Found and Lost

by Zoe1078

Sam Uley loves Leah Clearwater, and he doesn't know how to stop. Not when he is the first of his generation to turn into a monster, nor when she is the second only weeks later. Not even after the spirits choose for him another. AU. Now complete.

32. Chaos

Leah tried to straighten up, but Sam held her against him. He had to, because he was reeling. Emily wouldn't look at either him or Leah. She chewed at her bottom lip until Old Quil prompted, "Tell them, my dear."

"It's for my job. My boss is giving me a promotion. The branch of the bakery in Forks is losing its assistant manager, and she offered the position to me."

Old Quil smiled at her. "You must have shown a lot of initiative to be offered a position like that at such a young age." He looked back at Sam and Leah. "We had a meeting of the council this morning. The tribal school is losing its art teacher at the end of December, and Miss Young's portfolio is top notch. She could start in January. And we thought that we would be able to help her out with a place to stay. It's much cheaper to live here on the reservation than it is to live in Forks, and as an imprint, she has privileges within the community. I thought perhaps she might be able to stay here." He gestured inside.

Emily looked appalled. She finally looked up at Sam and Leah. "I… I… I don't think we really decided that. I mean, it's already occupied, isn't it?"

"Nonsense," Old Quil answered. "The house is for the pack. And you're pack."

Leah narrowed her eyes at Emily. "Is this true?"

Emily was immediately apologetic. "I tried to call you last night. I wanted to tell you. But you weren't home."

"It's because I basically live here now," Leah said quietly, "with Sam."

Old Quil disagreed. "This cabin is meant for use by the entire pack. You have a home, a room, with your mother and brother."

Leah turned to him. "Which isn't really a place for an engaged couple to make a life of their own."

Sam argued, "And Leah stays here when a new pack member needs her. So do I. Sue can't manage the transition by herself. She's got a job, and it's not really safe for her."

"Was she at the meeting this morning?" Leah asked.

Old Quil shook his head. "She's at work as you know."

"And Billy Black?" Sam asked.

Old Quil evaded the question. "We were unable to find a time when we could expect full attendance. Come now. Let's talk inside." He entered without their permission, urging Emily to follow him. She obviously didn't know what to do, but the elder could be persuasive, and it didn't make sense to stand alone on the porch. He glanced at Leah's state of undress with disdain. "But perhaps you can put some clothes on, Miss Clearwater." He said nothing to Sam, who was wearing even less than Leah.

Sam followed Leah into the bedroom. She angrily yanked on a pair of underwear and jeans. Sam did the same. But she didn't exchange his shirt for one of her own. "What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I had absolutely no idea any of this was happening."

"She didn't say anything to you?"

"Nothing. We haven't talked at all since the night the vamps came through. I actually thought things were getting easier."

She believed him, because he could not lie to her for long. "Did you know there was a council meeting?"

"No. And I'm guessing they didn't tell me for a reason. Just like I'm sure they scheduled it when your mom was at work on purpose."

She gritted her teeth in frustration. "You're the Alpha. Bad enough they can't loop in the pack about this kind of thing, but they really ought to tell you. Particularly considering how much it involves you."

"I'm pretty sure that was deliberate. And I'll bet they managed to leave out the chief, too."

"But what are we going to do?"

He had no idea. It was hard enough to resist Emily when she was far away. Without any distance between them, he feared he would be powerless against of the imprint. It was already calling him back to her side, but he was fighting. Having Leah right here made it easier. All he had to do was to look at her, and to look at the mark on her neck, the mark that claimed her as his. "Just… Please…"

She knew what he meant. She reassured him, "I'll stay with you. Don't worry, I'm right here."

He was immensely grateful. Just before she moved to exit the room, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and squeezed. He buried his nose in her hair and kissed his mark. "Thank you. Thank you." She turned in his arms to kiss him, and the touch reminded him that this was right. That they were right. That they were supposed to be together. "I lo…" The imprint stopped him, so he did the best he could. "Me too, LeeLee." She smiled against his mouth. She knew what he meant, just like she always did.

When they exited the room, they did so hand in hand. Actually, Sam was crushing Leah's hand. She was his lifeline, and he clung to her. Old Quil frowned at the gesture, and Emily couldn't hide an expression of surprise. Sam sat in a sturdy chair across from Emily and Old Quil, and Leah balanced on the arm next to him. He made the first appeal that came to his mind: Emily's safety. It was a point upon which the imprint even agreed. She was safer at home than she was here. He argued that it wasn't wise to move to La Push when the threat of vampires loomed. Old Quil countered that she would be safer with the pack's protection than isolated in Neah Bay. Sam noted that she didn't have a teaching certificate, and that she hadn't even finished her associate's degree yet. Old Quil said that the school could apply for a limited certificate. The teaching experience would be excellent for her career. Sam asked what her parents thought. Old Quil answered that they were proud of her and thought she was ready to take the next step into adulthood. Grasping at straws, he asked about her college courses, but they were all online. Leah stayed silent but rubbed soothing circles into the back of his hand with her thumb. The point of their connection was the only thing that oriented him in space. Emily made eye contact with no one, and she said nothing.

Eventually the old man again suggested that Emily take up residence in the cabin, but Emily finally broke her silence and refused, saying that she wasn't kicking Leah out of her own house. Sam saw a little smile pass between the two girls after she refused, and he wished none of this had ever happened. The imprint hadn't just threatened to destroy everything he was, it took their friendship with it. He also insisted that the cabin really wasn't safe, since it was where they isolated the new wolves when they were prone to volatile phasing, and Old Quil could not argue with that point.

After that, Emily became so uncomfortable that she made an excuse to leave. Before she got into her car, she asked Leah how she was doing, thinking of the injuries Sam had described to her. Leah said she was fine, and Emily said she would call her soon. Leah gave her the phone number to the cabin, which drew another scowl from Old Quil.

Sam practically collapsed after they left. Leah knelt in front of his chair and held onto his knees. "You okay?"

He pulled her up and into his lap, where he had wanted her all along. "I guess. I didn't see that coming."

Astutely, Leah noted, "I'm not even sure how much of that was Emily's idea."

"But she must want to move down. Otherwise she wouldn't, right? It seems like she's already made up her mind."

Leah sighed. "She always did want to get out of Neah Bay. But I thought it would be for a place like Seattle, not La Push. Of course, considering the jobs she's been offered, I can't see her staying there." Sam squeezed her tighter. Leah had always wanted to be a teacher, and now Emily had been offered a position without having any of the necessary credentials. "It's okay, Sam."

"No," he managed. "It's not."

X-x-x-x-X

They didn't hear anything more from Emily for a few days, but Sam knew that she had made her decision. He could feel it. It was only a matter of time until she arrived. In the meantime, he waited, patrolled, spent as much time with Leah as he could, and worried. He didn't know how he would deal with her in close proximity.

Bella Swan distracted him from his anxiety. He was surprised when she didn't come looking for Leah, but she must have been too afraid. Or so he thought until Billy called the cabin one evening warning that Jacob was on his way and that he was furious. Bella had showed up on the Blacks' front porch that afternoon looking nervous. Jacob was thrilled to see her, as usual, and they headed out to his garage to work on the motorcycles she had brought over a few days prior. Jacob thought the bikes were hidden from Billy, not realizing that he knew exactly what went on in his home, but he had decided to give the children their privacy. Anything was better than hearing the worry in Charlie's voice when he talked about Bella. Now he suspected that leaving them alone was a mistake, because half an hour later, Jacob had stormed into the house in a rage. Bella had revealed their secret to Jacob.

Billy was shocked that he hadn't phased in his anger, but the fever had not yet hit him. His body simply wasn't ready to change, although his growth spurt indicated that it would probably happen at any time.

Sam chided himself for not dealing with the frightened girl and her father more directly. He had ensured their safety by making sure that they were both protected by the patrolling wolves, but beyond that had left Billy to explain the situation to his old friend.

It had not gone well. Charlie was understandably angry with Billy for keeping such a huge secret from him. More than that, without prior knowledge of vampires or the threat they posed, he had initially been very suspicious that the wolves might have been behind the recent attacks against the hikers. Billy was deeply offended at the implication, and a rift developed between the two.

Armed with new information, Charlie had started investigating and had interviewed all the wolves except Sam, who was busy with double shifts. He learned the identity of the first vampire they had killed; the blonde male who drained the hiker on their territory. Prior to his transformation, he had been Riley Biers, a freshman at Oregon University. The female who had stalked Bella in the diner bore a striking resemblance to a teenager who was thought to have run away from her foster home in Seattle. The chief of police was alarmed, and he was going through cold case files and "accidental death" rulings to look for signs of vampire involvement. Sam wondered how deep and wide the problem ran, but he was too preoccupied to spare much of his attention.

Bella, meanwhile, was left with many questions but no one to ask them to. She wasn't comfortable enough with Billy to press him, particularly when Charlie wasn't speaking to him. It took her several days to work up the nerve to call Leah, partly due to her own reticence, and also out of consideration of Leah's injuries. She did not know how rapidly Leah recovered and was afraid of disturbing her rest. Billy had reassured her that Leah was improving, and by the time she tried to call her, Leah had moved back into the cabin. She thought about finding one of the other wolves, but after seeing what they could do to the vampires she thought were invincible, she was afraid. And she didn't know the identities of anyone other than Leah and Paul. She wasn't about to find him, so she finally talked to Jacob.

He burst through the front door of the cabin, Bella on his heels. "Is it true? Tell me! Is it true?"

Sam tried to placate him. "Jacob, have a seat. We should talk."

"Talk? You don't want to talk to me. If you wanted to talk to me, you would have come to me already."

Leah shook her head. "I'm sorry, but we all agreed not to say anything too soon."

Jacob was incredulous. "Too soon? What, were you going to wait until I exploded? Until I turned into a complete freak?"

"Not that long," Sam answered.

"We wait until we can be pretty sure it's going to happen. Because the fact is, we don't actually know. We're just guessing," Leah added.

"And you didn't think this might be useful information to have? What if I don't want it? What if I could stop it? You were never going to give me that chance, were you?"

Sam answered, "We don't really think it works that way. None of us had a chance at stopping it, I can tell you that for certain."

"Well," Jacob stammered, "It hasn't happened yet. And now I do know. And I'm going to keep it from happening."

Sam and Leah eyed each other. "If you find out a way, let us know. As far as we can tell, it'll either happen or it won't, and there's nothing to be done about it except learn to control it," Sam said quietly.

"We still don't know if it'll actually happen to you," Leah said. "Since there's no permanent vampire population here, it might not, although I doubt it. We've had a lot of activity lately. And we're sorry we didn't tell you," Leah apologized. "But telling you would have meant revealing the coven." It didn't escape Leah's notice when Bella winced at the mention of the leeches. The girl wrapped her arms around herself and shrank down.

Sam continued, "Part of the deal we made with them was that we wouldn't expose their identities. Telling you before we were certain you'd become part of the pack would have been a violation of the treaty. They could have attacked, and the odds were against us."

"And Jacob, we didn't want to scare you," Leah explained. "What if we tell you this is going to happen, turn your whole world upside down, and then it doesn't? What then? Then you're stuck with this secret that you don't want to know. Just like now. Worried that it's going to happen at any moment, not able to do anything about it."

Brokenly, Jacob whispered, "Well, I don't want it. I don't want that to happen to me."

Bella hadn't looked directly at either Sam or Leah since she arrived. She looked ashen, pale, and sickly, just as she had since she had been left in the woods by Edward. But at Jacob's words, she slipped her hand into his. "Jake, it's going to be okay."

He looked at her gratefully. "I can't believe you're still here. What are you doing with me? Apparently I'm a complete freak, and you knew it before I did."

She smiled up at him. "I always knew you were weird, so this is just more of the same."

Jacob snorted. "Weird, huh? That's a bit of an understatement, don't you think?"

She shrugged. "I'm good with weird."

Leah laughed. "You have no sense of self-preservation, actually. It wouldn't hurt for you to be a little more scared."

Bella immediately pulled closer to Jacob, jumping to his defense. "Hey, I could never be scared of Jacob. He's my best friend. He'd never do anything bad to me."

Jacob looked thrilled at her gesture and her words. "Of course I wouldn't. I'd never hurt you. Thanks, Bells."

Leah smirked. "Not scared of Jacob. Scared of the vamps." Thinking of the wounds he inflicted on Leah, Sam thought it would be appropriate to be a little afraid of Jacob, but he didn't say anything.

Bella's face fell. "E- He never would have hurt me either."

"No?" Leah arched a brow. "But what about the others? His brother. The crazy redhead. The chick creeping you out at the diner that we killed. The one who bit you."

Jacob's eyes bugged out. "Wait, bit? Killed? His brother?" He dropped Bella's hand and turned to face her directly. He finally put the pieces together. "Your ex was a vampire? What the hell, Bella?"

She became defensive. "It wasn't like that. You didn't know him."

"Well, is this or is this not the same jerk who left you all in pieces?"

Bella didn't answer, but Leah stated, "He had the good sense to leave her. It might not have made her happy, but he knew he wasn't good for her. But he should have stayed away in the first place. Look at all the trouble he's gotten you into, Bella, and now he's left you here defenseless!"

Bella tried to steer the conversation away from Edward. "I never thanked you for your help at the diner. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't stepped in."

Jacob asked, "Wait, what happened at the diner? When was this?"

"Another vamp was after Bella," Leah answered.

"Another?" Jacob blurted out. "How many have there been?"

They didn't have a good answer. Based on the large number of scents they had discovered approaching the area, Victoria's allies outnumbered their pack. They believed that she was using pawns to gather information about Bella, and probably Leah and the wolves as well.

Leah asked Bella something she had wanted to know since she had seen Bella's terrified expression in the diner. "How did you know that one was after you? She said Edward sent her. You didn't believe her. How come?"

"Oh, um," Bella stammered. "Her, well, she had red eyes." Leah knew there was more to her answer, but with Sam and Jacob nearby, she wouldn't get more of an answer.

Jacob peppered them with questions, and he wanted every single one answered. Sam and Leah stayed for as long as they could, but they were scheduled for an overnight patrol. They told Jacob as much as they could before they had to go, but when they left, Jacob followed. He wanted to see. He wanted to know what he would become. And now that he understood the danger Bella was in, his protests against phasing had changed. He wanted to speed the process as quickly as possible so that he could help protect her. They stepped into the trees, and when they emerged, Jacob was speechless for the first time that night. He didn't say anything else; he just stared. Eventually Sam and Leah had to leave. They heard Bella lead him back into the cabin.

The only person who was excited about the news was Embry, whom they relieved from patrol. Instead of going home, he went directly to the cabin, where he was finally able to reconnect with his friend after months of estrangement.

After that, life was good for a little while. They heard nothing from Emily, although it was only a matter of time until she appeared. Without secrets in the way, Bella was more comfortable with Leah, and for the first time in months, Leah felt like she had a female friend to talk to. She got on surprisingly well with Paul, much to Sam's dismay, and Embry had always been friendly, but her relationship with Jared and Kim was especially strained. Rachel and Rebecca were gone, and she wouldn't have been able to tell them anything anyway. The girls who were left on the reservation were not privy to her secret, and she knew there were plenty of whispers about why she and Sam had not left for college the way they intended. Moreover, several people witnessed Sam's behavior with Emily at Harry's funeral. Gossip was running rampant, and it was taking a toll on her. So it was a relief to finally have someone else to talk to who wasn't part of the pack mind.

Bella, too, was much better off with Leah and Jacob around. She was grateful for the pack's protection, and she seemed to find her talks with Leah distracting, although she had clearly not recovered from her breakup. She still went long stretches without making eye contact with anyone but Jacob. Charlie was slightly less worried about her because she managed to take care of her basic necessities under Leah's guidance, but underneath, Leah was still very concerned about her mental state. Now, though, at least Bella could talk to Jacob openly.

X-x-x-x-X

Emily ended up moving into a small apartment on the reservation. She began working at the bakery immediately. Much of her free time was spent with Kim, while Sam avoided her like the plague. But staying away from her in the small community was nearly impossible. It didn't help that he was supposed to check on her during patrol, either. They were afraid that anyone connected to the pack might be targeted, so their families and imprints took priority. He ended up partnering with Leah for as many of his patrols as possible in order to keep his sanity. Even though it hurt her to hear his thoughts about Emily, she also felt his love for her, and their connection remained intact despite the imprint's attempts to sever it. She fought its effects alongside him, and with her at his side, he thought he actually stood a chance against it.

Of course, Leah wasn't always available. She had kept her job at the community center, and it was inevitable that some of his shifts coincided with her work schedule. He didn't trust himself to stay away from Emily when Leah wasn't with him, so he took the drastic step of scheduling himself with Paul to keep himself in line. It was miserable but effective. Paul made it clear that the moment Sam screwed up, he would happily make himself available to comfort Leah. Sam couldn't stand it.

Paul would actually try to goad him into seeing Emily. If Paul weren't so bad at hiding his real intentions, it might have worked. While Paul didn't bother to hide his lust for Leah, he tried to pretend he didn't have a crush on her. But his infatuation had only gotten stronger since he had phased, which brought them closer together. When Paul found out that Sam had accidentally mauled Leah prior to her first phase, he was livid, and he would have attacked him had they been in close proximity. Watching the influence of the imprint on Sam only worsened things. He was convinced that it was only a matter of time until Sam cheated on Leah or left her, and he had every intention of stepping in during the aftermath. Paul's conviction only had the opposite effect on Sam, who was determined not to create an opportunity for Paul.

Of course, it was impossible to keep Leah and Paul from crossing paths, just as it was impossible to completely avoid Emily. Leah kept tutoring Paul, which was more important now than it had been before, since he was missing school regularly for patrols. The principal, Mrs. Lowery, an elder, could cover for the boys' absences, but it was contingent on them keeping up with their schoolwork. The only reason that they hadn't all flunked out was because of Leah's assistance.

Emily seemed to be everywhere. Sam ran into her at the Ateara's general store, Kim's house, Jared's house, nearly every time he ventured into Forks, and even at the cabin. If he found her there, it was almost always because of Kim, who kept arranging group activities in a blatant attempt to bring Sam and Emily closer together. As much as he wanted to stay away, the imprint wouldn't let him. Emily still had mixed feelings about what she wanted out of their relationship, but she wanted it to exist in some form or another. He tried scheduling himself for patrol when Kim threw parties, but he found himself circling back to the cottage while Emily sat on the back porch. Emily would watch him as he passed. If Leah hadn't been on the other side of the wall, he wasn't sure what they might have done.

Sometimes, Kim would arrive with Emily unexpectedly, particularly when Leah was patrolling without Sam. Nothing inappropriate ever happened during those visits; Kim would make up an excuse to leave them alone, but Emily herself either stopped Kim or left with her. Her behavior would have been baffling if Sam didn't instinctively know what she was doing. Emily was genuinely conflicted. She wanted him, but she didn't want to want him, and she didn't know how to stop.

It was only a matter of time until something disturbed their precarious balance. Until then, Leah's presence was enough to put distance between Sam and Emily. Leah and Emily no longer knew what to say to one another, but Leah told her that she and Sam had never stopped loving one another. Emily didn't want to hurt her cousin, and Sam clung to his love like a life preserver for a drowning man. But as much as he loved her, as much as he knew that she was the most real part of his life, though he struggled desperately, the imprint pulled him away like the tides.

X-x-x-x-X

Vampire activity was quiet again for a few weeks. So when Jacob began to develop a fever, Sam worried that it was a sign. They knew immediately that it was not a normal illness. Jacob's senses were heightened, his muscles felt stretched to the point of snapping, and his temperature was much too high. He was anxious and excited all at once. He was eager to become strong enough to fight off the vampires that were threatening Bella.

Like Paul had done, he temporarily moved into the cabin. He was afraid of accidentally injuring Billy, and the peaceful, quiet surroundings of the cabin were easier to tolerate. Billy was independent enough to take care of himself, and he called to check on his son several times a day. Sue nursed him through the transition, aided by Leah, who took time off her duties at the community center. And as Jacob became more disoriented and his fever climbed higher, Sue left for her own safety. Leah kept him as comfortable as she could.

Bella could not be convinced to stay away. She arrived as soon as school let out, and she would not leave. At first she sat at the side of the bed and held Jacob's hand or ran her fingers through his hair, but as he began to shudder with waves of pain and sweat, Leah warned her away from his bedside. She would go no farther than the other side of the room. She only left the next morning because Charlie insisted she go to school, but she promised to come back as soon as it was over. She had slept curled in an armchair only for a few hours. When she came back that afternoon, he looked even worse, but he still he still didn't phase.

It went on like that for days. Sam didn't understand. His temperature was high enough, his body looked like it would shred apart at any second, and he wanted the change to happen. It was Leah who figured out what was going on. Bella made him too happy. He didn't like the pain, the fever, the uncertainty, or leaving his father alone in their house. But having Bella worry over him, comfort him, and try to take care of him was wonderful. After she left for school one day, he told Leah that this was the Bella that he remembered. She was a sweet, considerate girl who cared more about others than she did for herself, not the broken shell that the vampire had left behind. Even Leah saw the difference in her.

But she still told Bella to stay away. She explained why, and Bella readily assented when Leah explained that Jacob's pain would vanish as soon as his wolf was allowed to escape. She wanted to be there for him, but she couldn't stand how badly he was hurting, so she agreed to go. It worked immediately.

Jacob overheard them, and he became so agitated that he phased in the middle of the bedroom. He overturned the armchair and shoved the bed over by two feet before Leah ushered him out. He staggered through the living room unsteadily, unused to walking on four feet instead of two, passing Bella as he squeezed through the front door.

Sam and Jared were phased in at that very moment, and they hastily tried to calm Jacob down. But Jacob hardly needed to be told. A foolhardy Bella had followed him outside against Leah's protests, and she didn't hesitate to walk right up to him and start stroking his fur. He wagged his tail like an over-excited puppy, and Leah actually laughed at him before she stripped out of her clothes and phased in.

Sam headed back toward them from his position east of Forks. After Victoria's bold move against Bella, he had widened the patrol borders significantly. He watched in amusement as Leah tried to get Jacob to focus, but he was having too much fun playing with a delighted Bella. She seemed even more comfortable with him in this form then she did when he was human. Sam was afraid that he would accidentally hurt her, but nothing of the sort occurred.

Jared had just reached Jacob and Leah when the stench of vampire slapped Sam in the face. He was still miles east of town.

Jacob drew away from Bella and asked, Hey, what is that?

Leeches, Jared supplied. The enemy.

A few of them, I think. There's a bunch of different scent markers. Where are Embry and Paul?

I passed their places on my last round, Jared answered. Embry's still asleep after last night's patrol. Paul's making something to eat, I think.

Get them. Now. I've got a bad feeling about this. Sam considered gathering all the wolves together as quickly as possible, but he was afraid of leaving Bella vulnerable. What if a larger group drew the wolves away, leaving their original target alone?

Jared let out an ear-splitting howl that shocked Bella, who scrambled back against the trunk of a tree. What the Hell, Jared! Jacob positioned himself protectively in front of her. You scared her!

She should be scared!

Paul quickly responded to Jared's howl, as did a groggy Embry. What's going on? Paul asked.

Leeches, snapped Sam.

Jared's thoughts immediately narrowed to Kim. His legs instinctively began to carry him toward her. Sam realized Jared wouldn't be able to focus on anything other than Kim's safety, because he himself was struggling to follow the trail instead of rushing to Emily in order to protect her. Where's Kim right now?

She went into town with Emily. They're supposed to be back any minute now.

To Kim's house?

Yeah.

Sam instructed, Then take Bella over there and you keep them all safe. The Rez is yours to protect. He knew that if Bella was with Kim, Jared would take care of her. At the same time, he wondered what to do with Leah. She had already been hurt too many times. Was she better off saying on the reservation, where they still hadn't found any traces of vampires? But Bella was there, and where she went, vampires followed. Should he call Leah to him? But he was headed into certain battle. LeeLee, go with Jared.

She had already started toward him. I don't think so, she argued. From the smell of it, you're going to be in the thick of it real soon. I'm the fastest and I have the most experience in a fight, and I can get to you to back you up before these guys are anywhere close.

Sam knew they would face a larger group than they had before. The thought of leading Leah straight to it made him nauseous. LeeLee, I can't let you…

No? Well, you're going to have to order me away. She kept running toward him, Jacob on her heels. The new wolf had started sprinting as soon as he knew Bella would be safe with Jared. There's no way I'm letting you walk into this by yourself. Besides, look at this big bruiser I've got with me.

Not only was he huge, but Jacob was fast, almost as fast as Leah. Sam wanted to argue, but his attention was pulled in too many directions. Fine. Embry, I want you to go up the coast and then run the north border. Run it once. Pay attention to the trees, to the shoreline. I can already smell more than one, and I want you to make sure they aren't coming from any other direction. If you don't find anything, start heading this way. Paul, you take the south. Same thing as Embry. Go down the coast, along the southern border, and then head this way. Keep an eye out for anything else on the way. I don't know where they are. Jake, stick to Leah like glue. He could see how enormous and agile Jacob was, and though he was untested, he already felt safer knowing that Leah was with him.

Sam picked up speed, but thoughts of Emily soon distracted him from his attempts to track the enemy. Where was she? Was she safe? Would the leeches attack her? He slowed as the imprint told him to find her and keep her safe.

Sam, focus! Paul growled. The scent is getting stronger, isn't it?

And it was. His nostrils burned. The smells were sharper now, and more distinct. He could distinguish at least three. He was certain that one of them belonged to Victoria.

Jacob saw the image of the mutilated vampire in Sam's mind. Who is that?

Sam answered, She's the one. All of this, it's all because of her. She's after Bella, because Edward and his brothers killed her mate when he went after Bella.

While they approached, Leah gave Jacob an efficient explanation. She showed him what she knew about the scar on Bella's wrist, and she told him how Bella had been stalked for the past few months. Then she replayed her encounter with Victoria. She's quick and she's strong. Don't let her size fool you. She showed him her previous battles in detail. Luckily, most fighting was instinctual, and he could already feel that this body knew what to do. But she still told him about the vampire's terrible strength, lightning-quick movement, and viciousness. She showed him why the enemy must be disassembled and burned, and he was horrified by the images of writhing, disembodied limbs. Embry made sure to tell him to avoid being bitten at all costs. It had not happened to any of them yet, but the legends were clear that it would be deadly. Thankfully, their thick fur afforded them some protection.

During all this time, Sam was largely silent. He tried to concentrate, but knowing that Emily was in proximity to danger was strengthening his imprint. Between that, Jacob's questions, and trying to keep track of the visual cues and disparate thoughts he was getting from five other pack members at once, there was a riot in his brain. He almost missed it when the trail he had been following suddenly split. The vampires had moved off in different directions.

Limit the chatter, guys, Leah instructed. Sam followed Victoria's trail heading due west.

Then Leah and Jacob discovered a trail. It was fresh, and Leah recognized the scent: the male whose hand she had taken.

Wait, Sam urged. I smelled that same one a ways back.

This must be the end of the trail you were following, Leah explained. The one that forked off.

Soon all conversation ceased, because Jacob and Leah had found them.

There were three of them. Jacob and Leah were downwind, so Sam ordered them to stop and watch before they attacked. They kept out of sight behind a thick cover of trees, far enough away that they could not be heard, and they did what they were told. Leah had learned caution, and she wasn't about to lead a brand new wolf into battle without backup. Jacob did not argue. Instead he asked, That's not all of them, right? The redhead isn't there. He was right. The male whom Leah and Paul had fought near the diner was standing in a clearing flanked by a slight, blonde female and a stocky male. Their eyes were bright red, and the sight twisted a knot in Jacob's stomach.

Leah asked, If this is just part of the group, should we attack before the rest show up? I'd rather take on three instead of waiting until the odds are even worse.

Embry disagreed. Or you'll just be caught by yourselves fighting a huge group when the others get there.

Sam urged caution. You need to wait for us. Otherwise it's going to be even more lopsided. How close is everyone?

They were all several minutes away. Embry and Sam were right. Soon Jacob and Leah could smell the traces of new vampires on the wind. They silently crept around the clearing to avoid being spotted, changing positions not a moment too soon.

From the east, Victoria appeared. She was a wild creature, her unnatural beauty marred by a jagged vertical scar whose edges were visible despite the patch that she wore over her missing eye. Her hair flew around her head, tossed about by the strong winds. Her clothes were tattered and stained. Following her were a tall, olive-skinned female with a long, black braid and a fierce-appearing male who was as big as Sam and as pale as a sheet. A slender black male with long dreadlocks arrived from the northeast.

The monsters greeted one another with sly grins. Victoria addressed the blonde female. "Are we all ready?"

"It's all set. The car is hidden at the side of the road, and the van is just around the corner."

Jacob and Leah settled into a new hiding spot. Leah? Jacob asked. I think a trail passes right here. One of them came in from this direction. Can you smell it?

You're right, she answered. And back there, there was another really strong sent. Guys, the three that were here in the first place, they must have come from different directions.

What are they up to? Paul asked.

Embry added, I hope there aren't any more on their way. We're already outnumbered.

Sam ordered, Be quiet. We need to pay attention to what they're saying.

The male with the missing hand was explaining to Victoria, "But I can't find the girl. Normally she would be at her house, but not now. She isn't at her job, so I'm guessing she's with the dogs."

Victoria was visibly frustrated but replied, "Then we'll look for her there. By the end of the day, we should have at least one of them."

Jared asked in alarm, Wait, them? Who are they talking about? I know one has to be Bella, but who else do they mean?

Paul pushed himself harder. It's got to be Leah.

Embry agreed. Gotta be. She's got to be pissed about her eye. Or maybe not just Leah. You took one of them down yourself, plus she saw Sam tear that other one apart.

Jared wasn't so sure. But they said they'd "have" one of them. Wouldn't they just want to kill us?

Who knows. Leah pointed out, She's a psychopath, but she's telling them something. Let me listen.

She had divided the group into two once more. The three who had been there originally were sent to the south, while she led the other four due west, directly toward the reservation.

Damn it, Sam cursed. Paul and Embry, you intercept Victoria's group. Jared, get out there now. Leah, take Jake to follow the others. I'll be there any minute now. Guys, we can't let them get to any humans. They've all got to die.

Paul's adrenaline was pumping. They're already dead, but today they're gonna burn.

Leah and Jacob tracked the smaller group south. At Sam's order, they didn't attack immediately, because Victoria was still close enough to hear. She would undoubtedly bring the larger group back, and then Jacob and Leah would be fighting seven vampires by themselves. Leah argued that they needed to intervene before any humans were hurt, but Sam flatly refused. But his anxiety mounted. Something was wrong, and it wasn't just that a hostile coven was approaching his home with purposes of malice and destruction. He was afraid for Emily, and he didn't know why.

Leah tried to ignore his train of thought. It's time, Sam. We've got to do this now, before someone sees us or gets caught in the middle. There are houses near here.

He was too distracted to make a reasoned decision. Fine. Take them out.

Jacob and Leah lunged forward in a burst of speed, and within seconds the vampires realized they were being followed. But it was too late. Jacob had already launched himself at the larger male. The vampire twisted around in time, but Jacob's momentum barreled the creature over.

Leah wanted to even the odds as quickly as possible. The male whom she had mutilated turned to her with a hiss of recognition, and they clashed together midair and fell to the ground in a tangle of fur and claws. He wanted revenge for his lost limb, but Leah's instinct to end the vile creature's existence was stronger. He tried to grab her around the neck, but she twisted and snapped at his good hand. He pulled it away just in time to prevent its loss, but she used his distraction to her advantage and pinned him beneath her. He kicked at her soft belly with his feet, shoving her back, but she swiped at his face, taking a chunk out of his cheek as she flew back. He screamed in pain.

As Leah landed against a tree, she saw the small blonde vampire land on Jacob. He had the upper hand against the large male and was tearing an arm off his body, but the blonde was straddling his back and grabbing for his head. She's going to try to snap your neck! Jacob thrashed in an attempt to dislodge her. Leah saw her own opponent lunging for her, but she leapt forward and out of his path, slamming into the female just as she was getting a grip on Jacob's skull. Her nails raked through his scalp, but it was only a flesh wound.

Leah couldn't tell where the third vampire was. He wasn't in Jacob's line of sight, and she was occupied with the furious blonde, who was pummeling at her skull. Pain shot through her head and she saw stars, but she managed to clamp her jaws around a flying fist, and she tore the hand away and spat it out. All around her, she heard screaming. Jacob was ripping the male to pieces, and his agonized cries abruptly stopped when Jacob ripped his head off.

She heard Sam issuing instructions as the female regained her footing and slammed Leah into a fallen log that splintered underneath her. Shred it, Jacob! Don't let it reassemble. I'm almost there, LeeLee, just hang in there. He was also concerned about where the other male had disappeared. Did you see where he went? I couldn't tell.

While the female landed on Leah, Jacob answered, I think he ran south toward the main road. I didn't see, but that's what it sounded like to me. Leah wouldn't let the vampire get her arms around her. She flung her backward with a powerful kick of her legs. Jacob's opponent had been reduced to a mangled torso and legs, but it still squirmed its way across the ground toward its dismembered arms, so rather than run after the escaped male, Jacob took off both legs at the hip. You okay, Leah?

Peachy. She leapt at the female, but it jumped up and grabbed an overhanging branch and then dropped onto her back. Fuck! It was her most vulnerable position. She could be crushed or the vampire could break her neck. Sam was so close he could smell them, but he was too far away to help.

I've got you, Jacob said, and he arrowed his bulk at the blonde. But she was expecting the move. She twisted at the last second, rolling Leah over. Jacob crashed into Leah rather than the vampire, and he barely avoided disemboweling her with his claws. Shit! Are you okay?

Bitch! She's going to pay for that little move. Leah spotted a jagged rock formation only a few yards away. She kept tumbling, allowing the vampire to think she had lost her balance. At the cost of several painful slashes to her flank, she aimed and threw herself backward at the rocks. The vampire shrieked in pain as she became wedged between Leah and the stones. Ready?

Jacob answered, Absolutely. Leah feinted to the side, and Jacob jumped in and decapitated the female with a single bite.

Damn. You're a natural, she complimented him just as Sam burst into the clearing. I'm going to set them on fire.

Sam didn't even pause. They obviously had everything under control, and he had a bad feeling about the one who had fled. He took off after it, glancing at Leah's bloodied fur as he passed. Jake, go help the guys. Leah, follow me as soon as they're burning. He knew she would catch up; even injured, her speed was impressive.

It was a good thing Jacob was almost as fast as Leah; he would be able to even the odds for the other half of their pack, who had intercepted the other group. Embry arrived first but was still hidden from their sight. The largest male was in the lead, followed by Victoria. Embry couldn't yet see the others.

Hold off for just a minute. Paul was moving as fast as he could. Don't take them on four to one. I'm almost there.

Jared added, Me too. I'll be there any second.

But they're getting close to the Rez. They'll be at Mrs. Walker's house soon, Embry protested.

Sam told him, Then let them pass you and take out the one in the rear. Don't show yourself yet; not unless you want to take them on four to one.

Embry shrank back into the foliage. He wondered if they would hear his breathing or discover his scent, but they had been running so many patrols through the area that their trails blanketed the area and masked him. Victoria and the dreadlocked male passed without stopping, and only moments later he saw the olive-skinned female appear from the brush. "Do you think she's there?" she asked her imposing companion.

"I certainly hope so. Even if she isn't, we'll find someone."

"Hopefully they don't smell as bad as the dogs. It's almost enough to kill your thirst."

"Easy enough to get rid of a scent, though, at least off one of the humans." He grinned lasciviously. "When we take the girl, I'd be happy to give her a bath to restore her natural aroma."

The female laughed while Embry silently crept forward into position, hiding himself behind a thick copse of mulberry bushes. "You do that, and you know you won't be able to resist draining her. Victoria won't be pleased."

"Then she'd better give us what she promised, and I won't be so hungry."

Shit, Jared exclaimed. They'd better not be talking about Kim!

Paul growled, No way we're letting them get close enough to find out. Take them out, Embry!

Embry crouched and held his breath. He wished he could stop the pounding of his heart; surely they would hear it. But they were too engrossed in their conversation. The path narrowed, and the male stepped aside to allow the female to pass. She stepped only feet from Embry, chattering about an "appetizer" she had drained the night before. The male laughed and said that fear was the best spice he had ever tasted.

The female answered that she thought that lust had a better flavor, but her companion never responded, because Embry leapt at his retreating back. His aim was true. He raked his claws deep into the broad shoulders of the startled monster at the same moment he clamped into his skull with his teeth. Embry tore his head off and flung it aside just as the female turned around with a furious scream.

She flew at him and he reared back. His claws were sunk so deeply into the corpse's shoulders that the body came up with him, so he used it as a shield when her momentum pushed him onto his back. But she couldn't get a grip on him with the body between them. He flung them to the side and rolled out of the way. Little help, guys? He could hear Victoria and the other male crashing back toward him; there was no way they had missed the noise of battle.

The female recovered immediately and launched herself at his flank, slamming him into an oak and cracking two of his ribs. She tried to straddle his back so she could crush him, but he thrashed and bucked until she fell off. He jumped away, but then realized he was surrounded. Victoria was in front of him and the black male was off to his right. There was nowhere to go.

Paul instructed, Make them think they're surrounded too. Everybody, now! He let out a bloodcurdling howl. Jared immediately followed, then Jacob. Victoria didn't fall for the distraction, but remaining male did. He turned to look behind him, so Embry pounced and slammed him into the ground. The male raised his arms quickly enough to prevent decapitation, but Embry simply sank his teeth into the elbow and tore it cleanly off. Victoria landed on his back, jarring his broken ribs. She reached for his head, but just as she got a grip on his fur, Paul came barreling out of the woods and knocked her to the ground. They went rolling.

The furious male had recovered his senses and kicked Embry backward, directly into the arms of the waiting female. She wrapped her legs around him, but before she could get her hands around him as well, he clawed at her legs until she released him, falling onto her back. He twisted around to bite at her flailing arm, ignoring the pain in his side. Through Paul's eyes he could see the male running at him, his long hair whipping out behind him, so he braced his front legs and kicked out with both rear legs, repelling the male back again, and he crushed the female's arm in his jaw. It broke apart into vile-tasting, jagged shards.

Behind him, Paul was struggling. Victoria's movements were fast. She was more agile than any other vampire they had encountered. Her movements were efficient and well placed. She never extended a limb close enough to his mouth to allow it to be grasped in his jaws, and she focused her blows to his throat until he stumbled off her, choking.

They circled each other; she was too cautious to run directly at him.

Several feet away, the other female had grabbed a hold of Embry by his ear and was kicking at his soft belly with her feet and punching his windpipe with the stump of her arm. He couldn't move his head enough to decapitate her for fear of losing his ear entirely, so he settled for mauling her with his claws. She was shrieking beneath him, but she would not give up. His back was unprotected.

Jared arrived moments before the male landed on his back once more, knocking the vampire off his course mid-air. They landed a few feet apart, and the vampire didn't hesitate to rush at Jared's head. Jared couldn't brace himself before impact and went falling to the ground. The male straddled his flank and punched him in the back of the neck, sending a shockwave of pain and numbness down his spine and through his extremities, but he managed to turn his head enough to snap at the stump of the vampire's other arm with his teeth. It came apart at the shoulder, and the vampire fell back in pain.

Jacob finally came upon the scene. He had been watching carefully, and Embry was in the most danger. He was locked in a stalemate with his opponent; each was landing painful blows, but neither had the upper hand since she still had Embry's head immobilized. Jacob simply walked up to her and bit her arm off. Thanks, man, Embry panted.

Sure. You got her now? Jacob was already turning toward Victoria.

Embry was in terrible pain across his abdomen, torso, and broken ribs, but he was fully capable of dismantling the rest of the monster underneath him. I got it. Her fingers stubbornly clung to Embry's ear, but that didn't stop him from tearing her to pieces while the remnant of her arm bumped against his head.

Paul actually laughed at him from his position circling Victoria. Dude! Stupidest earring ever!

Shut up and take her out! Embry retorted.

Paul spotted Jacob behind her and agreed. We got her, right, bro?

She's dead, Jacob replied grimly.

Paul ran straight for her. But she didn't defend herself at all. She fled, darting to the side. Jacob sprinted after her as Paul pivoted, and then they were off into the woods.

Jared looked after her in dismay. Shit, she's getting away! He almost followed, but the male clamped his remaining fist around Jared's front leg. Embry appeared and sank his teeth into the vampire's leg, dragging him back. Jared couldn't dislodge vampire's hand, but he twisted until the vampire's head was underneath him, and he bit off its face.

Damn it, these things taste terrible! He spit the remains onto the ground as Embry tore off a leg.

He looks pretty terrible, too. You really fucked him up.

Thanks. But his hair still looks good. Jared wanted to go after Victoria. You good?

I'm good. Embry destroyed the remnants as Jared ran off in the direction of his brothers.

A couple miles away, Sam had finally caught up to the one-handed male. He was running along the road that led to the reservation. Sam didn't understand. Why hadn't he crossed the street to flee? Or if he wanted to get to the Rez, it would be faster to go straight through the woods. What could he possibly want on the road? He thought back to the perplexing conversation that they had overheard, in which the vampires referred to a van awaiting them. Was it somewhere nearby? Perhaps he wanted to use that as his getaway vehicle rather than allowing them to follow his scent markers as he ran.

Sam wondered how he had been able to catch up with this vampire. It actually seemed to be a bit faster than he was, because now that he had it in his sight, he couldn't seem to gain any further ground. Behind him, Leah had already set the vampires ablaze and was quickly approaching. He was grateful for her speed, because she was faster than both of them. She asked, Where do you think it's going?

Looks like it's headed to the Rez. Or maybe going for a getaway car.

Do you think it knows the others are dead?

He wasn't certain. I'll bet he heard the screaming. And they make that awful metallic tearing noise when they break apart.

I wonder why he ran off. I thought he was going to come back and help the others. I'd say he's a coward, but he's not doing a very good job of getting away either.

Sam didn't think they had any loyalty. They were monsters. This one seems to have a sense of self-preservation. It'll keep running if it knows what's good for it. He didn't know why, but he was absolutely certain that he had to kill it. The feeling was even stronger than it was against the other vampires that his pack had already brought down.

Just as Leah caught up with him, he understood why. He heard the sound of an engine, and he looked to his left. It was an old Toyota. Kim was in the driver's seat, and Emily sat right next to her. The girls were happily chatting away, oblivious to the threat. Shit! They're after the girls! They were the target! Sam yelled.

He panicked, and Jared along with him. Jared, Paul, and Jacob had Victoria surrounded. She had tried to escape to the trees, but Paul had yanked her back down. But rather then turn and fight him, she had wriggled out of his grasp and took off again. A chunk of her calf was missing, but she had gotten away. The wolves gave chase. They flanked her, and eventually Jacob had raced ahead to block her path. Just as she made her way into a clearing, Jacob swept around and cut her off. She was livid. Paul and Jared approached from behind, and the three shifters formed a triangle around her. No branches were within her reach, and every escape was blocked. They finally had her.

But then Jared caught sight of the vampire approaching Kim's car through the pack mind, and he lost it. He turned tail and ran for her. He was nowhere near, of course, but his instinct to protect her was just too strong.

Get your ass back here! Paul screamed furiously.

But it was not an alpha order and thus held no weight. Jared kept running, and Victoria saw her chance. She took off in his direction, and before Paul and Jacob could catch her, scaled a tree. She flung herself to the next sturdy pine, and they had no way to stop her. They followed and growled at her from below, but there was nothing else to do.

To the south, the remaining vampire jumped into the street, directly in front of Kim's car. She slammed on her breaks, but the monster was too close. The hood of the car accordioned inward as he dug his heels into the ground on impact. Kim and Emily yelled as their airbags deployed, and Sam heard clunking as their seatbelts pulled tight, then successive thuds as their heads banged back into their headrests.

The vampire didn't waste any time. He glanced up to assess how much time he had before Leah was upon him, and he jumped onto the remnant of the hood, reaching down to tear away the roof of the car like the lid on a can of sardines. He ripped the seatbelt out of its hinge like it was made of mere paper, and he grabbed Kim by the back of the neck and lifted her completely out of the car. He sprung back to the ground and then thrust the screaming girl in front of him like a shield just as Leah landed in front of him, only feet away.

She snarled at him, but he yelled, "Come one inch closer and she dies! I'll snap her neck, and you can have her corpse!"

Jared howled in terror, and the vampire blinked and looked about, wondering how many more opponents were waiting in the woods.

Sam finally made it to the car. He couldn't think straight. Between seeing through the eyes of each pack member, hearing Jared's fear, the vicarious pain of his packs' injuries, and worst of all, Emily's terror, his mind was reeling. He tried to focus on the vampire in front of him, but Emily was wailing in fear and struggling to free herself from her seatbelt, and the imprint narrowed his focus down to her alone.

Leah retained her senses. She finally figured out what Victoria was after. She had been stalking them for months, watching, waiting, and gathering information, never coming close enough to risk herself, staying carefully off their land for her own safety, and discovering their vulnerability: Bella, Kim, and perhaps Emily as well, although the male's single-minded focus on Kim made her wonder if they realized who Emily was. The vampire began sprinting away, Kim in hand, and Leah gave chase. That's what the van is for. He's trying to take Kim, not kill her. Jared, find the van and destroy it!

Sam didn't contribute to the conversation. He was too busy trying to open the door of the car with his useless paw. Jared answered, Who cares about the fucking van! He's got Kim! Take him out!

I can't jump on him when he's got her in his grip. He'll snap her neck! Besides, if he just wanted her dead, he'd have killed her already, and then he'd have his hand free to fight us. But he wants her as a hostage, don't you see?

What are you talking about?

Jacob agreed with Leah as he kept pace on the ground below Victoria. It makes sense. They were going to take Kim, Bella, maybe Emily, too, and use them against us. They weren't planning on fighting us, otherwise they wouldn't have split up. Get rid of his escape vehicle. He can't run fast enough while he's holding her. So get rid of it!

Jared saw the logic but protested, His stupid car doesn't matter if Kim's dead!

Leah growled and answered, I'll keep her safe, I promise. Besides, I've got Sam right here. Sam, I'll get in front of him, you get over here and we'll pin him between us.

He wanted to help her. The part of him that hadn't been taken over by the imprint was terrified for her. She was already injured, but she was ignoring the blood pouring from her wounds and the pain lancing through her. She was bravely facing the enemy. Kim had been doing her best to destroy Leah's happiness, but still she stood in defense of the girl, laying her life on the line. She was the bravest person he had ever known. And she needed him. LeeLee, I'm coming! He tried to force his limbs to move, but he was paralyzed.

Sammy? I really need your help. Get behind him.

He could hear her, but he couldn't see her even though she was only yards away. He couldn't even turn his head. I know. I know you need me. I swear, I'm coming! He meant every word.

Then come! One of us needs to get Kim away from him. I can't do this by myself, she insisted. Her voice betrayed her fear, and he couldn't stand that her faith in him was waning. Emily's safe enough, she's just stuck in the seat belt. Plus we're drawing him away. Help me get rid of this vamp and she'll be safe, and so will everyone else.

She was right and he knew it. And the thought of her standing alone against her foe was terrible, but he no longer had control over his body. I'm trying! I want to help. I want you safe. I want you to leave him to me. I don't want you hurt anymore. I don't want you anywhere near that monster. He willed himself away from the car, but all he managed to do was make a dent in the door. Why can't I move? God damn it! LeeLee!

Sammy?

But Emily screamed his name and pleaded for his help, and there was nothing he could do to resist her desperate fear. The imprint turned his back on his love, on his life, on his very identity.

I need your help! Come on! He's got Kim!

I'm trying, I swear. Oh, god... He wanted to go to her. He knew she needed him, and that if he left her behind now, he might never get a chance to redeem himself. If the battle turned, she might not survive, and if she did, she might never forgive him. But he felt himself slipping away, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Fuck! LeeLee! LeeLee!

Try harder! I need you! We can take him two on one, but if I have to get Kim away from him safely, by myself, I don't know if I can do it and still kill him alone. Please!

Please, someone. Help me, help Leah! I can't get free. Somebody help us, please! He begged his brothers, the spirits, and himself. Emily, damn it, let me go! She needs me! Leah needs me, let me go! But she had no way to hear him. I'm sorry, he managed. There was almost nothing left that made him who he was. He was drowning. Helpless. He struggled against the imprint until he managed, I love you and only you. You're everything, LeeLee. Please don't forget...

Sammy! she screamed.

Leah! Leah! And then he was gone.

X-x-x-x-X

A/N: Thanks again to Babs81410. I'm going on vacation next week, so there will be no update at that time. Sorry for the long wait on a cliffhanger chapter; if I get a chance I'll post the next chapter before I go.