Thank you waterdragon213, tlyxor1, chock to, galyardt, loki, Ummay Winchester, Jazz, BetahimeTsukiko, naali, KXR, Tracer28, ANGEL FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, InazumaNina, Apocalypse owner, MariMart, birdy, Quyiken, Ksave, Elia the Huntress, XxXLuvTheOriginalsXxX, Tsuki no Yasha, and Guests for reviewing, as well as everyone who faved/followed this story. You guys are so wonderful, and you truly light up my world. Sorry if I forgot anyone!

I am sorry for the slow updates, but... I've nearly finished writing the main story, so I just have a few more pages, then go back and smooth everything out so that it's readable to people who are not sleep deprived caffeine addicts.

Chock to: Why, thank you! I hope you enjoy the next chapter too!

Loki: Please don't send the chitari after me for my slow update ( I love that you chose that name!) Thank you so much for your review, it really means more than I can say to me.

Jazz: Ha. HA HA. (Okay, I kinda see what happens as 'necessary' shit. If Sam were taken out of the equation, the story would be totally different. His distrust and power is kinda why they won't just talk it out. Without him- and maybe a little bit natasha?- Steve and Leah would probably already be quite happy together. Moral of the story: BLAME SAM.) And thank you for your wonderful comment! It's as beautiful as your personality!

naali: I know what you mean! It took me a couple of years to actually post the first chapter and see what reaction I'd get. But people like you have been so supportive. I can't thank you enough for that.

birdy: ummm... let's just say, at a very inopportune moment. BECAUSE DRAMA. Within the next several chapters, things will be revealed! Thank you. I love seeing your reviews popping up. You are amazing.

Guest: Thank you! I hope I didn't make you wait to long.


"WHAT?" Leah heard Sam thunder as she walked up the steps. She winced, took a step back. Shoulders back, back straight, and she walked into the house.

Paul was slouching on the couch, arms crossing his body defensively.

"I had a really bad day, then you send be out for food and I get a fine, and Scarlett breaks down!" Paul really was upset, Leah mused, sliding behind Seth, the guy was nearly in tears.

"Scarlett?" she asked Seth, who shrugged.

"I think that's what he calls his car," Quil explained, quieting when Paul sent him a glare.

"Did anyone see?" Sam asked quietly, trying to regain his composure.

Paul chewed his lip, mumbling something under his breath.

"Pardon?" Sam asked, oddly calm. Paul groaned.

"I don't know," he said.

"What does that mean?" Sam asked, even more softly then before.

"I shifted, then a car came out of the car park, and I ran into it. Then I ran. But I don't think anyone saw me shift," he added quickly.

"You don't think?" Sam said slowly, "and what about the people whose car you crashed into? They think a horse sized wolf just appeared on the damn road, do they?"

"I don't know!" Paul snarled back, jumping up, "I don't fucking know, okay?" he yelled.

"That's not good enough!" Sam roared back, anger flaring through his voice. Paul almost fell back down on the couch, ducking his head.

"What kind of car was it?" Sam growled.

"Black, I think. Mighta been a sports car or something," Paul muttered, and the bottom of Leah's stomach dropped.

Sam growled, and marched into the kitchen, gesturing for Leah to follow. She sat at the table, Sam going for a mug on the bench.

"Do not break that," Emily snapped at him, sitting down next to Leah. Sam rolled his eyes, but took a deep breath, carefully pouring himself some tea before sitting down at the table.

"What did he say?" Emily asked gently, Sam sipping forcefully.

"He said he just trained a lot with the army," Leah said, trying not to grow as she repeated the lie he had told her.

"So then we've got to-" Emily started.

"I already have," Leah interrupted. Sam coughed around a large mouthful of tea.

"I wasn't caught, and I was careful," Leah told him, hoping he wouldn't catch her sort-of lie. She already felt bad that she was selling her imprint out.

"He didn't have a lot of stuff in his room. There was a massive drawing pad in his drawer. It had pictures of his friends, I guess, and... and me," Leah forced a smile, and Emily cooed.

"He had a gun," Leah admitted, ready for Sam's frown, "he said he was in the army. It's probably just for self protection at night. I've never seen him carry one around." Sam was still frowning.

"What type of gun was it?" he asked. Leah rolled her eyes.

"Like you'd know," she snapped. At a look from Sam, she threw her hands in the air.

"I dunno! A handgun. Something big and black," she snapped.

Emily placed a hand on her husband's arm, "Is that all?" she asked.

Leah thought about the mystery object under his bed. Should she tell? Did she need to?

"What?" Sam asked, noticing the indecision on her face.

"There was something under his bed, in an art folio. It was padlocked, but it was red, metal, and curved, like a large bowl. I couldn't figure out what it was. Maybe a sculpture, or something," Leah crossed her arms over her chest.

Sam and Emily shared another look, and Emily placed her hands on the table, obviously trying not to fidget.

"Sam and I have been talking, and we think-"

"It can't be drugs, or training, so he can't be human," Leah finished for for her. It felt weird to say it out loud.

"My imprint isn't human," she said, quieter, rolling the words and their meaning around in her mouth.

Emily asked the unspoken question that hung in the air.

"So what is he?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Seth asked, jumping up to sit on the table, grabbing an apple from the fruit basket.

"For god's sake, Seth!" Leah groaned, swatting him on the shoulder.

"Like everyone else isn't listening," he scoffed, crunching down on the crispy apple.

"What do you think he is, then, Seth?" Sam asked. He'd finally calmed down enough to laugh at Seth's antics.

"He smells like metal and chemicals n'stuff. He carries around metal, he's reluctant to talk about himself. And he's super strong. You only shook hands-I mean, who does that? Why didn't he hug you?" Seth grinned, "It's 'cause he's a-"

"ANDROID!" everyone in the living room yelled. Seth pouted.

"You ruined my reveal you ass-" he froze at the glare Leah gave him.

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Leah told him amusedly.

"No, listen! He carries the metal around to fix himself when he brakes, he won't talk about his past 'cause he doesn't have one, and he won't hug you-" "thanks" "-because then you'd feel the cogs and stuff!"

"Yes Seth," Leah rolled her eyes, "Because the guy I imprinted on, who's soul is the perfect match to mine, doesn't have one," she said.

"Well, when you put it like that," Seth considered embarrassedly.

"Still sounds possible to me!" Paul called tauntingly from the other room.

"Looks like your bad days goin' on for a while yet, asshole!" Leah snarled, standing up and stomping into the next room, Sam getting up to stop her with a sigh.

"How come she gets to say it?" Seth asked Emily pathetically.

Emily snorted.


Steve had been sitting on the bench outside the motel, desperately ringing Leah's number over and over again. She didn't pick up.

Natasha was combing every inch of both their rooms, to see if the snoop had left anything behind. Nothing.

"Either they got really lucky, or they're professionals," Natasha said, coming outside to sit next to Steve.

"I've got Clint bringing a fingerprint kit, though," she said, seeing Steve's annoyance.

"You didn't bring one in your purse?" Steve muttered. Natasha's brow rose.

"No need to be snappy. She's most likely at work. She'll call back soon," Natasha said.

"What if she doesn't want to?" Steve asked worriedly.

"Oh, she wants to," Natasha smirked. Steve looked at her suspiciously.

"You didn't do anything, did you? Other than the car thing?" he asked.

"How dare you?" Natasha snarked, "Just for that, I won't answer," she said primly.

Steve groaned. He thought about how Leah had known he wasn't telling the truth. How she ran. Then paused.

"Wait. You called Clint, not, y'know, the Avengers?" he asked.

"I assumed you wanted as few people as possible to be gossiping about your love life," Natasha said, "no more then already are, at least. I'll call Thor, Tony and Bruce if it gets too much for us to handle. But to be honest, I don't think a tiny place like this could handle Bruce. Thor's not currently 'in town', and Tony..." she left what Tony was unsaid. Which really said it all.

"Who is talking about my love life?" Steve asked eventually.

"Casey from Stark's HR swears the two of you spent a very steamy night together, where she taught you everything you know about the art of lovemaking," Natasha said dryly, managing not to smile despite Steve's stunned, confused, and more than slightly affronted gape.

"And Dr. Foster's assistant, Darcy, thinks you're gay, because you didn't check out her breasts."

"I was trying to be polite!" Steve frowned, not really sure how to react to any of this information.

"Don't worry, I assured her that she just didn't catch you," Natasha said sweetly.

"Thanks," Steve muttered, putting his head in his hands. He glanced up to see Natasha grinning at him.

"You're welcome."

Just as he was about to say something as a retort (he wasn't entirely sure what) his phone rang. He almost dropped it in his rush to pick it off the bench.

"Hi Leah!" he almost squealed in relief.

"My name is Sue," a mature voice said on the other end of the line, "I'm Leah's mother. I heard your messages, and just wanted to let you know Leah's fine," she said.

"Uh, thanks," Steve said confused.

"Leah doesn't have a mobile, if that's what you wondering," Sue said, "she'd loose it. This is our home phone number."

"Oh. Right. 'Course. Thank you very much, ma'am."

"Can I ask what's got you so worried?"

"We saw these massive wolves, and our-my friend's and mine-rooms had been broken into," he explained, Natasha looking on curiously.

"Oh," Sue said, her voice sounding distinctly infected, "I'll have to make sure Leah introduces us properly soon. I've got to go, sorry, pot's boiling over."

"Bye-" but she'd already hung up. Steve stared at his mobile.

Natasha elbowed him.

"Leah's mother. She knew something, either about the wolves or the brake in," Steve explained, "maybe both."

The two sat together in contemplative silence.


"Who. Got. Seen?" Sue thundered, framed by the front doorway, the stormy grey backdrop making her look all the more menacing.

Everyone paused, Sam holding Leah back from taking a swing at Paul.

"Do you know who just rang me? Steve. He was worried about my daughter, because he saw a massive wolf. Oh, and did you know his motel room was broken into?" Sue glared around at the frozen youths.

"Some better tell me what is going on. Immediately," she snapped.

Slowly, everyone turned to look at Paul.

"Steve saw you?" Sam was incredulous. Paul groaned.

"Of course it was Paul," Sue muttered under her breath. But everyone heard.

"Did you do the breaking and entering too?" she asked.

"That was me," Leah admitted, "Seth told you last night something was weird with him, so I had a peak. He's not human, mum," she said.

"Then what the hell is he?" Sue asked. Leah shrugged, followed by Seth and the younger boys, who all looked guilty, despite being completely innocent.

Sue put a hand to her head, then asked in a quieter voice, "Did you find anything?"

"Nope," Leah shook her head at the same time Sam said, "Yes."

Leah frowned at him. They hadn't really found anything that couldn't be explained

. For all they knew, the metal was some expensive motorcycle part Steve had to replace.

"Gun in the drawer," Sam said without looking at her.

"He said he was military! He actually knows the type of gun, unlike you!" Leah snapped.

"A gun?" Sue sounded suspicious, and more than a little worried.

"He was traveling by himself for a while! Maybe he wanted a little protection," Leah said, annoyed that Sam had to bring up the one detail that would make her mother rethink Steve.

"From what I've heard, he could do enough damage without a god damn gun!" Sue snapped.

"I thought you were mad at Paul for being seen?" Seth piped up, trying to distract his mother from the argument that was about to boil between his family.

When his mother turned her frown on him, he tried a different tactic.

"What, you were all teasing him before because 'oooh he arts' but nows it's all 'guns make him bad' even though he's in the military. Maybe you're all just pissed-" "Seth!" Leah and Sue snapped, "-cause he's better than you," Seth ignored them.

Sue considered Leah, and perhaps even (parts) of Seth's argument.

"Jared," she asked, and said man stepped forward, albeit after a push from his friends. He gulped under her scrutinizing stare.

"What was your impression of Steve?" Sue asked steadily.

"Brave. Could hold his own. Didn't back down in a fight, and he's got a lot of nasty barbs. But only after Sa-someone else started. And he's head over heels for Leah," Jared reeled off like a soldier to their general.

Leah bit her lip to keep herself from smiling. Her imprinted nature knew that was a good thing. Her brain was slightly more unsure.

If he was so in love with her, why did he lie?


Leah was stacking up the yoga mats in the corner after a late afternoon session the next day. Why people couldn't do something as simple as stack rubber mats was beyond her.

"Yo, Leah, there's this huge puppy faced dude at the front desk saying he's your brother," Kate said, popping her head round the door.

"Please don't tell me you hit on him," Leah asked, hearing that particular tone of mischief in Kate's voice.

"I did not!" Kate was outraged, "He hit on me," she smirked.

"He's seventeen," Leah rolled her eyes. Kate's smile dropped off her face.

"You gotta be joking," she begged.

"You wish," Leah retorted, heading for the front room.

"Don't know if this is exactly the right time to ask, but can you cover my shift tonight?" Kate asked sweetly, eyes huge and round. Leah turned around to glare at her.

"You have a date tonight and you were flirting with my baby brother?"

Kate shook her head, "He started it! Anyway, here are the keys for you to lock up, and Karen said something about a special client coming tonight after closing or something. Ciao!" and with that, Leah's not very trustworthy workmate fled past Seth, through the front door.

Seth stared after her, face blank.

"She's way to old for you, and totally untrustworthy," Leah told him sternly, thanking her lucky stars it wasn't an imprint.

He turned his head to look at her sheepishly.

"What are you doing here Seth?" she asked, putting her hand to her head.

"Mum needs the car to go out to the city with some friends. I can pick you up at the end of your shift though?" Seth said, doing his best to be cheerful while Leah groaned.

"Also, my friend from school got back to me," he said, not meeting her eyes again.

"This hacker better not get you sent to jail," Leah told him, attempting to look him in the eye. But he shied away.

She began threateningly, "Seth-"

"I wanted you to know first," Seth blurted out, fidgeting.

"There's nothing on him. Not anywhere on the internet does 'Steve Phillips' pop up," Seth explained.

"So?" Leah asked, frowning.

"Everyone has something. When you google your name, you get the name of your workplace, 'cause you're listed as a trainer. My name, school records. Awards and stuff. A young, twenty first century guy like him? It's gotta be deliberate," Seth told her this with a sombre expression, like someone had recently died.

"Maybe he changed his name recently. Or he works in the military. I dunno, there's gotta be a reason. He's not hiding or anything. He's not a bad person," Leah snapped at him. Just then, the bell rang, and a woman in fuchsia exercise gear walked in.

"Get set up, I'll be there in a moment," Leah told her waspishly, turning her back on the woman's offended expression.

"That woman that was with him, Natalie? There's nothing on her, either. Something's not right," he said with the uncomfortable expression of someone telling a sad truth.

"What did he say he was doing here?" he asked Leah. She glared back.

"Forks is kinda out of the way-"

Leah stared at him, then turned away slowly.

"I have a class to teach. I finish work at eleven."


Karen, Leah's boss, called her at ten thirty.

"Sorry about Kate, Leah. I know she's a pain, but-"

"She's you're sister's daughter, I know," Leah assured the older woman.

"She said something about a client coming after hours?" she asked, as shut down the computer.

"Yes, it was odd. He offered me five-well, a lot of money, to use the gym after hours, with no one around. Gave him a key and everything, but I never even met him. Granddad vouched for him though. Which is surprising in itself, considering the amount of people he can stand, let alone actually likes," Karen sounded bemused.

"Anyway, he'll be there at eleven, so can you be gone by then?" Karen asked.

Leah scowled, knowing Seth didn't have a mobile either, and she wouldn't be able to call him to pick her up earlier. She'd have to walk.

"Sure," she told Karen, in her best perky-Kate voice.

"And can you go down to the end room, make sure everything is working?"

"Yep."

"See you tomorrow," Karen said, hanging up. Leah slammed the phone into it's holder with a little too much force. The plastic case cracked. Digging her fingernails into her palms, she took a deep breath, then raided her bag. Like Paul, she had a habit of breaking things. Unlike Paul, she'd learnt to be prepared.

She pulled out a roll of duct tape, cutting off a strip with her teeth, and wrapped it carefully around the cracked work phone. It was an ugly job, but it would have to do. She raced down to the end gym, examining all the equipment, then grabbed a pen and paper, scribbled something down, then jammed it in the door as she left, locking it behind her, and walked through the now quiet streets of inner Forks. The smell of fuel was muted by the cold night air. The streets got emptier and emptier, till she was on the outskirts of town, just by the forest.

She wondered what Steve had done today, then shook him out of her head as best she could. Yet he was still there, a presence she couldn't quite ignore.

Leah had been planning to shift to get home faster, but she decided she like the cold air on her skin. The smell of the wildflowers was less obnoxious, more pleasant. The soft sigh of wind through tired leaves was peaceful. Hitching her bag over her shoulder, she decided to take her time.


Seth and Quil rocked up to the gym in Quil's fixer-upper of a car. They'd had the music blaring till an angry old (tall) lady walking her cat in her nightgown had started screaming at them.

Seth ripped the note off the door, Quil reading over his shoulder: Got off early, see you at home.

"If Leah's gone home, who's inside?" Quil asked. Seth looked up. While he couldn't see any lights on, the faint but steady thump of a punching bag being hit was unmistakeable.

Curiously, the boys followed the noise, going down the side alley to the back. A window at the bottom of the back wall was the only one the exuded light. Seth scrunched his nose, trying to remember the layout of the fitness centre.

"I think that's the gym for weightlifters, and professional boxers," he said, "Leah told me it hardly gets used because most people here are wimps."

Seth and Quil shared a look, then got down on their stomachs, ignoring the rasp of gravel, cupping their hands against the glass to see into the light.

The two could see a figure, working away at the bag. Whoever it was made no attempt at dancing on their feet like a boxer, steadily punching away at the heavy bag. The glass was too thick to see a face, and the bag was between the boys and the boxer.

"He's not bad," Seth muttered.

"We both know you don't know shit about boxing," Quil whispered back.

"Neither do you."

The thumping stopped, and both turned to check they hadn't been caught. The figure took one almighty swing, and then glass was splintering on the boys faces. Tiny pinpricks of white hot pain rained all over their faces.

They flinched away, covering their faces. It would heal in a minute or two-but the boys were in too much pain to remember that.

When they finally looked up, they got the shock of their life. Peaking out through the small window were two blue eyes, watching with a mixture of worry and confusion, as the boy's skin tried to heal over the imbedded glass.

They ran.


"Start the car!" Seth hissed. Quil tried to get the key in the ignition, but it wouldn't fit.

"Hurry," Seth panicked, checking over his shoulder.

"Not helping," Quil snapped, finally getting it in. They were off, the loud motor like thunder on the empty streets. They drove in silence until they reached Seth's driveway, panting like they'd run a marathon.

Swallowing, Seth clutched the door handle tightly.

"Do you think he saw us?" Quil asked.

"He looked right into our eyes. Unless he's blind, Steve definitely saw us spying on him," Seth let out a groan, his head thudding into the seat behind him.

"No, I mean," he gestured to the cuts on his face that were still valiantly trying to heal around the glass. They shared a scared frown.

Quil straightened up and took a deep breath, "He's gonna find out sooner or later, so no biggy. Right?" he asked worriedly.

"Right," Seth agreed, nodding vigorously, then pausing.

"He shouldn't have been able to do that. Those bags are heavy. It shouldn't have broken, or slammed into the window like that," Seth said, mind racing.

"You said that room was rarely used. Maybe the chain was rusted," Quil offered half-heartedly.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Leah snapped. Both boys jumped, having not noticed her walking out of the trees, bag slung over her shoulders. They shared a look under Leah's drilling frown.

They had to tell her.


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