Disclaimer: The Twilight Book Series and all recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I don't own any of that. But I do so lover her stage.

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to E.M. Happy Birthday! If you notice any grammatical mistakes I will fix them soon. The thing is, I wanted to get this up in time for E.M's birthday. Oh and E.M. as for the kiss I teased here it is. I worked hard to keep this rated teen.

Chapter 21: Hard Questions

Leah's Pov

Discovering I am one of less than twenty she-wolves in the world was a sobering experience. But I used to think I was alone so its not all bad.

Elijah sighed, "The High Alpha is rarer than the she-wolf."

"That's one more thing we have in common then. Just how rare are you?" I asked.

"Cevin Eryin will bring our numbers up to four," he replied.

I tried to think back, "Hum the wolf king is a High Alpha so that would account for one. Add in you and Cevin that makes three. So the last one, what's his name?"

A flash of emotion flickered in his eyes but was gone before I could decipher it. Then his lips lifted at the corner, "Her name is Marisol Zuniga."

My mouth fell open, "Shut up! What's she like?"

He looked thoughtful, "She is a recluse. Her werewolf mate lives with her in self-imposed seclusion away from their main pack. She rarely grants audiences. Oh and she's one of the oldest known shape-shifters."

I said, "That's fascinating."

Elijah took both my hands entwining our fingers, "I enjoyed myself today."

"Me to," I traced the tattoos on the back of his hands with my thumbs.

A vision of me kissing the one on his neck flashed through my mind. I swallowed.

Elijah was watching me. "What?" he asked.

"What what?" I replied.

"What are you thinking about?" he responded.

I ran my hands up his arms to rest on his shoulders staring into his eyes. This is my man, oh my gosh!

"I've been fantasizing all day about this High Alpha I know," I murmured.

His eyes heated up daring me to continue,"Tell me."

"Make me," I dared him back.

His eyes twinkled, "I could try bribing it out of you."

I said, "I know something better than bribes."

"What would that be strip poker?" he teased.

Just the thought of playing strip poker with him wrecked havoc with my composure. I said, "It's better than strip poker."

He gave me a wolfish smile, "Now I'm really curious."

I moved closer deliberately pressing my body against his until we fit together like a puzzle. There were no secrets between us. His heart was starting to pound as was mine. And yes I could clearly feel how my closeness was affecting him. The heat between us rose.

I took my time tugging the back of his shirt out of his pants, in case he wanted to stop me. He didn't so I ran my hands up his back reveling in the skin to skin contact. His arms embraced me, one around my waist, the other cradling my head.

He closed his eyes and breathed, "Leah." before his lips descended on mine. he took his time languorously exploring my lips. Sensations rocked me on every level, the scorching heat of his skin under my fingertips, the oh so satisfying scent of his pheromones. I ran my tongue along his bottom lip tasting my own cherry lip balm. This was intense. I heard myself let out a long slow moan. Boy, Elijah knew how to kiss!

I vaguely heard someone open the front door, and snatched my hands out from under his shirt. He didn't let go of me or my lips, he just paused and went right back to kissing me. this was the best kiss I've ever had.

The minute Elijah deepened our kiss my inner wolf stirred. Her energy reached out to his inner wolf. Their energy mangled with ours unleashing a magnificent sensual energy that left me breathless. My breath crashed into my lungs and my eyes flew open to meet Elijah's burning ones.

Abruptly, I broke the kiss in awe. What just happened here? I couldn't even think straight. Suddenly I understood. My inner wolf was close to the surface and so was Elijah's. They are part of us. Naturally, everything we experience will be more intense than most couples. We're both wolves, that's the way it should be.

Elijah rested his forehead on mine and we just held each other. Eventually he stepped backing putting just a little space between us.

He took both of my hands, "Leah, Seth and your security team are meeting you at Jacobs. They will explain everything to you alright?

Our wolf: He needs us to be safe. I said, "That's fine."

He looked relieved, "Thank you."

I squeezed his hands and we walked around to the drivers side of the truck. Elijah opened my door before he leaned in for a goodnight kiss. It was pure Bliss!

Jacob's apartment is in a modern high rise, located in the middle of Jeroisa City.

Seth, Collin, and Mark were waiting for me in the lobby.

"That's it? you guys are my security team?" I asked.

Seth pushed the elevator button and we all piled in before he began to talk, "For right now, yea we're it except Delta Allen is our team leader."

I frowned at Seth, "Isn't he one of Elijah's guards?"

Collin said, "He was, Julien wanted someone he could trust."

The elevator stopped on the 12th floor. Seth led us down the corridor and unlocked the door.

Jacob's apartment has a nice sized sitting room. A breakfast bar separates it from the fully equipped kitchen. He has two bedrooms with king sized beds and private bathrooms. I can see Miriella's influence. The place is spotless clean.

I sat on a bar stool while Mark disappeared into one bedroom with my suitcases.

"I don't really need guards," I said quietly.

Collin said, "Actually you do. We're no longer in La Push where we're the baddest ones on the block. Even Korzka has guards."

Seth said, "That auction was open to the public and the rumors are already starting. The good thing is only a few people know who you are."

I rolled my eyes just as Mark walked in from the bedroom.

He said, "Ah Leah don't be like that. First thing tomorrow Delta Allen is taking me and Collin to help him and the military sweep your clinic building and grounds. It's freaking awesome!"

"What?" I gasped.

Collin glared at Mark, "Dude you're not supposed to tell her that."

Seth sighed, "Korzka is one of the highest ranked wolves in the world. He has a lot of connections."

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, I'm going to bed."

I woke up to Seth pounding on my bedroom door, "Wake up Leah."

I pulled the covers over my head and settled back into the pillows.

Seth knocked again, "Wake up or I'm coming in there."

I rolled over and blinked at the clock, "I'm up." I grouched rolling out of bed.

I pulled on a t-shirt and some sweat pants before I left my room and stomped towards the kitchen. Seth and I were going out for breakfast, but I needed a drink of water.

"Leah wait," Seth called from the sitting area.

He and Coinin were on the couch watching some some TV show in Lucacinian with English sub-titles.

I wasn't surprised to see Coinin here. He and Seth have been attached at the hip lately.

I waved at him, "Hi Coinin what are you doing here?"

He shrugged, "I came to say goodbye."

Oh really? I asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

He grabbed the remote and turned the volume down on the TV, "Yep, I'm going to spend the next few months hiking across this country. I'm meeting my tour guide in Valcmont."

I put my hands on my hips, "I'm impressed but why do you need a guide? You're a wolf."

I caught the secretive look he exchanged with Seth.

He gave a half shrug, "I'm not going wolf. It's a real hiking tour."

I said, "Okay, but what's the big deal? Why are you two acting so mysterious?"

Seth started making kissing lips, "Are you going to tell her? Or do you want me to?"

Coinin swung a throw pillow at him. Seth ducked by diving off the couch into the coffee table which slid across the floor.

"Cut it out," I berated them. I turned to Coinin,"It can't be that serious."

"I met this girl," he said defensively.

I said, "Go on."

"I think she might be the one. Anyway, she invited me on this hiking trip. I have to go! I have to give her a chance," he said earnestly.

I smiled, "So tell me about her."

He leaned back on the couch, "You're not mad?"

He was afraid I'd be mad? Damn! I'd been worried about him since I imprinted!

Seth snorted, "I told you she wouldn't mind. Roxana is a stunner-silky black hair, bedroom eyes, nice figure."

I looked Coinin up and down teasingly, "Wow I'm happy for you." He blushed.

Seth said, "Can we talk about her over breakfast? Don't forget I have to stop at the pack house, before we go to the clinic okay?"

I said, "Yea, yea." heading for the shower.

Cevin Eryin's Pov

"Is that a real lupa?" mumbled Stefan Ageson just as his assistant Narcisa helped herself to a bite of pickled egg. The three of us were sitting at a balcony table, overlooking the dining room of the Raw Salt Deli.

Narcisa lifted her head, "A lupa where?"

Stefan's silver eyes traveled down to the dining room floor, to where a party of three were lounging around their table. The lupa and a shifter who looks remarkably like her were facing me. The third wolf had his back to me.

Stefan said, "Don't look now!"

Narcisa twisted around in her chair to have a look, "Wow she is cute!"

Stefan said, "Indeed! She is also taken."

Narcisa blushed, "Mated?"

Stefan rolled his eyes which is out of character for him. He caught himself and glanced at me. I'm not impressed. I knew him long before he became my attorney. That said, it's time for me to intervene because these two can argue for hours.

I said, "Narcise, we don't see this a lot, but this one is imprinted."

She let out a dejected sigh, "Lucky man!"

The lupa was speaking with an American accent, "I'm telling you Coinin I've met your twin."

The third wolf snorted, "Okay I'll bite, who is this paragon?"

"This guy Seth and I met the other day," she replied.

"Well they say everyone has a double," he replied.

The other wolf presumably Seth said, " Are you sure you don't have any relatives around here?."

The blonde shrugged, "I don't know.

Seth said, "The funny thing is your double is a werewolf."

Coinin snickered, "Well I'm not a werewolf, so that settles it!."

Stefan muttered, "Oh yes you are!" before turning back to my petition.

Coinin's distinctive hair and probably his eyes are all werewolf. Their little party started to break up. Seth stood up and put money on the table. Leah scooted back her chair, "I have to go if I don't want to be late. We still have to stop by the pack house."

Coinin said, "I have an hour or so before my train. I think I'm going to finish my coffee."

"Well have fun and don't forget to check in sometimes," Leah replied.

"Cevin should we finish addendum eight?" Stefan asked impatiently.

I raised my hand for silence. I wrecked my brain trying to figure out why this American wolf seemed so familiar. I watched surreptitiously while he finished his coffee. He stretched his arms over his head before standing up and turning towards the door.

I felt all the air whoosh out of my lungs. It was like looking in a mirror. He even had the family birthmark under his left ear.

It took a minute for my brain to process what I was seeing. I don't have any relatives living in America. But, my mom disappeared when I was a baby. Did she leave the country and start a new family? Is that it?

No, these people have to be Pack Bishop. That means the girl must be Jacob's beta. There can't be that many foreign lupa running around Jeroisa City.

The wolf must have felt me staring because he looked up. He gaped at me like I have two heads before his shoulders slowly relaxed.

I leaned over the railing and called,"Come on up." and went to meet him at the top of the stairs. I couldn't wait to hear this wolf's story.

He offered his hand," I'm Coinin Hemming."

"Cevin Eryin," I choked out.

He blinked in surprise, but shook my hand firmly.

A Crohme named Hemming? Unbelievable!.

Coinin's Pov

Meeting Cevin was awesome fun. We speculated on how we came to look so much alike. His theory that we have the same mother doesn't work. I was not raised by a werewolf.

Now he believes that my mother is some unknown Crohme and my father a Lightfoot. The truth is, as I listened to him I began to connect the dots. However, my sense of self-preservation kept me from telling him anything except that I'm adopted.

Blood is said to be thicker than water, but my loyalty is to Leydwolf. Adam always told me my real mother named Ioana died when I was a baby.

I used to study Lucacinian history, sans the mythological bits. Korzka was engaged to the late Ioana Crohme. I suspect they are my parents. Everything fits, my birthday, my past, and now my looks.

I really needed to talk to Adam. I exchanged my train ticket for a later departure time, and returned to Ivan's peak. Adam was out back swimming laps in the pool. I was surprised to see Korzka there.

I slid open the Arcadia door and stepped onto the deck, "Hi."

Adam squinted up at me and climbed out of the pool reaching for a towel to dry his hair, "Coinin shouldn't you be half way to Valcmount?"

I took a deep breath. There was no point in holding back. "I met Cevin Eryin today," I blurted.

Korzka was watching me from his lounge chair with narrowed eyes, his book laying open in his lap. I forced my eyes to meet his.

Sue was out here sunbathing, so I switched to Lucacinian, "I didn't know you were still here Korzka or should I say dad?"

Daniel stood up from his lounge chair and reached out to help Anna up from hers. He picked up her swim suit cover-up, "Sweetheart, Sue lets go inside."

Korzka didn't move a muscle. He simply stared at me with those steely green eyes of his. I broke eye contact stifling a cringe. I've been phasing less than three months. What made me think I could take on the wolf king?

A/N: Thank you for reading, reviewing and favoring this story. It means a lot to me.

Teaser:In the next chapter, A Long Time coming, Elijah reacts to Coinin calling him out. And Leah gets a shock on her first date with Elijah.

Just to clarify: For this story a child born to a werewolf/ shape-shifter couple usually inherit the abilities of one parent (phasing, partial shifting, ect) and the physical features (hair, eyes, ect) of the other. If the child doesn't inherit mythological abilities they can look like either parent same as regular children.

Also a shape-shifter born to an actively phasing father almost always first phases in his early teens. If the father has dormant genes, the shape-shifter phases after contact with vampires like our La Push Pack.