"I nodded, staring down at the paper. "I'm sure." I wrote the name on the paper and took a deep breath, looking into everyone's curious faces. I then folded it in two and stared at the taunting fire." -Chapter 9

"I love...Jacob." I closed my eyes tight and threw the now crumpled paper into the intimidating fire. It sparked up immediately and everybody was thrown backwards a little at it's force. As soon as it died down, I looked into Sam's eyes. "Did it work?"

Sam smiled at me and suddenly my heart began beating as faster and harder than imaginable.

Sam then nodded his head towards the forest. I watched Jacob come running out of them, a huge smile on his face and arms wide open for me. I began running towards him as fast as I could and jumped so high up into his arms that his arms were latched just above my knees.

"You chose me." For the first time, I saw Jake in tears. Although, the were unshed, they were there.

I nodded frantically. "Yes. Yes, of course, how couldn't I? I told you! I told you I would pick you!" I laughed hysterically and our lips met for the first time. Our kiss now stronger than before, as was our hug, our touch, all in all, our bond. I thought back and remembered that I had been told that the love I felt for each of them was split between the two of them. I could feel a much deeper bond with Jake, and now fully understood what they had meant by that.

"I love you." I spoke.

"I love you more." Jake smiled, nuzzling my neck.

I laughed and pulled away at his cheesy remark. "Oh, don't tell me that just because I sealed the deal on this imprint that it gives you a free pass to be cliché and cheesy."

Jake laughed loudly, throwing his head back. When he returned his attention to me his eyebrows were raised. "Wow. Well, you are definitely the same old Bella through this whole mess."

I smiled, never tearing my gaze from his. "Of course, I am." We stared at each other for a couple seconds, before Jake surprised me by interrupting it this time.

"Well, who's being cheesy now?"

I scoffed at him, shocked at his boldness to turn the tables back on me and slapped his shoulder. "Shut up!"

He laughed and shook his head at what must of been a pretty amusing expression on my face.

I finally realized that I had been too absorbed in Jake to realize that the group had begun to make it's way through the woods. That was the moment I knew. "Embry?"

Jake sighed and stared at the spot where our feet were almost touching. "Bells...why don't we get going and let them deal with him?" He began to pull me with him back towards the house, but I was quick to pull back.

"No, Jacob. I want to see Embry. I...I just want to know that he's okay."

Jacob nodded in a sad understanding. "Sam told me that you would continue to have a type of protective connection over the person you would deny...I just...I don't know if it's the best idea for you to see him like this."

"He's not...dead?" I whispered, afraid of the terrible word.

Jake shook his head, but not in complete confidence. "No...not exactly."

I became frustrated with Jake's unwillingness to elaborate and closed the distance between us so that it would be impossible for him to avoid my gaze. "Take me to him and explain everything."

He agreed, reluctantly and took hold of my hand, heading towards the forest.

"You see, the pain of losing the person you imprint to in any case puts any wolf into severe, excruciating pain."

I gasped. "What?!"

Jake squeezed my hand, attempting to calm me. "Bella, just listen to me. He's not in pain. In this case, because the wolf leaders are able to expect this pain, they can prevent it. As soon as you chose me, Embry was knocked out. As of now he is unconscious and he will be for about five days."

"So you're saying that he'll be better on Friday and I'll be able to see him? Can he ever imprint again?" I realized that I had begun to ramble and apologized quickly.

Jake puckered his lips in thought. "It's alright, Bells, but things are going to be different. When he wakes up, he will lose his memory."

I gave Jake a sharp look. "How much memory?"

"Everything. In order to get rid of every trace of pain and make sure he cannot remember it, he will not even remember he is a wolf. Now, the only way that Sam will let him back into the group until he's sure that he's ready for it. Even then, he will not be able to know what imprinting is, because it may trigger something in his memory."

I was horrified. "He won't remember me? Am I allowed to see him? And talk to him? That will trigger his memory?" I questioned, alarmed.

Jake sighed. "It's complicated. Wolves don't have memory's of images, it's more scents and emotions and auras around them. So...you will have to cover yourself and a scent that you've never associated yourself with and go by a different name whenever you want to be with him."

I nodded in thought. It's completely complicated, but possible.

Jake noticed my reaction and added to the complication. "But, Bells, he's going back into high school thinking that he's only another normal high school student. You will need to come up with an excuse to even talk to him...let alone get close to him again."

I looked up towards the sky, sick of shedding tears. "This is just so much to handle."

The group came into view and Embry's limp body was being lifted into Paul's strong embrace. Everyone suddenly stared at me, glared actually. I couldn't help but break down in sobs at he sight of Embry.

Jake engulfed me in a hug, seemingly trying to protect me from the image of Embry. "It's alright, Bella. Everything will be okay. He's okay."

I nodded into his shirt. "I just need to see his eyes again."

Jake seemed hurt by my need to be with Embry, but once again agreed with me. "I understand. Five more days, Bella. Will you let me drive you back to your house now?"

I sighed and wrapped my arms around my waist. "Yes, Jake, thank you. I love you."

He smiled at me and we headed for his truck.

A/N Please don't hate me :), but to all of the Embry lovers, this think that this is definitely not the end of him.