Resurrection.

Chapter Seven: Confessions.

Leah could feel her heart racing, her palms becoming sweaty, and her body trembling as she felt the panic grew within her. She had no defenses right now. Before she had the bitchy outer shell that could make grown men cry, and if that didn't work she could tear them a new one with teeth and claws. With neither to protect her she felt far too vunerable. She felt small. She felt terrified, and even though Alcide's reassurance did seep into her mind. Logically she knew everything would be okay, but the heart broken girl underneath her once strong defenses couldn't accept it. Her past had proven otherwise too many times for her to take that step off the plank into the scary waters where her heart and everything that remained of who she was would be visable to the naked eye.

What if he didn't like what he found?

"Y-you..." She began but no sooner she felt the need to swallow and wet her lips before trying again, "I..."

Seth, feeling sorry for his sister and guilt for not realising how damaged as well as how much she had actually suffered in La Push decided to help her out.

"You know, you're gonna have to tell mum about him."

He spoke up, and Leah's gaze instantly snapped to him. Even as the anger rose, something she was familiar with and found safe, deep down she knew exactly what her brother was doing. She felt grateful, but forced herself to embrace the anger so she could snap back her normal response.

"No way. I'm not telling her I've found my fucking imprint. She can go to hell for all I care."

She snapped, only to go wide eyed as she realised what she had said. She felt surprise she actually said it but also because it didn't actually hurt like she thought it would. Bewildered, she rubbed her left hand over the spot on her chest where her heart would be as her gaze wandered back to Alcide's own piercing green eyes.

"Huh," She mumbled quietly before speaking a bit louder although softly, "You're my imprint."

Leah couldn't help but feel genuinely bewildered as she realised she didn't feel the usual emotional pain that had over the years become a background drum beat she had forced herself to bury as deep as she could. Although she was still bitter and still felt hate for everything that happened in her past the usual heartbreak she felt about Sam as well as her past just wasn't as strong as it used to be. It was still there, of course even imprinting could get rid of how someone felt in their past, but it didn't feel so gut-wrenching that would have had her screaming at night if she was as weak and moronic as Bella-fucking-Swan. Which of course she wasn't. She had to be tough to survive all these years as she had and remain relatively intact although she supposed that differed in peoples' opinions.

She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice Alcide smile or lean towards her. She only snapped out of it when his lips pressed against hers in a soft butterfly kiss as his hands cupped her cheeks gently. After a short but sweet suck on her lower lip she felt her body tingle all the way to her toes. Her eyes had fluttered close the second he placed his lips upon hers and remained so even as he pulled away. So this must be what it felt like not to be rejected. She had to admit she rather liked this feeling.

"I think its time to get you something to eat. Your stomach hasn't stopped growling since I pinned you outside."

Alcide spoke, a teasing grin on his lips as he took her left hand into his own before leading her out of the living room. Seth and Janice followed suit whilst Leah marvelled at the fact his hand was a hell of a lot bigger then her own. It was a lot bigger, as was everything else on him she guessed, then any of her kind at La Push. The thought of taking him home and rubbing it into everyone's faces was sounding more tempting by the minute.

"You do know we're always hungry, right? We eat anything and everything, whilst never loosing or gaining weight as long as we phase. We're... well, we're immortal as long as we phase. Is that the same with you?"

Leah asked, trying not to make a big deal of the fact he was still cradling her hand in his own. For so long she hadn't been able to feel the other La Push shifters temperatures since they met her own, and humans were colder then themselves that it was pretty much ignored due to their overwhelming hot temperature. However she could feel Alcide's temperature which was just that bit hotter then her own. It was such a novel sensation that she believed she probably never get bored of the fact.

"No. We're not immortal, but who knows what will happen when you eventually mark me. Maybe you'll rub off on me, in more ways then one."

He responded, a smirk on his lips and a teasing tone in his voice. Leah couldn't help but feel exasperated that Alcide could take this all so lightly. She may not have chosen herself to be a wolf but she was one and after a while she got used to it. That, after leaving La Push, turned to liking it. Maybe even loving it. If he was not immortal, never would be immortal, she would have to stop phasing and loosing the one part of her life she could actually enjoy. If she didn't stop phasing he would probably die and she'd have to live forever alone - and thats if she didn't feel the massive hole in her chest that led to taking her own life that the males of her kind, apparently, felt when their imprint died or rejected them.

"How the hell can you be so casual about this?!"

Leah demanded, angry at the fact he could take it all so lightly. She had yanked her hand out of his grip as she spoke, turning to face him with a hurt glare. Of course it was no where near the hatred filled heated glare she usually bestowed on others. It was understandable however since he was her imprint and she couldn't bring herself to hurt her own personal he-man, even if he was an insensitive idiot.

"Hey,"

Alcide began, gathering both of her hands in his before tugging her closer towards him. Once she was close enough for his liking he cupped both of her cheeks as he kept his gaze solely on her own.

"You believe in a tribal god that gifted wolves with their imprint, right? That perfect person just for you?"

He asked, and for a moment Leah could only look at him with a lost and slightly resigned look before managing to respond.

"Yes."

She sighed, knowing she was going to loose this conversation. She never lost. She couldn't help but feel fustrated and emasculated, even though she was definitely female.

"Well then, he wouldn't pick me for you if it was going to end in pain and heartache. Somehow things will end up alright. Either I'll end up immortal like you once you bite me, or my bite will allow you to phase without being immortal, or things will work out in another way. Relax and enjoy the now. Sometimes you just have to have faith."

He explained, and Leah couldn't help but look (as well as feel like) a lost little girl when he mentioned faith. Since when had faith gotten her anywhere? That kind of thing had only brought her pain. She sighed in fustration, closing her eyes, as Alcide pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Don't worry. Now, what would you like to eat?"

She didn't want to sulk but she couldn't help it, and so ended up dragging her feet to the table in the kitchen. However her gaze didn't wander from Alcide's form as he approached the fridge, ready to make whatever her heart desired. She glanced at Seth and Janice as they sat down at the table as well before looking back at Alcide.

"Anything really. Usually we just order in. Mostly pizza, and pies for pudding. Its the easiest to have with the least amount of work, and with our kind we need really filling food and quickly as well as pretty much constantly. If we aren't in wolf form we're usually eating. You probably saw the lack of food in the truck after you found us."

Leah confessed, glancing at the table after catching a disbelieving look on Alcide's face. The raised eyebrow, however, was particularly sexy. Something she was trying not to bring attention to anyone else.

"Right. From now on you're eating healthy. I don't care if I have to plant a whole orchard of fruit trees just to sustain you through the day. If you're going to be my mate you sure as hell gonna be healthy. What if we ever had pups? You need to be as healthy as possible so they will be."

Alcide told her in a no-nonsense tone as he began gathering ingredients for an pepper and bacon omlette. However the sound of a crack caught his attention just as he put the eggs down. He spun around only to notice Leah's head was down, her long hair covering her face, and half of the arm of the wooden chair she was in was now on the floor. He muttered a curse word as he strided over to her, using his hands to force her to release her grip on the chair before tipping her head up to look at him. He was shocked at the sight of her eyes tearing up and the look of pain in them.

"What is it?"

He rumbled, going down onto bended knee so their eyes were almost level with each other.

"I... I... Fuck." She cursed before trying again only her voice ended up becoming a broken whisper, "I'm infertile."

At this Alcide raised an eyebrow at her. He could see how she whole heartedly believed it.

"What makes you say that?"

He asked, deciding to figure out just why she believed it.

"After I phased... shifted for the first time I no longer bled a few days a month."

Leah confessed, not understanding why Alcide wasn't reacting to the fact if he ended up with her they would never have a family of their own. What she didn't expect, however, was for him to hike her legs over his shoulder and his nose to disappear between her thighs underneath his t-shirt she wore. She was so shocked that the thought of pushing him away or punishing him never actually occurred to her. Seconds later she was back in her original position and Alcide looked far too smug for her liking.

"Leah, what are you?"

She frowned at this. What did that have to do with anything?

"I'm a wolf shapeshifter."

Leah responded, and from the corner of her eye she could tell Seth looked confused too as well as a little red in the cheeks.

"Right, and bleeding once a month, that happened before you shifted, right?"

At this she nodded.

"So, for all intents and purposes you were human?"

Leah nodded again, still bewildered.

"Have any of your wolves in La Push had any pups with anyone that is not their imprint after shifting for the first time?"

At this Leah showed even more confusion as she realised none of them had. Even Paul who was an infamous playboy and Embry, Paul's apprentice. How could that even be possible?

"This god of yours," At that Leah interrupted with 'Taha Aki', "he's the reason for your imprint. Its chosen by fate as the one for you?"

Leah nodded again, still completely bewildered as how any of this had anything to do with the fact she was infertile.

"Good. So, have any of your kind had pups with their imprint?"

She flinched at that, and Alcide knew what she would say before she said it.

"E-emily... Sam's imprint. She was pregnant before I left."

He rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands in a sweet, comforting gesture.

"So, it would make sense that it would go against Taha Aki's design should a wolf have pups outside of the imprint bond. Not only that but you aren't human. Why would any of us function like a human? We have higher temperatures. We can bend and reshape our bodies into that of wolves. We have strength no human can fully understand. Speed, senses... Instinct. If you're not human, why would you reproduce as one?"

That question stunned Leah into complete silence. He actually made sense. She wasn't the only one with a shocked look on her face. Seth was the same.

"Leah, you're fertile. You might not have gone into heat yet, but I'm guessin' thats because you hadn't met me yet. Besides that, you're young. It'll come."

With that Alcide gave her stomach an affectionate pat before sauntering back to the oven to cook the omlette over the hob in a frying pan. Leah didn't say a word as the entire conversation sunk in. She wasn't a genetic dead end. She had an imprint. She could get pregnant. She could have a family. Everything she had believed before she met Alcide was wrong.

Suddenly, she felt hope start to flutter within her heart that beat strongly beneath her breast. She had never been more sure leaving La Push had been the best thing to ever happen to her.


Author's Note: I had so much muse with this chapter. Such a heart warming chapter, and we can see Leah finally letting down her defenses so she can eventually spread her wings to become the woman she was always meant to be. I love reviews, so please don't forget to leave one!

Ibterismith50 - No problem.

Apocalypse Owner - Leah appreciates the encouragement. We all need it every now and then!

Guest - She really does deserve a happy ending. Its such a shame she never got one in the books, and in my opinion some bits in the Twilight stories didn't do her justice. After all, the Pack & Elders say Sam & Emily couldn't help getting together and yet when they describe imprinting it says 'The wolf will be whatever the imprint NEEDS whether its a brother, friend, protector, or lover'. Clearly Emily could have done something and been a decent person about it. It annoys me that no one in the Tribe realised that or was ever really on her side. Still, we have this piece of fanfiction so she can get her happy ending, which of course makes me happy. I'm so flattered by your compliment on my writing. I hope I can keep up this quality just for such a wonderful compliment!

Patsgig2114 - Don't you worry! Leah'll definitely be rubbing her superior mate in the Tribe's faces in the future. They'll rue the day they ever got on her bad side D Muahahahahaha! Alcide might even give Sam a good punch whilst he's at it ;] You'll have to stay tuned to find out!

Koryandrs - Thankyou for the compliment hun. =)