Disclaimer: Don't own the saga or characters, except for the original ones I've introduced myself.

A/N: Too mentally drained tonight to give a proper little intro to this, guys, but here's the next chapter. I hope you like it! Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review! xxx

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: SLAVERY

The next two months continued all right, though Nessie never completely forgave me for taking Leah's side. She didn't hold a grudge though, unlike Leah.

The one time that I stopped by her house to convince her that she needed to make up with Nessie, she slammed the door in my face and called Nessie some words that made me wonder if she'd been hanging out with Emmett.

So I decided to give her some time to cool off. Her pride was hurt, as were her feelings, and I figured that with time she would go back to being irritating bitter Leah and not hostile angry Leah.

With the Volturi gone, Nessie and I decided to focus on our family. We loved Seth to the best of our ability, and, if we wanted, we could decide to have another child in the future.

Until Jasper got a phone call.

"Well," he said, walking into the room with a sigh, "Peter and Charlotte called."

"That's nice," Esme said absently as she flitted around the room in short bursts, tidying up the already flawless living room.

"Yes, well….they've taken up a new custom."

"What's that, dear? Have they become vegetarians?" Esme murmured, straightening a flower that looked to be at a ninety degree angle already.

"Um…no."

"That's a shame," Esme said. "Jasper, does this look straight to you?" Obviously, she could care less about his issue.

"Uh…yeah, sure. But…Esme…they…they have a slave shape shifter."

Esme froze in the process of folding a blanket. "They do, do they?" she asked, her eyes narrowed in a rare display of anger.

"Yes…well…I told them that we have two."

"Jasper!" Carlisle hissed.

"I'm sorry, Carlisle! But…that's not the worst. I told them that we had a male and a female."

"Jasper!" Esme exclaimed, echoing her husband.

"I'm so sorry," Jasper moaned. "But that's still not the worst. They insisted to come over, to meet them. They think that we're lying about the female."

"You're lying about the male, too!" I yelled indignantly.

"The only girl is…" Nessie started.

"Leah," Jasper finished grimly. "I need you two to help me trick them!"

"She never will," I said simply.

"You have to ask her!" Jasper begged.

"She won't! You know how Leah is!"

"Please try."

I sighed. "Don't expect results," I groaned.

"Hell no!"

I was at the Clearwaters' house, and Seth was peering curiously at us from the living room. I loved the kid, but he was as nosy as hell.

"Leah, please," I groaned.

"No!" Leah said firmly. "Why would I work for them? I don't even like them! I will not work for those leeches, especially to be their slave."

"It's only for a few hours! You helped them when we fought the Volturi, both times!"

"I have a soft spot for kids, alright? Renesmee was a kid when that first fight happened, and your son is a kid now."

I could've brought up her slapping Makenna, but it was best to not open old wounds. "Come on, Leah."

"No, Jacob."

I took a deep breath and did what I absolutely hated to do.

"Leah Clearwater, you will help the Cullens out today. You will pretend to be their slave, and you will be cooperative. Now come on."

Leah's knees trembled as she struggled to keep herself standing, gripping the doorframe tightly. Only the very strongest shape shifters could resist a direct command from an Alpha, and even then, it was painful. Eventually, because she could fight it but not prevent it, she fell to her knees at my feet. Leah glared up at me through her lashes, but didn't say anything mean. She couldn't.

"Come on," I said more gently, offering her my hand.

She refused to take it, but got to her feet and got in my car, slamming the door.

"I really am sorry about that, Leah. It's just that…we really need you right now," I said softly.

"Just leave it, Jacob. It's fine. Alpha's orders, remember?" Leah snapped.

"Don't hate me, Leah."

"I could never hate you, Almighty Alpha!"

I huffed. You could make her behave, but you couldn't take her sarcastic comments. Well, technically you could, but my attempts to make her like me again were going south as it was. I definitely wasn't traversing that path. I liked living way too much.

Three hours and a bunch of makeup later, Leah and I were transformed. We had dark black circles under our eyes, which had a crazed look in them. Our faces were smudged with dirt, and Leah's short hair was knotted and tangled beyond easy repair.

Alice taught us to keep our eyes cast down at all times, and a permanent scowl on our face. Not to speak unless spoken to, and to finish all of our responses with 'ma'am' or 'sir'. "Now get down there and show everyone what a good slave you make," Alice instructed.

We walked downstairs hesitantly, not sure how the Cullens would react. Everyone's jaw dropped as they saw Alice's handiwork, and then smiled approvingly.

"It's amazing, Alice! Leah looks even filthier then she usually does!" Nessie smirked.

Leah snarled. "Shut it, Ness-sicko."

"That the best you got, pup? Gotta admit, you couldn't win best in show if you tried."

"I really hate you, leech."

"Aw, look! She speaks! Good doggy!"

"Jacob, I'm going to hurt her, and I don't want to hear a word from you. Any of you," Leah growled, staring around at the Cullens.

"Leah, don't," I said sharply.

"Oh no, Jacob, let her try! She's gotta go all naked and furry to do any damage. She's too big of a coward to try anything on two legs."

"Ness," I said in a reproving tone. "She agreed to help us."

"Did not. You made me," Leah said.

"Shut up, Leah.

"Make me."

"Don't tempt me."

Carlisle turned to Billy. "Billy, please take Seth and Makenna to Jacob's house and don't leave until we say it's safe," he instructed.

"Give Makenna a blood baggie if she's thirsty, don't answer the door for anyone, keep Seth from turning on the T.V. on," I added.

"I'm not four, guys," Billy said, rolling his eyes and picking Seth up. "Come on, Mickey."

After they had safely left, Carlisle turned to me. "This will be intense acting, Jake. You must remember. Nessie is no longer your mate. We are no longer your family."

"I know, Doc."

"Leah, the same thing goes for you."

"Aye Aye, Doctor Fang," Leah replied, giving him a lazy salute.

A car pulled into the driveway, tires skidding.

"Heads down, stay in character," Carlisle hissed.

Nessie put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry about the way I'm going to act," she said.

I shrugged. "Do what ya got to do."

I took a deep breath as three pairs of feet clomped up the stairs.