The Truth and Nothing But the Truth

POV: Jake

The teeth gnashing ends when Stefan and Embry at last decide to ignore Paul and turn once again to lick their wounds. I begin to speak, and an uneasy peace returns to the group as they listen to what I have to say. It takes about twenty minutes of non-stop talking on my part to get to the end of my story. I've woven it to explain the hows and whys of my decision to leave the pack. I take my time explaining Stefan's recalcitrant role in making it all happen.

"… and, so, that's why I can't phase anymore."

The stupefied looks of my pack mates greet me when I at last look up from the hypnotizing flames of the bonfire. I avoid looking at Sam, who surely must be ready to explode since I haven't consulted him before doing any of this.

"You gave up being a werewolf for that leech lover?!" Paul whines. "What about brotherhood, man?"

I swear to god, if he wasn't my sister's imprint, I would have killed his simpering ass years ago. God forbid Paul ever do anything out of love!

"Is that why Stefan looks like you when he phases?" Jared asks, genuinely curious.

I nod, then look to Stefan who opens his mouth to answer.

"When shifters perform a removal ceremony, we remove and absorb not only the form of the magical being, but also their supernatural powers. Jake will always carry the alpha werewolf DNA. He, like each of your fathers, will continue to pass on the werewolf gene, but Jake, himself, will be unable to phase into a werewolf any longer."

A stunned silence falls over us.

"So, then, does this make you one of us now?" Seth asks after a few minutes.

"Yes, in a way, I suppose it does," Stefan answers thoughtfully. "More importantly, however, any child I sire will possess Jake's alpha trait and will be of the LaPush pack."

A loud muttering ensues after that little bit of information is revealed.

"Wait, Stefan, help me understand, something," Seth continues, brows knit. "You and my sister are together, right?"

I feel Embry tense at my side, but he says nothing as Seth breaks his inquiry down.

"So, let's say Leah, you know, eventually has a baby with you, Stefan, after you're married and everything. Then, would this baby be 100% werewolf because you've absorbed Jake's powers?"

Embry snarls at the suggestion of another baby and the mere possibility of marriage. He really looks ready to attack again. I place a hand at the crook of Embry's elbow, staying him. Every other man in the circle casts a wary glance his way, readying themselves to move away from Stefan if necessary. For now, though seemingly ready to strike, Embry keeps himself in check.

"Well," I say, to keep Stefan from being the one to answer, "technically yes. But this is the part I think all of you are going to have to stretch a little to understand. The theoretical baby Stefan would have with said female wolf, would be a shifter, too. Werewolf AND shifter. Just like one of us in the pack already is." I turn to look at Embry, who narrows his gaze on me.

"What are you talking about, Jake?" Embry snarls, unsure why I would know of his true heritage, and unclear as to what his lineage has to do with the current conversation.

"It's about time we lay the facts out on the table, fellas," I say, motioning with my hands and arms that this is it, that we've got to all be on the same page here. "Embry, you're particularly important to the future of our pack. Your father's blood would have made you alpha of the Makah pack, and your mother's a shifter…"

I look at the guys in the circle as I drop this bit of information. Sam and Quil, wearing the same stunned expression, simultaneously turn to stare open-mouthed at me. As the information sinks in, they also share twin looks of relief, realizing that their secret fears about there fathers' extramarital affairs are baseless.

I know how they feel.

Embry's dad was Makah and carried the alpha gene, at that!

"…You, apparently, are the sort of new werewolf we in LaPush should be trying to evolve into," I continue, gesturing toward Embry. "Any kid you have with… a…. a… mature werewolf female… ah… like Leah…"

I watch Stefan move uncomfortably at my words and I purposefully U-turn my explanation.

"… or even a shifter, for that matter…" Embry shoots me a hateful glare and I stumble in my explanation.

"...Ah... is going to be pretty powerful, too, just not as powerful as… uh..." I can't seem to finish my sentence. I am having a hell of a time trying to keep myself from looking at Leah's imprint, and the even sharper look Embry sends me has me completely forgetting where I'm going with all of this.

I know that Embry still carries a brightly burning torch for Leah. Its fire hasn't abated during the entire two years they'd been apart. If anything, her absence in his life seems to further ignite the flame, keeping it blazing even after all this time. Any mention of her name in his presence always results in some volatile show of emotion, like today, for example. The passionate display earlier leaves little question that Embry still has powerful feelings wherever Leah's concerned. So, I know that if I keep up with my reckless train of thought, it will be me on the receiving end of Embry's violent attack this time - and I'm human now, defenseless.

I finally give up my explanation out of pure self-preservation. The knowing look Stefan sends me tells me that he, too, knows all about Embry's continuing feelings for Leah and is sympathetic to my plight in my attempt to explain it all to Embry. Stubborn ass that he is.

"Whoa, wait a hot second," Paul says, "Why the hell are we trying to evolve into anything? The vampires, at least the ones we know of, are long gone."

"No, unfortunately, the blood thieves will never be gone," Stefan says softly, menacingly. "Additionally, I fear, you'll have new aberrations to contend with as well. This is why there are cross-prints between shifters and werewolves occurring more and more in the reservations I've been doing my research in. For now, these thralls, you know them as imprints, have been concentrated in the coastal areas. There have only been two other instances in the past that show increased numbers of cross-prints like this that is happening now. The last time was because of the coming of the Cold Ones from both Europe and Asia."

A silent shudder goes through the crowd of men.

"How long before we should expect these… uh… foreign aberrations to affect us directly?" asks Sam, who has, up until this point, been uncharacteristically silent.

"Previously, it took about three-quarters of a century to fully evolve some packs before the coming of the Cold Ones," answers Stefan. "So perhaps you won't see these new monsters in your lifetime, unless, of course, you decide to prolong your life on your own. Your job now, though, is to ensure that your pack is genetically strengthened so that when the time comes your children and your children's children will be strong enough to fight and protect what is theirs."

There is a mixture of relieved and confused murmurings coming from the men around the fire.

"So, basically, all we're supposed to do is make super-powered, fighting, half-breed babies by hooking up with hot, shifter girls? Hey, I'm totally down with that," announces Brady in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Jared, Collin, and Seth all nod in unison, trying to suppress grins. This, quite obviously, wasn't going to be such a terrible task for them to undertake. The men with human female imprints, however, look more than a little worried.

"Dude, whatever sort of kid you have, it better imprint on a shifter, Jake," whispers a perturbed Quil, to my left. "I can't believe you just dissed us like this!"

I shake my head. It wasn't like I didn't think of this reaction before. It isn't until just now, though, that it really feels like I am forsaking the pack for my own selfish wants.

Sam puts up a staying hand, quieting everyone.

"What sort of evidence do you have that would indicate the coming of new prey for us, Stefan? Do you expect us to blindly believe all of this is true simply because you say it is?"

Stefan says nothing, obviously insulted at the suggestion that his findings could possibly be incorrect.

Heads swivel to the owner of the next voice that speaks up.

"The Makahs have recently started their transformations. I thought it just might be because some new vampires were starting a coven in the area," Embry suddenly supplies, much to the surprise of the entire group. "So, what that shitty shifter has to say, might have some actual merit. I brought Aylen here tonight, so she could tell us all what was going on with the Makah. She's like me, part shifter, mostly werewolf. She's never seen anyone phase into a werewolf before. She wants to learn how to shift into a were- herself because the current alpha there wants a female in the pack. I brought her so she could learn about us. She was also curious to see if she imprinted on one of you guys."

"Whoa, hold up dude, you kissed that girl in front of all of us! Aren't you with this Aylen, chick? Why would you bring her here to see if she imprints? What's wrong with her that you don't want her?!?" of course it is Paul who is doing the asking.

"I'm not with her and there's nothing wrong with her, dipshit" Embry replies quickly, earning a growl from Paul. Embry's clearly upset at his earlier irrational behavior, distraught enough, it seems, to have momentarily forgotten that Stefan is still among us. "The alpha of Aylen's pack is worried about whatever is happening. He made her come with me when I said Leah would probably be in town. They know we have a female here in LaPush. He wanted Aylen to meet Leah and learn from her. The Makah strongly believe that having a female in the pack is really important, really coveted... Besides…"

Why the notion of the importance of female werewolves never occurred to us here in LaPush, I don't know, but considering the cumulative amount of mind power and testosterone levels in this gathering of brawn over brains, minus one shifter, it's perhaps not that hard to figure out why we didn't value Leah's contribution to the pack as much as we should have.

"…there are very few guys over there who are old enough for Aylen to be with. And now, there are some new men in the area sniffing around the Makah women who look a whole hell of a lot like…like... him," Embry motions disdainfully toward Stefan. "The hell if I want Aylen to follow the same fate as Leah! I want her with a true werewolf for fuckssake! Aylen's my friend and she deserves the best. Just a friend, guys, but after today, I'm not so sure about that anymore."

Well, whose damn fault is that? I think silently to myself.

"Friends with benefits, apparently," mutters Paul, earning himself a threatening growl and snarl from Embry.

"No! She's just a really good friend, you fucking asshole," Embry bellows loudly, furious at Paul's lascivious implication. "I love her like a true best friend should, that's all!!"

I watch Stefan suddenly whip his head around to catch Embry's eye.

An unspoken message passes between them.

I watch as a parade of emotions cross Embry's face.

First there is suspicion…

… then, disbelief…

… some denial…

…at last, clear-eyed understanding…

and finally, remorse.

Stefan is sitting on his haunches, his shoulder, though apparently still tender, mostly healed.

He's watching Embry as intently as I am.

Finally, a grief-stricken expression settles onto Embry's face. I watch his hands shake as he brings them up to drag through his dark, disheveled hair. I hear his ragged outtake of breath as his eyes clench shut.

It feels like years before Embry finally looks up at Stefan with one single question still glittering in his eyes.

I keep my mouth closed and my jaw clenched as I watch Stefan give him one final, and brief nod.

I hear a gut-wrenching sob release from Embry's throat only a moment before I discover just air beside me.

Embry is gone.

I look to Stefan who places one thought in my head.

So, now... he knows.

A New Voice

POV: Leah

I sit in my living room surrounded by a gaggle of females, more, I think, than I have been around in a helluva long time. I've stopped seething, but I haven't stopped pacing.

"Leah, sit down," Bella sighs. "You're making my head hurt just watching you."

I throw myself into the nearest armchair and settle enough to take in the worried looks of the women around me.

"Men suck!" I shout, to no one in particular.

"At least you have two who really, really want you," says an unfamiliar voice, a hint of jealousy in her tone. I whip my head around to stare at her, this girl, Aylen. "And, I know at least one of them still loves you."

My breath catches and everyone in the room suddenly loses the ability to breathe.

"Embry doesn't love Leah, Aylen," Bella explains, surprisingly frustrated, avoiding my gaze. "He wouldn't have done half of the things he's done to her if he did. He left her. TWICE. Both times she's needed him. Both times, total fail on his part, and you know what? Both times, Stefan was there to help her see who she is beyond Embry. If Embry does love her, then Stefan loves her best of all."

OK, when did ex-bloodsucker lover start paying attention to Embry and me? And besides that, she does have a point.

"But that doesn't mean Embry doesn't still love her," Alyen insists. I watch Emily reluctantly nod in agreement.

"Men do stupid things when they're in love," Emily says, touching her scars, thinking of Sam. "Embry's scared, Leah. And insecure, too, I think."

Unconsciously, my mind wanders to recall of all of the women Embry's been with before me. There's a painful pang in my heart as I think of the phantom number of women he must've been with in these last two years. I scowl at the thought of the internet pages that offer some mediocre proof of what my heart accuses him of.

I let out an skeptical huff.

Embry? Insecure. Yeah, right.

Aylen seems to catch my train of thought.

"Leah, have you taken a good look at your boyfriend, lately?" she asks, meaningfully. "Because, seriously, you should. All of us in this room, each one of us, had a pretty hard time ripping our eyes away from the sight of him. Imagine what that does to Embry."

I look around, only to be met with the guilty nods of all those around me. I'm slightly confused.

"Wait, do you mean Stefan?" I ask incredulously. "I mean, we've imprinted and everything, but he's my friend. A really good friend!"

"Don't you mean, a really, really good friend?" Emily asks with a mischievous twinkle. "You seriously can't have us believing you haven't… "

Her voice trails off as she sees the look on my face. Her intake of breath has me, eyes glistening, turning to stare straight at my cousin.

"Leah… oh, honey, after all this time?"

Well, I've thought about it, but…

"He's been on the west coast, out here, most of this time," I explain. "I mostly see his sister. We're starting a business together, you know."

A disgusted snort comes from Bella's side of the room. I smile, despite myself.

Izzy.

I bow my head, my moment of amusement leaving me as soon as it hits.

"It's always only been Embry," I admit softly to the group. "Only Embry,"

I clear my throat, pushing thoughts of that insensitive prick aside for now.

"Anyway, you know the way Quil is with his imprint? How the guys say you love your imprint in whatever way they need at the time? Well, I just don't need Stefan that way… at least not right now, and he seems to understand that."

Aylen stares at me, mouth agape.

I bet she'd have no qualms about giving Stefan a good ride.

"Anyway, what's up with you?" I throw my words out at this girl, who's turning out to be a complete enigma. "Why are you accusing your boyfriend of being in love with someone else, me in particular. And why are you lusting after Stefan?"

She shoots me a confused glance.

"Wait. You seriously think I'm with Embry, after everything he's done to me?" she asks, bewildered. "You were on the discussion board! You saw how he was with me out there at the bonfire! No respect! No, Leah, Embry and I are better friends than we were ever lovers. I'm here today because my alpha made me come to meet you. And even if there was a modicum of interest on my part for Embry, he would never, ever have me. That stupid kiss back there, was all for show. He even sort of warned me it might happen, and pre-apologized for it if it came to pass."

It's my turn to stare at her in wide-eyed speculation. She gives me a smirk.

"He's been moping around my reservation under the guise of his being an environmentalist watching the guys who've come to survey the land. Whatever! What he's been really doing is trying to make amends for the shit he put me through, before." She shrugs, nonchalantly, "I've sort of been taking advantage of it."

Ahhh, a girl after my own heart.

I grin at her, she returns it and then says something that has my heart flipping.

"Leah, as far as I know, there's been no one he's been with since, well, since the last time I posted to the discussion board… In other words, there's been no one for him since you."

A Rock and a Hard Place

POV: Embry

I run away from the bonfire as my brain replays my last silent conversation with Stefan.

I couldn't have put it better myself, Embry. Just good friends. I love Leah like a best friend should, that's all!

Stefan's echoing of my words thrust forefront in my mind as soon as the sound of my repudiation of Paul's assumption melts in the air.

Earlier, all those images of Leah, those were your memories, you imbecile, not mine!

Of course, the shifter revealed all of this only after I tried to maim him. I should be infuriated with him, but now… now… I don't know. It sort of serves me right, I guess. Aylen's been telling me that I must've wrongly jumped to conclusions two years ago and that Leah's silence does not immediately implicate her with cheating on me.

I try to convince myself that I should be mad at her and at him, but now I find that I'm mostly infuriated with myself.

Leah will murder me for revealing this, Embry, but really, you ponce, if you'd been paying any attention at all, you would've realized for yourself that she's only truly ever loved you!

Why does it take a virtual stranger, a man I despise, even, to shed light on the actual truth?

But what about the baby that was lost? Isn't that what you two have been trying to do all this time? I'd asked this in silent desperation, not wanting to think about what I'd done if the baby wasn't Stefan's. Wasn't the baby two years ago yours?

As his answer reverberates in my mind, the truth of his answer is reflected in his eyes.

The baby was yours, Embry. Yours.

Mine.

And I'd left her alone.

I'd left her...

with him.

Again.

Shit.

I storm into my house and see my mom on the couch. She looks up from what she's doing, giving me a concerned once-over.

I shove myself into the recliner, covering my face with my hands.

"Embry, what's wrong?"

I let out a sorrowful whine.

What the fuck isn't wrong?

"I nearly killed Stefan today," I readily admit. "Leah's renewed her vow never to speak to me again. Oh, and yeah, I almost forgot, something wicked this way comes."

I hear my mom get up from her seat to come teeter on the arm of my chair. She runs her fingers through my hair.

"Are you ok?"

I shake my head.

"I told you before, you need to let Leah be." my mom reprimands, "She'll come back to you when she's ready. You're causing yourself, and her, too much pain this way!"

"Mom, I love her, I've tried staying away. I'm miserable!"

She nods. She's seen my spiral downward to become this… pathetic creature in font of her.

"Yes, Embry, you do love her, I know. But, you haven't been showing it, son."

I look at her, angry that she would say such a thing. Of course I've been showing it. I've been showing it to every goddamn person who's uttered her name out loud to me for the last 23 months, two weeks, and six days, four hours, and 22 minutes.

"Anger and jealousy, Embry? Is this the way you think you should show her you love her? You are not becoming the man she needs. All you're doing is revealing how you are still not ready to have her in your life. Let her be, Embry. Let her do what she must. Use this time to grow strong for her. Do not begrudge her this. You must show her you love her."

"Mom, what the hell do you mean-?"

Our conversation is interrupted by a knock at our door. My mom leaves my side to answer.

"Hello Jacob, Stefan," I hear my her say.

I groan. Why do they continue to torture me? I feel their presence in the room before they announce themselves.

"What the hell do you want," I grouse. "Come to rub my nose in my complete stupidity, too?"

Jake sits and Stefan stands behind him.

"Look, Embry, you left before we could finish. You do need to know that the legend is true. Leah's going to have to go through with having this baby with Stefan. So-"

I watch my mom in the far room. She is eavesdropping. Her eyes meet mine and she somberly nods her head.

I look at Stefan with unmitigated hatred. What the hell do they want me to do about this sickening fact? Just stand by and let this happen? Or, maybe, make me watch some sort of ancient mating ritual or something? What sort of sicko is this guy~? And why did Jacob seem to be friends with him, my nemesis?

"She needs to know you're ok with it," Jake says.

"What?!" I roar, horrified at the audacity of their request. "You can't be serious!? Let her do what she needs to do, but for godssakes Jake, please don't make me tell her that it's ok."

"Embry, this isn't about just you or Leah. It's not even about just Stefan and Leah. It's about all of us," Jake pleads.

"You're not even part of the pack, anymore, Jake! And it's been two fucking years," I shout. "After all this time, why the hell didn't he impregnate her already? Then we wouldn't even have to be here right now."

"She couldn't, rather, wouldn't," Stefan admits softly.

Stefan's words allow a pleasant glow of masculine pride and satisfaction to radiate through my chest.

It is short lived.

"What would you have me do, Embry?" Stefan continues, agitated. "I'm not a rapist!"

For this I am utterly thankful.

"Leah knows what's expected of her as alpha female of this pack," interjects Jake. "Embry, don't make Leah feel like she's sacrificing her only chance of happiness with you by doing what she is destined to do with Stefan. Lord only knows what she stills sees in you after that idiotic stunt you pulled today!"

I see my mom nodding her agreement with Jake. I look away from her to find Stefan placing his fingers against his brow. I feel a tingling in my head.

"You didn't love Leah enough to fight to keep her, Embry." These are words Stefan's been uncovering in my mind, he's replaying words I've said to someone else before. "You left that strong girl broken and alone. The reason she's hurting, even now after all this time? That's on you. You left her with no where to turn," And just as I didn't spare Sam's feeling when I'd spoken these very same words to him, Stefan forges on. "Fortunately, I was there, willing to give her what she needed. Sympathy, friendship, a bit of happiness and healing time. No, you don't get a say in this, Embry, not this time. Because I love her enough to keep you and your bitterness away from her if necessary."

I glare at him. This man, who's come to Leah's rescue whenever I left her wanting.

"Stop sifting through my memories," I snarl at Stefan. "Stop throwing my words into my face."

"Please, Embry, it seems as though the only way I can get you to listen and understand is when I use words you yourself have spoken before," Stefan quietly explains. "If you decide to fight me on this, I understand absolutely. If you fight, know that I will continue to exist in her life. We've imprinted. We can't undo that now. We could try, but a part of her will always be mine. Always. Know that I will not let this go. I can't. Not when I've come so close."

They've grown impossibly closer, I think as I look at him. Likely no sex, but quite possibly worse. He's telling the truth, there is love between them.

"If you choose this way, Embry, know that she will need your unqualified acceptance of me and of who she is when she is with me," Stefan continues. "Not just for now, but for the rest of her life - for the rest of your lives together. She'll need your enduring trust. She'll need your unlimited love. Not anger or jealousy. If you can accept her as thus, then by all means, take her completely into your life and endeavor to try to understand my constant involvement in hers."

Behind him, I see my mom frown and shake her head so vigorously I think it might tumble off her shoulders.

"If you are able to do all these things for her, then and only then will I consider you a worthy rival. Know this: I have every intention of winning her." Stefan warns. "I can't let her go now. We've grown too close, and I can honestly say, at this very moment, that I am not sorry for this desire that I have for Leah. I can also say that, yes, I have grown to love her, enough to want to protect her and be her partner for as long as I live. I have seen you at your worst, Embry, and I truly don't believe you deserve Leah as you currently are. If I may speak plainly, I know that should you choose this route that I have just outlined, it is without a doubt that I will win her, and in the end, you just might just lose any opportunity you might have had to claim her as yours after I am gone."

I want to launch myself at him, but realize as my hands grip the armchair that if I do, I'd only be proving his point.

"… IF you can't do that for her, then for her sake, for all our sakes, man, allow her the peace of mind to do what she needs to… with me. She will be yours in the end. You will still need to trust her implicitly and love her boundlessly, if you choose this way. But if you do, I promise you, Embry, that you will be rid of me as soon as our baby breathes its first breath of life. You will have to be there for Leah and our little one. Leah and your pack will need this from you. This will be the last request I will ever ask of you, one that will make you the ultimate hero."

I glance at him, wondering why he wouldn't stay for her and his baby. I don't open my mouth. It's entirely too much for me to process and I continue to morosely sit motionless, listening to whatever else he has to say.

"-But you have to decide. Embry. Are you staying or walking away? You have to tell her one way or the other. If you let her leave without a word, she'll continue to hold onto her broken heart, barely breathing, in this godawful holding pattern, waiting for you to say something. She'll never allow herself to heal, to be whole enough for either you or me. I am telling you now, Leah will not be able to do what is ahead of her alone. Either choice, Embry, I am begging you to tell her what you are to her, and commit yourself to be there for her in whatever capacity that you can. I love her enough to wish her that. I do love her, Embry. But I suspect, you love her even more than I."

I rub my hand against my forehead. I can't think with the both of them here.

"Please go," I croak, unable to look at either Stefan or Jake. "I have to think. Just… please go."

It seems only minutes until I hear them bid farewell to my mom. I hear the creak of the front door and their receding footsteps as they make their way down the steps of the porch.

Later...

POV: Embry

I take the long road to Leah's house. I still have yet to find Aylen. I'm afraid that I'll discover them together, even though, that's what this whole day was supposed to be about.

I slowly approach the Clearwater home. I can hear female voices inside.

Hmm… still there then.

I drum up the courage to knock on the door, knowing full well my presence is neither expected, nor desired.

I hear Leah's voice call out to Bella, "Hey, I betcha it's Jake!"

A pleased murmur travels through the entire group of women, catching my ear.

"What makes you think it's just Jake, Leah?" calls another female's voice I can't readily identify.

The door pulls open without even a "Who is it?" and I'm greeted by the stunned beauty of Leah mid-smile.

Her eyes narrow as soon as she realizes I am not the man she is expecting.

"Go away," she says. Her glare sharpening, her lips forming a scowl.

"No, not this time," I say quietly.

"But why, Embry? What do you think you're going to accomplish standing here that you couldn't have done ages ago?"

"I know the truth Leah, about the baby."

"Did Stefan tell you?" She sighs, resigned.

"I asked."

She lets out a sound of disgust. "Well, it's about fucking time!"

"You could've told me, Leah."

"When exactly would that have been convenient, Embry?" She's staring out beyond me now. "Mmmm? Oh, I know, how silly of me! I could have told you after you called me a whore. Or maybe a better time would have been after I was nearly comatose from the loss of our baby and Stefan was staying with me just to make sure I was taking my medication and taking care of myself? Would that have been a good time?"

I wince.

"And before you go blaming Stefan for revealing your brand spanking new nickname for me, you can just forget it! I guessed, because it wasn't that hard to figure out. Nothing else would have sent Stefan off on such a pissed off rampage than you disparaging my character. And honestly, you don't have a varied vocabulary."

I watch her place a carefully manicured fingertip against her chin.

"Hmmmm, now let me see," she says, faking thoughtfulness. The muscles in my jaw clench at the sound of her sarcasm. "I bet I can guess what you are here to say. You're here to say, 'I'm sorry.'"

The sing-song tone she adopts nearly throws me over the edge. I stare at her now. The vision of her reminds me of that godawful day I wore a shirt that smelled like her because of her ridiculous temper tantrum. Anger blossoms in my head. I love her so much. But, at this very moment, I truly, truly hate her actions and words. I want to throttle her!

"No, Leah, I'm not here to say I'm sorry." I am matter-of-fact, proud there is not a trace of anger in my voice. She rewards me with a confused and stricken expression. "Because, frankly, Leah, I don't believe I have anything to be sorry about."

I watch her mouth open and close like a gasping fish. All of her self-righteous anger dissipates, replaced by her absolute shock at my unexpected reply.

"I'm here to find out why you didn't tell me what the hell was going on with you and Stefan before I saw you with him at the hospital," I pause to grab onto the doorframe, my vehemence now appearing. I purposefully inject myself into her personal space. "I want to know why I had to find out that you had every intention of going though with getting impregnated by Stefan and keeping me in the dark about it. While you're at it, why don't you tell me why your brother announced you were engaged to Stefan that night?" I pause for breath and continue...

"I'm curious, Leah, would you have passed a baby that was his off as mine, if I hadn't gotten you pregnant first?"

I watch a flicker of surprise, some hurt, then guilt finally settle in the depths of her gaze. I watch the anger and her feelings of hatred for me rise as I accuse her of all the abominably hurtful things I've been secretly harboring against her all these months.

"Why was it, Leah, that you asked Stefan to tell you that he loved you that night?" I hiss through my gritted teeth. "Why, Leah, am I the one who is wrong to react the way I did when I found you? Weren't you my girlfriend at the time? You were wrapped in another man's arms asking him to tell you something that only I had a right to tell you!"

I force my head closer to hers, breathing down her neck now. "Why am I the one at fault here? Did you even stop to think how frantic with worry I was? I got lost at least three times on the way to a strange hospital, in a strange town nearly as soon as I got Bella's voicemail. I nearly killed myself trying to get to you as quickly as humanly possible. So, tell me, why am I the villain? If you stop and take a look at it from where I'm standing, all the pieces fit together, pointing to you cheating on me and trying to have a baby that wasn't mine at all!" I stop again to gulp in air.

"Leah, why should I be sorry when you're the one who broke my heart that night by pleading with another guy to tell you that he loved you!?"

I watch her close her eyes, and try not to be moved as she chokes back a sob. I hurt, too, dammit! I hate doing this to her, knowing I'm ripping open a barely healed wound. But she needs to understand the hell she put me through, too. She wasn't the only one who has been suffering.

At least she hadn't been alone through it all! I shake off the desolation I've felt since walking out of the hospital that night.

"So, no, Leah, I am not the least bit sorry for any of this because maybe, finally, today, I'll get the whole truth from you," I pound my fist against the doorframe for emphasis.

"That is why I am here!"

POV: Leah

warning: contains M content stop and restart at double astrix (**)

I hear his words and they rip into me, tearing new wounds across my heart.

I honestly had no idea. And I had no inclination, before seeing him on my doorstep a few minutes ago, to wonder what Embry had been going through during the absolute worst night of my sorry life.

I am astounded. I try desperately to quickly process what he's saying. I have to close my eyes to block off his piercing glare. Without sight, my other senses sharpen. I hear the women inside stealthily make their way out of my mother's house through the back door.

I hear Embry's ragged breathing, and feel the humidity of his breath against my cheek.

I step backwards, removing myself from the closeness of him, quickly glancing into the great room to ascertain that indeed the women have cleared out to offer me privacy. I know my mom is working late and that Seth is spending the night over at Brady's.

So I am alone.

Alone...

with Embry Call.

After all this time.

This is not exactly the way I'd pictured it would be.

Embry does not allow me my space. For every backwards step I take, he moves forward, until I can take it no more. I am finally forced to place both of my hands squarely against his chest and shove him away.

He doesn't budge. Instead, he grabs onto my hands and pulls me into him. I stumble foreword, landing hard against his angular frame.

"Why don't you trust me?" he asks roughly against the side of my head as I feel the heat of him along the full length of my body. "Why, Leah, couldn't you trust me with the truth?"

"You couldn't handle the truth, Embry!" I cry, frustrated. "You can barely handle it now, and we're not even together!"

"You never even gave me a chance to try, Leah," his voice is raw.

A sob catches in my throat. I feel his hand climb its way up my back, twining in my hair, pulling on the raven locks of it, making me tilt my face up so he can look at me. He is far from gentle. "You'd been lying to me from the get go and you know it," he says quietly, his heart in his voice.

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to spare you the unbearable pain of all of it, from imprint to miscarriage, Embry, from nights I thought that Stefan would fall apart on me and go insane," I attempt to give voice to the long practiced reasons for my silence that I've played over and over in the solitude of my head. "You didn't need to worry, Embry. You didn't need to hurt. You don't need me to screw up your life!" I insist, gripping the material of his shirt, then I let go to pound my fists ineffectively against his chest.

"But by keeping silent, Leah, you lied to me. Good intentions, or not, Leah, you kept things from me that you shouldn't have," he thunders, gripping me even more tightly to him. "I love you, Leah, but you've never loved me enough to trust that I could handle it. Shielding me from possible pain is not love! So, now it's your turn to think about it. Have you really given me a fair shake at fulfilling any of the promises I've made to you? Have you shown me that you can trust me? Have you demonstrated your faith in my ability to stand by you? Tell me, Leah! Have you!?"

I tremble against him, unwilling to recognize the truth of his tirade.

"Leah!" he implores, "Have you allowed me to truly love you?!"

I stare at him wide-eyed, realizing with sudden clarity, that I indeed haven't shown him any of it.

No hope.

No faith.

No trust.

…No love.

Not. At. All.

The dawning of this epiphany has me suddenly unable to breathe, much less speak.

My silence seems to further incite him and I can feel his frustration with me mount. I let out a dismayed little sound.

The next thing I remember is Embry wrapping his fingers into my hair, pulling my face closer to his. The feel of his lips crashing down onto mine erases all thought from my mind.

"Is this the only way you know how to show me, Leah?" he rasps, claiming my lips again. "My god, how I've missed your sassy mouth!" His lips drag against my neck, the stubble of his jaw raking angrily against my soft skin. His hands on me are possessive and learned. He knows just where to touch, where to linger, where to caress.

"Tell, me, Buttercup, have you missed us being together this way?" his husky voice sends shivers down my spine as he traces a path down my side that always arouses me, impatiently pushing my clothes aside. I whine lustfully, my own hands gliding across his shoulders, moving lower to knead the well-contoured muscles of his back beneath the soft jersey of his shirt.

**

He grinds his jeans-clad self into me as his hands roughen in their claim of my body. His movements against me leave no question of his want. I am laying on the sofa now, and have no idea how I got here.

His thigh is heavy between my legs. I can feel his rigid desire as he thrusts himself against me. I arch into him, giving him more access to my parched body, which has at last discovered water after such a prolonged drought. There is nothing but him, nothing but Embry and his amazing hands, fingers, mouth, and toungue doing wondrous things to me.

"Embry, I need you…" I whimper breathlessly, arching my lower body into his again, pleading wordlessly for him to join me in this prelude to wild abandon. "Please…I need you. I need you... now."

"No, Leah." He growls into the valley of my chest. "This time it's NOT about you and your need!"

With one hand, he captures both of mine, which had been wandering to his button-fly.

"This is about me and my need." His head whips up, his dark eyes capture mine, "this is about my need to finally show you how much I love you. How much I've always loved you."

He keeps holds both of my hands above my head, stilling my desperate movements.

I feel him push his other hand between us. He glides it lower, sliding possessively over the flatness of my belly, finding his way below the waistband of my low-cut jeans. He demands entrance and deftly gains it... at last touching the very part of me that continues to yearn longingly for him. I shamelessly allow for this all to happen as I squirm to get even closer to the warmth of his still completely clothed form. I revel in his familiar touch traveling along the damp apex of my want for him. I move, adjusting myself to allow his clever fingers entry. I gasp as he finally penetrates me as I've so long desired.

"Ahhh, Buttercup, so ready, to accept me this way," he whispers hungrily, kissing the indentation between my waist and hip. "I wish you'd give me a chance to show you in other ways besides this, too," He moves against me to relieve some of his own ache.

"But if this is the only way I can make you understand, Leah," his tone is just a little bit angry now, "If this is the only way you'll let me love you the way I completely do, then, so be it." His aggressive actions and words leave me speechless and still wanting all of him.

His hand moves in deep, rhythmic strokes and he has me begging for release. After years of teaching my body to respond to his unique brand of exquisitely pleasurable torture, his adept ministrations catapult me to the highest of heights. And with only a flick of a finger, he has me shrieking his name as I crest the cliff, flying apart in his arms.

**

"Embry?" I whisper as soon as I feel my heartbeat steady. He holds me still beneath him trying to calm his own labored breathing. The heaviness of his body entraps me, hindering my escape.

Not that I have the strength to.

At last, he releases my hands, tracing with his fingertips the length of one arm down to my side, and back up to touch the dip at my collarbone. My eyes flutter closed as he runs his hand along my neckline, to gently stroke my jaw, and at last, cup my face in the palm of his hand. His other hand releases me, removing his fingers from my depths to clutch desperately at my left hip beneath my jeans.

"Tell me, Leah, has Stefan ever made you feel this way?" His insistent demand is softened only by the brush of his thumb along the apples of my cheeks. His own lips caress mine, gently nipping my well-kissed mouth.

I shake my head, "no."

He makes a pleased sound, gliding his tongue against the seam of my lips, begging entrance again. He kisses me thoroughly, until I am moving impatiently against him again.

"…And he won't. Not ever," Embry vows. "I won't stop fighting for us, Leah. I won't let fate decide this, not as long as you let me love you the way I do."

I think of the baby we lost. I think of us, our stolen moment in time that led to that awful pain and heartache.

I am too scared to try to cheat fate again.

I think of the baby that is foretold. I think of the legend and the breaking of the curse. I think of the pack.

I fear what I must do, and the truth I must tell Embry... today.

I lay in silence, listening to and feeling Embry's strong heartbeat against mine.

I could die in his embrace.

I could just die knowing what I must tell him.

"Love me, Embry, please," I plead tearfully, "…and please say you'll still love me when I trust you with the truth of what I have to do."

"No matter what, Leah, I will always love you."

A/N: OK, no tantrums now…. but it's going to seem very Stefan/Leah for a little bit. It's going to come around, though.