Those were the only thoughts I wanted in my mind. How can this happen to me? Vampires are inherently evil. How can I, Leah Clearwater, imprint on the son of a vampire? This cannot be happening.
Run.
Run.
Run.
Maybe if I run fast and hard enough, my lungs will give out and the universe will suck me in.
I can’t live this way.
I ran for two days and had reached Alaska when I dropped. Still in my wolf form, I put my head on my paws and whimpered. How can one being suffer this much? What are my options?
Death.
That is one. It seemed inviting, but it would kill my mother. I sighed. The sorrow of my mother at my dad’s passing had been almost unbearable. Even what happiness she had with Charlie would never fill the gaping hole the loss of Harry had left. I didn’t want to think about the pain my passing would cause. I wouldn’t do that to her.
Never going back.
That was an option, too, but not much better than the first option. My mother hen liked her chicks around. Just being gone these two days was probably destroying her new happiness. Hopefully, Seth will find some excuse and placate her.
But without death and going back meant I needed to face him. I shut my eyes to the divine vision of perfection that danced in my head. I fought it with all my might, filling my mind with every other vision I could think of.
Jacob.
Nessie.
Vampires.
Nahuel. Ugh.
Seth.
Edward.
Bella.
Vampires.
Nahuel. NOOO!
Quil.
Claire.
Embry.
The feel of the ocean spray on my face.
The slaughter of the deer during my two-day trip.
The taste of blood in my mouth.
Vampires.
Nahuel.
Is there no escape to this torture?
The pull of the imprint was so strong it was tearing me apart. I hated vampires and yet the need for this being was the intensity of the thirst after a long run or the hunger after a week with no food. I physically yearned for him to be close and I fought the yearning. I ran again. I couldn’t think. All thoughts led to one end: Nahuel.
After several more hours of running, I could run no more. My will was no more iron than butter on a hot summer day. The power of the imprint simply could not be denied. It was a need like eating or breathing.
I headed back to my destiny. To Nahuel. My tail tucked between my legs and my ears back, I had fought as much as I could fight.
I hunted. I ate. I drank. And I slunk back, fighting the whole way but knowing in the end I was powerless to fight the universe.