Envy
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters and simply toy around with them for my own pleasure. I do, however, own all OCs.
It was weird but good in a surreal sort of way. The house was packed with the original wolf pack before Bella Cullen got herself knocked up and had some alien fetus growing inside of her. Paul sat still running off at his mouth, his cocky smirk gracing his face as Jared sat across from him teasing Embry and Quil. The four were playing a game of cards in Leah's kitchen who was rummaging through her own fridge trying to find something to satisfy whatever craving she had recently developed. Brady elbowed Collin in the ribs, the latter's eyes lingering too long on Leah's bent over rear to be anything other than indecent. Sam was seated on a bar stool overlooking exchanges as if he was still the Alpha in the pack. Seth looked over to see Jacob occupying the other bar stool in the kitchen. Seth smirked noting how being around the pack again seemed to make him both exited and nervous. He looked as if he was ready to explode into his russet colored fur at any moment.
Seth never understood what it was about becoming a Protector that made them all just instinctually gravitate to the Alpha's home. No matter whose home it was there was just a sense of security within the four walls. Spiritually, there wasn't a difference between Sam's home, Jacob's and now Leah's. There was an unspoken open door policy and even after half the pack has stopped phasing they still came and went as they pleased.
Sam had been trying to strike up a conversation with Jacob but Jacob had grown sullen. The carefree air that he was exuding earlier at the party was now gone; possibly beaten or lectured out of him. The more Seth watched everyone interact, the more it looked as if Jacob was an outsider. Without Leah's attention Jacob was just a shell of himself. Seth hadn't bothered to notice it before. It was…
Seth's thoughts were interrupted as Claire walked in and begrudgingly accepted the childish greetings of 'Claire Bear' and calloused hands ruffling her hair. Quil still wrapped up in his game, rather watching to see if Jared cheated, and accepted a kiss on the cheek. Leah at least tried to help Claire reclaim some sort of order with her hair.
Jacob and Claire's reintroduction was curt and awkward. Jacob unsure how to greet a grown up Claire while Claire expressed the same amount of uncertainty as to how to greet the man who left her idol pregnant to run with vampires.
Growing up as an imprint Claire spent most of her childhood surrounded by giant men and woman. She was used to rough housing, crude jokes and inherited a knack for reading all of those around her. Seth and Quil had been assigned the task of somehow getting Jacob and Leah time alone tonight but no one in the pack seemed too pressed to leave the Alphas alone. Fortunately, Claire took care of the issue for them when she stood up and asked Quil to buy her a round of drinks. The two were no longer soul mates but it didn't change the fact that the two were still close and no one in the pack passed up on free drinks – except Leah when she was waiting on word from Jett.
It didn't take long for Paul to join in the cry that Quil was buying everyone a round of drinks. Jacob was, of course, invited along with Leah but both turned the offer down. Claire killed any further complaints stating the obvious, 'these two have a lot to talk about' as she pushed Collin and Brady out of their seats and waved Quil's wallet like a juicy piece of steak.
The thick and aged branches creaked and groaned in protest under his weight but he was certain that they'd hold. The moss and bark gave way as his calloused hands gripped each branch and with a skill and grace only attained over years of tree climbing and shape shifting could have bestowed. Embry slowed his ascent as the branches thinned out and he narrowed his eyes, silently debating over whether or not he was at a safe distance. The light blue house is hundred of yards away and despite the distance he could still hear the soft clatter of dishes being washed, the scrape of a chair being pushed in and the low hum of the radio Leah had playing before the pack left – sans Jacob Black.
Embry knew the two had to talk. There was so much left unsaid between them regarding the past, present and future. Jett was just the visible tip of the iceberg.
Jacob was blocking most of the window with his massive size but he could still see the top of Leah's head. The two weren't talking rather cleaning up – possibly stalling for time, delaying the inevitable. But the inevitable what? The question made Embry's throat dry and his tongue fuzzy. He had tried to ignore the feelings of bitter resentment that rose up inside of him the moment he saw the unknowing father and son square off with each other.
Jacob had left – he left Leah behind and the unborn child he didn't know she was carrying. Embry had tried to fill the void that Jacob left but it was too much. There was too much baggage – on both sides; too many emotions, too many expectations and too much stubbornness. It was just too much.
The domestication of two Alphas was a bitter sweet and humbling experience for Embry. His spirit was pleased to see the two together again and yet anxious as neither seemed in a hurry to break the silence. Jacob was practically elbow deep in soap suds, the water scalding hot as Leah liked it and Embry could almost smell the bleach in the air. Even with the distance, years and imprinting in between them they were still at ease with one another. Embry's eyes narrowed as he watched Jacob stiffen when Leah moved to stand beside him to start drying the washed dishes and then just as quickly relaxed. Jacob was smart enough to know that Leah was entitled to whatever deep seeded emotions she was harboring since the day he walked away from her. Jacob didn't know that Leah had mellowed out considerably although considering the out lash towards Mary Uley it was understandable.
"How much longer are you going to wash that pot?" Leah asked breaking the silence. Embry had to strain to hear her, his body instinctively moving forward. "Give it here." Leah ordered with a faint smile as she snatched the pot away from his grasp.
The silence carried on as Jacob watched Leah move around in her home, the home she shared with their sixteen year old son. Embry felt a twinge of jealousy as Leah shoved Jacob out of the way and dumped out the dishwater. Her actions were playful…almost flirting – in a she-wolf sort of way.
"What are you after Jake?" Leah asked once she had finished washing out the sink. Embry frowned as she had turned her back to the window, her elbows bent behind her aiding to support her weight. Her head was cocked to side allowing her to view his face.
"If I told you I don't think you'd believe me," Jacob said with a sigh, leaning against the counter beside her.
"Try me," Leah said nudging Jacob with her elbow. Embry held his breathe not wanting to miss a syllable of what was about to be said.
"Honestly, Lee…I don't know why, exactly, I came back." Jacob said after a pregnant pause.
"You're right, I don't believe you." Leah said before turning her attention to the rest of the kitchen.
"I mean…part of it was because of Jay, you, Dad, Rachel, the Rez…it's just so much." Jacob stated, his shoulders sagging under some unseen and unknown weight. "Jay…Jay isn't," Jacob was struggling with his words. Something that Embry never knew him to do. Jacob Black always knew what to say when the situation arose. "He's not confident and he has no friends. He is nothing like Jett."
Leah's head whipped around to look up at him. Embry could see a small frown on her face, eyes narrowed.
"Of course, they've had different upbringings." Leah hissed angrily. "How many friends did Renesmee have? Did you really," Leah abruptly stopped herself. "You shouldn't start off with comparing the two. You have siblings – you know better then that or maybe you used to."
"I deserve that," Jacob breathed out. "I - I've missed living here, having family, friends, the pack. I've missed you most of all." The last part followed after a moment of silence and a sigh. Embry barely felt the bark biting into the palms of his hands as his insides churned over the chaotic upsurge of emotions this admission would bring about.
Leah didn't say anything or even seemed to have reacted to his words. Jacob took her silence as a reason to continue on speaking from his heart or at the least the one he always wore on his sleeve.
"I get why Jett hit me." Jacob stated and his hand went to rub his face, possibly the phantom sensations of the beating suffered having returned. "I was…happy – talking to you, Quil and Seth. I can only imagine how much…pain I must've caused." Leah snorted at Jacob's words and he hung his head.
"Don't flatter yourself," Leah sighed out and Embry could hear the eye roll in her voice.
"I'm not," Jacob admitted softly.
"What do you want, Jake?" Leah asked with a sigh. That question earned a deep and husky chuckle from Jacob – his reward a shove.
"Sorry, but…honestly, what I want, need and expected are all very different things." Jacob answered back. His voice sounded almost sad as if he already knew that he wouldn't get even one of the items on his list. He continued on, Leah silently expressing her permission for him to continue.
"I want…I want what I lost – everything that I missed out on." Jacob stated. "I want my family. I want Jay to have a real family, want to get to know Jett. I need to be…everything that I was meant to be and for that I know that I need you to be there and chew my head off." Leah chuckled. Obviously a task that she is more then willing to step up and handle it.
"My expectations were that you'd be married, given up the wolf years ago…maybe look old with a couple of scowl wrinkles in your forehead." It's a playful tease and Embry's stomach tightens as Leah playfully apologizes with a 'sorry to disappoint'. No matter what they just have a 'chemistry' about them. "I didn't expect Jett, to have you greet me like you did. As pathetic as it sounds…I didn't expect you to have my life."
"Your life?" Leah snorted out behind her laughter.
"You know what I mean," Jacob growled. "I'm – I'm jealous – of you, of Jett and it wouldn't surprise me if Jay is too now. Seth told me about you and Embry," Embry and Leah both perked up. "I'm – I'm not surprised, honestly, I mean Embry had a crush on you when we were kids." Was this Jacob Black's way of giving Leah his consent? As if she needed it. "And he also told me about Sam," Embry felt his blood turn cold at the mention of Sam Uley. Everyone knew that Sam spent as much time with Leah as he could but – but it wasn't anything like that, was it? Embry found his answer as Leah burst out laughing, her head falling back as her laughter rebounded off the walls of the kitchen and out into the night air.
"Sam is a lot of things but suicidal isn't one of them." Leah said still laughing. "And who told you that? Seth?" Leah repeated when Jacob gave his answer. "Seth is an idiot who thinks and worries that every man that talks to me is only after one thing." Leah said wiping away a tear. "Please, Jacob, half the men on the Rez can't stand me and the other half are too old, too young, married or just plain ugly."
Embry couldn't help but smirk at Leah's brush off. She was always oblivious to her own beauty thinking that the only reason anyone paid any attention to her before were because of her legs. A good reason for why most men weren't openly pursuing her was simply intimidation, by her and Jett.
"So you're…not," Jacob began but was cut off as Leah's phone rang.
Embry couldn't hear the person on the other end but could tell by Leah's relieved sigh and smile that is was Jett checking in with her. Raising a temperamental teenage shape shifter had its highs and lows. At times tempers ran high and it wasn't unheard for one of the pups to run and cool off somewhere. Jett had an endless supply of beds, air mattresses and floors to crash on in the Rez. Embry frowned at the thought that much like Jacob and Sam, Jett was a golden child on the Rez and everyone would do anything for him.
Leah ran through the usual maternal questions: where are you? Are you alright? Was he still upset? That they'd talk about what happened. The soft worry that intoned Leah's voice switched up as Leah asked to speak to Jay. The same anxiety laced her voice as she spoke to the newest pup to her brood. Embry frowned wondering if Jay was even responding back with how quickly Leah was questioning him. Jay had managed to get in a word but it must've been to speak to Jacob as he witnessed Leah slowly nod her head and hand Jacob the phone.
Jacob talked to his son with Leah looking on, arms crossed and Embry could just picture the small frown on her face. Embry's heart clenched when he overheard Jacob made a remark about Jett and Leah being alike, a comment which earned him a punch in the arm and he quickly thumbed her bottomed lip. It was an act that years ago always made Leah blush and Jacob laugh – it still did. The conversation ended with Jacob telling Jay that here was where he belonged – where they belonged.
Embry didn't hear more as Leah and Jacob moved towards the front of the house, out of earshot. He had entertained the idea of moving closer but he had already pushed his luck and it probably wouldn't last much longer. That and he had received a rude interruption from Seth, who had rammed his shoulder into Embry's tree, knocking him down a branch. In the time it took Embry to climb back down Seth was fully dressed and looking at him with a sad but understanding smile.
"You, my man, could go for a drink or six. C'mon, it's not everyday that Quil is buying." Embry walked sullenly behind Seth grateful the he hadn't about his spying.
Embry knew he had his chance to try and make Leah happy – he had failed. It would be hard but he'd have to let her go and allow her to find her own happiness.
A/N: So here goes the next chapter. Sorry that it's so short but I feel that it's a slight icebreaker for Leah and Jacob. There will be more about Leah and Embry later on so just be patient with me. As a reminder, I will be leaving in the next couple of days for my family vacation and will try to squeeze out another chapter soon but I won't make any promises.
As always I appreciate all of the reviews and the interest expressed in my stories. Mostly for your patience but man...life really takes a lot of attention and time away from hobbies. When I should be writing I hear Jon Snow calling to me. He's so cold beyond The Wall and he needs me. Not to mention Robb and Arya and Bran and little Rickon who just wants his mom and dad. I miss Ned! Which always leads me down the path of darkness into my hatred for Joffrey. You know what? I hate Joffrey more then I hate Bella. And you all know how much I really, really hate Bella. But as a reward I'm going back to reading the second book in A Game of Thrones and pray that I don't turn around and write a medieval Blackwater story.