Sam P.O.V

I still couldn't calm down enough to phase back! I was still running, longing to be able to go check on Emily. As I ran past the back of the Clearwater house, I heard Leah's phone conversation with her mom, then her telling Seth what had happened. She started crying again, and howling out her grief. Seth was going to kill me.

I almost wished I had never met Emily. But not quite. I loved Leah, but whenever I thought of Emily, I felt... complete. She was my true other half, and nothing I did could change that.

Already angry at myself, I was filled with rage at the Cullens, those filthy bloodsuckers who made me what I was. And if that wasn't enough, made me break Leah's heart, and nearly - I almost choked thinking this - kill Emily.

I was furious. It was now even harder to phase back to human form. I just wanted to cross the treaty line, and go rip the whole coven to shreds. I hated them. Why!? Why did they have to come here? To Forks of all places?

I sure as hell couldn't phase back now.

Emily P.O.V

When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Aunt Sue was in a chair next to my bed, watching me. As my eyes opened, she gasped, and started sobbing. "Ssshhhh. Its okay Aunt Sue. I'm fine." I soothed her.

I waited while she calmed herself down, then asked "How did I get here? Where am I? When?"

"You're in hospital Em, in Forks. Harry found you in the woods, this afternoon. You've been attacked by a bear!" she started sobbing again.

I rubbed her shoulder, and pondered what she had said. A bear attack... Hmm. Uncle Harry had found a good excuse. Of course I remembered everything. Sam had... changed into a wolf! I remember being astounded, then my face was stinging, growing steadily more painful, and a giant black wolf was looking down at me. It was Sam. He howled, then moved back. Soon after, Uncle Harry came and found me. When I tried to explain what happened, he just silenced me, and instead of being shocked, his face only showed... acceptance? Did this mean he knew!? That it was a secret was obvious.

Oh my god. Something else just occurred to me - this was the secret he couldn't tell Leah. This was why he kept going missing - because he was running around as a giant wolf! Good god. No wonder he couldn't tell her; I knew all the local legends, and telling people wasn't allowed. I wonder if he was the only one? Then I wondered why I wasn't freaking out. I had just found out my cousins ex-boyfriend was a wolf, and here I was wondering if there were more!

But I wasn't scared. Sam didn't seem like a monster who would go around killing people as a wolf. And from what the stories say, the wolves were supposed to be protectors. Now that seemed more like Sam. Except for the fact that, well, he practically killed Leah as a human. But back to my point - Sam just wasn't a monster. Then I was appalled at myself. A minute ago, I had rightly wanted to rip his head off, and now here I was defending him! Even if it was to myself. I stopped right there, because I knew that I was starting to like him, and I couldn't do that. I was nowhere near falling in love with him, but even being friends was absolutely forbidden. There was no way in hell that I would be friends with that heart-breaking wolf. I am strong. I could do it, I didn't even know Sam - this was going to be easy.

Provided he didn't visit me. Oh dear god...

Leah P.O.V

After my emotional little chat with Seth, I went upstairs to have a shower. When I got out I felt fresh, clean and above all - empty. No emotions to stress me out again, no memories. I fell into bed with relief; I could think about everything later.

I woke up with the feeling that someone was watching me. I gasped and sat up. Dad was sitting next to my bed, watching me sorrowfully. I wanted to ask him about Emily. I wanted to ask if she was okay, if she had to stay in hospital, where she was. And I also wanted to ask him if Seth had told him and Mom about what happened with Sam. I searched his face. I couldn't tell anything except that he was sad about something and I didn't know what it was.

"Daddy? What's wrong?" I asked.

He smiled at me a little bit. I hardly ever called him daddy anymore. "Nothing, sweetheart. Your mother's still at the hospital with Emily."

"Oh. Is Emily alright?" I had to know, even if she was a half-traitor.

"She's fine. Her face will be scarred for life, but other than that, no permanent damage."

Her face! Mom never told me it was her face! Once I heard that Emily was going to be fine, I felt a little smug. Lets see how much Sam loves her - I choked a little - with her pretty face all mangled. Then I felt guilty. Not for thinking that about Emily, she would probably still be beautiful, but about Sam. I knew he didn't care about looks, only about the person. That just didn't explain why he fell for Emily so quickly though. They barely even spoke to each other!

"Daddy, have you seen Sam around?"

"No, Leah, I haven't. He wasn't up at the hospital when I was there. I think he's disappeared again." He looked grim.

No! I wailed inwardly. He promised he would tell me next time he was going to vanish. I paused. That most likely was not happening, now that he'd fallen for my cousin! I started to sob.

"What is it, Lee?" Dad asked anxiously, leaning forward to wrap his arms around me.

I simply shook my head and howled.

Seth appeared in my bedroom doorway. When he saw me crying my heart out again, he came in and told Dad what had happened, speaking over my wailing, which got louder the further along Seth got in the story. When he finally finished, I was sobbing uncontrollably on Dad's shoulder.

"Lee," I felt him hesitate.

"What is it, Daddy?" I managed to get it out between sniffs.

"Lee, you don't blame Emily do you? Because it's not her fault."

I was outraged. Here I was, sobbing my heart out because the love of my life left me for my cousin/best friend, and all he cared about was her!? How dare he!

I growled.

Seth P.O.V

Leah growled, glaring at Dad. I could see her point. I mean, how insensitive could you get? But Emily was in hospital, and -

I didn't think any further, because Leah was snarling. "NOT HER FAULT? I DON'T CARE IF IT'S NOT HER FAULT, SHE STOLE HIM FROM ME!"

I rushed forward and grabbed Leah, who was leaning back glaring at Dad, and hugged her to me. She broke out in fresh sobs.

I was going to kill Sam! My big sister was tough, proud and did not cry! Sam Uley had reduced her to this. He didn't deserve this - no, he didn't deserve Leah! I couldn't believe I used to look up to Sam, used to think of him as an older brother - because that was what he was going to be! It wasn't public knowledge, but I overheard Sam and Leah talking, and I knew they were going to get engaged as soon as Leah finished college. And now that wasn't going to happen. Sam Uley was dead meat.