The day after Jacob and the Clearwater siblings had separated from Sam's pack to side with the Cullens after the news of Bella's pregnancy leaked; Seth found himself walking the familiar route up the drive and to the front door of the Cullen house hold, followed by both Jacob and Leah. He had taken this route enough times to visit Ellis that he was not unexpected anymore, always welcomed with increasingly familiar smiles. Rosalie didn't sneer at the smell of wet dog around him as much, but he had a feeling that she would increase her distain with Jacob hanging around. Part of him feared that the slight acceptance he was won with the family would be ruined by his sister's coldness and Jacob's quick temper.

Carlisle opened the door with a smile which faded when he took in the three of them. Almost immediately Seth felt uneasy. "Hello Jacob, Leah, Seth", he greeted, the smile flickering back. "Bella is in the lounge", he said the Jacob who was already walking through the door. Seth and Leah waited just outside, hesitating to enter. Leah finally nodded to Carlisle before turning back to the woods, obviously preferring to relax in wolf form out side.

Seth glanced inside, sniffing the air. His senses were not as strong as they were in wolf form, but he could still distinguish Ellis' individual scent. It was practically ingrained in his brain. But the smell was stale. "Where's Ellis?" He asked, frowning. He hadn't seen his imprint in two days due to the struggles between the wolves and the divergence of the pack. The distance had left him on edge, wanting to be at his side. But Ellis was not here.

Carlisle sighed, concern showing on his face. "That's what we were hoping you'd tell us. He left two days ago saying that he was going to see you and we haven't seen him since. Would you like to come inside?"

Seth was caught in panic at Carlisle's words, too concerned over Ellis' safety to compute. Where was he? Was he okay? What if he was in danger? He couldn't lose another family member. It took a moment to reassure himself that Ellis was a vampire and was most likely okay. He was one of the top predators for a reason. Ellis was fully able to defend himself.

"Why did he leave?" Seth asked as Carlisle shut the door behind him. His voice cracked with worry. "I haven't seen him since Tuesday. He's okay right?"

"I'm sure he's just needing some space", Carlisle smiled reassuringly. "Everything is rather scary at the moment".

"Then I need to go and calm him", Seth was turning back to the door, instinctive need to go and find his imprint controlling his actions.

Carlisle watched him with a unreadable expression as Seth turned the handle, pulling the door open again. "However, I think there's something else going on with Ellis", he spoke up. His worried tone made Seth pause. "Edward has told me that Ellis has been having trouble adjusting. He's still severely traumatised from his life with Victoria, despite the clever facade he puts on".

For a minute, Seth loathed the way Carlisle sounded like a therapist. Voice analysing Ellis' behaviour with that overly concerned tone. He barely knew Ellis. Seth had noticed over the past couple weeks, that out of all of his new family, Ellis was the most at ease with him. But then Carlisle's actions registered in his mind. They knew that Ellis was the most comfortable with Seth, that was why they had not gone to find Ellis themselves. Instead they had waited for Seth, knowing that Ellis would not disappear without him. He was the one with the highest chance of finding him.

"We believe", Carlisle continued, now that Seth was listening. "That he is finally letting himself absorb things".

"Didn't he do that when he was travelling? Wasn't that the whole point? So he could rediscover himself? " Seth asked.

"Trauma has a way of resurfacing. He may be feeling insecure or overwhelmed, setting him on a downwards spiral. We don't know", Carlisle sighed again. "Could you just ask him when he is ready to come home?"

Seth answered the man with a nodd, before sprinting out of the door and into the woods.

He traced Ellis' scent for at lest an hour before he lost it at the foot of a large oak tree in a small clearing. He was miles away from both the Cullen residence and the reservation. Alone in the woods. Seth huffed in frustration at the dead end. Ellis must have turned invisible, cutting himself off from the world. How was he suppose to find Ellis now? He could be anywhere?

"Damn it!" He cursed, kicking the oak trunk in a fit of frustration. Nothing happened and Seth groaned, dropping into a seated position at the tree's base. With a sigh, he ran his hands over his face in an effort to calm his panicking wolf.

"Come on Ellis", he muttered to the empty air. "You promised not to leave without me".

A rustling of leaves alerted Seth's attention and he lifted his head. The clearing was still empty. No animals or humans within sight or smell apart from the steadily fading scent of Ellis on the breeze. Dismissing the sound, Seth lowered his head again. A branch snapped. Instantly, Seth was on his feet, glancing around. Still nothing.

"Ellis?" Seth questioned hesitantly to the air. It was silent within the clearing. Clearing his throat, Seth tried again. "Ellis? Is that you? You don't have to become visible, could you just please let me know that your here?"

There was no reply, no noise. Seth sighed dejectedly.

Suddenly, cold arms wound their way around his waist from behind. Seth yelped, instinctively turning to face his attacker. A head buried itself into the hollow between his shoulder and neck, soft curly hair tickling his skin. Recognising the feeling, Seth relaxed and placed his arms around the invisible boy hugging him.

"Hey". The voice was small, barely above a whisper. Seth had to strain to hear it. Ellis sounded tired, like he had been crying even though Seth knew he was able to cry.

"Hey", he replied gently, brushing the other's hair with his nose. "You scared me, leaving like that".

"I was going to come back", Ellis answered, voice slightly steadier. "Just needed space".

"I know", Seth replied. "Could I see you? It's weird not being able to smell you".

There was a beat of silence before Ellis appeared. His scent returned with full force and Seth basked in it, cotton and elderflower calming him down until his wolf was nothing but a instinctual purr in the back of his mind. Seth took his face in his hands, pushing him back so he could get a good view. Ellis looked as perfect as any vampire but his eyes were tired and worn. Their golden irises had darkened due to hunger and Ellis' mouth was pressed in a thin line.

"You're hungry, why haven't you eaten?" Seth asked, fingers brushing a caramel curl behind his ear.

Ellis shrugged. "I've been busy thinking. Not too worried about food".

Seth intwined their hands. "Come on. I've always wanted to watch one of you hunt".

A small, rye smile spread across Ellis' lips and Seth grinned in triumph at the accomplishment. "Are you sure? It can get pretty gory".

"Oh definitely. I bet it's wicked".

Ellis tipped his head back and laughed. The bell like sound danced off the surrounding trees as Seth watched, totally enraptured. Ellis noticed his staring. "What? Is there a leaf in my hair?" He smiled nervously and Seth's gaze danced to his lips. "Is everything okay?"

Seth leaned in and Ellis's eyes widened. The kiss was chaste, lingering for a moment before Seth retreated. Ellis' lips had left a cool impression on his mouth and Seth had to fight the urge to reach up and run a finger across his lips in order to preserve the feeling. Ellis watched with wife eyes, startled speechless.

"Don't scare me like that again please", Seth mumbled pleadingly. "I don't want to lose anyone else".

Ellis finally moved, thumbs stroking across Seth's warm cheeks. He hummed softly, soothing Seth's distress. "I won't do this again", he promised quietly, only for Seth to hear. Then he was pressing forwards, sealing their lips. Seth's arms wound around his waist as their lips moved in soft tandem. Both boy's eyes were closed as they savoured the contact. Fire and ice.

Eventually Seth's need for air forced him to pull back. Opening his eyes, he gazed down at Ellis' dazed expression as he breathed. His pupils were blown, eyes almost completely pitch black against his marble skin.

"Okay", Ellis said, voice unsteady and distant. Seth almost prided himself at having this much physical effect on someone who was clinically dead. "Now I really need to feed. Want to tag along?"

"Yes please. Just give me a moment". Seth tightened his grip on Ellis' waist for a moment before letting go and darting behind a tree. There was an organic sound and he padded back to Ellis, golden fur shining in the weak sunlight. Ellis smiled as the two of them left the clearing, feeling calmer than he had in days.