Liam was running again, on two legs. He'd circled the reservation twice now. He'd go twice more at least. Embarrassment curled in his stomach. He'd never really turned on his pack mates like he had the day before. And over something as stupid as imprinting! Some of his brothers would go their whole lives without meeting their soul mates, and here he was throwing a fit because he had.

Liam cleared his throat loudly and spat.

Figments of a dream he'd had the night before were also swirling around in his head, adding to the general confusion he felt. A warm, satisfied feeling accompanied these figments. Penelope, he was sure. Penelope, Penelope, Penelope. He wanted to see her again. He wanted to avoid girly hissy fits like the one he'd thrown the day before. But he couldn't get over the… he couldn't even name it. What was it? Fear? He hated the imprint. It was something that happened to his older brother. Pace, serious, intelligent Pace, made the connections, found the love of his life and knew his own purpose all before the age of 25. Not Liam. Liam tromped around town with his boys, making noise and eating mountains of junk food.

He thought hard of a white wall in an effort to just stop contemplating. His head was spinning and he slowed to get his breathing back on track. He'd returned to the garage this morning to apologize to Jacob and Quil. Jacob was impressed, apparently, because he'd given Liam the day off after lunch, which was why he was currently running laps around the res. It was probably around 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon. He'd started around 3:30.

He reached out to touch the telephone pole that marked a lap as he ran past. That made three laps. He picked up the pace for his last rounds, only to slam straight into the body that stepped out of the trees in front of him. The impact sent him straight on his ass.

"Liam."

Liam glared impetuously, squinting up at his older brother.

"Why am I always looking up at you?" he asked, trying to be an annoying as possible. Pace only laughed and reached a hand down. Liam grasped it and hauled himself up.

"It's my shift. Run with me," Pace suggested. Liam followed him into the trees, only pausing for a moment to think of his two-legged run cut short. Once they'd made their change, they shot off along unmarked, but well-travelled paths that roughly followed the asphalt ones that Liam had been jogging on.

It's good to see you, Liam thought, and his emotions spilled over into the space between them, supporting the thought. He'd missed his brother during the short period of absence. Pace's own warm thoughts mingled back with his, and Liam settled into the easy silence, enjoying the sensation of running full tilt on four legs.

Pace's conscience was tinged with a hint of curiosity though. Liam detected it a few minutes into their run. He leapt up on a boulder and lunged off towards a small deer path, knowing his heavier brother would not be able to follow him exactly.

Liam, Pace warned.

What?

Pace was quiet, but his silence was heavy. He knew Liam was avoiding his curiosity, trying to goad him into a new train of thought. Liam let himself fall back along side Pace, hanging his head a little in a show of embarrassment.

What's the problem? Pace thought, and an image of little Penelope, pigtails flying, ice cream smeared across her face and her grinning mouth, surfaced in his mind. I don't see much to be pissed off about.

Liam huffed, and snapped at a rabbit booking it out of the area. I'm not pissed off. Not anymore.

You're upset. Your head is like a steel trap. I can hardly feel anything from you.

Pace was worried about him. Liam felt it spilling over, and he tried to extend his gratitude.

What are you hiding? Pace thought. They came around a bend fast, and Liam took advantage of the moment spent steadying and stabilizing the pace by thinking over his answer.

Is she really going to change me all that much?

Pace was silent for a moment. Then, Yes.

Liam felt the repulsion building in his stomach and his mind, and was quick to reconstruct the so-called steel trap around his thoughts before Pace caught wind of them. His head was beginning to ache. The yearning he felt for Penelope and the disgust he felt for the link that bound him to her created an unnatural, unhealthy tension that eked into his whole body.

Liam?

I'm alright. Just thinking.

He felt Pace's unease and appreciated his older brother's attempt to keep the feeling to himself.

Alright. Let me know if you need anything.

Liam sent bland feelings of agreement at his brother, tucked his head down, breathed the scents of the forest in deeply, and ran. Pine. Deer. Deer. Fox. Crow, dead. Squirrel. Car exhaust. Campfire smoke.