AN
Hi all, thanks for the reviews for the last chapter and birthday wishes! I'm giving you this chapter early... how nice am I? Hope you like it. xxx
Leah's POV
"Seth, I'm not going!" I was yelling at my stubborn assed brother.
"You have to. It's Claire's birthday party and she's family!" Seth was whining.
"I don't think third cousins count!" I snapped back.
"Come on, you love Claire! She hasn't seen you since you got back and she's missed you!"
His voice was starting to grate on me.
"Yeah, and I'll send her ten dollars and an apology." I was trying to do the dusting and he was bugging the hell out of me.
Seth raised his eyebrows at me. "She's a kid Leah! I think she would rather see you than get a 'Sorry, here's some cash' card!"
"You don't know much about kids do you?" I snorted.
"I know enough that I already picked her out a gift. Quil's taken it over for us."
"What will it take to shut you up?" He had been following me around for an hour relentlessly.
"Nothing."
I looked up at him from cleaning the table, and he was doing a great impression of me. Seth's arms were folded and he was tapping his foot stubbornly.
"Fine. I'll come, but if anyone makes any snide comments, or gets too lovey dovey, then I'm gone! Deal?"
Being alpha had so many cons, having to attend pack socials being one of them. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't being hosted by Claire's aunt.
"Deal!" He grinned. "Want to race to Emily's?"
"Sure. What else have I got to look forward to?" I grumbled.
I had to hand it to Seth; he always knew the buttons to press. We both fought to get out of the door; in the end, I tripped him up to get a head start. Not that I needed it!
We ran out the back door and into the woods, separating to phase. Within seconds, we were racing across the forest toward Sam and Emily's.
"So Lee, you glad to be back, bet you couldn't do this in Hawaii?"
"What? Make you eat dirt?"
"Very funny! Why did I miss you again?"
"Because I'm your charming and witty older sister."
"That's the nice version."
"Because you're a baby and you need me."
"Not such a baby anymore Lee."
'Ha . . . the day you're a man, I'll eat my own tail. You'll always be my ickle wickle Sethy.'
"Yeah, I'm so little that I managed to get the bills paid next week!"
"Hello? That was me; I kicked ass! I never saw you racing any white wolves!"
"I inspired you and talked the guys out of their cash!"
"Sure, robbing from the poor, that's something to be proud of. You and the Sheriff of Nottingham would have a ball!"
"Who's the Sheriff of Nottingham?"
"How am I related to you? Does Robin Hood ring any bells?"
"Whatever . . . I know you had fun the other day; until Sam anyway."
"So?"
"Nothing."
"Seth, what did you mean?"
"We're here."
The little shit was phased before I could get hold of him. I hated him thinking he knew what was going on.
Wasn't I allowed fun?
I suppose it was rare that I let myself go, but I was in a good mood the other day, and after pulling the stick out of Paul's ass (while he acted like a total wimp may I add), I was extremely amused and wanted to race someone. Cris and his so called speed fight the bill perfectly. Seth was even the one who suggested it.
After a minute, I saw my brother walk out of the forest dressed and head towards the party. I phased and threw on my shorts and vest before following.
Emily's back yard had an extremely long table spread out across it. There were banners saying 'Happy Birthday Claire-Bear' everywhere and it looked like someone had vomited purple over everything. Most people were seated at the table. The guys were already stuffing party food down.
"Leah!" A pretty black haired ten year old came running towards me and flung her arms around my waist.
Quil was walking towards me as I hugged her back. She really was a sweet little girl.
"Happy birthday Claire! Look at you, you're all grown up!" I smiled down at her.
"I know, it's so cool! Thanks for the prezzy, it was awesome! Look! Look! There's Seth!" She was off as quick as she had arrived, chasing down my brother. I couldn't blame her, he was more fun.
"Ten huh?" I smiled at Quil. "Not long now."
"Don't . . . I'd rather she stayed like this. Things get complicated from here on; look at Jake," he said, watching Claire chase Seth around the garden.
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't use Jake as an example for anything. He's hardly normal. Come on let's get some food!" I shoved him forwards playfully towards the table; safety in numbers and all that.
A few heads looked up as we approached, but no one paid any more attention than that. There was a gap in the middle of table and Embry patted the bench space next to him. I sat down and Quil squeezed in next to me, passing me a plate.
"Any news?" I asked Embry, while pouring a drink.
Embry's voice was a whisper. "Shh . . . Sam said no business at the table today. Emily already had a little hissy fit about it being a birthday party not a pack meeting."
I raised my eyebrows at Embry, daring him to not tell me.
"Ok already! Don't look at me like that! Jeez Leah, you're scary you know that?" Embry was half laughing.
"You know it! So, any more news?" I nudged him playfully this time. I was really trying to reign in my inner bitch and build on my relationships with everyone (notice that I said trying).
"No. Still no new tracks or trails. It's like no one was ever even here. What can we do though apart from patrol?" He looked at me frustrated.
I shrugged, "We can't do anything, just hope they have moved on and we blew it out of proportion. In the meantime we stay vigilant."
Embry gave me an unconvinced smile.
"Hey Call?" I added.
"Yeah?" He paused his eating to listen to me.
"This alpha stuff, if it works out - you want to be beta?" My voice was nervous, which was crazy, but I was still new to everything.
Embry almost choked on his food. "Oh. Wow! Leah, that's a surprise. I thought you would pick Seth."
I hoped Embry didn't think he was second best because he wasn't. In all honesty, me and Seth had talked long and hard about the beta and alpha thing. I loved my little brother to pieces; he had grown up a lot, but he was still a kid.
He was the youngest of the pack and everyone loved him, but it was because he was so sweet, innocent and playful. I wasn't sure how this would work with him being beta. I didn't know if he would be able to make hard decisions, or if I wanted him to be in that situation. I mean Seth, God bless him, couldn't even fix a shed door! Besides, I thought with us being family, there might be a conflict of interests. Surprisingly, Seth had agreed with all of this and admitted he didn't actually want the responsibility.
"I've spoken to him and we both agreed it wouldn't work. I want you on my flank Embry. We've always made a good team and I know you can hold your own. What do you say?"
Someone cleared their throat as I finished talking; I looked up to the top of the table only to see Sam eyeing me and Embry. Emily was next to him oblivious and playing the ever dutiful host.
Embry winked at me. "You're on."
I glanced back up and scowled at Sam. Jake was sat next to him and smiled at me hopefully. I quickly looked away; I wasn't ready to deal with him yet.
I turned the other way and saw Claire and Seth coming over. He was carrying her over his shoulder and she was giggling for him to put her down. I didn't know who the bigger kid was. They pulled up two chairs at the end and Seth started to grab every kind of food he could get. The whole time Claire babbled on about what Quil had brought her, and Seth dutifully nodded at all the right places while gorging himself. Oh well, hopefully I wouldn't have to feed him tonight at least.
On the opposing side of the table were Paul, Rachel, Kim and Jared. The girls were seated together dead opposite me and they were whispering to each other. Yeah, like I couldn't hear what they were saying; I blocked them out anyway. Ruining a child's birthday party would be a new all time low for me.
I grabbed some sandwiches and turned my attention back to Embry, (Quil was a lost cause, watching Claire). He happily started telling me about a car he and Jake were working on.
It was working until a voice carried over the table. "Look at little Claire. I can't wait to have one, can you Kim?"
Embry's eyes locked with mine. "Ignore her boss."
"I'm trying." I forced a smile.
Seth's eyes caught mine next; he was silently pleading me to behave. Kim just looked embarrassed; it was obvious what Rachel was doing, and Kim, although a pain, was never deliberately spiteful. In truth, she only ever said anything to me in defense of her friends and imprint.
"I would like at least two, a little boy and little girl. How lovely it will be to be a mummy." Rachel's gaze was fixed on me.
I was about to bite when a loud bang brought the table to silence and the cutlery jumped two inches in the air.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Paul. His fist was clenched from having just thumped the table. He in turn, was looking at Rachel with his nostrils flaring; "Please, just give it a rest!"
Rachel looked stunned, and Paul got up and stormed into the house. She immediately rushed after him angrily asking what was wrong. It was rare for an imprint to be chasing her partner; it was always the other way round. Regardless, they never came back out.
All eyes were now on me. "Oh, come on! I didn't even have a hand in that!" I raised my hands up in an innocent gesture. Eventually, the conversation and eating restarted.
"What was that about?" Seth mouthed at me.
I shrugged, who knew with Paul and Rachel. Maybe pulling that stick out of his ass, dislodged the bullshit that had been stuck up there for years.
I sniggered before turning to Quil. "Where are Cris and Jaden?"
"They were invited, but took patrol so everyone else could be here." He had his mouth full as he spoke. It was quite gross.
I was disappointed. I wanted to make it up to Cris for the other day. Like I said, I was really trying to keep pack relations good, and that included our allies. He really did seem like a genuinely nice guy as well. Leah Clearwater just had to stop being such a bitch, if everything was going to work out.
It turned out that the party wasn't so bad in the end. No one forced me to sing happy birthday when the cake came out, Sam and Emily avoided me like the plague, and despite Jake's attempts, I was always too busy talking to our pack to pay him any attention. I didn't even offend anyone.
It wasn't shocking when the heavens opened, and as it started to pour down we all grabbed what we could and headed inside.
I quickly said to Seth that I was going. I had no want to be caged in the tiny house with everyone; at least outside I felt free. He wanted me to wait for him though, refusing to let me to go alone.
I was busy arguing my case when I heard Claire squealing behind me:
"Oh no! I left my new book out there!"
I blanked out Seth's response and chuckled as she ran out into the rain filled garden panic stricken. I met Quil's eyes and noticed that under his happy face, he really was anxious. Without thinking I walked over to him.
"It'll be ok you know." I nodded at the spot where Claire had stood.
He looked at me gratefully, "Yeah, I know. She's just so happy now; I want her to stay like it. We all lost our innocence way too early. You're doing a good job by the way."
"Sorry, what?" I said surprised.
"The alpha thing, you're a natural. You don't even realise it. Look at you." The smile he gave me was genuine.
"Ok, that's enough of the happy crap Quil. I think you've had too much sugar."
It was all getting a little too fluffy for me now, but Quil's attention had already gone back to Claire.
Initially, his expression was amusement, but as it changed to curiosity, I also turned to look at her. She was back and soaked through, which was expected. In one hand she held the new book, which was also soaked, but in the other there was something else.
"What you got there hun?" Quil said, holding out his hand.
Her face was pale white and she looked shaken as she handed it over to him. It was a greetings card. The front picture was that of a wolf, but there was no message on the front. Quil opened the card; I didn't see what was inside, but I immediately pulled Claire behind me as he started to shake all over.
"Who gave this to you?" he barked angrily at Claire and his voice filled the kitchen.
She started to cry and hugged my waist, burying her face in my back.
"Who?" he yelled even louder, trying to hold back the phase.
"Quil, knock it off. You're scaring her. Don't make me kick you out of your own impr . . . Claire's party! What the hell's the matter?" I shouted back at him, loud enough to gain his focus.
He growled at me before his face finally melted at the realisation his imprint was scared of him. Quil fell to the ground breathing heavily. Sam and Jake started hustling the cubs out the kitchen, giving us more room. In the meantime, Embry and Seth were flanking me in case he lost it again.
"Claire baby, I'm sorry. I just really need to know who gave you this." His gentle manner had returned and she peaked out from behind me before running into his arms.
"I'm sorry too Quil. I did what you told me, I didn't speak to the stranger." Her voice was trembling.
"Quil, focus for a minute and tell me what the hell that was about!" I had already assumed the alpha role, but I felt Jake close behind me.
He handed me the card, his hand shaking with fear this time and I opened it. One word left my mouth, "Shit."
I heard Emily, or maybe it was Kim, muttering about my language, but now wasn't the time to worry about Claire's innocent ears. I gave the card to Embry and Seth, whose faces went just as pale as they passed it on. I could hear everyone reacting; I blocked it out and quickly barked some orders at the boys. Embry and Seth flew outside to check the perimeters and I ordered Jake to call Paul and Rachel. We needed to know if they got home ok and if they saw anything; he followed my orders and left the room.
I knelt down level with Claire and Quil. He was now holding her protectively. She was encased in his arms, no doubt for his benefit more than hers. She was a hardy little girl.
"Come on Honey, you need to tell me and Quil what happened."
Quil backed me up. "You're not in trouble. You did good but we need to know who it was. We have to say thank you."
I heard someone behind me muttering about the kind of thank you we intended to give out. I think that time it was Sam.
"Yeah, it's only polite." I smiled falsely at her.
"O . . . k . . ." her little voice trailed off before starting again nervously, "I went to get my book; it was on the table . . ." She had a little fit of the snuffles at that point, but we waited patiently for her to continue. "When I looked up, there was a blonde lady standing at the other end. She said 'hello' and she knew my name."
Claire started to hyperventilate this time and her words became rushed, "I told her, I did, I told her Quil was inside and I couldn't speak to strangers. I didn't like her, aunty Leah; she scared me. Her eyes were funny looking."
"You did good sugar. Keep going." I spoke, while Quil rubbed her back soothingly.
"She said she had a card for me. Then she went to move towards me, but I turned to run inside and she stopped. She put the card on the table and said she would leave it there for me. I looked back at the house, but she was gone when I turned back." Claire was gradually calming down.
Quil was smiling at her, "That's good Claire-Bear. I'm really proud of you Honey. Why don't you go sit with the boys in the lounge for a bit, so me and the grown-ups can have a talk."
I knew his happy expression was faked, but the ten year old brought it and that was the main thing.
Kim came forward and offered Claire her hand to lead her through the house. She very reluctantly took it, pouting in such a way that told us she wasn't six anymore. As the little girl was halfway out of the door she turned to face the room. "Oh, Aunty Em'?"
Emily and her bump left Sam's side and walked over to her, "What sweetie?"
"The lady said she can't wait to see the baby."
Kim's mouth dropped open and Emily looked like she had been slapped. Sam immediately hauled Emily back to him protectively as she started to fall to pieces. The terrified shaking came quickly, followed by hysterical sobbing.
I knew by Sam's face that they had crossed a line; "Kim, take Claire in the lounge and shut the door please."
As soon as Kim and Claire left, the room remained silent and all eyes watched Sam and Emily. She was holding her tummy protectively, while Sam held her. Both of their eyes were wide and fearful.
I had to give them this one; this shit was pretty fucked up.
Sam tried to rub Emily's back and soothe her much like we did Claire, but it wasn't working. In the end he kissed her mouth lovingly until she kissed him back. I turned away at that point feeling my chest contract.
I remained staring at the floor while he started to whisper words of comfort to her. Eventually, I heard someone clear their throat and was glad that for a change it wasn't me.
I turned back and Sam kissed Emily one last time.
"You go with them in the lounge baby. It's ok, I promise." He gently pushed her towards the door.
The calm atmosphere broke the minute she left. There was shouting and cursing and anger running through everyone. It was a dangerous atmosphere. I was impressed we managed to get the imprints out before it erupted.
"Smell it!" Quil was waving the card around. "That's fucking blood! What kind of sick fuck, writes Happy Birthday in a child's card in animal blood! I'll kill them; I'm going out there now. In fact, they'll be lucky if I kill them; I'm going to rip them a new hole first."
"I'm coming too. I've had enough now! It ends here! No one threatens my family." Sam was just as angry and then looked at Jake who had silently re-entered the room.
Seth and Embry burst in the door panting at the same time. Both confirmed that just like before there was nothing. No scent, no trail, no sign.
"Jake, you need to get hold of Cris. What about Paul?" I was making a plan.
"Paul and Rachel are at home; Paul sounded pissed, I'm pretty sure I interrupted them doing god knows what. He said they saw nothing and then hung up. I already spoke to Cris when I went out there, again no sign of our guest - I do have some clue what I'm doing Leah." His sarcasm was not appreciated right now.
I ignored Jake and turned to Sam to Quil again. "We are all coming with you. We'll leave the cub's here with the imprints and the rest of us will search."
I didn't want Sam and Quil running around wildly chasing shadows. They weren't thinking properly. It's understandable, this whole thing wasn't normal. We were being taunted by a female vampire. Well at least based on the facts, that was my latest current assumption. I just didn't understand:
Twice now, she could have killed one of us and she hadn't.
Why?
What did she get out of this?
Why only use animals?