Lunar Ascension

Chapter 4: Head In The Game

Disclaimer: All things in the Twilight universe belong to Stephenie Meyer and her publishers. The song and lyrics belong to the band and their representatives. Any other copyrighted material included in this story belongs to their rightful owners. Cheers ma dears! Rated M.

We've been dreaming
But who can deny?
It's the best way of living
Between the truth and the lies.
See Who I am by Within Temptation

I took the doctors advice to heart as I drove back to Seattle. In terms of my life I'd never thought about how jaded I'd become because I was so emotionally stunted. After everything had happened with Sam and Emily, I'd shut myself off. The pain had been too immense to even risk putting my heart out there again, so it became a useless muscle in my chest that existed simply to push blood around my body. It had been that way for so long I wasn't even sure how to even begin to change it.

I didn't want to go through life alone as a jilted lover accompanied only by her bitterness. I wanted to live and experience the highs and lows the doctor so eloquently described. He made it sound so easy, but I had so many walls built around myself that I didn't even know where to begin knocking them down. It wasn't as though I could take a chisel and hammer and work at the mortar, it was too complex for that. I had to learn to trust people, I had to let them in and learn from any mistakes that we made.

Carlisle believed that I was capable of imprinting, but he was also right about it taking time. I couldn't just wait for the perfect person to show up. I had to live and mold myself into the person I wanted to be. I could walk this world for the rest of my life and never find that person and I would have nothing to show for it.

I was finished pining over Sam, I was through worrying about hurting Embry and I was no longer going to fight myself over liking Zach. I liked him, I liked spending time with him, and I really liked kissing him. I liked his goofy pickup lines and persistent nature, I liked the way he always showed up in the weirdest places, and I loved the way his hands made me feel when he grabbed my ass or brushed my breast.

I needed a place to start, and I wanted that start to be Zach. I didn't want to worry about hurting him or getting hurt anymore. I wanted to throw caution to the wind and just see where the hell it took me. I had to let go of control, or at least try to.

I was so lost in thought that I almost went through the roof of the Jeep when my phone rang. Snatching it up I hit the send button without so much as looking at the screen.

"I just swerved over three lanes of traffic this better be good."

"Do you ever just answer the phone with a standard hello?" Zach asked, his voice full of humor. "I'm not complaining, just wondering what I have to look forward to."

I found myself smiling in response to his voice and acknowledged it without correcting myself. It was a small gesture, but it was a start.

"I'm like pot luck. You never know what you're gonna get."

"So who did you think I was?"

"I didn't know," I admitted, barking out a laugh. "It scared the crap out of me and I hit send. You're lucky I was in a good mood."

His laughter echoed down the phone and made me smile. He had a habit of doing that, he had one of those laughs that you couldn't help react to. Whenever we were out eating and he laughed everyone looked over to see what the joke was.

"That was a good mood?" he teased.

"I never said I was perfect."

"True. So, where are you?" he asked with a chuckle. "Before you get all women's lib and drill me about my curiosity, there's a reason I'm asking."

I wasn't exactly sure how to answer that. It wasn't as though he wasn't going to notice the new set of wheels I was sporting. The thing was decked out with lights and roll bars, it was like a tank. It suited me perfectly.

"Driving home from Portland. My car was being a bitch so I went to my . . . Cousin's house. They looked it over for me."

"You went to Portland in a car you weren't sure was going to make it?" he asked horrified. "Leah, what if you broke down on the side of the road?"

For a moment I was stunned into silence. It had been a long time since anyone had been protective of me, and I really wasn't equipped to respond to that. Since becoming a wolf people just assumed I could handle myself and mostly left me alone to deal with things in my own way. It had worked for me. This, however, was unchartered territory.

"I had my phone with me."

"Did you have your gun?"

"No."

He sighed down the phone. It wasn't filled with impatience or aggravation it was concern, and by the sounds of it he wasn't exactly sure how to deal with it either. I could hear the gentle thud of his footsteps through the phone and I knew he was pacing. Our extra sensory hearing was a blessing for figuring things like that out.

"You got there, so I'm guessing that it wasn't as bad as you'd thought?" he asked hopefully.

"Well, it died as I pulled up to their house. From what my cousin said it was scrap metal so they gave me a loaner . . . indefinitely."

"Nice cousins."

"Wait till you see the ride they hooked me up with," I laughed. "It's very me."

"You charmed them didn't you?" he teased. "They must have a thing for tenacity, I know I sure the hell do."

"I think I've changed my mind about flattery," I mused. "I'm actually kind of enjoying it."

I switched the phone from one hand to the other as Seattle came into sight before me. I was supposed to patrol for a couple of hours tonight but my need to see Zach was overwhelming. I knew there was no way I could cancel the patrol, it was another condition to me being in Seattle. Maybe I would have to take him along and have him sit in the car while I did a run to the coast and back. I was one of the fastest wolves on four legs after all.

"Who are you and what have you done with Leah? This must be some car, you really are in a good mood."

"That, among other things. Anyway you said there was a reason you asked. What would that be?"

He shuffled on the other end of the line as though he were sitting down, I could hear the sigh of breath as he settled into his seat. He was obviously enjoying making me wait.

"How close to home are you?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Excellent, I'll meet you at your apartment and explain then." He blew me a kiss down the phone and hung up leaving me staring at the call ended flashing at me from the screen of my phone. He hadn't even given me a chance to explain that I had plans. He hadn't asked me if I had to go to work.

For a second I started to get aggravated, but I caught myself. I'd wanted to see him, there was no reason to be upset. I wasn't sure what his plans for us were, but at least I was getting my wish. Most women liked surprises. Surprises were good right?

It was times like that when I wished I had a friend I could confide in. I'd disassociated myself from the packs imprints because it hurt too much to have to see that glow of love in their eyes. All they talked about was their mates and their children, which was great, but for me it felt like I was having my nose rubbed in it. The Cullen's were always trying to engage me in conversation, but I doubted they would understand, and they were too close to Jacob.

This was something I had to figure out alone. This was all part of the learning curve. I had to swallow my fear and meet it head on. Sadly, that was easier said than done, and as I drove deeper into the city and began navigating my way to my apartment, my good mood was slowly replaced with trepidation.

When I pulled into the lot at my apartment, I wasn't surprised to see Zach already there waiting for me. When I gave him a small wave, his eyes grew wide with surprise. He jogged over to where I parked and opened my door for me.

"Who are these cousins and where do I get one?" he asked, leaning in and pressing his lips to mine. "And you're right. It does suit you."

I laughed and let him pull me out of my seat and into his arms. He squeezed me tight and pulled me against his chest as he gave me another searing kiss. My body reacted immediately as he pressed me against the Jeep. The intricate dance our our lips had me pulling him closer. I let him lead as his tongue brushed along my bottom lip.

I had no idea how long we were stood there lost in one another like that. I'd let go and given him control, I'd trusted him to lead me where he needed me to go and the result was my body bowing into his as my toes curled.

When he broke away he watched me hungrily, his eyes almost glazed with lust. I knew the feeling, I didn't want to stop either. I didn't want to think about where we were or what a show we were putting on for my neighbors, all I could think about was him.

"So," he mumbled huskily, his hands planting themselves on my hips as he swayed us both. "Tonight, I was thinking we could go to Danny's party."

"Danny?" I breathed, watching his lips as his tongue ran along them.

"The guy I'm always with?" he chortled, bending his knees so he could catch my eyes with his. "The guy you almost decked for commenting on your long, beautiful legs?"

Oh. That Danny. I would have recognized the name if I wasn't still absorbed in the kiss we'd just shared. I blamed him for the distraction. The first time I'd met Danny he'd approached me when there was no sign of Zach, whatsoever. He'd just sauntered up to me and told me I had some stellar legs and how he'd like them wrapped around his neck. I'd given him a little warning about my intentions and where I was planning and planting my fist when Zach had arrived. Danny had been lucky, and since then we'd been semi friends.

I wanted to go to the party, I wanted to be hanging off Zach's arm and making out with him in a corner so I could work him up enough to forget his ridiculous abstinence. I wanted to just hang out and talk to him, be a girl and all that shit. Unfortunately, I was expected to phase and howl at the moon for the evening. I still wasn't sure how to explain that.

"I can't, I've got this . . . thing."

"Thing?" he prompted, one of his hands circling my waist and pulling me closer. "Tell me what thing could be more important than an evening of debauchery with your peers?"

I dug deep in my skull trying to kick my brain into action. It was still all hazy from the kiss and what I wanted to take him up into the apartment and do to him. I figured sticking closer to the truth was my best possible route.

"I'm a Quileute, we have our traditions. It's important."

"Can I come?"

I leaned forward and rested my head on his shoulder. I was chicken shit, and I was hiding my cringe, because I found that I really didn't like lying to him.

"I'm sorry you can't, but maybe I could meet you later? It's only going to take a couple of hours tops."

"Then I'll wait for you. I'm in not hurry to get there."

I raised my head from his shoulder and looked at him, unable to contain the smile that had found it's way to my lips. As sweet as the thought was, I didn't want him waiting for me, if something went down there was no telling how long it would take me to get back. It would be better for us both if he went to the party and I met him there. All I had to do now was convince him it was a good idea.

"Just go and have some fun, I'll text you when I'm finished. I can run home, change and you can talk me through the drive there."

"You don't know how long it's gonna take, do you?"

I shook my head and curled my hand around his neck, pulling him in for another kiss before I would have to leave to drive to my usual starting point. It felt weird for me to fight the opportunity to phase. I'd always loved the power that came with the wolf. Yet here I was, wishing I could have a night off to spend with a boy.

"Just go and have some fun, I'll meet you there as soon as I can."

With one more kiss, he nodded and backed away from me. His smile was mischievous and cocky as always, but I couldn't help returning it. I held his eyes as he moved and waited for the words of wisdom he would undoubtedly offer.

"Even if you can't make it to the party, call me and I'll come meet you here. Maybe we can hang out for a bit," he said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I will call you as soon as I leave."

He kissed two of his fingers and turned them toward me before turning away and heading toward his car, glancing over his shoulder only once more before he climbed in.

So much for opening myself up to him, I couldn't even tell him the truth about what I was or where I was going. Even if I wanted to I still had the injunction set on me, if I tried to tell him one word I would get a nice little tongue twister. I'd tried it once just to see what would happen and it felt as though I was choking. It wasn't a pleasant experience at all and I had no intention of repeating it.

I made my way to my apartment and changed into my usual shorts and ragged ass t-shirt before heading out and driving an hour toward my usual parking spot. The Jeep had four-wheel drive, which made it easier to hide it off the road.

I hiked a half-mile before I stripped and tied my clothes to my ankle, the moment I phased I shook out my fur and stretched out happily. It was nice to let myself go a little. After the day I'd had with all the emotions, letting the wolf instincts take over was a nice change.

'Sethasaurus?'

'Don't call me that, Lee. You know I hate it.'

I chuckled and checked out his field of vision. He was still sore about missing all the action and was determined for me to find something so he could be back in the game. I could feel his frustration rolling from his subconscious. It was putting a damper on my good mood.

'Good mood, huh? What's that all about?' he asked with a sense of disinterest as he pushed me to extend my senses out.

'You keep your nose outta my personal biz and I'll do the same,' I replied, doing as he asked and pushing out my senses as I started a slow run up the side of the mountain. 'You wanna do the honors?'

'North face of the mountain and make your way northwest and run the south side of the O.N.F.?'

'Got it.'

I took off at a sprint and pushed myself up the side of the mountain, I let my nose work it's magic as I pushed myself up the steep incline while avoiding the camps and trails. I could still hear humans as they clumsily made their way through the forest. It wasn't often that people camped on the side of the mountain; there were too many bears and wild animals to contend with. It didn't mean it didn't happen though, and it seemed as though the warm weather was drawing people out.

'What's wrong with these people?' Seth asked. He was slowly wandering along the north side of the Olympic National Forest.

'The weather's warmer, they think they're safe. Sadly this is one of the draws for leeches. They know there'll be a flux of campers. Just keep your eyes peeled.'

Seth agreed and I kept on my path, stopping occasionally to listen more closely to the sound surrounding me. I made it to the edge of the snow before I turned and sprinted down the side of the mountain.

I stuck to my normal path as I ran. The routes I'd made for myself kept me away from the human population so there were no chances of me being spotted. As long as I stuck to that I would be safe. There was only one place I had to cross an interstate and as much as I hated to do it, it was the only choice I had.

The moment I hit the south end of the Olympic forest the scent hit me like a brick wall making me huff through my muzzle with distaste.

'You get that Seth?'

'Loud and clear,' he snorted, shaking himself out and fighting the excitement that was running through his body with the adrenaline. 'You want me to alert the others?'

'Yeah. I'll follow the scent and see where it takes me.'

He acknowledged my suggestion and let off a piercing howl as I took off after the scent that was burning my nose enough to produce tears. The faster I tracked it, the stronger it got, and when I heard a scream coming due west I turned and sprinted toward the sound. I lost the vampire scent for a moment, but hit it again as I neared the smell of a campfire. The leeches had obviously run north and doubled back when they caught the scent of humans.

The tent was set up in a small clearing close to the north side of Lake Quinault, I hung back in the trees to make sure that they were in danger before revealing myself.

From what I could see, the people camping had been a young couple, there were two leeches playing cat and mouse with them, their red eyes full of elation at the subterfuge. I lay in wait, my ears up and head on paws as I waited for the streams of consciousness to connect with mine. When working together, I could still communicate with Sam's pack.

Embry was the first to join Seth and I, I could feel his anticipation as he sprinted toward Seth, and under it he was hiding his concern for me. I stored it away and focused on the task at hand.

'Leah do not engage, you can't take on two of them.'

'I'm not suicidal, but thanks for your concern. Where's everyone else?'

The silence and mental block I received was all I needed to know the truth. They were checking on their families first. It was honorable and all, but these two human were about to be vampire chow, and if I didn't get backup soon I would have to engage alone. Whether they liked it or not I was the only one who could help.

Embry began running in my direction at full speed. With the wind at his back he was making good time but I wasn't sure it was enough. The games the bloodsuckers were playing were coming to a close and their hunger was shrouding their eyes in black.

I stood up and edged toward the trees ignoring Embry's shouts to back off. I could at least distract them enough to save the humans lives.

Just as I made the decision to move forward, Jacob's stream of consciousness came online loud and clear with a warning growl. He was running north at full speed, his claws digging in the dirt as he pushed himself forward. At the rate he was going he'd beat Embry.

'Leah, I know it's close, hold off as long as you can.'

'I can distract them, Jake.'

I could feel the indecision through our connection. He wanted to save the humans as much as I did. If they were infected with the venom we'd have to destroy them as well, and that was a waste of life I didn't like to see.

'Edward and Emmett are on their way, they're just ahead of me.'

'Not fast enough,' I replied, focusing on the circling vampires. We only had seconds until they attacked. I couldn't wait any longer.

'Ten minutes.'

'We don't have ten fucking minutes,' I screamed crouching in my attack position. 'If they move I'm going in.'

Sam and the others chose that moment to phase and landed slap bang in the middle of a shit storm. As much as I would have liked to bring them up to date, I didn't have the time or the focus, my whole body was tensed for battle, and my muscles were coiled to spring.

All of the voices in my head mingled together as I psyched myself up to attack. I would have loved to have told Sam what I thought of the advice he'd given to Jacob – using the alpha command wasn't something Jacob liked to do anyway – but I could see the vampires crouching read to pounce on their pray.

'You watch your ass, Leah!' Jacob shouted just as I uncoiled my muscles and sprang into the clearing.

The woman screamed bloody murder as I landed between them and the leeches but I wasn't paying attention to her. All of my focus was on the vampire in front of me. I knew I was taking a risk leaving the other one out of my field of vision, but I'd had to cut this asshole off at the pass, he was the hungry one.

My ears were flat against my skull and my teeth were bared while I growled deep in my throat, I was throwing around expletives, but there was no chance he understood the garbled snapping and growls.

Trying to keep an eye on them both was proving impossible, the other had circled around me and accosted the humans in their attempt to escape. I could hear both of the humans struggling behind me but I had to take one of them out before I could focus on the one that was holding them hostage.

Stamping my front legs, I projected myself forward and bulldozed the vampire, my teeth snapping at his jugular. The faster I took him out the better. I got in one good bite before I felt the sting of something cutting into my flesh. I readjusted myself quickly so that both were in my field of view, the other one had thrown a rock and I had a cut deep enough to see bone where he'd hit his mark.

Pissed off, I moved in for another attack and managed to get my teeth into the shoulder of the leech I was dancing with. Biting down and locking my jaw I pulled back with all my strength until the familiar ripping of vampire flesh sounded through the clearing.

"Mutt," the accented voice came from the leech behind me and I danced out of the way of yet another rock being thrown at me. The vampire I'd bitten tried to make a run for it but I was on him faster than he could move. This time my teeth closed around his neck as I locked down shaking my head with all of my brute force.

I could hear the tearing of flesh and the satisfaction ran through me with adrenaline. I wanted to go to town on the fucker but I had to stay vigilant of the other vampire that was screaming in what I could only assume was Swedish considering their looks.

As the keening of the flesh between my teeth grew louder another projectile came at me quickly. I barely had time to dodge it, but it turned out I didn't need to, a ghostly white hand flashed in front of me and caught it, before lobbing it back at the bastard that had thrown it at me.

I mentally thanked Edward, and received a nod as I got back to the task at hand without having to worry about the other leech.

By the time both packs showed up, the vampires were a pile of limbs that were being tossed into the fire. The cut on my right side was a pain in the ass and I had to keep stopping to lick it as it itched. I could see it healing slowly but I was still mad at myself for letting it happen to begin with.

Sam and Jacob were yelling at each other throwing blame left and right.

'Stop it, both of you,' I snapped, turning on them.

'You could have been killed, Leah,' Sam growled, the rest of the packs seemed to nod their heads agreement and I had to fight the eye roll.

'Could have. I waited as long as I could. What did you want me to do, leave the humans to be vamp chow? No offense, Edward.'

"None taken," he chuckled throwing an arm into the fire and setting off another nauseating cloud of the sickly sweet plume of smoke.

'What did you expect to happen when I was patrolling alone?'

'Exactly,' Sam grumbled, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his legs. 'Which is why I think you should come back to the res, and study there.'

I was so pissed I actually flattened my ears and growled at him. I hadn't realized I was in the attack stance until Jacob put himself between us.

'I'm not going back until I'm good and ready to. You're not my alpha, Sam; you don't get to make decisions for me. It's typical of you to try and take away my one inkling of happiness. You have your mate and your family, why can't you just back off and leave me the hell alone.'

The whole of Sam's pack went silent in my head and I knew I'd crossed a line. He'd shut us off.

"Wait, Sam," Edward called, jogging up to join us as Emmett threw the last of the red eyes body parts on the fire. "Maybe we can find a temporary solution. Just while Leah is in college, perhaps one of us could stay close so she has back up."

All of us collectively turned our head toward him. I was stunned, but grateful for the backup. It was actually a decent solution, it would be a pain in the ass for them, but if they were willing I would be eternally grateful.

Gradually, Sam's pack seemed to come back into my head.

'We agree,' Sam said slowly and nodded at us before turning and strolling away, the others turned and following him silently into the forest. Leaving just our pack, minus Embry, and the Cullen's that had come to help.

I snorted out of my muzzle and turned toward the trail that would lead me back to my car.

'I owe you, Edward. Thank you.'

"Anytime. You know where we are if you need us. And I don't just mean for patrolling."

I gave him a nod and took off toward the Jeep, hoping I could ease my mood before I had to call Zach. Blowing off some steam seemed more and more like a good idea with every pound of my paws into the ground.

Authors Note: Another vampire, or two as the case may be! Between that and the new guy in her life I'm sure Leah's more than confused! I just want to thank you guys for all of your support! Truly, you guys are amazing and I appreciate all of your reviews. Thank you to all of you for read, alerting, favoriting and reviewing. Your support means so much to me.

Thank you to my wonderful beta Hev99; she's an amazing writer and a fantastic friend. She and I have a collaboration profile that I need to link to on my profile! I would also like to thank the wonderful Sabi'Sookie, for being my BFF and pre reading for me and for also collaborating with me, we have another Collab - Harmonic Convergence - That we're currently posting as well. You're awesome girl! I would also like to thank Pinkindeed for all her pre reading skills, and for letting me pre read her amazing stories and for being my knitter extraordiare. (She's knitting me a Brennan Sweater! and a baby blanket for a friend . . . Just a heads up she's for hire if you need something knitted!) Big smooshes to the three of you for being my rocks!

Thanks for reading guys! Mad love to you all ;)

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