moon rising

chapter 2

By twelve o'clock the next day Leah was back home just in time to watch her mom get ready to leave for the party.

-are you coming to the party later? Sue asked her

-nope! Eight bloodsuckers is my limit when they bring out guests, i am out!

-this is your pack leader's mate Anniversary she reprimanded

- I know who's party this is mom.

-then you must also know that you need to support him.

-i don't need to support him, this is a birthday not a war he doesn't need me anywhere, plus Seth, Quill and Embry are going to be there

- What if something was to happen at the party?

-nothing's going to happen; nothing ever happens anymore it's as quiet as a tomb around here now!

-that's great!

-it's boring!

-Lee! That's no way to think, those were dangerous time and you should be happy they're passed

-i am sad i don't get to kill anybody anymore!

-young lady! Since when have you gotten so snarky!

-snarky? Leah mocked raising an eyebrow

-don't make faces at me missy, i am still your mother and you will go into your room dress appropriately we are going to that party!

- you do know I'm twenty three years old right?

-and i am fifty eight, what's your point?

-ok, she surrendered raising her hands in the air, what's wrong with my clothes now?

-it's a party you're not going with pants cut to the knees and a shirt with no sleeves! We are not savages!

-well... I am werewolves.

-being a werewolf doesn't make a savage out of you, walking around with half ripped clothes does and going to a party in those will make an indigenous bumpkin of you.

Leah didn't want to spend the rest of the day arguing, so to expedite matters she just went to her room and changed. She didn't have dresses anymore, she'd cut them all to shred after Sam's wedding. it wasn't like she needed dresses now anyway she wasn't really a girl where it mattered. Leah was the only known female werewolf, and according to legends the werewolf gene could only be transmitted onto male relatives, so apparently, she was more male than female down there even if it wasn't visible to the naked eye. She was sure there had to be something wrong with her, there just had to be! for Sam not to imprint on her or for everybody else not to imprint on her either was a pretty big clue. the fact that her periods disappeared the moment she turned into a wolf was the nail that sealed the tomb of her personal doom. She picked her best pair of jean and a green shirt and placed them on the bed, she really didn't want to go to a party but mother could be tenacious when she puts her mind to it, and she looked like she wanted her there, and since she just came from her happy place, she preferred not to ruin her happy bubble so soon after getting back. Leah took a quick shower and got dressed without bothering to dry her hair she went in the living room to wait for her mom since Seth was already at the Cullen's, there was a present at the table it was wrapped in sky blue paper and smelled like plastic maybe a doll?

-Mom? I called out. What did you get for Nessie?

-its sun catcher representation of the wolf

made out beads, colored glasses and crystal.

-oh! Leah picked it up and was about to shake it when she thrust her head out the opening of her door and frowned.

-don't you shake that Lee! She growled, Leah smiled and placed it back on the table

- you know, you started getting ready before me, and still, you're not done, what are you doing in there putting a new face on?

-it's a good thing i love you so much! She snorted

-why are you dressing up so fancy-like? God I'm starting to sound like Seth! Did i just say fancy-like?

- You did dear!

-this is what i get for hanging around teenagers! I'm starting to sound less than smart! Leah said horrified

-not that! mom scoffed, just borderline slow! She laughed

-thanks mother for the vote of confidence! she mumbled sarcastically, with a mother like you who need support and understanding!

- I'll say someone who doesn't ask said mother if she's putting on a new face!

-well that someone wrongfully thought that said mother would not hold that against her after all aren't mother supposed to be forgiving and oh so understanding?

- They usually are! Yours isn't, she is vengeful and mean! Sue joked, have you seen my bag?

-yeah! It's by that chair in the corner

- could you be a dear and take it for me, I'll bring the present, hurry up!

-they are vampires, they don't sleep and live forever how can we possibly be late

- Just hurry and stop asking unnecessary question

-they are very necessary! Leah chirped getting in the passenger seat, putting the bag on her lap her mom handed her the present so she could move it to the back seat, plus I can't be sounding like a teenage boy for the very vital reason that I'm not one! At least the teen part is true!

-for the umpteenth time you are not a boy! There is nothing wrong with you!

And so started one of their usual discussion were Leah would insist that since she could turn into a wolf that meant that she was a boy somewhat and as an example she would often remind her mom of one of Dr. House's episodes were this girl was really an hermaphrodite but nobody noticed it because she had undescended testicle that looked like ovaries. Her mother of course always countered by pointing out that the girl in question never had her monthlies and up until she turned into a wolf, Leah had hers. So of course not wanting to be left out Leah always said that maybe the werewolf gene was messing with her insides somehow and since she was a hermaphrodite the poor genes were probably confused. That discussion lasted them the thirty minutes drive it took to get to the Cullens and

when they got there they found that the party was just starting. The rest of the pack and their mates were there, Charlie, Bella's father was already there, Charlie was the only human in the know that wasn't from la push, it wasn't like he knew that his daughter was a vamp, but he just knew she wasn't really human anymore. He did know about werewolves though, thanks to Jake and for a while there at the very beginning he had been scared to get to close to Jake, but now he took it all in a stride, he didn't even blink sometimes when his daughter acted a little more vampire than human. Charlie was currently seated with Billy and Garrett one of the vamp from the Denali clan, it sounded like they were talking politics at least Leah thought so, they mentioned what she was sure might be a country's name. Most of Sam's pack was grouped in a general area of the large living room either for protection or for the food she didn't know for sure because they were currently at least one in every two person talking to a vamp. Leah didn't pay much attention to the rest, but Sam and Emily were talking with Edward, she mentally prepared herself for the pain that was sure to come but all she felt was a slight tingle in the general direction of her heart. Leah didn't know what to make of her lack of reaction. she thought that maybe it was because she just returned from her safe heaven, so maybe she was just a bit numb at the moment because she was still in her happy place and still drowning with happy energy. Or maybe enough time had passed now that she was over him ,Leah tried to examine what she felt closely and found that those reason even if they were somewhat true did not describe exactly what was churning inside her, she felt excited like there was the thing she'd been waiting for all her life was finally closer to her reach now, which is highly improbable in a vamp infested home, but never the less, she was happy to be past it all. Leah felt her mother touch her shoulder gently and mumble that she didn't know Sam would be here and Leah immediately noticed Sam's back stiffen he had heard Sue and it made Leah realize that she had been staring at them. Sue must have thought that she was hurting because on top of the staring at the couple she had been frowning too, so she quickly turn to were Jake, Seth, Jasper Rosalie and Nessie were sitting wished Nessie a happy birthday and planked herself down next to Seth, and continued with her musing. Leah wandered if she was over Sam desertion than maybe she was also over what she thought was Emily's betrayal. And maybe the resentment she felt toward Emily was gone now too. Leah risked a glance toward the trio still chatting and was happily surprised that no bitter feelings rose to the surface! Leah turned back and a little smile began to play on her lips, this was great she finally did it, there was no more pain, no more need to hurt everybody around her because she felt the need to share the hurt that was eating her up much. Now she might just torture others just for shits and giggles! And of course to maintain her rep as a badass, because what is life without a well deserved reputation? Leah turned around again and this time looked steadily at their group and notice Edward throw a furtive look at her and smile, damn that mind reading bloodsucker she couldn't even have an epiphany in the comfort of her own head! he just had to intrude! He turned fully this time making sure our gazes connected and snickered, so Leah hissed at him and thought," still don't like you and this better not get out!" And he laughed drawing Sam and Emily stares to her, Sam quickly looked elsewhere but Emily continued to look at her with that sad repentant look she always got when she was looking at Leah. Usually Leah would manage an eye roll and look the other way, but she didn't want that for them anymore. she felt like she hadn't seen Emily in a long while, even if in reality, she saw her quite often. Leah realized that she missed her best friend, so instead of the eye roll she smiled at Emily, her first real smile in years. It was the smile Leah used to flash Emily when they were younger after they had been mad at each other which in a way applied to situation. Emily eyes got as round as saucers and she hurriedly detached herself from Sam's side and walked to Leah very slowly and carefully as if she was scared that Leah would revert back to her more angry and resentful version.

Leah couldn't blame her for feeling that way she could still remembered Emily's wedding, even if Leah had accepted to be the bridesmaid nobody could have thought by looking at her that she had wanted to be there. Everybody was certain that she resented being guilted into coming to the wedding by her mother. But now that she was over her infatuation, she regretted ruining her friend's wedding day, when Emily got close Leah stood up and went for a hug

-I'm sorry I'd been a pain for so long

-you had your reasons! Emily laugh startled hugging Leah back

-still if I'd been you, I would have drop kicked some sense into me so long ago! I don't know how you stopped yourself!

-your being a werewolf might have helped your cause! There were tears in both our eyes so we both laughed and hugged again and stayed like that until Leah felt Emily shift from one foot to another. they went to seat in a secluded corner by the door of the kitchen, there were two chairs there, they sat with their hands linked, Emily sneaked a fearful glance at her and said gesturing at both of them, what brought this on?

- I don't know! I got into the door saw you and nothing happened, I was just done with it all!

-it's been a long time coming!

-I know! I'm sorry. So tell me about you what's new?

-why don't we start with you!

-nothing is new with me I've been pouting for five years! Leah snorted

-yeah! I thought your lips were going to freeze in a sneer one of these days

-i think that's what snapped me out of it, i realized that i was starting to look like cousin Bethany! she laughed

-Bethany, who amazingly got married!

-no!

-yes!

-no!

-she did!

-was the guy blackmailed into it? Leah laughed, please tell me he was, she was a horrible person!

-i don't know but i heard she beats the crap out of him, so maybe he was too scared to say no? She said with a snicker

-how did the poor guy end up on her radar anyways?

-he was new on their reservation i guess, he didn't know any better! they both laughed remembering Beth, a strand of Leah's hair got loose from her ponytail so she raised her hand to pull it back and realize that everybody was staring at them, how very intrusive of them surely they knew to afford them some level of privacy for god sake, they were vampires and werewolves surely they could listen in on their conversation without being so obvious about it. Leah narrowed her eyes and snarled viciously at them, they all jumped up and started busying themselves with talking and eating, everything else but looking at them!

-Was that really necessary? Emily asked

-fear, Emmy, fear! They need to fear me or what is life good for? I am a badass after all

-of course! she laugh, forget the fact that most of them are taller and bigger than you!

-shush! Don't say that out loud they might catch on! Leah said in a stage whisper, from then on they went on talking about their lives getting reacquainted with each other. Emily told her she was pregnant and Leah happily congratulated her, they then started talking baby names, she wanted to name the boy Adam and Leah vetoed that telling her that Adams were usually drunken fools look at Adam Lambert for example. That went on for a while each of them vetoing each other choices for inconsequent reason. they talked about the mutual friends they had in common that Leah had stopped seeing in her righteous five year long anger stint. they were still talking by sunset, but sometime around that time they got hungry and went to the table to get some food. Leah complained a bit about the stink and Emily laughed and taunted her because she didn't smell anything and Leah probably wished she was her right about now! Leah was picking up the less smelly pieces of muffin when she heard his voice. It was coming from upstairs and getting closer, she knew it was a vampire because it had the sing song quality of sound typical to vampires and it was interrupted sometimes by Carlisle, something about that voice froze her to the spot, it was like he was calling to her. Carlisle was asking angel voice what the Coliseum looked like in its glory, he answered stony with a chuckle and that he really just happened upon it twelve years after its completion and that it was a very impressive battiment, that the kings entry way was the most impressive feature, it was massed with gold and silver, that the walk way were marble. That's when he and Carlisle appeared at the top of the staircase, she observed that he was tall at least a half head taller than Jake that would make him along the lines of six feet ten. he had long hair that disappeared behind his back they were an interesting shade, an array of multicolored strands of hair, there were strands that looked so black they were almost blue, some were a dark shade of purple and green. And of course he was beautiful, no self respecting vampire would dare try his hand at ugliness, his features were somewhat a mix between Egyptian and middle eastern, his eyes were what she usual saw depicted in the Egyptian arts a bit pulled at the corners, his nose and mouth put to mind of Colin Farrell. Leah gazed into his topaz eyes and felt the center of her world shift from wherever and firmly center on him, and if she froze before when she heard him the conclusion she came with turned her to stone. she'd just imprinted on a vampire! Her mind blanked out, she could see and hear everything happening around her, but she felt detached from her own body, she heard Edward cry out "oh God no" and felt the plate she was holding crash at her feet. she was sure that she might have cut her ankle with the shards from her plate, but couldn't summon the will to do anything about it. Leah watched with dead eyes the scene in front of her unfold, Bella came forward and shook Edward shoulders because he had also froze looking sadly at me.

-what is it Edward? She panicked, what wrong?

-Leah! He whispered brokenly, they all turn to look at her ashen face, Sue got up from between Charlie and Billy to and hurried to her side, she turned Leah around to face her and shook her by her shoulders but my eyes stayed vacant, she crumpled on the floor scrapping her knees on the shards of glass at her feet still unmoved, she screamed and rushed back at Edward side

-what's wrong with her, what have you done to my daughter!

-Leah imprinted. he mumbled looking at my mother sadly, Sue was relieved, Seth and everybody else all beathed in a relived sight, but when his next words came crashing down and everybody got depressed real quick, except Charlie and the stranger who Leah was sure didn't understand the meaning of her tragedy. She imprinted on Dion! So that was his name, the name of the one that doomed Leah to certain death. At the mention of his name he came down leaving Carlisle in the middle of the staircase, he came to a stop in front of where Bella, Sue, Sam, Jared and Kim stood huddled up next to an apologetic Edward.

-you mention my name Edward, what's going on?

-Leah is a werewolf

-The girl on her knees?

-yes!

-well i know that i can smell it! Not quite pleasant is it?

-she imprinted on you!

-We've established that! He said looking at the wan faces that were slowly coming back to life. what i would like to know however is what it means! it doesn't look like a good thing from what i understand I'm i killing her? Should i leave?

-imprinting means finding your soul mate Dion.

-really! shouldn't that be a happy occasion?

-not when the venom in you could kill her!

-I'm not venomous, he said distracted turning to look at Leah's face with wonder. He walked to her intrigued, and when he was two feet away from her, he sniffed the air around her, i can understand your concern dear! If i smell as bad to you as you do to me. Don't you just look beat down and pathetic! he added extending his hand, he was talking to me like adults talk to scared children when they were trying to draw them out. come, get up from there you are bleeding all over the nice people's carpet.

That condescending tone snapped Leah out of her trance and she shook in anger. She wonder was sort of cardinal sin she ever committed to deserve such consistent streak of bad luck. why couldn't anything ever go right for her, she had hoped that if she ever imprinted it would have been with someone nice, good. or at the very least someone who could have a small claim to humanity. Leah thought it would have been a joyous occasion, but not for her! Oh no, she had to imprint on the only thing that would kill her! even my good news came with a price! Leah stared at his offending hand still hanging in front of her face and exploded out of her clothes. She looked through her wolfs eyes and noticed he had moved ten feet away from her, Edward had Emily in his arms and was surrendering her to Sam's hold, Charlie was being escorted out while Leah stalked Dion menacingly snapping and snarling viciously but he didn't move back this time he just stood there with one eyebrow c****d mockingly. Mad beyond recognition she went for cold blooded murder! She opened her mouth intent on tearing his head out, but couldn't, every time her teeth were close to his neck and all she had to do was snap her mouth close and separate his cocky head from the rest of him, her head snapped back in a wine and she would find herself rubbing her head against the side of his face like a stupid dog seeking a rub. Leah snapped out of it disgusted! great, now she smelled like leech! She took a step back and tried again with the same annoying result, her treacherous body would let her kill the bastard and by then that bedevil leech was very amused with her failed attempts, she had enough of this, not caring that it was probably not polite, Leah jumped through the window and took off running. Seth must have shifted too because she felt him a moment later begging for her to calm down and come back, Leah yelled at him to let her be and minutes later she sensed Jake shift and ask Seth to shift back and leave her alone and a few second later they were both gone. She kept running like that with no thought other than disgust, pain and disenchantment for twelve hours. She didn't even think about her little happy island in the middle of the hell that had been her life before. Leah snorted, it was ironic that what she had lived through was heaven compared to this, and now she longed for those times. what she went through before was the betrayal of the two people closest to her, and this was worst! Leah concluded. Even the higher power where out to get her, it was like the world was actively trying to keep her down. Like she was destined to feel nothing but pain, and that if anything good ever happened to her damnation should come hand in hand with it. She felt like every time something good was to happen to her the universe went "oh look Leah is about to be happy lets rain suffering and desolation on her" was she really so vile of a person? Sixteen hours into the run Leah stumbled and fell on her knees, her paws where tired, she was tired! she was tired of life always hurling hurdles at her, tired of trying to live through the hurdles and failing, tired of having to live with what life gave her. She officially had enough, she was stronger than this, damn it! Leah picked herself up and started walking every step taking her away from la push, away from the hurt and with every step she made a vow. she took one step and vowed not to let events no matter their importance influence the way she lived her life, step after step she repeated the process with one different vow outlining her objectives until she took a step and decided not to accept the imprint, then she promptly fell on the ground in excruciating pain. it felt like someone was ripping her apart, opening her up and tearing up her insides. In no time she was howling in pain twisting around on the ground, she couldn't shift or move, her muscles felt stretched to the fullest like something was pulling them out piercing her skin with their pointy fingers to pull out muscles and veins, her whole body was tingling it felt thousand bees were biting her skin infusing the bloodstream with their venom, Leah tried desperately to claw them off her even if she knew somewhere in her mind that she was doing more harm to herself than good. Leah couldn't just do nothing when her whole body was being ripped to shreds. She stayed there writhing and screaming in pain for four hours unable to pass out even with all that pain coursing through her, but finally she felt Seth's mind connect with her own and saw him ,through his eyes, fall down in pain and then he was gone quickly. Leah wasn't sure what happened really but from time to time over the next three hours Jake's mind would touch hers fleetingly and just as quickly if not quicker and disappear not that she cared by then, the pain was getting worse and worse with every passing minute, now the pain radiated also through her head, like it was being cracked open only to be furiously and violently smashed together for a repeat performance. Then miraculously after what seemed like an eternity, relief came, and Leah was able to pass out, but someone shook her awake and a voice demanded that she shift back, she must have shifted because she sensed someone bundle her up into a coat and pick her up before she succumbed to blessed oblivion.