A/N: Apologies, apologies! School, and author's block contributed to the delay, and I honestly didn't know how to write about Harry's death. I hope it didn't suck as bad. Do R/R! :) PS. My dearest Lizzie, thank you for always reminding me to update and I'm terribly sorry for not writing quicker.

XIV.

Harry Clearwater's death devastated me, as much as it devastated Leah. The tribal council almost suffered stroke at the news, and the Clearwaters were much too inconsolable to keep their breathing normal. The pack was left blind, abandoned by Harry's warmth and guidance, and Sam was personally shattered. To add to all the devastation, Bella left to save her suicidal ex-boyfriend and Jacob was well, devastated.

If I could prevent Jared from delivering the news I would have stuffed the words back in his mouth; In fact, if I could have prevented Harry from his heart attack, to replace his weak heart with my stronger one, I would have volunteered so, if that meant Leah was spared from all the pain and had her father back. I saw her crumble with my very eyes--the tears she fought so hard to contain, the scream she bit back, the pain that overwhelmed her--I felt it, and though I held her in my arms the pain remained there.

We drove straight to the hospital, where Sue met her daughter at the entrance. Leah flew to her and Sue took her in her embrace, trying to prevent herself from breaking down in front of her children. She managed, up until Seth scooted to their side. And once Seth was in her arms too, the tears flowed like uncontrollable streams. I stood in solemn reverie with the pack, avoiding each other's eyes as though it was a symbol of respect to the late Elder.

Once we were ushered inside, Sam whispered to me. "I called for you. Where were you?"

Making out? I shrugged guiltily. "With Leah. We were at school. Jake and Quil got into a brawl and I was dragged along. We were in the headteacher's office."

"Yeah, making out." Sam was grim, his voice hoarse. He saw me frown and said, "I saw it in Seth's mind. Harry was on his death bed and you were what, kissing his daughter all over the place?"

"I wasn't kissing her all over the place, Sam, don't be stupid. Leah told me to stay. There was no way I wasn't going to, if she said that. Besides, how could I have precedented it was this kind of emergency? Seth didn't exactly look bereaved."

We followed the Clearwaters to the outside of Harry's room, where Billy and Charlie stood guard, gravely distressed. We all sat down at the varnished wood bench beside the door. "I couldn't tell Seth," Sam sighed. "We had to tell him we were after the leech and ask him to phase and find you while we rushed to the hospital. I couldn't tell Leah either. Jared had to take that burden."

Jared, who was within earshot, heard us and scowled.

Jacob shifted closer to us then, the look on his face almost as dark as the Clearwater's. He looked too upset. "You said you were staying, Embry? Permanently now? No more running away on Leah's command or pretending to be an animal?" He was being sarcastic.

I nodded. Satisfied, Jake decided to sit on the floor and dwell in his misery, occassionally sighing Bella's name and shaking his head. Leah and Seth were ushered inside Harry's room, while most of us crowded outside. I reluctantly listened to Sam. "--Paul is checking the borders as we speak; Jake said one of the Cullens have returned. I retracted the perimeters, just in case. I'm glad you're back. If the Cullens decide to return there may be more transformations and we need to reinforce the border. We can discuss that after...after things settle. They need us now, so we'll have two at the borders at a time while the rest help with...with things..."

It was then I remembered what Jacob must have been feeling with Bella betraying him. I clapped him on the back and told him I was sorry, and Jake nodded, switching to cussing the suicidal vampire (who knew?) rather than mourning Bella. Beside us, Charlie and Billy began comforting Sue, although she was in a much better state than either of them. Billy was shaking horrendously, his wheelchair rattling against everything it touched; Charlie was quivering too; I could see each hair in his moustache tremble with everything else, his gun included.

It took one second for me to note these things, but it was time enough for Leah and Seth to hurry out of the room in each other's arms, and to break free from each other's into, for Seth, Jacob, and for Leah, Sam. The grief seeing her sob mutely into Sam's chest overrode any other emotions, but I was steadily confused. I wanted me to ease her pain, and my mind had begun wondering why she hadn't run to me. I couldn't be so selfish and think only of myself either, so I let Jared hover behind me, weary that I might start to run away, and said nothing.

And then before Sam could utter words of comfort--and I knew he had a long list especially for Leah--she was out of his arms and into my own. A soft thud and her hands had slung themselves behind my neck, her face somewhere close to mine. Hellelujah! I love you God.

The sheer comfort of her in my arms, whether she tore herself away from Sam or not, was like seeing light after a thousand years in darkness. There was part pain seeing her like this, but there was love too, as she sought comfort in me.

"I'm here," I whispered comfortingly. "Cry as much as you want. I'm here. I won't leave."

And then I sat her on my own lap, without as much fret from Seth as was from Sue, and let her sob.

And sob she did. There was a brief interruption where I had to have my ankle mended--Seth took my place--, after which Leah whimpered back to me. There was something utterly painful watching she who seldom cried sob with passion. If hearts did break, I knew hers was breaking right now, and though I wanted to run into Harry's room and shake him to life, there was nothing in my power I could do to wake the dead, supernatural I may be.

By the time we had to leave, if I had been an ordinary human, my legs would have been numb. My shoulder, where her head had nestled the whole time, was wet from her tears. It was dark outside when we shuffled out, and darker still when we reached the Clearwater's. There was a brief pause when Sue reached the front porch. I heard her take a deep breath and brace herself for a house without her husband. Leah and Seth did the same, and once I got inside, I knew why.

Sam told me it happened around noon; but the state of the house could have told me more. I knew by the way the table was left unattended that it must have happened when they were having lunch. A broken glass lay dangerously on the floor--it must have been in Harry's hand--, the chair that was his had been toppled over--perhaps that happened when Sue clamoured to help him--, and between the living room and the door was a pair of Harry's old slippers--it slipped off, I was sure.

Sue took Harry's slippers with trembling hands, stared at its worn out state, and walked back to the kitchen. While the rest of the pack followed her, Leah sat on the couch, silent.

There wasn't much I could do but sit beside her and offer myself to be whatever she needed--a tissue, a pillow, a good boyfriend (I think (and hope) we're official (please!)). She grew tired eventually, and fell asleep on my lap. I gazed at her tear stricken face a good few minutes before I my urges decided to notice that her breath was far too ticklish on my waist. I sighed and tucked Leah in a blanket I found in Seth's room, before taking the chair opposite to hers as a good place to mull over today.

I wanted to tell her just how much she makes every waking moment a perfection. That every breath she took was the grace by which I took mine. That every heave of her chest, no matter how shallow or how deep, was my constant security. That nothing could be more perfect or beautiful than her, tucked neatly under Seth's patchy blanket. It was almost physically painful reigning the temptation in; still, I resisted the urge to extend my hand and touch her, dwelling on the single thought that had cruelly dominated my mind since that tender moment when our lips met.

I could hurt her. I would die before I could begin to comprehend hurting her, but Sam hurt Emily, didn't he? He lost it for just a fraction of a second and then Emily was hurt. I couldn't risk that.

Easier said than done. There was Leah, the imprint whom I was irrevocably insane about, kissing me when I least expected it, completely unaware that making a werewolf giddy could risk that werewolf exploding into his wolf self, something big and hairy that she might not like. Kissing me as though that in itself would not get me excited, as if her presence in its own right didn't blow me away. And I did not exactly control myself either, though it seemed self-explanatory why.

There were a string of carefully selected, partially masochistic thoughts running a marathon in my mind, intent to perhaps irritate me. What if I got carried away? What if I--God forbid--lost it, the way Sam did? It was a damn good thing Seth stomped in to interrupt our stolen moment. Calling him a stupid lanky rascal for shoving my supposed confession back into my mouth was an effective distraction.

I had to snap myself out of my reverie before I would descend into the wolfish pity forever connected to Sam Uley. Hurting our imprint was a thought that bordered on suicidal, and most of the time starting to think that way meant we ended up thinking how to kill ourselves. Imagine Sam.

So I let my eyes wander around Leah's exquisite features as I remembered why I couldn't help myself even if I tried. The feel of her lips, our swirling breaths, and oh, her tongue...

I sighed. How I wished there was a crash course for first time werewolf boyfriends, because some idiot called Embry Call wasn't very confident about this at all. Where's Quil Ateara when you needed him?

"Dunno," Jacob spoke to my ear. "Probably sneaking some twenty year old 'round Old Quil."

I jumped. "Jesus, Jake! Has anyone ever told you how creepy your senses are?" I scowled while Jacob chortled lightly. Then, thinking about it, his words suddenly made sense, so I grumbled furiously because Leah was almost twenty.

Jake was far too riled up to care. "Has anyone told you how creepy you are Embry? The way you stare at Leah is totally puke inducing. I can feel something coming up right now."

Leah stirred as though she heard, then groaned before shifting uncomfortably on the couch. Jacob and I shared a look. He frowned so deeply, as if a knife had wedged a permanent crevice on his forehead. I hadn't notice that Jake looked old, until tonight. "Don't you even dare," he warned. "Paul and I were ready to die when Seth brought back pictures of you sucking each other's faces off."

"Hey, a little consideration here! That's my special moment."

"What do you want me to call it? Swapping spit scenario? Throat-tonguing tale?"

"Don't," I seethed. "Please."

He seemed to sense my displeasure, for next he said, "Fine, grumpy. Geez, I would never understand imprinted wolves!"

"Leah really needs to get off that couch," I mumbled, eyeing the unnatural curve Leah's neck had to suffer on that ancient thing.

"Don't you dare bring her to her room!" Jacob ordered. "You'll get all crazed and end up all loved up. Please, if not for the pack's sanity, then for mine."

"You know, I never get how you do this mind-reading thing. We're supposed to read minds as wolves, not as humans. It's freaky. I have to bring her upstairs, Jake. I can't stand knowing she isn't comfortable. She can't have whiplash in the morning..."

I left him to sulk by himself and crossed the length of the living room to see Sue staring blankly at the kitchen wall. Seth was nodding off with his head on his arms, which were limp on the table. Jared was eyeing Seth with so much pity I could have sworn he wasn't thinking about Kim then. It was almost rude to intrude, and it was by luck that I did not, for the pause seemed to only be one of the many in Sam and Sue's deep conversation. The clock behind Sue noisily struck one.

I cleared my throat and asked, gesturing towards the living room. "Can I take Leah to her room, Sue? She fell asleep on the couch."

Sam narrowed his eyes, but Sue nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Embry."

Relieved, I trotted back to find Jake frowning at Leah from across the room, as though her existence offended him. He turned his eyes away when he felt my presence and grunted when I found a lose strand of Leah's hair and tucked it behind her ears. His disapproval made me feel uncomfortable.

"What is it now, Jake?"

He rolled his eyes. "You're always touching her. Always hovering above her. Always holding her hand, kissing her forehead, doing all these little touchy stuff."

"Dude, I just tucked a strand of hair."

"Still!" he whined. "You're acting so obsessed! If you're Quil, well yeah, that's okay. But you're Embry."

"Why, got a crush on me?"

He attempted to blind me with a pen he snatched from a nearby table. "In your dreams."

I caught the pen, twirled it around my fingers once, and flung it back to him, smirking. He caught in expertly with two fingers and mimicking me, toyed with it like he would with a screwdriver. "Why don't you go find your own imprint, Jake?" I retorted. "When you do, come back and tell me you're not obsessed about her--tell me you can help yourself from doing 'little touchy stuff' to her. Tell me, if you can."

"I don't want to imprint," he grumbled. "I love Bella. Only Bella."

"You won't be able to help it. If you imprint, it's impossible to fight. You don't even begin to think of fighting it. She becomes your thread of life, the only reason for your existence--" Jacob rolled his eyes at this part--I ignored him and continuted. "--there wouldn't be a second when you don't think of her. She's your life, your death, and everything in between."

"Exactly why I don't want to imprint. Where's the choice there? I value free will, you know that."

Turning my back to him, I bent and slipped one hand under Leah's back and another under her knee. Her perfect eyebrows met and then she was unconscious once more, tilting her face slightly to my chest. "There won't be a choice, Jake. You would not want a choice. She's handed to you on a plate, sure. But you wouldn't want it any other way. You'll forget Bella."

"But Bella--I love Bella. It's the same, isn't it? You saw. I can't stop thinking about her. I can do anything for Bella. Even now."

"It's not the same. Right now, your heart belongs to Bella; it doesn't get any more than that. But when you imprint, everything belongs to her. Your heart, your mind, your soul, all your imperfections, everything. Nothing is left out. It's more compelling that anything you can ever imagine. More compelling than, say, your birth right."

He narrowed his eyes. "I fought my birth right."

We hiked towards Leah's room slowly, Jacob leading the way, clearing the path along so Leah wouldn't hit anything. He helped me open the door and hit the lights, too. Leah's room was minimalistic; her bed was tidied, though it seemed to be looked after with scorn. Her window, beside her bed, was open to gusts of wind and rain. I wasn't sure if it was cold for a human outside, but just in case, I tucked her under her own blanket and Seth's too. I closed the window afterwards, dimmed the bedside lamp and fought to limit myself to but one soft kiss on her forehead.

It seemed impossible to simply leave her there; I told Jacob this, but he was still intent about his adamant skepticism. "Jacob," I told him. "It's rare. Don't get too excited. Sshh now Leah's sleeping."

"I wasn't excited," he denied quietly. "Besides, I know it won't happen to me. In fact I don't think--hey, so you don't remember Marj anymore?"

There was a surge of nostalgia at the mention of the name.A sort of happy reminiscience, though the familiarity didn't quite feel the same. I remembered, her name was Marjorie Creok, Quil's distant relative. She used to be the object of my affection after meeting her at Quil's seventh birthday party. Jake and Quil used to tease me to death after they found out (we had to write a diary for homework and they raided mine); I used to flush beetroot red whenever she was around, or start stuttering nervously when she addressed me.

"I remember," I returned. "Of course I remember Marj. Who doesn't? I wonder how she is now."

She had moved to Pennsylvania; now that I thought about her, I realised I missed her. We had grown pretty close before she left (much to my joy then), and I adored her the way Jacob adored Bella, except I wasn't so vocal about my feelings. On my left, Jacob has started giggling, like he and Quil always did whenever they had the privilege of torturing me. "Wasn't she your first kiss?"

The feeling felt so foreign it could have been felt from a previous lifetime. I vaguely remembered--though I also recalled how I used to treasure the memory--confessing to her two minutes before she had to leave, and being rewarded my first kiss in return. I was happy for weeks. It annoyed the hell out of my best friends, who immediately regretted pushing for my confession. The memory faded at once, thrown aside by a more recent encounter with kissing.

"Uh yeah, Marj was. I wish she would come down and give us a visit. I really do miss her."

"She used to really hate Leah--"

What is it with Jacob and his persistence to annoy me tonight?

"--remember?"

I had every reason to hate Marj for it, but I was fond of her, and she had been a really good friend. Besides, I was sure she and Leah would get along well. I saw no reason why they would not--they were part of who I was, or of my love life at least. They had similarities, none of which I could quite distinguish. "Well, she should come down and visit, so I could re-introduce Leah and maybe she won't hate her anymore."

"Are you kidding me?" Jake belched. "Oh nevermind." He blinked for a second, and then gave me a smirk that was a cross between a smile of sympathy and a grin of warning. I dismissed it as one of Jacob's normal idiot face until he said, "your mum's here."

I was too surprised at his sudden announcement that I all I managed was to pray for mercy while Sam opened the door to mum. Fortunately, my mother was beyond the point of anger to her hijo único. She had a brief conversation with Sue and hugged her tight before unleashing her motherly ways on me. I froze.

"Embry!"

She, quite literally flew to my side and ensnared me in her arms, cradling my head. "You're okay!" she exclaimed, relief saturating her voice. "You're fine!"

"Mum--"

"I was so worried! Where have you been? Why did you go? Oh! I had been worried sick!"

"Mum--" I choked.

"How could you do that to me? No word, no note, nothing? I didn't know if you were still alive, no one tells me anything..."

So my mother showed everyone the art of suffocating a werewolf, and released me only when she realised I had turned purple. "Mum," I gasped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean...I can't tell..."

"Sshh. You're here now, you're well and safe," she whispered calmly. When she said, "I should take you home." there was a command in her voice that resembled Sam's, and I couldn't not decline. So she dragged me out, taking two seconds to re-send her condolences to Sue and promise her a visit the following morning. I tried to shrug away, but mum knew I only wanted to be with Leah and used it against me. Reluctantly, I had to follow her home, fill myself with her much missed home cooked meal and endure the torture of her insisting she tucked me to bed. I wanted only to pretend to be asleep, but mum began stroking my hair and grown up or not, werewolf or human, I cannot not sleep when anyone did that, so not long after my resolve faltered, my consciousness did too.

***

A few days later, on a blurry Wednesday morning, I stood waiting by the Clearwaters' front porch steps, waiting for Leah to show up for school. I had demanded that Jake fix my bike and fix it damn well for I was to take Leah to school on that bike, and it better not break down.

I looked up once the door creaked, and Seth strode out, whistling. "Geez, you scared me!" he yelped. He had half his breakfast on his hand, and as I skipped my breakfast to be early this morning, I was ogling at the food. "What're you doing here so early, Embry?"

"Good morning to you too, Seth. Is Leah ready?"

He crossed his arms on his chest before revoking his actions, preferring instead to barricade the door with his arms. "I thought Leah said no fetching in the morning?"

"Oh, you're the new guard dog she's talking about?"

"I'm serious!"

"I have a surprise for her."

"What surprise?" he demanded. "You were together the whole of last night!" And just when I thought he was going to pretend to dislike me again (I read his thoughts and found approval there), Seth wriggled his eyebrows and grinned sheepishly. "Will you tell me what the surprise is? I promise I won't tell."

I laughed, spying Leah creeping behind him. For a (very beautiful) human, she made no sound that would have warned her brother. While Seth continued to grin stupidly, eagerly waiting for my reply, Leah was getting ready to flick his ear. I chuckled loudly when she did.

"Leah!"

"Mind your own business, you little twerp."

"It's not even your business," Seth grumbled. "I'm asking Embry, not you. Stop being so nasty, Leah!"

She turned to me, effectively ignoring Seth, with suspicion evident her eyes. "Asking you what?"

"I..."

She watched me curiously, while my voice lost itself midway within my throat. It seems appropriate to tell her just how perfect she was, with her hair pulled back in an early morning mess and her eyes slightly drugged, but perfect nonetheless. The frustration of missing her urged me to say something--to tell her just how much she meant to me, or answer the question she was posing. But my voice was on holiday and would hardly consent to be disturbed.

"Good morning," I finally squeaked.

She laughed, shoving Seth aside and descending to stand imperiously in front of me. "We agreed on you not coming to fetch me in the mornings."

"I told him that," Seth mumbled. He was ignored.

"I didn't exactly agree," I shook my head. "You forced me to."

"And?"

"And I have a surprise for you!"

Her face lit up. From my peripheral vision, I saw Seth throw me a hateful look and I tried hard not to let it get to me. While Leah controlled the little excitement I had apparently caused her, I stepped aside so she could finally see the bike hidden behind me. "There!" I pointed. "Your very own school ride today, and," I bowed lightly. "I will be your personal chauffeur."

Seth choked and guffawed heartily.

I watched in crushed hope for Leah's reaction. She raised her eyebrows, but was distracted at once by the chortling her brother busied himself with. She pivoted to Seth only to snap at him. "No one asked your opinion you crazy puppy."

"I knew you were the guard dog," I mouthed.

While Seth whined, Leah rounded back on me. "Typically, Embry, guys try to impress their girlfriends with a shiny new car."

"I'm not exactly a typical guy," I argued. "And I uh, I can't afford a new car..."

I didn't know I had been moving my feet about, until Leah noticed and pointed it out. I had been looking at my feet trying not to move it, but she pulled my chin higher, so my eyes could settle on her deep ones. When I closed the distance between us, she craned her neck and turned away. Again, she postponed our conversation to glare at her brother. "Now's the time you go away, Seth. Go to school."

"Are you going with me or with him?"

"With him," she replied, much to my delight.

When Seth was finally convinced Leah was serious, he did leave. Leah trapped my face between her palms once the coast was free of pestering baby brothers. "I'm sorry I can't afford a new car," I whispered. "I'll try to save up. Maybe I can skip lunch or something, or--"

She hushed my remaining words, the dark orbs of her eyes intense and callous. She kissed me tenderly, her hands weeding through the shortness of my hair. Now that's the perfect start I was looking for. "Idiot," she giggled, when we parted. "I said guys, not werewolves."

"So I don't qualify as a guy?"

"Nope," she grinned, her hands drawing random patterns on the back of my neck. Her fingers left a trail of goosebumps that I rarely, if ever, encountered after phasing into a giant furball. It was exquisite; part pain, part pleasure. "For the record I only ever kissed werewolves."

When I realised I probably wouldn't make it to school if she insisted on eliciting the sensations within me, I towed her back to my waiting bike before it was too late. I handed her a helmet, which she took to twirl around, laughing as she did. "For safety," I carefully reasoned. And that's the best one in the shop. I picked it only for you!

"You think you will get me hurt?"

"No." I said quickly. "Never."

"You won't hurt me, I completely trust you and for God's sake, we're just heading to school. Let's throw away this junk."

"No," I pouted, catching the helmet she had thrown in mid-air. I kept it under my arm and tapped it. "This cost me quite a sum, so I might give it to Jake instead."

Leah looked guilty, her dark eyes swimming with annoyance and regret. Quicker than I would have expected, she snatched the helmet back, wore it around her head, and swiftly clambered on the bike. I was surprised at her sudden indifference. "Only because it cost you your life savings," she told me.

It was my turn to feel the same guilt. I felt much better seeing her with a helmet on, but it contradicted with a feeling of disgrace at forcing her to something she did not like. "You don't have to," I assured her. "You really don't have to."

"Get on and drive before I change my mind."

She wouldn't change her mind, I knew. I tried to lean in and give her a quick kiss but the bloody helmet was getting in the way. "Right," I mumbled, climbing on and starting the engine. "Stupid helmet."

I heard her give a soft chuckle before pulling me back, tugging on my shirt as she did. "Come here," she demanded, leaning me against her chest, her face hovering above mine. She took the helmet off, catching her hair and disheveling it even more. I swallowed the lump in my throat as she bent closer, her lips warm against my own. Her hands started roaming the length of my shoulders, tracing the curvatures ever so torturously. I felt the heat sear through my body as her lips parted.

I groaned when she pulled away, panting. "There, satisfied?"

"No," I responded quietly. "More."

Leah complied, shifting herself so she was before me, straddling my lap. I didn't know she was that flexible, but I wasn't complaining. When she brought her lips back to mine, I gained the courage to trail my hands on the outside of her thigh. She shivered and ran her hands across my back, which was suddenly sensitive.

"God," I whimpered, against the heat of her body. "You drive me crazy."

"Hmm?" was her response, definitely still intent on throwing my sanity aside. "Shit, I'm going to corrupt you."

My breathing hitched. Shit, her hands! "I...am at your disposal...ah, Leah."

She smiled against my lips and I felt her lean forward, so much that I had to rest one hand behind me to keep us stable. I yelped slightly when she bit my lips, nibbling as she did. Our hips met and she hissed at the friction it caused. Something fluttered in my stomach and an involuntary moan bubbled from my throat. When she tilted my head back, I wanted to push forward instead of craning backwards, but I seemed to have lost control of my limbs. We never got far; Sue suddenly walked out and shrieked us to attention.

"What in the name of...LEAH CLEARWATER!"

We sprang apart immediately, straightening up for decency's sake. Leah cursed. "Oh shit, oh shit."

The heat that had erupted within me simmered lightly. Leah cleared her throat and avoided my eyes, jumping off my lap quickly and meeting Sue's reprimanding glare.

"What have you been doing to Embry?"

" 'Morning Sue," I greeted politely, in a desperate attempt to save the situation. I sounded so sorry for being caught making out with her daughter, even to my own ears. I shifted to resume looking like an innocent bike rider while she eyed me in a way which reminded me of Seth.

"Oh I bet it is a very good morning for you, Embry," Sue scoffed, walking towards us with the house keys tinkling on her hand. Leah noticed and addressed her. "Where are you headed so early to?"

"Don't even try to change the subject, missy--"

"I was not!" Leah objected.

"--Now, why don't you tell me why I catch you straddling Embry here when, according to my watch, you two should already be in school by now?"

"We were about to leave, mum. See? The engine's on."

"That engine was on for quite a long time, Leah. I don't see you two leaving."

We kept quiet.

"We're leaving now," she said stubbornly. I took the chance to rev up and escape Sue's watchful eyes as fast as the bike could afford. I bid her farewell swiftly and roared away. Amidst the blaring drone of the engine, I still caught Sue sigh to herself. "If only you were here, Harry."

When we rounded into a corner, Leah resumned cursing. "Why didn't you warn me that mum was coming out?" she cried. "I won't ever be able to look at her in the eyes again!"

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. You didn't exactly hear her either."

She hit me around the shoulders. "You're the one who is supposed to have extra sensitive senses, Embry!"

"They aren't reliable, and they tend to shut down once you start kissing me like that. Besides, Leah, even if my sense are working, I would not have noticed. I was uh, distracted."

She winced, leaning forward. I tried to focus on the stretch of road ahead of us as I felt Leah's hands gripped my hips tighter. "I'll talk to your mum later," I added. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure she'll understand."

"She caught us making out," she whispered. Her hot breath on my ears made me jolt; ripples of pleasure shot through my spine. Her word echoed like a mantra in my head. Us making out....us making out...us making out...

I pressed on the accelerator and sped on, allowing the strong wind to cool the heat that dominated my body. I wondered vaguely if Leah could feel it, but forgot as her fingers traced patterns on the side of my hips, dangerously close to where I had already begun throbbing. "Leah, I can't concentrate," I breathed. "You have no idea what you do to me."

She giggled and didn't stop.

Two minutes later, I skidded to a halt at the school parking lot. With but five minutes left to spare before the bell rang, I decided to phase before the start of the lesson. As Leah and I crossed to the school building, we still attracted disbelieving, sometimes dreamy looks from the other students. It was more fervent this morning, with strange whispers following equally strange oggles. I did not understand why until I met Seth.

He was at the forest, stark naked and ready to phase. Sam has asked him to cover patrol for him while he checked on Emily. His frowning face studied my own at once. "You have swollen lips," he pointed out, scowling. "You have swollen lips!"

I rolled my eyes, and phased before him. Seth's mind swirled in my thoughts once he traded human skin to wolf fur. What happened? Tell me!

Automatically, a flashback erupted in my mind. Seth cringed, regretful. Eeeww! Urgh, stop it, man! EMBRY!

Didn't mean it.

Horny, perverted scrooge!

You were the one who asked!

Seth barked. I didn't expect you to make out with her right in front of our house!

Neither did I! It was partly true; I wasn't expecting, but I was hoping. And where do you think the swollen lips came from, Seth?

This is mental abuse. I don't want your point of view in what it feels like kissing my sister!

It can only get worse, Seth. Paul had phased suddenly. He heard Seth's bark and followed to where we hid behind the heavy foliage. Didn't you once wished to know Leah's secrets? Here's your chance!

I was four.

Well, at least you can protect your sister from horny little Embry.

Screw you, Paul! I howled.

As the bell rang, we phased together, jumping about in a race to get dressed first. I won, earning ten bucks from our bet. Great, a little more towards my depleted savings for that new car.

School was a drag. Mr. Clarke had given Leah a lunch time detention for screaming in class, although Leah was certain it was only because she had refused him explanation on why she sported swollen lips. I laughed as she told me this, when I sneaked into the library to bring her lunch. It was the first time I was able to relax freely; Leah out of my sight was an uncomfortable experience.

"He's fucking jealous," she snapped. "I swear he believes you two have some bromance going on."

I choked on my food and fervently shook my head. I had barely begun my reply when Quil strode in. He didn't seem to notice us at first, but Leah grunted and Quil rounded on us. He looked at me directly, as if wanting to say something casual, but decided against it and walked away immediately. He was alone again, as he had been since Jacob phased. I sighed when he left; I missed him.

"If you're going to start sobbing after Ateara, Embry, I'm telling you, we're over."

I pouted at Leah. "I thought you like sensitive guys."

"Sensitive guys who are not crying over Quil Ateara. If I see but one tear, I'm breaking up with you."

I chuckled, though I was also consciously aware of any possible tear that might drop from my eyes. My laughter was cut short when Mr. Clarke decided to check on his detainee. He shooed me away angrily, preventing me from staying any longer. My mood soured for the rest of the afternoon and I almost phased on my last lesson. Thankfully, I saw Leah when the bell rang.

"There you are!" I exclaimed, running to where she was. The missing warmth finally washed through my chest. "I miss you," I said quietly, framing her face within my hands. I nuzzled against her nose and kissed her lightly.

"Do you miss Quil or me more?"

I chortled. " That's easy. Quil."

She turned away in protest and marched off. "Go back to your Quil. We're over."

She wriggled when I caught up and curled my arms around her waist. I stuck my cheek against her own and we trotted to the bike in that awkward, intimate manner, half-laughing, half-struggling. I saw Paul and Seth in my peripheral vision pretending to gag. Leah saw too, and she raised a finger to both of them.

To save her from Seth's awkward demands and Sue's interrogations, I took her home. My mother was home early, and was already preparing some food when we arrived. Mum, I found out, had an avid appreciation for Leah. She was almost as ecstatic as I was when I proudly proclaimed Leah to be my girlfriend.

"He's lying. I haven't really consented yet," she revoked seriously, but she smiled afterwards.

"Oh this is just wonderful! I knew it would come to this ever since you came by here to talk to me about it. I knew it!"

A big question mark popped into my head. "When did you come talk to mum about me?"

"Oh, when she was hurt at--"

"NOTHING!"

Mum looked at Leah and appeared to have undergone some female mental connection. Unfair. "I'm going to get you some food," she said, quickly disappearing to the kitchen. "Oh, by the way, Embry. Quil passed by here earlier. He left something for you in your room."

"Left what thing?"

"He didn't say what, only that it was important. Why don't I see you with Quil anymore, honey? Is something going on that I don't know?"

"Nope," I lied, determined to escape further scrutiny. "Be right back," I said to Leah.

I slipped to my room and looked around for any obvious thing Quil had left for me. Nothing. Maybe he didn't leave anything after all. Quil was strange sometimes. So I turned back, and only then did I notice that one of my drawers was slightly left ajar. I rummaged inside to find a packet of...condom.

Quil left me a condom.

I picked up the packet and raised to the level of my eyes. Why would Quil leave me a condom?

"Embry?" Leah's voice floated from the doorway. Caught red-handed, I slipped the darn thing on the back pocket of my trousers and hoped she did not notice.

She did. "What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Liar. I saw something."

"Really it's nothing, it was just--"

She had reached me by then, and had started to ran her hands around my waist, effectively turning me to stone. Swiftly, her hands creeped into my pocket and in sheer embarrassment, I felt her pull it out. I tried to grab it, but I was concerned she would stumble as she prevented me from doing so, hence rendering my feeble efforts a little more futile.

"AHA!" Leah laughed triumphantly. "It's a...a..."

She looked at me with questioning eyes.

"It's Quil," I sighed. "I swear I don't have anything like that--"

And to my utter and complete horror, the voice I least wanted to hear said, "Oh, here you are. What's that, Leah?"

Mum had intruded on us, and because Leah was closer to the door than I was, reached her before I could do so. I watched as Leah tried and failed to hide the wretched packet from my mother's scrutinity, and as mum casually took it from Leah's hands. I could feel my blood ran cold.

Mum's eyes widened, darkening violently as she shifted them from the packet to me, and her jaw dropped. She was as murderous as a thunderstorm. "EMBRY CALL!!!"

Shit. QUIL ATEARAAAAAA!

A/N: I want to make Quil phase already! :) Do review, arigato! :D