Chapter Forty Three

Leah

I had no idea what the elders or our esteemed leader would decide with regard to our actions and frankly I didn't give a damn. Once Sam left I was alone and I would decide what I did if I found Bella Swan. No one could order me around unless Sam phased and I kept human as much as possible to avoid just that. I'd found Bella's hideaway, along with the other leeches but she had kept close to home or been in company and I wasn't sure I could take down Bella and another leech at the same time so I watched and waited.

I saw her go into town with the guy we'd fought in the cave, the one who had almost done what we wanted him to before that other leech turned up and everything went so horribly wrong. Deciding to follow them I hung back far enough that they wouldn't detect my scent and shadowed them into town. I waited outside the book store hoping she might come out while alone but she had waited inside ruining any chance for attack then followed them to the bar they chose checking my surroundings, I wanted plenty of possibilities for escape if I were detected.

When they came out a little later I expected them to head back but instead found myself at a hospital. What did two leeches want with a hospital? Were they going to feed on the patients who were too weak to resist? We had seen Bella hunt and her diet was strictly animal so what was going on? He left her outside and I moved closer but he wasn't gone long enough for me to make an attack and when he returned I understood. He carried bags of blood in his hands and handed one to Bella. So, was she going to change her diet after all? Start on donated blood before hunting her own human prey? I wasn't sure so I continued to watch closely. The row was quite spectacular and when he threw the blood in her face it was all I could do not to laugh at her expression.

Then came my opportunity, she left her friend disappearing into the night alone and I shadowed her. Would she make for the Cullen house or was she fleeing blindly? My smile broadened as she fled distressed into the forest the other side of town, now she was mine and I phased to wolf form running after her and drawing ever closer. Then suddenly I heard Sam's voice in my head,

"No Leah. You can't do this. You'll jeopardise everything if Johnny H finds out you are still tracking Bella Swan so far from the reservation. You have to stop now."

"NO"

I ran even faster and leapt landing on Bella's back and knocking her to the ground, she'd been so upset she hadn't heard me coming and I'd taken her by surprise. I sank my fangs into her shoulder and shook my head ripping off her arm and hurling it from me into the undergrowth before sinking them in again, this time aiming to take her head off.

"Leah Stop, this is an Alpha command"

I cursed as my instincts cut in and my body betrayed me pulling me away from my quarry who lay on the ground clutching the side of her neck where I'd almost bitten through. I turned and ran on through the trees knowing I would be ordered back to the reservation and hating the power Sam had to force me against my will.

Bella

I had run blindly from Garrett, hurt and disgusted by his actions, how could my sire treat me like that? Because I had questioned my own ideas? I didn't worry what direction I went and had no thoughts of running back to the Cullens. I felt out of place there, isolated, I didn't seem to belong and I felt there was something they weren't telling me, something I should know but was a secret. I had no idea where I would go only that this direction seemed to be the one I wanted. Then I heard the wolf but too late to avoid the attack. I thought I was dead for sure, the wolf was strong and determined and I couldn't get a grip on it but then it faltered before leaving me wounded on the ground and running swiftly away.

I staggered to my feet looking around to see what had spooked the animal but I was alone, the only sounds I could hear the heartbeat of small forest creatures and they certainly hadn't scared the wolf from its attack. Had it been a Quileute still trying to kill me? I felt weak, I hadn't hunted and I needed all my energy to stay upright. I could feel the terrible wounds in my throat and shoulder, the venom spreading across my shirt and dripping from my fingers, the arm hung loose at my side unusable until the flesh knitted back together and in order to do that I needed blood, a lot of blood. I turned as if to head back in the direction of the town but something drew me in the opposite direction, a feeling I couldn't explain but nor could I ignore it so I staggered on through the trees looking for any sign of prey.

I found nothing, the only wildlife were too small to be of any use, I should have fed properly with Esme or taken the blood bag Garrett had offered me. The scent of drying blood on my clothes merely served to heighten my thirst until it became a living thing in my throat, searing the flesh and sending me mad with its incessant nagging. I was scared the wolf might come back and kept turning to check my rear but I couldn't hear its paws or breathing so maybe it really had gone. Up ahead I could see the straight blackness of a highway but I couldn't stop a car, how could I explain the fact I was badly injured but not bleeding. I could follow it though and hopefully find somewhere to feed on the way, a stream or creek where animals came to drink. I was so thirsty I would settle for squirrels or rabbits even a dog or cat. I knew if I didn't then the next human I came across was dead, I wouldn't be able to stop myself attacking.

The road was quiet only a couple of cars went by and each time I hid in the shadows then I saw two sets of headlights in the distance and somehow I knew they were important to me. Perhaps it was Esme or Carlisle, even Garrett coming to apologise for his behaviour. I took a couple of deep breaths and walked out to stand in the centre of the road so I couldn't be missed and prayed for a friendly face. The lead car pulled up sharply and the driver's door was thrown open. In the headlights of the second car I saw a tall shape with blond hair and it looked suddenly familiar but how? He approached slowly, his arms hanging by his side and a gentle smile on his face,

"Bella? What happened?"

Seeing my injuries the smile disappeared and concern took its place as he moved to me more quickly,

"I know you"

"Good I was beginning to think I'd have to introduce myself again. What happened Bella? Was it a wolf?"

"Yes how did you know?"

"You seem to draw them to you. Last time we met you were a wolf's chew toy and let me tell you it's not a good thing to be."

"I know, it hurts"

He stepped close and wrapped an arm around my shoulder looking at the wounds the other side

"When did you hunt last?"

"I can't remember"

"Is that blood on your clothes?"

"Yes Garrett gave me a blood shower"

"I'm sorry?"

"Me too"

As I said that I fell into him closing my eyes and feeling safe for the first time since I'd run from my sire.