Salvation

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: Tomorrow is the day when I go visit my husband's grave after almost seven months of not gathering the strength to visit him. It's going to be an emotional day, but it's something that I should do. I want to move on. I'm tired of living in the past… I have to let go and hopefully, tomorrow is going to begin the first step of my thousand step journey. Thanks to all those people that helped me with their kind words.

Heat

Leah's POV

I watched as Benedict's wolf form stared at me. His green eyes scrutinized me, following every step that I took. I had a feeling that the moment that his wolf's eyes saw me for the first time as a wolf, that he would imprinted on me. I felt happy. This solidified my adoration for Benedict. This made me feel like I finally belonged in the world. I was so happy. I knew that I would be happy with my angel, my Benedict. I know that it's been a long time since I thought this way, but Benedict made me feel alive. I felt worth to be loved.

"Benny," I whispered, as I moved closer to him.

He was tall; his fur was black like the night. His fur reminded me of Sam's black midnight color fur, except that Benedict had white fur around his left eye and right ear and front paws. He looked so adorable. His paws were larger than a mature wolf and he looked afraid. I reached my hand to touch his muzzle and I felt Benedict purr softly. He leaned his head closer to my hand and dropped down to the floor in a submissive fashion and I continued to touch his brittle fur. He felt warm to the touch and my fingers tangled in his brittle hair.

"The reason your fur is long, is because your hair is long. You're gonna need a haircut." I whispered close to his nose. "Can you hear any voices in your head?" I asked him, as I snuggled closer to him and enjoy the warmth that embraced me.

Benedict nodded, but continued to stare at me. His steady heartbeat set me at ease. I didn't want him to be afraid. He surprised me with his self-control. I remembered the first time that I phased. I was afraid and disoriented. I'd lost my father that same night and I felt confused when I heard all the strange voices booming in my head. I didn't believe the fact that I was a shapeshifter. It was all new to me and when I saw the images of Emily coming from Sam's memories, I wanted to die. I wanted Benny to be relaxed. We knew that he was going to be turning into a werewolf soon. There have been new vampires coming to Forks and the neighboring towns. I was expecting him to become one soon, but I didn't know that his jealousy was going to trigger his change.

"Ask the person that you hear in your head to come and get you. I have a visitor that I need to get rid of, angel." I said, caressing his forehead and his right ear with my hand.

Benedict shifted and stood up on all four legs. He began to move around when we heard the crushing of twigs and dead leaves. I turned around and saw a sandy color fur wolf.

"Seth's here, go with him." I ordered Benedict, but he shook his head and began to gnarl and circled me. I placed my hand on my hip and pointed at him. "It'll be fine, Benny." I said annoyed. "I know that you're worried about me, but I need to get rid of Elliot. If he finds out about our secret, will be doomed." I hissed softly.

Benedict lowered his head and walked closer to me and licked my hand. "You are probably wondering who that guy is, right?" I said, smiling at him, as I took his head in my hands and forced him to look down at me. "He's a friend of mine. We used to work together many years ago… twelve years to be exact. He used to be my personal assistant-" I trailed off, when I heard human steps approaching us.

"Leah?" Elliot Hawthorne yelled, panicking, when he saw me touching the giant hairy beast.

Benedict growled furiously and began to run towards Elliot. Seth's wolf form intersected him and gnarled at him. I walked closer to where they stood and stared at Benedict with pleading eyes.

"Please, Benedict Collin Brooks, calm down." I ordered in a low voice, as I moved closer to Elliot. "It's going to be alright." I whispered, my eyes resting on the large wolf. "Elliot," I said annoyed, without removing my gaze from Ben. "I thought that I told you to stay inside my house."

"Leah" Elliot said, picking up a branch from the floor and brought it in front of him. Like that was going to stop a six feet tall wolf from attacking him. I ignored him and walked closer to him. "I know that you did, but I had to come and check if you were alright." he said alarmed, as he swung the branch in front of him. "What the hell is that?"

"It's an animal." I said casually.

"I'm aware of that!" Elliot shouted. "I'm asking what the hell that thing is. Is it a bear? Wolf? Horse? A monster?"

"I don't know," I lied, moving closer to him. "Just turn around slowly and leave. I told you to stay in my house. I know what I'm dealing with… If they get mad, they might attack us." I said, trying to dissuade him from staying. "We have to slowly make our way back to the house."

"What if they attack us from behind?" Elliot asked, as he swiftly took my hand and brought me to his embrace. "I'll protect you." he whispered in my ear.

Benedict quickly dashed to where we stood and brought his head so close to Elliot's face. I could feel his breath tickling my skin. I pushed myself between Benedict and Elliot and raised a hand in front of Benedict.

"Ben," I mouthed, as I touched the fur on his forehead. "Calm down. We don't want to hurt you…" I trailed off, getting closer to my imprint.

Elliot pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Leah, what are you doing?" he asked loudly. "Let's get outta here. We have to call someone to remove this beast out of these lands. Someone might get hurt."

I pulled Elliot away from me and grunted. "Elliot, stop being such a drama queen." I hissed. "Wolves like him, they don't kill human."

Elliot scoffed and threw the tree branch at Benedict, but stopped when a chocolate brown wolf came from behind us. It was Quil. He was ready to pounce any idiot that mess with our pack brothers. I wanted to end this situation as fast and as amicable as possible. I grabbed Elliot by the collar and moved him closer to me.

"We are getting out of here." I said strictly. "You will do what I say if you want to live."

Elliot nodded and quickly took my hand in his and we ran towards my house. I could hear Benedict's howls. They broke my heart, but this was needed to keep our secret. I knew that the scientist inside Hawthorne was going to investigate why there are such large and dangerous animals in La Push. He might even get permission and funds from the university to investigate new species that haven't been classified or studied. Can you imagine a large Quileute wolf in a dissecting table? Or as an experiment? When we made it to the house, Elliot Hawthorne paced around the living room, his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. He asked me why I was caressing such a dangerous beast and I felt the urge to kick his ass out of my house, but if I acted out of character, he was going to suspect. I told him that I just felt overtaken by the curiosity and the need to reach and touch such an unknown creature. He believed what I said and promised to be back to try to investigate such a fascinating creature. I told him not to count me in, but he just chuckled.

"I'll see you soon, Leah." he promised, when he reached for his car keys and his jacket. "I'll be back to visit you again."

"I don't want you to trouble yourself, H." I said arrogantly. "Besides, you have to get ready for your seminars and also for your Chemotherapy, right?"

"Oh, so you've heard?" he asked glumly, as he shifted his weight on the balls of his feet. "I thought that I kept it a secret."

"I still keep in touch with Sedgewick and Del Monte," I said shrugging. "They told me that you had cancer and- well, I just know."

"Leah," he paused, as he took a step closer to me. He reached for my hand and took it in his. "Why do you still look so young? It's like you haven't age a bit."

"Good genes, H." I said flatly. "Listen, my brother should be arriving soon and I want to talk to him about private matters..."

"About the large creature?"

"No, family matters," I snapped.

"Sorry,"

"Listen, have a safe trip to Seattle." I said, snatching my hand back from his grasp and walking to the door. "I hope that everything works out for you."

"Thanks," he smiled. "I'll see you soon."

"Bye," I said in a low voice, as I watched him exit the living room and walk down the front steps. He turned around to wave at me and ambled to his car. "Take care, H." I said.

A few hours after Hawthorne left, Seth came knocking on my door. He was angry when he entered the house. I sat back on my sofa and continued waiting for Benedict to answer his cell phone. He was wearing only his cutoff jeans and his dirty sneakers.

"What the fuck was that about, Leah?" Seth asked, his familiar smile hidden behind a grimace. "You broke that kid's heart."

"Seth, leave me alone." I said furiously, as I waited for Benedict to answer his phone.

"No," Seth continued. "You left your imprint alone. He needed you the most and you just left him there. He was confused. I could feel his damn pain. Quil wanted to rip you to pieces. He also felt the freaking pain that Ben felt. It was heartbreaking…"

I placed the cordless phone on the charger and got up from the sofa and walked to the kitchen. Seth followed after me. I ambled to the knife drawer and pulled a sharp butcher knife and placed it on the counter. I sauntered to the fridge and got the cucumbers , tomatoes and carrots out and began to cut them into tiny just stood there glaring at me.

"I had to, Seth." I said defensively. "Elliot is going to bring a freaking search party to La Push to search for the giant beasts. I did what I could to protect my imprint and the rest of the wolves." I shouted.

Seth's expression softened and he walked to where I stood, cutting the carrots. He took a piece of the chopped cucumber and shoved it in his mouth.

"A search party?" he asked amused, chewing on his food. "That'll be interesting."

"More like a hunting party." I sighed, throwing the knife in the sink. "I hate my life, Seth."

"Why?

I walked to my brother and touched his shoulder. "He, Elliot, he, he fucking saw Benedict in his wolf form. He asked why Benedict's backpack and clothes were scattered around the wolf. He began to question me and I told him that I didn't know. I didn't know how to answer his damn questions. I don't want Benny-boy to get in trouble…"

"Oh fuck, this is bad." Seth said, as he spit out the cucumber in his hand.

"I know," I mumbled.

"Not that, this damn veggie." he said annoyed. "Leah, it's going to be fine, I swear."

"I'm serious, Seth." I shouted. "That's why I left with him. I thought that I was doing the right thing protecting my Benedict."

"Your Benedict?" Seth laughed, as he picked another piece of chopped vegetables from the cutting board. "That sounds almost funny coming from you, Lee."

"Yep," I sighed and pulled on his collar and smiled. "He's mine, Seth. Benedict, he imprinted on me this afternoon." I giggled. "I'm worth it, Seth."

"Leah," Seth chuckled. "You've always been worth it. I'm glad that he- wait, B-Benedict imprinted on you? Double imprint?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yes, maybe I'm not a loser like I thought that I was."

"Wow, that's the best news today," Seth shouted and picked me up and twirled me around. "See, Leah, you always said that you weren't worth it, but look at you now… You have someone that thinks the world of you. He's always liked you, Lee… maybe even loved you. I really hope that you're happy, sis."

I felt a few tears threatening to fall, but I blinked them away. I could feel the pull of my imprint getting closer. I pushed myself away from Seth and stared into his light eyes.

"I-We can talk about it later, Seth." I begged, clasping his hand tightly. "Help me talk to Benedict, please. He must be furious at me for deserting him in the middle of the woods and took off with some douche bag that he didn't know."

"Fine, I'll talk to him." Seth said, his usual smile spread on his lips as he looked down at me. "Anything for my sister."

"Thanks, bro." I said, kissing my brother's cheek and hugging him.

There was a soft knock on the front door and I knew who it was. I moved away from my brother and ran to the living room. I opened the door and was ready to apologize to Benedict, when I felt my body being pulled towards his. His strong arms wrapped around my waist and I came crashing against his chest. I inhaled his scent and felt my soul calming just by his mere presence.

"I love you so much, Leah." Benedict whispered against my ear. He planted a kiss on my forehead and held me tighter. I could feel our heartbeats becoming one. "I know that you were protecting me from that asshole and I understand, but, I felt jealous. He was holding you so tightly and you were crying. I didn't know how to react, angel. I had to do something and the only way that I thought that I could calm down was running away from you. I'm sorry that I phased and almost, or probably gave out our secret. I apologize for being so immature, Lee-Lee. I'm sorry, but I just love you so much. I lose my grip when I feel like I'm going to lose you. Please, forgive me, Lee. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Benedict," I said, but it was too late. His lips were already on mine. My hands moved on their own accord when I clasped his beautiful face and brought it down towards me and responded to his kiss with the same passion.