CHAPTER 9

London – The Smiths

Bella was always wary of Leah Clearwater. From the moment they met, the she-wolf had been rude and mean. Bella reasoned this as jealousy, and Edward confirmed as much.

Much like how Rosalie was jealous of Bella's humanity and choice, Leah was jealous of the love and adoration towards Bella. The latter had her happy ever after with the man she loved and a child. The former didn't.

And Bella tried to feel pity for Leah, even as the latter intimidated her.

It was quite a surprise then to the young vampire how obsessed she was becoming. There was Leah Clearwater at university with her multiple degrees. There was Leah traveling the world. Leah and her hobbies. Leah in the newspaper for her art and photography. There was Leah in a brief stint as a lingerie and swimsuit model.

It was quite a surprise that the tables would turn and Bella would be jealous of Leah.

Esme, out of some kind of maternal solidarity, kept an eye on Leah, and Bella was tasked with delivering the news to Sue through Charlie or Seth. She continued her reports even after things got tense with Charlie. At first, she said it was for Esme, but really she devoured all news about Leah. She was thankful that Edward couldn't read her mind unless she allowed him to. She didn't want anyone to know her fixation. The few times she hinted to Edward what she was thinking, he gave her the reassurance she needed. But it wasn't enough.

A year after Renee's death and things are still awkward between Bella and Charlie. Both wanted to avoid a confrontation, so even fewer words than before were spoken between them.

As it turned out, a small coven of vampires began hunting in the area. All three were very recently turned. One had a gift, a cross between Victoria's and Alice's, while another was stronger than any newborn.

This was a conundrum for the Cullens, a conflict with the wolves. The vampires could become allies against the Volturi. But the wolves, along with Charlie, didn't want them hunting humans in the area.

"Most of the people who came to defend Renesmee were red-eyed vampires. We can convince them to not hunt humans in the area," Edward said.

"But they will hunt elsewhere," Billy insisted.

Leah and the elders never saw eye to eye. The she-wolf's phasing was a mystery they couldn't solve, and her attitude was a problem they didn't want to deal with. They are constantly calling her out for living off the rez, or for not being under the alpha's authority, or for whatever other rule they think she broke without ever explaining what the rules are or why they're in place. The goalposts just kept moving. There seemed to always be some rule that she was breaking.

But Leah, no matter how she tried, kept getting drawn into pack business. She gave Seth a number to reach her at, and he kept calling, giving her updates. She didn't want to be here at this meeting, insisting that she wasn't pack anymore. Somehow, her brother still managed to convince her.

"I can't believe this is even a discussion. They killed a family, Bella! Two of them were just kids! How can you even think of being friends with them?!" This was probably the most emotional Leah had ever seen Charlie. He was always so… staid. "They were just out on a road trip and some camping. They didn't deserve to die like that."

"We understand how upsetting this is…" Somehow, Leah knew that Edward's use of 'we' would not be appreciated. Charlie was having a difficult time processing Bella's choice to become a vampire. Her being his daughter means that he still loved her even when things were complicated. But he had no such love or affiliation with Edward. So easy to blame him then.

Leah sat quietly huddled in a corner alone, allowing herself to be overlooked and forgotten as they debated. Personal feelings and grievances will be aired out. There will be some shouting on the parts of the humans and wolves, cold calmness on the part of the vampires. She knew that the tribe will capitulate, because they've done so many times already. Renesmee is allowed on the rez. And the other Cullens violate the ban on their presence casually, knowing there won't be any repercussions because it will hurt Renesmee.

This conversation is happening in the Black living room. Jacob wasn't even here. Her former alpha had abdicated, allowing Sam to lead the pack so he can have more time with Renesmee. He's at the Cullen house, instead of here.

It still blew her mind how much Jacob Black had changed after imprinting... And continues to change.

She slipped out quietly, when she felt like she had heard enough. No one noticed.

When she returned over two hours later, the debate was still ongoing. The humans and wolves were getting worn down. But vampires had no stamina issues. They can literally debate the same topic for days non-stop.

Leah slipped back in, again quietly, not at all surprised that they were still talking.

"So we do nothing, hm?" she heard Charlie's exhausted voice. "These creatures, these monsters, can walk around killing kids, and you all will just let them?"

"It isn't as if we will do nothing," Edward using 'we' again. For a mind reader, he's dense.

"I promise we will do everything we can to convince them to not feed in the area. We will convince them to ally with us," Carlisle interjected.

"You befriend them? That's your solution to this?" Charlie was still going, rehashing the same arguments they've already gone over.

"Dad, this is complicated," Bella said, her voice gave away her frustration at the repetitiveness. She hadn't developed that vampiric monotone yet.

"Don't talk to me like I'm too stupid to understand, Bella," Charlie sounded so tired, Leah actually felt bad for him.

"I'm not! Dad, it's complicated! We have Renesmee to think about. The Volturi is after her and the Cullens and the pack. We have to be smart about this. The more we have on our side, the better chance we have if they come for us!"

Bella was frustrated that Charlie was applying human ethics to the supernatural when they simply did not, could not, apply. He had no understanding of the Volturi threat. As a mother, Bella had to keep her priorities straight. There was no line she wouldn't cross to protect Renesmee. Charlie just didn't understand that.

Leah put the sack she'd been carrying on a table nearby. It was hastily made from a couple of shirts, but she just needed something to carry the things with her.

"The kids were five and seven, Bells. I know you love Renesmee, I love her too, but she can't be the only kid that matters… Those kids…"

"I know, Dad. It breaks my heart, believe me. But what's done is done. Nothing can bring them back. We need to focus on where we go from here instead of going around and around, arguing about things we can't change. We need to be practical. We're in real danger from the Volturi."

"You're back," Edward said to Leah, drawing people's attention to her.

Away from his wife and her fucking dumb mouth, Leah thought, annoyed.

"You were gone a while. Sorry we bored you." Edward had hated Leah since she yelled at Bella years ago.

"You should be sorry for a lot more than that, but OK," Leah retorted. She knew that Edward could no longer read her mind, and it gnawed at him. He was lost and stumbling how to deal with her, now that he no longer had access to her thoughts. Leah wondered if all telepaths were this clueless when it came to interacting with others, and if it was because they are so dependent on what they can hear. Edward can hear surface or passing thoughts in the present. Those are not always a reliable measure of a person's deeper motives and feelings. It's a very blatant weakness, to assume the truthfulness of every passing thought.

"I gotta go. I have a long drive," Leah said.

"You can stay the night…" Seth offered. "Where did you go anyway?"

"Thanks, but I have stuff to do early tomorrow," Leah replied, gently turning down the offer. She hadn't spent a night on the rez in years.

"I want to make something clear before I leave though," she talked. Her voice even and calm. "The pack does not speak for me. The tribe does not speak for me. I am not allied to the Cullens. We are supernatural creatures that have to find a way to co-exist in the same fucking universe."

Edward chuckled. Leah wanted to punch him. "OK, dog. Whatever you say."

With such perfect timing, Leah could have planned it, the items in the makeshift sack rolled out and off the table. Leah gave people in the room a second to stare at them.

"I do say so, tic," she said. "My point, to be clear, is that no one tells me what to do. You don't get to give permission to other vampires over where they can eat or not eat like you're issuing hunting permits. You don't get that authority. I won't be honoring your permits. And you may want to reconsider walking on and off the rez whenever you feel like it, because while the wolves will refrain from punishing you to spare Renesmee's fee-fees, I don't really care enough."

"Is that a threat?" Edward asked, his bravado betrayed by his eyes straying to the items on the floor.

"No. It's a warning," Leah replied, nonchalantly.

Bella thought in that moment that Leah had gone insane. Bella noticed it before. How she would look off. Just off. Like she's having a conversation inside her head. Like she was listening.

And now she had this violent, feral look in her eyes.

"Are those…?" Seth started the question.

"Yup," Leah confirmed. "Don't worry, I cleaned up. These are all that's left of them."

The third vampire head rolled off the table and joined the other two on the floor with a solid thunk.

"You killed them?!" Bella asked, outraged. She was concerned that this would get out to other vampires, making them afraid of an alliance with her family. Or worse, turn the allies they've made against them. More vampires may think that the Volturi was right in wanting to destroy them because they're a threat. Leah's recklessness, her selfishness, was endangering them all.

"All three of them… by yourself?" Carlisle spoke slowly. A dawning realization falls on the group. The strength of the wolves comes from the pack. One single wolf just destroyed a coven.

"Goodnight, everyone!" Leah said cheerfully, before turning around to leave.

Leah didn't wait around so she didn't see it, but Bella did. Charlie looking at the she-wolf's back with respect and gratitude. Admiration, even.

And Bella knew, then.

Leah Clearwater was like all those girls in Phoenix, like Lauren or Jessica in Forks. Girls to whom things came easily. Making friends. Schoolwork. Sports. Popular, pretty girls who made clothes look good, and carried themselves with a confidence that caught people's eyes. Attention didn't make them squirm with anxiety. They never stuttered when responding, and always had the perfect comeback. The girls who made her feel invisible. But even worse, if they notice her. Girls whose sharp comments passed off as jokes can destroy a person's self-esteem in a second.

Bella knew, then.

She hated Leah Clearwater.