THIS CURSE

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Stephanie Meyer owns all the characters. This is my first Sam Emily fic as I have now gone completelty TEAM SAM. Please read and review.

Chapter 1

I walked up the mountain side. The bitter breeze embraced me as I ascended higher. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself, even though it was already securely fastened. I heard rustling behind me. Paws padding against the ground at an steady pace, not too far behind.

I reached the peak and looked at the view before me. It was as though I was looking at the whole world.

I didn't turn around but I knew he was standing there, now in human form.

"This is unbearable." I said. I didn't know if I was talking to myself or to him, but he answered.

"Tell me about it."

I gulped before I spoke. "Harry spoke to me again last night. He says I'm causing you too much grief." I now turned to face him. He had his hands on his hips and a sombre look on his face.

"I didn't mean for him to come to you with that. He's just trying to help me."

I sighed deeply.

"I can't be your girlfriend, Sam." He tried very hard not to react, but his eyes screamed with pain. It made my stomach twist.

"I just keep thinking about Leah. I will always think of her if I try to imagine us..."

"I can only think of you, Emily." Sam's voice was deep and serious.

"That's why Harry wants this sorted out. I'm distracting you too much from you duties as Alpha."

We stood silently for a moment. The cold wind nipping at my ears. The sun was beginning to set.

"This imprinting thing, it doesn't necessarily mean that we have to be lovers." Sam opened his mouth but I raised my hand to stop him "I know, Billy and Harry are convinced that it's about selecting the best 'mate' for the individual. But I've been trying to research this myself. No-one knows exactly why there is imprinting."

I kept a stern face as I recited this to him. I found it very difficult.

Why was this so hard? I felt so torn. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to jump right into his arms or right off the cliff side.

"I know this is something neither of us can control. I know you didn't want to hurt Leah. But she is hurting, which hurts me. I've never seen her like this. And she's so angry with me."

"Would you have me as your friend, Sam. And I'll support you anyway I can."

I extended my hand to him.

Sam's face screwed up. I wasn't sure if he'd felt that I'd insulted him or if he was just trying to make sense of the bizarre logic I had just strung together.

His face was so damned unreadable. He licked his lips has he thought it over, then he approached me. He took my extended hand and squeezed it. A warm smile lit up his face. It made me feel...I don't know...relieved somehow.

We made our way back down the mountain side. Darkness surrounded us, but I had no reason to be afraid.

Sam talked to me more openly about himself now, knowing that I had accepted everything completely.

He told me about his family, his Dad leaving, how he looked after his mother growing up. He explained how he felt the first time he phased, how angry he was, then how it was all revealed to him. We did discuss Leah, I could see it pained him, but this was going to be something very unavoidable. La Push was a very small reservation, and she was after all my family. She wasn't to know anything about the werewolves and the treaty.

"It would hurt her worse later in life." Sam told me. Harry had also said this, and quite frankly I don't think Harry wanted Leah involved in this, let alone with a werewolf.

Sam asked me if I was going to stay in La Push now, but I was still unsure about how to go about that. There was a lot for me to think about concerning this new honour that had been bestowed upon me.

It was almost pitch black by the time we reached the bottom. Sam insisted walking me back to the Clearwaters.

"Good night, Sam." I whispered as I unlocked the front door. I felt Sam lightly brush is fingertips down the length of my arm.

"Good night, Emily." And he turned and disappeared into the night.

Leah was waiting for me in the living room. I hung up my coat, avoiding eye contact with her.

"I see your still making one heck of an effort to stay away from Sam."

"Not now, Leah." I darted into the kitchen but she followed swiftly behind.

"You said you hated him. You said he was driving you crazy. So what, he's finally warn you down?"

"Leah!" Harry appeared in the doorway "Leave Emily alone."

A look of betrayal swept across Leah's face. But I could understand how she felt. Part of me wanted to let her scream, hit, scratch me. Anything that would make her feel better. I would give my right arm to have the old Leah back.

She gave me a final death glare before stomping out the back door.

"Did you speak with Sam?" Harry said as I rummaged around the fridge looking for something to eat.

"Yeah, I think we've got an understanding now."

"You can come and talk to me, or any of the other elders for help, Emily. But you just let Sam be there for you. He needs you aswell."

"I don't think I can stay living here. It's like I'm rubbing it in Leah's face."

"Don't you worry, would you like to stay in La Push?"

"I don't know. Maybe near by, close enough but not too close if you see what I mean."