Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

(Leah - POV)

After that quick little meeting with my pack a council meeting had been called. Mom was on the council, and she had told me that the elders wished to discuss the fact my imprint was a vampire. He was part of the reason that there were protectors. It was seen as a problem. I had rolled my eyes.

"So, it's perfectly fine for the others to imprint but not me? Look, I am an anomaly. I am the only female shifter in all of our history. Why would I not be different?" I ranted a bit.

"It is only natural for the weak to fear what is different." Demetri said as he read the newspaper.

Mom sighed. It was true. I was different and in a way the tribe did fear me. There was no telling what else I may be capable of doing. Heck, I already could block out the Alpha call. I only answered as a courtesy. Mostly because I knew they hated that I was one of them. What's to say that I was not an Alpha? Sam could not control me. He never has, even as the Alpha of the pack.

"Is this something I must be present for?" I asked.

"Your presence was not requested." Mom answered, "But I advise that you both should be present."

"Splendid idea." Demetri stated not even looking up from the paper, "Seth is back."

Mom looked confused. There had been no noise indicating that someone had entered the home. Then the old screened front door squeaked open and then closed. Mom looked at Demetri with intrigue.

"How did you know?" she asked him.

"I am gifted. I have a power that allows me to find anyone anywhere no matter where they are in the world. I only have to meet someone's eyes once even for a split second and I capture the essence of their mind. I use that to find people. it is also useful in allowing me to know if they are deceased. The essence dies with the person. I am labeled the greatest tracker in the world." Demetri explained to her.

"Oh my, that sounds both invasive and very useful." Mom said in awe.

"I believe so too." Demetri said.

"Wow." Seth commented, he had entered while Demetri explained.

"Indeed." I said to my baby brother, "It's crazy that some vampires have gifts."

The phone rang. Mom answered. It was Charlie Swan. He was double checking the time of Dad's funeral. It was today around noon. I sighed and went for the stairs. I needed to shower and get ready for it. I knew before I even set foot on the bottom step of the stairs that Demetri was behind me. I could feel the cold radiating off of him. I climbed the stairs and grabbed towels and a cloth from the linen closet. He was like a silent shadow. I didn't mind his constant presence at all. It was comforting. This was odd for me, but I was beginning to feel like the old Leah. The Leah that was allowed to be delicate, to be happy. I had shut her away long ago when Sam and I split. He had been everything to me. I breathed because he was with me. Then I was shattered. I believed I was shattered beyond repair. I had loved him with every fiber of my being and now... Now Demetri.

Demetri's presence alone has been carefully beginning the process of tenderly picking up my pieces. Delicately dusting them off and gathering them together to bring me back. The imprinting itself had breathed life into me. The sweet and happy girl I used to be was being pulled from the grave and new life breathed within her tormented lungs, starved for air and light. I had never known just how broken I had been until I looked into those sanguine colored eyes. I felt my very soul shift. The bitterness that had taken over my life was being sucked from my veins slowly like poison from a wound.

I stepped into the shower and turned the spray onto the highest setting of hot. Since I was a wolf, it did not feel that hot to me. To me it was mildly warm. But to Demetri, he hissed when he stepped in behind me. It was hot. I grabbed my favorite coconut shampoo and lathered it into my hair and cleaned my scalp. I grabbed my matching conditioner and run it through the locks. I moved out from under the spray to do this and let it sit to be soaked up by my thirsty strands. Demetri had other plans.

His hands moved around my body cupping my breasts and drawing me back against him. His lips on my neck, sucking at my pulse point. Fangs lightly grazing the spot. I shivered. His lips moved into a smile on my neck. Italian was lightly whispered in my ear. I don't know what he said precisely but it was beautiful. I was only 20 years old, and I have never felt this cherished and loved in my short life. Ever.

We made love in the shower. He was an ardent and passionate lover. He was very generous in his foreplay. It was no lie when the history books said that the Greeks were obsessed with the human body and how they could represent it - as a thing of beauty and a bearer of meaning. That had been the best I had ever had. When we finished and were finally dressed for my father's funeral, I discovered mom and Seth had already left for the service. Demetri and I got in the truck, and he followed my directions.

We pulled up. Mom and Seth were outside at the doors greeting everyone as they came in. I came up to them and fell in line as it was the duty of the family. Demetri stayed by my side and just behind me. Charlie and Bella arrived with Marcus and Felix. Mom and Seth had stiffened when they saw the other two vampires. I mentally told Seth they were ok. They were part of Demetri's coven and had been told to eat outside of the territory. He nodded and squeezed moms' hand. She nodded and continued to greet people.

It had been awkward when the pack arrived. They all but rudely bypassed me. The imprints greeted me and gave their condolences and apologies for my pack members. They also gave their imprints withering looks for being mean to me at my own father's funeral. Sam did try to be somewhat semi-civil. He'd mostly glared at Demetri who in turn kept that smug smirk on his face. I had realized in those moments any ill will I harbored towards Sam and Emily was gone. I had greeted Emily and hugged her as I used to when we had been so close, like sisters, before Sam tore us apart.

Emily had nearly come apart in relief that I was no longer angry with her. Now that I have imprinted, I saw that this was clearly out of her hands. She had done all that had been natural to each of us. Even Demetri was caught in the imprint cycle. It was the wolf's way of finding their human counterparts' mates. Emily was my best friend again. I was happy for it as well. She had to drag Sam in with her to their seats.

After the greeting was finally done and we got to the family's seats. Old Quill led the ceremony. It was a beautiful eulogy. Charlie gave a memory speech with Chief Billy Black. He, Dad, and Billy had been so close growing up and had stayed close as adults. Mom spoke a few words. It was hard for her, but she pushed through. Seth also spoke and then I did. I didn't make it through my speech before I was crumbling. It hurt so much that daddy was gone. My shifting had been the cause. I blamed myself heavily for his heart attack.

"Amata lupa." Demetri was by my side and enveloping me in his arms, taking me back to my seat.

I sat back down. I sobbed in his chest, his arms around me shielding me from the eyes I could feel on me. The eulogy ended and it was time to move out to the graveyard. Seth and the boys from the pack carried my father's casket to his burial plot. I hiccupped as Old Quill said a few more words as they lowered the casket down. Then they began to shovel the dirt in. I felt panic shoot over me.

"I.. I..." I began and just turned quickly.

I wouldn't have enough time. I ran towards the woods and barely entered the thick foliage when I burst. The gray wolf burst out and we ran. I howled my heart break out. Demetri did not follow me. He was respecting that I needed time. I needed to run. He would find me no problem after all.