I crashed out about an hour after I finished the run. I was still snoozing when I felt another mind join our rag-tag group, Jake still refused to believe Seth and I weren't re-joining Sam's Pack after this was over.

Morning boys, Morning Lyssa.

A familiar voice greeted as the sleep fog covered my mind, that sounded like...

A shocked whine broke through Seth's teeth. Jake and Seth both snarled as they read into the new thoughts.

Oh, man! Go Away, Leah! Seth groaned

I pushed myself from my chosen sleeping place and walked to where Seth was at. Jake and I got there as Leah trotted into view, her small gray body weaving through the underbrush.

Stop whining, you're such a baby, Seth. Leah replies,

Jacob growled at her, his ears flattening against his head.

Leah took a step backwards.

What are you doing here, Leah? Jacob questions

She huffed a sigh. It's pretty obvious, isn't it? I'm joining your crappy little renegade pack. The vampires' guard dogs. She barked a laugh.

No, you're not. Turn around before I rip out one of your hamstrings. Jacob replies

Like you could catch me, Leah responds then coils her body for launch Wanna race, O fearless leader.

I watched Jacob as he debated on his next course of action.

I'm surprised that you haven't said anything. Leah pointed out.

I know the real reason. Was all I reply with. I turned and walked off.

Where are you going? Jacob asks,

Hunting, I'm starving. Since my mom spends time in La Push... I let the sentence drop as we both knew we couldn't go home.

Seth, go let the Cullens know it's just your stupid sister. Jacob states

I tracked a group of mule deer and took down one of the largest bucks before it knew there was danger lurking. Leah gagged as I ate. I was used to this, I lived this way.

On it! Seth replies,

You're just letting him run off to the vampires alone? Leah asks

I'm pretty sure he'd rather they took him out then spend another minute with you. Jacob answers.

Shut up, Jacob. Oops, I'm sorry—I meant, shut up, most high Alpha. Leah states

Leah, that was uncalled for. I snapped as I moved through the forest back to where they were at. I stood at Jacob's side. My white fur and his russet were off set.

Why the hell are you here? Jacob demanded

You think I'm just going to sit home while my little brother volunteers as vampire chew toy? Leah questions

Seth doesn't want or need your protection. In fact, no one wants you here. Jacob replies

I whined, that wasn't true. I wanted Leah to stay. She needed this pack more then I did.

Oooh, ouch, that's gonna leave a huge mark, ha. Leah barked, Tell me who does want me around, and I'm outta here.

So this isn't about Seth at all, is it? Jacob asks

Of course it is. I'm just pointing out that being unwanted is not a first for me. Not really a motivating factor, if you know what I mean. Leah answers.

I stayed quiet waiting for Jacob's decision regarding Leah's joining us.

Did Sam send you? Jacob asks

If I was here on Sam's errand, you wouldn't be able to hear me. My allegiance is no longer with him. Leah answers.

I felt Jacob read deeper into Leah's thoughts, trying to see if we were being tricked or something. You're loyal to me now? Uh-huh. Right.

My choices are limited. I'm working with the options I've got. Trust me, I'm not enjoying this any more then you are. Leah replies

We were interrupted by Seth thinking his his explanation at Edward.

Leah whined anxiously. Edward's face, framed in the window, showed no reaction to the news. It was a blank face, dead.

Wow, he looks bad. Seth thought to himself.

What's going on? Leah asks, Catch me up to speed.

There's no point. You're not staying. Jacob replies

Actually, Mr. Alpha, I am. Because since apparently I have to belong to someone—and don't think I haven't tried breaking off on my own, you know how well that doesn't work—i choose you. Leah disagreed

Leah, you don't like me. I don't like you. Jacob replies

Thank you, Captain Obvious. That doesn't matter to me. I'm staying with Seth and Lyssa. Leah states

You don't like vampires. Don't you think that's a little conflict of interest right there? Jacob asks,

I'll keep my distance from them. I can run patrols out here, just like Seth. Leah answers

And I'm suppose to trust you with that? Jacob asks

Leah stretched her neck, leaning up on her toes to look Jacob in the eyes. I will not betray my pack.

This isn't your pack! This isn't even a pack! This is just me, going off on my own! What is it with you Clearwaters! Even you Alyssa! Why can't you leave me alone! Jacob exclaims

A snarl passed my lips, Now that you brought me into this conversation, let me make one thing perfectly clear, Jacob Black! I will NEVER return to Sam...I will follow you until the world ends.

I sat down on my haunches and glared at him.

Seth just came up behind us, and whined. I've been helpful, haven't I, Jake?

You haven't been too much a nuisance of yourself, kid, but if you and Leah are a package deal—if the only way to get rid of her is for you to go home...well, can you blame me for wanting you gone? Jacob asks, he didn't seem to mind about my stubborn refusal about returning.

Ugh, Leah, you ruin everything. Seth states

Yeah, I know. Leah replies, and the thought was loaded with the heaviness of her despair.

Jake, Seth and I felt the pain in the three little words, it was more then was guessed at, I knew the pack was hard on Leah but she brought it on herself with the bitterness that tainted her every thought and made being in her head a nightmare.

Seth felt guilty, too. Jake...You're not really gonna send me away, are you? Leah's not so bad. Really, I mean, with her here, we can push the perimeter out further and this puts Sam down to seven. There's no way he's going to mount an attack that outnumbered. It's probably a good thing...

You know I don't want to lead a pack, Seth. Jacob replies

so don't lead us. Leah offered

Jacob snorted Sounds perfect to me. Run along home now.

Jake, Seth thought. I belong here. I do like vampires. Cullens, anyway. They're people to me, and I'm going to protect them, 'cause that's what we're suppose to do.

Same here, I like the Cullens, now that blonde maybe not so much. I thought

Maybe you belong, kid. But your sister doesn't. And she's going to go wherever you are- Jacob as he saw something that Leah was trying hard not to think about. Thought this was about Seth?

Leah flinched Of course I'm here for Seth.

And to get away from Sam. Jacob replies

Leah's jaw clenched. I don't have to explain myself to you. I just have to do what I'm told. I belong to your pack, Jacob. The End.

Jacob was thinking about everything, and we could hear everything.

I don't know if I'd go that far, Leah replies, to being the vampires' lapdog. I'm sure I'd give killing myself a few good tries first.

Look Leah...Jacob states

No, you look, Jacob. Stop arguing with me, because it's not going to do any good. I'll stay out of your way, okay? I'll do anything you want. Except go back to Sam's pack and be the pathetic ex-girlfriend he can't get away from. If you want me to leave. Leah states, then sat back on her haunches and stared straight into Jacob's eyes. You're going to have to make me.

Jacob snarled for a long minute, Seth, are you gonna be mad at me if I kill your sister?

Seth pretended to think about it. Well...yeah, probably.

Jacob sighed Okay, then. Ms. Do-Anything-I-Want. Why don't you make yourself useful by telling us what you know? What happened after we left last night?

Lots of howling. But you probably heard that part. It was so loud that it took us a while to figure out that we couldn't hear either of you anymore. Sam was...Words failed her, but the thoughts were clear, Seth, Jake and I cringed. After that, it was clear pretty quickly that we were going to have to rethink things. Sam was planning to talk to the other Elders first thing this morning. We were supposed to meet up and figure out a game plan. I could tell he wasn't going to mount another attack right away, through. Suicide at this point, with you, Lyssa, Seth AWOL and the bloodsuckers forewarned. I'm not sure what they'll do, but I wouldn't be wandering the forest alone if I was a leech. It's open season on vamps now.

You decided to skip the meeting this morning? Jake asks

When we split up for patrols last night, I asked permission to go home, to tell my mother what had happened—Leah answers

Crap! You told Mom! Seth growled

Seth, Hold the sibling stuff for a sec. Go on, Leah. Jacob states

So once I was human, I took a minute to think things through. Well, actually, I took all night. I bet the others think I fell asleep. But the whole two-separate-packs, two-separate-minds thing gave me a lot to sift through. In then end. I weighed Seth's safety and er, other benefits against the idea of turning traitor and sniffing vampire stink for who knows how long. You know what I decided I left a note for my mom. I expect we'll hear it when Sam finds out... Leah finished, then cocked an ear to the west.

Yeah, I expect we will. Jacob agreed

So that's everything. What do we do now? Leah asks

Leah, Seth and I looked at Jake expectantly

I guess we just keep an eye out for now. That's all we can do. You should probably take a nap, Leah. Jacob states, I could tell he hated being our Alpha.

You've had as much sleep as I have. Leah replies,

Thought you were going to do what you were told? Jacob asks

Right. That's going to get old, Leah grumbled, then she yawned Well, whatever. I don't care.

I want to go back to sleep. I state

I'll run the border, Jake. I'm not tired at all. Seth was glad that Jake wasn't kicking him back to La Push. He took off down the path.

Sure, sure. I'm going to check in with the Cullens. Jacob replies,

Maybe a round or two before I crash...Hey Seth, wanna see how many times I can lap you? Leah asks.

I trotted to the spot where I was sleeping earlier, I curled up listening to Jake's inter-monologue about if there had to the four of us, who he would thought about who he wouldn't trade Leah for.

Paul? Leah suggests

Maybe. Jacob allows

That will be my goal, then—to be less annoying then Paul. Leah states

Yeah, work on that. Jacob replies.

I thought sleepily that Jacob's attraction to Bella was insane...but what if it wasn't Bella, he was going to be with...what if he needed to be with the unborn spawn? Nah, that's impossible.