Quil

"So what do you plan on doing then?" Embry tossed a rock into the waves at the bottom of the cliff. "I mean, Sam'll kill you if you even think about going and getting her."

I looked from my shoes to the water. "It's my fault that she's in trouble in the first place. I can't get her in any more of it by being stupid."

"But he shouldn't have the power to do that. Your her imprint, it physically hurts you to be away from her. Trust me, it shows," for emphasis Embry looked me up and down. "What's it been? One? Two-"

"Three weeks," I grumbled and covered my face with my hands.

Embry shook his head and threw another pebble. "I'm telling you man, go get her. She's eighteen now isn't she?"

"Nineteen in a few days."

"Exactly. She shouldn't even be living with them. She's old enough to take care of herself." He put his arm on my shoulders. "Look, all you gotta do is go to the guy and tell him what's what. He can't deny your imprint from you, that's not fair."

I gave him a skeptic look. "We're talking about Sam here. Sam."

Embry nodded and took it into consideration. It was nice that he was trying to help, but between his ears, I figured there was nothing but air. "I guess your right. So what's the plan then?"

I sighed heavily and ran my hand through my hair. What was the plan Quil? You couldn't just stroll on into his house, take her over the shoulder like some barbarian and walk out like nothings wrong. Sam would've ripped your head off for even coming to the door. On the other hand, if I had tried to wait him out, see if maybe he'd let Claire go on her own, I wouldn't get killed, but would die in pain of waiting for her. Either way, I was a dead man. So which would be quicker?

"I got one, but you're gonna help me right?" I looked at him. Embry was loyal to the pack, sure that's one thing. But the two of us and Sam weren't exactly buddies either.

He chuckled. "What else would I want to do?" He pushed me in the shoulder gently. "So what's the big idea? Raid the house, take the women and run?" He winked.

Laughing I shook my head and stood up. "Nah, we're gonna sneak in."

"Sneak?" Embry did a double take and stared at me. "Quil, you are one of the worst sneakers I know."

"I know," I agreed and smirked deviously. "That's why you're gonna do it."

Embry laughed at me hesitantly then gaped. "Woah, wait you're serious?"

I nodded, smirking.

"Dude, that is the worst idea you have ever had." He stood up and tossed his handful of pebbles into the water below.

"It's brilliant and you know it," I followed him, unlocking my truck on the way.

"Ok, maybe, but how are we gonna get her out of there without Sam seeing?" Embry looked skeptically at me and slid into the passenger seat.

"He's patrolling tonight. He'll be too busy to pay attention," I replied simply and hopped into the drivers seat, starting the ignition. "That means it's just Claire and Emily back at the house."

"Yeah I know what that means," he rolled his eyes. "But that doesn't mean Emily's just going to step aside and let you take her with you."

I shrugged. "With Em, you never know."

Embry thought otherwise. "No, you need her distracted."

I shook my head. "I don't know how...unless..." I was never good with formulating plans. "What if we got Claire to?"

He gaped at me. "You've lost it. Dude, you're-"

"No, think about it," I put the truck in drive. "Claire's gonna wanna take some stuff with her if she's going to stay at my place right? While we take care of that she can be downstairs distracting Emily. Then she just comes back up and we take her with us. Simple."

Embry considered it for a moment. "I guess you're right...so what are you gonna do when Sam comes home to find his only adopted child missing?"

Now I had given some serious thought into that. Ever since Claire had gotten big enough to drive, Sam had became more and more protective. Laying down rules, curfews, punishments. I never would have thought that he would punish Claire after seeing how happy they were as a family when she first moved in. But now that she's grown up, and I'm here, everything's changed. Simply because I couldn't get Claire home five minutes sooner, he grounded her for a month. Even if she is eighteen. I had asked her about moving out before, but she hushed me instantly. We both knew how Sam would react if we even dared to think about it. And I knew Sam wasn't one to mess with.

"We'll move to Australia."