A/N: AU and Slightly OOC. Set post Breaking Dawn 2. I hope you like it, and thank you for reading!

Chapter 2-

He knew.

She knew that he knew.

She could see that in his eyes as he sat on the white sofa in the Cullen house, a tight frown on his face as he wordlessly stared at her.

Staring.

Simply staring.

No acknowledgement, or reaction visible in his eyes.

Be it happy or sad.

Nope.

Nothing that could give Leah the faintest hint of what was on his mind.

Why did she care though, she had not a clue?

She wanted nothing to do with him; his expressions or lack of them of no interest to her.

Yet, it was unnerving the way his eyes bore holes into her, assessing her, checking her worth, and whether her imprinting on him was a reason to celebrate, or not.

How dare he?

Who was he to assess her worth?

She was educated and cultured, a woman of modern times, and he- he was…he was nothing in comparison to her. He was raised in a jungle by a vampire!

What did he know of how to behave in modern society?

His clothing, rather definite lack of it, and his weird hairdo a proof of that.

Now, Leah wasn't generally this opinionated or judgmental, but something about him just brought out the bitchy and rude side in her.

Even more bitchy and rude than she generally was, she would agree.

She was pretty sure it was the fact that he was still fucking staring at her.

It was rude. Hadn't anyone taught him any fucking manners?

Oh, of course, what could you even expect from a damn leech?

"Now, Leah," Head bloodsucker unnecessarily coughed- his cough so darn fake, it made Leah want to strangle that creepily white neck of his. "Why don't we all sit down and…"

"I am sorry, did you not hear that this was personal business?"

Seriously! Why the fuck was his entire coven in here? Not just that there were even five-six other random vampires waiting to see the show, and her entire pack a spectator to her personal life; the only thing missing being a huge tub of popcorn to share.

She was almost expecting the suggestion to telecast this conversation on prime-time news!

"Leah!"

What the hell, Seth?

What wrong had she even said?

"I agree with her." Half leech- half human commented, refusing to look anywhere but at her. "We would like to talk in private. If that is okay."

Apparently, his word held more value than hers, the room quickly clearing out, just the two of them and his weird breathing left behind.

'Look.'

'I want nothing to do with you.'

"Look, I am not any happy about this." He began to speak before she could, stealing the words right out of her mouth, his pronunciation slightly off, but understandable. "I don't understand this imprinting or whatever it is. I would rather not…"

"Fine by me." she rudely cut him off, wanting to have the last word. "I want nothing to do with you, as well. This was not by choice, just so you know. If I could control it…"

"But you cannot."

She harshly nodded her head in agreement.

She wished she could control it.

He would probably be the last person she would have imprinted on.

If she would have even chosen to imprint, that is.

"It is nothing personal." He continued. "Carlisle and your pack leader explained to me all there was to understand. It is just…I don't want a mate. I am not seeking for one."

"Exactly my sentiment." She frowned in assumed victory. "I am looking for a way out of this. I plan to break the imprint, and now that you too wish for the same…"

"Actually," he sheepishly smiled, "I had an offer for you."

"What offer?" she skeptically raised an eyebrow at him.

"We don't break this imprint, and you come with me back to my home. In South America."

"What? No!"

Was he fucking insane?

Why would she do that?

Why would he want that?

Didn't he want nothing to do with her?

Reciprocating her very statement?

"Hear me out," he let out a sigh of utter frustration. "Please."

"Continue." She reluctantly obliged.

"Thank you." he quipped; his tone thick with sarcasm.

Huh. Even jungle men now knew how to use sarcasm?

Strange.

"What I am trying to say is," he paused, visibly apprehensive to mutter the words out.

How bad could it even be?

Leah was forced to give that question a deeper thought.

"My aunt is desperate to see me with a mate. She believes that my life is incomplete without the presence of one. I tried to explain it to her that I was not searching for one, that I would rather not be saddled with one when I was not ready for it, but she refuses to understand. She has almost fixed my marriage with that little child. Of course, once she grows up."

Did he mean creepy-esme?

Was Jacob aware of this?

"Her father agrees that this would be for the best; no one would understand her like I would."

Damn. Edward was such a traitor.

Outwardly, he was so supportive of Jacob being his future son-in-law. Sure, he bitched to hell and high but it was an assumed fact that he had accepted the decision of fate.

Who knew what was on the mind-reader's mind?

Then again, what can one even expect from a bloodsucker?

Certainly not loyalty.

They shouldn't be the walking dead; they should simply be dead!

"I don't agree with their decision." he continued. "Being of the same specie is no reason to be saddled for an eternity. Had they agreed on letting nature do its job, or of letting us spend time with one another once she was of age…it would have been a different thing. But fixing our betrothal in this manner….it is uncalled for. And unfair to the both of us. How can I trust that she would be likeable to me, or even a person worthy of spending my eternity with?"

The thought of Nahuel being betrothed to that weird-ass-esme, or even spoken for, made Leah frown in unfamiliar fury, but she ignored it.

She wanted nothing to do with him. Remember?

"What do you want from me?" she was forced to ask the question out loud, her thoughts a confused mess. "Why ask me to accompany you to your home?"

What would he even achieve from doing that?

"To get my aunt off my back." He simply stated. "If I am married, she will no longer force me to find a mate. She will be happy in her life, and I will be happy in mine. I can't disappoint her, but this is not something I am keen on doing."

"Wait." her eyes were as wide as saucers. "You want me to MARRY you?!"

If this wasn't the worst proposal in the history of proposals, Leah would truly be surprised!

"Just for name." he nonchalantly continued, his expression telling her that this 'agreement' wasn't a big deal for him. "You would have your own space to build whatever you prefer, while I continue living in my shack. You wouldn't have to even see me. Honestly, I would prefer if we co-habitat like strangers."

"Wow."

It would be an understatement to claim that Leah was taken-aback by his words.

"What would I get in return?"

She could understand his reasons for pushing forward this proposal, but what was she to gain from agreeing to this.

He smiled, taking his sweet time to answer that question. "You will get your freedom. While informing me about the imprint, I was also made aware of your past. Of course, I am aware that you should have been the one to mention it to me- it being your decision,"

Obviously!

Stupid Jacob!

"Anyhow, agreeing to my proposal will offer you your freedom. You will get an escape from your past, and were you to decide to quit phasing, it would be your decision completely. Nobody to tell you otherwise."

As escape…how long had she prayed for one….

"You could live your life your way, and if after moving to South America, you decide to relocate elsewhere, nobody would be any wiser. No pack or tribal duties pulling you back. You gain your freedom once and for all."

Okay.

He had played smart; she had to agree to that.

He had waved a carrot in front of a hungry rabbit!

"Won't your aunt find out? I believe she lives with you?"

"Not after I am married." He smiled. "She will wish to give us our space, choosing to travel the world as a nomad for a few centuries. And once a few centuries have passed and your pack is dead, you really think it matters?"

It won't.

That was his very point.

"Okay." She let out a sigh.

Was she really considering this?

She would be married to him!

It would be only in name; she had to continuously remind herself of this.

"But you will not touch me. Not even accidently. And you will never acknowledge me as your wife."

"Accepted." He smiled. "In return, you will tell not a soul of our agreement."

"Accepted." She nodded her head in response. "Lastly, you will chop your braid and wear some damn clothes."