Vanity and Control Pt. 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters.
It's funny how time, situations and people can change. It's an irony that doesn't make Emily smile or even chuckle in the least. Things have not changed the way she planned or even anticipated them to. Leah's absence wasn't supposed to affect the two packs as greatly as it has. There was supposed to a simple sigh of relief; relief that she was gone, she was moving on, living her life and out of Emily's hair.
Emily sighs heavily as she sits in at the kitchen table, in Sue's kitchen…in Sue's house. Emily can't help but frown because in all reality this is Leah's house. Her cousin never paid the mortgage or took over the deed of the house but there is no doubt that some way, somehow this is her home. Even the wolves refer it as that, Sam telling her everyday 'I don't want you and the kids here alone. Go to Leah's after you drop them off at school.'
It frustrates Emily because Leah left her home and yet she still has some form of control over the wolves. Once upon a time, Leah and Emily were best of friends, sisters even. But very much like sisters they had their bouts of sibling rivalry. They weren't without their moments of fighting, cat-y-ness, jealousy and competitiveness. Leah was always the more aggressive and dominant out of the two; Leah voiced her displeasure more often while Emily was known to sit and sulk over her disappointment. It was Leah, more times than not, that came out the victor between the two. Leah just had that so-called 'indomitable spirit' that meant she never gave up and was stubborn enough to not just take 'no' for an answer.
The one and only time that Emily had ever actually beaten Leah in anything, parents, aunts/uncles and older relatives not included, was with Sam Uley. Deep down, Emily knows she really never even beat her cousin in the matters of the heart. Sam's desire to fight the imprint in the beginning was proof positive that it wasn't a 'real' love that was felt between them. He didn't know her nor did she know him. But it was something that neither could fight and Emily, in fact, gave in sooner than Sam did.
She had tried to do the right thing, after Leah found out, by breaking it off with Sam. Leah had gotten into a serious confrontation with both cousin and fiancé about their infidelity, worthlessness and something else that quite possibly involved the Quileute language that Emily has never bothered to learn. For a while…even now, Emily believes that Leah did curse her because a few days after Leah's old language rant was when Sam phased and permanently disfigured Emily's face. When Emily came to in the hospital to learn of the state of her face and Sam's regretful look that she said 'to hell with this' and decided to keep Sam for herself.
It wasn't fair that Leah should get to keep her fiancé while she was forced to live out life alone and disfigured. If some weird spirit decided that Sam Uley and Emily Young were meant to be together, than who was she to go against it?
For Emily there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that she had something Leah would never have. Emily had finally beaten Leah; it was a victory that was long overdue. Sure, she was against being paired up with a guy she knew nothing about and her cousin had claimed to love but there were benefits to becoming Mrs. Sam Uley. With Sam as alpha of the wolf pack, Emily obtained a high position within the Quileute society that she lacked over in Makah. She was practically royalty and with Sam as the Golden Boy, she was the Golden Girl.
For a while she was looked upon as some cheap, pitiful hussy that only landed Sam Uley because he felt some, unknown and unexplainable, responsibility towards her. The story was that Sam tried to distract the bear but to avail thus enters 'Scarface'. Sam was seen as the misguided poor soul that was seduced by some temptress leaving Leah alone and heartbroken. Emily was the villain in the story but no one would dare breathe a word of it to her, around her and especially Sam. Leah was the only one and as her anger and jealousy grew, she began to unleash her anger on those around her. Eventually, over time Leah became the villain as it was believed that she was finally showing her true colors and that had to be reason why Sam left Leah for a more docile and obedient Emily.
However, Emily was far from obedient. In fact, Sam was the obedient one. Sure, he ran things on the outside and within the pack but it was Emily that really pulled the strings back at home. Emily was no longer the quiet, little dormouse that did everything she was told to do. She was the head and no longer the tail. Because of her status with Sam those who, normally, would've spurned her, respected and smiled at her. Everyone did as she requested simply because she was with Sam and that, eventually, included Leah.
When Leah joined the pack it was like a dream come true. As an elder, Aunt Sue couldn't be seen arguing with Emily, the soon-to-be wife of the newest member to the Council, and they had to 'make nice' to show unity within the tribe. Leah and Seth remained defiant but with them both as wolves things would finally fall into place; or so Emily had thought.
Somehow, Leah remained as defiant as ever. Sam had, in a sense, put a gag order on her spiteful cousin preventing her from voicing her anger, annoyance and frustration to Emily directly. Emily could only guess that Leah still continued while in wolf form expressing her displeasure about the whole situation as each of the boys would immediately sober up whenever Leah was around.
That, in itself was another interesting point. None openly complained or challenged Leah whenever she annoyed them. Sure, it wasn't beneath Paul to mock or taunt Leah for her moods but it only went so far. He was never serious about them and his so-called threats were just as empty as their stomachs. Jacob was the only one to actually go at it with Leah, openly and viciously. There was never any love lost between those two because no matter how often they argued, fought, yelled and snapped at one another; they always found some way to get beyond it.
But, Jacob and Leah's odd love-hate relationship never interested Emily at the time and all she really cared about was planning her 'perfect wedding'. And no wedding would be complete without the perfect set of bridesmaids and Leah was one of them. Leah fit in perfectly with the rest of Emily's party meaning that the olive-colored skin, the dark black or brown hair and soft brown eyes all matched and provided a perfectly conformed looked. Her bridesmaid would all look so much alike that no one would be able to distinguish them apart and thus not upstage the bride. Leah had agreed to be in her wedding and although Leah's increased height was a minor nuisance it was still manageable with a simple pair of flats.
When the pack split, however, all of Emily's plans went out the window. Leah refused to be in Emily's wedding. Not only had Leah refused to be in the wedding but still showed up wearing a jaw dropping, backless, ruby red floor-length gown that made her the center of attention even when standing off in a corner chatting quietly with Jacob Black. It was a slap in the face to Emily that not only bruised her ego but her vanity as well. Even after the damn wedding and honeymoon was over all people could talk about was how gorgeous Leah looked. 'Gorgeous' was something that Emily would never be, not anymore and she loathed Leah for it.
Leah may have lost the ability to have kids and live with the guilt of killing her father when she phased; but at least she'd always be beautiful, have eternal youth and whatever damage she suffered would heal in time not even leaving a scar.
That was just the beginning of their rocky relationship and forced interactions.
Along with the pack shift came a shift in power. There were now two alphas running around La Push; the true alpha, Jacob Black, and the stubborn substitute, Sam Uley. At least that was how Leah described and distinguished the two. In reality, there was no arguing with the title bestowed upon Jacob because he was the rightful heir of Ephraim Black. There were talks of combining the two packs to be under Jacob but both alphas refused; Sam because he didn't want to be forced patrolling to protect a disgusting coven of leeches and Jacob didn't want to put up with Sam's ego and Paul's mouth. In reality, Jacob didn't combine the two packs all because of her, Leah.
Leah wasn't ready to be back in Sam's head and Jacob didn't seem too hard press to make her deal or even tolerate Sam's presence. Leah wasn't required to 'play nice with her cousin' or even interact with them. The support that Emily had garnered during her time with Sam was soon waning and seemed to shift to Leah. Emily was no longer the one with the unspoken power within La Push, it was Leah. Just through her connection to Jacob Black, Leah seemed to gain status within the tribe that didn't require any sort of intimidation on Jacob's part or acts of random kindness on Leah's part. It just seemed to be automatic and natural; almost as if that is how it was always supposed to be. Jacob and Leah. Alpha and Beta.
The power shift wasn't just felt or expressed by the wolves but the locals of La Push seemed to develop a newfound respect for Leah.
Leah's interactions between the wolves didn't just fix itself over night nor did she just become a new person because Jacob gave her a promotion. It was gradual and although there were a few arguments, scuffs and setbacks; it never stopped the end result. After about a year of the pack split, Leah was respected, liked and even sought after by all the wolves. They no longer came to Emily for their questions or problems, they went to Leah. The cubs no longer just hung out in Emily's tiny kitchen; they instead went to stand around in Leah's cramped and claustrophobic kitchen.
The imprints themselves seemed to see the power change and treated Leah with a bit more respect. That was where Emily drew the line. It wouldn't do to have the imprints adore Leah and vice versa while all the while Leah still hated Emily. If anything, the imprints needed to stand together against the lone she-wolf. At first the task seemed daunting and Emily wasn't even sure where to begin; Kim was fairly easy but she just went with the flow anyway. Rachel was a tough sale because she and Leah just naturally got along. Claire was a child, so she didn't matter. The newly arrived imprints were the truly tough ones as they held no alliance to one woman.
Success came in the form of a simple game. The Elders were forever in some vain attempt trying to get the two packs together; and to stay on their good side Emily decided she'd host parties for the two packs. That way, the cubs would come over, Leah would be in a bad mood and she'd look like the perfect hostess and alpha female. Jacob seemed a bit standoffish when within Sam's territory and that would put Leah on edge. Leah on edge put her in a snappy mood and she'd turn on the imprints. It was complicated and simplistic all at the same time.
Basically, the game played was 'How Well Do You Know' and it involved the wolves, imprints, family and close friends. Prizes would be handed out to the winners. Surprisingly, Leah dominated the game knowing practically everything there was to know about the wolves. Emily was surprised that Leah knew so much about Sam and the realization seemed to please Sam while frustrate Jacob. Leah blew every imprint out of the water with her knowledge of their men and from then on, she was hated. It made absolutely no sense that she knew so much more than they did. Obviously, Leah was a meddling whore who at one point or another wanted their wolves for herself because she couldn't find a man of her own.
Things had turned out better than Emily had hoped when each of the imprints began to slowly pull their wolf away from the pack. It, of course, only made sense because soon the wolves would have to stop phasing and just grow old with their imprints. They couldn't keep running around in the woods naked, sharing thoughts and who knows what else with Leah. Amy, Embry's imprint, had proved it when she confronted him about his past with Leah and he admitted that he had a major crush on Leah up until he imprinted. Even the younger wolves had all developed feelings for Leah that bordered on romantic but their souls were saved by imprinting.
Leah would still show up and distract the wolves for a moment or two but she eventually gave up and they all forgot about her. Emily had her perfect life with her husband, kids and family; the Clearwaters were estranged but the interaction was never much anyway. The same held true for the rest of the imprints; they had everything that they needed and letting the guys hang out as a 'pack' was only inviting more late night patrols, pointless meetings and suspicious interactions with Leah Clearwater.
Sure, Emily may not have won the power struggle with Leah but for the time being it seemed to be more of a draw.
But, now it would seem that the struggle has begun again and Emily is on the losing side. What is the most frustrating is the simple fact that, Leah isn't even fucking here; her absence showing proof positive the power that she truly held within the pack. What's even more frustrating for Emily is the fact that Leah never used it. With a heavy, annoyed and defeated sigh Emily concedes to the idea that somehow the power that Jacob Black received as alpha was transferred to Leah. She doesn't truly understand it or maybe she's choosing not to but she's not blind to the fact that Paul, as Sam's beta, does not carry the same clout and power as Leah; thus, proving that this whole situation has to be more than just an alpha-beta arrangement.
Vanessa stomps into the Clearwater home and freezes just inside the door to take an assessment of the current situation. Once again, Sue is gone, Claire is on the couch sitting next to a wolf reading some book, Emily is in the kitchen along with Kim and a few other wolves are scattered here or there. The same tension remains in the air that has been there since they were told of the vampires near the Rez.
"Where's Seth?" Vanessa demands with a hard frown. A few eyes look at her, as if suddenly becoming aware of her presence, before turning back to their activities. Vanessa's fists clench tightly, her lips pressed together and she shuts her eyes tightly taking in a deep and, hopefully, calming breath. The wolves ignore her, the imprints are too wrapped in their own pitiful moods to care and Claire…Claire is a child!
"He's upstairs in his room." Rachel offers up waddling into the family room with a sigh.
"Thanks." Vanessa says sharply. It's not that she doesn't appreciate someone answering. It's just that she's sick and tired of this dark, depressing and wolf-centered mood. Rachel watches with a bored expression as another angry imprint is on the war path.
Good luck, bitch. Rachel thinks before sitting down in a loveseat with a heavy plop.
Seth knows Vanessa is coming; he knew the moment her car pulled up in the driveway and the click of her heels up the porch steps. He groans lowly, the feeling of a migraine coming, massaging his temple with his fingertips; he's not in the mood to deal with Vanessa.
"You have got to be shitting me." Vanessa hisses the moment she opens Seth's door and sees a huge pile of sheets on his bed. Since the conflict between Jake and Leah's new alpha, Seth has spent his free and waking time in his room, hidden underneath Leah's belongings. Vanessa, initially, felt sorry for Seth as she watched him snatch up Leah's belongings and selfishly, childishly take them to his room. She thought it was sweet that Seth missed his big sister even if she was an antisocial, controlling hard-ass bitch.
Vanessa didn't like Leah from the moment she laid eyes on her. Leah was tall, lean, toned and possessed a natural beauty to her. Vanessa can admit that she was jealous of Leah at the word 'Lee' which is how Seth had introduced them.
"Lee, this is my imprint Vanessa or just Ness for short." Seth had said smiling proudly at his sister. Vanessa had no choice but to look up at the tall woman before her. Leah looked down at Vanessa with an inquisitive eyebrow, scrutinizing the small petite woman before her.
"You're really petite, aren't you?" Leah stated more than questioned. Vanessa with her tiny 4'11" frame frowned up at the Amazon; she always hated short jokes. From the small rumors around the Rez, Vanessa was expecting to see a wild haired, unkempt and steroid-induced, testosterone female version of Seth. Leah had everything that Vanessa would've killed the rude clerk at the Coach store for; hips, thighs, breasts, full pouty lips and a tight ass – all for free.
"Well," Vanessa begins but is cut off by Leah.
"Oh well, if the spirits think you're good enough for my little brother than you're alright in my book." Leah says with a shrug before smiling sweetly at the pair. This wasn't the bitch that she recalled hearing about when she was in school. Vanessa lived off the Rez but kept up on the La Push rumors courtesy of her cousins. "I've got to patrol, so you two kids have fun." Leah calls over her shoulder before walking out the door.
"Oh my gosh, she actually likes you." Seth says letting out a huge sigh of relief. "That's a load off my mind."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vanessa asks frowning deeply and crossing her arms. Seth only awes at her, commenting on her adorable pout.
"Well if Leah didn't like you…I, I don't know what I would've done." Seth admits solemnly.
Vanessa didn't find out until months later that if Leah had not approved of her, than Seth would've tried to fight the imprint. The news was a kick to the stomach. That tidbit of news had turned Vanessa completely against Leah. The woman held a power over Seth that not even his imprint could hold. Seth would be willing to endure pain for his sister, to ensure that she approved of his choices in life.
Seth did everything for Leah from getting up in the middle of the night, leaving her alone in bed, to patrol and even missing a date so that Leah didn't have to sleep alone. Seth was supposed to be everything to Vanessa and for Vanessa; as far as Vanessa was concerned there was no room for Leah. Vanessa has spent her entire life sharing with her brothers and sisters. She had never had anything of her own; Seth was that one thing and she'd be damned if she lost it because of Seth's spinster-of-a-sister.
"Seth Michael Clearwater," Vanessa calls stomping towards the bed. With her feet spread apart, hands on her hips and dark brown eyes fixed on the bed she awaits a response. "Get your ass out of that bed. You're coming with me, right now." Vanessa orders. There is a low growl from underneath the sheets that only irritates her. "Don't growl at me, Seth."
"Go away, Vanessa." Seth growls out from underneath the sheets, still refusing to come out.
"I will not just go away. Seth, you don't talk to me like that." Vanessa demands. The urge to unearth her boyfriend from his damn fort growing, what's next? A sign that reads, 'No stupid girls'? This was childish; the vampire-chick was right. "Don't blame me for Leah skipping out on you."
Inside of Seth, there's a cold, hard and deafening snap. Sitting up, Seth whips around to face his imprint. Seth notices the smug look of victory across Vanessa's face as he can only look back at her in pain and sadness. Leah had left and he was to blame. He didn't spend enough time with her and she left without properly saying good-bye. He didn't know where she was or who she was with. All he knew was that Sue knew and that she'd found a new pack of…wolves, or just shape shifters, to hang out with. From what he had heard or noticed from his mother everything seemed to going smoothly for Leah. It's not that Seth isn't happy for his sister, that she made friends and all that. But, the fact that he forgot about her pains him.
Turning his eyes back at the woman before him, Seth's eyes narrow for a second as that familiar anger for the woman before him begins to build. It's been a new, odd and growing feeling of…well, annoyance with the imprints. The only wolves spared the feeling being Quil and Paul, both wolves whose imprints love Leah like family. Vanessa was supposed to be family but she seemed to be the one pulling him away from it, the idea.
Letting out a sigh, Seth moves and sits on the edge of his bed. His mind wanders to how all of this could've happened; how he even allowed this to happen. Looking back over his shoulder, Seth catches the glass eye of one of Leah's favorite stuffed animals, not there were a lot of them left. It was a frog that he had won for her at the state fair a year ago. Vanessa didn't want to go and 'be around stinky, smelly animals'. Seth recalled chuckling lightly as Leah commented how those were the same things and after Vanessa had stomped off in a pout added, 'she's not very bright or takes correction easily'.
Leah hadn't said much else about Vanessa and the outing became a 'pack' thing. Everyone went, well everyone that mattered at the time; Jacob, Leah, Seth, Quil, Claire and Embry. None of the other imprints were interested in seeing a bunch of farm animals, riding shoddy and poorly put together carnival rides or eating even worse carnival food. They all had a great time as both Leah and Claire each walked out with a stuff animal from each wolf. Each of the guys looked on with childish pride as Leah and Claire both discussed what to name their animals. The four stuffed animals all remained on Leah's bed, each covered in her scent as proof that they held some kind of sentimental value to her.
Seth had snatched up the frog, Freddie, that he won for Leah that day. All the others were already missing and Seth had easily guessed that they were each reclaimed by the wolf who won it.
"Ness, have a seat, please." Seth says patting a spot beside him. Seth looks on as Vanessa frowns, her lips forming a tiny pout, before she concedes letting out a frustrated sigh. Seth can't help but notice how her sigh reminds him more of the stuck up girls in high school with the nasty attitudes; he never liked them.
"Are we going home now?" Vanessa asks looking at Seth with a hopeful smile. "I'm sick of you being here."
"This is my home." Seth simply states getting a good look at the woman who has been his girlfriend for the last two years.
"Your home is with me, Sethie." Vanessa coos tenderly, leaning against Seth and batting her eyelashes.
"I grew up here, Ness." Seth tries again looking down at the tiny dark blue rug at his feet. "This is where all my memories are and where Leah will come when she returns." Seth whispers the last part about Leah softly but Vanessa still hears it.
"Seth, Leah has let go and so should you." Vanessa states angrily as she pushes herself off of Seth. She's grown tired of this strange 'attachment' to this house and Leah. "A house isn't a home. Home is wherever we are, together." Vanessa states matter-of-factly. "Listen, no one likes the vampires in the area. We get that they're dangerous and we appreciate the risks you guys take on. But it's time to stop, Seth. It's time to stop chasing these vampires and learn to live a normal life."
"We don't do normal. We can't have normal." Seth grumbles. Nothing about his life has been normal since he learned how to spontaneously cause his body to explode into a huge giant mass of fur, teeth, claws and paws. "Normal people don't imprint."
"So what? Now alluva sudden it's my fault that Leah left?" Vanessa demands. This blame game was perfectly fine against the pale half-vampire monstrosity that their so-called Alpha is attached to. The oddly fast growing freak was the perfect scapegoat.
He couldn't understand how all of this could've happened. Whatever happened to his ideals of a loving and happy family? There were supposed to Christmas parties, birthdays and family reunions where his kids and Leah's kids would all run around playing, fighting and looking out for one another. These ideas hadn't ever crossed his mind back when he was a child or even during his early years as a teenager. These expectations were his years after he was a wolf and he'd grown comfortable with his body. Leah's worries of never becoming a mother seemed silly to him; not because he didn't care about whether or not she was menstruating, but because he knew that when the time was right she'd have children. Seth had never shared his theory with Leah, for some strange reason. Maybe it was because a part of him didn't want to go into explaining about why he had this feeling? Maybe it was the little brother in him that, secretly, didn't like the idea of any man touching his sister in such an intimate way? But how could his thoughts for their growing family ever come true if Leah didn't meet a guy that she actually liked or felt attracted to? In order to have the kids, yes, his sister would have to have…she'd certainly have to do the dirty deed with some fucking bastard! Whoever the guy is or will be had damn well treated her right. Seth releases a deep growl thinking over some guy being with his sister, the sibling and wolf in him coming together to express their displeasure at the inability to ensure Leah's safety.
Vanessa frowns at Seth's lack of reaction towards her last comment. He wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with her and that was very odd. Seth, all of the wolves for that matter, was very submissive and catering towards their girlfriends, wives and imprints. The slightest hint of frustration, discomfort or frown would be enough to throw Seth into a frenzy as he'd try to figure out who or what it was that upset his 'Ness'. Now Seth wasn't the type of guy that Vanessa had envisioned for herself, the body, the eyes and great smile were part of the equation. The catering to her and never denying anything that tickled her fancy wasn't the problem either. Men were always quick to do and buy anything for Vanessa; her petite frame gave them a sense of manliness. Men felt that because of her size that she needed them. It was a simple feeding of the male ego of 'me, man, and you, woman. I take care and protect you' with a few primitive and very caveman-like grunts and hand gestures. What she hadn't factored in was the homebody, the strong attachment to the reservation and the pack.
Vanessa knows that out of all the imprints she's had it the hardest getting Seth to pull away from the pack mentality. Maybe it's because he's the only one with a strong familial bond within the pack? Leah still remained and despite a long break in between patrolling; Vanessa can recall waking up in the middle of the night to find Seth sitting outside on the porch staring off into the woods. When asked what he was doing the answer would simply be, "Making sure that Leah's okay." The answer never bothered Vanessa but it was the voice and the way that it was said that would put her on edge, it wasn't Seth's 'voice' or mannerism that was expressed in that moment. It felt and looked as if there was someone else answering her in place of her imprinted wolf.
"You don't like your family, do you?" Seth asks his eyes focused on the opposite wall. There's a picture hanging up on the wall of the small pack before everyone had imprinted. Jacob standing in the middle, Leah standing to his right while Embry, Quil and Seth were all surrounding them. Sue had taken the picture as it was the day of a small Quileute celebration; Jacob and Leah both had parts to play in the celebration and were dressed up for the occasion. A huge smile on Leah's face is exactly why the picture made it up on Seth's wall; it was a beautiful, genuine, bright and happy smile that reached not only her ears but her eyes, heart and soul. It's a frozen moment in time where Leah was happy and the rest of the pack was happy with her.
"Seth," Vanessa groans out.
"It's a simple question." Seth cuts her off closing his eyes.
"No, no I don't like my family." Vanessa answers.
"Do you like mine?"
"Do they like me?" Seth opens his eyes and looks at Vanessa long and hard. He can't ever recall having such a serious conversation with her before; the idea of someone not liking or adoring his imprint was an unheard of and preposterous idea to him – at the time. However, now as he looks at her, he realizes that it's a very good question. Leah accepted her or maybe did Leah accept the imprint? Sue never seemed to say much to Vanessa; in fact, Seth can't remember ever seeing the three women in his life ever all sitting together and talking.
"That's a very good question." Seth finally says watching Vanessa's arched eyebrows lower and lower on her brow. Seth's lack of concern of the answering being 'no' worries Vanessa as she notices his eyes hardening the more he looks at her. She feels her heart hammering inside of her chest, her lungs feeling compressed, the air becoming thick, stuffy and suffocating and a thin layer of sweat coats her hands.
"I'm going home. You're more than welcomed to come along, if you wish." Vanessa states as she quickly gets up. Seth's back straightens as he looks at the woman before him. Her back turned to him, her stiff and tensed stance and her tightly clenched fists.
"This is my home." Seth simply states. There's the small tug on his heart string to hold and comfort Vanessa, his imprint, as he's always done. She's upset and he's the reason behind it, sort of. Yet, Vanessa is also responsible for her own feelings and actions. She's not stupid or blind to the world that he lives in. All of the wolves and even the vampires all exist within two worlds; it's a duel life, co-existence of human and mythological. Sometimes the problems of one are overlapped or exists the same as in the other. He can't stop living in either world any more than he can stop being Quileute or even a man. It's who is and what has defined and made him into the person he is today. Then again, who is he? A wolf that is, one of many, a protector of La Push and vampire killer? A brother, that forgets about his sister and remains ignorant of her absence? A son who claims to love his mother and yet rarely talks to her? A friend who had, at one point, completely blown off his closest friends just so that he could be at his girlfriend's beck and call? Were his brothers asking themselves the same questions?
"Well…alright then, Seth, if that's how you really feel." Vanessa says still not turning around to face Seth. She's shocked that Seth has turned down her request. "I'll not be coming back here anytime soon. I hate this place, the other wolves, Jacob and the stupid women they are attached to." Vanessa grumbles out. Seth frowns at her usage of the word 'hate' towards so many people that are, technically, his family. "All you guys do is mope over Leah and chase after vampires that haven't been seen in weeks. Jacob walks around as if he's going to rip off someone's head at any given second. And the women here only sit around moping and wallowing in their own depression. Nobody wants to be here, Seth. Can't you wolves understand it? We've all worked really hard to get you guys to stop doing this. And what happens?" Seth listens as Vanessa quickly whips around and voice rises. He sees the frustration, panic and fear in her eyes; he doesn't understand why though. "The moment Leah leaves and you all know about it; the shit hits the fan. She's always made you all change. Don't you see that she fucking controls you all? Why does she have all this power and we don't?" Filtering is gone now. Vanessa finds herself standing before the man that claimed to love her, that she was his universe; words are just falling out of her mouth and she's not even really sure what she's saying and why. "You belong to me and no one else. Leah shouldn't dictate your moves, feelings and life. I tell you what to do, how to do it, when to do it and you're supposed to just roll over and accept it. As my imprint, you're supposed to be whatever I want when I want it. I CONTROL YOU, SETH!"
"ENOUGH!" Seth yells startling Vanessa as she steps back. Standing up from his bed, his nostrils flare and he walks up to her.
Is this really what she thought of me? Just some mindless drone to do whatever she wanted me to do?
Seth glares down at the woman before him, the wolf inside of him is angered and the human is embarrassed. Has he really been controlled by this tiny woman? Seth has reached his full height of 6'4" and easily towers over Vanessa but it was her carrying the leash in her hand. She doesn't care about his family or about what he wants for all of those in his life.
"Get out." Seth hisses lowly, pointing at the door and his eyes narrowed. Without another word, Vanessa turns and storms out of the tiny room, her heels hitting each step letting all that can hear bear witness to her disapproval of these strange turn of events. Seth doesn't relax until he hears Vanessa's car door slam shut and she pulls out of the driveway. He knows that eventually they'll be drawn back together; it's unavoidable and inevitable as she is his imprint. There is a slight ache in his chest over their harsh good-bye between one another but it's nothing that he cannot handle. The pain is nothing compared to the pain that Leah shared with the pack when she first joined up.
Leah.
Maybe his sister did actually have more power and control then he thought, but the difference between Leah and Vanessa was that Leah had never abused it. Or maybe it was that Leah was in the position that made it easy to follow through on her requests. Leah didn't order him or the others around; sure she or Jacob may have needed them to do something but it was explained and they followed through. Was the alpha-beta command any different from an imprint's command? Why did the imprints have so much control – or at least believed so?
A/N: So here goes the next update. There's been a couple of questions about the imprints and I'm not sure if I'll be able to incorporate all of the imprints into the story. I may just try and focus on the main players in Leah's life and how things will change and why from their POV. So, yea, the imprints aren't the greatest of people and I'll be honest in that I don't necessarily blame the 'imprints' themselves. I've just seen a lot of girls get spoiled and big-headed when they have a guy to cater and spoil them. According to Jacob, which I can only assume is what he's heard from Sam and the Elders, is that the wolves will become whatever the imprints want. I've seen girls that were nice change because of this guy who they can walk all over and it's simply because they can. The guy allows it. The relationship never lasts, in the real world, because the girl quickly grows bored of this guy and then switches up going for the guy with the dark-side. I can also admit that I've dated a guy like an imprinted wolf where the moment we were together there was NO backbone and whenever I got upset, everything had to stop and nothing could be done until I calmed down. Which meant I was cooed and awe'd at. -_-; First, of all, it wasn't that serious. And secondly, don't treat me like a baby. Third, GROW A PAIR! Argue with me, disagree and don't just agree with me because it'll make me happy and LOOK like we have something in common.
Phew, so there's that.
But, if you haven't all noticed. That I'm responding back to reviews the same day that I'm posting. So, unless, your review just tickles me to the point that I gotta respond back right away, I'll just hold out until my review. So let that be my tell.
Also, I've posted a poll to see which alpha has my readers hearts. Heheh. Plus, I think some of the questions are funny. ^-^ So, if you got time go vote and lets see who's more popular. I will admit that John has already been threatened TWICE with physical harm. Team John fans, these Team Jacob fans aren't taking this shit lying down. But don't worry it won't sway my decision in the end of who Leah will pick. Just curiosity getting the better of this Kat.
So but again, I'd like to thank all of my new readers and reviewers for taking time to even look at my work. It really means a lot. I HIT OVER 300 REVIEWS! WOOHOO! This is actually my 2nd story to hit 300; Missing You hit 300 a few days ago. I can't thank you guys enough for reviewing. And I'm not kidding when I say the questions and comments you make, I do take them into consideration and use them to expand more on the story. I'd love to answer all of your questions and it gives me something more to build on. So keep them coming and hopefully, I'll keep this energy going.
Btw, Leah's Propaganda...after re-reading it. I hated it. -_-; I haven't scrapped it completely but it still needs some work.
So you have two assignments from me. 1) Review and tell me what you think and 2) Answer the poll of my profile page.
Thanks!
Love you all!