"He's...important to me," she said, trying to avoid using the phrase "alpha' and having to explain...and then give away Derek's secret. "Neal, I never expected to see you again. I thought when I left I was either going to die or be on the run for the rest of my life. Derek is the only reason I stayed in Becon Hills. I was heading for Mexico."
And then to somewhere she could bribe or seduce enough people to protect her.