A/N: WARNING! This is an M-rated story. This chapter contains graphic violence, foul language and sexual themes. Strictly adults only.

10. Blue Blood

Leah was having a crappy day - any day that involved double patrols was exhausting, even if the shift did finish earlier on Friday nights. She'd come home to dinner with her Mom and Seth, which had soon devolved into squabbling when Sue asked Leah to go with her to brunch at Emily's house on Sunday.

Leah had flat out refused. Then her mother had asked her why she would be Emily's maid of honour if she was still so angry. Leah had recited the alphabet backwards in her head slowly, ignoring everything else her mother said. When Sue announced that she was spending the evening with Billy and Charlie Swan, Leah had almost choked on her pasta. No way was she going to Jacob's if she had to suffer through more of her mother's indignant lecturing. She heaved a long sigh of relief when Sue said that they were heading over to Charlie's. Now if only Charlie could move to Alaska.

Leah tried to wash the conversation away in the shower, letting the scalding water steam Sue's insensitivity right out of her body. She told herself that she would block it out and start afresh. She found herself absentmindedly picking out a particularly nice sundress – it was red with yellow flowers dotted all over it and it laced up at the front. It actually required her to wear proper undergarments – something she couldn't do if she knew there was a possibility of phasing. She wondered if the boys realised that she lived in constant fear of giving herself a pair of black eyes. She was a curvy girl and sometimes everything was left to flap around. It was uncomfortable and just one of the many indignities of being the only female werewolf ever. She brushed her hair, she put on earrings. If she could make herself look completely different to the Leah who had fought with Sue thirty minutes ago, then maybe she wouldn't be that person anymore. She smeared on cherry flavoured lip gloss and was in the middle of applying a quick coat of mascara when Seth appeared at her bedroom door.

"What are you doing?" He asked curiously.

"Fly fishing," she responded, blinking quickly as she raked the dark wand across her lashes.

"No, I mean to your face," Seth added, ignoring her earlier comment.

"I'm accepting the fact that I don't have a big swinging dick like the rest of you bozos, and actually reminding myself that just because I spend all day long with you, does not in fact mean I'm a guy." Leah replied, spritzing herself with a bottle of perfume she hadn't even looked at since before she first phased.

She looked up to see Seth grinning at her. "So you're going over to Jacob's, huh?"

"You already know that Sethy," she said disinterestedly. It was crazy how Seth was always so smiley, she'd probably dropped him on his head a few too many times when he was a baby.

"You look really pretty," Seth said, kissing her on her forehead as she made her way out into the landing.

"Thanks," Leah called over her shoulder as she glided down the stairs. She opened the back door to see Sam thundering up the garden path, barefoot and in nothing but denim cut offs and a white singlet.

Leah froze. It was always hard for her to see Sam, but at least most of the time she was able to prepare herself mentally for their interactions. That evening he took her totally off guard. He's not even meant to be back from his honeymoon until tomorrow, Leah thought. I must be hallucinating.

The Sam-hallucination glared at her for a moment, his eyes boring right into her own before they travelled slowly down to her neck. His nostrils flared, almost as if he was breathing in the scent of her perfume. He continued, lowering his gaze and Leah felt his eyes rest on her chest and move further along to her waist, down to her crotch and then her thighs and calves. He assessed every inch of her.

Then he stormed through the door, slamming it shut behind him.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going dressed like that." He barked.

Leah stared at him while she took a step backwards. Not a hallucination, she told herself glumly. It was Mr Bossypants himself.

"Wherever the fuck I want Sam," she replied mirroring his harsh tone. "Aren't you meant to be banging Emily nine ways to Sunday right now on your super duper imprint honeymoon?" Leah was actually deeply curious, why the hell was Sam here wasting her Friday night?

"I'm meant to still be on my honeymoon and trust me, I'd much rather be there, but instead I'm here cleaning up your mess as usual. How could you be so irresponsible – are you actually trying to live up to your ridiculous reputation?" He yelled. Leah felt her eyes start to water and she blinked furiously. It always cut when Sam was angry with her. She had never gotten used to having him as a boss; a disciplinarian. She still remembered the Sam who made out with her behind the bleachers and picked her wildflowers. The other Sam, the one she had to deal with now was almost a complete stranger. A harsh taskmaster that lived in the same body of the man she had loved so dearly.

And was standing at her door, still telling her how much he wished he was with Emily rather than her. Everytime he said it the wound seem to run a little deeper. She also had the sneaking suspicion that he was slut-shaming her, although she had no idea why. She hadn't touched anyone since him and he knew damn well that all the rez rumours were ridiculous.

Leah became aware of Seth moving into place beside her. "You're upsetting her Sam. I think you should leave," he said firmly.

"You have no idea what she's done," Sam snarled.

Seth shrugged. "Nope, and I don't care. Whatever it is I'm pretty sure she doesn't deserve you barging in here guns blazing. Get out. I mean it."

"Shut up," Sam commanded. "You get the hell out of here," he added.

Leah listened in horror, a lone tear slipping down her cheek as Sam's alpha timbre compelled Seth out into the yard. His eyes stared at her wide and apologetic.

Then he was gone.

Sam stepped forward, closing the gap between them again. He was so close she could smell him, a familiar musk with a hint of sweetness. God she loved that scent. For weeks after he'd left her she'd taken her favourite shirt of his to bed with her every night so that she could breathe him in.

Leah fought not to lose focus. It would be so easy to let her guard down and then she wouldn't be ready for whatever Sam was about to yell at her about.

"Why did you go to Hawaii?" Sam asked.

"How do you know about that?" Leah asked him warily. She felt suddenly worried that he knew about her phasing at Rebecca's house, but Jacob had taken care of that and he wouldn't have told anyone, let alone Sam.

"Everyone knows," Sam snapped.

"Ugh. Sam I don't have time for this. Say what you have to say and go home." Leah pushed past him and huffed down the porch stairs. She would not let him intimidate her.

"Don't you dare walk away from me Leah," he called. Leah found herself glued to her spot in the back garden. Damn him and his stupid control everyone voice. "Answer me. Why did you go to Hawaii with Jacob?"

"Because I felt like it!" She shrieked. "I hate being stuck here with you. I hate having you tell me what to do all the time, especially because everything I do seems to be wrong. I want to be able to be a normal person and put a thousand miles between me and my shithead high school boyfriend. Instead I'm stuck here while you and Emily play happy families." Why couldn't he see it? It killed her to watch them together. A slow painful torture that gradually sapped the life from her.

"You can't leave, LeeLee," Sam said softly. "I need you here." Without warning, he grabbed at her and pressed her up against him. Leah's breath hitched in her chest as he brought his arms around her waist and embraced her.

"Stop," she ordered, her words muffled as her traitor body relaxed into his warm strong arms. Everything about him was familiar and comforting and she had been denied that for so long.

"You're the last piece of who I really am LeeLee. If you go I won't even be me anymore," he whispered, stroking his hands through her hair.

She let him have thirty-seven heartbeats. Thirty-seven slow intakes of breath before she processed what he had said, shored up her strength and pushed him with all her might.

"You're not my Sam," she hissed. "My Sam died the second he imprinted, and this new version of you sucks to high heaven. My comings and goings have nothing to do with that."

"This is his influence," Sam seethed. "I won't have it. I'm changing the patrol schedule and you absolutely can't go anywhere without discussing it with me first. It's for your own good Leah. What happened with us was bad enough. How can you even consider putting yourself through that again?"

Leah stared at Sam dumbly. It was like he was speaking another language. "I honestly don't even know what you're talking about," she said tiredly.

"I'm talking about Jacob!" Sam roared. "Stay away from him."

As if the speaking of his name summoned him from the earth itself, there he was: sprinting through her backyard in his standard uniform of low-hanging cargo shorts. He looked so ferocious that Leah did a double take. He vaulted over the wooden picnic table that had been the site of so many Clearwater family functions and landed in between Leah and Sam. He was emitting a strange snarling sound as he rose from his crouched arrival to his full height, towering over both of them.

"Sam," he said, his voice short and clipped.

"Jacob," Sam acknowledged in little more than a low growl.

"Jake," Leah cried, desperate to tell him what had happened before Sam ordered her not to speak any more. "He says we can't patrol together and I can't go anywhere without his permission. I don't know why!"

Jacob reached a hand behind him and gave Leah's fingers a reassuring squeeze. She couldn't see anything beyond the bare wall of muscle that was Jacob's back but she heard his next words loud and clear.

"It's because he thinks we're fucking, Lee," Jacob said conversationally, "it's the latest story doing the rounds on the rez grapevine... and he's so jealous he can't see anything past that."

Leah gasped. Of all the things Jacob might have said, his response wasn't something that she had considered possible, even in her wildest fantasies. "But, but... he imprinted on Emily," she stammered. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Paul and Jared entering the yard in wolf form and Embry and Quil walking through the bushes. She breathed in deeply. Seth, Collin and Brady were here too, although from the faintness of their scent they seemed to be watching from somewhere outside the property.

"Yes he did," Jacob replied, never tearing his eyes away from Sam, "but that doesn't mean he's let go of you. It's. His. Dirty. Little. Secret." Jacob said, emphasising each word. "He's put an invisible barrier around you. He doesn't want you to get over him and he doesn't give two shits about how miserable he makes you in the process"

"You don't know what you're talking about, pup," Sam snapped. "I care more about her happiness than a selfish prick like you ever could."

"Is that so?" Jacob said low and gravelly. "Is that why you alpha ordered her to be Emily's maid of honour? Because you care so very fucking much?"

Leah heard a gasp from behind her and she recognised Seth's voice. "Leah, why didn't you say something?" He cried.

Sam's face flushed red with indignation but he kept his gaze fixed on Jacob. "I told you then. As Alpha I balance everyone's interests. It involves tough choices. Ones that you wouldn't understand."

"Maybe not right now Sam," Jacob drawled, "but by the end of today I'm sure I'll understand just as well as you ever did." He reached his arms out on either side of him in a triumphant gesture. "My neck and spine aren't broken anymore, Sam. What did you tell me? I have to make you submit. I'll make you beg."

"You think you can fight me?" Sam smirked.

"I think I can kill you." Jacob replied.

Leah felt a strong pair of arms pull her away from Jacob and she looked up to see Embry's worried face. Jared and Paul had phased back into their human forms and the pack formed a loose circle around the Clearwater backyard.

The large yellow moon hung low in the sky casting shadows around them. Leah shivered as the air seemed to thicken. Jacob and Sam were glaring daggers as they prowled around one another in circles. She had never seen either of them so angry. So primal.

"Still wanna do this human?" Sam sneered.

"I'll fight as a man," Jacob retorted cockily. "You can continue with your lame impersonation of one."

Leah was consumed by anxiety. Part of her had been anticipating this for so long: since she'd first overheard Jacob challenge Sam, and maybe even before that, but it was still a shock when Sam threw the first punch. She'd spent three years of her life with Sam and she'd known Jacob since he was born. She had never thought of either of them as violent people, but to look at them now, there was no denying the feral rage pulsing through both of them.

Sam's arm jabbed out towards Jacob, but Jacob ducked and spun to the side, shoulder-charging Sam's ribs as he rotated. Sam staggered backwards and both men brought their hands in front of their face in a fighting stance. Suddenly, those few inches that Jacob had over Sam became enormous. When it came to boxing, Jake had the longer reach. He could stand outside of Sam's striking distance but was assaulting him with a series of jabs to the chest and face. Jacob's fist crushed Sam's cheekbone, the large crack echoing through the otherwise noiseless night.

Leah realised what was so eerie about this fight compared with ones she had witnessed in schoolyards and bars.

You could hear a pin drop.

It was pack mate against pack mate and no one wanted to take sides. Paul, someone who was never short of words, was watching mutely. He couldn't very well encourage his friend to mutilate his future brother-in-law, Leah thought.

Her eyes darted back to the fight just in time to see Sam work out that there was one way he could strike Jacob, despite the height difference. He jerked his right leg into a roundhouse kick that impacted Jacob's jaw with sickening force. Leah winced as Jacob's face was yanked to the side and blood spurted out of his mouth. While Jacob was spluttering, Sam took the opportunity to pounce and tackled him to the floor.

Something inside Leah snapped. No fucking way was she keeping her mouth shut through this.

"Come on Jake, use your legs," she shrieked.

Sam shot her a wounded look and Jacob seized the chance to knee him in the chest.

Leah's cries seemed to release her pack mates. Jared, Paul, Colin and Brady began shouting directions at Sam and Seth, Embry and Quil were calling to Jacob.

Sam and Jacob were wrestling on the ground now, struggling for dominance, both covered in mud, blood and sweat. Sam tried biting Jacob's cheek, Jacob snarled in response and tore at Sam's ear. Sam managed to rotate on top of Jacob and pin his arm.

"Pop it, Sam, pop it," Jared called.

Leah gaped in horror at the sound of Sam wrenching Jacob's shoulder out of alignment.

"Jake, get up, please get up," she yelled.

Leah had no idea if Jacob could actually hear anything she was saying, but Jacob rolled sideways and pulled Sam into a headlock which he wiggled out of by elbowing Jacob sharply. Both men grabbed at each other, panting. Sam was trying to wrap his legs around Jacob and use his weight to pull him back to the ground.

They really are going to kill each other, Leah thought. How could they keep going like this?

With a visceral grunt, Jacob picked Sam up and slammed him down onto the wooden picnic table. The outdoor setting split in two and Jacob struck another blow to Sam's head while he was dizzied on the ground.

"Get up," Jacob growled, "I'm not nearly done with you yet."

Sam scowled and charged forward, but Jacob reached out and grabbed his face, pulling it down to his raised leg and kneeing him hard. Sam's nose split open and blood gushed down his lips and chin.

Jacob stepped back only to come at Sam again with an earth shattering side kick to Sam's already bruised ribs. Leah heard the crunching sound as they split and Sam sank to the floor.

Jacob straddled Sam's frame, pinning his hands down. He was raining blows down on Sam's exposed face now, savage snarls accompanying brutal punch after punch. Sam was moaning and Leah almost felt bad for him. Almost.

"Jake," Embry called. "Jake bro, stop, he's had enough."

Jacob didn't stop. Maybe he couldn't, Leah thought. She knew that Jacob had been waiting for this, and the aggravation caused by that delay was playing itself out. Like any man who had starved himself of what he needed, Jacob was going to gorge until he was sated. Leah's own bloodlust had fuelled her earlier encouragement, but now she thought of the sweet boy whose cup used to be overflowing. Nothing about him was a murderer. He was a protector.

"Jake, please stop, please, please, please STOP!" She choked out the words in sobs.

And somehow he heard her.

Leah would never understand how, but amidst the pandemonium, her words snaked into Jacob's ears. He ceased his blows and like a tendril of smoke rose from the ground with inhuman agility. He was looking right at her, but his vacant gaze confirmed that he wasn't there at all. In place of Jacob's usual warm brown eyes were golden orbs.

Wolf's eyes.

He was beautiful, he was frightening. Leah was so mesmerized as he approached, she didn't see the animal slinking up from the darkness behind him. Maybe the others did. Maybe they were calling out warnings, but they couldn't interrupt this very private moment between Leah and the wolf wearing Jacob's body. She was reaching her hand out to him when she saw Sam's wolf pounce. Her mouth fell open in terror but she didn't make a sound.

But he saw her fear and that was enough.

Jacob darted backwards and moved low to the ground as Sam's wolf soared above him.

Then he pounced.

The not-quite-human Jacob jumped on Sam's back and wrapped his legs around the wolf's body while his hands grabbed Sam's snout, keeping his jaws apart.

"Why isn't he phasing?" Embry yelled.

They watched, stunned as Jacob the man wrestled Sam the wolf. While Sam was smaller than Jacob when human, they were all almost twice their usual size as shifters. Sam rose on his hind legs and Jacob shook precariously as Sam clawed at him drawing blood from his face and arms.

Understanding dawned on Leah. "He told Sam he would fight him human. Even if Sam's changed his mind, Jake will keep his word," she murmured.

The pack let out a collective gasp. "Come on Sam, you're going to kill him," Quil called, his face etched with worry.

No one was cheering anymore. So Leah rose to the occasion.

"Come on Jake, you can do it!" She bellowed. "Take him, take him down!"

Jacob's legs tightened around Sam's torso and Leah heard the crunch of Sam's other set of ribs. Jacob had broken them both now. Sam's wolf fell on all fours and Jacob moved back in a scissor movement pinning and snapping Sam's rear legs with his own. Sam snivelled as Jacob moved to restrain his front paws and then brought his lips down to Sam's neck, his teeth bared.

"Phase," he growled in a baritone that carried such force, Sam was instantly jolted into his human form. There didn't seem to be any part of him that wasn't injured, but Jacob wasn't leaving anything to chance now. He grabbed Sam and shook him roughly by the scruff of the neck. Jacob released him from his grip and Sam moved his hands to his face, whimpering and confirming his submission.

Leah felt the exact moment that Sam surrendered. Jacob roared in victory, a guttural cry that seemed to call to the very essence of Leah's being and reach out to the heavens.

She phased. They all did. She lay panting on the grass, feeling her bones break and re-break. It was like that first transformation - painful and involuntary - but she felt stronger. The pack consciousness confirmed it. There had been a bolt of energy through them all. Their senses were keener and they were bigger with sharper claws. Jacob walked around them in a circle, surveying each wolf. He howled again into the night sky.

The pack howled back in perfect unison.

The rightful alpha had ascended to power.

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