Thanks for the awesome feedback!

As usual, the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, but I couldn't resist bossing them around a bit more!

I pulled my hand back, shocked at the cold of his skin. I lifted my hand and looked at it in disbelief as I realized this was the first time I'd ever touched a vampire. After letting it sink in, I looked up and found him examining his hand in the same fashion.

Finally he spoke: "Your hand… it feels like it's on fire."

Suddenly, hearing him speak again, I snapped out of my daze. I looked straight into his crimson eyes, feeling my own eyes narrow. "I'd rather be on fire than frigidly cold."

He took a step back, almost like I slapped him. He glanced back down at his hand, then back up at me. I started to back away before I realized that he was smiling. SMILING! "It looks like your attitude matches your temperature, She Wolf."

I cocked my head to the side, my body tense. I was sure that remark would have set him off. Instead, he continued to look at me with that… amused look on his face. I felt my cheeks flush in anger. "You have no idea, Leech. I have every right to be angry." I narrowed my eyes as his smile grew wider. "Will you at LEAST tell me why you seem to be enjoying this?"

I jumped as I felt a rush of cold air against my cheek, glancing around before I realized that the strand of hair that had been hanging in my face was no longer there. A string of curses ran through my head as the tracker mirrored my perplexed look – no doubt still mocking me. "I told you, She Wolf. I find you rather interesting."

I flinched, then took a big step back, crossing my arms over my chest. I quickly looked over my shoulder, then back at him, growling quietly. "Well, be interested all you want, Leech. But I'm not sticking around for it." I gave him a firm nod, then quickly turned, calling over my shoulder, "and if you know what's good for you, you won't follow me."

Suddenly there were icy fingers around my arm. I jumped and spun around to find myself face to face with the hunter. His blood-red eyes gleamed as he studied me thoughtfully. "I'll be seeing you soon…Leah."

I looked up at him, opening and closing my mouth several times as I struggled to think of a response. I finally pressed my lips together, deciding instead to try to get free and leave without a word. As I reached up to his hand, he suddenly let it drop, taking my hand and raising it briefly to his lips. Then he turned and started making his way back across the clearing, lifting the hood of his cloak back up as he walked.

I stood for a moment and watched him, then shook my head and turned to pick my way back through the forest. I suddenly stopped, knowing that if I returned to the Cullen house, Edward could easily read my mind and would know that the Volturi had arrived. I leaned against a tree, biting the inside of my lip. I knew I really needed to go to Jake. Needed to warn him that they were already in the forest, not far from the Cullen home. Something was stopping me. Defeated by the strange feeling inside of me, I pulled off my clothes quickly, dropping them to the ground before I phased. Then I picked them up in my mouth, trying to listen for Seth at the same time.

He was immediately in my head Lee where have you BEEN?

I knew I had to choose my words carefully I… took a walk Sethie. Listen-

Are you going to be back soon? Jake thought maybe we could double up after a while. It's a bit of a pain covering all of this alone.

Yeah, listen. I have to go have to- I left something at home. I'll be back in a couple hours.

Awwww really Lee? I could hear him whining

Yup. Forgot something. Just tell Jake I'll be back soon.

I managed to block out his protests as I ran back to the La Push border. There was no way I was going to let them know what just happened. Not until I figured it out myself. But for now, I had to push it into the back of my mind. Maybe a couple hours curled up at home would get me ready for that.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I crossed the border and phased back. I pulled on my clothes, thankful that no one could hear my thoughts anymore, then ran to my house. I slipped through the door and bolted right to my room, burrowing under the covers. As much as I tried, I couldn't keep from thinking of the hunter as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke with a start a short time later, with thoughts of leeches with crimson eyes floating in my head. I jumped out of bed, realizing I had to go meet up with Seth. I took special care heading out of the house so mom wouldn't know I'd been back. As soon as I'd shut the door tight, I made my way back to the trees.

As I reached down to pull my clothes off, the smell hit me again. I whirled around, looking into the trees, and there he was: the hunter – just on the other side of the border. I walked closer, not feeling any fear after our first encounter, and stopped only a few feet away from him, trying to peer under his low hood. "You know, you really know how to give a girl a complex."

The hunter reached up, pushing his hood back. A smile slowly spread across his face. "It seems you haven't gone to the Cullens and given us away. Can I ask why?"

I opened my mouth to speak. Then I realized I didn't have an answer and bit down on my lip, looking up at the bloodsucker. Fidgeting with the bottom hem of my shirt, I fished for something to tell him - anything. Finally, I said the only thing that popped into my mind: "You haven't hurt me, and I'm not a snitch. They'll know you're here when it's time." I winced, knowing that my words were going completely against the pack. But for some reason, it didn't matter.

He seemed satisfied with my answer and stepped aside, holding out his hand as if directing me past him. I carefully walked by him, feeling his eyes on me. I turned to look back at him, and he gave me a smile that was almost assuring. "I'll be seeing you again soon, She Wolf," he said, just before turning and walking down the borderline.

After I was sure I was out of his site, I went through all the motions of tying my clothes to my ankle and phasing, taking off in the direction of the Cullen house.

Hope you enjoyed it! Still lots more to come!