Thanks for all the comments on the last two chapters! Ok I had some fun letting Leah get back at the boys :D – enjoy!

Chapter 11

Our pace irritated me as we galloped for the clearing. But it kept my mind off of what I had just found out. They thought I was annoying before, ha!

Leah, Sam spoke up. We're sorry. But right now we need you to focus on the task at hand.

I didn't respond.

I listened to the rhythmic pattern of our running. The annoying worried thoughts clouded my head so much that I doubted I could hear as clearly. Most of the pack had a hint of nervousness. A couple of them were excited.

I ran a thought through my head, trying to make it loud. I wondered to myself if Jacob had asked Billy about Embry's dad yet. A single groan came from the pack.

Leah, I thought I told you we try not to bring that up. Jared growled at me.

I tried to make my thoughts sound innocent. I'm sorry, I'm new to this and it just slipped!

Leah, learn to control your thoughts. Jacob snapped. He hadn't asked his dad yet.

The thoughts radiated annoyance towards me and if I could have grinned I would have. I felt giddy at causing a disturbance in the pack. The thoughts seemed to be trying to tune me out now.

I tried to think of some other annoying random thought. Then it struck me. It had been on the edge of my mind the last couple days but I hadn't been too worried about it, I just put it off because of all the activity.

I thought loudly to myself, I wonder when I'll get my period back. A couple of the wolves tripped in mid stride. They all turned their heads to me with wide eyed expressions, they couldn't believe I had just brought this up.

The thoughts were awkwardly silent for the longest time. No one knew how to respond to that. I nearly laughed out loud and their fright.

Leah . . . Sam thought. Please, please focus.

That did it, I laughed out loud but my laugh came out as a deep bark. I decided that was enough fun, for tonight anyways. Ok Sam, I'm sorry.

Everyone was truly annoyed with me now. Good, now they know that what I was before was not annoying. But they sure screwed that up.

Then the scent hit us. I and some others couldn't help letting out a small whimper as the smell burned our noses. It was the smell that had surrounded Bella at the fire. Vampire.

We were close. The nervousness edged back to the surface and I looked motherly towards Seth. His ears were tensed backwards and his gait was stiff, his thoughts were timid but he trusted Sam and Jacob.

I must say I trusted them too, even if they backstabbed me. Sam recoiled at this but composed himself. Can the mind reader hear us yet you think? He asked Jacob.

Jacob ran on Sam's right in the second's position. Jacob was nearly as tall as Sam now and looked his role. He probably can. His names Edward, they'll probably respond better if we call them by their names. But even Jacob's thoughts said he would have a hard time doing that.

The smell was stronger now and I could faintly see the seven ghostly white figures ahead in the clearing. As we got closer I could make out each one. Their faces were hard, as if they were hiding the shock of seeing us. I guessed we did look kind of imposing, ten horse sized wolves approaching on their territory.

They stood in a arched line much like we did. Two males, a very muscular dark haired one and a well built blonde, stood at the point defensively. The rest of them spread out on either side of them, there were three other females and two males. One of the males, who was smaller but still muscular and had dark red hair, stood near the back. I saw why, Bella cowered behind him. It struck me that her position showed that she trusted them more than us. I fought a snarl, what an idiot. The red haired leech, oops, I mean "Edward" shot his eyes towards me, a scowl spread across his face.

The other male, a stately blonde haired one who looked more like a scholar than a vampire took a step towards us. I guessed this was the doctor.

"Welcome," He greeted with a faint English accent, nodding towards us. His approach seemed to send an unusual calmness towards us. Then I remembered, one of them could control emotions. I scanned the other vampires trying to see which one it was.

Thank you. Sam thought his "voice" deep, sounding like a dominant alpha. He was echoed by the mind reader. We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control.

The doctor vampire spoke again. "That is more than enough. My son Jasper" --- he gestured to the well built blonde at point --- "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."

They are different from you? Sam thought for the pack. Edward spoke his words again.

The doctor nodded. "They are all very new, only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you, it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves."

This reminded me of newborn wolves. We were unskilled and extremely irritable. The older wolves mumbled to themselves, we could take on more than just 10. There were only seven Cullens and a couple of the females didn't look like the fighting type.

"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary." Edward spoke, reading our conjoined thoughts.

The doctor smiled. He seemed so oddly human it was creepy. "We'll see how it plays out."

Do you know when and how they'll arrive?

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path." The doctor's hand waved towards the tiniest of them, a pixie looking leech with spiky hair. That must be Alice, the psychic.

Thank you for the information. We will watch. Sam thought finally. He sank down to the ground, lying on his stomach. As if we were tied together the rest of us lay down with a sigh. We watched tentatively as the well built blonde, Jasper, stepped forward.