A/N:
Warning: minor character death(s), swearing
Changing around the timeline a little bit.
All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter 7: February Part 1
There was very little Leah feared more than sending her brother out to fight vampires. When the disappearances had begun in Seattle, they had known immediately cold ones were to blame. They could feel the back of their necks prick, could smell the sickly sweet aroma of undead skin that grew more pungent the closer they got to Seattle.
Sam, for all his faults, was in total agreement with Leah, and remained adamant about keeping the younger members of the pack on sentry duty back on the reservation.
Leah had never felt more grateful, especially since now it was not only Seth who was left home, chomping at the bits, but a newly phased Colin and Brady.
Leah felt her heart clench. Those boys were in their second year of high school. They were supposed to be worrying about passing their driver's test and hiding their ruined socks and controlling their pizza face acne. Instead, they had morphed into giant wolves and were stuck waiting anxiously back at the reservation, ever vigilant for a vampire attack. She could think of nothing worse.
Nothing, except perhaps listening to Paul's whining for another moment longer.
He had been keeping up a steady stream of curses since they left Seattle, multiple piles of vampire ashes blowing in the cold February wind behind them. Despite their continued success, all three of them had quite a few broken bones and open wounds to show for it.
Leah's joints ached and her fur coat was sticky with her own blood. Her body was working double time to heal her injuries and as a result she walked stiffly, refusing to show a single whisker out of place even as she wrinkled her nose at the stench of burning vampire corpses.
Paul, apparently, did not share her sentiments.
Stupid leeches, he seethed loudly, growling at nothing as he kept up a running commentary of every wound he had. Multiplying every goddamn day. Might as well call them cockroaches instead.
You did a good job, Jared said through their link, keeping guard back at the reservation. He and a newly phased Embry had been anxiously watching their progress for hours, all while trying to keep the younger members in line in their absence. No sign of trouble down here but we'll stay shifted to hold down the fort until you return.
Keep to the edge of the reservation, Sam ordered. I'm positive none have followed but I still don't want a single one of their kind crossing the border.
There was an easy acquiesce from the wolves back in La Push, leaving Sam to pick up speed as he made the journey from Seattle to home in long strides, Leah and Paul flanking him. Paul, who was now recounting the god awful stench still cloying in his nose.
They can't smell that bad, Colin said dubiously. Leah looked through his eyes to see him perched in the forest at the very edge of the reservation, staring at an empty horizon as he waited for their return.
It's even worse, Brady chimed in, trotting up beside Colin on the banks of La Push. Think of the cheapest, strongest dollar store air freshener you can, and now imagine swallowing it.
Even as he answered he thought back to when he was changed, the white hot adrenaline suddenly coursing through his veins, followed by the deafening crack of a dining room table as he took shape. But he was a child of divorce, being carted from La Push to the edge of Seattle every other weekend. With such close proximity to the vampires and a shape shifting gene to boot, he never stood a chance of remaining human.
Issokay, Brady said, in response to her thoughts. I don't mind it. We need all the help we can get, don't we? If one of them already managed to reach Forks...
They all shivered at that. It had been their worst fear realized. Unlike the crazed, practically savage vampires in Seattle, there had been another one skirting closer and closer to their lands. They had waited, but the redheaded vampire didn't seem to want any trouble, and if anything she appeared to be evading rather than antagonizing. She had picked off a couple dozen hikers, being so good at hiding her tracks they hadn't even been sure it was her until they smelled that leech stench first hand.
They had already launched several attacks, but she escaped every time, never allowing herself to get close enough to their territory but also never giving away any hints as to why she didn't just leave. Until she ran right into Bella's path, clearly picking her next meal. She had slipped out of their grasp within minutes, leaving Leah to run after Bella before she drove headlong into a tree.
We won't let her get that close again, Sam said. Who he was responding to was impossible to say, as they had all been thinking virtually the same thing. I refuse to allow us to live in fear. We handled a coven of them, we can handle a nomad.
But what if she isn't a random nomad? Leah beseeched. You heard Bella's heartbeat, saw her speeding away. She knew what was going on, Sam, and she knows something about this leech. If we could just ask-
She has no business knowing our clan secrets, Sam said sharply. They had just entered the thick forest that blanketed both Forks and La Push, and were now hiking up the mountain, taking the long way home to check the parameter.
Okay, but what about Jacob and Quil? Embry demanded. He had been silent on nearly every mission the trio went on, and did his patrol duties only when the full alpha command was used. He never spoke, unless to bring up the age old argument involving his closest friends, still very much in the dark and getting more suspicious by the day. How can you keep all of this from them? They have a right to know what's going on in their own tribe!
They are both human right now, with no sign of phasing despite the redhead in the area. You heard the elders. The gene skipped both Billy and Old Quil, perhaps it has left their lines. I will not break tradition and burden them with this if there is no need. Sam's voice rang with finality.
Too bad for him, Embry wasn't done. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Of course they're both going to phase! And are we just going to ignore the fact that Jacob is Ephraim Black's grandson, the true alpha of the pack?
Leah sighed. Embry had phased for the first time in late December and had taken it worst of all. His mind had been absolute chaos for an entire week, to the point where he couldn't phase back until New Year's.
He still hadn't come to terms with it, and seemed all the more incensed when being ordered to keep Jacob and Quil in the dark. Sam and Paul had then been forced to keep a constant eye on him, least he lose control or worse, least he find a way to slip off and tell Jacob or Quil.
Quit while you're ahead, Em, Jared mumbled nervously.
I am the alpha of this pack, Sam cut over him, the full weight of his authority ringing clear despite the fact that he was still running the parameter miles away. I make the decisions and you will follow them. I will not have you endangering all of us or scaring either of them when it might not even need to come to it.
These aren't some random nobodies! Embry snarled. It's Jake and Quil! They're family, and they have just as much of a right to know as anyone else!
Enough, Sam barked. No one will be telling anything to anyone unless they have phased, is that clear?
Like a summoned apparition, they trio broke the La Push line and landed right where the others were scattered along the border, on guard.
The others twitched with the force of the command, but Sam zeroed in on a straight backed, stubbornly upright Embry instead. The two stared at each other motionlessly, simply letting the command satiate the air. Finally, Embry looked away in submission, exhausted from resisting.
The minutes that followed were stony, especially as Embry's fuming echoed in all of their minds.
Sam ignored him, leading the way through the reservation's thick underbrush. The others wordlessly fanned out at his sides, checking the area as they moved closer to home.
They would both make such cool wolves, though, Seth said, of course being the one to break the awkwardness. He had taken phasing in stride, as he did for everything in life, but he had been the most disappointed to hear Jacob and Quil hadn't phased with them. He, like Colin and Brady, seemed to think it was some cool kids club. Leah secretly prayed both boys remained human as long as possible.
Sam sighed. We might very well need a boost to our numbers if things continue the way they are.
The group went silent again, another fear realized. Sam, Leah, and Paul had been visiting Seattle nearly every other day and had located a handful of vampires easily, no more than around half a dozen. They had waited just out of sight, picking them off as the vampires left to hunt individually. Every trip ended with only a few injuries between them and fresh piles of vampire ashes, but even so the leeches somehow regained their numbers within the week, thus skyrocketing the disappearances in Seattle. It was quite the uphill battle.
Someone is creating these vampires and we will find out who. Sam said. For now, there is nothing else to be done tonight. Seth, Colin, Brady- phase now and get back to studying. I don't want to hear about another missed assignment, understood?
The three youngest grumbled but obeyed without the need of an official order.
Jared and Embry, you're on lookout duty tonight. I want you to stick to the woods since the redhead seems to prefer that over civilization.
One murmur of assent, and they were both off.
I'm going to check Forks one more time and see if there's a fresh trail to follow, Sam continued. Paul and Leah, go home and heal those wounds. Get some rest but be ready to phase back at a moment's notice. I'm taking no chances even if the cold one has left the area.
Paul bobbed his head. You might be right, if we could just have a few more on our missions, maybe Jared or Seth-
Leave my baby brother out of this, Leah snarled.
For God's sake, Leah, the kid's nearly sixteen.
Leah growled, baring her teeth. He might be the official beta, but they all knew who was quickest. It would be a fair fight, even leaning in her favor since his wounds were taking longer to heal than hers had.
Enough, both of you. Sam materialized at their side. We've been over this. I'm not asking children to go vampire hunting and Jared and Embry need to stay behind and guard the reservation.
We're not going to win at this rate, Sam, you know I'm right. Paul insisted. What's the point in burning the demons if they just replace themselves the next day?
They are far enough away from the reservation for now. I will not risk our people unless we have no other option.
But the redhead could just be the beginning, Paul said grimly. They came to Forks, they can come to the res. Leah's right, the leech has never targeted anyone like that before. It's obvious she's after Bella. If we can just position the girl in exactly the right way-
We are not using Bella as bait! Leah hissed.
Well then why don't you put her to some use and ask your new best friend if she has anything that will give us the upperhand, Paul said. She might as well be good for something besides moping around and being clingy.
Leah snarled, swiping at him before Sam separated the two of them with his own furry bulk.
I said that's enough. Our success will not be contingent on an innocent human girl.
An innocent human LEECH loving girl, Paul corrected.
Paul. Sam didn't use the full force of the alpha command, but he sounded angry enough to have Paul shrinking away, thoughts thankfully quieted.
Sam's own thoughts were weary. He hated using the alpha command and his patience had run thin on having to do it so often in the last few months. He would not be in the mood to hear Paul out tonight.
Leah tried not to look too pleased.
Paul, phase back. You're just making your wounds worse. Heal as a human.
Paul grunted before phasing back into a man, landing naked as the day he was born on the forest floor. He didn't bother with any of the nearby stashes of clothes scattered throughout the forest, instead taking off at a leisurely jog through the snow.
Sam turned to her. Don't lie, how bad is it this time?
Unlike Paul, she had kept her trap shut and had not announced every scratch received from the day's mission. It seemed rather pointless to do so, as it was still mid morning and their bodies would certainly have them healed by sundown at the latest.
Fine. Leah said shortly. No broken bones. The blood is only from being tossed off the roof but even that's healed.
Sam dipped his furry black head in a nod, leading the way to the direction of Forks, which just so happened to be the same direction as her home. The air was fraught with tension as both tried to school their thoughts into politely blank masks. Leah had half a mind to shift back and run stark naked through the woods just to be rid of the discomfort.
Finally, they reached the edge of the Clearwater's backyard.
Leah, he said before she could shift back. Paul is right about Bella being a target. Watch her. We will be close but she will no doubt be the least suspicious of your presence.
Aye, aye, Leah agreed. As if she was planning on letting her out of sight after the leech sighting.
And do try to be more careful, he added without a hint of irony. Emily would be upset if you were seriously hurt.
He turned before she could respond, running along the tree line without a glance back.
Leah waited until he was out of sight before phasing into her human form, collecting the worn shirt and shorts from her stash on the outskirts of her lawn.
"You just missed Bella," her mother said, meeting her at the door, already holding a plate piled high with three egg and bacon sandwiches.
Leah devoured them gratefully, even as she frowned. "She nearly gets drained yesterday and she's already running off today? Does she not understand how dangerous it is out there right now?"
Though how she possibly could, Leah didn't know, as Sam had come to see her, and subsequently Jacob, last night and told them next to nothing.
"Jacob and Quil came by earlier looking for you all, she left to catch a movie with them," Sue placated. "She's been looking a little pale lately, even more than usual. Some time with the others will do her good."
Leah shook her head, stuffing her face with the final sandwich. "Still, defeats the purpose of guarding her if she still manages to sneak away."
"Don't you think you're sounding a little bit like Sam?"
Leah stopped chewing, staring at her mother in horror. "That's the meanest thing you've ever said to me."
Sue sighed, though she looked more amused than exasperated. "Don't be too hard on them. All three were in a right state, whispering about what could possibly be kept from them. I have half a mind to tell them the truth myself and put this nonsense to bed."
"Sam won't like that." Not that Leah objected. "He ordered us all to keep our mouths shut." Three times actually. Once the morning of the leech almost attack, another time that same night after the frankly laughable meeting with Jacob and Bella, and most recently this morning before heading to Seattle when they had hit a particular lull in conversation and Embry decided to make his opinion known again.
"Sam will just have to learn that elders trump alphas," Sue countered. "More importantly, mothers trump alphas."
Leah snickered. "Just promise me you'll videotape it when you tell him."
She was sorely tempted to start a nice hot bath but sighed, resigning herself to collecting Bella first. She took off at a jog, collecting one of Seth's hoodies to give herself a modicum of normalcy as she ran through the cool winter air.
She got a few strange looks, but the majority of the reservation were in the know, either being part of the older generation or directly involved with someone who had phased. Embry was right, keeping Jacob and Quil in the dark so long was bordering on cruel at this point.
Even in the middle of winter the reservation's plaza was bustling with activity. Leah made polite but brief conversation when she ran into Claire and Kim, and ducked behind the nearest building when she spotted Evelyn dragging around a tired looking Emily. She paused at the cinema, looping around the building once, twice, before realizing the scents of the trio were already gone.
Frowning, she slipped behind the plaza itself and then melted into the forest. She stashed her clothes, picked out her long t-shirt, and tied it to her leg before phasing. As a wolf, she managed to catch Jacob's strong scent within seconds, eventually noticing the faint whiff of Bella and Quil. She sniffed, trotting deeper into the forest before mentally cursing when she realized the direction.
Bella and Quil have gone to Jacob's house, she said to the others in wolf form. Jake's scent is all over the place so I'm betting he's on that bike. I'll trail them to make sure they make it alright.
Three curt affirmations from the others, albeit with Embry's renewed sense of injustice at the mention of his tribe brothers.
Leah climbed up the cliffside, hidden by the trees, and was easily able to see the speeding form of Jacob on that death machine, a good mile away from the orange monstrosity of a truck chugging down the windy road. She rolled her eyes. Trust Jacob to want to race even in the dead of winter, and trust Bella to think she had a shot in hell of winning in her rusting dinosaur.
Leah headed closer, nearly skirting the road, until she felt a prick at the back of her neck.
Something's wrong, she said immediately, scanning the area. She felt three pairs of eyes looking through her own, all of them searching for whatever had raised her hackles. She followed Bella's truck more closely now, running alongside it with just a thin layer of trees blocking her from view. Jacob's form was long out of sight, but the prickling on her neck only got sharper, the surrounding area quieting unnaturally.
A leech? Jared said anxiously.
I can't smell anything, Leah responded, noting the eerie silence that fell on the forest, as if it was holding its breath. But I can't hear anything either. Absolutely nothing besides Bella, Quil, and the ocean.
I don't like this, I'm coming closer, Sam said. Embry, get my flank. Jared, stay where you are in case it's a trap. Get ready to call for backup on my signal.
It happened before Leah could blink. Five chalkwhite forms leapt from the water with terrifying grace, scaling the mountain in a blur. Leah howled, long and hard, even as she threw her body down the mountain and charged at the truck.
She was too late. Two of the leeches landed on the truck with a thunderous crash, denting the bed as if a meteor hit it and halting it in its tracks. Two more smashed into each side, shattering the windows in one clean swoop. The fifth landed directly on the hood, wild red hair whipping in the breeze. It smashed the windshield with a skinny white hand, reaching towards an unconscious Bella and a shaking Quil.
Leah howled again, pouncing onto the redhead's back and ripping her head off. She tossed it over the edge of the cliffside and into the ocean below.
The vampire stuck to the driver's side made a strangled noise, ripping the decapitated leech's body from her grasp and diving in after the head.
Leah teetered on the still shaking truck, baring her teeth as the leech on the other side growled. In the next moment he had his icy cold hands wrapped around her neck and was squeezing with a sickening crack. She howled, shoving him off even as she was assaulted by white hot pain. The truck shook harder beneath her, whether from her or from the ministrations of the leeches, she couldn't tell.
She grappled blindly at the body in front of her, biting at rock hard limbs even as the truck continued to shake. When she opened her eyes, she had a pile of vampire limbs at her feet, but her pack brothers by her side.
Paul and Jared leapt through the trees to tackle the leech now crawling on the roof of the still shaking truck, ripping it to shreds easily. Sam and Embry lunged for the wolf on the back, snapping his head off as well before barking an order to a newly arrived Colin to make a fire.
The redhead! I didn't burn the redhead! Leah screamed. She got away with one of the others!
Sam shot to the edge of the road, peering down at the black water below with sharp eyes.
Leah, Jared, and Paul moved nimbly over the truck, throwing the limbs into a neat pile on the side of the road facing the forest.
"Holy ever loving shit!" Colin screeched, standing in his human form at the edge of the woods with eyes as wide as saucers, firewood forgotten at his feet.
That was the only warning they got before the passenger side exploded into a million pieces, sending the truck, and all on it, ricocheting off the cliff and into the ocean below.
Quil! He's phasing! Embry screamed, watching his friend spasm in the murky water. They could hear the beginnings of a new voice added to their mental link, a screaming, hysterical voice that sounded exactly like Quil's.
Colin! Burn the leeches, Sam barked to a frozen Colin, making sure the kid snapped out of his shock before diving into the ocean after his packmates. The rest of you, get Quil and Bella out of the water. The vampires are still in the ocean!
Seth and Brady arrived in a storm of dust on the road above, launching themselves in the water, each fully in wolf form, and rushing to Embry's side. The three of them made quick work of hauling a still phased and struggling Quil up for air and towards the shoreline. Quil, who was not only phasing for the first time, but doing so at the bottom of the ocean.
Leah, head still pounding from being strangled, seized the ruined truck even as it continued to sink deeper. She dove, forcing her body to move faster, and finally saw the broken form of Bella lying amongst the metal debris. She lurched forward and shifted the girl as gently as she could out of the mess, before phasing and wrapping strong arms around her as she swam them to the surface.
Leah gasped, sucking in the biting winter air as her lungs burned and her neck stung. She hoisted Bella up, shaking the girl when she didn't breathe, screaming her name when she didn't so much as twitch.
Leah felt her ribcage crack as she was viciously shoved. She phased back to her wolf form, throwing the leech out of her way with her sharp claws and biting its arms off a millisecond later. This time, she wasn't alone. Paul took over easily, ripping it to shreds as a human Jared collected the pieces.
"Victoria!" It cried out, vivid red eyes darting around frantically as more of its limbs were ripped off. "Victoria! I'm here! My love, I'm still here! Victoria!" Its head came off a second later.
Leah forced her aching, bleeding body to phase back into a woman once more, diving down as the prone figure of Bella sunk deeper and deeper. She clawed through the dark waters, finally yanking on a squishy, cold wrist and using every last ounce of energy to bring them both back up for air.
They broke the surface, again with only one gasping and the other remaining dangerously quiet. She felt Bella's weight lift slightly and looked to see a human Jared helping her drag the girl to the shoreline. Leah nodded in gratitude, refusing to look at the chalky limbs he was holding in his other arm.
They made it to the beach where Seth and Brady were making a fire for a still shaking Quil as Embry crouched next to him speaking in a soft, low voice.
Jared added the leech's remains to the growing fire, not so much as blinking until the corpse had blackened and was disintegrating before his eyes.
"The other leeches are burned and gone," was the first thing a panting Colin said as he made it down to the beach. "Jake saw the fire and the truck go down. He's coming."
The others moved in a frenzy, rushing to retrieve the stack of clothing at the beach and distributing it amongst themselves. Leah, who had been holding Bella and inadvertently preserving most of her decency, suddenly found herself too exhausted to care even as she slipped on an overly large t-shirt that came down to her thighs.
"Might as well just tell him," Embry said, glancing at a wide eyed Quil who had not taken the offered shorts and instead continued to stare at nothing. "I mean, how the hell are we supposed to hide this?"
His jaws clamped shut with an audible snap as the words left his mouth while the others all twitched in unison.
"Well, that answers that," Jared said bitterly. Alpha's orders still stood.
A howl in the distance sounded, and all but Quil, Seth, Brady, and Colin jerked to attention.
"Come on, he wouldn't call unless there was trouble," a weary Jared said.
"S'not like we're not needed here," Embry grumbled, looking anxiously back at Quill.
They left reluctantly, throwing side glances back even as they phased and dove into the ocean once more.
Leah stared down at the limp, freezing girl in her arms, grounding her teeth as she staved off the pull of the howl. Sam would have to bodily drag her away if he expected her to leave now.
"We need to get out of here before Jacob sees us," Leah said urgently, the telltale roar of the bike growing louder by the second. "Bella needs a hospital and she can't wait while we make up excuses. Colin and Brady, you stay here with Quil and try to buy as much time as you can. Quil," she softened her voice, waiting until his wide eyed stare flickered to her. "I know it's a lot, okay? I promise you we'll explain everything but for now, hide behind those rocks if you need a moment to yourself. Seth, we need to go to Forks hospital. Now."
Leah, as the fastest, was the one to phase. She knelt as Seth climbed gingerly on her back, cradling Bella tightly to his chest. And they were off, speeding through the woods in a near blur. They reached Forks in minutes, and the town's only hospital a moment after.
Leah knelt back down so her brother could climb off and sprint straight for the hospital doors, shouting at anyone who would listen for help.
Head now pounding and bones painfully healing themselves, Leah took a moment to catch her breath. When she was mostly healed, she shifted through the pack's thoughts, updating herself and them simultaneously.
Sam had led the others in pursuit of the redhead, who had apparently not even glanced back at the leech that had been so desperate to save her, and had instead shot deep through the ocean until the pack was forced to return to land.
They ran to Seattle, hoping to head her off, but when they got there the city had been abandoned of all leeches. Whoever was creating the leeches didn't have time to make up their numbers after this morning's mission. Sam was now certain this redhead was their creator and growled in frustration as she was nowhere to be found. Eventually, he was forced to bring the others home when their searches continued to come up empty.
I left my phone in one of the stashes near the border, I'll call Charlie and Sue as soon as we're close, Jared told her as they all updated themselves on her memories.
Leah's attention was taken by a loud roar as Jacob sped into the parking lot like a man possessed, barely turning off his bike before throwing it to the ground and sprinting into the hospital.
He insisted on going, Colin said ruefully as he phased back. We tried to get him to calm down but as soon as he heard Bella was at the hospital he just shot off.
He went berserk hearing Quil wasn't taken too, Brady added. Assumed the worst and was hyperventilating until we finally got it through to him that Quil was fine.
You both did well, Sam said. Go home and get some rest. There's nothing else to be done now. Quil and Leah, you should do the same.
Quil said nothing, allowing himself instead to be led back to the residential area in silence.
Leah was a different story altogether. Fat chance in hell she would be going home now. Not with Bella's life hanging in the balance. I'm staying, she told him.
If wolves could telepathically frown disapprovingly, he would have done so now. Leah.
I'm staying, Sam. There's nothing you can say to make me do otherwise.
And with that she curled up in the underbrush right outside of the hospital, keeping one ear poised to track the conversation within Bella's room.
It was wet and cold where she lay, aching body and all, but it was worth it to hear the doctor eventually declare Bella stable and certain to make a full recovery. It also didn't hurt that Embry, Quil, and Jared stayed shifted too, anxiously waiting for any updates, and in doing so giving her their silent support.
"Are you sure this is necessary?" Bella asked for the hundredth time, looking miserable in the passenger seat of Harry's car. Leah had taken the liberty of driving Bella to school today, after she had spent the remainder of Sunday and the following Monday in the hospital.
"Well that depends, would you have preferred your dad's police cruiser?"
Bella groaned. "Are you at least going to tell me anything more?"
"That depends, something you'd like to share with the class about what you think happened?"
They had been playing chicken since Bella woke up yesterday. Unfortunately, Sam had dragged them all out to Seattle to hunt for the redhead. The mission had ended with no vampires in sight and a stern order to continue the silent treatment. That had been the most explosive argument between Sam and Embry yet.
Bella, as predicted, simply got a shade paler, darting her eyes around frantically before stammering a weak excuse.
Leah sighed. "Look, I think we've established we're both keeping some pretty big, and hugely relevant things from each other. I know for whatever reason you can't tell me about yours, but please trust me when I say I literally cannot tell you about mine."
Bella looked at her with careful eyes, nodding once as if unconsciously before grimacing. "Does this mean you were serious about hanging around my school all day?"
"For protection, Bella. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Leah sat in her father's car now, staring at the science building Bella had just entered and mulling over the weekend's events. The redhead had managed to surprise them twice now. Once on Saturday morning when she almost attacked Bella, and another time Sunday afternoon, when she had sprang from the ocean and terrorized poor Bella and Quil.
But when Monday had come, the disappearances in Seattle ceased seemingly overnight. When they returned for another mission, it was to an absolutely empty city with no sign of any new victims. Sam had them on patrol nearly every hour, but the forest showed nothing, almost back to its full vibrancy despite being deep into winter.
It was too good to be true. They were certain the redhead was the creator of all those Seattle vampires, and were also painfully aware she had escaped them and was still out there, alive and well. It was only a matter of when she would strike, and how. Assuming anything less would be taking stupidity to a whole new level.
Thus, new safety measures were taken. Sam and Paul, as the only shifters already graduated, had taken to obsessively circling the reservation and the surrounding area. Jared, Embry, and Quil were tasked with keeping an eye on Jacob during the school day and running the parameter at night. Seth, Brady, and Colin were ordered to remain in the center of town after school, both because it was the safest part of the reservation, but mostly so Sam would have eyes and ears in nearly every corner of their land.
Which left Leah, who was tasked with following Bella around like a shadow. Sam had finally admitted the redhead would likely be back for Bella and wanted her under constant surveillance to avoid any more close calls.
As a senior who should have graduated last year, she had doubled up on her classes the previous semester and was left with only two online courses she could complete in her sleep. Thus she was free to ride with Bella in the mornings and monitor her throughout the day.
Leah groaned as the second bell rung and Bella walked from the building directly in her line of sight to one seemingly on the other side of campus. Damn Forks for having their high school in a dozen or so random buildings. She got out of the car and slung her backpack over her shoulder to blend in, melting into the crowd and eventually finding a bench directly behind Bella's next classroom , coincidentally surrounded by forest.
She smelled him before she heard him, but still tensed when a shirtless Sam came striding into view, standing just behind the huge oak so he was blocked from any onlookers.
"Leah."
"Samuel," she answered in a blank voice. "Fancy seeing you here. Shouldn't you be in Seattle?"
Sam sighed. "There is absolutely no trace of any leech, redhead or otherwise. I came to see if they managed to slip by Paul and find Bella."
"They won't slip by me," Leah said. "And no, we've had no one so far."
Sam nodded, leaning against the tree and crossing his arms, even as he stared into the forest in concentration. He didn't speak, but nor did he phase.
Leah internally sighed. They might have been broken up, but that didn't mean she couldn't still read him like a book. He was deliberating over something, and she was in no mood to wait in awkward silence. "How is Quil doing?"
"He is still feeling guilty about the truck, despite our reassurances."
Leah frowned in concern. Quil had been particularly broken up about phasing so close to Bella, insisting that he could have maimed her and fretting over being the cause that sent them all flying into the ocean. The first worry they could easily wave away, as it was physically impossible for a phase to harm humans. The second, well, Quil could hear the answer in their thoughts no matter how much they tried to cover it up.
"And how is he doing about everything else?"
"He is… managing it," Sam said. "Which brings me to my other concern. I wanted to ensure you would not tell Bella or Jacob anything."
Leah raised an eyebrow. "It was an official order, Alpha. What choice do I have?" Sarcasm dripped from her voice.
Sam squared his shoulders, giving her a hard look that told her this was the reason for his stalling. "You should not have been able to resist my howl when I summoned the others on the beach."
Leah puffed up angrily, glaring holes into his black eyes. "If you expected me to just leave after I dragged a nearly dead Bella out of the ocean you are sorely mistaken, Sam Uley," she hissed into his face.
"That is not what I meant," Sam said. "I am saying, the call was meant for the older members of the pack, including yourself."
What in the-? She was in zero mood for his riddles. "Just say what you mean, Sam."
"Leah, we have discussed your position in the pack and I have respected your decision. But now is the time you might reconsider, especially given the circumstances."
Leah tensed, jaw clenching. When she had phased, she had originally been the beta of the pack, Sam's second in command. Their mental link had all but announced the shift, making the hierarchy clear as it transferred from Paul to Leah.
But Leah had not wanted such an intimate connection to Sam, and even now she did not want a bigger hand in this than was necessary. Being a wolf was a nightmare on its own. Adding an official title seemed like damning herself completely.
"You do not have to decide now, but I fear the confrontation with the leeches is far from over," Sam said, giving her a long, serious look. "Only a beta could have had a chance in hell of resisting. You know this. It might be an asset the pack will need very quickly."
"I think Paul is better suited for the position."
Sam nodded as if he had expected this all along, turning around and moving back towards the forest. Before he disappeared he turned slightly, giving her a tired look. "I know you and Jared agree with Embry about telling Jacob. But I would ask all of you to see the reason behind my order. Look at the pack, Leah. Besides the youngsters, can you honestly say any of us would not have preferred to remain blissfully unaware?"
"That's not our decision to make, especially with lives hanging in the balance. It could be a danger to keep Jacob in the dark for any longer. And it's cruel to not at least prepare him for what's to come."
Sam's mask cracked for the first time in nearly a year, showing a brief flash of despair before he sighed and turned away. "You might be right, Leah. I am still hoping it won't come to that."
With that, he was gone.
Leah sat staring at the place he'd been, before shaking her head and pulling out her sketchpad to work on another commission, ears peeled for any sign of movement around her.
There were none, except during the very last period, when a student wandered on the grounds next to the gym, Bella's last class of the day. Leah stared at the newcomer over the edge of her sketchbook but he seemed content to take the picnic table across from her, pulling out his own laptop and typing away as if it wasn't cold and absolutely miserable out for any sane human.
Leah ground her teeth as his typing continued, breaking the otherwise silent February air. She almost screamed when he took out a bag of Chex Mix and began chomping away. He glanced up and met her eye.
Leah, who was wearing her fiercest resting bitch face, mentally patted herself on the back when the boy ceased his ridiculous crunching. Only for the boy to break out into a small smile and give her a little wave. "Chex Mix?"
Wait what?
The boy seemed to take her flabbergasted face as affirmation. She watched in horror as he got up from his bench and walked over to hand her a new bag of Chex Mix.
"Have at it," he said cheerfully, just as the bell rang. He left, leaving her staring open mouthed after him.
When Bella met her in the parking lot that day, she raised her eyebrows wordlessly at the bag of Chex Mix in Leah's hand, but shrugged as she took the proffered offering and munched on it while they made the trek back down to La Push.
As the days passed, Leah was annoyed to find herself in yet another routine. She would ride to Forks High with Bella, stand guard outside during the school day, and then return home where she would study in the comfort of her own living room, doing her best to ignore Bella and Jacob whispering next to her.
This was all well and good except for the annoying twat who had implemented himself into her day. He seemed to convince himself that it was his civic duty to provide food for her, and continued to appear at the picnic tables behind the gym, fresh bag of chips in hand that he blissfully plonked down onto Leah's table without a glance back.
"Why do you keep giving me these bags of junk food?" Leah asked in exasperation at the end of that first week.
The boy, who had been chomping on a pretzel with unnecessary zest, looked up as if surprised to still find her sitting there. He cocked his head as if she was being particularly confusing. "Why do you keep taking them?"
Leah floundered, narrowing her eyes at him.
He smiled, wiping his dusty hands on his coat before giving her a small wave. "I'm Aaron Lenox, by the way. Dealer of Chex Mix and other treats if you know what I mean."
Leah sighed, then toyed with the idea of snitching to Charlie. It would give her some peace and quiet…
The kid, Aaron, opened his jacket before she could respond, revealing a dozen or so pockets bursting with bags of chips and candy.
Leah stared at him incredulously. "So by treats, you really mean-"
"Every chip brand you can think of! And most of the candies, too."
Leah stared at his ebullient face, his shock of pale blonde curls, the earnest look he was still giving her. She took the unopened bag of Chex Mix in her hands. "I didn't pay for this." And she really didn't want to.
He waved his hand. "Don't worry about those. On the house."
Leah wrinkled her nose. "That is a terrible business model."
"Well, you looked like you needed it, sitting out here in the cold all tensed up," he said matter of factly, just as the bell rang. He grinned, closing his jacket and picking up his laptop and book bag. He turned to leave, turning around to cheerfully add a "Happy Friday!"
Leah stared after him as if he was the oddest creature she'd ever seen.
That weekend marked the first full week of no disappearances, no traces of vampire stench anywhere to be found. The reservation was a flurry of excitement, with even the elders murmuring about storms past.
Sam wasn't satisfied, and ordered another patrol, this time covering the majority of Washington and even stretching out to parts of Oregon, Idaho, and Canada.
Leah was half waiting for him to order them to search the Pacific Ocean while they were at it, only to immediately shut herself up as Sam overheard her thoughts and began turning the idea around in his head.
They combed through every inch surrounding La Push and found absolutely nothing. The pack continued with their security measures, practically walking on eggshells while they waited for the other shoe to drop.
Which is why Leah was in a particularly tense mood when the nuisance that was Aaron Lenox plonked down yet another snack for her that Monday afternoon.
"Don't you have a class to go to or something?"
"She speaks!" Aaron cheered, opening a pack of red licorice and biting down thoughtfully. "Nope, the perks of being a senior. Independent study sessions."
Leah stared down at the bag of Doritos he had given her. "You don't have to keep giving me free stuff, you know. I'm not a charity case."
"I never thought you were," Aaron shrugged. "Think of it more as me getting rid of snacks that are about to expire next week. You're actually doing me a favor in a roundabout way."
Leah didn't answer, instead pointedly turning her sketchpad to a new page.
"Can I at least know your name?" Aaron said.
She sighed. "Leah."
"So, Leah, I could ask you the same thing," Aaron said. "Ditching?"
"Perks of being a senior," she echoed. "I only have two online class this semester and then I'm out."
Aaron steepled his fingers, nodding as if piecing together some grand puzzle. "And you chose to spend your last semester of near freedom camped out in front of rinky dinky Forks High? How odd."
Leah shrugged, returning to her work. "Stranger things have happened."
To her great annoyance, Aaron had not tired the next day, and came with equal enthusiasm as he set down yet another bag. She refused to look up, instead sketching furiously in her notepad.
"What's that you got over there?"
"Stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"I don't mean to be rude," Leah said, voice tight. "But is there something I can help you with?"
"Just chatting," Aaron said brightly, as if he hadn't noticed the scowl on her face. He strolled over to stand in front of her bench, gesturing to the seat. "May I?"
Leah sighed, putting her pencil down and crossing her arms. "If that's what it will take, by all means."
He took the sketchbook with careful hands, holding it as if it were made of glass. "Wow, this is - this is amazing," he said in genuine fascination.
Leah hummed, not allowing him to see the satisfaction of her pleasure at such praise.
"You're not much of a talker are you?"
Leah stared at him. "Maybe you're not as good at conversations as you think."
Aaron grinned, shrugging unrepentantly as he returned the sketchbook and practically inhaled a bag of Sour Patch Kids. "Maybe you're right."
By Wednesday Leah was prepared, and had even cleared the table somewhat in preparation for her afternoon bag of chips. Aaron strolled in right on cue, tossing her a bag of Cheetos.
"You know it's illegal to trespass?" he said casually, popping open his own container of Pringles.
She huffed. "Who says I'm trespassing?"
"Please," Aaron said. "As if you actually go here."
Leah raised a brow. "And who says I don't?"
"I know every student and their grandma. We would have met before now if you did."
"Well maybe I'm just really good at blending in."
"Nah," he said, staring at her defined cheekbones, full lips. "I would have noticed you, definitely."
There was a beat of silence, broken only by the last bell ringing and then the telltale sound of doors being thrown open as the entire student body rushed out for the day.
Leah gathered up her things without looking up. "Thanks for the food," she called over her shoulder, disappearing into the crowd before the boy had a chance to respond.
By the end of the second week, Leah had enough snacks to fill up the entire compartment space in her dad's car. Luckily for her dad, she took clutter very seriously and made sure to consume every morsel of food before she returned the keys back to him.
Even now, the Friday before Valentine's Day, Leah found herself already munching on her second bag of Kit Kats as she made her way to Bella's house.
"You know people are beginning to wonder if you're some sort of drug dealer," Bella said as she got in. "Rumor has it Charlie is losing his touch."
Leah was unfazed. "We can't have another freak accident and besides, you seem to require twenty-four hour supervision."
"Aren't you getting bored just sitting there all day?"
Leah shrugged. "I'm churning these commissions out left and right. A productive day's work and more honest moolah for Leah."
Bella hummed, flipping through the offered sketchpad as Leah put the car in reverse. "You know this is the fourth time Aaron has asked me who you are."
Leah glanced over in mild interest. "He sat himself down the first day I came and has been a bother since. Is he another one of the boys who thought you were a shiny new toy last year?" she had been endlessly amused when Bella retold the fiasco surrounding the girls' choice dance last spring.
"Actually," Bella was suppressing a grin. "He had never spoken to me before he started asking about you."
Leah looked over to see what looked suspiciously like a smirk forming on the girl's face. She rolled her eyes, gunning the engine. "Don't give me that. Not when you and a certain friend have been getting cozy these last couple of weeks. Don't think I haven't noticed."
Jacob and Bella had been particularly close, especially as they seemed to determine to figure out what it was everyone was hiding from them. But even so Leah had caught them on more than one occasion with Jacob's head in her lap as they sat watching a movie.
As expected, Bella flushed to her roots, her whole face turning an impressive shade of pink in a matter of seconds. "We - we're just trying it out. It's nothing, really."
Leah hummed, enjoying the turn of the conversation immensely.
Bella glanced at her from the corner of her eye before fidgeting with the sketchpad in her hands. "You don't mind, do you? I wanted to ask before we made it official or anything. I know he's a close family friend and I didn't want to make things awkward."
"Of course not, I knew it was only a matter of time. Why do you think I gave you so many portraits of the two of you? Boy has hardly taken his eyes off you for the last few months."
"You don't think I'm making a huge mistake? What if I manage to mess it all up?"
"Bella." Leah's voice lost all teasing. "We're teenagers. It's our job to mess things up."
"But I'm so-"
"You're a teenager getting over her first love. Jacob knows this, and is still over the moon about you. It's normal for two people who like each other to go out, Bella. Uh. You do like him, right?" Leah studied her face carefully, searching for just a hint of doubt.
"Of course," Bella said with conviction. "Jake has been amazing after the whole - C-Cullen incident. I was afraid it was just shoving the same feelings onto him but it's different. He makes me feel… warm. All the time. I want to be with him."
Leah nodded at the girl's open face, softened eyes. Good. She had come to care for Bella very much but she had also known Jacob since they were children, and would not stand by if Jacob was to be a rebound. "I think you two will make a good couple, I really do."
A slow, tentative smile stretched across Bella's face. "Yeah?" she said with the tiniest bit of hope in her voice.
Bella walked off to class with a slight bounce in her step, a perhaps hazardous choice for someone as clumsy as her, but endearing all the same. Leah watched her, half expecting the girl to fall over and knock herself out on the fire hydrant.
It wasn't until she safely made it to class that Leah got out and settled down into her usual post outside of each of Bella's classes. There hadn't been so much as a whisper since she started her Forks High patrol, leaving Leah plenty of time to think on this latest development.
The more she thought about it, the more pleased she was. Jacob and Bella had been more than a little obvious with their interest in the other, and had finally gotten together without needing so much as a push in the right direction. It was so normal that Leah couldn't help but be cheered by the idea. This was what they both deserved. A nice, human relationship with no leeches or werewolves or stupid imprints in sight.
Leah was still in a good mood when Aaron showed up, sunny and casual, and felt indulgent enough to answer his small talk with equal energy. When the last bell rang and she got up to leave, he took out a chocolate bear the size of her fist, pushing it towards her with a lopsided grin. "Happy Valentine's Day, Leah."
He left before she could respond, leaving her to dispose of the evidence before Bella and Angela caught up with her.
That night, the happy couple announced it to the raucous cheers and wolf whistles of the guys. Jared and Embry began teasing Jacob mercilessly, shouting in fake surprise that they thought the relationship had started months ago.
Leah looked on happily, allowing herself to believe for just a moment that this was the exciting thing in their lives. That there were no rogue vampires or a wolf gene waiting to be triggered or any weird supernatural strangeness. Just her two friends who stopped dancing around each other at last.
A/N
Splitting February into two parts since we're already at 22 pages and only two weeks in.
There's a bit more pack dynamics in this chapter. I know in canon the hierarchy isn't really discussed, Sam and Jared seemed to be alpha and beta by default, but in this one I decided to explore it a bit more.
Sam is alpha, but as mentioned the position is Jacob's birthright so we'll have that play out later. Leah is meant to be beta but she turned the position down because (like canon Jacob) she didn't want to be part of a pack nevermind its second in command. So, Paul is beta in this fic, mostly because he is the only other wolf closest to Sam's age (Sam is 19 while Paul is 20). While he's technically a year older, Sam was the one to phase first.
Comments / kudos are love! I enjoy hearing your thoughts and love getting that notification email. Also since we're getting more into the meat of the plot I am very curious to hear about any guesses, opinions, etc. What better way to avoid studying for finals than diving deep into the Twilight world, no? Thank you for reading and thanks to those who have already reviewed!
Responses to latest reviews:
meandkc587: Wow, thank you for your kind review! Glad you enjoyed the chapter and the developing characters. Yeah you are 100% right Bella is a liiiittle dependent but the way I see it canon Bella is super dependent and Edward did only break up with her a few months ago. She'll grow out of it eventually especially as she gets more secure within herself and her relationships but yeah Bella's character is a tiny bit clingy with Jacob and Leah atm. Hope you enjoy where I'm heading with this fic!
InesSL: Thank you for reviewing! I hope you enjoy February as there's quite a bit of Leah and actually not so much of Bella, but hopefully both girls will be equally as present in later chapters. Unfortunately Jacob and Bella won't be in the know quite yet, but I'm hoping you'll see why the characters decide to keep it that way in February's chapters. Have a good week as well!
Babaksmiles: Thanks for your review! Yeah I'm having fun writing the bond between Bella and Leah. They both needed some female friends in canon. I also really wanted to hit on Leah's relationship with the other guys too because as you pointed out they all grew up together, how can they just brush her aside like they do in canon? I don't want to give anyway away as to the couples but hoping you like what I do with them!