The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

November—November 5th. The date rattled through her head. Her brain synapses firing oddly. A children's nursery rhyme repeating over and over:

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason, and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot.

It was an odd choice. Her skin crawled; muscles twitching with anticipation. Things were changing; evolving, transforming and she couldn't predict the outcome. The event was happening so quickly she couldn't process it but so slowly she could see it. Her head pounded—a thousand hammers sounding. She cursed the pain behind her eyes as her vision sharpened and focused. The ringing in her ears which allowed her to pick up strange frequencies; things she was sure she had never heard.

She heard the crunching sound of gravel and her mind recognized them as footsteps which belonged to someone with small feet and a delicate body. Her inner self shouted the answer at her—the visitor, the person walking towards the house was female. The hair on the back of her neck rose. Her instincts put her senses on alert.

She was out the door in mere seconds. The same inner self began to catalogue the new surroundings. Picking out the scent of the intruder; honeysuckle and pine—the two scents merged in what she could only describe as unnatural. Her eyes darted, looking to pick out all avenues of escape. A sound similar to a growl came from somewhere and when she realized it came from her she startled.

"Umm, hey, Leah," Emily's voice called out nervously.

"What are you doing here," her voice low and gravely; nothing like how she normally spoke. The crawling of her skin increased to a burning sensation. She was sure she was being burned from the inside out. So this is what it feels like to spontaneously combust.

What the fuck is Emily doing? an angry voice questioned through the pack mind.

I don't know. What's it matter to you?

It doesn't, they growled. But we're supposed to be watching Seth. He's going to phase any day—she shouldn't be here.

What's the problem, Sam asked.

Your stupid imprint is heading over to the Clearwaters. Shouldn't she be at home baking or something?

The two wolves watching over the Clearwater house laughed; the sound drawing the attention of Leah. They stood as still as statues, holding their breath and willing their hearts to stop pounding so loudly. She couldn't actually hear or see them, could she? The breathed a sigh of relief though the relief was short lived when they heard an unfamiliar growl.

Keep your mouth shut about, Emily, Sam growled. You don't hear anyone making disparaging remarks about your imprint.

Whatever. I don't need you to tell me what's wrong with my imprint—I already know.

Shut up, both of you. This isn't the time. I can't hear what they're saying.

The pack mind was silent while they watched the drama unfolding. Sam watched it through the view of their minds as if it was a movie playing. The only difference was he could feel the undertones of their emotions. The anger, hurt, and confusion as they tried to suppress their feelings towards her.

He didn't know what was worse—his transformation and its effects on his life or the knowledge of what happened while he was gone. He had been too busy trying to keep the secret while inserting himself back into his life to realize things had changed. If she had been honest—shared her feelings—maybe things would be different. Maybe she would have some peace.

Fuck, everything's about you, isn't it, Sam? Do you want me to feel sorry for you?

It's not about me. I'm not the one who slept with my friend's girlfriend.

Again, you're making it about you. Did you ever think it wasn't about you? Things happen, people change.

Sam snorted, You expect me to believe that? I've seen your thoughts. I know exactly what you were thinking.

Hey, I've got a way you could both solve this—why don't you ask her which one she'd like to have pee on her leg? That way you could solve the mystery of who has the better dick and mark your territory all at once.

The words between the two girls suddenly increased in volume; the tones angry with an edge of malice to them. The wolves recognized the potential for violence; the haze of it polluting the air. Emily's voice grated on their ears while she screeched like a fish wife and Leah's voice had an animalistic quality to it.

"I can come here whenever I want, Leah! I wanted to see Aunt Sue and Uncle Harry."

"What for? I doubt either of them wants to see you. In fact, if my memory serves me right they haven't talked to you in months."

"Just let me by. I'm going to see them whether you like it or not," she ground out, glaring at Leah before making an attempt to step around her.

Leah guessed her motives even before she realized her own plan. Their combined movements brought the two of them closer together. Instinctively her hand dropped to her abdomen in a gesture of protection. She stumbled back a step when she saw Leah's nostrils flare and eyes turn a strange golden color.

"Are you fucking kidding me? You're pregnant," she snarled. The gleam of her eyes glowing even brighter as an idea occurred to her. Caustic laughter accompanied her next statement, "Let me guess—he's already sick of you and you need a place to stay. I know dear Auntie Debi and Uncle Sean won't let you come home if you're knocked up."

"No...no...that's not..." Emily stuttered.

"Well, then why do you think any of us would care that you're carrying Sam's bastard?"

The barb pierced more than just Emily. Sam's wolf whined at the words. That was their mate and pup. He stopped patrolling and headed for the Clearwater place; intent on intervening.

Just stay where you are, he ordered. I'm heading that way but it doesn't mean you're off the hook for keeping an eye on Seth.

Emily's shock quickly wore off and she aimed for the jugular this time. "I'll bet it bothers you, doesn't it? You pretend to be this cold-hearted bitch and act like Sam leaving you doesn't bother you. But," she paused, a smirk appearing. "I know exactly why you're upset because you're the whore who stabbed Sam in the back. I know all about your activities while Sam was missing and he does, too. And guess what, he doesn't care because he loves me more than he ever loved you. I'd never do something like that to him."

"What?! How," she sputtered. He wouldn't have, would he? "I don't believe you."

"Why don't you ask Sam if you don't believe me?"

The burning turned into an indescribable pain. Her head felt like something exploded inside it. The ringing in her ears made her want to wince as her vision grew black. The inner part of her was salivating in eagerness. Her fingers tightened and it felt as though they were stuck trying to clench into fists—no claws, that's what they were trying to become.

"You...bit—" the rest of the tirade cut off as it turned into a snarl. Her body lunged forward and her left hand made contact with Emily's face. Only it was no longer a hand but something much different. At the same time her body stopped moving; Emily's crashed to the ground.

The coppery tang of blood fresh in the air. Emily's scream turned into a gurgling moan. She stood over her cousin and slowly took in what happened. She lifted a hand to help stem the flow of blood. Only the hand she raised had been replaced by a paw.

A loud howl echoed through the forest. Within moments, there was a cacophony of voices in her head. Frantic and questioning. It was too much for her to process and she whined, urging it to stop. The inner part of her taking over once again as it gave fuel to her limbs and she ran.

She gave into whatever it was—she didn't know what to call it but she let it take over. The voices quieting as it somehow blocked them. It knew what to do and where to go.

What the fuck, Sam! You told her!

She's my imprint—you can't hide things from them.

Yes, you can. Just because my cock doesn't look at my imprint like she's due North on a compass, doesn't mean you can't too.

Do you always have to be so crude? You never used to be like this.

Things change—people change.

I don't get why you're so bitter about it. She's the one who broke it off with you.

You know why? Because of you—because you came back. It wasn't because I meant nothing to her. It was because you promised her and she believed you.

Their argument interrupted by Emily's scream and an inhuman snarl. Sam howled as he watched his mate fall to the ground, clutching her face. A small grey wolf standing over her in the place Leah had been only moments before. One by one the pack phased in; their voices questioning. Their collective mind filled with chaos.

They heard her whine and tentative plea for quiet. The rambling thoughts of their newest member. Someone they hadn't focused on at all. And just as quickly as her thoughts cluttered up their minds—they were deathly silent. While she didn't realize what it was they did.

Her wolf had taken over for her. Its will and drives instinctive. The wolf knowing the mistake they had made; harming a human wasn't in their nature. The very reason for their existence was to defend, protect, cherish the living creatures. Maintain the delicate balance of nature where Mother Nature was incapable. Made to kill their one and only enemy—cold ones—vampires.

The grey wolf became a blur of motion running away from the scene to the forest where safety could be found. Sam came charging through the forest and skidded to a stop in front of Seth's wolf-sitters. His thoughts too chaotic to allow him to phase back. Emily's form was still. Someone needed to take action.

I'll go after her. Phase back and help Emily. Whoever gets here next needs to run inside and call Sue. She'll know what to do. Sam, get it together for fuck's sake.

This is going to be one giant clusterfuck. Wait until Harry... the thoughts stopped as they phased into their human form. Their shorts tugged on as they ran over to Emily. Warm, dark hands grasped the bottom edge of her tee-shirt and tore it. The scrap of fabric folded and held over the three large gashes on her face.

AN: This have been many small changes to canon through this fic. This is probably one of the biggest. It was a difficult decision to make and I'm hoping I made the right choice. In some ways, I think this makes more sense than Sam being the one to do it. But maybe not. I'll tell you right now this was very difficult to write being you are being treated to 3 members of the wolf pack and I can't mention anyone's name except for Sam.

FF_8756144_10 12/09/12 7:12PM