Chapter 9…

He never thought he would be able to find love like this. She was one of the most loving, and kindest spirits he came to know. She was his best friend before she became his love. Always caring about those around her. Always attune to the wants of others. Never asking for anything in return. She gave every bit of herself to bring happiness to others. She gave every bit of her heart to him and that's what made him smile and his heart soar. No. He never expected to find a love like this. After a failed marriage, he swore he would never make that mistake again. Forever a bachelor. That was what he was resigned to be until she made herself a home in his heart.

He never in his wildest of dream thought he would ever marry again, much less marry the wife of his late best friend.

She was broken and crying the day he came over to check on her. She had her late husband's shirt clutched to her chest. She was lost. Throughout the funeral and afterwards, she stood strong for those around her, especially for her children. Eyes sadden but never shedding a tear. There were enough tears shed for her husband. There was no need to add to the puddle and worry those around her. Her children needed her to be strong. Her daughter lost and brokenhearted. She needed her mother more now than ever. Her son, the youngest ever to phase, lost without his mentor, his guide, his father. No. This was not the time to show weakness.

Yet, she is only human and not even she could hide from the pain for very long.

A year had come and past. He had called ahead of time and wanted to see how she was doing and see how he could be of help. She found herself lonely that day and needed the company so, she invited him to lunch. He happily accepted the invitation, his heart skipping a beat. She was doing light housework and making lunch, getting ready for her friend to drop in. As she straighten the cushions on the couch, something caught her eye. A shirt. Hidden in the cushion, long forgotten. She reached out and pulled it from its hiding place and gasped at the sight. It was one of Harry's shirt. His favorite shirt. She looked at the shirt she held in her hands as memories of her love came rushing to the forefront of her mind. Without thinking, she slowly lifted the shirt to her face and took in his long forgotten scent. As the scent filled her being, the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She smiled at the memory of him. The ancient ache in her heart ignited in remembrance of the love that was taken from her too soon. Soon the weight of her loss became too much and she could no longer stand. Her knees buckled from under her as she slipped to the floor, crying into his shirt. She never heard the knock.

He stood at the door, waiting for her to answer. He knew she was there because she had invited him to lunch, so he became worried when she did not answer the door after knocking again. He tested the door and found it was not locked. Calling out to her, he let himself in only to find a sight before him that tugged at his heart. A tear escaped his eye and his heart ached for the weeping woman on the floor. He slowly reached out and took her into his arms, wishing he could take her pain away. He wished he could put her pain in him and wanted nothing but happiness for the sadden woman in his arms. She accepted his inviting arms and clung to him as if he were her lifeline. She clung to him as she clung to her late husband's shirt…hurting, aching, dying. She had been so strong for so long but just the sight of this fabric bought her to her knees and her world closed in on her.

But in the arms of the man she clung to so fiercely, she found solace. He seem to understand exactly what she needed at the moment. Not talking. Not asking questions. Just holding her. Just being there for her during her moment of weakness. This simple gesture reminded her of her Harry. Loving. Caring. Understanding. She missed him with all her being. Her heart broke again from the absence of him. Yet, the presence of the man who embraced her, made her hurt lessen. She smiled at the thought and took in the new scent invading her senses. He smelt woodsy, musky, and yet, sweet. She inhaled deeply and found he smelled almost like her late husband. This new found fact comforted her and her tears stopped.

She stirred in his arms but she did not move to be released. It's been so long that she had been comforted in a lover's embrace and she relished in the moment. Yes, a lover's embrace. People had hugged her since her husband passing. She received comforting hugs. She received loving hugs. She received them from family and friends but none could fill the void of missing a lover's embrace…tender, loving, protective.

Charlie was not one to show emotions. He was not even very comfortable hugging his own daughter. He had a personal space and he enjoyed the boundaries of this space, yet somehow sitting there embracing Sue, he felt at home. It was comforting for him. He was comfortable with her in his arms. It felt so very right. He didn't even question or think twice about going to embrace her. It was an automatic reaction to the crying woman before him. He needed to comfort her. He needed to protect her. But most of all, he knew he needed her. She was a great friend. He was happy when Harry was around her becauseshe was happy. His heart soared when he saw them together because she was in love. He found it comforting to be around them because without knowing it, Charlie's soul had found its home and it was in the woman he had in his arms right now. He never once thought of stealing her from Harry. That would break her heart and he never wanted that because in simple Quileute terms, Charlie had imprinted on her, so her happiness was his happiness. Everyone around them could feel it. The wolf pack felt it the strongest. Evidence of this imprint amused the pack because when anyone came up to kiss Sue on the cheek, Charlie unknowingly grunted a disapproval. The pack joked it was Charlie's inner wolf showing its possessive side and wondered when Charlie would mark Sue.

Slowly, she released herself from Charlie's embrace that day. He was hesitate to release her but did so only at her request. They had a long, emotional, heart-to-heart talk that day and into that night. She found she could trust and confide in him like she would have done with her Harry. Harry's shirt was a message to her that it was okay to let him go now. He would wait for her on the other side. He still loved her and he wanted nothing but happiness for his wife. That day, Harry gave Sue a reason to smile again. That day he entrusted her heart to Charlie to take care of for him for the rest of her days. That night the spark of love ignited in her again. That day, when Sue fell in love with Charlie.

Sue smiled at the memory of so long ago. She watched as Charlie ate his lunch and made simple conversation with her. Mostly they ate in silence, just enjoying each other's company. His leg lightly touching hers the entire time as they sat and ate. He always found a way to touch her. He found comfort in her touch. It was like he was lost until the moment their bodies connected, even in the simplest of touch. He turned his attention to his wife and took in her sight. Memorizing everything about her. Her straight, jet black hair and how it formed a curtain when she looked down, making her look mysterious and alluring. How she always seem to hook her hair behind her left ear. How she sometimes would bit the corner of her lip when she was in deep concentration. The way her eyes danced when he caught her attention, showing the deep love she held for him.

Charlie was shaken out of his moment of admiration for his wife by a call coming through on the dispatch radio. An accident on the outskirts of town needed his attention. He didn't want to leave but he knew he had to. Duty calls.

Sue kissed him and told him she loved him as he walked out the door to attend to business but not before returning the kiss, the declaration of love, and leaving Sue with a promise of a safe return. Sue gathered the abandon lunch and decided to head to the reservation. She needed to speak to council and it could no longer wait.

Meanwhile, back at the reservation, Billy Black had contacted some of the council members and phones across the reservations began to spring to life. Mandatory curfew was enforced because a known serial killer was said to have been spotted in the area. Any sighting of unusual activity should be called in to the council members. The people on the reservation were instructed to lock their doors and windows and, until notified, they were not to leave their residence. The reservation was on lock down. This was the official story. The real story was a rogue leech or leeches were headed their way or were already in the area. Billy tried calling Sue but she did not pick up.

The russet wolf began to track the scent that invaded his senses. The scent was all over the reservation. Zigzagging in every direction. Jacob could not get a decent trail. His wolf growled in frustration. He decided to retrace his step to the point of entry and go from there. He was able to make his way through the reservations, hiding in the shadows and keeping an eye out. His pack was still about eight minutes out. His wolf knew that even as broken as Jacob was, the alpha in him could take down the leeches without help. Strength was not what was needed at the moment. It was wit and speed that the wolf needed to focus on. These leeches had succeeded in passing his pack but they would not succeed in living to tell about it. The alpha wolf, now beyond determined, stopped and focused. The wind blew in slightly his way giving him the cover he needed from the leeches. His ears picking up on the sounds that surrounded him. The birds and little creatures that normally filled the air, had all retracted to the safety of the forest, confirming the presence of leeches in the area. The air around him dripped with anticipation. Tension in the air and in the muscles of the waiting wolf. Waiting in silence for any sound to give away the leeches' location. The wolf stood watch.

And then, he spotted eyes in the shadows. Eyes waiting and hiding. Eyes darken with hunger, looking for their next meal. He would have growled but he did not want to alert the leeches of his presence. He needed a plan and quickly. The pack still seven minutes out. The alpha able to hear the hurry footing of their paws as they thud in rushed determination. Jacob's mind went into alpha mode and his wolf took over. The pack now six minutes out.

As Sue drove into the reservation, a feeling of dread and fear made her stomach twist into knots. She dismissed it as being worried for Charlie. She knew if something truly happened to him, she would receive the "call". That was one worry that stayed with her every time he was called out of the comfort of his office. Being married to an officer meant she would feel anxious while he was out in the field and would stay feeling this way until he was in her arms again.

She shook off the feeling and promised herself to check her cellphone once she parked the car. She drove straight to her house on the reservation. Seth and Leah now occupied the house but Sue often dropped by to stock their refrigerator and help clean up since most days her kids were out on patrol. Once she put the car on park, she went to retrieve her phone from her purse only to come up empty. She began to dig through her purse, emptying the contents on the passenger seat but still came up empty. She open her door and got out to look under the seats thinking maybe it fell during the drive over. Once she was bent over, with her back eerily unprotected, she reached under the seat. It was at that moment, Sue felt an icy, cold grip on her waist and she let out a loud gasp. She felt herself being pulled away from her car in an inhuman speed. The scene rushed by her. She was trying to get her bearings but she found she was unable too. Suddenly she was slammed up against the side of building, a few inches above ground, held in place by her neck. As she struggled, her captor stood before and admired his catch, watching Sue trying to pry his stone cold fingers from her neck. He licked his lips in anticipation of her taste.

"Oh don't worry beautiful. This will be over before you know it," the sickly voice of the leech purred into Sue's ear as he inhaled her heavenly scent. He had gone far too long without a feeding and he was ready to devour his prey. Suddenly, without warning, just as he was about to sink his teeth into his prey, he felt teeth sinking into his cold marble skin. The screeching sound of metal being pulled apart filled the air as the leech felt his arm being ripped from his body. At the same moment, he dropped his prey and turned to come face to face with a massive, russet wolf about to snap another limb from his body. The leech leapt to the side, away from Sue, as the wolf pounced to attack. The wolf turned his massive body and pounce away towards the direction of the leech. What he did not feel was that he had stepped on Sue's leg, shattering it as the weight of his paw dug into her flesh. Sue cried out in pain as she felt her bones shatter under her skin. The second leech was alerted to the location of her mate. As she came around the corner, she spotted a female laying on the ground, crying out in pain. The sweet smell of copper filled the air and the leech caught the scent. Her eyes darken with thirst. She also saw a massive russet wolf ripping apart her mate. Thirst being her first priority, she took this opportunity to quickly and carefully grab the screaming female and carried her off into the forest.

Even in her state of pain, Sue recognized the wolf. She tried to cry out his name as she felt herself once again being pulled away in an inhuman speed. Sue realized then that there had been two leeches and she was being carried off by the second leech as Jacob was pre-occupied by the first leech. She was unable to scream out because the wind was knock out of her as she was mercilessly slammed onto the forest floor, breaking ribs on the left side of body. The leech was angry. As Sue tried to crawl away, the leech pounce on her and easily broke both of Sue's upper arms. It was as easy as snapping twigs for the leech. Sue cried out in pain. Unable to crawl, crying, scared, Sue realized she would probably never get to see Charlie again and he would be the one to get the "call". With a silent I love you, Sue prayed this would be over soon.

The female leech leant down and sunk her teeth into the Sue's neck, where her shoulder met her neck. Sue cried in pain again, unable to fight off her attacker. What seemed liked minutes was just a little under a second. Then, suddenly, female leech was torn away from Sue as the pack finally came running towards the sound of blood curdling screams. The pack made quick work of the female leech, ripping her to pieces. Sue let out another blood curdling scream that caught the attention of the pack. It was Seth and Leah that turned and their heart sunk. Quickly phasing back to human form, they ran towards their mother.

"No!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!" they both screamed. Both realized some of their mother's bones were broken and they could not pick her up without putting her in more pain. Sam was the first to detect the smell of rotting flesh on Sue. It was then he realized they were too late. Sue had been bitten and the venom began to spread. Unsure of what to do next, he ordered the pack to get Leah and Seth to stand back. Chaos broke out as Seth and Leah fought to stay by their mother. Jared and Quil were ordered to run the perimeter to check for any more leeches. Paul and Embry held on to Leah and Seth. Sam bent down and soothed Sue's hair back as he began to talk to her.

"Shhh. Shh. Sh. It's going to be okay," he lied not knowing what else to say.

"IT BURNS SAM! IT BURNS!" Sue cried out in pain, her body jerking in the process.

"MOM! MOM! LET ME GO!" Leah cried.

"GET OFF ME!" Seth struggled. "MOOOOOMMMM!"

For the first time in his life, Sam was at a lost at what to do for Sue. He did not want Sue to be transformed into the enemy but he did not know how to stop it. Had she been bitten on the arm or leg, he could just cut off the limb but she was bitten on the crook of her neck. Sue was badly hurt and writhing in pain. What was he going to do?

I know I said I didn't care if you reviewed or not but curiosity is getting the better of me so stroke my ego or bruise it, please leave a review and let me know if this is worth finishing.

Much love!