(Come on Quil, can't you keep up?) Jake taunted, running through the woods.
(You guys are assholes. I can't believe you all shifted before me,) Quil said, his chocolate-brown-furred wolf, lighter on the face, chasing them.
(Sucks to suck,) Embry joked.
(Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, I'll be better than all you by month's end,) said Quil.
(Focus, this is training, you can play later. Don't lose the scent; you need to be able to hold it and track it while running,) Dean barked from behind, pushing them on.
(We got this. Scents getting stronger, it won't be long now,) said Jake.
(There he is!) Embry shouted, spotting Sam's black backside.
(Stay on guard; it isn't over yet,) Dean reminded.
(It will be soon. Embry, take left, Quil, take right, and cut him off at the next hill,) said Jake.
(Got it,) said Embry.
(On it,) said Quil.
Seeing Sam slowing, Jake rushed ahead for the win.
(Ah!) came a cry from Embry and another from Quil shortly after.
(Quil, Embry, what's going on?) Jake asked, stopping short, warily watching Sam turn to face him.
(Paul.) (Jared.) came the somber replies.
(It's over. You guys did well following the scent but failed to watch your surroundings. Being too focused on one thing can come at a cost. Paul and Jared ambushed your friends, and with them gone, it's only a matter of time before they can come and help Sam,) Dean explained.
(You never said we had to watch out for the other two,) Jake complained.
(As I said, this is training; you need to be ready for anything, for we are vastly outnumbered out there, and while they don't usually work together in big groups like us, some covens and alliances could be formed to hunt us down,) said Dean.
(This isn't a game. We could die if we're not careful.) Sam added.
(It's not fair though; you could hear our plans,) Jake argued.
(Enough! The point of this exercise was to identify other threats; you were told to track down and catch Sam without losing anyone, which should have been hint enough. Jared and Paul were put into position ahead of time, with Sam leading you into a trap. They did not listen in and compensate their position; you all followed and fell into it as preplanned, having failed to sniff them out, even after I warned you to stay on guard,) said Dean.
(Are we clear?) asked Dean.
(Whatever,) grumbled Jake.
(Good,) Dean said, letting his attitude slide.
...
Dean knocked on Leah's door.
"Hello Dean. Leah's sick today, and even though she says she's fine, I don't want you doing anything strenuous until she's better," said Sue.
"Sick?" Dean asked, stepping in.
"She's running a high fever; I would have rushed her to the hospital if it wasn't for her seemingly fine. Hey, you don't think this has anything to do with your wolf things, do you?" Sue questioned. The idea hitting her upon seeing Dean and realizing the similarities of what happens to the boys.
"Not sure. As you know, there's never been a female wolf before, but I'll check on her," said Dean.
"Nothing else comes to mind?" asked Sue.
"No, sorry," said Dean.
Sue waved her hand, "Nothing to be sorry for. Well, she's in her room doing god knows what."
Dean then went and knocked on Leah's door before opening it.
"Go away! I'm fine!" said Leah.
"It's me," Dean said, finding her lying down, staring at the ceiling.
"Dean!" she said, sitting up straight.
He grinned. "Don't get up on my account," he said, brushing her hair out of her face while subtly checking her temperature, noting how it almost matched his own.
Taking a seat, they lay back and stared up together at nothing.
"Why are we doing this?" asked Dean.
Hearing the hint of concern in his voice, she sighed, "Mom doesn't want me to go out and do anything today, even though I feel fine, and since there's nothing to do, I'm just lying here being lazy."
"How about we go and do something crazy," Dean said after a while.
"Like what?" asked Leah.
"The usual," Dean grinned. "We can go for a run through the woods; I'll grab the rope," he said, getting a backpack.
"Sure, I've been bored out of my mind. It's a good thing you came when you did," Leah said, exiting her room.
Dean stayed back and grabbed some of her clothes, stuffing them into the backpack in case he was right.
"Where do you two think you're going?" Sue asked as they headed for the front door.
"Out for a bit, I'll take good care of your daughter and make sure she makes it back in one piece," said Dean.
"I have no doubt, but it doesn't mean you should be putting her at risk," Sue said, feeling discontent.
"Mom, I'm fine, and I'm going. I'm a grown adult, and I'll do what I want," Leah balked.
Sue's features softened. "I know sweetie, but I'm still your mother, and I worry."
"Nothing to worry about," said Leah.
"I'll always worry; you'll learn that one day when you're a mother," said Sue.
Leah groaned, "Mom."
Sue giggled, "Be safe out there, dear."
"Yeah, yeah, see you later," Leah said, leaving.
"Bye Mrs... Mom," Dean corrected as Sue's face changed from irritated to happy.
"Spirits, she can be so frustrating sometimes," Leah said as they headed for the woods.
"Hm," Dean said, unwilling to comment.
"Alright, are we going anywhere or just running around, cause I could use a good run," Leah said, getting hyped.
"Oh, before I forget, give me your ring," said Dean.
"What? Why?" Leah asked, pulling her hand back defensively.
"I have a feeling if you take it with you, you're going to lose it," said Dean.
"Um, okay?" Leah said, confused.
"Leah, the ring," Dean said, holding out his hand.
"What, no, I love this ring; it's the first expensive gift you got me," said Leah.
Dean did his best not to roll his eyes. It seemed she still had some girly girl in her, after all, despite not often wearing jewelry.
"You're going to get it back; I just don't want you to lose it," said Dean.
Leah frowned, "I won't."
Dean sighed, not thinking it was going to be this hard to get a damn ring from his girl.
"What do you think is going to happen? That I'm going to take it and run off without you? Give me the ring Leah. I'm only going to put it somewhere safe until we get back," Dean said a bit too forcefully.
Tears started to well up as she took it off and hesitantly gave it over.
Dean froze, wondering how things had gotten to this stage, having never seen her like this before.
He brought her into a tight hug. "Don't cry. Nothing is happening, okay? Everything is fine. I still love you, you love me, nothing is wrong, don't be sad," he pleaded.
She sniffled, "Okay."
He couldn't help but wonder what other girls would have acted like if Leah acted like this.
"Here," he said, pointing to a tree, puncturing a distinct mark into it with his fingers, and hanging the backpack on a branch underneath.
"I'll bury the ring here, and we'll pick it up on the way back," said Dean.
Bewildered, Leah looked at him like he was crazy. This unusual behavior was seemingly far from the kind boyfriend of the past who had never taken anything from her before, and only ever given.
"Trust me," he said, tying the rope around her waist in a way that would easily come off given enough force but was still safe enough to keep her from falling.
"What's going on Dean? Why are you tying the rope like that?" Leah asked, feeling more than a little perturbed by everything. Noticing the different way he tied the knot made the feeling in the pit of her stomach grow.
Dean sighed; to think he fucked things up this badly. He was seriously doubting his theory now with how emotional she was being. He figured she would be more focused on running in the woods than some ring and whatever other thoughts now plagued her mind.
He really hoped she wasn't pulling a Jacob. The dude's been completely different since he changed.
Realizing this would be a first in their history, he kept his patience, telling himself that losing a bit of emotional control while in transition was normal, while praying to the spirits that he was right, and everything would work out fine.
He took her face into his hands and kissed her. "Leah, you need to relax and clear your mind. It's you and me out here going for a run and having fun. Take a deep breath, exhale, and let yourself free to enjoy the coming run, the wind in your hair, the smells, and sounds of the woods," he said, slowly backing away and shifting.
She did as he asked and smiled when he lowered his head and bumped her softly, rubbing against her.
"Okay, okay, get down, you big lug, and let's go for a run. I'm not sure what came over me," she said, scratching his head affectionately.
Looping the top around his neck, she hopped on and gave him the okay to go.
And as soon as they picked up speed and the wind hit her, any lingering worry she may have had disappeared, fully focused on the run. She could practically feel her body hum in response to the rush of it.
Without even realizing it, she was suddenly running alongside him as a light gray-furred wolf on her own four paws, basking in her newfound prowess.
All that came to a screeching halt when a familiar voice spoke in her head.
(Having fun?) Dean asked, thinking it's been long enough since letting her get lost in the moment, as he silently appreciated her new form.
(Wha? Dean, is that you?) Leah asked, stumbling and tripping over her feet? No. Paws, she had paws, she thought to herself as everything suddenly became abundantly clear to her.
(Congratulations, you've become the first female wolf, and with the smoothest transformation I've ever seen, by the way,) Dean said proudly, jogging over to give her a friendly, somewhat possessive sniff.
(I'ma wolf?... Oh, my God. I'm a wolf!) Leah shouted, taking in her new body.
She got up, tail wagging, and ran around excitedly. (I can't believe I'm a frikin wolf!) She barked.
(I've dreamed of this day, prayed for this day; I can't believe the spirits answered,) said Leah.
(Did you know this was going to happen?) Leah asked, realizing why he had her take off the ring.
(No, I didn't know. I hoped, and I figured the spirits wouldn't leave me, an Alpha male by himself, since wolf packs do have an Alpha pair, and I have always known you were my mate, although no matter how close we got, it always felt a little out of reach, but now, now I can feel it. Can you feel it, Leah? Our connection,) Dean said, drawing closer.
Leah paused, processing the words, and then she felt it. (I do, my mate... My love,) she said, touching noses affectionately.