The Great Alpha ~ Chapter two.
Leah woke up the next day in an excellent mood. Even if she'd slept on a camp bed, she'd spent the most restful night since Sam decided to make them travel through North America in search of soldiers to increase his army. Wolves were known to be territorials and even those who'd accepted to join their causes denied them the right to sleep on their Reservations. The Lakota she-wolf had already spotted that the Quileute wolves were different from the others, but the more time she spent with them and the more singular they were for her. They were less built than the others, even though they seemed more experienced, and they looked like they were more attentive to their tribe than her Lakota fellows. Moreover, she enjoyed the fact that she could eat anything else than raw meat.
Sam, on the other hand, didn't seem as enthusiastic as her or her brother.
"Sleep well?" said a voice she instantly recognized, despite having known each other just since the day before.
"More than well. Can I leave with your camp bed?"
Jacob could help but laugh.
"You're hilarious, you know that?"
"Hey! I'm deadly serious!" she exclaimed. "I'm ready to tie it to my back and to carry it with me in my wolf form!"
"Stop talking nonsense, Leah" Sam growled, growing more and more annoyed. "Go and wake the others up. We still have a long journey ahead."
Leah scowled at him, but complied.
"Thanks again for the night, Sexy Alpha..." she whispered longingly at Jacob's ear before leaving.
Jacob quivered but refrained himself from showing the turmoil dwelling inside him, especially in front of the other Alpha.
"I'm sorry that you've come all that way for nothing. If it wasn't for my tribe's well-being, I'd have gladly helped you." Jacob said sincerely.
"Don't worry, I understand. I've left three of my best warriors to look after our tribe and our food supplies while we're gone..." Sam flashed a half-smile at him which still seemed quite forced. "Is there really nothing to make you change your mind?"
"There's nothing you can do, sorry."
"Even if I offer you something in exchange of your help?"
"No offense, but I don't think you've got anything worthy enough to make me rethink my point of view."
Sam's smile grew bigger.
"Are you sure?" he insisted as he turned his head to stare at Leah, who was manhandling one of his pack brothers so that he could wake up.
Jacob followed his gaze and froze as he understood the Lakota's insinuation.
"First of all, you got that wrong if you think that I'm interested, and second, I'm not looking for a wife."
"Oh, believe me, Leah can do anything. Even things that a wife would deny you, most of the time," Sam sneered.
The she-wolf heard her Alpha's comments and straightened up to glare at them.
"Whatever. I can't bargain my people's safety," Jacob proclaimed.
"You'll definitely miss something..."
Jacob spared another glance at Leah before getting back at Sam.
"Thanks for the offer, but I already have everything I need."
"Hey! Watch your steps, Leah!" Seth yelped while the woman rushed toward the exit.
"I think you've upset our friend there!" Sam joked.
Jacob winced.
"It wasn't my intention -"
"Whatever. You won't have to worry about her much longer. We'll leave in two hours, max."
Jacob nodded before slipping away from the community center. He waited until he was out of sight to backtrack and track Leah's scent. He didn't know why but he felt the need to apologize to her for his lack of tact.
...
She'd found a shelter on the beach and was throwing pebbles into the see, sharply. She had never felt such angry and ashamed in her whole life.
"Those pebbles had done no wrong to you, you know..." Jacob startled her as he arrived near her.
"What do you want?" she asked harshly, without looking at him.
"I wanted to apologize for having hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to be disrespectful -"
"It's OK, I'm used to that." she lied.
"I really mean it. I'm sure that you'll make a wonderful wife; you apparently have everything for... No, that's not what I meant, well yes, but... Anyway, I don't want to settle down," he concluded awkwardly, half-lying.
Leah finally faced him and gave him a dark look.
"You should have said yes to Sam when you had the opportunity," she hissed at him.
"I won't say it again. Offer or not, I won't risk my tribe safety," he repeated a bit more stiffly than he intended, because of her unnerving attitude.
That's what I get for wanting to comfort somebody...
"You don't understand," Leah sighed. "Your tribe is in danger, now more than ever. Sam-"
"Leah," her brother, who'd just arrived, called her harshly. "We're ready."
Leah stared intently at Jacob, but that time her gaze softened, letting all the sadness she was keeping inside her showing through it.
"You could have saved us all. I can't do anything more for you, Alpha." she whispered before following her brother.
Jacob watched her leave, really unsettled by her confessions, and he wondered for a moment if he'd been right. He then shook his head, remembering that his pack brothers and himself were strong enough to defend his tribe and that they'd become what they were for that reason. No matter what danger or how many assailants they would have to face, they would do it when the time would come.
Leah went back to the community center to gather her things and met Sam's icy glare.
"I take it you'd heard us..." she stated coolly.
"I already told you to watch your mouth", Sam snarled.
"I was just trying to make him change his mind before you decide to use extremes solutions", she argued. "We want them to be our allies, not our enemies!"
"I've tried, he refused, end of the discussion. That's too bad for them and it's not your place to intervene!"
"I have the right to do so and you know it" she snarled back while glaring at him.
"Don't push it, Leah", Seth tried to reason her.
"Listen to your brother if you don't want me to order you to calm the fuck down", Sam snapped before turning toward the rest of the pack. "We're out of here!"
Leah let out a frustrated growl and followed the pack in silence until the Quileute border.
"Sam, hear me out... Let them protect their people and let's find the others", she suddenly begged him, not really knowing why she was doing that as it wasn't like her to act that way.
Saw frowned, not used to such a comportment coming from her either.
"You know we need them and we already gave them a chance. Now it's too late, we must act fast."
"Then let me do it. Let me deal with him", she insisted.
"Seth can do it."
"He'll put up less resistance against me and he'll be more willing to follow me than Seth", Leah retorted.
"Why do you want so much to be in charge?" Sam questioned, his brows furrowed with suspicion.
"Because I already know who you'll force to torture him and I'd like his capture to be at least civilized!"
Sam sighed loudly.
"Alright, but I don't want any special treatment, am I clear?"
"Cristal clear" Leah agreed, a hint of a smile drawing on her face.
"We can't afford to wait longer, so what you have to do, and quick", Sam added curtly.
"I'll do it tonight. Away from his pack's sight." she murmured.
Her heart clenched as she thought about committing that kind of actions even though a part of her was glad to see the one who'd made such an impression on her by his unnatural charisma.
"Perfect, you have a free hand. He has to give in. I trust you."
Leah watched her pack brothers leave after Sam's tirade and waited quietly with her brother and another member of their pack until twilight to come back to La Push. Guided by her instinct, it didn't take long for her to find Jacob.
...
The Quileute had just finished talking with his father about the Lakota pack. He had asked Billy if he was sincerely thinking that his decisions as an Alpha were always good, and the elder answered that he didn't know any other young man as wise as him. Slightly content with that, Jacob had nonetheless wanted to get some fresh air. HE was still not so far from his house when he sensed a presence which wasn't one of his pack brothers.
"Show yourself!" he ordered while taking a defensive stance.
He didn't expect Leah to come out of the bushes, completely naked, and to walk towards him with a feline gait. The Alpha's heart skipped a beat and he found himself contemplating her for several seconds before looking away, embarrassed.
"What are you still doing there?"
"I didn't have the chance to say goodbye as I really wanted to, so I came back..." she lied, the distance between them lowering dangerously.
Surprised by her answer and also instinctively, he shot a glance at her and regretted it instantly.
"Wait... Can you at least cover yourself so that we could discuss?"
"I don't have any clothes", she smirked. "Does my nudity bother you?"
"Yes! I mean... You're truly gorgeous, but that's not the point..." You're making a fool of yourself, Jake! "We don't know each other so, put this on." he almost implored as he took off his shirt and threw it to her.
Leah caught it and complied, laughing.
"Anyway, I can't say that you aren't well-built", she pointed out sensually.
"We all are, in my pack", he retorted without looking at her, giving her all the time she needed to dress herself.
"Some people are more than others, Alpha..." Leah breathed, placing her hand on his shoulder to make him know she was closer than he'd thought.
Jacob shuddered as he felt her touch but tried to play it cool when he turned to face her.
"Why are you here, Leah? If you hope that flirting with me will make me change my mind -"
Leah's face became serious and she glanced quickly around them.
"Believe me, I'd love to... But we know that it's a lost cause, so... You're giving me no choice".
Jacob frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Before he had time to react, she pulled him into a passionate and desperate kiss and stuck a syringe into his neck.
"I'm sorry, Alpha", she breathed against his lips before pulling away.
Jacob staggered backward, holding his hurting neck. Leah lowered her head when she saw his face showing a surprised expression, followed quicly by an angry one.
"Don't fight it, it will be more painful if you don't let the drug act", she warned him.
He tried to walk towards his dad's house, but he stumbled and fell on his knees after a few steps.
"Get ahold of him, guys", she commanded coolly.
Her fellows obeyed and seized Jacob unceremoniously. The Quileute groaned and struggled with all the strength he'd left, managing to push them away for a moment in the process. He tried to get up but stumbled again quickly.
"No!" Leah screamed in terror, seeing his brother knock Jacob out cold.
"Sorry, but we were wasting time and we couldn't stay there any longer", Seth said, hoisting him on his shoulders before starting running into the woods.
Jacob's house's outside light suddenly turned on and panic stroke the young woman. She quickly erased any trace of their presence and ran back to the others.
A/N: Here goes the second chapter of "The Great Alpha"! We're looking for an English Beta, because Leilani (who's translating our stories) is really afraid to do it wrong. So, if one of you are interested to help us (and also read the other hapters before anyone else ^^), PM us and we'll gladly take you on the offer!
Also, what do you thnk of this chapter? Did you like it? What do you think will happen next? Should we continue our translation? Please review to make us know, and you'll make us very happy!