Brownies.

Jacob Fucking Black made me cook brownies for a bunch of stupid people that I don't even like. I would rather make blood-brownies for the Cullen's than to make regular brownies for my 'family' in La Push. I had agreed to go to this 'bonfire' but that didn't mean I would be happy about it and it certainly didn't mean I wanted to cook for them. I wasn't Emily.

"Lee, are you ready?" Jacob popped into the spare room at the Cullen house I'd been staying in when I wasn't going home or sleeping in wolf form.

"No."

"Well, you don't have a choice, babe. Let's go," And then he was in the room grabbing my arm and dragging me out.

I guess I didn't have a real choice in whether I was going or not. 'Sides it might hurt Jake's feelings. He would probably get that little brain of his going about how I was ashamed to be with him and only wanted him for sex or something stupid like that. He'd been playing with Emmett for too long.

By the time we made it to First Beach everyone else was already there. Sam and Emily. Paul and Rachel. Jared and Kim. And of course the other three from our pack: Seth, Embry, and Quil, who had Claire on his lap. Collin and Brady and seven other wolves who I didn't know that well. Most of them were five to six years younger than me. They really were pups.

Jake and I both climbed out of the car but that was as far as we got. I froze up when we reached the front of the Rabbit, which we had decided on rather than to borrow a leech mobile. I couldn't move as I looked at all of the people. The packs and then mom, Old Quil, and Billy. They were going to flip if Jake and I just strolled in there acting like we were playing house.

"Hey, come on," Jake said, looking at me with a funny look on his face. I couldn't describe what kind of emotion he was trying to depict.

"This is a bad idea," I said staring him straight in the eye.

"What?" he gasped out.

"You. Me. Here." I gestured to all three things.

Jacob just laughed and took my hand in his. I looked up and saw everyone staring at us. The look on Sam's face actually was really priceless. It was somewhere between shock and disgust. I just looked at my hand in Jacob's and decided that I'd been living with their looks and the whispers behind my back for a long time.

This wouldn't be any different. I would handle it just like I always have.

So with our fingers intertwined we made our way from the parking lot down the sandy beaches where the others had started a fire and dragged huge pieces of drift wood for people to sit on or around. They were just staring at us. Staring at our interlocked fingers. And the goofy grin that was on Jacob's face.

Emily was the first to come up to me. She hugged me and it was awkward since I didn't hug her at first but then I decided what the hell and wrapped my arms around her. I didn't forgive her but I was working on this 'don't be a bitter bitch' thing I promised Jacob.

"Lee," she whispered as if she were in shock. "I'm glad you're here."

"Yeah, well you know me," I shrugged and took a step back from her. "I never miss a party."

I grinned halfheartedly and then went back over to Jacob who was standing by his dad and the other elders now. He wrapped his arm around me when I got next to him. I smirked as he looked down at the three of them with a look on his face that seemed to say, 'What can you do?'

Billy and my mom just smiled. Old Quil seemed to be pondering something.

"Better her than the leech child," was all he said. For some reason when Old Quil called Nessie that it didn't bother Jake. It must be some elder respect type of thing going on.

"Oh thanks, so much," I said slanting my eyes at the old man. For some reason 'better her than the leech child' didn't sound like much of a compliment.

Like always the words of a wolf girl were ignored.

"What? No lecture?" Jacob asked looking first at his father and then my mother.

Billy's face broke into a smile," Nope." Everyone knew how he felt about his sons' imprinting on a Halfling.

"Leah is a grown girl and she's strong. I trust her judgment," was all my mom said. But then her lips pressed into a thin line. "I can't say that Seth will be as understanding if things go south, though."

I rolled my eyes and Jake smirked. It was either because he was certain he would not hurt me, or it was because he thought he could take Seth.

I was certain that things wouldn't end badly either. Well they wouldn't be like they were with Sam. This time I was more prepared for this stupid imprinting magic bull.

The elders had entangled Jake in some talk about the Cullen's future plans and I had no desire to stick around for that. I looked around and saw Embry and Seth sitting there looking rather like outcast. It was just evident that they were being slightly excluded in the way that everyone was acting. Things were easier for Quil because he had Claire. Claire was practically Sam's niece since she was really Emily's niece. Not to confuse anyone but Claire is also my..third cousin. Things were a little too close knit for my liking.

So as I made my way towards Embry and Seth I realized that it was an instinct I'd forgotten I had. It was maternal. I had the need to make sure that they were ok.

"Dweeb," I addressed Seth before sitting on the ground in front of them cross legged. I kind of waved my arm at the others in greeting.

"Bitch," Embry muttered even though a playful smile was evident on his face.

"Hey, Em, how's your dad?"

At the same time the three of us started laughing while the others just stared at us as if we'd broken some sacred law be speaking of that situation.

"Jeez, don't you guys know what a joke is?" Embry scoffed, still grinning like a fool.

"No they can't Embry. And Obviously they can't take the truth either because," Seth stopped and looked at me. I guess I had to finish his thoughts.

"I'm really a bitch, literally, and Embry really is a bastard." I said still smiling.

You would have thought we were cursing somebody's momma the way they were acting. Well, Paul was laughing until he caught Sam's eye. The man looked as if someone shot his dog.

"You should try being nicer to each other," Sam seemed to be on the verge of ordering us but he tried to make it out as just a suggestion.

"You should get a sense of humor," I snapped. "It was just a joke. No one got their feelings hurt. I didn't make anyone cry this time, Sam."

"That is true," Jared added.

"Really, dude, I'm proud of her," Paul added, winking at me.

Rachel and Kim were nodding. They were both nice girls and once upon a time Rachel was a really good friend of mine. But I knew that these days they had more in common with Emily. Hell, they had more in common with Claire than they did with me. The wolves imprints.

"We're proud of Leah?" Jacob had finally joined us. With him around I felt much more at ease. But maybe I was the only one. I noticed Sam's face tense up when Jacob grabbed my hand and locked it with his own.

"For not being a bitch," Embry told him.

"Oh, well I always knew she was capable of that," Jacob shrugged.

"Really? Or where you only sure of that after you decided to cheat on your imprint and start screwing her?"

Sam had crossed the line and everyone knew it. Even Emily.

"I am NOT cheating on Nessie. She is a child, first of all. And second I don't love her like that. You don't have to love your imprint that way!" Jacob was nearly yelling his words at Sam. He was shaking like a tuning fork. Jared and Paul noticed and made the girls leave, along with Quil, who took Claire with him.

" C'mon Jake," Sam was saying but Jacob was yelling some more. "You're just pissed because I'm strong enough to fight for the woman I love! I don't need magic to be in love someone like you! You left her and now you're jealous! You can't have them both, Sam!"

CRUNCH!

I heard the sound of flesh colliding with flesh. Sam punched Jacob in the nose. And there was blood squirting everywhere. For all of two minutes at least and then Jacob's body was healing itself. But none of that mattered as both boy, well I guess they were men, were running after each other; phasing as they went.

Both packs stood around the edge of the fire staring after our designated Alpha's and then looking at each other. Upon hearing a howl from deep in the woods I looked at the boys and nodded. In a flash we were all running towards the woods, throwing off shoes and clothing as we went.

It wasn't long before I heard the sixteen wolves in Sam's pack pounding after us. We couldn't hear them. And they couldn't hear us but there was anticipation in the air. I was worried too. Jacob and Sam were both great fighters. Someone could get hurt.

Someone will get hurt, Quil was thinking as we approached the area were Jacob and Sam were circling eachother.

I'm not getting anything from Jake. Just snarls and I'm seeing ripping flesh, Seth was watching the scene with worry in his yellow wolf eyes.

Ripping flesh..hmm, I wonder, it's not because he's thinking of ripping Sam to pieces, is it? This was no time for anyone to be a smart ass. Stupid Embry.

SHUT UP! Suddenly the voice of our Alpha was in our head.

Let him think. I don't think he needs to lose.

This was just a fight, right? Right. Surely neither of them would kill each other.

We stood behind the side that seemed to be Jacob's stance while the other wolves crowded in the area behind where Sam had been standing. The air just felt heavy. And as I was staring at Jared, who was Sam's beta, I just wanted to rip his throat out. At the same time I was thinking that he was snarling at me.

I had the urge to defend Jacob and my pack no matter what the cost. I felt the same kind of feelings coming from Quil, Seth, and Embry.

Jacob and Sam were lunging and feinting and I could smell the blood in the air. It was coming from gashes on their bodies and it was leaking onto the forest floor to soak into the soil. Despite the urge I was fighting to attack the other pack my paws stayed firmly planted in the ground to watch the bigger fight.

That was until the sound of screaming girls filled our ears. Paul and Jared had their ears perked up before Sam did, but soon the three of them were dashing off to their darling imprints. I wanted to call Sam a coward but I couldn't talk to him in the form.

Before he made the dense brush of the forest Sam turned back to snarl at Jacob as if he were threatening him. We let out growls of our own.

Then he was gone.

Jake, what happened?

What was that?

Were you going to kill him?

What was that..feeling? I wanted to rip Collin and Brady's throats out.

The guys were asking questions before Jacob could answer them. All I felt coming from Jake was despair and worry.

Cullen house. Now, Jacob commanded us before dashing off in the right direction. We need to figure out what's going on. Carlisle might be able to help. I've never wanted to arm another wolf, another person like that before.

As we ran I couldn't help but be terrified of the fear that gripped me. Change was coming for our packs. I could feel it. I didn't know what it was exactly. But I knew it wasn't the good kind of change.

A/N: Dunn Dunn Dunn. What is happening to our furry little friends? I'm sure it's just the natural course of nature is all. Maybe La Push is just a one horse kinda town. Who knows. Reviews are love. And Thank you soo soo much to those of you who actually take the time to read and review my story. I appreciate it!