Hey guys! I'm writing from my brand new laptop and am so excited to start the third installment in the Erin Black series. You guys are amazing fans! I love you all! I own nothing but Erin.

I can't quit now,

This can't be right.

I can't take one more sleepless night,

Without You.

I don't remember Edward and Bella leading me back to the reception. Or Sue and Billy ushering me to the van. Or the ride home. Or walking up the steps of the house. It's like I was there, at the wedding, trying to recover from the shock of seeing my cousin and than I was seeing him again, standing in the hallway of my house.

Between us was Embry, Quil, and Seth, all three looking ready to jump at any sign from Jacob. Rachel and Paul were tangled up together in the doorway to the living room and Sue and Billy, who had come into the house before me, were observing from the sidelines.

It was quiet and I noticed most, if not all, eyes were on me. They were waiting for a reaction, a classic Erin Black bitch fit. All eyes but Jacob's, actually. He was staring at the floor, looking a bit like a kicked puppy. He was probably waiting for yelling too, maybe thought Billy or I would be screaming by now. Good, let him live in fear for a while.

A part of me wanted to scream, too. Maybe if I wasn't still trying to figure out what was going on, I would have, but too many things were on my mind to even really consider it. Jacob was back, Bella was married, and I was so sick and tired of trying to keep up with all this drama. I was so tired.

Turning to Billy, I sighed, "I'm going to bed. I'm too tired to deal with all this now."

I walked past Billy, Sue, Rachel, Paul, Embry, Quil, and Seth and paused only at Jacob. He glanced up at my face for a second before biting his lip and looking back down. I almost said something, anything, but words failed me. I didn't know what to say to him anymore, didn't have the words for him anymore. So instead, I kept walking to my room.

Sensing someone following me, I didn't even have to turn around to know it was Seth. The pull in my gut always let me know. He slipped into my bedroom behind me, closing the door and leaning against it. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched as I took out a wipe and started cleaning my makeup off. "I'm sorry, 'Rin. I swear I had no clue he was going to come. I'd have warned you."

Shrugging my sweater off and the heels, I pulled the clip from my hair, letting some stands fall in my eyes. "I know. It's fine."

Seth turned his head sharply, looking at me. "Really? You're being this calm right now?"

I snorted, looking in my mirror to take the dreamcatcher and earrings off. When I was done, I turned to my boyfriend and shrugged, "I'm exhausted, Seth. What do you want from me? Some grand 'reckless-Erin' reaction? Well, sorry to disappoint." There was no emotion in my voice, just a monotone. "Maybe tomorrow after a good night's sleep."

"I didn't mean it like that. I want you to be okay, that's all." Seth said, a little defensively.

I wanted to snap at him that I was perfectly okay and that he worried too much. I could take care of myself, afterall. Instead, I walked over to him and turned my back to him, lifting my hair, "Unzip me."

He didn't move for a second and than I heard a slightly strangled, "What?"

"It's just a goddamn zipper, Seth. I need out of this dress and I can't reach the zipper. So unzip me. Nothing else. Look away if you want, I don't care." I rolled my eyes and waited, almost laughing at the fumbling fingers as the zipper slowly slipped down.

Making a quick decision, I lifted my arms, letting the dress fall to the floor. I figured Seth had seen me in a swimming suit and bra and panties was basically the same thing, right? And maybe he had looked away. Walking over to my closet, I snuck a peek over my shoulder. Seth's eyes were on the ceiling, his fists clenched at his sides.

I smiled and turned back to my clothes, finding some sweatpants and one of Seth's long left-behind hoodies. After tying my hair up, I went over to the bed and laid down, stretching with my eyes on Seth. He stayed put, but met my gaze, "You shouldn't do things like that."

Laughing, I patted the bed, "Spend the night and I promise no more almost strip teases."

"Billy is right down the hall, fully aware that I'm in here. Jake, Quil, and Embry, too." Seth reasoned, turning around, hand on the doorknob.

My smile vanished, a cold feeling running through my veins. I needed him tonight. I didn't want to deal with Jake tomorrow alone. Not to forget, I wouldn't sleep nearly as good without him. He couldn't just go. So I pulled my imprint gold card, feeling pretty pathetic and needy, "Please!"

He froze and set his forehead against my door. "My mother is out there, probably waiting for me."

"Don't go." I whispered, frowning.

Seth sighed, staying where he was. His hand fell off on the doorknob and he turned back toward me, slouching against the door. "That is so unfair." He muttered, half-smiling, as he kicked off the door and slid his jacket and shoes off.

I blushed and smiled, moving over to give him room and he laid next to me. One of his hands intertwined with mine, while the other slipped to my hair, pulling the hair tie out. "I like your hair better down."

I rolled my eyes, snuggling up to him. Who could possibly care about hairstyles when Seth Clearwater was lying in bed with them? I put my ear over his chest, free hand going over his heart, feeling it beat under my palm. My eyelids fluttered shut, but I stayed awake, not quite physically tired enough for sleep yet. "I like you hair better a bit longer."

"So why did you cut it so short?" He asked, his voice vibrating through his chest, making me smile.

"Because you like it shorter." He'd told me it made transforming easier. I'd made a mental note to remind him to keep it short for his own sake.

"I'd have kept it longer for you." Of course, he would have. He'd do anything for me...but I just wanted him to be happy.

"That'd be weird." And I didn't want him to feel like he had to. I wanted him to have the choice to do things, like spend the night. I felt a twinge of guilt for making him stay. I would feel awful in the morning if he ended up in trouble.

"'Rin, I'm a werewolf and you're my magical soulmate and we're only 15. I think we covered weird awhile back in this relationship." I snuggled up closer to him as he spoke, still listening.

"Oh, right." Frowning a little, I settled back down.

"Go to sleep, I love you, goodnight."

"Love you too."

And then I drifted off.