A Pup's Way Home

by ButterflyMiko

Grieving over Bella's inevitable death and transformation, Jacob had been about to storm out when SHE appeared. He could have still left if it was a girl, but it was a helpless wolf pup. He named her Tokol, the Quiluete word for "darkness," which she seemed to like. Perhaps loving her would heal his heart.

7. Burning Red

Sam paced around the room a third time.

"Sam."

Pace, Pace, Pace.

"Sam!"

Pace.

SAM!"

Snap. Look up.

"What?"

"It happened. The Matriarch is dead." Paul looked at him, tenses, expectant.

"Kaori is gone?" Sam looked up hopefully.

Paul nodded.

"Gather the pack. I have an announcement."

Xxx

Sam looked out at the pack. It was disgusting, all of them…together. In every wolf's eyes, a reflection of his longing. In every mate's face, he saw her.

His beloved. Reiko.

Sam touched his heart, reflexively. The way she had always done. Her hand on his, his hand on hers. Together, forever.

Her precious scent. The lilt of her voice. Her soft to—

"SAM!"

He snapped to again.

"Right. Ahem."

"Just go, Sam." The voice surprised him. It was Leah's. He couldn't deny it. Her pain, hurt, agony, had bond him to his pack for these three years.

The war had kept his mind of the those green, freckled eyes, but now everything was calm again. Seth protected their treaty, and he…he just wasn't needed by the pack anymore.

Sam had already passed the torch to Seth, who had taken it gleefully. It was no secret among the pack, obviously, that he needed her.

So here they all were. The one person binding him had given him the permission he needed. He felt his face start to crumble at the smiling faces around him, and he had to turn away.

"Thank you." He forced out his voice, choked. "I'll go now."

He picked up the pack Mana had made for him. Of course he had already gotten the potion-making down to 30 seconds.

Sam phased and leaped—into the burning heat, the heatwaves boiling around him like her hair—burning red.