A few nights later found Jacob back in the clearing with the rest of the pack, except Leah. His eyes kept scanning the perimeter, trying to inconspicuously catch her arrival. But she didn't show. He glanced at Seth, wondering if he knew what was up. Seth, his face tired, lost in thought, wouldn't meet anyone's gaze.
Next to him, Embry was getting restless. "It's already after ten. Where is she?"
"Maybe she's not coming," Quil said.
"Yeah, right," Jared muttered. "She'd never miss an opportunity to make us all miserable."
"Quiet, Jared. All of you." Sam had been standing on the outside of the group, more silent than usual. He walked to the center of the group, causing them to part around him. "Leah will be here. I told her we were meeting at 10:30 so I would have plenty of time to tell all of you that you will give her a break tonight. I know what you all think of her, but I do not care. You will not make it harder for her. Not tonight." Jacob caught a look of understanding pass between Seth and Sam. "I don't care what she says or does or thinks. I don't care how much she tries to provoke you. You say nothing. You think nothing. That's an order."
He scanned over the pack. "Do I make myself clear?" he said, calm, with control.
They all nodded. They glanced away or looked at the ground, skeptical, unable to understand the sudden concern for Leah. Jacob dared to look back at Sam. Their eyes met. Though not in wolf-form, silent communication passed between the two. Jacob could feel it. Sam carried his guilt with him like a weight around him neck, but he couldn't be the one to fix her.
Jacob understood. Sam knew, about the other night. About the feeling that had washed over Jacob like a summer storm. He knew what it meant. And Jacob knew that Sam was counting on him.
Leah arrived a few minutes later. Her shoulders were hunched and her hair hung around her in a limp curtain. Her face was empty. She looked at no one, spoke not a word. She waited for Sam to give out the night's orders, then pulled off her yellow sun dress quickly and stashed it in a tree. She phased without a word and ran off in the direction Sam had directed her and Paul.
Jacob noticed something odd that night. They had all expected a storm. After Sam's warning, they prepared themselves for the hurricane in the form of Leah that was sure to rip through them.
But nothing happened.
Leah wasn't thinking anything terrible. She wasn't lashing out. But she wasn't controlling her thoughts, either.
She was thinking nothing.
Her mind seemed to be completely empty. The only indication they had that she was even still in wolf-form were her answers to Sam. Every so often he'd ask her a question about her position or if she saw anything around her. Yes. No. Nothing. West. Fine. And that was all.
When they finished patrolling in the early morning hours, they all reconvened in the clearing, transforming back into human-form. Jacob watched as Leah phased, paying no mind to the others. She grabbed her dress and, clutching it in front of her, stood in the back of the pack, leaning against a tree, head drooping, eyes vacant.
Sam went over a few quick things before dismissing them. The boys wandered off in the directions of their respective houses. Leah remained propped up against the tree.
Seth approached her and put his hand lightly on her arm. "You coming?" he asked quietly.
"Tell Mom I'll be home for dinner."
He nodded and headed home.
Sam and Jacob were the only ones left lingering besides Leah. Sam looked torn, as if he felt he should do something, say something to her, but couldn't see far enough beyond Emily to ever really be what she needed. It killed him to see her like this, Jacob could see it, but Emily came first, now and always. Leah was on her own.
She lifted her head, staring at Sam with empty eyes. She let out a heavy, pained sigh before suddenly phasing and tearing off through the woods, dress clutched between her teeth. Jacob looked at Sam, whose thoughts were obvious even in his human form.
Find her. Help her. Fix her.