Leah's POV

Where was everyone?

As the taxi pulled up outside my house, I saw the lights were off. That was strange - there was always someone using our home as a crash pad.

I paid the cab fare, and the driver started to get out of the car to get my luggage.

"It's fine. I've got it!" My voice was sharp. If I'd wanted help, I would have asked one of the boys to pick me up, but that wasn't exactly my style.

As I dragged my suitcase up the path, (I say dragged, although it was hardly heavy), I fumbled with my keys. I was nervous being home and my hand shook as I turned the lock. Relief and confusion ran through me simultaneously - like I thought, the house was empty. Oh well, at least I'd get the chance to dump my luggage before I received the Spanish Inquisition. As soon as I had thrown the cases in my room, I headed back out the door; it was time to go to Jake's House.

It was a short walk to Jake's, but when I arrived his house was also vacant. No one was there, not even Billy or Rachel. I went round the back and checked the garage, but to no avail. I finally walked into the forest at the bottom of their garden because there was only one thing left to do; I decided to phase and get it over with.

It felt good shedding my skin. I still hated everything that being a wolf represented, but my body always betrayed me so I had stopped fighting it a long time ago.

I waited for the sudden rush of minds, but there was nothing . . . that was odd in itself. My immediate instinct was to worry, but then I realised that Billy would have called me at Rebecca's if something had gone wrong. I told myself I was just overreacting - they must all be down the beach or something (it was the weekend after all). So, I decided to go back home and clean up instead. I felt dirty after the flight, and I wanted to at least look clean and well rested when I found them all.

I got home and headed straight to the bathroom. Letting the bath fill as deeply as possible, I stepped straight in. I didn't bother adding any cold water because the scalding heat didn't hurt me. Actually, the pain felt good. Finally my body relaxed. I knew it was only a temporary fix, but I'd take it. I was already wound up after being in La Push for just one hour.

I stared at the ceiling in thought. Sadly, I didn't think I'd ever get used to the house being ours. Seth and I now owned it by inheritance.

After much effort, Seth had finally convinced me to redecorate. I'd been reluctant to start with, but he and Jake had ganged up on me, telling me that I couldn't leave it as a shrine to our parents forever. It was horrible. I felt like I was desecrating their memory with every stroke of paint. In the end they had been right though, because it helped us re-establish the house as ours, and not Mum and Dad's.

I'd even moved into the master bedroom after much protesting. Seth's room wasn't much smaller, and he refused to let me stay in my little box room. He said, I was the head of the house now, and it just wasn't right. It was still weird though!

My dear Seth, he shouldn't have to suffer a sister like me, but he did. Sure, he was annoying like any younger sibling, and he thought being a wolf was fantastic, (which I would never understand), but whatever he did, it didn't matter to me. I would murder anyone who threatened a hair on his head and would annihilate them if they tried to destroy his zest for life. I'd seen the way he viewed the world and even though it was something that I had never felt, or would ever feel, I wouldn't let anyone take that from him.

I admit that the years since the crash had been hard on us. I constantly tried to make sure he had the teen years he deserved and that he was happy. I thought he would have hated me, but he seemed to love me all the more.

On that note, I needed to get a new job soon because we really needed an income. Seth helped out at the nearby camping store, but everyone paid a poor wage around here and there were never any full time hours. Maybe I could pick up some waitressing. My people skills weren't exactly great, but it was shift work, which meant I could still patrol. I was hardly qualified for anything else, seeing as since becoming a wolf, school and college, had fallen off my priority list.

I wiggled my toes and noticed the water had started to get cold so I pulled the plug. I climbed out of the bath and, wrapped a towel around my body, before walking over to the sink. I wiped away the steam from the mirror and stared at my reflection. My break had done me good; my skin actually looked healthy. My eyes didn't look so heavy, and even with my skin tone, it definitely showed that I had had some sun outside of Washington.

I wandered downstairs to the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab some food. Seth clearly didn't know where the supermarket was because there was nothing but some cheese spread and sour looking milk. I spotted half a loaf sitting on the side, which made my choices pretty limited. While I was eating the pathetic excuse of a sandwich, I picked up the local paper. I noticed a pile of them by the front door; clearly no one had been reading them. I decided to stop the paper delivery because there was no point in wasting the money.

The newspaper in my hand was a few days old. The front page was about a woman found murdered in the Olympic Mountains. The story was grim. Her body was ripped open, her bones were broken and she was just dumped there. The paper didn't go into details, yet my mind couldn't help but imagine the poor woman's suffering. I wondered if the boys had tried to track down the bastard who did this. One of them must have seen it?

I sighed. It really was pointless; how could you have faith in people when humans were just as cruel as the monsters?

I was lost in thought when I saw the light blinking on the answering machine. Pressing play, I was pleased to hear it was Quil and Embry.

"Seth, mate! Where are you? If you don't get the kegs to the Cullens' they won't be cold for tonight! Hello? Seth?"

I checked the date and time; it was lunchtime today. So, there was a gathering at the Cullens'?

I knew Seth had been using our back shed to brew some homemade spirits. It was a stupid hobby of his. He and Embry spent many hours in there breathing in the fumes, and doing whatever blokes did while bonding.

I was quite surprised to hear the blood suckers were back, yet sadly pleased for Jake; he must be happy. I felt a notch of dread in my stomach. Their presence meant I'd see him less. There was no doubt in my mind that the party was some kind of welcome home thing for Nessie. She did love to be the centre of attention! Knowing Jake, he'd even be throwing it himself, so I'd have to watch them fawning all over each other. I supposed I'd better make an appearance; if they found out I was back and didn't get in touch, they'd only start nagging.

I went back to my room and opened my suitcase, trying to decide what to wear. Knowing the Cullen's, it'd be all Gucci or something. Since Jake had gone to the trouble of giving me a break the least I could do was make some effort.

I pulled out a clean vest and some denim shorts - it was my favourite kind of outfit. However, that hyper active parasite would kill me if I turned up in that ensemble. I didn't want the headache, so I kept searching. Finally I settled on a simple white cotton dress. It was knee height, with a halter neck. Rebecca had made me buy it in Hawaii. She kept telling me, "Just because you hang with a load of guys, it doesn't mean you have to dress like them."

I didn't really see the point; half my clothes got torn up phasing, the others got filthy, and dresses were hardly practical. Besides, who was I trying to impress? The only men who knew me had seen me naked loads of time, so clothes hardly mattered to them. I held the dress up in front of me and looked down at myself. Oh hell, it wouldn't hurt for one night!

I threw the dress over my head. My long hair, which had dried naturally by now, was left to fall down my back. It was the most effort that I was willing to go to!

I looked at the scissors next to the sink; my hair hadn't been this long for years. Shame I'd have to cut it all off when I got back to phasing; it was just so inconvenient. I checked the mirror again; I'd do. I slipped on some white sandals, grabbed the car keys and left.

When I arrived at the Cullens' I dumped the car near the garage and stepped out. Music was thumping out of the house, and coloured lights could be seen flashing through the glass walls. Laughter and shouting was coming from inside. It looked more like a frat party than any Cullen function I'd seen before.

Had I come back to the twilight zone?

Since when had the leeches been into rap, and what was with the base?

Just then, Collin came running out of the house. Brady ploughed out seconds later chasing him and tackled him down the steps. They both landed at my feet, fighting over a camera and throwing random punches at each other. I wasn't sure why they were here, but coughed to get their attention.

They looked up, and a huge grin erupted over Brady's face; "Nice knickers Leah!"

Ugh! The little pervert had looked up my dress! There was a loud crunching noise, as my foot automatically connected with his nose. Collin started laughing, and I could smell the alcohol coming off him in waves. I admit I was worried because it took a hell of a lot to get these guys drunk. We burned alcohol off so fast that it was always a chug session to get anywhere, but they wreaked and were clearly wasted.

What the hell was going on?

I stepped over the now wounded Brady while he clicked his nose back in place with blood still running down his shirt.

"Bitch." I heard him mutter.

I'd let him have that one tonight.

Walking up the steps, I opened the front door. Jared and Kim were making out in the hallway. It was an image that I wanted to permanently erase. I knew there was the whole engagement party thing, but I used to like Kim. Shame the whole Sam and Emily thing had ruined another relationship; as if to confirm this, they didn't even pay me any attention.

God, were they really that engrossed?

I continued past them into the living room where I saw the disco lights flashing. The furniture had also been pushed back against the walls, and the open space was filled with some of Sam's guys. They were jumping up and down to some hip hop crap that I couldn't even begin to make out.

I was only gone for one month!

Did Sam invade or something?

Finally, over the base line my hearing picked up the faint sound of Embry's voice in the kitchen. At least someone I liked was here . . . the house had to be been packed.

Heading to find Embry, I thought about how awkward this could be.

Embry's POV

I was laughing so hard that it hurt!

Jaden and Corey were holding their stomachs, and Quil was smiling shyly with a blush in his cheeks. Jacob was retelling the tale of how Quil built himself a kennel. It was all because Claire wanted her doggy to have a home. I'd never forget the memory of Quil sitting in the over sized dog house, just to please her.

Suddenly, I laughed so hard I snorted and had to inhale deeply to regain composure. My senses were immediately assaulted with her scent, and as my eyes searched the room, they finally rested on her toned frame, leaning against the door.

I barely recognised her. She was wearing a dress, which was something she just didn't do. The light colour looked perfect against her skin, and I noticed her black hair was longer than it had ever been before. I couldn't help but let my eyes roam over her long muscled legs. I took in her waist and the curve of her body before skimming over her lips, tracing every contour of her face, up to the side parting of her hair.

She caught my eye and gave me the briefest smile. I knew our kiss had been nothing more than a random moment, but I also knew that Leah wouldn't see it like that; intimacy was bad in her books.

That night she'd been upset over Sam (the pregnancy to be precise), and I had called round, looking for Seth. When she answered the door, it had been obvious she was at breaking point. And, after informing me that Seth was out, she had miserably walked away leaving the door wide open. I had cautiously let myself in.

It wasn't uncommon for me to spend time at the Clearwater house, but Leah was well known for being volatile. As a result, I knew how dangerous it was to be in her presence when she was depressed. However, one look at her had told me I wasn't at risk that night. The energy she normally carried had been nonexistent.

Leah had been my pack sister now for many years. I'd seen her at some all time lows, and been with her through some of them too. All of us had picked her up in some way. Despite this, we all knew she wasn't weak; hell, she handled things better than the rest of us. That's one of the many things I like about her. It was therefore my natural instinct to want to comfort her.

After raiding Seth's shed and helping her drown her sorrow's, I found myself telling her what a loser Sam was and how she could do so much better. One thing had led to another and I kissed her. It was a fleeting moment, and she'd punched me away before crying again. I had rubbed her back and soothed her as best I could. She finally laid her head on my lap and fell asleep. It was one of the very few moments where Leah Clearwater had dropped her guard.

I ended up watching her all night; when morning finally came, she was mortified. It was clear Leah would never see me like that and we weren't imprinted, which was a big thing to the both of us. I drew the line between us there and then.

Two days later, Jake had sent her to Hawaii. In the meantime, I locked up that one moment we had. I would keep it between us forever. If Jake ever saw it, he'd only think it was one of my daydreams, and her shame would be hidden.

I was brought back from my memories as everyone else started to notice her presence.

"Leah!" Seth exclaimed running to her at super speed and pulling her into his arms.

"Hey kid! What's new?" She smiled up at her brother - I'd always found it cute, how she wasn't quite as tall as us.

He released her after a few more seconds, and she looked at me, Jake and Quil.

"Nice to have you back Leah." Jake was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Thanks," she smirked, as her eyes met Jake's and lingered there longer than I liked. The two of them seemed to be exchanging a silent conversation.

Quil in the meantime, walked up and lightly jabbed her in the arm. It broke their connection, and she punched him back in the chest. Words weren't often required with Leah.

Seth was still beaming and handed her a plastic cup full of WSB. That's 'Wolf Special Brew' to most of the pack. It was our name for the little potion we'd made. The drink was like 80 percent proof, and it was disgusting, but it was made with the aim of getting shape shifters drunk. For extra insurance, we had kegs full of it! Of course, we kept the imprints well away from it, but Leah accepted it gratefully.

I suddenly realised no one had introduced her to Corey and Jaden. I glanced at them and froze.

No! No! No! Why was Corey looking at her like that?

I wanted to scream at him to stop staring at Leah; it was freaking me out, and Leah looked more than surprised.

Please! Please! Tell me they didn't just imprint!

AN

Did they? Didn't they? What do you think? What do you want?

I already know of course but would love to have your thoughts!