AN: Special thank you to those of you that took the time to review! I have decided the 'theme' song for this fic is Panic! At The Disco: New Perspective.

Chapter Four

New Life

It was three months later when I saw Chase again. In the beginning, I had worried that he had met his end in the woods by the cabin. Even though I didn't want him to join my nonexistent pack, I found myself disappointed that he had given up so soon. Surly I hadn't deterred him with just a few simple words. But no, here he sat, his impassive gaze staring through me as I served other customers. I knew he didn't have money, but I couldn't bring myself to kick him out. Giving in, I made my way to the back and had Russell make a burger and fries for him. The diner could take the small hit, and if I had to, I would pay for it myself. I placed the plate in front of him, earning a low 'thanks' before he dug in. I think his ongoing silence was the only thing that made Chase's presence bearable.

As I places a soda in front of him, a smile spread across my lips. A moment later, Emmett walked through the door, his smile bigger than I had ever seen it. He paused to lean over the counter and give me a chaste kiss before sitting down next to Chase.

"What's got you smiling so wide?" I asked as I leaned on the bar, my face only inches from his.

"Bridget just went into labor." I opened my mouth to congratulate both him and her, but I was cut off by a loud whooping from Russell.

"She better name that boy after me!" He pointed the spatula at Emmett, as if he had any say in the matter.

"We don't even know if it's a boy, you crazy old man!" Emmett laughed and leaned back on his stool. Chase kept his gaze on his food, seemingly disinterested with the whole thing.

"I know!" Russell was adamant, he emerged from the back to make his point. "All three times my wife was pregnant, I knew what they were gonna be!"

Emmett simply laughed and let the older man have his way. His eyes caught sight of Chase for the first time and rose an eyebrow at me. Great, now I would have to intergrade Chase further into my life. "Emmett, this is an old friend from Mississippi, Chase." I hated lying to Emmett. It felt like acid on my lips.

"Nice ta' meet you." I suppressed a smile as Emmett puffed out his chest and extended a hand to the wolf. It was cute that he was being territorial, but completely unnecessary. Sure, I noticed the attractiveness of other men, but it was like looking at a pretty painting. None of them made my heart jump the way Emmett did. He was my forever.

"Emmett!" A frantic voice cut through the easy conversation at the diner as the tiny bell above the door jingled. "Come quick, it's Bridget!"

My breath caught in my throat as Emmett dashed out the door without as much as a backwards glance. I quickly yelled for Russell to watch the counter as I ran out behind him. Ahead of me, I could hear the man mention something about birth complications, and I knew it was grim.

We all wept when news of Bridget's passing reached us. To some, like Emmett, it was practically unbearable. I wrapped my arms around him that night, as he cried into his large hands. Thanks to the imprint I could feel not only my misery, but his as well. He cried all the way up until the funeral, where he put on a brave face to honor his baby sister. Across the casket, Jeremy stood, their little boy nestled in his arms. He seemed to shut down after Bridget's death, focusing only on their newborn baby who he had yet to name. We offered to help, of course, but he was insistent on doing it himself. It was December when he moved away, taking baby Jack with him.

Through the New Year, Emmett mourned. I unofficially moved in with him over those few months, determined to not let my imprint fall further down this pit of despair. As the weather warmed once again, Emmett's smile made a more frequent appearance. Getting out of the house helped, but there were nights when he still cried. It was September when I heard his old laugh return. He looked at me with sparkling eyes and what could only be described as love. We made love for the first time that night, more than a year after his sister's passing. As we rang in 1935, He was the Emmett I loved again.

Spring 1935

"I saw your friend Chase in town this weekend." Emmett said as he glanced up from the newspaper. When his mourning had passed, I had been so used to living with him, I didn't bother leaving. It caused quite the scandal, but neither of us cared much.

"Oh?" I had seen Chase around too. He was persistent, if nothing else. I thought he would have given up after the first year, but every Friday he came to me and asked to join me. I was close to giving in, if only for the easy friendship we had formed.

"How about dinner tonight?" I was surprised at the invitation. Emmett preferred to stay in most nights.

"That sounds wonderful."

"Great!" His smile was wide, but I could hear his heartbeat pick up. Was he nervous about something? "I love you." He kissed me quickly before grabbing his hat off the table.

"I love you too." I stood and walked him to the door. "I just wish you didn't have to go hunting today." Especially since my shift at the diner meant I wouldn't be able to follow him. I thought about asking Chase, but that would cross us over into pack territory, and I wasn't sure if I wanted that or not.

"It's just a few baby bears." He winked and kissed me again. "They're no match for me."

With the weather starting to warm, more people ventured out to the diner for breakfast. I didn't mind the rush, it allowed me to build a nice little nest egg. Emmett's mother was a kind woman that understood my situation. She had lost her husband the year before I moved to Gatlinburg, and had been supporting herself since. She tried to give me as many hours as possible, and even talked of handing the place down to me. It was a shock, to say the least. She was getting older now, and believed she didn't have long left. I didn't have the heart to tell her she was right. Her scent was sickly, though the doctor's couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.

I looked up as the bell above the door signaled a new customer. Chase took his usual seat at the bar, not a word spoken. I learned quickly that he wasn't a man of many words. He only spoke when he deemed necessary. To be honest, it was what made him such good company. He was an old soul, and it shined in his eyes. I had once asked just how old he was, but all I got in response was some mumblings of 'the white man taking his land'. I didn't need much more information.

I called back his usual burger, trying to busy myself with cleaning a few glasses to keep my mind off Emmett. The bears had been particularly mean this year. I had to kill one just the other day because it was wondering into town. I would have liked to follow Emmett, but most of my spare time was spent training the new waitress. With the increase of tourism, Mrs. McCarty thought it would be best to have some help.

"You know how my cousin owns the jewelry store down on main?" I heard Russell ask Maria, the new waitress in a hushed voice. I wondered why he was whispering, and couldn't help but listen in.

"Of course! That fancy store with all those glittering diamonds! I think every girl in Tennessee knows about it." She laughed.

"Well, he told me that a certain McCarty was in there last week, and he left with a big-ol' diamond engagement ring." My breath caught.

I shouldn't have listened, but I wasn't exactly angry. Suddenly, Emmett's nervousness and want to go out to dinner made sense… He was going to propose. I couldn't help but smile widely as I took Chase's food from the little window and placed it in front of him. My face hurt I smiled so wide. My imprint wanted to marry me.

"Congratulations." For the first time since I met him, Chase cracked the smallest of smiles. "I can only imagine how happy you must be."

My smile faded as I leaned against the counter opposite him. "I thought you said you had an imprint."

"I said I lost my imprint." A pang of guilt shot through me as his dark eyes saddened.

"Oh-I'm sorry… I … I can't imagine how hard that must have been."

"It was unbearable." He licked his lips, his eyes watching a memory that I couldn't. "I thought my body would cease to exist right then and there… It was like having my heart ripped out and shown to me."

I let out a shaky breath. "How did you keep going?"

He shook the memory, long ink-black hair moving with him. "Alistair. He kept me from doing anything… stupid. He and Darren held me together until I learned how to breathe on my own again. When I was stable enough, that's when they told me about you."

I was silent as I contemplated his words. Had he tried to hurt himself? Would I if anything happened to Emmett? Panic shot through me at the thought. It was nearly crippling. I would have to tell Emmett the truth about everything. He needed to know what I was. I owed him that much. When my panic didn't settle, I became confused. Then, an intense pain shot through my stomach and chest. I realized a little too late that the panic I had been feeling wasn't my own.

"Emmett…" I breathed his name, hopping the counter and making a run for the door. I could feel Chase on my heels, but I didn't deter him.

I managed to make it into the woods before exploding out of my clothes. As Chase phased, his memories flooded me. I saw his imprint die in his arms. I saw him try to throw himself off a cliff, only to be stopped by Alistair. Howling, I picked up my speed as pain wracked my body. Something was very, very wrong. As I neared Emmett, the overwhelming smell of blood hung in the air.

'Oh God.'

'Don't let panic skew your judgment.' Chase's calm voice echoed in my mind. I tried to block out the images of his imprint as I pushed forward.

That was when I saw it… The bear. It was larger than any I had seen, and very angry. I froze at the site of Emmett's limp body in front of it. Before the first of my tears could fall, Chase tackled the bear in a blur of black fur. I phased as I slowly approached Emmett, too scared to run to his side. My knees gave out once I reached him. Bile rose in my throat as I took in his mangled form.

"No… No!" I sobbed and cradled his head to look at his angelic face. "Please, don't leave me, Emmett… I'm not that strong!" I wept as I ran my hands over his face.

He groaned under me, his heartbeat weak. He managed to pull his eyes open, staring at me with nothing but love. "Am I in heaven?"

Another sob ripped from my throat as I clutched the torn fabric of his shirt. My grief turned to madness as the sickly sweet scent of leech invaded my nose. It must have smelled all the blood. I looked up to see a confused blonde watching me as if she was internally arguing with herself.

"Do it!" I half screamed, half begged. "Kill me!" I would go with Emmett, I wouldn't fight it.

Her brow furrowed before she turned her gaze to Emmett. Her face softened then, her full lips pulling in a frown. "I can save him… We can turn him."

We? There were more of them nearby? I looked down at Emmett's sweet face, his heartbeat practically non-existent. If I said yes, he would be my enemy. I wouldn't be able to be with him anymore. Hell, he probably wouldn't even remember me! But… he would be alive in a sense.

"Do it." I mumbled as I fell on my backside, unable to tear my eyes from his face.

"You know you won't be able to see him again… he'll forget his human life."

"Just take him before I change my mind!" I snapped, my wolf growling inside my mind. Having Emmett turn into a leech would be as painful as watching him die.

She gently walked over and lifted him in her arms, gazing down at him with that same soft expression. "I'll take care of him. I promise."

And then they were both gone, and I was left sobbing on the forest floor with only Chase to keep me together.

AN: Sad chapter :( Please review! The next update will be Wed, and it'll be all about Alex gathering her pack!