Chapter 1: Unknown Changes

One week later...

"Leah, do you care to tell me why you haven't been running your patrols?" Jacob demandingly ask while we walk upon an ancient trail on the Reservation.

I shrug my shoulders, running a bare foot across the rocks, not wanting to answer.

Abruptly, Jacob stops. We both turn towards each other. He catches my eyes in his staring intently into mine.

"I don't know, Jake," I sigh, pushing my hair behind my shoulder. "I just don't feel up to it right now. Is that a problem?"

"Yes, it is, Leah. Don't you realize-" he pauses, his gaze fixated on my neck. I fling my hand up in a hopeless attempt to cover the fresh scar, hoping he hasn't seen it. But I know he has. "What the hell is that?" Taking hold of my hand he pulls it from the scar. I hiss as his callused hand brushes across the tender area. "Leah, who claimed you?" He asks, wanting a truthful answer this time. I push his hand from my throat, hating his hold on me. I glare up at him, failing miserably to stay calm.

"Damn it, Jake! Some-" Almost directly on cue the nauseous feeling that has been consuming my morning takes me down again. The color drains from my face, as a worried expression absorbs Jake's being.

Hurriedly, I sprint to the nearest tree, throwing my upper body forward. The remnants of what little breakfast I forced down this morning reappears, sending a slight burning through my throat. After, anything and everything is rebelled from my stomach I stand upright. I turn back towards Jake, running the back of my hand across my mouth.

"What the hell is wrong with you? How did you get sick? This doesn't make any sense," Jake states with a dumbfounded look now on his face.

"Don't be so shocked. There's a first for everything," I point out motioning towards myself. I glare at him, once more, through my deep chocolate eyes, before leaving. "I'm fine by the way. Thanks for asking."

I walk rapidly on the trail, leaving Jake behind. My bare feet hit the porch as I pull open the sliding glass door. I walk past my mom in the kitchen making an early lunch. I don't question it, I don't care what her plans are.

"Leah, Sam and Emily called," she informs me, as I crawl up a couple of stairs. I don't give a fuck about what Sam and Emily had to say. So, I simply ignore her comment, continuing up the stairs. "They're coming over for lunch." That grabs my attention.

I pause my assent up the stairs. I pivot around, flying down the stairs.

"Why the hell did you invite them? You know, as well as anyone how I feel." I yell while starring down at her. "How dare you do this to me!" I pound my fist upon the granite counter top, sending cracks throughout it. But that's the least of my worries. I drag up my hand to eye level, examining it. For an unknown reason it has begun to purple as I feel the pain running through it.

"Don't start this, Leah," my mother says in a steady voice.

"I didn't. He did!"

"Well, I'm ending it. Now, go upstairs shower, change and get some shoes on. You look-"

"Like what?" I growl lowly at her.

"Just go," she demands. I know that I must before I really upset her and that's one thing that I hate doing to her.

I slam the door to my room as soon as I've slid in. I began pacing back in forth in my room in a blind rage. I feel the ripples of hatred consume my body, as the barrier of my second form threatens to take over.

Instinct begins to seize me. I know I must act on impulse to stop from phasing in the middle of my room. I fling open the door of my bathroom, hurriedly pushing the cold water on. I step underneath the pouring water, trying to calm myself. The water seeps through my clothing that I didn't have time to strip from. The water is like icy bullets upon my skin. It's almost as if there's a singing sound radiating off my skin, and steam rising in the air. The water becomes unbearable, freezing my lungs, unable to catch a breath of air.

I step back onto the hardwood floor of my bathroom. I yank the wet clothing form my body, slinging the items into my hamper. Drawing clothes from my drawers, I realize that I'm doing what my mother had wanted. I shove the clothes back in their spots, not caring to put any on.

I hear a slight tap on our front door, followed by the entrance of no other than Sam and Emily.

That's my cue!

I strut down the stairs, past Sam, Emily and my mother. I walk out the door ignoring any of their comments. As I walk down my drive way I can hear the apologizing of my 'behavior' by my mom and Emily reassuring replies. Sam completely silent.

I stop in front of Embry's house, striding over to the side where his room is located. I tap on the window, hoping I have caught his attention. There's no movement or light in the room, most likely he's sleeping. I bang on the window this time, until I see his head pop up. He turns glancing in my direction.

"Let me in," I mouth, giving him a look he knows well.

Embry and I have grown close over the course of the years. He's been my support network. Well, aside from Seth. But there are just some things I can't share with Seth. Embry knows everything. Imprinting and phasing is what brought us together one night while we were on patrol.

I watch as he pushes the window open. He scoots over in the bed to let me crawl in beside him. I pull the deep blue comforter across my body. He faces me trying to read my expression. Soon enough he figures it out, as always.

"How long are they going to be there?" he asks in a gruff voice, that tells me he's been asleep.

"I'm not sure. Jake have you running extra patrols?" I ask, wanting to change the subject.

"Yeah. All on your expense. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

"Leah," he sighs. He probably hates that I won't answer him. He's used to me telling him everything.

"Just go back to sleep," I instruct, pushing his head onto the pillow. "I'll leave in an hour or so." I lay there beside him, closing my eyes, trying to make sense of this whole mess.


"Hey, Sis!" Seth exclaims, happily plopping down beside me on the couch.

"Is there any time that you aren't so damn happy?" I ask, before popping a couple of chips into my mouth.

"Nope." He smiles brightly at me, while snaking his hand into the bag set in-between him and I. I give him the dirtiest go to hell look, snarling through my bared teeth. "Hey, you need to lay off of the chips. You're getting a little pudgy." And with that he retreats to his room, chip bag in hand.

I arise from the couch making my way to the pantry to retrieve more food. I stop as Seth's words sink in. Well, not his words, but the mood behind them. He usually jokes about shit like that, but there was no laugh or smile laced in his words. I drop what little food I have gathered in my hands.

I sprint up the stairs, into my bathroom. I strip my shirt from my body, turning sideways in the mirror. I glance down at my flat stomach.

But it's not flat. Instead, a small bump has taken its place. I try sucking in thinking that I'm just pushing out my muscle but the bump won't go away. I place a hand on the roundness of my torso.

I pause my breathing, being extremely still. Feeling a slight movement deep within me causes me to jerk away my hand.

Could it be?

TBC