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Leah knew what the pack meeting was about before she’d even sat down. And it took all the strength and will she had to keep her from tearing up.
“The Cullens are leaving soon. I still don’t know if I’m going with them or not. Yes, the imprint bond with Nessie is, thankfully, platonic but she’s still my imprint. Neither of us knows if the bond will tolerate us being apart. I tried asking the elders, but they’re next to useless. Just keep going on about ‘the next generation of wolves’ and true alpha BS. They’re also putting more pressure on the packs... Rejoining, which I know is something that not everyone would be okay with.”
Jacob met her eyes, a desperate pleading apology was reflected in his. She just gave him a sad smile in return. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t choose this any more than she did, and quite frankly she didn’t envy his position. He’d started making life or death decisions when he was much too young.
“Sam’s been pushing for me to leave and for the packs to rejoin under his command... But I don’t know if I can do that to you guys.
I remember what he was like and if our bi-weekly meetings where he tries to assert control over me are any indication, he’s gotten worse. I don’t even know if I want to leave, but I definitely don’t want to literally throw you guys to the wolves... Especially not you Leah.” Jacob sighed and ran a hand down his face.
“We’ve all lost stuff, but your entire world was destroyed. And it was by the people you loved and trusted the most. You’re finally happy again. You’re smiling and laughing. You’ve started painting and carving again. I... I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t watch you go back to how you were, I definitely wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was the reason.
So... I think you need to run.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold off Sam and the elders. If you don’t leave before that, you’ll be stuck, trapped , again. In La Push, with Sam and Emily domineering and controlling your life all over again. You’ll never get out.
So... You need to take this opportunity to get out and finally live your life how you want, on your terms. But you need to do it now because you probably won’t have the opportunity again.”
“Jacob’s right, sis, neither Sam or the elders will ever let you go or leave you be. You need to break free while you have the chance.”
Leah sat there for a moment, completely dumbfounded, but also very grateful. This wasn’t how she’d expected the conversation to go. She’d been Jacob’s beta for a while now but still wasn’t used to getting support from her pack. Embry and Quil had remained silent but were gracing her with sympathetic smiles and watery eyes. They agreed.
“I didn’t mean to talk to the Cullens about this before you guys, but Edward can’t keep his mind to himself or his mouth shut. Rosalie started talking about giving each of us some money, she called it ‘restitution’, after all, it is kinda their fault we started shifting in the first place.”
Quil’s face was pinched with confusion. “What’s restitution?”
“It’s essentially compensation, usually financial, for loss or injury.” Quil smirked at Leah. “See? You definitely need to get out of here, you’re too smart to waste your brain like that.”
Embry looked deep in thought and was playing with his hands when Jacob nudged him. “Em?”
“Yeah? Sorry. I just... I was just thinking... We have lost a lot. All of us. Restitution makes sense, and it could help a lot.”
“Plus, it wouldn’t be charity. We’ve fought their battles, their wars. Shed blood for them. Broken bones. Our lives have been permanently altered forever because of them. It wouldn’t be charity.” Seth plopped down on the couch next to Leah as he finished speaking and entwined his arm in hers.
“So we’re all in agreement? Okay... I’ll call the Cullens, let them know. I’ll have a separate talk with Sam’s pack about this, but I’ll wait until after you leave Leah, if that’s what you decide to do.”
Leah nodded in thanks, feeling a little dazed. True and total freedom was properly within her reach, and for the first time in forever, the next chapter in her life was blank, waiting to be written by her and only her.