Hey hey hey! That was quick, and I quite like this chapter, I must say (so I hope you like too :D)!

I realised I haven't been putting up the disclaimer so...

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters mentioned here- I just own this twisted plot that I'm still trying to come to terms with :O!

Anyway, read and review, please!

Chapter 26

Leah Clearwater

I stared at Marla in disbelief and heard Quil shuffle about on the sand behind me until he got to his feet, and I heard Rosalie shushing Claire as she asked what had happened, and I heard Marla breathe before me, and I heard the movement of the sea behind me, but everything was muted next to the sound of my fervent tears as I cried for the gut-wrenching news she had brought me this afternoon.

A part of me was screaming for all this to be a joke, or a mistake, while another part of me was joyful and exuberantly happy and looking forward to the results of this discovery. In truth, I didn't know what to feel. Happy or sad?

"What do you mean?" Quil asked over my sobbing and Rosalie was standing beside me in an instant, her face both curious and worried as she eyed me, and yet listened intently to what Marla was going to say.

She nodded, mostly to herself. "Leah did not imprint on Jacob because she isn't his imprint—"

"But how can you be sure?" Rosalie pressed.

Marla sighed and fingered the lace of her billowing skirt as it flew about her in the slight breeze. "In our tribe, there isn't always a female, as you all know. But when there is, for example, when the first female wolf in our history was present, the Alpha of that pack did not imprint, however, he did not get the chance to have children from the female because she had been killed. I found records that say that the Alpha of that time did not imprint, but was left free to choose a bride and wife for himself.

"Don't you ask yourselves why almost all the wolves have imprinted, and yet, Jacob hasn't? I found myself asking the same question and this seems like the only reasonable explanation: that you are Jacob's mate."

I don't know how, but upon hearing that statement, a certain strength within me allowed me to speak and question what she was saying. "But I can't have children," I mumbled, to which Rosalie grimaced and slowly bowed her head. Quil was silent beside me, his fingers gently stroking my wrist in a sort of comforting manner. I had surpassed the point of being comforted.

"So how can Jacob be in a relationship with Caroline and not be attracted towards Leah, much like she is?"

"I thought about that, too. It could be because, with Leah being female, her intuitive capabilities become more sharp and enhanced, and maybe she could be able to detect her mate herself. Jacob would be able to realise who his mate is during the mating season, obviously the only time you, Leah, can get pregnant and have Alpha children."

"When is the mating season?" I asked, suddenly very interested with tears streaming freely down my face.

"Wolves usually mate at the end of June and at the beginning of July: once a year."

"But... I've been a wolf for over a year now... how can Jacob not have realised that I am his mate by now?"

Marla rubbed her temples. "You young wolves ask far too many questions," she complained as she covered her eyes from the light of the afternoon, "but it's probably because you've only just matured, as a wolf, this year."

"What?" I asked, now truly confused as to what she was saying. Rosalie was eyeing her sceptically, too, her perfect face scowling down at this small woman who was trying, desperately, to give me hope. I guess Rosalie didn't entirely believe her, or find logic in what she was saying.

"Leah, please, don't make this any harder. Upon phasing, you were still getting used to your new capabilities, your newer half: you were still a cub, metaphorically. Now, slowly slowly, your wolf side has been maturing and now, you are a fully grown wolf, per se. So you can have children."

Rosalie's face contorted from a confused glare, to a smile of utter joy as she clasped my limp hand in her marble ones and grinned brightly. "Do you understand what she's saying, Leah?"

"Yes, Rosalie, I do," I said quietly, shaking her grip off of my hand and slowly backing away. Marla's words were still sinking in, slowly, into the folds of my brain, but I couldn't begin to believe any of them. Just a couple of years ago, the Elders had immediately dismissed me being able to bear children, and here was Marla, telling me now that I actually can have children, but only to give the pack strong, little Alphas. With these thoughts in my head, I bolted for the nearby woods, a tactic which seemed to work perfectly nowadays: running away. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I ran, then I quickly pulled off my clothes and urged myself to phase.

I hadn't phased in weeks now, and the familiar feel to my phased body was comforting. The end of June was pretty close—well, we were still at the beginning June... but we were getting there. I could feel it in the wolf inside me: she knew that the mating season was near—she was ready. But was I ready? Far from it. I was far from ready to tell the Elders, Jacob, of Marla's discovery and to have to bear their verdict on what I should or should not do. I didn't want them to plan my children, to plan when Jacob and I would sleep together, to give them access to my personal life, even more so than they have now... I didn't want that.

I didn't know what I wanted actually.

I did want Jacob to love me, and the fact that he felt the need to protect me whenever we are together or close to a child had gone well in my mind but... to use him? To feed myself the lies, lies that he loved me, that he wanted only me, and me alone, and that he hadn't been constricted to ending up with me due to his Alpha duties? I certainly did not want that. But at the same time, I imagined what our babies would be like: how they'd have his mesmerizing eyes, and his russet skin, and his strength and hard-headedness... how I'd hold them and love them and nurture them and comfort them when the time came for them to turn into wolves too...

I stopped and assessed the environment around me. I had to make a decision. It was obvious that Quil would inform the others of what Marla had said, and if the wolves knew, then word would get to Jacob whether he liked it or not. And he'd have to decide between me and Caroline and it would all just end up in one big mess. The decision was tough, that was for sure. I could accept the fact that I was Jacob's mate: eternally employed to getting pregnant and successfully birthing strong Alphas, or I could ignore it, and live the rest of my life alone, childless, and slowly moving towards becoming the biggest bitch the world has ever seen.

I climbed into my bed and fell asleep immediately after that. I had decided I would sleep on it, and tell my mother about it. Maybe, for once, the Elders would decide to make my life easier.

-:-

My mother had rushed over to Old Quil, and then to Billy Black, and the rest of the Elders with the exciting, problem-solving news. I simply sat at the breakfast table while Seth tried to make everything seem better. He kept poking at the fact that I actually was able to have children, which was something I had a million reasons to be happy about, but I just didn't feel like Seth's happy demeanour right now. All I wanted was for the Elders to call a meeting between Jake and me and straighten these things out.

I sipped on my coffee, feeling it scorch its path on my tongue and down my throat. Emily and Sam were leaving for their honeymoon today, and Mom was supposed to go escort them to the airport, but for once, I'd taken priority over Emily. To say that my mom had been happy when I'd told her the news would be the understatement of the century. It had always been a heavy cross for her to bear that I wasn't going to have children, but now, she seemed lighter, like a load had been lifted.

A knock on the door brought my out of my train of thought. Seth went to open the door, and I lowered my coffee mug as Quil stepped into the kitchen. Quil had landed himself dead in an awkward position: he knew half the story, and was still puzzling over the other half. Seth knew I didn't feel like talking, so he took him into the living room and explained, while I tried to pretend that I wasn't hearing them, which failed terribly.

Solemnly, I got dressed for work, and I was late yet again. But a glare in Aldith's direction the minute I stepped into the store, silenced her for the rest of the day. In order to stop myself from over-thinking about it, I spent the whole day reading the backs of the products I was sorting, but it served as a retainer only for a few minutes, because I'd find myself thinking about it whenever I wasn't holding a product in my hands. I felt tired, and I looked tired as well, because Katya, one of the other cashiers, asked me if everything was okay, sleep-wise. My eye-lids were like dead-weights, dragging down, lower and lower. I felt absolutely lifeless: drained of energy, of everything.

When I got back home that evening, however, all the tiredness went away immediately, because as I stood at the bottom of our front yard, I recognised the scents of the Elders, all of them, inside. At that moment in time, my knees wobbled horribly, and I felt as if I was made of jelly as I made my way up the steps, to the porch, and slowly, opened the front door. The meeting I'd wanted—for them to address me and Jacob together—was in session the minute I sat at our dining room table. Jacob was sitting beside me, but at an angle that he could look at me in a worried manner. That only added salt to the wound. I shied my gaze away from him as Old Quil cleared his throat and began addressing with his gravelly voice.

"Hello Jacob, Leah," he said with a small nod as he spread his palms wide on the table before him, "we have just received news that could, potentially, change both your lives."

Jacob's brows shot up and he looked my way curiously, but I was too much of a coward to look at him, so I looked dead straight at Old Quil, who resumed talking.

"The old pack healer, Marla, has discovered some fascinating news that explains why you, Jacob Black, as Alpha, have not yet imprinted on anyone."

"Go on," Jacob urged, and I could tell from his tone that he was getting impatient.

"Very well. It seems as though you have not imprinted, because our ancestors have supplied you with a suitable mate: Ms Clearwater over here, who is the only female of this pack, was created purposefully to be your mate, and to bear you children, who will eventually become the future Alphas of the next pack."

My ears burned at his words, and I ducked my head, looking at the intricate grains of the wood of the table before me. "I thought Leah couldn't have children," Jacob said after a few minutes of painful silence, probably as Old Quil's words sunk in.

"She can only become pregnant during the mating season, and apparently, only if the child is yours," Old Quil continued, and I caught my mother smiling proudly beside Billy Black, who was nodding to each of Old Quil's words.

Jacob didn't say anything. His face was composed and serene—a true Alpha—whilst I was blushing like a maniac beside him. Damn these hormonal wolf developments.

"Jacob, I hear you are in a relationship with a young Makah, is that so?"

"Sort of..." he mumbled, his eyes on me.

"I suggest you terminate the relationship so as not to cause the girl any harm... this probably counts as an imprint, of sorts, and we certainly do not want to experience the same emotional turmoil all over again," he said with a deep laugh as I cringed slightly.

Jacob paused, then sighed. "I'll think about it."

Then he left, without another word. Billy did not seem worried, and neither did Old Quil, but my mom was furious. She was trying to keep calm, but once the others had left, she screamed in frustration and kicked the garbage can so forcefully that it toppled over.

"I'll think about it? I'll fucking think about it?" she cursed as she paced the kitchen floor.

"Mom... please don't—"

"Billy doesn't step in with the Alpha duty crap when it doesn't involve Sam. Leave Jacob to mess things up alone: it's not like the reservation is at the hands of an eighteen- year old kid," she complained as she slammed her hands repeatedly on the kitchen counter. I refrained from saying anything more, and left the room in silence, leaving her to resolve her problems on her own.

I needed to be alone.

Jacob's reaction had been... surprising. I'd expected him to blow a vein or something, but he'd remained calm. I saw no problem to Jacob 'thinking about' it, as opposed to my mother but... I wasn't putting my hopes up.

I went back down to First Beach, at first, upon instinct, but then, I ended up going there because a scent drew me to it. Jacob was there, sitting on the sand and watching the sea in front of him, breathing in and out calmly. He didn't realise I was there until I was a few feet away. And even then, he didn't seem surprised or annoyed because I was invading his 'thinking time'. I sat down beside him, not close enough for our hands to be touching but... yeah, close enough. I revelled in his immense warmth, and suddenly, the wolf inside me tugged on my heart strings, and the pull was there, all of a sudden. I felt drawn to him—maybe because mating season was so close, but I didn't care. The way it made me feel was simply blissful.

"Kind of crazy, huh?" I said, as nonchalantly as I could.

He shrugged and turned to face me, his eyes ominously dark, deep... "I guess. But when you think about it, it all makes sense, doesn't it?"

I didn't say anything. I didn't want to say anything, in fear that I might ruin the moment or say something insanely stupid that would send Jacob barrelling back to the Elders with a certain 'No' imprinted on his forehead. So I stayed put, and didn't say a thing.

"I don't know what to do, Leah. I mean, Caroline is real nice and she's real sweet but... I don't want to be selfish, and I certainly don't want to hurt her like Sam did to you..."

"So you're going to take this decision based on whether or not Caroline is hurt?" I snapped, harsher than I'd wanted it to be.

He made a face and a small V formed between his brows, "No, no, that's definitely how it's going to be. I mean, I've only known this girl for a few weeks... not enough for me to feel so emotionally attached to her that she will determine all the decisions I take from now on—no, far from it. I just..."

"She's pretty, isn't she?"

"Well, yes... but she's not beautiful, isn't she? Like you? No, definitely not as beautiful as you," he said with a small smirk that made me blush deeply to my very core. I could feel my burning cheeks as bright as beetroots and I tried desperately to calm myself down. He noticed how his words made me feel and he smirked harder, never tearing his eyes off of me.

"So... we're sort of like each others' imprints, then?"

"I guess... I'm still trying to understand all this new crap..."

"How long have you known?"

"Yesterday morning. Marla found me at the beach and I was with Quil and Rosalie, so I guess most of the wolves already know about it."

"Great... Paul's going to give me hell about it..."

"Paul's a natural ass, Jake; he would give you hell about practically everything..."

"Point," he said with a small nod, accompanied with a smile. I smiled, too, and looked out at the sea before us, moving slowly to and fro. The sun was almost setting—its shape being outlined against the pearly pink sky as it approached the horizon for one final kiss. I watched its fiery burning form as it grew smaller and smaller until finally, it was submerged beneath the horizon, and was no more. The sky dimmed immediately: from pink to blue to black almost in an instant and soon, we were left in total darkness as we watched the stars appear in the sky.

"What do you think I should do, Leah?" he asked softly, looking over at me with a serene, serious face, devoid of any type of expression.

I sighed. "That's a pretty important question to ask to someone who is completely biased in this situation..."

"I know, right? But we're in it together: what I decide, directly affects you, whether you like it or not. So it's a pretty big burden to bear..."

"Let's start from what's sure. What are you going to do with Caroline?"

He spent a few minutes in silence, I guess, pondering my question. Then, he exhaled deeply and let his head fall into his hands. "That was a pretty stupid thing to do from the start. I shouldn't have started going out with her... but with her, things were easy and simple—there was no doubt about how I felt, because I felt practically nothing towards her, and I didn't have to worry about all those menial things. I guess she knew, in her heart of hearts, that this was a short-lived relationship. But I was with her to cut myself off from the strain the pack was putting on me. It was a highly selfish act, but now, I feel that my head is much clearer, and I can think better.

"The Alpha thing to do is to break up with her... Surprisingly, I don't feel any remorse for doing so. Like I said, I don't have any intense feelings for her, so it won't be that hard," he explained with a nod, and at those words, I felt something being lifted from my chest: hearing Jacob state that he did not love Caroline and would be willing to break up with her, to be (indirectly) with me, was a satisfying notion that went down extremely well in my mind. I suppressed a smile.

"What do you want, Jacob?"

He grinned. "A few weeks ago, I would've told you that I wanted to be normal. That I didn't want to be trapped in this magical world, responsible for all that happens to the wolves in my pack, to not be Alpha, and to be able to choose my lover for myself. But now... things aren't so clear anymore. You see, Leah, when Reneesme was still alive, there this sort of pull—"

"I heard. Rosalie told me about it, and to tell you the truth, it just plain freaked me out. But now that I think about it, it makes sense, no? Since I'm your... mate," I said with a small shudder, "and I'm supposed to bear you children, it's obvious that we're supposed to protect each other, right?"

"You're in it for the children, aren't you?" he asked with a small, sad smile. His voice was laced with sorrow and regret, as if the next words that I would utter would either make him or break him.

I had nothing to say, actually. It was true; a part of me was in it for the children. I'd wanted, more than anything in the world, to be pregnant and to hold my own babies in my own arms, not someone else's—a substitute. Ever since Marla had explained to me that I would be able to have kids, I'd become even more positive. I'd been trying to see the positive outlook of things, and bitchy Leah had almost definitely disappeared. But then, it wasn't all about the kids. I could've been anyone else's mate, no? I could've ended up with Embry... or Paul, or Jared, Quil... anyone. Being paired up with either of them, would not have made me as happy as being paired up with Jacob Black.

When I looked at his massive arms, I immediately felt safe and protected. When I looked into his deep, brown eyes, I wanted to look into them for the rest of my life. To me, it wasn't just us being mates that pulled me towards him. It was him. Jacob himself was my everything, and even though I'd done my best to suppress these thoughts and to try and convince myself that whatever I was feeling towards him wasn't true, in the end... I was made for him. Almost like an imprint.

"No..." I trailed off, unable to think of anything else to say that would be appropriate and actually make sense.

"Then why did you accept it? Don't you hate my guts?"

I stared at him for a few seconds, memorizing the shape of his nose, his jaw, his full lips, his small dimples... I blinked thoroughly, and I didn't know what to do. I was so confused... I blinked again, but the awkwardness was still there, staring me dead in the eye. "I—I..." I stuttered, as if there was a huge bubble pushing the words down, deeper and deeper into my throat, choking me, hurting me.

Jacob didn't tear his eyes off of me. He kept on looking at me, causing the hair at the nape of my neck to rise and goose bumps to decorate the length of my arm. I watched them for a few seconds, unable to look at him without blushing beet red.

"Look at me, Leah," he said gently, in a pleading voice, and I felt his warm finger slip beneath my chin and tilt my face up in his direction. He held my face in place, and I was unable to move or look anywhere else, except into his eyes. They were a warm, soft brown colour that was melting me from the inside and I squirmed beneath his touch. The pads of his fingers pressed into my skin gently and I stopped, resigned. "Do you hate me, Leah?"

I froze, and then I shook my head fervently, still unable to speak.

"Talk to me, please," he pleaded and I watched as his eyes watered slightly.

"I don't hate you," I blurted out quickly, unable to restrain myself when I saw him on the verge of tears. Those tears hurt more than my own, because they were tears I had caused, and I didn't want Jacob to cry. "I never hated you and I never will."

He loosened his grip on my chin, and his hand fell to my shoulder. He pulled my towards him until he could wrap his arms around me and rest my head on his shoulder. I started to sob quietly and he rubbed gentle circles into my back.

"I don't know, Jacob, I really don't know," I whispered against his throat, and he shuddered beneath my breath. "It's so hard to make someone love you..."

At those words, his grip on me tightened, and if I were human, he would've crushed me. His jaw muscles gnashed together, and I could tell that he was restraining a growl, or keeping himself from saying something.

"What would you call our children if we have any?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.

I smiled slowly and wiped my wet cheeks on the back of my hand. "I don't know, Jacob," I said with a small chuckle. "Maybe, Sarah, for your mom, if it's a girl... and Harry, for my dad... I'm not sure."

"They would be perfect..."

I sniffled and buried my face in his neck. He didn't move away, but let me curl myself against him until I was sitting on his lap with my legs draped over his.

"Do... do you think our girl would be a wolf, too?"

He didn't say anything, at first, and then he smiled. "If we have a girl, I want her to be just like you..."

Shocked and surprised, I looked up at him and saw that he was looking down at, straight into my eyes as if he was staring into my soul. The tears were gone and they had been replaced by a slight twinkle that made his eyes shine in the dark. I didn't know why, and I didn't know what part of me made me do it, but I lifted my hand up to stroke his smooth cheek, enjoying the feel of his skin beneath my fingertips. He smiled and leaned into my touch.

"Even if we weren't mates..." he began, breathing deeply, "I'd still love you, Leah Clearwater."

I sat up immediately, feeling a current flow up and down the length of my spine. I stared at him in shock. "What are you saying Jacob?" I asked, my voice verging on a screech, as I clutched at his shirt and tugged slightly.

"You heard me, Leah. I love you. Even if you aren't my mate. I've loved you for ever since I can remember. When we were kids, I had the hugest crush on you... and as you've grown and matured and thrown tonnes of shit my way, my feelings for you have grown even more..."

"Jacob..."

"I don't want to hurt you, Leah... I don't want to break like Sam, and I have no intention of doing so. You were made for me, and I was made for you, and that's all that matters. I will hold you and protect you for the rest of my life and I promise that I will love you forever and ever."

I closed my eyes because my brain was telling me not to be a total sucker and believe every single word he was saying, but my heart was pumping a million beats a minute, yearning to be touched and loved by Jacob, who claimed to love me just as much as I loved him. I let go of his shirt and ran my hands over my eyes. I was shaking uncontrollably and tears were threatening and burning at the backs of my eyes.

"Please Leah, trust me. I know I may seem young and immature, but if there's one thing I'm certain about, it's my love for you."

There it was, so blunt and Jacob- like. And as I opened my eyes to face him, yet again, I realised that Jacob had practically given me his heart in the palm of my hand, and that if I wanted to, I could crush it into a million pieces, just like Sam and Emily had done to me. I could be the biggest bitch anyone's ever seen... but I just didn't have it in me. I loved Jacob, too, and I wanted to be with him, and I could never crush his heart like mine...

He didn't give me a chance to say anything, retaliate, retort or react. He pressed his lips to mine and kept them there for a few seconds, testing me to see what I would do. I didn't move: I remained there, motionless, waiting for him to make the next move. His hand came up to cup the back of my head and bring me closer to him and as I did, he moved his lips, leaving a fiery trail as he did so. I shuddered in pleasure, and I knew we wouldn't be able to stop after this. It was just like that time in the woods, but today, it was even more beautiful. Jacob held me tighter and made me feel oh so special as he kissed my lips and his hands roamed over my eager skin.

"I love you, Leah," he breathed, before he laid me down on the cool sand, and slowly started removing my clothes.