A/N: Happy Wednesday/Update day!

Friday, February 27, 2015

.

Leah

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The Lone Wolf was a bar and restaurant owned and operated by Henry, who apparently had no last name. He'd opened it in 2002 and had seen a few ups and downs. Because Henry was a versatile fellow, he managed to do all the repairs, upgrades, and general maintenance himself. This saved him some money and gave him a little wiggle room in the budget to afford a couple of bartenders and a handful of waitresses. He did all the cooking and bussing himself.

Once it was established and Henry got his feet under him, the place became a hot spot on the rez. He was open from five a.m. until three a.m. every night, Monday through Sunday, and served breakfast, lunch, and dinner by request at all hours. No one knew when or if he slept. He was pretty odd; didn't talk much, had no friends or family, and lived in a small studio above the restaurant. Henry was never seen anywhere else. Naturally, people made up stories about him. That he was some kind of spirit or reincarnation tied to the land he'd built The Lone Wolf on. That he was cursed to be alone, working in customer service for the rest of his life because: insert various, ridiculous scenarios ranging from murder to eating children .

Leah liked him.

He'd given her a job her senior year and had increased her hours once she'd graduated. She got to keep all her tips and he let her work whatever hours she wanted. Some parts of the rumors were true. Henry really didn't seem to ever sleep or take time away from the business. Whenever she arrived and whenever she left, he was working; cleaning, cooking, prepping, doing inventory, and on and on. Over the last year, he'd delegated some to her. He said she had an honest spirit , whatever the hell that meant. Leah didn't care. He trusted her with the money and inventory and she appreciated that. It made her feel a little better about waitressing instead of going to college right out of the gate after high school.

"Heading out?" Henry asked as he passed by, balancing a bucket of dirty dishes against his hip. "Is it that time already?"

Leah smiled and folded the last clean towel in her stack. "'Fraid so. Jenna's coming in. You gonna make it through the evening shift?"

"Jenna?" Henry set the bucket down on the bar top and frowned. His expression was rarely more than a few twitches or brow raises but, on occasion, he was especially dry. Jenna dug that out of him. "I will give you a raise if you stay."

Leah snorted and began typing her information in the electronic time clock system built into the computers. It was early afternoon – a nice, peaceful time between the lunch and dinner rushes. A few babysitters or older siblings with young kids were hanging out near the in-progress arcade towards the back. A couple of tables were actively ordering. That would all change between four and six.

"Sorry, Henry. Gotta pick up my dad. He and Charlie went fishing today."

"Well." He stared at the bar top and exhaled slowly. "That… sucks."

Leah barked out a laugh. She wasn't sure she'd ever heard him say sucks . Or any slang word, for that matter. "Trying to be hip now?"

"We must adapt."

He picked up the bucket of dishes and turned for the kitchen. Leah watched him carry that bucket – oversized and filled to the brim – and was struck once again with a familiar sensation. It had been happening a lot lately. Ever since Jacob told her what happened to him, and to the rest of the guys that were now part of Sam's pack. Henry reminded her of them. He wasn't pushing seven feet like Jacob or trailing close behind that like Sam, Paul, and Jared. But he was like Embry. Lean and strong. Firm. There was an air about the wolves that made them noticeable, even to humans. Part of her thought she was just buying into the stories about him; explaining away his weirdness and the inconsistencies with this new, crazy thing she'd learned was happening in their community. But then her instincts were usually on point.

Maybe she'd ask Jacob to check him out.

The front door swung open. "Hi, Leah!"

The timeclock blipped and gave her the thumbs up just in time. Leah grabbed her keys from a bowl under the bar and jogged for the exit. She smiled at Jenna in passing, threw up a hand and said, "Bye, Jenna! Have a nice shift." Leah paused halfway through the door. She glanced back at the threshold leading to the kitchen and offices in the back. "Bye, Henry," she said quietly – far too quietly for any normal person to hear so far away – and listened for a response.

Nothing.

Leah sighed and let the door slam shut behind her.

.

Although she visited Forks often and for various reasons, Leah only found herself cruising the residential areas when her father was visiting Charlie Swan. 775 K Street was familiar enough after so many years of coming and going. Still, Leah didn't feel any more comfortable now than she'd been the first time. She parked on the street and dragged her feet up the walk, the few stairs, and her arm felt heavy as she lifted it, poised to knock.

The door opened.

"Leah," Charlie greeted kindly. He tilted the can of Rainier in his hand. "Want a beer?"

Harry made an odd hooting noise from somewhere within; an objection, in dad-speak. "Leave the girl alone, old man."

"Just askin'. Come on in."

Leah really didn't want to go inside. Stepping inside meant she was trapped until Harry got his crap together and said his goodbyes. These two were like a married couple without the burden of romance and all the complications that came with it. They loved each other's company and, similar to children on a playdate, didn't want it to end when mean ol' mommy (Sue) or annoying big sister (Leah) came to spoil the fun.

Charlie's house was exactly what you'd expect from him. Simply furnished and earthy colors. There was some clutter; mail, keys, and chargers on the tables, some magazines, a few books, some beer cans on the counter and his lunch mess piled up by the sink. Today, it was her dad's lunch mess, too. Sue would have pointed this out and insisted that Harry clean up after himself. Don't leave your mess for Charlie to clean up later . Leah didn't care as much. She'd much rather he not so that they could be on their way.

Leah braced her hands on the back of the couch and eyed her dad, brows raised. "You ready?" He was sitting on the loveseat, kicked back with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. He didn't look ready.

"What's your rush, girl? You just got here! Pop a squat. The game's on."

"Which one?"

"Take your pick. Bucks and Lakers, Spurs and Kings –"

" – Tempting, dad, but I gotta go."

Charlie patted her shoulder as he moved around the couch and sank onto the cushion beside Harry. "Oh, c'mon. You're always down to watch. What's the rush?"

Leah was down to watch at her house, or at Billy's, but not here. Not since Bella moved back from Phoenix and threw everyone's lives into some unrecognizable, disheveled mess. Even without the Cullens and that drama, Leah had never really cared for the girl. She'd always thought Bella was selfish. What she was trying to pull with Jacob only intensified that belief. Was Leah a little biased when it came to him? Yeah, sure. She'd known him her whole life and had been inseparable from him for the majority of that time. But Leah had read the messages. She had the whole story, all the context, and could see that Bella was just using him. Projecting her need for Edward onto him because he was nice and would never turn his back on someone he thought needed him. Playing Jacob's good nature against him was a bitch move.

The front door opened and shut.

"Bells?" Charlie called out.

"Yeah, it's me."

Leah bit the inside of her cheek to stop her face from reflecting just how displeased she was. Charlie and Harry were both looking in her direction. There was some shuffling in the foyer and then footsteps along the same path Leah had just walked. Bella moved around the couch and sat on the coffee table so she could see everyone. She pulled a bookbag off her shoulder and put it on the floor between her legs.

"Leah, hey," Bella said. "Haven't seen you in, like, forever."

Before Leah could respond, Harry grunted. "Join the club. If she's not working, she's laid up at Jacob's. Haven't seen her much myself."

Historically, her parents had never had any issues with Leah being over at the Blacks' place. Rachel and Rebecca were her lifelong best friends, along with Jacob, and Billy had always been like a second father. That there was an air of disapproval in Harry's comment made Leah think it was because of the wolf thing, rather than her being gone all the time now. And she was gone all the time.

Leah had struggled to hold her tongue the last time her family and Jacob's family had been in the same room. She'd even struggled just having normal conversations with her mother because, inevitably, a lie would slip in there. Whenever something about what was going on in the community came up, things that Leah knew were because of vampires or wolves, Sue couldn't, or wouldn't, give her the whole story. Just bits and pieces, grazing over the parts that didn't make sense.

People were dying. In Forks. In greater Clallam County. Her parents wanted her to stick to the rez, only go out in pairs or groups. They'd insisted she call, not text, when she got from point A to point B. They wanted all this but weren't willing to explain why .

Now, they nagged her about hanging around with Jacob so much. Because of what happened with Emily, she assumed. It was all very frustrating.

"Oh. How is he? Jacob, I mean." Bella's eyes were wide, studying Leah's expression. "Is he back in school?"

Leah wasn't sure what all Jacob had told Bella; what the story was regarding his recovery from 'mono'. She played it safe. "He got pretty behind but Rachel and I have been helping him catch up."

"I've been trying to call. Do you think you could give him a message for me? Let him know I'd like to talk?"

The urge to unload burned Leah's tongue.

Stop trying to drag him back into your messes.

Stop guilting him.

Stop manipulating him into feeling responsible for you.

It is not Jacob's responsibility to make you feel okay about yourself.

Harry peeked at Leah's face and, upon seeing her tight, toothy smile, grimaced and looked back to the television.

"Sure," Leah finally said. "Sure, I'll tell him."

"Bella." Charlie distracted them both. "How'd your pants get so dirty?"

There was a moment of silence that followed – Bella's mouth working wordlessly, her eyes darting between her clothes, her bookbag, and Charlie – and Leah's mind immediately went to the vampires. Jacob told her there was one, for sure, running around Forks and the edges of the reservation borders. He was convinced it wasn't Edward or one of his crypt-keeping family members. Leah wondered if Bella knew; if she was aware of more than just the Cullens. Maybe they'd told her about others? Maybe Bella would know if this vampire was here to take over or if it was simply looking for Carlisle and the rest of the brood. Leah wanted to ask so badly .

She looked at Harry and could see the slight narrowing of his eyes, the furrowing of his brow. He wanted to ask, too.

"I was, uh," she cleared her throat and ducked her head, "hiking. Wanted to get some exercise. It was nice out today."

Charlie groaned. "Dammit, Bella, how many times do I have to say it? There's something out there killing people . Do you know what they were doing when they died? Hiking . Camping. Biking. Normal things that I know I've encouraged you to do lately, but you've gotta be smart about this. Did you at least take someone with you?"

"No." As Charlie's expression blew wide, Bella tried to backtrack. "I mean, I invited Jessica, but you know that's not really her thing. She's more for, like, shopping and… stuff."

Harry hummed as he took a long pull from his beer. "Didn't think hiking was really your thing either."

"I've kinda gotten into it. Jacob and I used to go a lot."

"Well." Charlie sighed and leaned back into the couch. "Just be careful, okay? Find something else to keep you occupied until we catch whatever's doing this. Stay outta the damn woods."

Leah looked a little harder at Bella's pants and backpack. She'd been lying just now. That was for damn sure. Jacob had mentioned how he'd try to break from fixing the bikes to go out and do things he enjoyed doing, and Bella would shut him down. She'd wanted it done quickly. It was hard to believe that Bella would do these things now , on her own.

"Where were you hiking?" Leah asked.

"Oh, just – just this trail near Tassel Creek. I've been there a few times."

Charlie's brows furrowed. "Isn't that up near the Cullens' place?"

"Yeah. Ed –" It took her a full fifteen seconds to finish the thought. "Edward showed it to me."

Leah tried to be sympathetic when Jacob explained the whole thing to him. She understood, in a way. She'd spent three years thinking that Sam Uley was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. It had happened so fast with him. Like they'd met and the world had shriveled into this tiny funnel and all of her feelings, ambitions, and aspirations had shriveled, too. It was stupid now that she could see it more clearly. Rachel had asked her, when Sam explained that he was leaving and that he had feelings for Emily, why she'd loved him. Why was he worth the tears and the absolute misery she'd felt in those days and weeks after? Was it the time she'd invested? Was it because it was easy? Because she was used to it?

Leah had been insulted. Of course it wasn't that simple! There were a million reasons she'd loved Sam. Was he romantic? No. Was he fun ? Sometimes; less and less in the last year. But there were… things. It was as she was fumbling through this explanation that she realized she didn't really know. What had drawn her to him? What had inspired her to say yes when he'd asked her on a date? These were things that should matter. Leah had a scrapbook with pictures of them throughout those three long years, and when she looked at them, when she tried to dredge up those early feelings that had been the building blocks for all the time after, she couldn't.

When bad things happened – when people died or broke up, or the world caved in because of some social drama that seemed apocalyptic – there seemed to be a period of idealism that tainted the reality of it all. Remembering things as next to perfect. Longing for the comfort of what was. Those things were true for Leah, as well, but mostly, she was angry – at Emily, who was like a sister to her, but at Sam, too, because he'd made a lot of promises and she'd trusted his word. In the end, neither gave her the honesty she deserved. Emily hadn't even told her to her face. She'd called .

Still, Leah didn't understand the depth and severity of Bella's depression; how she'd allowed Edward to completely hijack her life. She'd lost her friends and pulled out of even general socialization. Jacob said Charlie had been talking about sending her back to Phoenix before she'd come to Jacob, dirt bikes in the back of her truck, asking him to fix them. She'd traded one guy to orbit around for another. Now they were both gone.

"Alright, kid, get me home." Harry groaned as he stood, made a show of cracking his back and stretching his arms. "Gotta cook the Warden's dinner."

Charlie snorted. "Tell the Warden I said hello." He paused, can halfway to his mouth. "Don't tell her I called her the Warden."

Bella was still looking at her when Leah turned away.

In the car, Harry rolled down his window and hung an arm out. He was quiet for the first mile or so. Leah could feel him working his way up to something, though. They turned onto La Push Rd. and began the fourteen-mile shot to the rez. Harry cleared his throat and said, "You staying for dinner tonight?"

"I'll grab some leftovers later." Jacob should know that Bella was doing… something. Looking for the vampire, maybe? Leah couldn't get involved, but she could give him the heads up. "Don't keep it out. I'll reheat when I get home."

Another beat. "Going to Jacobs, I'm guessing?"

" Rachel and Jacob's. He's not the only one I go to see."

"No, but I know Rachel's dating Paul now. She's not always there."

Leah glanced at him. He was purposefully turned away, nose up, studying the sky. She'd promised Jacob she'd tone down the attitude when talking about things she knew were related to the wolves. So she was careful when she said, "You've never had an issue with me going over there before. Jacob's my friend. I thought you liked him –"

" – I do . I do . Jacob is… he's a good kid. He and the twins are like our own children. Your mother and I love them all. That's not why I'm asking."

"Okay, then why?"

Harry sighed. "I'm just wondering if maybe -" he peeked at her. "Y'know, you're spending a lot of time with him. You're single." He tilted his head back and forth and he left the suggestion hanging.

"Are you asking me if I'm dating him?"

"I, well -" He sat a little straighter. "It isn't unreasonable, is it? Jacob's a good-looking guy. He's nice. Smart. Already a big part of your life."

Leah kept her eyes on the road. So that was it. Their concern wasn't that Jacob would freak out and hurt her. Her parents thought she was dating him. A raw subject given the shift between them over the last month. There was a tension now. Jacob was different. Leah knew that being a wolf meant he could… sense things; could hear and see and smell the differences in people when they were interacting with him. The idea of it had been incredible when he'd first explained it, but then she'd realized that he could do it to her , too. What did he hear when she walked in the room? What did he smell when she hugged him? What did he feel when he looked at her in that intense, bone-numbing way that made her head swim?

They'd always been on equal footing, but it felt unbalanced now. She knew there were things he wasn't telling her. Things he refused to say even when she asked him outright. Leah was simultaneously worried and intrigued.

"We're not dating," she finally said.

"You sure about that?"

Leah snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Hmm." Harry tapped a rhythm into the door with his fingers. "Just… be careful, okay?"

She didn't push. "Okay."

.

Jacob

.

The vampire was inconsistent but seemed to favor Forks over La Push.

Sam saw this as a good thing. As if being across an invisible border relieved the pack of their responsibility to destroy it. Jacob was not of the same mind. Was the thing here waiting for the Cullens to return? Did it think that because one clan moved out, their territory was now open for another to move in? None of the possibilities seemed particularly favorable. Especially when they had the power to stop it.

The pack had been arguing the same points over and over for two weeks. Jacob and Embry followed the trail into Forks, around town, to the Cullens' home, and even to Bella's. They'd checked on it infrequently for several days and found fresh scent overlapping the old along the same paths. It seemed to favor the Cullens' place. Sam was furious when they told him. They'd made sure to discuss it with Paul and Jared around as witnesses and both agreed that sitting on Cullen land was probably the best way to catch it. The Alpha vetoed them all.

Jacob liked to think of himself as a level-headed guy. He'd never had trouble with his temper. Didn't let people get under his skin. When his mom died, Jacob's family went through a rough financial period. They didn't have money for new clothes and shoes at the start of the school year, or fresh supplies. They reused things they had or things that were donated to them by other families. He vividly remembered how the grief had made him quiet, which made him an easy target for asshole kids that thought the holes in his tee-shirts and the stains on his jeans were… funny , he guessed. As if any of it was his fault.

Thick skin developed quickly under such circumstances.

The wolf made him more aware of his temper. He didn't take Sam's cautionary tale lightly. Jacob had a sister, a father, friends, and classmates that were vulnerable to him now. He made a point to be cautious when reacting, listening carefully and letting it all sink in before making decisions or opening his mouth. It worked for him.

Sam made him want to spit acid.

The arguing and the constant jabs and the animosity he felt through the pack anytime he phased with their Alpha was a lot, but he'd been dealing with it. Jacob could even understand it to an extent. Sam's wolf wasn't dominant enough to hold the position with Jacob in the ranks. He felt threatened and was reacting in defense of himself. Fine. But after Jacob went into Forks to follow the vampire's trail, Sam's attitude had only blackened further. He was slowly chipping away at whatever control Jacob had established in the last month. Bit by bit, Sam was baiting him into the fight that had been brewing from the moment Jacob entered the pack.

"This doesn't mean another clan is moving into Forks," Sam insisted… again .

Paul, leaning casually against the railing of Billy's wheelchair ramp, grunted. "I don't know, Sam. One consistent scent? Okay. But now two? Hell of a coincidence."

"This second one crosses the border to La Push constantly." Jared shrugged. "Seems like a problem."

Sam exploded. "It's not . Not for us. We stick to our patrols and, if they do cross over, we'll be here waiting."

"So, instead of taking care of the problem, you're telling us to just… what? Wait around and chase them back and forth? For how long?" Jacob's skin was starting to burn. His muscles felt tight and restless. He hadn't intended on saying anything. It was best to let the others share their doubts and see how it played out, rather than 'poking the bear', so to speak. Apparently, he couldn't help himself. "We're supposed to be killing these fucking things and you're asking us to babysit them."

The sun was sinking over the tips of the trees northwest of Jacob's house. Their property was surrounded by forest on all sides and sloped downward, like a bowl. The light faded quickly. Sam's eyes were blue and glowing in the dimness of the evening. His anger was a thick fog rolling over the small group of them, gathered at the side of the house. The warnings were there. For the others, it was don't push, avoid his eyes, let it go . Jacob's wolf was not so subtle; was not so easily satisfied.

He's wrong , his blood sang. Danger .

"There have been no attacks on the rez, no one reported –"

" – Yet , Sam. Yet ." Jacob pushed off the picnic table he'd been leaning against and stood at full height. The sensible part of his brain began tugging. This was not the way to handle a disagreement with the Alpha. He shouldn't antagonize him. Still, he said, "There have been four confirmed deaths in Clallam County. Three are missing. The last two were in Forks. A twenty-minute drive from La Push and even less as the crow flies. How long before that shit spills over? How long before it's someone we know? Someone we're supposed to be protecting?"

Jacob realized he was yelling about halfway through and still, his voice climbed higher. Sam's eyes blew wide, his pupils narrowing into pinpricks.

Embry stood. "Jacob, Sam, let's chill, okay?"

The back door opened, and Emily pushed Billy through and onto the ramp, Rachel on her heels. "Sam? You ready to go?"

Jacob watched the wolf fade from Sam's eyes. He blinked it all away, took a deep breath, and turned to face her. Sam said, mouth tilted into a smile, "Ready when you are."

Rachel and Billy chatted casually with the two of them and Jacob, still feeling a little on edge, returned to the picnic table. Embry sat back down next to him.

"You good?"

Jacob glanced at him and knew his eyes were still glowing amber and gold; could feel the smoky presence of the wolf filling his skull. "No." He took a deep breath in and watched Embry's expression, trying to anchor himself. "He's driving me nuts."

"Yeah, I know." Embry lowered his voice. His gaze was hooked somewhere near Jacob's chin – far away from the wolf staring him down. "He's wrong, but we can find ways around it. Like we did with Forks."

That wouldn't fly for long, and they both knew it. Eventually, Sam would order them. Embry would be magically bound, and Jacob would have to pretend to be. "Yeah, I guess."

A set of headlights speared through the darkness and gravel crunched as tires slowly made their way along the drive. Jacob closed his eyes and tried to regain some control. He focused on the sounds; the engine humming inside the frame, crickets singing along the wood line. The engine cut. Keys jingled and then smacked as they hit the plastic of a cupholder. The car door opened, then shut. A breeze lifted Leah's scent and carried it straight to his brain. The smoke dissipated.

He turned just in time to see Leah flounce by Sam and Emily to give Billy a kiss on the head. She tossed Rachel a vague look and made a beeline for him. His nostrils flared. She was still wearing her Lone Wolf uniform which consisted of – in February weather – jeans and a black, long-sleeved shirt with her name embroidered on the front in small print, just over her left breast. She smelled faintly of grease and cleaning products; of Harry and the Clearwater's home; and of Bella . Leah's lip twitched into a coy smile as she approached.

Embry snorted and nudged Jacob's arm. "Here again, huh? When's the wedding?"

"Not telling you. You're not invited." Leah stuck out her tongue and climbed up the table to sit beside Jacob. "No dweebs allowed."

" Dweeb ?" Embry laughed. "Damn, that's old school."

Paul meandered over, dragging Rachel along. "The dweeb has a point. Something goin' on here?"

Jacob felt heat climb up his neck and into his cheeks. Fucking wonderful. He reflexively glanced over at Sam and saw that he was not only listening, but had turned to face them with his full attention.

Before Jacob could tell them to shut up, Paul quietly asked, "You imprint on her or something?"

Not quietly enough.

"No," Leah answered for him, without thinking, and Jacob's chest and head and stomach immediately filled with that smoky, eerie fucking presence. He could feel the cogs in Sam's head turning as Leah turned to him suddenly and asked, "Did you?"

Paul, Embry, and Rachel were staring at him, too. He couldn't bother with them right now. Jacob stood. "Move," he told them. "Rachel, take Billy in the house."

Sam was already advancing. That calm visage he'd put on for Emily melted away. "Did you tell her?" he demanded, voice shaking. "How the fuck does she know what an imprint is? What did you do ?"

That Sam managed to stay in his own skin was a feat. That Jacob managed to stop himself from knocking Sam's teeth down his throat the moment he entered his space, nose to nose, was a miracle.

"I ordered you –"

" – Yeah, I heard you."

"And you did it anyway! What the fuck were you thinking?"

Jacob's ears were ringing. Paul was saying something in the background – telling them both to calm down, he thought. Embry was talking. Rachel. Leah. He couldn't hear the words, though. His heart was pounding in his skull, everything throbbing in time. Whomp, whomp. Whomp, whomp. Whomp, whomp. That feeling he'd had the first time he phased washed over him; fire ants on his skin, horrible, aching cramps in his muscles and bones. That, he knew, was what it felt like before a forced phase ; a change that came on outside of his control, whether by anger, sadness, fear, or grief. Whatever the reason, this was the wolf's will, not his.

Sam's mouth was moving but everything was underwater – distorted, muffled, and unclear. The Alpha's blue eyes flashed, his body tensed and seemed to wind up, and then he uncurled, hands hitting Jacob's chest with enough force that he felt something crack. He didn't give Sam the satisfaction of letting that force throw him off balance. It hurt, but he didn't move. The reaction was reflexive and instant. Jacob's fist connected with Sam's nose and blood spewed all over his hand, over Sam's mouth and shirt.

This was it, then.

Sam stumbled back, holding his nose, but the disorientation didn't last. His pulse skyrocketed and his shoulders and chest and arms grew , and as soon as his shirt started to rip –

Someone screamed – no, wailed . It pierced through the haze and Jacob winced.

"Please, stop," Emily practically sobbed, doubled over near the car. She was shaking nearly as bad as the two of them, on the verge of hyperventilating. "Stop. I can't. I can't."

Billy wheeled himself over but didn't reach for her. She angled herself away from them – away from Sam – and seemed to try and collect herself. Jacob inhaled and subtly shook out his shoulders. If he felt guilty about freaking her out, he could only imagine how Sam was doing. Jacob didn't dare look at him.

To Embry, Jacob said, "I'm gonna take a walk."

Just as he was turning for the woods, Sam tried to approach Emily and she flinched away, apologizing all the while, still half-crying, desperately trying to be okay. For her or for Sam, he wasn't sure. Maybe both.

Rachel, hovering by the ramp, finally stepped forward. "I'll drive her home, Sam."

Jacob pulled his shirt off halfway to the trees. The anger was surprising. He'd never felt so… consumed . He couldn't keep the wolf at bay forever. Eventually, he and Sam would have to deal with this.

He phased under the cover of the forest and let himself go.

.

Now that Leah's arrived at the party, I'll be swapping between them more frequently.

Thank you all for the reviews!

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