A/N: ShellieB, thanks for the first review :)

So, I saw that there were several views; feel free to post your opinion, even if you don't like it...

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight!

Chapter 2 Explanations

Emily felt like Sam's eyes were holding her, like they were saying 'don't go'. She found herself staring into them, wondering what the deep depths of those unreadable black eyes were hiding from her. It was like she was caught in a black swirling pool, but it was a nice feeling. She felt so safe, so full of love. After another minute, she had to remind herself that she was looking at her cousin's and best friend's fiancé before she could tear her eyes away from Sam's soft gaze. Turning red, she stepped back a few steps and mumbled: "E- excuse me, I'm s-sorry."

Suddenly, she felt warm hands. Taking her hands. Sam's hands. "No, wait, please… Emily," he whispered so softly that she could barely hear him, "we need to talk."

Emily's instincts shouted NO! But she couldn't control her nod. Numbly, she followed him upstairs into Leah's room. Even though she wasn't actually doing anything bad with Sam, she felt like she was betraying Leah. She didn't even know Sam. Anyways, why did they have to talk? Why had he stared at her like that? And most of all, why had she looked back?

Deeply in her thoughts, she didn't notice that she was about to trip over a book on the floor. Instinctively, she reached out with both her hands to stop her fall, or at least not to fall on her nose. Before she could react in any way, she was scooped up and pressed to a very muscular, warm body. Not needing to look up, she knew it was Sam.

Emily gulped and asked hoarsely: "So, what do we have to talk about?" Sam didn't answer, but carried her to Leah's room and shut the door with a kick of his foot. "Did Leah ever tell you that I… left for a few weeks?"

Emily was surprised about the sudden question and just nodded. Sam shifted uncomfortably and explained: "Well, you know, it was because… I didn't have control of myself anymore."

Seeing Emily's questioning gaze, he sighed. "You probably know that I'm Quileute. The legends say that we descend from wolves, and that we can transform into wolves as well. So, this gift skipped two generations and now stopped here. So… we are werewolves." The last words came out in a rush.

Emily's mind was racing. Was he trying to kid her? He couldn't have said the truth, could he? Silently, Emily shook her head in disbelief. She didn't know why, but she didn't like the idea that he was lying to her.

"No, no. Don't make such jokes," she croaked, still not able to speak properly.

Sam looked a bit taken aback and hurt and answered: "I'm not lying. We're a pack. I mean, you could call us Quileute boys that. Well, we're not real wolves, we can just, like, change into wolves. When I first found out that I was such a creature," Sam looked quite disgusted of himself, "I had to leave, because I didn't know how to change back. I tried, but I couldn't. And how should I explain it to Leah? I'm dangerous. I could accidentally change and hurt her if I'm mad. Maybe I would just want to push her away, and end up killing her because I turn into a giant wolf when I'm angry."

Emily tried to clear her mind but it was like she couldn't move anymore. Not in her head, not on the outside. Like Sam's words had paralyzed her, both physically and mentally.

When she didn't react in any way, Sam shook her gently. "Emily? Look, I know it's maybe a little too much. I didn't mean to surprise you like that at our first… Well, our first encounter," Sam murmured and smiled a tight smile.

"Why, Sam? Why are you telling me? Why not Leah?" Emily blurted out. Sam gave her an exasperated look. "There is another thing in the lives of us wolves. We call it imprinting. Some of us believe in it, some don't. The Quileute legends say it's finding your soul mate. After you have turned into a wolf the first time, you are able to imprint. It's like a special bond is formed between you and your imprint. Your life depends on your imprint.

"That has nothing to do with me," Emily indignantly stated, "go tell Leah. Imprint on her."

Sam twitched slightly and squared his shoulders. "We can't control imprinting. It just happens. You look at a girl, and POOF, it happens. You can't look away ever again, no matter what." Wide-eyed, Emily finally looked up at him and realized why they had to talk. His face was a mask of pain, loss, anger, hate, and love. His eyebrows were furrowed and his jaw clenched.

Shocked, Emily breathed out. This couldn't be. It would ruin her life. And not only hers, but also Leah's and Sam's. Their whole future… She started feeling sick and everything was spinning.

Automatically, she leant against Sam's chest to stop feeling dizzy. "So", she whispered, "you've imprinted… on me?"

"Yes." Sam's chest was burning hot. Emily suddenly felt the urge to push him away. She couldn't bear it to know that she had just ruined Leah's life. She wanted to tell Sam to go away and leave her alone. She wanted to shout at him, to stomp her foot and be angry at him. But she knew that it wasn't his fault.

"Sam." She groaned as she noticed he had been holding her all the time, "Let me go." Sam flinched as though she hit him, but he reluctantly let her go. When she wanted to go out of the room, He grabbed her by the wrist.

His eyes were pleading, so gentle, so soft, and Emily had to resist the impulse to stroke his cheek.

She tried to keep her breathing steady and slowly said: "Sam, do you know how much you hurt Leah when you left? How much you hurt her when you came back, but changed and didn't explain why? How much it hurts her to live in fear? She's afraid you will leave her again, Sam."

Sam's eyes clouded. He hung his head and whispered: "I know. But I just can't tell her. And I can't resist the pull of the imprint." He took a few steps towards Emily, so that they were standing chest to chest. He took her hands and pressed them to his heart.

Emily felt her hands go clammy. Even though she would never admit it, she had never been this nervous. If it would have been another boy, she would have just gone away, but this was Sam. She simply wasn't able to pull away. As if they were meant to be together… And she hated herself for thinking that.

"I love you now, Emily. And I hate myself for doing it."

"Hey, is there a – WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!

The door crashed open and a furious Leah came in.