Author's Note: So other than single words that have only been italicized for emphasis, pretty much all of the italicized text (and all of the italicized phrases or sentences) in this chapter are Leah's internal thoughts – not thought that's being shared with Embry. It should be rather easy to tell the difference, in context. That's it. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Reluctance

Leah's POV

Seth poked his head through the door he had cracked open slightly, the glare he directed at Embry briefly struggled to remain in place before a puzzled look won out and took over his face.

"What's so funny, guys?" I don't think either of us could have put an answer into words even if we had been able to speak at the moment. Realizing that he was unlikely to get an answer thanks to our continued laughing, he moved on, and his earlier glare reappeared.

"We saved you guys some food but I'm not making any promises that it'll still be there if you're not downstairs really soon..." he was audibly irritated at not being clued-in.

"Okay." Gasp for air, followed by laughter. "Thanks Seth." Another gasp. Now attempting to reign my laughter in. "We'll be down in just a sec."

Seth looked annoyed that we hadn't let him in on whatever joke it was that we both found so hilarious but he also looked like he was barely containing a bubbling fury.

The annoyance was understandably directed at both of us, while the rage – oddly enough – was shot straight at Embry alone.

I had seen my little brother angry on countless occasions. Hell, as his older sister and only sibling, I was probably better than anyone else in the world at provoking this reaction from my mind-blowingly docile and easy-going baby bro.

And yet…I had never seen him look angry like this before, not even at me. And come on, I could push people's buttons with the best of them! But this look wasn't angry. No, it went far beyond angry – it was furious, seething even. If it had been on any face except that of my baby brother, I probably would have found it frightening (not that I ever would have admitted to something like that, regardless of the circumstances).

Still panting and now wiping the tears off my face, just a few more quick giggles and I was done. Embry did the same a few feet away, though it took him a touch less time when he noticed Seth's burning stare and sobered quickly thereafter.

With a final look of suspicion and a shake of his head, Seth ducked back out of the doorway and I could hear his footsteps recede, down the hallway to the stairs, through the still-slightly-ajar bedroom door.

I felt my own mood mirrored in the tension, anxiety, and dread rolling off Embry from a few feet away. It wasn't funny anymore.

We were now both aware of the realization we had each just come to…

If Fate were to decide to mess around with any of the La Push wolves in such a manner, of course it was going to be the two of us. Of course it was.

And that was it. We had imprinted. On each other.

"Oh God," he groaned. "Do you think they'll come looking for us if we just ditch and sneak out the window?"

It wasn't such a bad idea. We could be halfway to Canada by the time they even realized we were gone…

No, we couldn't though. My mother would worry.

"Maybe it won't be as bad as we think?" I naively suggested.

There we go! Way to stay optimistic, Clearwater!

Embry's expression clearly advertised his skepticism.

"What do we tell them?" Isn't he just a practical boy?

Man, my brain corrected itself. Now looking at Embry, I suppose I agreed. He may have still been a boy when I left, but he was a man now – that's for sure.

And what a man, indeed!

Shut up, stupid voice! Freaking imprinting…

"As little as possible. It's nobody else's business. Besides, we don't really know much of anything at all…"

Yeah, screw them!

"We can't exactly lie to Jake, Quil, and your brother. They'll know everything that we know – or thinking we might know – the next time we phase."

He just had to point that out didn't he?

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean they need to know right now. And everyone else certainly doesn't need to know."

Especially Sam, I thought.

"Understood. We better start heading down though because it's only going to get harder the longer we make them wait. Don't want to give them anymore time than they've already had to formulate questions and make speculations." Oh Embry, ever the voice of reason.

He got up off the floor and turned to offer me a hand up. I almost took it, unconsciously, before remembering… I'm Leah Clearwater. I don't need any man's help with anything, much less just standing up from the goddamn floor.

As we crossed the room to the door, ready to meet our fate, he stopped me by grasping my shoulder once again.

I turned to face him, confusion written plainly across my face, I'm sure.

He looked me directly in the eye, and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"This is not the end of the world. So just relax and try not to kill anyone," he coached.

I could tell he wanted me to think he was feeling calm and confident about what we would shortly face. I knew that he was actually just as afraid as I was. After all, he was the one who had already been punched once today.

"Done," I agreed. "Bodily harm is still okay though, right? Only death is off-limits?" Just clarifying my options.

"Sure. Deal," he chuckled.

With that, we left the bedroom and made our way down the hallway towards the staircase, side by side. As we headed to face the questions, confusion, worries, and anger that Fate had lay before us waiting at the bottom of the stairs, my one reassuring thought was that at least this time I wasn't facing it all alone.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! And thanks, in advance, for REVIEWING! ;)