I am so sorry for not updating sooner! Heres a nice long one (oo-er!) as a peace offering! and heres another exclamation mark!
Disclaimer: Only Swarhi, Jonty and the plot are mine
Edward headed Jasper's advice, and staying upwind approached Emily and Sam's house on the reservation silently, perching himself in one of the many overhanging trees and peering into the house. All of the pack were there; Sam caught Emily round the waist as she lifted something out of the oven, and she playfully batted him away with the oven-gloves, most of the guys were eating as they stood around talking, he couldn't see his targets, but he could smell them.
Edward shifted lightly to the next branch down; he was now able to see into the living room, his targets were in sight. The male sat on the sofa with his legs stretched out along it, bent at the knees. The female lay between his legs on her back, her head resting on his chest, hands clasped just below her breasts. The male was watching the TV, his head turned to the right to see the screen, whilst the female's eyes were closed, a small smile on her lips, dark wavy hair spread across the male's chest, one of his hands absently combed it. Edward could smell their full wolfiness, the stronger scent than the rest of the pack, but even he had to admit that from here they looked peaceful, just like any other couple resting after a day. He frowned, their barriers were strong inside their minds, and he shifted slightly as he settled down to watch.
"You want a cookie?" Seth's voice made Jonty turn and smile with a nod as he felt his wife shift as her eyes opened.
"Love one" he responded and one promptly appeared in his hand. Swarhi sat up, using Jonty's bent legs and supports and rubbed a hand to her forehead.
"You feeling that?" She asked Jonty quietly. He nodded with a sigh, his spare hand going to her shoulder and squeezing it.
"Yeah, someone's trying to get in."
"Get in?" Swarhi looked up and saw Leah sat on the other sofa watching them with a bored expression.
"Read our thoughts" Swarhi said with a sigh, and her eyes suddenly flicked to the window.
In his tree, Edward stiffened.
"Swarhi?" Jonty asked as his wife, not taking her eyes off the window as she pushed herself to her feet and quietly walked over. The pack now watched, most with their mouths full of food as she stood next to the glass, staring out into the darkness. The 'scrich' of her suddenly closing the curtains make a few jump, and she turned with a smile on her face
"Can't stand drafts! Did someone say something about biscuits?"
That evening the pack stayed in the living room, various bodies filling the floor as Jonty and Swarhi resumed their position on the sofa again, the curtains remained closed, much to the annoyance of the vampire sat in the tree outside. He listened in on the thoughts of the pack instead, most of whom were zonked out whilst watching the movie, but Leah was watching the female, Swarhi, with interest. Swarhi was once more dozing, her chest rising and falling with each breath, and Edward picked up enough from her to know she truly was asleep, not just pretending. Through Leah's eyes he saw Swarhi shift and her brow crease in a frown. Jonty picked up on the movement and without looking slid his hand into hers and lifted it onto her stomach, massaging it softly. Leah looked away form the private moment and Edward's connection was lost. He didn't know what to make of this, and leapt off into the canopy, leaving the little warm house and it's happy inhabitants, Swarhi's eyes flickering open as the pressure on her mind lessened, and looked up at her husband, who looked back down at her and shrugged. She smiled slightly and closing her eyes again snuggled into his chest, wrapping his arm around her as she cheerfully slept through another film.
Later that night Leah sat on her bed, not reading the book in front of her, her mind filled with images of the new couple. Her irritation of Swarhi had only lessened slightly, it had been a couple of days and the couple had been seen walking around the reservation hand in hand, getting to know the elders and the other residents, she knew they were going to meet the elders at some point, along with Sam, to formally introduce them. Leah smiled, they wouldn't have any trouble, nobody could dislike that pair, as she'd already recognised even though she had managed to hate them it had started to wear off, and was basically gut reaction. There was a thump and it drew her out of her reverie, looking to the window she saw Jacob looking unstable on the windowsill. In one swift move she was by the windowsill and had the sash open, grabbing the front of his shirt as he wobbled.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" she hissed.
"I just came to see you" Jacob said, prying at her fingers with his spare hand as the other kept his balance "can I come in?" Leah stepped back smartly and he flopped into the room, landing with a thump on the floor. Leah hauled him up and sat him on the bed, standing before him with her arms crossed.
"Same question." She said bluntly.
"I came to see if you were ok, you were really quiet tonight." He said. Leah took a breath, looking into those pleading brown eyes, it would be so easy to give in, to let out the pain, the worry….no. She straightened up.
"I'm fine."
"Leah-"
"Jake stop it! I don't need you in my head right now." She sat down heavily on the bed next to him, and instinctively he put his arm round her. She froze.
"What are you doing?" Her voice dripped with ice.
"I'm giving you a hug." Jacob said patiently "'cos you're my friend, and your not happy. That ok?" There was no reply, but she didn't pull away, leaning into him. Jacob smiled slightly and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, this time she didn't stiffen, he didn't even know if she noticed, but he held her tight and the steady throb of his heartbeat reassured her that someone cared for her.
The next day Leah headed towards Emily's house and let herself in, finding some of the pack already around, Swarhi and Jonty washing up as Sam talked with them, and Leah sat down almost unnoticed.
"So if you want to run with us today, you're welcome" Sam was saying
"That sounds good" Swarhi said, sliding a plate into the cupboard "you think Jonty?"
Jonty frowned slightly "Will we be safe?"
"From the Cullens?" Sam asked, a nod in response "Yeah, they don't normally engage unless they have to, we skirt their territory but that's as close as it gets." Jonty and Swarhi shared a look, then smiled.
"We'd love to join you, you in Leah?" Leah jumped slightly as Swarhi inquired, not used to people asking, normally it was just 'we're going on a run, you're coming'.
"Er, yeah."
"Good" Swarhi said with a smile, and wiped her hands dry, "we'll meet you in the woods"
The whole pack turned out to run with the new wolves, surprisingly settling straight into their consciousness, Jonty kept pace with Sam at the head, Swarhi abreast of him, they could almost hear her wanting to run faster, and Leah smiled inside, realising how the others must hear her thoughts when she was sick of their slow speed.
Lets see how fast you can go Swarhi's voice echoed through Leah's head,
You're on and Leah pushed herself to her full speed, the female pair quickly leaving the rest of the pack behind and blurring through the trees, dodgng this way and that, souring on leaps and swiftly reaching the border. The stench hit them first, and Swarhi visually wrinkled her snout.
How can you stand this?
It's worse at the house.
You've been to their house?
Yeah, Jacob-
The almost beta?
Yeah.
But he's bigger than Sam…
Yeah…. He's a Black, his grandfather was the old alpha
So Sam's not the rightful alpha?
Nope.
Now that is interesting. They're catching up.
Leah looked over her shoulder, blurry brown and black shapes followed them, and Swarhi had slowed down, panting slightly.
You alright? Leah asked. She nodded.
Fine. Just winded. Haven't sprinted in a while.
The guys had caught up with them, and they came to a stop by the brook, Swarhi lapping a drink from the fresh water and Jonty sat down next to her, flanks heaving.
Lady, you are fast! Said Quill
Yeah, I mean, dude!
I gotta work out more….
…like a furry bullet!
The comments continued, and Leah's blood began to boil as none of them noticed how she had easily kept up with Swarhi. Everyone was talking, the voices jumbled in her head, brief images of Jacob flashed through her thoughts and Quill caught them
Whey-hey!
Stop it Quill! She shot back
Stop what?
Urgh! Leah had had enough. Goodbye!
She leapt off through the trees, her angry mist of thoughts getting quieter the further away she got, leaving the pack in stunned silence. There was a shimmer in their minds as she phased, leaving nought but an echo of her anger.
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...[new chapter]
Leah had been avoiding the pack for the last week. Something about the new couple had really got under her skin, and Swarhi. Wonderful Swarhi. Swanning in as if she owned the place. Not that Leah cared, it was just…
"Urgh."
"Talking to yourself, first sign of madness" Leah looked up and glared at her brother who had miraculously appeared by the fridge.
"What do you want?"
"Message from Sam" Relayed Seth, "stop avoiding us and come back."
"What, no alpha command?" Leah sneered
"Nope. He's worried about you."
"Yeah right." Leah muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Jake wants you back anyway. Can't keep his mind off you." Seth said with a shrug, leaning against the doorway, Leah didn't let it show, but inside her chest her heart jumped suddenly.
"Oh." She said with disinterest, and flicked a page in the magazine. "Maybe I'll run today."
"Cool, we got any food in?"
Leah phased, feeling the fur suddenly appear on her body and the strength in her limbs. She also heard one voice loud and clear as crystal ringing through her head as none had before.
"Leah?" Said Swarhi "We need to talk."
"What makes you think I want to talk to you?" Leah sent back, aware of the rest of the pack listening in. She felt Swarhi smile.
"Trust me." Leah didn't hesitate, and it was only when she was running after Swarhi's scent that she realised she had followed it as if it was an alpha command. Swarhi had gone quiet, and the pack's thoughts became quieter as they ran away from her. Finally Leah came to a babbling brook and stopped, seeing Swarhi sat, in human from on the edge, trailing her bare feet in the water, the hem of her long dress soaked. Leah stepped back and quickly phased before stepping out clothed, and Swarhi smiled at her, patting the grass at her side. Leah sat down silently, feeling ill at ease.
"You've got some questions." Swarhi stated. "And I have some for you too. But I want to teach you something; how to block your thoughts from others."
"I thought we were supposed to share everything? The pack-"
"We're not true wolves, we're shapeshifters." Swarhi said gently "Humans are much more private, its part of our condition. You cant be happy with sharing your thoughts to the world, those more skilled can delve into them and pull out anything they choose."
"Like you?"
"Yes." Swarhi said unequivocally "That why I want to teach you how to block."
"Wont they notice?"
"Have you ever noticed with me?" Leah shook her head "They wont, believe me. I was surprised to find this pack so open, honesty is good, I believe that, but there are some things you wish to keep private, that the pack does not need to know. When my son starts to phase I certainly don't want him hearing my every thought. Its natural."
There was a moment of silence, the vampire watching in the trees shifted slightly and tried to read their lips as the breeze carried their words away from him. Leah nodded.
"Ok. Teach me."
Jonty ran with Sam at the head of the pack, carefully logging and learning the scents of the Cullen's as they crossed the scent trails left by the vampires earlier in the day, the others watched with interest as he added them to his memory, skipping past previous vampires he had encountered. There was a worrying amount.
You got away from all of these? Jacob asked
Most of them. Jonty said casually Wish they were a bit easier to kill
His memory skipped over and they saw a thinner wolf-Swarhi fighting at his side and taking the vampire down with a skill none of them had yet accomplished, but there was something missing.
Is Swarhi your imprint?
My what? Jonty replied, confused. The others tried to show him, Sam allowing the full extent of his feelings for Emily reveal themselves in clarity. Jonty frowned. You think you lock eyes with someone and your life revolves around them? Right, wow, um, ok. He shook her head to clear it I have never come across that before.
But what about Swarhi?
What about her?
Aren't you scared your gonna find your imprint and leave her? Sam asked. Jonty glided to a stop and turned to face Sam, muzzle to muzzle.
Swarhi is my wife. I love her more than life itself. She is having a baby with me. Why would I leave her? The question was not angry, but purely genuine. Jonty could not understand imprinting. There was an awkward silence.
She wouldn't let me anyway Jonty thought with a chuckle, and the mood relaxed.
How'd you meet her?
Party that got out of hand, about four packs got together and were set upon by vampires, she saved me. He said simply. She never backs away from fights, and quite often makes them. Can get quite irritating. Of course, it's also what made me fall in love with her.
When they felt Leah and Swarhi shimmer into their consciousness something had changed. There was a peace between the pair, and Leah's thoughts didn't immediately greet them with a growl. Jonty shot a smile to his wife, and she nodded, walking to him and rubbing muzzles.
A few days later the pack ran in a relative peace, lolloping through the forests following scent trails. Jacob was deep in his own thoughts, Leah's thoughts had been quieter, more passive, ever since she'd talked with Swarhi it had been a happier pack that ran. A familiar scent wafted over, and Jonty grinned as Swarhi, in human form, walked out into the path. He bounded over like a large dog, and she laughed holding his muzzle and kissing his nose.
"Hello sweetie, hows everything going?" Jonty woofed in response, and the other wolves appeared from various trees around them. Jonty sat down by Swarhi's side and she scratched his ears as she greeted the others who had emerged in human form.
"People will start to think that you've got a dog" Sam said with a smile, she laughed
"Yeah, wouldn't be the first time, you're my shadow, aren't you?" she said to Jonty, who woofed. "I still find it incredible that we're the first wolves you've met outside of the reservation."
"The Cullen's told us we were the only ones" Paul said with a shrug
"Then you've been lied too. It was probably their stench that hid you, wolves always seek each other out, have you ever felt an urge or longing to head true north?" The pack exchanged a few looks; Jacob always ran north when he was upset.
"I never saw anybody…" Jacob said
"Probably just bad luck" Swarhi dismissed "Mari's had a lot on her plate recently without keeping a nose out for new scent trails."
"Yeah, about that…female alphas?" Sam said "I don't think that can be right." Swarhi raised an eyebrow and Jonty went still at her side.
"Beg pardon?"
"I mean, alphas are supposed to be the strongest, the fastest-"
"You're not."
"….what?"
"I find it very amusing Samuel that you give me this lecture when you're not even the true alpha yourself."
"I-"
"It works on blood and the strongest wolf with the most potential. You are none of these things."
"Now hold on-"
"Have you ever been challenged?"
"What?"
"Challenged, by another wolf?"
"We fought the Volturi-"
"Not leeches, a wolf. Has you ever properly fought a wolf?" She repeated. Sam shook his head. Next to Swarhi Jacob heard Jonty let out a whine which she purposefully ignored, and slipped her bag off her shoulder, putting it on the ground with a thud.
"Erm…."
"I challenge your leadership of this pack." Swarhi said
"Whoa, what?" Sam replied, stepping back as she stepped forwards. Jonty's words from earlier came back to Jacob as he saw the wolf visibly sigh. Swarhi's skin began to shimmer as she prepared to phase.
"I…" Sam said, taking another step back, when Jonty was suddenly before Swarhi on his hind legs, paws on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. Her gaze hardened and she pushed him off.
"Fine!" she snapped, grabbing her bag and swinging it over shoulders in a swoosh of dirt "Fine." She turned smartly on one heel and strode off, anger emulating off her in waves. Jonty visibly sighed, and made to follow her when her voice floated back "Don't even think of following me Mayweather!" He stopped midstride; one paw raised off the ground, and slowly lowered it to take his weight. Shooting a brief look to Sam he turned quickly and bounded off in the opposite direction.
Edward watched from the branches of a tree as the female werewolf stormed beneath him, heading towards one of the many clearings. She was angry, her thoughts cascading over each other in livid fury and her barriers cracking under this torrent of emotion. He didn't need to be Jasper to smell the anger rolling off her. This was the first time she had been properly alone without her husband or an errant member of the public or pack following her. Now was the time. Edward was going to confront her.
They didn't communicate much on the run. Jonty was deep in his thoughts, and unabashed they watched them as his barriers allowed some memories to trickle through. He was replaying memories of Swarhi, how they'd first met after the deaths of his family, they'd bonded over their genes and shared claustrophobia, and how they'd run. Flashes and glimpses of other werewolves dashed through his mind, they saw this 'Mari' they kept mentioning, a large female alpha with grey stripes and blind in one eye, and Rossita, a thin sleek brown wolf from the South of France. All the while Jonty was reassuring himself that they still loved each other; it was all just 'alpha talk'. They felt his elation at the thought of being a father, his worries, his fears, and his terror at the very scent of vampire. Leah had had enough; she hadn't come back to watch another couple's romance.
I bet your exaggerating your speed she taunted, purposefully breaking the sombre mood
I'm not came Jonty's swift reply, beginning to smile at the implied challenge
Come on then and Leah began to run, Jonty fast behind her leaving the pack in their dust as they careered forwards, dipping and diving amongst the trees. The rest of the pack raced to catch up, and could hear the thoughts of the two in front taunting each other
Is that all you've got fluffy boy?
Fluffy boy? Really? Jonty returned and no fang-girl it isn't! He pressed himself to go faster, when suddenly a huge spike of fear ran through him, and paws sliding he came to a sudden stop, head screaming. His entirety of thoughts were taken up with locating the fear; it wasn't his, it-
Whats going on? Sam said as the rest of the pack reached them, flanks heaving I felt something-
Somethings wrong Jonty said briefly, trying to focus as the screaming in his head abated slightly. His connection to Swarhi was faint as she was in human form, but suddenly another spike of terror rushed through it.
Swarhi! Jonty screamed, and turning quickly in a spray of dust began to sprint back towards the reservation. The pack could feel his anxiety as another spike of fear ran through him, and then, more worryingly, a shot of pain passed through them all in a wave, making them shudder and some break their stride with its ferocity. Leah was not known for her endless patience, and suddenly raced past Jonty, giving in to her full speed that far outmatched any of theirs; her grey paws flying over the ground as she covered the distance easily. Jonty watched through her eyes as he continued to run, a familiar smell reaching his muzzle and tingeing his vision with red
Vampires!
They heard another scream, then Leah burst into the clearing and growled at the vampire who stood over Swarhi, her long skirts spread around her, bag flung to the side, grazes on her arms from where she had fallen on the sharp rocks and gravel around her.
"Leah! No! Arhh!" Swarhi began to shake as Leah ran to the vampire
What are you doing Cullen! She shot through her head, projecting as loudly as she could
"I'm not doing anything-" he started, before Leah leapt at his throat. The brief battle that ensued was nasty, fur flying and bites taken out of each other before Leah had him pinned beneath her, growling as the rest of the pack finally caught up. Edward looked to them, always fascinated by the packs consciousness he read it like his favourite drug; this woman's pain had gone through all off them, he had thought she was exaggerating, but judging by the human who ran amongst them, his long dark hair whipping in the wind and falling to his knees by her she was not. The man showed a bare chest peppered with silvery scars and sweat, his legs covered by ripped jeans hastily belted, feet muddy.
"Swarhi? Did he hurt you, oh god-" Edward could hear the human's anguish, and Jonty ran his hands over her, his fingertips becoming coated in the wolf-blood. The wolves gathered around him began to pace and whine; they could feel her pain and it unnerved them, but they had sense enough to stay back as Jonty carefully enveloped the shaking woman in his arms and pressed her to him, trying to calm her with soft soothing words as he felt hot tears hit his bare skin.
Edward laid his head back as Leah placed a large, heavy paw on his throat. The sensation was not of pain, but was very uncomfortable, and two more wolves came into his vision; a russet coloured wolf, and a black one.
You're in our territory leech. Sam thought You attacked one of our pack. This violates the treaty. Edward could see it in Sam's head, he had attacked Swarhi, Swarhi was part of the pack, therefore, he had hurt all of them. Sam really thought quite simply.
"I didn't know she was one of you-"
So you just thought she was a human? Jacob shot
I know you could smell her. Leah said, and Edward turned his mental gaze to her. Of all of the wolves she was the one he feared the most, her mind was clear, clean and sublime. She had been through so much, had to go through things he had barely experienced in his many lifetimes, and it had turned her into someone who didn't tolerate fools, and didn't take prisoners. He could feel the beginnings of barriers in her mind, but undeveloped as they were they had crashed when she attacked him; her hatred, pain and anger fuelling her superior strength and speed. She pressed slightly harder on his throat. Now it was beginning to hurt. He had managed to get her above the eye, and now her fur became matted as she briefly bled.
Shall I just leave you to Leah? Sam asked smugly as Leah growled
"I didn't know-" Leah put her other foot on his throat, Edward began to gasp "Stop! I-"
"…..Leah…" a raspy, quiet authorative voice somehow carried to them, and the four turned to where Jonty knelt next to Swarhi, who still trembled, the grazes on her arms and hands staining her skin red, she wasn't healing "….he didn't….." she dropped her head and caved inwards with a low moan. Jonty pulled her to him, his face stony, eyes glistening. Leah turned back to Edward and snarled, pushing her muzzle close to his face
Leave bloodsucker. The pressure on him let up and without his usual grace Edward staggered to his feet, took one last look at the pack and ran, vanishing into the trees. Leah tried to calm the blood pumping through her veins and padded over to where Swarhi was still sat. Jonty raised his eyes, red-rimmed.
"We need to get home."
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