Leah POV

The pack jumped up and ran out the door to great Jacob and his leech lover. I stayed seated in the corner grimacing. She'll probably make Emily's reek like a bloodsucker. Why did Jacob keep hanging around her? It's obvious she's just using him to fill her spare time. I don't even understand how he can stand being near her, let alone hug. I bet as soon as you step out the door you can smell the leech radiating off of her. The thought intrigued me slightly, how much of her scent would be there and how much would the leech overpower it? I guess that's useful information to know if I ever had to track a leech hostage situation. Maybe I just want to go out there and give her a piece of my mind. I'll go out there, see how close I can get before my nose burns from the leech, and then see if I can even smell human under it. Then I can tell her to quit jerking Jacob's heart around. It's hard enough dealing with Sam's thoughts of Emily in my head all the time but Jacob is so loud with his lame love triangle thoughts. The sooner Bella fucks off the sooner I can run with a little less love bullshit. I guess he'll be heartbroken for a while but it'll be nice to have someone else hurting too. Maybe that makes me an asshole, but I don't really care.

With a sigh, I stood and slowly walked towards the door. I could hear the pack outside joking around and laughing. Guess I'll put an end to that. Slowly, I walked down the porch steps, looking at the ground as I heard the playful attitude dwindle. They had heard my approach, Leah the fun killer incoming. Stopping slightly in front of Embry I made eye contact with Jacob.

"Bella, this is Leah Clearwater. Harry Clearwater's daughter." Jacob introduced me.

No shit Jacob, we had met when we were pretty young. We used to hang out when Charlie came down to visit Harry. We got along alright, nothing too special. My gaze wandered to Bella's face to see if she had any sign of recognition. That's when it hit me. My heart skipped a beat and was suddenly in rhythm with Bella's. It was a subtle change, and I was sure no one noticed except me. Freak show Leah, step on up and get your tickets. The only female shapeshifter ever. Imprinted on another woman. Why am I so fucked up? I clenched my fists and jaw, grinding my teeth, in an attempt to stay calm. My fists trembled uncontrollably but I couldn't stop staring at Bella. Bella took half a step back, staring back at me with wide eyes. Yeah, back away from the freak show. Why her? It could have been anyone but I had to imprint on the girl Jacob pined after. The one that loved a bloodsucker. All this imprint did is set me up for heartbreak, all over again.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about your father." She stuttered out.

She had genuine sorrow in her eyes, under the shock. A lump formed in my throat and I wanted to let go, to finally grieve the loss of my father. I wanted to bury my face in the crook of her neck, for her to hold me, while I cry. I quickly shoved that urge down and clenched my fists tighter, my shaking getting more aggressive. I can't hold on much longer but I don't want to leave yet. No! I can fight this bullshit imprint, I can leave whenever. I don't need this kind of drama in my life. Fuck this whole shapeshifter bullshit.

"Leah," Jake warned.

My eyes snapped to Jake. Does he think I'm stupid? I can control myself enough not to phase so close to someone. I growled at him low, not trusting my ability to form the words 'Fuck off' through my clenched teeth. Something in my soul demanded I look at Bella again, it was impossible to fight the urge. My heart sank when I looked at her and saw the hurt in her eyes. The thought of being upset by Bella's emotions was the last straw. I can't stay here any longer, my legs started moving me towards the treeline. I was running as fast as I could but it wasn't fast enough. My rage exploded and I could feel my legs turn from two to four mid-run. I instantly felt better but just before I could allow myself to fully give in to the emotional turmoil that is my life I heard Bella gasp. I turned to look at her. Her eyes were filled with wonder and admiration, but that was quickly taken over by a look of sadness. My heart begged me to go back and comfort her. I had to grit my teeth, my muscles all became tense. Before I caved to the imprint I turned and ran the rest of the way into the woods. My heart fought back and I was filled with the worst feeling of loneliness I'd ever experienced. It caused me to falter a few steps and I nearly fell. Uncontrollably, a howl rippled from my chest, as if my heart were able to directly sing out its protest at me running the wrong way.

I need to get out of here, I need to leave I need to run. My paws beat the damp underbrush in a frenzied sprint. I crashed through low hanging branches, a small heard of deer spooked not too far from me. I kept running, my lungs burning in protest at my insistence to keep sprinting. All of a sudden I wasn't alone, I could feel Sam's presence in my thoughts. I tried desperately to hide my thoughts but it has always been hardest to hide them from Sam. He knew me too well, our relationship before all the bullshit shapeshifter stuff made it so easy for him to understand me and get in my head now. Which made me hate the shapeshifting even more.

'Leah?'

'I don't want to fucking talk about it, Sam! Just go back to Emily and forget everything.'

'You know you can't fight it, Leah. It'll rip you apart and you'll just be a shell of a person. Trust me I tried…'

'I told you I don't want to fucking talk. And don't give me your lame guilt bullshit. Go to Emily and live out your happy little lives.'

'You could be happy as well Leah, you just have to stop fighting it.'

Just then I felt Jacob's presence join us. I tried even harder to try and make my mind a blank slate, but I hadn't had enough time to compose myself.

'What the actual fuck?! NO! You can't. I love her, I've always loved her. You hate her, this isn't right!' I could see through Jacob's mind link that he changed his course so he was now running in my direction.

'You think I want this shit, Jacob? Really? I love being the freakshow. You can have her, I can fight this. I'm strong enough not to give in to some voodoo shapeshifter bullshit.' I made a point to mentally empathize the last part, dripping with hatred, at Sam.

'You should have never imprinted on her in the first place! You've never liked her, you hate her. Why you?'

'Jacob! Go back to Emily's, you can walk.' Sam boomed in his alpha voice. I couldn't help cringe a little at the alpha command even though it wasn't directed at me. Just like that Jacob's presence disappeared.

'Take some time Leah, I'll talk to Sue.'

Sam's presence disappeared as well and I was finally alone with my thoughts. I kept running with no real destination but I knew I couldn't go too far. I'd have to go back eventually, Sam wouldn't let me run out here as a wolf forever, especially with the newborn army threatening our people and Bella.

Bella, she must be so scared, maybe I should-NO!