Hey guys! I'm sooo sorry about the long ass wait on this chapter. It's here now though and I don't want to delay you guys from reading it so I'll put the AN at the end. Hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that has anything to do with twilight.

I stood there, just stunned for a second. A movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention and I looked over to see Leah in the doorway holding the food we'd ordered earlier. She smiled nervously at me and it gave me the shock I needed to get out of my trance and focus on the situation at hand.

I sighed and looked up at my mom. "Ma this really isn't what it looks like, I swear. How about we go eat some dinner and then we can talk?"

She just sighed at me with a tired look on her face that made her look years older than she actually was and I felt guilty that I had put it there. She turned and followed me into the kitchen. My mom and Leah sat down at the table while I gathered some plates and glasses then we all dug in. Thankfully, mom wasn't a big eater so there was still enough food for Leah and I to get at least the illusion of fullness. I ate the entirety of my 2 pizzas and a garlic bread while Leah shared hers with my mom. I tried to figure out what I was going to say to my mom while I stuffed my face and decided that we might as well get everything out in the open in one hit. Now that I was alpha, I was done lying to my mother. She had a right to know the truth, to know what her son was and if anybody had a problem with that they could take it up with me.

When we had finished eating Leah got up to clear the table and mom turned to me. "Allright Embry. No more stalling. It's time for you to do some explaining." I was surprised at how calm she was being. This was the most reasonable she had been with me since she had first figured I was sneaking out after I phased. I nodded at her and settled myself in for a long night. It was time to clue my mother in on everything that had been going on.

"Ma, there's something I have to tell you. I know it's going to be hard for you to get your head around but I promise everything is going to be fine." I started, trying to ease my way into this. I wanted her to be at least a little bit prepared for the shock that she was about to receive.

She paled. "Oh. My. God. She's pregnant isn't she?"

Turns out I was the one that was shocked. I went over what I had said and realised that of course that would be her first reaction. It's pretty high on the list of serious teenage problems. My mom didn't yet know that her son's problems were way beyond that. "No ma! Leah's not pregnant. We aren't-... It's not like that with us. I mean, what I'm trying to say is Leah and I aren't together." I blushed furiously. "It's about something else ma. Can you just hear me out before you say anything else now? Please?

"Yes Embry. Go ahead."

I took a deep breath. "I'm just gonna start at the beginning ok?" She nodded. "Do you remember the tribal legends?"

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Yes Embry. How could I possibly forget? You retold them to me over and over for weeks after I'd let you go to bonfires with Quil and Jacob" she said with a hint of amusement underlying her confused tone "what does that have to do with anything?"

I gulped and noticed Leah standing at the door looking on at us. She smiled at me, encouraging me on and it gave me the strength to continue.

"Mom the legends are real. They're true. All of them." I figured if I just spat it out quickly, it wouldn't hurt as much.

"What? What on earth are you talking about Embry?"

I dropped my head into my hands and tried to persuade her into believing me. "The legends ma!" I urged her "they're true. I turn into a wolf."

She blanched and stared at me in disbelief. As I pondered her reaction, a smile began to pull up at her lips. "Ok Embry. Enough of the joking around. Don't think you can distract me from what's really going on here. You had a half naked girl in my house. I don't need to hear your jokes right now."

She didn't believe me. Great. Just great. I'd had enough of the messing around trying to explain with my words so I stood up and headed towards the back door with a quick glance back at my mom. "Follow me. "

She snapped and started screaming at me "don't you dare walk away from me while I'm talking to you Embry!" That was about all I heard before I refocused on what I needed to do to get her to understand. I was vaguely aware of her footsteps behind me as I walked out into the middle of the back yard. She had yet to stop screaming at me.

I stripped off my shorts and before my mother could even grasp what was happening I let my wolf burst from my skin and landed on four paws.

She screamed as she struggled to grasp what had just happened right in front of her. I dropped my head, scared of what she probably thought of me. When I lifted my eyes to check on her, I saw that Leah had made her way to my mom and had an arm wrapped around her. I could hear her smooth voice whispering comforting words in mom's ear. Despite the situation, it made my heart soar seeing my girl caring for my mom like that. I needed to know what mom was thinking so I phased back while she continued to stare at me in shock and rushed to pull my shorts back on. I slowly edged closer to them. Mom was staring at me with wide eyes like she still hadn't recovered from the shock of seeing a wolf burst from her son's body.

"Mom?" I called to her "you ok?"

She just shook her head slowly, still staring at me with wide eyes.

My face dropped. She thought I was a monster. She probably hated me. God, why did I ever think it was a good idea to phase in front of her. I was a fucking moron.

She shook her head a little and walked deliberately towards me and before I knew it I had my mother's arms wrapped around my body. She started talking into me as she cried.

"This is what's been going on with you? I'm so sorry Embry! I'm so sorry for treating you how I have been. I thought it was a gang. Or drugs. I didn't know! I'm so sorry! Everything's gonna be ok now baby." She managed to splutter out between sobs.

I was flabbergasted. She didn't think I was a monster? She still loved me. I felt a single tear track its way down my own face at the thought and a small smile lifted on my face.

I couldn't say how long we stood there together, but I felt like I was floating on air. A huge weight had just been lifted off my shoulders and I rejoiced that I wouldn't ever have to lie to my mum about the wolf thing again. I'd never again have to see that look of disappointment on her face when she realised I'd snuck out again.

Finally, mum pulled away from me and said "come on son, lets go back inside. We have a lot to talk about."

AN: First up, sorry again about the long wait. I promise that it's not without good reason. I had a motorcycle crash and I've been pretty screwed up for a few days especially with a ton of tests/assignments going on at uni too so I've barely had time to sleep let alone write! I'm not going to die though so I'm counting my lucky chickens. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed and leave a review if you do. Thanks x