Um.. yeah... read A/N at the end...

Leah's POV

Chapter 14

Who was he?

Since yesterday night, there were few times that I stopped thinking about the golden wolf that I had never seen before.

I wanted to know who he was.

When I had seen him –when I first looked at him in the eye –an idea ignited immediately in my mind. But as familar as the green eyes were, the idea was crushed in an instant.

It could not have been Vinnie. It was impossible.

So, if it wasn't him, who was he?

The wolf seemed so out of place, not only physically on the wrong land, but his demeanor showed that he was new to this. So that meant he was on of Sam's new kids. He must've been one of the younger ones who had not been present at the face off between the leeches over Nessie. Most of the new ones were Seth's age, some even younger.

Great... I was obsessed with possibly a child who was maybe, of, five years younger then me. Just my luck.

But, as I started thinking about it, the realization hadn't really affected me the way I thought it would. It creeped me out, yeah, but it had no affect on how strongly I felt on me meeting him again.

"You know," Seth said, "you're going to give the rez an earthquake the way you keep fidgeting."

"Oh shut up, would you?" I snapped.

"Jeez, sorry."

I groaned I needed to get out of this godforsaken house and talk to someone. Not that Seth wasn't a great little brother, which he is, but I needed to talk with someone who didn't live with me. An honest opinion from someone.

It was times like these I really wish Emily and I were friends. Now, I had no one.

Realizing that wasn't completely true, I got up from the couch in the living room and left the house.

I guess it wasn't a complete surprise how I ended up at the house of the living dead. I was only there for one reason, and no doubt he was in there playing with his girl.

My hand paused in the air as I was about to ring the doorbell. Who knew it would be so hard to knock on a bloodsucker's door.

Before I even had the chance to reconsider coming here in the first place instead of trying to read some crap advice column in some Seventeen magazine, Jacob came to the door.

"Leah, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly, opening the door all the way.

"What makes you think something's wrong with me? Isn't it fine that I decided to visit my favorite Alpha?"

He rolled his eyes. "You don't come to the Cullen's when you want to talk to your favorite Alpha. You would've just called. You only come here when I drag you. What's wrong?" He asked again.

I sighed "Can I talk to you?"

He stared. "What are we doing now?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be a smart ass, kid. Just because you're bigger doesn't mean I won't kick your ass. I rather talk somewhere where a bunch of leeches can't be eavesdropping."

"Oh." He shut the front door behind him and walked next to me.

"So, what's the emergency?" he asked. "Some girly problem you have to come to me to ask? I swear, Leah, we gotta get you some girl friends. Maybe even Blondie and you could get along. She's a real charmer, just like-"

"Jake, could you just shut up for a sec?" I didn't scream, and the soft and downcast tenor to my voice even startled me.

He must've realized how serious I was being, since he said apologetically, "Oh, sorry. Go ahead."

"OK, well, there's this wolf-"

"You know, most start with 'There's this guy'-"

"Jake?" I half growled. I was not in the mood to be interrupted repeatedly.

"Sorry. Go on."

"Thanks for the permission, all mighty Alpha." I rolled my eyes. "As I was saying, there's this wolf that I saw on our land yesterday night. He was obviously from Sam's pack since I didn't recognize him, but there was something different about him."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. He just seemed out of place."

"Probably one of the younger ones."

"That's what I thought. But he's not small like them. He's nearly as big as Jared."

"Maybe the kid had a growth spurt."

"Oh." Even though I still thought the theory not completely fool proof, I was tired of talking in circles.

"Is that all? I kind of feel like you would only come within one hundred feet of the Cullen house if it were something urgent."

"It's more of a personal matter."

"What?"

"How did… How do you know you're in love with someone?"

He chuckled. "Why don't you tell me? In case you've forgotten, you were in love once. I would think that would be pretty hard to forget."

"I haven't. I'm asking because this isn't the same. This isn't like with Sam, but I don't know if its love or not. I mean, I get the stupid butterflies like always and my heart starts freaking out like it's on some drug, but there's something else."

He sighed. "Why are you asking me?"

"I don't know. I just needed to get this off my chest. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to trust my feelings."

He chuckled. "Leah, you're scared." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I stopped walking and glared up at him. "I am not scared."

"Yes, you are. I get it; you don't want to be hurt again. But until you accept and out yourself out there…"

I shook my head. "I can't do that again, Jake. I can't go through that."

"Vince isn't Sam. He's different. He won't hurt you. If he does, I'll personally tear him limb to limb."

I chuckled dryly. Violence did always seem to get my mood back up.

"So, there's no way to just… know?"

He shook his head. "Love is different for different people. You loved Sam. You were a teenager. But you've seen how I loved Bella, and how even though I was the same age as you were, it was different. And you've seen how Jared loves Kim. They're all different."

"But one's deeper than the rest," I muttered.

"Yeah, but who knows? You said yourself you can't imprint. Who's to say that Vince isn't the one, that you can't love him as much as Jared and Kim love each other without the magic?"

I shook my head. "I don't want that magic anymore."

He eyed me curiously. "Why not?"

"I don't want to be bonded with someone who might not even recuperate feelings. I mean, Jared was lucky because Kim already adored him, and Emily and Sam were just perfect for each other. But what if Claire doesn't feel anything for Quil when she gets older?"

He was silent. I knew that the realization was not only for Quil's situation, but also his.

"And in all honest, if I had to pick between some random stranger who was my 'soulmate' and Vinnie, I would sure as hell chose him any day. I don't want anyone else but him."

"Leah, you do realize you've only known the guy about two weeks, right?"

"Yes." I didn't see how time had anything to do with this. If there was something said about bloodsuckers and werewolves having something in common, it was that they both had a different perception of time than the average person. To the leeches, they had often told Jacob that a year was like a day to normal people. To werewolves, it was the opposite; every moment was to be cherished, every second of it. Because so easily, fate would send you on a different route. You could be happy one day –perfectly happy –and the next thing you know, your bitten by a nomad leech, or simply not being able to pursue expected college plans. In one moment, your life could turn on a dime.

Few times has that sensation happened to me. Actually, only three I can really think of:

The first: When Sam imprinted on Emily.

The second: When I shifted into a werewolf.

And the third: When I joined Jacob's pack.

Maybe I should included Vinnie coming to town as the next entry.

"What's your point?" I asked him.

He sighed, realizing whatever he was going to say would fall on deaf ears. "Nothing. Just…" He looked me in the eye. "I want you to be okay, Leah. I'd be pretty pissed if you got hurt."

Honestly, that statement held a lot of meaning behind it. As much as we teased and got on each other's nerves, we were at the heart of everything best friends. He couldn't exactly bond with the Cullen girl like he used to now that she's a vamp mom, and I don't exactly have a stock full of friends, either. Jack and I were more than friends, even: brother and sister.

I shoved his shoulder playfully. "Don't go all soft on me, Jake. I have Seth for all those heartwarming Hallmark crap worthy quotes."

He laughed. "I'll be the one to tell you right now that if something happens bad with this, my entire pack is ready to charge Vinnie. You think your lover boy's ready for that?"

"I sure hope so." I didn't even bother correcting him with the title. I might as well admit what I felt. It was easier than denying it.

Girls aren't supposed to wander the woods alone. It's a known fact, I mean, look at Little Red Riding Hood. The big bad wolf ate her sorry self up.

But now, I was the one going through the wolf's layer. In a red dress no doubt.

Maybe I should explain.

A little after the intervention with Jake –in which nothing was really accomplished besides sorta realizing that I'm sorta falling for Vinnie with no hope of sorta turning back, and Jake showing his support for me–I decided to investigate this wolf thing again. It was weird; it was like when I wasn't thinking about Vinnie now, I was thinking of the wolf last night. Something's got to be pretty weird about that worthy of a little investigation. Who was to say that he wouldn't return to the scene of the crime again? If he did, I was going to make sure I was there.

So, here I was in the night. I had adorned myself in the dress simply because the parallels between my life and a Grimm story were nearly laughable, and I had to do something about it. Plus, the short blood red sundress my mom bought me so long ago had never seen the light of day with its thin straps and light material.

Now, I just had to wait.

About an hour into the whole thing, just when I was about to turn back for the woods to phase myself and get out of the dress, a familiar streak of gold shined in the forest where the moon's light hit it. I was pretty thankful for these streaks of cloudless nights.

It was weird the way he was staring at me. His eyes seemed to grow wide at the sigh t of me, and he was just about to turn around and go right back where he came.

No way was I letting that happen. "Wait!" I called out. The desperation in my voice was unintentional, as was the arm which was outstretched to him.

He stopped where he was and stood still as I walked slowly up to him. When I finally was within about two feet from his snout, I asked, "Can you phase back?"

He shook his head.

I got angry. "Why not? You know who I am now. I want to see who you are."

His face seemed confused.

"I'm the grey wolf from yesterday, if you haven't already figured that out."

He visibly shuddered and staggered back. I didn't understand why the news was so surprising to him. "What? Doesn't Sam tell you guys that girls can be wolves, too? Well, actually, I'm the only one."

He looked confused for a moment longer, and shook his head quickly.

"Why are you on this land?" I asked him. "Don't you know the boundaries? I could phase and beat the crap out of you because of this."

He smiled for the first time.

"Why won't you phase back?"

He walked towards me, and at the last second, veered off to the forest.

"Hey!" I called. Where was he going?

Pulling off my flip flops, I ran to where he as, now back in the open field where I had once met him.

He stared back at me, amusement in his eyes.

"What are you up to?" I asked him.

He walked up to me slowly, just as I had done to him before. Just as he was in reach, he laid down in front of me, his head just at my calf as he laid it on his front two legs.

I backed away. "Don't go trying to look under my dress, perv."

He let out a breathy sound that had to be a laugh.

The weird thing was that I shouldn't have felt as I did with the wolf. I should be angry at this animal for stepping foot outsides his territory. I should be frustrated that I had followed this wolf into the woods. But there was only one feeling that I could easily identify as I looked down at this wolf:

A surprising and nearly overwhelming sense of relief; for finding him, for having him be so close next to me, for having met him by accident yesterday.

I kneeled down at him. "You still haven't answered my question: Why won't you phase? You can't control it or something?"

All he did was a very nonchalant shrug.

Oh, wonderful. The kid's had an attitude. "Look, I don't know what your deal is but you really-"

Abruptly, I stopped when he nudged my leg with his nose.

I was confused. "What you want me to sit?"

He nodded.

I sighed. "Typically, it's the person who tells the dog to sit, you know," I muttered as I sat on my knees in front of him.

His face was right in front of me, and his eyes bore into me more that I thought was possible in a wolf, or any animal to be honest. I thought only a human's eyes were capable of looking at someone like that.

A moment later, he rested his head on my lap, or at least part of it; his nose hung off the other side of my leg.

I didn't know what to do. There only seemed like one thing to do, and I proceeded to do it.

I scratched his ears.

A smile seemed to visibly appear on his face, and I could see his tail moving excitedly. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "I hope you don't take this as some intimate meeting, boy. I do in fact have a boyfriend."

He laughed.

"You know, I bet of I didn't have a boyfriend, and he wasn't so damn perfect for me, and the fact that this is probably illegal in some states to do to a kid your age, I might be interested to see you outside of this wolf fur for reasons other than innocently meeting you."

And it was true. If there was no Vinnie, who I was in love with, I was sure that whoever this guy was could very possibly be perceived as "the one." The signs were all there: the completed feeling, how I was so relieved to see him, how comfortable I was around him. It was crazy.

But completely true.

My fingers felt their way though his long coat, its soft texture feeling so good to me. I had never really felt another wolf's fur, but I'm pretty sure it didn't always feel so nice.

Of my own strange accord, I placed my head on top of his. "Who are you, wolf?" I said softly.

He didn't answer, and instead nuzzled under my arm.

I hugged his nuzzle. Gently at first, but tighter as time went on.

And all at once, I just started crying.

I'm not sure really where it came from. Maybe it was just everything piled on me as it was: the confusion, the loss, the pain I felt without Vinnie, the relief I felt with this wolf, admitting to myself that I was in love again –and all of this on a person who just wanted everything to be nice and semi normal was too much.

I buried my face into his fur. He didn't move as my body shook in silent sobs, the tears running down my face and onto him.

When I finally could collect myself about five minutes later, he looked up at me worriedly.

I chuckled as I wiped my face. "I'm sorry. That was kind of rude."

He shook his head slightly.

I petted his head. "I wish I could thank you properly, but I'd only be able to do that if you phased for me."

He shook his head again.

I sighed. I guess him being here in wolf form was better than him not being here at all. "Thank you," I said quietly. With not rhyme or reason, I kissed the top of his head.

"Can I tell you a secret?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"I think I might be in love. I'm telling you this only because I know you won't judge me, since I can't exactly hear your reaction when you're like this," I chuckled. "But, anyways, I've been hurt already so badly. I don't know if I could handle something like that again. I don't know if my heart could take it."

He looked up at me, picking his head up so that it was even with my own. In his eyes, I saw something so familiar that it nearly made my heart stop. Just as I was about to pursue the thought, a wolf came through the woods.

Leave it to Seth to ruin everything.

He stared confused at the intruder, not sure what to do about the wolf.

"I think we've been discovered, Goldie Locks," I whispered to him.

With only a moment left, he licked my face and ran off.

"Ew!" I said, though I couldn't hold back the chuckles escaping me.

Seth phases back and came up to me, who was still sitting on my knees as I was before the wolf left.

"Who was that, Leah?"

"I have no clue, Seth." Even with the disappointed statement, I couldn't help but smile.

I had a feeling I would see him again. Soon.

So sorry about the lack of updates. Thanks for the encouragement to write. I know some authors get bugged if people PM or review telling them to update, but I like it. I t proves to me that there are some people out there actually reading this, which is amazing. I could make excuses for the lack of update, but I don't think that's very professional.

Thoughts, feelings, reactions to Little Red Riding Hood and her wolf?

P.S. The next chapter will be the last one in the Needed portion of this tale. What do you think this catalyst will be?

Cocoa