CHAPTER 3

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Sam led me away from the house much to my relief and dismay. It's best this is private but it would mean there would be a reason to be private.

"Sam, if this is about Nessie…" I started hoping I'm wrong about my initial assumption.

"No...I want to talk to you about Paul."

"Paul?" I eyed him

"Yes. I thought I should warn you…" he seemed hesitant, even fearful.

"Warn me about what?" I dared him, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Lately he's been letting things slip."

"It can't always be helped Sam."

"I know but he's gone too far."

"Excuse you…" wait 'He's gone too far'? "What's gone too far?"

"His thoughts about you. His fantasies."

"His what?"

"Fantasies. I know he's a guy and they have all had certain thoughts about...you. I know. But his - they're just too much, too vivid. Recently they're too thought out. And detailed. " Too thought out, yeah because Paul is smart and probably pretending they're fantasies.

"Ok. Well there's not much anybody can do about it."

At one point in time Sam and I were high school sweethearts, but that was long ago and I have moved on, though that doesn't mean I have to be happy about how things ended. And I'm not going to forget our time together, especially during that time I got to know him, really well. Like his tells. Sam forgets I know him better than himself.

"Sam what did you do?" He still wouldn't look at me. "Sam!"

"I've placed a command. I told him to stay away from you. I didn't want to risk him actually going through. He's the only one in the pack that has the balls to make a move."

"You what?"

"Lee I was just protecting you."

"I don't need your protection. I can handle Paul myself. And this is none of your business. Take it off."

"No, he's out of line."

"He's a guy. It's Paul. Are you saying Paul's the only one that's thought of me like that?"

"He takes it too far and…and he's the only one that's would follow through, and he wouldn't care about your well being."

"You selfish bastard. You do realize you've insulted me twice."

"How? This is for you. I was protecting you."

"Protecting? One, what if we were attacked? You say you are protecting me, but by ordering him to keep his distance; you're putting me in danger. So it is bull when you say you still care."

"Lee Lee."

"Don't and what if I had wanted Paul to approach me, huh? What if I want a meaningless fling. Its not like I have any better options at the moment. You can't control everything. And it's none of your business. Just take it off."

"I'm still alpha. No."

"Take it off!"

"No."

"You..."

"Hey is everything alright?" My alpha comes through the bushes with a worried look.

"Sam is being an asshole." I tell him, still staring down Sam.

"Lee Lee..."

"Lee Lee me one more time…"

"Leah, why don't you go help Esme finish up dinner. I know she appreciates your help."

"She doesn't need it." Well she doesn't.

"Well then why do you help all the time? Come let me talk to Sam. You both need to cool off."

Sulking back to the house, I felt a shift in the air informing me Jacob and Sam have shifted. Probably for some alpha privacy.

WMWMWMWMWMWM

"Does this look ok, Esme?" I asked as I pulled out the lasagna out of the oven.

"It looks wonderful, dear. Just let it sit for a while." When is she never smiling?

"It smells wonderful." I say.

"It smells horrid." Rose replies.

"Well it's not for you."

"I wasn't talking about the food." On cue Jacob walks in the kitchen.

"So?"

"He said he would take off the order. But give him a break, Leah. " The resting of the evening he didn't say a word. Well not directly at me.

"Patrol. Leah."

"What."

"Now Leah."

We ran unnecessary circuits in silence. I've tried starting a conversation with him but something was up his ass.

We ended our patrol, meeting in our usual spot. Already phased back to human, I waited for Jacob. I had enough of his attitude.

"What's your problem?"

"How long?" He said eerily quiet as he was crossing the ground that separated us.

"What are..."

"I'm in no mood for games Leah." I stepped back and away as he approached me until I felt a tree pressed against my back. "How long? Answer me!" He roared slamming his fist at the tree next to my head.

"Jacob."

"Paul!"

"No. Leah." I said pointing at myself. Maybe right now I shouldn't be joking, but I tried to lighten the tension. Guessed it didn't work, if I received a growl in return.

"Don't play dumb with me Leah. How long have you been screwing him?"

"Excuse you? You have the nerve…"

"Sam may be blind, but you can't fool me. Paul isn't thinking fantasies, he's remembering them, isn't he?"

"What did Sam tell you?"

"As I was calming him down, we were phased, he showed me one of Paul's 'fantasies'. He showed the whole visual. Down to what you were wearing, a blue strapless sundress. The same one you ended up shredding. You wandered off in a good mood then end of the day you came back angry. You remember that day?"

Of course I do. But Paul had to ruin it. We normally just fool around, heavy make out session, pleasuring one another but never more than that. However, Paul was being too tender. He was acting if he was caring. He was ruining a good thing. We ended up arguing. That just put me in a foul mood.

"It's not what you think. We just fool around but I'm not screwing him. Thanks for thinking so highly of me." His eyes soften as I pushing him away. Seriously, what happened to personal space? I should leave it at that, but I take it one-step further. "You're just like Sam."

"I am not Sam." He snarled slamming me back into the tree. "Why him? Why Paul? Of all people."

"What does it matter?

If you really want to know, it was because he was there. We came to an understanding. We both needed some type of release" he scoffed. "And as weird as it may sound to you, we understand each other. We both had different problem, situations; different reasons to be wanted.

"He wanted inside your pants Leah. It's Paul. You should know that better than anybody should. You practically tried murdering him whenever he made perverse comment about your ass when we were one pack."

"I know. But like I said before, we came to an understanding. Paul's two best friends had imprinted and hell even Brady has a crush. He just needed some affection. And that' s all he gets."

"And what do you get?"

"Someone who's there for me; and just me. Even it's just for one superficial moment, I get to feel wanted."

"Leah" He signed as we both heard his phone ring. How he manages to never loses it when he's phased I will never know.

When I thought he would answer, he just ignored it. Jacob took one last step that closed the gap between us. If it wasn't for the persist ringing, I would start to feel uncomfortable. With one last sigh, he reached for his phone and answered with what I even thought was too harsh of a tone.

"What!" his tone obviously caught whoever called off guard. They remained silenced, which only annoys Jacob further.

"What is it?"

"Jacob." a sweet voice heard whimpered through the receiver. And just like that, an angry Jacob turned remorseful.

"Hey Bells, what is it?" he said softly.

"I thought you said you'll go hunting with us after you patrolled."

"Yeah, sure sure. I'll be right over." Before, he stared me down. Now he can't even look me in the eye. Coward.

"We gotta go."

Uh, no. I don't think so. "You got to go." I corrected

"Leah I…"

"Just go jump for Bella."

His eyes turned dark at my tone. "We're not done." With that, he sprinted off. For a moment there, I thought he truly cared. But again, I come in second. I will always come in second.

"Always second."

"You're second no more." The bush whispered.

Positive I wasn't hearing things I scanned my surrounding only to come up with nothing. Shaking my head clear, I walked back towards the Cullen's, only to turn back one last time when I heard the trees whisper "Second no more."

Before I could investigate, further phone buzzed. The name on the caller id was somewhat of a relief to me.

"Hey Paul."

"Hey Leah."

"I guess your almighty alpha are moved his gag order on you."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't want you to get in trouble."

"No problem, he needs to learn to mind his own business."

"Yeah. So you doing anything?" I can see him smirking through the phone. I could only roll my eyes.

"No. Want to meet up at the creek?"

"Yeah. See you in fifteen.

"Bye."

WMWMWMWMWMWM

As Leah and Paul parted ways, two eyes were leering beyond the foliage.

"Why you suppose they didn't realize we were here. Hey, you think she's into voyeurism because I may become a voyeuristic myself."

"They were probably too caught up in the moment."

"Well I can see why Aro wants her. Hell I even want to give her a go."

"I don't believe that is why your master wants her. However, she is gorgeous. Wait, can you?"

"Where do you think all the romantic Dracula crap came from? When humans are in that eutrophic state right when you fuck them senseless, their blood is in one of its purest forms. I'm drooling at the thought."

"Disgusting, sorry I asked."

"Don't knock it until you try it."