A/N: Another story in the midst of not even being able to update others? Yeah, crazy but I figured out a system where I'll update each story at least once, maybe twice a week until they are done. Anyhoo this sort of starts out rather slow but it'll get better if you can just stick with me lovies!

Summary: Roughly around four to six months after BD with a slight change. From the stories passed down through the generations, imprinting for the shifters was supposed to mean 'forever' with their ONE. So why now were all the rules changing? Oh yeah, everyone had a smug Alpha & a wayward snarky Beta to thank for that.

Rating: MA for future chapters.

Warnings for this story: anti-imprinting, unnecessary cursing, bashings on those who shall not be named yet, underage drinking and lots of healthy sex. ;)

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight and anything else recognizable & the song belongs to Ludacris/ Mary J. Blige.

Forced to think that Hell is a place called home

Nothin' else to do but get some clothes and pack

She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back

-Ludacris

Ch1: Runaway Love

Leah soaks a face cloth with cold water then bends forward, draws her shoulder length ponytail over one shoulder and holds the cloth to the nape of her neck. Streamlets trickle down her heated back, merging with the sweat seeping from her pores. Even with the windows open and a fan fluctuating lazily in the corner of every room, the temperature of her apartment was hotter than the heat of her body.

She swipes the now lukewarm fabric down her throat and pauses at her collarbone. The washcloth soaks the thin t-shirt over her breasts while she considers why she had ended up in California of all places. Hot weather equaled no vampires until night time, if that. No vampires meant no stupid hot Alpha man-boy imprinted werewolf in her vicinity.

So I ran like a coward after the royal Italian "invincible" leeches slunk off into the dirt or wherever they were from… Sue me.

Leah grimaces at her reflection in her mirror. Her hazel eyes narrows and she gives herself a look in warning. There she went thinking about it again after swearing she wouldn't.

Her disappearing act didn't bother anyone. Maybe, Seth and her mother, but even as she left she couldn't help to think she was freeing everyone from her misery and torture. She had gotten permission from the Council to leave for nursing school, so they wouldn't have to rely on Doctor Cullen when something happened to the pack. Or at least that's the excuse Leah had given them and they had reluctantly agreed to let her go after she pointed out that the threat was gone and there were now over twenty boys to handle the situation if something ever popped up.

Was it wrong of her not asking her Alpha turned lover first? Or not even saying goodbye— leaving the travel of the word mill to get to him as Leah high tailed her ass out of there in the used 1996 Nissan her mom had brought her?

Probably, but it was what she had to do.

She couldn't allow herself to sink into another depression after watching him fall over his demon spawn of an imprint. Even with him coming to her window in La Push promising along with countless claims of somehow breaking the stupid imprint every, single, night, while she continually let him in again and again and again…

It wasn't like he even came looking for her after all this time, so her leaving was a win-win for everyone. She got to leave to pursue her dream, the pack was free from her torment and Jake had his precious little imprint who was still aging at a rapid rate until she reached the age of six. Making the girl who received one of the worst names in history—in Leah's opinion—an adult in a physical sense.

Leah pauses in her thoughts grimacing, well, she went there and now the damn was breaking loose. She wasn't going to cry. Nope, not Leah—cold heartless bitch—Clearwater. He wasn't worth any more of her tears. At the end of the day he didn't belong to her…not fully at least, and she knew he never would.

It came with dating a wolf she knew had a high possibility of leaving her but she still took the leap and gave the asshole a chance. And then he proved her right by imprinting just as she had finally given her all to him.

She was getting used to people and things walking out of her life anyway. First it was Sam stapled with Emily, her father, her control on her anger along with her fertility, her friends, her dreams of going away to college and then him. His imprinting hit the hardest, not as hard as losing her father was, because nothing would ever top that. But it slapped reality onto her harder than Sam imprinting on Emily, harder than knowing she would no longer be able to see a mini-her running around and harder than when she thought she would never experience the college life.

She had only been away from La Push for a solid four months and it was the happiest she had ever been in her life. Granted she was alone ninety three percent of the time, it was still welcomed. California wasn't really that far but it was far enough away that she felt free.

She was going to the City College of San Francisco until one of the many Universities she applied to accepted her. She had an overload of money saved up from working in her family owned store for so many years and the money she never got to use on the wedding with Sam. So she wasn't too concerned that she hadn't found a job yet.

She took up running in the nearby park and local self-defense classes to stop her anger from boiling over like it used to. It worked so well that she was only forced to phase once every few days. Her wolf didn't like that she spent so much time in human form anyway and it was always nice to run on all fours letting the wind fly through her fur. It wasn't La Push by any means but it helped keep her grounded, so she had no complaints. She always made sure to text or call Seth before she phased in fear that he would be phased along with her. He'd only demand she come home and did she want that?

No.

What Jacob Black didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

She scrubs at her neck again as if she could wipe away her pestering thoughts and memories then threw the washcloth in the hamper next to the door. When she turns off the bathroom light and steps into the hallway her body immediately tenses at the familiar scent in the air that isn't hers. She softly inhales three times taking in the scent headily just to make sure she hasn't completely lost her mind. The smell definitely hadn't been in her home but it is a scent her body immediately remembers. Her heart rate picks up in speed and she can feel the adrenaline running through her as if she were about to phase.

Channel your energy Leah, do not phase, do not phase, do not phase. She repeats to herself like a mantra.

Before she can even turn, a shadow disengages itself from the dark corner behind the bathroom door, clamps a hand around her wrist and spun her face first into the wall. Her cheek plants hard against the wall—right next to the hanging picture of her father beaming as he held a large fish that was longer than his body with a grinning five year old Leah sitting on top of his shoulders with her hands in his hair.

The heated calloused palm claps abruptly over her mouth muffling her instinctive growl-shriek. The air rushing through her nose carries with it the familiar scent of pine, wood, mint and the unique smell of home. She fights sagging into his form using every muscle in her body. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed in the slightest but at least she knew she wasn't going to phase anymore.

With her free hand braced at shoulder height, she tries pushing back against the steel-solid body. The asshole didn't move an inch. Instead he knocks her off-balance by wedging one leg between hers and with little energy forced the front of her body to press further into the wall. He always had superior size and strength along with the advantage of surprise she was now trapped.

Her eyes narrows twisting her head to peer over the large hand engulfing the lower half of her face, only to have her vision confirm what she didn't want to see. Broad shoulders, along with a distinctive teal clad chest pinning her torso, and a ridged abdomen trapping the arm bent behind her back. Fidgeting uselessly in a struggle to regain some sort of control only ground her bottom against his hips, and her thin boy shorts weren't providing the protection she needed from the persistent erection shoving against her ass.

Why is he here?

Why now?

How the fuck did he find me?

She made sure to covers her tracks, she never sent letters home, sticking only to email, texts, and phone calls. The Council only got her grades in the mail and that was sent directly from her college, no one knew where her apartment was except maybe…Seth.

She closes her eyes in defeat vowing to tear her brother a new one whenever she saw him again.

"You done now Lee? I just want to talk." his voice sounds hoarse and huskier than she remembered against her ear. She hates how her body betrays her shivering at his minty breath and his closeness.

But no, she wasn't even close to being done because he still had his hands on her. His large heated hands that she had burned in her memory and spent hours trying not to dream about at night.

She bit the inside of his palm still placed over her mouth and nose as hard as she could, hearing his long drawn out hiss as his grip loosened just a little. It is all she needed though for her to spring into action. While twisting her arm out of his grasp she turns her body and lands a punch right under his chin, knocking his head back. Leah follows that with an elbow jab and a roundhouse kick to his abdomen knowing her toes will probably hurt for a while but it is worth it when he stumbles back a few steps.

"Shit," He groans moving his hand down his jaw while the other grips his side.

He sounds horrible like she had really done some damage. Her lips twitch as she fights off a smile. Defense classes were paying off, she would never complain at her intense workouts ever again.

She can smell and see the blood he wipes off with the palm of his hand. She didn't know what he was expecting but him showing up unannounced—or at all for that matter—was idiotic of him. He knew her well enough to know she wasn't going to like any of this and he still came anyway.

He must have been dropped on his head too many times as a baby, the poor thing.

His tongue peeks out as he licks his bottom lip. He scrunches up his nose twice, sniffing before narrowing his eyes at her. Her eyes widen slightly at his now shaking form. She impulsively flex her fingers, keeping up her slow miniscule backward steps to her bedroom.

Even though she really doesn't want to she asks anyway keeping her distance, "Are you okay?"

"I'll live," he grumbles closing his eyes until he is no longer shaking. "You knew it was me…" his dark eyes open scanning her body heatedly, leaving her to feel as if she were naked. "You could have at least waited before you went all Rambo on me. What were you trying to do kill me?"

Her defenses were way up so she just shrugs as a response, "You threw me against my own damn wall, not to mention you came into my house uninvited. Haven't you ever heard of breaking and entering?"

She doesn't bother asking how he got in, because although her apartment is on the fourth floor, she knew he was always good at climbing things and all her windows were open. It was as if she was just begging for him to come in.

He ignores her question, "I would applaud you for kicking my ass, but I'm trying to keep my stomach contents in place." He jokes awkwardly.

The tension between them crackled with crazy charged intensity when they locked eyes for all of a minute. Leah looked away first knowing what looking into his eyes too long would end up doing to her.

Leah crosses her arms over her breast as she took another slight step back. "You deserved it and you know it."

She could tell when he was no longer in pain because his hand dropped from his mouth and his tongue stopped peeking out against the corner of his lips. She couldn't help as her eyes perused his body. It looked as if he had gotten taller, but she couldn't be too sure, he was already gigantic at six-foot-seven, he really didn't need anymore height added to him. His russet skin still looked smooth and flawless except where he now had stubble along his jaw and chin. His hair is a lot longer than she remembered sticking up in tousled fohawk and it took Leah an instant to decide that she actually preferred this look to his usual close cropped hair. His biceps were still sculpted perfectly and his shoulders were still as broad as daylight. And there is no way she could miss the shape of his strong pectorals.

Her gaze went lower still even when she really tried to stop herself. Her traitorous eyes scanned over the teal tank top that hung over his black shorts. But it didn't obscure the view of his flat stomach and his narrow waist. She is almost embarrassed at her reaction to his thighs. Her breath actually caught in her throat, as if she had never seen the man's strong things before.

Of course she had. She had seen every delicious inch of him…

Damn it to hell!

"It's good to see that you haven't lost your sense of humor Clearwater." He flashes a bright white lopsided grin in her direction.

Wait... what?

Leah had been so caught up in walking backwards to keep the distance between them and scrutinizing him that she had forgotten what they were talking about. Not that any of the small chitchat was important she had a whole bunch of questions that needed to be answered.

"Why don't you tell me what you're doing here?" She lifts her chin at him uncrossing her arms, letting them fall to her sides.

"I came here to find you…" he looks down before at the floor before looking back up at her. "…to bring you home." he says taking a step closer.

"Go to hell Jacob and get out of my house while you're at it. I'm not going back there to wa—" she clenches her teeth immediately cutting herself off mid-sentence. He didn't deserve to hear her thoughts. He sought her out; he should be the one talking.

She turns intending to just end the conversation there and go to bed, he could stand there for the rest of his life if he wanted but the conversation was now done and over with in her eyes.

Before she could push open her bedroom door she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

She shakes it off, only so the shock that ran through her body would leave. "Leave me alone, I had a long day and I just want—"

"Leah…"

The rest of her objection dies on her lips. Damn it! Why did he have to say her name all soft, low and whispery? Her knees actually went a little weak and she didn't need weak right now. She needed the strength she had built over the last four months being away from him.

He squeezes her shoulder stepping so close that she is able to feel his heat and power radiate off his body, "Listen I know this is a lot to take in b—"

"A lot to take in? You call this a lot to take in?" she scowls at her half open bedroom door wishing he would stop touching her. It really wasn't fair. At least she didn't have to stare at him though.

"All right, that's an understatement. We need to talk I want—need to explain some things to you."

"You're too late, that ship has sailed off and it's never coming back." She rolls her eyes at nothing in particular.

He sounds amused as he makes his next statement. "I had a feeling you were going to say that and I don't blame you. But I know you have questions and if you—" he cuts himself off for only a second before speaking again. "when you give me the chance to explain the last year will make sense."

When? Smug bastard!

She clenched her jaw, not even bothering to face him. She knew if she saw his eyes she would be done for. "Things not speeding up fast enough with your imprint? Blue balls sent you all this way?" she snarls out, not giving him a chance to answer as she continues. "There is nothing to explain… you imprinted end of story. Let. Me. Go…" she pauses for only a second before adding over her shoulder, "I already let you go." She feels her heart twist at the lie and she realizes at that moment that she still cares.

How had she ever fooled herself into thinking that she was over him?

She just needed to get out of here, obviously staying so close was doing nothing but fucking with her already messed up, chaotic mind. Leah moves out of her doorway further into her room but he grabs her arm pulling her into his hard body so that she is forced to face him again. Her body tingles in response causing her to groan inwardly. Oh, how she wished she could hate him.

"Let me go Black before I top what I did to you a few minutes ago and it will actually hurt far worse. If you think I'm joking, go ahead and try me."

"No," Jacob replies firmly grabbing her chin so Leah is forced to meet his gaze. He was looking at her with a serious, yet vulnerable expression. She just about came undone taking in his raw appearance, but it didn't change the facts. He needed to stop touching her, looking at her and he needed to get out of her home, while some of her rational thought was still intact.

"I'm not letting you go Leah. I never let you go to begin with, you need to understand that." He went on his other hand going to her other arm to keep her in place. "Like I told you, I have a lot of things to explain. And you're going to listen. I don't want to have to command—"

"You better not, I'll rip you to shreds you if you try to do that." She frowns.

He nods twice, grinning. "I know Lee, all I'm asking for is a few minutes. Everything will make sense if you let me explain how everything at home has changed."

Leah sighs, rolling her eyes. "Somehow I don't think you are going to take no for an answer."

"Smart girl." He smirks rubbing his hands up and down on her arm.

"Fine," she sighs relaxing at his touch. She knew he wasn't going to leave without some words being said but she needed to get some control back on the situation at hand "Seven minutes and that's it. So speak fast."

He bends down as his right hand trails up to her jaw. Leah fights to keep her eyes open watching in slow motion as he continues to lean down until his lips are so close that they barely brush hers. "I'll take whatever I can get."

As always the next chapter will explain a whole lot more.

Questions? Confusion? review and I'll respond without giving too much away.

Reviews are welcomed and cherished like Jacob Black on that rainy day in New Moon…le sigh :)