Chapter Text
Sam explains the possible reasons for the occurrence. He was still observing Leah's reaction to the imprint entirely. He sensed her heart rate increase and the way her body tenses from the mention of Khamani. Oh yeah, she definitely imprinted. The idea of Leah becoming a protector and someone Khamani could rely on, excited her more than she'd let on. Could this finally be the moment she truly desired? To be able to move on from Sam, now that she had an imprint?
"Well, this is great." Leah retorts, not bothered to look at Sam in the eye. Instead, she looks elsewhere as her mind makes up the possibilities if this would change things between her and Khamani. Hell, Sam even. There was no doubt that Khamani would want to stick as friends like they are currently. But what if she wanted to be something more in the future?
—
Sam should have be happy for Leah. He should be elated that Leah had found someone else to focus on now. It was a strange feeling that he swore he shoved away after the long period of endless drama and unresolved conflict. Surely it could not be the feeling of jealousy, was it? Perhaps it was a sensation of longing of the past that no longer exists. No. Sam rids the thoughts immediately; he had Emily to protect and to love on. Leah was his ex whom fate decided he wasn't meant to be with.
Noticing that her fiancé was distracted by something, Emily rubs his shoulders in concern. "You okay? You've been out of it all day today." The alpha snaps out of his thought for a moment. Usually he'd be able to tell her what was on his mind but as of lately, not so much.Sam wasn't quite sure if it was something that was worth talking about or not, seeing that his mind was fixated on Leah and Khamani. He forces himself to put on a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have a lot on my mind right now."
Leah, on the other hand, had trouble keeping her eyes away from Khamani for the next couple of weeks. Clinginess, the sudden wave of protectiveness, Leah defending Khamani from anyone who had spoken down on her, etc. All of it added together in the end. The pack had all taken notice of the situation as the following days pass, even when Leah had attempted to make it less obvious.
Paul—the volatile and annoying one of the group—teased Leah about it, subtly hinting towards it while Khamani was there. The pack settled outside by a bonfire, orange flames casting out their shadows and majority of their faces. "Someone has a thing for the new girl." Paul snickers with his head gesturing towards Khamani, earning a snort from Jared who was snacking on marshmallows. Embry and Quil exchanged looks while Seth's brows raised. "Isn't that right Leah?"
Leah did let Khamani know about the imprint; she didn't quite tell her how intense it actually was on her end. The pack's voices fades into background as Khamani works on crocheting her scarf. It was one of those activities she had enjoyed doing for pure comfort. Leah scowls, clearly not in the mood for their childish antics. "You don't know what you're talking about, Paul. Stay in your lane." She scolds. Paul smirks, not backing down without a fight. "You're not denying it either. No need to be so rash about it."
"One, it's none of your business. And two, just drop it already." Leah replied with a flat tone, ending the conversation there. Paul opens his mouth to come up with a good clapback, but holds his tone as Sam had stepped outside before anymore tension would rise. "Alright, that's enough." Sam's states. Prior to settling his gaze on Khamani, he shoots a look at Paul to back off from teasing Leah. "Let's enjoy the night, yeah?"
Paul just shrugs his shoulders, returning to the conversation with the others from earlier. "Yeah." He grins. Although he had his fair share of suspicious, tonight wouldn't be the appropriate time to reveal them. Sam inhales sharply for a few moments until he relaxes his body again. "Good."
—
Sheets rustling from movement, Khamani tossed and turned in her sleep over and over again. Her eyes slowly opened, followed by a groan as she begans readjusting to the dark room. As she pushes herself up, there was a knock at the front door. At this time of night? How strange. Khamani wasn't the type to check anything without bringing something to protect her.
She ignored the knocking first few times until the last one grated her nerves. Khamani arose out of bed, dragging herself towards the living room and to the front door. Her grandfather was still sleeping and knowing how poor his hearing could be, she wasn't at all surprised that he didn't wake. Khamani was used to it by now. Confusion sweeps onto her face as her eyes take in the familiar figure standing outside.
Khamani yawns, rubbing her eyes to clear her vision. Khamani triple checked first before her hand turns the door knob. It was unusual for her to show up, given that time was pushing into four in the morning. "Leah?"
"Hey. Can we talk?"
"You could've called." Khamani tells her as she closes the front door, leading them to her room. "Talking in person is a lot better than being on the phone." Leah states, knowing it was an excuse to see her. Leah wasn't able to sleep right, so the idea of talking to the person who's been on her mind non-stop, was a lot better. "That's true....." Khamani trails off as she flops on her bed. Her plushies on the mattress jumps up from the additional weight added.
"Yeah...." Leah mentally face palmed. She shouldn't be so clumsy, so distracted, so—
Her heart raced at the thought as her eyes locked onto Khamani. Noticing that her friend was standing near her dresser like a mannequin, Khamani cocks a brow. "Do you want to sit down or....?"
"Right." Leah had taken a seat on the rocking chair by her window. Despite sleepiness attempting to consume her, Khamani had given Leah her undivided attention. A wave of silence drifts by, lingering in the peaceful room.