AN

Hey all,

So I'm uploading this chapter a day early for two reasons…

1) I will be putting the wolves' aside tomorrow night to watch England play football.

2) Tomorrow is my birthday!

I will therefore sadly (or possibly not so sadly) be far away from my computer and more likely to be found in a pub lol.

Anyways, here's the next chapter. Hoping you like it. Big thanks to all of you as usual! xxxx

Cris's POV

Paul had limped off to the house and I was waiting for the next challenger. Unfortunately everyone was stalling as I was undefeated today.

"I'm in." Jake had arrived and his gruff voice reached across the garden as he came out of the house. I saw Embry and Seth following him - I assumed Quil was still on patrol.

Throwing down his clothes, Jake phased on the spot. He was an equal opponent and I knew I was likely to lose today's title. Within seconds Jake's thoughts came through challenging me officially; his mood was dark and I figured it was a Nessie thing. Hearing me, he grunted and took up an attack position. My legs stiffened and my posture rose mirroring him. I could feel the hackles on my back growing and my ears standing alert and forward. We slowly stalked each other baring our teeth.

I could hear bets being placed in the background and without warning Jake charged for me. I countered him and to an outsider it would look like we were doing an intricate dance. All the while, Jake's mind was somewhat primal and full of anger, but I was too caught up in watching his moves to consider it fully. The circling continued for ages, yet we were both unable to get an opening on the other. The guys watching were even starting to get bored as neither of us was gaining ground.

Unexpectedly, and for the first time ever, I felt Jake's concentration slip; I watched through his mind as Leah entered the garden; Jake seemed troubled.

I couldn't look at her myself without taking my eyes off Jake, but my mind wandered to our meeting on the beach yesterday. Jake's attention was suddenly back on me with renewed vigour. I saw spite directed at me which I couldn't understand. His sudden anger and change in mood caught me off guard and I found myself on my back. Jake's teeth were inches from my throat.

"Well done," I said into his mind.

Jake didn't respond and his teeth only moved closer, a snarl was growing in his throat.

"Get off me!" There was still no response. "Now Jake!"

I quickly felt my instincts kicking in and sent him a warning thought. I could feel him slipping further into the wolf as he kept me pinned down by my throat. My only option would be to submit, or face the possibility of him tearing out my jugular. The problem was that we both knew I wouldn't and couldn't submit - we were no longer playing.

My limit was finally reached, and I was about to retaliate when Leah's voice cut through us. She was impatient and unimpressed. "Knock it off Jake - You win; he's down!"

I felt Jake's mind pause and calm. A few seconds later he was thinking clearly and apologising for losing control.

I reluctantly told him it was ok. I knew it wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time that this kind of thing happened. It was a hard truth of packs and alphas mixing.

Jake didn't seem appeased though and he phased back standing naked in the middle of the lawn. The fact that Leah was here and he was in his birthday suit didn't seem a big deal to anyone and she didn't even blush.

Jake started to say something about needing to go and threw a sorrowful look at Leah as he left. The soap operas in La Push were gradually making mine and Corey's fight seem normal.

"What's up with him today?" I thought, turning to Sam. The black wolf told me he had no idea, but I saw that his thoughts also floated over Leah. Was everyone obsessed or something? Bollocks, I hadn't closed the alpha link...

"It's something like that ..." Sam shut me out anyway.

I noticed our audience had disbanded into smaller groups. Jake's outburst had lead to a break for everyone to calm down before we carried on. Being defeated, I made my way back to the house in animal form. I had no desire to phase outside.

"Oi, Suka!"

My tail uncontrollably wagged at Leah's voice as she called me by spirit name.

"So ... I'm not a fighter like you, but Seth said you're called 'Suka'? It's supposed to mean fast or something?"

I barked at her, nodding my head at the same time. She showed the smallest sign of a smile.

"Well, around here that's my title. You want it - you have to earn it. As the crow flies, several miles away is La Push beach." She pointed the direction out. "Beat me to the edge and you'll be the first."

Leah was challenging me; I bowed to her playfully, much like a domestic dog. Running made me feel free and racing always made my heart soar.

"Give me five," she called, jogging to the tree line.

My adrenaline was pumping at the idea of a race. Plus, this was going to be the first time I had seen her in wolf form. I had no idea of what to expect.

Less than five minutes later, a petite grey wolf came out of the tree line and barked at me. I noticed some people stare, but no one paid attention for long.

I looked to Jaden; he was sitting with Embry, Seth and Jared. They were placing more bets and I heard Seth say, "Easiest money of the day!"

Walking to the tree line, I circled her and sized her up; she was almost half my size. Leah's body was smaller and leaner, which made sense. Her legs were long and muscled and she really did look slim line and built for speed.

I watched as she scuffed out a line across the ground with her sharp claws, clearly marking the start. Seth excitedly walked over at the same time.

"Just in case you can't keep up and get lost. I heard about your lack of clothes on the beach." I looked down to see him tying some shorts to my legs and thanked God wolves couldn't blush.

Next Seth grinned at his sister, "Pull this off and we have the bills paid next week."

Leah barked at him impatiently, and he counted us down. "3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Go!"

Without a second thought I took off into the woods, brushing past the first branches and jumping a fallen tree. Leah was running on my left and I was already falling behind. Every second her light feet were taking her further away and my distraction caused me to almost hit a tree. I forcefully dragged my eyes away from her to focus on my own path; hating to lose, my body pushed harder and found a little more speed.

It was no good! As soon as I started gaining ground Leah looked back. The flash of her eyes were the only communication we had, and they were alight. She immediately turned back, and disappointment flooded through me when I realised the girl wasn't even trying.

Her pace doubled and I was left behind in nothing but her dust trail. She knew the woods well, yet for a brief moment I worried; she was going so fast, that if she hit something it would be fatal. Despite this, I could only watch in awe as her silver coat danced perfectly in between the trees and over the brooks and ditches.

Until today, I had always thought of grey as a dull colour.

It didn't take long to lose sight of her, but I knew the direction at least and pushed on trying to regain some dignity. I smelt the ocean and knew I was close.

Finally, I broke out of the forest on to a high cliff top. Leah was there in human form, fully dressed and not even breathless. I looked to the cliff as she faced me, her back was to the edge and she was grinning evilly. It was a look I hadn't seen before.

"Get changed; it's no fun taunting you when you can't reply." She waved towards the forest, and I retreated on her order and phased.

I had the shorts Seth gave me; I needed to thank him properly for them. I chuckled and stepped back out.

My lungs lightly grasped for air as I spoke. "Whoa! I'm impressed, you should race Lee."

"Who's Lee?" She was intrigued.

I laughed and held my hand out at thigh height. "Arctic hare, about this high . . . legs like . . . well, like you!"

"A hare? Like a rabbit?" Leah was amused.

"Yeah, kind of - real fast though." I could never keep up with him. "I haven't been up here before!" I was looking at the brink again from a distance.

I was disturbed by the look Leah gave me; it was mischievous and reminded me of the twins. "I'm surprised . . . the guys love this place. We all do. You aren't one of us if you can't do it."

"Do what?" I didn't understand and was horrified when Leah still facing me started striding backwards. "What are you doing?" I moved to grab her and pull her back, but her feet only danced quicker, taking her away from me and towards the edge.

She raised her arms out to her side much like wings and my voice let out a cry as she allowed herself to fall backwards into the abyss. I ran forward peering over the ledge only to see the splash she made. It looked to be hundreds of feet below and she hadn't come up.

I scanned the ocean for several minutes my fear growing. Suddenly, I heard laughter from the beach to the left of the cove and I turned my head to see Leah pointing up at me highly amused. She was soaking wet and her clothes hung off her muscled frame.

"You coming or what?" she yelled, running her hands through her short ebony hair and pushing it off her face.

I looked at the edge, it was daunting. My eyes fell on Leah again with her hands now on her hips waiting for me to move.

"You sure you weren't meant to be a chicken?" She was egging me on.

I laughed at my own thought 'egging'. No, Cris was definitely wolf and not poultry . . .

Taking a run up, I pushed all logic away and threw myself over the edge. For the briefest moment I felt as exhilarated as Jaden. I was flying with nothing below me except water.

I tucked my body into a dive as it cut through the waves. The water against my body was colder than anticipated and I stopped myself from inhaling water as I gasped. Instead, I put my arms and legs to use quickly swimming into shore.

By the time I pulled myself on to the beach Leah had gone again. I walked to the spot she had called me down from and found a message written in the sand . . .

'Too slow'

Amused, I made my way off the beach and through the forest home. I found Leah's pack (excluding Jake), and Jaden sitting on the lawn laughing about something and watching the rest of the fights. Leah was not as vibrant as the rest and the spark of energy she had earlier seemed to be fading. She joined in occasionally, but it looked forced.

Sam was currently sparing with some of the cubs. They weren't massively involved in the packs duties, but everyone made sure they were well trained and aware of procedures. If I was honest, I had to say they were handling the younger ones in the best way; bit by bit, they were giving them responsibilities. Occasionally, they would even let them patrol. The cubs had all phased at a similar age to Alex and Dylan, so I understood exactly why the La Push wolves gave them some freedom. Unfortunately, I never had the same options - our pack was much smaller and we needed everyone on board.

I looked back to Leah; I had no idea what had made her so happy earlier and what now made her so sad. It was yet another side to the complicated she-wolf. Pushing my thoughts aside, I joined the group sitting on the lawn.

"So, my sister kicked your ass!" Seth paused his conversation with Quil and Jaden and beamed at me.

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up." I shoved him lightly.

"Beaten by a girl. Man that's lame! I'm pleased the guys went home and didn't witness it. Totally shameful!" Jaden was also amused.

Embry was in the meantime begrudgingly counting his cash out to give to Seth. All the time he muttered that he shouldn't have believed Jaden.

Quil had obviously arrived in my absence, (I figured he swapped shifts with Jake), and after a nod in my direction, he continued chatting with Seth and Jaden. He was discussing some Kung Fu move he wanted to try as a wolf. I switched off; I had heard enough of Quil's crazy ideas. Watching daytime TV with Claire was turning his brain to mush.

Suddenly, the pups started to get excited and I looked up to see them arranging something. Sam shouted over to us; "Who's up for extreme tag?"

"What's that?" I muttered to anyone who was listening.

Leah's voice answered; she didn't sound impressed, "No rules, you tag someone and they're out. Last wolf standing wins. It's supposed to improve tactics and thinking on the spot."

I glanced at her, trying to see the point of it.

As if she knew what I thought, she shrugged, "The cubs made it up. What do you expect?"

I chuckled.

Leah rolled her eyes, "The stupid thing is, no one's figured it out yet. If you just get out of the way and let everyone take each other out, then all you have to do is beat the last person."

Jaden, Embry, and Quil started getting up to join in and ignored Leah's comments. Seth stayed crouched and started to whisper to her, of course I heard everything.

"Come on Sis, come play. Sam didn't mean anything by it earlier."

She hissed back at him, "You're kidding right? He asked me if I wanted to see the scan."

"It's not right, he's backwards, but you know he's only doing it because he wants you to be a part of it, not because he's being spiteful." Seth was almost pleading with her.

"Don't you dare tell me you're taking his side?" Her eyes shone with barely concealed rage - she was livid.

"No, no, no. Of course not. I just wish you would stop letting everything control your life." Seth sounded disappointed.

Leah was about to retort, but Sam interrupted looking curiously at Seth, Leah and me.

"Aren't you guys playing?" Sam asked.

I had no desire to run around the woods anymore today and shook my head. Besides, Jaden would be amusing enough for them to try and catch. I had no doubt he would win this game with his wings.

Seth however, was only too keen and ran off to join the packs.

"Leah?" Sam asked hopefully.

Her voice was surprisingly sharp, "Not if you are."

Sam looked frustrated, but along with the packs, made his way into the forest to start the madness.

Leah suddenly remembered I was still there; I looked away pretending I was oblivious to the situation.

"What?" she snapped.

"What?" I replied passively while looking back at her.

I didn't give her a chance to reply though, and tried to change the subject, "How's that box coming on? Opened it yet?" I raised my eyebrow at her questioningly.

"Is that really any of your business?" she snarled at me.

"Point taken." I got up not wanting to intrude.

I started to walk towards the house and heard her whisper to herself; "Real polite Leah." She sounded guilty and frustrated and let out a heavy sigh with it.

I turned and looked at her curiously. She caught my eye and immediately tried to back track and clear the awkwardness, "Did you get my message?"

I assumed that was her idea of an apology and thought back to the beach. A small smile crept into the corner of my mouth, "Yeah, funny. You think you're a comedian now?"

She finally let out a small laugh and looked a little less stressed, "Yeah, living with Seth makes you do stupid things."

"Fair enough." I could only smile in return. I was learning quickly, less meant more.

Her face was serious again, "I haven't opened it - the box. I . . . It's . . ."

"Complicated." I finished her sentence.

To my surprise she blushed; "Yeah, pretty much."

"If you say so. It's a shame though, you were having fun earlier. Now you're all tense again." If she could relax a little, I was sure she would feel better. No one here seemed to have yet found a healthy balance between being on duty and time off.

"I'm not tense!" she snapped and, as she said it, realised her mistake.

I raised an eyebrow, not needing to say anything more.

"Look, I'm a bitch. It's easier if you just realise that. I'm going now anyway; I've had enough of wolves for one day."

Her expression was far from convincing me of her statement of being a bitch; she only looked tired and sad.

"Well, I'll catch you around then. You should know though, whatever is going on with you and Sam, he's an idiot." I smiled more sincerely this time, hoping she would leave on a better note.

"Isn't that against pack politics?" She was slightly amused.

"Nah, I'm off duty." I was allowed a personal opinion after all. Besides, from what I saw of the alpha's the other day, both him and Jake still had a bit of growing up to do.

"You sound just like Seth and Jake." She waved a half hearted goodbye, and I watched as she walked into the woods alone.

'Alone' - My thoughts absorbed my observation - she was always alone.