Chapter 10

When Sam came home and pulled me into a deep kiss I was happy, he usually does his best to stay in control and be as gentle as possible. Cupping his cheeks, I kiss his jaw and turn back to the stove, "When you ran off I figured something happened with the pack so I started cooking I know how much you guys like to eat and Jake eats more than you do and he was on patrol right."

"Emily…," Oh. I knew that tone. Something happened, bracing myself against the counter I look over at Sam. I love him I really do, I know he can't help it, that I can't blame him for scarring my face or ruining my friendship with Leah. I can't hate him for breaking my best friends heart even though she won't even look at me anymore. I can't blame him but I sure as hell can't stop it from hurting and the last time he came home and gave me that look, said my name in that way was when he came home and told me he lost his job. "Em… There was a boy in the woods, he's a shifter like us but some kind of leopard cat. Young too. He's pretty banged up and he smelled like the vamps. He wasn't exactly dressed appropriately and…" Sam trailed off but I got the picture. "Oh, that poor boy I'll go draw a bath, you are having the boys bring him here yes? And I'm sure you and that you and the elders would love to interrogate the poor thing but you let me deal with him first." I could see him wanting to interrupt but I know better than to let him try and pull the whole alpha thing on me and before anything else could be said members of the pack slowly started filing in and I went back to preparing the food smiling at everyone who stopped by and kissed her cheek and complimented how the food smelled and expressed how eager they were to eat. Sam never appreciated the effort she put into cooking all this food for them but the ones who did make it worth it. I was in the process of shuttling food from the stove to the kitchen with the silent help of Leah when they came in. Jake awkwardly stood in the doorway holding a sleeping bloody bundle in his arms. Even with his face covered in dirt and blood, dry tear tracks were clearly visible I could tell this boy was ridiculously pretty and to my shame I wanted to dislike him for being so attractive when I was stuck with this marred face for the rest of my life but I quickly swept those feelings aside and walked toward Jake to get a closer look.

Jake smiled at the sleeping boy he was carrying and it was obvious he was quite smitten, maybe this was his imprint, "He fell asleep on the walk over. His names Harry and he's 16 years old. That's all I got before he passed out." The words were directed towards everyone but Jakes' eyes were on me. When Jake went to hand Harry over to me I couldn't help but look at him because although I'm relatively strong I can't comfortably carry people like that, a whispered "He barely weighs a thing" and I was holding this beautiful stranger, Harry, and with a pat on my shoulder and feeling all the eyes staring at my back and the pale cut up legs dangling over my arm I awkwardly shuffled toward the bathroom. Jake was right he didn't weigh much but still a little over 100-pounds of dead weight was still a bit much for me, and surprisingly I felt someone stop me and I came face to face with none other than Leah she quickly lifted the boy out of my arms and carried him the rest of the way to the bathroom. I rushed behind her and quickly started a bath getting towels and soap ready. "C- could you go ahead and put him in, I'll refill it all the way once the blood been rinsed off" I didn't look at her, didn't want to upset her but her gasp tore my eyes away from the washcloths I was readying.

"His back Em… it's all bruised and scabbed up likes he's… he's been whipped or something." I look to where she had Harry propped up on the counter so she could take off his shirt and see the reflection in the mirror.

I know of the pack's hatred towards vampires but I've also met some of them and they seem like the type of people who would help someone in need, even a shifter and especially a child. Well… maybe not all of them the viciously beautiful blonde one definitely wouldn't but the head of the clan would. "Isn't Carlisle Cullen a doctor? Do you think that's why he smells like vampire, he would've known he was a shifter and at the rate, we heal he probably helped him get out of the hospital?"

Leah seemed to think on it for a while "Shit if he heals like us those must've been nasty. Let's just get him in the bath. Hey, kid, it's time to wake up." He woke with a start only Leah's hands on him kept him from running away but the panic in his eyes was obvious. "It's ok I'm Leah remember me, the girl from the woods? While Jake was bringing you to the house you fell asleep and we were just gonna help clean you up and treat your wounds if that's ok?" Seeing how Harry clutched his knees to his chest Emily smiled.

"We see naked men all the time, so don't worry about that. We would really rather stay in here if that's ok the rest of the packs out having a meeting and I don't want to hear about that haha. I'm Emily by the way, Sam's wife err… Mate."

He pursed his lips in thought, "If you could just turn around while I get in the bath I guess I can't kick you out if you want to stay, I'm sure there is more than one reason for you being here and seeing me in the buff probably isn't one." Once he got into the bath I turned and saw him struggling with his hair. He saw me looking and blushed and I couldn't help but notice how far down he blushed. "I-I can help you with your hair if you'd like." It seemed like he just blushed harder at my offer and Leah did as she's always done and took charge.

"For the love of god both of you quit blushing Em, help him with his hair and Harry with the way you went off on Paul and Quil I can't believe how quickly you turned into the typical submissive flower and with the way you acted with Sam's cock in your face I'm pretty sure you aren't interested in girls anyway." As soon as the words came out of Leah's mouth you could tell she regretted them and I froze along with Harry but I kept doing his hair. Leah was still stammering when Harry started to explain.

"I have a mate too ya'know… I actually just found him. And I've been resisting him trying to get me to accept his claim for the past few days. I've been fighting my urge to submit, and I never really had trouble being submissive... I just recently realized that that's what I even wanted ya'know so it's not like I have any experience with this except for the few ah books my ah… friend got me. When Sam got in my face… I was just so tired and scared and I didn't want to fight so I submitted it felt natural like it was the right thing to do. If I hadn't would any of you have saved me anyway, would the situation turn out any better? I don't even know what he meant when he said I smelled like imprint but I could see all the guys looking at me as they left to follow him here anyway" It was like he was waiting for me release my hold on his hair, as soon as I was finished diligently unbraiding his hair I went to start brushing it out, he grabbed my hand and turned to look at me the now dirty water sloshing at he knelt in the tub looking at me. "I'm sorry if I've caused any problems I didn't know I don't want your mate…' he turned and caught Leah's eye as well, 'I promise to leave if you want me to I am no danger to you or your pack I promise that." Sincerity radiated from his green eyes, he seemed so tired and innocent they seemed almost too big for his face.

"Don't worry Harry you aren't causing any problems, you're just a kid in need of a friend if I'm not wrong." Seeing how he blushed and looked down I threw a glance at Leah. "You're hurt, so let's just get some clean water in here and let me finish brushing your hair out. What Sam or anybody else does isn't your fault and you're clearly running from your mate who I'm guessing is one of the Cullen's, Jasper is the only unmated one if I remember correctly. I understand having a mate you don't know or really want at first, at least you already knew things like mates existed so that should make the transition better but I learned the hard way it's not something you can run from.' I saw the frown on Leah's face and I felt some hope grow in my chest maybe I could get two friends. "It's easy to tell you've been having a tough time and I don't know about Leah but I'm not going to kick you out because of that so let's get you cleaned up and fed and maybe you'll tell us what's going on after. Okay?"

With a grin, Leah added "Yeah, what she said. Though I think some sleep may be in order too"