Disclaimer: I don't own these characters except for alyria and her gang and Virat and Meghan.

A/N: Okies, here's the same scene from Demetri's POV. This was actually a really hard scene to write. I did several drafts, before settling on this one. Let me know what you think or how you envisioned it. Thanks for sticking with me this far and for all the encouraging and helpful comments.

Chapter 16 The Ties that Bind Part Two

Demetri POV

Bella's body was tensed as though she was expecting an attack, so I wrapped my arm around her, squeezing her shoulder, reassuring her as the female wolf entered the room behind Jacob and Seth. She was not beautiful in the way vampires were, but I couldn't seem to rip my gaze from her alluring, yet angry, eyes. The look on her face was venomous as her eyes made the circuit around the room finally sliding to Bella. Her whole being changed as she took in my arm comforting Bella.

The menace on the air was such as I had never experienced and as an ex-Volturi guard, that was saying something.

I was torn between either shielding Bella from such raw hate or lessening that strange woman's anger. In the end I did nothing. I seemed physically unable to protect Bella at the dog's expense.

"What the hell was that all about?" I asked as I turned back to Bella's bewildered face. The woman had thrown herself back out the door just seconds ago, a look of revulsion and something else carved into her hard features.

Bella shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows why she does what she does." She turned back to Alyria completely disregarding the noises coming from the hallway. "She despises vampires, though admittedly, she doesn't usually act quite so…insane?" She snickered as she tried to find the perfect word to describe that animal.

Animal though she might be, I did find myself intrigued and concerned about her reaction, almost compelled to rush out there and aid her.

Alyria's sexy contralto voice dragged my attention back to her and Bella who had gone on with their discussion as though nothing out of the ordinary was taking place behind us. "Would you like a taste?" She offered Bella. "Viktor is mine, but I like to share. Or you could try Anna, mm-mm, she is simply scrumptious," she whispered as her tongue darted out to lick her plump lips.

Seth and Jacob were still by the desk whispering almost angrily and motioning between us and the female wolf, who was still out in the hallway. As I turned my attention back to her I heard what sounded like her body striking the floor. Every fiber of my being reacted to that sound and I was quite suddenly up on my feet without deciding to move.

Bella and Alyria were watching me with little smirks on their faces.

I sat back down shaking my head trying to clear out the voice in my head demanding that I go to that dog. "Who is she?" I whispered hoarsely.

Bella raised her eyebrows and glanced back and forth between my tense form and the doorway a slow smile lighting her lovely face. "Oh!" She burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh, where's Edward when I really need him," she chortled loudly. "He'd so appreciate the irony of this."

"You do realize that I do not know what you are going on about," I said impatiently. But I was again distracted as Jacob rushed out of the room, shooting Bella an irritated look on the way. A burning sensation scorched through me at the thought of Jacob with her. My hands clenched tightly, nails biting into my flesh, as I restrained myself from attacking him for no apparent reason.

Bella's hand caressed mine, causing me to relax my muscles. I took a deep calming breath. "What is happening? Who is that girl and why am I…." I trailed off not wanting to admit to Bella that I was oddly attracted to that creature out there. I laughed at the stupidity of such a thought. Bella wasn't mine, yet I felt like I was cheating on her for feeling attracted to that thing. Oddly, the things that I'd done with Alyria and Kattra last night hadn't made me feel the least bit guilty.

"That's Leah, Seth's sister," she answered calmly still grinning. "I think that she's found herself in a bit of a predicament." Her lips twitched and she was suddenly shaking with laughter. "I couldn't have planned this better," she said shaking her head.

I grabbed her shoulders. I swear I was going to shake the truth out of her in a minute. Was she purposely being vague? "Would. You. Please. Explain. What. Is. Going. On. Here?" I bit out between clenched teeth as Seth raced out looking disgruntled at the lot of us.

"Well, I'm not expert by any means," Bella drawled out, "But, if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that Leah finally imprinted."

"What is this imprinting?" I asked more confused than ever. I looked at the others who all just shrugged. I guess they had never heard of such a phenomenon before either.

"Kind of the werewolf's version of a soul mate," Bella supplied. "How are you feeling, Demetri?" she asked as her gaze took in every inch of me, still smiling broadly.

Again I was on my feet and never realized that I'd moved. In fact, I was actually around the side of the couch. I could hear her desperate sobs echoing in the hallway, like some tragic melody and Jacob whispering soothing words to her. Jealousy cut through me as I felt certain that it should be me easing her pain not that flea ridden beast.

"Demetri," Bella asked as she walked around the couch her hand on my chin forcing eye contact. "How are you feeling?" She repeated again softly, not trace of humor on that flawless face, only concern.

"Confused," I muttered.

"Ah, well that goes without saying. What else?"

I tilted my head to one side as I tried to decipher her cryptic questions. "Unsettled. It's like some piece of me is demanding that I go ease her suffering, telling me that I'm the cause of it, and that I am the only one who can end it," I mumbled very embarrassed for feeling anything towards one of those dogs.

"Demetri, don't you understand, yet?"

"I would understand if you would but tell me," I snipped back in my exasperation.

"You will," she threw her head back and laughed. Taking in my unimpressed expression she sobered up and replied, "Leah imprinted on you."

"Oh, that is rich," Alyria chuckled. "What god did you piss off to be tied to an animal for all time?"

I gave a humorless laugh. "Don't be absurd. Vampires do not have dealings with wolves." Bella started to say something, but I cut her off. "Normal vampires do not have dealing with wolves and we most certainly do not date them." I stated plainly. "If one does not date a wolf, then one cannot be a soul mate to one either."

"I hate to break it to ya, but I don't think you have too much say in the matter. I mean, I guess you could turn your back on her, but know this - there will only be one person for her now - you."

"No. No, no, no, no." I repeated, shaking my head violently. "This is not happening. She has not imprinted on me. I am a vampire," I whined. Yes, truly I did. I whined like some bratty child. The only thing missing the stamping of my feet.

"Whatever," she said as she took her seat back on the couch. "Why don't you go out there and check on her then?" She suggested pleasantly, but I could hear the challenge in her words. She then turned away from me completely dismissing me and resumed her conversation with Alyria who seemed to find the whole scene amusing.

I stood immobile as I tried to force myself to meet Bella's challenge and at the same time restrain myself from going to Leah. It was disconcerting. There was no way that I, an ex-Volturi guard, was afraid of some insignificant dog.

To prove to myself that I wasn't scared, and to accept Bella's unspoken challenge, I strode confidently out the door.

Leah was crumbled on the floor in Jacob's arms. I pushed Seth aside roughly, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the side. The urge to touch her was irresistible. Her tears streaming down her battered face, her skin pale and glistening with perspiration, her entire body trembling - all demanded that I caress her gently. I had her hand in mine before I had decided to act upon my decision.

She turned her agonized face up to mine as I drew her up to me and gasped then threw her arms around me, her tears soaking through my thin t-shirt.

Time stopped like everything was resetting itself. I could actually feel some pressure that was pushing us together, fitting us together like a puzzle. Once it all clicked into place, time resumed and my mouth found hers. In that instant I knew that I needed her more than I needed blood, more than anything. The fruity taste of her silken mouth and her spicy cinnamon scent were going to haunt me for the rest of my existence. I knew that I would never get enough of it, of her.

She ground her body into mine, a moan pouring into my mouth from hers. Abruptly she pushed me away, my body slamming against the wall, both of us shaking and breathless.
With no physical contact I could remember that she was a wolf. My actions over the last few moments flashed quickly through my thoughts leaving me mortified and disgusted. What if Virat is screwing with us right now?

By the look on her face, she was suffering from similar emotions. "This does not mean anything, leech!" She spat. "You," she pointed sharply at me, "are to never touch me again. Ever!" At these words more tears flowed from her beautiful eyes.

My hand flicked out quickly and captured one of her crystalline tears on my finger. I slowly brought it to my lips, our eyes never leaving one another.

A strangled cry escaped her lips and she closed the distance between us, her lips fluttering over every inch of my face. The feeling of her hot mouth heating my frozen cheeks was one of the most pleasurable sensations I'd ever experienced.

Jacob cleared his throat loudly. "I'm thinking that this isn't the best place for this."

"Though I hate to agree with a dog, I would have to say he's right," Edward's cold voice forced me away from her the way little else could have. "This has got to be one of the most revolting things I've ever had the displeasure of witnessing," he sneered.

Horror spread across her face again as she stumbled away from me. She seemed genuinely surprised to find herself back in my arms. She shot Edward a look of utter loathing before closing her eyes briefly. A haughty expression danced over her lovely face as she squared her shoulders and she tramped past us into the hotel room.

"Laugh it up, dead chick!" She shrieked. "I'm so glad that you find this so fucking amusing," she snarled.

A smile pulled at my lips at the sound of her deep velvety voice. I could picture Bella's body shaking with silent laughter still as amused by the entertainment as she'd been when I was in there.

Hell, now that I could truly appreciate the situation for what it was, I could certainly see the humor in it. That humor, however, evaporated as Edward planted his menacing form in front of mine.