The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

AN: Slight change in POV. Don't worry, Leah will be back soon. She's still trying to sort herself out. Don't forget to review.

Chapter 13

Murder on My Mind

Early that same day Sue had arrived at Billy's house to talk with both him and Old Quil. Apparently, Sam was having problems with Leah and Seth's attitude within the pack. Sue wondered how Harry had dealt with this. It was time for Sam to grow up and stop asking the elders to take care of his problems. Did he really think Leah and Seth were going to blindly listen to everything that Sam had to say?

Entering Billy's home, she found both Billy and Old Quil sitting in the Black's living room. Billy looked amused and Old Quil seemed to be annoyed. "Morning, boys. So why don't you tell me what my kids did now? Then I'll decide whether this is a waste of my time today."

Billy chuckled at Sue's statement and he was the recipient of a glare from Old Quil. "Sue, I understand this is new to you and there have been changes in all of our lives. In order for the pack to function as a team, it requires that all members get along. Leah and Seth's attitude leaves much to be desired. I've already heard from more than one person that they have disobeyed direct orders and now they even have other wolves questioning Sam's authority," Old Quil stated.

"So…what's the problem? My understanding is Sam is only the temporary Alpha, maybe this means it's time for Jake to step up," she replied.

"Jake is only sixteen and has only been a wolf for a couple of months. I'm sorry but that is not within the best interests of the tribe or pack."

"Well, then I guess we'll agree to disagree," Sue said with a raised eyebrow towards Old Quil. "You can't expect Leah to forget what happened last summer and put it behind her like nothing has happened. You've both told me how the pack mind works. How many times do you think someone slips up? Shows the others something they'd like to keep private? How do you think Leah feels when she sees her ex, the man she planned on marrying, sharing intimate moments or memories of his new girlfriend? And not just any girl, her own cousin; I suppose that Seth shouldn't be pissed about this either, right? It's none of their business or right to be angry or confused. Think about it for a moment, Quil, Seth looked up to Sam as a role model when Sam was dating Leah. Then Sam broke Leah's heart. Now his father's died and Harry lied to us. Who knows what other secrets he could have hidden? Now who is Seth supposed to look up to?"

"Fine, Sue," Old Quil. "We'll talk to Sam and have him back off them a bit. You do realize they need to learn how to work within the pack in order to stay safe, don't you?"

"I realize that. I don't want to be one of the parents whose child doesn't come home but at the same time, we need to be more understanding, these are children that have suddenly had this mantel of responsibility thrust upon them. Charged to protect and defend the tribe and no one but them and a select few know this. Which brings me to my other point; these kids' parents deserve to know. I even feel the imprints' parents know also."

"Absolutely not," Billy and Old Quil exclaimed. "Sue," Billy continued, "This is too big of a secret to share with just anyone and everyone."

"I'm not asking us to announce to the entire tribe. I'm asking we allow the pack to decide if they want their parents to know," Sue explained. "Billy, what you're saying is you would have hid this information from Sarah? What if Rachel and Rebecca were here and they phased, too? You would have lied to your wife about what the kids were up to? What would you have told her when the gossips said they were in a gang? Or selling drugs? Or even having sex with the boys? I've heard what's been said about Emily and Kim around town. What's been said from the beginning when Sam, Jared, and Paul starting walking around together. It hurts me every day to know Harry didn't trust me enough; better yet, that none of you trusted me enough to be told what was going on. I would have handled Leah a little differently. I would have made Harry handle her outbursts differently. The last words Leah said to her father were horrible and she can never take that back. Neither of you understand how guilty she feels about his death. She thinks she caused it. That it was her fault."

They argued several different points and soon enough it was time to head over to Sam's. Sue hadn't been able to completely change their minds but she was getting there. She still hadn't talked to them about Leah finishing school but she figured Leah needed to figure out whether she wanted to continue and then they'd speak with Billy and Old Quil then.

Sue hadn't been to Sam's in ages. Not since before his breakup with Leah. She hadn't seen Emily since the funeral and she didn't know the last time she'd seen her before then. Walking into Sam and Emily's house, she was assaulted by the smell of apples, cinnamon, and blueberries. She scrunched her nose, of course, Emily would be baking. That's what she did when she was nervous or happy or sad. More or less, that's all that Emily did.

"Hi," Emily greeted the trio shyly. "I think Sam's going to talk with the pack first and then the boys…" she blushed realizing what she said, "They'll come in for something to eat."

"Sure, sure," Billy remarked. "Where's Sam right now? We have a few things we need to discuss."

"Oh, they're in the side yard."

The three of them walked into the living room and looked out the window. Sure enough, there were six enormous wolves standing in the yard, along with one girl. Leah's form was dwarfed by the size of them. Sue watched as the sandy brown wolf walked over to Leah and lay down next to her. It had to be Seth. She saw the fire in Leah's eyes, even from this distance and chuckled.

"What now, Sue," Old Quil asked.

"This is what I'm talking about. Sam needs to stop being so thick headed. She wants nothing to do with this and I doubt she wants to share thoughts with him any more than she has to."

The three of them watched as Leah had words with Sam's wolf. After several minutes of confrontation, they watched as Seth attacked Sam. Leah continued with her rant and Sue watched as Billy and Old Quil's mouths dropped open as the Sam led the wolves back towards the forest and within minutes they came back as boys.

"See, I told you. He's crazy to think she wants to strip down in front of her brother, him, and four other teenage boys."

Both men grunted, not pleased by Sue's assessment. Having a girl in the pack was going to require some changes. This was the last thing they needed. Jake had already told Billy about the situation with Bella and the Cullens' return. He was not pleased that they were back and he hoped there would be no further phasing amongst the youth. In all of their history there had never been a pack this large.

Sue watched with wide eyes as the petite long-brown haired girl practically skipped forward and into Jake's open arms. Isabella Swan. She and Harry may have been friends with Charlie since they were teenagers but she'd never understood Bella's mother Renee. That woman was flighty as they come. The way that she had broken Charlie's heart and taken Bella away. And Charlie was too polite, too nice to fight Renee on any of it. Then the woman gets married and suddenly, she's too busy to be a mom and sends Bella to Forks for Charlie to finish raising her.

No wonder the girl had made such atrocious choices in life. Sue knew Bella had dated one of them. She couldn't stop the involuntary shudder that racked her spine. Sue also saw the way Bella looked at Jake and how she had the poor boy twisted up. Bella didn't care about Jake one bit, she was just using him. Sue was surprised Billy hadn't tried to put a stop to it. The more she thought about it, the angrier she was. Bella was part of the reason her kids and the others had this gene activated. Without Bella's involvement, that crazy redheaded bloodsucker wouldn't be roaming around La Push and Forks feasting on hikers and campers.

"Why don't you put a stop to it," she asked Billy.

"To what?"

"You know what. Why haven't you told Jake there is no way that Isabella Swan will ever be the next chief's wife? I doubt it would stop her from trying to string him along but maybe he'd wake up and realize she's never going to choose him."

Sue watched Billy's face carefully as she spoke her piece. She barely noticed him blanching. Once again, the light bulb turned on. "Oh, I get it. You're afraid. You think if you tell him, he'll leave just like Rachel and Rebecca. He's already too sucked into her trap, isn't he? As much as I hate what Sam did to Leah, at least he has an excuse. It was because of some supernatural bullshit. But Bella? She doesn't have an excuse. What are you going to do once she finally destroys him? You know it's coming. She's got too much of her mom in her for her to be able to see how her actions affect others."

Billy didn't say anything and Old Quil appeared to be ignoring the conversation. Old Quil's eyes were focused on the group as they spoke. Realizing Billy wasn't going to answer her, Sue turned back to the window. She saw as Seth leaned close to Leah and put a hand on her arm. Sue felt sadness as she watched Leah stand up and run towards the forest. As Leah's clothes shredded and she phased into her wolf, Sue wanted to scream in frustration for her what her daughter was having to deal with.

The group outside stood in silence for long moments until at last, Sam spoke. The elders watched as each wolf tried to avoid Sam's eyes. Finally Sam made his decision and they watched as Seth and Jared went after Leah.

The pack and Bella entered Sam's house. Emily had finished preparing the meal and invited everyone to grab a plate. Sue watched as Emily took three plates and placed food on them and put them in the oven. She assumed those were for Leah, Seth, and Jared. Sue wanted to make a comment but decided against it. Emily would figure out that food was not going to win either of her kids back over any time soon.

Lunch was a nosy affair with everyone talking at once. Sue quickly learned that if you wanted to get something, you just pushed and shoved or you'd end up with an empty plate. Someone needed to teach these boys some manners. Clearly, they should ensure in the future at least one elder was female.

After lunch they gathered in Sam's living room. Sam explained the Cullens were back and they had offered their assistance in hunting the redhead. Sue was horrified. "No, absolutely not! I don't want them anywhere near my children," she told the group.

"But, Sue, they have unique experience and so far we've just been chasing the redhead," Jake interrupted.

"I don't care. Let's think for a second about all the damage the Cullens have done. Each of you became a wolf due to their proximity. Harry's dead because his heart couldn't handle the strain of the secrets and lies. Look at Emily! Her face is scarred because Sam's wolf made an appearance at the wrong time. Both my children have had to bury their father long before his time. And what about Charlie?"

"What do you mean by that," Bella asked.

"What do you think I mean? If he's back then it's safe to assume that you're back together. How long, Bella? How long before all of us are stuck lying to Charlie? Helping him grieve over your death? Do you think about anyone other than yourself? This isn't a game, Bella. There are no do-overs. You are going to destroy those closest to you and for what?"

"That's enough, Sue," Billy commanded.

"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut for now. But don't ever allow her to come to another meeting. She has no business knowing any of this, much less participating."