Landslide; Chapter Ten
Third person limited
Leah hadn't long returned from her run, and looking at her, Jacob felt his heart sink. He could tell from the way she averted her gaze every time he tried to catch it, that he had really hurt her; more than she would let on. He felt like the biggest asshole ever and Seth still wouldn't speak to him. Regardless, he was hoping she would forgive him later on, or at least allow him to apologize and grovel.
She had only been back about five minutes, but it was still long enough for her to collect everyone in the living room, prance over to the kitchen and open a bag of chips before telling them all about her recent adventure in the woods.
"Nahuel?" Seth asked. "The other hybrid?"
Leah nodded. "The one that was at the fight with the volturi; the one Alice and Jasper found." She popped some more food into her mouth before continuing. "Yep, his motives seemed pretty sincere, but you still can't trust anything. They've been deceiving people for decades."
Quil quirked a brow. "So he left to go over to the Cullen's?"
"Yep," she informed. "Apparently he wanted to visit Nessie, especially now that she's older. I guess it makes sense considering they're both the same with their screwed up genes and stuff."
"Why?" Jacob asked; it was the first thing he had said since Leah strutted in. "I mean, did he say why?"
"Probably because they're both a minority in the evil beings on earth fan club," she shrugged. "I didn't get to ask questions considering I was a huge wolf. I don't think they speak telepathy."
Sarcasm was dripping from Leah's words, and Jacob sighed. He was about to go warn the Cullen's when she spoke again, however.
"I stopped over on my way home and they weren't there yet, but I let them know to be expecting visitors. And that there's no threat, well, if you want to consider them harmless. The Cullen's did."
Honestly, Jacob though, it was like she could read his mind, even in human form. The wolves dispersed, and left a hungry Leah scarfing down a muffin, and Jacob frozen on the couch.
Leah hopped off the counter a minute later, the tension building.
"Wait, Leah," Jacob got up and went over, taking her wrist to keep her in the joined kitchen/living room. "I'm sorry."
"Let me go," she snapped her hand back and went upstairs. "Just leave me alone."
Jacob frowned. He really fucked up. He heard her door slam shut, and he sighed, exiting the house and heading over to the Cullen's.
Just in time, too, considering when he got there, Nahuel was there, alone, at the door step, talking to Carlisle.
"Ah, Jacob," Carlisle greeted. "Both of you, come in."
Jacob kept his distance, eying the new hybrid in front of him as he entered the house. Jacob waited for some distance to be put forth before he did the same, and resumed his rightful place on the couch in the living room where everyone was gathered.
Emmett was watching football, like usual, seemingly oblivious to the world; even his wife beside him, who nudged him as Nahuel leaned in the doorway. Alice had Jasper's hand, sitting on the top of the love seat's back, and Carlisle resumed his place next to Esme near the glass double doors, farthest from Jacob.
"Hello everyone," Nahuel's voice rang through the large, open space.
"Long time no see," Alice said, happily. "How have you been? Your aunt?"
Nahuel smiled, grateful to be accepted as a visitor to their family. "I'm good, I have a coven of my own. Well, mine and my aunts. Huilen didn't exactly approve of me stopping by here, though. It's more like... passing through, really. She didn't want you all disturbed, but after our last visit, I just had to return and visit Nessie; see how she's grown. My own kind still amazes me."
Jacob felt extremely protective as Nahuel spoke. Nessie may be 'his kind' but Jacob didn't like the fact that he came just to visit her.
"They're on their way," Carlisle said evenly. "However you're always welcome here. You helped our family immensely and it doesn't go unrecognized."
Nahuel thanked him, and as he caught up with the family, telling them his own backstory as well, a smaller
"Nessie," Nahuel was captivated as he turned and saw her. In only a short period of time, she had sprouted and now, had just entered the age to be considered a teenager. Her hair was long and wavy, and her body was quickly catching up to her obvious intelligence.
"Hello," she said evenly, reaching up and touching his cheek. She was growing so quickly, she didn't even need any help to touch it. She showed him the memory she had from the clearing, and how he helped their family before dropping her hand. "Thank you."
Nahuel smiled down. "You're quite welcome."
Jacob almost jumped right out of his seat as she touched him, wanting to take her over with him, and protect her from the unknown, even if the family embraced Nahuel like one of their own.
"I had to return and see your progress," Nahuel told Nessie as Edward and Bella entered, smiling at the interaction.
"Looks like Jacob's got some competition," Edward grinned, only half-jokingly.
Nahuel looked over to Jacob. "You've imprinted on her?"
Jacob nodded solemnly and got up, going over to take Nessie's hand. "Yes, that's right."
"No need to be territorial, Jacob," Edward mused, though reading both of their minds, he could tell there may be an issue down the road when she started dating. He had himself convinced his little girl hadn't even entered that frame of mind, yet, despite her own screaming thoughts.
Nahuel smiled at the wolf. "No worries, Jacob. That female wolf of yours... She's very brave," he said, changing the topic. "Wouldn't even back down to my two newborns. Not that they would have hurt her, but."
"Don't bother my pack," Jacob said evenly, though his free hand was clenched into a fist.
"No worries," Nahuel cleared. "They've been told of the werewolves presence, and told not to go near."
Carlisle chuckled, trying to diffuse the obvious tension. "Nahuel, why don't you take Nessie out back and catch up?"
Jacob gave Carlisle a death glare, but he waved it off.
"That sounds like a fabulous idea," Nahuel said, taking Nessie's free hand and leading her out back with Edward and Bella.
* * * * *
"I remember," Nessie giggled as Nahuel and her sat on the large rocks in the backyard. "My aunt and uncle found you so there would be no fight."
Nahuel nodded. Edward and Bella had filtered off to the side, Bella helping Esme with some yard work, and Edward keeping a watchful eye from nearby with Jasper.
"She likes him," Jasper said.
Edward quirked a brow. "What?"
He turned his attention away from watching Nessie, and toward his brother. "She likes him; Nessie like Nahuel. It's... innocent, for now."
"What do you mean for now? She's only a child," Edward grimaced.
Jasper gave him a knowing look. "Edward... She's got a fully developed mind. Her looks haven't quite caught up yet, but even you should know she's figured out the reason for the imprint by now."
"She's too young," Edward was adamant. He didn't want his baby girl to have grown up so fast. She still had dolls in her room, for God sake. Surely she wasn't into boys yet?
His brother laughed. "See it how you wish, but soon, I have a feeling there will be a tangle."
"A tangle?" Bella asked, coming over to the men and wrapping her arms around Edward from behind.
"Jasper thinks Nessie likes Jacob and Nahuel," Edward said dismally, looking over to where the two were conversing.
"But the imprint?" Bella asked.
Jasper shrugged. "It's just what I get from her. She idolizes Jacob, but Nahuel... He's like her. She likes that."
Bella frowned as the conversation dropped off. This may not be good.
"He walked right in there," Jacob groaned. "And just took control and Nessie let him."
Quil sighed, outside at the house. "Don't worry, Jacob. You've got the imprint. She probably just likes the idea of talking to someone like her, I guess. If you hadn't met another werewolf before, and then one day you did, but had to leave, you'd come back too, wouldn't you?"
"That's not the point," Jacob grumbled.
"I think Leah feels a little left out, too," Seth finally joined the conversation. "Being the only female and all. It's not easy for her."
"She's got us," Quil said. "At least she knows we're going to protect her, and she's not exactly alone. Gender aside, we're the same species."
The boys all agreed on this, but Jacob sighed. "Where is Leah?" He hadn't seen her since he returned from the Cullen's.
"Up in her room," Seth answered, surprisingly. This was the first time he directly spoke to him since his earlier confrontation with Leah.
Jacob thanked him, and went up the stairs to the female wolfs room. "Leah?" he asked, knocking on the door.
"Go to hell, Black," she spat before opening the door.
She wore a pair of spandex shorts, a tank top, and a pair of sneakers with a book bag on her back. Jacob stood in front of her. "Where are you going?"
"None of your business," she said coolly. "Now move."
"Not until you tell me where you're going."
"Is that an order, alpha?"
He sighed. "No, Lee. I just... I really am sorry."
"That's great," she remarked before deciding to forcefully push past him, and down the stairs.
Leah arrived at the dance studio quickly after she left the house. She didn't have a lesson, but she needed to let all the frustration out. Oddly enough, she found that the studio helped her clear her head and find some inner peace. The studio was empty, as it usually was between classes and she went in, shutting the large glass door behind her, and hooked her music up to the overhead speakers. She turned away from the mirror, not wanting to prefect her techniques, just get out her pent up feelings.
Jacob let the door quietly shut behind him, not wanting Leah to know that he followed her. He would get in even more trouble in her eyes from doing that. He couldn't just let her leave, though, largely because a part of him felt like she could do something stupid. Another part of him also felt drawn to her since leaving the Cullen's - Since leaving his imprint in the presence of another, seemingly well-suited mate. But he didn't want to think about that. He convinced himself he was there for her and not himself.
He came around to the side door cautiously, and peered in the glass. Leah was facing the wall, mirrors behind her, following her every move as she fiddled with something in the corner. When she moved away, to the middle of the room, he saw it was a stereo system.
He wasn't sure why yoga studios had mirrors - largely because serenity in a room with a larger number of women then men made him feel like a mirror was the last thing they needed to be at peace with themselves. He shook the oddity off, however, as Leah took a space, and sat down in the middle of the floor, continuoiusly facing the wall. When she hit a button and the music started, he was equally as confused. If she wanted to relax, Mr. Brightside by the Killers wasn't going to do that for her, but when she got up, in a sharp, jagged, yet equally as beautiful and controlled motion, he understood.
It was a dance studio. Why did she tell him she was doing yoga? Clearly, by the passionate and careful way she moved, she had been practicing. He raised a brow, and continued to watch, hoping she wouldn't notice him. After all, she clearly hadn't wanted anyone to know about this new past-time. He got it, though. Dance was... Well, a very heavy, expression-filled activity, and just like yoga, it had a way of calming you down, even if the music wasn't exactly slow and melodic.
She was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Jacob was captivated by her ability to just own the dance floor. She seemed cautious, yet also graceful and head strong with every move she made. He watched her through out the song, and once it finished, she laid on the floor again, and sunk down, back against the wall, finally facing the mirror for the first time. She stared ahead, looking into the mirror, seemingly at herself.
Deep breaths, she told herself. In, and out. Jacob may have been an asshole earlier, and she was still angry and upset about what he said, but she couldn't show it. Not around him. But now, she was in her sacreed place. Everything was okay, and personal here. That's what their teacher kept telling them. They were able to express themselves without judgement casted on them. It was safe.
So when the song ended, and she sat on the floor, it was hard to keep her feelings hidden. She was broken. How could she trust anyone? Including Jacob. Maybe they weren't exclusive - largely because the imprint stopped that from ever happening. But how could they be anything but? She would always come second, and she wasn't going to settle for that. Not again. Maybe Sam hurting her was easier than this, largely because he knew what he wanted. Once he made his decision, that was it. Whereas Jacob was tied to two people and wasn't able to decide.
She had to get over him, that was that.
Jacob, against his better judgement, opened the glass door to the studio, and Leah's head shot up, fury catching her eyes on fire.
"What are you doing here!?" she spat. "You followed me..."
"That was beautiful," he said, walking over to her as she stood up. He reached over to take her hand, but she pulled away.
"Don't touch me. You invaded my privacy. Just because your the alpha doesn't mean you get to parade around in peoples lives twenty-four seven."
He nodded. "Look, you have every right to hate me. Both from this, and earlier, but I'm sorry, Leah."
"I don't care," she said heavily, crossing her arms over her chest. "Go run back to your little imprint. You'd probaby still be wit her, anyways, if Nahuel hadn't intruded on your love-infused bubble."
Jacob sighed. "She likes him," he said dismally.
Leah was confused for a moment, but then understood, and started laughing. "No, you're not allowed to do this." She reached up and tightened her ponytail. "Coming to me for pity? Because your little imprint hasn't worked out the way you planned? Because Nahuel has stolen her attention for five minutes?" She shook her head. "Don't even try that, Jacob. There's no pity here, not from me."
"I thought we were friends? I thought above all else, we were still friends, Leah. I know I was a jerk, but you're my Beta for a reason."
She sighed and nodded. "Above all else. But I won't comfort you over Nessie."