She becomes restless when she loses it. No, she can't lose it. Not now. Not when she'd just found it. Had found Her.
"Hey hey, easy Blackbird. Easy. I'm not going anywhere."
She calms a little at the purred words as the tickling touch up her back strikes again trying to soothe her, but she continues to shift needing to find it again.
Aaaa. There it is. The steady grounding rhythm under her ear.
Thump thump thump thump
Now she could rest again.
"So cute."
Leah lets out a puppy-like growl at the tease and when her pillow started vibrating from laughter against her cheek making her tighten her arms around her companion's waist. "Well, you are." The honey voice giggles making the human wolf's growl turned into a needy purring whine when massaging fingers found just the right spot at the back of Leah's neck with just the right amount of pressure.
"Easy baby or your tail will start wagging soon."
Leah dips her head to hide her blush still purring und her breath as she asks. "Why can't you wait and let me take you to the First?" by way of a defense and a topic change.
Her companion groans at the question pillowing her head against the arm not wrapped around the wolf's waist as she watched the graying sky passed the trees above their heads. "Because you're a good sister that switched days with your little brother." Leah opens her mouth to say something at the comment but was stopped by a finger pressed to her lips to keep her quiet.
"I'm serious Skyler just let me…" Leah growls against the digit against her lips.
"So am I Leah." The blonde under her answers cutting her off mind sentence yet her fingers never waver in their massaging touch against the back of the shifter's head. "Look you know I love spending time with you but I'm not letting you slack your roll in the pack."
Leah stills knowing Skyler was right. Jake had asked her to be his second she needed to watch his back and the backs of the rest of her pack. "Besides you only want to tag along in case I break my hand punching that no good mutt in his jerk face."
A lot had changed in the three months since the Volturi had come and gone. First and foremost, the wolf who loathed the very idea of imprinting had done the deed herself.
After it happened Leah had done everything in her power to both find and avoid the woman that had unknowingly stolen the broken remains of her heart. Her efforts coming to her more or less stalking the other woman as she settled in with her new life in this more or less sunless town.
Leah couldn't help but smile even when the rest of her body flinches at the idea of her girlfriend in anything resembling pain. "I'd so pay to see you get in at least one good hit against him but I'm not letting him hurt you. He can hurt me but not you." She might not have been around to stop the abuse her girlfriend suffered as a child that had cost Skyler the hearing in her right ear, but Leah will sure as hell protect her now.
Skyler moves so quick that for a half-second, Leah almost forgets the young woman now straddling her waist was human and not a vampire. "Don't say that. Don't ever ever say that again ever." The fiery anger in those hypnotizing green-gray eyes holds the shifter's like a snake charmer about to strike as the taller woman lets herself be pinned against the blanket they'd spread on the forest floor. "That mutt will never ever hurt you again. Not while I'm breathing. He was never good enough for you to being with. You know why?"
"Cause he went and imprinted on my…." Leah started to answer but Skyler interrupts dragging her willing werewolf of a girlfriend into more of a sitting position by the front of her shirt.
"No, because you deserve the world Leah Clearwater you hear me. The whole fucking world."
Leah can already feel the stinging itch of tears behind her eyes as she wraps her arms around the angel in her arms.
Their relationship wasn't what others would consider a physical one beyond heavy cuddling, some PDA, and sharing a bed for sleep and more cuddling with the more than occasional kiss here or there. The two had baggage from scaring relationships before meeting but together they were working passed them. That wasn't to say they weren't unattracted to one another they were of age after all but jumping between the sheets without clothes wasn't that high on either woman's to-do list.
They knew they were loved in every possible sense of the word by the other and that was enough for them. At least for now.
Skyler's head fits just under Leah's chine as her hands fist in the front of the shifter's shirt holding her werewolf impossibly closer relaxing a fraction at the soft brush of warm lips against her hairline while an equally warmed calloused hand rubbed little circles against her back. "I already have the world." Leah's scratchy voice is just a shade above an audible whisper for human hearing as her tickling breath teased at Skyler's good ear "I have you."
To think all it took was a chance meeting outside a shop and an outdoor strip mall for her to find the love of her life. It wasn't something she would easily forget either.
In truth, Leah had only gone to keep an eye on Seth and to a slightly lesser extent Nessie whilst toying with the idea of possibly looking at a new wardrobe considering the one, she had was constantly being shredded with each unexpected phase or had once belonged to a leech. Besides once she'd looked past who her parents were Renesmee was a decent enough kid to be around. Her mind just as quick as her reflexes meaning she'd managed to read every book in both her house and the Doctors impressive library already, so she'd asked for help in finding new books.
Besides given the choice she'd gladly put up running with the vamps if it gave her an out from being 'the ex Sam couldn't get away from'. Honestly having him and his thoughts out of her head was a fucking Gods sent.
Yet once the group had stopped off at what the pixie had deemed a worthy clothes store Leah had opted to wait outside the shop rather than let Alice retool her entire wardrobe in one afternoon leaving Seth and Nessie to take the hit instead. Besides, she had a new book after all she was wouldn't be completely board out of her mind.
'Oh my God, I am so so so sorry.'
Leah didn't look up immediately choosing instead to look at the mess the spilled hot chocolate had made of the front of her newly bought book, not to mention her last clean shirt. Honestly, it wasn't even close to being cold, yet this woman was already drinking cinnamon-spiked hot chocolate. Who does that? "Yeah like you didn't hear me warning you about that drop in the sidewalk. You only had one earphone in how could you not hear me?" the upset she-wolf snapped wringing out the neck of her shirt as best she could.
"Well, I'm sorry I only have what everyone else seems as decent hearing in one ear and that ear was occupied at the time." The unknown cocoa spiller answers just as hot as Leah was.
Well not just as hot.
She didn't have an angry wolf itching to burst from under her skin. God she was getting to be worse than Paul.
It was only then that Leah decided to look up at her unintended attacker.
As soon as their eyes locked every horrible thing that happened in her life. Sam and Emily, her father's heart attack, having to protect a coven of leeches from an even bigger leech coven. None of that mattered.
All that did matter was her.
"No No. I'm the one that should be apologizing. I didn't know." Leah backpedals tossing her book on the ground to finish helping her newly found imprint in collecting the scattered items that had spilled from her shopping bags.
"Leah Clearwater." She introduced once everything had been tracked down and handed over its original buyer.
"Skyler."
Leah's inner wolf howled happily at the warm tingling feeling running up her arm as they shake hands. "You have a last name for me Sunshine?" she hadn't intended for the nickname to spill out, but her keener hearing had picked up on the cover of the song still playing from the headphone draped across Skyler's shoulders. 'Running on Sunshine' the song that as of now was Leah's new favorite.
Skyler flashes a sly smile neither seeming to be bothered with the other keeping hold of their hand. If anything, her grip on Leah's hand grew stronger the longer the two held eye contact. "Sorry L but that will cost you another cup of cocoa and at least let me get you a new copy of that book I messed up."
Leah felt a girly giggle clawing up her throat. God less than five full minutes in this young woman's presence and already she was chipping away at the walls Leah had built around her heart. "Honestly it will dry out soon enough it's fine." She waves off until she sees her imprint was being serious after retrieving the forgotten book from the pavement looking over the title with obvious interest. "Alright, then how about a swap. You're copy for mine."
Again, the she-wolf was going to argue when she sees Skyler already kneeling to dig into the backpack she was carrying. Leah feels her jaw go slack in surprise when the woman she just met pulls out the exact book she'd been looking over while she waited. The newly produced copy showing a little more ware from its well-read use but to Leah it was as good if not better than the one she'd just bought.
"See you around then Leah Clearwater." Her teasing imprint had purred tucking the book into Leah's trembling fingers. Leah's cocoa splattered one gingerly held against the grinning woman's chest.
She'd find later that Skyler had scrobbled her phone number onto a scrap of paper she'd slid in as a bookmark.
The next nine days that followed resulting in a conflicted push and pull of equally longing for and fearing the one her wolf had deemed her partner. Her imprint. Her one.
She needed Skyler in her life but the fear of what that would open her up to was terrifying.
"Hey, Sky to zoned out cute girl."
Leah blinked leaning her cheek into the cupped hand against her skin as the smiling face of the woman she loved loomed over her. "Huh?"
"Um shouldn't you at least introduce her to Mom before you two do the…. oh, what do they call it these days 'the horizontal tango'?"
It wasn't that Leah was ashamed of finally finding her imprint that kept her from taking the next step in making the introduction to the other living member of her immediate family it was that she selfishly wanted to keep Skyler to herself a little while longer. She already had to share with her pack thanks to their link when they phase, she didn't want to share with anyone else just yet. Besides taking her girlfriend to meet her father was hard enough. She missed her dad so much.
Both women blush deep red as they look over at the shirtless young man resting his back against the closest tree. "Don't get me wrong Lee I'm over the moon that you're this happy but come on. Can't you tone it down a little?"
"Hey, no fair sneaking up." Skyler scolds hugging onto her she werewolf tighter.
Seth chuckles at that. It's been too long since he's seen his sister this relaxed this happy as she is snuggling the side of her face against the dip of Skyler's shoulder. "Says the half hearing human ninja in love with my sister."
Leah rolls her eyes reluctantly loosening her hold to dig a shirt out of her bag for her bother while Skyler starts packing up the blanket and the empty containers Esme had helped make for them. "Just keep her safe tonight please."
"You know I will sis. Besides, it's only a bonfire and Embry said they wouldn't be attending so everything works out."
"They might not by Mom might."
The trio had started back toward Leah's motorcycle by now the repacked backpack slung over Seth's shoulder. Leah on the right with Seth falling into step on Skyler's left. The former knowing how her girlfriend preferred being able to hear whenever her she-wolf spoke: "Then I can finally meet her before she finds out I've corrupted her little girl."
Seth barks a laugh while Leah fleshes pink. "We haven't actually done anything that would count as corruption Sunny."
Skyler nodes enjoying the feel of Leah's strong warm hand in her own. "All in good time besides were still getting to know each other." She bringing their joined hands up pressing a soft kiss against the back of her blushing wolf's.
She'd felt the snap of her bone almost as soon as her fist connected with the jaw of her unknowing target.
"Best bonfire Ever." Embry hissed still filming the scene with his phone. This was so going to the Black pack's group chat later. Concrete proof Leah's imprint was a freaking badass.
Despite her want to keep her cool the throbbing pain in her fractured hand causes more than a few choices swear words to fall from her lips as Skyler loses her balance in the slippery sand. It was well worth it though. So so worth it.
"Honestly Sunshine I leave you alone for five minutes for a snack run and this is what you do with it?" Seth knew his sister wasn't going to be happy hearing him use her nickname for her imprint, but he'd heard it so often in her mind that it just slipped out.
"What in the name of sanity is going on here?"
Thankfully the sounds came from her good side mixed as they were from being said at the same time and there was just enough daylight left for the struggling human among the wolves to tell just who the newcomer was following Seth.
Sue Clearwater. Leah's mother.
Not exactly the way she'd wanted to meet her imprinter's mother, but she did have to admit it was rather satisfying none the less to watch the jerk calling himself an Alpha needing to put his jaw back into place.
"He deserved it." Sky spits her teeth clenched against the pain in her hand.
"How could you say something like that. You don't even know him."
Emily had finally decided to speak up her watery glare fixed on the dark-haired blonde leaning against Seth's side. Lucky for Emily she'd turned her good side just in time to catch the broken comment.
"I know enough."
The growl was clear as Sky remembered every scaring detail, she'd dragged out of the pack about what the two had done to her Leah. The maddening thing about it was, he had still been doing it every time he phased. Reminding her beaten wolf, again and again, every time they changed how he'd broken her heart as well as her trust.
Seth knelt beside his sister's imprint in shocked awe. She was a human that had taken on a wolf a foot taller than her and had actually landed a serious hit. At the same time, the young wolf knew as soon as she found out about this Leah will have his hide for letting her girl get hurt. Shrugging out of his jacket Seth draped it across the shivering woman's shoulders. "Let's get you out of here." He decides in a whisper.
Sam was already walking away while Skyler was in no way finished with him. Using the serge of anger as a guide she finds the strength to shake off Seth's restraining hold running at the wabby legged taller man with the force of a linebacker despite the waterlogged sand under their feet.
This time she got in two solid hits before she was taken down. One was to Sam's stomach at least knocking the winds out of him the initial hit didn't already take and the second cracking his nose sending warm mutt blood spraying onto her throbbing hand before a tackling force knocked her sideways.
Sharp jaws snapped inches from Skyler's face in warning as he pinned her to the shoreline. She's guessing Paul from the temperament. God, he could use a mint.
Thankfully the beach was empty save for those that already knew the truth about the Quileute tribe seeing as when she looked over Skyler could see Embry and Seth shifted as well but the two Black pack wolves were outmatched with the rest of the Uley pack coming to their leader's aide. Skyler could have sworn Quil had been with them but looking over now she couldn't find his wolf amid the pacing snapping pups threatening her friends.
"Stop stop everyone just stop."
Jacob had pushed between the snarling packs trying to restore the peace while Sam had been helped up the beach Emily on one side Sue taking the other.
Skyler whimpered more from the pain in her hand than from fear of all the angry werewolves pacing the beach. She could see Seth trying to maneuver passed the others to help her, but he wasn't having much luck thanks to the mutts from Sam's pack. Not even Jacob could find a way passed the wall of fur and teeth to help her. At least not while he was human, but he didn't seem inclined to shift.
God, she wishes Leah were here.
No sooner than the thought had formed in her head than a wall of silvery-white slammed teeth first into the snapping tangle of gray above her.
Both wolves crash into the waves as Skyler pulls herself up. Renesmee is there this time providing a steadying shoulder to lean on when Skyler's head started to spin from the fatigue of having beaten up a human werewolf.
"Grandpa is already waiting back at the boundary to help with your hand." The vampire's daughter says not bothered at all by Skyler's stumbling steps as they walk slowly away from the wrestling wolves in the shallow surf.
"Leah stop before you kill him." Jacob's yell was confirmation enough that she hadn't been dreaming all of this.
"Blackbird…." Was all the drained woman could think to ask when she fought passed the tiredness seeping fast into her bones to speak. Nessie slows to a stop now really the only one keeping Skyler standing as they look toward the two soaked wolves.
"Lee Lee stop it." To say the beach grew deathly quiet apart from the push-pull sounds of the waves was an understatement. "now get over here I need my cuddle heater. I'm freezing."
What seemed to astonish everyone, not in 'the Black Pack' more however was when the silvery-white she-wolf trotted out of the water like an obedient yet scolded puppy, complete with her ears flattened against her head with a soft whine in shame. "Hi, beautiful." Sky grinned the adrenaline from the fight fading fast making her giddy while Leah shook out most of the water from her pelt. "Yeah yeah I know your sorry, but I forgive you." Skyler translates while the horse-sized wolf shifted nervously beside her.
Jacob wordlessly held out a backpack of clothes once Leah had calmed down enough to phase back.
"I've got it go." Her alpha says as her fading imprint nuzzles against her side drinking in her warmth. Right now, everyone including her mother was going to have to wait. "Carlisle's waiting at the boundary."
"Thanks, Jake." Leah whispers. She didn't need her wolf scenes to know her brother and Nessie were following them as she carries her now sleeping imprint toward the leech waiting for them at the boundary line.