Uno

Snowfall this monumental hadn't fallen on La Push in almost two decades. Overnight the small fishing town had be blanketed in deep white snow. The news claimed it was record-breaking, with 22 inches. The reservation's measly snowplows did not make it out. Cars were stopped partway in the road and part in driveways due to half-assed attempts of their owners. Schools were empty and shops stayed closed. Only a handful of brave- or stupid depending on who you asked- dared to venture out on foot to visit others. Everyone else stayed happily in their homes, enjoying the blizzard with their loved ones behind closed doors.

Well almost everyone.

A certain she-wolf was on the verge of violence. Her foolish brother and pack mates stayed littered about her living room, each one louder than the next. When the snow first came, excitement washed over Leah. Her boss had closed the diner and the council decided the lack of vamp activity allowed for a decrease in patrols.

For once she'd get to enjoy some fucking solitude, away from the people and with the pack far from her head.

Quil was the first to break it, trickling in only half a day in meaning Embry would soon follow. Ever since the duo had joined Jacob's ranks, they had become permanent fixtures in the Clearwater household.

That had been over six years ago.

Once her mother remarried to the Police Chief of Forks she moved there into his home, claiming the Police Chief needed to live within his jurisdiction. Leah knew it was really because even though Sue loved Charlie, she should would never lie with another man in her late husband's bed. The house didn't have any mortgage or anything due to her father's careful finances, so only the insurance and other monthly bills had to be paid. The mind-raper and his child bride offered the Clearwater siblings and Jake a monetary gift for their help when the half-breed was born. It was more than generous, enough to send Leah and Seth away to University, but their obligations to the tribe wouldn't allow that. Instead, Leah invested hers under the careful advice of the Pixie vamp and used a small monthly allowance to cover the bills and things. Her job at the diner was purely for social money, to spend on a night out and clothing when she wanted it. Seth and Jacob were reluctant to use the cash at first, saying they were helping out friends and expected nothing in return. Due to Bella's whining and the practical persuasion of their Beta, they finally agreed. Seth started at the local community college four times a week in Port Angeles, and Jake opened a small garage, buying the old one that was foreclosed many years ago. Business was steady, and he employed his pack mates and taught them everything he knew, getting cheap labor and pleasant coworkers. It wasn't much, but they made life after everything.

Speaking of the alpha, Leah over the years saw less and less of him. He had the whole earth-moving imprinting bull shit on the demon spawn, and stayed planted around the Cullens. The vampires couldn't stay in Forks forever and eventually resettled moving north to British Columbia, a day's travel away. Jake spent his time shuffling back and forth, managing the garage, and squeezing in small amounts of time for his father and the wolves. Leah often handled most pack matters, filling him in over the phone. She still laughs when she thinks of Sam's face when she walked into her first meeting with the Elders. So it was easy to say Leah's sour mood lifted slightly to one of mild annoyance and surprise when the alpha's looming 6'8 figure came though her front door that evening.

"Yo, Jake! Man get in here!" Quil waved him into the living room. Leah quickly looked back to the magazine in her lap form her place in the recliner, pretending to not at all be interested.

"Sup guys?" Jake replied. "COD?" The game in question played loudly on the TV screen while the three men boys lied scattered across the love seat and couch with their eyes glued and hands moving wildly across the PS4 controllers. "Hey Lee."

Her eyes snapped up to his when he addressed her. He wore a large smile across his face, yesterday's stubble across his strong jaw. He always had been effortlessly beautiful, but today Leah wanted nothing more than to press her body against his rock hard one and-

Whoa. Where in the hell did that come from? The single thought had climbed far out of left field but was more than enough to cause a deep crimson to spread across the she-wolf's russet skin. His head, tipped slightly to the side, studying her reaction and all she could do was blurt "I'm going to start dinner, y'all hungry?"

She heard a slight chuckle in her wake as she all but ran to the kitchen.

Half a freaking hour had passed, and Leah could barely contain herself. She didn't know what caused that thought, but once it happened more of its nature followed. She absent mindedly stirred the chili, her thoughts drifting away to the alpha. Every smile, every laugh, and times he stood stark naked in the wood, just after phasing back. Nudity among the pack was a moot point as she had seen them all naked numerous times in the past 7 years. Yes, all of them were very attractive, save for Seth of course, but the novelty of it all wore off a while ago, as the sexy abs were downplayed by the idiots she knew them all to be. Every now and then she would appreciate the alpha's well sculpted form for a fleeting second, but never had it affected her this deeply. Just the thought sent her nerves spazing and a light fluttering to begin in her chest.

"Need help?" His deep voice startled her and did absolutely nothing for her nerves. She turned to him, lightly biting her bottom lip. He stood, leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed drawing attention to his biceps. All she wanted was to hear that voice thick with lust, groaning out her name.

The blush returned with a ferocity and she cleared her throat. What in the fuck is going on? It's like her body is responding in a way her mind never crossed. What happened to the young boy who chased and annoyed his older sisters? Or even the gangly teen that spent his time under old cars? Hell even the love-struck fool who pinned after the fang banger? Where did he go and when did this sensual, confident man take his place?

"It's fine. Boys come eat!" She called. The shooting stopped, and their loud conversation grew closer as they did to the kitchen. Hurry she added silently. Part of her was taken over by this carnal desire to be alone with him, while the more rational part stood confused and afraid of consequence.

She stayed silent while they ate, conversation flew around her. Pieces were work related, as Jake was technically the boys' boss, some was directed to small town gossip, but the last part caught Leah's attention.

"No Nessie today?" Embry asked around his mouthful of food. Leah grimaced, but whether it was at the disgusting sight or the imprint's name she wasn't sure. Seth raised an eyebrow at her, and then looked to Embry and shook his head. If only it was that simple, little brother.

"Nah," Jake began, "She's hanging out with that new vamp guy."

Nessie had grown to be strikingly beautiful, from what Leah could tell in pictures. She now appeared to be 17 or 18 in age, and Jake still didn't look a day over 22. None of them did, really. Leah was now 26, but could easily pass for 21 or 22. Unlike the other pack who didn't phase unless necessary, they regularly did to run and stretch their legs. It wouldn't be crazy to assume he'd take an interest in the girl. Leah personally thought it would be slightly appalling because he once fancied her mother, but not completely off base to the others.

To her surprise, Jacob shared her feelings and professed he felt the same for Nessie as he did Rachel or Rebecca.

"New boyfriend?" Seth asked.

"Yeah, his name is Vincent, call 'em Vinny just to piss him off. Kind of a douche, but harmless enough. He's a newborn so he's still learning the ropes. Doc took him in to teach him."

"Couldn't he hurt her?" Quil asked, worry laced in his tone. He knew better than anyone that even though there wasn't romantic feeling toward the imprint, the protective instincts were still just as strong.

"Rose gets to babysit them." Jake laughed. The blonde vampire and her alpha didn't agree on much, but Nessie's safety had always been mutual between them. "She's in good hands."

"What about you man? Seeing anyone?" Seth questioned. The question was innocent enough, but still caused Leah to hold her breath, waiting.

"Nah, no one special. Haven't found anyone interesting enough."

Leah breathed out, relaxing.

Embry laughed, "You always did like the difficult ones."

Leah swears when in that moment the alpha met her eyes, he looked right through her. "What can I say, I dig a challenge."

It was almost like he hypnotized her. The she-wolf's eyes took all of him in from his smirk to the wicked glint in his dark eyes, down to the exposed skin of chest from the black v neck he wore. His stare was unwavering, almost as if it wasn't just a man looking at her, but her alpha staring down her wolf. The other three sat oblivious, changing the topic and talking away. Leah gave a slight shudder and felt as if in any second she'd be reduced to a gooey puddle on the floor.

Here lies Leah. Her sexual frustrations finally did her in and she died a lonely old hag.

The sharp ringing of the telephone made her finally break eye contact and Seth stood to answer it. After a moment, a smile broke across her brother's face and he hung up. "That was the emergency service. We're officially a state of emergency and no one is allowed on the roads. Anyone outside will be stopped and turned back around. We're snowed in!"

Conversation quickly changed to video game tournaments and movie marathons like they used to years ago, and the alpha's gaze flickered back to her. The boys laughed, Jake rose an eyebrow, and her wolf all but purred from his attention.

Oh shit.