Kiara was limping away from the fight, her wounds deep. Seth followed behind her supporting her as they headed towards the Cullen's house. He was pressed against her side as the two wolves had slowed to a walk, after having ran for long enough to come to the conclusion that none of the pack were following after them. Her fight with Sam had been brief but intense, and both wolves had left each other with a few nasty scars. Emotionally and physically.

As they reached a clearing, Seth stopped suddenly and Kiara glanced to look at him with question in her eyes. His head was drooped a little, and she could feel the sadness and guilt that was pooling in his head. She already knew what was going on with him before asking: he was feeling guilty for leaving behind Leah and turning on the pack, sadness that they wanted to kill his imprint and her family, pain from Kiara's pain in her back leg...

Kiara nuzzled her head against his for a moment before they both continued on, Seth's thoughts peacefully breaking the silence as they followed Jacob's trail. Kiara had caught on pretty quickly that he was going back to the Cullens, and she wasn't really sure if she was ready to face Rosalie again. Her words still stung from earlier, and she was still beyond angry at her lying about Bella's pregnancy to her.

But she had to put that aside for now. They needed to regroup and come up with a plan - not just for their sake, but for Bella's. She wanted to kill whatever Bella was growing, but she didn't want her friend to have to die too.

"I know I'm angry," Kiara started, her voice breaking their comfortable silence. She turned to Seth, her eyes flashing with determination. "But we have to protect them, no matter what."

"Do you think they'd really hurt Bree and Rosalie? It's like our most absolute law," Seth whined back, impatient to see his imprint but not wanting to rush Kiara who was still bleeding and limping from her hind leg.

Kiara sighed heavily, knowing that Seth was right. The pack's law was to never harm any of their imprints, no matter what. But there was something about this situation that made her doubt that rule. They had never faced anything like this before and the stakes were higher than ever.

"I don't know," Kiara admitted, feeling a hint of doubt creep into her mind. "But we can't take that chance. We need to be prepared for anything." She paused for a moment, glancing at Seth with a pained expression. "And we have to be prepared to fight our own if it comes to that."

Seth's eyes widened in shock, the idea of fighting his own pack members and sister clearly not something he had considered.

"I don't know if I can do that," he whispered, his voice barely audible as they continued walking. He couldn't shake off the guilt he felt for leaving them behind, but he knew that he couldn't go back to them now. He had made his choice, and it was to protect his imprint and her family.

"It's okay," Kiara replied, rubbing her shoulder against his. "We'll get through this together, hopefully with no fighting."

They both knew she didn't really believe that, but neither commented on it. As they approached the Cullen residence, Kiara and Seth both decided to shift back - having sensed that Jacob had turned back into his human form long ago. Kiara headed to where she knew Alice had left some spare clothes for her, regretting having shifted and ripped them earlier.

Seth hadn't done that, so he simply shifted back and got changed into the clothes that he had tied to his leg. Kiara mused her lips at that, knowing that the boys all loved doing that but that she hated the feeling of having a rope around her ankle when shifted.

"I think I can hear Jake up ahead," Seth said, suddenly excited at the prospect of seeing his friend. Kiara rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips as he took her arm and supported her body weight as she continued to limp through the trees.

She grimaced a little as the leg of the cargo pants Alice had left for her rubbed against the deep wound, biting her tongue a little as she moved forward alongside Seth. She knew that vampires didn't find their blood as appealing as humans, but she also didn't want to go strolling into the Cullen's house if Bree and Jasper hadn't been able to feed recently. Especially since they'd discussed plenty of times before that Kiara didn't quite smell the same as the other wolves.

Carlisle had mentioned that he assumed it was something to do with their imprint, as Seth had stopped smelling as pungent to them once he had imprinted on Bree. Kiara didn't care enough to ask about the science behind that, just glad that her presence didn't make any of the Cullens feel like throwing up (if their bodies had allowed them to do so, anyway).

As much as they'd had their issues, Kiara was relieved when she noticed Jacob through the trees. She breathed a sigh of relief to see he hadn't done anything drastic, and she was just glad to not see him and Edward at each others throats... yet. Seth grinned at her as he noticed Jacob, his arm still wrapped around Kiara as they hobbled towards the boy whose back was to them.

"Don't worry. They're not following us," Seth said, causing Jacob to jump and spin around in the air. His eyes flickered between Kiara and Seth for less than a split second before looking back at the young boy in disbelief.

"What do you think you're doing here?"

"I left Sam's pack?" Seth replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Go home, Seth."

"I won't stand behind him!"

"Oh, yes, you will. I'm not kidding. Get out of here!"

"Is that an order? Gonna make me bow down, too?"

"Guys, stop!" Kiara snapped, causing both of them to stop bickering with each other. Jacob looked at her properly for the first time, realising that Kiara wasn't just holding on to Seth but rather letting him support her weight.

Jacob's annoyance instantly turned into concern, looking down and noticing that she had her left leg lifted slightly off the round. HIs anger flared up at the thought of Kiara being hurt by one of their own pack members.

"I'm not ordering anyone," Jacob replied to Seth before he moved to reach out to Kiara. She gave him a half-smile, but it turned into a grimace as he crouched down and pulled up her cargo pants leg to look at the source of blood he could smell. "What the hell happened?"

"She attacked Sam," Seth replied, a little more amusement in his tone than Jacob appreciated. Seth was a good kid - but Jacob was worried he didn't understand what leaving the pack behind actually meant for him. "Don't worry, she got a good few hits of her own in too."

"Attacking Sam? How could you be so careless?" Jacob asked, before rounding back on Seth again. "If Sam comes after Bella, are you really ready to fight your own brothers? Your sister?"

"If it's the right thing to do," Seth replied, puffing his chest out as he squared up to Jacob a little. Kiara rolled her pants leg back down, wincing as the fabric rubbed against the wound once again. 

"Jake," Kiara muttered, placing a hand on his arm and causing her twin to look into her eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before he nodded and she continued. "Our imprints are in there. Whatever we feel about the... baby... it doesn't matter. You get that, right?"

Her brother nodded slowly, his eyes softening as he looked into Kiara's. He knew that Seth was still coming to terms with leaving their pack, but he also trusted that Kiara wouldn't have allowed him to come with her if she didn't think he was ready for it.

"I get it," he said softly, reaching out to grip Kiara's shoulder gently. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe."

Seth looked between the two of them, his chest puffing up with pride at being included in their discussion. He had always looked up to Jacob, and it was a relief to see that he still respected him despite leaving the pack behind. He knew Jacob wanted him to go home, but Kiara was on his side and wanted him there. That meant more than she'd ever know to him.

"So, what's the plan then?" Seth asked, eager to take action. "How do we make sure they're safe?"

"We have to talk to the Cullens," Kiara said decisively. "We need to find out what's going on and what we're dealing with."

Jacob nodded in agreement, standing up and offering Kiara his hand to help down towards the house. She winced as she put weight on her injured leg, but she refused to let it slow her down. As they reached a short distance from the house, Kiara wasn't surprised to find Edward standing on the balcony already staring at them from the distance.

She could sense his worry, but also his wariness towards the wolves. It had only been an hour ago that Kiara had considered ripping the fetus from Bella, and Jacob had kicked his bike across the driveway.

"Get ready. They're coming for Bella," Jacob called out to him, his voice carrying enough for Edward to hear. Kiara noted the way Edward's eyes flickered between Jacob, Seth and her, before landing on her injured leg and nodding once.

"They're not gonna touch her."

"Agreed."

Kiara watched as Edward turned around and headed back inside. She twisted her head round as a familiar scent suddenly drifted into her nostrils, surprise written across her face as the woman glided down the hill towards them.

"Man, I can smell them from all the way out here!"

Leah Clearwater, in all her glory, was standing in front of them with a smile on her face. Kiara scoffed, not hugely surprised that Leah had left Sam's pack, but surprised that she'd came straight here.

Jacob's face twisted in anger at the sight of Leah, his past anger towards her still fresh in his mind. She had been a thorn in his side for years, always pushing his buttons and refusing to follow his lead. But as he looked at her now, he could see a determination in her eyes that he hadn't seen before.

"What the hell are you doing here, Leah?" Jacob asked, his voice dripping with contempt. Kiara smacked his arm, scowling at his tone.

"I'm not gonna let my little brother get himself killed," Leah joked back, her eyes trailing down Kiara to look at her injured leg. She grimaced a little, the memory of Sam and her fighting burned into the back of her mind.

"Go away, Leah! I can take care of myself!" Seth whined back, causing Kiara to smile a little at their back and forth banter. 

"That you think so proves you need a babysitter..."

"Okay, would the both of you shut up?" Jacob snarled again, ignoring Kiara sending him another disapproving look at the tone he was taking with them. "Did Sam send you?"

"I don't need to do what you say, idiot. Besides Sam doesn't even know I left!" Leah snapped, her eyes rolling so hard that Kiara wouldn't be surprised if it gave her a headache. She moved forward and pulled her friend into a hug, relieving Seth from having to support Kiara as they waited for their wolf healing to kick in for her.

All four winced a little as loud howling pierced the air - Sam definitely had just found out that Leah had left. 

"I think he just figured it out."

Kiara felt a knot form in her stomach as the howling continued, knowing that a confrontation with Sam and his pack was inevitable. She could almost see her brother's mind racing as he considered the implications of Leah being here. On the one hand, he was still angry at her for saying Bella was as good as dead. On the other hand, he couldn't deny that she was a powerful and skilled fighter. And right now, they needed all the help they could get.

The youngest girl felt a twinge of sympathy for Leah, knowing all too well what it felt like to be on the outs with the pack. She couldn't help but respect her friend for standing up to Sam and leaving the pack behind, only to go protect the people she hated most in the world. Kiara wasn't sure she'd ever know how to repay her for that.

"Fine," Jacob said grudgingly. "You can stay. But you follow my lead, got it?"

Leah rolled her eyes again, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. She crossed her arms, looking between the twins as if she knew something they didn't. Seth went to ask her what she was smirking about, but Leah's face turned serious as Kiara winced once again as she adjusted her pant leg.

"I know what his plan is," Leah replied, all of their eyes snapping to hers as she started to fill them in on Sam's plan. Kiara knew that Leah wasn't going to step into the house any time soon, but she was just grateful that she was here.

Even when Kiara had nothing, she'd have Leah. And for that, she was forever blessed.

_____

"Sam's lost the element of surprise, and he doesn't want to take you on outnumbered, so he's not gonna come at you head on." 

Kiara leaned against the wall behind Jacob as the twins briefed the vampires on the threat that was approaching. She could feel Rosalie's eyes on her, but she refused to give the blonde the satisfaction of even looking at her. She knew that the wound on her leg was easily smelt by all of them, and the way Jasper had winced when feeling the pain in her body told her that she probably shouldn't be standing on it until the wound had at least had time to heal.

"He's got the place surrounded and he'll wait for his opportunity," Kiara continued, her brother looking up at her for a second before nodding to second her statement. If anyone knew Sam best, it was Leah with Kiara as a close second. Since Leah refused to enter the house and was patrolling outside instead, Kiara was the only voice of reason available to them.

"He won't get through without a fight," Emmett replied, his chest puffed a little as he wrapped his arm tightly around Beverly. The blonde was casting side glances at her sister, her eyes darting between Rosalie and Kiara in the hopes that something miraculously sorted out the tension between them. She noticed how Kiara tensed a little at the idea of the vampires fighting, and Beverly wondered who Kiara was more worried about: her wolves, or her imprint.

"No fights. We won't be the ones to break the treaty," Carlisle replied, Jacob and Kiara both scoffing at the notion. Edward's head shot away from Bella to the twins, instantly hearing the objections in their thoughts as soon as Carlisle stated his obligation to their pack.

"The treaty is void, at least in Sam's mind," Jacob replied, a lot calmer than Kiara was feeling. She twitched in irritation at the suggestion that the treaty would be even upheld after this, a flicker of disgust in her stomach as she found her eyes flickering back to Bella and her bruised stomach. 

"Not in ours," Esme replied, Kiara looking up and realising that the woman was staring directly at her. Kiara wasn't quite sure what to make of the look in her eyes that she was giving the younger girl. It was a mix of concern and understanding, something that Kiara wasn't used to receiving from someone who wasn't her family. In that moment, she knew that Esme truly cared about her and her family, despite the fact that they were natural enemies.

Emmett broke the silence that followed Esme's words, his attention focused strictly on Carlisle as he refused to look at Kiara. He knew that what they'd done had hurt the wolf, but he didn't understand why she couldn't see that they'd done that for this exact reason. If they'd told Kiara before they'd even have had time to run any tests, Bella would have been dead before she even stepped foot on that airport tarmac.

"Carlisle, no one's hunted for weeks," Emmett replied, his voice a little strained as he thought about the ever so dull throb at the back of his throat. He had better control than most, but even he needed to feed. He knew that Rosalie and Carlisle could withstand the hunger a lot better than the rest of them, but it was apparent that this was getting harder and harder for Bree and Jasper as time went on.

"We'll make do," Esme replied to him, rubbing his arm lightly before looking back to Jacob. Carlisle looked at the twins, gratitude in his face as he wondered what his family had ever done to deserve them in their lives. Jacob had been a constant thorn in their side, and he knew that if it wasn't for Bella then he wouldn't be here, but Kiara was one of the most consistent blessings they'd ever had.

"You've done us a great service, Jacob and Kiara. Thank you," Carlisle gently told them, watching as Jacob rose to his feet. The fire crackled behind the twins as they began to leave the room, the sun outside starting to dip below the trees as the faint howls of Sam's pack continued in the distance.

Jacob moved to the door, his hand resting on the handle when Carlisle stepped forward and called out after the twins before they could leave. Kiara stepped forward to follow Jacob, her injured leg limping a little as she made her way towards the door.

"Kiara," he said softly, his eyes looking at the small patch of blood that had seeped through the fabric of Kiara's pants. The young girl turned and looked back at him. "Do you want me to stitch up your leg? I'm sure... some of us would be a bit more comfortable with that than smelling any more blood."

Kiara glanced over her shoulder at the two vampires in question (Jasper and Bree, of course), who were both looking particularly uncomfortable with the idea of her bleeding in front of them. She hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly, turning back to Carlisle.

"Yes," she replied quietly, watching as Carlisle nodded before motioning toward his office up stairs. "Thank you," she added as Jacob walked out the door behind her, heading to take over patrol from Leah so that she could have a moment to rest.

Just as Kiara's foot hit the first step, she felt a gentle hand lightly touch her arm. She twisted her head, already knowing who it was from their touch alone. Her eyes bore straight into Rosalie's, a coldness in them that Rosalie hadn't experienced from her in a while. Not since Kiara had accepted her imprint.

"Let me help you with that," Rosalie said softly, her hazel eyes gentle as she looked at the other girl. "I can stitch it up for you."

Kiara suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and scoffed in response. Her face twisted into a scowl, shaking her head sharply as she turned back to the stairs.

"No," she snapped, limping away quickly. ""I'm sure Carlisle can manage on his own."

The silence that followed was deafening as Rosalie stared after her, hurt and disappointment etched into every line of her face. Carlisle lightly patted Rosalie's shoulder as he moved past her, trailing behind Kiara as she trudged towards his office that had been set up with medical equipment for Bella's purpose.

As soon as they were out of sight, Rosalie let out a sigh and slumped against the wall, feeling hurt by Kiara's rejection.

She knew why Kiara was mad at her – after all, Rosalie had been one of the main deciders in keeping Kiara in the dark about Bella's condition – but in her heart she knew that wasn't the only reason why Kiara was upset with her.

There was something else going on between them but Rosalie couldn't figure out what it was. All she wanted was to make things right between them but if Kiara wouldn't even let her help to stitch up her leg then how would they ever get there?

"It'll be okay, Rose," Emmett said, his eyes flickering across to Alice who stood with crossed arms as she looked towards Bella's stomach with a furrowed eyebrow. "Right, Alice?"

Alice said nothing.

Rosalie wasn't sure if the silence that followed was an omen of what was to come.

____

"I know they're out there somewhere, but I can't hear them anymore. It's so quiet," Jacob told Leah as he walked to stand beside her in the moonlight. Seth was running patrol, and Kiara was getting her leg stitched up by Carlisle. They knew why Kiara wasn't healing as quickly as she should, but none of the wolves wanted to point it out. Leah knew that if things got worse, she'd have to talk to Kiara about it, but until then she would let her friend handle things how she wanted to.

Leah nodded at his words, her eyes flickering through the trees as she tried to catch a glimpse of any fur pellets. She knew Sam and his pack were close, but it was weird to not hear them when she was shifted anymore.

"I stopped hearing them, too, the second I decided to leave. It's nice."

The silence between them wasn't comfortable, yet, it wasn't awkward either. Leah just supposed that her and Jacob would always be like this - not quite friends, not quite enemies either. Somewhere in between - only for Kiara's sake. If anyone had asked Leah, she'd have told them the absolute truth about the relationship between the Black twins.

Jacob loved Kiara, and Kiara loved Jacob. They also hated each other, but cried for each other, and would die for each other. She knew the feeling all too well - her and Seth were the same. No matter the words that they said to each other, they'd never abandon the other. Not after everything they'd been through together. Not again.

"You know you can't stay here," Jacob announced, his voice a little colder as he cast a side glance at Leah. The girl turned to look at him in disbelief, wondering if she did actually hate Jacob after all.

"But I don't have any place..."

"I can't trust you with the Cullens," Jacob replied, no hesitation in his voice. "You hate them too much."

Valid, Leah thought.

"You don't even like me."

Absolutely not valid, she counteracted.

"I don't have to!" She snapped back, a slight snarl on her words as she rolled her eyes at Jacob getting offended that she didn't kiss the ground that he walked on. "I just have to coexist with you."

"Look, Seth doesn't want you here. Neither do I."

"Being unwanted isn't exactly a new thing for me," Leah snapped back, the familiar spark of anger lighting inside her as she tried to decipher the tone that Jacob was using with her. Seth and her bickered, but she knew that Seth would rather not worry about fighting his own sister. Her brother knew that she wouldn't lay a finger on his or Kiara's imprints - and she knew that was good enough for him.

Jacob went to reiterate, but Leah continued.

 "Besides, you're not stupid. Seth and Kiara might not have realised it - but I have. We both know that it's not your choice if I stay or go," Leah said, causing Jacob to still. "Don't ask her to make that decision, Jacob. She's got enough to worry about."

It was as if all the stress from Jacob almost slowly drained as his previous thoughts were almost confirmed by Leah. He had thought he was maybe wrong, that he was maybe overthinking things but if she had picked up on it too then there was no way he was wrong. Even if Kiara hadn't realised it, the rest of them had. It made sense to him now, how Seth seemed happier with Kiara's approval than his own.

"Look, I'll stay out of your way. I'll do whatever, except go back to Sam's pack and be the pathetic ex-girlfriend he can't get away from. You don't know how many times I wished I could imprint on someone. Anyone."

"Just to break the connection," Jacob lowly murmured as he cast a glance back to the Cullen household where he could hear Bella and Edward laughing about something he had just said. His heart panged a little, finally knowing that there was nothing he could ever do for Bella to look at him the way she looked at Edward. "All right. I'm gonna do a perimeter run... You can join me, if you'd like."

"Yeah, no thanks."

Jacob sniggered as he jogged away, Leah standing with a ghost of a smile on her lips too. Yeah, they didn't like each other, but Leah knew that if it came to it, she'd die for Jacob - and he'd die for her. They were pack now... they always had been, but this was different than being in the Uley pack.

Kiara was changing them, and they were changing her.