Leah's POV

It was my first day back on the Rez. As soon as the confrontation with the Volturri was over and Jacob and Seth returned safely to the Pack, I hightailed it out of town.

I couldn't deal with it all so soon. Losing my first love and bestfriend/cousin at once. Then my dad. And feeling the freedom that I'd felt in Jacob's pack and then being forced to return to the old pack. I'd ran. And the entire time I was gone, I only shifted after midnight, when everyone would be asleep.

Once I'd ran into Seth's mind. He'd said that he couldn't sleep and was ecstatic to hear from me. After that, he would shift everynight at midnight and stay in form until sunrise, just to make sure he talked to me that night.

Finally, his pleas for me to come home were too much. Our mother, who'd only bitched at me before, had started on him and he felt alone. And for my chipper, carefree brother to feel that way was too hard for me to ignore.

Sure, he had all his pack brothers during the day, but what was a sixteen year old boy supposed to do when he went home at night to an empty house besides his hateful bitch of a mother?

Seth never knew where I was, only that there was a forest nearby. I'd went to Kentucky. I don't know why, it was just somewhere that no one would think of, and I had to concentrate at all times to keep that secret locked up when we went through each other's minds.

Seth had no idea that I was heading back to the Rez. I'd stopped and phased everynight, running through the forest and it made him think that I was in the same forest as before. He never questioned it.

So as I backed into my mother's driveway at eight o'clock that morning, I wasn't surprised that nobody was home. It wasn't liked they'd been expecting me. So I went to the backyard, where I changed in the shed, folding my expensive clothing and then rolling them tightly, tying them to the cord on my leg. They ended up being a big protrusion on my leg, but I didn't care. I phased before coming out.

Immediately, Seth's voice came into my head. Lee? I kept my mind open, sending him pictures of our backyard. You're home? he practically squealed. He sent me images back, the blurry forest coming into focus a little before blurring again, but now he was running in the opposite direction. I'm coming right now.

Okay, I answered.

Seth got to the backyard within two minutes and he approached me in his sandy wolf form. He went ballistic, like a puppy whos had nobody to play with for days, nudging and nipping me all over the face and neck with his nose. Puppy kisses. I chuckled, nipping back at him.

Ow, Lee, he complained, pulling away. I smiled as I saw the tears in his eyes.

Missed me?

He gave me a big wolfy grin and sniffled, blinking back the tears. Usually, I'd make fun of him crying. I let it go...just this once.

Of course I missed you, he finally answered.

You're bigger, I noted.

He absolutely beamed at that, standing up straighter. I know. Bet I can take you now.

I shrugged. Doesn't matter. I'll always be faster.

He shrugged right back, looking a little cocky. Maybe. Maybe not.

So I leave for a while-

A year, he interrupted, pointedly.

And now you think you can beat me? I finished. He shrugged but his pursed lips were saying definitely. I growled. Then lets go. I suggested, motioning toward the woods.

He let out a little snort before nudging me with his nose again. God, I missed our banter.

We lined up agains the back of the house, both crouched for takeoff. Okay, Seth started. One...

Two, I chanted.

Three! We thought together and we launched ourselves toward the tree line. I had to give it to him. He was faster than before but still no match. I easily passed him and I stopped at the trees, waiting a few seconds before he caught up. Hmmm. I murmured.

Shut up. He growled. Still, I could hear the excitement in his voice. Excitement that I was back.

Leah? Sam asked suddenly. Seth and I groaned. I didn't want to deal with Sam yet. Seth didn't want any interruptions in our catch-up time. Still, Sam persisted. Leah? I know that's you. I can feel that it's you. My mind shut down. Just a little trick that I'd taught myself. He could hear what I thought toward him, but he couldn't wheedle around in my brain like they could before. Leah! Where are you? He demanded. Stupid fucking Alpha Demand. I resisted it. Seth? he asked. I groaned, wishing I'd taught my little brother my trick. Then again, if he knew it he could probably find a way to work around it and then we'd be back to square one.

Seth didn't consciously tell on me, but Sam must've saw me through Seth's eyes, standing right beside him. You're back? he whispered.

Who's back? Jacob asked, suddenly coming into the little circle of consciousness, or whatever you'd call it. He probed around a bit. Leah? he asked. He didn't sound excited like Seth but like Sam, he was a little surprised.

Yep. I answered back. Just got in. Seth and I started toward the unofficial meeting place, the clearing in the woods where we always met. We made it before Sam or Jacob but only by seconds.

I knew I looked different. My pelt was thicker and that was because my hair was longer in human form. After awhile, being a little hairier in wolf form was worth it. The chin length hair was killing me. Turned out though, that it just got thicker, not longer. And I actually kind of liked it.

You've got bigger. Sam said, sounding a little wary.

Are you fat now? Jacob asked, being his usual dick-self. He laughed.

Seth seemed to have just realized that I might look different. Shyly, he asked, Are you?

Yeah. A little. I said, trying to sound serious and ashamed. I kept my mind closed to them because I was laughing my ass off in there.

So, you let yourself go... Jacob was pondering. I wish I could say it's a surprise...but it's not.

Shut up. Seth snapped, taking up for me. It was really sweet actually and I stepped closer, nudging him softly. Closest thing to a calming shoulder pat that I could do. He sighed and leaned into me. Both Sam and Jacob looked shocked. What? Seth asked. You guys don't know anything. You think just because Leah has a temper and was unable to control her own thoughts of heartbreak that she's some sort of bitch or something. We all heard how much Jacob hated Edward before but nobody hated him for it did they?

Seth... I said calmly, trying to soothe him.

No! he boomed. You left because of this. Because they were mean and uncomfortable with your feelings. But was it your fault that you phased? That you're the only girl to ever phase? No. It's not. And if I'm going to be able to keep you this time, these dicks need to leave you alone.

I won't leave you again, Seth. I promise you.

He seemed to calm down a little at that. Still, he continued, It wasn't your fault. Now that I think about it...Jacob's little ex-girlfriend was the reason all those vamps were around. The reason we activated or whatever.

Bella didn't ask those vamps to come. Jacob said defensively.

And Leah didn't ask for Sam to betray her! Or to become a shifter! Bella looses Edward and goes zombie for months. Leah looses Sam and she put up her defensives, becomes a little mean. Has some personal thoughts that she can't help. And you guys treat her like shit for it.

I let out a long breath. Wow. It's like Seth said everything that I'd wanted to say before, and then some. I felt like a weight had been lifted off me. Like I'd been the one to unload all that shit on them. And right then, I felt incredibly grateful to my brother.

Everyone was silent, unsure of what was safe to be said. I huffed, prodding Seth with my nose. Let's go.

No. Sam commanded. He caught himself, lowering his inner voice, We need to talk about your abandonment.

What about it? Are you letting me back in or not? Because truthfully, I could care less. It's not like you can take the ability from me. Why should I care if I get to let you boss me around or not?

Of course we'll let you back in. Sam thought quickly. But you can't just run off like that again. This is your duty, Leah.

Our duty is to protect people from vampires. We have an entire clan that we're allied with. There was no danger.

There could've been, he retorted. Did you think of that?

Why would there be? I asked. I was there for the big battle that ended everything. Plus, I'm just one wolf. One worthless, female, tiny wolf.

Not so tiny anymore. Jacob joked. Seth snarled like a caged tiger. It even scared me a little. Sorry, sorry. Jacob added quickly. My brother couldn't win a fight with Jacob, but the Clearwaters stuck together, even in a fight amongst our pack. Together, we could kill Jacob in a second. Hell, I might be able to kill him myself.

Fine, Sam. I'm in the Pack. I'll warn if I decide to leave again. Seth whimpered. If we decide to leave, I corrected.

You can't take Seth if you leave, Sam warned.

I can do whatever I damn well please. You're his boss, Samuel. I'm his family.

Exactly, Seth concurred. Again, I was surprised. Seth was as loyal as they came. He looked at me, as if reading my thoughts, which I knew he couldn't do with my wall up. Family comes very first.

How are you doing that? Jacob asked, interrupting our little family moment. I can't get into your mind.

I figured this would make it easier for you guys, I said, not really answering the question. I turned to Sam and met his eyes, something I hadn't been able to do after the whole Emily thing. He looked taken back. What's our first mission, boss? I asked Sam, sounding completely carefree and controlled. I was no longer the uncontrollable, bitter, heartbroken little girl that I was before.

He hesitated for a moment. Cullen place. We check in every morning. Let's go. He started toward their place.

I want Seth to come with me.

I wanna go with Lee, Seth pleaded.

Me too. Jacob added. But I knew he only wanted to come to see how fat I'd got. Or thought that I'd got.

Sam sounded angry when he murmured, Fine. We'll all go.

Jacob and Sam were peppering me with questions. Did my mom know I was back? Had I seen Emily? Where was I staying? Where had I been? What had I been doing?

I went to find Seth first thing, I answered. Haven't seen anyone else yet. I was in Kentucky. Did some freelance P.I. type work for money and I was pretty sure that I'd be staying at my mom's house.

They asked about my work, my apartment, everything under the fucking moon, until finally, I ignored the question and turned to Seth. Wanna race? I raised my brows the best I could in my wolf form.

You know it, he answered, taking off. I counted to twenty before taking off after him. Sam and Jacob had no choice but to run in order to catch up with us.

We got to the Cullen Place within a few minutes and we stopped at the tree line. The back door opened shortly after and the leeches filed out as if this was some big deal. I thought it would be a quick, 'Is everything okay? Okay, good. See ya then.' But obviously not.

Jake and I like to visit for awhile. Seth answered. Realizing that he'd read my mind, I pulled my mental shield back up.

And then I mentally scoffed. What the hell was wrong with Jacob? Was he a glutton for punishment? A masochist? Because it seemed to me that he liked the pain since he just kept running back.

Let's go, Seth said, cheerfully.

Let's get this over with, Sam and I thought simultaneously. He turned to look at me with wide eyes. Like isn't so awesome that we think alike? We really were meant to be together!

I rolled my eyes and broke the contact. Come on, Seth, I thought pointedly.