Offshoot: Dwelling in the Dusk
Mini Story: Me Te Aroha (with love)
Leah Clearwater's POV: 2008, March, 5th

You loved me and I froze in time, hungry for that flesh of mine.
But I can't compete with a she wolf, who has brought me to my knees.
What do you see in those yellow eyes? Cause I'm falling to pieces...

"Leah, your imprint is a total jerk," Rachel remarked suddenly.

I knew they'd figure it out by now, I thought to myself and smirked, keeping silent and calmly perched on the couch with my cup of steaming coffee. It was now morning in New Zealand and we were sitting in our quaint, wooden cabin. The place was small and we girls had to share bedrooms, yes, but the view of the ocean was absolutely incredible.

"Says the woman who's engaged to a guy who's been in prison," Emily snapped back as they all sat eating at the breakfast table whilst I, however, was by myself on the couch and quietly reading my novel in peace. I was up at dawn and had eaten breakfast hours ago, but the lazy imprints slept in and it was now 10am.

"Not prison, Em!" Rachel defended Paul shamelessly; something we all thought was maddening. That timeless diamond ring–the one I bet Quil was stolen–would still be on Rachel's finger, even if Paul had been sent to prison and was still doing time. "Juvenile detention. Besides, I bet his high school principle didn't really like his Mercedes Benz that much anyway."

"Hopefully not," Angela laughed whilst serving up her famous, homemade pancakes. We all decided upon not allowing Emily to cook during her holiday and she wasn't even permitted to pour herself a drink. I'd made myself toast for breakfast and Claire was having cereal. "Paul broke into that car and drove it into a tree. I still remember how it was on the news!"

"Uncle Paul broke a car?" Claire gasped in astonishment.

"That was when Uncle Paul wasn't very well behaved," Kim assured little Claire. "He's nice now."

"I think I missed that day," Emily snorted.

"Okay, okay, stop bagging my fiancé. I'm still marrying him, whether he's stolen a Mercedes Benz or not!" Rachel huffed. "Besides, I thought we were dissing Leah's imprint."

"He's not that bad...and we don't know him," Emily remarked casually. "But I didn't like how he badmouthed Angela. That was pretty jerk-worthy."

"He was protecting his ancestry and being a good Chief...I'm sure Sam and Jacob would do the same if they were pressured into sharing information about the Pack as well," Angela shrugged it off and I knew she was defending him because she wanted the girls to accept my imprint as we had accepted her. "He seemed pretty head over heels for you, Leah."

"He doesn't even know me," I answered with a shrug.

"You don't have to know someone to be in love with them," Kim replied. "I didn't know Jared that much and I was obsessed with him, totally in love. I'd incessantly write Kim Cameron, Kim Cameron, Kim Cameron inside my diary everyday...hopelessly hoping it'd spur on some telepathic signal for him to notice me."

Cameron was Jared's last name and Kim's diary was how Jared imprinted.

He went to pick up his little sister, Jade, from high school and Kim knocked into him accidently that day, dropping her diary. He picked up her diary, saw Kim Cameron and was pretty bewildered until he met Kim's totally mortified gaze and imprinted on her.

Then, the name had never seemed so perfect to him and he made it his goal to make that name in Kim's diary real. He'd already bought the ring–exquisite, unique piece and way out of Jared's price range–but would wait until Rachel and Paul's wedding and then pop the question.

I, being the only woman wolf, was sworn to secrecy because apparently I gossiped about everything.

"And that worked for you, Kim," I chuckled. "But you had a crush on Jared...and I have an imprint. There's a bit of a difference."

"He looks like he's really nice, Leah," Angela piped in encouragingly.

"He looks like Uncle Jacob, Aunty Leah," Claire chimed excitedly.

"He looks like an Alpha, Leah," Emily added seriously.

I turned around and faced the girls with an irritated expression. "No, he doesn't," I snapped with narrowed eyes. "Don't curse him with the wolf gene already, Emily. Let me at least learn his middle name first before you can make crazy accusations about my imprint."

"It doesn't change anything, Leah," Emily sighed. "It just...well, I know he's a wolf."

"How?" I demanded angrily. "How do you know he's a wolf?"

"You felt his skin, Leah! He's warmer than the boys at home, his build is so similar to the Pack's that it's eerie...and he's hiding obvious anger, an anger that transforms you into something bigger and more dangerous."

I shook my head persistently, my fists clenching. "No, no...don't do this to me! Maybe he was hot from working hard and just likes going to the gym and has anger management issues. Maybe he's totally human and has nothing to do with-"

"Leah," Emily interrupted with the calmest exterior I'd seen. "You know he's a werewolf. The pieces of this puzzle match up this time. I studied his tattoo, the wolf you have in your tattoo is exact to the one in his. Maori tattoos are sacred; Tane's just tells the lengthened story of how their particular Pack came to be. It's like...like a family tree or illustrated story permanently inked into your skin. I can read tribal tattoos, the different symbols and pattern of storylines were easy to identify."

My jaw clenched. "Then...where's his Pack if he's an Alpha?"

"You'll probably find them in Ariki's Forest," Emily replied matter-of-factly. "And do you know what Ariki means in Maori, Cousin? The Ariki are the persons of the highest rank and seniority. The high-ranking and first-born children of the first-born children. Ariki inherits their position from their forebears, their ancestors. In particular, from a number of descent lines who are founding ancestors...almost like the gods or extremely powerful Chiefs. Most Ariki in the past have been male, like Tane and Taha Aki's son. Don't you get it? Ariki means Alpha, Leah!"

"Where the heck do you get all of this from? Wikipedia?" I shouted, standing to my feet, my breaths sharp and temper short.

Emily appeared offended. "I've done college courses in this sort of stuff, Leah, I've read countless articles and sieved through the internet about it. I know what I'm talking about. And I also know Tane is wolf and is a descendant of Taha Aki, like you are."

"You're crazy," I countered. "I am not related to my imprint!"

"You're profoundly distant relatives, yes."

"Well, you know what? I wish you were a profoundly distant cousin right now, Emily!" I spat and stormed out of our cabin, slamming the door shut behind me and bolting down the stairs, finding myself shaking with anger and frustration and confusion. Tane is not a wolf, I chanted to myself relentlessly. Emily's just talking crazy and thinks she knows everything about a tribe she's not even a part of!

A few wary villagers watched me shaking, all seeming sensitive to the fact that I was trembling so violently. Some mothers pushed their children inside of their homes, locking the door, while men stood in front of their partners protectively. I even noticed a couple pull out their daggers, eyes scrutinising my every move. Did they feel threatened by me?

My eyes bounced from person to person, fear filled in their eyes and bewilderment in mine.

"Maybe we should call Chief?" I heard someone whisper in the frozen crowd of people.

"Stay still. The she wolf will hear you and make Tane punish us..." The other replied.

I scowled and the whole crowd tensed, holding their breaths in fear.

I glanced to the left, seeing the forest which was apparently off-limits.

Before I could comprehend my actions, I was sprinting towards the forest, shaking fiercely.

I felt my wolf boil beneath my skin, howling for freedom, yearning to tear through and unleash the emotions I couldn't grip onto in my human form. Motion slowed around me as I felt the build of the transformation hit...but it was cut off when the sound of a-

"HELP ME!" Someone screeched at the top of their lungs and I stopped frozen in my tracks, skidding to a halt. Still in my human form, I couldn't run as fast, but my sense of hearing and scent were as good and I listened carefully. The scent of a leech hit me like I'd been slapped in the face and I frantically looked around the vast forest as I tried to seek out the owner of the human voice. "Someone, please, help me!" A girl's voice yelped again and I heard the sound of a vampire's snarl.

Already breathless, I began running through the forest, following the sound of the voice. Deeper and deeper the leech's scent pulled me, the sound of the human's agonised screams making my skin crawl. My bare feet carried me across the rough, woodland terrain and I felt sharp twigs and stones tearing at my feet and the skin swiftly sewing itself up just as quickly as it'd grazed. Faster and faster I pushed myself, my chest heaving as I weaved my way through this maze of a forest.

My peripheral vision was filled with shadows I couldn't identify. "Anyone...pl-please," The human heartbeat began to dangerously slow down and my heart filled with terror as I prayed I wouldn't be too late. "Help m-m-me?"

"Hey!" I screamed once my eyes caught sight of the petrifying scene, a scene that remained etched into my memory for the rest of my life. The need to kill tempted me like raw meat being flung in front of a ravenous lion.

A Maori girl, no older than sixteen, dangled from a red-eyed vampire's fist, choking her senseless. To be exact, there were four vampires: all sardonic bloodsuckers I'd had the misfortune to meet before. Blood drizzled from the girl's nose, her arm appeared dislocated from her shoulder and her eye was badly bruised.

"Let. Her. Go." I ordered, my eyes clouded with hatred.

Jane, Alec, Demetri and Felix–the Volturi foursome–all turned to face me as soon as they heard my voice shout. Jane, the vicious blonde teenager who'd been transformed before she could even reach puberty, smiled her murderous smile and spoke as the leader of the group, "Ms. Clearwater, how nice it is to meet you again!"

"Likewise, Jane," I replied sullenly. "Now let her go."

"That's something we can't do, dog," Felix chuckled, looking towards the suffocating girl he clutched in his chaining grip. "I'm afraid she's coming with us."

"Go to hell, leeches," I spat venomously.

"The last time someone dared say that to us, his human mate was nearly killed," Demetri raised an eyebrow, referring to the Cullen Clan. "Maybe we should do the same with you, Ms. Clearwater; no man will come to save you then. And Aro is always complaining about how he wants his watch dogs."

They were pressing my limits and every lion must devour her prey sometime or rather.

"Why are you here? Following us again?"

"How important you think you are, Leah!" Jane clapped her hands like the child she was. "No, no, we've come to fulfil a mission. Aro sent us to Cape Reinga to retrieve Marina and now we are returning home to Italy with her. A simple task."

I tried to shield the fear I felt when I heard the name Marina. I glanced at the dying girl, who stared at me hopelessly – her eyes begged me to escape. Was this Tane's little sister or was Marina an overly common name in New Zealand? "Why do you want her?" I asked, taking a careful step forward.

"She needs to make something for us. Once she's succeeded in our request, we'll send her back home unharmed and never bother her again," Alec answered and crossed his arms over his chest, unimpressed. "Alas, beautiful Marina is being a tad difficult and expects her almighty big brother to save her from every shadow in the night."

"Tane will save me!" Marina–my imprint's little sister–spluttered a barely audible sentence that made me shiver. "Please, Leah...go."

"Let her go, leeches," I said squarely. "It's not worth it. Tane will hunt you down. You know he will."

"We'll be ready for him and his Kaitiaki," Felix shrugged.

The certainty in my eyes was threatening. "I'm not letting you take her."

"I thought you were a part of the Quileute Pack, not the Muriwhenua one," Jane frowned. "Why are you here?"

Her statement left me shaken and I couldn't respond for a long, valuable moment. Maybe Tane was a werewolf and maybe Jane had just unknowingly clarified that for me, but I wouldn't let it dishevel me. I needed to save this innocent, wether her brother was my imprint or not.

"Thought I'd take a break from my Pack and join another's," I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could muster. "And I like New Zealand, the land here is peaceful." I wouldn't inform them of my friends' presence here in Cape Reinga, that'd endanger them too greatly. It'd be better if they assumed I was a lone Quileute.

"Until we made a visit," Alec chuckled and I growled.

"What do you need Marina for anyway?"

"We need a witch – a strong, capable, mortal one. Marina should be flattered we choose her in particular. Only mortal Dovebloods can conjure the magic to create a witch's stake. Well, that is what we've been told."

"Dove-what?" I queried, baffled, suppressing a scornful laugh. "You need a witch to conjure up a magic spell to make a witch's stake? Wow, you are as insane as I first presumed. Maybe even a bit more actually."

Jane smiled sympathetically. "So narrow-minded you are, Ms. Clearwater."

"I...I t-told you!" Marina coughed out, clawing at the hand around her neck. "I don't have enough power to create a witch's stake. I'm too...too weak-"

"Liar!" Felix bellowed and his hand tightened.

Her heartbeat was so slow and shallow that I thought she'd died. Panic welled up within my heart. "Stop, you're killing her!" I cried, running towards the group with my hand outstretched towards Marina. Her eyes were closed and lips parted, as white as death.

"Leah's right. We need her alive, Felix. Don't go too hard on her," Alec put a hand of Felix's shoulder.

I breathed a sigh of relief once Felix dropped her entirely, leaving her airway clear of blockage. Her small body collided with the forest ground and I heard her groan in excruciation. Her eyes remained closed and her breathing shifted into an unconscious state. At least she wouldn't feel the pain of broken bones any longer.

"It's probably better that she's out," Jane mused. "No more pathetic blubbering."

"What do you think an innocent, teenage girl can do for you?" I shot out viciously.

"It is for killing someone important," Jane replied simply. "Only Dovebloods can forge this particular weapon we require. A mauri is the perfect way to get rid of that person. We need Marina and a mauri. We need one."

"You want a mauri?" A deep voice suddenly bellowed from the distance and I turned to see his face as hard as stone, his body poised for battle whilst he aimed a sleek bow and arrow. "Come get one!" His fingers then released the string of the bow and time slowed down as the arrow rocketed through the air, effortlessly passing me and piercing the skin of Alec.

Alec groaned, falling to his knees, petrified and actually appearing distressed by that one knifelike arrow. It had jabbed into his ribcage, yet nowhere near his heart and Jane screamed as soon as her brother was struck.

Jane guided Alec to the ground, holding him close and when she whipped her head around to face Tane–her eyes bright with the colour of the lives she'd taken–her devilish powers forced Tane to the ground, flaming pain stricken across his face as Jane mentally set him on fire with her pitiless gifts.

The pain he felt flooded into our bond and my chest clenched with his agony. I rushed towards him as he fell to his knees, dropping his bow, his head in his hands as his cried out in torture. I stumbled to the ground, my hands cradling his face. "Tane?" I murmured, meeting his tormented eyes.

"Leah, please," He barely managed, his hands clutching mine. "Don't let them...don't let them t-take her..." I fought the urge to screech from the burning sensation in my head and stubbornly endured the pain Jane was making both of us go through. Seeing my imprint in pain was worse than feeling the pain he was going through.

"Stop!" I shouted, my eyes full of fear as I faced Jane, who held a whimpering Alec. "Or I'll kill you right now..."

Jane hissed spitefully, her actions animalistic and threatening. "I'd like to see you try, dog!"

"Tane?" I heard Marina rouse from her lifeless condition and glanced up to see her brother writhing in pain. Panic shot across her face and she sat up straight, reaching out towards her brother helplessly, her eyes wide with tears. "Tane!"

"Marina, run!" Tane ordered.

Marina outstretched her hand towards her brother, closing her eyes and losing all emotion from her face. She looked like she was meditating or lost in a dreamless sleep. Before I could call her name to escape, a mysterious radiance began streaming from her fingertips. It was a light–soft, transparent and heavenly–and it weaved through the air, delicately dancing along with the breeze and naturally making its way towards Tane and I.

I blinked rapidly, thinking myself imagining such a divine looking light. "What is she doing?" I breathed and the whole world seemed to stand still as Marina's light surrounded Tane, seeping into his skin and making him glow like an angel from the heavens. The pain from his face vanished and his eyes closed as the warm, blissful light healed him from the inside-out.

"She's using her powers," was his only reply.

Tane kept his arms around my waist, holding me protectively close and yet all I could do was watch Marina, utterly dumfounded. When her eyes opened, all I could see was white light shimmering from them, like stars or sunbeams. She didn't look fearful or shocked, she actually seemed relatively emotionless, the embodiment of light itself.

When she spoke, her voice would've calmed a thousand storms, "You must leave, shadow dwellers, for you are not welcome in the land where spirits rest," Her voice sounded amplified, as if she wasn't the only one uttering that sentence. The trees whispered those words, the grass rustled those words, the ocean kilometres away crashed and echoed those words.

For a moment, the Volturi foursome appeared reluctant, sharing looks of internal battle. The Volturi brothers–Aro, Caius and Marcus–wouldn't be thrilled to hear two werewolves who didn't even phase and some sort of...'witch' had just chased off their top guardians. I was already on their hit-list and, after this incident, I presumed I would've been moved up a few slots in importance of the kill.

"Thank you-" Marina's voice was hoarse, drained of energy and strength. Her face was badly bruised, I knew she had a broken bone and yet she looked so happy and grateful to see me. We'd never met before, but I was pleased to save her life at first acquaintance. She beamed my way, snuggling into her brother's chest as he carried her out of the forest with me walking beside. "-for saving me, Leah."

"It's my job," I shrugged, giving her a casual smile and she grinned. "But I think you should be thanking your brother for those kick ass archery skills. Where'd you learn that by the way?" I asked my imprint with a frown.

Tane hadn't spoken a word since the Volturi foursome left. He merely picked up his broken and bloodied sister, shot me a look that asked if I was alright and then began leading us out of the forest. He seemed so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't respond straight away. "Its protocol," He replied flatly. "We all have to be good at something."

"We..." I began awkwardly. "As in?"

"Arikis," Marina piped in and her eyes shone of pride and admiration for her brother. "My brother's Ariki and the most respected of the land. He's the youngest Chief since our ancestors' times, you know. Each Ariki must have a skill set in a particular area of combat and Tane choose archery. He's very unique, most decide upon hand-to-hand combat...but not my big brother."

"Very impressive," I agreed, my eyes studying his expression and the hint of a smile played upon his lips. "And that thing, the arrow you shot into the vampire, how did it damage his skin so badly. I thought he was bound to die, but Jane pulled it out too quickly."

"It would've killed him instantly if I struck his heart," Tane replied solemnly. "But my aim was bad because I wasn't concentrating."

"It seemed pretty good to me," I countered with raised eyebrows. "I was standing right in front of Alec and the arrow didn't even touch me. What was it made out of?"

"Magic," Marina blurted out excitedly and her plump cheeks ripened into a blossomy red. "I made a handful of Doveblood enchanted arrows for Tane on his eighteenth birthday, when he became Chief and started training professionally in archery. I was only fourteen then, so my wood-crafting skills were pretty poor and my magic-wielding has improved a bit since then. It was a bad present..."

"It was the best present a brother could ask for," Tane looked down at his sister and smiled reassuringly. "Those arrows save lives, Marina."

Marina bit her lip. "I only started learning magic five years ago. So...I'm a little edgy about it."

"I can imagine," I chuckled. "I never knew such beings as witches existed. Well, not ones that could actually scare off a bunch of vampires."

"I'm a Doveblood actually," Marina clarified with a lowered gaze. "I mean, I am a witch...but I'm a type of witch. There a three types: the good, the bad and the other. Well, that's what my aunt always said."

"And which witch are you?"

Marina chuckled. "The good."

"And what's the other?"

"Violet-eyed Dragon-bloods."

"And the bad?"

"Emerald-eyed Dragon-bloods. Dragons get green eyes when they become evil. It's very common among their kind."

"And what about...uh, Dovebloods?"

"We're the good guys, but there are few of us left. My aunt used to teach me magic, but the Volturi captured her and demanded she do the same thing they ask of me. She died refusing them..." Sadness consumed both Tane and Marina's eyes. "My father died trying to protect her, like Tane is protecting me."

"Oh...I-I'm so sorry," I apologised sympathetically. "I lost my father to the supernatural as well. The night my brother and I phased, my dad had a heart attack and he didn't make it."

"Phased?" Tane spoke up and looked at me, frowning.

"Transform, I mean, into a wolf."

Tane's jaw tightened and he averted my gaze, looking straight ahead. "But you are a she wolf."

Marina lost the openness and honesty in her expression and her eyes suddenly fell to her lap.

I snorted at the name. "Yeah, I guess. I wouldn't call myself that, though."

"Your kind a dangerous," Tane stated emotionlessly. "Shield yourself well among humans."

"My kind?" I laughed. "Um, last time I checked...I'm kinda one of a kind."

"Yes, but that's still unfortunate," Tane muttered darkly.

I stood frozen, my eyes wide. "Excuse me?"

Tane sighed and stopped walking as I had. Marina now looked fearful and my fists had clenched. Tane turned towards me with eerily knowing eyes. "Don't pretend to be something you're not, Leah Clearwater. Admit it, you're here to penetrate my tribe as the Volturi shadow dwellers have."

"What?" I gaped, dumbfounded. "How did you gather that-?"

"Your friends, they want to know about our legends," Tane interrupted, his eyes narrowed. "Our legends contain the secrets that you obviously already know. You want my Kaitiaki for our strength and my little sister for her Doveblood powers. The only reason you helped me ward off the vampires is because you want us for yourselves."

Shock held me captive for a moment. "Whoa, whoa, what? Listen, Tane, I don't want your tribe for their power! Marina is very skilled and a rare find, but why would I harm an innocent girl for her gifts? And you – I couldn't possibly hurt you, even if I wanted to. I hate vampires as much as the next wolf and what in the world is a Kaitiaki?"

"Ugh, you she wolves are all the same!" Tane growled, his skin trembling with anger. He turned around, beginning to walk away. "Controlling, manipulative bit-"

"Where is this all coming from?" I shouted, storming forward and standing in front of Tane, blocking his pathway. He glared into my eyes spitefully, as if I'd done something wrong just by looking at him. Hurt pulsated through my veins, but I stood strong and glowered. "I am not some evil monster!"

He laughed callously. "We share a bond to weaken the wolf, but you cannot control me! I will not yield to you. I am my own man and a Chief does not yield to his she wolf."

"His she wolf?" I blinked. Were there more women wolves like me? "Why would you yield to me?"

"Tane, calm down," Marina whispered soothingly. "Leah, maybe you should go ahead and we'll stay in the woodlands for a while. The village is half a kilometre away-"

"No," I interrupted, raising my hand dismissively. "No, I'm not leaving until I get an explanation! Look, my cousin took us here because she knew there was a connection between our two tribes. I now know there is...but I don't understand how our presence means such a threat to you. We don't wish to harm you, only learn what you've experienced from being a wolf throughout these generations."

"Leah, you know you are a she wolf. You said so yourself," Marina stated with a frown.

"I am," I nodded. "I transform into a wolf. You know, a werewolf..."

Tane looked baffled. "A woman turning into a wolf? Ha, that's ridiculous. Only men carry the gene."

"But you just said I was a she wolf. Aren't 'she wolves' women who turn into werewolves in your tribe?" I demanded.

Tane averted his gaze yet again and Marina answered, "No. She wolves are the curse of our warriors. Those who are blessed with the will to shift into wolves are also damned with a weakness – one woman they wish to never find within their lifetime. That is the she wolf – the wolf's counterpart. The wolf spirit yearns for her and the men are forced to yield without choice.

"For generations, men have tried to fight the bond and Chiefs are labelled as weak if they ever find his she wolf. Though, if a she wolf dies...our warrior lives forevermore in despair and unimaginable grief. If you give into the feeling, the want to please a she wolf is consuming and weakens our warrior. She wolves are weakness in the eyes of our people and you, Leah, are my brother's she wolf.

"We never thought the spirits would curse Tane so cruelly. He has been treating our people so well and justly. We never imagined that you...you would come into our lives. Yet, you have and you are not as most she wolves behave, Leah. You are brave, selfless, strong of mind and do not appear to wish to control or manipulate my brother at all. You seem more of a warrior than a warrior's bane."

It clicked as soon as I met Tane's eyes – yearning to be soft and tender, yet remaining as hard as they could muster. I sensed his want to love and protect me; I felt the yearning deep within our bond. But the people of Ngāti Kurī tribe believed feeling that was a form of weakness. She wolves were seen as a curse, a manipulative and forceful bane to wolf-spirited warriors.

When I looked into his eyes, I realised something that left me stunned.

Muriwhenua 'she wolves' were Quileute imprints.

Imprints are seen as blessings to the Quileute. A few women with brave, courageous hearts that are chosen by our ancestors to guide the Quileute warrior wolves throughout the toughest of challenges. Imprints are respected, valued even. And here they were shunned and labelled as a warrior's bane.

I stared into Tane's eyes questioningly and when I finally broke our gaze, I'd turned around and began sauntering back to my cabin with the girls. "I am your she wolf, Chief Mahora," I whispered, refusing the threat of tears.

"I am your bane and your curse, I realise that now and I'm sorry the spirits have been so merciless. But you..." I savoured the sound of his heartbeat in my ears. "...you I have waited for so long. And I thank the spirits for the fraction of hope I felt with you."

I entered the cabin, my back pressed up against the front door.

I felt every pair of eyes on me, some worried and others confused.

"Leah...?" Emily murmured with both confused and worried eyes.

"What happened?" Angela already had her arms around me once she noticed that singular tear which rolled down my cheek.

"I'm his she wolf," I choked out, frowning at such wording, and then I began falling to pieces.

Thank-you for your lovely support, I hope you enjoyed it. Happy New Year's Eve!