Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Twilight saga.
Author's Note: Hello! Some of you may have read my first fanfiction about Leah Clearwater and Embry Call, and I welcome you back for a new and better version. I realized as I was writing my first one that it wasn't exactly what I wanted. This one will be longer with many tweaks and changes to the story. I just love writing these. It takes away the stress that builds up from my everyday life.
Chapter 1 Pieces
Jake stretched out on the couch in his father's living room. A week and a few days had passed since the encounter with the Volturi. The packs and the Cullen's could finally relax now that the danger had passed. Jake spent as much time as he could with Nessie, his imprint, before Bella and Edward told him to go home and get some rest. Jake mostly just laid around the house.
At the moment, Jacob Black was finishing a late breakfast of eggs and bacon and watching the news. His cell phone vibrated on the coffee table next to him. It was a text from Sam.
'Hey. I'm getting my pack together for a quick meeting about adjusting patrols on the rez. Join us and bring Leah and Seth. 2 hours. My place.'
Jake stared at his phone and thought about it. Sam was right. The packs couldn't just completely let down their guard now. Those Volturi are unpredictable. They could turn around and come right back to Forks in an instant. He texted back his agreement to meet, then he texted Seth and Leah with the info.
An hour and a half later, Jacob was washed, changed into fresh jeans and t-shirt, and out the door to Sam's. It didn't take long to get to Sam and Emily's. They live a little further into the reservation than Jake and his dad, but their house was easy enough to get to. Jake pulled his car into the gravel driveway and put it in park. As he knocked on the front door, he could hear the guys laughing inside.
"Hello, Jacob." Emily greeted him happily.
"Hey, Emily." Jake replied.
"They're all in the living room." She told him as she stood back to let him by.
Jake smiled politely and made sure not to look at the scars on her face as he walked passed her. Emily was such a sweet woman, to everyone. In the living room he found Quil, Embry, Jared, Paul, Seth, Collin, and Sam. They were all talking, eating chips, and seemed to be watching an episode of America's Funniest Videos. Somebody was missing here though.
"Jake!" Sam greeted from the couch. "Glad you're here. How's it going?"
"Eh, good. You?" He replied as he sat on the arm of the couch, next to Quil.
"Just fine." Sam said with content as he picked up the remote and turned off the TV. "Now we can get this little meeting started."
"Uh, wait." Jake started and looked at Seth. "Where is Leah?"
"She isn't coming." Seth told him.
"What? Why?" Jake asked in slight frustration.
"She just said that she wasn't coming and slammed her bedroom door in my face." Seth said and shrugged.
"Okay." Jake sighed and turned back to Sam. "So, Sam, what are your ideas for a new patrol schedule?"
"Alright." Sam began as he sat up straighter. "So, I know that most of you have to get back to school soon and I don't want to interfere with that. You four have already missed so much school because of those Volturi blood suckers."
"So then maybe weekends for us?" Jake asked.
"Exactly. I'm thinking you and Embry on friday nights, you and Quil on Saturday nights, and you and Collin on Sunday nights."
"Aw, man! Why do I get three nights and they each only get one?" Jake complained.
"Because you're an alpha. Besides they're only four hour shifts. Jared, Paul, myself, and hopefully Leah will pick up all the other days. And again, they will be short shifts."
"That sounds agreeable to me. Does everyone else agree?" Jake asked.
All the guys nodded and grunted their agreements. Sam laughed and declared it the easiest meeting ever. They all went back to eating chips, discussing video games, and watching TV. Jake stayed and hung out for another 45 minutes. He actually planned on seeing Nessie, Bella, and Edward today.
"I'm off to the Cullen's." He announced as he stood from the couch.
"Later, bro." Embry said and half waved at him without taking his eyes from the TV screen.
"Thanks for coming over." Sam told him and shook his hand. He walked Jacob to the front door.
"I've been thinking about your request, by the way." He added when they reached the door. "The elders and I think that there is no harm in allowing Nessie to come onto the reservation. As long as you are with her. The other Cullens, though, may not."
Jake stopped and gave Sam a look. "Come on. We know the Cullens now. They aren't dangerous."
"There will always be a risk with them. Especially with Bella and Jasper. Take it or leave it."
Jake sighed with defeat. "Alright. At least Nessie is allowed. Thanks Sam."
"You're welcome. See you later."
Jake got into his car and started it. He sat for a moment. Leah had suddenly come to mind. He was frustrated that she didn't show up for the meeting. He had made her his Beta and this is how she thanked him? Although, she had been avoiding everybody since the day after the show down with the Volturi. Maybe something else was wrong? Jake decided to make a stop at the Clearwater's house before leaving the reservation.
Outside the Clearwater's two story home, Jake saw Sue's car parked in the driveway. Leah didn't have her own car, but Jake had a feeling she was home. He parked on the street and made his way up to the door. He knocked and waited. Sue was the one who answered. She was dressed in her uniform for her diner and had her jacket on.
"Jacob, hello." She greeted politely.
"Hey, Sue. Is Leah around?" He asked her right away.
Sue's brows furrowed and she bite her lip. "Um, yes. She's upstairs, but I'm not sure she wants to see anybody." She said hesitantly.
"Please, may I go up and see her? I'm starting to feel like something is wrong."
"Okay. I guess she should tell somebody anyway. I'm on my way to work, can you tell her I'll be home shortly after closing?"
"Um, yeah. Thanks." Jake agreed in confusion and entered the house. "Have a good day."
He shut the door when she left and turned for the stairs. At the upstairs landing Jake found the door to Leah's room shut. He could hear her walking around inside. He knocked.
"Leah? It's me, Jake." He announced.
"I'm not in the mood, Jake. Just go." Leah said through the door. She sounded frustrated and sad.
"No. I'm not leaving. What is going on with you? Why weren't you at the meeting?"
"Because I didn't feel like going!" She answered in a loud voice.
"Let me in!" Jake demanded and pounded once on the door.
"No!" She yelled angerly.
"Why? Are you naked in there?"
"What? No!" She yelled and opened the door a crack. One of her chocolate colored eyes peeked at him. "Why do you care, Jake? Just go."
"Because I'm your friend and your alpha. That's why." He said as he pushed the door open. "Now I know something is going on, so tell me."
Leah backed up as Jake entered her room. She was, in fact, dressed. She wore cropped khaki pants and a dark green tank. Her room was a disaster. There were clothes everywhere. On her bed, on her dresser, and on the floor. Jake looked at her and raised his eyebrows.
"Doing a little early spring cleaning, or did your hamper explode?" He asked her in amusement.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "No." She grabbed an armful of clothes from the floor and piled them on her bed.
Jake watched her then looked around the room again. In the corner of her room he saw an open suitcase sitting on a chair. It was halfway packed with neatly folded jeans, shirts, and socks. Suddenly he got a bad feeling. He looked back at her in horror. She was silently watching him from next to her bed with a look of guilt.
"Are you going somewhere?" He asked.
"Yes." She answered quietly.
"Where? Why?"
"I'm leaving Forks for a while, Jake. I can't be here anymore. There's nothing for me here and I need to take ahold of my own life." She told him sadly.
"You weren't going to tell me?" He asked. He was a little hurt and offended.
"I'm sorry. I was going to leave you a letter."
"A letter? Wh… I…" He wasn't sure what to say. "I'm your alpha, I can make you stay."
"Jake." She said sadly. "We both know one of the reasons why I joined your pack was because you would let me go. You wouldn't try to control me."
"Yeah." Jake sighed. "Does anybody else know? Your mom?"
"Yes, my mom knows. I'm waiting to tell Seth. He can't keep a secret."
Jake nodded in understanding. "When are you going?"
"Tomorrow."
"Geeze! So soon?" He asked, then added. "Do you need a ride to the airport?"
"That would be great, Jake. Thank you."
"That's what friends are for. Where are you going?"
"California." She answered with a smile.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" He asked weakly.
"Yes. The decision has been made. I need this." She answered as she folded a couple of shirts and set them in the suitcase. "After all the things I went through with Sam, my father's death, and phasing. I need this badly."
They stared at each other for a moment. He was sad that she was leaving, but proud that she was taking control of life. They understood each other. They both had had difficulties with love and accepting life as a wolf. The only difference is that Jake's happy ending eventually came and Leah's had not.
"Come here." He said and opened his arms to her. She walked over and hugged him. "I'll miss ya."
"Yeah, I guess I'll miss you too." She mumbled and broke away from him.
"Do you need help?" He offered.
"No. I've got this." She sighed and looked around her room.
"What time should I be here?"
"9 am."
"Then I will be here at 9am." He sighed. "For now, I should go."
"See you tomorrow, Jake. And don't tell anybody until after you drop me off at the airport. Please."
"I won't tell. See you." He said and turned to go.
When Jake was back in his car, sat there thinking. She was right, she had to go if she wanted to save herself. It was too bad because they had just recently became good friends. He hoped that she wouldn't be gone for too long. He rubbed his eyes and sent a text to Bella, letting her know that he was on his way over. With one last glance up towards Leah's house, Jake started his car and drove away.