A/N Hey guys I'm back with a new chapter based story, I started this because I liked taking a look at Leah's character and this was just a funny idea that snowballed anyways I hope you all enjoy and big thanks to Beetlebum101 for being an amazing beta and an even better friend:]

Chapter 1 – Run

"I don't know what we're doing, I don't know what we've done. But the fire is coming So I think we should run." – Daughter – Run

"Leah… Leah, you have to calm down."

Sam's voice filled the air as I paced the field where we stood, trying to absorb the ridiculousness of the situation. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I never would have believed it. The slick grass, dampened with the morning rainfall, made each step glide. I couldn't stop my mind from reeling. I was just out for a run and now I don't control my own fate. I looked to my brother and he wasn't mad like me; he just seemed in shock. A fear filled his eyes and I instantly blamed Sam for that fear. I felt like he was taking away what little childhood Seth had left.

"You don't have the right to tell me what to do, Sam!" He lost that right when he left me for my own cousin. I took a step towards him, pressing my hand against his chest and pushing him back.

He only rolled his shoulder back. Paul, who stood to Sam's right, seemed to flare with anger, his bare chest heaving, his erratic breaths clouding the air. He stared at me, narrowing his eyes. I had known Paul my whole life; we grew up together and yet, I didn't know this man who stood in front of me. Is that what would happen to me? I'd become a lackey to Sam? Paul shivered notably as I pushed Sam again, who took the opportunity to grab my wrist when I got distracted looking over Paul.

"Stop it," Sam grumbled, squeezing my wrist until I pulled it from his grasp.

"Look at him," I gestured to Paul, who looked as if he was trying to control a panic attack. "He can't control himself. He's not even himself anymore."

Sam and Embry looked at him but they were not surprised. I looked back to my brother, watching as he simply gulped.

"He's still learning to control his instincts, Leah. It takes time." Sam's gravelly tone used to be calming but now it was just enraging.

"I don't want to be one of you!" I screamed into the wilderness, continuing to pace. I felt like falling to my knees but I wouldn't show Sam that weakness.

"I don't choose it; you and Seth show the signs: high fever… quick to anger…taller…bigger appetite. If you want to blame someone, blame the Cullen's. It is proximity to vampires that awakens the wolf gene."

I threw my hands into my hair. Filthy vampires. Why would they do this to us? "Well, I will ask them to move before the change happens. Maybe I could stop it," I argued.

"It's already begun, Leah. There is no stopping it." Sam punctuated the word, 'no,' his bare chest rising and falling drastically.

"I can try." I couldn't just become a wolf and let them hear my thoughts; let this thing control who I am. I stalked back towards home, grabbing Seth by the arm of his jacket, tugging him out of his daze.

"Leah!" Sam's voice echoed through the clearing. He jogged, easily catching up with us. "I won't let you go there unprotected. There are rules."

"You don't control me, Sam," I bit back. Not yet, my subconscious added.

Sam stopped following us as we cut into the tree line. A few silence filled minutes later we entered the small house looking for my mother. She was sitting on the couch; no TV, just waiting… waiting for this.

"You knew about this?" I asked, appalled. My mother, my own mother, kept this from me.

"Leah, calm down." She approached me and I covered my mouth, unsure of what to say. She rested her hand on my shoulder but it did little to calm me.

"You did this to me. Not just me, to Seth, too. How… how could you?" I backed away from her. She could have told us; we could have left.

"Leah, this is an honor. It's part of your ancestry. It connects you to our people."

I breathed through my clasps hands. "Don't I get a choice? What if I don't want this?"

"Life hands us a lot of things we don't choose, Leah. That's part of growing up."

I can't believe she's going to give me this bullshit about life. "Yeah, and becoming a giant wolf, having to bow to an alpha and have a bunch of people know your thoughts and not get to choose who you love, is that part of growing up, too?" I rattled off the information I was given by Sam under an hour ago. My mind still denied the truth of what I was saying, even as I spoke the words aloud.

I didn't let her reply, knowing it was useless. I just walked to my room, slamming the door behind me. I settled on the bed, crossing my arms over my chest and trying to take all this in. I took a deep breath. Why me? Why did I have to be the first female wolf? My thoughts moaned. It was odd, now knowing there was this dormant part of me… this wolf. Anger filled me again; I couldn't control it. It was like feeling my blood boil from the inside. I swiped at an old purple lamp on my bedside table, knocking it to the floor. It hit the ground with a loud crash, smashing the fragile ceramic body, which now lay in pieces on the floor.

"Leah, what was that? Are you alright?" My mother's voice rang through the small house.

I didn't answer. I just walked out of my room and down the hall, passing her on the way to the door. I stopped, about to grab a jacket, when I realized I don't even feel the cold anymore.

"Leah… Leah, where are you going?"

"Out," I said, opening the door, letting it fall closed as I jogged away. I just kept going until I was in a full run. I hit the beach within minutes, the dirt turning to stone under my feet, making it difficult to run so I changed to a walk.

I always felt better outside. I closed my eyes, taking in the ocean air, but dangerous thoughts crept in. Did I really prefer being outside or was that the wolf side of me? I tried to think if I was always like this or if this was a new feeling, but I couldn't remember. So I just kept walking, thinking I would get tired but I never did. I got to Forks after thirty minutes and continued to where I thought the vampires lived. I cut into the woods just outside the city limits, climbing over roots and rocks, heading uphill, just following my instincts. It was almost like I was following an invisible compass.

"Hey!" A male voice called out from above.

I looked to the treetops, seeing nothing as the rustling of branches alerted me from behind. I turned quickly, not wanting him to get the upper hand.

He dropped from the treetop, landing almost silently, which was impressive, considering his giant frame.

"What you doing all the way out here?" He asked and I knew he must be one of them, judging by his golden eyes.

"I was looking for you."

"Well, don't I feel special." He held his hand over his heart.

He took a step closer, becoming even larger as he flexed his biceps and looked down at me.

"I'm not scared of you," I spoke firmly.

He just huffed out a laugh. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to your leader."

"We don't have a leader," he spoke, crossing his massive arms over his chest.

"Then whoever makes your decisions!" My voice increased in volume and I tried to control myself.

"Why?"

"Because you control my future…" Maybe a bit dramatic, I thought, but still true.

He looked confused and sniffed the air. "You are a wolf?"

"Not yet."

He seemed to mull it over for a minute. "I guess you better talk to Carlisle." He waved his hand for me to follow as he began walking through the woods.

I caught up to him and we walked in silence for a moment, before I remembered him smelling the air. "Can you smell me? Do I smell different?"

"You have hints of shifter stink. It's sort of bitter, but it's still mixed with your human smell."

I tried not to dwell on that information or anything that would lead me to anger. "So, this Carlisle, he chooses what you guys do?" He was like their Sam, I thought oddly.

"No. I mean, he pretends to be our dad and we listen to him, but we are a family. We choose things as a family."

I snorted at the idea of vampires as family. "But you are a bunch of bloodsucking monsters. No offence," I added suddenly, reminded of who was next to me.

"None taken. You know I didn't choose to be a monster any more than you chose to be a wolf. I just live with it the best I can."

I was reminded of my mother telling me this was some kind of gift. I noticed the light coming up as we broke from the tree line, faced with a massive house. There were walls of windows, only separated by a thick piece of lumber that jutted out from the glass.

"This is where you guys live?" I asked the massive vampire.

"What were you expecting? Coffins and dungeons and moats?" He laughed.

It probably would have been less surprising at this point. We climbed the two stairs to the porch and before he touched the door it flew open and a blond crashed into him. I took a step to the side, making some room.

"Rose, what is it?' He cooed, stroking her golden hair. Vampires gathered at the door and the little one spoke first.

"Emmett, where have you been? I couldn't see you."

I catch some names as they continue to talk. "I was with the pup, she wants to talk." He nods to me and everyone's attention turns.

I hear a growl and some murmurs before the older vampire talks. She's smaller than me by a few inches. "Emmett, what were you thinking bringing a shifter here? You know the rules."

"She wanted to talk and what do I care what those stinking dogs think? No offense." He shoots me a smirk and I laugh for the first time in a long time.

"None taken," I speak. "And technically I'm still human… that's what I wanted to talk to you about." I clasped my hands together. Usually I had no problem asking for what I wanted but this was such a new subject. I didn't even know these people were real until today and here I was at the devils doorstep asking for a favor.

The blond doctor looked curious, giving a half smile as he spoke. "Well, then you better come in."

I followed the four vampires into the spacious home and craned my neck, taking in every inch. You could fit my whole house in their living room, I thought, with a pang of jealousy.

As we approached the long oak table, I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck lift up, before it began to tingle slowly down my arms to my fingertips. I heard the creak of every chair and suddenly I could hear the sounds of animals outside, birds chirping and water running. I looked outside but there was no water or birds in eyes view. Was it happening? Was I becoming less human?

"Family meeting," Carlisle spoke to no one.

"I heard you Carlisle," a blur replied, before stopping. A copper haired boy took a seat at the table.

"Sorry, Edward, I'm used to speaking my thoughts."

Edward gave a half smirk. "Sorry."

My mind reeled as I thought about just blurting it out.

"That's probably the best option." Edward looked at me, but no one had spoken.

"Edward, stop being rude," the little one cut in.

"Oh, Alice, stop being high and mighty. If she wasn't a wolf you would have already looked into the future to see what was going to happen."

They both stared into each other, neither relenting, and I could tell this wasn't the first time.

"Both of you stop acting like children. I'm so sorry." The pretend mother of the group stared at them both before moving back to me. "They seem to have forgotten their manners. I'm Esme, by the way. You already met Emmett and this is his wife, Rosalie, and my husband, Carlisle. The two bickering twins are Edward and Alice."

The only thought I could muster was, wow, they really are a family, to which Edward gave a small, lopsided smile.

"So, dear, what did you want to ask?"

"I want to… that is… I was wondering…" I looked at all the golden eyes staring back at me like cats in the night. "I was wondering if you would leave. Move. Go somewhere else. So me and my brother and other people in our tribe won't have to turn into wolves."

The table was silent. Carlisle rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I can't say this has ever happened before. I guess we never realized what sort of impact we had on your people. I'm sorry." He seemed truly sorry and my heart leaped that they might actually do it.

Edward shot up, palms crashing onto the table as he stared down Carlisle, "I won't leave Bella."

Rosalie, seemingly bored this entire time, rolled her eyes at his outburst. "We have to get rid of the human sometime. This is as good an excuse as any."

Edward growled under his breath and I leapt out of my chair without thinking. It was instinct and I began to back away. All eyes looked to me but I was on autopilot; an animalistic survival mode moving me back up each step, tracing a pattern I never knew I remembered. Once I reached the doorway I ran into the tree line; my veins felt like they were burning from the inside out. My movements were erratic. I felt like I was losing control of my footing after every step, like something else was taking over my body.

"Hey, wait," a voice called and my ears pricked, looking around for the source. She stopped on the edge of the clearing, spiky tufts of hair falling into her eyes.

I placed my hand on a tree as my knees buckled. I held my stomach and I felt like throwing up. She took a step forward and with every step I felt the fibers of my being falling apart.

"Don't come any closer," I managed to gasp out, taking deep breaths in and out through my nose. I couldn't unclench my teeth to breathe through my mouth.

"I'm sorry about Edward. He won't leave. I know; I've seen it."

I let out a strangled sob as my mouth filled with pain. It felt like every single tooth was being pulled from my gums. Then I dropped to all fours, digging up the soft dirt with my fingernails. I screamed until it turned into a yelp, resembling that of a helpless puppy. I thought I might pass out from the pain but I never did. I don't know how much time passed but it felt like hours. I looked at my hands, now paws, covered in a light grey fur. I felt a new energy rip through me and the pain seemed like a distant memory.

"Are you okay?" A voice asked.

In the haze I had forgotten I wasn't alone. I looked up expecting to find Alice, the little vampire, but instead my heart stopped and I found my own existence staring back at me and it had the most entrancing golden eyes.

It was instant. I imagined myself growing old with her and dying for her and being anything she wanted me to be.

Figures shot into my vision as the rest of Cullen's joined us. A growl escaped my throat without me thinking. I looked between Alice and the rest of them. She is a vampire; the enemy; the reason I'm like this. I shook my head: of all the romantic wolf-notions. I didn't choose this! I still get a choice. I'm still a human, god damn it! I choose who I love.

I saw a space in the tree line and decided to make a run for it. I sprinted on all fours. It was a new experience, feeling the woods – like it was a living being. Feeling the land move and the speed made my heart race. I made it back to the reservation in what had to be ten minutes. I circled the woods, coming up to my small home, glad that I left the window open in my room. I crouched back, leaping through and crashing onto the bed in human form. I looked at my hands, amazed. I seemed to have changed back almost instantly. A knock sounded at the door and my mother's soft voice spoke.

"Is everything okay?"

I looked over my naked body. "Yeah, everything's fine." The words caught awkwardly in my throat.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure." I quickly threw myself under the comforter, pulling it up to my neck.

My mother came in, closing the door softly behind her before sitting on the edge of the bed. "I didn't hear you get back."

I just shrugged letting her continue.

"I'm sorry I didn't prepare you more for this but I think it's time you knew." She reached out and held my hand, running her thumb over the top of my palm. "Your father didn't die of a heart attack. He was killed by a vampire." I looked at her face, knowing it was true. Her eyes fluttered closed before she continued. "I can't lose you and Seth, too. You two are the only thing I have left, but I can't protect you from things like them. I know it's not what you wanted but you have a duty to your people. You can protect people, Leah, so others don't have to lose the people they love."

How could I protect others when I couldn't even protect myself? I had imprinted on one of them. Taking my silence as anger she left, but her words rang in my mind. I had a duty to protect my people. And my people are not vampires.

A/N Thanks for reading please leave a Review and tell me what you think.