A/N: Happy birthday to my fellow Cappies. This one's for you ;)

"Through drought and famine, natural disasters. My baby has been around for me. Kingdoms have fallen, angels be callin'. None of that could ever make me leave."

-Daniel Caesar, Get You

The Art of Pugilism

'Why do you hate my family so much?'

'What?'

'My family. Why do you hate us so much?'

Leah raised her eyes to the pixie-haired vampire, only slightly annoyed to be interrupted from her nighttime reverie. Alice was it? At least that's what she thought Seth said. A leech named for a girl fallen down the rabbit hole. Maybe even gone round the bend.

'What's there to like? You drag us into your wars, perpetuate massacres, restricted us from our ancestral lands and subject us to one-sided treaties, the terms of which you change at your own convenience.' Leah recalled the relief in Edward's eyes when he'd realized that Jacob had imprinted on his daughter. 'not to mention your creepy fascination with what can only be described as slavery.'

Alice got the distinct feeling the young Quileute wasn't just talking about vampires and werewolves.

'I didn't come here for a history lesson,' she chirped merrily, coloring each of her syllables with naïve sanguinity. Leah decided that she was annoyed, and she watched as the tiny vampire climbed down Esme's beloved maple tree, planting her feet firmly on Carlisle's roof. 'And one's forcing you to assimilate, Miss Clearwater. But it can't be much fun spending so much time alone in the woods, eating raw meat, sleeping on the forest floor like an animal. You might transform into a giant wolf sometimes, but you are still human after all.'

'What do you care?' Leah was trying very hard to be rude, but now that they were on the subject she found herself to be quite curious about the leech's impetus.

'We have more than we need, Leah. Food we won't eat, clothes we don't wear, hot water we don't use. Just take something! It's the very least we can do for you after everything you've done for us.'

'Not forcing me to assimilate, eh?' Leah raised a brow, turning her back on the bloodsucker to watch a breathtaking view of Forks, lit up pretty like a Christmas tree in the distance. She knew the vampire was attempting kindness, but she couldn't think of anything more degrading than accepting charity from a bloodsucker of all creatures. ' No thanks, Oracle. I had my own reasons for following Jake out here. None of them included any of you.'

'Doesn't matter,' Alice forced out, though she'd visibly deflated at the shapeshifter's words, 'at least let Carlisle look at the cuts you got on your last patro-'

'Oh give the dog a break, Alice.' Ultra-bitch Cullen snapped, vaulting stealthily onto the roof and landing much closer to the she-wolf than her sister had.

Even with the foul stench and chilling melon eyes Rosalie was the most immaculate creature Leah had ever seen; it was as though the vampire were doing Vera Wang a favor by permitting the design of crimson silk to grace her cold, rotten skin.

'She's clearly not interested. Take a hint.'

'I'm just trying to extend a little common courtesy.' As Leah watched Alice's eyes misted to a pale gold, and Leah watched in horror as a foreign thought planted itself in the small vampire's head. 'It appears I'll have better luck downstairs with Esme.' Alice said.

And then she was gone.

'Fuckin weird.' Leah muttered.

'Meh, you get used to it,' Rosalie shrugged, holding out a box of cigarettes to her mortal enemy.

The vampire did not seem to realize that the young werewolf had been referring to her entire family, and not simply the clairvoyant, with her last statement. Since Isabella had turned the coven had ceased their false breathing and unnecessary blinking; their stiff lifeless bodies were unsettling to Leah's human at best and horrifying to her spirit wolf at worst.

'No thanks,'

Rosalie rolled her eyes, 'I assure you they don't have herpes,' she insisted.

The she-wolf hesitated, but only for a second. It had been months since she'd smoked. She was ashamed to admit that for a little bit, after finding out about Sam's visits to Emily, she'd indulged in a few self-destructive behaviors. It was her father's sudden death that had nipped that particular habit in the bud. For it wasn't just bad hearts that run in the Clearwater bloodline, but also bad lungs.

Leah grabbed a cigarette, and the vampire's hand contracted quickly when their fingers brushed. 'Neither do I.'

'Oh aren't you a little ray of sunshine,' the Cullen leered, noting the she-wolf's closed posture and cold demeanor. 'Relax mutt, maybe you haven't noticed yet but touching your kind is a bit of an extreme sport for vampires. Your lot might as well be made of hellfire.'

'Holy retribution,' Leah smirked, 'I like it.'

The young wolf's grin faltered as she dug through her short's pockets for a lighter, and then wholly faded after her first inhalation.

'Fuck! FUCK! Fatherfucker!' Leah shouted, pounding a closed fist to the middle of her sternum as she coughed violently. 'Motherfuckingfatherfucker! What did you put in this?'

'Wolfsbane.' The vampire said, watching the she-wolf's moment of suffering with a mischievous grin. It wasn't long until the she-wolf's creative string of obscenities and cold glares had the vampire barking with laughter as she keeled over, hands clutched around her stomach as she fought a bout of uncontrollable chuckles.

'I didn't think it would actually work.' Rosalie said, smiling. 'I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I now owe Emmett a fifty.'

Why would that make me feel better? Leah wondered.

Teary-eyed, the shape-shifter glared at Rosalie, flipping the blond the bird and frowning at the stray thought that it was just the kind of thing Quil Junior would do. Of course then Colin would want to smoke as well, just for the experience, and then Embry would shake his head in disappointment and call them idiots, winking in her direction…

Leah took another drag. The smoke didn't burn so much the second time round.

'So is this what you leeches use your immortality for? Ruining people's lives and playing pranks on shapeshifters? Doesn't sound very appealing…'

'Oh believe me, it's not.'

It was faint, but Leah could hear the melancholy timbre in the vampire's voice as she drawled.

'You probably won't believe me, but I voted no for Bella.'

Leah frowned, confusion clouding her features. 'You what?'

'The change. 'Rosalie explained on an elongated sigh, 'I know the vain little miss assumes that the embellishments of this kind of life are something worthwhile – the money, the beauty, the immortality… But I know better. I did try to stop her. Didn't matter though, in the end. Not even she had the choice. It was all Renesmeé.'

Leah didn't miss the hint of maternal admiration in the Immortal's tone at the mention of Jacob's Imprint and she frowned as the vampire sat, crossing her legs and placing the bulk of her heavy weight on her pale arms.

'I'm not going to insult your intelligence by pretending that I'm sad that things played out how they did. I'm glad my brother got his happily ever after, and I'm glad we get to keep Renesmeé. But I am sorry about what you went through… My brother told me about you and your former alpha's little drama, found it all quite fascinating.'

Leah's sudden growl was murderous, but not wholly unpredictable.

'Mind your business, Cullen.' She spat, glowering at the leech that had come here to her spot, tainting it with the scent of decomposing flowers and putrefying flesh.

'I would, if I wasn't so bored.' Rosalie sighed, staring at the starry sky. 'You can't imagine how slowly time goes for us. Even this conversation is tedious.' She said, staring intently at the young Quileute woman and trying in vain to catch any hint of emotion except rage. 'There are a million things I could be doing right now instead of making small talk with the local riff-raff, but just like you I'm stuck here.'

'I'm not stuck.' Leah said crisply, growing increasingly vexed with the self-centered vampire. An undead vegetarian-bloodsucker. What a joke of a paradox. 'If it makes you feel better we're talking to Sam's Pack tomorrow. Charlie's been around the seed of Chuckie and lived to tell the tale. That should be proof enough to the Tribal Council that your nosy mind-raping coven is no longer a threat to us.'

Leah scoffed, not quite believing the words herself. She missed the way Rosalie had flinched at her choice of words. It had been a hundred years since Roy and his associates had happened, but the memory had never really stopped upsetting the vampire. Maybe it never would.

Forcing the memories away, Rosalie noted the young wolf's tensed shoulder blades and furious scowl, the blurring skin and Leah's erratic heartbeat. 'You should calm down,' she said.

'Leave me the fuck alone,' the animal snarled.

'I will as soon as you calm down.' Rosalie replied evenly, wondering what on earth one was supposed to give a werewolf on the fringes of a rabid transformation. Water, perhaps?

'Do you know what was the worst part of this bullshit?' Leah snapped, glaring daggers at her mortal enemy. 'No, you don't, but you think you do, don't you?' she raked a hand through her hair, her copper skin still distorting round the edges. 'I hate that people look at me and instantly think to bring up Samuel.

'I didn't exist for him, and he wasn't the worst part of this. Watching my dad die ripped my family apart, broke my mother's heart. And that fourteen-year-old boy currently running a protective circle on the perimeter on your coven's house? He's had to kill someone, because darling Isabella is a fucking magnet for supernatural disaster. I lost my two best friends in the world, to each other. That was the worst part. Watching everyone I love get roped into this bullshit excuse for a life was the worst part. I'm supposed to be in college, top of my class, and so is Sam. Emily's supposed to be seeing the world. My brother's supposed to be enjoying his teen years, holding a girl's hand without the fear that he'll accidentally slash up her face when he gets angry – or be forced to break her heart because of an unwanted Imprint. And Jacob… Jacob's supposed to get someone that actually deserves him, not another selfish paleface who'll do nothing but use him.'

Leah exhaled heavily, letting the last of her anger seep out of her, 'I wanted to make my father proud, to go see parts of the world he never got the opportunities to see and not come back to the People until I had something of value to give back to them. That's all gone now.' It took a few more deep breathes before the shaking stopped entirely.

'Better?' Rosalie eventually asked.

Leah ignored the desire to growl, proud of herself for getting through all of that without losing control with the scent of a vampire so close. 'Yes.' She said.

'Good.' Rosalie grinned mischievously, lighting her own cigarette. 'I can tell you needed to get that off your chest.'

Leah laughed then, really laughed, at herself and at the absurdity of her own life story. She took another cigarette from the vampire, noting that she'd have to share this fresh discovery about Wolfsbane with the other shapeshifters once she got back home.

'I get it,' Rosalie said eventually, 'I mean maybe I don't because I didn't go through it personally, but maybe I do, a little, because you've explained some of it to me. But… what now?'

Leah blinked, 'What do you mean?'

The vampire released a quick puff of grey smoke into the autumn air, regarding the she-wolf with newfound curiosity and interest. Leah noticed then that the immortal's thick blond curls didn't move in the wind like a human's would.

'You don't win every fight with your fists. Sometimes you've just gotta roll with the punches. Welcome to life sweetheart; it sucks. But from what I can tell the worst is over for you. Jacob and your brother are quite capable of taking care of themselves, and my family are just dying to find a way to thank you for what you've done, not to mention Carlisle's has billions to his name and about five hundred years of practice writing recommendation letters. So if its college you want, or travels, or love… then what's stopping you now?'

'I already told you-'

'Excuses.' Rosalie interrupted. 'Look. Take it from someone's who's been around a long time buttercup; it's all gonna be gone in the blink of an eye. Wolf or not, Imprint or not, your best years haven't even started yet. So stop standing around on people's roofs and waiting for bad things to happen. Go do something about it.'

The vampire stood, tossing what was left of her cigarette over the ledge of the roof and brushing off the ash from her designer jeans. 'Oh and for the love of God, take up some meditation.'

'Think they'll say yes?'

Leah didn't miss the hint of nervousness in Jacob's voice as she climbed over a giant root, instinctively following her Alpha's exact footsteps as he trailed the path towards Quileute lands. So much had changed in the week the three shapeshifters had spent away from their homelands; the smell of death and decay clung to the air, and Autumn had fallen over Washington.

'No idea.' Leah shrugged. 'But at least they'll be forced to leave Renesmeé alone now.'

It was the right thing to say. Suddenly, all trepidation was gone from Jacob's face, replaced by a look of longing so intense the she-wolf couldn't help but think of hazel eyes and soft, burning skin. Leah pushed the reckless thoughts away, ignoring her homesickness and yearning as she followed her Alpha through the paling, windy forest. She used her arms to push away the stray branches that constricted her view, noting the way the scent of werewolves had strengthened tenfold.

Jacob searched her face when he felt her longing, 'When did that happen?'

'When did what happen?'

'You know what.' the young Alpha grinned knowingly. 'You and him...'

She glowered him, not at all impressed with the intimation in his tone. She'd long since realized that she couldn't school her features carefully enough when discussing that particular topic of conversation, so she preferred to not talk about it at all. 'Stay out of my head, Jake.'

'I'm not in your head,' the young wolf cooed, laying a corny hand on his chest, 'I'm in your heart.'

'Urg,' The she-wolf laughed, scanning the thicket of woods again. She rather enjoyed her new friendship with Jacob Ephraim Black, even if he was a consistently annoying pain in her ass. They drew closer to the other pack's territory, too close for either of them to consider continuing the conversation.

Leah noted with some amazement how edgy her wolf felt just approaching their land in human form. Though she had spent the better part of her year fighting alongside Sam Uley's wolves, the last week had tied her to her new pack in a way she hadn't foreseen, and for the first time since phasing she felt like she belonged somewhere, like she was important and necessary to her people. And to her Alpha. It was a strangely fulfilling feelings. Almost like she had been born for it. Somehow Jacob and Seth had become her family, and Sam and his men had become the dangerous other. The aliens. The threats.

The scent of wolf, sun and cedar grew stronger as they neared the fringes of the Quileute border, and Leah's hairs rose as she and her Alpha approached the invisible boundary that separated Cullen land from Quileute territory. Instinctively, the she-wolf double-checked the forest for possible exits, mentally preparing herself for quick action should her Alpha be blind-sighted with an oncoming attack.

So much had changed these last few days.

Sam and Jared were standing almost side by side on the other side of the clearing, watching her and Jacob approach with hard, cautious gazes while Paul stayed in wolf form a little bit behind them, partially hidden by the forest.

'Jacob.' Leah warned, hating the vulnerability of facing them human with an enemy wolf present.

'Stay human.' He ordered quietly, 'We are not a threat to them. They need to see that.'

Hearing Jacob's words the dark brown wolf barked viciously, and Leah rolled her eyes. She could almost hear Paul's exact cursing and protestations in the way he growled, and judging by the cold looks in Sam and Jared's eyes, she knew their thoughts weren't too far from their Third's either.

'Sam.' Jacob said by way of greeting.

'Jacob.'

The two Seconds briefly acknowledged one other with customary nods before turning their attention back to their leaders, and it was impossible to ignore how brutally hostile and competitive the air between the two Alphas had become.

'You have something to say.'

'Yes.' Jacob responded to Sam's half-question in an equally detached manner. 'Yes, I do.'

Gone was the nervous boy from ten minutes ago, or even the defiantly sunny rebel who had run off into the woods to save the life of the girl that he loved. Somehow, Jacob had become a fierce (albeit reluctant) leader hell-bent on defying all traditional expectations to protect his new family. Not only was he here to protect his mate, but he was eager to prove his worth as the Alpha Leah and Seth had trusted enough to follow into the unknown. He wanted to be deserving of their loyalty, faith and respect.

'I'm not here to start a fight-

'Too late for that.' Sam interrupted, 'Don't you see what you've done Jacob? You've torn our family apart. All for an unrequited love.' '

'You didn't give me much of a choice, Sam.' Jacob interrupted quickly. 'What was I supposed to do? Be glad you wanted to murder my best friend in cold blood? That was every kind of fucked up.' His fists were shaking at the memory of that night, and Leah could feel how hard Jacob was working to keep his wolf from bristling at the challenge it detected in the other man. 'But let bygones be Sam. Call of your men. Bella gave birth to her baby girl four days ago. Renesmeé Cullen is now a part of my pack.'

Leah saw it the exact moment Jacob's unspoken implication settled. He hadn't needed to need to tell them that he'd Imprinted; it was clear as day in his voice, in the way he said the little spawn's name.

Outraged, Paul growled. Sam stepped forward, his eyes filled with incredulity. 'What?'

'She's mine.' Jacob clarified with a snarl, 'Mine. And if a single one of you touches her, I will rip you all limb from limb, are we clear?'

Leah would have cracked a small smile at the horrified expressions on their faces if the urge to cringe at Jacob's possessive choice of words wasn't so strong. Jacob's imprint was weird, far weirder than Quil's had ever been, and listening to her Alpha ramble on about little halfling was every kind of creepy. But Leah pushed her personal feelings aside as she stared the other wolves down, her face as harsh and unyielding as Jacob's unspoken threat.

Sam glanced from one to the other, horror exaggerated in his features. 'Does it… she… drink blood?' he grimaced at the words.

'She's been around Charlie.' Jacob evaded, 'she can control herself just fine around humans.'

'You didn't answer my question,' Sam said, turning to Leah instead. His dark eyes were beseeching, trusting; and she knew that he would believe her more than he would ever trust in Jacob. 'Is this true?'

'Jacob has no reason to lie to you.' she returned coolly.

'And you stand for this?'

It didn't make you love me. It only inspired unconditional devotion…

Leah narrowed her eyes when she heard the judgement in his voice. She didn't have much patience for her former Alpha's opinions, not since her last vision. The truth was finally out, and Kaheleha's stories had exposed that he and Emily's protestations - that they hadn't had a choice about the Imprint- as lies and deceptions. They were liars, both of them. And she was done with them.

'This is about my Imprint, Sam.' Jacob said sternly, stepping between the other Alpha and his Second. 'So speak to me about it.'

Sam clenched his jaw as he turned back to Jacob. His eyes had become colder. Harder. 'I take it you'll be staying on Cullen land?'

'My pack is Quileute. My wolves have a parent, school and lives on Quileute land. You will not keep them from their mother, and you won't keep me from my father either. They're all we've got. '

It was Jared that snarled this time, 'You don't get to just come back to our lands and start ordering us around, traitor. You left us to protect them. We don't want you here. You're a coward, and a disgrace.'

Jacob's snarl was sudden and aggressive, tinged with the natural power of his wolf. Every wolf but Leah flinched at the sound. She knew that growl well, it protected her.

Sam stepped forward, his hands outstretched in a placating gesture. 'I will speak to the council,' he said slowly, no doubt still unsure about what was going to happen now that there were two packs and not one. ''I will tell them about these... new developments and then let you know what they have to say about it. But If they agree you will not be allowed to phase on our lands, Jacob. I mean it. And Leah and Seth will return to my pack.'

'No.'

Four faces turned to the young woman this time.

'No Sam.' She said sternly. 'Seth and I have made our choices. Our place is with Jake. We choose Jake.'

Sam flinched at her words, swallowing slowly before he gave her a long, piercing look. 'The separation is not good for the wolves.'

'Fuck that.' She replied oh so eloquently, ignoring the unwanted emotions that had come up at the implication in his words. 'We'll acclimate. Jacob's said his piece. Renesmeé is his mate, which means that whatever happened in the past, by our most sacred laws you have no right to touch her or to keep us off of our own lands. My brother and I are happy where we are. It's where we belong. You need to respect that.'

Leah didn't miss the proud glint in Jacob's eyes before his face became a stoic mask again. 'We'll wait for your signal.' The young Alpha said, turning away from the other pack and nodding for Leah to do the same. There was no bad blood between him and Sam, Jacob was very forgiving that way, but Leah was pack now, Sam wasn't. The other man would have to understand. 'You'll let us know what the Tribal council has to say.'

Ten minutes later the scent of wolf had abated and the sounds of the forest had begun to grow thick again. Jacob turned to his Second. 'Not bad harpy. All of that and not once did you look like you were gonna phase.'

'Been practicing with Barbie leech.' Leah returned with a self-satisfied grin. 'Who knew vampires made good practice for anger management?... Oh, and Jake?'

'Yeah?'

'Not bad yourself, Fearless One.' she grinned.

The small gym had seen better days.

While a short wall of fame bore the names, photographs and titles of the few boxing champions to come out of Washington State, the sports center was worse for wear and almost empty.

Leah hesitated at the door. But for the dark-skinned man quietly sucking on a toothpick at the front desk she might have thought she was at the wrong place and headed back to the reservation. The wolf she was looking for could be playful and spontaneous, cocky and even devilish - but she never would have considered him the type to frequent a place as hardcore and grimy as this.

Briefly, the she-wolf considered returning to Billy Black's place to help Seth and Jacob with their month's work of homework. Jacob was a senior now, badly in need of a tutor after missing so many of his classes, and Seth had failed almost all of subjects since Harry had died. Her teen pack members were badly in need of some instruction, and since she had nothing but time on her hands as she waited for word from the colleges she'd applied to, she had decided she'd be the one to help them.

But first things first.

Jacob had told her to get this awkward conversation off of her to-do-list pronto. It was no good to have an Alpha's Second and new Third avoiding one another and terrified of initiating conversation. Embry had joined Jacob's pack the very day the Tribal Council had allowed the displaced wolves back on La Push lands, but the two lovebirds had been going out of their way to avoid spending any time together, both afraid of what the other might say.

Leah ignored her reservations, making her way past the few men and women training at the various boxing stations as she shot straight towards the boxing ring at the very back of the gymnasium. She knew the exact moment he caught her scent, noting the sudden tension that coiled in his shoulders and the way his hazel eyes searched across the room to find hers. His eyes were full of concern, and she exhaled in relief when she realized that there was not a hint of anger or betrayal in his face.

'Call.'

'Clearwater.'

Vaguely, Leah noticed the instinctive distance the humans in the room kept from him as she climbed up the ring. She ducked under the rope before stepping forward, offering the wolf a cautious smile and trying not to stare. For once he was fully dressed, draped in a loose black tank and matching boxing shorts. But somehow, he looked even sexier that way. Like something to unwrap slowly.

'Need a sparring partner?'

'Not sure you'd be able to keep up with me.' Embry smirked, that familiar shit-eating grin of his gracing his open face.

And just like that Leah's nerves dissipated.

The she-wolf untied her boxing gloves from around her neck, shoved her fists roughly into them as she prepared herself to do damage with him. Embry regarded her carefully, watching as she set her fists carefully in front of her face, protecting herself against oncoming attacks just like her father had always showed her. Harry had insisted that his darling girl be able to protect herself. And more than that, he'd encouraged her to throw the first punch if a boy didn't treat her with respect.

'Not bad, Lee.' Embry nodded slowly, circling her like prey before adding a jovial bounce to his steps. His small smile grew into a teasing grin as he threaded a long leg between both of hers, parting her feet into the proper stance and using the opportunity to press a quick kiss to the back of her neck, 'Your stance needs some work, but otherwise, you're pretty perfect.'

Leah rolled her eyes, 'I didn't come here to flirt with you, Ali.'

'Pity,' he sighed, biting his lower lip in that endearing way of his, 'Because I like it when you flirt with me, Mayweather. You get all red in the ears and it reminds me how much you like me.'

'Shut. Up.'

'I would but then you'll stop blushing.'

Leah shot the wolf a quick jab, grumbling when she missed his jaw by a couple of millimeters. 'Just warming up.' She warned. 'Keep taking shit and I won't miss,'

'Such violence.' Embry declared with a devilish smile. He shot her one to the shoulder, and Leah took three steps hard back at the hard impact. She growled when she realized what he'd done and was just about to tell him off, but then a deep voice cut into their conversation.

'Come on Call, play nice. She's a girl.'

Leah turned her infamous icy glare on the man who'd spoken up, recognizing him as the gym owned who'd pointed her in Embry's direction when she'd arrived, Miles. The watchful man pulled the toothpick out of his mouth as he leaned against a nearby wall, regarding the two wolves with a sly grin.

'Wouldn't want him hurting you too badly now, would we miss?' Miles said.

Leah offered him a saccharine smile before turning back to her partner, taking three swift steps in his direction and landing a hefty uppercut on Embry's chin.

It split his lip.

'Motherfucker!' Embry shouted in exasperation, shooting an accusatory glare at the older man as if Miles had hit him, and not Leah.

'Well damn, excuse me!' Miles exclaimed, breaking off into a startled but hearty laugh. 'Emb, why ain't you tell me your girl's got a mean right hook?'

'Didn't want you giving her any ideas,' Embry muttered, throwing two subsequent punches Leah's way. She ducked them both without even breaking a sweat.

'Quick too.'

'Thank you, Miles.' Embry drawled loudly in irritation. 'Thank you.'

Leah grinned, 'If it's any consolation I won't whoop your ass too badly, skinny legs.'

Embry narrowed his eyes at her, 'Oh it's on now, Clearwater.' He threatened. 'It's on now...'

'Ooh, so scared. '

'Careful, missy.' Miles cut in again, 'might be sweet on you, but that one's mean as a dog when he gets mad. Wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you.'

'He doesn't scare-'

Leah just barely blocked a swift cross that would have hit her in the eye. It didn't help that Embry was much taller than her either. 'Unfair height advantage.' she grumbled.

'Is that the excuse you're gonna go with when you lose, Clearwater?'

The she-wolf threw a few more punches which her partner ducked and blocked easily, and it wasn't long until she understood where that effortless grace she'd always associated with his wolf had come from. She's always thought that he was graceful because his wolf was graceful. She'd never imagined that that the wolf was graceful because of the man.

'You're a natural, Em.' she said, surprised. It solicited a bashful beam from the other wolf. 'How long have you been boxing?'

'Quil's dad taught us the year I turned ten. He loved this place, came here every Saturday to trade punches with Miles over there.' Embry nodded towards the grinning older man before he threw her another punch, this one landed on Leah's upper arm. 'Quil didn't have the stomach for it. When Mr. Ateara got sick... Miles started training me. We... bonded over it.'

'You ever gone professional?'

'Amateur for a bit.' Embry said as he skipped forward, challenging her footwork. 'But I always preferred biking.'

Leah nodded briefly, remembering that Quil's dad had practically raised Embry alongside his own son before dying of cancer a little over six years ago. Slightly distracted by the thought, she almost got hit in the face by another punch. That one would have broken her jaw.

'You okay?' Embry taunted, himself to his full height and looking down at her smaller form. 'Looking a little overwhelmed by my prowess down there.'

Oh bugger off, 'Leah grinned, wishing for all the word she could show him her middle finger. 'You know, I am a protector too. I like a good fight just as much as you do. So don't tempt me.'

Leah swung for his throat, missing by just a few centimeters. Annoyed by her move and impatient for the finish, Embry swung out his leg in an illegal maneuver, grinning as she tumbled with a yelp towards the floor. But he hadn't accounted for her quick reflexes, and with a shout of his own Embry found himself being dragged down by the wrist with her.

'Foul!' Leah yelled, rolling onto him. She used her strength to keep him down, her knee and sneaker pressed down on his wrists and her palms mushing his cheek to the board.

'Fucking immature,' Embry complained with a hearty laugh as he fought for his freedom, trying in vain to get out of her grip. 'If I wasn't so turned on I'd shoot you the bird.'

'You cheated!'

'Don't be a sore loser, Leah.' he chuckled still, finally rolling her and using his strength to keep her trapped underneath him. He had less patience for this game than she did, and his lips pressed against her jaw swiftly before trailing down to her neck and collar, drawing soft moans from her as he enticed and teased. His gloved hands moved gently against the exposed skin on her side, cool against her heat, and Leah sighed as his comforting scent and heat enveloped her, welcoming her back home in a way nothing else did. 'Just admit your well-earned defeat.' he whispered into her ear.

'Oh fuck you!' Leah snorted, trying (weakly) to fight him again.

'Gladly.' He grinned before pressing his mouth to hers in a burning claim, collecting the sounds of her desire and delight until his own body was filled with them. 'I fucking missed you,' he said happily between desperate kisses. 'Fucking missed you.'

'Oh shit Embry, Miles!' Leah finally remembered, pulling away. A quick glance and she saw that the older man had disappeared. 'Oops.'

'He'll get over it.' Embry shrugged, enjoying the flush in her cheeks and committing every detail of her face to his memory. He remembered then that he was the one who got to see her like this, sweaty, furious, happy, and loving. 'I think I like you when you're all fired up like this...' he said, 'And I think Mike likes you too. How the hell did you do it? That man hates everything that breathes.'

'I punched you in the face.'

'Mm.' he nodded, 'Yeah, that'll do it.'

A small hush fell over them, and Leah knew what she had to say. The guilt she felt might have crushed her, if not for the warmth and understanding she saw in his face. 'Are you... are you angry with me? Because I left?'

He considered her words for a moment. 'No. I understand why you left. I just... wish you'd told me first.'

'I didn't think you'd let me go.' she admitted quietly, 'I thought you might try to make me stay, or that you'd want to leave with me. And then... no, this was something that I needed to do. On my own.'

He nodded, 'You don't have to explain to me Leah, I promise I understand.' Embry brushed away the stray raven hairs from her face with his boxing gloves, his darkened eyes searching her face. 'And you're right, I wouldn't have let you go. Only fools let go of good things once they've found them. But next time I'd like the option too. Don't make decisions for me Lee, and I'll do the same for you.'

'Agreed,' Leah promised, before kissing him again. When the guarded look of concern didn't leave his face she frowned. 'What is it?'

Embry shook his head.

'Tell me.'

Embry grinned at her again, but she could sense his hesitation. 'It's just… it physically hurt when you left. It hurt. Is that... normal?'

Leah didn't answer immediately. She didn't want to tell him that she'd been wondering over the intensity of their relationship herself this past week. In such little time they'd gone from curious kisses to overwhelming need to burning desire and claims and thinking of each other as mates. She wanted to blame it on the possessive nature of their inner animals, but her woman felt it too. She had a nagging feeling her overwhelming desire to be with Embry had something to do with her dreams and visions of the past.

'Nothing's normal.' she shrugged. 'I mean we are animals. Maybe we're in heat or something.'

'Heat?' Embry asked, grinning again. 'Don't repeat that around Quil.'

'Agreed,' Leah chuckled, 'He's not joining the pack too, is he? Because having to deal with one Imprinted wolf is more than enough. I don't think I can handle tw-'

The interruption of Embry's lips was welcomed. This kiss lingered and seduced, and she knew her wolf was lost in her scent, in the feel of her skin, because she was lost in the feel of him too. It was long and messy and too intense to be considered appropriate for a public setting.

'Enough! Enough!' Miles grumbled, banging his hand against the board of the ring and breaking the spell that had come upon them. 'Get a fucking motel room dammit! No hanky-panky in my gym.'

Quickly, Embry freed one of his hands from its glove and shot the older man the bird.

'Embry!' Leah gasped, pulling away his hand and offering the older man an apologetic look. 'Don't be rude.'

'He'll get over it.' The wolf grinned as he turned back to her, 'Look away Miles; I'm about to kiss my girlfriend senseless.' he said.

And then he did.