Nine
"Mystery?" Kurt Samon asked as he walked out of Olivia's room and saw me. His eyes bore into me, shock clear in his bright irises.
"Kurt? What're you doing here?" I asked, clearing my throat. Shit, shit, shit, shit…
"Me? What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" he demanded in a shrill voice. Well, as shrill as a guy could get.
"I- I'm here to see Olivia," I answered, my voice cracking pathetically.
"You're what?" he shrieked.
"Excuse me, but if you could keep your voice down, that'd be greatly appreciated," Carlisle interrupted, giving me a moment to really think about how to proceed. Sadly, the moment was gone too quickly.
"Who are you?" he hissed through his teeth. If I wasn't part supernatural werewolf freak, I would've missed the subtle undercurrent of fear that laced his voice, the slight tremble. Then again, if I was normal and without the freak part, I wouldn't have been dealing with all that I was in the first place.
"Let's… go outside, okay?"
He hesitated and the subtle fear that was only barely there in his voice made a grand appearance in his scent. If we were in the wild, he'd be dead within moments. His face did little to hide it either. How he was standing was like an open invite to the predator within me, but my true essence, everything that made me me pitied him. The wolf within me did as well and wished to keep him safe, viewing him as a pup.
"Look, I'm Leah, Olivia's one of my best friends, you can trust me, okay?" I coaxed softly.
"You don't have to worry," Carlisle reassured with a nod before going back into my imprint's room.
"Okay," Kurt sighed. Pretty sure it was because the doc vouched for me, thank God for the little things.
Nodding, I made my way out of the hospital to the family garden along the left wing. It was Esme's idea to donate the money necessary to 'bring back life to the place, starting with a garden', as she had said. The money went a long way and helped brighten the entire atmosphere of the hospital, adding a beautiful blend of colors to otherwise bleak off white walls. It was especially nice seeing small children running around with little grins on their faces.
Mama Esme's proposition to redecorate the interior was quickly accepted by the hospital's board after the increase in morale due to the garden. The head of the board even offered fifty thousand dollars more than initially proposed and everyone else readily agreed.
I was excited about the whole thing, knowing Olivia would enjoy becoming a part of the project, which was going to be open to the public. I even had a specific angle we could take in one section of the children's ward with her at the forefront of my plan.
"Olive told me your mom helped and did this," Kurt mumbled, shaking me from my thoughts. I looked up and saw he'd chosen to sit at one of the marble benches, watching me with weary eyes. "My sister's talked a lot about you… if you are who you say you are."
"Leah Clearwater, at your service," I half grinned, taking a bow. I couldn't help but feel incredibly smug knowing my imprint spoke of me to her family. "Newest best friend to a Miss Olivia Bellamy."
He cracked a smile before shaking his head, looking at me with complete uncertainty. "I'm pretty sure I saw you last night, it was you. I know it was you. You know my name, of course it was you."
I drew in a deep breath and nodded, hoping beyond hope that I could talk my way out of coming out of the wolf den. "You did, you saw me last night. I…" my voice trailed off as he watched me expectantly. "I lied about being lost."
"Lied about being lost?" He quirked a brow, his fear subsiding as he crossed his arms over his chest. He tilted his head to the side and slouched further on the bench.
"Yeah, I didn't mean to in the beginning but I thought I heard noises." I shrugged and plopped down on the bench opposite him. "Being a girl, alone, in the woods is sort of dangerous, even if I knew my way around."
"So you just yelled out?" He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and frowning at me. "If you really did know your way around the woods, that has to mean you know about survival and stuff. Wouldn't it be a bad idea to give away your location by screaming out the way you did?"
Why did he have to ask so many questions? Fuck. I just have to keep my cool, the doc vouched for me and Olivia's told him about me so he should believe me. Plus, I thought, I sound convincing and believable enough… right?
"Look, I've been lost in the woods before but what I did last night happened to me. Some dude yelled out for me against the smarter thing and helped me out. Pretty sure karma would've kicked my ass if I didn't do the same, just in case. And yeah, I know survival, that's why I would've been okay. I'm a black belt in a shit load of different martial arts."
"Like that'd help against a bear," he scoffed.
"I'm not stupid. If I didn't get an answer, I would've climbed a tree or something."
"Fine, okay, but how did you end up there in the first place? And how the hell did you end up here so soon?" Kurt pressed.
There was no doubt in my mind that the guy sitting in front of me was related to my imprint. They both had the same sense of curiosity, although with Olivia I knew it wasn't so much of a common thing. She only got really persistant with something she knew she'd be bothered by later on and for a while. Otherwise, she had a decent sense of questioning but never got rude, too insistent or detailed about anything. Kurt wasn't being too overbearing, I was just getting annoyed because I'd rather have been running my hands through Olivia's hair and making her laugh.
"I wasn't parked too far from where we ended up. That river thing was one of my markers. If you had paid more attention, you would've realized I was guiding you there. After I got back to my baby, it was easy. And I was there because, as lame as it sounds, nature soothes me."
"So you drove 3 hours for nature? There are woods here too you know."
Cheese and fucking rice, why couldn't he just stop already? "Sometimes when I'm upset, I just let the speed take over. I drive until I feel calm enough to travel on foot. Last time I walked around without letting go of my anger that way, I broke my hand after picking a fight with a few walls."
The way his mouth fell open in shock was pretty funny but his eyes bugging out was even more so. "You what?"
"I can have a temper, but I've been getting better, finding ways other than violence to channel my emotions," I replied, feeling that very same temper die down. "Family and friends have helped a lot."
Olivia's grin and laughter filled my thoughts and the small amount of irritation I had left in my system vanished. In fact, a small smile started to pull at my lips the longer I thought about her. She was the balm I needed to soothe the constant fire that burned within me. The best part about the way she made me feel was that she didn't extinguish the fire, she simply helped it turn into something warm and comforting.
"Do you do that a lot?" he asked.
I blinked at him unsure what he meant before remembering what we'd been talking about, more or less. "Hit things? Nah, not anymore." I shrugged and leaned back in my bench, stretching out and sighing. I used to but your sister helped me.
"Not that, well, okay yeah that, but the spacing out thing?" He watched me like I was some sort of science project, something I wasn't so keen on.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, I guess, you just looked like you were somewhere else… I guess." He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "There's something about you, Leah," he said, emphasizing my name with a sarcastic edge to his voice. "I don't want to trust you but I do. It's weird but I get this weird feeling from you, like if you are lying, you don't want to be." He closed his eyes and sighed, rubbing at his temples.
"Headache?" I asked, feeling a slight pinch of my own behind my eyes.
"Yup."
We nodded at one another, letting silence wrap around us and hopefully help us figure out what to say next because I sure as hell had no idea. Strange things just kept happening and I didn't know how to deal with it all.
"Leah…" the wind whispered gently. I furrowed my brows, looking around for the source but my heart already knew how I heard her from so far away. My imprint wanted me back by her side.
"We should head back, you must want to see your sister," I said, getting up slowly. He nodded in agreement, silently getting to his feet next to me.
"My dad," he suddenly blurted, "he's pretty much blind at night, so I don't think he'll recognize you. That's why we got so lost," Kurt offered. "He's been too stubborn to get anything done about his eyes."
"He might remember my voice." I really hoped he wouldn't in order to avoid another scene but there was really nothing more I could do.
"Doubt it, he's bad with faces but worse with voices. At least I hope so anyway. I don't think him freaking out would be good for my sis to deal with while in a hospital bed."
We shared a look of understanding, silently agreeing that if it came down to it, we'd make sure nothing disturbed Olivia. I felt relief, because I seemed to be on good standing with the brother of my soulmate and I was going to see said soulmate once again.
"What happened anyway?" he asked a little nervously, glancing at me.
I shook my head, running my hand through my hair, unsure what to tell him. I didn't really remember much of anything other than the way she looked at me… into me. Either way, I didn't see what went down, so really, what could I say? Only other thing that stuck with me was the feeling of my dead father by my side as I kneeled in Olivia's blood. No way in hell was I going to share that, with him or anyone else.
"I'm not sure, by the time I got there she was already…" I sighed and looked down. "I passed out because of so much blood, I guess."
"I heard you were kneeling in... yeah." He nodded, not prodding me any further on the subject, something I was thankful for.
When we approached the room, I hung back a little and let Kurt go forward. He gave me an odd look but I urged him to go on and he did. The pull I felt went from crazy to bearable as I stood on the other side of the door, not wanting to intrude so much on family time. Yes, I wanted to just walk in, scoop her into my arms and keep her close but I knew I couldn't do that for many reasons.
Instead, I took a deep breath and listened into the room, instantly rewarded with the soft sound of my imprint's voice. I didn't need to focus in order to hear her talk but I didn't only want to hear her voice. As strange as it might have been, I wanted to confirm she was really fine by listening for her heartbeat. When I heard the soft, rhythmic beating, my own heart seemed to move in sync with it.
"Where'd ya go?" she asked to who I assumed was Kurt.
"I ran into a friend of yours in the hallway and we started talking," he answered, sounding a little odd but hopefully Liv wouldn't notice too much.
"Was it Leah? Is she coming back?"
Not only did I hear the hopeful tone she spoke in but I felt it warming the air that surrounded me. I seriously doubted I'd get used to the effects of imprinting but I was pretty sure that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
"If she was tall, tan and intimidating than it was her, so was it?" Miranda asked playfully.
"Yeah," Kurt chuckled. "And I think she just had to do something, pretty sure she'll be here soon."
"Did she look okay? She should be resting or something," Olivia worried, making my heart flutter helplessly in my chest.
"Hey weirdo, you do know you're the one in the hospital bed with the stab wound, don't you?"
"Kurt, you shouldn't talk to your sister like that," Jonathan reprimanded. For a moment I forgot that he was there but then again, my focus was primarily on the man's daughter.
"You're right, sorry dad. I just-"
"Eavesdropping?" I startled and blushed hard as I turned to see Ness watching me. She looked off, her hair not the usual perfection it was, face a paler shade than usual and a somber look to her eyes.
"I don't really have to try," I answered. Looking at my best friend, I wasn't so sure how I felt about her. Waking up to Jake I knew I claimed she was still in the doghouse but seeing her stand in front of me, looking the way she did made me want to reconsider. My best friend senses were screaming at me to make things right and find out what was up.
"How're you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm okay."
She nodded, biting her lip before surging forward and throwing her arms around me. She held me close, burying her face in my shoulder as she took in deep breaths. I wasn't sure if she was doing it on purpose or not but there was a whirlwind of images flying into my mind, none of which I could really get a good glimpse of. Finally, when I felt her body stop trembling so much she pulled back a little to look up at me. The images in my head stopped to reveal one of me being held by Edward and another of me standing there, looking far better than I did in the former.
"I- I know it wasn't your blood but when daddy carried you back to us, we all freaked out. You looked horrible, LeeLa, so pale and covered in… in…" she trailed off, pressing her face to my neck.
I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing small circles into her back as she regained her composure once again. "I'm okay, Ness," I mumbled softly. How could I stay mad at the girl who was so close she wasn't only my best friend, but my little sister as well?
We were still in that close embrace when the door of my imprint's room opened and everyone inside saw. I was instantly washed over with a sense of jealousy and confusion, which in turn confused and excited me. Was Olivia jealous of the way she found me with Nessie?
"Oh, uh… excuse me," her dad stuttered, sidestepping us before calling back over his shoulder. "I'll be back, sweetie, love you."
I slowly disentangled myself from my best friend and looked inside to find Olivia glaring daggers into the side of Nessie's head. Beside her, cousin Miranda looked confused, maybe even intrigued and Kurt didn't look anything but curious.
"Uhm… how're you feeling?" Ness asked awkwardly. Her hand went to mine and I tried not to chuckle at the sudden image she pressed into my mind. I had to admit, the smoke coming out of Olivia's ears was a tad much but I was amused nonetheless.
"Better, I guess," my imprint replied in a clipped tone, briefly glancing at Ness's hand in mine.
"Well that's good... I guess I'll head out now that I know you and Leah are both good." The hybrid kissed my cheek then scurried off, looking as elegant as ever with only a slight hint of awkwardness in her movement. Of course, no ordinary person could ever tell.
"Who, pray tell, was that?" Miranda asked after a moment, her eyes still fixated on the general area Renesmee had been.
"Ugh, keep it in your pants. She has a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend." The tone that Olivia spoke in made my wolf hum in appreciation; she sounded so... yeah.
"Chill, baby cuz, I was just curious." By the way I saw Miranda's pupils dilate ever so slightly, I wasn't so sure how honest she was being.
"She was pretty hot though," Kurt offered with a small, sheepish grin.
"Hey now, watch it, kid," I warned, only mildly playful. Ness was, after all, my honorary little sister and my stupidly overprotective alpha's imprint, so I didn't want to chance anything. Olivia would more likely than not hold it against my pack if we had to maim, if not kill, her brother.
"Who're you calling kid?" he demanded, puffing out his chest.
"Obviously you," I smirked. I would've gone on to really tease him if not for the soft tug I felt on my consciousness, pulling my gaze to Olivia.
As always, when I looked at her, everything else temporarily melted away from my world and all I cared about was her. She didn't look angry anymore, just tired and maybe a little sad. Her eyes were a deeper brown with barely any green in her irises. Her somewhat pouty lips were set in a barely noticeable frown, as if she were thinking of something unpleasant.
"So, I uh, met your brother, obviously..." I mumbled. She just nodded, looking at me with those eyes that turned me inside out.
"Speaking of siblings, Kurt, let's go see if the other one is back yet," Miranda instructed, walking around Olivia's bed and pulling him by the arm. "Take care of her while we're gone, or else." She winked at her cousin, pat my shoulder and walked out with Kurt pouting beside her.
"My cousin likes you," Olivia commented. She sounded a little surprised at her own words.
I chuckled and shrugged, feeling myself relax knowing it was just the both of us. "From that brief encounter she sort of reminds me of Rose."
She smiled and giggled, looking at me with gentler and brighter eyes. "Told ya you'd like her."
"Now, who ever said that I like Rose?" I teased.
"How can't you? She seems really awesome," she grinned.
I rolled my eyes but grinned back nonetheless, feeling her growing comfort spreading throughout my being. Whatever negativity she'd been feeling was no longer a factor. "Guess we're getting more serious; I'm meeting the fam."
The moment the words left my mouth I blushed furiously, ducking my chin to my chest as I turned away from her. It wasn't anything to be awkward over but I knew my instant reaction made it feel weird. The room became tense again but I got the distinct feeling that it wasn't for such different reasons as before. There was something going on between us, I just couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Was she... finally feeling the same pull I was?
"I... I think my brother likes you too."
I blushed harder, recalling the relief I felt when I thought the same thing. "Yeah and he seems really cool too, in case I didn't really say that already."
"Y'know, I've met your family too." I faced her again, watching her as she smiled timidly at me. "Dr. Cullen and his wife are really nice people. And I really like your brother, he reminds me of you a lot." I hadn't noticed how close I'd gotten to her but when she looked up at me, I could almost feel her breath against my skin. "But-"
She cut herself off and met my gaze with wide, uncertain eyes. I heard her heart beat faster and felt a change in the way she was feeling. It's was strange knowing my heart followed her lead so easily.
"But?" I whispered, unable to stop myself from leaning forward. Her breath brushed against my lips, causing an involuntary shiver to run down my spine. I knew what I wanted, what the wolf within me wanted but I wouldn't go further without some kind of obvious go ahead from Olivia.
"But I..." she trailed off, reaching up with shaking fingers to touch my cheek. Was that my sign?
Olivia
Leah, Leah, Leah! On and on my mind thrummed with her name, pounding to the beat in my chest. There she was, looking at me with those dark, alluring eyes, pulling me closer.
Stop it, another, quieter part of my mind whispered. I could still see Leah hugging her then taking her hand. The flare of jealousy I felt was like nothing I'd experienced before, not even with all the girls that seemed to drape themselves over Nathan. I felt the overwhelming desire, no the need, to rip Leah away from her and pull her into me. Why I felt the way I did made no sense to me but it didn't stop the feelings.
Leah, Leah, Leah, no, no, no, the battle raged on. I was torn, my mind unsure how to proceed. My body on the other hand couldn't fight the strange pull toward the girl. When I felt how close she got and heard her voice, my hand sought her cheek. I needed to touch her, to feel that she was there with me and only me.
She leaned into my touch, gazing at me with a look that started a fire in my belly. In that moment I could almost hear her whispering my name, urging me closer still.
"You what?" she hushed. She was overwhelming; her breath, scent, voice, warmth surrounded me. Nothing else existed in that moment and that terrified me. Terrified me to the point that I jerked my head back so fast I heard something crack and knew I wouldn't be able to turn my head without feeling pain.
The look of rejection that took over Leah's face made me sick to my stomach but I didn't know what else to do. She stood there for a long moment, tears pooling in her eyes before she bowed her head, murmured a soft apology and left. I watched her body slump forward and heard a soft sniffle as she made her way out, taking my crumbling heart along with her.
My feelings for her were no longer a question but what I'd do about it certainly was.
A/N: Long time no update, I know, I know. I'm kinda struggling with depression as of late, so motivation has been scarce. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things though. Hopefully it doesn't take me as many months to update again. Thank you all for the time ya took to read this story. I appreciate all the feedback I get. You're all the best!