Author's note: Heya there! First of all, since you're reading this, I'm assuming you're about to read my story which is awesome and for that, I thank you. Also, as a disclaimer, I don't own Jacob or Leah or Sam or Paul or...well, anything from Twilight at all. Chances are, if I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfics because I would be too busy trying to max out an unlimited credit card or something of the like. Anyways. Onto the story!


Emerald eyes rolled with blatant irritation as she crossed her arms over her chest, taking a stance of supposed disbelief and evident repugnance. "Come on Jake," she began, obviously choosing each of her words wisely to get the maximum reaction from her fellow werewolf, "You cannot tell me that you're still moping over the stupid leech lover like she's some sort of god." Her words held no ounce of mercy and a heavy dose of spite oozed from every syllable as she spoke. "Get. Over. It," Leah continued, drawing out each word as if to make her point even more clear, all the while ignoring how Jacob's fingertips were beginning to shake despite his efforts of self-control. If anything, seeing the minor clues of an unplanned phasing in the making only urged her on, but her theatrical entrance was cut off with a rather surprising retaliation.

"Shut the hell up, Leah," he spat back sharply, unable to contain his temper from influencing his response. "You know very well that you're in no place to talk with how you drool over Sam practically 24/7 when he's engaged to your cousin of all people!" Jacob knew better than anyone how much his words would affect Leah, if only because it was a nerve he'd struck all too many times. He knew the pain even the mention of Sam's name would bring to her and, quite frankly, didn't care. After all, he'd pitied her for too long and she had no right to waltz around trying to wreck havoc on everyone else just to avoid dealing with her own problems. In a slight pause before her vindictive response, Jacob took a deep breath and calmed himself enough to momentarily stop the small tremors. Besides, he knew better than to let Leah Clearwater, of all people, get the best of him…right?

Though the words pierced her heart and even the mention of Sam's name was enough to send an electric shock up her spine, Leah did her best to remain composed. Regardless of her efforts, she couldn't suppress the surge of nerves to her hands but didn't look down as her fingers began to shake. Curling her hands into fists in effort to release some of the tension building up, Leah gritted her teeth together as she spoke. "At least I know that things are never going to be the same, but you just seem stuck in a world of the past. It's like you expect her to come crawling back to you one day, proclaiming her undying love for you," she hissed the words, outrage showing itself when her arms began to shake as well. "Newsflash, Jake," she practically yelled, "It's not going to happen! If her choosing to become one of them wasn't enough to wake you up, I don't know what is. I'm sure you believed yourself to be invincible with her by your side, but that's not the way it is so just stop wallowing in your self pity and get a grip for God's sake!"

By now, Jacob's arms were shaking just as much, if not more, than Leah's, and he had to bite down on his tongue with agonizing intensity to keep from striking her right there. "Self pity?" he repeated acidly, making eye contact with her as she threw accusations at him. "Now I'm the sulking harpy? Excuse me, but I didn't think we had switched places…" the words continued as Jacob was utterly unable to stop himself from being drawn into the fight. He knew that, especially being second-in-command of the pack, he wasn't supposed to fall victim to trivial things like Leah's incessant pot stirring, for example, but his temper got the better of him and he couldn't restrain his actions. Hardly thinking about the consequences that would undoubtedly be in store, Jacob let emotion take control of his tongue and he lashed out once more. "Don't go blaming me just because instead of trying to make everyone's life a living hell I chose to deal with my problems on my own accord and own damn timetable, Leah! Not everyone can be as stoic and apathetic as you."

"What timetable, Jacob?! It doesn't matter what happens - she is bound to him for all of eternity! Eternity, Jake! This isn't a nightmare you can just wake up from," she found herself saying as the light breeze caught a strand of her black hair and blew it around her face, only adding to the dramatic effect of the whole scene. "You have to get used to it, boy," came the follow-up and her voice lowered slightly, in an almost evil tone. As she recalled the mention of her tendency to bring up unpleasant topics or questions with the pack just to avert the attention from her inner chaos, Leah narrowed her eyes in anger. "Well excuse me if I'm not as noble when dealing with my heartbreak and don't handle it like Jacob Black!" The tremors in her arms traveled quickly up her body, to the point where she might have looked similar to an epileptic patient by the time she had stopped speaking.

Everything that happened next was in somewhat of a blur. In the amount of time it would normally take for a mere blink of the eye, the two Quileutes standing opposite each other were replaced with two snarling wolves much too large to be considered normal. The larger of the two, a hulking russet-colored one, was positioned as if on the defense of the confrontation in a rather intimidating position, teeth gleaming in the sun. The rather feisty looking one, smaller in appearance yet equally as frightening altogether, was still shaking with anger as the wind caught hold of her grey fur and looked as if she was ready to pounce on her supposed packmate - so much for a nice little conversation on the beach. In a matter of minutes, it was indisputable that at least three more werewolves would be on the premises, attempting to calm down the dispute.

"It doesn't have to be like this," Jacob thought after a few seconds of the usual growling that accompanied an unintended transformation. A hopeful tone masked his inward annoyance as his position as a leader in the pack sunk in. Instantaneously, the realization of his relative resistance to succumb to Leah's usual trite jibes kicked in and helped overpowered the instinct to continue with the fight. What was he doing?

Though his attempt was valiant, it was all in vain because Leah was never one to give in that easily, especially when her fiery temper had been ignited. "Oh really, Jake?" she thought angrily, transferring many unnecessary thoughts of annoyance and rage to Jacob. "So are you really trying to pretend that the one person you loved didn't just get up and leave because they 'had no other choice'? Hah. Good luck with that, I've heard reality is a hard thing to run from."

Self-control was a strength of Jacob's, but her words, or thoughts, rather, were too much for him to handle. Within milliseconds, he switched from defensive mode and leapt on Leah - clawing at her fur and snapping his jaws at her neck as she eagerly went along with the sudden change in tempo. Releasing his teeth from her nape, Jacob remained in the struggle for an advantage in the fight as he snarled, "Don't even try to pretend this is all about me, Leah."

Scratching ruthlessly at his back with her claws, Leah growled and bit down into his shoulder though she knew the wound wouldn't last more than a few seconds. At his thoughts, Leah abruptly freed herself from the fight, retreating a few feet away and glaring at Jacob with more intensity than the sun's rays upon the earth. "What the hell are you talking about?" she asked sharply, though her thoughts gave her away and refuted the importance of the question.

"I'm saying, don't drag me into your own problems just because you're too much of a coward to confront them yourself, Leah!" he said, almost sympathetically though the edge to his thoughts disregarded any sense of true concern. The fur on his back relaxed and his hackles calmed as Jacob took a few more strides away from Leah, determined not to get into another round of relentless fighting. "You don't have to do this alone."

Leah spat with obvious contempt at his words, shaking her head forcefully so that her whole body shook in the wind. "And who do I have? Sam? Emily? My father? Hah. Besides, I'm an 'emotional female' and thus inferior from birth so it's not like any of the pack members understand." Rolling her eyes, Leah shook her head again, refusing to let her guard down.

For some reason, her direct thoughts along with the subtle messages of pain and sorrow she certainly didn't intend for him to see struck a pressure point with Jacob, and his demeanor softened considerably when he realized that he knew exactly how she felt. "You have me, I understand…" he ventured to say, blinking slowly in a way that would have looked rather odd to those not used to seeing such expressive wolves. Before he had time to elaborate, let alone wait for her reaction, a multitude of voices rushed into their heads and cut all other thoughts out rather abruptly.

"What are you two doing? For God's sake, learn to control yourselves. I'm disappointed; especially in you, Jake." That would be Sam, the loudest voice in the pack and the one with a certain authoritative air to it.

Paul was close behind, disappointment coming from his thoughts in waves. "Awh man, I missed a fight, again?! Dammit. Well, who won? Any battle wounds healing by the second?"

Thankfully, the stream of obscenities trailing from Paul's thoughts were cut out by a typical Embry. "Sheesh Jake, don't let her get under your skin…I thought you were better than that," he taunted, attempted humor reeking throughout his mind.

Casting one last look in Leah's direction that gave the clear message of irritation, though he wasn't sure if it was at her or the fact that they were interrupted, Jacob shook his head solemnly and answered the questions in his head. "Sorry Sam, we got a little out of control," he thought with a tone of resentment, already feeling the guilt of falling victim to his temper.

Leah caught the look, interpreted it as he believed it to be her fault that half the pack was heading their way, and tossed back her head in annoyance. "Yeah, Sam," she thought snidely, pushing all thoughts of her previous conversation away and resorting to her usual spite. "Just a slip of temper though if Jake weren't so self-righteous it probably could have been avoided."

He refused to get caught up in the moment once more and clenched his teeth instead, ignoring Leah's retort. Struggling to remain somewhat calm and indifferent, Jacob relaxed his nerves and ran up the beach. He would have just phased back a little while away but his clothes hadn't exactly stayed in tact after the unexpected transformation and the last thing he wanted was to be wandering around naked in the forest. "I'm going home," he thought tersely before disappearing and leaving a fuming Leah alone on the beach.

"Fine," Sam's calm reply came, only milliseconds after Jacob had decided what he was doing. "But know that you'll be hearing from me later." Narrowing his thoughts to Leah, he added slowly, "You too, Leah."