"Until we're rotten, we cannot be ripe." ― Chaucer Geoffrey

Hybrid.

All instincts in me tell me this is wrong, wrong, wrong.

In fact, my stomach lurches and I feel close to spilling my guts on the vampire lair floor. It might even put some fucking personality in this sterile house. I hold my head in my hands, not caring if anyone else sees this moment of weakness. It's all I can do to not vomit everywhere.

While I fight to get the sickness to subside, the thoughts of abnormality, of going against nature itself are made worse by the fact it was Bella to bring up this idea. My Bella. My imprint.

She explains her theory eloquently; I can't argue that. The connections, the true purpose of imprinting to be creation, that much makes sense. But not this. Not the final conclusion.

"Riley can copy all of your abilities. But he wouldn't be able to copy a hybrid."

When I can finally look around the room, most others are also reacting in disgust. Except maybe the one person who matters most with the news: Leah. Her face is neither shocked nor repelled, only pensive. I can't bear to stare at her much longer.

"This can't work," I mutter, finally the first to speak up. "Vampire venom will kill us before it ever gets to our hearts."

Bella's mouth parts into an 'o.' I see embarrassment color her features. Maybe she can be persuaded to my side, the side of nature, of balance, of order. Bella's a reasonable person. She can't believe this idea forever.

But the rich voice of Carlisle Cullen overcomes the room, "Unless we inject the venom straight into her heart, perhaps."

All eyes turn to him. Golden stares of disbelief.

"It's a theory I've been tinkering with," he explains. "If the transition into one of us could be sped along and made less painful. It could work here as well."

Leah's eyes finally go wide, as if she's suddenly contemplating the horror of the idea.

The room again explodes into chaos.

"Absolutely not."

"This is utterly disgusting."

"This is insane!"

"Stop," Leah bellows. She's angry. When isn't she, of course? But this is a new kind of anger. One with far more resolve than wrath.

We all stop speaking and stare at her.

"This is about me, right? So don't I get a fucking say?"

Bella hangs her head in shame, "I'm so sorry, it just made sense to me…"

Leah cuts her off, "Don't be. I'll do it."

I don't even let the room devolve into another silent showdown. I respond immediately.

"Are you insane?" I hiss. "This could kill you."

She stares at me with the gaze of a thousand hate-filled curses she's probably sent my way over the years. All deserving. But her voice is calm, "Bella's right. It makes sense."

"No, it's impossible," Alice seethes at Leah. It's the most venom I've heard out of any leech before. More than queen bitch Victoria herself. It's enough to set me back.

"You're lying," Edward is the only one brave enough to interject. Bella gapes at him, shocked he is defending her idea. My fists naturally ball up. "I've seen all of the future scenarios you've seen in your mind, Alice. This may be the only one that they cannot see coming."

Her face twists into a picture of rage I doubt is even possible on a human, or wolf for that matter. Leeches don't scare me anymore, but this witch does. The realization of that disturbs me.

I catch Edward raising an eyebrow at me in the corner of my vision. Fuck off.

Alice's growls indicate a lack of a suitable response. But it still isn't enough for me.

"I'm her alpha. I won't allow it."

Edward finally turns to me full-on, squaring up in that inhuman way he does so well. "It could work."

"Could isn't good enough. Do we really want to risk her life here?" I growl.

Bella wipes at the corner of her eyes and while I do feel bad for making her aware of the possibility, it's a necessary evil. This is Leah's life we are talking about.

"It would most certainly be a risk," Carlisle admits. "Additionally, even if she were to survive the transition, there is no immediate proof a hybrid would be stronger than both of our species. I must admit I am currently persuaded by your logic, Bella."

I press my eyes closed, letting the other continue to discuss for a minute.

Bella's voice from minutes ago rings in my head, "I don't know if I believe in fate, but I can't believe imprinting is just about mating." Her eyes seared into mine while she said this. "I think Sam, you, me…I…" Bella struggles to get her words together. "I was meant to tell this story, I think. That's why you chose me."

That can't be everything, Bella. There is a feeling in me that burns brighter than just her theory. A feeling I still won't name.

"And Leah chose Jasper because it is possible, somehow, to become both."

"If you can't see any wolves in the future, why not just have us handle the fight?" I hiss at Carlisle. "Or at least keep out the fortune-teller and mind-reader?"

"Because they have already seen us make that decision in one of the possibilities and they know how to win against it. And without Alice or I in the fight, they have a much better chance at overwhelming us with sheer numbers," Edward grits out. "We would have to keep away long enough that they wouldn't know the change until the very last minute. We will guard Bella, as they now expect us to. Everyone else will prevent the newborn army from advancing into town."

"Abso-fucking-lutely not."

"You're her imprint, aren't you? Why don't you admit she's just come up with the best plan any of us have?" Edward flashes his teeth at me for the barest of seconds. I am immediately ready to pounce.

"No one here wishes to make this decision lightly," Carlisle finishes, attempting to dispel the vitriol. He then looks at Leah, as if she is the only one capable of making a choice. But she isn't. I am still her Alpha. I get a fucking say.

"We're not making that decision at all. In fact, we're leaving," I announce. I've heard enough. "Bella, Leah, get your things."

Bella stands up and smoothes down her clothes as much as possible with her stomach protruding slightly out. Radiant, but I'm too angry to really appreciate her image.

Given the go-ahead with one of them, I turn to the other more harshly.

Leah looks deep into my eyes, cutting into my soul, "I have to stay."

Fuck, of all the fucking curses nature has given me, letting me be an Alpha but unable to command my pack surrounding anything about their imprint is topping the list of inconvenient bullshit right now.

"Fine," I seethe. "But Bella and I are going."

"Don't be ridiculous," Rosalie Cullen rolls her eyes. "Did you even drive here? How are you intending to get her home? Carrying her on your back for miles? Seems a little indelicate in her current condition."

The vamp's golden, but hard eyes stare at me without blinking. I ball my fists up, but I find I don't have a response. She's right, I did run here. And with Bella pregnant, it probably isn't the best method to get home.

But I don't want either of us staying in this sick fucking house for a second longer.

Bella shakes her head at me, seemingly understanding my apparent feelings on the issue. "It's okay, Sam. Rose can take me home now. I'll be alright."

I look between them all and find

"I'll see you tomorrow," she whispers.

I nod.

I trust her intentions and hers only. And as usual, it hurts to tear away from her.

Then I'm out the door before I throw up.

My paws hit the forest floor and I force myself two miles up a mountain before I allow myself to howl in pain. It's a call to the entire pack and I know everyone will listen except for Leah. Maybe she'll hear and feel the pull to come, but still unable to leave her undead imprint, will be forced to hang by the leech's side fighting her own instincts. Good, serves her right.

Running, more like thrashing, through the forest isn't enough to shake off the feelings of disgust I am still left with.

And I'm not running quickly. I know this as I can feel the anxiety growing in my pack as I make my way over to my house. The events of the evening have taken out the drive in me to push past my own discomfort. I will have to do better when it counts.

"Yo, what's up, Boss?" Jared leads the group as they call coming running from behind my house to meet.

I shake my head, for a moment unable to even put the words together of why this all is happening.

My teeth clench up, "They are considering transforming Leah into a vampire. A hybrid."

There's a long pause of silence where the absurdity of it all hits me across the face. It doesn't last long enough for my pack, who I know I am begging to mourn with me. Instead, their own incredibility hits, and thus vocal outcries of confusion.

"A hybrid?" Jared gapes at me.

"That's like totally not possible, right?" Embry asks.

"But what if it was?" Quil counters. "I mean, that person would be the most powerful thing ever."

I make a quick mental note to not underestimate Quil's intelligence. If he can figure out the same conclusion as Bella, he's clearly not an idiot. I should be involving him more in pack strategy. But I don't have the time or the mental capacity for it now.

"It's batshit insane," Paul growls. "Can't believe you all are even thinking about it."

Jacob Black and Seth remain silent as the others continue to bicker. I only feel bad for her brother, having still just lost his own father and forced to contemplate losing his sister. I won't allow it.

"Of course, we're not considering it," I seethe at Paul. "I've already told her no as the Alpha of this pack. My decision is final."

All nod at me, except for Black.

"Well," Jared speaks up. "Is that going to work?"

Many pairs of eyes turn to him with contempt.

His cheeks color with embarrassment, "I only mean as that leech is her imprint, by nature, his orders overtake yours."

I shake my head, "The empath's true mate won't allow it either. He'll answer to her first."

Looks of understanding go around the group. Then looks of pity. For many of us, there's probably no greater nightmare than imprinting on a leech who already has a mate. For both the disgusting nature of their kind and the heartbreak of it all.

Finally, the silent thorn in my side speaks up. Jacob continues to glare at me, "Why are they even considering this?"

I swallow, a threat of stay in your fucking lane is on my lips, but before I get to speak, I notice the curious glances from everyone else. Especially Seth, to who I think I owe it most of all.

My shoulders heave from the weighty sigh passing through my lungs. I don't know how they will react to this.

"Bella believes the true nature of the imprint is to allow for creating new beings. She believes Leah imprinted on Jasper because a hybrid is possible. And that I imprinted on her to allow her to figure this out."

I don't know how to gauge their reactions to this. Perhaps because the idea is still so foreign to me. But surprisingly, there isn't the anger I might have expected. Only the quiet kind of shock each faced with the learning of the idea of imprinting to begin with.

"What about me and Kim?" Jared speaks up. "Did Bella say anything about us?"

"Yeah," I comb my hand through my hair. "She thought you two were needed to show her that imprinting can be a good thing. That it can lead to something."

"Sam, you told me the other pair is happy. What if we needed to see that?"

Jared's eyes go wide, but smartly, he says nothing. He purses his lips, nods, and looks down. I know he still has more he wants to say. I am just completely unable to hear it right now. Not when a battle of this magnitude is still incoming.

A burst of lightning hits a peak somewhere close by. Moments later, the explosion of thunder causes Seth and Quil to still wince. I'm reminded again of how young they are. How little time they've had to face these things. And now I am asking them to risk their lives.

I look at the sky, feeling like an old man who wants to raise his fist and curse nature.

"It's going to rain soon. Everyone go home. Except for Paul: your shift watching Bella is tonight."

I can see the anger form between his brow.

"But she just…"

I silence him with a look of wrath. He too, is smart enough, to shut the fuck up.

"Fine," he spits out. Turns on his heel, phases, and runs away in the direction of Forks.

The rest of the pack shares their goodbyes, an air of something uncomfortable lingers between all of us.

I don't sleep much at night, tossing in my bed at the thought that the balance of nature could be altered so easily, seemingly without a care. There is always a cost, Leah, always.

In the morning, I don't fair much better. I'm off my game as I'm trying to teach the pack the strategy on how to fight newborns that has only been passed to me incrementally. Goddamn Cullens probably don't think we're capable of picking up on anything.

It's the anger that pushes me through my sloppiness.

After I am relatively satisfied the pack knows to go for throats and avoid arms, I let them rest again. Unfortunately one of the leeches is in charge of protecting Bella today. And in thinking that, I am back to being nauseous.

I call my mom, unable to leave my house to visit her at the diner. Allison knows enough by now to not ask me the specifics, but I know she picks up on my heightened worry. Talking to her doesn't make me feel any better.

With nothing else to do or no mental energy to do any of the grander things I have planned, I force myself to meditate on my couch. It doesn't work.

My restlessness lasts until I feel a familiar force dance across my periphery. Bella has made it onto the rez.

I can't help, but sigh and close my eyes, feeling the first bout of peacefulness I've felt since last night. Perhaps this is another thing the imprint is for. Not just feelings of passion, but the strongest feeling of contentment possible. I can live with this, whether or not she wants me to be near her at all times.

But I snap out of it real quick when I realize Bella is coming in my direction. I stand up immediately, hissing that I have to clean this area to be presentable for her. I work faster than possible cleaning the kitchen countertops and table with a semi-dirty rag I toss into a hidden corner.

God, what if she's hungry? Do I have anything suitable for her here? Maybe I ought to take her back to the diner.

My thoughts abruptly cease when I hear her truck engine turn off and the knock on the door comes moments later. I only have a split second to smooth my hair.

"Hi," Bella says. Her eyes display the look of shyness and nervousness I've seen so many times before and would still hope to see again, as often as she will let me.

"Hi," I respond, confused, but elated she's here anyway. "How are you?"

I push the door open to let her in and watch her confidently stroll into my house. My heart leaps a bit when I realize it means she's beginning to see this place as home. It is home. It will be home for all three of us. The thoughts at the back of my mind that it could one day be the four or five of us are hard to push down. I can't think that far ahead right now.

"We're fine," she laughs as she knew automatically I did mean both of them.

"Bella, about yesterday…" I find I can't reach her eyes.

"Oh," Bella straightens up, looking at me apprehensively and I want to slap myself for it. The more I reflect on it, the more I think I was too harsh around her. She probably believes my anger is a direct response to her ideas.

"You are brilliant, I just can't agree with your conclusions. It goes against our teachings of nature and balance. Do you understand?" I beg her too.

Bella nods, this time averting her gaze away from me, "Okay, but Leah is her own person and so is Jasper…"

I cut her off, "They have to see how wrong it is."

"Sam, I only mean to tell you that you might not be able to expect this to go your way," Bella tells me, grabbing my hand and rubbing circles into my skin.

It feels so good that I never want to let go. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head, "It can't happen. It can't."

She makes a noncommittal sound but wisely decides not to press the issue anymore. The night won't end well if she does.

Bella looks at me with a redness sprouting on her cheeks, "I'm, uh, feeling a bit tired. Would you mind if I used your bed?"

"Of course," I answer, grateful for the subject change too. "Anything you want or need is yours to have."

She blushes further at that then looks at me with a small smile, "Would you come up with me?"

"Sure," I nod, feeling my Adam's apple bounce in my throat. "Anything you want."

I let her guide me up the stairs, my feet struggling to keep balance, not a normal issue for sure. It is when I am behind her, for sure.

There's an extra blanket in my closet, I think something my mom's mom once knitted, that I hand to Bella for more warmth. I've stopped using such heavy items since I first heated up and began to phase, but she isn't naturally hot like me.

"Stay as long as you need," I offer. "Come get me downstairs when you've woken up and I'll drive your truck back to Charlie's."

I've pivoted my body away, but I feel her small hand on my arm.

"Wait, stay," she tells me, a whine in her voice.

I nod, a little breathless now.

"Tell me something," she says, eyes trusting.

"What?" I ask.

"Anything. Something to distract me."

I search my brain for something light and easy, which is difficult considering the situations we've found ourselves in lately. But I find something eventually.

"My mom asks about you every time I talk to her now," I smile at her. "She's always giving me the recipes of natural remedies for any of your pregnancy ills. I never remember any of them, but the offer is there."

Bella beams up at me, "That's so sweet of her." Then she gently shoves me with her elbow, "I'm sure Charlie will ask after you eventually."

I laugh at this, "Sure, when you tell him and he gets past the point of wanting to kill me."

"Could be years," Bella agrees through her own laughs.

We laugh together until Bella does something that completely knocks me off balance. She leans forward and presses her lips softly against mine. I can feel her fingers dive a centimeter into the edge of my jeans. The most forward she has been since the New Year's party.

I nearly jump back in shock, though our momentary touch ignites me. I feel my cock start to swell as it does whenever we kiss.

"Make me forget," she asks, seeing the confusion on my face.

I swallow again

"What are you asking?" My voice wavers since I do know in fact what she is asking; I simply can't believe it.

"It's Tuesday night. The newborn army is coming in five days," Bella tells me. "I might only have five days to live."

"You are going to live," I grit out.

She presses a finger to my lips. "But just for a second, imagine that isn't true. If I've only got five more days, I want every second to count. I want to be with you now."

My pants continue to tighten. If she notices, she doesn't say anything.

"You don't know what you're asking for," I tell her. "I might not be so gentle. I might not be able to stop."

"Take me," she tells me. Brown eyes of resolve. I feel her words right down to my cock. It's enough to get me to move.

I crash my lips onto hers and feel her gasp into me. You asked for this, imprint. Now you'll face the consequences of your actions.

My hands circle her waist and I pull us onto the bed, where we both sit, her on top of me. She's desperate for my touch, I can feel it from the heat of her core. I grip one of her thighs and squeeze. Then I trail my fingers closer to her clit still protected by jeans. I know just the right area to poke through. She yelps and the sound drives me insane.

"I want you on top like this," I hiss into her mouth.

Her eyes widen, "I haven't…"

"You will," I say.

She will learn. And I will be her teacher. Even as she sits on me now, still fully clothed but grinding into me, I guide her hands underneath my shirt. She gets the idea, helping me to lift the cloth barrier between us. While I could easily take off my own shirt, her working to help me ignites a further desire that I am now helpless to chase.

My skin is hot and I know this because I burn for her. She works her hands against my torso, biting her lip and looking into my eyes. Finally, she continues to tug the cloth upwards until I give her a hand by discarding my shirt.

It would be a lie if I said the way she's looking at me now, tracing all of my muscles, didn't affect me. I continue to swell underneath her.

"Let me see you," I tell her.

She blushes, but allows me to lift up her sweater over her head. Milky white skin, impossibly soft to the touch. I hold her in such a way that I am able to reach around her back and unclasp her bra. She shudders as it comes loose. I can't help but stare despite her apparent reservations at me looking.

"You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

The words tumble out of my mouth before I'm cognizant of them.

Bella blushes again and tries to look away, but I tilt her head back to mine. I engulf her mouth once again and brush my tongue against her lips. She allows me entrance and I chase the under-appreciated pleasure of simply kissing. If this is all we do tonight, I will sleep a happy man.

But, I can't help myself, the baser man, or wolf, that lives inside of me.

"Stand up," I order.

She frowns at me, but does as I say. Instantly, I see goosebumps form across her skin while she is parted from me. Against my better instincts, I smile at the evidence that I do in fact make her hot.

Bella tries to cover her breasts, but I silence her by pulling her arms away.

"You are perfect," I whisper. "I need to see all of you."

She smolders under my gaze, but nods in agreement.

I reach for her the buttons and zipper on her jeans. I notice they are fortunately a size or two bigger than the last time I saw her like this months ago. For now, I make a mental note to offer to buy her any new clothing she needs as she continues to grow. I do not want the blonde leech to be stealing this responsibility.

As Bella steps out of her pants and underwear, looking shyly away from me, I realize at once there is no more breath in my lungs. How can there be when I am in front of a literal goddess? Every part of me desires to be in every part of her.

"It's your turn now," she finally huffs at me, likely embarrassed under my gaze.

I smirk at her, but I ultimately decide to oblige her demands. Towering over her, I lock eyes with her while I undo my own belt and push my jeans down. Seeing her eyes trail wide as she looks down at my body causes pride to swell in my chest. Yes, Bella, everything you see is all for you.

I pull her to me, kissing her again until she softens in my arms. Then my right-hand trails down her body until I tease her entrance with my forefinger. Bella squirms beneath my touch, and I know exactly what she is after as she attempts to angle herself to bring our contact closer together.

"Please," she murmurs against my lips.

And I am not one to deny her needs, slipping my finger into her hot center as she whimpers against me. My index finger is quick to follow, pumping her until she is dripping around me.

But Bella pulls back, "I want all of you."

Her brown eyes cause my cock to twitch.

"You can have all of me," I answer.

I hold her by her waist, pulling us back to the bed where I sit down and let her stand over me, squirming with impatience and nervousness.

I guide her so that her knees reach down on either side of me on the bed. She continues to turn red, but I know she also wants me to push her through her nervousness. I can feel her desire flickering through our bond.

Finally, I allow her to lower herself onto me. Slowly and too fast all the same.

We both groan with the contact, but Bella squeezes her eyes close and I momentarily wonder if this is too much for her.

She struggles to move, opting for side to side instead. It feels good enough for me, but I know I can't be providing the necessary contact deep within her.

"Up and down," I whisper into her ear. "You are doing so well, baby."

I don't know if what I say or do seems to help her at first, but she soon finds a pace and lets me aid her with my hips and hands. I want to bring her closer still, letting her breasts press up firmly against my chest, but I also do not wish to disrupt her movement.

Bella's finally grinding on top of me, losing all rhythm and pressing into me with unreserved movement. Once again I'm seeing stars. I know I'm not going to last long if she keeps this up.

I give up my first plan of letting her remain on top. I hook an arm around her waist and throw her onto the bed so I can thrust into her on top. Forcefully, but not ever approaching the threshold of legitimately hurting her. I'm careful not to crush her belly, but I hammer into her like a man desperate to claim every inch of his woman.

She makes an animalistic noise at the switching of our position and I know it to be her discovery of a new depth of pleasure. The way her eyes roll back into her head tells me I'm doing something right. I'm hitting a part deep inside of her now that neither of us has found before. I chase the way she's clenching against me, like a person dangling off the edge of a cliff. Survival dependent on holding on.

She's trying to grab one of my hands, and I understand where she wants me to touch her. But a new wave of dominance overcomes me and I bat her off.

"You're going to come on my cock only," I command of her.

Bella whines, throaty and full. I'm going to have to delay my own release for this promise to be fulfilled. I groan and try to keep my head clear.

I grab one of her legs and bring it up to rest on my shoulder. Now I'm in even deeper and the lights dance across my eyes. I shift our bodies until we connect further. I can feel every curve of her cunt, nearing her womb where I know our child lies beyond. The thought makes something inside of me turn ever more animalistic. I gnash my teeth trying to suppress my desire.

She's screaming now. Completely gone.

I realize this moment may not come again for a while, ever. I have to demand as much as I can from this mini infinity as possible.

"Look at me," I demand.

She shakes her head, still thrown back in pleasure.

"Look," I say again.

I want even our souls to be connected. No differentiation between me and Bella Swan. I want our worlds to just be of one another.

"Look," I beg, one last try, throaty and near tears myself. "Please look at me."

Finally, she opens her amber eyes to look at me and I feel it. Her body spasms uncontrollably and she yells without restraint. She grabs the sheets of my bed into her fists and convulses below me, ricocheting throughout every one of my muscles. It is a sensation that can't be described any further. Words fail me.

The five blissful seconds I get observing her pleasure aren't long enough. I come now, hot and mewling into her breasts like a boy first discovering how attractive girls can be. But this is different, this is the universe's command that we be together.

It takes me many, many minutes to recover. My body pulses with the aftershock of combined pleasure.

I can't believe I've forgotten the first time we did this. Or, maybe I pushed the memory away as it was tainted by the cruel ending forced on both of us. Then the memory itself was replaced by the aftermath of it. The impending parenthood we will soon face.

After we steady our breathing, we continue to lay naked on my bed. Bella's head rests on my chest. I have to hold my breath for a little bit, seeing if she mentions another man's name again. But the idea she would now seems so silly I don't let it linger. At this moment, she is only mine.

My hands swirl across her belly and I hear her moan into my touch again. Not full of desire, but of wholeness. I only know how she is feeling because I feel it too. Certitude. This, it has to be, the real reason for the imprint.

I don't want to lose this.

I look over at the clock sitting on the drawer next to my bed. I can maybe let her sleep for a little longer until she should head back to Charlie's. And whoever is next on the protection schedule will be spending all night out there listening for anything that might go wrong.

Unconsciously, I grip her tighter. Nothing can go wrong. I won't let anything happen to my imprint or my child. No matter the cost.

It takes me many moments to calm myself and to push back the wolf threatening to tear at my heart. I force myself to untangle from her sleeping form and try to cool myself in the master bathroom shower.

Hardly a grand bathroom that I use. I built this house pretty cheaply. There's only really enough space upstairs for the main bedroom and this bathroom. Surprisingly, I begin to go over where in the house I could knock out a wall and build a nursery downstairs. The entire layout of this place and the couple of other builds I've done give me more ideas runring through my head.

This kind of work, different from leading a pack, is truly what can calm my nerves.

But the most intense wave of disgust comes over me. A scent worse than the cloying stench of death swarms around my head.

I hear a deep scream. It takes me many moments later to recognize it as my own.

This time I can't hold back the wave of nausea. I shove the shower curtain to the side, making the metal rings hit each other in a quick succession of some violent symphony, and then I rush to the toilet. Slumping down on the bathroom floor, I empty everything inside of me.

I vomit for a long, long time.

I feel warm hands on my back and only after another thirty seconds of dry heaving, am I able to pull back.

Deep and genuine concern is present on Bella's brow. She puts another hand on my shoulder, steadying me and making me realize I've been shaking this whole time. I don't want to be in this state with her around, but there's little I can do to stop myself.

"They've done it," I spit out. "They've killed her."

Her eyes widen with realization, but she looks away from my hard stare. "She could live, Sam. I believe it."

Suddenly, I'm aware of something else.

"Did you know?" I groan, the wave of betrayal comes over me.

She shakes her head, "I knew it was a possibility. I didn't know when I swear."

I turn away from her and slam my hands on the ground. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

This cannot be happening.

"It's going to be okay," Bella tries to soothe me by rubbing more circles on my back.

"You don't know that!" I yell.

She immediately winces at my voice, pushing herself away from me. Despite my anger, my inner wolf howls at losing physical contact.

"Fuck! I'm sorry! Goddammit," I curse. I think I might cry.

"We have to go see her now."

A/N: Eight more chapters, I think? Which seems like a small amount except I always aim for at least 5k words per chapter so it's basically a novella left lol. Anyway, I wanted to put in some sexy-time to make up for these irregular updates and give a slight happy break in all the incoming drama. Thanks for reading!