Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Miss Stephenie Meyer.

Although I did not recieve my requested number of reviews, I decided I would post this in order to generate a little more of response. I need four more, in addition to the four I have already gotten. Please let me know if you like this. I do plan to continue with a final chapter that features Seth and Leah. I left a few things open there. I love you all! Thanks for reading. :]

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Chapter Two

The large Cullen estate loomed in the distance as I tottered closer. There was no need to hasten my step; Sam had called off the attack. Bella and the Cullen's were safe. Aside from that, I was a bit dizzy. The verdant trees and damp soil of the mountain swam together in my vision and I faltered with every uneven stride. I had lost too much blood.

I just had to make it to the door; close enough for them to know I was here. Too weak to phase, there was no chance of my alerting Jake of my presence. Nevertheless, it wasn't too far. I suppose I would just have to grit my teeth and trudge on. Panting heavily, I continued to crawl toward the large building ahead.

Lightheaded and confused, I felt my feet slipping out from under me, gravity yanking me to the ground. Before I knew what was happening, a petite form with ink-black hair appeared at my side in an instant and caught me as I toppled forward. Her frozen flesh dug into my feverish arms as she laid my arm over her small shoulder, clipped her hand around my waist, and began dragging me toward the house.

The trip from where I had been standing to the porch of the lavish residence of Dr. Cullen seemed to take longer than what I thought it should have taken. The cold form walked slowly and with dainty footfalls, as if she was afraid of damaging me further; as if I was a helpless mutt in the gutter.

I hated being taken care of. Leah had kept a wary eye on me when I was young, tenderly wiping all my tears away for years, and look where that has gotten us. She would never hold me in higher regard than what she held a family pet. But there was no time to think of that. I needed to focus on keeping myself from planting my face in the mud.

"It's going to be alright, Seth. Carlisle will get you all patched up," the form said in an enchantingly musical voice.

Bright lights invaded my sight and I snapped my eyes shut to keep it out. Voices called out my name in alarm and snarls ripped from throats of unknown individuals. I didn't recognize any of them. Darkness began seeping in around the edges of my mind and I felt myself slipping away until I knew no more.

"Seth? Son, can you hear me?" A gentle voice pulled me from my slumber.

My face was throbbing and my eyelids refused to lift and allow me to see. I wasn't dizzy any longer, but my cheek felt like it was caught in an infinite inferno and a strange beeping filtered through my ears, penetrating my befuddled stupor and ricocheting off the inside of my skull.

"I think he's coming around."

I knew that voice. Carlisle.

With a groan, I hauled myself off of the bed I was lying in. Breathing in deeply, I found my senses assaulted by a very peculiar sensation: the scent of vampires. I forced my eyes to unbolt themselves, discovering two sets of golden eyes staring at me with vivid curiosity and honest concern.

Alice, the one that had found me in the woods, tangled around my neck as she smiled as radiantly as the sun itself.

"I was worried that I didn't get to you soon enough! You were so pale when I found you and I feared the worst. But I knew you would pull through. It's so nice to have you back, Seth," she babbled merrily. "I'm sorry, but I really must get going." With a quick wave, she dashed out the door without another word. Puzzled, I stared after her.

Carlisle smiled warmly at me, clarifying the reasons behind his daughter's strange behavior. "Jasper had some problems controlling his appetite when you showed up. The blood I had to bring in to replace the blood you had lost was too tempting for him. He's hiding out in the mountains until you're well again. Alice is simply eager to return to him."

I nodded at his words. I knew how close the two were. I could sparsely recall a time when they were apart for longer than a day or two.

Unexpectedly, my cheek howled at me and my hand shot up to tame the pain that seared through my veins. There was a soft white bandage plastered onto my face.

"I apologize. The pain medication doesn't appear to be having any affect," Carlisle sighed. "I bandaged and repaired your wound as best as I could. You needed quite a few stitches. With all the blood you lost, I kept you sedated for a few days to allow the new blood to settle in your system. Emmett and I also managed to track down a pair of Edward's jeans for you. He's on an extended hunting trip at the moment, but I'm sure that he would be glad to help."

"Thanks for everything, Dr. Cullen. It means a lot!" I was indebted to the Cullen's for their generosity and hospitality. They seemed to be more of a family to me than my own pack; my own brothers.

The pale doctor seemed to notice my wandering thoughts and darkening mood, immediately cutting in. "Jacob stopped by while you were out. He already filled us in on the situation at hand," he said slowly, watching my face carefully for any sign of distress. "Of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Do me a favor, though, and let Jake know you're alright. He is really concerned about you."

"Sure thing." My vision was clearing up and the room became visible.

I was clad in a plain white shirt and a pair of jeans that was too long. The room I was in seemed to be a study of sorts. A high ceiling was connected to the floor by long, polished wooden panels that continued on to become the floor boards that were buried beneath an archaic and intricately woven rug. A solid desk sat before a huge window. The early afternoon sun lit up the room with a soft glow and clouds cast their shadows across the floor as floated across the sky. Shelves lined the walls, stuffed with thick, dusty novels and journals along with a few pictures. All the pictures were faded and discolored and featured the Cullen's at different points in time. The number of people featured in the frames varied as wildly as the attire. The room was quaint and rang of wisdom and understanding.

Carlisle waited patiently for me to take everything in.

"Would you mind if I took a walk? I need a little fresh air," I asked him.

"Yes, of course. As long as you're feeling up to it," Carlisle replied.

I hoisted my legs over the edge of the bed and hopped to my feet. Launching a big grin at Carlisle, I left the room.

Quickly shedding my jeans and fastening them to my leg, I leapt from the porch and phased as I descended. As soon as I had, the pack's voices pounded into my head. They all shouted at me and scolded me for my rebellious and disloyal actions. I didn't even try to mask my feelings toward their words: apathy. There wasn't any reason to try, in the pack, there were no secrets.

My cheek seared as the wind ripped at the flesh. The bandage had fallen off when I phased and the ugly gash was shining like some sort of trophy. What had I won?

I ignored their questions and fired back my own. "Where's Jake?"

"Who knows?" Paul sneered. "Once more, who cares?"

I growled and decided to track him down myself. I tore past the trees that had become so familiar to me. They had always been there for me when I needed comfort. The trees didn't mind when I had to cry. They waited patiently and silently as I cried my eyes dry when my father had died. They let me pound on them when I was angry and listened when I needed to vent. The trees of this mountain were closer to being my real family than anything else.

I mean, what makes a family? A family is a group of people who love each other without limits and never leave each other behind. They don't hurt one another, they heal the hurt.

I deafening cry pierced the air and sent me to my knees. I began to panic. Maybe it was one of the pack, or a Cullen. Whoever it was, they needed help. Pulling myself up, I made a beeline in the direction where I had heard the scream.

Consumed by fright and apprehension, I raced on like a flash of light. Nothing else mattered at the moment; not the tension with the wolves, not the Cullen's, not the intense pain emitting from my face. The only thing in my head was that someone needed help.

"Seth!" Sam appeared in the clearing, his eyes red and puffy and tears stained his face. He was shoving his fists into a dead tree, crimson rolling down his busted knuckles that had already healed. Unlike the cut on my face, his were vanishing almost as quickly as they emerged.

I phased, pulling my jeans on, and set my face to an indifferent frown. "Sam, what are you doing all the way out here?"

Sam looked taken aback by my tone. He must've been expecting the same cheery he had lashed out at on the cliff. But certain things can change a person.

"Thinking," he mumbled. "Listen, Seth," he started, but I cut him off with a snort and a feral snarl.

Sam faltered a little, a flare of anger lighting up in his face, but he regained himself and continued. "I never could get things straight with the Clearwater's, could I? First, I set off the hostility with Leah and Emily and then all of this tension with you."

He paused and slowly moved closer, measuring each step cautiously. His eyes were trained on my face. I glared hotly at him. I knew what he was looking at.

"I thought that that would have healed up by now," he said cautiously, guilt reeling in his eyes.

"It must've been deeper than you thought." My words sounded harsh, even to me.

"Yeah, I guess so." Sam looked away from my cheek, laying his gaze on anything but me. "Seth, I'm sorry. I was out of line. I shouldn't have struck out at you." Sam seemed honest.

That's when something that hadn't ever occurred to me before hit on me like a slap to the face. Sam had marred Emily's face in one of his bouts of rage as well. I suddenly felt guilty about my bitter mood toward him. His temper had taken control. The one that had hurt me wasn't Sam, it was his blind fury.

The sun was sinking over the horizon, letting the moon take control of the heavens once again. They shared the sky. They never fought, always following the rules on who had reign and when. Strange how the murky skies that hung over Forks got along better than I did with my own kin.

"I forgive you, Sam. I know you feel awful about what you've done, but my scars will fade, if given the time to heal." I put forward a small smile, which he returned with a tender glance. "But I am not the only one who needs to forgive. You need to forgive yourself and give yourself time to mend what has been broken. Sam, you are a better leader than we deserve. Don't forget that, my brother."

The cool night air began to settle over the forest as he and I walked home in silence. After all, a brothers' bond is impenetrable. Nothing could get between us; not even each other. We just needed time.