I was happy.

This is what I enjoyed doing, right here. Leah and I were in our human forms at the same time, which was a first in a while and we were at the First Beach. It was actually sunny for once, unusual for a day in the normally rainy La Push and Leah and I were running. It was a thing or Leah's, that if she couldn't be as strong or clever as the rest of us then she would be the fastest.

And she was.

We'd been running for about a half hour when I finally plopped down just short of the tide, exhausted. She turned around and jogged back to me, sitting herself down next to me and bending her legs under her. A couple of guys from the nearby community collage walked by and one of them whistled at her slimly clothed figure. We both snarled at them and something about our expressions made them hurriedly rush away.

Leah sighed and grumbled something illegible under her breath. I just ignored her. It was a day-to-day part of being a wolf to wear as little clothing as possible so you don't ruin to many of your things.

"Seth." The sound of my name from Leah startled me. I hadn't been paying attention.

"Yeah?"

She hesitated before continuing. "Seth I'm going to tell you something. And it's something you have to swear not to think about or tell the rest of the pack."

The urgency in her voice surprised me, so I just nodded.

"I'm running away," she burst out.

"Huh?" I was confused. She knew Jake had already tried a stunt like this, about a year ago and it hadn't worked out so well.

"I'm running away," she said slowly, like she was speaking to a toddler who didn't quite understand instructions. "I'm going to stop phasing. Maybe take some meditation classes to calm me up a little, date around, take some courses at a collage."

I just stared at her, my mouth open.

She snorted. "Shut your mouth, you'll let flies in."

I quickly shut it but reopened it again to speak.

"Leah! What, you're just gonna ignore your birthright? Just walk out on being a part of a legend? You're history in the making, Lee! Is being a werewolf that bad…?" I trailed off as she looked at me. I didn't need to be in my wolf form to know what she was thinking. Yes. For her, being a wolf was that bad.

"When?" was all I could say.

She looked away before answering, "Tonight."

"Are you coming home?"

"No."

The harshness in her words made me flinch and her expression softened as she put a hand on my shoulder.

"Take care and be strong, little brother."

I didn't look as she stood up, dusted the sand off her legs, and ran away.

"Dammit!" I snarled to myself as a missed, yet again, the deer I had been going after. She ran away, glad that I'd been so off my game. Lucky her. I walked over to the nearest tree and smacked my huge head off the thick trunk, trying to clear my thoughts, as I had been for the past year.

Seth?

Jake's voice rang through my head like the late bell at school. I grinded my teeth together and ran into a deeper part of the forest. I felt Jake coming after me and tried to speed up but he soon over took me.

Stop.

The Alpha in his voice made me stop dead in my tracks.

I was just passing by my house and Billy said that your mom wanted you.

I just nodded then wheeled myself around in the direction of my house and began to run. I knew the path by heart even though I hadn't been in my human form very often. I only spend about one hour in human form a day but it feels odd, stiff and I hurry to get back in the woods as soon as I can.

I think I'm just waiting to hear her voice.

It's been over a year since Leah left and neither my mom nor I had heard anything from her since. In the first month or two, the pack occasionally heard her voice in our heads, when she lost her temper or something but we never heard where she was.

I knew it was my fault she left. I was with her and I could have stopped her.

All my fault. Run, run, and don't look back, run, run, all my fault.

Seth, don't think that way. Embry had just phased and was now running to meet Jake.

Get outta my head and mind your own business, I snarled back.

I was now in my backyard. I phased behind a tree and pulled my shorts and draws back on then slunk into the house where, of course, my mom was waiting. She looked at me, forcing a smile through her tight lips then got up out of her chair in front of the TV and gave me a small hug.

"How are you honey?" she said, her voice tired, cautious, and happy all at the same time.

I shrugged then said, "Jake said you wanted me, mom. 'Sup?"

She looked around the room then sat back down in her chair and handed me a folded up piece of paper that lay on the table next to her.

"Leah," was all she said.

I immediately pulled up a chair and began reading.

Mom,

I am so sorry I left with out a goodbye. It was hard and I wish I had said something to you before disappearing in to thin air. I'm in Pennsylvania at the moment, studying Law at a nearby collage. I'm leasing a small apartment and think I had finally been able to stop phasing, a feat I thought nearly impossible almost a year ago. Once I got away from Sam and pack life and responsibilities, everything seemed so much easier. Anyways, I don't think I will be able to make it back there anytime soon but I will write as soon as I can.

Love,

Leah

P.S. How's Seth?

"Seth?" Mom's voice sounded warily and I realized that my hand was shaking so hard that the words on the page were blurring. I let go of the letter and ran out the back door and leapt off the porch, already in wolf form. My four paws hit the ground with a thud and I was flying across the forest floor.

How could she? Damn her! Pennsylvania?? That was on the other side of the continent for god's sake! And then just casually throwing me in there, not even saying one word to me… Well now I knew where she was. I was going to go get her.

No Seth!!

My pack's yell was louder then if they were standing right next to me. Jake, Embry, and Quil were all running towards me in unison. I decided it was no use trying to out run them so I just simply sat down and waited.

It didn't take long. Soon the chocolate, russet red, and dark grey spotted wolves appeared out of the forest. The chocolate wolf and grey spotted wolf sat down but Jake continued walking until he was right in front of me. His huge eyes looked at me in what I imagine to be accusation.

Jake, I started. Pleading would be better at this point. I'm going mad here. There's nothing here for me, except the pack and even that isn't enough right now. I need to do this.

Jake's expression changed and he looked at me with a new expression on his face and I knew what he was thinking, going through those tough times before Nessie came along when he just wanted to get away…

You really want this?

More then anything. God, I sounded pathetic, even to me.

He looked at me for a really long time before, Do what you gotta do kid.

Thanks, I willed to him before setting off running towards the horizon. I was going to find what I was missing.

Run, run, and don't look back, run, run…