Chapter 4

Seth P.O.V

She stared at me through heavy lidded eyes and I found myself powerless to look away as they captured me.

She wasn't Leah. She was my world.

Her eyes suddenly closed and I jumped out of my daze. I placed my hand on the side of her face gently stroking her cheek with my thumb, her skin was warm like mine.

"No, no, no. Stay awake. Look at me. Let me see your eyes." I said trying to keep the panic out of my voice as my insides twisted and knotted. I couldn't lose her now that I had just found her.

Her eyes flickered open again and she looked up at me with her deep, dark eyes. I let out a sigh of relief, giving her a weak smile.

I couldn't help but take in every detail of her heart shaped face. She had high cheek bones and a small nose, her russet colour skin was covered in dirt and cuts. Her full lips were dry and cracked with smears of blood in the corners.

The lump in my throat doubled in size as I looked back into her dark eyes, continuing to caress her cheek. She nuzzled into my hand the corners of her lips briefly turned up in the slightest of smiles.

"Please just make it stop." she whispered as she placed a hand on top of the one I had on her cheek.

I bit down hard on my lip, trying to hold onto a painful sob.

Her chest was still rising and falling rapidly under her bloodstained singlet as she continued to struggle for breath. Her tanned limbs were streaked with dried blood, fresh cuts and bruises. She was injured bad, I couldn't comprehend the pain she must be in.

How had this happened? Why had this happened? Why wasn't I there to stop it?

My eyes began to prickle as her hand fell back to her side.

I barely felt the hand on my shoulder.

I briefly tore my gaze away to look at them. It was Leah. She knelt down next to me, her face a mixture of sympathy and worry. We stared at each other, no words needing to be shared as she squeezed my shoulder consolingly.

I followed her gaze as it shifted to behind me. Sam and Quil were now standing at the girl's feet talking quickly.

"...need to get her out of here, you go distract.." Sam stopped mid sentence when he felt our stares, they looked at us briefly before they turned back to each other continuing their conversation avidly.

"We need to distract the hunters, we should call Embry….." Sam's voiced faded out after that to be replaced by ringing, my insides were boiling as deep hatred flowed through my veins.

I found myself kneeling to a stand as my hands clenched into fists, a deep frown etching its way onto my face. I stormed past Sam and Quil, my body beginning to tremble as I made my way towards the forest.

"Hey, hey, hey, Seth what are you doing?" Sam asked running in front of me, I noticed Quil just behind me.

"Distracting the hunters." I muttered sarcastically through clenched teeth, glaring towards the forest. They were about to answer for the pain they inflicted.

Sam gave me a confused look as he halted me with a sturdy hand to the shoulder.

"Seth… did you just imprint?" he said staring at my face intently.

I faltered for a moment as his words sunk in.

I had just imprinted. That girl was my imprint, my soulmate, my everything… and she was hurt. bad.

"Seth, don't even think about it," Sam instructed, as I went to move past him, my whole body shaking.

"BUT SAM! LOOK WHAT THEY…" I roared with rage.

"It won't do any good, besides they didn't know what they doing."

"And that makes it okay?" I spat angrily, my fists trembling. "If that was Emily it would be a different story!"

"Seth. Don't worry, they're not going to get away with this, I won't let them." he said reassuringly placing his other hand on my shoulder, his calmness irritated me.

"She needs you right now Seth." We both turned back to look at her injured figure, all my rage seeped away as guilt bloomed inside me for ever leaving her side.

"Come on," Sam said walking me back to my imprint, "We need to get her to Billy's a.s.a.p, Quil and Embry's going to take care of the hunters." He said nodded at Quil behind me, I heard him take off into the forest.

As we neared them I noticed Leah was still sitting by her, holding her hand. It moved me to see that she would care so much for my imprint. Not a lot of people got to see this side of Leah.

"Leah, I need you to phase," Sam instructed checking behind him for any sign of the hunting party. "You're going to carry Seth and the girl to Billy's house as quick as possible. You should find help waiting there." He finished.

Leah simple nodded and stood up, shooting off into the forest to phase. Meanwhile I had knelt next to the girl, taking her hand in both of mine, squeezing it gently. She tilted her head slightly to look at me.

"Seth," Sam spoke quietly, I didn't move my gaze.

"You should give her some warning of what we're doing and reassure her. Moving hers not going to be pain free. Be quick."

I nodded before moving my hand to stroke her forehead gently.

"Hey," I said quietly, looking down at her with a small smile. She continued to gaze up at me, blinking slowly with a dazed expression. "We're going to have to move you now so we can get you to some help. It might cause you some pain, but it'll only be brief I promise, then you'll be okay." I finished. The slightest frown formed on her forehead as she looked at me confused, then suddenly she began to squirm on the ground.

"No…. no….no, please." She pleaded quietly shaking her head.

I frowned confused at her reaction. Her breathing was accelerating and every now and then it would hitch in her throat, causing her to cough violently, droplets of blood coming out.

"Hey, hey, calm down its okay," I urged her, cupping her face in my hands so she'd look at me. I couldn't handle seeing her in any more pain."You can trust me. Its gona be alright." I said staring into her eyes, making a silent promise. She quit squirming, her eyes staring back into mine, her breathing continuing though at its fast pace. Her eyes closed in what I thought was a slow blink, but when they didn't reopen my heart stopped.

"Hey," I said gently patting her cheek, she didn't respond. "Hey, open your eyes", I pleaded but her eyelids remained closed.I moved my hands to her shoulders and shook her lightly. "Wake up," I begged, "please wake up!" My voice cracked on the last word as my throat constricted. "LEAH!" I cried over my shoulder as I scooped the girl into my arms, my eyes filling with tears. I held her limp body easily in my arms, although she was tall she was amazingly light. I spun around and found Leah already crouched on the ground behind me, Sam beside her. Without waiting I threw my leg over Leah's back, holding the girl tight to my chest with one arm and grabbing a fistful of Leah's neck fur with the other. "LEAH GO!" I yelled, and we lurched upwards to a stand before feeling the rush of the air blow past us as Leah leaped forward.

Sam watched us go, before sprinting into the forest to find Quil and Embry.