Author's Note: I apologise in advance – this chapter is so, so long (I just couldn't seem to stop writing). I recommend grabbing a cuppa and curling up on the sofa, and be prepared for some drama. Speak soon x

Kim's POV

"Go back to sleep."

Jared pulled on my hand and brought me back against his chest. I sighed. He was so damn warm, it was almost impossible to leave bed in the mornings. My eyes fluttered closed as I felt his lips leave soft, tiny kisses on my neck. God, I loved my husband.

A creak from elsewhere in the house made me pull away. Jared let out a groan from behind me as I left the bed and tried to locate his old hoodie – my favourite one to wear around the house.

"Kim, it's not even six yet."

Ignoring him, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun trying to ignore the exhaustion weighing down my limbs.

"Kiera is still asleep, so you should be too." His voice was insistent. He was right, we didn't get many uninterrupted hours of sleep, and I should have been taking advantage of the situation. I jumped as I felt Jared place his hands on my shoulders and give them a quick squeeze. Sometimes I really hated his light footsteps and his ability to sneak up on me. Damn wolf genes.

"But-"

"She won't have gone anywhere. She promised." He kissed the top of my head and tried to pull me back to bed but I resisted.

"She promised you, not me." I couldn't wake up to find her gone, not when I had just gotten her back.

It had destroyed me when she left the first time; she had been the first girl I had ever truly connected with. I had been painfully shy in school, and awkward around boys but Lily just had an edge to her that made people notice – not that she was ever aware of it. When she had taken me under her wing, when she had reassured me about my relationship with Jared, we had become fast friends. When she left, I felt lonely.

It had strengthened me as a person, and as a wife. However, I had forgotten what it was like to laugh with my best friend. I had forgotten what it was like to gossip over wine. Sure, I had Em and Lisa, but they had never understood me the way that Lily did, and now Alex. Never did I think I would get on with someone like Alex – someone so stunningly beautiful, but once again Lily had taught me never to judge a book by its cover. We were slowly beginning to form a trio; it couldn't be over when it had only just begun.

"She's not going anywhere," Jared murmured softly, his breath hot in my ear, "We will find a way to make her stay."

"I hope so."

I knew it was hard for her to be around the pack, I saw the way she tensed when Jared reached over to brush a stray hair away from my face or Embry found a sneaky way to hold Alex's hand. We couldn't help ourselves. It wasn't fair. Over the years I had watched her do anything asked of her – be there for her sister, help out her Mum. She was more intelligent than I could ever be, more understanding. She deserved to be loved the way that Jared loved me.

Another creak sounded from down the hallway, and then a small cry came from the room next to ours. There was definitely no going back to bed.

"You make coffee, and I'll get Kiera." Jared gave me one last lingering kiss on my cheek before leaving the bedroom. Following him, I paused outside of Kiera's bedroom and watched as he lifted her into his arms with a wide smile and held her close to his chest. She always looked so tiny in his arms.

"You need to be extra cute today to get Auntie Lily to stay," his whispered and reached down to tickle her tummy, making her gurgle happily. I stood watching him chat away to her for a few more seconds before making my way down the stairs.

"Holy shit."

I pressed my hand to my chest as I flicked on the kitchen light and found Alex sitting at the table cradling a mug of coffee in her hands. She looked as tired as I felt – her usually shining blonde hair seemed duller, and there were bags under her eyes that had never been there before.

"I'm not that scary," she managed a weak smile in my direction. Outside, the sun was beginning to rise. I could tell it was going to be one of those rare sunny days, the kind of day that you had to make the most of when you lived in La Push.

"What you doing up so early?" I poured myself a mug of coffee and sat down beside her. I tried to push the sound of her desperate cries from the previous night from my mind. I had come to care for Alex almost as much as I cared for Lily. She was hilarious, outgoing and you never knew what she was going to say next. She definitely kept Embry on his toes.

"Couldn't sleep," she shrugged as her eyes strayed to the window, "I kept thinking about Embry, and Lily was tossing and turning in her sleep."

"I don't think I can leave." Her voice was so quiet, as if he was afraid of saying the words aloud, "This place is has gotten under my skin. I love it here. I love you guys. I love…" Her voice trailed off with a sigh.

"You love Embry," I finished for her.

"Yes," she squeezed her eyes shut, "I really do. It's terrifying. I've known him for a couple of weeks. Weeks Kim, not months."

"I know, I get it." I really did. I remembered the day when Jared had first imprinted on me, the way his eyes had connected with mine and I'd known from that moment that nothing would ever be the same again. He had become my world in a mere second, and there was no running away from that kind of devotion, despite how terrifying it was at first.

"I'm so scared," Alex whispered, "I thought I knew what love was, but this-" She looked helplessly at me and I reached out to take her hand in mine.

"This is so much more than that," I reminded her as I heard Jared descend the stairs. Sure, your imprint was the love of your life, but he also became your best friend, your family, your world. Like all relationships, Jared and I had our share of arguments, but I always knew everything would be alright, I knew that he would never leave me. It was the kind of safety net that most women craved. I had never been able to understand why fate had chosen me. Why had I been chosen to be loved so fiercely, so passionately? I was just me – plain Kim.

"We haven't even kissed yet," Alex laughed, a dry laugh as she frantically wiped at her eyes to stop tears from falling.

"Believe me," I whispered as Jared walked into the room and I recalled our first kiss on my front porch, "It will be worth the wait."

"Right," Jared walked into the room and placed Kiera gently into my arms, "I have a plan."

"You do?" Alex raised her eyebrows and shared a look with me.

"Yes," Jared grinned widely and I couldn't help but smile at this enthusiasm, "Here's what we're going to do."

Alex's POV

"This was your great idea," Kim hissed, "Seriously?"

"I have to agree," I looked at the several crates of beer Embry was piling onto the back porch. Emily had turned up to collect Kiera for a sleepover, and Jared had sent Lily to shop for milk.

"She hates parties," Kim was glaring at Jared as she stood with her hands on her hips. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. When Kim got mad, she got really mad. It was amusing how much fiery energy she had for such a tiny person.

"This isn't a party," Jared whined for the fifth time, "It's just casual drinks with friends. She needs to see how much everyone wants her to stay."

"Besides," Jared continued before Kim could say anything, "She's keeping something from us. She was like a zombie eating her cereal this morning. She didn't even laugh when Kiera tried to put her toe in her mouth."

"That was pretty funny," I allowed, "But-"

"Look, if this doesn't work then you girls can come up with something," Jared looked pained for a moment as he turned to look at Kim, "You didn't see her last night. I-I can't cope with that again, I can't see her broken like that again. This has gone on for far too long. We need to help her, we're her family."

Family. I couldn't remember the last time I had been part of a family. For years it had been Lily and I against the world, on our own. It was nice to have other people to rely on, other people to talk to. I had forgotten what that was like. They didn't know everything about me, they didn't know the demons lurking in my past, but I had been accepted without question.

I could see Kim struggling to hold back tears as she reached out to grab Jared's hand in hers. They really were perfect for each other.

"I love you so much Jared Thail," she whispered as she reached up to peck him gently on the cheek. I looked away, and my eyes caught Embry's. He looked so sad. I hadn't spoken to him since the previous night. I was terrified that if I spoke to him I would tell him how much he really meant to me, how much I never wanted to leave him.

I didn't like relying on others. I had always been independent, and strong. I didn't need someone to look out for me, or that's what I had always told myself. Embry was always there exactly when I needed him, but I was scared that one day he wouldn't be. Everyone in my life always left, I couldn't cope if he left too.

"Don't let me drink too much tonight," Seth muttered as he flopped down onto the nearest seat, "Lisa will kill me if I'm hungover at the wedding tomorrow."

Shit. Tomorrow.

"No mention of that damn wedding," Kim muttered before I had the chance, "Or Lisa, or Paul. We're trying to get her to stay, not make her run for the hills."

"You're going though, right?" Seth's voice was quiet as he looked around at Kim.

"I-I don't think I can," Kim looked pained as she shared a look with Jared, "It doesn't feel right, it never has. It should be Lily marrying Paul, not Lisa. It doesn't add up. I always thought the purpose of imprinting was to find your perfect match, but fate seems to have severely fucked up here."

She was so right. I watched the way Paul looked at Lily when Lisa wasn't looking, as though he ached to hold her in his arms. I wanted to hate him so fiercely, sometimes I thought I did. But then I'd watch Lily when she watched him – I saw the way he played with the kids, and the lazy smile he wore when Lily said something sarcastic. They were perfect for each other.

"Hey, I got milk and-" Lily trailed off as she stepped out onto the back porch. She was wearing one of Kim's old white sundresses and her trusty converse. The tan she had acquired in LA was beginning to fade, but despite how tired she was, she looked gorgeous. Lily thrived in La Push, it was as if she had come into her own. It was obvious to me that she had grown up here, surrounded by nature.

I was beginning to realise that I needed to stay in La Push. I needed it like I needed air to breathe. There was no way I was letting Lily leave without me, she had never been cut out for the LA lifestyle and without me, I was scared that she would get lost in the crowd and I'd never hear from her again. She was too good at disappearing.

"What's going on?" Her eyes slid accusingly to Jared as she dumped the shopping on a nearby table.

"We're having drinks," Kim forced a smile on her face as she opened a nearby beer and took a swig, wincing slightly as she swallowed.

"To try and convince me to stay?" Lily narrowed her eyes and I could practically see the cogs in her brain turning as she looked from me to Embry to Brady to Seth to everyone else who was studiously avoiding her gaze.

"Not everything is about you," I forced out a laugh as I handed her a beer, "The sun is actually shining, I didn't think it was possible here, so I convinced everyone to come for drinks."

"Really?"

"Really," I lied as we clinked our beers together. My lie seemed to work and the tension left her shoulders slightly as Seth pulled her down onto his lap.

It was going to be a long night.

XXXXXXXXXX

"How much has she had to drink?" I followed Jared's eyes to Lily who was laughing wildly at something Colin said and reaching for another beer. It was as if she was on a mission to get as drunk as humanly possible. I had forgotten how often she had used alcohol as an escape in LA.

"Not that much," I lied as I shifted closer to Embry. Somehow, I had drifted towards him during the course of the night. I still hadn't spoken to him, but I missed his warmth. I had never realised how cold I always was until I had met Embry.

"Maybe you should be looking after Kim?" I suggested trying to take the attention away from Lily. Kim was sitting on the porch swing, her head had fallen forward and I could see that her eyes were closed. She was exhausted.

"This is so not going to plan," Jared sighed and made his way quietly over to Kim.

Yawning, I moved even closer to Embry. He peered down at me as I lifted his arm and placed it around my shoulders so I could snuggle into his chest.

"Now you want to talk to me?" He looked too damn serious. Embry was one of the happiest people I had ever met, and I hated to be the one to dull that happiness. I hated the way he was looking at me in the moment – as if he didn't really know me.

"I've been talking to you. I just –"

"You haven't said a single word to me. You even asked Brady to help you carry beer, not me."

"I-"

"It's okay, you don't need to explain, I know you could have any guy you wanted. I mean look at you." Embry's eyes skimmed over my body. He was so wrong. No man had ever looked after me the way Embry did. Sure, there were moments of the day where he annoyed me so damn much, but mostly I just couldn't stop myself from smiling in his presence. He had a lightness about him which seemed to push my doubts away more every day.

"No, you're-"

"You're perfect," Embry breathed, not giving me a chance to speak, "If you don't want me, I'll learn to deal with it, but I have to be around you, I have to be near you."

"Embry, I-"

"That's why I have been looking at apartments in LA all day online," Embry spoke so quickly that his words were all mushed together and I had to strain myself to hear him.

I was shocked into silence. He had been doing what? Suddenly, and unexpectedly I felt a lump lodge in my throat and I sniffed to keep the tears at bay. He wanted to move across country for me?

"I understand if you don't want to be with me," I looked up and noticed he was looking anywhere but me as he spoke, "I didn't even realise that I was missing anything in my life until I met you. I just need to be near you, to see you. Is that okay?"

"Embry, you're not moving to LA." I was struggling to speak, thoughts racing through my head.

"All your friends are here – the pack, your Mum, your whole life." He couldn't leave, I would never make him. Never.

"Your life is in LA," he argued suddenly turning to face me. His eyes were so open, so easy to read. He really would have done anything for me. What had I ever done to deserve him?

He was so wrong. My whole life wasn't in LA. Sure, my job and my apartment were there. But they were just things. Things that seemed so meaningless as I sat beside him looking around at all of our friends. And they were our friends, not just his, I realised.

"Embry – "

"I could find a job as a builder or something, and I could buy an apartment nearby and bring you coffee in the mornings and –"

"Embry. Shut up!"

He looked momentarily shocked as he gazed down at me. He reached up carefully and touched my cheek; it was only then that I realised I was crying.

"We are going to convince Lily to stay," I whispered, "Because I want to stay, I want to be with you." My admission made me feel almost naked. I had never bared my soul so openly to someone before. I realised as I spoke the words aloud, how true they were. Embry pulled me tightly into his chest and placed a soft kiss on the top of my head.

"You want to be with me?" His voice was disbelieving, and I hated that he doubted me. I had been trying to keep him at a distance, trying not to let him in but I had been slowly caving. Surely, he had noticed my reluctance to leave his arms when we fell asleep on the couch, or the way my eyes would linger on his chest when he left the house for patrol. I had been falling for him, and I hadn't even realised.

"Of course. Embry I –"

"I love you!" Startled, I looked up to see Lily trying to force her way between Embry and I. Embry looked reluctant to let me go, but he shifted away ever so slightly to create room for Lily. I shot him an apologetic smile.

"I really, really love you guys," Lily repeated, the alcohol slurring her words.

"We love you too," Embry laughed and reached down to ruffle her hair.

"I really do love you guys," she sighed, a quiet sigh, "I love Kim and Jared too, and Kiera, and Seth and Brady, and…." She trailed off looking around the garden as if searching for someone. I could see unshed tears shining in her eyes and I reached out to grasp her hand tightly within mine. Catching my eye, Embry reached out to gently clasp her other hand. We both knew who she was searching for.

Lily let out a shaky breath, and I squeezed her hand in mine.

"I love Paul." Her voice was so quiet, as if she was afraid to speak her thoughts aloud.

"It's just the alcohol talking," Embry was trying to reason with her, "You're over Paul." I knew that Embry was trying to talk sense it to her, he thought it was the alcohol talking, but I knew better than that. She really did love him. When Paul and Lisa got married, it would destroy her, and I was afraid that she would never truly get over it.

"Lil's-" For once I had no idea what to say to her. It was unexplainably unfair that Embry had imprinted on me, the girl from LA, who he would never have met if it wasn't for Lily. It seemed like everyone's life was on track apart from hers.

"Fuck," she sat up straighter, her eyes wide as she turned to stare at me, "I really do love him. I can't let him go, I can't let him marry her."

"Lily, it's okay," I pulled her against me in a tight hug, "It's all going to be okay. We'll find you someone else, someone better."

"No," she almost growled as she pulled away from me, "Paul is mine."

"Honey," I looked desperately at Embry for some help, "He's Lisa's imprint, you know this."

She laughed. A wild, desperate laugh that sent shivers down my spine. Jared caught my eye from across the garden; he looked worried.

"No," Lily laughed humourlessly, "That's the funny thing. I'm his imprint. It was me all along."

"How much has she had to drink?" Embry hissed over her head as I gripped her hand even tighter. She had finally lost it.

"Lils?" Jared had made his way over to her and knelt down beside us, "Lils? What are you talking about?"

"Stop encouraging her." I narrowed my eyes at Jared. She was drunk, and upset. I thought back to the countless times I had helped her into bed in LA. I thought about the first time she had ever spoken about Paul, and the scary blank expression she had painted on her face. She had to get over him, she had too. It wasn't healthy.

"He imprinted on me," Lily repeated, her shoulders sagging slightly. All the fight seemed to have left her, and she looked desperate as she pleaded with Jared. I wiped hastily at the tears falling down my face. Embry's hand twitched as if he wanted to wipe them away but he thought better of it.

"Didn't he imprint on Lisa?" Jared was using the same voice he used when he tried to lull Kiera to sleep at night. What was he doing?

"No," Lily seemed to sober up slightly, he words more defined as she continued to look at Jared, "He didn't. Lucy broke the imprint, and attached it to Lily because I asked her to."

"Lucy? Who the fuck is Lucy?" I forced Lily to look at me, "You're not making any sense. You're drunk."

"The vampire," she murmured before turning back to Jared, "The one that Seth smelt in Port Angeles that day? She did this. I am Paul's imprint. You have to believe me."

"I do."

My head snapped round to look at Jared. Why was he encouraging her?

"Mate, come on," Embry's voice was tense as he looked between Jared and I, "You can't seriously think that a leech could break an imprint?"

"We know one that can read minds, one that can see the future," Jared hissed, "Why is this any different?"

"It's an imprint," Embry was looking at me as he spoke, and I knew he was thinking about the bond between us, "It's not something that can easily be broken."

"I wouldn't say anything about this has been easy." Jared pulled a sobbing Lily into his arms, "Look at her. She's broken, this is destroying her. None of this has ever made sense. We all think that Lily and Paul should be together. Lisa isn't right for him."

"But why?" I croaked, "Why would she break something that is clearly so right for her?"

"For Lisa," Lily sobbed turning to look at me, desperation shining in her eyes, "So she wouldn't be sick anymore. I couldn't let her die. I couldn't not have a sister. S-so I gave up P-Paul."

"Fuck," Embry's outburst made me jump, "Do you really believe this?"

"Honestly?" Jared shrugged, "This is the only explanation that makes sense. Paul and Lily are meant to be together."

"She would do anything for her sister," I breathed shakily, "She would do anything; even give up everything she has always wanted." It couldn't be true, could it?

"I-I need to tell h-him," Lily was gasping for air between sobs, she was a mess, "I-I need to tell him the truth. We-we need to go now."

My eyes flickered over Lily. She looked so tiny, so fragile in Jared's arms. Her eyes were rimmed red and her hair was wild. There were beer stains on her dress, and she looked exhausted.

"No," I pulled Lily from Jared's arms and into my own forcing her to look at me, "We will tell him in the morning. You're in no fit state to tell him just now. Sleep it off, and then we'll drive around in the morning."

Lily nodded her head reluctantly as Embry, Jared and I shared a look.

God, I wanted to believe her, I really did. I prayed that when she woke up in the morning she remembered everything she had said, that everything was true despite how fucked up it was. If it was true, then there was a chance. If it was true, then Lily could be happy. If it was true, I would finally see her smile again.

God, I hoped it was true.

Thoughts?