All characters except for Annabelle Causley and Frederick Randal Laskaris and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This story starts three years after Jacob heads to Italy to rescue Annabelle in the GoodAs Gone AU. Technically, this is not a sequel to Good As Gone but it does take place in that alternate storyline.

AN: Thank you, all you readers and reviewers! You are amazing, with the praise and encouragement but even more so with the constructive criticism. It gives me ideas as to how to advance this story.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Full Moon Night

The large sandy haired wolf couldn't seem to stop searching for something. Every full moon, he searched for the one he had claimed one full moon night months ago, but he had yet to find her. Sometimes, he could trace a faint smell of her near a small house at the outside of the forest, but the strong smell of humans discouraged him to get near enough to see if she was somewhere around.

But now…he couldn't smell anything remotely resembling her smell. Where was she? He could still visualize the sable brown haired wolf, the slanted brown green eyes shining with an intelligent glint that enthralled him. He could smell her musty scent, a scent that made him recall other smells…smells of citrus…and mint…

Where was she? He had to find her because since that night he had claimed her, he hadn't been with her or near her. She belonged to him and he wanted her near him, with him.

The feeling of incompleteness was driving him crazy, making him do or care about nothing but finding her. He had to have her back.

"Jake, you need to stop laughing. You're going to attract his attention then whether we fight or not is not going to be a choice anymore."

"I can't help it Emmett," Jacob's eyes was focused on a small figure far below the large pine tree he was sitting in along with Emmett, "We've been here since the moon hit high in the sky and all he seems to be capable of doing is walking around in circles…chasing his own tail…"

"Do you think, as wolf form, he realizes that Leah is his chosen mate?"

"Only on the nights of the full moon," Jacob pushed himself up to his feet and agilely balance on the thick branch, "And the morning after the next night. But it's obvious that Rick himself, without the wolf influence, is adamant not to feel anything for Leah. It's a hopeless fight he's got going on but I suppose he'll fight it anyways."

"How long do you give him before he goes after Leah," Emmett lifted his head, sniffing the air as the scent of the bears he and Jacob had been searching before picking up on Rick's scent, which caught their attention, "Our bears are nearby."

"Then let's go get 'em bro," Jacob pushed away from the thick tree trunk, flying to the next tree, Emmett following close behind, "And as for Rick…depends on how stubborn he is or how stubborn his wolf persona is."

Six Months Pregnant

Her baby had been home for two months and Sue still couldn't comprehend the changes in her.

The quiet, introverted Leah that had returned after months away from La Push was a total mystery to her. This new Leah was nothing like the one Sue had birthed, raised and mothered.

Her daughter had always been volatile, passionate, and emotional. She had loved passionately, hated passionately, had even grieved passionately.

While that trade had made her vibrate with life and energy, it had made her an unstable shape-shifter. Sue had lost count the many times Leah had phased due to a wrong look, a careless comment.

While Sue hadn't been able to get used to it, she hadn't had to handle that aspect of Leah's eruption-like personality. That had been Sam's job. There had been times Sue had pitied Sam despite what he had done to her Leah.

But now…none of them, her family or pack, knew how to handle this new Leah. The deep sorrow that dimmed what had once been beautifully bright brown-green eyes, so like her own, seemed to dig deep into their souls, making them uncomfortable…especially those who had imprinted.

It had been shocking to the pack, to find out that not only had Leah returned but that she was pregnant. Sue could still recall the conversation that they had included her in the night that Sam had walked into her house, a sleeping Leah in his arms.

"What do you mean you're calling a pack meeting to discuss Leah's pregnancy," Sue whispered to Sam as she softly closed her daughter's bedroom door, taking a lingering look at her sleeping form, "What does the pack have to do with Leah being pregnant?"

"Nothing…if she were still in New Hampshire and not communicating with us. But she's back home and she's one of us. As a pack, it is our duty to protect, not only our people, but our children. Leah's carrying the future generation of our people…we must rally around her and help her with this. It's not easy being rejected by an imprint…actually, it's downright crippling. We understand what that feels like, although I'm the only one that's slightly experienced that level of pain."

"Sam…I don't know if this is a good idea…I mean, it's not like they won't find out eventually about Leah's pregnancy but to actually call a pack meeting? Isn't that going a little too far?"

"I don't think so…look, Sue, I'm going to call the meeting. You're welcomed to come and listen if you want to but it's not necessary. Just know that I will take every necessary precaution to protect Leah from anything that might threaten her. We all will."

"I'll be there. I want to know what's been going on that makes you think it's necessary to keep Leah under constant protection."

Sue stopped wiping the living room window as she caught sight of her daughter slowly making her way up the drive. Her steps dragged and her shoulders were slumped.

It was obvious she was exhausted, having had a difficult time sleeping during the nights. Sue bit her bottom lip as she watched her first born stop, her eyes closing as she lifted her face up to the sky, the breeze moving her hair, which she had grown out to its original sable brown and cut it chin level.

Her hand moved up to her face, her long slim fingers brushing across her cheek, letting Sue know that she had been crying…again.

Sue sighed, knowing that an offer to talk wouldn't help. It seemed that paying attention to Leah's sorrow and pain increased it more. Sighing again, she put on a smile as the front door opened, Leah walking in with a smile on her face.

"Hi Mama," Leah pulled off her windbreaker, hanging it on one of the hooks beside the front door, "How are you?"

"Doing alright. Are you hungry, sweetheart?"

"Famished," Leah ran her hand over her large stomach, "Munchkin's practically demanding for food."

"With the way he demands for food every other hour, I'm thinking he'll be weighing about eight pounds by the time he's born," Sue walked across the living room towards the kitchen, Leah slowly following behind her.

"How was your walk," Sue pulled out what she needed to make Leah's favorite turkey sandwich with avocado, tomatoes and spinach.

"Good," Leah pulled out a chair and carefully sat down, "During the hour I was at First Beach, I saw Paul, Jared and Brady. Is the pack keeping tabs on me?"

"What do you mean? They were probably just making their rounds."

"Come on, mama. 'Fess up. Did the pack decide to do their rounds around me now that I'm back?"

"I wouldn't know –"

"Mom."

"Yes, yes they did," Sue placed the sandwich in front of Leah along with a glass of milk, hoping her daughter wouldn't get mad, "Sam called a pack meeting and they decided to do their rounds around you…in other words, you've become the center of the pack."

Leah smiled softly, her eyes sad as she picked up her sandwich, taking a bite out of a corner, "I assumed as much. Even Paul is being nice to me and we both know how much that must be killing him."

"Does it not bother you," Sue cocked her head to the side, disconcerted by Leah's accepting attitude.

"Not really," Leah shrugged, taking another small bite of her sandwich, "I'm the only female in the pack…and I'm pregnant. It's no surprise Sam would change the whole structure of the pack to put me in the middle. It's what a wolf pack would do."

Sue nodded, trying, once again, to understand her daughter, "It doesn't make you mad that Sam seems to be monitoring you twenty four seven?"

"Not twenty four seven, mama," Leah finished her sandwich, wiping her mouth on a napkin before taking her full glass of milk, "But Sam's the Alpha and he does whatever he wants. I may not have phased in over six months, but he's still my Alpha. Plus, it feels nice to see they all care enough to look after me even after the way I was with them."

Sue shook her head in surprise, "I just can't figure you out."

"What's to figure out," Leah drained her glass, pushing herself to her feet and walking across the kitchen with glass and plate in hand.

"You're a completely different person Leah. Introverted, pensive, retrospective –"

"And mature, I hope," Leah rubbed her lower back before moving towards her mother, "Mom, don't worry about me. I'm alright…well, as fine as I could be not having my imprint with me. But I have my baby…some how, I think he's the reason why I'm not going crazy. Please don't worry about me, just…just be there for me."

"I'm always here for you, Lee."

"I know mama," Leah kissed her mother's cheek, "And I thank you for that."

Sue watched her walk out of the kitchen, heading up the stairs to her room, arms around her pregnant belly. Sue ran her fingers through her hair, wondering if what Leah had just said was true.

Could she really be alright?

Or was she…depressed?