Glimpses of the Truth

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters but did thoroughly enjoy watching an interview with Taylor from the Twi-con convention in LA. Gawd, to be in LA right now. Le sigh. -_-;

John bites back a snarl of pure rage as he tries to calm himself down. He can't believe that this other alpha had the nerve to try to claim Leah as his own. His heart is racing, his blood is pumping and the wolf inside of him is biting to get out and exert its dominance…over something. "John?" John's muscles immediately tense hearing his brother call his name and he is suddenly aware of many bodies present. Did they all just stand there and witness his bout of words with Leah's former alpha? "Calm down, man." Paul says with a nervous frown on his face. Generally, John is the cool, calm and collected one between the twins and for Paul seeing his brother so riled up is a bit unnerving.

"Do you think that was really a good idea?" Ted asks narrowing his eyes at his alpha's back. Ted has learned over the years that sometimes there are certain things that can easily push someone over the edge. Ted, along with the others, has all heard about Leah's pack mates, La Push and the Cullens. They've all had it rough and the way Leah described the troubles, worries and concerns she had about leaving it's obvious to him, Ted at least, how much Leah means to the other wolves. Ted has always kept his distance never really letting many people get too close to him – an attitude that comes with being the only orphan in the entire reservation. Ted found himself alone on his 13th birthday; it was the first birthday without his father who had recently died of kidney cancer. It was just him and his mother but she suddenly up and left leaving him alone with no one else to turn to. Ted was teased and pitied by everyone because his hair-brained pale faced mother had left him alone. So Ted understands Leah's past better than any of the others – he knows that things weren't great and it was mostly because Leah kept trying to push everyone away. But it's obvious that things had gotten better but the only problem was that she didn't feel 'complete' in the situation back in La Push. Although, Ted will never admit it out loud but since joining this pack, this family, he has a feeling of being whole, belonging and he'll always appreciate the guys for letting him in. However, Ted can't get behind John and his attack on the other alpha's desire to know where his beta is.

"Whatever you got to say, Ted, just say it." John growls out through clenched teeth. John doesn't want to take out his frustration and newfound aggression on his pack mates but their presence isn't doing anything to help calm him.

"You shouldn't have provoked him like that." Ted says his muscles tensing as his eyes quickly scan John's body for any sign of a possible attack. Ted has never disagreed with John since joining the pack but this doesn't sit right with him. "He's her – her,"

"What?" John growls out turning around to face Ted catching all present completely off guard. "He's her what?" John snaps his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched tight.

"He's her friend." Gio states speaking up for Ted and standing in between the two. John breathes in and out a couple of times trying to control his breathing. John may be the tallest as the alpha but Giovanni was without a doubt the biggest – the enforcer of the pack. "Despite everything that he and the others may have put Leah through she stills consider them to be her friends."

"She doesn't," John starts off but is cut short as he hears the light padding of Leah's feet. Turning around John sees Leah stumble into the kitchen; her eyes heavy with sleep and guilt washes over him. They all look at her concerned etched on their faces hoping that John's outburst hadn't awakened her. Leah's wearing another backless shirt to keep air on her still healing wounds as she rubs the sleep out of her eyes as her tiny shorts aren't even visible underneath the long shirt making her quiet arrival all the more endearing.

"Hey, Leah, sleep well?" Leo greets smiling at the small woman across the room as she grunts her response and pads over towards John. They all watch as she walks up towards John and yawns again as tears begin to pool into the corners of her eyes. All eyes carefully watch John as Leah approaches their edgy alpha fearing his temper at the current moment. Leah, however, seemingly unaware of the heavy tension in the room stops in front of John; her hair in a messy ponytail that is evidence of her slumber, her feet evenly parted to keep her planted to the ground but by the unsteady and small rocking motions it's obvious that she's not so sure footed at the moment. Leah looks ups under heavy lids, her shoulders slumped and her full lips parted slightly in a frown as she stares up at John – it's a look of complete vulnerability.

"I want to go home." Leah mumbles causing all of the wolves to tense. Leah seems completely oblivious of the reaction her words elicit as John turns his back on her staring down at the kitchen floor.

"Okay, Leah. If that's what you want." John says trying to swallow his pride. He had thought that she was happy here with them; sure he had been very stand-offish with her in the beginning. Did she miss her pack? Did she not feel safe around them anymore? But his thoughts are cut short as he feels Leah fall into his back and her arms wrap around his waist and she snuggles into him.

"Let's go home, John. I want to sleep in my room." Leah breathes out and John feels a sense of relief wash over him with her presence and her words. She doesn't want to return to La Push but go back to his place. She thinks this as her home and even though none of them will say it it's a realization that makes them all feel warm.

"Okay, we'll take some of Nadie's medicine with us and go home. Guess you really miss your bed, huh?" John asks chuckling lightly surprising the other wolves with his sudden change in attitude. Leah only nods her head before she falls back to sleep leaning into John's back. Giovanni quickly steps up and gathering Leah in his arms looks at his alpha and beta on what he should do with their 'Little Leah'.

Jacob stands holding the phone to his ear; the dial tone beeping signaling that the man on the other line has hung up. He just hung up on me. Jacob tries to control his anger, surprise, disappointment and jealousy. He's trying to understand what could've happened to Leah that would prompt this man to call her house asking for Sue. So Sue knew where Leah has been all this time? Did Sue even bother to tell Leah what has been going on? Of course she didn't because Leah would've been home as fast as her feet would've carried her. Or maybe this new alpha was preventing her from coming? Maybe he had put an alpha command on her that prevents her from seeing her family.

Jacob stands transfixed staring at the wall finding the only sounds he can hear is the fast beating of his own heart as his blood runs burning hot through his veins and the caller's words playing on a loop in his head. Leah is his? Leah belonged to someone else? Deep down inside of him he knows that Leah has never belonged to anyone. The only males allowed to make a claim on her have been her father and her brother. But Leah was his beta.

Leah is his!

Sure he had seriously messed up by neglecting her. He should've paid more attention to her but…he didn't want to lose her forever over it. If only she had told him.

Why? Then what?

He would've made time for her.

Really?

Yes, really.

Should she have had to tell you?

No.

"Jacob, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Sue demands angrily as she steps forward but is quickly pulled back by Seth. "Let me go, Seth!" Sue yells trying to break her son's grip on her arm. "Jacob Black, you do not answer my phone and begin to just start talking to people just any old way." Sue begins lecturing to the alpha's back.

"Where is she?" Jacob breathes out his head rolling back as he stares up at the ceiling. If Leah is in trouble then he'll find her and bring her back home where she can be safe.

"What?" Sue asks narrowing her eyes. Each of the wolves has asked Sue of the whereabouts of her daughter; Seth continued to ask everyday before heading out on his patrol. She's refused to answer them every single time. Jacob is the only one who hadn't asked her up until this point but all were well aware that he was listening closely whenever the question was asked.

"You heard me." Jacob says shutting his eyes and lowering his head while trying to control his breathing. "Where is Leah?" The wolf inside of him is raving mad. He wants to be unleashed to kill all the leeches. The female, his female has left because he, the human, was weak. The human has allowed leeches to kill and feed on his land. Has allowed them to create not just one but two more abominations. And on top of that the human has allowed them to imprint, bond their soul to the worst abomination of them all; a leech that can hide in broad daylight. The leech that daily sinks its revolting teeth into their flesh to feast on them.

The female left because he, the wolf, was even weaker. He couldn't prevent the boy from going against nature and logic by chasing after the small, frail and pale girl – the mother of the child. In order to protect himself from the boy's rash behavior he had to step back and not allow the transformation from man to beast. Maybe if he had allowed the change he could've overpowered the boy's irrational thoughts and fled taking his female with him. She was created for him; not for some other male. She was chosen by the spirits out of all the potential females within his territory she was the one; strong enough, fast enough and possessed all the right traits when coupled with his to make the best cubs.

All his rivals before and during the boy's preparation for his female were forced to imprint because of her. The black wolf didn't deserve her and he was given the next best thing – her cousin. But then the others tried to win her affection and had to be taken care of until the boy understood his duty and responsibility.

The female understood and followed him. She had chosen him to follow because it was meant to be her by his side; his partner, his mate, his help-mate.

However, the boy ruined it all. The imprint has only suppressed the wolf; the one who can free them from the pale demon's hold. But the boy's will is and always has been stronger than him. The humans and wolves were both impressed by the seamless transformation from one form to another because it looked as if the two were harmonious; rather it was more like dropping a security door – hard, fast, loud and violent. And now they were paying the price. Their female, alpha female, beta, Leah, Lee is pairing up with another.

"Leah is safe." Sue answers – it's the same answer she's given everyone else who has asked; when she's felt like answering. Sue is perfectly aware of where Leah is and with whom she is staying with. As much as she didn't like the idea of her only daughter staying under the same roof with two males, both wolves, she knew that Leah was out living her life. Leah had found a new pack and it would appear that still being a wolf with a pack is what she'd been missing. This fact still didn't lessen the fact that Sue still felt the need to blame the others for her daughter's desire to leave La Push. They had all fallen for their little imprints and completely forgot about anything that didn't encompass their 'so-called' loves.

Things had seemed promising once Leah broke away from Sam's pack and started hanging out with Jacob's. She was happier and, definitely, smiled more. Sure Leah had a hard time reconnecting with her old friends since they all seemed to want to believe the rumors that she was 'sleeping around with the wild boys' but she did. It later pained Sue to have to sit back and watch as all of Leah's friends from high school were all now married with kids and jobs while she seemed frozen at 19-years old and unable to have kids. Her desire to continue phasing making a romantic social life seem kind of silly especially since any and all potential suitors were easily frightened off just by the sight of Jacob Black.

And that was Sue's problem with Jacob Black. His presence seemed to have some kind of control over her daughter and her life. Despite Leah's protests that they were 'just friends' Sue knew better. Despite having an imprint Jacob was always eager to hang around Leah and have as much physical contact with her as possible. Sue is certain that Jacob thought he was being sneaky at the time but she saw all the times he'd 'accidentally' brush against Leah or the way he'd watch her when he thought no one else was around to notice. Jacob had found some way to keep Leah within the pack and get her to interact with the rest of society but he also found a way to keep the rest of society from interacting with her. Sue's daughter was a bird kept in a gilded cage with clipped wings – all for the mere amusement and pleasure of her alpha. As far as Sue is concerned Jacob Black is no different than Samuel Uley.

Jacob's chest rumbles with a deep growl that has all of the wolves and the one half-vampire slowly and cautiously taking a step back. The anger and aggression rolling off of the huge man before them is overpowering and leaves them with a sense of unease and fear. Unconsciously, the wolves inside them understand their alphas feelings because his worries are their own. The russet wolf's mate is gone – they've failed as a pack to protect and keep her.

She's gone. The only conscious thought that collectively runs through both man and wolf's mind. The question is how to get her back? And will she come back?

"Jacob." Billy's voice calls out somehow managing to cut through the man and wolf's jumbled thoughts and feelings. One understanding the meaning behind Leah's transformation and their shared rage over the opportunity lost. The other is confused not fully understanding why the need to challenge this new male is necessary.

She has the right to choose her own path in life but not a mate – she to belongs to us; me. Jacob growls at the fast moving and overwhelming thoughts and feelings beginning to emerge within him. He feels the wolf there but is unable to comprehend – or maybe he's refusing to; neither knows.

"Jacob." Billy calls again his voice more stern and commanding. Jacob's unbroken focus on the wall, which should've burst into flames minutes ago, and the deep rumbling growls concern him. Billy has known of Leah's new pack having heard so much about them in casual conversation. As an Elder he's been intrigued by the knowledge of other spirit warriors or skin walkers as they like to refer to themselves. The difference between the two is not only size of the pack but also the leadership. He's not wanted to compare his son to the other but John seems to have a better grasp of how he feels best to run things. He's not sure if the difference is their upbringing, personality, age – nature vs. nurture as he once recall Leah throwing out before she had thought of leaving La Push.

Billy is overcome with a sense of anxiety over his son and his reasons for wanting to step up and take charge of a situation. The first instance, of course, involved the pack split. The reason behind this is because Bella Cullen had somehow managed to get herself pregnant. The creature was eating her from the inside out and breaking her in the process. It was a potential danger that had to be dealt with swiftly. Jacob chose then to become a leader to protect the girl he thought he was in love with.

The next time Jacob had pulled Sam into joining in the fight against the Volturri to protect his imprint. It was a truce called between the two packs but the only reasons Sam agreed was because the amount of vampires coming were triggering more kids to phase and that Leah would be standing along side Jacob.

And now? Now the two packs are combined and his escalated aggression and dominance once again involves a female. Jacob Black's weakness is his interest in the females. Billy expected some anger, some frustration and confusion over Leah's departure from Jacob but this was way out there. Jacob has gone from completely immersing himself into the life of his 'Nessie' to all but completely abandoning it. The fact that the pack is without a second-in-command has not escaped the old Chief's eyes. The amount of frustration Sam exhibits when Jacob makes a decision without consulting anyone is obvious like a giant pink elephant riding a unicycle while juggling bowling balls.

Even if Jacob has spent most of his time over with the Cullens, Billy still knows his son better than anyone else in the room. Jacob has always had great leadership skills however the expectations that were placed on him as the son of the Quileute's' chief made him anxious about eventually stepping up and filling in his father's shoes. It's an idea that's always intimidated him and has made him second guess himself every step along the way. Billy had hoped that once Jacob broke away from Sam's pack that he'd finally realize that he was leadership material and had nothing to worry about. That leading wasn't just about telling people what to do but inspiring people to do what's right and in the process to get the job done.

Jacob's confidence as a leader seemed to grow as eventually Embry and even Quil joined his pack. It took a quite of bit of encouragement from both Billy and Leah to convince him that they didn't follow him just because he was their friend. That there was something inside of him that made them chose him over Sam. Things weren't easy in the newly formed pack because they all had to run more patrols because of their small numbers and for a while hostility was still high between the two rivals.

However, over time Jacob's confidence grew and it was becoming evident in the monthly Council meetings. The wolves were still prone to violent outbursts; mainly Sam, Jacob and Leah but it was getting easier and easier for the three to interact civilly. It seemed that the future of the tribe would be in good hands with Jacob, Leah, Quil and Sam as the future elders. Of course, Sam seemed to always be at odds with Jacob and Leah but it was the different points of views that led to more ideas. Leah had fallen into the role as the next Clearwater elder as she did her role as beta; it just seemed to suit her. Having a purpose calmed her down and although she was not past her harsh outbursts during a discussion she never let her annoyance with Sam cloud her judgment. It was interesting to see a coming together of both old and new world ideas and perspectives into the meetings.

Leah. Billy can't help but sigh heavily over the thought that one female wolf in their whole history can cause so much aggression and problems – for lack of a better term. Leah has always been there for Jacob since the split; she was his strong support. Billy couldn't help but regret the fact that the two together would've made a perfect couple. Leah was without a doubt the strong woman behind Jacob Black. However, Jacob wasn't enough for her and she left. Leah's absence was supposed to force Jacob to stand on his own and give them both a newfound independence from one another.

As his son stands before him; every muscle in his body tensed and a low deep rumbling of a growl erupting from his chest – there's regret. Billy now regrets letting Leah leave. The old chief knows that sometimes there are moments in our lives where a sacrifice must be made but is he willing to risk Leah's happiness and freedom for the sake of his own son's sanity? Would her return truly help his son and the rest of the pack? Or will only just be a temporary band-aid that will do nothing for the real wound underneath?

Out in the distance there's the faint sound of a howl cutting through the tension in the small kitchen. "That'll be Eli." Jacob says a bit of the tension releasing from his shoulders. "Let's move." He orders sharply and all the wolves only giving a brief nod head out. There are no good byes or well wishes to the family and imprints as the massive men all file out only throwing wary glances at their alpha on the way out. "When I return I expect an answer to my question of Leah's whereabouts." Jacob states coldly finally turning around to face the Council his focus solely on Sue Clearwater. Jacob's gaze shifts to fall upon the only pale-face in the entire room, his imprint. The look of surprise, fear and confusion on her face stirs a series of emotions deep within the alpha; the wolf finds her fear amusing because it is finally time for her to learn her place in their world while the human wishes to have some sympathy for her…but she's known of his best friend's absence. But he'll deal with her later.

A/N: Alright…sorry for the delay but this chapter was giving me some trouble and I'm still trying to stick with my original story idea but for some reason things just keep changing and evolving. But after chatting with cucumber07 and messaging hilja I think I've got it! So big THANKS to cucumber07 and hilja for their help in getting my ass in gear to get this chapter out. Also we need to work on Decision because Rachel is just fucking up my plans. T-T Stupid Rachel and her sage advice. Oh well but you all know what to do.

And thanks to everyone for making last chapter my MOST reviewed chapter EVER! T-T You like my story! You really like my story!

And again thanks for all of the reviews and sorry if I didn't respond back. Last week when I had those series of updates I lost track of who I responded to. -_-; But I really do appreciate it and take everything you guys say into consideration. ^o^ It's funny but your reviews, thoughts and ideas get those creative juices flowing and things start to change. But you guys really make my updates better and make me strive to give you nothing but a great chapter to look forward to.