An.. Okay, so a short chapter here, but filled with interesting goodies.
It took longer than it should have to write because I have been reading
several great stories lately that I have had a really hard time tearing
myself away from. I have a few to recommend…
If you like dark, brooding stories, try:
I Want it Painted Black by SaritaDreaming
Or
Pocket Change by aWhiteBlankPage
And if you are into comedies, and need a really good belly laugh,
You can always try:
My Dying Wish by(This one is still a bit dark, but hilariously written)
Or
A Night with the Royal Staff by MsrK81
Anyhow.. enough with the plugging. I just thought
I'd share a few of the stories that I have fallen in love with
hope you like the new developments here… What is it they say?
Aaaand the hits just keep oooon a comin'! LOL
Please, tell me if you liked it, or hated it?
I really want to know…
~UUaAP~
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Chapter 21
Back in Black
Leah POV
As I phased to ask Sam about Emmett and Jasper covering my duty tonight, the first thing that I noticed was the tension and confusion of his mind. Even before words were exchanged, there was this sense of betrayal, and bitterness that overwhelmed me.
Sam? What's wrong? Silence, more hostility.
Sam, talk to me. What's going on?
You don't trust me? I'm not allowed to help with Seth? There was a time when you trusted me with everything. What changed?
I don't know what you're talking about, Sam!
You knew Seth was coming to me for advice, I am his Alpha. But apparently, that is not good enough for you? You have to ask Bella to get Jake to come assist Seth?
I asked, I mean... I didn't mean for you to… I was just worried about my baby brother! And I really didn't want everyone to know… but of course, they all do. I bristled, angry about the fact that I was defending myself to Sam about this. I needed him to back the fuck off, this was my family, and I would protect them how I saw fit.
I found him in a small clearing a few miles away.
Oh, I see… it is your family? YOURS? Really? So, now you are Alpha? The tone that his voice took caused my legs to buckle. He was commanding me to submit. I was seething with intense fury as my will was taken from me, and I rolled onto my back, whining under the full weight of the Alpha command.
You will remember who is in charge around here! We accepted the vampire family into our midst because of this imprint. They have proven that they will not harm humans, and I will defer to the wisdom of the council, but know this. Leah Clearwater! I am Alpha, and you will not place another above me when it comes to matters of the pack.
Still cowering in my utterly humiliated, submitted sprawl, tears began to well in my eyes. I had never seen this side of Sam. Sure, he had given Alpha commands before, but he had never taken away a person's will like this before. He had never crushed a member of the pack under his dominant will. I struggled to understand why he was doing this now.
Why?
You will know your place.
I don't understand, Sam. I didn't mean to upset you! I was just looking out for…
Suddenly the air was expelled from my lungs as Sam lunged onto me, placing all of his weight on my chest, his muzzle a mere inch away from mine, and his teeth bared. I began to get flashes and images from his mind. Images of seldom told stories that only he was privileged to hear, as Alpha. It seems that there has always been a female in every wolf pack, and the females never had a mate. In the past, they were always submissive to the male pack members. It was the big secret of the wolf pack, and shame of the tribe. It was the reason that my father had his heart attack when I phased.
The wolves had huge appetites for everything. Including voracious sexual appetites. In their wolf form, they would destroy a human. Apparently, there was always a female wolf in each pack, and it was always kept hidden, because the only true use for her had been to satisfy the sexual appetites of the wolves. If Seth had not been a part of this pack, it was clear from the pictures and thoughts in Sam's head that I would have been no exception.
I lay there, barely able to breathe, and completely unable to move. I had been in love with Sam once, and I had been angry at him countless times. I had felt jealousy, spite, resentment, embarrassment, pity and pride for him over the years. Until right now, I had never felt fear. In this moment I was truly terrified.
Please, Sam... don't do this! I begged. It will destroy the pack. It will destroy the tribe! Edward will avenge me!
Suddenly, Paul and Jared were there with us. Paul was leering, and pacing back and forth, and Jared was cowering to the side.
We should take her now, Sam. She'd be so tight.. I always wanted me some of that!
Paul, you just imprinted! How can you do that to Rachel? Jared whined, and withdrew further to the sidelines.
You two shut it. Sam ordered.
I wanted to defend myself. I growled from deep within my chest, and snarled, but it was to no avail. I was still being held in my submitted roll, and crushed under the enormous weight of my Alpha.
That's when I heard it. Edward's voice was in my head. He was using his link with me to talk directly to Sam.
If you let her up now, and back away, there will be no bloodshed. If you do not, I will not be responsible for my actions.
I am her Alpha, and she will do as I command!
And I am now a member of this council. I see your struggle, Sam. I know that you don't want to hurt Leah. Just because there were Alpha's in the past that allowed the mistreatment of the female members of the pack, does not mean that you have to follow their lead. You have been a strong leader, do not give in to the baser side of your wolf. You are better than that.
To my great relief, Edward entered the small clearing. He walked right past Jared, who was still cowering, and glared down at Paul as he pushed past him as well. Sam had taken his physical weight off of my chest, but had yet to release me from the weight of his Alpha dominance. Edward dropped to his knees, and ran a soothing hand over the top of my head with his eyes locked on mine. They were tender, yet fierce, and they were no longer the beautiful butterscotch that I had grown accustomed to. They were black as night, with no definition between iris and pupil. It amazed me that I could see the tenderness in their depths in spite of that fact. It amazed me all the more that I was able to move to a sitting position under his touch, even though I could feel the weight of Sam's command still pressing upon me.
"Mate trumps Alpha." Edward growled, turning this eyes to Sam, with the depth of his disgust and anger crackling in every word. "I will be discussing this with the council. I believe that it is time for changes to be made."
Edward took off his coat, and laid it over my shoulders, making sure to never break contact with me.
"You can phase back now, Leah. Sam cannot command you in your human form."
I leaned into him as I phased. He clutched me tightly to his chest as he scooped me up and began to walk away from the clearing., but he stopped at the edge. Without looking back, he addressed Sam one last time.
"My brothers will be assisting with Leah's duties tonight. You will treat them with respect. Jared, I hold you no ill will. I know you wanted no part of this." And with that, he sped away with me, running as fast as he was capable, and putting distance between us and Sam as quickly as he could possibly do.
When he came to a stop, I was expecting to find us at my house, but was surprised to find that he had taken me to Billy's house. He stood out front, and called out in a voice that would be considered conversational to human ears, but not to that of either vampires or werewolves.
"Jacob Black. We have to talk, now."
"I'll be out in a second. Let me get dressed."
Edward rolled his eyes, but waited patiently for the two or three minutes that it took for Jacob to show himself at the door. When he came outside, however Jacob's expression changed from irritated to concerned rather quickly. He took in Edward's expression, and the fact that I was clinging tightly to him, wearing nothing but Edward's jacket.
"What happened?"
"I need to talk to you and your father right now. It is time for you to take your rightful place, Jacob."
Jake drew in a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "What did he do?"
"Did you know of the other female wolves?" Edward's voice was fueled with resentment.
"Others?" Jacob sounded like he had been sucker punched. "What others?" Bella walked through the door then, and to Jacob's side. She looked exhausted.
"What's going on?" her concern was evident in her voice and eyes.
"Baby, take Leah inside, please... and tell Billy that I need him to come out here now."
Edward settled me on my feet, and wrapped me up in his arms for a moment, pressing his lips to the top of my head. We drank each other's scents in for one brief moment, and he turned my face towards his to place a tender kiss on my lips.
"Go with Bella. We won't be long, but I need to discuss this with Billy and Jacob." I nodded my head, still somewhat in shock over the last hour's developments.
Bella placed an arm around my shoulders and lead me into the house. I walked into the bathroom.
"Billy, Jake and Edward need you outside, please. Something appears to be very wrong." Bella told him as she headed to Rachel's room to find something for me to wear.
I could hear the muffled sound of Edward and Jacob talking in whispers while waiting for Billy. I took my time dressing in the sweat pants and tee-shirt that Bella had snagged from Rachel. I wanted to listen to what was being said, but it was difficult. They had obviously moved away from the house, and were talking in hushed tones. I could not make out heir words, but the intensity of the conversation was clear.
"He did what?" Jacob growled loudly. The conversation continued quietly for a few moments before he exploded again. "Why was this kept from me? I thought there was no precedent for a female wolf!" More hushed and hurried words. I was growing tense, as things became too quiet for a moment. Suddenly, I heard a sharp yelp, and a loud, booming voice that I didn't recognize. I ran out of the bathroom, and met Bella at the door. We rushed out together, hand in hand.
The scene before us was shocking, to say the least. Jacob, still in his human form, was standing over Sam, who was writhing on his back, whining.
"You will stand down, Sam Uley! You will not order another member of the pack, or lead them in any way. You are stripped of your authority. As Ephriam Black's great grandson, and rightful heir, I assume all responsibility for the pack from here on out. You will follow orders, and do as I tell you, or you will leave." The depth and timbre of Jacob's voice was something I had never heard before.
In all the times that Sam had spoken to the pack in his authoritative, human voice, it had sounded more like a kid imitating their father's voice. His was an assumed authority. The pack had always known this, but hearing the full aspect of the Alpha in Jake's voice was downright awe-inspiring. I glanced at Bella, and the pride and love in eyes was almost palpable.
"You will phase back, and go home. You will not return to wolf form again unless the whole pack and council are in agreement with your return. Do you understand?"
Sam phased, and kneeled, his head hanging in shame. Tears were running down his face.
"I am so sorry, Leah. I let my pride and arrogance get the better of me, and I was cruel. I know you can never forgive me, but I hope that you can forgive Jared and Paul, they are not at fault." His eyes locked on mine across the expanse of the yard.
"There is nothing for forgive Jared for. He did nothing wrong. Paul wanted to jump in with both feet, and you held me against my will. I may someday forgive you, but this is NOT that day. I loved you once, but you are dead to me now." my voice was flat, and devoid of all emotion.
Edward was at my side in an instant, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me tightly to his chest. "You will never be subjected to such brutality again, I swear it." He breathed into my ear. I knew that he could see me replaying the horror of the day, and the memory of the brutal rape that I had suffered even surfaced for a moment. I tried so hard to force them out, I hated what the memory did to me, and I could see what it was doing to him. His eyes were tortured, and turning black again.
"Take me home, please!" I begged him, I was frightened that he would attack Sam now, and take his fury over my memories out on him. His fierce protectiveness, and his passionate hold on me in that moment told me what his words had not. Not directly anyhow. He had spoken of loving me in the future tense in my dreams, and he had told me that his feelings were deepening for me, but what I saw in his eyes right now told me all I ever needed to hear from him. He felt as deeply about me as I did about him. My heart soared with this revelation.
~UUaAP~
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