Chapter 3:

Leah's POV:

It had been several months since Garrett and I hooked up. I found myself still smarting from that imprinting phenomenon. Part of me still thought that I would be waking up from a bad dream anytime soon, but the good part of me cherished my newfound relationship. It hadn't been as bad as I feared it would be. Garrett had held his end of the bargain when it came to compromising and so far, most times, stretching it out of to accommodate my unyielding moods.

True, we lived with the Cullen's now which I was fervently praying would be temporary. Not that I didn't feel gratitude for their kindness, but it would be better to have a place we could call our own. Besides, the vampire stench all around me was enough to completely incapacitate an unsuspecting wolf. It would have been perfect to be living in La Push with my mate, but truth be told that it was unheard of to have a vampire in the midst of our people. To live and breathe with one was unacceptable and I didn't want to subject our tribe to acceptance because I turned out to imprint on our enemy.

And Sam, he had grudgingly accepted my imprint, there was nothing he could do about it. We conceded to our rules but that didn't necessarily mean that they could tolerate living and being with one 24-7. The tense situation between Garrett and Sam's pack remained.

We, for the time being bunked with the leeches and I had to get used to co-existing with them whether or not I liked it.

Surveying the land before me, I was delegated to be on patrol right now. Jacob had to get some shut-eye while Seth had to attend school, which he resentfully did every day. If my brother could have his way, he'd be happy running around guarding the leeches land. His deep friendship with the Cullen's, most especially with Edward, stemmed from the visit from Victoria and her cohorts which resulted to their early demise. The outcome of that battle had been considered a victory even before it started. There, the temporary alliance was born, strengthening further more when Jacob imprinted on Edward and Bella's hybrid daughter.

What a circus we were. Jacob imprinted on a newborn half-human, half vampire and I on a vampire. Could we even get freakier than this? I dug my paws on the damp earth and broke out into an all-out run to cover their land that bordered La Push. Although Sam and Jacob had agreed on a stand down, Jacob still felt a threat somewhere. Paul, one of Sam's pack members was the most volatile of the group, although, shape shifters do not deny the alpha's order. It wouldn't come as a surprise if one would deliver their wishes if it wasn't covered under the rule, the order or the law. So, Jacob's pack, which consisted of me and brother, would continue to guard the vicinity until he said it was no longer necessary.

So guard I would. The most exhilarating part of our job was the endless running. By running, I could surrender my mind and body to the call of nature, the smell of the strong earth complimented my wish to be one with my environment. Our tribe thrived on the rules of the earth and the ocean. The Quileute people revered the ocean life as well as its creatures. I could very well remember the stories my father Harry, bless his soul, and Billy Black, would tell us during our campfire ceremonies. My early impression from the stories they told had always been loyalty to our tribe, to our kind.

The errant thought of my father's sudden demise brought me renewed pain and longing. This was one blow which our family was still stinging from aside from my wolf transformation which would have been normal, if I was a male.

We all missed him terribly… I was my Daddy's little girl, we were pretty close and he'd been hoping to see me happy after what I had gone through with Sam. Nobody could have predicted that I would turn into a mutant wolf, the only female shape shifter in existence. My father's initial shock to my transformation happened so fast and his poor heart couldn't take it. The pain and shock didn't last long because he succumbed to heart failure instantaneously after he found out. I still missed him terribly. I often wonder what he would think of my imprinting on Garrett. What his reaction would have been. I guess I would never know now.

Sticking my nose up into the air, I scrutinized my surroundings with my wolf sense. With my hearing ability that could stretch for miles and my keen sense of smell, we were good to serve and protect. The immediate surrounding was free from any threat. Relaxing my run into a leisurely gallop, I continued my patrol within the perimeters bordering the Cullen's property.

Being a shape shifter had its perks. The ability to communicate while in wolf form was one of the best aspects of being a shape shifter, not to mention the strength and the speed and the greatest facet of it was the chance to kill the cold ones. The vampires, our natural enemies.

How ironic could it be that I ended up romantically and physically involved with one. Life indeed threw the curveball when you least expected it. This totally blindsided every one of us. Most of my people were still assimilating the reality and finality of my imprinting to a vampire.

With the perks came the disadvantages. This weighed more at times for me as I pondered on it every single day. Being the lone female shape shifter, I had no example or story to cling to for comfort. I was the only one of my kind in existence. Would I be able to lead a normal life? What kind of life was available to me now that I had Garrett in my life?

Could we survive our vast differences? None of the questions I've asked myself so far bothered me more than this; do I have the ability to procreate? Am I physically able to bear children since I started shifting?

Nothing scared me more than the big question mark that loomed ahead, hanging over my head like a guillotine waiting to execute me. If I could have them, what would they be? It had to be the worst question I came up with. And once again, I would sweep it under the rug and try not thinking about it.

Maybe it was for the best that I didn't have the answers to my questions.

The thought made me run faster, ignoring the actuality that I ran past the boundary of my assignment. Before I knew it, my paws took me to La Push. The only place I've ever called home.

Judging by the scent in the air, there was a shape shifter nearby. I had to sort of change frequency in my head to get to the right channel so I could communicate with them. As weird as it sounded, some things changed when we joined Jake's pack, all the rest of them went in the by-way, like their sounds and thoughts were muted now that we belonged to two separate packs. We had to relegate to another wave length in order to join theirs, and I assumed that this was the same for the others in Sam's pack too.

Leah? The voice of Embry rattled in my head as we got closer to each other. I saw him bounding from the south side of the field and he ran faster as he saw me clear the trees.

Hey Embry, what's going?

What brings our princess back to La Push? he joked as he stood next to me, his charcoal gray coat glistening under the early morning sun.

Shut up Embry. I shot back as we loped towards the town where my parent's house were close by, might as well visit my mother and possibly wait for Seth to come home from school.

Well, see yah around Leah, don't be a stranger, Embry called out as he went to the opposite direction leading him to the forest again.

I'll see you around Embry.

I decided to phase just before I entered the busy neighborhood while there were still some trees to hide for cover while I changed into my usual packed get-up. Running with a string of clothes tied to your leg is a bitch and the added cell phone that Garrett made me carry even made it even more annoying. I hated this part then and I still hate it now.

The sudden vibration coming from my cell phone alerted me of an incoming call. I didn't get many phone calls anymore. Not since I alienated myself from my girlfriends of the tribe. None of them could know my secret and I doubted that they would understand if they knew, so I just decided to distance myself from them.

I flicked the flip phone open and saw Garrett's name on the caller ID. A slight smile formed at the corner of my mouth at the thought of the vampire, my mate. I push the talk button and his low baritone voice drawled in my ear.

Hi gorgeous, how was your day so far? Finding any cold ones around? He made it a joke to ask me the same stupid question each time he called when I was out on patrol. The joke was getting old and I should tell him to sock it one of these days.

"Hey G, its okay so far. I haven't seen any leech that I would have the pleasure of dismembering yet," I countered. As annoying as the question could get, I liked the idea of Garrett checking in on me from time to time. It made me realize that he was thinking of me.

Glad to hear that babe, I would hate for you to come home reeking with vampire cologne, he joked and I tapped my foot on the ground waiting for him to tell me the reason for his call.

"G, what's the reason for this call?" I asked, impatience evident in my voice.

Wow Leah, do I need a reason to call you? Can't I just call you just because? he asked sounding a little miffed with my short temper.

"No you don't but I thought you had some work to do," I answered attempting to hide the annoyance in my voice.

Yes I am working right now, just wanted to hear your voice that's all. Garrett finally answered after a few seconds. I had the feeling that my short answer was getting to him today.

"Thanks G." That was all I could say, I couldn't explain why I am short fused today, maybe I was PMS'ing. God, the annoying period was coming soon again.

I will see you later then. With that, I heard the click of the phone and the line went dead. He didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye. I guess I was not the only one who got out of the wrong side of the bed today. I put the phone in my pocket as I started walking to the direction of my mother's house.

I visited with my mother for a few minutes. She was looking well, the black rings under her eyes were already fading and the color was back in her face. She was getting more sleep these days which was a good indication. That could only mean that she was slowly adjusting on my father's absence. I could only guess how hard it could be, being left alone after many years of being together.

I had to get back to my patrolling after the wandering unexpectedly to La Push. I shifted fast and ran back to Forks to resume my task. Didn't want Jacob to think that I was slacking off during my watch, too sure that he'd go nuts when he found out that I drifted away from Forks, even for just a little while.

I ran back to my post, a bit ashamed for straying away from my assignment but feeling some resentment for what we had to do. I still believed that we shouldn't be the bloodsuckers watch dogs when we had better things to do in La Push. But an Alpha's order was an order and I didn't have it in my power to contest the order, so follow I should or else Jacob wouldn't think twice of booting me out.

Where would I go? It seemed like my choices had been narrowed down for me.

Damn! I shouted inside my head as I scuttled along the clearing close to the Cullen's house. The house was quiet, I could hear a little conversation going on but I couldn't make out much from it. Edward was looking out straight from the window at me, a smirk on his face.

He most likely heard my ranting about them and my position within in the disproportioned group and I didn't care. Damn his mind reading. I was pretty sick of the fact that he could read ours and we couldn't do anything about it.

Edward's smirk formed into an irritating smile, as I could see him from the distance. He seemed to be enjoying my silent rambling, so I gave him something more.

Cullen, you are one sick mother. I turned away huffing and ran some more. I refused to be further subjected to his mind reading; a good three miles would clear me out of his range.

Within a few hours I was done with my round and was replaced by Seth who seemed too eager for the job. I met him by the boulder where he came dashing with the mad enthusiasm of an idiot.

Hi sis, he greeted me with his big wolfy grin, his tongue hanging on the side of his mouth as he bounded next to me.

Seth, I am going back to the house. I will be phasing and I won't be able to hear you. Come by the house if you need anything from me, I said ignoring the smile I could imagine beneath the sand colored-wolf exterior.

Okay Leah, no problem. Got it from here. His eagerness made me cringe; I decided to bite my tongue for any haughty remark. After all, we couldn't help who we loved and that applied to everybody. I left him still grinning to himself to return back to my temporary home.

The house was fairly quiet as I let myself in the door. I could hear some conversation going on in Carlisle's study. Edward and Carlisle had been deep in research hoping to get a clear and verifiable idea of what was expected from Renesmee's rapid growth. Her progression had been terribly fast, both mentally and physically, it had thrown everyone off, including Jacob, with fear and concern with what lay ahead for her.

I went straight to our bedroom hoping to find Garrett in there, where he usually worked during the day, stuck in front of his computer watching the movement of the stock market.

"Hey G, I'm home!" I called out even before I opened the door only to find out that he wasn't even there, the bed was made and his computer was lying idle as the screen saver had been activated. I was hoping I could make up it up to him for my curt behavior over the phone earlier.

Feeling a bit dejected, I slumped on the bed without care. There was piece of folded paper by my pillow and found his scribble on the note that said:

Hi Gorgeous,

Went out to hunt. Be back soon.

G

A smile broke out across my face as I placed the note close to my heart thinking how lucky I was that Garrett didn't hold a grudge for my earlier behavior. How lucky could I get to find someone who could accept me for who I truly was?

I was starting to doze off when I heard Seth's voice calling for me outside the house. My heart skipped a beat; my first thought went to Garrett. Startled, I bolted out of the bed and bounded the stairs two at a time. I saw that Edward and Carlisle beat me to the door. Edward threw the door open, his movement swift and hurried as his form blurred before my eyes.

Seth was in his human form dressed in khaki shorts and no shirt, his eyes found me as I got to the door a few seconds later. Edward was already reading his mind as Seth hastily told me what was happening.

"Leah! Hurry up. Garrett and Paul are ready to kill each other. I just heard it and I ran here as fast as I could. They are in La Push. I have to run and get Jacob too." Seth phased so fast that I couldn't asked anymore question before Edward and Carlisle called out for Jasper who came as fast as lightning and I found myself running after them right after I cleared and phased into my wolf form. All I could think of was Garrett. What was he doing in La Push of all the places?

A/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter. I would appreciate it if you leave a comment. Thanks.