Salvation

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: This story is soon coming to an end. I hope that this chapter has a lot of drama… Anyways, I know that some of you might not agree with the end, but I want this to happen, because from here on the time will fast forward to a few years. Benedict is going to be old enough and this where it will actually I want to be right now with the characters and the story. Thank you for everything. Love ya! I hope that you keep on reviewing and letting me know how I'm doing. Thank you!

Heartbroken

Leah's POV

Watching his face lit up with thousands of expressions as I told him about the world I was part of was funny. I knew that he was a scary cat, but to actually witness him become so perplexed and confused was priceless. I watched him carefully. He was puzzled about the whole situation. I wouldn't blame him. It was too much to take in so suddenly.

"Wow," he muttered and leaned back against his chair.

I reached for my soda and took a long sip and watched him attentively. He didn't utter a word, but just listened as I told him everything. I didn't know if what I was doing was the correct thing, but I had to. It was for the safety of my people, my family, and my land and especially for the future relationship that was slowly and tenderly growing between Benedict and I.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Um," he sighed mystified. "Well," he swallowed hard and then looked down at his hands that rested on the corners of the table. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Leah. I know that you are saying the truth. I mean," he paused and inhaled deeply.

"You mean, what?" I chuckled; placing the soda can on the table. He folded his arms over his chest and shook his head, as if trying to have a clear view of the situation. "Cats got your tongue?"

"Not funny, Clearwater," he said a bit angry. "I believe you when you tell me that you are a werewolf. I mean, shit, I saw you morph into a gian-"

"I didn't morph," I laughed and grabbed the Styrofoam cup that I had grabbed from the cafeteria line. I poured my Coca Cola in it and offered him some.

"No, thank you," he said, raising one hand to stop me. "I'm not thirsty."

"It's safe to drink from my cup," I teased. "You aren't going to become a werewolf if you drink from my cup, H."

"Aren't I?" he asked frightened.

"No," I laughed loudly. The people around our table were staring. "I was born with the gene that can turn me into a werewolf."

"Oh," he said, suddenly interested. "You have a gene? Has it been studied?"

"I won't say anything anymore," I said solemnly. "About our previous conversation," I said, yawning. I was exhausted. It had been a few days since I slept properly. I have been so busy worrying about Hawthorn telling our colleagues that Benedict was a wolf that I lost the will to sleep. "I phase. We prefer to call it phase."

"What?" he asked confused.

"You said earlier that I morph into a giant wolf, but I phase." I said nonchalantly, as I played with the can of soda and the Styrofoam cup with the other.

"OK," he said intrigued, leaning forward. "Um, I saw you phase and become a giant wolf,"

"I'm not really that big, H." I shrugged. "The rest of the guys in my pack are extremely larger."

"Are they?" he said fascinated.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Can you tell me more about this gene that makes you turn into a werewolf?" he asked anxiously. I shook my head and smiled at him. "Why not, Clearwater?" he whined.

"What if you still tell on us? On my people?" I said seriously.

He sat straight on his seat and slapped his hands on his lap. "I wouldn't betray you like this!" he hissed. "You know me better than that!"

"You were ready to tell our colleagues that there were large wolves roaming freely in La Push, weren't you?"

"That was before I knew that you were one of them, Leah," he said, lowering his voice at the last statement.

"Why did you stop?"

"You know damn well why, Leah," he said exasperated. "I love you and I wouldn't want to hurt you."

"You really love me, don't you?" I asked softly, leaning toward the table.

He nodded, his eyes softening as he gazed at me. "I've always have. Since the first day that we met in the excavation site in Africa. I loved you from the first time that my eyes saw you."

"I'm sorry that,"

"Don't say anything, Leah," he said sadly. "I know my fate and I'm willing to accept it," he said, shrugging. "I'm going to die soon and if I can die knowing that your secret is safe, then, I can die a happy man."

"I don't want to hear you talking like that, H," I said, taking his cold hands in mine. "I don't like to talk about death,"

"I know," he mumbled, as he looked around the hospital cafeteria. He spotted Brady Brooks and quickly tensed. "I don't know why, but that man reminds me of that kid that is always around your house."

"Does he?" I asked intrigued. Elliot nodded and slowly removed his hand from my grasp. "I think he's coming over here,"

"He is," I said casually.

Brady walked slowly to where we were and hovered over our table, as he glared at Elliot. I could see beads of sweat forming on Elliot's forehead.

"Hi, I'm Elliot Hawthorn," he gulped, extending his hand for Brady to greet. "I'm a friend of Le-"

"I know who you are," Brady said menacingly. "You and I have to talk about something that concerns my son."

"Your son?" Elliot said, his voice quivering.

"Yes, my son," Brady said indifferently.

"Um, sure," Elliot said nervously and stood up. "Where would you like to speak?"

"How about outside?"

"Sure," Elliot said, fixing his bloodied shirt before he looked down at me. "Leah, I'll be back."

"OK," I nodded. "Brady, be nice to the man, please."

The rest of the afternoon passed by slowly, I tried to speak to Benedict, but his telephone was out of reach. I left him four or five voice mails, asking him to give me a call back as soon as he could. It took him a week to return my call. I noticed right away that something was wrong when he spoke.

"Hey," he said bigheartedly.

"Are you alright, Benny?"

"Um, yeah," he lied.

I knew that boy like the back of my hand. I knew that he was hiding something from me. I instantly became aware of the background noise. I could hear Byron's voice urging him to tell me about something that had happened.

"What's going on?" I asked carefully.

"Well," he paused and I could hear his shallow breathing. "I have something important to tell you."

"You know that you can tell me anything, sweetie." I smiled in the darkness. "You can trust."

"I know," he chuckled sadly.

"Benedict, what's wrong? You are scaring me." I said confused. "Are you well?"

"Yeah," he stopped and coughed. "I'm fine. I've just been thinking about many things…" he trailed off.

"I don't like the way this is going," I said nervously. "Just tell me right away what the fuck is going on? Did you meet someone else?"

"No," he said appalled.

"Then? What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you being so suspicious?"

"I," he stopped and groaned. "Listen, this is the hardest decision that I've to take, but I've made up my mind. I'm not going back to La Push."

"Why?"

"I have to grow up and mature,"

"You can grow up and mature beside me," I said alarmed. "Why are you doing this to me? Hawthorn said that he wasn't going to tell anyone about you or the wolves in la Push! Why aren't you coming back?!"

"I can't," he said, choking on his voice. "I don't want to hurt you, but-"

"You are hurting me, Benedict. Don't do this to me, please." I said dejectedly. "My heart can't take another heartbreak,"

"I'm not trying to break your heart," he said desperately. "I'm just asking for some time off. I need time away from everything-everyone… I need to grow up and be… ugh! I don't want to cause you any more trouble. I've made up my mind and I hope that you can understand me… This is the hardest decision that I have to take and I don't- please, understand me."

"Understand what?" I snapped. "That you are a coward? Why are you doing this?"

"Leah," he pleaded. "I need time to be stop being a kid and finally grow a backbone. Grow some balls! I want to be enough of a man to actually stand beside you and call you my woman. I want to protect you… I can't even protect you! I've been thinking and I'm just a kid… I'm nothing yet, just give me time and I promise to come back for you… You and-"

"I can't talk about this right now, Benedict!" I hissed furiously, stomping my foot angrily against the floor. "I can't hear you now. Good bye! Good luck on your life," I said sarcastically.

"Leah, please!"

"No! I gotta go! I'm so fucking tired and not in the mood to talk right now," I said, feeling the tears burning on the back of my throat. "I g-gotta go, I'm sorry. I can't- I just can't," I sobbed angrily, hanging up the telephones and slamming it against the bedroom wall. "Fuck!" I shouted, as I threw myself on my bed and cried so hard that it felt like I was back in high school, crying despondently, hoping that maybe this time, my heart would turn into stone and never feel again.