Beloved Readers and Ratsies - Im begging for your critiques, and opinions on this story! Please review and help me improve my storytelling skills!

Monday night patrol and Tuesday were uneventful as Quil respectfully left Leah alone. No one mentioned the Hodie situation. Leah decided to wait until after work Wednesday to tell him that they knew about his criminal record. She had been unintentionally distant with Hodie at work in her worry over the coming conversation. She was also unintentionally quiet around the dancers. It made no sense for her to be upset with Chelsea and Tricia over taking Quil home with them. It was not as if they knew anything about her history with Quil. She found herself unwilling to be overly friendly with them nonetheless. Chelsea was the last dancer to leave by the end of the night. Leah turned to walk back inside as Chelsea climbed into her car. When Chelsea yelled for Leah, Leah rolled her eyes before turning back toward her.

Chelsea said, "Can you give these back to your friend for me? He left them in my car, and I doubt I ever see him again." Chelsea dangled Quil's expensive sunglasses out her driver-side window. Leah bit her tongue and held her hand out for them.

Eyeing Leah suspiciously, Chelsea said, "Thanks."

Leah grumbled, "No problem," and walked back inside. With nowhere else to put them, Leah hung the sunglasses on the front of her shirt and waited for Hodie to get off work. They left together, and she followed him to his apartment.

Hodie led her up the stairs holding her hand. He was grinning back at Leah, playfully teasing her as they rounded the corner to his landing. She looked past him and froze. The door to his apartment stood open, the wood around the multiple lock mechanisms splintered. Leah felt a knot forming in her stomach as she hissed for Hodie to stop. He turned toward his door and dropped her hand. Leah watched his ears immediately turn red as he scowled.

Hodie yelled, "Oh, man! Not again. God damn it!"

Leah asked, "Who would break into your place?"

Hodie said, "A vamp, Leah."

Leah said, "Hodie, I don't smell a leech."

Angrily, he snapped, "And you won't. I have to call the landlord."

Leah said, "Hodie, you have to call the cops."

Hodie turned and glared at her. In a low, careful command, he said, "No, Leah. No cops."

What the hell is he talking about, no cops? Someone fucking broke in. Leah said, "I know you don't like them, but somebody did this. Shouldn't you at least file a report? What if they come back?"

Hodie said, "The police aren't particularly cooperative when I'm the one that needs help. They can't help me with this."

Leah said, "Well, at least let me go in first so I can get a scent of whoever it was."

Hodie insisted, "You won't get a scent, Leah. He doesn't have one. He doesn't leave prints. He doesn't leave anything." He turned to glare at the door and said, "Except that. He busts in the door like a fucking calling card." Sarcastically, he added, "Hey, Hodie. I'm back. Someone is going to die soon."

Taken aback by his demeanor, Leah was dumbfounded for a moment. This was another side of Hodie she had yet to see. He paced on the landing, his face set in a furious scowl and movements erratic. Leah swallowed anxiously and carefully asked, "What do you mean, he doesn't have a scent? Everyone has a scent."

Hodie said, "Well, this one doesn't."

Suspiciously, Leah asked, "Baby, how do you know that? Can you smell them?"

Hodie said, "Oh, yeah. I knew something was different about you when you said you could smell them, Leah. Something you were hiding. Especially when you said they stink. I didn't know you would turn into a wolf, but I knew. You're not the first supernatural person I've met."

Incredulously Leah asked, "Why didn't you ever say anything?" Of course, he hadn't. It wasn't as if his particular lifestyle was a common one he could just be open about with anyone. Especially not when he was constantly being hunted. Quil's warning that Leah didn't know Hodie troubled her. As much as she hated to accept it, it was true. She didn't know nearly enough. Not really. When he didn't respond, Leah said, "You know what? It's whatever." Leah sighed in aggravation and asked, "So this vamp? What else? What do you know about him?"

Hodie had finally stopped pacing and was glaring at the broken door as if deciding on whether or not he should go inside. He said, "The motherfucker is like a ghost. The first thing I need to do is call the landlord to get this door fixed, and then I need to pack my necessities and go." Hodie nodded to himself and huffed as he pushed the door open before stomping inside.

Wait, he's leaving? Leah's head was spinning. As Hodie began filling a duffle bag with his clothing, Leah asked, "Where the hell are you going to go? Are you just going to grab your shit and skip town?"

Hodie huffed, yanking open dresser drawers as he said, "Remember how I said I had my own ways of dealing with this problem? Well, this is it. I told you, Leah, I have been running all my life. Whenever this vampire finds me, I have to run. That is how I keep people safe. It's why I said I hoped you would never have to see it. This is the longest he has left me alone. I hoped he had finally gotten bored and given up." Hodie darted into the bathroom to gather more items.

Leah sunk down onto the edge of his bed, trembling. She felt like someone had ripped the air from her chest. The once comforting sensation of being tethered to Hodie was now suffocating her as she gasped for air. Her wolf was overwrought, demanding that Leah physically prevent him from leaving. Hodie walked out of the bathroom, holding his phone to his ear. When he glanced up to find Leah in a panic and visibly shaking, he dropped his phone and rushed to her side.

As he knelt in front of her, Leah choked out, "I- we can protect you. That is our job. It is literally why we exist."

A little louder than intended, Hodie said, "You can't protect me from this one, Leah!"

Leah snapped back, "You say that because you don't know half of what my pack has been through, Hodie."

He softened his tone and said, "You can't imagine half of what I've been through, either, Leah. This is all a game to him. Anyone I get close to dies. People around me are going to start to disappear. This bastard takes away everything I fucking care about." His voice broke as he said, "I can't let that happen to you. Not to you. I got to go."

Leah said, "There has to be somewhere safe that you can stay. You can come home with me, and we can go to Jake for help, Hodie. You know that. You would be surrounded by the wolves out there. Cullens, too. Or, maybe you can stay at the guest house? This vamp would probably never expect you to go to other vampires to keep you safe. I'm almost willing to bet I could even get the one that lives behind the club to keep an eye on you. He knows what I am and how important you are to me. He's fucking immortal. He doesn't sleep. What else does he have to do?"

Hodie explained, "That's all just going to put everyone else in danger. This thing moves like a ghost. It has no smell, I have rarely seen it, but it still finds me every time I move. If I stick around, I might as well introduce him to everyone and tell him to take his fucking pick." Hodie's ears were turning red again as his face slowly scrunched into an angry scowl. Like the night they had outrun the two nomads at the bar, Leah could feel the darkness inside of him, just beneath the surface. Hodie had been so hurt, so traumatized, and manipulated into living this way that it seemed he had forgotten there was strength in numbers.

Well, supernatural numbers, anyway. Carefully, Leah said, "We will figure this out. I will find a way to keep you safe. You told me you were in this for the long haul if I wanted you to be. Did you mean that? Are you just going to take off and leave me wondering where you are?" Her voice cracked as she asked, "If you're even alive somewhere?" Trembling, Leah cupped his face in her hands. "Hodie … I can't lose you."

The anger melted from his face as he reached up to wipe away tears she hadn't even felt falling. Hodie said, "I can't lose you, Leah. That's why I have to go. I can't go back to the club now. Not ever. I know you like that job, but please quit. Immediately. At least for a while. He could have been watching me for weeks already, and I'm sure he's seen you. I gotta get ahead of him. Even when he's off my tail, I bounce around for a while. It's the only way to get ahead of him. I have to go now before he expects it. I always wait too fucking long, and someone else pays for it. I need to go now before you get hurt again, do you understand?"

Leah argued, "Then come with me now, Hodie. Get your shit, and follow me home. You will be protected there. Guarded. We can find you a job in LaPush so you can at least have some normalcy. You would be safe."

Hodie grew more irritated as he insisted, "Baby, it won't work that way."

Leah asked, "What the hell keeps him from killing you, Hodie? How am I supposed to know you will be safe?"

Hodie said, "Well, that's the thing, Darlin. This one doesn't try to hurt me even though it has followed me for years. When I got well-known for surfing, I thought the spotlight would make me too recognizable. Like it would protect me somehow for lots of people to know who I am. My disappearance would be conspicuous, you know? The people around me were supposed to be safer. Well, I fucked up. I just made his game more fun. After getting arrested, I would be trapped wherever I was until shit got handled. I would have to wait and worry, hoping no one else died or disappeared. He finally killed my mom to punish me. I have had co-workers disappear. Friends murdered and significant others have disappeared into thin air. But not me, Leah. I'm the rat; I'm the fucking game. Everyone is safer if I run. It is only the people I love that get hurt."

So hunting the pack would just be a sport for this bastard? What about the Cullens? Would he even hunt down his own kind to get to Hodie? Of course, Leah knew that was a ridiculous question. Victoria had created an entire army to attack her own kind. Hell, her own creator.

Leah asked, "Do you ever move back to a place he chased you away from?"

Unable to meet her eyes, Hodie said, "No. When I would find somewhere safe, I would bring people to me. Eventually, I realized that was making it too easy for him to figure out where I was. I guess I can't blame Mike and Gem for taking off together. I am pretty sure they went into hiding to get away from it all."

Leah asked, "The ex and ex-best friend?" He has never mentioned their names before.

Hodie scoffed and said, "Yeah."

Leah suggested, "What if you run for a bit? Could you lose him and come back here? I mean, what if you could trick him long enough to sneak back here after a while? He would not expect it. You can be with me in LaPush, hidden by a ton of other supernatural beings. You could go off the fucking grid there, Hodie." Leah forced a grin at him in her attempt to pull the scowl from his face. Nervously, she added, "I mean, more traveling would probably be out, but you would have somewhere to surf."

Hodie chuckled, smirking. He remained quiet, and Leah said, "I'm willing to bet I could find someone to change your identity if you want. I'm pretty sure the Cullens have done it for decades."

Glumly he said, "I've tried that already. The whole identity switch doesn't do much good when you have had your poster in dorm rooms. Every rare once in a while, customers recognize me at the bar, and it is still surreal."

Leah asked, "How long has this vamp been chasing you?"

He said, "Since I was fifteen." Hodie stood from where he knelt in front of Leah and went back to packing.

Leah stood on weak legs, watching him silently for a moment. When she was finally able to force the words out, her voice sounded pained as she said, "I love you, Hodie."

His face instantly fell, the tears he had held back gliding down his cheeks. Hodie rushed back to Leah and hugged her close. He cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

How in the hell am I supposed to just let him go? What if I never see him again? She whispered, "I don't want you to leave me." Hodie kissed her neck and sighed. Leah said, "You know, this imprint bullshit happened for a reason. We are supposed to be together."

Shaking his head, Hodie said, "Leah, there is nothing I want more. I have to make sure you are safe first."

Her temper rising again, Leah snapped, "What the hell do you think I do every day? Killing vampires is my fucking job! Do all of you singers do this? Just lead one monster away from other monsters at the risk of your own well-being? This is what Bells would do, too. It seemed like it took forever to convince her that we could protect her, but she is safe now. You could be, too." When Hodie didn't respond, Leah asked, "Will you at least consider what I said? Coming to LaPush once he has lost your trail again?"

Hodie said, "I already am. I know you are in my life for a reason, and I know your pack was made to protect others. I just don't want to lead him right to everyone you love, too. You can't protect everyone. If I go straight there and don't try to lose him, there is going to be too much collateral damage when he starts picking people off."

Leah said, "Then come to me when you lose him again, and it is safe. That is going to be our plan, okay? I'll figure shit out so that we have somewhere to live out there or whatever. I was planning on looking for a place anyway. Then when it is safe-"

Shaking his head, Hodie interrupted sadly, "I can't make you any promises about anything right now. Not until I know I've led him far enough away."

Leah said, "Hodie, I understand that, bu-

Again Hodie interrupted her saying, "You know this could take a while, right? I hate the thought of you putting your life on hold and waiting for me to just show up one day."

Leah said, "I don't care about waiting."

Hodie raised his voice and choked out, "Leah, I've done this shit before. Waited until I was safe for my loved ones to come and find me. Expected them to wait for me and for their feelings not to change. It's not logical, and it's not fair to make you wait for me."

Her stomach turned to lead as his implication became clear. He was telling her to move on. The trembling intensified as Leah glared at Hodie and asked, "You are breaking up with me, aren't you?"

Hodie said, "Just temporary, Darlin. I don't want you to have regrets, waiting around for me to get far enough away. I don't want there to be a reason for us to fight later on, either."

Leah huffed, "What exactly are you saying, Hodie?"

Hodie said, "I'm saying if anything happens before I can come to find you again, I don't want you to feel bad about it. If you meet someone …" Hodie glanced down at Quil's sunglasses still hanging from the front of her shirt. Carefully, he said, "I am saying that for the time being, I am setting you free from me."

Leah pulled away from Hodie and began pacing angrily. As he began shoving more items into his duffle bag, she looked down at Quil's sunglasses, scowling. Her dream Monday morning suddenly made sense. She was possibly losing someone she loved with no time to emotionally prepare herself. Leah could feel that nothing she suggested would change his decision without Hodie saying so.

Was this how it would always end up? Is loving me alone ever going to be enough for someone to fight the odds and fucking stay with me? Better yet, are these assholes ever going to stop trying to make my fucking decisions for me? Angrily, Leah walked over and grabbed the duffle bag, tossing it to the floor. "We're not leaving shit like this," she yelled.

His ears and face grew redder as his own temper flared, and he yelled back, "Do you think I fucking want it to be this way?"

She yelled, "Do I think you are walking away from me out of some misguided intention and acting crazy? Yeah, I fucking do."

Hodie snapped, "I'm trying to be rational here, Lee."

Leah glared him down and yelled back, "Rational would imply finding a new solution because this one isn't fixing the fucking problem. You're literally running away because you are afraid to try to fight back." Her name escaped him through clenched teeth in a warning.

Seriously? Fucking, please. Leah rolled her eyes and said, "Do you know what the definition of crazy is, Hodie? It is when someone repeats the same pattern while expecting a different result." Hodie practically growled as he threw his hands up in exasperation and glared back at her. Despite her anger, despite how menacing he appeared in the moment, her heart skipped a beat.

You need goddamn counseling, Leah Clearwater. Her wolf whimpered mournfully over their situation, reminding Leah very much of a child watching their parents fighting. Her anger turned to despair on a dime under the wolf's influence. She stepped closer to him, and he stared into her eyes. Her wolf was close to the surface, needing to feel some kind of connection from him. Hodie gasped as he sense the change in her and he subconsciously moved closer.

Possessively, Leah said, "You belong with me, Hodie." Leah reached up to grab his shirt and yanked him to her. She cupped the back of his neck and pulled him in as she crushed her lips to his.

Hodie pulled away and hissed, "That is why I'm trying to protect you."

Before pressing her lips back to his, Leah tightened her grip on the back of his hair and said, "I don't want you to protect me." When their mouths came together, Hodie kissed her back aggressively, allowing his hands to slide down and painfully squeeze her buttocks. Leah could feel the heat pooling between her legs. Despite her anger, her fear, and hurt, she wanted him. If it might be the last time she would see him, Leah was damn sure going to make the most of it.

Neither said a word as they rushed to undress each other. Hodie placed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her flesh as he pulled her clothing away. He was rougher with his caresses than in the past, allowing his anger to flow into his desire. Despite her strength, Leah knew she would leave with bruises this time. His lack of steady, careful control only increased her lust. Hodie held her stare as he shoved her backward onto his bed. He gestured for her to slide back, which she did obediently. He began kissing up the inside of her leg, randomly stopping to nip and lick at her flesh. Leah slowly spread her legs for him, watching as he crept closer to her core. She whimpered as he pushed her knees to her chest and lowered his mouth to her sex. Hodie teased her clit with his tongue, stopping randomly to suck on it. Leah shuddered, her hand flying back into his hair as he slid his fingers inside of her. Hodie knew precisely where to stroke her, playing her like a finely tuned instrument as she panted beneath him. Leah was close to orgasming as he pulled away from her, leaving her groaning in frustration. Hodie trailed kisses up her body, his mouth and chin wet from her sex. Once hovering over her, Hodie ground his erection against her.

"Look at me, Leah," he commanded sharply. Her knees still pressed to her chest, Leah looked up into his eyes and cried out as Hodie pushed his hard cock inside of her. Once he was sheathed in her fully, Hodie remained still for a moment. He began to move slowly, pulling almost out of her and sliding back home with long, steady strokes. Hodie's gruff voice practically growled out, "Fuck me, you feel so fucking good." The raspy, lustful sound of his voice made her shiver as heat shot through her limbs, and she began climbing again.

In between her panting and whimpering, Leah looked back into his eyes and said, "You are mine, Hodie. You belong with me." She reached between them to caress him as he fucked her. Leah said, "You belong inside of me, Hodie. Just like this." Hodie grabbed her wrists and quickly pinned them above her head. He glared down into her eyes as he increased his rhythm. The power behind his thrusts was somewhat painful, though she didn't want it to end. She began to feel the feather-light caress of his gift as she climbed higher.

Again, Leah said, "You are mine, Hodie." Hodie looked down at her naked body, leaving trails of heat along her skin. She closed her eyes and moaned as the sensation began to change. Leah felt as if she was softly, languidly being stimulated by multiple hands caressing her skin. Across her thighs, her breasts, and her shoulders, the feeling had her writhing beneath him. When Leah cried out with her orgasm, Hodie pulled out and guided Leah onto her stomach. She was still shuddering from her release as he pushed himself into her from behind. Leah screamed as the head of his cock slammed against her cervix. His left hand quickly found the front of her throat and gripped it firmly. His thrusts became rougher, his grunts louder as he drove himself into her again and again. When he dropped his hand to her breast to tug and stroke her nipple, Leah clenched around him, lost for a second time.

He moaned from the sensation and cried out, "Oh, fuck yes." Leah could feel the warmth of his release inside of her and wondered if she would ever get to be with him this way again. Hodie wrapped his arms around her and rolled them onto their sides. For a while, they held each other in tear-filled silence.

Once they had both calmed down and caught their breath, Leah stood and climbed off the bed. He followed her lead as she began pulling her clothing back on. Unable to hold back, Leah blurted out, "Can we please, just … set some kind of goal? If you can't ditch this psycho vamp in, say, a month? Just come back. Our pack is made for this, Hodie, whether you ditch him or not. There will always be vampires I have to protect people from."

Hodie sighed loudly and said, "Leah, we're just going in circles here." After Leah yanked her shoes back on, he pulled her in for another embrace, hugging her to him tightly. When he pulled away, he kissed her lips and then her forehead. He said, "Please, Leah. Go home. Be safe. Quit the club just to make sure. I'm going to call the landlord and finish packing. As soon as I'm done getting my shit together, I'm splitting."

Leah glared at him suspiciously and asked, "Am I going to hear from you at all?"

Hodie said, "Not much at first. I'll have to be careful about location pings. I'm telling you, I've been through all of this shit before, Leah. I've been so fucking careful this time about any information getting out about where I am. He needs to think I have no ties left behind here so he won't come after anyone." It took all Leah had to keep from screaming in frustration. Hodie attempted to place his call to the landlord again as he zipped up his duffle bag and yanked his blanket and pillows from the bed. Leah listened as Hodie explained someone had broken in and he no longer felt safe living at the location. Leah was still trembling as she walked over and quickly kissed his lips. "Uh-huh," he said absently into the phone and stared after her as Leah walked to the front door. She could feel the heat he left behind as he looked over her full-frame one more time.

Mournfully Leah said, "I can't watch you leave me." She turned away and left him there, running down the stairs to her car as fast as her feet could carry her. Leah did not want to see him put his shit in the truck. She did not want to know what direction he went as he drove out of sight, possibly forever. Imprint or not, Leah knew she had to walk away for now. The shittiest part about it is knowing I can only do it because he actually wants me to. The wolves were supposed to be whatever their imprint needed them to be. Right now, Hodie needed Leah to let him go. Leah climbed into her car and peeled out of the parking lot.

The further she got from him, the harder it became to breathe. Leah could swear she felt his hand over her throat, gripping her. Possessing her. Owning her. His words suddenly filled her mind, his raspy voice thick with tenderness as he said, "I am setting you free from me." Leah felt a hard snap as her heart seemed to jolt in her chest, shooting pain through her limbs. Leah quickly pulled her car to the shoulder as the hand around her throat lifted. Leah sucked in a deep breath and, finally, released an agonizing, heartbroken scream. Sobbing, she slammed her car into park and wept against her steering wheel. Not long after pulling over, a text had come in from Hodie. He had taken a solemn selfie, the strap of his duffle bag over his opposite shoulder and tears running unapologetically down his face. The caption read, "When it's safe. I love you."

Leah locked the picture in her messages, fearing it may be the last she ever heard or saw of him. Being her imprint meant little in terms of protection when he was out of sight and on the run. Leah drove home, utterly silent in her devastation. When she pulled into her driveway, Leah saw the tv glowing in the living room. Not ready to answer any questions about her distraught state, she crept carefully through the house and went to the bathroom to shower. Leah let the hot water soothingly roll across her skin and scrubbed away his lingering scent. She would not wallow in it, would not torture herself further. The ache in her body resumed as soon as she stepped from the shower.

Trying to sleep in her too-small bed was useless. Leah could not get comfortable there anymore, and the ache in her bones seemed to settle in further. Leah crawled back out of bed and pushed her window open. She hopped outside and ran for the treeline, phasing as she crashed into the forest. She listened carefully for who was phased, surprised to find everything silent.

Where the hell is everyone? Leah rolled her eyes at the thought of, god forbid, another rogue vampire in the area. Though she had not brought clothes to put on, her hearing would be sufficient enough to let her know if something was wrong. She ran toward Jacob's house at full speed, hoping all was well.

When Leah arrived, she waited near the trees to listen. Though the house remained dark, she could hear the low voices of Jacob, Embry, and Quil in the kitchen. They were chuckling, talking about Sue and Charlie's approaching wedding. She was about to head back into the woods as the sound of her name caught her attention.

Embry asked, "Do you think Leah will bring Hodie."

Jacob said, "I don't know. I would probably expect her to, though. I know you guys are worried about him and shit, but I believe him."

Quil grumbled, "Jake, you can't be serious."

Firmly, Jacob said, "I am serious. And if she brings him, the rest of you better be fucking nice, too. The wedding is not the time or place. Everyone needs to get along, at least on that day."

Guess you won't have to worry about that anyway, Leah thought.

The sound of chairs scraping across the floor was the last noise Leah heard for a bit. She turned to head back into the woods as the screen door swung open. Leah darted out of sight and toward the Cullen property, trying desperately to ignore her heartbreak along the way. When she reached the location she longed to see, Leah found the place almost foreign. The smooth, stone slab where Leah had danced her emotional pain away was now partially covered in moss and pine needles from the nearby trees. She laid down on her stomach, facing the edge. The silence was interrupted by numerous thoughts as Paul and Sam both phased in. When she heard Quil phase a minute later, Leah groaned. She phased back to human and, naked, curled up in a ball on the ground.
Leah lay in silence for a while, angry, depressed, and desperately hoping for sleep that wasn't coming. Despite her body heat, her chosen bed was freezing against her skin. "Fuck it," she yelled in frustration and resumed her wolf form. At least it is more comfortable this way, she thought.

A short while later, she sat up, instantly alert from the sudden sound of footsteps nearby. Leah snarled as they came closer, hoping like hell that it was anyone but Paul wanting to pick a fight. As Quil stepped into view, Leah huffed dramatically and laid back down.

Okay, she thought. Almost anyone but Paul.

Quil asked, Not speaking to me, huh? I smelled you at the house. I know you came by.
No strength left in her for an argument, Leah simply whined back at him. She reached for him with her mind, letting her pain wash over him. Quil's response was a loud, heartbroken whimper. He didn't have to tell her that he knew that pain. She could see it in his eyes. Leah had not allowed her physical feelings to be so vulnerable to him in months. As Quil softly padded closer to her, she growled at him again.

I just want quiet. Please just let me deal with this in peace, Leah begged. She felt Sam and Paul both perk up with interest at her quiet request and sighed defeatedly.

Leelee, what happened, Quil asked, daring to scoot closer still.

I don't want to fucking talk about it right now, Leah said, snapping her jaws at him in a warning. She turned away from him and laid her head back down on her front paws as her chest heaved in a sob.

Quil did not leave as she had expected him to. Instead, he crept closer, laying down next to her and remaining silent. Eventually, he managed to pull himself up against her side. Leah growled at him again, though her heart was not in the threat. Ignoring her thoughts and concentrating on her breathing, Leah allowed his heat to soak into her. Subconsciously scooting closer to him, Leah turned her face toward him and sighed.

Quil's thoughts whispered quietly in her mind as he said, Whatever happened … It will be okay. Leah glanced up at him and whimpered, letting him feel her devastation once again. Quil laid the underside of his chin across her snout and draped his front leg across her protectively. Whispering again, Quil said, Try to sleep, Leelee. I'll stay quiet if you prefer, but I'm not leaving you out here alone. Despite her anger with him, Leah was somewhat grateful for his presence. This time, sleep did not allude as she burrowed further against him and closed her eyes.

Leah woke unusually warm with the sun shining on her. She opened her eyes to the bright light and was almost startled to find Quil sleeping peacefully next to her. His front leg slid off of her as she moved to stand. When his paw hit the ground, his eyes opened, and he looked around sleepily.

Uh, hi, Leah thought as she shook out her fur and stretched her stiff limbs. His mouth hung open in a surprised, wolfy grin, and he yawned.

He asked, You feeling any better? Quil stood up to stretch as well, groaning in the process.

Um, yeah. As much as can be expected, I guess, Leah said.

Morning sunshine, Paul's voice filled her mind. Leah was almost startled by the cheerful tone.

Jacob was the second to reach out, asking, LeeLee, everything okay?

I … yeah. Bad night. Still don't really want to talk about it, Leah huffed. She turned to Quil and asked, Aren't you supposed to be patrolling? She couldn't help but grin inwardly at the sound of Paul's laughter.

I didn't wanna leave you out here alone, Quil said, so Jake let me sleep.

Well, she is up now, Fido. Get your ass out here, Paul said and laughed again.

Emily is back to work today, Jacob said. Lots of extra food at the house this morning.

Yeah, Paul barked out. Muffin surplus.

Jacob said, Go get some, guys.

The mention of food set her stomach rumbling, but Leah didn't have any clothes with her. I'll need to run home and dress first.

Bells can just bring you some clothes out, Jacob said and laughed. It might do you some good to go see her. I'm sure she will be happy to see you.

Leah chuckled at her cousin's cheerful hospitality and turned to look at Quil again. She said, Nah, I have to get ready for work anyway. I'll go by and see Bella before I head to the garage.

Jacob asked, Sure you are up for it? I can call Blondie if you want to skip out today.

Leah grumbled, I would rather just keep busy and keep my mind off shit right now. I need to get going, though. I have to make a call. You can put me back on Thursday patrols if you want, Jake. I won't be working at the club anymore. Leah could feel all three of them reacting in surprise at this news. If she was not mistaken, Paul even seemed somewhat sad for her.

If you wanna bust some heads at my bar, you're more than welcome, he said.

Why are you leaving there, Jacob asked. Are you and Hodie okay?

No, she said a little too sharply. No, we aren't. I still don't want to talk about it. Quil was watching her carefully, wisely remaining silent.
She said, Quil, your sunglasses are in my car. Chelsea gave them back to me last night.

Oh, was all he could manage as he glanced away from her guiltily. She turned to head for home, and he asked, You two didn't break up because of me, right?

Nothing to do with you, Leah said. I don't want to consider us as 'broken up... but, technically, we are. For now, at least.

Leelee, you might as well just spit it out, honey, Jacob said sympathetically. You are going to eventually anyway. Leah sighed heavily, her head beginning to throb. He was right, she realized.

Hodie is on the run again, she said. He has a vamp after him. One he has been running from for years. I tried to get him to come here, but he refused.

Why the hell would he refuse protection, Paul asked in aggravation. Of all the dumb shit…

Because it toys with him, Leah said. This vamp doesn't try to hurt him. It kills the people he cares about, like his mom.

Paul said This is who killed his mom? Seems a little coincidental, doesn't it?

Leah informed them, I didn't even get the chance to tell him about what Quil's friend found on him. We went to his place after work. The door was busted in. He said it was like a calling card this vamp leaves when he finds Hodie. I tried numerous times to get him to see to reason, but he packed a bag and left. Leah sniffled, doing her best to hold her sadness at bay. He asked me to quit the club... in case this vamp has been watching us for a while. I guess I should probably stick around home for a few weeks.

Damn right, you should, Paul said.

Surprising them all, Jacob said, Maybe not. He went silent then, refusing to elaborate until he had a chance to think on things for a bit.

I wish he would have listened and just come to us for help, Quil said softly. Leah looked at him in surprise. Hey, Quil insisted, just because I don't necessarily like the motherfucker does not mean I want either of you to hurt. I'm not that much of a dick. Leah could not help but chuckle as Paul burst out laughing.

Leah hesitated before asking, Can I … show you guys something? Tell me what you think?

Sure, Paul teased, but can you toss a little bitchiness in there? I'm getting weirded out over here.

Fuck off, Lahote, Leah grumbled.

That's better, Paul said and waited for her to continue. Leah showed them how it had felt in the car on the drive back. She showed them the choking feeling she had as she left him behind. Leah shared the memory of how Hodie setting her free had felt like a snap, making her heart jump in her chest as despair settled over her. She could suddenly breathe again, though the ache throughout her body had intensified. Despite being in her wolf form throughout the night, the wolf spirit now squatted silently inside of her. Leah could feel it deep down, curled up tightly around itself, heartbroken and confused. None of the others knew what to say about what she had felt, though she could almost feel the hope behind Quil's eyes burning into her.

Trying not to sound too happy about the possibility, Quil asked, Did you guys break the imprint somehow?"

I don't have a clue, Leah said. The heaviness of the situation was returning, quickly depleting the calm, rested feeling she had woken up with. I need to get home and ready for work, though. She turned back to Quil one last time and quietly thanked him for watching over her. He silently nodded once and ran off in the opposite direction to join Jacob and Paul for the remainder of the patrol.