"Calling your name in the midnight hour, reaching for you from the endless dream.

So many miles between us now, but you are always here with me."

Jacob's POV

My arms shake from the loss of her. My fingers twitch with the memory of her skin against mine, the way her breath felt against my mouth, the way her eyelashes fluttered when I whispered her name.

I grasp for that moment, but the sound of Ness's heels clacking across Charlie's deck rips it from my hands.

I can't go after her. She's gone. I lost her.

"Fuck." An aching sound escapes my lips and I punch the tree again. It cracks upon impact, leaving a deep crevice where Leah had just stood.

The rain is coming hard now. The remains of her dress float in the puddles at my feet like lilies on a pond.

I feel sick. Nausea rakes its claws against my abdomen as Sue's wedding cake churns inside me.

"Jacob?" It's Ness. I can't find the strength to look at her.

"Oh my god, baby, you're bleeding. What's happened? What's going on?"

Her fingers flutter across my ribs before making their way down my arm to my bleeding knuckles. I swallow the urge to lean into her touch.

I lift my head and meet her amber eyes.

Leah's POV

I run.

And I run.

And I run.

When my lungs burn like fire and my paws leave trails of dark mahogany on the earth beneath me, I collapse- phasing onto a pillow of slippery leaves.

My naked body curls against itself, the rain pounding on bare skin: I clutch my sides to ward off the whisper of goosebumps.

My eyes slip shut and I fall into a pit of deep, black sleep.

I wake with a jolt.

It is dark, but the rain has stopped.

The only illumination in the encompassing twilight is the glowing full moon partially hidden by the storm's lingering clouds. I must have slept for hours, but my eyes burn with exhaustion and my throat aches from words unsaid, tears unshed.

The allure of remaining here the rest of the night is tempting, but I gingerly lift myself up, my muscles groaning in protest. It would be easier to morph into my wolf, but I make my way through the forest on foot, relishing the cool, dewy air on my bare skin.

I have a vague idea of where I am; the house should be less than three miles away. A dull ache spreads through my chest thinking of the packed boxes that I'll find scattered throughout our family's home. Once they are back from their honeymoon, mom will officially be moving into Charlie's.

Oh shit…Mom.

I had left without an explanation. Granted, I had every intention of going back inside before…

I shake my head. The onslaught of emotions that come with the thought of his name pull me under and I struggle to focus on the flare of guilt that burns hot in my chest. Sue is probably worried sick. The last thing I want is to detract from her wedding night. Jesus. My dad would be ashamed.

I pick up my pace, praying it isn't too late to send her a quick "I love you. I'm sorry I'm a raging bitch" text.

I'm so focused on reaching the house that it isn't until I'm in the backyard that I smell him.

Jake.

The pain is tangible. It spreads from the left side of my chest cavity and radiates to the tips of my fingers. My steps falter and I lean against the fence to steady myself.

The memory of this afternoon overwhelms my senses: he is all around me, tangled in my hair and the ghost of my dress and the breath that passes from my lips.

You're perfect, Leah.

I can't keep pretending.

His words fade, replaced by the look in his eyes when Renesme called his name. A sob claws at my throat and I beg the recesses of my mind to find the strength to face him, to respond to whatever he has to say without staring at his mouth or reaching for his hand.

Scrambling for the clothesline, I pull on the nearest tank top and jean shorts, praying the clothing will mask some of the raw vulnerability this day has left me with.

There still isn't any sign of him, no movement, no shapeshifter shadow in sight. For a naive moment, I think maybe he isn't here, maybe I was just imagining the smell of him. And for that brief second, I'm both hopeful and devastated. Maybe I can wake up tomorrow and today will be just a distant memory.

"Leah."

He comes around the side of the house. The clouds have moved allowing the bright moon to illuminate Jake's face. He is still in his dress shirt and slacks from this morning, looking as worn down as I feel. The sight of his face makes my throat thicken.

"Not now, Black. I need to text my mom before she calls for a search party."

"I already talked to Sue. I told her I sent you out on patrol. You should have heard the earful she gave me." He lets out a short laugh, but his eyes are dark and pensive on my face. "Sending the daughter of the bride to work during her mother's reception. I don't know if I'll ever get her forgiveness."

Relief washes over me as I turn toward the porch steps.

I attempt a small smile. "Thank you."

"Can we talk?"

Running a hand through my knotted hair, I look down at my feet. "I'm tired of talking. There's nothing more left to say, Jake."

He reaches for me as I climb up the stairs. "Wait-"

I move away, escaping his touch. Exhaustion weighs on me like stone and I hope he hears the exasperation dripping my words. "If you feel like you need to explain yourself or apologize or some shit, don't bother. What happened earlier…It's over. It's in the past."

Turning my back, I pray he will leave. I pray that for once he will actually do what I want.

"I've watched you walk away from me too many times, Leah." His voice pleads me to turn back toward him and because I am weak and spineless and hopelessly fucking in love with him, I do.

He is closer than I thought he would be; perched on the step below me, our eyes are nearly level.

"I broke up with Renesme," he blurts.

No no no. My blood turns cold in my veins. Fear grips at my windpipe as my finger nails dig into my thigh.

"I finally told her the truth." His hands clutch the railings, knuckles white in the darkness. "I finally told her what I should have told her long ago: I am in love with somebody else. I have been for years. I've just been too pussy shit and stupid to admit it."

I stumble backwards, scrambling for the door. Jake rushes forward and blocks my escape, his hand pressed against the windowpane.

Pulling on the handle, I sob. "Let me go!" Tears are streaming down my face and I hate that I can't stop them. "This isn't real. This isn't possible. Please, just leave. Leave!"

"I know that I have hurt you and I hate myself for it. I don't deserve you, Leah. But," he bends his head and I'm forced to look into his eyes. "I'm yours." Now he is the one who waivers, his eyes skirting across my face. "If you'll have me." It comes out as a whisper, each syllable drawing me closer and closer to him.

"It's not that easy, Jake. You can't just say a few words and then magically be free of an imprint." My response sticks to my tongue, my heart constricting in disbelief.

His voice lowers. "I didn't say that I am free of it. I love Ness, she is my sister. I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. It took everything inside of me to say the things I said to her. Every force in my body was fighting against me. For hours I fought chills and fever. When the words formed on my tongue, I had the urge to vomit. It took hours."

I'm shaking as he entwines our fingers together then cups my face. "But, I won, Leah. My love for you won." I stare up at him, his eyes warm on my face, a smiling tugging at his lips.

I collapse into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and burrowing my face into his shoulder. Every year that has passed, every splinter of my heart, every encounter where I've pulled away from him, every time I've run away alone relinquishes me from its hold. And maybe it's the exhaustion or maybe it's because I'm hopelessly fucking in love with him, I melt into Jake.

"I'm here. I'm right here," he murmurs into my hair. "And God help me, I love you, Leah Clearwater."

I pull away and our noses brush together. "Say it again," I whisper.

"I love you."

Then he kisses me. And with the touch of his lips every fear that lingers in every dark corner inside of me and every ounce of anger burrowed into all my sharp edges dissipates on my tongue.

Happy Hump Day, loves!

Here is the second and final part of my Blackwater "one-shot."

Hope the drabble keeps you going for the rest of your week!

Hugs! xxx