Leah lay on her back, her breath stuttering in shallow pants. "Damn, Jared!" His lanky form stretched beside her on her queen size bed, one leg bent, his sculpted chest heaving. Everything but the fitted mauve sheet had been swept to the floor in a heap – top sheet, pillows, blanket, clothing. There were several ragged tears in the remaining sheet.

"Sorry about your sheet, Leah." He didn't look sorry, as a lazy grin spread across his face.

"Collateral…damage," she managed to squeak. Leah cleared her throat and willed her heart to return to a steady rhythm. In a more normal tone, she continued. "It's been a while, but – damn!"

"You're repeating yourself," he commented with a smirk, rolling on his side to face her.

Leah grinned, trailing her fingertips along his naked hip. "Sorry," she breathed. "What I meant was – holy shit!"

Jared chucked. "Much better," he whispered, his breath catching in his throat. He imitated her motion with his fingertips, and it was her turn to squirm. They spent a pleasant few hours getting acquainted before they both heard Sue's key in the door.

"Out!" Leah managed to scream in a whisper. She gathered up Jared's clothes and threw them out the window.

"Leah! What the hell am I supposed to do now?" She tried not to smile as he stood by the window buck naked, hands on his hips, his erection just beginning to droop. She pointed, biting her lip as he climbed out the window and clung to the sill by his fingertips.

Sue Clearwater was only human, with no supernatural powers of sight or smell. But she recognized a naked man when she saw one dangling outside the window of her laundry room. As Jared dropped to the ground, landing gracefully in her flower garden, their eyes met for a brief second as he hurtled past. Sue shook her head and turned back to the towels she was folding.

After dinner, Sue was clearing the table when the phone rang. "I'll get it, Mom," Leah offered as she jumped up. "And I'll clean up here – you cooked dinner." Sue knew when she was being dismissed, but she'd never pass up an offer like that. Leah grabbed the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey." Jared's voice was soft and sexy, and Leah felt an involuntary tightening somewhere south of her stomach.

"What is it, Jared?" Leah was trying for nonchalance, but her voice betrayed her and came out sounding breathless.

"Is it okay if I come over?"

"For what?"

Jared's composure slipped a notch. "Nothing special. I just want to see you."

"You know we're not dating, right, Jared?" Leah hoped Seth was upstairs; if not, she was sure he could hear both sides of the whispered conversation.

"Oh. I thought maybe…after today…" his voice trailed off.

Leah shook her head, leaning against the granite countertop. "Nope. Friends with benefits. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

He sighed and hung up. Seth walked in and reached for the cookie jar on top of the refrigerator. "So…Leah. If you and Jared are 'not dating,' just exactly what ARE you doing?" Seth's dark eyes were alight with mischief as he helped himself to a handful of Sue's chocolate chip cookies.

"None of your business, brat," Leah retorted. To underline her position, she lobbed a potholder at his head.

Catching the potholder neatly, Seth chuckled. "No problem, Sis. I'm scheduled to patrol with him tomorrow. There are no secrets in a wolf pack."

Leah groaned and stomped up the stairs with a fresh set of sheets from the laundry room. She grumbled softly to herself as she made the bed. She knew it was only a matter of time until all the members of both packs knew exactly what was happening between her and Jared. And she had to admit, at least to herself, that what was happening was pretty spectacular.

Seth would not agree. He shook his furry head and complained to Jared. "Ewwwww, Jared! That's my SISTER! Jeez, now I have to go home and wash out my eyes. With bleach. Could we please discuss something else – anything else? How about those Seahawks?"

"I really am sorry, Seth, but I can't seem to think about anything else. I mean – you know how long I've had a crush on Leah." As the scene played out through their mind link, Leah licked her lips and…Seth phased back to human and pulled on his shorts.

"That's IT!" he shouted at the startled wolf. "I'm not patrolling with you. Ever. Again." He shook his head in a vain attempt to clear the images and started the long jog to find Jake and explain his predicament. Jake would have to understand. There was only so much a young wolf could take.

Leah was sitting on the porch swing when Jared came looking for Seth. "Hey," he said pleasantly. "I'm looking for Seth. Did he come home? I need to apologize."

Leah groaned. "I have a bad feeling I don't want to know what the apology is for."

"You're right. You don't."

"Well, he didn't come home. Quil said he saw him at Jake's earlier. He might still be there."

"Oh. Feel like a run?"

Leah grinned. "Sure. I could use a workout."

Jared sighed. He'd actually meant it literally, maybe talk along the way…but of course they ended up in a sweaty tangle of limbs in the edge of the forest. Not that the sex wasn't good. Well, stupendous. But his feelings went so much deeper, it was frustrating. And Leah always brushed him off afterwards. No more pillow talk after the first time. She was keeping her barriers secure.

It was about two months before the trouble started. Leah wasn't sick, but she didn't feel quite right. Her appetite was off and her breasts were tender. She hoped maybe it was the unaccustomed exercise with Jared every few days. He was taking every opportunity to start a conversation. Leah would never admit it to Jared – or anyone else – but he wasn't a bad companion. For a guy.

As the only female shifter, Leah was in a unique predicament. With her elevated body temperature and extreme metabolism, she didn't dare go to a human doctor. The only medical help on the rez was a registered nurse – her mother. That left Dr. Carlisle Cullen, who gave Leah the absolute willies. He seemed a nice enough man – for a fucking vampire!

Esme Cullen greeted Leah at the door with a big smile. "It's nice to see you again, Leah! How is your mother?" Leah hadn't seen the Cullens since Bella's wedding, and that suited her just fine. It was unnatural for vamps and shifters to hobnob.

"She's fine thanks, Mrs. Cullen." Leah tried not to breathe as she was ushered into the immaculate house that stank of bleach and undead flesh.

"Goodness, I'm not that old! Please call me Esme." The repulsive beauty smiled and showed her to Carlisle's upstairs office, leaving her there and closing the door behind her. She barely had time to fidget in her seat and wonder what the hell she'd been thinking when the doctor himself entered the room.

"Leah! It's good to see you, though I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well." Thankfully, he didn't offer to shake hands and his smile seemed genuine. Leah relaxed slightly. "I know you're a bit reticent for me to examine you, so how about if we just take some blood and do some basic testing today?" He could see her body relax.

"My skin is pretty tough…"

He interrupted her. "Not a problem. I have special needles I bought just for pack members who need blood work. The first thing we have to do is rule out the possibility you might be pregnant." He noted her startled expression. "I know the elders don't think it's possible, Leah," he continued softly, "but they're guessing. None of us has ever encountered a female shifter before. And while I appreciate their wisdom and traditions, my approach is more scientific." With gloved hands, he drew two vials of blood.

"I'll let you know the results as soon as I do, Leah. And whatever the problem is, we'll find it." He patted her hand, and she jerked it back as if burned.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I don't mean to be rude, and I do appreciate your help." Her smile was sincere.

"Don't mention it, Leah. I really do understand. I'll give you a call tomorrow, and we'll take it from there. And don't worry," he added, anticipating her next question. "It will remain just between us." He rose and walked her to the door. As Leah stepped outside, she filled her lungs with the clean, crisp northwest air. She imagined Carlisle doing the same as he closed the door behind her, escaping the wolf smell.

The next morning, Dr. Cullen took a seat at the desk in his office at the hospital. A yellow envelope on his blotter bore the single word "STAT." Leah's test results. With a silver letter opener, he slit the envelope and removed the single typewritten page. "Well, Miss Clearwater," he thought, "I hope this is the result you wished for."