I. Am. So. Utterly. Apologetic. It has literally been months and I hate myself for not posting for such an extended period of time. To be honest, i started writing other fanfictions just for fun that I will probably never post. I sincerely hope that anyone here reading had a fantastic summer. Mine ends in T-15 hrs so thats unfortunate. Senior year tho. Joy. 'Nuff said. Read, review. favorite and follow just to let me know I still have readers after my infidelity in uploading.

Kensi

Everything in me wants to hide behind Embry. But it seems like he's taken enough from Nathaniel for me.

Nathaniel's entire pack sulks into the warehouse slowly as if they have all the time in the world.

Fifteen in total. Eight of us.

"Fair enough." I murmur to my sister as my sword's golden light glints in the semi-darkness.

"Kensi! You still look lovely." Nathaniel greets.

Embry's body underneath my hand vibrates with a growl.

"Oh this would be your misinformed 'mate' I take it." Nathaniel laughs humorlessly. "Come on baby, you ought to know how this works."

Paul snarls at Nathaniel.

That's my brother, Nelda." I answer. "He doesn't like you."

"Neither does her sister." Dani snarls from her position, holding a dagger inches from Mara's heart.

"Neither does the rest of the pack I take it." Nathaniel laughs.

"Nor do I." I snarl, stepping out from behind Embry. He's quick to follow me beyond the kennel fence and out into the light. His snout bumps my thigh as he stalks out of the kennel behind me. Glancing at his reflection in the yellowed windows, I would be afraid of him if I didn't know him. The most loyal protector. The pack flanks us, and Dani remains inside with Mara.

Seconds later a different howl pierces the air. Leah lunges into the room, ripping the nearest Child of the Moon to bloody pieces as she leaps onto the next one.

Nathaniel's eyes widen as he lunges into action. He reaches for me, but I react on pure instinct. I step out of his way and Embry leaps above my head grabbing Nathaniel's body in his jaws and using him like a single use chew-toy. I can almost feel Embry's pain searing my own body as he fights with every ounce of strength in his frame to protect me. I can smell his agony on his distinctly-Embry scent, and I know his entire pack is feeling his pain.

I lock blades with another Child of the Moon, easily dodging his sword's advances. They're weak and clumsy, and I avoid them, my movements fluid, light and graceful. I dance out of their reach and parry each attack, delivering what could be potentially devastating blows.

I finish off two of the pack as Paul, Leah and Embry take turns toying with Nathaniel.

The pack stands around. I reach up and grab Embry's fur while Paul charges in on Nathaniel. Embry's tongue hangs out of his mouth, bloodied drool pooling on the floor. "It's okay." I whisper softly. Embry whimpers. His body shakes, but not because of a growl. It's exhaustion. The massive wolf beside me leans against me slightly, nudging my shin with his nose. I absentmindedly scrub the fur between his ears, watching Paul and Leah fight Nathaniel. They're playing with him. As long as I can keep Embry preoccupied, he won't be joining them and I'm content with that. For now. I twist my fingers deeper into his fur and he lets me listen to their thoughts.

Which aren't really thoughts at all… but… messy and incomplete curses and swears.

Fucking bastard touched her. Paul snarls.

"Want clothes?" I ask. "Might be more satisfying to beat the sunshine out of him in human form." I offer.

They're in the Porsche. Leah offers. And fuck yeah I do.

I'm not cracked up about leaving Embry. He'll probably do something really stupid.

I bend down and pick up one of his ears and I feel him tense. "Please don't do anything stupid." I whisper into his ear. My voice comes out as a whimper though.

Embry turns to face me. His nose, should be cold and damp, is warm and dry as he nudges my shoulder through a rip in my shirt.

"I'm serious." I murmur, pressing my forehead against his and disappearing from his warmth.

I walk past the wolf pack holding my sword at the ready. I find changes of clothes for the entire pack and pass them out before covering my eyes with my hand.

When I open them again, the wolves stand around me in their human forms. My eyes immediately notice how emaciated they are. Cruel. Fucking bastards. I find my spot next to Embry, his arm around my shoulders. He's massive and tall like all werewolves. He's still sick-looking and starved. Bruises litter his body with cuts next to them. They aren't fresh, and with their quick healing I wonder how bad they had to have hit him to leave marks that last this long. Even worse, how bad did they have to be to stick around this long?

Embry looks over at me and shakes his head. "I'm alright." He promises. I wonder if I was projecting my thoughts.

"Oh fuck." I hear Nathaniel whimper as he looks around. He gazes up at Leah. "Damn girl. Amazonian princess." I jerk my head over at Nathaniel, feeling fire ignite back into my bones. I pass Embry off to Jared with a hand on his stomach before slipping away to Leah and Nathaniel.

"Kens!" Embry calls grabbing at my sleeve. I slip through his fingers and I hear him swear, but I can't care right now.

Leah sends her foot into his nose and his head snaps backwards. I stalk beside her, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and throw him against the wall, holding a dagger to his throat. "You keep your grubby hands off of her. Fucking coward couldn't even do it right. How many other girls' drinks did you spike to get your fill!? HOW MANY!?" I demand.

Nathaniel smirks, blood glinting off his teeth in the moonlight.

"You, darling, do not want the answer to that."

I turn around and see Embry standing on his own beside Paul. I wonder just how powerful the imprint bond is when I see my own fire, anger, and hatred simmering in Embry's eyes. So powerful it produced enough adrenaline to keep him upright.

I throw him back to Paul and Embry. Embry catches him, but the wince that he has when he does doesn't go unnoticed. I can tell that wince was him trying to hold together a scream of pain.

"See how well you do against someone without a chain." I snarl.

"He's mine Paul." Embry growls as Nathaniel takes an offensive stance.

Embry, as far as I know, has no real training aside from pure instinct. But he has speed, agility, and strength on his side. However injured… I have no idea how effective Embry will be.

I spit out more blood as Nathaniel lunges at Embry. All Embry had to do to stop him was snap his arm out and lock his hand around Nathaniel's throat. Embry throws Nathaniel to the ground as if he weighs nothing before letting him up again.

"That was too easy. Go again."

I know what Nathaniel was trying to do by going for Embry's dislocated ribs that are the source of Embry's pain. I can sense that it's agonizing to stand to breathe. But he's furious. And he's murderous. And he wants to kill Nathaniel.

And I won't be the one to stop him.

I walk back to the kennel where Mara and Dani are without letting my eyes leave the fight before me for long.

I grab my dagger from my thigh and walk to Mara, shaking and pale from blood loss.

"On behalf of the Elemental Guardians, Queen Marnie, Captain Colette."

I plunge the dagger into her chest and look away as the life drains from her eyes, and the fight leeches from her body.

"I kill you." I whisper, finishing my sentence.

I rise, turning back to the fight to see Paul flying through the air in wolf form and finishing off Nathaniel.

It's bloody and it's gruesome. But it's a war. And it's a war that had to happen.

I stand up and take a deep breath.

"Call Cullen. Tell him to meet at my house in an hour." I say to Dani as I glance at Embry, being supported by Sam and Jared. Paul stands in wolf form again, with no clothes.

"There's more clothes in my car, Paul." Dani offers. "Come on."

Dani walks away from Mara's dead body and into Jake. I look at Embry and I don't know what to do. I want to hold him and never let him go. But he's already hurting and I don't want to make it worse.

"Let's go home." I whisper. "You've got imprints that miss you."

"Emily." Sam breathes. "How is she?"

"Kim?" Jared echoes.

Paul's wolf rumbles and I nod. "They're fine. They're a little out of sorts as to be expected but I'm sure I'll bear witness to the sappiest homecoming I'll ever see."

Sam smiles. "Are you good?"

Embry watches my face as I nod. "I bit my tongue and that hasn't stopped bleeding yet but I'm fine." Right because my bloodstained teeth are what they were worried about when my collar bone is leaking blood like a sieve.

I walk over to Sam and Jared replaced Jared in supporting my wolf. I duck under Embry's arm as I help him limp out of the warehouse to my Camaro.

I help him into the front seat while Jared and Leah pile into the back seat.

Dani gets clothes for Paul while Jake and Sam get into her back seat.

I start up my Camaro and look at Dani. "You want to light that?"

Dani nods. "I've got it. Just get Embry home."

I give my twin a thankful glance before speeding out of Greek Town.

In the dark rearview mirror I see Jared rest his head against Leah's shoulder, which is surprising. I assumed she would've pushed him off. She looked like she was about to, but after being separated from half the pack for so long she let him.

"I missed you." I finally murmur quietly. I hoped that those words were enough to convey how I really felt. I don't know how to tell him that I realized how hopelessly in love I am with him when he was missing. And how I didn't care how weak love makes you, that as long as I was with him I really didn't care. That I needed him and I wanted him. So bad.

Embry clearly didn't get it, and how can I expect him to from something so cryptic when I meant so much more behind it. Because he just smiles at me, although it's really more of a grimace.

"I know." He whispers. "I'll be alright."

I swallow hard. "What did Nathaniel do to you?"

Embry looks over at me and shakes his head. "You really don't want the answer to that. Not while you're driving at least."

"You'll tell me later right?" I ask quietly.

Embry hesitates, pursing his lips before nodding.

I grab my phone out of my pants and dial Emily's number.

"Any news?" Emily asks.

"Yeah. Package secured, Em. I've got Embry and Jared with me now. Dani has Paul, Sam, and Jake. Dr. Cullen is meeting me at my house, meet us there. We're coming into Forks now so scramble."

There's silence before the other end of the phone explodes into movement. Chairs scraping the floor, shoes, shouting, something about don't forget the baby, and then Quil and Seth's hollering as they whoop in excitement.

"Wish I was that excited about being rescued." Embry mumbles. "I'm too tired."

"Meet at my house." I finish before hanging up. Dani is right on my taillights as I drive through La Push.

"Does my mom know?" Embry asks.

I shake my head. "She believes you and Jake went to a car show that Paul and Jared had taken a few vehicles to before. And that Sam had to go a month early to prepare for the arrival of said car. But you were supposed to spend the past while in LA. And now our cover story is you wrecked your car."

"She might actually believe that." Embry mutters.

"So far she has. But you'll probably be at my house in the spare bedroom for a while. At least until Cullen tells us what all is actually wrong. Then maybe I can heal it with salt water and we don't need to lie to your mom anymore than we already have."

"I don't think there's any broken ribs." Embry says. "Just a lot of bruises. If it were internal, I would've died three days ago."

I swallow hard as my throat turns to sandpaper. "How about you don't say shit like that?"

"Worried about me?" Embry asks with a flirty smirk. I don't know how he managed to make it look not like a grimace.

I narrow my eyes at him. "You know, if I remember correctly, you were supposed to be quiet, introverted and shy. What is it with you and bold flirting? It's a little out of character."

"You bring out the best in me." He teases with a stunning smile that gives me butterflies.

I shake my head at him as a laugh bubbles out of my throat as I wonder just where else the quiet shy introvert is bold and compelling besides flirting.

I pull up next to an expensive shiny Audi and Dani parks on my other side.

Embry gets out on his own and I turn around to wake Jared and Leah up.

I flick my own seat forward so they can crawl out.

On the other side, Sam and Jake crawl out of the back while Paul pops his shoulders as if he was the one crammed into the Porsche's back seats.

Dr. Cullen, accompanied by Edward Cullen and Bella Cullen stand on my front porch.

"Ah. Embry is still standing so that's a good sign." Dr. Cullen says. "Ruling out broken ribs then."

Embry gives me a look and I return one back.

The five male werewolves walk up the porch and into my house where Dani and I walk into the kitchen, tuning out Dr. Cullen's explanation of their injuries.

"Hungry?" I call into the living room.

There's dead silence as five heads snap to me.

"Right. Stupid question." I say waving my hand. "Ordering pizzas."

I order a dozen pizzas, knowing that if the other half of the pack shows up I'll need something to feed them with, and even if they don't, there won't be any leftovers anyways.

While we wait on the pizzas I hop in the shower, washing the battle and grime off of me. I wash the dirt and rusty water out of my hair, and wince as the water and soap sting the thousands of little cuts. I can use the water to heal a majority of those little cuts but for the major ones like my collar bone and the bite on my tongue, I'll need saltwater for. But for now I put a gauze pad over the gash on my collar bone.