*12 Years Earlier*

LEAH'S POV

We stared at each other for what felt like forever, Sam and me. He just wouldn't let go. And then, out of nowhere, he started shaking. Sam hadn't lost his temper in years.

"YOU ASSHOLE!"

Suddenly, Sam wasn't holding onto me anymore. He was on the ground, clutching his face. Seth stood over him, fist still clenched and seething.

"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO HER?" Seth yelled, kicking him in the side, "SHE FINALLY FOUND HAPPINESS AND YOU JUST HAD TO GO AND RUIN IT! YOU LEAVE HER FOR EMILY, AND THEN COME AROUND AGAIN AND KISS HER? IS YOUR EGO REALLY THAT SMALL THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO GIRLS AT ALL TIMES?"

Seth looked down at Sam who was kneeled on the ground clutching his face. I'd never seen Seth look so angry and I'd never seen Sam look so defenseless.

"Seth, come on," I whispered, grabbing his arm, "Let's just go home."

I tried to pull him away but Seth just stared down at Sam and finally muttered, "You're pathetic."

Seth began walking away and I followed behind him quickly. Looking back, I saw Sam retreating into the woods.

"Seth what-"

"Are you okay?" Seth asked, turning to me, "Did he hurt you at all?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm fine."

"Good."

Seth started walking again, his hands trembling lightly at his sides.

"Seth?" I asked.

He turned around again, still a little angry.

"Thank you," I whispered, throwing my arms around him. It took a moment, but his trembling stopped and he managed to hug me back.

"I just… can't believe him," Seth muttered, shaking his head, "How could he do that to you?"

I shrugged, "He's just an asshole, I guess."

Seth nodded in agreement and together, we walked back home.

00000000

Things were tense back home. Mom had handed out dessert, but nobody was eating it. When Seth and I walked through the front door, we were ambushed by Emily.

"What happened? Is he okay? Where is he?" she asked, looking concerned.

I looked down at her face, trying to decide whether or not to tell her what happened. But her poor, scarred face told me not to. Emily was just too sweet and innocent to know what Sam did to me. It would crush her spirit. After all she'd been to so they could be together, I thought it was best just to keep it to myself so I didn't ruin things for my cousin.

I nodded, "He just doesn't trust Avery for some reason. That's all. I told him to go into the woods to cool down."

Emily sighed in relief. She'd bought my story, luckily. I tried not to feel guilty lying to her. I did the right thing. When Sam got back, this whole thing would just be in the past, and her and him could live happily ever after. With me living in another state.

"Leah?" Avery asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, trying to conjure up a small smile.

"Let's talk," I sighed, taking his hand. I pulled him out the backdoor and into our small backyard. He followed willingly. Leading him to our old swing set, I sat down on the red swing and he took the blue one. The set creaked under our weight but didn't collapse. I wasn't worried. I'd seen Collin and Brady do much worse on it.

"You weren't telling Emily the truth, were you?" Avery asked, breaking the silence that had followed after we sat down.

I nodded, touching my lower lip, "Sam kissed me."

Avery stiffened next to me, "Oh."

"He told me he still loved me," I whispered, looking down at my feet.

"So… you're gonna get back together with him then," Avery said in a monotone.

I looked up at him, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "Do you really think I'm that stupid? Seth punched him in the face and called him pathetic. I've never felt happier in my life! I just… thought I should tell you."

"Why?" Avery asked, "You're not my girlfriend."

That kind of hurt. Did he not want me to be his girlfriend?

"Well… I just thought you should know I guess," I mumbled.

"You know something?" Avery asked, "It took me a year to get over you after you rejected me. A whole year. And I'd only known you for three days! I just kept seeing your face everywhere until I could finally convince myself I'd moved on. Things were going great you know, and then you just show up again! And now I just feel- I don't know how I feel! And then you go and tell me that Sam kissed you and I thought that it was over for good between us but then you say you're over him. So now I just don't know what to think okay? For this whole week I've been trying to convince myself that you just want to be friends but… I just can't!"

I stayed quiet, shocked by his outburst. This whole time I'd been thinking I would have to wind him over but…he still feels the same way. He felt the imprint before I even knew it existed!

"Avery, I feel that way, too," I said, "I do! Ever since I saw you in that coffee shop again and realized how much I m-missed you! I was too stupid to see it three years ago! I was young and confused and stupid! But now I see it! I do l-love you! And I know it's only been a week but… Avery I love you, too!"

It was like there was electricity going between us as we sat facing each other on the swings. Our confessions had been so random but so natural! I didn't feel embarrassed by anything I'd said. It actually felt good to put it all out in the open.

"So I'm not crazy," he breathed.

I shook my head, "If you're crazy, then I'm crazy, too."

"I didn't understand before but… you love me, too!" he said excitedly, putting his hand on my cheek, "Leah you love me, too!"

I nodded, tears filling my eyes, "Very much!"

He started laughing and grabbed my face in both hands, kissing me passionately. I mimicked him with the same amount of enthusiasm.

"I can't believe this!" he said, smiling widely, kissing me again.

I giggled, "Believe it, silly!"

"Let's get married!" he exclaimed.

I put my hands up, laughing, "Slow down there. We just found out how we feel about each other."

He sighed, "You're right."

I brushed my hair behind my ear, trying to keep from blushing. I was just so happy! Finally I was happy! Now all I had to do was tell him the wolf secret and everything would be great!

"But Leah I… I have something to tell you," he said awkwardly.

"Really? Me too," I said, getting nervous.

"You first."

"No, you."

"But what if mine's worse than yours?"

"Trust me, nothing's worse than mine."

"Fine," Avery said, "On the count of three, we'll both tell out secrets at the same time. Agreed?"

"Agreed," I nodded, taking a deep breath. What if he didn't accept it? What if he thought I was crazy? Or he was crazy? Would he leave me? Would he be scared? Crap what if he was allergic to dogs?!

"Okay… one… two… three!"

"I'm a vegetarian!"

"I'm a werewolf!"

"Wait… what?"

I know they're relationship is getting a bit unrealistic but I'm trying to move the story along.

I really liked Seth's reaction, how about you guys?:)

So someone said they were sad SAmantha wasn't going to be a wolf BUT it's not too late to vote if you want her to be! I'm not sure when I'm closing the poll yet...

Review!