The next few days were melancholy for Lea; when Hayden was around, she was the same as always.  Hayden had no doubts or limitations about her plan, an obviously bad plan; if you could call it a plan at all. Lea had came to her senses the next day and pleaded her sister with no luck. Chris was avoiding her after she interrogated him a few days after. Hayden wouldn't change her mind and Chris didn't seem to care, leaving Lea with another mess to maintain, however, this mess was bound to stain. 

Lea was sat on her bed, legs crisscrossed with her head in her hands. Torn between her sister's happiness and the good of her family. She'd told no one but it was weighing her down; her father asking her what was wrong and staring at him for too long, contemplating. If she told her parents, Hayden would be chained up and Chris would be killed. It would send the pack into distress and disorder. Her family would be blamed and ostracized. 

And if she didn't...? She groaned and slapped her head onto the mattress. If she didn't tell her parents, her sister would run away with a stupid jerk, into the wild- unprotected, and might someday appear again, probably pregnant or with a pup in tow. 

The cabin door jerked and thudded shut, a steps hurried toward her. She turned her head to see Hayden and her heart squeezed. Hayden rushed for a large bag and opened the trunk at the foot of the bed. "What're you doing?"

Hayden met her eyes but quickly looked away, "I'm prepping for tonight. I have to hid my stuff in the woods before we go." Lea stopped breathing, slowly sitting up. 

"You said you were gonna wait a while! It's only been a few days." 

Hayden flinched, pausing her hands. "Lea, it's been two weeks. I don't wanna wait anymore; I feel so anxious here." 

Lea shook her head. Had it been two weeks? "There's nothing to be anxious about; you're safe here." Hayden sighed, her shoulders dropping as she continued packing. They remained silent as she rushed around grabbing things. Lea stared at her lap, trying to find the words; the ones that'd make her stay. "What do I tell them?" She whispered.

"Why do you have to say anything!? Just pretend I didn't say anything. You're acting like the world is ending! I'll be back!" Hayden huffed, shoving hair out of her face. 

"Maybe!" She stood off the bed. "You don't know what will happen? There's bears, cougars, and rogues! Not to mention if you get hurt or sick. Are you really gonna do this? With Chris? He's who you want to have pups with?" 

Hayden paused again, but turned to face her sister, pulling the heavy, exploding bag onto her shoulder. "I'm going, Lea. Chris is perfect, and he's everything good that could come from this pack. I know he's not up to your standards of Prince Charming, but he's good to me. I don't care what you tell them, they'll do the same thing you're doing; belittling what we have. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself." She shoved past Lea and out the door, slamming it shut. 

Lea shook her head aggressively before screaming and launching back into her bed. Her screams turned into helpless tears that lulled her to sleep. 

___________________

Her nose woke up first; the smell of cooking food summoning her to life again. She sat up and ruffled her messy hair as she examined the cabin. Someone was in the kitchen to her right, just out of sight, and Finn was stacking blocks on the table. The window was dark and lit candles littered the room. Her stomach growled and she rubbed it instinctively.  

Viola appeared from the kitchen with bowls in her hands. She smiled as she saw her daughter awake. "Hey, honey. Come eat." She said softly, setting the bowls on the table. Finn drank from the bowl, ignoring the spoon on the table. Viola rolled her eyes and patted her back. "I tried not to raise animals." 

Lea chuckled as she pulled her blanket around her. The cabin had a chill despite the fire heating it. "Where's dad?" She avoided asking about Hayden. Lea approached the table, curling up near one of the candles for warmth. 

Her mother walked back into the kitchen again. "He's doing a patrol. Daniel was supposed to do it but his whole family is sick right now and your dad gave him a few nights off." She came to sit next to Finn, setting another bowl in front of her. She glanced at Finn as he slurped loudly, shaking her head. Lea nodded, absently staring into the bowl. She sighed, glancing up to meet her mom's questioning concerned gaze. She quickly started eating to avoid a conversation. 

Finn slammed his bowl down, exhaling loudly. Lea snorted and her mother sighed, "You have to breathe. You can't just inhale it!" 

"Can I have more?" 

"Only if you taste it this time." He nodded, running into the kitchen. "Save some for-" The cabin door opened and her dad's large figure appeared. 

"That smells amazing." He groaned, lumbering to the kitchen and joining them at the table, stopping to kiss Lea and her mother's head. His body sagged into the seat. 

"Where's your spoon?" Viola accused. He shrugged and lifted the bowl to his face. Her jaw dropped, "Emon! Now, I know where your son got it. Eat with a spoon, you animal!" He laughed into his soup and it splashed back against his forehead. Finn and Lea laughed as Viola scuffed.

"I'm sorry, love. This soup is just so delicious. I can feel your love in it-" She smacked his arm as he smirked, lifting to place a kiss on her temple. 

She retorted, a small smile pulling at her lips. "I 'put my love' in everything I make." Lea smiled with a laugh.

"And I devour all of it happily." He clutched her hand in his and they stared at each other for a few moments before she pulled her hand away. 

"Eat." They all followed her command, enjoying the warm meal and each others company. Lea ignored the hollow feeling in her chest. 

________________

It was the next day that it finally happened. The sun had dipped low, luring a purple and pink sunset into the sky. Her father came home and sat on the bed, his elbows on his knees. Viola imminently set down her book and rubbed his back. "What's wrong?" 

"Christian is missing." His tone was even, but Lea's heart quickened as if he'd accused her. "His scent leads out of the pack borders." Viola's hand froze on his shoulder. He inhaled sharply and turned to look at her. "Where's Hayden?" Lea's heart stopped and her hands squeezed the blankets, her book forgotten. Viola swallowed and gave the smallest shake of her head. His head dropped on her chest. "Tell me she wouldn't be so stupid." 

"Di-" she cleared her throat, "Did you smell her?" He shook his head and she took a deep breath. "Then maybe she didn't!" She clutched his shoulder, trying and failing to push him away.

"She knows how to hide her scent, Viola. Especially from me... I can't find her anywhere and the places that have her scent are faint. Her friends haven't seen her." His voice dipped as he spoke. 

Lea's eyes filled with tears as she sat frozen, as if she could disappear all to together. Her book slid from her lap and tumbled off the bed, betraying her. Her parents eyes turned to her and she shuddered. 

"Lea..." Her mother whispered. Her dad's eyes landed on her, defeated and as hollow as her chest. Tears burst from her eyes as she rushed to hug them. His arms pulled her tight as she sobbed into his chest. 

"I tried! She wouldn't listen! That stupid fucking Chris! I told her not to... I-i," she continued blubbering as they comforted her. 

The sky had become dark by the time she stopped crying and her mom stepped away to lite the candles and fire before the cold set in. Emon wrapped her in a blanket and kissed her forehead, his face twisted in pain as he stood. "I'm going to keep looking." 

"It won't help... She said they'd stay away until you gave up." His back tensed as he held the door. Another tear slipped down her cheek as she sniffled. "They love each other, or whatever." Her voice filled with malice. 

"What am I supposed to do?" His voice was only a whisper as spoke against the door. The words 'move on' got stuck in her throat, too harsh to be spoken. When neither his child or his wife answered, he left the cabin.

Lea moved back to her bed and stared at the wall as her mother busied her self in the kitchen. Emon didn't return until almost morning and when he climbed into bed, he pulled his wife close and he cried into her neck. He'd failed as a father and no one could change his mind.