Oh no, no, no, no, NO!

He didn't just tell me he loved me, he did not just mess with my already unsteady emotions.

I wanted to cry, to pound my fists on his bare chest out of the unfairness of it all.

When I had first shown up in Forks I would have died to hear him tell me those three words but now it filled me with anger and sadness.

Anger because he had over a year to tell me his revelation, I mean for gods sakes we slept together and he was the one who said it was like fucking his sister. It was awkward for me as well but he may have been the one to make it that way.

Sadness filled me, overtaking my anger. This may just be the reason I lose my best friend, because he couldn't tell me sooner. I would have to break him if I wanted to proceed with Paul, which I did. Never in my life would I have wanted to hurt Embry yet here I was considering it, for my own happiness.

Disgust overwhelmed me at my choice. How could I sit back and knowingly hurt Embry? But in the same breath, how could I refuse Paul? It would be like refusing a part of my soul to give him up.

A chuckle of exasperation passed my lips.

When my mother told me life was a bitch, she wasn't kidding. The gods or whoever was out there were cruel and unkind. Controlling love watching as it crumbled in humanities hands, watching all the suffering unrequited love caused. They were a bunch of asses.

Taking a deep cleansing breath I tried to calm my raging emotions.

Maybe this wasn't about Embry or Paul, a small part of my conscious added. I thought about it.

I didn't want to hurt either of them, but was I being selfish in not emotionally choosing one.

Yes, a little voice whispered back.

I cared for Embry, yes, but I knew my life was with Paul. He was, after all, my imprint. So why couldn't I just release Embry into the world so he could find a woman who loved him as much as he loved her. Yes, at first he would be upset with Paul and I but in time maybe he could come to see that I did him a favor by not holding on to something that was never mine to begin with.

With determination set I faced his pleading eyes, "We aren't meant to be Embry. Friends, we're good at but as a couple we wouldn't work." He was getting ready to open his mouth but I beat him to it. "Paul is my imprint and I intend to accept it. Maybe you should too."

I forced myself to look into his eyes even though I was dying to stare at the ground. His eyes held so much hurt it made me want to fall to my knees and cry.

He stepped closer to me and for some reason I let him close the distance that remained. His lips pressed to mine in a chaste kiss, a final farewell. I allowed it, knowing it was his form of closure.

Pulling back he offered me a sad smile before he took off into the woods. I heard the tell-tale sounds of clothing ripping so I knew he had phased.

I stood in the middle of the forest frozen, was this all real?

Getting your soul mate and losing your best friend all in one day seemed kind of farfetched but it was true.

The woods became silent, as if mourning alongside my friend. Not a bird chirped, not a breeze blew, and no creature dared move to interrupt the quiet that had befallen. All was still and I took a moment to appreciate it and let everything sink in.

Suddenly the wind picked up and nature resumed as if nothing had happened, it was odd to say the least.

With one down, I returned to the small house, emotionally drained from the day's events. Even passing out as much as I had didn't given the reprieve needed. Instead of heading toward the house I walked to my truck after saying out loud I needed to go home and get some sleep. They were wolves I knew they would hear me, even from inside. With that done I headed home, daydreaming of my soft comfy bed that had my name on it.

A/N Alright I've had a little trouble writing this chapter so I hope you enjoyed it, if not I am truly sorry. Please review and let me know what you thought.