Chapter 8

We're Still Here

A/N: Okay, guys I know I haven't updated this in forever but a lot has happened since than from starting back at an old temp job, job ending, and starting a new job. Laptop crash problems, to learning a new computer, and the final TWILIGHT movie coming out. Breaking Dawn part 2 has inspired me to get back into my writing again. I have been going back and forth on this chapter since my last update, which was almost a year ago come 12/15. That is too sad.

Leah's POV

I awoke in a bright, sterile-looking room. It was too white. I leaned forward slowly. Suddenly a sharp pain rushed towards me from my left shoulder. Looking down I could see the bloody gauze wrapped around my upper shoulder. As I tried to stretch my tired body more pain came from the back of my head.

What happened to me?

"Shit" I screamed as my head continued to ache from the sting. "Leah, please stay still. Your body still needs to continue healing itself." I turned towards Edward's voice. My thoughts were all over the place as I rushed question after question towards his mind. The soreness of my throat from speaking one word let me know it was better to think at him.

"Slow down I can only answer one question at a time" he half-heartedly chuckled. He recapped the battle to me.

[Picks up from previous chapter]

As we exit the small cabin, I looked for a car so we could make a quick escape, but alas there was none.

"Sorry, Leah I ran here but if they were going hunting they may be gone for a while." I turned my head towards Edward, how did he know what I was thinking. We moved hastily down the gravel pathway. "Of course, I know what you're thinking Leah. I can read mind."

Great that is all I need to be raped by the mind-rapist.

OH. MY. GOD.

I have been in and out of conciseness for two weeks but I only thought it was five days. Those leeches could have raped me. I turned back towards my prison, 'I am going to kill every last one of those filthy bloodsuckers,' I thought. Turning to march back and wait for them all day; I would do it if I have to.

"Calm down Leah," Edward sighed.

I turned towards him like he was freaky crazy. "What do you mean calm down? I could have been raped maybe even blood-raped since you all's venom doesn't seem to hurt me."

He was more than a mile away from me by this point, turning he faced me, "what you mean? I thought our venom killed werewolves."

Running to catch-up to him, "That would be all you took from my statement."

Groaning, "Leah, you were not raped. I would be able to smell the scent of vampire leaking from your skin." I exhaled. "I do smell that you have been near them but nothing to indicate rape."

Picking up the pace, the hillside was coming into view; I could faintly here the sounds of the city. Breathing a sigh of relief: 'Soon I would be home and in my Daddy's arms.'

Looked at Edward, he attempted to save my life so maybe leeches weren't all that bad. He had a half crooked smile on his face from that thought I guess. I knew it was genuine because I seen it before that night at the carnival at once more in the woods.

Goodness the carnival feels like another lifetime; where my biggest problem was almost kissing a stranger.

The smile left his face as quickly as it appeared, looking worried replaced it. I quickly formed the thought in mind to ask what was wrong when…"we need to move faster" he exclaimed.

"They are back sooner than I expected" I turned my neck in the opposite direction to see that he was indeed correct. I could just make out three figures swiftly pursuing us.

"Their closing in on us; I can't clearly make out all their thoughts but I can sense that they are very anger." 'Yeah! No duh Sherlock.'

"We're still too far enough away from these nomads for me to pick up their inner voices but if we keep at this pace it will only be a matter of time. Leah I think you should phase" agreeing I started the change.

It was a slow build up like when I first phased. The pain was excruciating. First, my ribs pulled inside my body, snapping together. A burning quickly rose on my skin while my lungs merged. My torso moved twisting inward as the pressure built. I knew once my bones begin to crack that I would possibly black out.

I was in serious pain since I hadn't phased in weeks. Once my figure began the final moments of the change; sweat dripped from every crevice. It was agonizing as my body transformed into its alter ego: the she-wolf. My heart speed up and I opened my eyes long enough to look up at Edward. Apparently, I managed my body to ground or maybe he helped me down. Either way he looked scared; scared for me, scared for himself or the both of us; I was not sure.

No matter how strong he is, he would not be able to take on three vampires by himself. My breathing picked up as I tried to hurry the change along. The adrenaline, the thought of seeing my family again, and Edward were the only things pushing me forward at this moment. On all fours I let the wolf completely take over; the dread of the pain was gone.

And the she-wolf was reborn once again.

I kept up with him as my paws pound the grassy highland. The wolf was protective and instinctive. She would protect what was hers. Green eyes scummed to brownish gold ones and I knew in that moment that we weren't going to continue fleeing. I turned around and faced our pursuers, 'I will not run from a fight.'

Leaping at the blond ponytail wearing one, my teeth contacted instantly was his neck. I could hear a feminine screech as I spit his flesh from my mouth. But soon a hand grabbed at my fur as I unscrewed his head from his body. I yelped in pain as my mane was pulled from my skin but then the pressure on my back vanished. I pulled the broken leech's arms off; fling them across the lush hillside.

I spun to my right just as the French dreadlock wearing one came upon me. I could see Edward in my peripheral springing on fire-crotch, she was flexible that one. Every time he tried to get a hand on her she would jump in a different direction. Her ability to evade him was remarkable; I will give her that.

Well, Mr. Milli Vanilli obviously wanted his time in the spotlight, "Alpha Female we will not harm you. In good faith we will even let your man go."

I growled at the insult, did he think I was stupid enough to trust him. Looking at Edward as he finished pulling the red head apart; he pulled out a lighter. Purple & red flames engulfed the sky as hers and Blondie's bodies burned. Getting ready to launch at the lone vampire, my wolf smiled, however; before making contact I was caught by the waist.

'Edward' screaming my thoughts at him, 'what the hell are you thinking? He needs to die.' He pulled Milli's head off holding him by his hair. "Leah, we need to keep him alive. He knows who wants you and do you really want this to happen again." I really didn't want to be reasoned with right now and I was fixing to tell him such.

"What if your family were to get in the crossfire next time?" he said kneeling in front of me. He was trying to appeal to my human side but what he failed to realized was I am a beast. "What if it's your dad?"

That was cold but, 'Fine' one thing I know for sure: I will hurt anyone who comes after the ones I love.