Sam found Leah sitting on the Cameron's front porch. Next to her, looking confused was Shane Cameron.

"Leah?" he called.

He knew she could hear him from miles away, but She chose to ignore him.

"Leah?" he called this time coming closer.

She let out a warning growl only for his ears.

Sam however ignored this and approached the quiet duo.

"Shane. It nice to see you back, I'm sorry it had to be under these circumstances. But anyway, I was wondering if I could borrow Leah for a while. I just have somethings to talk to her about."

Shane nodded, still confused but understanding.

Begrudged, Leah stood and followed Sam to first beach.

"what do you want Sam? Can't stand to see me happy!" She hissed

Sam turned to look at her with sad soft eyes.

"no, lee. I... I'm glad you're happy. I mean it hurts that its not with me but as long your happy that's all that matters. And Leah, I am sorry. I am so so sorry. I didn't fight for you. I didn't fight for us. I only knew what the elders told me. If I knew I could have fought the imprint…I would have."

Leah's mouth dropped open in shock but then closed quickly as her hands curled into tight fist.

"Why are you apologizing now Sam!? Why not when I first phased, or after you realized what was going on?"

Sam sat himself on the sand and looked out at the waves.

"come sit Leah. I…I want to talk to you. Right now, I am not your alpha. Right now, I am your ex fiancée who needs closure. We both do. I want to hear what you have to say. Please lee lee."

Leah stood still as she looked down at him. Why after all this time was, he ready to talk to her now? It had to be because he was jealous of the imprint and he wanted to sway her from it.

"Crap Leah. Quit being so stubborn and come down here. Please! Because before you know we will back out their fighting for our lives and trying to not kill each while we do it."

Sighing, Leah finally sat down and motioned for him to speak first.

Sam licked his lips and began to speak and as he did, for a split-second Leah Saw eighteen-year-old Sam. Ready to take on the world.

Leah let out a strangled sob and this of course stopped Sam, who turned to look at her in shock.

"lee? "he questioned

Leah turned away from him as she wiped her eyes.

"oh dammit! I've been so selfish. You were all alone Sam. I mean we were planning our wedding and getting ready for college before it all fell apart. I mean we literally woke up one morning and it had all gone to hell and you, you woke up a hairy monster and was instantly bound to my cousin. How screwed up is that! but what makes it worse Sam is how happy you looked at times. I would see you guys before I phased, and I was so heartbroken! I didn't understand and sometimes I still don't. Why didn't you fight for me!? Why didn't you tell Emily no! I thought we had something! And then just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I phase, and I have to see every freaking moment you ever had with Emily! The kisses the touches, the engagement. That was supposed to be us!"

Sam put his head in his hands.

"yes. I was supposed to be us. Every kiss, every touch…it was supposed to be ours. And yes, I was alone. I had no one Leah! No one could tell me what was going on and the elders weren't a help either. They could only tell me stories and legends! They couldn't tell me what to do when you break the love of your life heart! And that something every seems to forget! Before Kim and Jared… we had no idea, someone could reject the imprint! I only knew what I was told! I was told that had to be what my imprint wanted. Whatever she needed or desired! I was chained Leah! There was no way I could resist her! and believe me I tried! I freaking tried. I would be halfway to you and then...then…it's like an alpha order. Keeping you their tied to your imprint. I didn't have any other way out and by the time I did. It was too late."

"its never too late." Leah mumbled.

Sam's shot up, eyes blazing.

"So, your saying you're willing to give up Shane…!? you just met him! ..He...He could give you everything I couldn't! Everything I can't. I mean think about its Leah…Shane lives in a different state! ..y…you could get out of here and live your life! Y-you could go to college! Get married" Sam chocked as he said the next words

"...have kids."

Leah gasp. That had always been her dream. Get married, have a family, have kids.

"...you're just trying to get rid of me, aren't you?" she said bitterly.

Sam let out a dark chuckle.

"pssh. Its actually the opposite. Everything in me wants to keep you here. I want to be selfish and always have you at arm's reach, just close enough to touch. But that would be unfair and cruel to you. No, I want to see you happy Leah, even if it means I won't be. Even if it means I'll miss you. I mean…something that I could never figure out is why didn't you just leave? You didn't have to stick around? Why didn't you move on?"

Sam had taken hold of one of Leah's hands now.

"I couldn't Sam. I wanted to…but...but I wanted to be with you SOOO bad! And I was still so angry! I kept hoping ..thinking that you and Emily would fall out but it just didn't happen. And then to make matters worse…mom and dad, they...coddled me...didn't want me to leave. What else could I have done?"

"…Be happy Leah. Go with Shane and leave here."

Leah went to say something, but Sam shook his head. He already knew her excuses.

"your mother and brother will be fine and its not like you can't visit. You have sacrificed enough. With all the changes going on...they will be fine. So, go and don't look back."

Leah could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Was he really letting her go? And could she do it?

The power in Sam's voice had her on her feet with out thought. It was an order.

"Leah clearwater, I Sam Uley, alpha of the la push pack...Release you from your duties. You are no longer bound here. Now Go and don't look back."

Sam grabbed his chest as he watched Leah jog away. Every tie that connected her to him was now gone.

She wasn't his anymore…and she was never meant to be. Suddenly things were making sense. The spirits knew all along. They knew that Leah would imprint and that she would be ready to leave la push to start her life afresh, and that led to raven Cameron phasing. She was Leah's replacement. The new and only female in the pack, which now made the imprint between her and Bella more understandable. With Leah gone, raven wouldn't have had another female to confide in who could help her understand. So, they gave her Bella, someone who wouldn't look at raven any differently. Whether she had two legs or four.

Sam collapsed unto the warm sand. It was pitch black out now. it felt weird being alone. He didn't get to have many moments of privacy, barley any at all. If it wasn't the pack, or the elders, or Emily…it was always something.

His mind went back to what Bella had told him. She was right. He was always on edge, ready for the next attack but he had to be. Letting his guard down would get them all killed and maybe that was his issue. He was putting away too much pressure on himself. The pack worked together as a team. It wasn't a one-person job and that meant putting more trust into his pack mates. His brothers and sisters. But it was hard.

With Jacob being back, Jared unstable and raven a newly phased wolf…could he really put his full trust in them?

Well, if they trusted him…he had to trust them. Trust was the foundation. With his heart at ease. Knowing he and Leah would never be the same but that they had had some closure and knowing that he could trust his pack...Sam allowed himself to sink a little deeper into the sand.

He didn't know what tomorrow would bring…but he knew it would be ok. It had to be.