam's eldest cousin? He moved away as a child and has returned; things will never be the same again.

Chapter 1: FML

Leah POV

I hate weddings. All the ridiculous dancing, the gossip, and don't even get me started with the whole 'dressing up' part. I hate being forced to socialize with the very same people who I knew without a single doubt in my mind felt terribly sorry for me.

This wasn't how my life was supposed to be. This should've been my wedding day, and my happily ever after. What changed? Oh! I'll tell you what the hell changed. Leeches. Bloodsuckers. Cold Ones. Vampires. Their arrival triggered our ancient genes and forced us into becoming what I once thought was nothing more than a bonfire story.

I was now a spirit warrior, a shapeshifter. A she-wolf; thrown into a pack that protected our tribe and Forks from the evil bloodsuckers that threatened the very fabric of everyone else's happily ever after, even though mine was gone. Not gone, but more like stolen. Snatched away from my fingertips by one complex word.

Imprinting.

Imprinting was this strange involuntary mechanism by which us Quileute shape-shifters found our soulmates.

When we imprint on a specific person, we become unconditionally bound to them for the rest of our lives. Everyone and everything else in our life becomes secondary, and only the imprintee is left to matter, leaving us shifters with a deep unrelenting need to do anything to please, love, and protect them.

To have someone become whatever you need them to be, whether that's a protector, or a lover, or a friend…you'd think something like that happening to you would be beautiful, and if you were the imprintee of course it would be, but no one ever told us the downside to imprinting. Imprinting could happen with anyone, regardless of previous personal feelings, and it didn't even matter if you were already in love with someone else.

Yeah imprinting was great, unless you were me.

Imprinting took away my fiancé, Sam. He was the first to phase and imprinted on none other than my cousin Emily, and I'm guessing she needed a lover, since Sam dropped me quicker than a hot pocket! To say it hurt me like hell, was an understatement. Hurt but not shocked, I had long suspected that my cousin Emily had feelings for Sam.

So what else could possibly be worse than losing my man to imprinting and phasing into a wolf the size of a damn horse? I've been forced to share a telepathic link with Sam and the rest of my pack brothers. Jacob Black, Quil Ateara, Paul Lahote, Jared Cameron, Embry Call, and my little brother Seth.

Hearing the trivial thoughts of hormonal teenage boys, day after day is one thing, but suffering through every single impure thought, every single emotion, all the love, and undying adoration Sam now held for my cousin Emily, while having to endure the lingering feelings he still had for me, is another twisted fucked up sort of misery for me. To add insult to injury Sam was now my Alpha. Meaning, I had to obey him and follow his orders.

Who in the hell did I piss off in a past life to be given such a bad hand in this one?

Which brings us to today. After hunting down and killing the redhead vamp bitch who had been hellbent on killing Bella Swan, the object of my pack brother Jake's lovesick obsession, our entire pack decided the best way to get back to some semblance of normalcy was to have Sam and Emily's wedding. It was supposed be a celebration, it sure as hell didn't feel like one to me. The whole entire time as they exchanged vows I prayed to the Great Spirits to allow me to imprint, so I could stop my heart from breaking repeatedly. I knew it wouldn't solve all my problems with Sam and Emily but imprinting on someone else would be a damn good start.

The wedding was now over, and the beach reception was in full swing. I was able to finally escape from the pitied glances and whispers of my tribe.

"At least I wasn't forced into being maid of honor." I muttered miserably to myself. It was an adolescent promise Emily and I made long before we even had our first boyfriends. We'd both be one another's maid of honor when we finally found Prince Charming.

Too bad it was the same Prince. Then again, Sam was more like a toad to me these days anyway.

"Being a bridesmaid isn't any better." I sighed looking down at my short teal chiffon bridesmaid dress. Holding my heels in my hand, my eyes glazed over the waves and I thought, how simple it would be to surrender myself to it; to slip underneath and feel its coolness embrace me. All the pain and feelings of betrayal would end.

"You know, you're missing one hell of a party." His voice was velvet and steel rolled into one. Though my curiosity was piqued by the stranger's faint Latin accent and my self-loathing almost completely ceased; my annoyance for being bothered immediately kicked in.

"It's not much of a party when the groom is your ex." I spat angrily, not even bothering to turn around and address the stranger with the sultry tone.

"Well damn, I guess admitting to being Samuel's cousin would only anger you more." He said it humorlessly, without any pity, and for some reason it felt good not hearing it. Perhaps it was because I had been hearing it all evening. "But in all fairness, he and I are not well acquainted with one another." He added quickly.

Sam's cousin huh? I knew all of Sam's cousins. Yet I couldn't place this guy's voice, and since he didn't know who I was, I knew this had to be Sam's prodigal cousin. Daniel Uley.

"Consider yourself lucky not knowing him." I scoffed. "These days I wish we never met."

Daniel Uley had moved away from La Push with his mother, when he was just a boy after his father Thomas Uley II passed away. Since Daniel's mother wasn't Quileute, according to the rumors she didn't feel very welcomed by our tribe, so she took off right after the funeral. That was over twenty-five years ago. Who's to say what really happened? It could've just been BS spread by the old ladies in our tribe who had nothing better to do, then gossip behind people's backs. Speaking from personal experience.

"So, you're Leah Clearwater." He finally responded with still no pity, but one of understanding.

According to Sam's grandmother, Daniel had just completed his board certification and had taken on a very presidios position as the newest doctor at Forks Hospital.

"And you're Daniel Uley." I replied still staring at the waves.

"Well now that we've been properly introduced," He chuckled before continuing, "since you don't want to be at the reception due to the bride and groom, and I don't feel like being set up on a date with every single eligible bachelorette on the reservation by my meddling grandmother, why don't we drown our sorrows in a bottle of Musigny Burgundy Wine together?"

Before I could even reply no, I heard the cork pop, and suddenly the wine's aroma gave me such a mouthwatering thirst. The spices of chocolate, and cherries were a subtle giveaway to the dried flowers and other refined smells.

I immediately started contemplating Daniel's offer. I could stand here alone cursing my existence or I could try to get drunk and have a good time.

"Oh! Why the hell not." I sighed finally turning around.

"That's what I'm talking about!" His expressive smile fell, and his confidence seemed to deflate almost immediately as he took me in. He seemed dazed and confused almost.

It was so damn surreal how perfect he was. His black tailored suit fit everywhere that mattered, with his matching accessories right on down to the Rolex watch he was wearing. He was beautiful as he was handsome; tall and slender with lean muscles. Skin lighter in complexion than mine, and it looked as smooth as silk. His full lips could have seemed feminine if not for the masculine cut of his jaw. He looked younger than I expected. I knew Daniel was in his early thirties, but he didn't look a day over twenty-five. His jet-black hair was cut short and neat and when my eyes moved to his, I was lost in his powerful hypnotic gaze. I found myself entranced with the golden flecks of his dark brown eyes and couldn't think straight, before I realized what was happening, it was too late.

I had pulled a Sam. I imprinted on his cousin!

FML.

Daniel POV

The $1500 bottle of wine slipped out of my hand and landed into the sand. Oh my!

I had been around many beautiful women, but not one of them was able to stop me dead in my tracks like she had. Leah's skin was the color of golden honey. Her jet-black hair framed high cheekbones and full, expressive lips. Her liquid brown eyes took hold of me. A cyclone of emotions and senses ripped through my body. I couldn't stop the gasp from leaving my mouth. A powerful and yet frightening energy engulfed me, and I felt this magnetic pull towards her. Feelings stirred within me, that I had never experienced before. Love, adoration, and one of fierce protectiveness. I couldn't control my actions as I stepped forward, with the most urgent need to claim this woman as mine.

I knew at that very moment my life would never be the same again.

It was as if she knew exactly what had taken place between us, her eyes grew wide with surprise. Her breathing hitched, as her lips started to part as though in silent invitation. I closed the distance between us and buried my hands in her hair, tipping her face up to mine. My eyes flitted between hers, and I saw nothing but want in them. She wanted this as much as I did. That was the only reassurance I needed.

As my lips touched hers, I felt a warmth rush through her lips and into my body. Her tongue immediately sought out mine and they tangled around one another, fighting for dominance over the other. Kissing Leah Clearwater had quenched and spurred a hunger within I couldn't understand, but I never wanted it to end.

"Leah what the hell!" I heard a stunned male's enraged voice shout. With that the sudden realization hit me, I was kissing a stranger like I had known her my entire life. How wrong this must have looked to whomever discovered us, and just like that our intimate moment had been stolen away. I pulled back abruptly, her eyes wide as her fingers touched her lips where my mouth had been.

There in his suit, newly married and very angry was my cousin Samuel, and he wasn't alone. Several guys were with him. There expressions were all different. Some shocked, some amused, a few angry, others downright disgusted. Hell, I was shocked and angry with myself as well.

Here I was taking advantage of a young woman who had just watched her ex marry her cousin. Not to mention the age difference. She had to have been at least ten years younger than me!

"Dios mio," I shook my head as I slowly started backing up. The look on Leah's face was undetermined. Was she upset? Did she feel guilty? "Leah, God, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. We just met, and I've taken advantage," I cursed underneath my breath, I started backing way even further just as I felt him; the other part of me had just awoken. He snarled in protest as I turned on my heel, a pain in my chest shot through me, my wolf seemed to want Leah as much as I did, he was foaming at the mouth. He wanted me to stay, but I couldn't; not with witnesses around.

"Daniel, wait a damn minute!" I heard Leah protest, and as much as I wanted to stay, I couldn't. If she knew what I was, she'd be horrified. What the hell was I thinking?

"I'm sorry Leah, I have to get out of here." My body began to tremble, and I knew it was about to happen. I had to get out of there, no one could know my secret.

I raced to the parking lot, hopped in my car, and sped off. As I drove, I was waging a terrible war, between man and wolf. Over the years it had been easy to control him, most times I'd been able to hold off on changing until I got somewhere safe away from prying eyes, but this was different. His angry protests to turn back around had me on the verge of changing in my damn car, and if that happened I'd end up destroying my vehicle. I hit my breaks so hard, I almost went through the windshield. I swung open my door and bolted into the woods.

What was it about Leah Clearwater that made the wolf and the man in me want her so bad? It wasn't just lust, it truly felt like I was in love. In love with a woman whom I only spoke a few words to. But how? Why? Why did I feel like I had just found everything in her eyes? And most importantly, did she feel it too?

I threw myself to the dirt, my body began to blur and tremble, I learned early on, the longer I'd fight my wolf; refusing to change for long spans of time, the more painful it was when I finally surrendered to him. Pain shot through every part of me. I howled, and thrashed back and forth. I sucked in a deep breath.

"Oh fuck, it hurts!" I growled.

I took shallow breaths as if I was immersed in a panic attack, just as the wolf came alive inside me. Taupe fur sliced through my skin. I closed my eyes as a human just as more clothes began to tear away, and exploded into my wolf. My muscles ached for a moment as I began to run but then all pain melted away. I had to admit, it felt so good to be in wolf form, running freely. I relaxed, letting my wolf take over for the long sprint, and even though my time living in La Push was brief I finally felt like I was home, and Leah was it.

Yes, Daniel Uley is a shapeshifter too & he and Leah double imprinted! You'll find out more along the way, how he became one. Keep in mind, he knows nothing of the legends or imprinting, so all of this is very confusing for him.

Should I continue?

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Story Suggestion: Kismet's Touch by Spark-of-Darkness