AN

Here's update part 2!

Leah's POV

Sam left the house as soon as his speech was done. I felt Seth behind me and he wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my head. "You ok, big sis?"

I didn't know. I had imagined a lot of scenarios, but they never accounted for Sam leaving and me staying. Everything was changing so quickly, and I was struggling to keep up. His words rang through my mind 'It's over.'

Could it be?

What did that mean anyway?

"I don't know . . ." I stuttered.

"Leah?" Seth's hands turned my body to face him and looked at me questioningly.

"I can't keep doing this." I pushed myself back from Seth.

My brother's expression was one of confusion; "Doing what?"

"This vicious circle. I can't be alpha with all the crap hanging over me. I need to work things out. I . . . I need to move on."

Just because Sam was leaving, it didn't mean I automatically got my life back. I was still in the same shitty position. It certainly made things easier, but until I could face my demons, my life was still screwed.

It was then that I knew it was time to open the box. Seth watched me curiously as I went to the hall cupboard. Exactly where I left it a week ago, sat the old brown show box with my name on it.

Seth's voice over my shoulder said, "What's that?"

"I don't know. It's time to find out." I picked the box up like it contained a bomb.

"Cool, can I see?" he exclaimed.

I knew Seth was genuinely worried and trying to help, but I needed to do this alone.

"No. Don't wait up!" I was already walking past him with the box in hand.

"Where are you going? You can't go out alone," Seth yelled after me as I turned the front door handle.

"It's ok, I won't go far. The pack's out anyway." I didn't need Seth to do his protective thing right now. He was the kid, I was the adult.

"No, Leah." He went to move towards me.

"Seth, just trust me." I gave him one last pleading look. Failing this, it would be an order.

He sadly relented and I was out the door and into the rain, making my way to my car. I reversed out of the drive and put my foot on the gas. I didn't know where I was going, but I needed space and air to think.

I felt bad for cutting Seth off like that, but when I decided to face up to things, I needed to follow through immediately, otherwise I would back out.

Eventually, I pulled up at the beach car park and just sat and stared out the window at the pounding rain. It was mid evening and I knew Embry and Jake were out on patrol tonight, so that was covered.

We had been going at an exhausting rate lately; both packs had two people running at all times. Cris and Jaden picked up the slack giving us breaks, but tonight was their night off too. Nothing had happened since Claire's birthday and we had all calmed down, but not relaxed. We couldn't do anything except wait the vampire out and protect the imprints. The Cullen's hadn't even been any help. Alice couldn't see anything; she said we were running everywhere and there were blind spots all over La Push and Forks.

I tried to get my pack to switch off when we weren't patrolling, especially Quil; he was getting obsessive whenever he wasn't near Claire. I still avoided Jake, but made sure everyone else spent time with him. It was my issue to deal with and I hadn't had a minute to even think about our relationship.

I was lost in thought, when suddenly there was a knock on my driver's side window. I jumped out of my skin and turned to see Cris standing by my door.

I wound the window down. "What the fuck are you doing out here? You scared the hell out of me."

He looked at me unimpressed. "I could ask you the same thing Leah. What if that hadn't been me?"

"I'll ask you again. What are you doing here? You're off duty tonight," I snapped at him; my heart was still pounding in my chest.

"I was speaking with Jake about some stuff and decided to run a patrol. I saw this car and he said it was yours and asked me to check you were ok. I could have just watched from the bushes, but that was a little too much like a stalker for my tastes. Does that meet with your approval, or should I be hanged for even bothering?" He was snappy tonight, which was unusual for him.

"What's got you so pissed?" I threw back at him.

"Nothing, except for getting crap off you while getting soaked." He snorted.

Great, now I feel like a bitch as normal. "Get in."

"What?" He did a double take.

I leant across and unlocked the passenger door, lifting the box off the seat and onto the dashboard. He remained standing in the rain like a moron.

"Get in. Don't make me say it again." I was losing my patience.

This time he took the hint and walked round to the other side and got in the car. I wound my window back up and immediately the car started to warm up. I started the engine.

"Where are we going?" Cris questioned.

"I'm taking you home." I put the car into drive and made my way to the Cullen's house.

Cris was silent the whole time and when we finally pulled into the drive, I turned the engine off and looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to exit the vehicle.

He didn't move and let out a sigh before looking at me; "Leah, why were you parked up in the rain with that box again? Don't even tell me it's complicated. It's a box, just open it."

His observation threw me completely. "I can't." My voice was weak.

"Why not?" Cris was looking at me as if it was the simplest question in the world.

"I'm scared." It was the first time I had willingly admitted this to anyone. I felt like I was sitting on a precipice. It was make or break time if I was going to make something of my life and become an alpha, I couldn't keep running.

To my disbelief he picked up the box and climbed out of the car. Immediately, he turned around and leant back in the door looking at me. "I've had enough. We are sorting this out tonight. You coming?"

His bright blue eyes filled me with nothing but trust. Nervously, I undid my seat belt and nodded. I wasn't entirely happy about Cris taking charge, but taking the decision away from me seemed to ease some of my anxiety. Reluctantly, I followed the box as he took it up the front porch and into the lounge.

We found Jaden busy playing a game on the plasma screen; his feet were up on the coffee table. Cris knocked them off and dumped my box down while blocking the view of the screen. Jaden peered round him and continued trying to play.

It was almost like watching myself and Seth. The next thing Cris did, was walk over to the TV and turn it off.

Jaden shrieked, "Aw man, I was just getting to the good bit!"

Cris chuckled, "Didn't you need to check in with Corey?"

He glanced at me.

Jaden turned, saw me, and grinned before looking back to Cris. "Yeah sure, almost forgot. Thanks for the reminder. I'll do a patrol as well just to be sure."

He skittered out of the room.

"That was tactful," I said sarcastically.

Cris shrugged, "Figured you would prefer some privacy?"

Now that I was here I started to panic. Had I honestly thought this through? What was I doing here? Why was I trusting Cris?

It was so out of character for me, I wanted to back track immediately.

"Actually now that I think of it, I forgot to tell my pack something as well!" I moved to pick up the box.

Cris didn't try and stop me, so I grabbed it and started to walk back out the house.

What was I doing?

He had just kicked Jaden out in the rain and now I was leaving. I was officially crazy!

Where had my balls gone?

I spun again and made my way back to the lounge.

Cris was in the same spot clearly amused. "You'll make yourself dizzy if you keep doing that."

I looked at his eyes and remembered I could trust him. I needed to start dealing with things and against my better judgment, I felt calmed in his presence. I manned up. "Sorry about that . . . . Coffee?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you? You're the guest." He finally looked a little unsure of my erratic behavior.

"Maybe, but I never have been conventional." I gave a weak smile.

Cris chuckled. "Ok. Milk, two sugars please."

I dumped the box back down in the lounge and by the time I returned with the coffee, Cris was sitting on the sofa patiently.

"So, big question . . . what's in the box Leah?"

Passing him his coffee, I sat on the floor next to him leaning my back against the couch. "I think, I think it's stuff my mum wanted me to keep. She must have rescued them from the trash; I just want to know why."

"Is it too simple to just ask her?"

Cris sadly didn't know my history. Would this make it easier of harder?

I laughed coldly either way. "I haven't really got a direct line to where she is." I pointed to the ceiling.

"Oh! I'm sorry Leah, I didn't even think."

His anxiety over his cock-up actually cheered me; I really was sadistic.

I gave him a brief smile and he continued. "So, if you're so worried about it, why have you been trying to deal with it alone? I'm sure your pack would be supportive."

"Haven't you worked it out yet? I'm not the sharing type. Besides, the guys . . . they don't really take things seriously and I just don't want them involved. I'm supposed to be alpha now."

Cris was looking at me curiously.

"Sorry, this is weird for me," I apologised again.

Cris leant forward and squeezed my shoulder gently. "If you ask me, you think too much about the wrong things. Stop building this up into something it doesn't need to be. It's like a Band-Aid - rip the lid thing off already."

He was right.

I pulled the shoe box over to me and shaking nervously, I placed it on the floor between us. Lifting the lid, Sam and this girl from another lifetime smiled back at me.