AN: Hi guys and girls! Well, I am very, very, very late! I do apologise because I have been way too unorganised with sleeping patterns and university lectures, and homework (fuck they give you so much don't they). So I have sort of figured it out? I guess? haha I don't know... I have been so shit at life it's pretty pathetic. I was so disappointed with the turn out of this chapter, I thought I could give it more depth but I don't know how to. I also feel like I maybe throwing way too many emotions in there I think, like starting sad then going happy (oops spoilers) - but I don't know... please don't think I am bipolar (which is totally ok to be I am not saying it's a bad thing), I am still learning! I won't promise the quality of the next chapter, but this week is pretty busy for me but I will still write Chapter 7 because I want to get it out so I can do my work without feeling like shit. Thanks for keeping with this story and I love you all!

As I said, if you used to read the old WAMTB, please talk to me about your thoughts on the new story (btw don't compare because they are totally different)!

Please enjoy! Harry xox


CHAPTER 6

It had been almost two days of constant travel, and it seemed that we had travelled the distance to separate ourselves from the pack. Mom kept us fed by sending us money electronically and thankfully throwing away any bank statements that would reveal where we were. According to Leah, they had started looking for us the next morning as Sam ordered her to tell them in which way we left. We went South, but because there was desert down here the pack would be unable to be in wolf form during the day. That fact alone kept us calm because we knew that they could not travel as fast as we could and would not be able to catch up. On top of that we took turns in driving to negate the need for a hotel. We were lucky that we had reached Los Angeles, because I was definitely sure my car needed a massive rest. The hotel in Los Angeles was not really the four seasons, but really I don't think we cared as long as there was a bed we were happy. Mostly however I didn't notice the state of the room with moisture building up in the corners and the bed squeaking, showing its age, because I was so homesick and frightened for my life. It felt like at every corner we'd run into Sam or anyone else, and it kept all of us on edge. It slowed us down because we were scared that something bad was going to happen, and that if they had caught up with us we'd be goners for sure. I kept motivating the other two nonetheless, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here.

If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't be here.

All of our phones where racking up phone calls ridiculously, almost bearing on irritating. Collin, being himself, ended up throwing his phone out the window. Brady, on the other hand, just turned it off. I followed the latter, because I wasn't an idiot. I had trouble figuring out what we were going to do next. I knew that the trail we had left was very much clear as day, so we had to think fast. Collin suggested we continue going South or East, whereas Brady preferred the idea of hiding in the city. Again, I am not an idiot. It was almost instinctual, every move we made. We didn't think it through really, but kept going like it was survival. But we didn't have to. Not because there was a greater likelihood that the pack was no where near us, but more the fact that we were comfortably in Los Angeles with no rush towards any motive. And that was the issue. We did not know what we were going to do, or if even there was something we had to do. I felt like we were becoming part of a new age, something that would eventually become challenged. It was as if we were leading a group of lost people, through a sandstorm knowing that there was something positive on the other side but not knowing how soon we'd reach it.

Judging by the attitudes of the other two, I hope it'd be soon.

"Seth…" Hopefully Jake was okay, maybe he's fighting them. Or not, because Sam's a retched man who twists people's opinions through psychological power. "Seth…." I'll be honest, I expected an explanation as to why we were kicked out of home, like surely there would be something other than "haha we don't like you, goodbye". "Seth!"

"What?!" Shock overwhelms me, and I quickly look left and right.

"The wash is done." The car was quietly sitting at the end of the machine, humming along. Brady was dead to the world, and Collin was looking at me intently like as if I had gone crazy or something.

"Fuck…" he exclaimed quietly, turning back to the window.

"Sorry…" I apologised.

"Yeah well, I am tired too." I stare into his eyes, that had aged much too quickly over the past few days.

"Why don't we do something to relax or something?" I pull away from the car wash, and drive towards the nearest diner with an actual rating.

"Hummmm, maybe… Brady sure looks like he could do with some proper rest. Not pass out on a bed from the 50's"

"Sorry about that."

"Don't be, I wasn't asking for the Grand Hyatt."

"Okay then, maybe the beach?"

"Maybe… I'd like the see the sea without freezing to death for once."

"Hah, it'd be much better."

I had forgotten that we were wolves, well in honesty I had forgotten that Collin had an appetite always. Brady and I almost turned in our stomachs at the sight of his inhalation of pretty much the whole restaurant. That was an understatement. But we'd need it if ever we had to run again, and it seemed my brain understood that need too. I was so overwhelmed by the thought of being caught that I could not stop thinking about ways to run. It was like I saw exit points, and new ways of running quickly, like detailed lines in my vision of sight. It wouldn't help that I had to look over Collin and Brady too, because I could not leave any of them-

Calm your mind Seth. Listen to that small part in you that wants to enjoy what you have now.

It's just been a long few days.


I didn't see Brady as a beach-y type of person. I mean, I used to believe that everyone loved the beach no matter what. That was until I learned that sand would go EVERYWHERE, and your hair would go oily, among other things. Brady was quiet, restrained, someone who relished in the small things in life. Like me. But, as we neared the beach he woke up and almost squealed at the sight of the long expanse of sand and water. It got Collin excited too, which helped eased my mind. I never thought I would care so much to make sure that their emotions were in check, and now that I do it takes it toll on my own emotions. I wasn't their parent, maybe not even their guardian, no no. But I looked over them because I knew that they were incapable of dealing with the loneliness and grief by themselves.

I found it ironic that in a sense, they have lost family just like how I lost my dad, and indirectly my family too. It was odd to witness because I never really understood the extent of how much damage these things do to you. But observing how it effected these two did at least tell me something. A part of them that was originally there, keeping that fire in Collin's eye, and cheering that soul in Brady, was not there anymore. Even though the beach was much, much warmer here, it did provide a sense of nostalgia. It felt like we were home.

It's nice here.

Being California, there was easy parking and food was easy to come by. Despite having the whole restaurant, Collin made a beeline for the stall. "Pig!" I shouted, and Brady laughed. The sun was much warmer here. It wasn't just a source of light like in Washington, but it gave life upon our skin. It wasn't glaring in our eyes. It felt so perfect. The sky was bluer here, more cobalt and cerulean, not deep and faded. There was something vibrant that filled the air, and it almost felt like it had a skip in its step. The ocean, was clear, not dirtied by the sand. The beach itself, was white and shining, and no cliffs were around us to close us it. It was just us, the sand, the sea, and the sky.

"It's beautiful here. There is something so crisp, so I can't explain it." Brady rubbed his head in thought.

"I don't know" I replied, "I can't think of it either."

"Breath-taking" Collin answered, and it truly was.

We slowed ourselves towards the beach, taking in every single second of the moment. It wasn't even just the sight of it, because it was serene and quiet - after we walked past the dunes of course. The highway was a contributor of noise until you reached the sea, but once we reached the midpoint, where the water would rush over our feet, all we could hear was clarity. It was like in that moment our problems slipped away. We didn't feel tired, or beyond our years. There is no other way to describe it other than, we felt in the moment. It was funny because, really there was only once thing we could look at and that was the sea, but I'll be honest I never enjoyed a sight as much as this ever. It placated everything negative within us, to the point where I just took a deep breath and started to cry. "Are you okay Seth?" I couldn't explain it. It was like I was crying out everything negative. With each tear, my smile grew bigger. I was like I was crying out the pain, the sadness, the fear.

It was like the darkness faded in the light, in this light.

In short, I felt so, so much better. It was like the air cleaned my soul, pushed all that negativity in me. It filled me with hope. It filled me with a new fire, not one to survive, but one to for a better time or a better place. The whole feeling came to me in such a burst that I could do nothing but tear up! "Seth? Why are you laughing?"

"Why Collin? Why am I laughing?" I exclaimed "Because I now realise, that without a doubt. We are going to win whatever darkness that is trying to cover us. We will survive, stronger than ever.." I turned around to them "and we will become better people, changing something if not everything for the better. Do you believe me?" I put my hand out offering everything that I had to give because they were my best friends, and most importantly my pack brothers.

"I believe you" Brady put his hand in, looking at Collin expectantly.

"Urghhh" I scratched his hand "I don't know what has gotten in to you two, but okay… I'm in." He but is hand in.

"GROUP HUG!" Brady shouted, and we laughed heartily and grabbed each other closely.

I knew that this was my pack now. Without even doubting my thoughts of that small chance that Sam was wrong, I moved on because that was what was best. I knew that I had to to save myself from falling into the darkness, and definitely to stop Brady and Collin from doing so too. It was us three against something we didn't know, but I knew that we could do it.

"So… what do we do now Seth?" Both of them looked at me, waiting for my answer.

"Deal with them first.." Both of them saw what I was looking at, and turned around. With renewed strength in each other, we knew we didn't have to be scared. Of course Brady is a little slow so excuse his shocked voice.

"Vampires!"

Vampires…