We are getting married, these words echoed in my mind. The dreaded day was in a month. Sam and Emily were finally marrying. I heard them, and then...then ran. My face was red, my legs hurt, I fell and starting running again after standing back up and suddenly changed into a giant beast with long fur. I ran and ran till my legs cannot carry me but my anger did not abate even a bit. I cruelly forced my legs to carry my weight again and ran. The thought of leaving it all behind was so tempting that I ran halfway to Ottawa in probably less than five days ( I did not think of tying a watch in my fur ).

It all felt so good. The ground under my paws, sounds of crunching of leaves, the peace of being free and letting the animal in me go wild. Now, a raw rabbit did not taste too bad, the darkness of forest at night did not make me afraid, the prospect of being an animal forever sounded tempting. Such was the addiction of freedom.

I had created a lot of plans to run away. Not just now, but many times before which all were possible to carry out, atleast theoretically. But chains bound me. Chains of duties were the most difficult to break. How can I leave my little brother who was still a little more than a child, who had the innocence of a child in a man's body? How can I leave my stern but loving mother who worked so hard to balance her life between her own private life and taking care of her children? But most importantly, I cannot leave because my deceased father would not have wanted me to abandon his and my own homeland.

So, torn between my individual needs and duties, I returned to LaPush.

Where were you, you moronic girl? A voice shouted in my head. Do you plan to make me deaf, dickhead? I answered only to be on the recieving end of a growled, Where were you? 'Well, it seems he's not thinking of his half leech child lover for once'. It was really a relief becauase there had been only three or four instances since our hostile confrontation with those 'royal' leeches that I had caught Jacob 'not' thinking about his imprint. Away, I answered with the same level of anger my oh so good and loving and caring alpha asked. What right did he have to talk to me like this? He maybe the alpha but as long as there was no threat the pack members were free to do as they please.

My anger must have been felt through the link because Jacob backed out of the argument to return to his perfect thought about his dearest imprint. Uhh. He would always find a way to frustrate me.

What an irony? A couple of years ago, I was standing in this very room, getting ready for my engagement party with the man for whose wedding I am getting ready today.

It hurt.

It hurt me deeply to see everyone ignoring me. Not even my mother or brother talked to me about it. Not that I am complaining. I myself did not want to talk about it. Mainly because no one understood. My mother was a very loving and lovable person ( very unlike me ) and many times offered me comfort but it doesn't change the fact that she didn't understand me.

Emily has requested me to be a bridesmaid but I had refused. She had cried that day to get me too forgive her but I couldn't. I couldn't atleast when I was hurting myself.

Three days after that, I recieved an personal invitation alongwith a box of muffins from Sam. Strangy enough, it was a wooden box. It was hard to accept it but somehow I did.

The invitation had simple designs- it was made of thick paper which had floral designs at the border. The envelope it was kept in read my name and was made of cardboard.

I slowly opened the wooden box, and it dropped from my hands. It contained all the gifts I gave to Sam during the four years we had dated. A simple pen, a few T-Shirts, an earring, a silver chain and many such trinkets. It also had a letter-

Dear Leah,

Three years have passed since we parted ways. Since I gave you some deep wounds. I gave you some wounds which may take a long time to heal and still leave scars. I hope you can forgive me for them. And I won't blame you if you don't.

We never got a chance to say goodbye. We just broke. I want to tell you Leah that it hurt. It hurt me to hurt you because I never wanted to hurt you. It tore my heart apart to do it to you but I had to. I could not control myself.

I am sending you these trinkets because I cannot keep these. Maybe you think I am just trying to get rid of my guilt but I truly have no right to have even a single memory of you.

Goodbye.

Yours,

Sam.

By the time I ended reading the letter, it was wet with tears. Reliving all of it had brought a new wave of overwhelming grief.

The same night, I ran into the forest towards the border of Forks near the Quillayute river in human form. There was a small mountain cave just a little up the river bank. It was the only dry space available in view. It used to be mine and Sam's special spot. We had spent many of our dates here.

I sat there for some time. Saying goodbye to Sam and my past. I started a fire of dry leaves using a lighter I had brought and then added some more splinters of wood. I took the wooden box and threw it away, in the roaring fire. I sat there, gazing at the burning gifts. These were not mere trinkets but my memories.

The wedding was taking place on the first beach which had been closed from public use by the tribe council for the day.

Me, my mom and my brother, Seth were driving to the venue together. I was wearing a simple faded red-black dress with red shoes. Mom was wearing a similar dress to mine and Seth was also looking dashing in his blue tuxedo.

In a few minutes, we had reached the first beach and were out of the car. The wedding was not a very private affair with only a few guests. The packs with their imprints, Emily's parents ( my aunt and uncle ), her elder sister with her husband and daughter, Sam's mother, Billy black, old Quil and the Cullens ( who were granted access to the reservation for today ) were present.

It hurt.

To face the pitying glances like those first few months after my father's death and my breakup again. I hate to admit it but I could barely control my raging emotions.

Years of suppressed sadness, hurt and hate were threatening to come out. I saw Edward Cullen pass me a pitying glance once again. The leech was doing it since I got here. I bared my teeth and opened my mouth to say something rude but my eyes travelled to the wedding arch.

Sam had arrived with his best man, Paul and groomsmen, Jared and Colin following him. He looked quite nervous. The look of nervousness brought forth a memory which nearly madee break down right then and there.

It was our first date after his disappearence. Me and Sam were just near our spot near the Quillayute river and Forks border, cuddled up together. His skin was burning.

I expressed my concern with a look on myy face which needed no words from me to convey my thoughts. "I am fine Lee. Don't worry But I did not know how not to worry. He had changed since his return. He was temperamental, his skin was burning, he had suddenly shot in height and had somehow developed muscles of a bodybuilder in a time of just two weeks. But not wanting to spoil the date and make him angry at me, I pushed the worries out oc my mind. We rarely spent any time together and I wanted to savour every moment when we did.

Sam started to move and before I can comprehend it, he got on one knee and spoke,"Leah, you have been like bright ray of sunshine in my gloomy life. You have given me a reason to live. You have made me smile and laugh. You have struck with me through odd and even. You have made my life beautiful like your smile. I love you Leah Clearwater, Will you marry me?"

Tears of joy were streaming down my face by the end of his speech and then I held him in a tight hug. ,"I will marry you Sam Uley. I'll spend rest of my life with you."

As Sam came and stood in the middle of the altar, our eyes met and both looked away at the same time.

The wedding march started playing. Emily was walking down the aisle, hands linked with her father's. She was looking stunning in her flowing wedding gown.

It hurt.

Thinking it could have been me. But I controlled my emotions.

The rest of the wedding ended with a succession of native Quileute rituals and everyone prayed for a happy matrimony for the couple.

As the post wedding photo shoot ended, I mustered my courage and approached Sam and Emily. "Can I steal Sam for a minute Emily?"Shocked of my question, as I had not spoken so civilly to her in almost two years, Emily did not speak, just managed to nod.

I held Sam's hand, took him to the edge of the forest and handed him an ornate ring box which held our engagement ring.

We didn't need words. Our gaze met, baring our soul to each other as we caught each other in a hug and cried for what we lost. I slowly wiggled out of the hug and ran after turning my back to him towards my house. The last words I heard from him were,"Goodbye, Lee-Lee."

I ran and ran continuously. As soon as I reached my mom's house, I grabbed a suitcase I had prepared in advance and stowed it in the backseat of my car. Climbing into the car, I started a journey whose destination I didn't know.

A/N- The first chapter of the fic. And I am very sorry for late update. Please review. And do not hesitate to give advice and point out mistakes.