Umm. I think this might be the end of it.

Chapter Two; Don't Leave

I must have fallen back to sleep, crying in Quil's arms. I felt a blush creep up onto my face again, and I pushed it away. Quil would never hold that against me, I opened my eyes and found myself to be alone in the guest bedroom and Emily and Sam's house. I rolled out of bed, and stretched. I turned towards the door, and then stopped suddenly.

Embry would know. He would know what I said, that I'd cried about it. Everyone would know. The second Quil phases, the secret would be out, and everyone would know. I groaned, and fell back onto the bed. Jared and Paul would incessantly tease me, Sam would give me that knowing look. Embry would probably be upset, even more so, and avoid me, even more. Jacob. Pain.

Who cares.

I sighed to myself, pulling the small amount of courage I still possessed and made my way downstairs. I got a few steps from the bottom, and stopped suddenly. How late was it? It sounded like everyone was downstairs. Dinner. Had I really ended up sleeping that long? I sighed, and instantly wished I hadn't, I could hear as the conversation died down, and I could just imagine all the heads turning to look at the stairs. Good thing I was still hidden by a wall, I still felt the blush creeping up my face though. I closed my eyes, and tried to settle my breathing.

I opened my eyes, and screamed. I jumped back, and tripped on the stairs, falling forward and into Embry. His arms wrapped around me instinctively, and his warmth nearly made me faint again. Why did he seem bigger, and warmer than Quil. A small squeak escaped my mouth and I blushed redder. I realized then, my arms were wrapped around his neck tightly, and my face was buried against his bare shoulder. My feet weren't on the ground, and his big, warm hands were firmly on my hips, holding me.

I wiggled suddenly, pushing away from him as my face burned brighter. I coughed, and ran a hand through my hair nervously. "Sorry." I whispered, and turned to find all of the guys, plus Leah and Emily standing in the doorway to the kitchen, staring. I felt my face flush, and then a sudden burst of anger ran through me. Everyone in the doorway took a step back, as if they knew what was coming.

"What are you all staring at!" I screamed, and it was loud to my own ears. I think I really was losing my mind. "This is ridiculous. I'm sick of this. Sick and tired of you all." I was mumbling angrily, more to myself now, than I was talking to anyone else. "I'm going home."

I pushed through them, no one tried to stop me, no one said a word. I heard a loud "Embry!" yelled, it sounded by more than one voice, just as I opened the door to my truck. I turned back to the house to see Embry, in wolf form, crash through the front door and leap from the deck. Muscles bunched and rolled together underneath his deep gray coat, it shined in the dwindling sunlight. He bolted for the forest, he skidded to a stop seconds before he entered. His head turned towards me, those black haunting eyes, zoned in on me, and I felt as if he was looking into me, into my soul.



My heart clenched in my chest, and I took a stagger step towards him, my hand was stretched out before I realized it. I suddenly felt hot tears rolling down my cheeks, he let out a heartbreaking howl and turned, running into the woods. Disappearing. I felt everything fall away slowly, as the ground came rushing towards me. I stuck my hands out, catching myself and then rolling onto my back to stare up at the ceiling. I heard heavy footsteps, and then suddenly Sam and Quil came into my view.

Their faces were strained, and set. Their eyes grim and saddened. I felt my heart roll over in the chest again, shutting my eyes tightly and clenching a fist to my chest, right above my heart. It hurt, everything hurt. Why did it hurt? Why was I hurting.

"It hurts." I whispered out, my voice was shaking and pained, I could hear it. I felt four warm hands on me suddenly, they felt scalding and unwanted, it hurt more. "Ouch!" I screamed, and wiggled in their arms, I fell back to the ground with a thud. I heard Sam curse, and Quil gasp.

"Emily! Leah! We can't touch her. Help us." Sam's voice was fading, and it sounded urgent, and pained. Worried. Why was he worried? This was bad, wasn't it. Why was I always the freak, why did I always have to end up causing trouble, somehow. The pain was slowly ebbing away, slowly but surely. I could feel my muscles unclenching, but the ache in my heart was still very much there.

"NO JACOB!" That was the last thing I heard before everything erupted. My body felt like it was on fire, and everything tensed up instantly. I heard a distant howl, it sounded so far away, so pained. I gasped, trying to pull air into my tight lungs, trying to slow my racing heart down. The earth was slowly falling away from me, and darkness was looming around the edges of my protection. Protection. Something was guarding me, pushing the darkness away, as it threatened to pull me under.

"Embry." I heard his name, and ached for him. I realized then, I'd been the one to say his name. "Embry." I whispered again, the pain felt a little bit better. I thought I heard running now, but that couldn't be right. It sounded like four feet, instead of two. But I could only hear one heartbeat. No that wasn't right, not feet, paws. Four paws, pounded against the earth and getting closer.

"Embry!" It came out as a sob this time.

"I know sweetie, I know." That was Emily's voice, so soft and feminine. I felt her hand against my forehead then, it felt cool as ice. I shoved my head farther into her hand, and sighed as her other hand came to rest against my neck. "It'll go away in a minute, keep breathing."

"He's almost here Bella, hold on." Leah, I nearly sobbed then. Leah was here too, I was going to be okay. He? Did she mean Embry, I couldn't figure out my own thoughts. Everything was hurting, everything hurt, except for the ice against my forehead, my neck.

"Someone take him some clothes, Hurry!" I could barely make out that sentence, it sounded far away, distant. But it sounded close at the same time. The ice was suddenly gone, and I moaned at the loss. My eyes flying open on a sob, my hands flew up on their own accord. Then suddenly, the pain was gone, and I was wrapped up into arms. Strong, solid and warm arms.



"I'm sorry." I heard someone say, Jacob? Why was he sorry. "I didn't know Embry. I mean, I wasn't thinking. She looked so helpless." I heard a growl then, it was in my ear, so close. I shivered.

"Embry?" His voice came out hesitant, shaky, unsure. I was getting choked up, I could feel the tears threatening to fall again.

"I'm here. I'm sorry." His voice sounded just as shaky as mine, just as emotional.

"Don't leave me." I whispered, and the clung to him, like my life depended on it.