"Esme, can you give Bella the rundown while I go talk to Leah and Seth?"

"of course, Jacob."

With that said the Alpha headed upstairs.

Jacob made sure to keep silent as he bypassed Charlie's bedroom. The man's snores rattling through the house.

Jacob walked into his mate's room and leaned against the doorway. Seth was halfway off the bed, while Leah was snuggled into Bella's pillow.

"Seth, Leah. Time to get up." He said with authority. Immediately the two wolves shot up looking for danger.

"hush now. No one is in danger. Both of you hold still." He growled lowly.

The two wolves did as told, once they gathered their wits about them.

"Seth, go downstairs with Bella. She's talking with Mrs. Cullen and she doesn't mean us any harm. She's on our side."

Seth nodded groggily and walked out the door.

Jacob then turned to Leah and sat on the edge of the bed. "hey lee. How are you?"

"um sleepy and confused. But a little better. What's this I hear about the leech?"

"don't worry, Esme's good. She going to help us out tonight. Leah let me ask you something. If there was a way for you to choose your own path, to be free and do whatever the heck you want, would you do it?" he asked.

"you know I would Jacob. But there's nothing you or anyone can do."

Jacob's heart clenched at his pack mate sadness. The girl had been through the wringer more than once.

With gentle hands he cupped Leah's face. Her body relaxing at his touch. It wasn't anything sexual. But it was a touch of protection. A touch of care. He realized this quickly when he phased, the pack. His pack craved touch. Something Sam refused to give. Sam was too afraid of himself to give what the pack needed.

"ssh. Leah. Its ok. I found a way. But you'll need to hear me out first." Leah nodded.

"well, the first thing is after tomorrow you and I will need to pretend to be a couple. At least in front of the leaders and the pack. We must keep up the persona, that the elders can play us for a bunch of saps."

Jacob stopped to make sure she understood.

"ok, well the next thing is tonight. Bella and I are planning to get married, and I want you to get married to. Here's why. Once you and I expose that we will not be getting married. I will show proof that I am already married. If you aren't married im afraid the elders will still, try to pawn you off to whoever. So, to make sure that doesn't happen. I've chosen a great guy who has agreed to marry you. He's a gentleman and knows the whole situation. After Friday, you two can get annulled and your free? What do you think lee? You can say no."

Leah was flabbergasted as she felt multiple emotions rise. Anger, sadness, shocked, surprise and finally curiosity.

"I just have to be married to this guy until Friday?" "only until Friday. And then your free."

"ok. I can wait till Friday. But he better not try to get fresh."

"he wont lee. But I should clarify by what I mean by free. Leah… im releasing you from the pack. by Friday, you are free to live your life. You want to leave la push, then be my guest. You will no longer be obligated…"

…

Bella sat at the kitchen table as Esme held her hand.

"how did you come across Jacob? And how is Alice not seeing you right now? Wouldn't she panic at not seeing your future?"

"oh honey, Jacob and I have been collaborating for quite some time. I was the one who built his tattoo parlors. And I am a silent partner. He and I have found a common ground in a lot of things. I've been helping him out ever since we returned. As soon as we came back, I sought him out. I needed to see the man who you had fallen in love with."

Bella gasped and Esme chuckled.

"you cant hide the look of true love Bella; I saw it on your face as soon you came back to our home. You were no longer that shy, teenager. You were a girl who had seen unexplainable horrors. I am so sorry I couldn't reveal the truth to you sooner. Edward is so controlling and so is Carlisle. As grateful as I am that you saved Edward, you should have never been put in that position. And I will make it my mission that your life will never be threatened again. Now back to Jacob, he and I met by accident up in Seattle. And the reason why Alice cant see me and isn't panicking is because the coven thinks I am in New York. I made a claim that I ran into a group of shifters upstate, and I was helping them renovate their store. I make sure to call the coven every other day to draw suspicion of what im really doing."

"I don't understand… I thought you wanted Edward and I together and you keep calling them coven, what happened to family?"

By now the stairs creaked, revealing a disheveled Seth. He gave a small smiled and sat down next to Bella.

Esme squeezed Bella's hand just a little tighter as she smiled at Seth.

"when we first met you, yes. I did want you two together, I thought Edward would finally be happy and you seemed good for him. But as time went on, I realized that you weren't happy. And I could see the battle in your eyes Bella. So, when we left, I agreed. But I didn't know that things had been left… this bad… Bella I called you and I sent you letters… but… as it turns out those phone calls and letter never reached you… Carlisle, who has done nothing but spoil Edward, found out what I was doing. Edward of course found out and they intercepted my letters and phone calls. To me at the time, I thought you were just ignoring them… so I chose to respect that… that is also why I have started using the term coven instead of family. Families don't lie to each other the way we have been."

Bella was shocked by the news.

"you… you wrote letters? You tried to call?" her voice breaking as tears began to fall.

"yes. Bella I- "

Bella didn't let Esme finish before she threw herself into the women's arms.

"you have no idea what that means to me…"

…

"Everything ok?" Jacob questioned as he and Leah came downstairs.

Bella wiped her eyes and pulled back from Esme. "yes, were good."

Jacob nodded and gave her a warm smile.

"alright, well lets get this show on the road. Leah, Bella. Esme is going to help you two get ready when we get to our destination. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but you girls can at least enjoy the moment."

With that said, the group quietly drove into the night.

…

Leah shifted uneasily as she played with the ends of her dress. It was bright yellow. Her favorite color.

"are you alright Leah?"

The nervous girl looked to Esme's concerned face.

"What… If he doesn't like me? What if I don't like him… I mean… we will only be married for a week but still…"

"it's expected that you're nervous dear. And if you trust Jacob's decision-making, I am sure the man will be more than perfect for you. And who knows maybe the marriage will last more than a week."

With that said, Esme did a few touch ups on Leah's hair and declared both girls ready.

It was time to get hitched.

Leah and Bella gave each other quick hugs as they headed out the door. Jacob had rented out a small chapel with Esme and Seth as witnesses.

And just as he said, he had connections because a minister had been more than happy to marry them, and a judge had woken up to sign the marriage licenses.

As both women walked down the aisle, Leah held her breath as she stared at the man standing next to Jacob.

He had dark skin, green eyes and braids that practically touched his shoulders. He smiled shyly at her, nodding to her presence.

"Leah." Jacob introduced, "Meet Henry Falcone. Henry, Leah Clearwater."

With gentleness, Henry took Leah's hand, bowing slightly as he kissed it.

"Hello love, I heard your in a bit of a pickle… allow me to offer my assistance. I assure you. Whoever hurt you… they shall hurt you no more."