A/N: At first, I regretted the last chapter because I received the most criticism for it, and none of it constructive I might add, but now I've re-read it, I only see a couple mistakes. I know the fight with Bella wasn't as good as suspected, but I just wanted the bitch dead. So if you have something to complain about in this chapter… please keep it to yourself, I still have a lot of satisfied readers.

I want to dedicate this chapter to two very talented authors' who helped me screw my head back on right… lol. But a big thanks to SoundShield11 and hopelessromantic5 for constantly reminding me why I write these stories that a great percentage of you enjoy.

D: Yeah you know I don't own it.

Hungover

Seth's POV

Ever feel like you're doing the right thing, but it feels like you're making the wrong decisions because it affects everyone around you? I've been doing that a lot lately. I thought it was best to keep Logan from Jacob and Paul being as they are probably going insane over me rejecting them. But now Logan is resenting me now, he speaks to me through Embry on the occasion. I try to do what's best, but the constant cries for Paul breaks my heart even more… but that's only the hint of it.

Two shifters imprinted on me, and the rejection I've given them, is now affecting me. It feels like I'm falling apart, they're both killing me and they don't know it. It feels as a hundred jagged rusted knives are grating what's left of my heart, grinding it into minced particles. I'm ready to give in and give up. Just say the hell with it and live the unhappy life set for me.

I wish I had the support of the pack and everyone around me. None of them understand the angst in the situation, they figure I should just run into Paul's arms and expect it to work out, but it never does. I tried explaining in different ways to why I can't just do that, because there is always Jacob, the wolf who will stop at nothing now to rid his competition. That big part of me would be missing if Paul's life ended because of my wronged decisions.

It has been nothing but a constant arguing with myself, literally telling the little devil and angel on my shoulders to shut up. My thoughts weren't my own anymore; they were conquered by the inevitabilities of this mistake. Loved by the man I love, only to be crushed by the man I no longer cared for. The true yin and yang situation to which I wanted no comparison, Paul is the only one I choose to love, so why couldn't that be enough? Why was Jacob so keen on making my life a living hell? I helped him rebuild himself, only for him to break me in the end. Why was he being so selfish that he wasn't letting me be happy? He should have known by now that happiness with him is far from reality.

I keep asking myself why it took so long for Paul to even imprint on me. I've known him all my life, but it wasn't until yesterday that it changed. For the worse? I yet still have to figure that out. I want it to just be Paul to be my soul mate, to be the reason for my existence, to only be his imprint. The more I try to decipher the reasons for this sudden bind, the more my head hurts from nothings. It seems it will never make sense to me.

I've been silent for almost a half hour now, Old Quil waiting for me to ask him my disfigured contempt's. That's exactly what they were, regrets. Something I wish I could take back a million times. Where is the undo button when you need it? My mom convinced me to speak with the elder, to ask him for answers that I have been looking for since the moment Paul gave me that look.

"I don't have all day boy." The old man crackled.

"Sorry sir," I bowed my head in apology. "I just have so many questions that I don't know which to ask first."

"Very well, but first…" he cleared his throat and took a sip of his tea. "My question for you is why did you wait until now to see me?"

"…" I paused to think. It never occurred to me why I should've questioned a lot of things. "Well… why and how did Jacob imprint on me?"

"I'll answer your question as soon as you answer mine."

"I don't know why I waited so long." I sighed annoyed. "I guess… I guess I'm afraid of the truth… I didn't want to find out something I already knew."

"And what is that son?" He asked, taking another sip of his tea.

"If the imprint was real between Jacob and me, I wanted it to be real, and a part of me knew that it was fake." I cleared my throat. "I thought Logan's birth was like a confirmation that there was an imprint, and that Jacob broke it."

"Young man." The man shook his head. "I don't know who told you an imprint could be broken. From what I understand, from what my father taught me, an imprint is permanent. No shifter is strong enough to break something that is practically etched in stone."

"But Jacob lied." I argued. "He said he imprinted on me when he didn't –I was stupid to believe that- and I don't know how we lasted that long without me knowing. Him finally admitting that he imprinted doesn't change anything, I want nothing to do with him."

"So you want to break that bond between you and the alpha." I nodded with frustration. "Well boy, I've never witnessed the bond between to males, and I'm new to the situation. Maybe this is a lot different. I can't predict the outcome of this, now that you have two MALE wolves imprinted on you, there has to be a plausible reason of this."

"Like what?"

"You say Billy's boy imprinted on you after you didn't want to be with him, what was the drastic change of heart that made him fall for you?" This was beginning to sound stupid to me. I shrugged my shoulders in exasperation. "What changed it all?"

"The day he cheated on me…" I mumbled.

"Speak up boy…" the elder demanded.

"He cheated on me and I was so… so… mad that I couldn't pull myself together. I was caught off guard and I hated that." I said annoyed.

"So you blame yourself for him cheating on you?" He asked.

"No I blame him." I defended myself.

"So how did you react to this act of infidelity?"

"I flipped out." I gave an evil smirk. Call it what you want, but I'm proud of myself, I finally stood up for myself. "I almost killed him from being so angry with him."

"Has he ever seen you angry?" The man continued. I shook my head.

"No one has really seen me that upset." I muttered. "After that, I haven't been the same. I stopped being the loving, adorable, caring Seth that everyone knew me as, and became stronger than those who know me for."

"Usually emotions play a big part in an imprint, they steer them in strange ways. Sometimes your wolf has no control of it, your heart does." He spoke softly. "If your heart knows what it wants before your wolf does, you'll be lucky."

"What do you mean?"

"If you don't pick, your wolf will." He informed, "and any opportunity for a submissive to claim the alpha's attention, they will."

"But I know what I want, I know who I want." I argued. "It's always been Paul, and it always will be."

"So why are you here then?" He grumbled. "If it's the other one you want to be with, why are you here trying to debate with me about these imprints… you're never going to find your answer here, talk to them."

"I can't. Not right now" I mumbled.

"Why?"

"For the same reason you said before. My wolf… I don't trust it right now. And I don't trust myself." He stared at me puzzled.

"You still love the alpha?" He questioned.

"I... I, don't know." I didn't want to admit it.

"I think you've come across one of the rare cases of a choice imprint." He thought out loud.

"So I have a choice?"

"Maybe. But it wont end well if your can't bring them both to an agreement." He warned.

"So I was right? One of them will end up killing the other?" I panicked.

"Talk to them boy, you have to let them know how you feel about it. It's the only way."

I could run. I want to run. But they'll come looking for me again. Besides, running isn't always the solution. I have to remind myself of that.

"Thank you sir." I stood up and shook the man's hand.

"You'll figure it out son," he looked up at me, "and keep in mind that you have the power over this."

I nodded and left as quickly as I could. I haven't felt so alone in my life, and yet I shouldn't be feeling this way, but it seems everyone is leaving me to make this decision alone. All I could think of is why I came back in the first place.

As I walked through the woods, contemplating on how I was going to approach this, implementing a plan to speak to both of them without playing the referee. I couldn't seem to fixate an approach on this, my mind turned up blank.

Sitting on the rock in the middle of what almost looked like a boulder garden, I gave a thought to my memories with both of them. And as much as I tried denying my feelings for Jake, the pain worsened. He was my first love. He was my first everything, including my first heartbreak. So why did I still love him? He knew how to upset me, and then make me happy. He knows that I'm the jealous type, and he used that to his advantage when he would flirt with others. It broke me a little every time; it nurtured the doubt I had that I was never enough. The more I thought about it, I realize that would always be Jacob, even if I did give him another chance. He's the magician always playing tricks on me.

Then there is Paul. Even the thought of him sends my heart to soar, like he's the one person that purposely makes me smile in hopes of nothing in return, and that was before he imprinted on me. I could always be myself with Paul, never worrying if I was losing his interest because he told me everyday. He constantly reminded me that I was his everything, and I did the same. The little nothings he did for me, always meant a lot to me, and they still do. His obligation to cater to me just because, his every opportunity to spoil me with a date because he felt I deserved it, means everything to me. He would even wrap his arms around me tighter whenever a thunderstorm would roll in because of my childhood fears, even if he was sound asleep and I was shaking slightly with fear, he knew when I needed him, he would hold me tighter while the rain plummeted on the rooftop. I missed that.

It's like I was shaken out of my thoughts when I heard a crunch of branches behind me, finding Jacob approaching me in wolf form. His eyes dark and possessive as he stepped closer.

I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Embry's POV

It was the howl that sent me on alert, a cry for help from one of the pack members. I knew that it was Seth from the high pitch, he was in trouble. He should've listened when we urged him to take time from patrols; he needed the time to get his head clear. But he convinced us that patrolling would help him clear his mind.

I could see the guilt taken hold on my best friends life. He seems lost and detached ever since Paul imprinted on him. I along with the rest of the pack find it hard to understand why he couldn't accept Paul's love, why he's making Paul suffer too.

Just as I phased, Sam, Jared and Quil joined with as much knowledge as I. I wasn't sure if we would reach him in time.

'Seth! BABY I'M COMING.' Paul joined the chase.

It was difficult to decipher what Paul's thoughts were trying to play out; he seemed more lost than anyone. Even though he was pained from the rejection, he was still willing to fend for the one man who doesn't want him near. His memories were filled with the fondness and strengths of their relationship. Precious recollections of the day they shared their first kiss, how much joy filled Paul's heart when Seth returned the feelings. Then the day Paul swore to Seth that he'd fight for him the first time Jacob claimed he imprinted, Paul promised to never give up, even if that meant he'd die doing it.

'You will SUBMIT!' It was Jake's demeaned thoughts, I could only think of the worse.

'LEAVE HIM ALONE JAKE!' Paul ordered.

'Stand clear!' Jake commanded. 'No one interferes, especially you Paul. Seth, you will be with me.'

'You're taking advantage of your role as alpha.' Sam said angered. 'This is not the way to win over his heart.'

'I don't need you're lectures Sam.' He snarled.

'Stand strong baby.' Even though Paul was ordered to stand still, he wasn't giving up.

'Shut up Paul.' Jake glared Paul down, slowly creeping towards the silver wolf. 'I'm not letting you take him away from me again.'

'You're such a coward Jacob…' before Seth could continue with his insults, Jake interfered.

'I tried everything for you to forgive me.' Jake was crying out now, he was seriously hurt over it, over the pass five years he was living in such distress he was willing to try anything to get Seth back, even if it meant enforcing it. 'I know I screwed up big time with you, you remind me every time I'm around you. But I can't live another day without you. I've been trying to convince myself that you would come back to me, that we could put this behind us, but… I can never seem to win.'

This has to be the most difficult order I had to follow, any of us for that matter. Forced to watch as one of the biggest disagreements took place. None of us were capable of assisting our pack brother, the father to my imprint, my best friend, Seth was practically trapped at the feet of the alpha, the man he despised. My stance was frozen along with the rest of the pack; we weren't permitted to move a muscle, including the third wheel, Paul. As much as Seth tried denying it, in fact we all see it, Seth is still in love with Jacob, and I think Jacob knows that. He's using it to his advantage as we speak.

Paul's destructive persona remains contained, instructed by Jacob to watch his imprint submit to another dominant, to the alpha, to his best friend. It pained us all, Seth was fighting for his freedom, and because he was the imprintee, he still had the chance. At least we hoped he did.

The sight before us, was uncalled for and degrading to my best friend as he was now crouched under the russet brown wolf, contained and caged under the wolf's figure. Snarls and barks lay as threats if the smaller wolf dared to move. Jacob's patience was tested, and through his infuriation towards rejection for so long, he had enough of it. The sick thing was, he was forcing Seth to submit to him, and against his will he was claiming what he thinks love is.

I began to wonder where Leah was through all of this, I know she wouldn't stand for this.

'Get off him JACOB!' I could see Paul struggling to break the order.

'Shut up Paul.' He gave him a glare, then returning to the frightened submissive below him.

I wanted nothing but to set Jake straight, he needed to know that he was just making everything worse. Every pack member wanted to do something, their expressions were nothing but anger and frustration over the fact we weren't able to help our pack brother. That was until the unexpected happened.

In a blur, a millisecond, Seth's older sister came crashing down on the alpha. She was furious to see her brother put in such a situation. Nothing but jumbled thoughts and dark ideas of how she was going to bring Jacob to his end played out for all of us to see. In sight, Jacob struggled for a moment as Leah had his massive scruffy neck in her jaw as she tossed him to the side like a ragdoll. In the moment, the battle was in her favor, until Jacob stood up and pounded his paws in the damp soil in a threatening manner. They circled each other as Seth tried to recollect himself to stand and shake the weakened feelings off.

'You'll pay for this.' He snarled.

'Bring it asshole.'

It was then Leah charge full throttle towards the russet wolf, both colliding in a dance as they snapped their jaws at each other, both furious with each other for their own reasons. Each time Jake tried gripping whatever fur he came close to, Leah would dodge and maneuver her way through just in time –one of the perks of being a submissive- and retaliating with a nip at him.

'Stop it you guys.' Seth begged, but only to be ignored.

Just as Leah was able to bite down on his tail, Jake swung her around and smashed her against the nearest tree. She released and quickly stood to only be shoved back to the forest floor, Jake digging his paws in her neck, causing her to try and shake herself free.

'You will not interfere anymore.' He growled at the female. 'Just to make sure, from here on… you're ban..'

'I SAID THAT WAS ENOUGH!' Seth shoved the massive wolf off of his sister, sending Jacob to lose balance and fall back. 'If it's violence you want Jake, then so be it.'

'What are you talking about Seth?' He seemed dreaded to question his imprint.

'I challenge you. For my freedom.' He nudged his sister and used his head to help push her back to her feet.

'Freedom?' Jake puzzled. We were all confused.

'My freedom of you and the imprint you claim you have on me.' He informed. 'If I win, you'll leave me to love who I want. If you win… I'll submit.'

'No Seth!' Paul was able to cry out. 'Please baby, you don't need to do this.'

'Shut it Paul.' Jake demanded.

'I have to.' Seth looked at Paul saddened.

'I accept the challenge.'

Seth's POV

Call me crazy, say I'm insane, I don't care, and this seems to be the only way to break free. My fate awaits me at the end of this battle. My destiny will be handed to me after I fight for victory or defeat, either way; I wanted this pandemonium to end.

Every one seems to be shaken from my sudden decision to fight Jacob. Even though they were silenced, I could probably indicate what their thoughts would be. It was almost if I was setting myself up for failure, going against someone I even have doubts I could defeat, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Never will I ever.

Ask me the question if my nerves were getting the best of me, probably, I knew that I was shaking with anxiety and fear. Not of Jacob, but the fact that I'm probably handing myself to him on a silver platter. But I have to remind myself that this is for the best. I have to do this in order to break free of the confusion.

'Don't do this love, please…' Paul cried out to me. 'I'll fight for you. I'll take your place'

'I said shut it Paul.' Jacob commanded again. 'Why are my orders not being followed?'

'Because you're going against what a true alpha is.' I answered. 'An alpha would never put his pack in such a predicament.'

'I didn't want to be alpha.' He argued. 'I only accepted the role because I thought that's what you wanted me to be.'

'I didn't say I wanted you to Jacob, I clearly explained that you would make a great alpha, but now I'm beginning to regret what I said.' I said calmly. There he goes blaming me again.

'I'm not blaming you.' He defended. 'I'm just going crazy because I can't seem to do anything right for you anymore, I only want to make you happy.'

'You think this is the best way? I don't have pity for you anymore Jake, not since you deceived me so many times.' I couldn't believe he was making me spill my emotions now. 'I tried to find closure, but your have it implanted in your mind that I belong to you.'

'But you do.'

'No, I used to.' I reminded him. 'I told you that I belonged to you because I thought I did. When you said that you imprinted on me the first time, I admit, I was the happiest man alive; I had the one person I longed for since the day I met you. But I was always second best, and it took me forever to see it.'

'No, you've always been number one. I just never saw it until now.'

'See that's what I mean Jake, it's a little to late to have epiphanies, you had your chance.' I moved closer. 'I laid alone awake at night, cried because I never did belong by your side. When I realized that I was never going to be something you needed, someone you needed, I moved on.'

'No…'

'I see that now.' I glanced over to Paul, my rock. 'I mean… a part of me will always love you Jake; I've accepted that now. I can't deny that you will always have a part of me; I'd be lying myself. But there is someone that I've put as my second best that should've been put first in the first place. I've been doing to him what you've been doing to me, and it isn't fair. I'm going for it before it's too late.'

Something changed in Jacob at that moment, the glares he gave Paul were no longer there. 'I don't want to lose you.' He cried out.

'You wont.' I consoled. 'You're still Logan's father. You will always have that part of me as I the same. But Paul… Paul has never asked me to decide, my happiness came first, even if it was with you. But my happiness is with him.'

'I don't want to fight you, or be the cause of your pain anymore.' He sat on his hind legs, 'you deserve to have a love that is stronger than what we had. You deserve to be with Paul. Paul deserves you.'

'Really?' I regretted questioning him; he was most likely going to change his mind.

'Yes.' It almost looked as if he was smiling at me. 'I'm so sorry Seth. For never letting you be happy, I just thought I was the one that should make you smile. But now I clearly see that Paul is you're true mate. It will take me awhile to accept it, but I'm willing to try.'

'Thanks Jake.' I couldn't seem to stop smiling. Probably looked like a foolish wolf, but I couldn't be happier. 'For everything.'

'Paul.' He approached him with ease. 'Promise to never let him be sad ever again, promise that you'll always be the reason he looks forward to the next day, that he has no regrets. Promise me that you'll never break his heart like I did.'

With a nod from Paul, we all sighed in relief. Tensions were lifted and inflictions were forgotten. Relief filled me inside and out, I was free. Well kind of… Jacob would still have to remain on the sidelines, watching as I spend the rest of my life with Paul.

'Can I speak to Jake alone?' I asked the pack, but more of Paul.

'Of course.' Paul seemed hesitant. 'Don't be too long.'

'I won't.' I assured.

As everyone left the area, leaving me to sit alone with the russet wolf sitting across from me. He stared at me with care and love still, and I felt the guilt of it.

'Jake.'

'Yeah.' He watched me carefully.

'Can you promise me something?'

'Anything.' He bowed his head slightly.

'Promise me you won't give up on love.' He didn't say or think of anything, he only continued to examine me. 'I hope you find someone to love, someone to care for.'

'I can't.' He replied. 'As much as I would want to, they'll never be you Seth.'

'I, I'm sorry Jake.'

'For what?'

'For not finding a way to break the imprint you have on me, you deserve to find someone too.' It still bothered me. He'd have to watch me in pain as Paul and I lived our lives together.

'Nonsense.' He chuckled. 'The moment you shared with us, mainly me that you love Paul… I can finally see it. And besides… I think it's broken.'

'Really?' I asked surprised.

'I think, well I don't feel that strong pull towards you anymore.' He admitted. 'I just know that in my life that I still love you, I will still protect you and Logan, and from now on, you can always count on me to be there for you guys. And who knows… maybe I will find someone one day, but like I said… they'll never be you.'

'Well at least don't turn it down if someone comes your way.' I added.

'I won't, if that one person comes, maybe… but for now, it's Logan I need to be there for at the most. I want to get to know my son. And let Billy know what he's missing out on.' He added with a chuckle.

'Yeah, I'd like to see that day when Billy finally stops being a stubborn old fool.' We shared a laugh, now walking back to Sam's.

'Hey now, that old fool is still my dad.' We both phased and pulled on the two pairs of shorts on the porch rail.

"Thanks Jake." I smiled.

"For what?" He puzzled.

"For bringing back the Jake I remembered."

A/N: I was going to split the chapter into two parts, but I figured you guys waited long enough for the conclusion. So this is the end, well sort of. I still left out why Paul imprinted in the first place, and what will happen with Logan and Embry, which will be in the epilogue. So it will be more lovey-dovey for those who look forward to it.

I hope the emotions of the characters were played out well. I wanted to get across that with Seth challenging Jacob, that he was willing to do anything to be with Paul, and that it kind of helped to open Jacob's eyes to who Seth really wanted to be with. I was going to put in a fight where Seth loses, but I figured I put Seth through enough, and hoping you guys don't FULLY hate Jacob still in the end.

I based this chapter on Kesha's song Hungover. I feel it plainly explains what Seth is going through. Like a hangover, he still hates how the situation has given him headaches, trying to find why he still loves Jake, and how much Paul remains on his mind. He's hungover on both of them in different ways.

Moving on… a big thanks for the reviewers of the last chapter. I'm still grateful for the interest in this fic. So thanks to Cold Harts97, dark-magician100, Demon2Angel, sibaruneko, ant1gon3, hopelessromantic5, rAbiDmutt03, SomerTrevAckles, luvinlapush, Moustique, Head Mistress Cullen, WolfPacFaan, SoundShield11, iJeedai, fuyoshi-chan, and last but not least, tqt13rocks.

Much Love,

TurnItUp03