A/N: I have to thank everyone for their reviews--with each review you gave I added a little more to the story, so this chapter's done :) I was all fun fun fun this week, and I can't find any fun fun fun to write in here so forgive me for the wait. Enjoy and do R/R :)

XI.

My mind had completely ceased its function, other than the portion which relished in my pain. Thinking it was only a nightmare I could wake up from had been my form of self-preservation--but it was effectual only until I shuddered under Leah's glare. The ripple that involuntarily ceased my body failed to convince me it was all a bad dream; I knew then I was miserably and horrifyingly mistaken.

The silence was deafening.

"Leah..."

As I opened my mouth, the only muffled whimper that came mumbling out was her name. It was, as I took it, inherently simple. I was begging, because what she was asking would break, if not kill me. Yet, despite the clarity of the situation--at least for three people in that room--, she ignored my pleas.

Her eyes lingered momentarily on my desperate frame, but I doubted she saw past my despair. It was accusing--You are a monster, Embry, it conveyed. A shred of emotion I could not place lingered in those beautiful eyes, but before I could exhume any sense of it she had it veiled once more. She resigned with a quiver of her lips and finally tore her eyes away from my own. My name escaped her as silently as a strangled breath, a damned breath whose ill-fate I should now follow. The only disturbance to the biting tranquility was the rain, knocking on the window in tune with the seconds ticking by. Each one I painfully counted until even the elements themselves demanded that I left.

I took a step back, wondering what would blow I would have to take now. The future that I was once so sure had been slashed so terribly I could no longer foresee it. Seth shrugged, bade me a cheerful farewell and skipped to take my place. He realised his mistake when our eyes met; Seth huffed, pulled my arm back, and revoked his goodbye.

"No, no, no. Stay."

Leah turned her anger on him. "No, Seth," she hissed. "He's a monster."

"Should I leave too, Lee? I'm a monster too, right?"

I heard the swoosh of a pillow flying to the door as Leah's fury controlled her breath, constricting it so every heave of her chest lasted merely half a second. She took one more raspy breath before snarling as though she should never have to say it in the first place. "You're my brother!"

Seth frowned his usual brotherly kind of frown. I was ready to prevent him from spilling any more details of our kind--imprinting on top of all others--but his return took me by surprise. "You will kill him! If you ask Embry to leave now, he will die."

Seth was sort of right. I couldn't exactly recall if I nodded in agreement, but part of my mind started to question if this was the same wolf who earlier bit my leg and begged me to stop imprinting on his sister. I never reached a conclusion if the Seth trying to save what was left of my soul was genuine; I was certain I wouldn't make it to the next second.

When Leah's expression maintained the indifference, he shook his head and closed his eyes, like there was heavy burden lingering on his shoulders. "I'm so not joking, Leah."

Leah looked like she wanted to cry. "No, Seth."

"But Lee--"

"Why are siding with him?" she snarled spitefully, and the tears were gone.

Seth moved closer. I shifted so that I was partially between the Clearwater siblings. "I am not siding with him! It's just that...He's--urgh, how do I explain this?" He looked at me for support, but my eyes never met his.

"Explain what? I'm fucking tired of listening to these gibberish riddles!"

"Embry, help! Tell her!"

I shook my head. Leah had braved enough today; the news about imprinting could be construed, though I now expect it never would be, long after the shock had subsided. I couldn't hurt her. If hurting myself was its payment, I would take it. I shook my head again, this time to swat the thought away.

"Tell me what? Tell me the secret now? Worthy to know now am I?"

There was a momentary silence, and then...

"Do you honestly think I didn't want to tell you everything, Leah?"

I almost jumped as Sam's deep voice floated from behind me. The alpha didn't sound angry; he sounded remorseful. I turned just in time to see him stride in towards Leah. She gasped; The tears pooled in her eyes as she looked at Sam in a whole new light; for what he truly was--for that monstrous transformation that took her Sam away. Longing and nostalgia too flickered in her black eyes, and I whimpered realising that she was never really over him. Sam continued, the same emotion evident in his voice. "I wanted to tell you from the very beginning. Even when nothing made sense, I wanted so much to tell you, Lee-Lee. You were the only person I wanted to know."

No one could even question his sincerity. Harry watched intently as Leah flung whatever possessions of hers she had within her reach at Sam Uley.

"You still dare to call me that after all this time?"

A glass flew to miss Sam's head by an inch. He ducked once, and then stood, both stalwart and contrite. "I wanted to! I swear on my life, I wanted to tell you everything!"'

"Swear on Emily's life," Leah mumbled faintly. She caught Sam off-guard, who at that point was busy inhaling deeply. He froze, leading my immaturity to wish he would never ever move again.

"Can't do it, can you? Did it feel like that Sam? Did it feel the same not telling me about your...powers?"

Unfortunately for me, Sam recovered. "It's not a power, Leah. It's a responsibility. I never wanted this--I never knew. It's not our fault."

"Oh right. Blame it on Taha Aki. Want me to resurrect him so you could whine about it, Sam?"

"Lee--"

"He'll be soo thrilled--"

"Leah--"

"He might be buried right under my bed here--"

"LEAH!"

She threw Sam the phone as a response. He caught it in one hand and carefully lowered it on the foot of her bed. "Lee, please. You have no idea--I never wanted any of this. Do you know the agony of wanting to tell the one person who mattered and yet restricted to do your bidding? I wanted to curl into your arms and sob. I wanted to tell you why I was gone, what I had to go through, why I had to be so distant--I wanted to share everything with you."

You wanted," Leah yelled. "But you never did!"

"I was afraid you'd leave me."

"Leave you? You left me! And now you come marching back here telling me you were afraid I'd leave you, Sam? You have the nerve!"

"What do you want me to do?!"

Leah echoed my thoughts. "You shouldn't really have said that."

Sam took another careful step, overshadowing both Seth and I. "I can't hurt you."

Leah's patience snapped, her hands clenching into perfectly shaped fists. "Hurt me! You broke me, Sam Uley. You hurt me beyond I could ever tell you. You shattered this--" she pointed to her chest. "--beyond repair. And now you're telling me you can't hurt me? Bull shit!"

Harry winced at Leah's words but kept his silence beside her.

"I never wanted to hurt you. And I can never find it in myself to forgive me for hurting you like I did. But you're not the only one hurt, Lee. I was broken too."

"You know what? That's a truckload of cow dung."

Sam looked away, in perfect timing with Leah's tears as they spilled over her cheeks. She wiped it angrily with her hands, acting as though it never happened. She could fool the world if she intended, but not me. In her eyes I could still spy the stream of tears waiting to pour down in haste, betraying all her attempts. At this point I figured I had lost control of my body. It pained me to see her cry; as though every drop of her tear were a drop of my own blood. I tried to move, but my body was too stubborn.

"This would have happened, Lee. I never wanted to do this to you." It was Sam who reached Leah and it was him too, who wiped her free-falling tears with his hands. As Leah turned her head and gazed into his eyes, I felt intrusive and looked away.

It was painful seeing them like that--looking at each other as if they were the only ones who understood. The overwhelming emotion radiating from Sam's intense eyes on Leah's returning ones were enough to convince me both were capable of peering into each other's soul. A feat that, try as I may, I never seemed to reach.

"I'm sorry," Sam whispered. "Lee, I'm so so sorry."

I caught Seth and Harry casting me a brief but meaningful glance. Self-preservation had since revoked its effect; now that I had surrendered myself to reality, I found only isolation and sorrow. Again, the equation was inherently simple--Leah needed Sam. She needed him in ways I could never meet; and she needed him irrevocably, with imprint or without. I was happy to give anything she asked, but it was never a question of whether I would, but whether I could endure doing so.

"Is this why you left me?" Leah attempted to hide her vulnerability from slipping through her tears by biting her lips. I just hoped she would stop trying, because she was only hurting herself. "Is it? Tell me."

"Leah I can't."

She shook her head in refusal. "You can, Sam. You damn can. Please, tell me. I want to know."

"No. It's no longer my--"

"Damn it, Sam! If you're still afraid I'll leave you, you can stop worrying because you took well good care of that! What is so wrong about telling me? I already know what's going on around here! Just let me understand..."

Leah's hands extended and warmly enclosed Sam's. For a moment I thought he would push her away or just let it be, but he clasped her hand in his just as securely. I turned away, ready to bolt into the waiting door and the forest beyond it when Sam reached for my arm and clasped it with dictate. "Embry, stay." He wasn't asking, he was commanding.

"Don't stop him," Leah growled. "I want you to tell me, Sam."

Harry spoke for the first time, though he sounded unsure, like he wished he had never really spoken in the first place. Leah's head turned sharply as he did, half-surprised and half-worried that her father had witness a less filial side of her. "Leah, Embry had nothing to do with this. Don't do this to him."

Leah ignored my muted squeak and swiveled her head to give Harry an accusing glare. "I can't believe this! You too, dad? Why are you defending him? Embry kept everything from me. He knew, but he never said a word. He made me look like a fucking fool."

I held my breath though even if I didn't I knew it would be trapped somehow. I had to bend over to try to curb the pang; it was starting to manifest physically. I actually thought I knew what pain meant; but the assault came and hit me harder each time. Seth beside me gulped.

"You don't understand what you're doing to him, Lee," Sam defended protectively.

"I don't care!"

I couldn't defend myself. There was a part or me that rejected the idea. She doesn't care, my mind taunted. She doesn't care. The numbness felt uncomfortable, though it was a mere aftermath of the pain.

Sam sighed. "Leah, please. It hurts him. You just don't know." He gave me a fleeting pitiful look before withdrawing his hands, as Leah's yells echoed in the darkness of the night. "Well then tell me!"

It was Harry who weaved a resolution to which Leah reluctantly agreed. I was to stay, until she hears the whole story, after which she then decides what to do with the baggage that I was to her. At this point however, I decided that, against my better judgement, it was best to walk away. I couldn't do anything, so all I did was to swallow the bile that resulted from being away from her. Each gulp I forced myself to swallow was poison. Or venom. Whichever was more damaging.

Seth stomped behind me as I left, and whispered. "What. on. earth. are. you. doing.?"

"Leah doesn't want me."

"Are you serious?"

Yeah. I nodded.

"Oh come on! You know you can't--where do think you're going?"

I could almost see myself wandering around the woods as a wolf, alone and isolated. I would feed on carcasses of deers and other wolfy dinners, drink from flowing waters of streams and brooks and bathe in the constant rain that was common in this part of the country. I would slowly test the patience of the pack as they beckon me back to deaf ears and inattentive mind. I would be wishing that my humanity would dwindle along with the calls from my brothers as they finally resign to let me be, so my animalistic instincts would regain control and would hopefully numb the pain. All the while I would be incomplete, because the only person that could make me whole did not want me.

The sinking feeling was so sick; so vile it was inhumane. William met me at the doorway, looking slightly drugged. Unaware of the turmoil around him, he clapped me on the back and stuttered in asking what happened to my ankle, then retreated to the Clearwater's master bedroom where I could hear the giggles erupting from within, oblivious to the chaos that was reigning beyond its walls. I wished their laughter were infectious; everything happy evaded me.

I wanted to run freely and release my emotions into a stronger frame, yet less suitable body. But I knew that once I did it would be utterly difficult. I never really thought of leaving until tonight. It seemed daunting to my inexperienced and home-raised self. Nonetheless I guessed I could survive like a solitary animal--I was, after all, part animal. Foraging and hunting wouldn't be too bad, right?

"Whatever you're thinking," Seth whispered. "Drop it."

"Just once," I whispered back. "Just one last look and I'll go."

His face dropped, advocacy replaced by horror. "Go where? Stop all the dramatics, Embry. You don't honestly believe you can avoid her forever in the rez?"

My stomach churned. Knowing I might not be able to see Leah tomorrow was enough to drive me crazy, but forever...

"See?" Seth assessed with a frown. "You can't even grasp the thought can you? Why is it always you who questions the hold imprinting has on you? Isn't that like, Leah's job? You know you just can't wander around without avoiding her..."

Of course I can't. "One look and I'll go."

Because Seth will be Seth, he marched around, raised his fists and threatened to tell me off on Sue. But because Seth will be Seth, he looked quite the opposite of intimidating. I did not respond to his threats, giving him the perfect opportunity to mumble away to his heart's content. I let him believe I was thinking it through; it was a lie, in fact. My resolve was absolute.

It seemed utterly unfair how I had always been the unwanted. Hell, I wasn't even born when my father disowned me. Then fate decided to give me a short reprieve and grant me her--but in its most painful form yet, the rejection refused to ease away. So it should be fulfilling to turn my back on cruel fate itself--to expel my humanity and die without it--should it not? I thought so too, until the conclusion itself bared the truth I attempted to shroud: I was born and would die unwanted. Without my humanity. Without her.

It was more painful even--that as I watch her descend so heavenly behind Sam, clinging to his hand--the most dignified thing I could do was to look away. Mum, who had held me since I broke down in her arms, held me much tighter, perhaps feeling that all too common mothers' premonition; her usually smooth forehead crinkled with worry. I shrugged her away and kissed her abruptly on the forehead.

As promised, I took my final glance, and with Leah's emotionless black eyes glaring back as the final curtain, turned away to where the whirlwind dictated. I skidded to a halt just within the clasp of the woods, ears deaf to Leah's softest whisper of what I imagined to be my name.

I barely recognised the howl ripping through the cavern of my chest as I released the turmoil and phased into an animal. The impact shattered my leg brace.

So who really won? I mean, technically, Seth backed down, but he did chew on Embry's leg.

Jared, Jacob and Paul were discussing who won their bet. Jacob was in the middle of evaluating whether Seth or I had gained the honour of ripping Paul to pieces when he caught my trail of thought. He immediately shifted his course so he was headed to where I was. No! Holy shit, Embry. Wait up.

Both Jared and Paul were horrified. Stop! You can't do that! Wait there. We'll come and get you.

If I were to follow my plans of losing my humanity and every pain it held, I should find the will to block their intrusions.

No! Jacob growled.

What is the matter with you, Embry? Just stop and think--Jake, do something!

I hate you, Paul said.

I increased my pace, adamant to ignore them. Stop, Embry! Jacob whined. He was still chasing me down, though he perfectly knew that being the fastest in the pack and with my decision absolute I was now too far for him to catch. Don't do this to me, dude. Slow down.

You're not unwanted, Jared added. We can talk about this. I can help you. Sam can too. Don't do this.

Paul wasn't as sympathetic. Idiot! Selfish, pathetic, suicidal jackass!

Don't be stupid. Jared sighed. Your ankle alone is in bad shape. No--stop being silly, it's not healed.

Let him break his damn leg!

Shut up, Paul. You're not helping.

Haven't we been through this before? Are you what, insane?

Not helping too, Jared. Jacob wanted to concentrate on chasing me.

What Jared suddenly thought next was alarming. My ears perked up; I sped up, because if Jacob agreed to Jared's strategies, I would be doomed. Ignoring them didn't turn out to be as easy as I initially expected, especially if they were acting like immature idiots.

Who're you calling immature idiots? You're the one who's stupid enough to run away from your imprint when it is more than obvious that you can't even go through a day without her!

Paul, just shut up for a sec, okay? Jacob you're the second in command. Don't make him leave!

While Jake weighed his options, Paul used the window to continue being cogent. What kind of an imprinted ass are you? Aren't you like, supposed to freaking stalk her and praise her shampoo and worship her shoes and all that stupid imprinting crap? Why the hell are you running away?

I wanted to scream back but bit my tongue instead. Fine. Maybe a few words wouldn't hurt. I directed it to Jared and Jacob. Keep an eye out for Leah, please.

It was surprisingly easy to run free and be an animal once I had gotten over the initial shock. I reached a river which I knew would work to my favour, so I phased back to subtle my scent and trekked, butt naked, from then on. For three days and three nights I alternately journeyed on foot and on four limbs, stopping every now and then to bathe and subtle my scent whenever I came across a river or lake as an extra protection. I wasn't quite sure where I ended up with, or where I was headed to, but every hour I found myself in a location different than before. I had to hunt and feed on whatever prey the dense forest offered me--deers, wild boars, and rabbits whenever I was desperate--to survive. It sustained my strength sufficient enough to keep me moving, despite the foulness of its inhuman feel. Even so as the days grew by I too grew weaker. By the tenth night I was struggling to cope with the wilderness; I grew tired with the simpliest of actions and felt weaker by the second. Though I knew the weakness was not physical, it was, by any standards, a suffering.

I had learnt to avoid Sam at all costs. I couldn't risk the double timbre of his alpha command. The pack too, had, by then, learnt to drown my despairing memories behind their happier thoughts. Jacob and Seth were the last ones to give up persuading me to return. As a social animal it was difficult for me to wander around alone; there was nothing to distract me except the stillness of the woods and the constant hum of the pack's thoughts. I felt like a strange, over-inflated balloon, except that the space that contained air contained nothing at all. Empty. I was like a big glob of fur and pain hovering over the serenity.

To keep me sane, Seth often gave me snippets on how Leah was doing each day. It was more due to these memories I was kept alive. It was also one of these memories which had me breaking my promise and getting my furry ass back to La Push as quickly as I could.

She locks herself in her room all the time. Everytime I knock she throws something at the door. I don't think she even sleeps. It's bad, Embry.

I hadn't uttered a single word for so long that when I finally spoke, my voice sounded foreign even to my own mind. Did something happen?

Did something happen? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN? You left her, that's what happened! She's been like this since your little exile and you ask me if something happened?

I almost turned back. She doesn't want me.

Well, what do you expect? Leah to grovel at your feet begging you not to leave? Okay, I know we are both failures in girl stuff but how could you not know that Leah can't possibly--

I couldn't stand seeing Leah grovel even if it was Seth's imaginary Leah, so I just kicked into gear and nodded. Okay, okay! Point taken. I'm heading down.

Where the hell are you?

I didn't exactly bring map, Seth.

Still, wherever I was, it took me three hours in my fastest speed to get back. Both Seth and I had consumed the last ounce of our patience waiting for me to reach La Push's familiar forest. He was taken aback at how I had changed. He nudged my side with his snout. You look bad!

Don't care. Where's Leah? Is she okay?

She's inside. Hey, do you have any clothes?

No.

Okay wait here. I'll go inside and get you one.

Thank you, Seth. Make that for everything.

Seth shot a gleeful howl. Anything for my sister. Welcome back, bro!

Thankfully, the whole pack was busy snoring away to hear the news of my return. Otherwise, I had a feeling Jacob would jump on my back, fulfilling his role as a true best friend. Seth phased and ran to get me something to wear, leaving me to laugh at the fact that he himself had just called me something he had forbidden me not to use. It was also funny how he phased just in time to miss my thoughts on not permanently returning. He jogged back just as gleefully with a pair of cut-offs and laid it on my feet before phasing. We preferred the easier communication in wolf form. I think this will fit. I stole it from William. And I checked on Leah, but she's gone! I think she might have gone out or something.

Gone where?

I don't know! Mum said she said a quick bye and slipped out. Try the woods?

Do we still have that red-haired bloosucker around? That Victoria?

Yeah, she's a pain. Why?

Damn it. It's too dangerous for Leah to be out there. I'm going to make sure she's fine.

'Kay. Uhm, mum is begging me to take a siesta. Can I bail out? An hour will be good. I think Jake's taking over in two. Besides, you and Leah need some privacy. To TALK.

I know, Seth. That's cool. Thanks.

He groggily phased back, slipped into Sue's waiting arms and had, by the sound of it, postponed his due sleep to report my return to his mother. I pitied Seth; although he was full of life and a vibrant lad, he was still a fourteen year-old boy. The responsibility of being one of the protectors on his shoulders was too heavy for someone so young, no matter how eager he may be. I briefly gave him a small howl and turned my attention to finding Leah.

Her scent was lingering in their garden, but abruptly melted into thin air so I blindly sniffed for any trace of her in the nearby woods. It resurfaced a few miles West, which, I was horrified to find, was much deeper into the dense wilderness than I have imagined. It also told tale of her company, which diluted her exotic scent to something more homey, like a fruit salad. Sweet pineapple which I wouldn't have minded except for the fact that its sickly sweetness could be compared to a bloodsucker's stench.

I did not find her until nearly past the border.

She was sprawled, looking without any care in the world, against her backpack, which was pressed against a tree. Her eyes were closed, and the only ray of sunshine the canopy allowed chose to rest on her face. It was natural; as if she belonged with the light. Her beauty was both magnififed and enhanced by the subtlety of the picture. Her forehead was lightly creased, but she was otherwise as perfect. Seeing her again halted my prowling, and I had to close my eyes to let the feeling reverbrate through me. Amaaaazing.

I did not even notice her companion, who was panting beside her, until he spoke. "You're not tired, are you?" He had a rough voice that could be blamed to cigarettes and immediately I began to wonder who this idiot was and how the hell he found himself with her.

Leah opened her eyes reluctantly and leaped up. The dominant feeling that overtook my sense was loathing for the person who dared disturbed her rest. Did he not see that what Leah cared most about right now was her rest? She snorted, as though disgusted at his resting frame, much to my aumsement. Her hands were on her hips at once. "I'm not the one panting."

"It's quite a long walk," he reasoned.

"Yeah, nice choice there, smartass."

"Well it's almost as beautiful as you here. And we're alone."

Something told me the bastard didn't bring her for sight-seeing alone. All at once, I wanted to know everything this guy had to hide, including who the hell he was and where the hell he came from. I wanted to check everything else that I might as well conduct a background check on him just to make sure his presence wasn't putting Leah in any sort of danger.

I moved a little bit closer, intent only on determining how I could manifest my loathing on this guy--the name still escaped me--who seemed to have dragged Leah to this faraway forest. I could not believe he let her walk this far, because letting Leah walk this far with a heavy rucksack complete with an avengeful bloodsucker prowling around was far too dangerous for me to comprehend.

"Whatever you say, Patrick."

To my relief Leah dismissed him and started walking to where I was safely hidden behind bushes. I shifted so I wasn't to be seen stalking her, or obsessing over her, both of which I was guilty of doing. It was such an easy task that failing was impossible, but being Embry Call I did it anyway. I was too occupied with watching Leah's every move to remember to not to step on a fallen tree branch. It cracked loudly as it snapped into two.

Leah stopped, obviously surprised, and glanced once at where I sat, cowering behind a foilage. I didn't think it helped at all that I was a spotty grey, but I couldn't change my colour so instead I held my breath in case it would disturb the stillness of the leaves and give me away. Leah's eyes swept past me and gave a double take; she craned her neck and gave a soft gasp, such a beautiful intake of breath it was hard to stop myself from moving towards her at all.

I was alarmed at once after my initial trance, but as I followed her gaze it landed only on my tail.

There were times I forgot I was a dog and that dogs have tails, as was the case, so I had left it in the open, welcoming Leah's gaze. She blinked once, disbelieving, hence allowing to sit on the culprit and to wish she wouldn't think much of my grey trail. She shook her head and answered the guy Patrick's question, who then had wanted to know why she suddenly gasped.

"I thought I saw...nevermind."

His hands were immediately on her waist, faking his obvious intent with insincere concern. My chest gave a low grumble.

"Take your hands off me, " Leah ordered.

"Oooh, fiesty!"

"I said take. your. hands. off. me."

He withdrew his hands and raised them above his head. "Alright, alright. Chill!"

She cast him a fiery stare before securing the rucksack on her back and resuming her move away from him. I hated to think Leah was annoyed the whole time she was out; she deserved a company who could make her smile, and revoked it. As she carefully cleared the path, I was tempted to drag her companion with my teeth back to Florida once he was out of her sight and then maybe tie him down to a yacht and push him off to sea so he couldn't come back. And if I did, I didn't think I would feel any guilt. The jackass was too busy taking leaves out of his hair to take the job of clearing the path for their way. If Leah cut herself with thorns, I might not be able to stop myself from breaking his jaw.

I trailed them cautiously, and with each step I added another flaw to the pompous, narcicisstic and showy twerp who was only lucky enough but clearly not conscious enough to appreciate his luck to be with my imprint.

He eyed her from head to toe with a silly grin that any boy could decipher, he dared to take a photo of her without her consent, and had the guts to whistle behind her back and to call her a ''sexy temptess'.

I felt so sick. I wanted to snap him in two, and snap him hard.

My anger was getting out of hand as Leah reached a little brook and decided to rest again. I started to feel wretched not offering her help when I was so near; but as the moron hid away in the shrubs for a little break, I had a very feasible idea. So I phased, put William's cut-offs on, and followed him with a clenched fist.

He was startled dead when he realised my presence. He jumped, wildly befouled my name, zipped up his trousers hurriedly and turned to face me with gritted teeth. He started to stride to reach me, but I shortened his steps with my own. His breath smelt like cigarettes, alcohol and bacon. "What the hell is your problem, man?"

"You vile filthy animal! You disgust me!"

"You! You're stalking us. You're fucking stalking us!"

He pushed me, and I pushed back. He stumbled feebly. I could barely get the words out, and controlling myself was extremely difficult. You can't phase. You can't phase. "Don't give me more reason to kill you."

"Who do you think you are?"

I let only my actions answer. It was still arduous to fully control myself with outbursts of rage, so as my hands gripped the collar of his shirt I was still shaking. He winced and braced himself from the impact of being thrown against a tree and tried, but failed, to release my grip. I barely cared that his feet were nowhere near the ground.

"What the f--what do you want?"

I pulled my right hand back and hit the tree inches from his face. The jerk gave a small yelp as the tree trunk crunched. He turned his face away but I did not want him to so I twisted his hands to teach him a lesson. He cursed. I was so close to phasing. I tried to curb the rage by pushing my hand against the cutting bark.

"As much as I want to kill you right now I won't have Leah upset. But if I see her with anything from as simple as a cut I am going to hang you right where I find you, and believe me, I don't care if it's in the rez or in Miami. I will hang you. Do you understand me?"

"Fuck you," he spat. "I know the truth! You are not her boyfriend."

This time, my growl was more animalistic. I remembered now; he was at William's party, and had been incessantly bugging Leah since. A flash of red threatened to take over my sight, and my hand had itself clasped automatically around his neck. "You do not know anything. Do. you. understand. me.?"

"You have no right to--"

"DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND. ME.?"

He trembled, his eyes fearful against my own. He gulped once, and nodded in submission. Before I could kill him, I ripped the camera hanging from his neck away from his hold and crushed it like I wanted to crush him. "Are you now aware that taking a photo without the subject's permission is illegal or do you simply deem yourself above the law?"

"Hey that's mine! Give it ba--"

I hit the tree again, closer to his face this time. "If you're planning to treat Leah in any way less than she deserves I suggest you forget about it. Because once I hear of it--if I ever hear of it--you better pray I never find you."

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

I caught his neck again, only tighter this time. He started to turn purple. "I am Embry Call."

As wrong as it was not to leave him dead, I had to pull myself away from his deflated ego and broken camera, and return to Leah by the brook. The guy returned ten minutes later, looking slightly flushed but otherwise unhurt. Well except maybe a bruised neck and a swollen wrist. I wasn't even aware I broke his wrist, though the neck bruises I recalled pretty well.

Leah noticed. "Did you try to commit suicide?"

"Wh--what are you talking about?"

She almost sounded amused. "Oh come on. You look like you've been in a fight. No one goes to the bathroom and returns with that."

"Bathroom? We are in a forest."

"Did you get into a fight, then?"

Patrick looked like he wanted to spill, but he decided well and kept his mouth shut. "No," he sighed. "I tripped. It's not that bad, and it doesn't hurt."

She shrugged, paddling her feet in the running waters. She did not seem genuinely interested in his welfare. "Whatever you say, Patrick. Let's go."

"I--I think we have to head back."

"Why?"

"I just think we should head back."

"Well, you go. I'm staying."

No!

The rumble from my chest was cut short when I inhaled the scent I least wanted. Fucking leech.

The sugary sweet scent burned my nose and all I could do was curse with a dry cough. I could hear the soft rustle of the leaves announcing the nearing arrival of the bloodsucker--immediately I had the urged to phase and seek the leech myself, but I couldn't bear to leave Leah unprotected. I knew I had to decided soon; With each second that ticked the leech was getting closer to her.

As my instinct battled against the compulsion of keeping Leah safe in my arms, I realised I had fallen into a crouch and was starting to step back towards where Leah was getting herself ready to hike. I revealed myself in the same position and had begun growling. I heard Leah gasp.

"Embry? Oh my God."

I had to remind myself not to be distracted. She started scurrying to me, so I stopped her. It wasn't safe to be around me, not when I was just about to phase to protect her. "Leah, don't. I don't want to hurt you."

"Wh--what? What's going on?" Leah Clearwater was a stubborn person, so it was without surprise that she ignored me. I just hoped she did in a different time; it was dangerous right now. She threw her bag at her feet and ran to where I crouched. "Embry!"

"No, Leah! I'm dangerous."

"No!"

"Don't--"

She ignored me again, so I turned back swiftly and held her by the shoulders. We both relaxed at the same time, a feeling of ease settling within me at her touch, and I wondered how I could not have foreseen she was the only one capable of rendering me calm at crucial moments like these. I wanted to reassure her, but I couldn't, because there was a danger lurking by and I had to protect her at all costs. When she noticed my expression, she didn't hesitate demanding. "What are doing here? What is going on?"

"Hang on," I told her, before taking her hands and swiftly pulling the nearby Patrick to his feet. He looked mortified, and that was the last thing I saw of him before he slid unconscious after being punched in the nose. My intention to knock him out was for his own benefit, so he would not have to witness a werewolf fighting with a vampire. Though of course, hitting him cold also worked to my own benefit.

"Oh my God," Leah said. "What did you do to him?"

"He was annoying."

"Oh I know, but you can't just do that!"

She didn't sound so annoyed as should be for someone whose date had just been punched cold, but I swiftly apologised in case she was annoyed. "Right. I'm sorry. But I did have a reason--"

"What reason?"

"I will tell you everything later, but I don't have time. Please, I need you to stay here. If--"

"You're leaving me with him?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm not leaving you, but I need you to trust me. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

"What's happening, Embry? Why are you talking so fast?"

Everything happened so fast it was a blur. The stench was unbelievable, and I could just make out a flaming red hair dancing amidst the green of the forest. Immediately, the instinct claimed my body. I crouched forward and bared my teeth. "Close your eyes," I instructed her. "Now."

For the first time, Leah's eyes were fearful. When she slid them shut, she looked so terrified I worried what horror she must be seeing behind her lids. It felt wrong to turn my back on her, but at that moment when I pried my eyes away from Leah's frightened expression, the intruding bloodsucker had just parted the trees and skidded into a halt with a tilt of her head, curiously studying the scene before her eyes. She smirked and flaunted her hair, sending a waft of burning stink that then dominated my nose. She did not say anything, but as she inhaled the air and her eyes turned from wine red to deep black, I knew exactly what she wanted.

"You want blood, leech?" I taunted. She only smirked and crept closer, reciprocating my taunt with a feral snarl.

I phased, and then gave a long howl.

Bring. it. on.

A/N: There is something about smut that makes me want to write the next chapter with pure and utter smut. Harhar. Shall we keep it short and simple? :D Reviews are much appreciated. 'Be back soon, merci!