Sometimes, when they were alone, it felt like time had stopped-or at least come unhinged somehow. The moments came in broken fragments that were followed by a welcomed isolation, separating them from any real responsibilities and everyone else. She just became a pretty girl and he a normal guy. Some of those moments were spent in little squabbles, as they fought often over tiny insignificants, or in hushed whispers of tiny fears and big pipe dreams. Most often they were spent laughing, in jokes so terrible they were nothing short of hilarious as he'd say anything to make her smile.
But this silence, the moment that held them now, was unbearable. She sat across him at the small table in the basement, a single light hanging between them. A hysterical laugh sat at the edge of his lips, threatening to bubble over as he took in the scene in front of him. With her arms crossed and eyes narrowed it felt more like a back alley mobster scene where at any moment she'd hold out her rings for him to kiss and beg her forgiveness. And for this moment to end, he'd sure as shit do it too. To add to the ridiculousness of it all, his cell sat in the middle of the table with his father's deep tone coming through the speaker, being the only noise to hear between them.
"I really do not know how to help here." Billy sighed. "The council, as much as we try, is out of their depth on this one. Our knowledge is limited to the last pack, and they were nowhere near as large or advanced as this one. The number of wolves alone is staggering."
"So you have nothing." Jacob flatly stated, earning an eye roll from the frosty she-wolf.
"I am going to go out on a limb here, and this could be very well be the musing of a senile old man, but I take you all are not harboring these…emotions for any other of the wolves, correct?"
"If you're asking whether or not I suddenly want to stoop down to the likes of Quil, the answer is no." Leah bit out, "But hey, maybe Jake's suddenly into catching instead of pitching."
Billy let out a startled noise and then a laugh while Jacob glared the feisty beta down. "I assure you Dad, that isn't the case. Where are you going with this?"
"Well as the only female wolf and the true alpha, only one conclusion can be made. Biology is trying to tell you something."
The noise Leah then made was between a shriek and something choking to death. "You mean like an imprint? Why the fuck now? And hello, Jakey here has the half-breed."
"Don't call her that." Jake corrected lightly before continuing, "Besides, we're not like that anyway. I definitely don't see Nessie like that. I changed her diapers for Christ's sake."
"I believe this to be more primal than that. I have been talking to Jake for awhile now about that false imprint."
"False what?" Leah repeated, eyebrow raised. This time the question was aimed directly at the alpha.
"He thinks the imprint with Ness only happened as a way to protect the wolf line. Without it, we would have had-"
"Civil War." Leah finished. The impact of the answer made Leah look as Jake felt. The idea kind of made Jake's head spin, to think fate would step in and screw with them so directly.
"You have said it yourself, son, the bond with the girl is fading." Billy stated.
"What?" Leah's voice was a soft mumble, her eyes accusing.
A sheepish look passed over the alpha, as he suddenly felt he couldn't meet her dark eyes. "I didn't want to say anything until I really knew." He knew what the implications of a wolf breaking their imprint would mean for her. "Sometimes I can- sometimes I feel him rejecting her. The wolf."
He peaked up to meet her gaze, and this time it was hers that was turned downward. The silence hung over them again, just a moment before Billy broke it. "Where I am headed with this is, well, wolves age slowly. While phasing, it has taken years for your brother Seth to look six months older that six years. Maybe now after all this time the wolves are reaching maturity."
"Fucking werewolf puberty? That's the best we've fucking got?" Leah's anger was clear, and understood. Fate was taking more choices from her.
"I believe she is seeking a suitable mate, much like the natural order of things."
Jacob snorted, unable to stop himself. "Nothing about this is fucking natural. Besides, Leah said it herself. Her, um…lady cycles aren't really you know, cycling." Great, really fucking articulate there, pal.
Leah rolled her eyes, but her cheeks actually became red. "Actually last couple months for a couple days…"
"What?" Jake looked to her. "Leah that's great, what you've wanted. Why didn't you say something?"
"Say what exactly? Oh hey guys, this morning I got my period and forgot what it was to the point I for a split second thought I was dying." She offered, rolling her eyes again, frustration and annoyance dancing in them.
"You know you could've said something." Jake argued. This was so important to her. She could start a family like she wanted, be normal. Even if it meant have a life outside him.
"It has happened yet this month, so I didn't want to read much into it. Besides, I didn't want to say anything until I really knew" She bit, repeating his weak excuse back to him. The silence came back, even more awkward among them.
Billy cleared his throat and broke it once more. "I believe I have nothing else to offer at this time, but a small piece of advice. The wolf and yourself are one in the same. The sooner you recognize this, simpler things could be. Besides, a man will always welcome more grandchildren." The call clicked before the old man's son could utter a peep.
"Sorry he's…Billy." Jacob had no excuses for him. His mind was too busy considering what his dad had to say. Was Leah really meant for him and he for her? Or was this the spirits once again screwing with them? He looked into her eyes just in time to see them dull a little. The spark from the lively woman in the laundry room was gone, and all that's left was the shell she normally offered to others outside their bubble. "We'll fight this, we can fight this."
She arched that eyebrow again, a look he secretly loved. "How exactly? She's getting stronger. I can smell you in every corner of the house."
"Then I'll leave." He decided, moving to stand. He was a supernatural dog for fuck's sake. Surely he could take a couple feet of snow.
"Don't be stupid. Even us taking on this weather is suicidal, and the snow is still falling." Leah stood, moving to the side of the table, facing him. He fought to not breathe in, to not smell the uncontrollable scent calling him to her. "It's not like you actually want me. It's mind over matter is all."
What? There wasn't a part of Jacob that didn't want the Beta. "Trust me, Lee. That's sure as hell not it."
"Jake what are you talking about? This is the longest I've seen or spoken to you in months." Leah stared, her arms crossing defensively. The alpha couldn't help but notice how it accentuated her breasts.
"You've always deserved better than me. Something normal. Something that's your choice." He spoke quickly, knowing she deserved nothing short of the truth.
"So you gave me that by choosing to leave and stay away? Effectively taking away my choice, Shit-For-Brains?" She growled, moving closer to him. She was tall, by woman's standards, but to him she could be tucked perfectly under his chin. Even though his frame dwarfed hers, the violent mix of anger and passion in her eyes was enough to make his wolf waver. Leah's breath could be felt on his skin. The heat coming off of hers mixed with him and it felt like the blood in his veins was boiling, adrenaline pumping. She looked his lips, then his eyes. He felt like she was going to kiss him, or fuck him, whatever came first.
Instead she punched him in the face.