Chapter 25

I opened my eyes and I was alone in the forest. I didn't know where he went, but clearly he has just left me there in the forest, taken away no doubt by the imprint who now owned him. For the first time in a long time I felt cold, my clothes were soaked through drenched in mud that now caked my face; I looked up at the sky and it was as if the heavens had ripped open and the rain came pouring down on me.

For a while I lay there, staring at the raindrops battering down on me, not even bothering to flinch when some of them caught my eye. Somehow I brought myself to get up and I just started walking. Aimlessly I walked around the forest. I felt like I had lost my centre and the tie that kept me connected to the world. The bond between him and me was gone now and I didn't know where to go or who to turn to. I just let my legs take me wherever it was I was meant to go.

I was alone again. All my dreams were shattered the minute I saw that look in his eyes. The vacant look of a person that doesn't see what was once there, but looks at you as if you're not quite there, just looking straight through you. I was broken beyond repair that much I was sure about. I was alone...again.

I couldn't understand why fate was so cruel as to do this to me again. I really thought he was – the one. Something about him made me feel it was real. My whole being was sure it was him. My instincts were taking me to him, so strong I left everyone behind and kept me bound to him, but I guess I'm just destined to be tortured. Fate was playing a cruel joke on me, just watching as it set me up to fall again. Each time tricking me into thinking it was all real, letting me fall in love only to rip it away from me.

My chest felt empty. There was a gaping hole left where it once beat so happily. The tears streamed down my face. Leaving trail of salt I was too defeated to wipe away. I was in a daze and everything started spinning.

I don't know what it was that brought me to the house or how I had made it there in the first place, but there I was, standing on the porch drenched in rain and tears collapsed on the floor. Suddenly the numbness was fading. I was starting to feel again, the pain crept up on me and I tried desperately to cling onto the numbness, but the more I tried the more it escaped me. I felt the burning, the ragged edges of the hole that freshly torn inside me began to sizzled and singe.

Someone walked out of the house and without thinking about it, I wrapped my arms around them and all the emotions I held inside came pouring out. I clung onto them and buried my face in the crook of their neck. I could smell citrus flowers and I knew it was Rosalie. There was a part of me that hated looking weak around her, but right now I just needed someone – anyone.

She just stood there as the tears quickly soaked through her clothes. She gently stroked my head and whispered to me, but I couldn't hear her. The only thing I could hear was his voice over and over again in my head, 'I'm so sorry Leah, I can't help it. I never wanted this to happen but it just happened…'

I cried until there were no tears left to shed. Everything was a blur. Sounds seemed to blend together as time slowed down, and it felt like I was stuck in this state for what seemed like forever. I must have cried myself to sleep, because I was having a nightmare.

I was in the forest, running. I was searching for something, someone. But there was something inside telling me that it wasn't there anymore. I kept searching for it. Then realisation hit. I was alone – there really was nothing there. The forest started spinning around me. Then it all went black.

I shot up and regretted it, I grabbed my head. The pain was overwhelming. Then I noticed I was in a bed. I looked around and recognised the room. The door opened and it was Rosalie.

"Is it okay if I come in?"

I must be in shock or asleep – she was being nice to me. I was speechless, I only managed a nod. She came and sat beside me in the bed. She had a tray with what looked like chicken soup. The smell was heavenly. I was hungry and my stomach growled, as if on command.

"Here…" She handed me the plate and looked at me with complete sincerity. "I know how you feel. I was heartbroken once. Left in the snow wishing death would come and take me, take away the pain. It doesn't have to be that way…I found Emmett and I'm sure there's someone out there for you too – you just haven't crossed paths yet."

I shook my head, I couldn't agree with her. It was hard to think I could find someone after this. I couldn't leave myself open to this pain again. That's when I decided I could never let anyone in, my resolve was final. I would build it up brick by brick keeping myself safe. I couldn't survive another heartbreak - not that there was a heart left to break.

I finished the soup and she left me to rest. Lying there I had time to think and the more I thought the more my mind went to Jacob. My chest was on fire, the flames scorched me and it physically hurt. My throat threatened to close up as I choked on just his name, which threatened to turn me into ashes.

I didn't want to feel anymore. I begged for the numbness to come back, but I didn't work. I looked out the window and saw Seth patrolling. I jumped and phased before I hit the ground.

"I'm patrolling now so leave!"

My words were laced with fury.

He was hesitant but did as he was told.

I let my instincts take over and focused on being a wolf.

Nothing else mattered, I cleared my head of all thoughts and just let my sight, my sense of smell and the sounds guide me. I kept running until I was so tired I collapsed under a tree.

A/N: A Part of me hates doing this to her and having her be heart broken all over again, but Fate can be cruel.

P.s. Just wanted to clarify, Leah and Jacob never imprinted. The bond they felt between them was a wolf thing. It was a female wolf being drawn to the Alpha male, to ensure the survival of her young. But this Alpha is destined for another. That's why I believe that Leah was so attracted to Sam, because she thought he was Alpha, but when Jake took back his birth right as true Alpha, Leah's bonded with him.