"What the hell is wrong with me Sam? And who the hell was that other wolf?" the newly phased wolf asked.

Sam sighed. He had hoped he would have been the only one in his family to phase but obviously that was not the case.

"You're a wolf, like the legends say. You're meant to protect humans from vampires." The way Sam said this seemed rehearsed.

"How many more of us are there?"

"Well you met Leah in wolf form, her brother Seth Clearwater is a wolf too along with Jacob Black, Jared Cameron, Embry Call, Quil Atera, Paul Lahote, I fear soon there will be others." He replied seeming older and wiser than his 20 years.

"Sam, something odd happened with Leah"

"Odd how?"

"Like there was chains linking us together and if they weren't there I would float away into space. It really freaked me out"

Sam was visibly shaking. He knew what Dillan was talking about; he himself had gone through it with Emily. That day he imprinted on Emily was one of the most wonderful and horrible days in his life. He had never meant to hurt Leah but he couldn't deny the bond he had with Emily either. So he had played the bad guy for over a year then she miraculously phased. Like a horror film, he had to live the worse day of his life over and over. In truth he never blamed her for the hatred she shoved his way because he deserved every bit of it. He had hurt the first girl he had told he loved; heck he was even going to ask her to marry him before the stupid imprinting crap. Now don't get him wrong, he loves Emily but deep down he still loved Leah. The poor girl just couldn't catch a break, could she? Now he knew why she ran, Dillan had growled at her after the imprint. She felt unwanted, again.

Sam let his posture fall.

"You imprinted on her Dillan, and then basically denied it." His voice was worn.

"What is imprinting? Sam I'm really freaking lost here."

"It means she's your soul mate, you will be anything she needs or wants, and your wolf picked her and hers you. You denied her; you told her that you didn't want her, her own imprint denied her. After what I put her through I'm not sure she will want you either." Sam admitted.

"What did you put her through?"

"She and I were dating before I became a wolf, I left for a week on a 'spiritual walk' and when I came back I no longer wanted her. I imprinted on her cousin Emily." He said remorsefully.

A smell caught his nose before Dillan could respond, "She's coming, you better figure out what you are going to say to her." Sam said sternly.

Panic was written all over Dillan's face, "Sam I have no idea what to say to her, I'm one confusing mess right now." His hands tangled in his hair on the verge of ripping out the short onyx strands.

"Right now it isn't just about you Dillan, she's hurting. I will not allow you to cause her anymore pain than I did." Sam's voice took on the alpha tone.

All too soon for Dillan's taste, a light grey wolf trailed by two other wolves, broke through the dense trees.

Worry etched in Sam's brown eyes had him even more nervous.

'Grow some balls Dillan, just talk to her you hurt her feelings now fix it!' he internally scolded.

"Uh…Leah can I talk to you…alone…and uh non-wolf?" Dillan asked stumbling over his words.

The grey wolf looked over her shoulder to the short-haired brown one, he nodded. Slowly she walked forward; Jared has already phased and was running into the house asking Emily about clothes. As quickly as he went in he came out holding a tank top and a pair of jean shorts. The wolf snatched them from his hands and ducked behind the house.

Leah walked out, fully clothed, and Dillan's heart stopped. The girl, no woman, standing before him was a goddess. Her perfectly bronzed skin glowed even with no sun present. Her frame was slightly muscular but not overly so. Then those eyes, they sort of ruined her whole goddess look. They were haunted, full of pain and he realized that he was part of the reason for her dark orbs lacking a sparkle.

"Well, are we going to talk?" she snapped.

'Pull it together I can ogle her later, when she isn't pissed'

"Uh…yeah…lead the way"

Leah takes off back into the woods with Dillan following closely behind, watching the sway of her hips.

'No perv. Not the time' he reminded himself.

"This is good, no one will hear."

"Good, I wanted to apologize-"

"There's no need to explain, I get it. It's not the first time I've been rejected." She bit.

"That's not what I-"

"Really don't waste your breath, I'm fine so let's leave it at that, ok?" she turned and stomped off.

"I was going to say I want to be with you…" he whispered but it was too late Leah was already out of hearing range. The forest was the only one who heard the confession.