Chapter 13

Leah shape shifted at the same moment she felt Nessie rake her nails down her back. Jacob also phased as Alec stepped forward and hissed at Nessie. Seth, Quil and Embry stood to the side not sure who to be angry with. Alec had helped them with Leah and Nessie was an Imprint. The battle between the two wolves favorites was one they couldn't help fight because it would only tear their loyalties to the other wolf.

The standoff was only seconds, however it seemed like hours. Leah stood facing Nessie who was in a crouched stance facing her. Jacob by Leah's side, but facing the other way. When Leah realized it was his tail next to her face and not his muzzle, the tense air became even thicker.

Jacob, what are you doing?

He was going to attack.

No, Nessie attacked!

What?

Stand down Jacob. Alec would never hurt me.

I understand that, but I can't have him attack Nessie, or the treaty is broken.

The wolves continued their ruff stance while the vampires stayed low to the ground ready to pounce if needed. The porch creaked as Alec slid one foot closer to the edge of the stairs. Jacob growled low in his throat for warning. Freezing Alec in his place.

I said stand down Jacob!

Nessie hissed at Leah and shifted her footing as well. Leah barked at her making her flinch back to her original state. Their eyes never leaving each other's.

Leah, shift back!

So this is it Jacob, were always going to be torn apart because you can't let go? Even now you want me to make myself vulnerable so your precious isn't damaged in any way. Well you know what? To hell with you and your imprint!

With the last few words ringing in Jacob's ears, he didn't have enough time to react to Leah's movement. She lunged at Nessie who was prepared for the attack. Jacob turned and Alec hit him with one arm causing Jacob to slam into a nearby tree. Quil and Embry moved into motion with the threat to their Alpha. Seth shifted and ran after Leah and Nessie. Embry snarled at Alec in his own standoff while Quil was behind him nudging Jacob up to his feet with his snout.

"Embry, I have no war with you or your Alpha. I just want to protect Leah, and he wasn't going to let me." Alec said while inching to the break in the woods where Seth just disappeared.

Jacob finally getting his feet steady under him nudged Embry to the side and walked up to Alec. They stared each other down. Each thinking of the horrific things they want to do to the other. They were enemies, and the one thing they had in common was the one thing that would cause them to rip each other apart. They had led separate lives until this very moment. When they heard the scream come from the woods, that imaginary line holding them steady pulled them together even tighter. Their anger at one another was pushed aside and they knew working together was the only option to protect the one they love. Jacob and Alec looked back at each other for a brief moment. Finally Jacob barked at Alec and ran to the opening followed by Quil and Embry. Alec ran after them and took it as a sign of peace...for now.

OoOoO

"Why do you want him so much dog? Why can't you let him be happy with me?" Nessie snarled as she kicked Leah away from her.

Leah snarled and stood back up. Her fur was matted with mud and leaves. Her eyes burned from the dirt that Nessie threw in them earlier. She was panting hard and she was tired. But no matter what, she wasn't going to let Nessie get away. Leah worked hard, putting blood, sweat and tears into the heartache she would feel every time she patrolled for Jacob, while he would lavish Nessie with love and attention for years. She patrolled twice or three times in a day so Jacob could be with her and the Cullen family. Leah was tired of being pushed behind everyone so she could be focused on last. Now she was put first. Leah knows her worth and no stuck up vamp was going to tell her different. Be happy with her? Nessie? If he were happy, then he never would have come back to La Push. She had her Alpha admitting his love for her, and Alec who she knew she cared for but wasn't sure if she was ready to unlock that box of emotion.

Leah wasn't giving up on her new life for anyone and she sure as hell wasn't going to go through life watching her back from angry ex-girlfriends!

Leah phased and stood in front of Nessie completely bare except for the red blood dripping down her shoulder from the scratch Nessie gave her only moments ago. There was no pain etched on her tanned face and it caused Nessie to re-think her action in attacking. Seth entered the clearing but came to a stop when Leah raised her hand in silent demand not to move. Seth sat on his haunches and growled low in his throat at Nessie who spared him a brief glance before turning her attention back to Leah.

Leah stared Nessie down, not even daring to blink.

"Nessie, Jacob is a big boy and can make his own decisions, if he wants to go with you then by all means you can have each other! I'm not going to stand in his way or hold him back from what he wants...not like you." Leah added softy.

Nessie straightened her stance and stiffened at the accusation. Leah waited, and watched in surprise as Nessie's face returned to that of an original heartbroken teenager. She watched as a tear slid down the girls pale face and moistened the top of her white blouse. Leah looked around, her eyes trying to land on anything but the crying vampire. She heard the sniffle and her eyes snapped back to Nessie's in shock. This girl was acting like Leah just placed her in time out.

"The way he looks at you isn't fair. I'm his imprint!" Nessie moans out while placing her hand on her chest in reference to herself. "He should look at me that way..."

Nessie's words died out slowly and it just became mumbling by the time they reach Leah's ears. Leah opened her arms, not to apologize, but to tell Nessie it would be okay. Instead Nessie ran into her open arms taking that as invitation to cry on her shoulder. Leah thought vampires had to be more emotional than human ones. Just moments ago, this girl was trying to kill her. Leah looked over Nessie's shoulder at Seth who cocked his head in confusion at the complete turn around. Leah awkwardly patted her hair, and sighed with relief when she saw Jacob and Alec cut through the trees. All three wolves including Seth just stared at the two of them embracing awkwardly, It was far from what they were expecting after they heard Nessie scream from the forest. Alec followed behind them and stopped dead in his tracks not sure if the girl was still going to attack Leah. This was an odd situation for everyone.

Embry left the quiet group and came back around behind Leah with clothes hanging from his mouth. Leah pulled herself away from Nessie and pulled the shorts and t-shirt on. The shorts obviously belonged to Embry because she had to pull the drawstring supper tight to keep them from falling.

Leah pushed Nessie away and held her at arms length. Her head down and tears continuing to splash the ground in front of her. Leah took a deep breath and did the one thing she never wanted to do, she spared the teenage vampires feelings.

"Go home Nessie, and fall in love with someone who is given the choice to love you back." Leah whispers in her ear.

At the same moment Jasper, Edward and Bella flew through the trees stopping inches away from Nessie, Edward ran through what just happened from everyone's mind and grimaced a thank you before picking his daughter up in his arms and turning back. The wolves and Alec watched as the Cullen's left with their heartbroken angel and hoped to god that hell freezes over before they ever have to deal with them again.

Embry's sweater fell off of Leah's shoulder and all the wolves except Jacob who was the only one staring in rapt fascination at the exposed skin grimaced and whined. She watched as they turned away and Jacob walked up to her. He nuzzled her bare shoulder and inhaled her scent. Leah stood frozen and turned away from his pushing. Jacob cried low in his throat. Leah looked past him at Alec; Jacob followed her direction and growled. Alec being respectful held his hands up in peace.

"I'll give you some time." He said and turned in the direction of the wolves and followed them back to the Clearwater house.

Jacob phased back to human and cared less about his nudity and more about Leah's sudden withdraw. He walked over to her and touched her elbow.

"Leah..." He whispered.

"No more Jacob, I can't take any more." Leah said to him while she faced the tree.

"Any more what?" He asked confused.

Leah turned to face him, trying to focus on his face instead of anywhere else. A small blush covered her cheeks and travelled down her neck underneath the hoodie Embry gave her. Jacob grinned at her facial expression and walked closer. She put her hand up between them and placed it on his chest. Instead of pushing him away, it made them both shiver from the skin-to-skin contact.

"Any. More. What?" He asked again in a deep whisper and more slowly to try and get her attention again.

Leah looked from where her hand was placed on his chest and slowly traveled up his neck, past his lips, over his nose and finally to his deep chocolate brown eyes. She was speechless for a moment, not daring to speak or breath for fear he would just disappear. Her mind told her to leave him, he was nothing but heartache and she would always believe he still cared for Nessie more than he could ever care for her. That reminder was enough to pull her out of her daze and realize where she was again.

She stepped away from his heat, "I can't be second best any more."

Jacob frowned at her words and her removal of her hand on his chest. It didn't make any sense. Only moments ago they were starting over, beginning fresh. Now suddenly she wanted to take everything back? Jacob was confused, he could have sworn that she was with him a full 100 percent. Did she come to realize she had feelings for Alec once she saw him? That thought made Jacob's face darken.

"It's Alec isn't it?" he asked.

Leah looked at him as if she couldn't fathom how he had a brain, "Did you not hear what I just said?" she questioned back.

"I heard, so its Alec then, right?" Jacob said getting more annoyed at her annoyance with him.

Leah let out an exasperated breath and threw her hands up in the air in frustration. She couldn't believe the man in charge of the packs future and the tribes present was this hard headed.

"No, it's not Alec! It's you!" she yelled at him, hoping the ideas of raising her voice will pierce his thick skull.

"Me? What did I do?" Jacob asked pointing to himself confused.

"You told me to stand down! You all but asked me not to hurt Nessie, even after she had already hurt me!" Leah cried to him. She emphasized the last part by pointing to the dark red spot on her shoulder where Nessie drew blood earlier with her nails. The dark blood seeped through the hoodie and now stained the top right corner, causing Jacob to freeze at the sight.

Jacob watched as the small tear made its way from her left eye down her cheek to her chin. If Jacob were honest with himself, he would know he's never seen so many tears from Leah Clearwater in all his life than he's seen in the past two days.

"You put her first again Jacob...you will always put her first."

Jacob was about to say something, anything to make her look at him again like she did moments earlier before all the drama happened. But he knew turning back time was nearly as impossible as it was wishing upon a star for sunshine everyday in La Push.

"My intention wasn't putting her first, it was protecting La Push." Jacob said softly, hoping she would listen and see reason.

Leah didn't move or say anything, so Jacob took it as a sign to continue. "Yes I care for Nessie, but not nearly as much as I love you. Leah what do I have to do to make you see, I'm devoted to you and only you?"

Leah spun around on her heal to face him once again, "To me? Your devoted to me?" She let out a short laugh as if the notion was a joke. "Who did you turn away from that night of the wedding? Or the night in the forest when nothing was standing in our way? Who did you leave to rot in that vampire basement?"

Her questions became louder with each step she took towards him. Jacob held his hands up in surrender backing away from the furious she wolf. He noticed the sweat beading on her brow, her shoulders and hands shaking from the emotion she was belting out at him.

"I didn't know you were taken when I left!" Jacob tried to reason.

Leah continued her rampage, "But you still left! You didn't even fight for me! And just now you insisted I stand down and disregarded the threat because she was your stupid imprint!"

Leah gasped in air after her angry tirade and clutched at her chest taking deep breaths trying to control the shaking that had spread through her entire body. The hurt and pain that was lodged so deep was now overflowing and all she could do was let it flow. The wall that had been holding everything in had cracked under pressure and now was completely non-existent.

The two wolves that had so recently reconciled were now torn asunder once again. The doubt and mistrust was to overwhelming to be pushed aside now, it was let out of the box and was now wedging itself in the ever growing gap between them.

OoOoO

The shadows concealed him very well. The wolves were within hearing distance but he was still far enough for them not to pick up on his scent. He listened to the She wolfs argument and watched with a grin upon his face as she walked away from the now deflated and miserable Alpha. Divide and conquer is his sweetest victory.

A haunting laugh echoed through the woods, but the two wolves walking in opposite directions were to caught-up in their own minds to pay it any heed. A mistake they would come to regret.

OoOoO

This was a complete re-write of the original chapter I planned on exposing. I'm happier with this one but it was a challenge because there was so much angst and drama going on with more than the two main characters. Sorry about the slow update my avid readers. Your patience is much appreciated!

Anywho, please review!

~Smo