AN: Hey guys, long time no update... I'm really sorry about that by the way but this chapter was giving me the WORST writers block in the history of the world, I just couldn't figure out how I wanted the pack to react. Couple that with the fact that this week we are supposed to be chosing our subjects for year 12 and about three days ago I decided that teaching (what I've always wanted to do) would be boring and now I have no idea what I'm doing (possible suggestions are welcome ^_^)
Anyway, the chapter is here and finished and over 4,000 words long so hopefully that makes up for something?

Disclaimer: Despite the fact that I am changing my life goal I just don't think that becoming the one and only Stephenie Meyer is within my reach, therefore I do not (and probably never will) own any of the characters in this fic...

Enjoy ^_^

CHAPTER 11 (accusations)

SETH POV

The car ride to the hall where the council/pack meetings are held was short but awkward. Neither shape shifter wanted to discuss the events of earlier that day (nearly tomorrow) and as they had spent the last several months in separate packs neither Seth nor Embry had anything to discuss, so they fell into a slightly awkward silence.

Acknowledging that there was going to be no speaking that wasn't a forcedly polite conversation, Seth used the fifteen minute drive to catch up on some much needed sleep.

What felt like seconds after he had closed his eyes Seth found himself being shaken gently awake by Embry, "C'mon Seth, were here."

Groaning quietly Seth all but rolled out of the car in exhaustion thinking, 'I just want to sleep! Is that really too much to ask?'

Managing to pretty much stagger into the hall- much to Embry's amusement- Seth finally reached the room in which the meeting was being held. He managed a brief nod in the direction of the elders (which included his mother) and Sam before collapsing into one of the comfortable chairs spaced around the table and closing his eyes in relief.

Seth ignored the laughter and teasing that erupted from around the table at his actions, simply revelling in the comfort that he knew would be short-lived.

Once his pack-mates had been silenced by the (also amused) Elders Seth reluctantly dragged his eyes open and attempted to sit up straighter in his chair to show some semblance of respect. He looked up just as Old Quil was standing to begin the meeting.

Before Old Quil could begin he was interrupted by his grandson Quil Jr who said, "Hang on, where's Jake?"

Realising that every eye at the table was focused on him Seth answered, "He's asleep on the Cullen's couch with Nessie."

Nodding to acknowledge this information Old Quil spoke, "Then since it is unlikely that he will be joining us we shall begin the meeting."

The old man turned so that he was addressing the whole room and spoke again, "This meeting of the council of Elders and the senior members of the Quileute wolf packs has been called to discuss the events that took place early this morning on the property of Carlisle Cullen and his family. I will expect to hear a full recount from each of you on your experiences, leaving nothing out, however considering the condition that some of you are in," Here he looked at Seth who blushed, "We will save the individual recounts for another day. For now I would like to hear from you Sam, everyone else may listen, and please feel free to add anything you feel is important that Sam may have missed."

Sighing quietly in relief that he didn't have to tell his version of events, Seth leaned back in his chair and relaxed. 'You're going to have to tell it at some point Seth,' said a small part of his mind that sounded suspiciously like his sister. 'You heard Old Quil; he doesn't want you to tell your part today. That means he's still going to want to hear it at some point.'

Choosing to ignore the warnings that his mind was giving off, Seth stopped thinking and simply relaxed, being lulled slowly to sleep by the deep sound of Sam's voice as he told the Elders of the day's events.

To Seth's annoyance his peaceful slumber was broken yet again, this time by a loud, collective gasp coming from the Elders and his name being called again.

Getting seriously sick of people interrupting his much-needed sleep time Seth growled under his breath before opening his eyes to look at the Elders only to have his frustration melt away at the worry and concern in his mothers gaze, which was directed at him.

"Seth, why didn't you tell me that you volunteered to speak with those vampires? Why didn't you tell me that they tortured you?" Asked Sue, her voice trembling with suppressed anger directed at both Seth and the vampires who had dared to hurt her baby boy.

Seth flinched at the tone of his mother's voice as well as the topic of her anger. Truthfully he had all but forgotten about the burning pain of Jane's power. In the aftermath of his imprinting it just didn't seem to be all that important. Apparently his mother disagreed, although to be fair she did not actually know that he had imprinted on said evil-vampire's brother so he managed to work up a part-way truthful reply to palacate her.

"I haven't seen you since it happened mother, in between what happened and now I've been too busy making sure the vampires left peacefully to seek you out," he began. "Besides it's not that big a deal, one of us had to talk to them and I was and still am the best wolf to do that, none of you can possibly disagree with that."

Here he looked around the table to see most people nodding in reluctant agreement of his argument but when he looked to his mother she still wasn't convinced so Seth felt compelled to lie. Feeling so very guilty he was barely reassured by the fact that the lie would make his mother feel better and stop worrying so much he said, "And don't worry Mum, I would hardly call what they did to me torture. Surely Sam told you about Bella's new power?"

When Sue nodded Seth continued, "Well the vampire hardly had time to use her power on me before Bella blocked it, so there's really no harm done."

Although she did not look particularly happy, Seth was sure that his explanation had fixed his mothers worry and hopefully helped her on the way to accepting the Cullen's.

Seth prepared himself to relax in his chair and go back to sleep as Sam opened his mouth to continue his recount when he was suddenly shocked into full awareness by his mother's next words, "Wait Sam, if you will I have another issue concerning my son which I would like to discuss with everyone."

Seth's blood ran cold and he looked across the table at Leah, trying to reassure himself that she hadn't told- that his mother didn't know about Alec. When his sister avoided his gaze with a guilty look it took all of Seth's will power not to burst into tears and run from La Push immediately.

He watched fearfully as Sue scanned the faces of everyone at the table, pausing to look at Seth last. He flinched at the steel in her eyes but he couldn't tell what she was thinking as she looked away and opened her mouth to speak. All he could do was hope that his mother wouldn't do this to him, not in front of everyone and not before he could explain.

Seth's hopes were shattered however when Sue spoke, "It would seem that my son is under the impression that he has imprinted."

She paused to let this information sink in and Seth looked fearfully at the others who's expressions ranged fromshock to excitement.

"Congratulations Seth!" exclaimed Quil, a huge smile on his face, "I'm so happy for you."

"Yeah Seth, who's the lucky girl?" Asked Paul with an equally large grin.

Seth couldn't bring himself to answer them, nor could he work up the courage to look at his guilty sister or his disappointed mother so he turned his eyes to the table top, trying his best to block out his surroundings. When the questions of his friends began to change from excited to worried, Seth felt tears prickling his eyes and threatening to fall.

The pack fell silent as Sue began to speak again, "Yes, when Leah first told me I was excited for Seth too. What kind of mother wouldn't be happy when her only son finds his true love?" Here her voice grew slightly louder and gained a dangerous edge that was noticed by everyone in the room, "However the more I heard the more I became convinced that something was wrong because, if what Leah tells me is true, my youngest child, my only son thinks that he has fallen in love with a boy."

There was a heavy silence around the table and Seth felt the eyes of the entire pack upon him once again, and he desperately tried to curl into himself and disappear into his chair, while still looking at the table to avoid seeing the shocked and disgusted looks he knew must be on his friend's faces.

'How could she do this to me?' Seth thought in despair, 'She is my mother. She's supposed to care about me, place my feelings above everyone else's and she is supposed to want to listen to my side of the story before jumping to conclusions and parading my feeling in front of everyone as if there is something wrong with me. As if I chose for this to happen.'

And apparently she still wasn't finished, "I admit that I was shocked by this. I have never had reason to think that my son might prefer the company of men, but I was willing to accept it so long as Seth was happy. However, what I heard next I simply cannot accept under any circumstances because not only does my son think that he has imprinted on a man, that man is not even human. He is an unnatural, cold hearted, murdering demon!"

Seth flinched, the words that his mother were using to describe Alec were sending barbs of icy pain into his chest and he felt a fierce need to prove her wrong, but he still couldn't bring himself to look up. The rest of the pack had begun shifting in their chairs, confused by Sue's words. Apparently frustrated that they didn't understand what she was implying, Sue's voice became low and venomous, "He imprinted on a vampire."

The effect of her words was instantaneous. Everyone at the table immediately began speaking; Embry even fell off of his chair in shock.

Due to the cloud of despair that had fallen over his mind and the fact that everyone was talking at the same time, Seth couldn't understand any one thing that was being said, although he did catch snippets of speech that were spoken louder than everything else, "Impossible... Unnatural... Disgusting"

That the people he had thought to be his best friends could have turned on him so quickly and without even asking for his version of the story hurt Seth more than he ever would have thought possible and it was only through sheer force of will that he managed to keep his tears from falling thick and fast.

After what seemed like an age, the talking stopped as one voice yelled above the others, "Silence!"

Billy Black stood (figuratively) at the head of the table, glaring down at everyone as if daring them to defy him. When silence had fallen and everyone- with the exception of Seth, who was still staring at the table top- had turned their attention to the aged council leader, Billy spoke.

"Some very serious accusations have been made here tonight and while I am sure we can all agree that Sue is a reliable and truthful person, the truth remains that she did not gain her information directly from the source and therefore it is only fair that the accused be allowed the chance to defend himself," Billy spoke with a clear, commanding tone that had everyone at the table-again, with the exception of Seth- nodding in agreement.

Seth could feel Billy's dark eyes on him but he refused to look up until spoken to. After a minute of tense silence Billy grew impatient, "Seth, is the information your mother has given us tonight true? Have you indeed imprinted on a male vampire?"

Still refusing to look up from the table, Seth simply nodded his head jerkily.

With his admission the Quileute's once again burst into conversation, this time even louder and more accusatory. Once again it took one of the elders- this time it was Sue- yelling for silence before everyone stopped talking.

"Now," began Seth's mother with a strange glint in her eyes. "Seth has confessed to what he believes has happened but I think we need to call upon all of our knowledge before we condemn him."

Believing that the coming speech would be about how it had been a long day and he was obviously so traumatised by the whole situation that he was imagining things- or some kind of similar drivel- Seth began to tune out, which is why he was totally unprepared for what Sue said next.

"With everything we know about imprinting, what really happened to Seth should have been painfully obvious from the very beginning."

Here she paused for what Seth assumed was dramatic affect before continuing with conviction, "One of the vampires that you fought today must have used their unnatural powers to convince my son that he has imprinted on them!"

This of course started a whole new round of arguments. Half of the pack (Paul, Embry and Leah) seemed convinced that Sue's theory was correct, while the other half (Jared, Sam and Quil Jr) argued that no vampire, no matter how powerful, could possibly duplicate the feeling of imprinting.

All of this arguing was giving Seth a major headache so fortunately for him the action of him dropping his head onto the table and covering his ears with his hands caused everyone to be quiet and stare at him in surprise.

"See!" Screeched Sue, jumping at the chance to defend her son and obviously not noticing- or caring- that his head was hurting more because of it she continued to argue, "We have known for quite some time now that imprinting in Quileute wolves occurs in order to produce stronger wolves. Now this knowledge proves that Seth hasn't imprinted because even if it was somehow possible for a vampire and a werewolf to procreate, there is absolutely no way that a child could be produced from a relationship between Seth and this leech because they are both male."

Completely sick of other people trying to control his life, Seth ignored the throbbing in his temples and slammed both of his fists onto the table, shaking it, and raised his eyes to look at the tribe for the first time since the subject of his imprinting had been broached.

"THAT'S IT!" He yelled, "I am so sick of this! It's my life, my mind and my imprint and I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions on the matter!"

The whole table was shocked into silence; none of them had ever seen Seth lose control like this. He was usually so calm and carefree.

Sue tried to speak, "Seth, you don't-"

He cut her off, "Yes I do Mother, I know exactly what is going on. I've shared the packs thoughts for almost a year now and in the time since I've joined four of them have imprinted, four Mum. And while I had never experienced it personally, I have felt what it is like many times before today. It would have been impossible not to, sharing the thoughts and feelings of everyone else made me feel it too which is exactly how I know that me imprinting on Alec is real. Because it feels one hundred times stronger than any of the feelings I've felt from the others. You just have to accept that."

Seth looked at his mother pleadingly; trying to prove with his eyes alone that what he felt for Alec was real. But Sue continued to argue, "But that's not how imprinting works Seth."

"How do you know?" Snapped Seth, becoming annoyed at her denial. He turned so that he was addressing the entire table, "Where's the proof? What makes you all so sure that imprinting only happens so that we can produce stronger wolves? Who's to say that we don't imprint on our soul mate, for lack of a better word?"

"What do you mean Seth?" Asked Quil, seeming genuinely interested in what he had to say.

"What if imprinting isn't for the 'greater good'?" Seth elaborated, "What if it is a completely selfish thing that exists only to pair us with the person that we will be happiest with? You could say that it's just shortening the process and increasing the certainty of something that should happen eventually anyway."

Looking around the table Seth noticed that some of the wolves actually looked half convinced.

He avoided looking at Leah for the very same reason that he hadn't told anyone of his imprinting theory before, because if he was right then Sam fell in love with Emily because she was a better emotional match for him than Leah and Seth knew that knowledge would hurt his sister.

Before he had the chance to get too hopeful that the pack would agree with him Billy spoke again, "You have presented your argument Seth, I personally think that you are incorrect, your mother's argument seems far more plausible and there is no proof to back you up on what seems to be only wild guesswork at best. However, it is only right that the entire council vote on the matter."

Seth was livid, 'I can't believe he just did that. He basically claimed that I am completely off my rocker and that I'm just making everything up on the spot to save my hide! I AM NOT A LIAR!'

If there was one thing that Seth hated it was being accused of lying and as a result he was practically shaking with rage as Billy called for the vote, "Will all those who believe that Seth's imprinting theory has some grain of truth in it please raise their hands?"

Besides Seth, Quil Jr, Paul and Old Quil raised their hands in agreement. Although they- like Seth- looked shocked at Old Quil's vote, both Billy and Sue smirked in satisfaction as Billy continued, "Will all those who agree that Seth has not imprinted and is merely under the influence of vampire powers please raise their hands?"

As expected, all remaining council members, including Leah- who refused to make eye contact with Seth- raised their hands in agreement. "Well, it seems that at four to six the voting us unanimous," said Billy, smiling. "I think that the rest of the council will agree that it would be best if you severed all ties with the vampires Seth, at least until we have found a way to break this enchantment you are under the influence of."

Seth deflated, all of the fight leaving him as he realised that they were never going to accept his imprinting, so he nodded tiredly and stood up from the table, making to leave the room.

"Seth, where are you going?" His mother's worried voice called from behind him.

Seth turned briefly in the doorway to face her, "To say goodbye." He said simply.

Although she looked as if she wanted to argue, Sue reluctantly nodded her assent, "Don't be home too late."

As he left the room, Seth knew everyone had assumed that he was going to say goodbye to Jacob and the Cullen's. And he was.

He just didn't plan on coming back.

First Seth stopped off at his house to pack a small bag. He didn't pack anything personal, just a clean shirt and a couple of pairs of pants as well as all of the cash he had hidden in the cover of one of his old books. Stashing all of this away he then grabbed several sheets of paper and a pen and sat at his desk to write his farewell letters. Once finished the letters were sealed into three separate envelopes, placed in a waterproof bag and wrapped in one of his scarves and placed carefully in the bag with his clothes.

Looking around his room for the last time, Seth felt his heart clench and tears began to well up in his eyes. He took a deep, calming breath before turning and walking quickly from his home of sixteen years.

He didn't look back.

Running quickly through La Push, Seth finally reached the long drive that lead to the Cullen's house. Not wanting to risk one of them hearing him (especially Edward), Seth stopped there and removed the bundled up letters from his pack, placing them in the hollow of a nearby tree where he knew the vampires would easily find them because his scent was all over the scarf he had wrapped them in.

He made to turn away but found his eyes drawn down the long drive against his will. Seth imagined he could see the Cullen's house. The lights would be on from force of habit, not necessity. Jacob and Nessie would still be curled comfortably on the couch sleeping; Carlisle would probably be reading and Esme drawing. Emmet and Rosalie would be together, probably in the middle of some kind of competition of strength or wit and Alice would be playing chess with Jasper, having roped him into it despite the fact that the quietest vampire knew he could never beat her.

Seth felt his heart clench once again and this time he couldn't stop the tears from falling, though he quickly dashed them away.

'This is for the best,' he thought, as if thinking it hard enough would make the pain of leaving his best (and now only) friends any less.

He didn't know how long he stood there at the entrance of the drive way, trying to convince himself to turn and leave but it took a car speeding past him on the highway for Seth to snap out of his trance.

Realising that if he remained any longer he would lose his nerve and his head start Seth turned abruptly and strode into the forest, walking quickly. This time it was much harder not to look back.

Once he was far enough from the highway Seth stopped behind a tree and stripped, folding his clothes and placing them neatly in his backpack before phasing into his wolf form.

Seth was immensely relieved that neither Jacob nor Leah was in their wolf form because if either had read his thoughts at the moment they would have wasted no time in chasing him down and bringing him back, though for different reasons.

He picked up his pack between his teeth, took a deep breath and sprinted as fast as he could in the opposite direction of La Push and Forks.

Seth found that the faster he ran, the harder he had to concentrate on the forest around him and his paws as they hit the ground, which meant that there was little room in his head for pain and worry. It also helped that the further he ran from the Quileute border, the less his chest hurt. Seth wasn't sure if this was because he had escaped the people who were persecuting him or because he was getting closer to Alec (which he wasn't actually sure of). Whatever the reason, Seth felt freer than he had in what felt like a very long time.

After who knows how many hours of non-stop sprinting the sun began to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows on the forest floor. Seth found himself getting more and more tired and eventually his legs collapsed beneath him after he tripped over a tree root that he hadn't noticed was cutting across his path.

Finally having to admit that it was time to stop, Seth phased back into his human form so that none of the wolves could read his thoughts while he was sleeping.

He managed to tug a pair of pants from his pack and tiredly pull them on, not bothering with a shirt, then he curled into a ball and settled among the roots of a huge tree, where large amounts of leaf litter had accumulated and made the hard ground almost comfortable.

Safely hidden away from the world Seth gently closed his tired eyes and relaxed just as the sun cleared the horizon. Within moments he was asleep, a single tear leaking from the corner of his eye.

Hmmm, I'm not so happy with that last line but I couldn't think of any other way to end it...Hope it's not too cheesy...

I'd really appreciate a review on this one guys because it's been the hardest to write so far. Also, do you want the next chapter to be Jacob and the Cullen's finding the letters and confronting the pack or do you want me to be boring and un-descriptive and leave it alone?

Please review!