"Salt," Emily said. "This needs salt."

I reached up to get some of the ingredients out of the cabinet, checking the list Emily made for me.

"And a bigger spatula…" Emily continued, storming around the kitchen.

I sat down at the kitchen table and glanced nervously at the clock.

"Now pepper…where's the pepper?" Emily muttered, wringing her hands nervously.

I crossed and uncrossed my legs before moving to sit on the counter, dangling my feet over the floor.

Finally, I heard footsteps on the front porch.

"They're back," I murmured, jumping off of the counter to meet them in the front hallway.

Paul and Quil came back first. Paul was barely able to keep his eyes open, and he collapsed into chair in the front room. Quil quickly made his way to the kitchen and waited for Emily to feed him.

So this was what a 15-hour patrol looked like.

The door opened again, and I knew who it was immediately.

Embry looked like he could barely walk. I followed him as he stumbled into the living room and crashed onto the couch.

I sat on the edge of the couch where he seemed to already be asleep, and I touched his shoulder gently.

I didn't care about honor and duty; this was too much work for a teenage boy.

Embry surprised me by rolling from his stomach to his side, facing me with a sleepy grin.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, gently brushing some of his hair from his face.

"Sleepy," he mumbled.

He snuck his arm around my waist and dragged me down on the couch next to him.

I groaned. "Sneaky."

"Shhh," he said. "Let's sleep."

I rested my head against the arm he had tucked under me, and I fell asleep smiling.

I woke up alone, something that would be much more disturbing under different circumstances. The couch was still warm, though, so I knew I couldn't have been alone long.

I heard laughter from the front room and leaned up, glancing around groggily.

The clock caught my eye, and I almost fell off of the couch.

Ten o'clock.

I am so late for school, I thought, throwing an arm over my face.

I walked toward the source of the noise to see the entire Pack crowded in the front room.

"Hey," Embry said, pulling me onto his lap and threading his fingers through mine. I would have felt embarrassed, but no one was paying attention to us.

"Why did you let me sleep so late?" I grumped.

Embry kissed my jaw lightly. "You're adorable when you sleep."

I made a face.

"Did you really plan on going to school today?" Embry asked, raising an eyebrow.

He had me there.

Embry bounced em on his knees, and I grumped again.

"Brat," Embry said against my neck.

Swoon, and swoon again.

The guys continued talking, and I relaxed against Embry, drifting to sleep once again.

Embry laughed at something one of the Pack members said, and I jerked awake.

"Why aren't any of you at school?" I muttered.

"I already graduated," Leah said.

I rolled my eyes.

"We're resting up," Jared said. "It's going to be a long night."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Training session," Paul said.

I shrugged. So?

"With the vampires."