Jaq smiled to herself as Connor fell asleep.

Something hit the window. She turned curiously towards it and heard a heart beat coming from outside. She opened the window and was hit by a familiar musky woodsy scent.

"Embry," She whispered smiling. "What are you doing here?"

"I just got off patrol and I wanted to say hi." He smiled. "Coming down?"

"Sure, just one second."

She took one last look back to where Connor was sleeping and climbed out onto the window ledge. She quietly closed the window and jumped silently to the grass below.

"Hey." She smiled. "You realise that you could've just called my name. I would've heard you."

"Yeah but that would be boring. Besides I've always wanted to throw pebbles at someone's window."

Jaq laughed and they began to walk away from the house. "So how was patrol?"

"So-so." Embry shrugged. "There wasn't anything out there so Jake sent us back early."

"Well that's a nice feeling."

"Yeah, it's always nice to know that there isn't anyone who wants to kill us hanging around."

They stopped at a tree in the middle of the forest. Jaq looked up and grinned.

"Bet I can climb it before you."

"You're on." He grinned back playfully.

"Ready, set, go..."

They both ran towards and up the tree in a flash. Jaq sat on one of the higher braches laughing.

"I think I won that one."

"I could beat you if I was in my wolf form." Embry said as he sat down next to her.

"I think someone's a sore loser."

"So what if I am." He smiled as she leant her head against him. He put her arm around her shoulder. "Connor won't notice you're gone will he?"

"Nah," She said snuggling into his chest. Despite only having known Embry for a few weeks she felt totally comfortable next to him. She felt like she'd know him years.

"He's sleeping better then?"

"Yeah, hasn't had a nightmare for weeks." She smiled. "I think its Nessie and Jacob mostly. They seem to have had some really positive effect of him."

Embry moved his arm down to her waist and twisted her around to face him.

"What about you?" He asked hesitantly looking into her eyes. "Is staying here looking like a healthy option for you?"

Jaq stopped breathing. They were so close. There was so little space between their faces that she could feel his hot breath on her. Slowly, without thinking about it she leaned in head and kissed him on the lips. His eyes widened in shock.

She sat back suddenly. "Oh. Sorry...."

"Jaq..."

"Sorry. I-err-don't know what came over me."

"Jaq, I need to talk to you." Embry said seriously. "I need to tell you something."

Jaq narrowed her eyes curiously, still embarrassed. "Go on..."

"I-has anyone told you about imprinting?" He asked cautiously.

"No..."

"Its... something that sometimes happens to us wolves..." He seemed to be having difficulty in working out how to phrase this. "Sometimes when we meet someone for the first time... it can happen... it's how we meet our soul mates. It's happened to loads of us already..."

"Soul mates? So what? It's like love at first sight or something?"

"Well yeah, that's the closest example but it's not totally accurate." He hesitated. "It's more like finding the centre of your own universe, the only reason for your being."

"Oh." Jaq frowned confused. Why was he telling her this?

Then she got it.

"Oh." Oh. "And you ... imprinted on ... me..." Well that explained a lot.

He nodded slowly, biting his lip.

"Ah." So that was what all the whispers were about. Why the others all smiled when she said she'd been talking to Embry. Why she felt so comfortable with him...

His eyes were cautious, watching her reaction.

"Okay." She said with a small smile.

"You're okay with it?" He asked shocked.

"I kinda suspected something was going on." She shrugged. "I just didn't know what."

"You don't mind?" He clarified.

She shook her head. "No, I'm just happy that I know why I feel so comfortable with you."

He smiled in relief.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" She asked. "You've kept it quiet for weeks."

"I wanted to give you a chance to get to know me. So you knew what you were getting yourself into." He grinned. "So you knew I wasn't just some random psycho hitting on you."

Jaq laughed and leaned back against him.

"So who else has it happened to? She asked as he replaced his arm. "You mentioned it had happened to the others."

"Well Jacob imprinted on Ness."

"But she's just a kid!"

"Like I said, it's not quite love at first sight." Embry explained. "It's not like that - at least, not until she gets a lot older."

"I think I understand." Jaq nodded. "So at this point he's more of an over-protective older brother slash best friend?"

"Exactly," He nodded. "He's whatever she needs him to be – a friend, a brother, an uncle, a lover.... The same thing happened to Quil. He imprinted on Claire when she was two. It's the same situation."

"Who else imprinted? Did Seth or Leah-?"

"No not Seth or... Leah..." He said her name with a kind of pity in his voice.

"What happened to Leah?" Jaq asked noticing.

"Well..." Embry bit his lip. "I'm not sure I should tell you. She won't be happy with me..."

"Don't worry." She said hastily. She didn't want to get him into trouble. "I was just curious. If you're not allowed..."

"No it's okay. I'll tell you." He frowned. "Just don't mention it to anyone."

"I won't." She promised.

"Well before Sam turned wolf he and Leah were high school sweethearts." He turned to look at her. "Sam as in ...-"

"...Alpha of the other pack." Jaq nodded. "But I thought you said he was getting married to someone else?" She frowned.

"Leah's cousin, Emily. He imprinted on her one time when she came down to visit."

"Oh no..." Jaq gasped. "So he left her for Emily?"

Embry nodded. "He had no choice. It was like everything he felt about Leah didn't matter anymore." He grimaced. "It really hurt Leah. She used to be really close to Emily but she barely speaks to her anymore. Sam feels awful every time he sees her aswell. The guilt kills him because he can see her hurting but knows there's nothing he can do."

"That's why she joined Jacob's pack." Jaq guessed. "So she wouldn't have to hear the guilt in his thoughts?"

"Mostly."

"But what about Emily?" Jaq asked. "She can't have been happy with it?"

"She wasn't. She was really mad at him. That's why he ended up hurting her. But they worked it out in the end. They're happy together now – engaged and everything."

"Poor Leah." Jaq frowned. "I hope she finds someone."

"Yeah," Embry agreed. "She's a pain in the neck but no one deserves that..."

"So, have any of the others imprinted?"

"Yeah, Jared and Paul from Sam's pack,"

"They were both single though right?"

"Yeah, no drama in either of those cases," Embry smiled. "Jared imprinted on a girl he'd sat next to for years in school and never noticed."

"And Paul?"

"He imprinted on Jacob's older sister, Rachel." Embry laughed. "Jake wasn't too happy about that."

Jaq laughed too. "I can imagine."

"To be honest I don't blame him. I wouldn't be to ha-" Embry yawned cutting himself off. "Happy either." He finished sleepily.

Jaq looked up at him with narrowed eyes.

"You're shattered."

"I'm fine."

"Liar." She smiled, watching his eyes droop. She looked at her watch – they'd been talking for hours. "Come on. I'll take you home." She said jumping out of the tree.

He rolled his eyes and jumped down next to her. "Fine."