Chapter Two

Burning

She didn't get very far.

The further her long, loping gait took her, the more she wanted to turn back and wrap Bella in her warm embrace and whisk her away from the turmoil. It was like an invisible string, wrapped around her heart and tightening the further she pushed herself away from the bonfire… away from Bella.

Why? Why me? Of all fucking people… She tried to find the bitterness and anger that had always followed her like a shadow and found that it was muted. She wasn't angry at Bella. Fuck, how could she be? It wasn't Bella's fault. She thought back to the look of confusion, of fear, on Bella's face... Leah groaned, falling to a crouch and burying her face in her hands.

Behind her she could hear the aftermath.

"Hold on Jake, just calm down." Billy Black soothed.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Jacob roared.

"That's hot." Quil snickered followed by the thwak of Embry slapping his shoulder.

"The stories never mentioned…" Sue's whisper.

"But she's an outsider…" Jared's mumbles.

"Who knew the Spirits would punish Lee-Lee for being a major bitch…" Paul snorted.

Jacob snarled at the same time as Seth's "Hey!"

And then the telltale sounds of colliding muscle and makeshift driftwood being shoved out of the way as everyone, even the elders, began shouting at once.

"Enough!"

Sam's booming baritone silenced everyone. Even from where she sat some yards away, Leah felt the chill of the compulsion wash over her, raising goosebumps along her arms even though the Alpha Order wasn't directed at her.

"This is… unexpected." Old Quil's weathered, husky voice of authority. "But we will not dissolve into violence."

"Quil. Paul. You're on perimeter." Sam growled.

"Aw c'mon!"

"Finally, something interesting happens and you send us away…"

There was a shuffle of movement as their little camp was broken down and packed up. Leah hadn't moved. She was a crouched statue of despair against the backdrop of crashing waves.

She didn't even lift her head when footsteps broke away from the group and made its way over to her.

"Please Seth, I am not in the fucking mood." She grumbled.

"Oh, I know." Emily dropped down beside her with a soft exhale. "You did the same thing when we accidentally broke Ol' Man Joe's window with that baseball when we were kids. Remember?" Her laugh was soft and sweet. "Ran like a banshee and left me to deal with apologies."

Leah didn't know what to say. The two haven't spoken properly and weeks. In retrospect, that was probably Leah's fault. Emily had always tried, no matter how awkward things had become.

She'd extended her house to the Leah and the pack. When Paul's home situation had gotten so bad that he was thrown onto the streets, Sam and Em had let him crash on their couch for weeks until he could find his own place. Emily made sure they were all taken care of. Hell, Em even lent her clothes when Leah had destroyed all of hers in her fits of anger. Even though it was usually one of the other pack members who'd bring it out to her because Leah was too ashamed to look Emily in her marred face and take it from her. When they did catch each other in human moments in passing, Emily would at least attempt to make friendly small talk.

And Leah would run. Like she did just now. Like she'd always done.

"You could've run too." Leah muttered. "Goodie-two-shoes."

"If you keep running, your problems will always chase you." Emily said, not unkindly.

Leah lifted her head, peeking at the other woman. Emily looked… peaceful. Despite everything that had just happened. Her features were calm, still beautiful despite the scars. Her long, curling hair flowed in the light breeze.

Leah had always been secretly jealous of her hair. Perfect Emily with the perfect grades and perfect hair. All the boys were drawn to her. The teachers loved her. Even Sue wanted Leah to be more like Emily. Stop lashing out so much, she'd chide her daughter, Try to be more polite… Take Emily's example.

Her father was the only one that never forced Leah to be something she wasn't.

But he was gone now. Dust on the wind.

They sat in silence, Emily with that infinite patience of hers as Leah struggled with her words.

"I… She…" Leah racked her hands through her shoulder-length hair. "But we're both…"

"Female?" Emily offered. Her gaze broke from the waves to give Leah a soft smile. "The Spirits often work in mysterious ways. But they don't make mistakes. Especially when it comes to imprinting."

Leah knees pulled up to her chest. She knew deep in her bones that Emily was right. Her heart now beat softly in tune with another's down the beach. Everything in her being urged her to seek Bella out. Make sure she was safe. Make sure she was happy.

She glanced down the beach to see their group had mostly dissolved. The elders remained, deep in discussion with Sam. Embry and Seth were side by side, watching Jacob pacing a few feet away with Bella fretting at his side.

Bella's head turned toward Leah and even with the meager glow of the dying fire-light, she could see her distress.

"You can feel her… right?" Emily whispered, and Leah turned to see Emily regarding her curiously. "Sam describes it like tug in his chest. He always knows where I am. If I'm upset at something, or in 'danger'. He just knows."

"Leah." Sam rumbled under his breath, knowing she'd hear. Speak of the fucking devil.

Sam stared at her for a moment and jerked his chin. It was an Order. Something he threw around way too much for her taste.

Leah rose slowly and Emily followed suit. Time to enter the storm.

As they drew close to the group, Leah couldn't help but seek out Bella. Bella had been trying to calm Jacob to no avail but fell silent with Leah's return. Their eyes caught a second time and Leah swallowed thickly. She felt better, being so close to Bella but she was instinctively on guard with a wolf as big as Jacob close to losing control just a few precious feet away from her imprint. She bit off the low growl that fought its way up her chest on its own accord and turned to Sam.

Sam's face was a familiar, hardened mask.

"None of us expected this tonight." For a second, his mask slipped and a look akin to pity flashed across his eyes. "But Emily is right. We cannot choose the hands fate deals us." He glanced at Bella and Jacob with a frown. "Jake. Give Embry your keys. He'll get her home."

Jake glared. "What the fuck, Sam?"

"Jacob…" Billy warned.

Leah knew what Sam was doing. Jacob was a loose cannon right now and Embry was the most level-headed member of the pack. Of course, that did nothing to calm Leah because it was still the matter of fact that Sam was sending Bella right back into bloodsucker territory. And that did not sit well with Leah's wolf.

"You can't be serious." Leah growled. "You're sending her away?"

"Now Leah…" Sam looked torn.

"No! If Embry's going, then so am I!"

"And risk you starting a war with the Cullens? I don't think so!"

Leah took a step towards Sam, her fists vibrating at her sides as Sam's posture loosened into something that resembled a fighter's stance.

Billy Black put a hand on Sam's shoulder and regarded Leah with sympathy. "We've all had a long night. I know it's hard, Leah, but Sam is only looking out for you… And Bella."

"Don't I have a say in this?"

Bella's voice was hard as she pushed past Jacob. She lifted her chin stubbornly as her arms folded across her chest. "Please don't talk about me like I'm not right here."

Billy blinked with surprise. "Of course, Bella. My apologies. We just can't risk…" He glanced at Jacob and then at Leah.

Bella didn't back down. "From what I've heard about i-imprints…" She stumbled over the word, looking towards Leah, "It's like a compulsion. You said so yourself Mr. Ateara."

Old Quil nodded in acknowledgement. "This is true… But we've also never had a female wolf imprint on…"

Leah's lips peeled back over her teeth. Go on. Say it old man. She could feel Emily's calm but firm grip on her forearm. Sam shifted his weight, eyes on Emily.

Bella stepped forward, fire in her eyes as she stared down the Council. "Leah's imprinting is just as important as Sam and Emily's. Jared and Kim's. Just because she's a girl doesn't change that. Can't you see she's hurting too?"

Sue's expression broke. "Oh, Leah…" She sighed.

Jacob, stone-faced, moved to touch Bella's shoulder. "Maybe you should…"

"Back off, Jake!" Bella snapped.

Off to the side, Embry whistled low.

"Lee's gonna have her hands full…" Seth chuckled.

Leah shot him a murderous look. Inside... her wolf purred. Her little imprint wasn't as fragile as she looked.

"Stop." Sam rubbed a palm over his face. "It's late. Nobody is belittling Leah's imprint, alright?" He turned to Bella. "And nobody is sending you away. We need time to… process. Old Quil is right. Nothing like this has ever happened before but we will take the appropriate line of action."

Bella looked ready to argue but Sam lifted a hand.

"We will adjourn until tomorrow. We will have an official Tribal Council gathering. Three o' clock. There is much to discuss." He turned to look back at the Council, waiting for disagreement but Billy Black only nodded once. Sam's gaze drifted over an agitated Jacob before settling on Bella. His voice was soft now.

"You are welcome back, of course."

Bella nodded and Leah expelled the breath she'd been holding. The group broke as the elders made their way to the cars, Sam went to Emily, and Embry drifted to where Jake was still watching Bella. Emily squeezed Leah's arm in comfort before leaning into Sam's embrace.

Sue gave her a look, mix of concern and something else she couldn't place.

Leah's molars ground together. Was her mother happy that this happened to her? Or ashamed? Sue had always been a nurturer, like Emily. She'd open her home to anyone and asked back nothing in return. She loved hosting huge spaghetti dinners or cook outs and inviting the whole block. They'd even invited Bella and Charlie once, last year. Her father, Harry, manned the grill as always, laughing with Charlie and Billy as amber beer bottles dangled from their fingers. Every now and then, he'd pull her mother into his side as she whisked food out onto the carefully prepared picnic tables. And oh, how her mother smiled...

And then her father died and Sue became a different woman. She held the broken pieces of her family together and put a brave face on in front of Billy and Old Quil. On some days, Leah pretended she couldn't hear her mother's quiet sobs through the thin walls in the early hours of the morning.

"Wow! What a night, huh?" Seth exclaimed from beside her.

Leah grunted as she watched Jacob shove his keys into Embry's chest. Sam clapped a strong hand on Embry's shoulder and murmured into his ear. Embry looked more serious than Leah had ever seen him before.

"Bella seems nice enough…"

Leah closed her eyes. "Go home, Seth."

"What? Don't cha wanna talk about… oh! Um… see you at home, Lee!"

Leah opened her eyes, watching with brows drawn as her brother bounded after their mother. What had…?

Oh shit. Bella was walking towards her.

Shit. Fuck.

Leah shuffled nervously, coughing and then turning to face the ocean as Bella came to stand beside her.

Her intoxicating essence wrapped around Leah again and she almost groaned. Leaves, fresh rainfall, lavender with an undercurrent of campfire smoke and…

She growled low. She couldn't help it.

The revolting stench of leech clung to Bella like the parasites they were. She stiffened. Her wolf strained at her grip, wanting to make sure those things never touched her imprint ever again.

Before tonight, she hadn't cared one bit when Jacob had come to the pack with information that one of those things had been sniffing around Bella. Had been in her house. Now she had to wrangle her fury down at the very thought.

Bella rubbed her arms awkwardly. "Jeesh." She mumbled. "Something I said?"

Leah snorted. "No. You… stink." She cringed. Really Leah?

"Thanks. I'll change deodorants."

"Not like that. Just the bloods- um, Cullen's stink. You don't stink at all. You actually smell... really nice." Leah blushed furiously under her russet skin.

"Oh. Jacob mentioned something about that…" Bella paused. "But thank you."

Jacob had long since disappeared into the woods, probably running off his excess frustration. She only slightly pitied Quil and Paul, forced to suffer Jake's melodramatic bullshit in pack mind. Then she remembered both of their smart-ass quips all night and swiftly revoked her pity.

They watched the waves crash against the sand. Only Embry remained, waiting for Bella in the parking lot with Jacob's car.

Leah wanted to say so much but the words were like smoke in her head, swirling out of her grasp.

I'm sorry to drag you into my mess...

This doesn't have to be anything at all if you don't want it to be…

If a bloodsucker ever went near you again, I'd rip them to pieces without a second thought…

It surprised her with it's intensity, but Leah knew it was true. She would rip the world apart to keep this tiny human safe.

Leah glanced at her and found that Bella was openly studying her. Their eyes met once again, every time like a shock wave to her senses. Up close, Leah could see the richness of her brown eyes. The red and copper tones in her hair...

She really was a tiny lil' thing; The top of Bella's head barely came up to Leah's shoulder. Where Leah was all sinewy muscle, Bella was soft and slender.

"Listen-"

"I-…"

They both started at the same time.

Bella smiled, and Leah was enraptured. She gestured toward Bella. "You first."

"I'm kind of… frazzled at the moment." Bella pulled her plump lower lip between her teeth. "Jake told me a bit about imprinting. He said that the wolf would be whatever the uh… imprintee wanted. Whether that's a friend, a sister…" She lowered her gaze as a blush spread across her cheeks. "A… lover."

Leah barely breathed. She didn't interrupt.

"I'll be honest, okay? I'm not…" The blush spread. "I never really thought about you like that..." Bella's eyes widen slightly. "No offense, of course! Look, I think we should at least try to get along, right? Since we're tied together now or whatever this is." Bella inhaled quickly and turned back to the ocean, resuming her word vomit. "I didn't even know you were a part of the pack. I thought you and Seth knew but… Seth! He's a werewolf, too isn't he? This is insane…"

"I'll say. Blame the stupid wolf gods or what have you." Leah groaned. She wanted to be angry, but she found she was just… exhausted. Imprinting really did a number on the psyche. "Look, Swan…" She crossed her arms. "Sorry to break it to you, but I'm not gonna kiss you alright?"

Something curled in her gut, but Leah pushed the feeling down before it could latch.

Bella dissolved into laughter. The sound buzzed around Leah's brain, bouncing through her synapses like a pinball made of velvet.

"Well... Your loss."

The space between them was charged with a budding... something. Part of her mind couldn't help but wander. If Bella had demanded a kiss…

She pushed the thoughts away hastily.

Embry's throat clearing from somewhere behind them was lost on the waves but not to Leah's wolf hearing. She rumbled her resentment deep in her chest.

"You'll be there tomorrow?" She asked Bella.

"Billy's house? Yeah." Bella sighed. "I'll have to let Edward know. He doesn't like surprises."

This time Leah's rumbling was loud enough for her to hear. Bella jumped slightly at the noise, but she didn't seem scared. In fact, Leah had yet to scent true fear from her all night.

"Is that bloodsucker your keeper too?"

"He just worries. After everything we've been through it's understandable." Bella huffed, that stubborn streak coming back. "I go where I want."

"Yeah. Sure. That's why he roams along the treaty line whenever you're here."

Bella furrowed her brow.

"What? You didn't know? He stinks the whole place up."

"No. He never mentioned that. It doesn't matter anyways." Bella dismissed. "I know I'm safe here."

You are, Leah wanted to say. You'll always be safe with me.

"Until your clumsy ass falls off a cliff. Again."

Bella huffed and naturally, swatted Leah across the shoulder. Or tried to. Because as her hand descended it was inexplicable caught in Leah's warm, gentle grip.

Bella sucked in a breath. She hadn't even seen Leah's hand come up. Her eyes snapped upwards to find Leah's lidded light brown eyes melting into hers.

They were so close now. Close enough that they shared breaths. Close enough that Leah could see every freckle and the soft blush that spread across the other girl's cheeks. Her fingers curled carefully around Bella's softer than silk hand.

Leah's eyes fluttered closed and she inhaled slowly. Fuck…

She pitied the poor fool that would even attempt to separate her from her imprint.

Embry coughed dramatically.

Leah's eyes snapped open. She slowly turned to glare at him. He was studying his fingernails innocently, a small smile on his lips. The spell broken, Bella stepped back, her hand slipping free and drifting back to her side.

"I should go…" She sounded breathless, her face flushed. "Goodnight, Leah."

"Goodnight." Leah murmured, stock-still even as she freaked out inside. What the hell was that? She didn't have an answer for herself.

Bella smiled softly, and then turned to pick her way over the driftwood, pulling her sweater tighter around herself as the breeze picked up with the sea's chill. Embry lifted his head, hands in his pockets as he leaned against the car. He met Leah's eyes across the beach and gave her a solemn nod. He would look after her. Leah didn't doubt it. Bella and Embry had been friends long before she was ever in Leah's orbit. And Bella was pack now. Whether the elders would accept it tomorrow or not.

Leah watched Bella climb into the car with Embry. It roared to life. The glass was hazy from this distance, but she could tell Bella watched her as they drove away.

As the red headlights disappeared around the bend and deeper into the dark forest surrounding the beach, that invisible string that wrapped around her heart tugged. She remembered how Emily described it. Except it was… more. Like one soul split evenly between two bodies. It didn't just tug. It seared her alive.

She didn't think it would be like this.

She didn't think it would happen at all. This shit was supposed to be rare. She had seen Sam and Jared's thoughts over their imprints in pack mind but now she understood.

Bella's warm eyes, full of worry and boldness and heat… She couldn't forget them if she tried. As if she wanted to try.

Leah tilted her head back, letting the sea spray wash over her, peppering her face and clothes with droplets.

It did nothing to quell the flame that burned inside.

A/N: Thank you for all the follows/favorites so far. Hope you're buckled for the ride ;)

As always, reviews are thoroughly appreciated!