Leah:

"Alice is there." Edward said, his expression twisting into confusion. He was driving well over the speed limit so we were making incredible timing. I was grateful, most people didn't like driving as fast as I did. The distance in his eyes put me on edge though and I gripped the seat reflexively.

I didn't ask for further clarification, my brain was still struggling to grasp the fact that the legends I had grown up being told were all real. My Dad had always kept the stories of our tribe light hearted and vague, I suspected so as not to scare Seth and wind up with a kid in his bed all night. I knew the stories about animal blood drinking vampires that wanted to live peacefully, and had written a contract with the wolfmen of our tribe vowing not to hurt people or step foot onto Quileute lands in exchange for tolerance. But even if I did believe the stories were real they claimed that even those vampires had migrated elsewhere long ago, effectively ending the need for shape shifting.

Forks Hospital was made up of several small brick structures that resembled the high school, except taller. We parked in a long row of open spaces near the front door. Edward's eyes were still glazed over, listening to what his sister was showing him with her mind. I jumped out of the car without bothering to wait for him, and ran into the large entrance.

"Emily Young! I need to find my cousin Emily Young!" I yelled, slamming my hands down on the tall white counter

The elderly woman sitting there took in my frantic expression and stood, wrapping her wrinkled hand around mine and smiling comfortingly.

"Take a deep breath dear and follow me, your family is this way. I'll take you to them." She squeezed my hand once before dropping it and coming around to walk beside me.

I took a deep breath and nodded, following her towards the elevators I had ridden with Edward just a couple days before. He still wasn't with me and I worried about what could be keeping him. I wanted to turn back and find him, but my family needed me more. My stomach churned and my heart ached as I realized that this certainly wouldn't be the only time I would feel torn between Edward and my family.

I was forced out of my own thoughts when the elevator doors opened on the third floor. The sign on the wall read ICU, and I had to swallow hard against the bile threatening to overflow from my throat. I followed the woman mechanically, rudely cursing her in my mind for not moving faster.

I saw my Dad first, his usual air of humor was gone and all I could find in his face now was despair. I hardened in response. It was time to be strong for my family, I wouldn't hurt them worse with my tears. I wrapped my arms around my Dad and felt him sag against me. My mom was there a half of a second later.

"Leah, did you know Emily stayed in town? Her parents said you asked her to stay, something about a girls night? But if that's the case why weren't you with her?"

I released my dad and he took a seat in a nearby chair, hunching forward and covering his face with his hands.

I gaped at my mom, unsure of how to respond. I had no idea what she was talking about but I also didn't want to get Emily in trouble.

"Er-uh, yeah I was on my way back we were, uhm, supposed to meet at our spot. On Second Beach."

"Can you call Sam? The woman from the clinic said he was the one who brought her in. Apparently he was naked and didn't have a single scratch on him. They thought he might have had something to do with Emily's injuries but they apparently are pretty obviously inflicted by animal claws." She said, her voice breaking into sobs by the end. My head was starting to swirl again. Nothing made any sense. Sam? Naked? Animal claws? Could Sam's wolf have done this? Why would Sam want to hurt Emily?

I pulled my phone from my pocket and pressed speed dial #2. It rang unanswered until his now cleared voice-mail was beeping in my ear.

"Sam, you have a lot of explaining to do. Get your ass to Forks Hospital and do it now. If I have to come find you, you'll regret it." I snapped the phone shut and my mom was looking at me sternly.

"You owe the swear jar a dollar when we get home young lady."

I rolled my eyes. "What are Emily's injuries? Is she going to be okay?"

"She's going to live if that's what you mean, the bear missed her major arteries by a few inches thank the Creator. But her face.. they are trying to save her eye but they don't know if they will be able to." She was wiping furiously at the steady current of tears flowing down her weathered cheeks. She turned to go sit next to my dad now but I didn't follow. Instead I walked back to the elevators, dialing my phone again. This time he answered after the second ring.

"Leah I'm so sorry, I had to speak with Alice. Where are you now? Is your Emily alright?" He asked as I pressed the down arrow on the elevator.

"I'm coming down-" I said but I was cut off when the elevator doors opened and there stood Edward with his phone to his ear. I couldn't help the small smile that managed to creep onto my lips momentarily. I snapped the phone shut and shoved it into my back pocket, then stepped onto the elevator with him.

"Where are we going?" He asked, sliding his own phone into the pocket of his jacket. I pressed the 1st floor button and the doors shut slowly.

"It's not that I don't want you to meet my family because I do, but I think maybe now isn't the best time. They are both really upset."

"I understand. You didn't answer me before, is Emily-?" He asked, trailing off lightly.

"They said she's going to be okay but she's really banged up. Probably going to be in surgery for a long time." I responded distractedly. I was trying to think of good places to look for Sam but I had been looking for him in those places for over a month now and never had any luck. Truth was I didn't know where he spent his time anymore.

"So where are we-"

"I know this is a little weird and you don't have to help me if you don't want to, but I need to find Sam. Sounds like he might know more about what exactly happened." We stepped out of the elevator and walked quickly out of the hospital.

"What is Emily thinking? Can you see what happened in her mind?" I whispered once we were out of the building and I was sure nobody would hear me.

"No, they have her heavily sedated, she isn't even dreaming." He said, frowning.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I was surprised to see Sam's name on the caller ID. I flipped it open and pressed it to my ear, stopping in front of Edward's car.

"Leah? Where are you? Are you with Emily? Is she okay?" He asked frantically.

"Yeah I am here. So why the hell aren't you?" I retorted furiously.

"Look, you have every right to hate me. I know I have been keeping so much from you lately and I wish you knew how much it has been killing me. But I need you to tell me who you've been hanging out with recently? Someone not from the rez, maybe from Forks?"

I scoffed loudly at the audacity. "So you aren't going to answer any of my questions but you expect me to answer yours? It's none of your business anymore who I hang out with Sam. Now tell me what happened to my cousin."

"You aren't listening to me Leah!" He roared into the phone and I pulled it back, considering just snapping it shut. But I still hadn't gotten any answers. Slowly I brought the phone back to my ear, looking over to Edward. He nodded solemnly in permission.

"Edward Cullen. Now tell me what happened to Emily."

"I fucking knew it." He seethed into the receiver. I had never heard this murderous tone in his voice before, it sent shivers up my spine. "Listen Leah that freak and his fucked up family isn't safe. You need to stay away from them."

I couldn't stop the loud condescending laugh that burst out of me. Edward looked shocked, and I was sure Sam would too if I could see his face.

"That's pretty fucking ironic considering you and your freaky ass wolf alter ego put an innocent girl in the hospital today." I said darkly. He said nothing.

"The only one hurting people around here is you, Sam." I snapped again into the silence.

"Tell your leech friend that when I find him the treaty won't matter anymore." The phone disconnected and I snapped it shut with a frustrated scream. Edward wrapped his arms around me and I melted into his chest, grateful for his comfort.

I jumped when the rear door of his Prius opened suddenly and a small pixie-like girl stepped out. She smiled at me apologetically.

"Hello Leah, it's lovely to meet you. My name is Alice." She said to me before immediately turning to Edward. "It's time Edward. If we don't go now I lose you both."

He nodded grimly and looked down at me. "You said you trust me, are you sure?" He asked, his golden eyes boring into mine.

"I do."

"Then I need you to come with us. Now."