A/N: Just a warning. This chapter is a little emotional.

Thanks you, Costa for pre-reading.

24

The air was still moist from a passing shower, but the sun appeared, giving off its last rays before calling it a night.

The wolves were at their selected posts, ready for the shift to begin.

While Jacob was briefing the council, Sam was left in charge. However, Sam's thoughts were in such turmoil, it was hard to concentrate. The harsh memories of his bad decisions flooded the pack mind like the plague.

Questions about Sam's status with Emily swam around well past the point of maddening. He was just glad that he wasn't face to face with any of them. It was bad enough hearing their thoughts.

There was no hiding any feelings in the pack mind. What one of them thought, all of them saw and felt. This just made things worse for Sam. Pity and judgment slammed into his head like a jackhammer. One thing they all agreed on was they wanted it to stop.

The only saving grace was that Leah wasn't there. She was probably just as pissed as Emily. Knowing that he'd been suppressing his feelings for her was enough to rattle her.

Man, he'd fucked that up…again.

Uh, no offense, Sam, but didn't thinking about Leah get you trouble to begin with?

Shut it, Quil! Paul said. You're making things worse! Unfortunately, his feelings showed Sam that he agreed. Sam had done this to himself.

Just sayin', Quil muttered.

Maybe you should let her cool off. Then try talking to her, Paul suggested. Whenever Rachel's mad at me, she usually wants me to give her a moment, then she'll talk to me.

Rachel's not your imprint, Paul, Sam answered harshly. When you have that kind of connection, you can give me advice on how to deal with the pain. A gasp told Sam that he'd stepped over the line. I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean…

I know exactly what you meant, Sam, Paul said, his tone curt. My love for Rachel is nowhere near as important and sacred as yours is for Emily. So what do I know? Then again, it's your supernatural imprinted love that's all fucked up, isn't it?

I just meant that you don't know what kind of pain I'm in. Sam's voice was softer, remorseful.

Oh, we know, Sam. You've been nice enough to share it with us. It was clear that Paul was upset with Sam's remark, which certainly didn't help the pack mind. Sam's pain with Paul's anger was a bad combination.

I was just trying to help Leah, Sam muttered. But, as usual, she wouldn't listen.

Leave my sister out of this, Sam, Seth said. Don't blame her because you lied to Emily about your feelings.

I wasn't, Sam retorted. I'm just saying how this all started. When Leah imprints, it's going to make things worse for her and the pack.

Sounds like it started because you couldn't mind your own business, Paul muttered.

Okay, we get it! Jason said, his irritation evident. Sam fucked up his relationship! Move on, already! None of us care!

Easy, Jason! Brady said.

No! Jason exclaimed. We need to be strategizing how to take out the werewolves! Instead, we've got a broken wolf that Dr. Phil couldn't fix! We don't have time for this bullshit!

A replay of the events earlier flashed in Sam's mind, his torn feelings making the pack exhale a collective moan.

I can't believe Jake left you in charge! Jason said.

Please, Sam. Embry finally said. Just go walk it off or something. We'll cover for you until Jake gets here, but we can't do our job like this.

And I'm the problem, Sam concluded, his voice harsh. The pack's silence answered it for him. Fine.

Sam phased and walked home to wait for Emily. He'd probably get hell from Jacob for not patrolling, but he'd deal with that when he had to. Besides, they practically kicked him out the pack mind.

It was bad enough that his imprint was angry with him, but his pack didn't even want him around. Now, he had a greater understanding of how Leah was treated and why she had been so angry. Sam was angry too, and he felt ambushed by his pack.

By the time he got home, the sun was nearly down, turning the clouds a deep blue. He noticed Jared's car sitting in the driveway. The light was on in the living room.

As Sam approached the house, he looked around for Jared, knowing that he wouldn't let her go home without one of the pack this late. He heard Emily's voice inside with Jared's, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.

He could sense Emily's pain, and his wolf whined. He had to get in there.

The voices stopped. Jared probably picked up Sam's presence.

"He's here, isn't he?" Sam heard Emily say. There was fear in her voice. It had been a long, long time since Emily had been afraid of him. Sam was her protector, her lover. There was no reason for her to be afraid.

Sam opened the front door. His heart stopped after taking a quick glance around the room. There was a small red suitcase on the couch. He instantly recognized it as his son's by the Thor sticker on the front. Jared was holding a bigger black one in his hand, while Emily was packing another duffel bag.

Jared down the suitcase and moved instinctively in front of Emily, holding his hands up in a nonthreatening manner. "Dude, you need to take a walk, okay? You can talk about this later."

"No." His voice softened, and his vision moved to the wary brown eyes of his wife. "Can we talk, please?"

"Sam-" Jared started.

"It's okay, Jared." She gently touched Jared's shoulder, and Sam instantly felt jealous. Sam was the one that needed comforting. "Give us a minute."

"I'll be outside." Jared didn't look at Sam as he carried Emily's suitcase to his car.

Sam felt betrayed. Jared of all people should know what Sam was going through.

Sam's eyes never left Emily's as the dread of what was happening slowly took shape. The silence was torture. He wished she would yell and hit him or something. How did he get here? How did things get turned upside down…again?

"I'm surprised you're here, Sam," Emily said. "I thought you'd be pulling Leah out of Matt's arms by now. For her own good, of course."

Sam ran his fingers through his hair. "I guess I deserved that."

"Why did you come here, Sam?" she finally said. She sounded tired, drained. Sam noticed that her eyes were still a little swollen from her tears earlier.

"To talk to you."

Emily laughed. "Now, you want to talk," Emily said, holding an action figure of Captain America in one hand and another of Thor in another.

"Are you going somewhere?" Sam swallowed a knot in his throat.

"Yes. We're going to stay with Kim." Emily packed away the toys in a duffle bag and grabbed a few books. "Just until I can figure out what to do next. Maybe we'll go to the Makah reservation."

"We?" Sam couldn't help the squeak in his voice.

Emily sighed. "I'm taking David with me."

"You're taking my son, too?"

"You can see David anytime you want." Emily didn't look at Sam. "I'd never take his father from him."

Sam moved in her line of sight. "But you're leaving me?"

She looked up him with all the anger of a scorned woman. "Why the hell should I stick around when you can't even be honest with me?"

"Because I love you." He reached out to her, but she moved away.

"Apparently, it's not just me you love," Emily muttered, her voice laced with venom.

Sam sighed. "It's complicated, Emily."

"Yeah? Even for your wife? Imprinting is supposed to mean that we'll have this unbreakable connection, that you will be everything I need. I'm starting to think that was all bullshit." She tossed more things in the duffle bag with force.

"We do have a connection, Emily. Why do you think I'm in so much pain?" Sam rubbed his chest.

"Okay, let's try a little honesty now." Emily crossed her arms. "What's the real reason you think Leah shouldn't be with Matt?"

Sam shifted uneasily, feeling the room getting smaller as Emily stared at him expectantly. "I told you. When she imprints, she'll have to break his heart, which will hurt her. Besides, he doesn't love her. If he did, then he'd let her be happy and wait for her to find her imprint."

"Like you did." Emily's lips pursed.

"Well, yeah." Sam knew his answer sounded weak. It made a lot more sense in his head.

"You know what I think? You're jealous, because she's not broken up and torn over you anymore. There's a chance that she loves someone just as much or even more than she ever loved you."

"Emily—"

Emily held her hand up. "When you imprinted on me, a large part of me felt honored, like I was part of something important. It hurt me that I did that to Leah." Tears formed in her eyes. "She was the best friend I've ever had, and I knew how much she loved you. I betrayed her for you, for this ultimate and eternal love." She looked up at Sam as the tears slid down her cheeks. "Now I see the truth. You and me? This was some sort of glitch, because she didn't want to marry you. Somehow, I fell for all of this."

"You don't love me anymore?" Sam didn't think his heart could fracture anymore, but it was breaking again.

"Of course I do, but I wished I didn't." Emily wiped her tears. "You ruin things, Sam. You're more like your father than you realize. I know I'm not innocent in this. If we would have fought a little harder, who knows? Maybe things would be different. Maybe I'd still have Leah in my life. Maybe I wouldn't have these scars."

Another crack.

"The good news is that Leah dodged a bullet. Now she can be happy with someone who loves her." Emily zipped up the duffle bag.

Emily picked up David's suitcase and the duffle bag. "I'm tired of trying to find the good in this situation. So far, I gained the reputation of a home wrecker and lost my best friend."

Sam moved in her path. "You can't go to Kim's. They already have a full house with Tommy and Aaron there. Just stay here and we can talk about this after my shift tonight."

"Kim says I can take the couch in the den and David can bunk with her sons." She pushed passed him. "It's just for a night, maybe two. When I figure out my next move, I'll get the rest of our things."

Sam couldn't do anything but watch as she walked out. His feet were frozen as Jared helped her place her things in the backseat of Jared's car.

Then she was gone.

Inside, Sam felt something snap. The wolf broke free of his body and howled. He barely recognized the anguished cries of his pack when he phased. He didn't pay attention to the pleas for him to turn back to human, to give them reprieve. He was drowning in the pain and sorrow of losing Emily, and he was too tired to fight it.

~*}{*~

Jacob had learned over the years that coming together as a pack when one of them was in pain helped not only the wolf, but the entire pack. Leah's experience with Sam was a great example of the pack letting one of their own down. When the pack came together with support and compassion instead of judgment and resentment, it made all the difference. If things got too much, Jacob will pull that wolf off rotation.

Dealing with a wolf's broken heart was one thing. Dealing with an imprinted wolf's broken heart was an entirely different beast to tackle. And he thought werewolves were dangerous.

The amount of pain swirling through the pack mind was agonizing. Jacob phased in the middle of it all, trying to pick up what exactly happened in all the chaos. There were memories of Emily packing, telling Sam that she was leaving and taking their son. This pain opened each pack member's own wounds.

What the hell is going on? Jacob demanded over the groans, trying not to succumb to his own pain.

It's Sam! Paul said, fighting his own agony. He phased in like this!

What happened!

I think Emily left him, Seth said, groaning. Oh god! Dad, no! He was reliving a very vivid and agonizing memory of his father dying in front of him.

Who's still here!

Just me and Seth, Paul answered. I had everyone else phase out, but we didn't want to leave Sam alone in this state. They're patrolling on foot. A harsh memory of Paul's father abusing his mother hit him. The pain of watching and not being able to do anything was palpable. Jake! You have to do something!

I know! I know! Jacob said, as the rush of sorrow swept over him.

Sam's pain was like imprinting in reverse. The overwhelming feeling of adoration turned into a suffocating wave of torment.

Jacob needed as many voices out of his head as possible.

Okay, phase out! Keep your cells close.

Will do! Paul phased out with Seth following right after.

Then it was just Jacob, Sam, and Sam's endless darkness and agony.

In some ways, it was better when everyone phased out, but Jacob alone in the pack mind with Sam's torment meant that he was the only one to endure it. So many painful memories flashed in his head: losing his mother at such a young age, learning about his father's health issues, Bella choosing Edward over him and then learning of their pending marriage, Annie, his former girlfriend, leaving him after finding out what he was, but the worse was Eden breaking up with him.

That was still raw and new.

Mixed in with those memories, were a mixture of Sam's regrets and worse moments. Most of them included Emily: the moment he slashed her face, looking down at his claws coated with her blood, and most recently the look on her face when she found out the secret he'd managed to hide from her.

What am I going to tell David? Will he hate me?

Jacob looked up at darkening sky. At this point, the wolves should have been out patrolling, but Jacob couldn't risk them getting hurt.

Sam, Jacob said in a soothing tone. Sam, I need you to calm down, man.

She's gone. Sam's voice was haunting, like a ghost that wouldn't crossover. She's gone. She's gone. She's gone.

Sam kept repeating those words, over and over. The painful memories of Emily telling him she was leaving hit him harder and harder, and he let out an anguished moan.

Jacob stopped and sat back on his haunches, took a deep breath and concentrated. He worked on filtering out the pain and the anguish Sam showed and through his own pain that anguish caused him.

Jacob didn't want to command him to phase without knowing where he was. In the state Sam was in, he could be wandering around the woods naked if he did, and who knew when or where they'd find him. It was better to keep contact with him until he could see him.

Sam! Jacob's voice was loud and commanding, pulling on the power of his wolf. Listen to me! Jacob felt Sam become alert to his command. Good! Now go to my house.

Jacob saw through Sam's eyes as they opened, showing the forest. Sam and Emily's house was there in the distance, empty. The turmoil began to rise again.

Go to my house! Jacob commanded again.

Sam moved, but not nearly as fast as he could. Jacob stayed with him the entire time, encouraging him, helping him stay focused. That's it. You're almost there.

When Jacob's house came into view, Jacob commanded that he go around back and wait for him there. Once Sam was there, Jacob ran to his house as fast possible.

Jacob had to get Sam out of the pack mind as soon as possible. This was the worst possible time for an imprinted wolf to be on the rocks with his spouse.

Jacob saw Sam's black wolf waiting in the backyard. Rebecca stood on the back porch, staring at Sam probably wondering why a catatonic wolf was sitting in the backyard.

After phasing, Jacob grabbed a pair of cargo pants from one of the hiding places.

Rebecca looked relieved when she saw Jacob. "He just showed up." She gestured toward Sam. "I tried telling him there were some clothes in the bushes, but he won't do anything."

"It's okay. I got it, Rebecca." Jacob ran his hand through Sam's fur. He could see the pain in Sam's eyes and feel the defeated demeanor in his stance. "Do me a favor. Call Paul and tell him it's okay to phase back. I got Sam."

"Okay." Rebecca took another wary look at the big black wolf sitting next to Jacob.

Jacob turned to Sam. "Now, phase back." Jacob's command was gentle and caring.

Sam dropped down to the ground, naked as the day he was born. "She left me. She's gone." Then he cried in earnest, big howling sobs that shook his body.

Jacob kneeled down next to him, not at all deterred by Sam's naked body and wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders.

He looked up the dark sky and the rising moon and prayed that nothing bad would happen tonight.

~*}{*~

Mark didn't really believe in luck or chance or any of that nonsense, but someone or something was smiling down on him.

He watched as the wolf guarding Eden's house walked around in his human form, talking on his cellphone. Did he not take guarding her house seriously, or maybe he didn't take the werewolves seriously.

He was in for a big surprise.

"There's just one," Mark whispered. He'd brought two other werewolves with him, just in case. Apparently, the Quileute pack was concentrating on keeping the Alpha female safe, and hadn't thought about the Alpha's female.

Not that they were together anymore.

The two others were already in their werewolf forms, waiting for the go ahead. Their fur so dark, they blended in with the forest.

He felt his own wolf itching for freedom, but Mark kept him caged. Although the moon wasn't full that night, it would be in a few nights, which meant it was harder to fight the beast within. If he was going to try and convince Eden to come with him, he'd need to do so in his human form.

"I'll take care of him." Mark nodded toward the lone wolf guard. "Search the perimeter. The brunette vampire usually shows up during the night."

The werewolves nodded and disappeared.

Mark moved closer, hiding in the bushes to help disguise his scent. It was harder to pick up when they weren't werewolves, and he'd rolled around in the bushes to help mask it.

"I know this is a lot to take in, Roe," the man said into his cellphone. "I just wanted to be honest with you. No secrets." He'd started digging a hole in the ground with his toe. "I know you said you needed time, but…"

Mark recognized him as the Alpha female's brother, but he didn't bother to learn his name. It sounded like the man had told someone what he really was, and things weren't going over well.

A distracted wolf was even better.

Mark held a tranquilizer gun with a dart filled with werewolf venom and a sedative. If were up to him, he'd have taken out the wolf permanently, but the Master had plans for certain members of the Quileute pack, and this one was on the keep list. But the Master didn't say anything about not hurting them, and this was going to hurt.

Mark moved closer as the wolf guard took a seat, staring at the phone. He needed to move quickly. It wouldn't take long for him to pick up Mark's scent. Mark aimed the gun and pulled the trigger, hitting him in the just under his shoulder blade. The man dropped to the ground.

Mark stepped out of the bushes and stood over the man, the dart sticking out of his back. He reached to pull the dart out, but Mark grabbed his hand and pushed the dart further in. "Oh, not yet. We have to let the medicine kick in." After a few moments, Mark pulled the dart out of the man's back and kicked him over until he was on his back. "See, all gone."

The man looked at Mark with fire in his eyes.

"Man, you are pissed, aren't you?" Mark squatted down in front of him.

"When I get my hands-" he started, but Mark's fist ended that thought.

"What was that?" Mark cupped a hand around his ear. "I couldn't hear you over my fist hitting your face." That punch probably hurt more than usual since his system was comprised.

"Motherfucker!" he yelled. His movements were slower, and he was definitely weaker.

"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" Mark quipped. He grabbed the man's face. "You're lucky the Master has a hard on for your sister, or you might not have made the cut list."

"You won't get near her! I'll kill you first."

"Yeah, because you're doing a great job of protecting right now, huh?" Mark grabbed the other needle. "Here's the deal. I need to get my girl, and you're blocking my way." Mark jammed the needle in the man's arm. Even though he tried to fight it, his eyes slowly began to close, his breathing became deep and even.

He was out.

Mark threw the man over his shoulder and placed him in the woodshed and locked him inside. It would be a while before he woke up, and he'd have a real bad headache when he did.

Soft, sorrowful music played from the inside of Eden's home. He had a feeling what or who that was for. Eden had been moping about Jacob Black for way too long.

Damn, was she ever going to get over him?

It didn't matter, because Mark knew he could make Eden see that he was better choice. If she chose right, that is. If not, then that would make things difficult. It wasn't anything he couldn't get around.

As he walked around to the front door, he heard another voice inside.

It was the hybrid. She'd hung around Eden quite a bit, especially after her break up with the Alpha.

The hybrid was surprised the first time they attacked, but she'd probably be prepared this time. From the data Mark had, she was almost as strong as a vampire, and he still didn't know if she had a special ability.

The two werewolves appeared next to him.

"Did you see anything?" he asked one of them.

The werewolf shook his head.

"Good. We've got a little situation, but it's nothing we can't get around. The hybrid is inside with Eden. Between the three of us, we can take care of one hybrid and grab them both. Just wait here and I'll give the signal."

The werewolves nodded. Mark took a deep breath headed to the front door.

A/N: As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.