Quil, Jacob and Sam were about a mile radius from each other as they combed the land. They kept picking up on tracks but they were stale. Anything fresh ended up being human, or a dead human, but human none the less. Things were getting edgy. The pack was getting irritated. These vampires were making loops and weaving in and out, crisscrossing. They were purposefully making sure that the werewolves were thoroughly confused. Well, they were accomplishing it. Now when on patrol the wolves would have to be a distance apart, leaving them a little more vulnerable.

A about an hour after they began patrol, each wolf wrapped up in their own thoughts and diligence, Quil came across a familiar scent. When the thought hit him about who's scent it was Quil sighed mentally. What was that crazy girl doing now? His thoughts went to Jacob whose thoughts then went to Sam. Each dog began to have their own individual theories on it but left it alone. Then again about another twenty minutes in they came across her scent again, this time it was fresh on two out of their three paths. Fresh with the scent of a vampire.

What the hell… thought Jacob, quickening his pace. Is she insane?!

I doubt it… Quil responded. Her path seems to correspond with the path of the vampires. Are they hunting her?

Seems to be that way…Sam mused. Let's catch up to make sure she's okay.

I don't smell blood so I'm guessing she's fine. Maybe scaring her a little bit will keep her out of the woods for a while. Jacob answered.

She's not that easy to scare…Sam retorted.

Maybe… Jacob panted Take the lead on this one Sam. You're the big black dog of death after all.

Very funny…

The group convened at a clearing between the trees. It was not a meadow but a tangle of roots of the edge of a stream. Alexander was bent beside the bank as though she was looking for something. Her gloved hands dug in to the dirt gently and then clutched a clump of it.

What is she doing? Quil wondered. None of the alphas answered but continued to watch her. She was completely oblivious of the fact that they were there, crouching between the trees. Taking the clump of dirt in her hand she washed it in the stream, then held it up. In her hand was a dangling onyx chandelier earring.

"Breadcrumbs, eh?" she said to herself. "Fuckers." Out of her mono-backpack she took a case. Alexander took out the counterpart to the earring and frowned. Sam stepped forward first out of the brush, Jacob flanking his left, Quil to his right. They growled. The movement caught her attention, without looking Alexander leapt from one side of the stream bank to the next. That's when she turned around to look at them. Her eyes went wide as she inhaled sharply. Slowly breathing out through her mouth, Alexander put on her best poker face, but she still clutched the front of her shirt.

"I just knew this was going to be one of those days." Alexander grumbled, releasing her shirt. She stood firmly planted on the boulder and watched a the three stalked her.

She doesn't seem all that surprised… Sam said.

Not scared…Quil added.

Poker face idiots, poker face. I bet you anything she is having one of those "oh shit" moments. Jacob retorted snidely.

Sam bared his teeth at her and she scratched her head.

"You know something... I am really not getting the feeling that you want to kill me." Alexander sighed. "I get it. It's a warning. Fine. Whatever. I wish someone would have warned me about werewolves before they started to fuckin' pop up." She dusted the dirt off of her gloves and then looked at Sam squarely in the face.

Sam sat back on his haunches while the other two continued to act like they were going to pounce.

Well this is strange. Jacob wondered

Certainly. Does Embry know about this? Sam asked

I highly doubt it. Jacob answered honestly.

Me too. Quil chimed. What do we do?

Sam and Quil looked at Jacob.

I guess we had better let her go. Can't do much else.

By this time Alexander was already walking away quietly. Jacob barked and Alexander jumped and turned slowly back to them.

"This isn't whatever it seems to be…" she laughed nervously, Pulling her hood over her head. "Just let me be on my way and you yours and we won't have to see each other's faces ever again, if you so wish."

How ironic… As perceptive as always... Jacob drawled. He barked again. Alexander rolled her eyes, turned around and began her descent into the forest, giving an absentminded wave backward.

Quil, follow her. Make sure she gets back to the edge of the forest safely.

Quil nodded and sloshed through the stream. Quil got a certain distance into the trees before Alexander's scent disappeared again. He looked in every direction including in the trees but there was no Alexander only a solitary black fox in the distance barely noticeable to the eye. He trudged back to Jacob and Sam where both gave him a questioning look.

Its like she vanished man. Quil thought, defeated. Sam and Jacob listened but in the distance all they could hear was the uneven padding of animal feet against the terrain.

~-9898234

It was nearing the middle of November when Embry noticed some changes Alexander's routines. Sometimes she would skip work, which was something she used to never do, she spent as much time around people as possible especially after school while waiting on him, or she would space out, staring at something other's couldn't see, or listening to things they couldn't hear. Embry was getting worried. Alexander had become less and less receptive to him. He couldn't understand why the exact opposite affect was happening after they had agreed to enter the relationship. Every day he would bite his tongue and hope it would get better but it was frustrating him. Every time he would try and bring it up she would do something that would make him feel like he was being foolish. Then came the last news he wanted to hear. New vampires had entered the area, and they weren't friends of the Cullens.

From the reports that he was getting it seemed like they were sticking close to the reservation, as though they were looking for something. Some sort of opening. They knew the werewolves were there, they could smell them but they didn't leave. It seemed like they had no intention too, at least not until they got what they were looking for. With the patrols and the false alarms Embry was becoming tired and irritated and now, Alexander was becoming more and more absent. What could possibly make her take this turn? She asked him to trust her, to be patient but now that he needed her, where was she?

Embry angrily ripped out another page from his sketch book. Could you imagine? A seventeen year old boy fawning over a girl that just seemed not to give a damn. Drawing her memorized movements when he meant to draw the beach in front of him or the thoughts in his head. Embry ran his fingers through his tangled hair. Yanking at the rubber band on the end of his hair Embry couldn't help but feel bittersweet about the slight pain he felt in his scalp from yanking at it. Suddenly he felt warm hands touch his own as they untangled his hair quickly. Embry grabbed the wrist of the individual and turned around slowly. He already knew who it was.

"What do you want Alex?" It was more a demand than a question. Embry glowered at her. Under his gave she recoiled slightly in mild surprise, yet his hold was too strong.

"Are you upset over something? You've been really irritated as of late." She asked quietly.

"Am I irritated?" Embry growled, "You make it sound like I shouldn't be."

"I know I've been distant but please just wait a little bit longer." Alexander looked away slightly. Embry clenched his fist.

"What am I to wait on exactly? More things we aren't talking about. Tell me them! Where are you disappearing too?" He jerked her towards him. In his subconscious he knew he shouldn't be doing that. More than likely she would get fed up and hit him. He trembled. Hopefully she would hit him.

"Embry Call…. You are hurting my wrist." Alexander seethed. She was not going to hit him. She was going to take what he had to offer, good or bad, perhaps even ugly. With all the calm he could muster, Embry let go of her, then turned his back to her.

"I'm waiting but I'm getting no results, Alexander." He whispered. "You won't tell me what wrong. You're disappearing and there is someone attacking women out there."

"I'll be fine." She whispered.

"Oh of course the all powerful Alexander the Conqueror will be fine!" he mocked. "Why can't you ever ask others for help? Or just accept their kindness?"

"Just watch out for yourself okay? Please?" Alexander said to him. He did not answer. Embry heard the crunching of her walking away. He turned to see her walking back in the direction of the house. Scooping up his sketchbook he followed her silently about twenty feet behind. Her back seemed slightly hunched, as though she were cold not so much under the weight of the mono-backpack, wind blowing her hair in various directions, walking slower than usual, every step he could see was heavy. He began to feel bad. Really bad. There was something she couldn't tell him, or wasn't ready to tell him.

"Alex." Embry called but she did not answer. "Alex… I'm sorry. I was just frustrated." Again she did not answer. He was aware that he was speaking loud enough for her and half the damn reservation to hear. The walk back home was a good twenty minutes and even when he was standing next to her taking off his shoes at the door she did not acknowledge his presence. How unfair that he should express his frustration and then have apologize for it. Meanwhile Alexander does as she pleases and doesn't explain shit nor does she show her true emotions. He stood in the hallway as she weaved in and out of the rooms. A routine she would do when getting ready for work. By now he was convinced that she wasn't just a waitress but the bartender. By the time she was ready with her coat back on she outstretched her hand for the car key.

"Are you going to talk to me?" Embry asked quietly. The question was more loaded than the simple. Alexander's look was coldly murderous, as she reached for the hook with her motorcycle key. Embry growled, curse her parents for buying her one for her birthday. It would be too cold outside when she was riding back and he didn't want her to get sick. Embry dropped the car keys in her hand and moved as she gestured for him to get out of her way. He felt guilty as he saw the bruise on her wrist but Alexander was back to being the stolid, silent bitch again. She would never complain about pain.

By the time she reached the car door he heard her pause.

"There will come a day Embry when I will see your back again. And it will be for the same reason. The things I am not saying to you, but when they are said…well, lets just say we won't be on well social standing anymore. And if you accept that, then the second time I will see your back will be for something different. Perhaps you were right in mocking me. Good bye." She climbed into the jeep and drove off. Embry had no idea how long he stood in that spot staring at the horizon. What the hell did he just do?

~88888

"You really should talk to her you know." Jacob whispered to Embry, while him, Sam and Quil sat on the porch. Jared and Paul were roped in by their significant others to help in the kitchen. The two packs were together at Sam's house. Collin and Brady were trying to show Alexander how to make a drum. Something that should have been simple enough was taking a very long time because Alexander was no carpenter.

"Trust me I've tried. All I get is cordial responses. Short and to the point." Embry said.

"Did you try apologizing?" Quil asked.

"Of course genius! The problem is did she accept or not. My woman's being cold! She won't even cook for me." Every one of them looked at him.

"You sound like you're married." Sam retorted, "And not even my marriage sounds like that."

"Well why don't you talk to her since you're so insightful." Embry frowned.

"Nope. Your issues. You have to learn to work things out on your own." Sam responded.

"If she would say something then maybe we can. But I have no clue where she disappears too. She won't say why or where? Sometimes it smells like the forest, other times it's the beach, sometimes she smells like she just came from work even on the evenings she doesn't work."

"I think that you should sit her down and say, 'Woman! I demand an answer! Or else we are ending this right now!' And then walk away, you know, give her an ultimatum." Every one turned to the newly arrived Seth.

"Idiot." Said Embry.

"Fool." Retorted Quil.

"Stupid." Sam responded.

"All of the above." Cried Jacob.

"What? I mean she will respond, right." Seth said. The group looked at the trio with the drum. An impatient Alexander now chucked a piece of wood at Brady's head when he laughed at her failed attempt shaving the wood. A piece of wood cracked off where she pressed too hard, now she chucked the unfinished drum at him.

"You're right. She would totally give you a nice 'fuck you' and leave." Seth concluded and they all laughed. Alexander looked over at them self- consciously.

"You know…" Sam started, "I think I know where she is going."

Embry looked at him hopefully.

"I have to say, I really don't think you're going to like it though." Sam paused again.

"How much am I not going to like? Who is he?" Embry started.

"I don't know. But lately my pack's been picking up on her scent a lot in the woods. And usually it's parallel to the vampire trails. Alexander never goes far though. So we're not sure if she's following the vampire trail, or the vampire is following her trail. Because I mean to be honest, those vampire's aren't stupid enough to catch on to her trail knowing that we won't be far behind, but Alexander doesn't seem aware of us at all." He stopped and looked at Embry again.

"Are you saying that she's looking for that kind of trouble?" Embry growled, "She already knows the dangers of being around vampire's, what the hell is she doing?"

"I don't know, but you need to talk to her and find out. Find out fast before she finds what she's looking for or they find what they're looking for."

"Yeah, I'd like to see how that pans out." Embry sank back in his chair.

"I say you enlist the help of Switzerland." Quil offered, he needed to talk to her anyway.

"Do your best, man. Go right on ahead." Embry smiled at him.

~2532432

"You know that he loves and adores you, right?"

Alexander didn't even have to look up from her book to know who was speaking to her. She was on the beach, sitting on a tree trunk by herself. Quil trudged up with Claire in hand.

"If that's your best gimmick to get me to talk to him about things, Switzerland then you got to have more game than that."

"Okay, fine." Quil stated, "Since I am Switzerland anything you say to me will here by not be told to anyone else. So what's bugging you?"

"You're bugging me." Alexander growled.

"Hello! Neutral here! Just talk to me. No judgments." He tried again. He lets go of Claire and she goes running along the beach searching for shells. Quil watches her with a smile on his face, while Alexander watches him.

"He won't have sex with me, not even oral, then he turned his back on me while I was simply trying to talk to him, then he says he's sorry like every fuckin' thing is supposed to be okay. What if I think I'm not the best girlfriend for him? What if things are better this way? What if I'm trying to protect him?!" Alexander blurted out, annoyed. "Are you happy? Fucking thrilled? Now leave me alone. Switzerland never asks questions, they never get involved."

"Well it's just that I saw you go into the forest the other day. I got kinda worried because you know with some asshole running around attacking women and all." Quil breezed by catching Claire before she fell into a tide pool.

"If you were so worried, why didn't you come right out and ask me what I was doing there?" Alexander looked condescendingly at Quil as he walked back.

He smirked. "I was hoping you'd volunteer to say since I'm not supposed to ask questions."

"Isn't it a little late for that!" she answered impatiently.

"Well for starters maybe he's trying to wait for you to become comfortable with him and not just throw yourself into sex with him. Embry might just be trying to respect you there. He turned his back to you because that what he felt you were doing or are doing, which ever suits the situation better. Embry apologizes because he thinks and knows he hurt you on some level. You are insane to think you aren't right for him. As long as he cares, what the hell does it matter?! Do you honestly think that there things he doesn't see wrong with you? Of course does but he's taking the entire package. What do you need to protect him from so badly that neither of you can work it out? Its like the two of you are on different wave lengths when it should be simple to get back on track. Show some love, cook for him."

Alexander blinked slowly and turned her whole body to face Quil. "You asshole, you think I haven't already figured all that out! I said I'd be his girlfriend but I never said I was going to be easy and gooshy and shit."

"You remind me so much of Leah." Quil whispered

"Yeah well so does she." Alexander righted herself and then looked back at the book.

"Women! Why don't you just tell him all of this?" Quil answered.

"None of yours or anybody else's business why." Alexander's voice wasn't has hard now.

"Are you afraid of being hurt?"

"Maybe."

"Stupid, you and everyone else on this planet has the same complex. Some just handle it better than others."

"Bullshit. You get all misty eyed when looking at that little girl. Jacob gets all misty eyed when he talks about Renessie, Lassie, Nessie, Betsy- whatever her fuckin' name is, and Sam forgets that everyone else in that room once Emily walks in. Jared and Kin, Paul and Rachel. Tell me about that, why don't you? There is no other look in this world like that. Embry could tell me he cares all he wants too but that… is strange. Especially you- you pedophile." Alexander snapped the book shut and shoved it back into her backpack.

Quil went rigid. "I…" he was trying to keep his voice steady, and prevent himself from shaking.

"You're not a pedophile. I know. I get it. Damn!" Alexander took the words right form his mouth. As if she knew that he was struggling to control himself. "I know you understand what I mean, though."

"Then what is it you want to know?" Quil looked up at her as she stood up.

"Never mind!" Alexander shook her head impatiently. Whatever you guys don't want me to know. Fine. But me- I'm a freak. Far different from any of you… I think…know..." She finished.

"Okay then in three days, you meet me after school at my house. We'll go on a little hike. On the condition that you talk to Embry again. If you don't start talking to him like normal, I won't show you what you want to know." Quil concluded staring her dead in the eye. "You think you're a freak but you have no idea. And if you still think so then you have got to show me what you can do better than what I can."

"Done. Bye, bye, Claire!" Alexander waved to the little girl who smiled and waved. "Keep your word!"

"Oh I most certainly will." Alexander smiled at him satisfactorily. He extended his hand and she shook it.