Chapter 17

"Sam, what is this all about?" Leah demanded upon walking outside behind the Clearwater house with Sam.

Sam just scratched the back of his head, seemingly nervous. "I…Are you and…Quil…?"

"Together?" she finished; Sam winced at hearing the word as though it was a bot branding iron pressing into his side. "Well…we've been talking…"

Sam's jaw clenched. "Have…either of you imprinted?"

"Well…no," she replied. "Not really…"

Sam nodded and put his hand under his chin.

"Um…Sam, is there anything in particular you want to talk to me about?" Leah asked, the atmosphere becoming more awkward with every passing second.

Sam himself didn't know; he sort of knew that Leah wouldn't mope over him forever, point in fact he hoped that she wouldn't. He may have broken Leah's heart, but he wanted her to be happy. The same way he was happy with Emily. He didn't think it would be with another member of the pack.

"I…" was all Sam could say.

Leah sighed. "Look, Sam, I really need to get back inside."

To Quil? Sam thought…almost ruefully.

"I'll…see you later," Leah said, before walking away from Sam and entering the backdoor.

That was…new. Leah actually being in a hurry to get away from Sam. Sam was almost hurt. He couldn't see the part of Leah that still longed for him, and it made him somewhat disappointed. But why? What sort of sick monster could he have been to have wanted Leah to still hurt over him? To still desire him? Why…?

And then…Sam felt something within him break. He let out a startled gasp and toppled back onto the ground, clutching his chest. It wasn't pain…it was more of the sensation of an iron bond breaking away. He could feel his grip on his own mind coming back.

It was as though he was asleep yet awake…he remembered everything that had happened in the past years.

What…the hell…was he doing…with Emily?

Leah was with another…she had moved on. Like a sealed up river, the love he had for Leah came washing down over him.

His imprint on Emily…had broken.

As night fell upon the Cullens' mansion and the day rose, the aura of anticipation swallowed them all whole. Jacob was resting in Emmett's bed while Emmett sat on the covers, gently stroking the back of Jacob's head as he slept, smiling down at him. He leaned down and gently kissed his temple.

Emmett himself didn't know that Jacob had imprinted upon him, but already he knew that there was a strong bond connecting the both of them; he probably didn't even need to be informed.

He could alright feel their emotional cord, despite not knowing that it was an imprint.

"Emmett," Carlisle called from downstairs, not too loudly because he knew he could hear him. "Could you please join us in the living room?"

He was there in seconds. "What's the news?"

Alice immediately stood up. "It would seem that the Edward's request isn't the only reason why the Volturi are on their way. Mickey has hunted the entire vampire race to near extinction…the only remaining covens are us, the Denali coven, and the Volturi themselves."

Mickey shrank back onto the couch, folding his arms.

Carmen walked over and patted his head.

"Edward informed them that Mickey was responsible for the murders of the other covens," Alice continued. "Possibly to give them further reason to come here if Emmett 'stealing' his mate isn't enough. So, no questions asked, there will indeed be a battle. But Mickey managed to wipe out a good portion of the Volturi's guard while on the hunt in Europe. The only few that remain are Aro, Caius, Marcus, Heidi, Alec, Jane, Demetri, and Felix; plus three other members. Everyone else, including the wives, are dead."

Kate whistled. "Dude…the Volturi have existed for centuries, and you managed to wipe of large percentage of them out in just weeks? Amazing…"

Mickey blinked. "A…Amazing?"

Mickey was shocked that, instead of being condemned for his murders of the dictatorship known as the Volturi, he was being praised.

"Wait…the Volturi has been reduced in numbers," Eleazar stated. "And yet they continue to come here with the slightest bit of hesitation?"

Alice nodded. "They are quite the arrogant ones. They themselves know their guard has been cut down…but they think we don't know that. They wish to keep their reduced guard secret on their ends by acting as though nothing has changed."

Emmett smirked. "Foolish on their ends…but more than convenient for ours."