As per usual it was another boring day. Leah lay dozing on the moist forest floor in a patch of rare afternoon sunlight. A cool breeze ruffled through her fur feeling marvelous against her heated skin, Embry and Quil were running patrols, and Seth was in school. With effort she was able to make Embry and Quils nonsensical jabber a distant hum in the back of her mind.
Running brought her peace and freedom something she needed desperately with Sam and Emily's wedding coming around the corner; so she had run a few miles north to a quiet remote place to get away.
She inhaled deeply smelling the faint traces of rain perfuming the air. The clouds would roll in soon she thought.
Leah began to rise when she caught a scent in the northern wind triggering her memory. An intoxicating mix of Juniper, fresh earth, sage and an under tone of something wild that provoked an interest in her. She had caught this heady aroma twice before, once in Forks and again near La Push. But when she went to investigate, it had faded or the rain washed it away. However, this time the scent was fresh. Without truly realizing it she was following it, racing through the forest searching for the source.
The foliage of the forest was thick and she saw she had come to one of the many rest areas; looking around she noted there were many travelers on the highways so the place was a bit empty, save for a few cars. She paced the perimeter of the place at the edge of the thick forest until resolving to phase and put on her clothes so she could better find whoever had her curiosity peeked.
Walking around the lot with no shoes wasn't ideal, but Leah just had to know who this person was. It wasn't long that she traveled through the whole place because the sent was everywhere. It was along the edge of the forest and walked to the other side, then turned and went into the men's room. She smiled wistfully as she thought; a man. Then as she made her was to then as she made her way to the snack machine the scent grew stronger and stronger. With her heart beating a mile a minute she turned the corner and . . . there was no one there, absolutely nobody. Getting closer to it she looked down to see the source and strength of the potent aroma, a leather bracelet. She picked it up turning it around gently in her fingers, it was beaded red with two feathers at the ends connecting to a circle with a cross in the middle, dividing the circle in four and was made up of four different colors; Black, white, yellow and green.
Medicine wheel, she thought. Holding it in her fingers she could feel power emanating off the band, the pathways of truth, healing, peace and harmony. It made her feel light and happy as well as strength and understanding, like it was working at her spirit.
Who did it belong to? She wondered as she tied it to her own wrist. She was going to take it with her, it was too important to be left on the ground. Was the man who owned it important too? Walking back into the cover of the forest she decided she would not phase, instead she wanted to walk back and think about why she was so enamored with whoever wore the wristlet.

- Two Month Later-

"Come on Leah. Just one date he's a good guy and he really, really likes you." Seth pleaded, sitting across from her at the dinner table. The two where at home while their mom was on a date with Charlie Swan.
"Seth I do not need to be set up on a date. Don't you think if I wanted to I could go out and get someone on my own?" Leah asked as she stood and went to take the loaves of bread from the oven. Seth had been trying to convince her to go on a date for the past week. Apparently someone he knew was interested. "Besides he is too young didn't he graduate recently?"
"Yeah he did," he said slowly, but came back with. "But age is just a number Lee, five Jim a chance. Unless," he looked at her questioningly. "You have someone in mind? Someone like Embry? So are the rumors about the two of you true? You know about you two being together." a huge grin splitting his face.
"No, we are not together." she said throwing a dish towel at his face which Seth caught and threw back just as quick.
"Then give him a try. He has a good job, comes form a good family, he's in college and smart." he replied ticking off each quality on his fingers.
"Oh my god, he sounds perfect! Maybe you should date him." she squealed sarcastically.
"Leah," Seth whined.
"Seth," she mimicked his tone perfectly. " Why do you want me to go out with him so badly in the first place? And tell the truth."
"It's not like you have to marry the guy, he just likes you and wants a date." Leah gave him an incredulous look putting her hands on her hips the way their mother did when she knew something was up. Seth broke out in a laugh at this shacking his head beach and forth. "Okay, I like his little sister. We talk and everything but her brother is in the way of us being anything more than acquaintances, I can't even take her on a proper date. Unless maybe of he takes you out first. He said he liked you, but. You never gave him a second look because of Sam, now that you two are not together he thought-"
"He thought he could just use you and your little crush on his sister for his own personal gain. What a jerk!" she yelled fuming.
"No he tried to get you to notice him every now and then, but you never showed him any interest. I said I'd talk to you; see how you felt that's all. But really Leah you should date again. You know get yourself out there and have fun."
"I do have fun Seth." she said turning back to the loaves on the counter and putting them on a cooling rack.
"With someone other than Embry I mean, I'm worried Leah, you two are too close almost dependent on another. What if either one of you imprints? What will happen to the other? One of you is going to end up hurt and I don't want that to be you."
Leah's heart ached in her chest making her stop what she was doing, and gripping the counter top until her knuckles turned white. She hated imprinting. What if her best friend imprinted and she was alone again. Seth had a point, could she really go through it again? Leah heard a cracking noise but ignored it, until she felt gentle fingers on her own, Leah looked up into Seth's concerned face as he pried her fingers off. She hadn't even realized she was crying or that she had bitten into her lower lip drawing blood until she noticed the metallic coppery taste.
"Are you okay? I think you've broken a few fingers. Look I'm sorry I brought it up; let's forget this conversation ever happened, okay." Seth said at the same time he was popping her fingers back into place, and they healed just as quick. If only hearts could heal like that, she thought.
"No you're right," she said wiping her face. "I need to try. But tell him if he really likes me he'll have to pluck up the courage and asked me out himself." Leah looked at Seth; he thought a moment before nodding. She hated making him worry do much. "Im sorry Seth, you shouldn't have to deal with all this, it's just-"
"It's okay really. I understand, there's no need to apologize. I just want you to be happy sis." he said giving her a huge hug.
That's all I want too, Leah thought. I don't want to hurt anymore.
She looked at the bracelet tied to her wrist. So she resolved that she would give dating this guy a chance.