"You'd better get in gear, Embry!" Leah walked through her kitchen with a load of laundry. "Jake's going to kick your ass if you're late again!"
Embry glanced at the clock and jumped up, overturning the chair he had been sitting on. Setting it up, he hurried out the door, tossing over his shoulder "Thanks, Leah!"
Leah sighed. "I'll finish up the chili. Be safe." She scooped up the newspaper Embry had been reading and shoved it in the recycle bin as the grey wolf streaked past the window. "Den mother," she muttered under her breath.
Jacob was in wolf form, pacing as Embry arrived. "Sorry, Jake. Am I late?"
"No, you just made it. Come on, let's hit the trail. We'll stay together for a while and split up when we get near the border."
"Okay, that makes sense. And Jake - I just wanted to say I'm sorry about the...ummm...the baby."
The larger wolf stumbled, then stopped and stared at his companion. "Embry, what the hell are you talking about? What baby?"
Too late, Embry realized his mistake. He mentally slapped a hand over his mouth as the conversation between Leah and Rachel replayed in his head.
"The...uh…" But Jacob was already headed back the way they had come, his question having been answered against Embry's wishes.
Leah looked up in shock as the screen door was ripped from its hinges. Jacob's shorts were half buttoned and his face was crimson. "Talk to me, Leah!" he thundered.
Leah stood very still. "I will talk to you as soon as you calm down and tell me what's got you so upset," she said calmly. He followed her into the living room, where she sat on the couch and he paced like a hungry lion.
"My sister's baby," he snarled through gritted teeth. "I'm going to kill Paul."
Leah's mind went back to her conversation with Rachel. Embry must have overheard them. "No, Jacob, you're not going to kill anybody. I'm really sorry you found out this way, but I need you to sit down and talk to me. Please." She patted the couch beside her.
He crossed his arms over his chest, and she watched his face crumble. "They killed him, Lee," he whispered. "Why would they do that?" His anger had melted, and it was replaced by something far worse. His sadness was palpable as he blinked back tears. Leah took his hand, pulling him down beside her.
Still holding his hand, she looked up at him. "First of all, the fetus was less than an inch long, no way to tell if it was male or female. You need to put this in perspective, Jake. It was nobody's decision to make except for Rachel." He started to speak, and she touched his lips with her index finger. "Nobody."
"Okay." His voice was thick, but the trembling had abated. "I'm trying here, Leah." He leaned his head on her shoulder and she stroked his face with her free hand.
"Now here's the tough part, Jake. Rachel doesn't have to answer to anyone - not even Paul. But they've made their peace with this, and you will have to do that too."
"I don't see how that can happen, Leah. I mean - a baby!" His fists were still clenched.
"Let's look at it from a different angle, Jake. Rachel is my age - and Paul is yours. I know you guys have had to grow up, big time, in a hurry. But imagine for a minute if I was pregnant with your baby. Right now. Today." She waited a minute for that to sink in.
"What would we do with a baby, Jake? You'd have to drop out of school and I'd have to get a real job. I already have all I can handle with this Alpha gig. Some days we have more than we can handle. It just wouldn't work."
He closed his eyes, and a tear escaped. He wiped at it angrily. "Okay. Maybe we wouldn't be thrilled. But we wouldn't KILL it!"
"Look, Jake, I'm not trying to upset you - but it's my body. My choice." She squeezed his hand. "I honestly don't know what I'd do, but that's not the point. Rachel is your sister and I know you love her more than your life. Don't let her decision come between you two. It wasn't easy for her. Do you see what I'm saying?"
He breathed a huge shuddering sigh. "I do," he said simply. "But Leah - why didn't she tell me?"
Leah sighed dramatically. "Do you really need to ask?"
He nodded, staring at his clenched fists. "Oh. Right."
"Look, Jake, I'm really sorry. That was an awful way for you to find out. I'll have a talk with Embry about boundaries - I honestly thought he came in after that conversation. I didn't hear him in the kitchen, but I guess he heard Rachel and me. You going to be okay?"
He wrapped his arms around her and nodded. "Yeah, I guess, thanks to you." She could feel his warm breath on her lips, and it seemed completely natural when they brushed against hers, gently at first and then more insistently. The kiss deepened as they drank one another in. It had been a long time coming, and it was perfect.
Leah leaned her head against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady. "Mmmm. Nice," she said.
"Just nice?" She knew he was relatively inexperienced and unsure of himself.
"Very nice," she corrected, then looked up at him. "I assume Embry is patrolling all by himself?"
Jacob winced. "Umm...yeah. I guess I should go back."
Leah sighed, then nodded. "I need to call your sister anyway. She's not going to be happy. I probably don't need to say this, but try to keep this under wraps as long as you can. I think Rachel is going to have to tell Billy before he hears it from someone else. I'm not looking forward to this conversation."
He nodded. "I'll see you later. Okay if I stop by after patrol?"
She laughed softly. "You've never needed my permission before."
Leaning down to kiss her quickly, he murmured, "I'm guessing things are a bit different now. I'll fix that door when I get back." Leah simply nodded.
The change in the pack was subtle. It seemed the only person who was actually surprised was Sam, and he was sullen. Everyone else seemed to be having fun, with a bit of good-natured ribbing. Leah kept it within reason, but there was a new respect for her privacy that was probably overdue.
The first time Jared and Embry showed up for breakfast and found Jacob's Rabbit in the driveway, frost on the windows indicating it had been there overnight, they entered by the kitchen door and went about making breakfast with a lot of whispering and clanging of pots and pans.
Embry asked in a stage whisper, knowing keen ears could hear evey word, "Should we make breakfast for them too?"
Quil made a shushing sound. "Keep it down! You're gonna wake Leah! I'm sure Jake is home sleeping in his tiny bed. He just forgot the Rabbit last night."
Embry laughed. "Oh, right."
After several minutes of listening to their clowning, Jacob strode into the kitchen. "Okay, boys, you've had your fun. The next wisecrack will get you an extra patrol."
After that, Alpha and Beta were considered a team and treated as such. It seemed the pack was adaptable. At least most of them were.
One chilly afternoon Leah walked into her kitchen, where the pack tended to congregate, and found Sam sitting alone at the table with a Coke. "Hey, Sam," she said, opening the fridge and grabbing a carton of yogurt. "What's up?"
Leah knew Sam was dating her cousin Emily, and she was actually okay with it. It seemed to make him happy, and Emily was absolutely smitten. Leah wished them well - and she was glad to see Sam's mood lightened. So she was surprised when he motioned her over and said "Can we talk?"
Leaning against the counter, she removed the foil lid and tossed it in the trash. Taking a spoon from the dish drainer, she stirred in the blueberries before looking over at him. "What about?"
"This thing with you and Jacob. You have to know how ridiculous it is."
The only indication that she heard him was a tightening in her jaw. She stared at this man, this guy she had loved, with his full lips and broad shoulders, and felt nothing at all. Well, maybe a little bit of righteous indignation, but certainly no affection.
"My relationship with Jacob is none of your business, Sam. I can't believe I even have to say that. Just as your relationships are none of mine. The only part of you that I care about is your position in my pack. Our personal lives are just that. Personal. Is that clear enough?"
He shook his head. "You don't know what people are saying…"
She cut him off. "I don't CARE what people are saying, and I don't care which people are saying it. This discussion is over, Sam." She took a bite of her yogurt and turned, walking slowly and deliberately into the living room and turning on the TV.