A/N: So many torn opinions on this story, I love it! But you all know that from the essays I send in reply to your reviews (sorry, I get carried away sometimes lol). I'm taking advantage of your lack of opposition to my long chapters by posting my longest one ever. See if you can guess how I feel about imprinting 3/4 of the way through. Oh and you can take it as a spoiler for the rest of the story.

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LPOV

The scene was surreal. As the doors burst open the bright white corridor suddenly took on a red tinge. Two bodies were laying on stretchers as the sound of another ambulance pulling up indicated more to come. The frantic ambulance officers were now joined by pre-warned doctors and nurses as they attempted to wheel them towards the emergency room. The first victim was a woman in her late twenties. Her screams of agony enough to burst a human eardrum. Four sets of hands held her down as her body shook violently. Another two were trying to locate the main source of her pain as they packed and compressed gaping wounds. Lesions similar to that of an animal attack covered her body as did the deep red blood that was pouring out at an unnatural rate. The ground was covered in a trail of red footprints as she was rushed through the swinging doors. The second stretcher was an even more horrific sight. There was no noise from this one as a young boy, no more then seven, lay completely still. His body was covered in the same wounds but the blood that he was drenched in was old, his wounds now dry. He was completely drained. The sickly scent of burnt sugar covered them both, diluted only by their own blood. There was no question anymore. The vampires were here and they were making a point.

I looked at Jacob who had his arm around my waist to steady me. I shook out of his grip now uncomfortable to be so close to him out of some stupid feeling of betrayal I now had for Embry. Forcing myself to move past it I tried to stand up straight ignoring the weakness in my legs.

"What did Embry say Jake?"

"Not here" He said as he dragged me off. The door burst open once more as a third body was wheeled in, this one a large man who was very similar to the first woman. Deafening screams, blood soaked skin, more then five people trying to hold him in place. An equally disturbing sight. Jacob took me into his former room as we closed the door on the sounds and smells that I knew would revisit me in my nightmares.

"Embry can't hear either Sam or Quil. The only voice he could pick up was Seth. Your brother said he felt them phase but was concentrating on his task so he thought nothing of it. He assumed they were training or something. They were only phased for about ten minutes before they dropped out."

I felt sick again. The countless times I had wished Sam dead were in my head as the reality of the situation hit home. I needed an outlet for my guilt and emotional transference was what I did best. Unfortunately for Jake he was going to have to take it.

"You knew all of this and you still said what you did to Emily? You practically told her they were fine. She only listened to you because you had spoken to Embry, she trusted what you said." I felt a little betrayed that he let me be consoled by his words too.

"Leah, calm down. We don't know what has happened, they could be fine." He looked hurt and I pulled back on the bitchiness. I was so used to getting away with it when I spoke to Embry it would take sometime to readjust myself.

"Sorry, I'm just worried." I mumbled. His face was full of concern as he moved his hand to my shoulder. He spoke in a low, comforting tone.

"I know this must be hard for you, being Sam and all..." He had misread my anger. It was better then the truth so I took it and moved on.

"Ah yeah. Look what's the plan?" I said abruptly. He seemed a little surprised at my callousness.

"Embry is tracking their scent as we speak. We need to gather the others and meet at Emily's house. We'll have a meeting as wolves first before we head inside. If Sam is fine the first person he'll want to see is his wife."

It made sense. He was thinking like an alpha alright. We took off outside as we both found a separate place to change and phase. I went to get Seth first and Jake went to grab Paul. I could feel the worry that he tried to hide from me now as we both set off on our different paths.

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"So we're clear on our current pack roles?" Jake asked.

"I still think its stupid but I don't really have much of a choice do I?" Paul answered. He was just bitter that I was Jakes beta. I taunted him with a feeling of superiority and he returned it with a strong feeling of annoyance.

"No you don't. Jared you're up for the first patrol. You'll need to take either Colin or Brady. Sorry guys but you'll be given a baptism by fire into this world, on the job training."

No one seemed particularly happy about the arrangement, no one but Seth and I. Seth was always optimistic and I was beta so the Clearwater's were doing fine. Jared and Brady took off as the rest of us stopped to change before heading inside. I was first as the boys usually waited to make sure I was completely changed. Partly due to chivalry, partly because if they saw me naked they knew I'd make them forget it. I knocked a few times before Billy eventually let me in. Emily was sitting on the couch staring into space. She didn't move while each of us filed in. Jake encouraged me to sit next to her and I draped my arm around her shoulder. She didn't even flinch. We sat for a minute in perfect silence until Paul opened his big mouth.

"So, ah, Jake. Are you and Leah...?". Seth's eyes shot between us as did the rest of the room. Emily remained frozen in place.

"Not the time Paul" Jacob said through clenched teeth. The atmosphere was more tense now as we returned to the silence. Five minutes felt like five hours as I sat stroking the long black silk that was Emily's hair. The guys were all occupied in their own worlds, staring into space. Jake had been looking at each of them for the last minute, probably trying to figure out how to lift the mood of the room. The grim faces were doing nothing to consol Emily.

"Yes." He said as he looked at Paul.

"Yes what?" Paul asked, forgetting his previous question.

"Leah and I, yes we're together." His voice lacked the confidence that he and Embry both spoke with now. I sat there with a blank expression on my face not sure what I should say or do. Then Jake smiled at me and without resistance I smiled back.

"Wow, you're braver then I thought. Taking on Leah shows that you're ready to be alpha." Paul paused for a second as his face lit up "Oh wait, it really does. Its like a rite of passage into the alpha world." He winked at me before doubling over in laughter. Seth leant over and punched him in the arm, hard enough to make a cracking sound.

"Ow, ok ok. We get it kid. Super strong little brother gets defensive about his big sister."

"You're just lucky I'm not sitting over there" I said as I glared at him. I was use to comments like this so I didn't actually care but I pretended to. Jake looked upset as he took his gaze off of me for a second.

"Seth you want to sit with your cousin while I talk to Leah outside?" He asked. Seth looked at him with a slight warning in his eyes as I rolled mine.

"Down boy" I said as I walked past him. Seth always had my back and I loved him for it. He annoyed me to no end but when it came down to my welfare he was always looking out for me. Jake and I stepped outside as we stood in front of the small simple white house the Uley's shared. He spoke as soon as the door was closed behind us.

"I'm sorry I didn't check with you first. Is it ok that I told the guys we were together?"

"Yeah, well we are. Can't see why not." I replied casually. He flashed his bright whites as a smile broke across his face. They never failed to dazzle me and I instantly felt a little light headed.

"That's what I figured. I still should've asked first, especially with Seth sitting there. Sorry. I'm not great at this relationship stuff."

"And you think I am? Don't put so much pressure on it Jake, we're both going to stuff this up multiple times. Just go with it" I spoke with the voice of experience. He laughed now, a strained almost nervous sound.

"Ok. Thanks." He was inching himself closer to me while still giving me plenty of room. "How are you going Lee? This Sam stuff… Are you doing ok?" His concern was unfounded but still sweet. He overestimated my emotional range which made me feel almost normal.

"Jake the stuff with Sam feels like a lifetime ago. Seriously, don't worry. I do know how to let things go" I suddenly realised that could be taken as a direct attack at him "Oh! Sorry, I…oh. I didn't mean..."

"No that's ok. I get why you'd think that." His cryptic answer intrigued me.

"Well yeah, because you were upset your friend or potential girlfriend or whatever she was to you, died right?" He shook his head as moved back away from me now, leaning against the wall. He took a deep breath.

"Partly. That's what I wanted you all to think and that's still how I want it so let's just change the subject ok? This isn't the time to get into it"

"No way Black, you can't just say something like that and expect that I'll just brush it off. Spill."

"No, Lee really. I'm nowhere near ready for…"

"Look if you want this thing to work we both need to be open ok? It's give and take" He was beginning to frustrate me which was obvious from my tone.

"Jeez Leah, you really need to work on reading other people hey. You want to tell me about this casual sex addiction thing you have going?" Damn it…He had me.

"Ok, ok. I get your point. You show me yours and I'll show you mine…I guess."

Jake let out long breath as he looked around to check we were alone. He moved in closer and I could feel his body heat was almost the same as mine once again. He started his story hesitantly.

"I was upset about what happened to Bella. You know the story so I won't retell it" I had seen through Sam's mind that Jacob was the one who pulled her out of the water and attempted CPR unsuccessfully. The paramedics and the other boys pried him off of her lifeless body. It was a horrific memory that was full of pain and even I didn't want to revisit it. "But the most upsetting part came at her funeral."

"Ok…" I tried to encourage him as I place my hand on his arm.

"I was watching as they lowered her body into the ground. Charlie was in tears as your mom and my dad sat at his side. Bella's mom was in hysterics as her partner tried unsuccessfully to comfort her. A couple of the Cullen's were there also mourning the death of a family member, the bloodsucker that broke Bella's heart. I was so angry that they had the audacity to show up that I watched the funeral from afar. There was a group of Bella's school friends standing around. A blonde boy was being comforted by a brunette and a plain girl wearing glasses. The bookish looking one lifted her eyes to meet mine. When they did I felt it, that universe shaking, mind numbing, body invading sensation. I knew that I had imprinted. All at the funeral of the girl I could see myself growing old with. In front of her grieving parents, in front of her dead body, I imprinted."

I gasped before I had time to stop it. Regret filled me as I realised what I had just talked him into sharing. I never thought that was what he had been repressing for so long and because I pried instead of leaving well alone he felt obligated to tell me. Now I couldn't even be supportive as I stood with my hand over my mouth. He continued and it almost seemed like he wanted to get the story out, like he had prepared this whole speech.

"I spent so long fighting it. It was like I suddenly fell into a high that no drug could top and instead of enjoying it I forced myself to detox it from my system. The guilt was only part of it. I was angry at myself for fighting what seemed like destiny, then I felt hatred for both the resistance and the longing. It was indescribable. I fought with myself for days, then months and almost years."

"Oh god, Jake I'm so sorry. You don't need to continue if you don't want. I'm really… I need to learn to keep my mouth shut."

"I was going to tell you sometime. I even pictured how it was going to happen. It just wasn't this soon. Sorry if I got so heavy on you. I understand if you think I'm some sort of disrespectful freak who imprints on random girls at the most inappropriate times."

"You know that you have no control over something like that." I replied. I couldn't believe that he had blamed himself so much over the last couple of years. My issues suddenly seemed a lot smaller in comparison. I leant into him as I let my hands grip his lower back. I rested my cheek on his chest and he kissed the top of my head.

"Thanks Lee. It means a lot. I had visions of you turning your back on me after I told you."

"Jake after the things I have to tell you I would be surprised if you even wanted to look at me. Your story was completely out of your control. Mine…mine is all a product of my own doing."

"We're both pretty messed up hey?" He replied

"Yeah but who isn't?" I answered. "Apart from Sam and Emily, Paul and Rachel…"

"They're the most fucked up of all. They've lost their identities. They'll do anything to please one another which means never fighting, never prying when they think the other needs to open up. Their relationship lack's any heat of their own, any real passion. We'll have to work to get to that level and hopefully beyond. They just meet at the top and stay stagnant for the rest of their lives. Trust me, I've been there."

I moved closer into his embrace to show how much I appreciated his confiding in me. He moved his hand through my hair as he let his chin rest on the top of my head. It felt nice to stand like this with no pressure. Just enjoying the support we gave one another. I knew it was my turn next but I wanted to drag this moment out for as long as I could. The front door burst opened startling us out of each other arms. Emily passed, completely oblivious to both of our shocked expressions. She had a smile on her face as she ran towards her gate. By the time she reached it we saw Embry followed closely by both Sam and Quil. She ran into Sam's arms as he caught her and kissed her with more passion than anyone had ever kissed me. The rest of the guys started coming out of the house now as they went to greet the other two boys. Embry looked at both Jake and I as he made his way towards us.

"Can I talk to you inside?" He asked

"Sure" Jake said as walked through the open door. I stood uncomfortably as I waited for Embry to follow him.

"Both of you" He said as he followed Jake. I paused for a second before I too followed closely behind.