The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.
They knew answer to their question couldn't be found in the middle of the woods. But it didn't make them move any faster to return. Surprisingly, none of the pack had been sent after them yet. And it wasn't like Sam to allow any moment to be uncontrolled.
It meant one of two things: Emily was in rough shape and he was unable to leave her side or he was busy talking to the council and finding a way to punish Leah for her actions. In all honesty, he hoped it was the latter. Defending Leah's actions would be much easier than dealing with a dead imprint.
The question lingered in the air as he gathered himself together. He knew it didn't matter when they went back, the consequences would still be there. But it was better to go sooner rather than later.
"We need to get going. Eventually, they'll come for us but it's better..."
She nodded in understanding.
"It means you're going to have to phase again."
His words were met with a frown so he explained to her what he meant. The ins and outs of how they changed. During his explanation, she asked the one question she hadn't asked yet, why? So, he explained that too. The reasons behind their change—the Cullens and the threat of other vampires in the area. They were protectors.
"Vampires, really?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes. The Cullens lived here before in the 30's. There was a pack then, too."
"But they've been gone for months. And wasn't Bella dating one of them?"
"Yeah." A disgusted look crossed his features. "It doesn't matter that they're gone—they attracted others just by being here and once the change began in us; well, there's no way to stop it."
"Oh."
There wasn't anything more to say. So, instead he asked her for his shirt back which shocked her at first. He had forgotten to explain how their clothes didn't handle the change—hence her nakedness. Reluctantly, she removed the shirt, handing it to him so he could add it to the small bundle consisting of his shorts which were already attached to his leg. They both avoided gazing at the other's nudity as they knew where it could lead to.
"The easiest way to phase is to use anger. It's usually what triggers the first one. So what's it going to be? Old or new anger?"
He was being entirely too nice to her and it was making it difficult to be mad. She didn't want to leave this place—returning home meant reality. Facing consequences, harsh truths, and unending torment. They didn't need to leave there was no reason to.
"Leah?"
She glanced at him though she kept her eyes focused above his collarbone. His face showed concern and curiosity at her lack of response. His gaze searched her face as though he was trying to read her mind.
The wind picked up and the breeze was strong and cold enough to make her shiver. She crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed her arms. Anger—he said she needed anger. But she didn't want to let it take over again. It scared her.
"It won't be that way this time. At least, I hope not," he muttered the last words softly; forgetting that she would be able to hear them.
"What do you mean by that?"
She didn't need any additional reasons to freak out and this was adding to her already frayed nerves. He wasn't sure?! How could he not be sure?!
"Umm...yeah," he paused for a moment before continuing. "Before when you first changed your wolf, well, she took over. I don't think it's ever happened that quickly—someone being able to bond fully with their wolf spirit. Most of us struggled with it. Like a constant battle with our human and wolf sides."
"But I don't know how I did it. So what's to stop it from happening again?"
He shrugged. His action pissed her off. She felt like he was dismissing the seriousness of what she was feeling. How frightened she was of giving into that unfamiliar part of her—the animal inside.
"How can you just act like this isn't a big deal?"
"What do you want me to say? None of us have ever dealt with being bonded with our wolf and trying to backtrack. It was the opposite and it was a relief to have the two sides finally co-exist. It's hard enough dealing with the pack mind and when you add fighting with your wolf—"
"Pack mind?"
Shit, fuck, goddamn. Why had he opened his big mouth? He glanced away from her all too inquisitive eyes. If he kept looking at her, he would break faster than a balloon being burst by a needle.
"Hey," she said with a smack to his arm.
He didn't remember her being this violent. She had always been someone who communicated with touch and words weren't seen as a necessity but he had lost count of the number of times she had struck him so far today. This wasn't boding well for him at all.
He glanced back at her warily. A mix of emotions crossed her face. One in particular caught his eyes and he shrank, trying to make himself appear smaller. His wolf was all for being submissive in the hopes they could avoid her anger.
"Emily said...Sam knew. But I didn't believe her." Her eyes zeroed in on him before she continued, "Because you'd never do that—at least the you I knew wouldn't."
He shifted underneath her glare but suddenly an idea came to mind. He could use this—it was sure to make her angry. And then, she would phase and once she did he hoped her anger at him would keep her human side on the forefront.
At his silence, she continued, "But you did." She punctuated her words by poking his chest. "Didn't you?" she accused.
He brushed her hand away and stood up straight; once again assuming a dominant pose. "It's not my fault." His defense was mediocre at best.
"Not your fault? How could it not be your fault? It was between us and—you shared it, like it meant nothing!"
"It meant something!" he yelled back at her. "You have no idea how important you are to me. How much I didn't want to share it!"
"But you did! And not with just anyone—with my ex!" Her eyes flashed with a sudden realization. "Did you tell her, too? Is that how she knows?"
"No, I didn't. You have no idea—none—of how hard it is to keep anything secret."
"Hard? I doubt it. My parents, my brother, and my friends—no one knew about us. In fact, I don't think there's anyone that knows yet." She paused for emphasis before adding, "At least not until you opened your big mouth."
This time her swing at him had the power and anger behind it to actually hurt. And that was her intention. Her clenched fist hit him squarely in the jaw and he knew it was broken. Of course, the loud crack when her fist connected with it—confirmed it.
Casually he popped his jaw back into place and ignored the pain that was already beginning to spread. He would be healed within hours but until then it was going to be a bitch to deal with. One could only hope they didn't run into any vampire activity on their way back to La Push as he wouldn't be much help.
His body trembled the slightest bit as he faced her. She didn't think it was possible but somehow he made himself taller and larger than he actually was. But she was still fired up over his betrayal so she refused to back down; even if it wanted to.
Throwing his head back, he laughed. His laughter caustic and jarring to her senses. It was nothing like the boy she loved but instead—a cruel stranger who didn't care how much his amusement at her expense hurt.
"Just you wait—I can't wait until you're in my shoes and you see exactly how hard it is to keep something private," he told her darkly. A scowl crossed his features before being replaced by a haunted look again.
"And I'm sure it won't be long before Sam does it to you. Then you'll find out exactly how futile it is trying to resist an Alpha order."
"What? I don't understand."
"Who do you think Sam is in this little gang? He was the first one—so who do you think that makes him?"
"No! I won't...it can't be!"
"You don't have a choice," he told her softly; his words holding none of his earlier malice.
He had been right that pushing her would help her phase. A half-second before her form exploded, he stepped backwards. Her scream turned into a snarl and then she was off. Without another thought, he phased and ran after her.
FF_8756144_13 12/12/12 11:08PM