AN: Surprise, surprise! It's me again. It's been a long while I know and I'm not wasting time with excuses. I am unworthy, but I love you guys and I will give a heartfelt apology and sincere thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, reviewed and pm'd good wishes. Thank you! I promise this story is not ended and I will continue to update. Thanks again and remember, reviews are love ;D

As Demetri stared up into his Mate's brilliantly glowing blue eyes, a mirror of his own, he felt his normally silent heart gallop within his chest, beating in time with hers. He could barely wait to claim her again. Suddenly he didn't care about the Volturi, the Wolves, or the Cullens. Nothing mattered more than this moment, in this place, with this female in his arms. The woman he had dreamt about for all those months when he was in Volterra. Her hair, so much longer than the first time he saw her, formed the silkiest curtain around their faces as she bent to bring her lips so softly and sweetly to his again. She barely brushed his lips before trailing kisses along his jaw to his ear, whispering in a voice thick with desire,

"I think we're both over dressed, Demetri."

He didn't remember the frenzy in which they both disrobed only the sheer satisfaction when his hands, at last, were worshipping her flesh, committing the silky smooth skin to memory so he could sketch every decadent inch of her as soon as he got pen and paper.

The few drops of blood from their kiss seemed to sear his tongue and fuel the fire that was becoming a raging furnace within him. He felt his fangs lengthen, spurred on by the sweet sounds she made beneath him. Almost against his will he struck, piercing the tender flesh of her throat, moaning as her hot blood flooded his mouth.

"We should get back to Leandros."

Demetri nodded even as he continued to feather kisses along Leah's perfect shoulder, wondering if he would ever get his fill of her. Yet another reason he adored his Mate. Not only did he desire her body more than he had ever craved blood as a newborn, he was awed and humbled by her devotion to their son. He got to his feet, cradling her for a few more precious seconds before gently setting her down. As he was helping her retrieve and put on their discarded clothing, he couldn't help but fantasize about the things he planned to do to her the next time he got her alone. Shaking his head to dislodge his lustful thoughts he suddenly froze, then quickly thrust Leah behind him.

The subject of his protection frowned and opened her mouth to chastise him for his continued, and rather outdated, chauvinism. Then she caught a whiff of what he had already detected.

"Shit!"

"Indeed."

Leah tried unsuccessfully to move around her Imprint but he was like a brick wall.

"Let me handle this Demetri."

His only response was a growl as two men strolled into the clearing. Paul and Sam. Double damn. Leah cursed her luck as Demetri continued to growl. Sam was scowling and Leah could see he was spoiling for a fight. Paul, never one to control his temper or his mouth, was the first to speak.

"Really Leah, if you're going to let the beast out and rut in the woods with vampires, can't you keep it a little farther from the Rez? His stench is like a frigging bat signal… Get it? Bat signal? Vampire Bat?"

As Paul laughed at his own brilliance, Leah tightened her hold on the hand Demetri was using to keep her behind him. She felt the tremors running through his body increase in strength. Her own heart sped up, once again racing in tandem with his, and she knew he was moments away from transforming.

The only reason Demetri didn't leap at the upstart wolf was because that would leave Leah unprotected and at the mercy of her former Alpha. The very thought had him growling a warning that was thick with menace.

"Keep talking, Mongrel, and I'll make it so that your friend can play Fetch with your head!"

Although he was unable to see her, as she was completely blocked by her alleged mate, Sam ignored the huge vampire and addressed his former love.

"Why are you here, Leah? You've made your choice clear… fucking the dead, carrying his monster…"

An enraged Leah cut Sam off immediately. He could say what he wanted about her, believe what he wanted about her, but Leah would be damned if she allowed him to do the same to her innocent child.

"Don't you dare refer to my son as a monster, Sam Uley! Leandros is perfect and we've been over this. My relationship, besides having nothing at all to do with you, has been sanctioned by the Ancestors so you and your pack of sycophants can all just kiss my furry ass!"

Paul scoffed disbelievingly.

"Right… you sleep with this Angel wannabe, fool Old Quil into saying it's alright and now the Ancestors are cheering you on? You have got to be kidding! I guess that must make you Buffy the Vampire Layer, huh? Is Jacob getting in on some kinky action as your Watcher?"

Leah's ire gave her the strength to shove Demetri to the side and confront Paul.

"Fortunately, I don't have to justify my family to anyone, especially your dumb ass, and by the way, Buffy references? Really? What freaking decade are you living in, loser? You need to do us all a favor and go take a long walk off a short cliff!"

Leah was so incensed that at first she didn't notice the shock on the faces of both Paul and Sam as she glared up at them, breathing hard. Her former fiancé was once again staring at her with his mouth hanging open.

Sam couldn't believe his eyes. Not only was Leah no longer pregnant with the bloodsucker's spawn, but her eyes were a freakish, glowing blue. He wouldn't be surprised if she sprouted a pair of fangs and went for his throat. Torn between despair and fury, Sam was speechless and could only shake his head with obvious disgust.

"Look at yourself, Leah! Are you sure you're even human anymore? You don't have to carry on this sick charade… you're free of his bastard just… just come back to the Rez with us. We'll protect you. You'll never have to deal with vampires again."

The look Leah threw Sam's way was incredulous and more than a little disgusted.

"First of all, none of us can really throw stones about being human anymore and secondly…"

Before Demetri could grab hold of her Leah marched over to Sam and punched him so hard in the jaw that he dropped like a stone.

"What kind of woman do you think I am, Sam? You know what? Don't even answer that... How you of all people could even suggest that a parent abandon a child… could seriously believe I would turn my back on my baby… I… I don't think you ever knew me at all!"

Sam had the grace to look shamed as he slowly climbed to his feet, wiping blood from a rapidly healing split lip. The entire tribe knew of his history with his absent father, but Leah's situation was something else entirely. Did Leah really believe her vampire's half breed spawn was anything but a monster?! He took a step toward her with a hand raised almost in supplication before another growl from the bloodsucker stopped him in his tracks.

Demetri was aware of the fact that his tenuous control of the animal beneath his skin was slipping. He just couldn't seem to make himself care. He knew he should have gotten Leah back to the Cullens the moment he scented her former Alpha and his flunky, but he had decided to stand his ground and now the furry son of a bitch was attempting to lure his mate away… deprive his son of a mother…

Leah cursed under her breath as Demetri suddenly gripped her hand. She could once again feel the fine tremors that had been coursing through his body and knew that it wouldn't be long before he phased.

"Look Sam, you and Paul need to get the hell away from here before Demetri loses his temper…"

Paul laughed.

"Are you seriously threatening us with one bloodsucker? I wouldn't even break a sweat tearing him to pieces and it would have the added bonus of making my day."

Leah decided she had wasted enough of her breath and turned to face Demetri. It was imperative that she calm him down and prevent him from revealing his new abilities. The last thing she wanted was to give Sam more ammunition in his vendetta against her Imprint. It was sheer luck that both wolves were so focused on her that neither noticed Demetri's eyes mirrored hers. Ignoring her former pack mates, Leah turned quickly and, cupping her hands around Demetri's cheeks, pulled his head down so her forehead touched his and their eyes met in a glacial stare.

"Demetri! Listen to me! The only place I want to go right now is home to our son… with you. I don't want to go to the Rez. I just want you to take me home… Please."

Demetri growled. He wanted so badly to kill Sam Uley for every moment of pain that Leah had been forced to endure, every tear she had shed over his worthless carcass… but for once, when contemplating a kill, Demetri felt no thirst, no frenzy to gorge on wolf blood. No, he wanted to rip the filthy cur apart with tooth and claw. The beast within him clamored to protect its mate by removing any and all threats. Demetri felt the tremors worsen, could feel the change begin deep within him. His eyes were locked on Sam and Paul and he could almost taste their flesh. He felt his nails lengthen into claws… and pierce tender flesh.

Although Leah didn't utter a sound, Demetri knew immediately that he had hurt her… and the knowledge turned his heated blood to ice, halting the change in its tracks. He immediately forgot about Sam and Paul, once again giving Leah his full attention.

"I'm so sorry my heart. I never meant…"

Leah silenced him with a kiss.

"Take me home, Demetri. We need to get back to the baby."

Demetri nodded and scooped Leah into his arms, he didn't spare either wolf another glance as he turned his back on them and sped towards the Cullen house, but his inner wolf fought him every step of the way. It hungered to remove the threat to its mate and cub. He calmed it with a promise of blood and violence. He would meet Sam Uley again, without Leah, and his wolf would be sated.

Jane slammed the door so hard Alec would be surprised if it was still completely attached to the frame. He closed his book with a sigh, knowing he would not be finishing it any time soon.

"Well, you're back before Caius so can I assume the plan succeeded, Sister?"

Jane glared at him. "Those … filthy dogs … those thrice cursed four legged animals … actually threatened me! Me! If Aro was here I would have been allowed to show them why vampires the world over cower at the very mention of my name…"

Alec raised an amused brow. "Are you really surprised, Sister? The last time we faced them, with Aro, we lost…"

"We lost nothing…"

"Except our reputation. Caius knows we must tread lightly with the Cullens now. They have put the vampire nation on notice that we were after them. If something were to happen to any of them… Not even the great Vulturi would survive a confrontation with an army of pissed off vampires united in their fear of us… fear that they would be our next victims."

Jane picked up a crystal vase off a small side table and flung it against a wall.

"Then how the hell are we going to retrieve Demetri and his wolf bitch?!"

Both siblings had been so focused on their conversation that neither noticed when Caius entered and leaned against the broken door frame with a serene expression.

"Dearest Jane, some say you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar… I say they're wrong. Nothing controls better than fear. By the time I'm done with Demetri, he will come to us."