She’s beautiful, in her simple little way. She don’t have too much to say when she gets mad. She understands, she don’t let go of anything; even when the pain gets really bad. I guess I should have been more like that.

The rain had picked up and she knew it was stupid not to change, but she didn’t want them hearing her thoughts. Not now. They would think about how annoyingly pathetic she was. Or worse, they would think pity thoughts. She had preferred the short time that it had been only she, Jacob and Seth. They had their own opinions, but they weren’t as bad as some of the others. And having the whole lot of them in her head was humiliating. But it would not happen tonight. So she kicked at the puddles of water bitterly as she walked.

Her clothes were nearly soaked through, and if she were a normal person she would be cold. But normal was something she’d long forgotten. Being a monster was life now; a life she somehow still resented everyday. Why she had been the only girl to become a wolf was a constant thought. It was like the gods, or whoever, were punishing her for some unknown crime. Life seemed to get worse every single day. As if to emphasize that very point, the rain picked up even more. A loud boom of thunder roared as a bolt of lightening shot down in the distance. The storm was getting stronger, but she was less than a mile from home now.

Maybe she would get lucky and no one would be home. She really wasn’t in the mood to be lectured by her mother. But chances were, she would be at Charlie’s. That’s where she spent most of her time these days. She wondered if there was anything going on between them. Yeah, maybe they were both just lonely, but her father had only been dead six months. Wasn’t there some rule that said a person should wait at least a year after their spouse dies to find someone else? But despite her strong appearance, Sue Clearwater was overwhelmed by life. First, she lost her husband and then she had to deal with both of her children becoming werewolves. That would push anyone close to the edge. And though the thought of her mother ever loving another man was painful, Leah knew that as long as her mother was happy, she would do her best to be happy for her. After all, that’s one thing she was really good at; being happy for other people when all she wanted to do was cry. But she wouldn’t, couldn’t let herself do that. Crying wouldn’t change anything. Leah looked up as she reached the edge of La Push. Not far now.