Part Two

'And I will be your punching bag if you'll stay in my past.'

"What's going on Sammie? Cold feet?" Leah pulled me aside and wrapped her arms around me. "The thought of waking up to see your face everyday scares me too … truthfully." She nodded, her waist-length hair swaying too as though it moved to its own beat.

"No. I don't have second thoughts about you ever."

"Good." Leah kissed me warmly and then hummed immediately after like she did whenever I did something right. "Wait." She caressed my face lightly, which had the effect of making me feel elated and sick at the same time. I was sick with guilt. "I love you so much Sam … too much." Leah whispered kissing me so fervently that it hurt.

"I love you too but … I need to talk to you." The words flew out of my mouth. I owed her honesty, at the very least.

"Not the talk." Leah mouthed dramatically, giving me another kiss, this time on the side of my neck and she left go of my body. Our short embrace calmed me for a moment and then just made me feel even worse. "I love you too Sammie. Whatever it is … it can wait until tonight."

That night I did end up telling her.

"I hate you." Leah looked at me with such disgust that I doubted that I would ever be able to look at my own face again. "And you continued to make love to me and kiss me as though nothing happened … seriously?

"You talked about having kids with me. We had unprotected sex because we talked about having kids together. Did you use a condom?"

"Leah." I reached for her fruitlessly. She pulled away and then changed her mind, backing me into the wall.

"You …" She shook her head and then regained her composure. "Did you enjoy it? No. Don't answer that. I don't care. I don't want to know. This is the ultimate betrayal Sam."

"I love you Leah. I made a mistake." I tried to explain, pulling her into me as Leah's body calmed a little. When I pressed my lips against hers, she seemed to ignore everything that had happened. I lifted her body onto mine, turning only to place her on the counter next to us.

Our breathing grew heavy and heavier until I stood shirtless in front of her. That triggered something in Leah and she remembered why I no longer deserved her love. I didn't.

"No." She said with deep emotion more disconcerting than a river of tears would be. Leah hopped off the counter and then rubbed my kisses off her lips. "You don't get to cheat on me and get forgiven. I'm not some stupid desperate girl who will let you do that. Ever."

"Leah, I'm-"

"No. I want to hear Emily's side." Leah demanded, crossing her hands over her chest and pressing her lips together. My lips were still on fire from touching hers. My heart was beating with anticipation. "Call her." She handed the phone off to me. "I don't have anything to say to her."

When the three of us convened, Leah went off, on Emily in particular.

"You've always tried to take everything from me. Always, Emily." How Leah could blame her cousin for this, I didn't know. "The one time you have a one-night stand and it's with my fiancé. That's not a coincidence."

Emily looks like her face is going to crumble at any moment. Then I stepped in and told Leah to blame me and she did.

"I hate you and you have no right to say anything to me right now!" She yelled, pushing me until I fell against the wall. When she saw that I was still standing, Leah hit me again, punching me in the face. As much as these blows hurt, I knew they were nothing compared to the emotional scars I'd given her.

I told Leah that I loved her, that I'd always love her. I wanted her to forgive me, but I didn't know if she would. I promised to do anything she asked if she wouldn't end it.

But that didn't stop her. Leah continued to beat the shit out of me and it took all of my power to not let my wolf out and attack.

When she was done, I lay on the floor cut, bruised, beaten but … I felt worse emotionally than physically. Leah stepped over me icily, glaring at Emily before leaving. I tried to sit up and watch her athletic body disappear from my view.

Emily stayed behind.

She was a completely different vibe from Leah, sweet and kind. Nurturing. A caregiver. Her generosity only made me miss Leah's hardass-ness.

(A/N: Reviews wanted. -NL)