Title: Legendary Travesty
Fandom: Twilight
Pairing: Leah/Esme, established Bella/Alice (Bellice)
Author: Mirandyscrow
Rating: R
Summary: AU Leah imprints in Eclipse. We follow her as she deals with denial, acceptance and the consequences that this extraordinary event causes. This story take place about two months before the beginning of Eclipse and will be a femslash pairing. If you don't like it then don't read it. Thanks!
Spoilers: Let's say everything up until Eclipse is fair game, but I'm twisting a lot of facts and timelines to suit my story.
Archive: Sure if you really want it. Lol, it would be a surprise to me, just ask my permission first. (It's nice when people ask)
Disclaimer: Did Bella and Alice hook up in New Moon? No? Well I guess that means Twilight isn't mine. Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Any and all other brand names belong to their respective owners. I do not make any money on this story. Please don't sue; I only have a box of Easy Mac as collateral. BTW Easy Mac is the property of Kraft. :P
Author's Note: I don't have a clue where this idea came from. I was actually focusing on going to sleep and this plus five other prompts popped into my head and played around in my skull until I wrote them down and attempted to give them a fair shot at being written. Now here we are.
Big thanks to faithlessfate for being an awesome beta and making this story worth reading! All careless mistakes are my own.
Chapter 15: Weight of the World
Barely two days had passed before Leah found herself becoming stir crazy. She was forbidden to phase until her injuries were completely healed and that little rule got old on day one. She'd never before realized just how much freedom and power came with running through the forest on four legs. Her body craved it and her inner beast was constantly howling its disappointment and rage. It made for an extremely irritable shifter.
"What would you like for lunch today?" Esme asked as she finished changing the sheets on the bed. She glanced at Leah staring stiffly out into the forest. Her heart ached as she felt the longing coming off the younger woman in waves.
"You know what I really want?" Leah asked mentally, knowing that Esme didn't like it when she tried to talk with the metal in her mouth.
"I do, sweetie. Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's just not possible," Esme said apologetically.
Leah closed her eyes and breathed deeply, willing her inner wolf to calm down and not go on the riot that seemed to be brewing beneath her skin. She sagged with relief when Esme embraced her from behind and reveled in the strength that the shorter woman granted her.
"It's just for a couple of more days, love. I promise," Esme said, nuzzling Leah's shoulder and pressing a kiss to the warm skin.
"I don't know if I can last another day, Mé." Leah felt as her wolf was placated with its mate in such close proximity so it curled up, accepting its fate for the moment. She turned, resting her forehead against Esme's.
"You'll be fine. I'll be here to calm you," Esme said reassuringly. "Two days more. That's all." She reminded Leah, kissing the wolf gently.
Leah made a frustrated noise in the back of throatwhen the metal scratched unpleasantly at the back of her lips. "I can't wait to give you proper kiss when these overgrown braces are out of my mouth."
"I'll be waiting with bated breath," Esme said sincerely. "So, lunch?" she asked when Leah's stomach produced an audible growl.
"There's no way I can convince you to make a cheeseburger and medium rare porterhouse smoothie can I?" Leah asked hopefully. She grinned lightly at Esme's answering laugh.
-x-
Leah wrinkled in her nose with disinterest as she looked at the full glass of cold, frosty chocolate banana shake Esme made her for dessert. She couldn't bring herself to take much more than one sip. There was of course nothing wrong with the taste. Everything Esme made was exceptional but Leah wanted something with a bit more substance to it. After all she was only half-joking about the meat smoothie.
The sudden strong scent of citrus and cotton candy announced her incoming guest just a few seconds before they stepped through the open door.
"What's up?" Leah slurred carefully, mindful of the wires. Her jaw was nearly healed, the metal in her mouth now just a precaution to keep the bones in place. She hated the resulting drool the gritted talking caused but sounding like Daffy Duck and Sylvester Cat's love child was still a sight better than writing out her responses.
"Already tired of soup and those delicious smoothies?" Bree asked as she came into the room, closing the door behind her. Her voice was thick with sarcasm.
"How can you tell?" Leah asked, looking forlornly at the tall milkshake sitting on the bedside table. "I really want a steak."
"Yeah, I know. I heard you asking Esme for a pulverized steak," Bree replied with smirk and a mirthful twinkle in her eyes before her brow wrinkled slightly. "Which is really disgusting sounding by the way and I'm the one with the blood diet," She tacked on playfully.
"We'll see how you feel if you ever have to go without eating. You may just consider eating the dirtiest rats off the tracks of a New York subway station one day," Leah countered and grinned at the pure disgust that danced across Bree's face at her suggestion. "And I could care less right now. I want solid food so much that I'm damn close to ripping this metal out of my mouth and going to steal a cow off one of the local farms," The wolf said, practically frothing at the mouth.
"No, you're not!" Came Esme's instant response from downstairs.
Leah rolled her eyes without malice. "You know I'm just kidding."
"You're only partly kidding, love." Esme sent back quickly.
Leah let out a muffled bark of laughter. "You're beginning to figure me out too quickly."
"I'm just paying rapt attention," Esme said softly and Leah could feel the warmth in her smile. "Your cell phone is ringing."
"Go ahead and answer it. I have no secrets from you," Leah said and closed the link so her imprint could focus on the telephone call and she could focus on her guest.
Bree's eyes were shining with adoration for the playfulness of the couple before a slight veil of sorrow clouded her crimson gaze.
"How are you holding up with the new vegetarian lifestyle?" Leah asked patiently after seeing the emotion.
"It's…an adjustment," Bree replied softly with a shrug. "Everyday is a struggle. I just have to keep reminding myself that I don't want to kill people but it's nice to have someone like Jasper that knows what I'm going through," she finished with tiny smile.
Leah smirked, the metal gleaming slightly in the sun filtering through her window. "You got a crush there, Baby Fangs?"
"A crush? On Jasper?" Bree's asked as her eyes widened at the question. "No, he's a nice guy and really attractive but I've already had a mate," She revealed sadly.
"Had?" Leah echoed, turning fully towards the newborn beside her. "What happened to them?"
"Victoria and Riley," Bree spat with menace. "I know they killed Diego for asking too many questions. They wanted us to believe that vampires died in the sun like the movies and when we discovered they didn't…" The newborn paused, drawing an unneeded breath. "We weren't even together long but we tried to spend as much time as we could together. There won't be another for me."
"Hey, come here," Leah said, placing her drink down and pulling the younger girl into a hug. "Don't be so hard on yourself and don't say they'll be no one else. I know it hurts like hell right now but take it from someone who knows." The shifter pulled back to look into Bree's eyes. "You can't close your heart to new possibilities."
"I don't have it in me to even consider a new mate now," Bree said with a tired shake of her head. "The wounds are far too fresh, Lee."
"I know what you're going through. When my ex-boyfriend, Sam, left me for my cousin. I thought my life was over and then I started phasing," Leah said with a bitter chuckle, "and everything went to shit until I met Esme and I'm sure they've told you what happened from there."
"Yeah, I've gotten the cliff notes," Bree responded with a nod.
"The bottom line is you've got an eternity to mourn Diego but you never know where the rest of your life will end up taking you," Leah said sagely. A curtain of silence lingered in the air as the wolf studied Bree closely. "What did you really come up here to talk about?" she said after a beat.
"Where do I go from here?" Bree asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Can you make that a bit broader?" Leah joked as she wiped a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
"After we kill Victoria, I mean," Bree clarified.
Leah shrugged, picking up the glass now covered in droplets of condensation and runny ice cream. "I don't know, Baby Fangs. What do you want to do? Stay here? Travel the world? Go to school? You're going to look sixteen for the rest of time so it's not like you've got a whole lot of options," she said, sipping slowly from the milkshake. "You must have some ideas of your own."
"I do it's just that I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings," Bree said, tucking a long strand of auburn hair behind her ears. "I love being apart of the Cullens and the Denalis. I don't want choose whose family I'm in."
"Who says you have to?" Leah asked her plainly.
"What do you mean?" Bree asked with a frown.
"Why not just live with both families every few years like a joint custody thing," Leah suggested with a shrug.
"You think I could really do that?" Bree asked, her eyes lighting up like all her favorite holidays had suddenly come at once.
"I don't see why not," Leah said, finishing her drink with a slurp. "Talk to Esme and the Denalis and I'm sure all of you can come up with a system where everyone's happy with."
"Why didn't I think of this?" Bree asked to no one in particular her mood becoming considerably giddier.
"You haven't grown into your ultra smart vamp brains yet," Leah said ruffling the newborn's hair roughly. "You're still a dummy."
"Whatever," Bree said, batting away Leah's hands with smile. "This coming from the woman who's on a liquid diet after fighting two vampires."
Leah laid a hand to her chest in mock hurt. "Hey, I'm still alive aren't I?"
"So, was Alex Murphy after they replaced him with robot parts and with that metal in your mouth you're halfway there," Bree said with a devious smirk.
Leah glared without malevolence at the newborn. "You're not funny."
"I'm hilarious. You're just too dumb to get the jokes," Bree joked with a chuckle. She flashed out of the room to avoid the pillow Leah chucked at her.
Esme caught the pillow as soon as she stepped through the window. "I could have sworn that you were the eldest one between the two of you."
"I am but she-" Leah started but was quickly hit in the face the pillow. She took it off her face, staring at Esme in disbelief. "Seriously?"
Esme just smirked and came forward to sit on the bed next to the younger woman.
Leah immediately stiffened at the sudden unease coming from her mate's end of the bond. "What's wrong Mé?"
"That call on your phone was from a detective in Seattle. Your room was destroyed and Victoria's been on a rampage every since your fight a couple of days ago," Esme responded gently.
"Shit," Leah growled out angrily. "Did she hurt anyone?"
"A maid has been hospitalized but that's all anyone knows. Unfortunately, since it was your hotel room," Esme trailed off.
"The police want to question me," Leah guessed.
Esme simply nodded in response.
Leah sighed. "How long do I have until they come by?"
"An hour at the most," Esme answered, glancing at the clock on the far wall of the bedroom. "I'm calling a family meeting." She informed her mate and went downstairs, knowing instinctively that Leah would follow.
The wolf was unsurprised to find the Cullen offspring already seated downstairs, waiting patiently for them. They watched as Leah sat in a large armchair in the corner of the room while Esme perched herself on the arm.
A few moments of silence reigned in the small space until as usual; Rosalie decided to take the lead in the discussion. "So how are we playing this?" she asked, glancing around the room.
"We'll treat it like a hate crime. I'll implant the documents later," Esme said, settling on the arm of the chair Leah had chosen for herself. "It won't come up in the system for at least five to seven days after the incident so we'll use that to our advantage. Edward will keep us informed of their thoughts on a vampire frequency and I'll feed Leah the responses." The matriarch turned to Leah with an apologetic look. "Unfortunately, you're going have to use the dry erase board until something 'upsets' you. I'll tell you when."
"How do we explain Leah's presence in the house and Carlisle's absence?" Jasper asked quietly.
"Carlisle and I are separated and you're all supportive of our relationship but adjusting." Esme responded easily.
"So, a normal day?" Alice asked with an impish grin.
"Bree, you'll need to go hunting with Jasper and Alice in case you're recognized as a missing person," Esme told the newborn to her right.
Bree frowned slightly but nodded her agreement anyway. "I suppose I may as well get my reading done," She said, heading for the library.
"So, we're just one big happy family to the po-po?" Emmett asked, blurring across the room to snatch his mother and Leah up in a bear hug.
Esme smiled with delight as her son's exuberance and nodded. "Indeed. We need as much normality as possible. Really sell it."
The vampires set about making the house a little less spotless than usual. They laid a few clothes on the back of the couch while Edward flashed outside to keep watch for the arrival of the police.
"This is something you do a lot?" Leah asked Esme as they went back upstairs.
"Fooling the authorities isn't something that happens often but yes we are well versed in it," Esme said pulling out a pair of pale yellow yoga pants and soft white shirt for Leah to change into. "These will make you look softer. More frail."
Leah took the clothes with unabashed disdain. "I don't want to look frail. I'm almost healed."
"I know sweetie but they don't know that and we're not going to let them," Esme said shooing Leah behind a changing curtain. "Now put these on quickly. Alice needs to do your make up so all your wounds look fresh."
Leah came from around the curtain. "Is it alright?" She asked tugging at the bottom of her shirt.
"Yes, it is." Esme answered with a small grin.
Alice came into the room a couple of seconds later with a large makeup kit. She studied Leah's face for a few moments before opening her kit and getting to work. Ten minutes later, she stepped back and grinned. "You look positively gruesome," She teased lightly.
Esme smiled at the jibe but heart wasn't in it. "You look like you did two days ago," she said quietly.
"Mé…" Leah breathed as she took her mate's hand in her own.
"I'm fine," Esme choked out with a sniffle. "I am," She stated more convincingly. "I almost lost you."
"But you haven't," Leah reasoned, squeezing hands in her own gently. "I'm right here and I'm going to fight everyday to make sure I don't lose you."
"No, you won't," Esme said sternly. "We will fight together from now on," she stated with a blossoming grin.
Leah's smile mirrored Esme's. "Together," she said emphatically through the wire in her mouth.
"The police will be here in twenty two minutes," Alice announced from downstairs
-x-
Esme and Leah heard the firm authoritative knock that sounded downstairs. Edward opened the door wide with his most soulful eyes.
"Can I help you officers?" He asked with a small look of confusion.
"Good afternoon young man." The younger female detective spoke, tossing a thumb toward her partner. "I'm Detective Ross, this is Detective Perez. I spoke to an Esme Cullen on the phone."
"Hey, Bro, are you coming back to the game?" Emmett showed up right on cue. "Sup," He said with a nod of his head. "Come on in, mom said you were stopping by." He opened the door wider as Edward stepped out of their path.
"Thank you, son," Detective Perez said. They looked around the house, taking in the modern décor and expensive furniture.
"Mom, cops are here!" Emmett yelled upstairs.
Esme appeared on the stairs to the living room 'helping' Leah descend, their gait slow and deliberate. "Emmett!" Esme admonished. "We use our inside voices in this house. There is no need to bellow like some sort of animal," she said.
Emmett scratched the back of his head. "Sorry mom," he said at a much more normal decibel.
"I apologize, officers," Esme said, before addressing her sons. "Move your snacks and video games back into your room please."
Emmett grabbed the various bags of chips and candy from the coffee table. He hooked his pinkie through the plastic rings holding three cans of Mountain Dew.
Edward snickered lightly from his place behind the couch at the disgusted look on his brother's face as he got a nostril full of junk foods.
"You could help, Bro!" Emmett complained with his arms full.
"It is your mess," Edward said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I'll help," Rosalie said, grabbing the videogame system from the floor and quickly wrapping the cords so they didn't drag on the floor.
Esme finally eased Leah into the large armchair facing the couch while she waited for her children to stop their 'bickering.' "Can I offer you anything?" she asked as soon as he finished handing Leah the dry erase board and a black marker.
"No, thank you, ma'am. We're fine," Detective Perez declined politely.
"Please call me, Esme," Esme responded politely with a smile. "Are you sure? I'm positive I keep all of the beverage companies in business with all the juice and soda I buy for my house full of teenagers." She paused and thought for a second. "Or coffee? I've been told my coffee could rival some diners."
Leah groaned to get the detectives attention and scribbled carefully on her board. She turned it around to show them. 'Accept something. She's relentless.' There was a smiley face at the bottom of the text to illustrate that she wasn't serious. It was pitiful and nearly illegible but the officers seemed to understand what was written.
"Oh you," Esme said, tossing her hand at the air next to Leah. "I'm just polite."
Detective Ross seemed to give it some consideration. "Maybe we will get some coffee to go for our drive back."
"Okay, I'll go start a pot now," Esme said and went into the kitchen.
Edward replaced Esme behind Leah's chair. "Please be patient with my stepmother, here," he said softly, his hands resting lightly on Leah's shoulders. "As you can see, her right hand was broken and she has extensive injuries."
"We understand." Detective Ross replied, opening a small notebook. "Alright, Ms. Clearwater. We'll try not to keep you too long."
'Thank you.' Leah wrote in response.
"Now, we're investigating the vandalism of your hotel room in Seattle. Is there anyone you know that would try and hurt you?" Detective Ross asked, studying Leah's face intently.
Leah nodded writing quickly. "Since me and Esme got together, there has been anger." She wiped the board clean and scribbled something else. "Not sure who would go so far." It read. "Video cameras?" she wrote next.
"They are being checked as we speak, but the only people coming and going so far have been you and Mrs. Cullen," Detective Ross informed.
"How did Mr. Cullen react to the news of your affair?" Detective Perez asked with an odd tone.
Leah flipped her board over to reveal a single word to the officers. "Relevance?"
Both detectives looked taken aback at Leah's abrupt response before Detective Perez answered smoothly, "We have to narrow down any possible suspects, Miss Clearwater, you understand?"
"Carlisle did not do this." Leah wrote before she glanced at Edward with a deep frown.
"Detectives you can't honestly believe my father had something to do with this attack?" Edward asked with just the appropriate amount of subdued outrage.
Detective Perez pressed on. "With all due respect, I find it hard to believe that a man would let his wife's nineteen year old mistress move into his home and have nothing to say."
"I find that a little difficult to comprehend myself," Detective Ross added a moment later.
"Actually officers, Carlisle had nothing to say about moving my so-called 'mistress' into our home because if you'd bother to do your research the house and property is under my name," Esme said sternly as she came back into the living room. "Now, if you came here about my lover's attack, hotel room vandalism and the maid that was hurt then you may continue but if not you can take your leave," She continued, thrusting two to-go cups toward them without a trace of the civility they'd experienced when the detectives had first been allowed into the home. The detectives sensed that this woman was not someone who should be underestimated and quickly stood offering their apologies. They accepted the coffee and Edward swiftly escorted them back to the front door.
As soon as Edward closed the door behind the two officers, all of the vampires came back to the living room.
"So, what's the verdict?" Rosalie asked at once.
"They are desperate to find someone to pin the mass disappearances on and were willing to pin it on Carlisle," Edward responded calmly.
"How in the hell were they going to do that?" Leah thought to Edward.
"They were going to explain it as some psychotic break brought on by his wife's affair with a much younger woman," Edward answered with a disgusted shake of his head.
"That's some long shot," Emmett said with a long whistle. "Carlisle has never had a record and is a well respected member of the community. The character witnesses alone would have him acquitted."
"We're going to limit your Law and Order watching, sweetheart." Rosalie rubbed Emmett's arm fondly.
Leah scrunched up her forehead in thought. "How were they willing to pull this off? They got some dirty judges?"
"Some are already paid off," Edward said grimly.
"We can't let people like them stay on the force," Esme proclaimed determinedly. "Alice, do some digging into records."
"I'm on it," Alice chirped and flitted up to her room.
"Let's get you back to bed," Esme said to Leah, lifting her gently out of the chair.
"I feel like I've just participated in an episode of Law and Order." Leah sent as they made their way up the stairs.
Esme chuckled, bumping the door open with her hip. "Perhaps the rest of your recovery will be easier to deal with."
"Not likely," Leah replied as she settled into the bed.
-x-
Just as Leah anticipated, the last two days were almost more than she could bear. Not being able to communicate with anyone besides Esme was a dream really; but using a small dry erase board to write out conversations when Esme was forced to go hunt was frustrating more than anyone could ever know. That's why as soon as Esme cut the last wire from her mouth she kissed the vampire with zeal and bounded downstairs, jumping through the backdoor. Once outside, she phased and howled out all her relief. She howled for nearly ten minutes straight, mostly to annoy Rosalie. It eventually got too much for her, Emmett and even Bree who usually idolized everything Leah did.
"Mé, I need some clothes," Leah thought a little sheepishly and Esme was next to her in an instant, holding up a fresh outfit for her.
Leah gripped the clothes in her teeth and disappeared behind a tree, quickly dressing. She tugged at the vintage made shorts, resting low on her hips. "These don't leave much to the imagination," she said, coming to stand in front of Esme.
"That may be entirely selfish on my part," the vampire confessed with a flirtatious grin. "You have a gorgeous pair of legs that should be shown off more," she stated boldly after a beat.
"You have a gorgeous everything," Leah said, walking forward with a predatory gleam in her eyes. Esme back up playfully, her back hitting the glass panel of the sliding doors.
Leah advanced with a wicked smile as she was suddenly struck with how long it had been since she'd properly kissed her mate and now was most certainly the time to rectify that now that she'd driven everyone away momentarily. "My Esme," She whispered and leaned forward, capturing cool counterparts before her. At the first touch of her mate's lips, the wolf felt desire weave a spell around her and she drew Esme into her arms, pressing her forcefully against the door. The glass began to crack slightly and she eased her hold.
Esme moaned into the kiss, gripping Leah's hips, her thumb sliding back and forth caressing the small sliver of skin peeking over the hem of the shorts.
Leah growled softly at the sensation, the chilly touch only heightening the sensation. She quickly moved her hand underneath the vampire's shirt, grasping at her ribs firmly. The wolf's right hand inched forward hesitantly before she finally skimmed her hand up the final inches to grasp Esme's breast gently, pulling a small gasp out of the older woman's throat.
Breaking the kiss, Leah breathed in some much needed oxygen. She looked straight into Esme's eyes, squeezing the breast in her hand more firmly. Esme tossed her head back, exposing her neck as she groaned. Leah's mouth began to descend on the new revealed patch of skin.
"It looks like you're feeling better," A bemused voice said behind Leah.
The female wolf turned and snarled viciously with amber irises. Esme hissed in annoyance as her own eyes bled into black.
"Whoa," Jake said and held his hands up slowly in surrender. "I mean you and your mate no harm," He continued in a placating tone. Both women looked so feral he wasn't sure which one he was trying to reassure.
"Why did you interrupt?" Leah growled lowly. A primitive part of her brain was roaring in displeasure, telling her to ensure the new wolf wasn't a threat to her or her mate. She shook her head lightly and tried to focus on Jake's response.
"Besides the fact that you two look like you're about to get naked outside?" He said with a small chuckle then a cough when both women looked at him with dark expressions. "Right so no jokes," He mumbled to himself. "I wanted to make sure you're still going to Bella's graduation party tomorrow?"
"Why didn't you just text me?" Leah asked still agitated.
"I was going to but I wanted to come see you personally that way you can't really ignore me." Jake replied with a casual shrug.
"Jake," Leah stressed his name in a growl.
"I'm sorry that I picked now to show up," Jake said sincerely.
"Okay," Leah said, taking a calming breath her eyes becoming the normal chocolate shade they always were.
Jake studied Leah closely, tilting his head in contemplation. He briefly forgot his purpose for the visit. "Do they do that a lot?" he asked her.
"What?" Leah asked absentmindedly as she shifted around to cuddle Esme from behind. She snuggled close to the preening vampire.
"Your eyes," He answered, his brow furrowed at her clueless tone. "They were gold."
"Gold?" Leah repeating, her full attention now turned to the boy. "What the hell are you talking about now, Jake?"
"I've noticed when you're really angry they flash gold. This is the first time they've stayed that way for little more time." Jake explained to her tolerantly.
"That's very interesting," Esme remarked, cocking her head to look at Leah. "The second day you were here I thought I saw your eyes flash while we were struggling over the juice pitcher but I dismissed it as my imagination."
Leah was silent for a few moments contemplating the information they'd just given her. "Our bond is strengthening," she said unnecessarily as her fingers combed through Esme's hair. Esme purred at the attention and leaned into Leah's touch.
"Ahem," Jake coughed into his hand softly. "I need an answer to my question." He shifted nervously, his eyes flitted back and forth between the ground and Leah and Esme. He couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling that he was interrupting a very intimate moment, despite the fact the two women were no longer making out.
"What's wrong with you?" Leah asked, noticing his jerky movements. "No ones going to jump out and attack you," She said looking around them, her eyes intently scanning the perimeter around them.
"I don't want to run into Bella," He explained quickly but didn't relax his temperament.
"She's at graduation rehearsal with Alice, Jasper, and Edward, Jacob," Esme said gently, taking pity on the nervous young man. "They've been gone for a couple of hours now and Alice is taking Bella shopping afterward."
"Yeah see?" Leah said, clapping the younger wolf on the back. "Nothing to worry about, Jakey. Come on inside for a bite to eat and you take a load off your mind," she said as she watched the vampire flash out of her arms and into the kitchen before she finished her sentence.
-x-
Leah finished twirling the last of the twisted strands of hair around her face. She turned her head side to side with a scrutinizing eye and nodded to herself when she liked what she saw. There was a knock on her door as she went to moisturize her skin. "Yeah, Seth?" she called out.
"You nearly done?" He asked through the door.
"Just about. All I have to do is put on my shoes and I'll be ready to go," Leah said, opening the door for her brother and walking to her closet.
"Since we're actually in nice clothes, how are we getting to the party exactly?" Seth asked as he walked in. He immediately sauntered right up to his sister's full length mirror and smoothed down his button down shirt before deciding that yes one more button undone to show his toned chest would be the best decision.
Leah rolled her eyes at her brother's actions. "Esme's picking us up in the Jeep. She's meeting us by the treaty line."
"Cool," Seth said and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "Quil and Embry are already ready so I'll just tell them to meet us at the border."
"No problem," Leah said pulling on her shoes. "Let's get out of here," she said grabbing her wallet, cell phone, and keys off her dresser.
They bounded downstairs and were assaulted by a bright flash of light as soon as they reached the bottom.
"Aw, Ma!" The two siblings whined in unison, shielding their eyes.
"You both look so nice tonight," Sue said softly with misty eyes.
"Thanks," Leah said, rubbing her eyes roughly before squinting as another flash hit her eyes. "You're going to make us late," She grumbled.
"Wait!" Seth said suddenly, "I got to grab Bella's gift. It's still sitting on the dresser," He said and ran back upstairs.
"Do you have Bella's gift from Jacob?" Sue asked, flipping through the pictures of her children on her digital camera with a fond smile.
Leah gritted her teeth at her name. "Yeah, how could I forget when he asked me about it like nearly every hour on the hour today," She said, pulling a ring box from her pocket. Seth insisted she dress the present up a little when she took him shopping earlier that day.
Sue heard the irritation in Leah's voice and glanced at her directly. "How is your relationship with Bella lately?"
Three million responses were generated in Leah's mind at the question. She didn't understand why her mother was suddenly pushing the issue. She'd tried to get along with that spoiled, stone faced schoolgirl but she wasn't going to become her best friend overnight. "We're civil." Was her bland, succinct response.
"That's all?" Sue asked disapprovingly before she sighed. "Leah, sometimes it's like you don't even try."
"Ma, please don't force this." Leah nearly growled as she fisted a hand at her side. "Civil is about as much as I can handle of Bella Swan right now."
"Then why are you even going to her graduation party?" Seth asked coming back downstairs with an envelope in hand.
"Do you really have to ask?" Leah questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Esme will be there."
"And you promised Jake you'd give Bella her present when the time came," Seth said.
"That too," Leah said with a shrug, slipping Bella's present back into pocket.
"I'm nearly there." Esme sent to Leah.
"Seth let's go. Esme's almost to the treaty line. Have a goodnight, Ma," Leah said, hugging her mother.
"Yeah don't wait up for us," Seth joked with an exaggerated wink.
"Don't worry I won't," Sue replied flippantly, playing along. She appeared to be thinking. "But maybe I should just go with my little Sethy Boo and keep all those big, bad high school girls away from him."
"No!" Seth said with a look of horror. "Please don't save me from them," He begged.
Leah bit her bottom lip to stifle the laughter that threatened to bubble up from her throat. "You know she's kidding, Seth. Come on," she said, shoving her brother out of the door.
They took off in a fast pace, running down the street and into the trees. The siblings came to a stop right beside the treaty line. They found Embry and Quil, standing beside each other, eyeing Esme warily from their side of the boundary.
Leah and Seth walked past the two boys, climbing into the Jeep and getting comfortable. Leah was amused when that action finally seemed to animate Embry and Quil. Esme started the ignition as the other two boys scrambled into the vehicle.
The vampire switched the Jeep into gear and they rocketed through the forest, the back tires flung up mud onto everything they passed.
-x-
The soft glow of all the lights and the dull murmur of all the conversations and laughter made the house seem more alive. The music pounded against the glass of the house, being easily heard from outside and Leah wondered if the modern music plus the rapid thoughts of everyone all at once was making Edward go insane. Leah, Seth, Embry, and Quil walked through the garage doors, looking around at the party going on.
Leah was scoping out the nice and tasteful decorations Alice and Esme worked on while the boys were busy alternating their attentions between the food and girls.
"Go have fun," Esme said in gentle encouragement, coming up from the behind the group. "Just make sure to leave some food for the rest of the guests." She called out to the boys.
Leah remained at her side. "It looks beautiful in here," she said softly.
"Thank you," Esme said sincerely and preened at the compliment. "I want you to have fun as well," She suggested gently.
"Most of the kids here I don't know and are younger than me," Leah said after casting a wary glance over the crowd of excitable teens packed into the Cullen's den.
Esme raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip. "I'm not going to have you ruining Bella's party."
"I'm not," Leah said at once. "I really just came here to see you-"
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked almost accusingly, cutting off the rest Leah's sentence.
"You invited me." Leah shrugged with a harried expression
Bella blinked slowly, the angry winds being drained from her sails. "I didn't actually think you'd show up."
"Well, Seth wanted to come and I came to drop off a graduation present," Leah said simply.
Bella blinked again. "You got me a present?" She couldn't keep the note of surprise out of her voice.
"Yeah right," Leah snorted, fishing the slender jewelry box out of her back pocket. It was a squashed after her bumpy ride in Emmett's Jeep but she couldn't find the strength to care. "Jake made this for you."
Bella took the proffered box and opened it. She gasped softly as she saw the beautiful sterling silver charm bracelet with a single wooden wolf charm hanging from it. "It's beautiful. He made this?" she asked, running her fingers over it gently.
"Yeah, sometimes Jake has a little too much time on his hands," Leah said with a shrug.
"Why didn't he bring it to me himself?" Bella glanced outside briefly to see if she could catch a glimpse of Jacob through the windows.
"Jake's somewhere in the mountains. No one's heard from him or seen him in days." Seth appeared at Bella's side, snacking on a barbeque sauce covered Swedish meatball from a toothpick.
"Is he alright?" she asked, concerned.
Leah leveled her with a glare. "Heartbroken but nothing he can't get over. I warned you Bella, why couldn't you just…" she trailed off as she watched Bella hurried past her and over to Alice who was frozen on the stairs.
"What is it, Alice? What did you see?" Bella asked at once, placing a hand gently on Alice's wrist.
Alice looked shaken as she looked down at Bella. "A decision's been made."
Leah remembered Esme explaining Alice's visions and came a little closer, making sure she'd hear everything loud and clear.
"You're not going to Seattle?" Bella asked.
"No." Alice shook her head. "They're coming here."
Edward and Carlisle, came downstairs just shortly after Alice's reveal. Jasper appeared a second later. Carlisle nodded to Leah before gesturing toward the patio. "We can have some privacy out there."
"Mé?" Leah asked as her eyes sought out the vampire that slipped away quietly as she was talking to Bella.
"Go on. I can hear everything and someone needs to stay inside to wrangle the teenagers." Esme gave a barely perceptible head nod to the wolf in encouragement.
"Okay." Leah said and slowly shifted back to the pack link.
"Come to the staircase." She said. It wasn't a request.
"Aw man! I was about to get this girl's number, Lee." Seth responded in an instant.
"Come on, Seth. This is more important."
"Be there in a second." Seth whined.
Quil, Embry and Seth came to stand beside Leah as they calmly walked through the house guests to the back door. Bella and Alice sat on the table closest to the door, in a tight embrace while Carlisle, Edward and Jasper stood on the other end of the room. The shifters stood opposite the vampires waiting for an explanation to the tense mood. Embry and Quil exchanged curious looks behind Leah, noticing how close Alice and Bella were.
Leah broke the silence. "Alright we know Vicky's been building up the vamp numbers in Seattle so what else is going on that has you so spooked."
Alice zoned out once more, recalling more of her vision to the forefront of her mind. "They're being hunted," she said with genuine fear in her voice.
"That's good right? If they're being hunted that means the less we have to worry about?" Seth asked the vampires.
"No, it's not good. They're being hunted by the Volturi. If the Volturi come here they're going to scrutinize every aspect of our lives," Edward explained, seeing the wolves' confused expressions. He turned to his sister. "Who's coming, Alice?"
"Jane, Alec, Dimitri, and Felix," she responded gravelly. She looked toward Edward and whispered lowly. It sounded like murmured hissing to Leah. They went back and forth for a few seconds before Leah's patience ran out.
"You want to let us in on this?" Leah asked finally.
Edward turned his attention back to the wolves. "Alice thinks they have an ulterior motive."
"I'm sure they have one," Alice clarified emphatically. "The army wasn't destroying us quickly enough for their liking."
"They didn't count on Victoria's patience for vengeance," Jasper piped up from his tense position next to Carlisle.
"But she wasn't patient she's been trying to get at Bella for months." Embry pointed out in confusion.
"Those were just games," Edward said.
"You still haven't told us what this all means," Leah said getting quite impatient herself. "We aren't going to Seattle and the Volturi are going total annihilation on the newborns so now what?"
"This means a bloodbath with many lives lost," Carlisle stated, looking up from his spot to study the younger woman. "It means a fight that none of us are ready for," He concluded, looking deep into Leah's eyes.
"And they're all here for Bella?" Leah asked for confirmation, ignoring the blonde's verbal jab.
Alice nodded with a scowl. "Yes, Victoria was passing around Bella's scent to the newborns in one of my earlier visions."
"How many are left?" The female wolf asked, contemplating facts being laid out to her.
Alice closed her eyes and concentrated. "A little more than a handful escaped." She answered before opening her eyes slowly.
"A handful of newborns are more than enough to create a more than difficult situation," Jasper informed the group.
Leah glanced behind her locking eyes with Embry, Quil, and Seth. They nodded to her solemnly. "We'll fight," she said, standing straight to show her determination.
Carlisle didn't react as he turned to his son. "Jasper?" he asked.
"They'll give us the numbers we need and Victoria may stick close to the action because of her score to settle with Leah," Jasper responded with a tiny smirk at the idea of finally being able to take out Victoria.
"Oh, I've got more than a score to settle with her." Leah cracked her knuckles loudly.
"We both do." Seth ground out darkly, surprising everyone.
"No," Bella said standing in the middle of the group. Seeing the youngest member of the LaPush pack with such deadly intent forced her to speak up. "You can't do this. I don't want anyone else getting killed or maimed because of me."
"That's a very pretty stance but I'm not doing this at all because of you. I'm doing this for Esme and for Jake," Leah said, restraining herself from tacking on the rest of her rant. "Accept the help, Bella. It's not just your fight anymore," She said before turning to Alice. "How much time do we have?"
"Victoria will be here in two days," She declared with dread, pulling Bella to her a little tighter, as if the hug would ward off all the danger.
"Looks like we better get training," Leah said with a dark grin.
Carlisle sat down heavily with a shake of his head. "This has become very complicated."
-x-
When Leah announced that she'd agreed to train with the vampires in order to learn how to kill a newborn army headed for Forks the reaction was less than positive.
"Why would you agree that we would fight along side those leeches?" Paul asked stalking around Leah angrily.
"We can't put down an army of newborns by ourselves, Paul." The gray wolf looked back and forth between the larger wolves currently glaring at her. "No matter how powerful we are as a pack and right now with this divide you insist on nurturing, we're at piss poor quality."
The dark silver wolf jumped in front of Leah with a growl. "Why don't you admit that you're just in this to make sure your precious-"
Leah's voice dropped to a dangerously low register. "Watch it, Paul."
Jared stood in front of Leah's eyesight hiding his friend. "We're just worried that you agreed solely so you could fight beside your imprint." He said as gently as he could.
"What difference does that make?" Leah growled and turned, fastening her eyes on Sam and Quil, knowing her next statement would affect them more than the others. "Everyone's imprints are threatened if these newborns escape with their undead lives."
"I get that, but why are you calling the shots?" Paul demanded with a snarl. "When did Jake suddenly die and make you Alpha?"
"I'm Beta which in this case makes my word just as good as his." Leah said, barely glancing in his direction before addressing the whole pack. "The army that is coming is filled with crazed leeches only out for blood. If they were to get to Bella and successfully kill her we know they won't stop at just her. You've all seen the destruction they can do from the news reports and I've seen it firsthand."
"Why can't we wait until they become a direct threat to us?" Jared asked, with a shake of his brown head. "One misguided human's blood is a small price to pay to save thousands of lives."
"We have vowed to protect all the humans on our land. That includes Bella no matter how 'misguided' she may be." A voice thundered over the pack link before large russet wolf came out of the tree line with a murderous look on his face. It jumped at Jared and all of a sudden Jake was standing there looking down at the dazed boy with blood trickling down his chin. "Anyone else have any other bright suggestions?"
"You're going against us? So much for bros before hoes, Jake." Paul said, nudging Jared awake.
Leah shook her head while a growl rumbled in her chest from his statement. "I've had it with your shit, Paul."
"We can handle this now leech lover." Paul turned away from his friend and licked his chops. He'd just begun his advance when the russet wolf stood in his way.
"Paul, stand down." Jake said in Alpha-voice.
The dark silver wolf froze and bowed low to the ground in submission. He whined softly and moved quickly out of the way of Jake's murderous glare.
"If Leah said we'll fight, then we'll fight." Jake declared in a strong Alpha voice for the whole pack to hear.
"Thanks, Jake." Leah said sincerely
"Is there any other business we need to discuss right now?" When no one said anything Jake nodded once and paused before continuing. "I have an announcement. I'm denouncing my title as Alpha starting immediately."
Leah gasped at his statement as the rest of the wolves stood stock still.
"Jacob." Sam said sternly, coming to stand in front of the larger wolf. "You cannot just lay down your title of Alpha like it's a sash you won in a pageant. It has to be won from you."
Jake looked at the former Alpha with calculating eyes and turned to the rest of the pack. "Then we fight. Who wants to be Alpha?" he asked looking to each wolf. Nearly everyone turned their gaze away. "Who wants it?" he asked again.
"Sam, what are you waiting for?" Jared asked what everyone was thinking.
Sam looked away from everyone's expectant eyes. "I am forbidden to become Alpha through challenge for the next twenty-five years."
That set off a rapid fire discussion from the pack that was so mixed no one could tell one boy from the other.
"Well, someone needs to take the post."
"Yeah, we can't have an unwilling Alpha."
"What good are we as a pack if we have no Alpha?"
"I accept." Leah said quietly but the boy's just kept talking right over her statement.
"I'd do it but I really don't want the responsibility."
"Don't look at me! I don't want it either."
"Well, let's not all jump up and take on the challenge."
"What was that, Leah?" Jake boomed over the pack link.
"I said I accept the challenge to fight for the Alpha spot." She repeated and trotted in the center of the pack.
Seth walked toward his sister quickly. "Lee?"
"It's okay Seth." She nuzzled him softly and came forward once more, standing thirty feet away from Jake. The pack made a large circle for the two combatants.
"I won't be making this easy on you." Jake warned.
"It would be an empty victory if you did." Leah retorted and charged.
Jake moved a second later and they met in the middle. Both wolves reared up on their hind legs and clawed at each other, each of them trying to gain the upper hand. Leah darted her head forward leaving several bites over Jake's face and ears. He retaliated with bites of his own, pulling pained whimpers from Leah, his viciousness nearly taking off Leah's left ear.
They dropped down on all fours and stalked around back and forth before lunging again. Jake caught Leah at the scruff of her neck and tossed her into a nearby tree.
Shaking off her bout of dizziness with a shake of her furry head, Leah stood quickly. She leapt over Jake's large form at the last second and inwardly smirked when he head butted the tree behind her. The russet wolf turned snapped his jaws at her tail catching a few hairs in his mouth.
Leah whirled around sharply, holding back another whimper at having the fur yanked from her tail. She felt the blood beading beneath the sleek gray fur at the tip of her tail. She growled loudly and clawed Jake's face. They balanced on two legs once again and traded bites.
The young woman knew she was faster than Jake's bulky body and used it to her advantage. She risked leaving her back exposed and dropped low, ducking under his body and clamped her teeth on his right back leg. She bit deep and wretched her head to the side, tearing the skin there.
Jake stumbled back off balance with a whine. He limped back away from Leah's reach and the smaller wolf jumped at him forcing him back on the injured leg once more, ripping the skin once again.
Leah took advantage of his hunched position to jump onto his back, clawing and biting through his thick fur, creating more wounds. Jake's leg would soon be nearly healed enough to move on it with very little discomfort, granting him just enough strength to buck her off his back.
Leah dug her claws into Jake's back, trying desperately to fasten her teeth onto his carotid artery. She finally snagged it and pressed firmly until she felt Jake's movements become sluggish. She held on to his slumped form until she was sure he down for the count.
No one was more surprised than the small, gray wolf when she hopped off the larger russet wolf on shaky paws. Seth moved cautiously forward when his sister tensed and started to shudder.
Leah couldn't believe the sheer pleasure she got from the rush of power she felt as the ancient Alpha strength became infused within her. It was at once obscured by the painful ache as her bones lengthened, her wolf becoming larger and more feral. The fur along her form sleeked down along her body except at her head where it made a small mane. Her teeth and claws grew longer and sharpened, while her eyes glowed a brilliant ocher. Once her transformation was done, she tipped back her head and howled her victory.
Leah stood tall, looking down at all the wolves standing before her.
"Bow to your new Alpha!" Sam barked at their shocked expressions. He and Seth bowed low to the ground first and nearly everyone else followed suit. Jake woke up from his short coma and immediately bowed.
Paul was the only one left who had yet to bow out of respect for Leah's new status. He looked at everyone defiantly and before deliberately walking over their lowered forms only stopping once he'd reached Leah. He looked at her for a long few moments and lowered his body into the dirt.
"Long live the new Alpha!" Seth howled out jumping into the air with a yip. He bounded forward and tackled his sister, engaging her in puppy play.
"Now we celebrate!" Paul yelled. "Last one to the cliff is a blind three legged dingo. He taunted and took off into the forest."
The rest of the pack followed his lead, dirt flew from beneath their claws and the forest echoed with the rumble of their hulking figures leaping across the land.
-x-
Leah watched the boys taking turns dunking each other in the water. Embry surfaced from the water with a head covered with seaweed. He batted his eyelashes and attempted to jokingly kiss Sam much to the amusement of the rest of the pack. She chuckled lowly and shook her head at their antics. If this was the group of knuckleheads in charge of saving the world then they were all doomed. "How's your leg?" she said once Jake walked up to her.
Jake stood and jumped up and down on one leg. "Good as new," He said simply.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Don't apologize." Jake said waving his hand in a dismissive motion. "You did what needed to be done to win. So it's all good."
"Will it always feel this awesome?"
"Yeah it kind of does," Jake said with a grin before turning to Leah. "When do we train?"
"Tomorrow," She said with a smirk.
-x-
The next day, the Quileute pack met the Cullens deep in the woods. They stalked out of the trees slowly. Leah held her head high as she headed the pack in human form.
"Something's changed," Edward mumbled, looking to each pack member before his eyes settled on Leah. She raised a single eyebrow at him and waited for him to elaborate. "Leah's become the new Alpha." The mind reading vampire revealed to his family.
Edward watched as the wolves tensed slightly and each shifted just a fraction of an inch toward Leah. "They still don't trust us," he said with a little bit of exasperation in his tone.
"We showed up, didn't we?" Leah said in a flat tone.
Carlisle nodded and patted Edward's shoulder. "They did show up, Edward and that's what counts," he said before turning to address the pack. "Today we're going to show you how to defeat newborns."
"How do newborns differ from you?" Leah asked for the benefit of the pack.
"Newborns are bloodthirsty, unpredictable killers," Carlisle declared emphatically, walking closer to the pack. "Because their human blood still lingers in their veins a vampire will never be more powerful than in the first several months of life."
"Carlisle's right." Jasper said, taking up the rest of the conversation. "I have experience in dealing with newborns and their immense strength." He paced back and forth in front of the pack like a general commanding an army. "Don't ever let a newborn get their arms around you and never go for the obvious kill." He paused. "They'll be expecting that. Now let's begin." The blonde swept his hand toward Bree. "Bree here will be a great demonstration of what newborns are capable of."
"She's a tiny slip of a girl. What can she do?" Paul asked with a scoff. The pack yipped in agreement.
"They don't believe Bree is very powerful," Edward explained, turning to Jasper.
"I think a visual aid is needed," Jasper said, nodding to Emmett.
Emmett took his cue and walked from the group and stood a few feet away from Jasper while Bree took her position opposite the much larger vampire.
"Don't hold back," Jasper warned his brother.
"Not in my nature," Emmett said with a smirk and in an instant he was across the field, pushing Bree across the dirt.
The newborn held her ground, digging up the soft earth beneath her feet. She ducked under Emmett's massive arms and grabbed him around the waist pitching him across the clearing. Emmett was back on his feet immediately only to find himself face down in the dirt with his arms held behind his back.
Jasper walked around the two vampires smugly as Emmett struggled to release Bree's hold on him. "Never lose focus."
Leah didn't hear Emmett's response because she was already distracted. She knew she should have been focusing on the lessons, but it was difficult with her imprint looking so breathtaking just a few feet away. The Alpha's eyes traveled up Esme's curves her mind conjuring all the different ways she would take her in the forest. Her fantasies were quickly headed into the x-rated type of fun and she didn't even notice Edward shooting a disgusted look in her direction before he was forced onto his back by Carlisle.
"Never turn your back on your enemy," Jasper told Edward haughtily. Jasper turned to the pack of wolves, "Now we will split into teams for sparring." Jasper looked to Carlisle for the teams.
"Who's willing to be the first to spar with Bree in this round?" Carlisle looked to each of the pack, watching as Leah looked at Embry. Embry shrugged and trotted forward.
Bree stood just a few feet away from the wolf. Her posture remained relaxed as she waited for Embry to make the first move.
"Is this a fight or an oil painting?" Emmett whispered to Rosalie.
"Hush, Emmett," Esme scolded him quietly.
Embry paced back and forth waiting for some sign that Bree was distracted but the newborn stood inhumanly still, giving nothing away. The thin, gray and black wolf charged with a snarl straight for the young vampire but when he finally made it across the small space she was no where to be seen.
The wolves glanced all over the clearing but was unable to detect Bree. Suddenly, the newborn dropped from the tree and grabbed Embry in an awkward full nelson.
"You're dead, Embry," Jasper informed him. "Never make the first move, always let your enemy make a presumptuous mistake."
The wolf nodded and trotted back to the pack, where he sat on the ground to watch the rest of the demonstration.
"Hey Carlisle, how about Seth and Alice spar since they are almost the same height!" Emmett declared with a yell.
Alice shot Emmett a small glare before looking over at the now seemingly blushing wolf, "I'm not going to go easy on you puppy." She teased. Seth nodded and ran forward. Alice dodged the lunge of a gangly, sandy brown wolf with a graceful twirl.
Paul locked eyes with Rosalie and stalked forward toward her with a quick growl.
"Bring it," She snarled back and met him in the middle of his run.
Quil nodded to Carlisle and lumbered toward him quickly. Jacob and Edward exchanged looks and decided to have a friendly match.
The clearing soon became a scene of organized chaos as the rest of the teams split off to fight and tried to their best to subdue their counterparts. Jasper soon bested Sam without any effort at all and flashed between each sparing pair pointing out their weaknesses.
"Don't go for the obvious kill!" Jasper snapped at Jared when the wolf tried to jump Emmett from behind. The stubborn swift brown wolf didn't listen and pounced. Emmett used one arm to catch the wolf midair and applied slight pressure to his windpipe.
"You're dead," Emmett informed Jared and dropped him to the ground The wolf sent scathing looks at the vampire but removed himself to the sidelines to watch the others continue their battles.
A cocky smirk slid onto Leah's face as she eyed her imprint. "I guess that leaves you and me."
"Looks that way," Esme agreed.
The Alpha tilted her head right and left, sending a loud series of pops across the clearing as she cracked her neck. She ran toward Esme suddenly extending her arm for a clothesline, Esme ducked under the female wolf's arm and tripped Leah to the ground.
The younger woman rolled out of the way to avoid a punch to the head. The younger woman hopped to her feet, bouncing on the balls of her feet. They danced around each other for a few seconds. Suddenly slamming into each other at the same time as if hearing a signal only meant for their ears, Esme grabbed Leah around her torso, pitching the younger woman over her shoulder.
Leah pivoted in the air, landing in wolf form. She allowed a few seconds for Esme to admire her new wolf before charging the vampire, ducking at the last possible second and snapped her jaws upwards when Esme jumped right on cue and succeeded in nipping her ankle. "I'm inside you head, love." The wolf taunted.
"And I'm in yours." Esme replied and dodged a claw swipe before Leah's paw moved from the earth. She leapt backwards almost out of range, Leah's claws caught the fabric of her shirt ripping the bottom, exposing Esme's abs to the air.
The caramel haired vampire looked down at her ripped shirt and back to the grey wolf. She pranced to Leah and flicked her nose. "Bad girl."
They went back and forth a few times, neither actually landing a hit before finally separating.
"Close the link?" Leah proposed and Esme nodded. They stared into each other's eyes and concentrated. It was uncomfortable as they felt the link fight to be at the forefront. Eventually, it was finally just a tiny buzz at the base of their skulls.
"Now we dance." The gray wolf declared and leapt her imprint while the vampire, batted her away like a fly. Leah dug her claws into the dirt to slow her skidding. She quickly dodged Esme's oncoming punch and tossed her large head upwards, throwing the vampire off balance. She didn't waste any time for the vampire to recover and leapt on her mate.
The force of her pounce created a small Esme shaped crater in the ground. "You're dead." Leah projected to the vampire.
In an instant, Esme slinked from the hold and her legs were wrapped around Leah's neck in a non-lethal but firm grapple. "You were saying?" she sent back with a smirk.
"These practices are to help you kill a vampire, specifically newborns more effectively," Carlisle stated calmly, then his voice became stern. "It's not supposed to be hosting a game of your mating dance."
Leah looked at his perfect hair and his kind expression. She growled her displeasure at being interrupted from playing with her mate and sent him a look that clearly said: 'Jealous?'
Jasper looked around the clearing at the now tense atmosphere and declared. "I think we're done for the day."
-End of Chapter Fifteen-
One more chapter down! I know! I know! It's been a long, looong time since I've updated and apologize. I hope this lengthy chapter more than makes up for the lost time. Thank you, thank you, thank you all for the encouragement and well wishes during this entire story. I enjoy hearing your all of your opinions!
Well, Leah's fully healed yet again and she's an Alpha. Did anyone see that coming? ;) Also, we're getting deeper in the plot of Eclipse. Any thoughts, critiques, or suggestions? Lemme know it all in a PM or review!
Until next time!
~MC