WELCOME

[Alice Mary Cullen]

Alice half walked, half danced her way up the stairs, dropping the book right where Esme would need it later. She often did that, putting things where her family might need them. After all, it helped them out, and put her power to good use.

Her eyes went wide as visions flicked past her eyes and she made a mental note that she had some business to organise. For now, she thought she might see what Edward was up to. Her favourite brother was downstairs somewhere, so she headed down that way, her graceful steps barely making a sound.

[Leah Candika Clearwater]

Leah left Embry on patrol and took off towards the Cullen house. Can't believe I'd ever do this willingly... she thought to herself. But she made a deal with the DiLaurentis coven and it was only fair to extend it to the Cullens. Niice try Leah, you just want someone else on your side if it comes to a fight. It was true, with both the Cullen and DiLaurentis covens on her side, Sam didn't stand a chance.

She came up to the treeline by the Cullen house and stopped to shift to her human form. Pulling on the yoga pants and tank top she had tied to her leg, she took a deep breath for courage and went up to the door. Before she could lose her nerve, she knocked.

[Alice Mary Cullen]

As Alice heard a knock on the door, a little wrinkle appeared on her forehead. She hadn't seen anyone coming today. What was this about? With a blur, she was at the door, and opened it. Now, her nose was the one to wrinkle at the smell. What was that?

"Can I help you?" She smiled politely at the girl even though she was confused. How hadn't she seen someone arriving? And what on earth was that smell? It was like a wet dog or something.

[Leah Candika Clearwater]

Before she had time to take another breath, someone had opened the door. The woman was short, very short and her hair was cut in a pixie style. Everything about her screamed grace and made Leah feel like an awkward giant. She bit back a growl and focused on the issue at hand.

"Leah Clearwater," she said bluntly. "Alpha of the rebel wolf pack. I'm here to propose an alliance."

[Alice Mary Cullen]

Alice took a better look at the girl, one eyebrow quirked. "Perhaps I should invite you in.} She stepped out of the doorway, holding the door open. She wasn't entirely sure what the girl wanted, but she should hear it out.

Quietly, she called for Edward, knowing he'd hear her. Hopefully he'd be able to read Leah's mind, and prove she was telling the truth. After all, Alice wouldn't allow anything to threaten her family. If she had to make an alliance, she would, but only if she was sure it was legit.

[Edward Anthony Cullen]

Edward was sitting up in his room, reading one of Carlisle's many books about vampire lore. Things had started happening in Seattle and Port Angeles, things that screamed vampire. If they kept going as they were, the Cullens would have to get involved soon.

Hearing Alice coming up the stairs, he sighed, not ready with an explanation of what they could do about the attacks. He was saved when there was a knock on the door. Going back to his book, he continued to read but froze when he smelled it - wet dog.

"No," he said quietly. A second later he was downstairs in front of the native girl. "How is this possible? The wolves died out years ago. What are you doing here." He pried into her mind, his eyes widening at what he found. She was good at hiding her thoughts though, practice from sharing a mind with Sam for so long. She quickly shut him out by thinking of something else. "What do you mean the 'rebel' pack? Isn't there just one pack? And why would we want your help."

[Leah Candika Clearwater]

Leah hesitantly walked in the house, careful not to turn her back on the girl. Until an alliance was in place, she couldn't guarantee her safety. Before she could ask the girl to leave the door open, another vampire was in front of her. This one she knew.

"Edward," she greeted him grudgingly. This was the vampire they had to worry about - the one who would likely change Bella. He'd never hurt a human before though, something she had to keep reminding herself. She did take a step back though. "Don't. Run. Up. To. Me." She growled slightly. "Obviously the wolves didn't die out. I'm standing right here. I'm amazed you don't know about the two packs, what with you're little mind trick." She scowled at him, knowing he was trying to read her thoughts. "Sam killed Michaela. Normally I'd kill any vampire that comes across me but I knew Michaela before she was changed and we managed to stay close after. She taught me vampires aren't all bad," she grudgingly admitted. "As for needing my help, well, you're going to need to know what I know about Sam's plans."

[Alice Mary Cullen]

Alice put her hand out in front of Edward as he ran down, not sure what he was about to do. But she'd invited Leah inside, so she wasn't going to let any harm come to her unless she had a reason. She listened to them talk with wide eyes. Wolves... she'd heard about them before, but the fact they were being offered an alliance by one seemed strange.

"Edward, we should hear her out. My powers won't help when it comes to Sam, I believe." It was strange, the thought that she couldn't use her powers to help her family the way she always did, but she'd keep calm and logical.

She turned her back to Leah, to try show trust, and headed towards the living room. "We can talk in here." She perched on the arm of a chair, looking as comfortable as she could be around that smell.

[Edward Anthony Cullen]

Edward glanced at Alice when she put a hand in front of him. "Please Alice, think better of me. I'm not going to attack our...guest." He looked over at the scowling alpha. "I'm sure she could more than take care of herself."

He froze when she mentioned Michaela. He knew that she had been killed but he didn't know it was the pack that did it. "He broke the treaty? I'll kill him!" He hissed, glancing at Alice and hoping for back up but all he saw was her heading to the couch.

[Leah Candika Clearwater]

Leah reluctantly smiled at Edward's comment. "Damn straight vamp-boy. I could probably tear your arm off." She followed the pixie one, Alice she assumed, into the living room and sat down. It was kind of alarming how easy it was to start to trust them. Maybe it was just being conditioned to hate the vampires that caused the tension. Or maybe it was alpha law. Either way, it was suspicious.

Her eyes flashed at his outburst. "Yeah well, you'll have to wait your turn. You're not the only one who's got something against Sam Uley." She frowned and looked out the window. After a moment, she looked back. "Sam is all about creating an army now. He'll do anything it takes to wipe the vampires out, starting with you guys. Right now he's not that much of a threat, with only Jared and Paul on his side but once the others start shifting...You'll be in danger." She paused after a moment. "Wait a minute, you guys are supposed to be out of town. You left after one of your people attacked lady clumsy. " She raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't know you're back."

[Alice Mary Cullen]

Alice scowled at the mention of Sam killing Michaela, but kept quiet. She knew Leah must be wound tight right now, and she didn't want to start a fight. "No point arguing over who gets to kill him until we know more. We don't want to break the treaty unless we have no other choice." There lied most of her problem... she couldn't see what would happen if they picked one way or the other, so she needed as much information as possible. "So why aren't you helping Sam? Clearly you don't like vampires either."

She ignored the question about Bella, sparing Edward a sympathetic glance. She knew why he was here, and she'd followed in order to help him. After all, Bella was her best friend, and Edward was her favourite brother, so she wanted to make sure Bella was safe for both of their sakes.

She also had her own reason, but she was keeping that close to the chest. She'd learnt how to hide her thoughts from Edward, so she started thinking of an unrelated topic to throw him off. She didn't want to say anything yet, not until she was sure of what to do.

[Edward Anthony Cullen]

Edward shook his head. "You don't get it Al, they broke the treaty when they killed Michaela." He turned to Leah. "Unless..." His voice trailed off. The only way the treaty was still intact was if she either crossed the boundary line or the treaty didn't apply to her coven.

He flinched at her last question. "No, Bella doesn't know I'm here. I'd rather you didn't tell her either. I'm only here to watch over her, make sure she's safe." His eyes clouded at thoughts of Bella. She hadn't been leaving her house much lately and she was pretty much cationic. It was alarming.

[Leah Candika Clearwater]

Leah shook her head at Edward's statement. "She didn't cross the line. Not that it matters. Sam seems to think it's okay because the treaty was with your coven and not hers. " She shook her head, clearly disgusted. "It's not, I checked. The orignal wording said the Forks vampires. The DiLaurentises lived in Forks. They're covered by the treaty too."

Leah looked over at Alice and narrowed her eyes in thought. "Sam broke the treaty. I'm not going to follow a corrupt leader. I have just as much alpha blood as him, if not more. I was well within my rights to form my own pack. As for why i'd help you...I'm not sure. Maybe it's to get back at Sam. Embry seems to think I know you're not all bad. I think it's that Mickey was one of the few people I ever called a friend, even after she was changed. She trusted you guys so you can't be all bad." She looked at the Cullens. "I'm telling you right now though: if you kill a human, the treaty is off."

[Alice Mary Cullen]

Alice stiffened up as Leah says that Sam broke the treaty. In that case, they were well within their rights to retaliate, and by the way Leah was talking, it might even turn into a case of attacking the wolves before they attacked her family. And she'd always choose to defend her family over anything.

"I respect that. What would the treaty involve, exactly?" She wasn't one to agree to anything unless she was more confident of the outcome, and without her powers, she needed to have as much information as possible to make a judgement.

She wasn't against the idea of a treaty, she just wanted to make sure it was for the best. "And we don't kill humans. None of us do." She automatically defended their lifestyle, even though she was sure she knew why Leah had specified that. Bella. But Edward didn't want to turn Bella, he was trying to stay away from her to keep her safe. So that concern shouldn't be in Leah's mind. Not right now anyway. And Alice wouldn't tell her of the vision she had of Bella as a vampire, just to keep the peace.