Leah woke up with moisture on her neck. Was Bella licking her? No, Bella was softly snoring. Bella was drooling. This was Leah's favorite. Her imprint was so comfortable with her, she slept so deeply on her that she was drooling.
"Mmmm, hi baby," Bella says "oh God! Leah, I'm sorry, here, let me clean this up." Bella reached for a tissue.
"Bella, it's so cute! I love that you are so comfortable with me. Don't ever stop drooling on me! Promise?"
"Leah, I don't think I could stop if I tried. But it's so embarrassing."
"It's endearing."
"You're the sweetest." Bella kissed her.
"I think you're the sweetest." Leah kissed her back.
o.~*~.o
Leah packed up some of the leftovers for her lunch. When they got downstairs, the whole pack was there again. Leah was floored by their commitment.
"Thank you all for coming today. Your commitment to this work means everything to me! I am pleased to see how learning about your wolves has transformed all of you this past week, and I hope that the work will continue to completion. Paul will be alpha while I am gone and Embry will be his second. Please show them the same respect that you show me."
Rachel and Bella sat down for their lesson. Leah went into the pack room and got Ephraim Black's book. She tapped Quil on the shoulder and beckoned him to follow her. The two of them sat down with Jake and Jared.
"Jacob, I want you to read Ephraim Black's book today. Quil and Jared will be sitting with you, translating your journal, so you'll be able to hear them. But I want you to read this book so that you can go on the pack run tomorrow. We need you back, Jacob. The pack is not whole without you, ok?"
Jake took a deep breath and took the book. "Ok." Jake enjoyed translating but he would take a break from it for Leah. With Jared and Quil translating, he'd still get to hear about his wolf's former life. It was the life of a strong warrior who was one with his wolf and a provider for his family. He longed for the same.
"Kim, can you work with Seth today?" Kim nodded. "Embry, come with me," she brought him to the pack room and Old Quil followed. Leah smiled at Old Quil. "He's going to tell his imprint about us tomorrow. What should he read today to give him courage and wisdom?"
Old Quil brought down three volumes. "I'll take care of him, Leah." Old Quil said.
"Thanks." And with that sorted, Leah left.
She truly did love driving the van. It was way more comfortable and faster. The airbag logo was a constant reminder that she was making Bella safer.
Charlie was waiting for her at the entrance of the station. "Is that the new car? A minivan?"
"Yeah, it's what Embry recommended and it's very comfortable. A sedan might have felt a little cramped, especially if we were ever driving the guys around."
"That's smart, and the price was good?"
"Yeah, we didn't even need to finance."
"That's great, Leah. What does Bella think?"
"She hasn't been in it yet. We stayed at the library yesterday and then had company last night, but she'll get to ride it tomorrow."
"But it's hers too, right?"
"Yeah Charlie, the bill of sale, registration and insurance is in both of our names."
"Good. I just don't want her stranded if anything happens between you two, God forbid."
"Charlie, if she left me, she'd get to keep the van. And I have no rights to the apartment. That's a perk of the library job."
"Uh huh, and if you left her?"
"It's not happening. Now, can I get to work so I can get back to see her?"
"Do you just hang out in the library all day when you're not here?"
"This week, yes. I've been helping Old Quil with some translation work. It's not interfering with Bella's training though. She's doing great."
"Ok, good. That's a great opportunity for her, a real stepping stone."
"Mmhmm." Leah bit her tongue. This was Bella's career, not a stepping stone.
o.~*~.o
When Leah returned to the library, Jake was the first to approach her. "Can we talk?"
"Any time, Jacob." She led him to a table a little ways away from the others. They both knew that everyone could hear them, but it felt a little private.
He started right in with "I don't understand everything that happened with me and Bella and with me and Jen. It all feels like a foggy dream." He paused, considering his words. "I'm not saying that to try to skirt responsibility. I'm saying it because I feel lost. I woke up from this when the imprint was broken and I've lost my dream girl and she's afraid of me, Leah." His eyes looked desperate. "Not only that but I know the identity of my soul mate, the one the spirits have pointed out to me, but I feel nothing for her. Nothing! It seems that all I felt for her was the imprint magic and it makes me sick."
"Hmmmm," Was all Leah said. She was also disturbed to hear that he felt nothing for Jen. Could that have implications for all of the imprinted wolves? She did not like that idea. But everyone else had a healthy and rich relationship with their imprints, so she hoped this was a problem for Jacob specifically.
"I feel sick because I hurt Bella and I hurt Jen. I think Jen is probably more hurt than Bella. I have you to thank for the fact that Bella is doing fine." Leah knew that Jen was hurt from their short conversation when the imprint was broken. She also knew that Jen was strong and would do well, whatever the future held.
"Well, I didn't help Isabella through this for you." Leah said.
"Right, and I'm starting to see Bella the way everyone else does, as the alpha's imprint, to be guarded and cherished." He looked up at Leah.
"Good."
"Don't worry, I'm not asking for a shift guarding her. I know I'm not ready for that responsibility and I have not earned the honor."
Leah smiled at that. She could tell that Jacob was sincere, but there was something about him not asking for guard duty that truly touched her.
"I'm not asking for anything from you, Leah. I'm just starting to understand who you are and I need you to know where I'm at. I'm not whole, but I'm piecing myself back together, with your guidance and the guys's help."
"I could already see your progress and growth, Jacob Black. This conversation has been enlightening though. Please, keep telling me how you are progressing. It is valuable to me, ok?"
"Sure thing, Leah." Then he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, showing her the familiarity of the lifelong friend that he was, not the crazed man he had recently been.
He turned around and everyone was staring at him. "Hold on Jake, how's the book?"
"Oh, it's great. I think I'll be able to stay on the pack run tomorrow."
"Great." She stood too and went to check on Bella. Bella was still working on the software in the office. "When you're done here, we can work on a translation together, ok?"
"Oh fun!" Bella smiled up at her.
Leah went to the pack room next where Embry was huddled over some imprint topical works. Leah sat down.
"How's it going?"
"Well, it seems a lot of the older tribes did not keep the packs a secret. Apparently vampires used to be a lot more common here."
"Oh? That's something to look into, why that happened and what changed."
"Yeah, definitely. I suspect there might be patterns that we can find if we look in the right places. Maybe Old Quil has some theories, too. it's not my focus today."
"No." Leah agreed.
"So, even in more recent packs, no one has run off from hearing about the pack. Some imprints had other problems but the news never caused a problem."
"I imagine that your soul mate won't be someone who is going to be skittish about this stuff."
"Yeah that makes sense."
"So tomorrow, here's what I was thinking." Leah started, "Feel free to disregard it if it doesn't feel right, ok?" Embry nodded. "When we go on the pack run, you stay back to guard the girls. I'll send Sam for a jog. I think that between you and the imprints, she'll be most comfortable and you can show her your wolf if she wants without the whole pack hooting and hollering."
"I think that sounds good, Leah. I was thinking I wanted Bella, maybe you, maybe the other imprints, and none of the guys."
"Perfect." Then she whispered as quietly as she could, "And I really don't want Sam there if-"
"Me neither." Embry interrupted. They were on the same page about excluding Sam. They loved Sam. They didn't think he'd intentionally do anything to disrupt the conversation. But they both knew he had a bad track record with imprint initiations, so better to just exclude him and send him on a jog.
Leah smiled at him. "Ok, you can keep reading in here. I don't think there is anyone for you to transcribe for since I have Jacob reading Ephraim Black's book."
"Did Billy leave?"
"Billy was here?"
"Yeah after lunch, too."
"Oh if he's here, you can transcribe for him if you're done here."
"Thanks Leah, I think I will." Then Embry started cleaning up his notes.
Leah found Billy in the children's section.
"Thank you for coming. What journal are you working on?" She looked at the book and immediately recognized it as her own. "Oh."
"You can have it back." Billy said quickly.
"No, no, I'm working on Jared's. Did you read through what I translated? I won't be offended if you find errors, in fact it will help."
"I did read your translation but I was not looking for errors. That is something I can do, when it is finished if you want. I read it for pleasure, Leah. It was fun seeing the parallels between Paltima and yourself. You don't know what an honor it is - "
"Please Billy, don't. You're my dad's best friend, my Chief, I look up to you ok? Not the other way around. That's just how it is."
"Hmph." Billy snorted. "I will accept your request, Leah."
"I am not alpha over you, Billy. Please stop it." Leah was getting exasperated quickly.
"What's going on in here?" Paul asked, sauntering in. "Leah, why are you yelling at Billy?"
"I'm not yelling."
"Well you're not using your library voice either."
Leah softened. "Sorry. He was talking about-"
"I heard him. We all heard him, Leah. Remember what you said to me just last night, about absorbing and not deflecting respect."
"But he's Billy Black."
"He was Billy Black last night when you said that to me, remember? And I sucked it up."
Leah sighed.
Paul continued, "if Nonithe can handle it, so can Paltima." Paul smiled.
"Fuck you, Paul." Leah smiled, then took a deep breath. "Thank you Billy for your kind words. They humble me, as you see, and it makes me, Leah, the man, uncomfortable. But I can feel my wolf preening at your words. You have touched her and she is honored by you."
Paul and Billy were both beaming with pride. Paul whispered, "steadfast by Paltima's side in battle always." Leah rolled her eyes and went to find Jared's journal. Bella was already sitting there, reading over the previous translation.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Leah apologized.
"No problem, what was all that about?"
"I'll tell you later, ok. These guys don't need to hear the story twice."
"They all got quiet to listen. It was kind of funny."
"I bet they did. They're all gossips at heart, every one of them."
o.~*~.o
At five, Leah addressed the room, "Great work everyone, thank you so much for coming. We'll see most of you tomorrow at the pack lunch. Embry, Paul, Rachel, hold up a minute." Leah requested. They hung back while everyone else filed out.
"Embry's going to stay with the imprints tomorrow during the pack run. Then he'll be able to tell Angela all this in a more comfortable setting."
"Smart." Paul agreed.
"So I wanted to discuss the pack run now, with him here so we can capture any insights and entrust them to the pack."
"So Embry, what do you think are the most pressing issues facing the pack?" Paul asked, repeating Billy's question from the previous night.
"Since training is about oneness with the wolf, I think Jake and training are kind of the same thing, so that. Then I think the Cullens, since it is squarely on the agenda. Then what we were talking about earlier, Leah, figuring out why vampires are sometimes prevalent in the area and other times they are scarce."
"Is it possible that the Cullens are making them scarce now?" Rachel asked.
"I don't think so," Embry answered. "The pack before Ephraim Black's was 80 years before them, too. So that was a huge gap that had nothing to do with the Cullens."
"Oh, huh. So the Cullens aren't a major factor. Embry, do you think that we are ready to face the Cullens?" Leah asked.
"In negotiation or battle? Yes, we are ready either way, actually. I know my wolf can do it. I've seen you do it single handedly, Leah. With the training we're doing now, yeah, we can do it."
"Ok guys, let's step into the basement quickly. Girls, can you wait here?" They nodded. Leah flicked on the light and started down. "Bella and I have gathered the Cullens scents. They are in there." She pointed to a large trash bag. "Take a whiff ."
Embry opened the trash bag and pulled out the smaller bags, smelling each one and reading the name, then passing it to Paul. "These need pictures of the vamps. Do we have pictures we can put on them?"
"I don't know. Let me check." She ran up the stairs to talk to Bella. "No," she answered when she got back down, "but Bella can add a description to each one."
"That will have to do. Let's bring these on the pack run so everyone can start getting familiar with them. I'll put them in the truck."
"So when do you think Bella should start trying to contact them?" Leah asked.
"Monday." Embry answered. "Let's give everyone the weekend to rest and meditate with their wolves more."
"Ok." The three returned upstairs.
"Leah, I have a small favor to ask." Embry said.
'Yeah?
"Well, I promised to show Angela how to do some basic mechanic work. I was wondering if we could use the van for that, clear that clogged vent, check the fluids, and it is almost due for an oil change so we can do that. Is that ok?"
"Have at it." Leah agreed
"Sounds romantic." Bella knew Angela would love that.
"Are you picking her up or is she driving here?"
"I'm picking her up. I was thinking of taking my mom's car but then I'd have to pick up my mom from work which could ruin the vibe of the date. Paul, can I borrow the truck tomorrow?"
"Yeah buddy. But next time, do the mechanic demonstrations on the truck though, ok? It sounds weird."
"I'll check it out on Sunday as a thank you, deal?"
"Oh you don't have to, but I won't complain if you do."
"Thanks guys, you can go enjoy your night. I'll see you tomorrow." Leah dismissed them.
o.~*~.o
Bella and Leah walked upstairs and we're greeted by a heavenly aroma.
"This crock pot is genius. Put raw food in in the morning. Get a delicious meal at night."
"I know, I wonder how much my dad used it before I moved back and changed his menu all around."
"Let's slip into something a little more comfortable before dinner." Leah suggested.
"Do you want to eat naked!" Bella asked excitedly.
"I was thinking about bathrobes. I don't want you to burn yourself by dropping hot food on your boobs."
"Leah. If I burn myself, I'll still be fine."
"But it will hurt!"
Bella was exasperated. "Here, give me a hickey." Leah started leaning toward her neck mark. "No, not on that side." Bella chastised.
Leah sucked Bella's neck for a solid minute, then watched the bruise slowly vanish.
"Beautiful."
"I know. That's part of why I love sucking on your neck so hard."
But now that Leah got a taste of Bella, she was insatiable. Thanks to the Crock-Pot, their dinner did not get cold.