The kiss was different from the ones in the forest. Those had been rough and driven entirely by lust. This kiss was slower, more delicate. Her warmth spread through me, slowly burning through my veins to come to rest in my heart.

As I kissed Leah on the porch of the Cullens' house, her mind, which had been calling out for mine so loudly in the moments before, quieted. Her high, insistent song faded away, and my mind seemed clear for the first time since I had arrived in Forks.

I pulled away for a moment and looked down into Leah's eyes. I did not completely understand what was happening to me, but for the moment, I was willing to go along with it. Being near her... it just felt good. She smiled up at me.

"I thought you said you needed to be away from me," she laughed. "You're not doing a very good job."

"Well, it is difficult when you shout into my head whenever I'm away from you," I replied.

The crease between her eyebrows returned. "What do you mean?"

"When I'm tracking someone, I am able to pick up the tenor of their mind," I said. "If I close my eyes right now, I'd be able to pick a mind and follow it anywhere. Some are harder to find than others, and some are much, much easier. I think I'd be able to find you anywhere on this Earth."

Leah wrapped her arms around my waist, and her warmth against my bare skin made me inhale sharply. She pressed the side of her face against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She squeezed me tighter.

"We have so many things to talk about," she sighed. "But... you're seriously so fucking hot right now. I'm distracted."

I laughed in surprise. Her hands slid from around my waist down to the edge of my pants. She grinned up at me wickedly.

We both heard someone crashing through the trees and spun around. Leah pushed me behind her with strength I didn't know she had. We growled.

"No, no, I will not have this again," said Emmett, running towards us. "I do not need to hear or see or smell anything again today." He was at the front door then. He pushed it open. "Esme, I have seen things that are more horrible than you can imagine. I will buy you any vase you want, just please let me be done with this job."

"Hey!" shouted Leah. "I'm not horrible!"

"Yeah, right!" called Emmett.

The door closed again and Leah shrugged. "This probably isn't the best place for that anyway."

"I do have something I'd like to discuss with Carlisle before we do make anymore moves," I added.

Carlisle was waiting for us in the front room. "I'm glad to see the two of you are getting along."

Leah pinched my backside and I did my best to stand still. "Yes, this does seem easier now," I said through clenched teeth.

"I heard you need to talk with me," he continued. "How about we go to my office?"

Edward was waiting for us inside Carlisle's office. He sat on a corner of the desk, facing us. Carlisle gestured to the two chairs in front of the desk before taking a seat at his own.

"I hope you don't mind that Edward is here," said Carlisle. "For the safety of our family, we must know everything."

I nodded. Of course, it made sense. I would have done the exact same thing in Carlisle's place.

"Aro will check on me soon," I started. "And I need to tell him something to make sure he doesn't send someone to check up on me."

"Don't you want him to send people to rescue you?" asked Carlisle.

I looked at Leah, sitting on my left. She smiled back at me and a jolt went through my body. How did she do that? Just her smile was enough to cause a reaction inside me that I didn't fully understand. I had seen beautiful women in my life. I had slept with beautiful women in my life. But that was entirely different. That was physical contact for the sake of being physical. I didn't care what their smiles looked like. I honestly didn't care if they lived or died. But this?

Edward laughed. "Leah, what did you do to him?"

"Me? What did I do to him?" she asked. "I imprinted. As far as I know, that doesn't change anything in an imprintee. He should still be the same!"

Edward shook his head. "No, he isn't. I've read his mind before, and it sounds different this time. Under his every thought, there's this... this song, I guess. This humming going on in the background. That is new."

Leah looked at me sharply. "But I'm right here! Literally right next to you. Why would my song still be in your head?"

I frowned. I had not even really noticed it. But now that Edward had pointed it out, I could hear it there.

Leah reached out and touched my hand. Abruptly, her song stopped.

One of Edward's eyebrows rose. "Yes, I think this definitely altered him too, Leah," he said. He turned to Carlisle. "In any case, I don't think he wants the Volturi to descend upon us right now. He doesn't know why exactly, but he doesn't want that."

"So you're wondering what to tell Aro when he calls?" asked Carlisle.

"He will be suspicious if he calls again and I have nothing. In fact, he will be suspicious if he has to be the one to call. He will be expecting an update from me very soon," I explained.

"Wait a second!" said Leah. "He specifically is looking for information on werewolves. But does it have to be accurate? Have they ever actually encountered werewolves before? I mean, before us."

"No, not exactly. Have you heard of the Children of the Moon?" I asked. Leah shook her head and I continued. "A long time ago, a Child of the Moon almost killed Caius. One Child. They are exceptionally strong, stronger than the shape-shifting wolves here. Their bite is venomous, like ours. If you are bitten by a Child of the Moon, you become one. Caius was so frightened of them that he had them essentially wiped off the planet."

Leah shuddered. "That's just messed up."

I continued. "When the guard came to Forks, Edward told us that the wolves were not actually werewolves as we had known them. They were shape-shifters. That piqued Aro's interest, and he wanted to know more. So he sent me to investigate. He knows that there are differences between the wolves he knew and the ones here. So, to answer your question, no. The information doesn't have to be accurate."

"If you lie to Aro, he will find out. He only needs to touch you to find out everything," said Carlisle.

"I am hoping that won't be an issue for a while. I have to stay here," I said. I hated it when I mentally added for now.

Edward's eyes narrowed.

If I stay forever, Aro will send others to come get me, I thought. I am his tool, and he will not let me go. I am not like Carlisle. Carlisle never belonged to the Volturi, so he was able to leave freely. They own me.

Edward nodded once. He wasn't going to let it go, and I was sure we'd talk about that more in the future.

"So we need to give them false information," said Carlisle, pulling Edward and me out of my thoughts. "Information that would not harm the wolves if it was ever put to use."

"I have an idea," said Leah, grinning. "You know how in movies, the only thing that can hurt a werewolf is a silver bullet? You could shoot me with a silver bullet right now, and I'd be pissed, but I wouldn't be dead."

Carlisle nodded. "Demetri could tell them that one of the weaknesses he has observed is that you cannot stand silver. Would they believe it, Demetri?"

"They will believe anything I say. I have never lied to them before, because Aro would find out eventually. I don't see why they would think I was lying now," I said.

"Excellent, I am glad we have a plan now," said Carlisle.

Leah's stomach growled loudly. She put her hands to her stomach. "Oh, we didn't go to the restaurant," she said. "I forgot. I'm starving!" She stood up from her chair.

"We have food in the kitchen, Leah. Please help yourself," said Carlisle, standing and gesturing to the door.

As she left, I stood as well. "Edward, did you hear anything that you would like to share with Carlisle?"

"I don't think anything I heard will have immediate repercussions. I do think Emmett can probably stop following you now," said Edward.

"Thank God!" shouted Emmett from downstairs.

When I went downstairs to find Leah, Emmett and Seth were playing some sort of racing game on the television. Seth looked at me and groaned.

"Ugh, why won't someone give you a shirt?" he asked.

Emmett saw his opportunity to get the edge over Seth. "Hey, he just wants to be absolutely ready for anything. A shirt is just in the way if your sister wants to do her thing!"

"Oh my God!" said both Clearwater siblings at the same time.

Leah emerged from the kitchen holding a bowl of cereal in her hands. "Although, I can't say I mind the view."

"Barf," said Seth. "I'm literally going to barf."

Emmett turned toward me quickly, his mouth forming a perfect O.

I laughed then, remembering his question about the wolves in the forest. Emmett joined in, howling. He lost his edge in the game, as it was impossible to play when your whole body shook.

Seth shook his head. "Barf," he repeated as his character on the screen raced across the finish line.

"The more you know!" breathed Emmett, holding his side.

It was abruptly silent when we heard my phone buzz in my pocket. There was only one person it could be.

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