WARNING: GRAPHIC MENTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE, MANIPULATIONS, VIOLENCE, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, TRIGGERING IMAGERY, AND ADULT IMAGERY. IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY THIS OR DO NOT ENJOY IT, DO NOT READ.

Chapter Nine.

Charlie's POV:

Tiffany stood in my office with a grimace on her face. The curly haired woman was a walking and talking bubble of fury.

"We're moving to Tacoma this weekend."

"We?"

"Embry and I."

"That's funny because Embry is staying with me."

"I'm not going to let him become a degenerate!" Her face was red as a tomato and screwed in disdain. I had to bite my lip to hold in my laughter. She looked like a big red balloon ready to pop. To keep my composure, I swallowed and got down to the real business.

"Is that why you hit him?"

"Sparring the rod spoils the child."

"With sick thoughts like that its no wonder that Embry ran from home."

"You have no idea what he's put me through!"

"And you have no idea what you've put him through! Do him a favor and move to Tacoma by yourself. Let him stay with me."

"What? Are you crazy?"

"You won't have the responsibility of dealing with him anymore except for on paper. You'll be free to run off with your boyfriend and live happily ever after."

"I just can't abandon him."

"Tiffany, you won't be abandoning him. You'll both be better off." Tears appeared in her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks. She looked deep in thought. I leaned back in my chair and glanced at a picture of Bella that sat on my desk. She was twelve then with braces and a messy fringe.

She was the best thing to ever happen to me. I could never understand why someone would treat their child like they were an inconvenience.

"O-okay. I guess you're right." Tiffany wiped her eyes and nodded at me. "I'll bring his things over tonight."

"I'll send Embry and Bella out for ice cream."

"Thank you, Chief Swan."

"Don't thank me. I'm doing this for him, not you." She left my office and shut the door quietly. I breathed out the breath I was holding and felt a little weight lift from my shoulders. Maybe now he can get some piece of mind. Maybe he can start to heal like Bella is.

I gave the picture another glance before returning to my work, hopeful for the future.

Embry's POV:

Nothing could prepare me for the sight of my mother with a box full of photo albums.

"You'll need these. I won't be returning to La Push." With a kiss on my cheek, she got back in her car and drove off. The box felt like it weighed a hundred pounds in my hands.

Won't be returning to La Push? What did she mean?

"Embry, who was at the door?" Charlie inquired.

"My mother," I whispered. He cursed under his breath and I felt my temper start to rise. I threw the box down and locked eyes on the chief. "Did you know she was coming?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want her to hurt you anymore."

"I guess you failed, then." I bit out. Bella appeared a few seconds later, worry etched on her features. When she tried to come towards me I stepped back. "I need to be alone."

"Embry, let me help you-"

"How can you help me when you can't even help yourself?"

"That was uncalled for." Was all she said before going back in the house. I swallowed the feeling of guilt away before jumping on the motorcycle and speeding off, my body trembling and my chest tight.

Fuck, my mother had abandoned me. She was gone.

Shouldn't I be happy? Why wasn't I happy?

It didn't take too long to get to La Push, to my old home. It was empty and locked up.

"What the fuck!" I screeched, not caring if the neighbors heard me. She had left me here while she moved away. She had abandoned me.

I sat on the porch steps and swallowed the cries that threatened to spill out.

Why the fuck am I sad? She's never done shit for me. I was just a burden to her.

I rubbed at my eyes pathetically as tears fell down my cheeks.

"Stop crying, stop crying."

"Embry?" I jumped at the sound of someone's voice and looked up. Jared and Kim stood there with worried expressions on their face. They walked over to me and Jared spoke again. "Buddy, what's wrong?"

"M-my mom moved to Tacoma."

"Without you?" I nodded and sobbed. Kim immediately gathered me into her arms and rubbed my back soothingly.

"It's going to be okay, let it out, let it out."

"Fuck, Em. Do you have someplace to stay? Are you still living at the Swan's?"

"You can stay with us, honey. It's no trouble." Kim had moved out of her parent's home when she turned sixteen and Jared's parents treated her like their own.

"Yeah, my sister's can all share a room."

"I'm still staying with Bella and the Chief."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. How is Bella by the way?"

"I-I fucked up. I hurt her feelings."

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"I asked her how she could help me when she couldn't help herself."

"Geesh, that's harsh, Em."

"I know! Fuck, I don't know what to do. She'll probably never talk to me again and then I'll be kicked out of their house and I'll be all alone again." As I started to cry again Jared pulled Kim and I in his arms and held us tight. "I don't want to be alone again."

"You won't be. You have us and the rest of the pack." We sat there for a while until my tears ceased and turned to sniffles. With a kiss on my forehead, Jared pulled away. "Come on, I'll drive you home."

"My bike-"

"We'll have Paul drop it off before patrol." Kim and I stood up and Jared wrapped an arm around me before leading me to his truck. It was a long ride home.

Bella's POV:

When Embry returned home I served him lunch without a second glance and then went into my room. My feelings were hurt. I know he was in pain, but that didn't give him the right to be disrespectful.

I wasn't going to apologize for caring about him. He had been there for me through a lot and it was only fair that I returned the favor. That was what friends, or whatever we were, did.

Laying down on my stomach on my bed, I pulled out my copy of Wuthering Heights and lost myself in the words. I needed to disappear for a while.

Thirty minutes later I felt a tap on my shoulder. Looking up, I caught eyes with Embry. He looked like he had been crying.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as tears fell down his cheeks. I sighed and put the book on the side table before pulling him into my arms. He cried into my chest and held on for dear life. "Please don't leave me."

"Never." Embry started to cry harder. I did the only thing I could think of to calm him down. "And I'm gonna keep on lovin' you, cause it's the only thing I want to do. I don't want to sleep, I just want to keep on lovin' you." I ran a hand up and down his back and with the other one I played with his hair.

I stayed with him like that all night until he fell into a deep sleep.

Jacob's POV:

Sitting down at the kitchen table, I dialed Embry's number from Leah's phone and waited. He had skipped the pack meeting and hadn't contacted anyone except for Sam in days. Sam refused to say anything, so I was getting to the bottom of it. I had suspicions that it was Bella's doing. She always hated when we risked out skins for her.

The phone rang a few times before a small voice asked, "Hello?"

"Bella?" Why was she answering his phone?

"Baby, come back to bed." Embry groaned from the other end and a burst of rage filled my body. I hung up and lay the phone on the table, taking care to not crush it. Leah would be pissed if she had to pay for a new phone.

"Did he answer?" Leah asked as she entered the front door, her hair pulled back into a short ponytail and some dirt covering her cheek. She had been gardening all day.

"Mhm."

"Find anything out?"

"He's fucking Bella."

"W-what? What do you mean?"

"She answered his phone and I could hear Embry asking her to come back to bed in the background. They're fucking! I just know it." I slammed my fist on the table in agitation.

"Calm down! It's not the end of the world. So, what if they're having sex? It's not like we're not."

"You don't get it! She's using him."

"How so?"

"Why else would she be with him?"

"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe she actually likes him?"

"The only people she likes are the Cullen's and they're thankfully far far away from Washington."

"Ah, just forget about it. You have me now, don't you?" I shut my mouth and nodded, and a smile appeared on Leah's face. My stomach filled with butterflies. I loved her smile. "Come on, I need to shower, and I want you to join me."

"Gladly." Quickly we were both in the harsh stream from my shower with our clothes scattered across the floor. As her lips pressed against mine I felt all thoughts of Bella and Embry disappear from my head.

Embry's POV:

My temporary hiatus from the pack was ended when Brady, a newly phased wolf, and Collin's best friend, caught her scent. After shoveling the rest of the contents of my plate into my mouth, I ran out the door and joined the chase. Thankfully Bella had been called in for work. After her attempts, she had talked to Mike and stopped working for a while. Now that she was out of the woods, she could start working again and the Newton's had welcomed her back with open arms.

The redhead bloodsucker ran through the trees at hyper speed, cackling maniacally. It almost like watching a stereotypical bad guy, except she was a girl and instead of telling us her evil plan and failing, she chose to just make our lives a living hell.

"Seth, Brady, go north!"

"I don't know where north is!"

"Just follow Seth, sweetheart," Leah exclaimed encouragingly.

"Embry, Quil, catch her off guard towards the side!"

"Can do, captain!" Quil implored.

"Paul, you and I will get her head on!" Paul growled in reply before running faster.

As she ran she made a crucial mistake and stepped on a fragile limb, sending her tumbling down. I caught her leg in my mouth and bit down.

"Nasty mutt!" She screeched before digging her nails deep into my snout. I howled in pain and let go. Quil attempted to bite her but was left chewing on air.

Paul's body catapulted at her and with the twist of her hands, she broke his arm. Then she disappeared into the canopy of trees. From the distance, we could hear a large splash from the water. We all phased back at once to regroup.

"Ah, fuck! We almost fucking had her! Mother fucking dammit!" Paul screeched as he stomped on the ground, holding his injured arm with his hand. "Fuck!"

"Calm down, dude. It's okay. We'll get her next time." I exclaimed as I put a hand on his shoulder, but he threw me off him with his good arm. He breathed in and out heavily, his body shaking in anger and pain.

"It's okay? Are you fucking mental? Has dating that leech fucker killed all the cells in your brain? None of this is okay! We're sixteen-years-old and we have to fight vampires because some bitch decided a tick would make the perfect boyfriend!"

"Don't talk about her like that!"

"Guys, why don't we just-"

"Stay out of this, Collin!" We both yelled before turning back to each other with sharp eyes.

"You think you're some hot shot because you're living with the Chief, huh? Why'd you move out of your moms anyway? Couldn't take the heat of not knowing who your dad is?" How did he know I was living with Bella? It was supposed to be a secret.

"You don't know shit."

"Boohoo, poor Embry, my mommy won't tell me who my daddy is so I'm going to run away. Cry a river, build a bridge, and get the fuck over it already."

"My mom beat the shit out of me all the time, just like yours did! You fucking asshole, shitting on me when you know nothing about me. I went through hell! Don't fucking tell me shit about me!" My body was on autopilot as I stalked towards him. His eyes widened at my statement.

"E-Embry, man, I had no idea."

"I'll rip your fucking arm off if you don't shut your trap!"

"Guys, cool it-" Jacob tried to step between us but I shoved him out of the way before wrapping both of my hands around Paul's neck and squeezing. His eyes bugged out as I cut off his air supply, but I couldn't stop myself. I wasn't in control anymore.

He clawed at my arms with his good hand, but I just gripped him harder.

"Embry, let him go." Sam deadpanned.

"Stay out of this."

"Don't make me order you."

I roared and let go of him, but before Sam could stop me I tackled Paul to the ground and got in a few good punches. His blood splattered across my face and he howled in surprise and pain.

They finally pulled me off him and rushed to his aid, leaving me covered in red and trembling alone.

All except for Seth.

He walked over to me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, and I gripped it tightly.

"Are you okay, Em?" I shook my head as a lump formed in my throat. "Come back to my house, you can take a shower and borrow something of mine to wear." I let him lead me away from the group, shaking like a leaf.

Was this what I had become? Some monster that beats people? Was I no better than my mother?

It was a miracle I didn't start bawling until I was alone in the shower, watching the blood swirl down the drain along with my dignity. I had attacked a pack member, busted his face. And for what? A few hurt words?

I cried openly into my hands and felt such self-hatred I thought I might combust.

I was no better than her. I knew he was angry and weak at that moment; he didn't mean what he said. But the adrenaline in my veins got the best of me and I snapped.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

After quickly washing my hair I stepped out to let myself air dry in the empty bathroom. My wolf heat worked in no time.

"Hey, I have some shorts and t-shirt for you." I opened the door and took the clothes from him before quickly pulling them on. I gave me a small smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Are you okay?"

"I lost it back there."

"He was out of line."

"That doesn't give me the right to attack him."

"It doesn't."

"I need to apologize." I went towards the door but he pulled me back.

"Woah, buddy. Just sit and relax for a while. Paul's going to be angry and in pain for a few hours still. Come on, why don't we talk for a bit." We sat down at the kitchen table across from each other.

"Talk about what?"

"Jacob called you a few nights ago and Bella answered. He thinks you're sleeping together."

"What?"

"After Sam and Jake got into an argument, Sam spilled the beans that you both lived together. Jake told the rest of the pack."

"Shit."

"I'm sorry, Em."

"It's fine. At least everyone knows now."

"Did she really do that to you?" I nodded. "Geesh, I'm sorry. No one should go through that."

"It's fine," I said again. "I'm in a better place now."

"You're making it sound like you're dead."

"Eh, sometimes I wish I was."

"Don't say that. We'd be devastated." I was about to refute his claim before looking into his eyes. They held a determination I had never seen.

"Thank you for being such a good friend, Seth."

"Don't mention, Em. I'm lucky to have you too."

"Hey, I never said I was lucky." I teased him, and he started laughing.

"Well, you didn't have to." We talked for a while, losing our stresses as we bonded. I wish it could always be like.

Sadly, our conversation was cut off as the front door opened and Jacob stepped inside.

He looked at me with hard eyes and I stared back defiantly.

"Can we talk for a second?"

"What is there to say?"

"Just come on." With a grunt, I followed him out the door into the woods. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was long enough to fall into his eyes.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Bella."

"Of course." I threw my hands up and then motioned him to continue. "Come on, I don't have all day."

"Em, listen to me. You shouldn't see her anymore-"

"Why?"

"She doesn't like you. She's just using you to get back at me!"

"Not everything is about you. You have no idea what goes on between us."

"What, did you put glitter on and fake vampire fangs and recite her stupid laments on why she's your soulmate? You and I both know she only cares about one person, and that's Edward Cullen."

"Fuck you. You're being a horrible friend."

"Takes one to know one. I guess you forgot about the bro code."

"Oooh, so that's what this is about. It's not about Bella using me, it's about you being jealous because she likes me!"

"No, it's not!"

"Why the fuck do you care? You have Leah now! Why can't you leave the poor girl alone?"

"Poor girl? I try everything to have her fall for me and a few days with you and you're already sleeping with her."

"I'm not sleeping with her. At least, not in that way. We're not even dating!"

"Well, you sure are something!"

"Yeah, she's mine! Not yours. So, get over it and grow up. You're the only one with a problem."

"Don't come crawling back when she breaks your heart."

"I won't have to." I left him fuming alone in the woods. Hopefully one day he got over his stupid crush on her. In the meantime, I had things to do. Number one on my list: apologize to Paul.