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~Introverted Stringer~
Last Chapter...
"I'm not trying to upset you, Leah, but you can't allow others to take away your happiness. Harboring all of that anger and hatred will make you sick. A wise man once said hating a person is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. You must realize something about hatred. Half of the people you hate do not know, and the other half, do not care, Leah." Damn him, and his old age and wisdom. Why did he have to be right? Emily and Sam were happy and I was miserable and angry at everyone and for what?
"So, I guess you want to be my second chance?" My voice was now a mere whisper.
"Yes Leah, I would like to be your second chance, as long as you are willing to be my second chance also."
Chapter 3 – More Than Friends?
Leah POV
As I made my way upstairs for bed, the conversation with Randall was still playing in my head. This was a second go round for him also. He had been on this earth for over a millennium, a period of time equal to one thousand years and in all that time he had only been with and in love with one other person. I felt intimidated almost. How long had he and this woman been together? What happened between them? Did she break his heart? Did he break hers? And how could I compete?
Thoughts still colliding haphazardly in my mind, I made a detour to the bathroom. Daciana was nice enough to place my bag on the counter. Getting out of the shower I could still hear Seth and Taisie quietly whispering with one another; they were speaking way too low for even my enhanced senses to make out any words, but their combined laughter was pretty loud. I couldn't help but smile, I was happy that my brother had found the person he was meant to be with and that she wasn't going away any time soon.
When I entered the guest room I found Daciana sprawled on the bed reading a book. I read the title out-loud, "The Universe, the Gods, and Men: Ancient Greek Myths. Seriously, Daciana?" I muttered a little shocked by her choice of reading material.
"What can I say Quæ lupus," She shrugged, "I have a thing for strong powerful women, like Athena. She was the goddess of war, you know. That's hot." I laughed and flopped down beside her as if we had been friends for years, its strange how two people could meet and instantly feel connected to one another. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, Leah I think you're a strong powerful, beautiful woman too, but it appears my Regal has beat me to the punch." She teased me with a smile.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and smirked.
I wanted to know more about Randall's past but I was losing my nerve. "Why do you guys speak in only Latin? No one speaks that language anymore." I asked instead.
Daciana closed her book and set it on the nightstand.
"You're Native American, Leah, you're Quileute, but you can't speak your native tongue to someone who is Navajo because they wouldn't understand you. " Daciana explained. "Before we became an endangered species, our numbers were massive and spread throughout all seven continents. Our many clans inherited the cultures and languages among the humans we co-existed with. Randall's ancestors felt a means of universal communication was necessary if and when we crossed paths with others like ourselves. Latin has been around as long as we have. Many of our kind were fluent in American English as well." She folded her arms across her chest and smiled at me. "You want to cut the bullshit now and tell me what you're really thinking?" I was starting to realize my new friend really wasn't the subtle type.
"Not really." I groaned, my posture slumping noticeably. Too many supernatural beings with enhanced hearing in this damn house.
"Tell you what," Daciana began. "Let's go somewhere tomorrow away from everybody, and then we'll talk."
"What about later? Won't Randall see your thoughts?" I asked nervously and Daciana shook her head no.
"Our joint telepathy works a little different from your wolf telepathy, we're able to filter our thoughts, and we only share the ones we want." Damn it, only Jake could do that! "We can also carry on conversations telepathically with one another when we are in human form."
"What if Randall orders you to share your thoughts?"
"That is one command he would never infringe upon us, unless it were a life or death situation." I was liking Randall more by the minute, he wasn't intrusive and didn't abuse his power on his unit's thoughts unless it were an absolute necessity.
"You said your numbers were once massive, so how the hell were the leeches, or the lamia as you call them, able to nearly destroy all of you? That just doesn't make any sense. According to the Cullens, your kind matches them in strength, so wouldn't it be an even fight?" Daciana started to open her mouth but before she could answer my question, we heard a light tapping on the door.
"Are you ladies decent?" Randall asked.
"Never!" Daciana chuckled. "But we are wearing clothes if that's what you're wondering." He opened the door.
"I didn't mean to overhear you ladies speaking. It's an occupational hazard of mine." He grinned at me briefly before glaring at Daciana. They didn't speak, but both of their stares were pretty intense. It was apparent to me, they were having a conversation with one another telepathically, and whatever was being discussed wasn't for my ears to hear. After a minute or so, Daciana gave Randall a quick nod and sighed heavily, giving me an apologetic gaze. I guess the whole werewolf/vampire subject was off limits...for now.
Randall only took a few steps into the room. "Leah, your mother just called, your Alpha must have given her my cellular number. She and the members of your council would like to speak with me tomorrow evening, and I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
My ex now sat on the council and he was the last person I willingly wanted to be around.
"Won't Jacob be there?" I asked, "I mean do you really need me there?"
"No Leah, I don't." He sighed. Thank goodness. "But I want you there." Well, damn, that made all the difference. Not that many people actually wanted to spend time with me, but Randall did, and what was the use of trying to deny my hidden desire of wanting to spend time with him too? Randall had awakened something in me, something I hadn't wanted in a long time and that was to be with someone emotionally, romantically, mentally and physically.
"Fine," I conceded, trying unsuccessfully to hide my smile. "But I'm not promising to stick around the whole time," I glanced at Daciana for a moment. "We have plans."
"I know." He chuckled. "Somnus meus speciosus bene deae." He added, before shutting the door behind him. Daciana dropped head and laughed.
How could just a few words I didn't even know the meaning to, sound so damn seductive? "What did he just say?"
"He said, sleep well my beautiful goddess." Daciana answered before falling asleep.
~Introverted Stringer~
The Next Evening:
Location: La Push Council Hall
How in the hell did I get talked into this?
"Thank you for accompanying this evening Leah." Randall gave my hand a quick squeeze as we pulled into the parking lot. Why in the hell am I here? I shifted my eyes over at the sexy man sitting in the driver's seat. Oh! Now I remember, it was this guy. He just had to be so damn irresistible and sweet. "I promise you Leah, any time you want to leave we can. Your presence tonight, is not just for me, it is for you too."
"Why?" I didn't imprint on anyone, this meeting had nothing to do with me.
"You need closure Leah, this is the first step." Randall stroked my cheek. "All of the imprinted couples will be attending this meeting."
"What?!" All logic went out the window. That meant I would have to be around her. Damn this! I felt my anger boiling over, my body started to shake, there is no way I'm willingly going to sit in the same room and play nice with that lying, traitorous poor excuse for a cousin of mine.
"I'm outta here!" I snarled, reaching for the handle of the door, but just as I was about to swing it open, Randall pulled me into his lap. "LET ME GO!" I protested, but instead of releasing me, he held on tighter.
"No Leah," He spoke softly and without malice. His voice was so calming that my body stopped its trembling. He brushed the tip of his nose against my cheek and then planted a kiss on my neck-suddenly my longing to leave was gone. I felt so safe and whole wrapped in his arms. "I am not going to let you run away. You have dodged this bullet for way too long. I am doing this for us."
"Us?" I turned my head to look at him directly in his eyes.
"I do not want you to carry that anger and resentment into our relationship."
"Our relationship?" I scoffed, "I haven't even said yes or no to your proposal. How can you be so sure, we're meant to be?" I wanted to believe him, but there was that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me to be careful, don't let him in.
"I just know Leah. I want you, more than I have ever wanted anything or anyone in my whole entire life," He sounded so sure of himself, I admired and envied that about him "I never thought I could desire someone like this again. I feel it even deeper than I did the first time around." He sighed heavily. I can't remember the last time I'd been that sure about anything.
"It frightens and excites me simultaneously." He admitted. "You are so strong Leah, stronger than you think." He was giving me every last piece of himself. Sam had never said anything like this to me. He never poured out his heart or showed me his vulnerable side. He did tell me he loved me, that was pretty much it, but Randall was different. How could I possibly say no?
I cupped his face gently in my hands, and gazed into his deep brown eyes for a few moments. I could no longer hear that nagging voice in my head, she was gone, and I'm pretty sure if I still could hear her, I would have told her to shut the hell up. I leaned in and pressed my lips against his, and just when I thought Randall couldn't hold me any tighter he did. We lost all sense of time wrapped in our passionate haze.
"Ahem!" I knew that clearing of the throat from anywhere. As much as I wanted to stay in Randall's arms, I knew it was time to face the music. We slowly unlocked ourselves from one another.
"I do not believe this is the first impression I want to give your mother, Leah." Randall grinned bashfully.
"How do you know that's my mother?" I laughed slightly surprised.
"You both have the same glare." I didn't have to look to know exactly what he was talking about, but I looked anyway. She had her hands folded across her chest, she was not amused. Jacob was standing beside her. He on the other hand thought this was the most entertaining sight he had ever seen, his amused expression faded as soon as my mom shot daggers at him though.
"I guess we better get this show on the road." I started to get up, but Randall hadn't let go yet.
"You have not answered my question yet, Leah. Are we friends or are we more?"
I smiled.
"After a kiss like that, do you even have to ask?"
"I guess not." This time he kissed me. There are no words in the human dictionary that could adequately describe how amazing this kiss was, it was like no other. It wasn't hasty or swift. His lips were gentle, patient, and compassionate. Randall knew exactly what to do and how to do it. He knew exactly what I liked, and how I liked it. To me it almost felt like he was reading not my mind, but my soul.
"Leah Clearwater!" I heard my mother shout my name, I shot up my index finger. I just needed one second to enjoy this...maybe two...three...four...oh what the hell, she's already pissed, might as well enjoy this!
"Leah," Randall groaned against my lips. "As much as I want to continue ravishing you, we need to stop now, or I will have to be forced to reschedule this meeting." Sounds like a great idea to me, but Randall's passenger door opened.
"Are you two done fogging up the damn windows? We do have a meeting to attend, and you're lip-locked with the guest of honor." Jake was smiling once again, I suddenly realized my mom wasn't outside anymore, she must have gone back into the building, "I think you two traumatized her!" He managed to say between laughs.
~Introverted Stringer~
"So nice of you to finally join us." It appeared my mother regained her bearings. "Randall, we haven't properly met, we spoke on the phone yesterday evening. I'm Sue Swan, Leah's mother." She gave Randall a quick handshake.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Swan, thank you for inviting me. Seth and Leah are something special. You have raised them well." Randall draped his arm around my shoulder.
"I should say the same about you. Taisie is a very sweet girl, and please call me Sue." I noticed Randall's niece sitting down with Seth. She looked over and waved at us, we waved back.
"Taisie was an easy child to raise, I cannot take all of the credit, my whole entire unit is responsible for the person she is today."
"Leah, are you alright? You looked a little flushed." A very pregnant concerned Angela came waddling towards me. Embry's imprint was born to be a mother, she was always so nurturing. She didn't have one hateful bone in her body. If Angela disliked you, it meant you had to be a pretty terrible person, like a serial killer or something.
"I'm fine," I assured her. "No need to fuss over me, you should take a seat, wouldn't want those twins of yours making an early appearance." I helped her sit back down next to Embry.
"What took you two so long?" Taisie asked the both us, she and Seth were sitting in the same row as Embry and Angela.
"I had to do a little convincing with Leah here-to get her to come inside." Randall replied with a sly smile.
Seth groaned. "I don't even want to know."
"Then don't ask, brother dear." I smirked.
I had a feeling this was going to be a night to remember. Let the fun and games begin.
A/N: Thank you all for reading, please review, add to your favorites and alerts!
