Third-Person Point of View

"He's here?" Sam bellowed, slamming his hands on the table and making them flinch. Jacob and Seth were sitting on either side of a sick looking Leah who had her head in her hands. "Why didn't you alarm us immediately? We could've stopped him before Carlisle even thought to let him inside."

"We had a bit of a situation going on," Seth mumbled, rubbing his sister's back.

Paul snarled from his own spot, sitting on the bottom step. "I call traitor... She imprinted on their kind, Sam! Not to mention one with red eyes!"

"Screw you, Paul," Jacob growled.

"Am I wrong? It's bad enough you've got it bad for a damn hybrid, but now we've got someone hankering for a murdering blood sucker!"

"I said, shut up!" Jacob shouted, throwing his chair back and charging towards him. Already ready, Paul flew to his feet, shoving Jacob angrily back.

"ENOUGH!" Sam shouted, silencing everyone. Jacob and Paul shoved each other away and mirrored a pouting stance with their arms crossed. Seth continued to rub Leah's back, who was still not talking or even looking at anybody. The rest of the pack, as well as Emily, stared up at Sam fearfully as he addressed them with furious looks. "Does anyone not see the problem here? Forks isn't safe anymore...again. The only way to protect everyone is to stay united, not be at each other's throats. I will not stand for this! If Billy were here-"

"He would tell us all to listen to you?" Jacob snorted. His father was still at his own place, probably oblivious to the fact that any of this was going on. Jacob could only hope his visits with Charlie and Sue Clearwater were keeping him occupied. "Sam, I'm sorry, but you didn't see what we saw. No, Warren isn't stronger. He isn't even stronger than the Cullens, but he's cruel. His gift keeps anyone from even touching him. And...you know we can't do anything now."

"To hell we can't!" Paul shouted.

That did it.

Jacob huffed as he aimed to punch him, only stopped when Sam yanked him back from the crook of his arm and securing his arms to his sides with a powerful hold.

"Because Leah imprinted," Sam huffed into his ear, still loud enough for the rest to hear. "He's now untouchable."

"So, what? Now we gotta protect him, too, like little Renesmee? Am I the only one pissed about this?" Paul snarled.

"Why wouldn't we?" Embry meekly asked.

"Because, as they told us last time, he's a murderer. Kills for fun, not food."

Leah slammed her fists into the table, startling the atmosphere and making eyes fly towards her. Seth flinched, jumping back but still looking concerned. Her expression appeared deadly as she observed Sam with disgust, Jacob with fury, and Paul with hatred. How such a mixed expression could be portrayed so thoroughly was a mystery to them, but they all fell into silence in obedience. They knew her words were more important than theirs at the moment.

"It...has to be a mistake," she said. "Maybe I was overreacting because how he attacked Jasper. All I know is...I did not imprint on a blood sucker. And even if I did, you have no say in it!" She aimed her scowl towards Paul, who shrunk just a bit but attempted to look stronger.

"Leah...we felt it happen," Seth murmured. "You imprinted. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"No, this isn't what I wanted!" Leah said angrily, "I wanted my imprint to feel right...to feel like that person was meant for me all along. I've waited since..." She glanced towards Sam, who looked put out.

"I never thought this would happen... I never thought someone like him would have to be it, and now I have to deal with the fact I'm attached to a murderous vampire for the rest of my goddamned life." Leah tossed herself back into her seat, rubbing her temples. Seth went back to rubbing her back, looking up toward Jacob with a look of discontent. Sam looked a little put out that he wasn't looking at him for guidance, but he had to remember he wasn't the alpha Seth obeyed anymore.

Despite the pack somewhat coming back together after the near war with the Red Hoods, Sam could tell they were still divided. Seth and Leah often waited for Jacob to give the go ahead if Sam made demands. It was infuriating, but Jacob was the true alpha. Deep down, Sam understood that.

"So what do we do now?" Quil asked.

Sam grumbled incoherently, lifting his hands to rub at his tired face.

"We send them back to the Cullens."

"What?" Jacob asked incredulously.

"Paul was right. We can't bring any harm to this Warren because of Leah...so you three are to report back to the Cullens. Unfortunately, somehow for the thousandth time, we'll be disobeying the treaty. If Warren chooses to act on his urges, we will have no choice but to kill him. And, I'm sorry, Leah...but if you get in the middle of that, I will not give you protection."

Leah's jaw dropped slightly as she trailed her gaze upwards to him. That was something unexpected of him to say. To say he would kill her to kill Warren... But he was right. Deep down, despite this sudden attachment to Warren Cullen, Leah was disgusted with herself. She'd probably welcome the death just to escape that factor of herself that was brand spanking new. Finally, Leah gave Sam a firm nod.

"Alright, then...go back, then," Sam beckoned towards the open doorway. "We'll know if trouble comes up."

Jacob instantly crossed over to get to the door, his temper still high thanks to Paul. Seth quickly followed while Leah trudged slowly after. The two boys lunged out, their clothes ripping as they quickly changed, turning their great heads towards Leah as they waited. She bit her lip, looking at them before turning back toward Sam.

"If worse comes to worst," she said, giving him a stern glare, "kill me first."

With that, she finally threw herself from the doorway, her clothes also ripping as she formed and followed the other two back to the Cullen home, her mind racing with many thoughts.

When they got back, it was already dark. They didn't know whether or not Carlisle had sent Warren on his way. If that were the case, though, Leah would be tracking him. She could already feel the faint pull to him. Was this how Jacob felt with Renesmee? Or how Sam felt with Emily? Leah didn't know how they have survived it this long. The feeling made her quite nauseated.

Edward and Alice must've sensed them because the two were already waiting outside for their arrival. Alice made a beeline for Leah's form, embracing the canine despite the horrendous smell she was giving off. Leah felt quite uncomfortable. She knew how Alice could be with her physical appreciation, but Leah was still not at all used to it.

"I'm so sorry," Alice whispered, "I know you must feel...guilty, but you should know none of us are mad at you."

Edward pulled Alice off gently.

"We don't have time for this, they need to know everything before they go inside. Go into my room and get some clothes for them while I catch them up," Edward ordered. Alice huffed, but obliged. Soon it was just the wolves and Edward, who was staring at Jacob particularly as he spoke.

"We have...a couple more issues than we originally planned with Warren's arrival, and I'm not just talking about Leah's imprinting."

Leah growled as a response.

"It turns out...Warren had a lot to hide from his time in India..." Edward sighed, glancing back at the home.

He began to explain all what Warren had said: Taj, the hybrids, Taj's wife... When he finished, the trio were near frozen in place from their shock. By that time, Alice had returned with clothes for the three of them, looking a little more down since she probably knew that they knew now.

"C'mon, Leah, let's go change over here," Alice mumbled, beckoning to the other side where'd they be concealed enough for her to change. When Leah was back in her regular form, she grabbed at her clothes and began to hiss quietly under her breath.

"Are you telling me we're having to shape up for a whole new battle with hybrids?" she said, pulling her shirt over her head.

Alice nodded. "Warren says they're already on their way. I haven't had a vision yet, but that could change. It's probably because they're after Warren and not after us specifically as to why I haven't seen anything yet... I'm worried, Leah. If they can kill anything they bite...we're all gonna die. And even if we do come out unscathed, the Volturi are guaranteed to interfere. Any excuse to fight us again is up for grabs with them."

Leah finished, flattening her hair.

"How's Carlisle taking this?"

Alice seemed surprised at the question, but she answered anyway, "He's taking it the hardest. According to Edward, Carlisle's thoughts aren't anywhere optimistic for our odds in this. Right now he's taken Warren into his office to talk, but...I don't see how he's going to fix anything. The hybrids are already coming here. Even if Warren takes off, we're still stuck in the middle. I've never met someone so...vicious..."

"Does he...does he know I've..."

Alice's golden eyes widened. "Oh, no...we should've told you... I would've figured Edward..." She sighed as she looked back at the house before meeting Leah's eyes carefully again. "Warren knew from the start that you had...that's why he's still here. That's why he told us his entire plan. He knew even if we tried to kill him, give him back to Taj, or something else...you would've stopped us. I know you may not feel like you will, but you see how Jacob is with Renesmee...you would react before you even realize you are. He's protected."

"That's why I struck a deal with Sam before I came here," Leah grunted, leading Alice back toward the front door so they could go inside. "If I end up trying to stop you or him from killing Warren...you can kill me. But Sam needs to know about the hybrids. If they come, he might just think they're other wolves. If they bite them-"

"We'll get it taken care of, I promise," Alice declared once they finally pulled the door open and went inside. Leah yelped as she was suddenly embraced tightly, her ribs near cracking if she hadn't slightly pushed the person back. It took her a moment to realize it was Esme.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, cupping Leah's cheeks. They felt freezing against Leah's warmer tone. "I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine, it's fine," Leah promised, giving her a rare smile. "I'm fine. I just...where is he?"

"He?"

Leah froze, her hands stuck on Esme's that were still wrapped over her face. It was almost like she was back in her other form, the fur across her back standing on end when she knew trouble was coming closer. She knew that voice. She had heard it earlier today, but it was like she had been hearing it at the back of her mind forever. She knew it was Warren. This was another factoid from the stupid imprint. Closing her eyes, she relished in the motherly stature her and Esme were standing in for a few more moments before she finally turned, grimacing to see Warren standing steady on the staircase, Carlisle right beside him looking downright ashamed.

"Well...so this is the beast," his voice was crisp and distinct. If you heard that voice from a mile away you'd know it was him. Leah hated that. "Perhaps you do clean up well... Carlisle has told me a lot about you, Leah Clearwater... I'm sorry about the dad. That must've been a real damper on the mood." He gave a mock pout. Leah's temper flared, yet she didn't feel like attacking him.

She didn't feel like hurting him at all. She felt like this was the one person keeping her alive right now. He was the one who put the stars in the sky and made the grass grow. No matter how horrible or terrible he was, Leah would die to make sure he was protected. She didn't like that at all. She wanted to rip her own heart out to stop feeling this way. She took back all of her desperate wants. She didn't want to imprint any longer.

"Warren," Carlisle interjected warningly. "That isn't appropriate."

"Oh, come now, brother, I'm only teasing," Warren tossed his head back before he passed Leah, gently brushing against her and making her feel like she was on fire despite how cold he was. "Of all their faults, I'll admit the wolves clean up well when they're in their better forms."

Esme took ahold of Leah's arm protectively, glaring heavily at Warren like some kind of disease.

"Where's my brother and Jacob?" she asked quietly.

"In the kitchen. I fixed the three of you some dinner. Go ahead," she nodded, gently pushing her toward the kitchen. Leah uneasily made her way along, glancing nervously toward Warren who had taken a perch on the couch as he leaned back with a hearty sigh. He made sure to eye Leah tastefully as she walked, however, making her feel both uncomfortable and excited all at once.

As Esme had said, the kitchen had dinner waiting for her, still hot as it sat in its respective plates. Seth and Jacob were already digging in.

"How are you two so calm?" Leah asked mockingly.

"Red eyes aren't exactly new to us," Jacob said, "but what about you?"

Leah looked up at him. "All I know is...this Is just the beginning."

Seth, who was sitting on the counter, spoke up nervously, "Are we gonna have to fight again?"

"Edward thinks so. But if the hybrids are so deadly...I don't see how we'll win. I didn't even know there was another tribe of wolves to begin with, but now they're all half-vampire." Jacob shook his head.

"Makes you wonder if the Red Hoods know about them," Seth said.

"Edward says they didn't. Carlisle even said they had no idea about Warren himself. All we can do now...is wait."

Leah sighed and looked back to the living area where Warren was.

"Yeah...wait."