Horizon
I followed Emmett out of the house, hot on his heels. He carries on walking until I decide what I want to do.
"Emmett. Wait!" I shout to him. He stops and turns around to me with soft eyes.
"They'll be here soon Rose." He says, grimacing at the wolves'. I nod.
"I know. That's why I... I wanted to ask you something." I wait for his reaction but his perfect face was emotionless. "You'd give your life for me, wouldn't you?" I ask him, feeling the tears in my eyes threatening to spill.
"Of course." He says in a tense voice, waiting to see where this conversation was going.
"What else would you give?"
"Anything" He breathes looking at me adoringly. I nod at him and stare into his eyes as I think about how to word my request.
"Good. Then I feel better asking this then. I want you to stay out of the fight." I say looking at him whilst he stays still, not moving or breathing.
"I can't Rose" He says.
"I can't lose you." I say, a traitor tear falling as I think about when Emmett left me and the dark times they brung to me. He looks at me sadly before responding.
"I won't be far away and it will be over quickly. With the wolves in it there won't be enough for the rest of us to do." He tells me.
"If there won't be enough to do then you're not needed are you?" I ask him. He freezes and stares at me as he catches his own logic of the situation.
"And it's just pride that's making you go. Well I'm asking you to put that aside. I know that would take a lot of courage." He just stares at me. He looks resistant to my request. "No more tracks. Nno more half-truths. We'll be together one way or another. Either way you'll come with me or I'll be at the battle with you." I tell him. He was struggling, it was on his face and he was reluctant to give in. I take advantage of this and press further, reluctantly saying the words that will hit him the hardest. "I've already gone crazy once. If you leave me again-" I trail off as he looks down at the floor obviously feeling guilty. But I didn't take it back. "There are only two alternatives. Both of us in or both of us out." I look down at the floor as I wait for his decision.
"Then I choose the alternative I can live with" I look up at him feeling guilty and relieved. But at least I know he'll be safe and with me. I can live with that.
Xx
"You're not fighting?" Seth asks Emmett in shock. We were stood in the middle of a field with Jasper beside us and Seth opposite us. "What you pull a muscle or something?" He mocks Emmett.
"He's doing it for me. Okay?" I say to Seth defending Emmett. Seth looks at me whilst I see Emmett shakes his head something from the corner of my eye.
"Whatever just tell me the plan" He says crossing his arms over his chest with a huff. At that Jasper slips back into his military role and slightly steps forward to address Seth.
"This field will give us an advantage in battle. We can lure the newborns with Rosalie's scent, but it needs to end here."
"Emmett and I are going to a campsite. But even if he carries me, they'll pick up our scents." I tell him.
"Your smell, however, is revolting." Emmett says as both Jasper and Emmett wrinkle their noses in disgust.
"Dude, you rally don't want to start comparing stinks – " Seth says glaring at both of the vampires.
"He means, your scent will mask mine if you carry –" "Done" Seth says without hesitation.
"This is a bad idea." Emmett says to Jasper who shakes his head.
"Emmett, they won't want to get anywhere near his... odour." He says comfortingly to Emmett.
"Lets just test it" I say to them and look up to a grinning Seth. Emmett finally nods and I extend my arms to Seth who eagerly picks me up and looks at Emmett for confirmation.
"Run."
Seth didn't need any more confirmation and ran with me through the dark forest, expertly dodging the trees within centimetres with me still in his arms, not once losing breath. Eventually he puts me down and grins at me.
"We'll see if that works. Personally I think I smell great. You ever notice anything?" He asks me.
"Nothing except the usual boy smell." I reply looking for any sign of Emmett or Jasper.
"You gonna ask me to sit out if the fight too? Or don't you care about my safety?" Seth asks not meeting my eyes.
"Of course I care but you'd say no." I started to feel hopeful. Could I have both Emmett – my true love – and Seth – my best friend – safe? "Unless maybe you'd consider..." I said trailing off suggestively and staring up at his face.
"Yeah right" Then he started to backpedal. "But that doesn't mean he loves you more. And I don't have a choice anyway. Since I let Sam be alpha, I have to live with the shots he calls."
"Wait – you let him be alpha? What does that mean?" I ask him confused.
"Technically I was supposed to be Alpha. It's a lineage thing. It also woulda meant being chief of the whole tribe. But I turned it down when Sam offered."
"You're kidding." I said looking at him.
"I didn't want to be in a pack, let alone be their leader" I look at him, seeing him with new and different eyes.
"Wow. Chief Seth." I say smiling at the way it sounded.
"Opted out – but every choice has consequences... some more than others" He says looking at me pointedly, referring to my choice of joining the Cullen family and becoming a vampire to live with Emmett for eternity.
"Don't start- you're gonna have to accept my choice" I tell him. Jacob looks between us and I notice the closeness between us. I step backwards as he begins to speak again.
"You can love more than one person at a time. I've seen it, with Sam, Emily and Leah..."
"I'm not a wolf, I can't imprint" I interrupt him.
"It's not about imprinting. It's about feeling something for someone. And I know you feel something for me. I can sense how I make you feel. Physically. I make you nervous." He says pulling me closer to him.
"Seth come on"
"Don't worry, I promised I wouldn't kiss you again till you asked."
"You'll be keeping that promise for a long time Chief Seth" He grins at me and I grin back as we walk to where Jasper and Edward were stood.
Xx
I climb out of my truck as cut the engine and Alice and Charlie walk out laughing, enjoying each others company. As Alice heads down the stairs Charlie shouts to her.
"Don't be a stranger Alice. Hi ya Rose" He says noticing me before walking inside as Alice walks over to me.
"Your alibi for the battle is all arranged" Alice says self pleased.
"Really?" I ask shocked. She nods and carries on talking, elaborating her answer.
"I told your father that my whole family's going camping this weekend. So you and I are having a sleep-over at my house. Me, he likes. Actually you and Emmett will have the house to yourselves tonight."
"Alone?" I ask nervously. She nods.
"We're all going hunting, powering up for the fight. You're welcome." She says as she dances to her car. I walk into the house and found my Dad sat at the kitchen table.
"The sister, I like." He tells me.
"Yeah, Alice is great." I agree smiling at my quirky friend. I move over to the sink and start casually washing the dishes as he watches me suspiciously. "So Dad, I was wondering... why you never got remarried after Mom"
"I don't know. Guess I never met the right person. Why?"
"I thought maybe it was 'cause you, I don't know – gave up on the whole institution. Of marriage. But... you still think it has value?"
"Sure, marriage has value. When you're older. Like your Mom – it worked out great for her the second time. Later in life." He says.
"I guess..."
"You definitely don't want to have to get married because you weren't... careful –"
"What..."
"There's things you need to know when you're – physically intimate" He says awkwardly.
"Oh no. Please tell me this isn't the talk..." I say feeling the blush mark my cheeks already.
"Remember I'm just as embarrassed as you are." He says.
"I seriously doubt that. And anyway Mom beat you to the punch ten years ago. You're off the hook." I say hoping that was the end of the conversation.
"You didn't have a boyfriend ten years ago"
"I think things still work the same way" I say looking anywhere except him.
"So you two are taking precautions?"
"Please – I mean , really please don't worry about it. Emmett is... old school."
"I don't – know what that – is that like a technique or...?"
"OH MY GOD! I'm still a virgin! Okay? And I cannot believe I just had to say that out loud!"
"Really? Huh. Liking Emmett a bit more now." He mutters as I run past him and bolt out of the door feeling mortified.