Author's Note: Stephenie Meyers owns these characters, but the alternate universe I've created satisfies this Twilight reader. In this piece, I've picked up Leah's story from the Victoria-Cullen/Werewolf fight from my first fanfic: Just One Kiss. My thanks to bratkaren for her reworking of the story summary.

Ache

From the outer edges of the forest I watch the pack converge over Jake's broken body. Among them, so far away I can't make out her face, is the leech lover. The sound of her weeping, carries on the night wind, touching me. It is the sound of ultimate heartbreak. My own shattered heart reaches out to her as she climbs into the truck to hold Jake.

I absently wonder why she isn't following the undead into their lair.

God, Jacob must be in bad shape if she isn't following the bloodsucker home after our recent victory. I hope Jake's not dying, I despair, myself a coward, hidden under the cover of the forest. That should have been me lying torn apart on the ground. I find myself surprised by this sudden truth, buried deep in my psyche only to be unearthed as I watch my pack mate suffer the consequences of my reckless actions.

Can I be that far gone over Sam and Emily? Is that what's become of me? How pathetic! Maybe, I AM too stupid to live.

I feel the cool breeze whip my shoulder-length, black hair around my face. The strands slap at my cheeks as if also trying to snap me out of this. I'm sick of feeling this way, sick of hating everyone and everything, including the word, imprint. I'm sick of myself. Just plain sick and tired.

They sure weren't kidding about heart break. The damn thing feels torn and tattered in this gaping hole in my chest.

I close my eyes, trying to shut off this feeling of misery and pain. My heart aches and I don't know for what anymore. I quake and shiver, not from cold, but from a deep sadness for what was and what I know never will be.

I wish my body was normal, that everything was back to normal, that someone, anyone would reach their arms around me and comfort me. Sam. Gone. My dad. Gone.

I gasp, choking, needing to, but nearly forgetting to breathe. I must stop this before insanity consumes me.

My overly-sensitive were-girl ears pick up a soft sound to my right. I take in a lungful of air. The coldness of it tears against my insides. I know from the scent whomever it is, he is wolf, not vamp. I open my eyes, suddenly aware of being far, far away from my hidey hole full of my clothes.

Feigning a comfort with my nudity that I do not feel, I dare to look into the blackness beside me, to find myself staring into warm, brown eyes, full of concern.

Only then do I use my arms to cover myself. He's in the underbrush. If seen together, we'd look like the Adam and Eve of the creation myth, the moment they'd discovered their nakedness.

Shy.

Ashamed.

"Go away," I say with all the quiet strength I can muster.

"Leah," he says, ignoring my demand.

"I said, get the hell away from me," I manage a bit of a shout.

I turn my back to him, holding my bare shoulders, arms crossed even more tightly, wishing he, or anyone, it didn't really matter, would step over this barrier I've erected around myself. I needed, wanted someone to just hold me, and make this unbearable ache go away.

I hear him quietly sigh.

"Get dressed, Leah, I'm taking you home." His tone leaves me no room for argument.

I feel a slight movement of wind against me, soft jersey grazes against my arm as I listen for the retreat of this boy, disguised in the body of a man. When I sense he's no longer near, I unwind my arms, reach down to the ground, and hastily pull on the overly large t-shirt.

Thankfully, there's nothing questionable emblazoned on it... just a message reading: goGreen. I roll my eyes, Sheesh, that is so Embry, I think to myself. I leave my shelter in search of him. As I track him, I realize that despite feeling alone, and being perhaps the most hated member of the pack, for the second time tonight one of the guys thought enough to be on the lookout for me.

* * *

I reach the spot where the bikes had been parked. All are gone except for one. Geeze, even my brother ditched me. I hear the loud purring of the lone engine. I race over to where I'd hidden my clothes before I'd phased, and slide into my favorite pair of worn jeans. In a matter of a second, I decide to leave my shirt and underthings where they are for the next time I found myself in this part of the woods.

I jump as he guns the motor, calling me over without words. I rush over and hop onto the back of the bike. Astride the motorcycle, he turns to face me, slaps a helmet on my head, gives it one thunk with his flat palm, and turns again to grab hold of the handles.

I automatically wrap my arms around his solid, bare waist. I revel in the whipping wind, feeling its constant pressure moving against me. It feels almost as freeing as running like a wolf.