"You've gone quiet," I commented as Brady continued to carry me. He'd been talking pretty much non-stop since he told me that he wouldn't, in fact, hit me with his tale. I pouted but I don't really pout very well and he just laughed. Damn him. Anyway, he's now been mute for the past couple of minutes, which was weird.

"Hmm?" he murmured, stroking my hair. "I thought you'd fall asleep or something. Plus I'm proper worn out."

I pressed my lips against the base of his neck. "Want me to walk by myself?" I asked and he shook his head, tightening his hold on me.

"I'd never be that worn out," he said and I smiled, running my hand idly through his hair as I pulled back slightly to look at his face.

"How are you, now?" I asked, remembering back to him being sick and he looked away from me, embarrassed.

"I'm fine… can we, like, not talk about that… ever again." he said, his cheeks tingeing red.

I kissed his cheek while stroking the other, nodding. "I'm sorry."

He sighed and glared at me.

I looked away nervously. "Shesh. Someone's got issues with apologies."

"Someone's got issues with letting it go," he said and I made a noise, knocking my forehead against his. Then I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, holding him tightly.

The massive ball of guilt that was swallowing my stomach, heart and lungs was still there. It hadn't even been that long, so it's not like it was going to disappear straight after, was it?

"Are you alright?" he asked and I nodded, kissing his neck. "Umm, do you mind if I just…?" I pulled back, raising an eyebrow at him and he pushed me up against a tree, pressing his lips to mine passionately. I let out a small gasp but kissed him back.

Our tongues met and he moaned, pushing tighter against me as I trailed my fingernails up the top of his back and up his neck to his hair.

After one long, hot make out session, he pulled back. I just held onto him, breathing heavily.

"Sorry," he breathed, his face still so close that his hot breath blew over my face. "But we're probably gonna get in hearing distance of the pack soon, and Paul'll castrate me if I kiss you when he's there."

I just nodded dumbly, my eyes on his fantastic lips. They're really yummy. I lent in and he just pecked my lips. I frowned at them. I want more.

"Didn't you want to get food?" he asked through a small laugh and I shook my head, still eyeing his lips. It's amazing, the feeling they make me feel.

I could maybe say that I like Brady's lips more than I like chocolate. Oh yeah. I said that: better than chocolate.

"I never said I wanted food," I murmured, my fingertips on his jaw as I lent into his lips again.

"Yeah but –"

I just held onto his face, pressing my lips tightly against his, shutting him up.

"You were going to get food," I said, kissing his along his jaw.

"I don't think I'm hungry for food anymore," he said, grabbing my face and moving to kiss me but his stomach growled loudly.

I laughed, "Liar!"

He let out a sort of laugh through a sigh, resting his forehead against mine. After a moment I looked up to find his gaze on me.

"I really love you, you know?" he said and I swallowed, just staring back into his eyes. Damn, I love his eyes.

He kissed my forehead, rubbing his hands up and down my thighs. "Shall we get going?"

I breathed in and out a deeply and nodded, patting his arms. "Let me down."

His eyebrows pulled together, his mouth pulled down into a frown and he really didn't have a happy look in his eyes. "What? Why?"

I laughed and pushed at his chest until he groaned but conceded and put me down. I grinned at him, grabbing his hand and pulling him along. He muttered something and grumpily traipsed after me.

"Come on, friend!" I said cheerily and he let out a dry sob jokingly.

I started skipping, swinging his hand all the way. Considering I was skipping at full pelt it was a little disheartening that he was just walking casually and more than keeping up.

As I speeded up by skipping he just chuckled, barely even seeming affected to keep in time with me. "Damn you! This is that werewolf shit, right?"

He smiled at me and held out his other arm. "Give up, Zo. Just come here."

I narrowed my eyes at him, then turned my head to the front before setting off with fierce determination.

Noone tells me I can't do something.

"Oh, god. I didn't mean it. Come on!" he groaned, pulling at my hand and digging his heals into the ground. He obviously didn't put a lot of effort into it as I carried on skipping and dragging him along.

He then started jogging, wiping his brow. "Wow, Zoë, you're such a quick skipper. I don't think I can keep up with you," he bent over, breathing hard and clutching his side. "You win, can we just walk now so I can rest?"

After a minute he tilted his head, peering up at me with one eye.

I stood in front of him, hands on hips, glaring at him.

"This is serious, Brady!" I shouted and he let out a very loud laugh, the sound making my heart swell.

"You're getting upset about skipping?"

I frowned at him before turning on my heel. "Yes."

He laughed again, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I leaned against him, laughing.

"Oh, shut up!" I moaned, holding onto his hands, which were on my stomach.

He pressed his face against my neck, walking slowly. "Strange child," he said, smirking up at me as his lips brushed against my skin, looking at me through his eyelashes. Argh. Holly shit, he's so beautiful.

"I'm not strange!" I shouted at him and he held in a laugh. I kissed his forehead and he finally let the laugh out, resting his chin against my shoulder.

"That's my thing," he said grumpily, talking about the forehead kissing and just I smiled at him.

"Okay," I simply replied and he smiled, tightening his arms around me. "But you do realise this skipping war isn't finished yet?"

He spat out a laugh and I couldn't stop but laugh at him. "How is it even a war when I wasn't skipping?"

I slapped his hand. "It just is."

"Whatever you say…"

"Good."

He smiled against my neck again and we walked in a comfortable silence for the rest of the way, which wasn't far.

Paul and the rest of the guys were outside when we got there, along with Kim and Emily. Paul's face fixed into a menacing glare when he saw Brady's arms around me. I rolled my eyes as Brady let go and held onto my hand.

"See, bro?" Jared said, clapping him on the back when we were close to them. "I told you not to worry!"

"Yeah, I bet it wasn't even as bad as you thought it would be," Embry said and my eyes widened as I stared at the very interesting mud…

"Yeah, you were crapping yourself for nothing, right?" Jacob said and I winced.

Brady scratched his head. "Erm, yeah."

Oh shit.

I looked up and Paul was staring at me. I let out an annoyed breath and walked up to him, swinging a kick at him. There was a collective intake of breath when Paul caught my leg, mere centimetres away from him crotch.

He let out a deep breath, and I held onto his shoulders, trying to bring my other one up to kick him, but he pushed the leg he had a hold of away from him and I fell backwards, only not landing in the mud because of Brady.

"What the hell!" Paul shouted, breathing deeply from the close encounter.

"I don't know!" I said, "But this is someway your fault!"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on."

"You could have warned me or something!"

He pulled a face at me. "Err, I did, Einstein. Did you even read that book?"

"Yes."

"And…?"

I just glared at him. It's so his fault I said what I said to Brady.

Well, it's not, but I can't kick myself, can I? This is better to get my anger out.

"Oh… it didn't go well?" Collin said, wincing at Brady, who pulled a face, looking away.

It was silent and I was holding onto Brady's hand so hard I'm surprised it didn't break.

"Who wants lunch?" Emily asked breaking the awkward moment. I sent her thankful glance as she ushered the boys inside. I pushed Brady in and he turned to say something, but I shook my head at him and he just sighed but carried on.

I'm such a terrible, terrible person.

We ate and luckily the boys didn't ask about what happened again. I'll have to, like, make them a cake or something. We then went and sat on the sofa and I hugged his arm tightly against me. He looked down at me in amusement and I nudged my head against him to tell him to shut up. I snuggled against him. All this emotional drama really wares you out.

Paul's POV.

"That's so adorable," Kim cooed at them.

I rolled my eyes.

Zoo was hugging his arm to her chest, and he was holding onto her leg while they curled up on the sofa. And they were asleep. And their foreheads were pressed together.

It wasn't even that cute. It looked uncomfortable. Brady was facing her and his arm was bent so it was going down her body. Not particularly the greatest way to sleep, bent in a funny direction, is it? No, I think you'll find the answer is.

Jared frowned, pulling Kim tighter under his arm and she blushed, but smiled up at him as he started kissing her face.

Emily walked in, placing a batch of muffins on the coffee table. "Wow, you guys are real calm today," she said, having been shocked that we didn't run at her the minute they were out of the oven. I think it's Zoë's breathing. She always makes me sleepy when she's asleep. It's just so calming to listen to someone's deep breathing when they're asleep.

Plus we'd been waiting anxiously for them to return. Because he's our pack brother and we want him to be okay and if his imprint rejected him, he'd be in so much pain. We didn't really think that an imprint could reject their wolf. I mean, hell, not even Emily did.

Not that I care about Brady. No. I just cared for Zoë. We'd given them their privacy and didn't go listen to how she took it, when we so easily could, and I'd been waiting to hear exactly what happened, but then the little shits fell asleep!

I was gonna drag Brady out and get it out of him, but oh no, sleep comes first. Idiot. From the swift kick she tried to deliver to my manhood, I'm guessing it didn't go too fantastically, and I was desperate to know what happened.

"Aw, bless them," Emily said, settling down next to Sam as everyone lazily took a muffin. Again, I rolled my eyes.

Zoë tightened her arms around his and he grunted and pulled her closer, his hand going further up her leg.

If that damn hand gets any higher I'm gonna fucking rip it off.

I started chucking bits of muffin at him, trying to wake him up. Bastard stayed asleep.

A piece accidentally hit Zoë's head and her eyes flittered open, I chucked another bit, aiming at Brady's how free forehead but it just got her nose and she sneezed, her head coming forward and smacking against Brady's.

I winced and looked away innocently. Brady's hand automatically went to her head.

"Are you okay? Crap, I'm so sorry," he said in the same time Zoë let out an "Oww!"

Shit.

His eyes were wide and he started having a panic attack. She just laughed and waved him off. "Don't worry, you nutter. I have a cast iron skull."

"Well, considering you're awake, come on, Brady," I said standing up and motioning the door.

He frowned at me, making no sign that he was going to be letting go of Zoë any time soon.

"What? Why?"

I glared at him. "Because we need to talk."

He sent a sad look at Zoë, who was just staring at him before he kissed her forehead and got up. She gave his arm a squeeze before letting go, giving him a smile.

He's such an ass.

Brady followed me outside and as soon as we were hidden by the trees, I turned to him.

"Phase."

He looked uncomfortable. "I really don't want to…"

"Phase, Brady, or I'll make you," I said sternly and he groaned but stripped and did so. I followed and… well, I was shocked. I didn't ever think that Zoë would think we killed Richard. I didn't think she could believe we'd do something like that.

'Neither did I…' Brady thought and I just told him through my mind to shut up.

I read his mind and searched his emotions.

She really fucked with his head.

Like… really badly.

I phased back because I didn't want him feeling my pity towards him. But I did. To read his emotions… that was difficult. I'm surprised he even took her apology after he felt that stuff. I'm damn surprised he's even alive after he felt that.

I nodded to him before going back. He knew what I meant.

I was fine with him dating Zoë.

After seeing that, knowing what he went through, the absolute agony, I was fine with it. I didn't realise how much pain she could put him through. It was just… I couldn't be in his mind and listen to him remembering back to when he thought that. It was too much. It was horrific.

I don't think… argh. I never want to imprint. I really don't want to give someone the power to make me like that. I'd rather die than feel all that shit that he felt.

I could see how much Zoë meant to him, I know he'd never hurt her. He didn't want to ever put her through something even a fraction of what he felt.

Plus, I'll kill him if he does. And Zoë's brothers coming out in like a month, so it's not really me he has to get the permission off.

Zoë's POV.

He walked me home and I hugged him tightly at my door. I just didn't want to let him go.

"You smell really good, you know, that?" I mumbled and he laughed and pulled me closer.

"You're not so bad yourself."

"I'm really sorry, Brady… for everything. I wish things could be so much easier. I'm sorry that I hurt you like that. I really dislike having that power over you. I – I never want to hurt you."

He rubbed his hand up my back and kissed my forehead, my heart seemed to feel a little better when I hugged him.

"It's okay, Zo, honestly. Please stop worrying, yeah? I'm happy when you're happy, so, you know, be happy."

I laughed at him, kissing the skin over his Adams apple. "I love you," he said, smiling down at me and I pressed my lips against his chastely.

"What are you gonna do tonight?" I asked as his hand continued to trail up and down my back, trailing a live of heat and sparks behind, even through my clothes.

"Erm, probably patrol a little," he said, pressing his face against mine.

"Then what?"

"I… erm, I'll go home."

"Oh?" I said, confused at his sudden nervousness.

"Okay, I'll probably stop by your house to make sure you're okay," he admitted, as if it was some devilish crime.

I pulled back and looked at him. "What do you mean? You'll knock? What time, 'cause my mum'll probably be asleep in a little bit, if not now?"

"No," he said, looking down nervously. "I'll just, you know, stroll past," he said, making an awkward motion with his hands, as if to show him 'strolling'.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why don't you just call or something?"

I didn't understand his nervousness, what was he doing to make him so nervous?

"Erm, I just, well, I didn't want to wake you up."

A laugh escaped my lips, "Trust me, Brady, I'm probably not asleep."

"Well, anyway, I'll just, you know, have a sniff around to make sure there's no sign of a vampire, listen out to make sure you're in there and that you're safe and fine and then I'll go."

"Are you lying? What's the matter? Why are you nervous?"

He looked at me, clearly shocked. "You don't think that's weird?" he asked and I shook my head slowly. "Really? I'm practically stalking you!"

I laughed loudly, "It's okay, Brady. I don't think you're some weird stalker. If it makes you feel better why don't you show me your werewolf skills and jump up into my room? Could you do that? That would be so freaking awesome!"

He shook his head at me, an amused laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I could manage that."

"Nice!"

He bit his lip, "Are you sure? Don't you think it's a bit weird, me sneaking into your bedroom late at night like some pervert? What would your neighbours think if they saw me? They'd ring the police!"

"I'd just say I was horny and you were my booty call," I said, shrugging.

"Unggh," he – well, I don't even know what it was, it wasn't really a moan or a groan, he just sort of… did it, staring at me with that weird look in his eyes.

Anyway, I let out a loud laugh, covering my mouth with my hand before I snorted, "I'm kidding, Brady."

"Oh," he said, blushing. I laughed and kissed his cheek.

"See you later!"

I was happy at the prospect at seeing him again. It's usually really hard to stop thinking about him to go to sleep, so I was happy. I had only one earphone in my iPod, as to not wake my mother by having the music on any way other than earphones, and just the one in so I could hear when Brady was coming.

Grinning madly, I opened my window up as far as I could when I heard him approaching my house.

After a moment he seemed to just hop up easily through the window, landing gracefully on the floor. His eyes racked over me for a moment, a small smile on his face, before he turned and stuck his head out the window. My eyes widened a little.

"What're you doing?" I asked, taking a step over to him.

"Making sure noone saw," he said, speaking so quietly.

"It's okay, you're like a ninja, nobody would have seen."

He turned and grinned at me. "Hmm, a ninja, you say? I'm liking it."

I rolled my eyes and flicked him on the head. "Come here, you idiot," I said pulling him down onto my bed, hugging him.

"How are you?" I asked, "Is everything okay? What happened while you were patrolling?"

He laughed. "I'm fine, Zo. Stop worrying! Everything went perfectly normal."

I rolled my eyes and pulled back to stare at him, a little awe-struck at his beauty as the moonlight shone down on his beautiful features through the window.

"Stay there," I told to him, jumping off my bed to get my camera. He looked at me worriedly as I sat down again and I pointed the lens at him.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a panicked tone and I rolled my eyes and took a picture of him, laughing at his worried expression.

"Taking a picture of you, you idiot. Stop panicking."

He winced. "I'm really not good with photos…"

"You're beautiful, shut up," I said and he raised an eyebrow at me and I quickly snapped another picture of him.

"No one's really ever taken pictures of me before," he said and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, come on, Brady. I bet your parents took loads of pictures of you when you were a baby," I said, going through the camera's settings, changing a bunch of stuff to suit the lighting.

"Umm, actually no."

I looked up at him, frowning slightly. That really didn't make sense. If he's remotely like he is now then he was probably the most damn cutest baby that ever lived.

Why would you not take pictures of your child, anyway?

"Not any?"

"No…"

"Really?" he looked down, casting a shadow across his cheeks and I took a photo – he really is beautiful.

"Well, it looks like I've got a lot of making up to do," I said, grinning at him and he rolled his eyes as he lent back, a small playing at his lips.

We spent the next hour with me trying to get him to laugh and get more photographs of him while he tried to distract me so I'd stop. We had to be super quite as to not wake my mom, but it was hard. Brady makes me laugh so hard.

In the end he fell asleep and I took advantage, getting a few more before I laid down, resting my head against his warm, soft, hard, naked chest. I quickly drifted off to sleep as I listened to his heartbeat.

The next morning I woke up, feeling Brady's hand running up and down my arm. I looked up at him and he grinned down at me.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said and I rolled my eyes and yawned as I stretched my back, which had its natural ache still present. I can't remember a time when my back hasn't hurt.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked and he shrugged, stroking my face.

"You haven't used the time to delete those photo's, right?"

He smacked his palm against his forehead. "Damn it! I forgot!"

I laughed and hugged him closely. He put his hand on my neck and I tilted my head up to look at him. He lowered his face to mine until he was millimetres away from our lips touching.

But then my cell went off, ringing loudly.

He groaned loudly, hanging his head back and I smiled and kissed his cheek before reaching across him to my cell where I had a text from Ava reading; 'Liam can't go on a run today, so we'll just go tomorrow. Meet at Moose's, bitch. Later than ten and you're dead. Love you.'

That girl has such a way about her.

"Oh god," I groaned, leaning my head against the bit of my pillow Brady wasn't leaning against.

"What's the matter?" he asked, sliding down to lay on his side next to me.

"I have to see Moose today."

"You could always not and stay with me?" he asked, smiling at me in a way he seemed to think would make me want to stay more.

It did.

"I can't. I have to get this done with. Because I'll have to see her tomorrow for school, anyway, won't I?"

He sighed and groaned over exaggeratedly but nodded. "Can you come round after school tomorrow, then?"

"I don't think I've got anything planned, so yes."

He smiled brightly. "Good."

I kissed him and he rolled on top of me. After a while of just kissing heatedly, I broke away.

"We really shouldn't be…"

He nodded, breathing very deeply as he rolled off of me. "I understand."

"I'm sorry, but I really hate being late for things and, well, if we didn't stop then I'd end up being very late."

He grinned at me and kissed me one last time before getting up. "As long as we can continue these activities tomorrow," he said cheekily and I rolled my eyes as he smiled and jumped back out my window.

About a half hour later, I was on my way to Moose's. I decided to get there early so we could talk. I knocked but didn't wait for an answer before I stepped in.

"Hey," Moose called from the kitchen and I walked in. "Drink?"

"Ta," I said as she passed me a glass.

"What's the matter?" she asked, frowning at me as she got herself one.

I winced. See? Two seconds and she already knows. "How did you know?"

"Your body language is all funky," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, crap."

"What is it?"

"I… can't tell you?"

She looked a little hurt but quickly covered it. I felt a pang in my heart. "Why?"

"It's… it's not my secret to tell."

"Is it serious?" I nodded. "Is it bad?" I bit my lip but shook my head after consideration.

She sighed. "Let me guess – Brady?"

"Well, not just him, but yeah." She rolled her eyes. "You're not mad, are you? You know I'd tell you everything if I could, Moo."

She stared at me for a long moment but sighed. "Of course I'm not mad at you." I grinned and hugged her.

"Does it put you in danger?" she asked. "'Cause if it does, I'm killing him."

Hanging around with werewolves who hunt murderous vampires does tent to be dangerous.

"I'm not in any particular danger at the moment…"

"I'll kill him later, I'm too tired now." I grinned at her and pulled her into the living room. She grilled me on more information and I was surprised, but I didn't give anything anyway.

She didn't ever ask for me to tell her the actual secret, though. She respected that I couldn't tell her.

"You're the best friend I could ever ask for, you know that right?" I said and she rolled her eyes as she went to open the door to the others.

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

Sorry all for the long delay in the update. But please tell me what you thought! I know the ending to this is terrible and I'm sorry, but if I didn't post it now then I'd keep putting it off.

Thanks everyone who read, reviewed or added this to favs/alerts. It means a lot!

kishasho123 - Thanks so much for reviewing, sorry it took two chapters for me to remember to write a reply at the end of a chapter! But yeah, I would never right a weak girl. I just don't believe a wolf would imprint on someone weak. Anyway, I'm glad that you liked it!