Leah spent the rest of her day cleaning and tending to babies. Angela arrived with Ethan before noon and announced that Rachel was in labor. The early morning commotion had her worked up all day. Paul had to rush her to the hospital when he got home from dealing with the police and called Angie to open the bar for him. Since Jacob now wanted an eye kept on Quil, Jacob took Old Quil lunch himself before heading to the hospital to keep Paul calm.

Carlisle paid what he claimed was a surprise visit, though Leah suspected either Rose or Jacob had called him. He took a blood sample from Leah to confirm her pregnancy, prescribed her prenatal vitamins, and swore her off her many vices. She would have to wean herself off coffee, admitting it was a daily habit. He was sworn to secrecy like the rest, chuckling all the while.

Quil and Leah went to his house to clean at the end of his shift. When they returned, Bella patiently fed Sarah supper while waiting for everyone to get home. Quil left the room to shower, and Leah sat down at the table with Bella. Her sister appeared exhausted, no doubt from starting her day early on top of the other emotional events throughout.

Leah asked, "Are you okay, Bells?"

Bella scoffed and said, "Are you? You've had a long day."

Leah said, "I honestly don't know. I think I switched to autopilot at some point this morning."

Bella grumbled, "I can't say that I blame you for that." She chuckled as Sarah grunted impatiently for another bite.

Leah grinned at her niece and asked, "Any news about Rachel?"

Bella said, "Jacob called about twenty minutes ago. The babies are here and stable, but it's still too soon. They will be in the hospital for a little while."

Leah admitted, "I feel sort of terrible."

Bella said, "You didn't do anything, Leah. The whole day snowballed, starting with Rachel's mouth."

Leah said, "It turned out to be a good thing in a way, I suppose The guys finding Chelsea was awful, but without Rachel speaking up, they wouldn't have been searching this morning."

"That's true, I guess." Bella sighed and said, "Well, shit. Guess I will have to apologize to her later. I was pretty mad this morning."

Leah chuckled and said, "I know. I heard some of it."

Bella sighed and said, "At least seeing his new babies will be a better memory for Paul to think of tonight, rather than a dead body." Bella shuddered at the thought, and Sarah laughed. Bella turned to Sarah and said, "Do you think that's funny?" She pretended to do it again, and Sarah cackled happily. Bella glanced at Leah and said, "Rachel really did hope you two would have a nice conversation this morning. She wants to make peace with you and says it always blows up in her face somehow."

Leah said, "I just don't trust her. She's my cousin, and I should be able to. When she and Rebecca abandoned Jake … It sucked seeing him like that."

Bella said, "Rachel says she is trying to make up for abandoning them like that."

Sarcastically, Leah said, "I'm not sure how chasing Billy from his home is making amends, but if she says so … I mean, Jacob was twelve, Bella. He had already taken care of Billy for at least two years before Rachel and Rebecca moved out. Jacob was devastated. It was like watching him lose his mom all over again. It's hard to forget it."

"You must have hated me," Bella said. "I stayed away for so long. And then the whole Edward … thing."

Leah laughed and said, "You know, I did. But, you came to your senses, and so did I. Jake was lost, Bells. I know you think he saved you from yourself, but you saved him, too. He got better after you came home. I have not had the opportunity to really see that Rachel has changed, though. She is just louder now and throws shit at Paul instead of Rebecca."

Bella said, "You don't usually say much about her."

Leah chuckled and said, "Well, I really don't have much to say about her. I don't usually wake up to her chatter, either. She really is Paul with tits."

Bella laughed and began cleaning Sarah up. She said, "Looks like Billy will move in by Christmas. The only thing that seems to make him nervous about living here is having vampires walking into our house all willy-nilly. So he says, anyway. I personally believe Alice and Esme will have him wrapped around their fingers before he knows what hit him. He has already warmed up to Rose a little, and Emmett makes him laugh. He likes Carlisle, though."

Leah sighed as she pointed towards the rear property and said, "I wonder if I can just order a double-wide and set it up back there."

Bella scowled and asked, "Why, when you can build?"

Leah said, "There is nothing wrong with living in a trailer."

Bella was instantly irritated by the comment and rattled out, "Don't say it like that. You know I don't mean to be offensive, Leah. Do you know how fast the value depreciates with a modular home? Not to mention the waste created when they are eventually torn down? We live near a Tsunami zone. What if there was a flood? You could float the fuck away."

Leah rolled her eyes and cackled, choosing to ignore the fact that Bella had just fully channeled Esme Cullen. If she cussed like the rest of us foul-mouths.

Leah grumbled, "I don't want to be another person in the way around here, Bells."

"You are in no one's way," Bella said firmly. "Besides, none of us want you living alone until this vamp is caught. Now, more than ever. Even if you and Quil really need your own radio." Bella winked at Leah playfully.

Leah grinned and shrugged. What was she supposed to do? Be sorry for a good time?

Bella said, "Seriously, though, I would rather have you where I know you're safe and one of the pack is always nearby. I missed you."

Tentatively, Leah said, "I missed you, too. What if he kills someone else, Bella?"

Bella said, "I'm concerned he'll try to kill you. Again."

Oh, God. If the Leech finds out I'm pregnant … if it's Hodie's?

As if reading her mind, Bella whispered, "We need to be careful about who knows."

A sharp pain burned across Leah's forehead, and she squeezed her eyes shut. The sensation of dread washed over her, and Leah sat up straight in alarm.

Bella's voice raised in concern as she asked, "Are you alright?"

Leah sprung from her chair and walked around the table. Leah pulled Sarah from her highchair and grabbed Bella's hand. She whispered, "Bedroom. Now. Don't talk. Just go." She led the way into Bella and Jacob's room and quickly checked every possible hiding space. "Lock the door," Leah whispered and darted into the bathroom to check it as well. Leah locked the door connecting to the nursery and walked back into the bedroom. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and texted Jacob.

It's here somewhere. It's near the house. Be careful.

Quietly, Bella hissed, "What is happening?"

Leah whispered, "It's near. We should fake a normal conversation. I think it moved closer to listen"

Leah's phone chimed, and she hurried to turn the sound off.

Jake: WTF. Hide. Now.

Bella whispered, "How do you know that, Leah?"

Leah hissed back, "I don't know, Bells. I just feel it." Meanwhile, she texted back, Way ahead of you. In your room now. Another sharp pain made her wince, and she rubbed her forehead. The sound of the shower turning off caught her attention, and she grabbed her phone.

Leah whispered, "Fuck, Quil." She texted him quickly and warned him to be quiet. Quil, of course, did exactly the opposite in his worry and rapped on the bedroom door.

Leah walked over and leaned toward the door as she texted him again. Pretending as if everything was normal, she called out, "We're talking. Come back later."

We're fine here. Go help Jacob.

Quil: Bullshit, I'm guarding. The sound of him leaning heavily against the door reached her before his message did, and she rolled her eyes. Sarah held her hands up for Leah and was immediately lifted into the air and covered with kisses.

Incredulously, Bella whispered, "So, were pretending everything is fine?" She put up her long hair with a ponytail holder and huffed.

Leah nodded her head, and in a normal tone, she asked, "So how is your mom, Bella?"

Bella snorted and asked, "Which one? Yours, mine, or Esme?"

Leah chuckled and said, "Whichever you want to talk about."

Bella smirked and said, "I want to talk about you and Quil."

Leah glared at her for a moment and pointed at the door. He's standing right there!

Bella whispered, "You want to give this thing what it wants, right?"

Leah scowled at Bella and huffed. "Fine," she said. "What about him?"

Bella asked, "How are things going with you and Quil?" Sarah yawned, and Leah laid Sarah against her chest to rock her.

Bella chuckled and said, "You spoiled her with that. She demands it now."

Leah laughed and lowered her voice as she said, "Spoiling is what aunties do, Bella. As far as Quil and I are doing? I love him. I couldn't ask for better." Bella raised an eyebrow mischievously. Shit. What is this bitch doing now?

Bella asked, "Really? Better than Hodie?"

Leah gaped at her sister for a moment, instantly irritated. What does she want me to do? Compare them? Quil is right there, for Christ's sake.

Bella nodded toward the window, silently reminding Leah that it was for the tick's benefit. A sharp pain hit Leah as the feeling of dread returned.

"It's working," Leah whispered as she held her aching forehead. "It's closer." I feel fucking watched. She raised her voice and said, "Quil has finally given me everything I wanted from him and more. I don't know what the future holds, but as long as he's in, I'm in. I don't want to waste a minute with him." Leah bit back a moan as another pain hit her.

Frowning with concern, Bella asked, "What about Hodie?"

Leah began texting Quil and said, "Hodie thinks I'm dead, which is probably for the best. I'm with Quil, and I have no intention of letting him go this time."

Find a way to alert Jake. I think it's outside his bedroom.

Bella said, "You can lay her on my bed." Leah looked down at a peacefully sleeping Sarah and smiled. She carefully placed Sarah on her side. Sarah smacked her lips in her sleep, looking every bit of her father at the moment. Leah gently played with Sarah's thick curls, admiring the child's beauty. It made her wonder what combination her child would be.

Leah whispered, "Cute little monster."

All were startled, and Sarah began screaming as something slammed against the wall outside. Snarls erupted as Bella lifted and clutched her crying daughter to her chest. She rushed into the bathroom and turned the bathtub faucet on full force, letting the sound of the water mostly drown out the fighting less than thirty feet away. Leah watched in awe as Bella retained her calm and comforted her child, prioritizing her daughter's well-being over her own fear.

She didn't learn that shit from Renee … A yelp from outside instantly made the color drain from Bella's face, though she continued to soothe Sarah. The sound of another wolf joining the fight was notable as it attacked. A third cry made Leah's wolf snap furiously, and Leah knew without a doubt that it had come from Quil. She rushed to turn off the bedroom light and back to the window to peek out into the dark. The fighting noises drifted farther away, and Leah could see nothing from where she stood. As the familiar screech of vampire flesh reached her, Leah's wolf showed more excitement than it had in weeks. The feeling didn't last long as another yelp rang out, and all the noise stopped abruptly. Leah was panting, so lost in listening that she hadn't realized she was panicking. She took deeper breaths and slowly sat on the edge of the bed. Leah listened for more signs of fighting as the water was turned off, and Sarah sniffled in Bella's arms. The child was trembling, staring toward the bedroom window as if she knew exactly where the fight had been. A knock on the bedroom door made all three of them jump, and Leah approached it cautiously.

Leah called out, "Who is it?"

Jacob's voice filtered through the door as he said, "It's me. You guys can come out now."

Leah held her hand up toward Bella cautiously. She asked, "What is my middle name, Jacob?"

He scoffed and said, "You don't have one. Get out of there. I promise it's safe."

Leah sighed in relief and opened the door. She said, "I heard yelps. Who got hurt?"

Jacob said, "We all got tossed a bit. Embry got the worst of it, but he is already mending. No one was bitten, so we're good."

Bella asked, "Is it dead?"

Jacob shook his head no, frowning. "He won't be impersonating Quil anytime soon, though. He only has one arm now."

Despite her relief that all were safe, Leah was becoming angry. The vamp was nothing but a terror. Now it has scared the shit out of Sarah, eavesdropped on my fucking conversations, stalked me. It tried to fucking kill me … It would come back for its appendage, of that Leah had no doubt. The bloodsuckers always did. They couldn't just grow replacement parts, after all.

It's too bad I can't legally force him to leave in exchange for getting his arm back, Leah thought. What if she forced him to agree to leave the area? What if she could force him to leave Hodie alone for good? Leah asked, "Where is the arm?"

Jacob asked, "Why? What are you thinking about?"

Leah said, "I'm already his target. I might as well stay his target. He will want his fucking arm back, Jacob. He's not far away."

Jacob said, "Yes, and that's why it's not being burned right away."

Leah said, "We need to build a fire and wait for him to come back." Leah pushed past Jacob and headed toward the kitchen.

Jacob turned to follow her. "What are you doing, Leelee," Jacob asked apprehensively.

"Bait. Me and the arm," Leah said as she searched for Bella's kitchen matches. "I'm going to make this fucker agree to some terms."

Orange light filled the kitchen in a flash as the fire was lit outside. Leah stepped out the back door and scoffed at the single chair perched precariously close to the fire. "I'm way ahead of you, sweetheart," Quil said as he limped toward her. Her face fell at the sight of the dried blood streaking down his leg. Embry stood by the fire, scratching at the long purple streak along his forearm as his injury healed.

Leah asked, "Are you guys okay?"

Quil hugged her and said, "Yes, but you aren't going to be the bait out there. I am."

Leah opened her mouth to protest, and he interrupted, "Yes, Leah. This fucker keeps pretending to be me. I have just as much right, and I heal a whole lot faster than you do right now." Quil kissed her forehead and said, "Please make sure all the doors are locked and stay inside."

Leah argued, "It would be safer to have the three of you guarding me rather than just Jacob and Embry guarding you."

"Seth, Jared, and Sam are on the way here," Embry said. "We'll keep him safe, Sis, I promise."

Leah huffed as she glanced around the scene before her. She asked, "Who is gonna write this shit up?"

Quil said, "Write up what?"

Leah said, "I was going to slowly toss his fingers in the fire until he either had no arm or agreed to sign a treaty promising to leave and not come back."

Jacob and Embry burst out laughing as Quil grinned down at her. Quil said, "That's a damn good idea, actually. I don't think this one will bother negotiating. I do like the one-piece-at-a-time idea, though. We will see how many fingers he decides to keep." Jacob and Embry laughed again as Sam and Seth came out of the treeline.

Sam said, "Jared's on his way. He'll be here any time."

Leah cupped Quil's chin in her hand and kissed him soundly. When she pulled away, she said, "You better be careful. Don't do anything impulsive."

Quil chuckled and whispered, "Yes, mom."

Leah poked his chest in warning as she looked him over one more time. She whispered, "I'm not calling you Daddy." Jacob and Sam burst out laughing as Embry and Seth both made disgusted faces at each other. The wink Embry shot her told Leah he knew the double meaning was behind the teasing. Leah walked back inside and locked the door behind her. She ran to the front door to check that it was locked before checking around the house for possible missed hiding places. The last thing she wanted was to be locked inside with the tick while her pack waited outside.

When Leah returned to the kitchen, Sarah was sleeping in her playpen. Despite all the lights in the house being out, Bella was pulling items from the cabinets in preparation to start cooking.

Leah said, "Seriously, Bells?"

Bella said, "I have to do something, Leah. I can't sit still. You already cleaned the house, and I would rather be right here where I can see them." She nodded toward the kitchen window. Leah glanced outside where Quil sat patiently, alone. He held a pale, slender arm. Leah swallowed hard, instantly anxious as she realized they would be able to see all of it with perfect clarity should something go down. The fire illuminated the yard, and the dark kitchen would help keep them hidden inside.

"It is almost as if Esme designed this for this exact reason," Leah said.

Bella said, "She sort of did. It is so we would have a heads up if it was necessary. The blinds and lights just make it less noticeable. If the motion light was working, we would be able to see much more."

Leah grumbled, "How long has it not worked? I didn't even notice."

"Since that first time this vamp got into the house," Bella said. "Jacob replaced it, but he just broke the next one, too."

Leah said, "Fuck, I'm sorry, Bells."

Bella said, "I'm going to tell you something it has taken me a long time to figure out, Sis. You don't have to apologize for what other people do."

"I know," Leah grumbled. Leah jumped at a soft rap on the back door. She had never been so happy to greet the smell of bleach as Jasper waited to be let in. He stepped into the house and wrapped her in an icy-cold hug. Jasper placed a quick peck on her forehead and walked over to embrace Bella the same way.

Leah asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jasper said, "Jacob texted Emmett, and I just happened to be there. I missed the last burned hand I got into a fight over. I'm not missing this one." He chuckled and pulled out a chair to sit down.

Leah stared out the window and said, "I have some bad news for you and Alice, Jas."

Jasper asked, "Yes, ma'am? What would that be?"

Leah said, "The dancer from the club, Chelsea? This tick killed her. The guys found her on the beach this morning."

Jasper continued to stare outside as he said, "Rosalie told me. It's a shame. I'm sorry for your loss. The club's loss, too. She was talented." There was no humor in his words. He had been fond of watching Chelsea. Alice had been more fond of dressing her.

"I'm not going back to the club," Leah said decidedly. "Not to work and not to visit. It doesn't feel the same, and I just have so much guilt about it all."

Jasper said, "I would have to agree. I stopped by there a couple of weeks ago." He turned and wiggled his eyebrows at Leah suggestively, and she laughed. Jasper said, "You know, it is not the same without you there. I didn't like it. I did hear gossip, though. I stayed longer for that than anything else."

Leah rolled her eyes and said, "I can only imagine. Was it Chelsea?"

Jasper said, "No. The one who quit a while back. The tiny one with the Crayola red hair that bailed on Halloween."

Leah leaned away from him, confused. She said, "Amara? That's not possible, Jas."

Jasper said, "I'm tellin' ya, she seemed drunk as a skunk and was talkin' about how she was going to Virginia."

Virginia? What the hell?

Leah said, "She was reported missing weeks before that. The last person she called was Hodie, and the cops are trying to find him to question him." Leah looked back at Bella and was met with a concerned glance. Leah pulled her phone out, preparing to text Charlie. She was surprised to see she had a missed call from him and scowled, remembering she had silenced her phone because of the tick. Leah stood and walked to the living room to call him back and plopped down on the new sofa.

"Leah?" Charlie's voice was groggy, and she immediately felt guilty for waking him.

Leah said, "Yeah. I just now saw that you called. Is everything okay?"

Charlie said, "Well, kiddo. It's the damnedest thing ... "

"Hodie and Amara might be in Virginia," Leah blurted out as if her mouth suddenly had a mind of its own.

Charlie said, "Where did you hear that? Any idea where in Virginia?"

"No," Leah said, "but Jasper stopped by the club a couple of weeks ago, and he said Amara was there talking about going to find her friend in Virginia."

Charlie complained, "Well, why the hell didn't he say anything until now?"

"I didn't know she was 'spose to be missin'," Jasper said from the kitchen. Leah chuckled and rolled her eyes. Of course, he could hear the call clearly.

She said, "He didn't know anyone was searching for her. So, what was the damnedest thing?"

Charlie said, "The body the boys found this morning?"

Leah said, "Yeah? Chelsea?"

Charlie said, "She's gone. As in, not in the morgue."

Wide-eyed, Leah asked, "What the hell do you mean she's not in the fucking morgue?"

Where the hell could she have gone? Did the Leech come to take her body away? Worse, was she a vampire now too? What if she's running around in La Push looking for a snack?

Charlie said, "She was found on LaPush lands, Leah. I didn't have jurisdiction, and the body went to the hospital morgue in La Push. I got a call a little while ago saying that her body was nowhere to be found. Luckily, I called Jake before you."

Anxiously, Leah asked, "So he knows already?"

Charlie said, "Oh, well, hell yeah." Leah let out a sigh of relief.

Wait a fucking minute. Leah thought about the pale, slender arm Quil had been holding outside and said, "That sonofabitch."

Charlie said, "What is it? What did you figure out?"

Leah said, "This tick can look however it wants. It's not hard like the other vampires are. It almost feels human. Maybe that wasn't Chelsea's body this morning at all. I think it was the tick the whole time." Leah turned to find Jasper leaning in the doorway, listening.

It was spying. The vamp would have heard everything being talked about out on the beach this morning.

Leah said, "He was spying on the pack, on me. Even on you, Charlie. He laid there pretending to be a dead girl and then made his escape from the damn morgue."

Jasper tried to hide how impressed he was by the possibility and said, "That is actually kind of brilliant. Awful, but brilliant."

Leah said, "Do you think this means Chelsea is actually okay?"

Jasper said, "I can send Ali to the club to find out if you'd like?" Leah nodded gratefully, and Jasper gave her a wink before walking back into the kitchen.

Charlie said, "This bastard is an awful lot of trouble, isn't he?"

Leah scoffed. "Rachel had the twins today because of all the stress," Leah complained. "And it was all manipulation. The whole thing."

Charlie said, "Your mom and I are gonna take her some flowers tomorrow. Do you want us to grab something from you, too?"

Leah said, "That would be awesome. Thank you. Let me know how much it is, and I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it," Charlie said and chuckled. "You guys will get this shit figured out, Leah. Those boys will keep you safe."

"I know they will," Leah said. "Get some sleep. You sound exhausted."

Charlie said, "Tell Bells and Jake I love all of ya, will ya?"

Leah said, "Of course. Love you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, kid," Charlie said, and the phone went silent. Leah walked back into the kitchen and took her seat next to Jasper.

"Charlie says he loves you guys, Bella," Leah said. When she was greeted with silence, she glanced up to find Bella staring outside wide-eyed. Leah looked out the window and gasped. Jasper was next to the door in a blink, ready to bolt outside if needed. The tick stood maybe twenty feet from Quil, its nearly naked form swaying just slightly, a perfect picture of seductive charm despite its missing arm. No longer the blue color of death, her form looked like she came straight from the stage.

They already knew? She held her breath, listening for what the bloodsucker had to say. Leah released that same breath with a groan as Quil grinned and waved at the tick with its own arm.

Quil asked, "Do you want this back?"

The vampire's facade slipped as it snarled at Quil viscously. Quil chuckled back at it and said, "I'll make you a trade, Leech."

The sweet smile returned as it sauntered closer. Quil wrapped his large hand around the tick's pinky finger and said, "Close enough."

Its high-pitched voice sounded startlingly foreign coming from Chelsea's mouth as it asked, "What do you want?"

Quil said, "I want to rip your head off and toss you in the fire, but I would settle for you leaving the state and never coming back."

The tick shook its head slowly and said, "I go where Hodie goes."

Quil said, "Well, as you can fucking see, Hodie isn't here. If you're so fucking worried about Hodie, why the hell do you keep pretending to be me?"

Its laugh was chilling, filling Leah with dread as it said, "Because I can." Its form began to shimmer before them, the pale skin becoming darker as the long blonde hair turned black and shrunk away, leaving a one-armed, bruised, and bloody Leah standing in Chelsea's place. Leah's stomach rolled as she stared at her own battered form and took in the mask of disgusted horror on Quil's face.

The sound of her own voice was more chilling as it said, "I can be whoever I want. This is what I do for fun." It shimmered in place again, becoming shorter, rounder, and much more innocent in demeanor as Claire now stood in front of him. In a voice eerily accurate to Claire's, it said, "I don't care about you. You're just a distraction." Quil pointed at the Leech in a warning as his temper flared. Jasper began breathing harder as his anger rose, and he darted out of the room. Leah heard the front door shut softly, but she and Bella remained frozen while watching the scene in front of them.

It said, "You're a distraction for me, and you're a distraction for her."

The tick looked up toward the house and pointed straight at Leah through the window as its form began to change again. Leah held its gaze and whimpered mournfully as Hodie's form slowly took shape. Her wolf snapped angrily, devastated by the false figure of its beloved so nearby. Leah finally found her center as her anger bloomed, and she slowly got to her feet.

The velvety sound Leah loved so much cut through her as the leech said, "Just give her to me, and I'll leave you all alone."

"No fucking way," Quil snapped. "Leah chose me. That is what you wanted. She's not going anywhere with you. Go fucking find the real Hodie. Quit fucking with Leah and leave her alone."

"That's not what I want. I've tasted her blood, boy. I can find her anywhere now, just like I can find him," the tick said. "Hodie will be back here soon enough. I can wait for him. She is much more fun to play with."

Leah swayed dizzily and dropped back into her seat.

A deep growl emanated from Quil's chest, and he yelled, "Then I guess you don't need this." Quil dangled the leeches arm precariously over the fire, and it hissed at him angrily.

Quil said, "You think I'm fucking playing, bloodsucker?" Quil broke the pinky finger off the severed limb and tossed it into the fire. It screamed in rage and crouched down, preparing to fight. A flash of white silently darted across the backyard as Jasper leaped onto its back. He held onto it in his vice-like grip as the other wolves slowly walked out of their hiding places, circling the three of them. The tick laughed as it looked around at them.

Jasper asked, "Do you know how lucky you are that you were ever given a chance to leave?"

The tick laughed again and asked, "Do you think I do everything alone?"

Shaking with anger, Quil strode up to it. In a command that sent a shiver down Leah's spine, he demanded, "Talk, leech."

The tick turned toward Leah instead, and in Hodie's commanding tone, it said, "Scream, bitch."

Scream she did as a pair of cold, too-strong hands gripped her upper arms painfully and pulled her from her chair. Bella darted across the space to grab her crying child and bit back a sob as she clutched her trembling daughter.

"Eeee," Sarah cried out and shattered what little chance Leah had left of staying calm. My little monster is scared to death. It was infuriating. Leah could not see the person behind her as she was instructed to unlock the back door and guided outside. Jasper and the wolves all gaped in horror as the unexpected stranger chuckled behind her. Leah heard the click as a sobbing Bella relocked the door.

"Lock the front," Leah yelled, followed by the sound of Bella's clumsy steps as she ran to obey.

"Oh, come on," the fake Hodie said. "You don't seriously think those doors can keep us out, do you?"

Jasper growled out, "You aren't going anywhere, anyway."

Quil stepped back toward the fire, and the Leech behind Leah laughed.

His voice was deep, almost musical, and filled with amusement as he said, "Don't even think about it. Let her go."

Quil asked, "Her?"

"Yes. My mate. Give her arm back and let her go," he said and nodded toward the other. The hands wrapped around Leah's arms were dark brown, making her softer tone look pale in comparison. She wondered if it was his natural tone or if he wore a fake meat suit like its mate.

Leah asked, "What are your names?" Both ticks laughed at her question. Leah said, "If you plan to keep fucking with my life, you could at least let me know who the hell you are." She struggled against his grasp, only for him to grip her tighter. His fingers dug into her arms, bruises rapidly forming around them.

He leaned close, his voice a whisper in her ear as he asked, "How was it? Fucking Hodie? Phenomenal, isn't it?"

Leah snarled, "Why the hell would you ask that?" What the fuck?

He said, "There's a reason she lets him live, you know?"

Leah asked, "And what reason is that?"

"Oh, silly girl," he said, whispering so low that only she could hear him. "Don't tell me you have never heard about his poor broken heart and how he was abandoned after his Mommy died."

"I guess Hodie didn't tell her about us," the other one said and pouted, still wrapped securely in Jasper's arms. She continued using Hodie's voice, and the deception made Leah's stomach roll as her wolf mourned for the real man.

What the fuck? Did Hodie actually know who was after him this whole time? Was he engaged to a fucking Vampire? Leah's wolf was enraged by the idea. Leah, on the other hand, could feel the nausea she'd battled all day creeping up on her again. "I'm going to be sick," she warned. The tick behind her laughed again.

"Seriously, you need to let go," she blurted out as her mouth watered. Before she could insist further, the retching began. Leah turned her head just in time to vomit stomach acid on the Leech's hand around her right arm. He let go in disgust, shoving her to the ground. She landed hard, her right shoulder catching the brunt of her fall. Seizing the opportunity, Leah scrambled away from him. The other vampire cried out in panic at her escape as Jacob rushed forward and hovered over her protectively. Jacob snarled at the male Leech, almost daring it to come for her again.

The Leech in Jasper's arms began to shimmer again, changing shape as she tried to get away. Chelsea's form reappeared as Jasper's hold tightened, yanking her back from any escape attempt.

Leah turned toward Jasper angrily, her wolf snapping inside her in a rage as she began to shake. Leah screamed, "Kill it!"

In less than a second, Jasper smiled maniacally at the tick that had held her and yanked back on the female's head. Leah squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch. Its actual voice escaped as it screamed. The sound cut off abruptly as the squeal of tearing vampire flesh filled the air. Jasper dangled its now lifeless head at the other vampire as it stood frozen in shock. Something gold caught Leah's eye as it fell to the grass from the now headless body. Quil scoffed and threw the discarded arm into the fire as Jasper tossed the head on top.

After that, many things happened at once.

The male vampire dropped to his knees and did not move.

The last of the fog lifted from Leah's mind, the memories of her nightmares flashed before her eyes before fading away. The wolf cheered inside of her, still full of rage, though it remained crouched protectively with no urge to attack or phase. The ground was frozen under Leah, and she shivered from the cold against her skin. Leah worried about the new life inside of her and how it was fairing under all of this trauma. Jacob crouched closer to her, and she leaned into his warmth. The vampire turned to look at her in the eyes, his sad expression startling her more than an attack would have.

Quil tossed his shorts and phased, his baiting no longer necessary. He darted over to Leah, nuzzling into her other side. The other wolves began closing in on the vampire.

"Guys, wait," Leah yelled, holding her hands up for them to stop. "Things … things are different." The feeling of dread the other vampire had carried was gone, the male's demeanor now entirely changed. He gave her the tiniest smile, no anger on his face now. Somehow, it changed his features dramatically and she found herself noticing that he was quite handsome.

"Thank you," he said calmly. Leah glanced toward Jasper, wondering if he was affecting him. He shrugged and smirked at her, as bewildered as she.

"He's calm," Jasper said.

The tick said, "Kill me if you must. I have my own memories again. I never wanted this bullshit anyway."

Leah's face fell, overwhelming sympathy for him confusing her wolf and everyone else. "Me, too," she said. "I remember everything now."

I guess Hodie didn't tell her about us.

Leah asked, "You're Mike, aren't you?"

He smirked bitterly and said, "No. I'm Gem. Mike is dead because of her." He nodded toward the fire.

Leah asked, "Wait. Mike is a girl?"

Gem said, "Yes. We ran from Hodie to escape her." Gem nodded toward the fire again.

Aching and no longer feeling frightened, Leah pushed away from her protectors and stood. Nothing remained of the shifting tick but her legs laying just outside the fire. Jared and Embry walked over to toss the legs on top of the fire as Leah slowly braved closer to Gem.

Leah said, "She trapped you into this, didn't she? Fucked up your memories. Made you believe you loved her."

"Made me cruel and possessive. Made me run from Hodie and rip his heart out," he said sadly. "Made me kill Mike." He was on his feet and in front of her in an instant. The wolves snapped their teeth in warning as he gently took Leah's shaking hands.

She said, "You gave him the nickname Hodie, didn't you?"

A dazzling white smile spread across his face, and he nodded. Gem looked down at the purple bruises where his hands had gripped her and said, "I'm sorry for those, for what it's worth. Are they going to kill me now?"

Some of the wolves snapped in favor of the idea. Firmly, Leah said, "No," instantly silencing them. She asked, "What happened to Amara? Where is she?"

Gem's eyes widened in surprise as he nodded toward the fire again. He said, "It was her all along. Amara was never real. She was someone created to keep tabs on Hodie."

Leah gaped at him in shock as she tried to wrap her head around it. She had cared for Amara, as had Hodie. How had she managed to deceive him for years? Then again, Leah had felt no threat from Amara either. She had borne fading bruises and cried real tears. There had been no reason to doubt that she was human.

Leah asked, "What was her real name?"

He shook his head and said, "Whatever she wanted it to be. She claimed to be centuries old, but I believe it was a lie. She was too cocky, too indulgent, and impulsive. I believe she was some sort of hybrid. A halfling of some sort. I mostly stayed hidden, trapped as her personal pet. I only accompanied her here to help get her damn arm back. She was satisfied with just watching Hodie until you came along. Then she became jealous. Hearing you and Hodie together made her snap."

Leah asked, "I guess she felt that way about you and Mike, too?"

Gem said, "Of course."

Leah asked, "She was in love with him?"

Gem laughed bitterly and said, "No, although she wanted to trick him into bed and tried several times. She loved to torture him. She loved making him miserable and pretending to be his comforting friend."

Jasper said, "It's too bad there isn't a mental health screening before you can become immortal."

Gem said, "It's odd now that I can remember what is real and what she created for me. Seems like a terrible nightmare until I remember what I am." He paused for a moment as he scanned the treeline. "The girl is safe. The dancer? She has no idea any of this even happened."

Leah sighed with relief, grateful that Chelsea was alive, at least. She looked around at her family gratefully for all they had done to keep her safe. Unable to keep from checking on Bella and Sarah for another second, Jacob phased where he stood and pulled on his shorts. Carefully watching Gem as he strode past, Jacob knocked on the door. Bella yanked it open and pulled him inside. Leah could hear Bella sobbing tears of relief, and she scowled angrily.

As if Bells hasn't lived through enough fucking trauma.

Leah looked around at the other wolves and asked, "Can you guys give us some privacy? I would like to talk to Gem for a minute before he leaves."

Jasper said, "Hang on a second, Leah." He walked over and held his hand out politely. He asked Gem, "Where will you go from here?"

Some of the wolves huffed in agreement, wanting to know as well. He may have been under the other tick's control, but that didn't mean he was welcome here.

"I haven't given it much thought," Gem said. "I haven't been on my own in years."

Jasper said, "I'll be in the woods. Come find me when you're done. My family might be able to help you figure it out."

Gem glanced at Leah hesitantly, and Leah said, "I know you don't know us, but Jasper … if he says it, he means it. We're close with his family. If anyone can help you, they're it."

Jasper pulled Leah against him for a hug. He leaned down and whispered, "I told you I'd kill that motherfucker myself if I got my hands on him." He gave her a dazzling smile as he pulled away and patted Quil lightly on the shoulder.

Jasper turned to Gem and said, "Talk to you soon?" Gem nodded at Jasper, and he was gone in a flash.

The wolves shifted back around them, dressing quickly. Gem glanced around and smirked at Leah in amusement. Everyone but Quil and Sam shuffled inside cautiously. Quil said, "I'm not comfortable leaving you alone."

Leah said, "That's fine. I'm sure I would tell you anyway." He glanced toward Sam, who nodded and trotted towards the woods. Sam howled for Seth and Jared, who ran out of the house and after Sam toward the trees.

Gem pointed at Seth and quietly said, "That one is very attractive."

Seth heard the comment despite Gem's lowered voice and blushed. Jared elbowed him playfully, and Seth nearly stumbled as he disappeared into the woods.

Leah laughed and said, "That is my little brother. I don't think he knew what to think about that comment."

Gem nodded at Quil and said, "And this one is the boyfriend."

Leah grinned up at Quil and said, "No. Quil is more than that."

Gem said, "Ouch. Poor Hodie. Maybe now that she's dead, he'll find some peace. Wherever he's at."

Leah asked, "What about you? You could always try to talk to him. Mend your friendship."

Gem sighed and said, "That isn't possible. I killed his best friend and broke his heart. He'll never forgive me."

Leah said, "You weren't his best friend?"

Gem smirked at Leah again and said, "He really didn't tell you much, did he?" Quil chuckled softly, obviously grasping something Leah was not.

Quil said, "Maybe there are some things I don't need to know."

Gem said, "There are some things that do need to come from Hodie. It's his business to tell." He turned to Leah and said, "She heard you two. Your conversation about not wanting to choose. She told me about it just to put me on edge. The truth is, Hodie would be more open to it than you might think. He, Mike, and I lived together for a while."

Quil chuckled and said, "Suspicion confirmed."

Gem laughed as Leah looked at Quil curiously. Quil rolled his eyes and said, "He's bisexual, Leah. Hodie."

Leah turned back at Gem and asked, "You are who he was engaged to? Not Mike?"

Gem laughed and said, "As I said, some information should come from Hodie."

Quil chuckled again and asked Leah, "You honestly didn't know?"

Leah shook her head no. "I never even suspected. He didn't so much as glance at anyone but me when we were together."

Gem said, "That's just Hodie. Monogamous type, in his own way."

Leah wasn't sure what to think about that statement. Hodie's preferences didn't bother her in the least, but the revelation only brought Quil's words back to her again. She didn't know Hodie. She didn't know a damn thing about him. Attempting to turn the conversation before she became upset, Leah gestured toward the picnic table as she asked, "So Gem and Mike? Are they nicknames, too?"

Gem nodded. The three of them moved to sit down, and Leah shivered again from the cold. Quil remained quiet, though she could see the concern on his face as he put his arm around her. She leaned into him, soaking up his heat.

Leah asked Gem, "So what are your real names, if I may ask? Just curious."

Gem said, "I was a surfer, like Hodie. I taught him how to surf when we met. We were just teenagers then. The first time we met, I called him a hodad. Eventually, Brody became Hodie. My birth name is Jamal. When we began surfing professionally, a sponsor called me a diamond in the rough. Hodie had a field day with it. I was Gem ever since. Mike went by Mike already when we met her, but her real name was Michaela."

Leah asked, "Did you love her?" Gem turned to look at Leah, and his face was so full of emotion that it made her heart ache for him.

"Very much," Gem said. "We were sort of a unit, the three of us. I loved them both more than anything. I hated running from Hodie. He'd been the most important person in my life for years at that point. She, however …" he pointed toward the fire pit, "had already begun messing with my memories through my dreams. She tried to make me hate Hodie and Mike both. I guess it worked in the end because I'm here now, and Mike is not."

Leah said, "She tried to make me hate him, too. Dreams of him attacking me, screaming at me. All kinds of things. Quil kept me sane through all of it. I thought I was losing my mind." Quil stayed silent, though he rubbed her arm affectionately.

Gem smiled at them and said, "Well, I wish you luck. When Hodie comes back here-"

Leah said, "When? I mean, I know the police are looking for him because of Amara. He was supposed to come back for that, but he never did."

Quil said, "Maybe the Cullens can help you figure out a way to help resolve that."

Gem said, "Hodie will come back sooner or later. He keeps his promises."

Leah said, "He thinks I'm dead. He has no promise to keep."

Gem insisted, "He will come back, Leah. When he does, it's probably best he doesn't know anything about me. He hates me enough as it is."

Leah shifted anxiously in her seat and asked, "You're still in love with him, aren't you?"

Gem smirked and nodded. Bitterly, he said, "I am this now. He'd never accept that. He'd never forgive me if he knew I'm the reason Mike is dead, either."

Leah said, "You keep saying that, but how can you possibly know that?"

Gem said, "Because I saw his face the day his mother died, Leah. The way he hates my kind for the way his life has been? Besides, he's a singer. I don't want to risk his life that way."

Leah nodded in understanding. Gem's irises were every bit as bright red as the other ticks had been. He was lucky the wolves hadn't killed him for that reason alone. Leah looked toward the house, spotting Jacob, Embry, and Bella watching them warily.

Gem looked up and said, "I think this is my cue to leave."

Leah said, "Look, Gem …" She glanced at Quil hesitantly before saying, "You know how to find me. If he does come back here and you decide to reach out to him..."

"I'll warn you," he said. "I suppose I'll go find your friend and see what he has to say. Are you sure he's not going to just kill me when I do?" Quil chuckled and rolled his eyes as he shook his head.

Leah said, "I trust Jasper a great deal. He won't break his word. I should probably warn you, Jasper's brother Emmett is related to Hodie."

Gem leaned away from her in surprise and asked, "Really? He always said he had no family to speak of."

Leah said, "Emmett is Hodie's great-uncle, and he was a singer, too. He was turned in the nineteen-thirties. Neither knew about the other until they met a few months ago. They are very similar in looks and temperament. You'll see it, I'm sure."

Gem said, "I appreciate the warning. I won't be so shocked when I meet him." He stood and nodded at them one last time before darting toward the woods. Leah stood and tugged at Quil's hand for him to follow her inside. He chuckled as he got up and froze in place, staring down near the fire pit.

Leah asked, "What is it?" Quil walked over and lifted a thin gold chain from the ground, the piece Leah had seen fall from the leech's neck. He brought it back to Leah and held it up for Leah to see the small pendant on the delicate chain. She recognized it immediately as one that Amara had worn frequently. Leah glared at it and said, "Good. Hodie will recognize that, too. It will prove Amara was the tick all along."

Quil scoffed and asked, "You've seen this on her?"

Leah said, "I've seen that girl in nothing but that necklace, let me tell you." Quil laughed and hugged her to him. "I can't believe she created such an elaborate plan just to keep Hodie under her thumb like that." Leah shook her head and sighed. She didn't want to think about any of it anymore. She shut them both out of her mind and pulled Quil into the house behind her.

After what was possibly the longest day of Leah's life thus far, she finally ate, brushed her teeth, and took a shower. Her shoulder ached from when Gem had shoved her down, and the bruises he left spanned her upper arms in perfect handprints. Alone and under the hot water, Leah broke down. Wracking sobs poured from her, spilling out all of her guilt, grief, relief, and heartache. While knowing the menacing vampire that had harassed Hodie for years was now gone, the situation felt far from over. Her wolf mourned for Hodie, for his kind yet commanding presence and his gruff voice. Leah cupped her hard yet still flat lower abdomen in her hands and wondered if her child was truly safe.

If Hodie was the father, would he ever know? Would he be as absent for his child as his father had been for him? Would it be another singer? Leah reminded herself that it could be Quil's child as well. She wouldn't know the answer until her bloodwork results came back from Carlisle. Either way, it seemed the only grandfather her child would have was Charlie. Quil's father had been killed in a storm when Quil was a child. Old Quil was practically ancient, and everyone worried he was not long for this world. The fetus's existence was just beginning, and it seemed there were already ways in which her child would be, or would at least feel, alone.

Leah was startled as the shower door opened and sighed with relief to find Quil in front of her. He was naked, worried, sad, and looking every bit as vulnerable as she felt. He climbed inside the shower and wrapped his arms around her. Leah turned into him and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his neck. His warmth was so much better than the hot water battering her skin. The wolf whimpered, wanting to sink against its companion for the comfort that only Quil seemed able to give. His hands roamed her back and shoulders, working her tense muscles with care.

"I love you, Leelee," Quil said. Leah lifted her face to meet his lips with a sad yet sensual kiss. Her emotions in turmoil and eager to quiet her pain, Leah deepened the kiss, surrendering her mouth to his. Quil's hands slid down her sides and gently cupped her buttocks, kneading them as he'd done with her back muscles. Leah moaned and could feel it as the sound surged through him. Quil chuckled into her mouth as his cock twitched against her thigh. A wave of lust coursed through her. Her tears began to slow as he kissed down her neck, between her breasts, and toward her stomach. Quil slowly kneeled in front of her, pulling her closer. He placed gentle kisses along her lower abdomen, spanning his large hands across her hard but still flat belly.

Quil said, "I love you both, you know?" He looked up at her from under hooded lids and continued placing gentle kisses along her stomach.

Both? They had not even known she was pregnant until that morning. He loves me enough that he automatically loves this baby by default, whether it is his or not. Leah fought back another sob.

Quil stood and crushed his lips back to hers as her hands moved up into his hair. The kiss nearly overwhelmed her as he yanked her flush against him and left her gasping for air when he pulled away. Leah wrapped her left leg up and over his hip, arching her chest toward him as he leaned down and licked her nipple. The head of his cock pressed against her, sliding along her folds, and she moaned.

He chuckled and asked, "Now, who needs to be quiet?" His laughter cut off abruptly, and he moaned as she rocked her hips against him. She scratched her nails along his scalp, and he closed his eyes, leaning into her hands. She pushed aside her thoughts about the insane events of the day, of Hodie, and how exhausted she was. Leah brought her mouth to Quil's neck and scraped her teeth across his Adam's apple. He shivered and chuckled as he reached behind her to turn off the water. Quil stepped back out of the shower and, still soaking wet, pulled his shorts back on. Leah wrapped her towel around her body and gasped as he scooped her up into his arms.

As he opened the bathroom door, Leah asked, "What are you doing?"

"Jake and Bells are already in bed," Quil whispered as he quickly carried her to their bed. He unwrapped the towel from around her as if she were a delicate and long-awaited present. Quil immediately began to work along her body with his mouth and hands. It was not long before he had Leah panting and begging to have him inside of her. Quil was in no hurry, however. Leah returned his caresses, kisses, and explorations with equal attention. By the time she fell asleep later, she was exhausted in every possible way. Despite that, she could not keep Hodie from her mind. Her dreams were riddled with memories of him, all of them correct for the first time in weeks.