Leah POV

I woke up feeling incredibly groggy. I couldn't remember drinking, but I had the hangover from hell.

The rocking motion of the floor didn't help much either. I hissed, twisting my body, but realized my hands and feet were bound. I opened my eyes and was met with darkness. I could feel course material scratching at my face and it dawned on me my head was fully covered. Memories flashed before my eyes just as a heavy foot pushed down on my back sharply.

"She's waking up. You didn't give her enough?" Sophia hissed above me.

"What am I, a vet? It's horse tranquilizer; it doesn't exactly come with instructions for shape shifting bitches." Another woman, I guessed Anna, snapped back.

"Just give her another dosage before she's fully conscious and sinks us," Sophia ordered.

I heard a rustling noise and knew I didn't have long. My inner wolf was still subdued enough to stop me phasing, but I had to get as much intel' as possible before they knocked me out.

I inhaled as quietly as I could and added up the facts. Sea salt stung my nostrils. We were near the coast. I was on something turbulent. They thought I could sink them... I wanted to curse myself. We had been missing something vital all along. The leeches had been traveling by boat. It made sense why the tracks ended at the coast and how they could just disappear with the girls. It also made the radius a hell of a lot larger than we ever imagined. No wonder we could never find them. The question still remained though - where were they taking us?

Suddenly, I felt a warm body nudge me and whimper, "Leah, I'm so, so, sorry."

Part of me was dying to bitch out the little monster, but I had to be the adult. "Just remember everything you can about where they take us," I whispered irritably.

A foot kicked my side sharply. "That's enough talking. It's lights out time again."

I could only wait patiently for my chance as a needle pierced my skin.

Leah?

Soft skin brushed my forehead, and an image of four damp dank walls and a thick steel door flittered through. In my mind, Nessie beckoned to me, raising a finger to her lips in silence.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Sure enough, Nessie was sat next to me, touching my face. As soon as I looked at her she withdrew her hand quickly. My body felt bruised and battered, but she had warned me to be quiet so I held back my groan.

She held her hand out to me once more, and I nodded slightly. It was something I had never got accustomed to, but as her fingers pressed against my skin once more, I tried to keep myself open to her invasion.

Rapid images flashed before me and although there was no sound, I could understand what I was being told.

We don't have long. Nessie conveyed. I'm sorry. I never meant to drag you into any of this. I don't know where we are, but those women that took us said something about going back to the main land. It's not much, but you told me to pay attention and I did. Do you think you can phase and tell Jake?

I shook my head. Whatever they had shot me with was dulling my senses incredibly and the power to phase was dormant. Perhaps, once it was out of my system things would be different. I was about to speak when I heard footsteps echoing behind the door and the jangle of keys.

Nessie looked alarmed and scooted to the opposite wall, curling herself into a ball.

I managed to shift sorely into a sitting position, but before I could even try and stand I felt a tugging at my ankle. I looked down to see a thick heavy cuff around my leg and a chain leading back to the floor. I gave it a half hearted tug, but I already knew I didn't have the strength to break it just yet.

The footsteps stopped and I heard something turning in the lock. I braced myself for who was behind the door and reminded myself to keep calm.

"Morning, Ladies." Sophia appeared with a curt nod, swinging the room keys around her hand. "I do hope your settling in well to our little island resort."

I raised my eyebrows at her in disbelief. She was being awfully open with her statement.

She tutted, "Oh, come now, Leah. If you hadn't already worked it out, you would have soon enough."

I laughed bitterly. "So we're not playing games any longer then?"

Sophia smiled. "What's the point? We have everything we want right here. We didn't even have to see our offer through, thanks to Renesmee."

I quickly glanced at Nessie who was still hiding herself in the corner and rolled my eyes. "Kids, hey?"

"Indeed. We know all about them here." Sophia looked at the floor in distaste, before sitting down in front of me with her legs crossed. "Now, Leah, I'm going to lay my cards on the table..."

I looked at her sceptically.

"You're a rare creature. My other siblings find you detestable, but I can see why Joham wanted you. I'm sure there are things that you want too though, such as the safety of the tribal women we hold. All I can say is that if Joham's displeased they will all feel his wrath, not you. However, if you're... accommodating, then he will be too." She looked incredibly smug.

"And Nessie?" I asked.

Sophia frowned and stood up abruptly. "It seems she has a little more growing to do before she can be of any use to us. Until then, she will be reintroduced to a more natural life style, which means you best say your goodbyes shortly. Can't risk any accidents happening, now can we?"

Before I could make any kind of remark the half breed had disappeared, slamming the door behind her and locking us in. Within seconds Nessie was scrabbling across the floor towards me. She started to desperately pull at the chain on my leg. I could see she was completely freaking out.

I grabbed her hands tightly between mine. "Renesmee, look at me."

The use of her full name got her attention. Her big doe eyes stared at me tearfully.

"It's going to be ok," I said reassuringly. "You're safe for a while. You heard what she just said."

"I don't want them to take you away. I'm scared. I can already guess what 'natural' means. I can't drink blood, Leah. I can't kill anyone. I won't. We have to break this chain and make a run for it. Is there really no way you can phase?" she pleaded.

I sighed at her small mindedness. "Even if I could phase, how far would we get right now? What about the girls and your Mom, huh? You'd leave them all behind? Everyone will be looking for us, ok. Until then, we need to be clever about this." I gripped her chin tightly and held her gaze to try and make her understand the importance of everything. "I know you're scared, but you have to listen to what I'm about to say. Whatever they want you to do, whatever they threaten, stay calm, bide time, be smart and most of all don't lose yourself. Anytime you're scared just think of home. Think of Jake and your family. They love you. They'll find you. I'll make sure of it."

Nessie flung herself at me and clung to me tightly. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so selfish. You shouldn't even be here. I promise I'll do what you say. What are you going to do though?"

I had no desire to hug her back right now or share my non existent plan, but I at least managed to pat her on the back a few times. Thankfully, after a few minutes she released me and moved to lean back against the opposite wall. I mirrored her.

While I had a moment to myself I tried to gather my thoughts. There was no window in our 'cell' to know the time or anything about our location, which made my body feel a little off kilter. I tried to focus on something else and my mind wandered briefly.

I wondered where Cris and my pack were right now. I missed them all and I knew they would be going mental. This wasn't the plan. The plan had actually had a slim chance of working. Instead we were fucked thanks to Nessies over reacting. The problem was, by being captured the puzzle hadn't changed. Sure, the packs and Cullens would search high and low for us, but without me being able to phase and tell them about the boat and island, they still had nothing to go on.

I sighed and closed my eyes, listening to the world around me. I could hear slight movement a distance away, but nothing clearly. It was hard to believe how quickly my situation had changed. I had never dreamed this was where I'd end up when I left La Push. My only consolation was that now there was a good chance Sam and Jake would team up, instead of threatening to tear each other apart. It would have killed me to see the packs fight, especially as I knew I wouldn't be able to stand on the side lines - Seth, Embry, Jake - they were my family. If it came down to it. I would protect them at the cost of my own life.

All to soon my ears picked up the sound of returning footsteps. I opened my eyes and looked at Nessie. She took a deep breath and nodded at me determined. I gave her just one curt dip of my head in acknowledgment.

As the door swung open, three leeches entered the room. They were all burly males and distinctly leech as opposed to half breeds. Nessie did her best to hold her own, but I saw her visibly flinch and internally shrink back. It didn't matter, their attention was solely focused on me.

"Hello, boys." I smiled sarcastically.

"Up." The tallest brute demanded, beckoning at me.

I snorted rebelliously, but decided to humor them, dragging myself slowly to my feet. Before I'd even steadied myself the other two leeches had grabbed my arms tightly pinning me in place. The lead thug stepped forward. He was a good few inches taller and sneered down at me.

"Turn her around," he ordered.

Before I could blink I was shoved against the brittle cold wall by my restrainers. The hairs on the back of my neck were prickling and I felt sick as two heavy hands fell upon waist and started to fumble around. I closed my eyes and prayed to god that if they did anything it wasn't in front of Nessie. I had to be strong for both of us. To my surprise, although inappropriate and a little intrusive, all the hands did were run roughly all over my body. They never touched my skin directly and as the leech dropped to the floor and felt both of my legs thoroughly, I heard the chink of my cuff fall away.

"She's not hiding anything. We're clear." The brute distanced himself again, as I was pulled backwards by my wardens and out the door.

"See you soon, Ness," I hollered, but the door was slammed shut and locked before she could answer.

I decided there was no point fighting and let myself be led down the dark corridor. It appeared to be quite some length and I tried to look around and take in my surroundings. In the far distance, at the end of the corridor, there looked to be some steps leading upwards, but we were heading the opposite way and down hill slightly. I looked above at the brick work and arched ceiling. Water dripped down above us, echoing throughout and there was a damp smell that filled my nostrils. Underneath it though, there was also the smell of something rotting and the tang of iron; I was temporarily glad my wolf senses were dulled. We passed several doors on our way, until we reached a dead end. I was about to make a snide remark, but all to quickly I found myself being thrown into a new room.

My knees hit the dirty concrete floor first and I could feel the skin scrape off under me. I cursed and hurled around to give them a piece of my mind, but I was already locked in. Apparently my speed was also subdued. I slumped where I was and took in my accommodation. There was a single bed, covered in a dirty white sheet shoved in the far corner and a basin with a tap coming out of the wall. My toilet appeared to be no more than a bucket. Apart from that the room was empty. I did however seem lucky enough to have a room with a view. I scoffed at the small window of light that pierced the darkness close to the ceiling. Standing, I soon realized I wasn't tall enough to see out, so quickly pulled the bed beneath it. It gave me enough additional height to peer out.

I took a deep breath and stepped back. It was dusk and my room appeared to be on the very edge of a cliff as waves crashed not far below me. I was so used to the sound of the sea at home, I hadn't even picked up their turbulent motion until now. Looking to the horizon nothing appeared in sight apart from a few gulls swirling some miles out. I couldn't see any more of our apparent island, but it was clear my view would give me little to work with. Disappointed, I fell backwards on to my bed. The springs creaked beneath me and poked my back through the thin sheet. They really knew how to spoil a girl.

Somehow, I managed to fall asleep. I didn't intend to, but when I came around again it took me a minute to gather my thoughts. The first thing I realized was my senses felt sharper. Whatever they had given me had worn off slightly. I sat up on the edge of my bed and rubbed my eyes tiredly. Tilting my head, I tried again to listen to everything around me. I could hear quiet whispers close by, but was unable to make out any words. Crouching on the floor I tried to find the voices' direction. It was then I noticed a small grate in the wall where my bed had originally been. I crawled over to it and laid down flat against the ground, trying to see if anything was on the other side. There was a small channel as it passed through the wall and the room on the other side was fairly dark. Suddenly, I made out a foot as it walked past the vent. I gasped. The foot was bare, but I immediately recognized the flower tattoo on it.

"Rachel," I hissed, barely able to contain myself.

"Leah?" Her voice was distant and strained. "Oh my god, now I'm hearing things," she muttered out loud.

"Rachel, the vent," I said a little louder. I was conscious of not attracting attention from outside.

"Oh my god." Rachel dropped to the floor in an instant. I could make out her gaunt face, but no more detail than that. She glanced away. "Kim, Emily... It's Leah."

I heard an unmistakable groan. "Oh, Leah, no..." Emily sounded distressed in the background. "Is she ok?"

"Hang on, Em." Kim quickly joined Rachel on the floor, their faces sharing the grate. "Leah? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, Kim, I'm fine. They drugged me or some shit, but it's wearing off. Are you all ok? Have they hurt you? How's Emily?" I prayed to god they hadn't been touched.

The girls looked at each other. Rachel answered, her voice lowered. "She's not great. She hasn't been able to keep much food down and the baby, well, anytime a leech comes near it beats ten bells out of her insides. She can barely walk."

I sighed, perhaps the baby was more wolf than any of us had anticipated. I shook the thought from my head. "And you two?"

Kim shook her head. "They have left us alone... mostly. Occasionally, they come and taunt us. We don't seem to be on their radar though, sometimes they even forget to feed us." She looked at Rachel once more. "Rachel broke her arm when they attacked though."

Rachel shoved Kim irritated. "It's nothing. I was just trying to get us some time, not that it worked."

"Have you realigned the bones?" I asked.

"You kidding me? I'm not a shapeshifter like you," she said bitterly. Both the girls quieted a minute. "Are the guys, ok? We've been worried sick. Part of me was glad they weren't on the Res' when they attacked. There were dozens of them, Leah. They wouldn't have stood a chance."

"They're fine. Everyone's been searching for you three and Bella since it kicked off," I reassured.

"Do you know where she is by any chance?"

Kim looked a little sick at Bella's name and Rachel fell silent.

"Just tell her." Emily sighed sadly in the background. When they didn't speak she continued. "She's dead."

I rolled away from the vent onto my back as my stomach rose in my throat. I had never been a fan of Bella, but that didn't mean I wished her dead. I felt more for her family and the gap she would leave behind - a husband, a daughter, a best friend. I had been on the receiving end of that kind of loss when my dad died. Death devastated families.

"Leah, are you still there?" Kim whispered.

Rolling back, I swallowed hard. "I'm here. How did it happen?"

"She tried to save us," Rachel murmured. "The vampires happened to run into her when they took us to the boats. She did her best, but they just tore her apart." Her voice wavered. "I saw it, the expression on her face as they burned her. She looked so alive still."

"There's nothing any of you could have done. You're all safe and that's the important thing. What happened to Bella is sad, but we can't dwell on that." I didn't mean to sound so harsh, but I had to work with our current situation and keep everyone focused. Breakdowns on anyone's part would get us nowhere. I continued as something dawned on me. "You said you saw her face. Do you know where we are then? Weren't you blind folded?"

Rachel shook her head. "In the fight I lost mine. They didn't realize until we had launched off in the boat. I caught a glimpse of an island ahead so it had to be within sight of the mainland. It didn't look very inhabited though, mainly woods, but as I say it was only brief and in the distance. How did you end up here then?"

"I planned on coming, just not quite like this. Your brother's imprint kind of fucked things up." I felt a little bitter still. "We got caught and they threatened Nessie's life. I had little choice, but to comply. Still, I'm here and I found you. That's something."

Kim nodded her head. "I'm going to go sit with Emily a bit, if you don't mind. She's looking a little green."

As she disappeared, Rachel and I fell into silence. I took a minute to grab my mattress and drag it on the floor so I could lay by the vent. It was silly, but I wanted to be as close to them as I could.

Eventually, Rachel spoke again, "Leah, don't take this the wrong way..."

"That sounds probable I will then..." I snorted, from my position on my back.

She laughed lightly, it sounded unnatural in this cold place. "I'm glad you're here... not that I wanted you to get caught. It's just, well, I'm glad to see you."

I shook my head. "That's something I thought I'd never hear."

"It's not something I ever expected to think either." She sounded sincere. "I guess, I just never realized what any of the wolves, especially you, had to face. I see it now. What you do, the fighting and protecting, I could never do that. You more than deserved to be angry at your life, after having it all thrust upon you without choice. I should never have been such a bitch to you. I guess, what I mean is, I'm sorry. "

"Rachel, really we're going to be ok, no last speeches, hey?" There was a lot of bad history between us, but recent events had made them insignificant in the scheme of things. "I could have made life easier for everyone as well, but it's done now. The past is the past."

The daylight was fading gradually, but I just made out her nod. "Still, thank you for coming for us. I'll be back in a bit. Emily's throwing up again." With that said, she stood up and left me alone.

I sighed and laid back searching out my wolf. If Emily was ill and heavily pregnant it was even more important I got us out of here and quickly. Unfortunately however, while my wolf was definitely there and stirring inside of me, she was still for the most part on hiatus.

AN

Long time no write, huh? But, I'm still here! :)

This update is a little short compared to the last few, but there is a filler chapter which accompanies this and will be posted soon. The chapter after that has also been wrote and just needs tweaking before going off to my beta too. Hopefully this means I won't keep you waiting as long as normal.

I hope you all enjoyed the update though. To the reviews I haven't yet replied to personally, they are still completely appreciated and every time I get an email be it a story alert, author alert or a review it inspires me to keep going, so thank you! To the readers that are also still hanging in there and following me you really are a patient bunch too!

Beta credit as always goes to the awesome dontcallmeleelee who continues to encourage my writing and puts up with my errors!

Also, for anyone on twitter I've now joined that so come add me for updates or just to say hi... ellie_82

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