Author's note:

I thought this was sort of a hard chapter to write. I want the characters to seem human and think this does a good job of that. Just to clear things up before you read this, Justin was the pack leader before Sarah's father was. He quit so to speak to become who he is now. Only Carlisle knows that now though Sarah is hinted at knowing a little of it. Hope you enjoy the chapter. =)

Carlisle and Justin had left the room and gone to another. They wanted to give Sarah and Sam the privacy they seemed to need. Carlisle looked at Justin having to ask seeing that he had covered for him. "Did you two actually do anything?" Justin looked up at Carlisle trying not to laugh. "No, we both wanted to." Carlisle sat next to him curious. "If you both wanted to then why didn't you?" Justin lay back on the floor. "Not all wolves are completely horrible nature driven animals." Carlisle laughed while looking out one of the windows. "Do you like her?" Justin sat up resting back on his hands thinking. "Carlisle, you know why I protect her. That's as far as it can ever go for me." Carlisle rested against the wall almost comically to Justin. "I caught how you looked at her. It was like a lover who lost their love." Justin shook his head slowly looking at the floor. "She'd be the only female of my kind Carlisle. To see him control her is painful. When I see that I remember what it's like to be a caged animal again." Carlisle sighed looking out the window. "She's my daughter I could never encourage her to become her full nature."

Justin got up off the floor going to the window. "Look, my job is just to protect her. She got a taste of her nature. If she ever wants more I'll be here. The choice is up to her if nothing holds her back." Carlisle eyed him slightly before speaking again. "Why do you have to protect her?" Justin looked away from the window. "You know the answer to that Carlisle." He nodded before turning to look at Justin. "I want to hear it from you again." Justin looked at him then sighed. "I protect her because it's what I'm here for. She's the only female of my kind which is necessary to protect. I signed up for it knowingly the day I became what I am." Carlisle nodded looking at him. "As long as it pains you to say that I know you mean it." Justin laughed nodding. "Some things in life are like that." Carlisle looked back at him nodding. "Who wanted to first?" Justin blushed slightly looking back out the window. "I'm not sure. When one's nature takes over you don't notice those things." Carlisle laughed looking at the window and hit Justin playfully.

"You shouldn't let Sam get to you." Justin growled slightly just to joke around. "I can't believe he'd become leader of the pack." Carlisle laughed shaking his head. "You left the pack a long time ago." Justin nodded. "Sarah's trying to belong to it." Carlisle looked at Justin then nodded. "Yes, she's doing very well in the last year. She's managed to earn the pack's trust and they follow her." Justin sighed shaking his head. "That's good for her that way her master will be pleased." Carlisle tried to hold back a smile seeing how frustrated Justin was. "Her master is her husband, keep that in mind." Justin laughed slightly nodding. "They're a wonderful couple." Carlisle nodded. "Yes, they love each other very much." Justin bit his lip. "Did Sam question her loyalty to him before? She got very defensive when he did." Carlisle nodded. "They almost didn't get married. I sort of got in the way between them." Justin looked at Carlisle and smiled. "Well, at least she found some of her nature."

Carlisle laughed crossing his arms looking at Justin. "You did a very honorable thing today. Even though Sam can't thank you I can, so thank you." Justin blushed softly before nodding. "It's no big deal I have to protect her." Carlisle smiled looking out the window. "Don't be so modest. I know you must feel the desire for her. The fact you can hold yourself back is worthy of praise." Justin rubbed the back of his neck slowly. "Alright, thank you for the compliment." Carlisle nodded. "You're like a son to me as well." Justin smiled remembering back to a time before his nature. "You took me in just like Sarah. Some things just don't change." Carlisle laughed. "Yeah, they never will I'm afraid." Justin nodded looking out the window with him. "They look very happy together don't they?" Carlisle looked at Sam and Sarah sitting in the garden. Sarah was resting her head on Sam's chest as he held her close. "Yes, they look very happy. Don't be discouraged Justin. You'll find someone meant just for you." Justin smiled looking at Carlisle. "You told me the heart can never serve two masters."

Sam held Sarah who stirred slowly against him looking up into his eyes. "That feels nice." Sam smiled looking at her curious. "What feels nice?" Sarah blushed, sitting up resting softly against Sam this time. "Just the wind against my face. It feels so cold on my warm skin, it's refreshing." He smiled petting her hair slowly. "You've never commented on that before." Sarah laughed softly getting off the bench and running towards the rows of up grown vines and flowers. Sam watched her playfully before running after her. He caught her pulling her by the waist against him. Sarah giggled feeling him pulling her to him and Sam laughed hearing her giggle. "My you're playful today." Sarah nodded before wrapping her arms around his neck. "My you're warm today." Sam laughed nodding. "That happens when you spend time outside in the sun." Sarah growled playfully in Sam's ear causing him to stare at her surprised. "You shouldn't growl like that. You never know what you might cause from it." Sarah laughed pressing against Sam kissing his neck softly. He looked at her playfully having to push her away. "What exactly has gotten into you?"

Sarah looked down trying to hide how hurt she was from being pushed away. "I just thought you'd like it." Sam smiled not noticing how he had hurt her. "I do just it's not like you." Sarah sat down at the edge of the fountain and sighed. "Not me? I thought you wanted me to explore who I was more." Sam sat down across from her nodding. "I do, but not so much at once. Take it slow enjoy who you are for now." Sarah ran a hand slowly in the water feeling how cold the water was. "Do you not want me to discover more of myself?" Sam looked down at his reflection in the water. "I want you to its just dangerous. You have to be able to control it." Sarah splashed her hand down in the water frustrated. "I'm not going to let it get out of control. How could that hurt anyone?" Sam sighed shaking his head. "Well, if you felt that way around Justin I bet that could hurt me." Sarah looked down in the fountain Sam's words stinging. "I suppose you're right. A guy and girl wolf can't just be friends." Sam didn't know what to say exactly, but chose his words carefully. "A male wolf who doesn't answer to the pack leader isn't a good choice. However, if the female is fully in control of her emotions it shouldn't be a problem."

Sarah felt tears running down her cheek and quickly wiped them away before Sam could see them. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Why would I need to talk to another wolf outside of the pack?" Sam smiled slightly nodding. "Exactly, it's not that bad. I mean Justin's coming to see the pack anyway. If he joins it I have no problem with you seeing him." Sarah shook her head. "He can't come. There would be a problem if he goes." Sam growled under his breath. "Why do you care about him anyway?" Sarah looked at Sam unable to believe how territorial he was. "The better question is why do you feel the need to shelter me?" Sam looked at her and held up her wedding ring that she wore. "That's why." Sarah pulled her hand away looking down at his wedding ring. "Alright, if I talk to Justin it'll be in front of other people. Would that be a suitable compromise?" Sam thought about it before nodding. "Yes, but don't spend too much time around him." Sarah sighed getting up from the fountain. "You know, it's not fair that I never question who you're with." Sarah walked away leaving Sam alone in the garden to think.

Justin made his way down the stairs and stopped Sarah on the stairs. "Sarah, wait!" Sarah stopped only to turn back to look at him. "I can't talk to you." Justin held her hand looking at her. "That's not true." Sarah shook her head looking at him. She could remember the sensation the freedom he had caused. "Sam doesn't want me to talk to you alone." Justin growled under his breath. "What do you need an escort now?" Sarah sighed. "Don't say that." Justin nodded looking at her. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean it like that." Sarah nodded. "Look, I saw you two fighting in the garden." Sarah blushed. "You saw that?" Justin only nodded as they stayed on the stairs. People walked by so Sarah thought it couldn't be too private. "Sorry you had to see that." Justin laughed. "I'm sorry you got in a fight over someone like me." Sarah smiled slightly. "Wasn't that bad." Justin smiled from how much she tried to be optimistic. "Hey, I have something for you. Do you want to come with me and get it?" Sarah laughed looking at him. "I'd love to, but I'm leashed." Justin laughed from how she put it. "Alright, wait here and I'll go get it."

Justin came back to find Sarah sitting on the stairs. He had to laugh from the image it was just so different. "Back." Sarah smiled standing up against the railing. "Finally!" Justin laughed. "Now close your eyes and hold out your hand." Sarah laughed but did as he asked. She felt something cold slip around her wrist. "Alright, now open them." Sarah opened her eyes and saw a small bracelet on her wrist. It was layered with three rows of black and red beads that met in middle joined with a black rose. "Justin it's beautiful." Justin smiled softly. "I made it. I thought you'd like it since you seem to like flowers." Sarah smiled hugging him tightly. "Yes, it's wonderful. Black roses are the rarest kind." Justin nodded before they broke the hug. "Just like you." Sarah blushed looking at the bracelet again. She wondered what Sam would say about it. He definitely wasn't going to be happy. Justin looked at her and knew what she was thinking. "It's my gift to you as a friend. I respect you more than that. I would never come between you and Sam." Sarah smiled kissing his cheek. "Thank you so much."

Sam walked up the stairs seeing Sarah and Justin and tried not to get upset. "Hey, there you are." Sarah smiled turning to face Sam. "Yeah, I was going up to my room." Sam smiled. "Funny, looks like you two were talking." Sarah sighed. "Look-" Justin cut her off. She had to be civil but he didn't. "She was on her way to her room. I found her coming up the stairs. I wanted to give her a gift and I did. That's all we've done. She even tried to tell me I couldn't speak with her." Sam growled. "Look, I don't need you giving her things. She has quite nice things without you adding to them." Justin looked at Sarah then back at Sam. "She's my friend. That's all there is between us." Sarah sighed as people began to watch them. Aro had just about had it with their fights. "Sarah, I want to speak with you now!" Sarah groaned looking at Sam harshly pushing by him. She made her way down the stairs entering the room Aro was in. "What on earth is going on?" Sarah sighed closing the door. "Sam doesn't like Justin and I'm caught between them." Aro looked at her for a moment then sighed.

"Look, something has to be done about it. I'm not going to have this place become a battleground." Sarah blushed looking down. "Yes, Aro I understand." Aro looked down smiling at her softly. "You're not a vampire you know." Sarah continued to look down but nodded. Aro sighed, going to her. "You have changed since I last saw you. What happened?" Sarah shook her head not answering. Aro sighed tilting her head up to look at him. "Tell me what happened." Sarah looked at him relenting. "I felt what it's like to be free. Now I feel trapped like I'm always caged. The man I love is fighting with the only guy that understands what I'm going through, and to make it worse there's nothing I can do." Aro looked at her nodding slowly. "It seems you have quite the stuff to work out." Sarah nodded. "Yes." Aro looked at her leaning back on the desk. Sarah seemed so defeated and laid back that it pained him. "If you want I can talk with them." Sarah shook her head. "No, they're men they have to work it out on their own." Aro laughed nodding. "We can be that way." Sarah laughed. Aro looked at her smiling. "Just let it run its course. In the mean time I'd like you're help."