A/N Saturday! Woo, mexican wave!! Kay, anyway here is the next chapter, slightly longer. I hope you like it. Especially since I''m ignoring a large pile of homework to do this. (Actually not a big deal since I never do anything on a saturday but whatever. And I'm passively resisting my horrible english teacher. Ooh rebel. Not.)

There is a split second of silence, then the lot of us let rip, growling and snarling.

"We will not give anyone up!" bellows Sam over the din "So we should fight now!"

Jeffery laughs. "I think not, wolves. You are out numbered by three and Ezra and Camilla here are excellent fighters. But if you are so sure you will not give anyone up I will reduce the time. You have just twelve hours. And after we win the battle we will slaughter this whole town. We care not for keeping our identity secret anymore. If, however, we get the grey killer, we will leave and not feast on your people. Let us see how long your principles last then, alpha."

"We will not give anyone up." repeats Sam, stubbornly. "We have bonds of loyalty that you do not."

Jeffery shrugs, unconcerned. "Then we will meet you on the battlefield in half a day."

The vampires retreat, ignoring our hostile, suspicious glares.

They don't know how many of us there are, offers Seth so that's something.

We need to put together a plan says Jacob. We need to let Embry know too.

Where is he?

With Lizzie.

Who?

He imprinted...

Another?

At least it means he can protect others...

Jacob, Seth and Quil discuss the fight and Embry in the background of my mind. I try to tune them out. Joel is staring up at me repulsed. He knows the truth now. And he'll never want to be my friend again. Here's to another year of heartbreak. I can't help it; I let out a howl of pain and run...to Emily. My bitterness about her has slowly begun to dissolve since I met Joel. And now I need her to help me.

Outside Emily's house I bark. She opens the door looking anxious, holding my clothes from when I arrived this morning-it feels like a lifetime ago- and I phase. When I go into the kitchen Lizzie, white faced and shaking, and Embry, calm and collected, are waiting. I slump onto a chair.

"Well, the shit has really hit the fan. " I announce flatly. "It's all gone to hell, bloodsuckers want to execute me, we've got half a day before they massacre the town like some kind of shitty horror movie and my best friend is terrified of me."

Lizzie looks confused and scared. "What the hell kind of place is this?" she demands. "Why is Joel afraid of you?"

I glance at Embry, who looks slightly uncomfortable. "Haven't you told her?" I ask. He nods and Lizzie looks curiously between the two of us.

"Is this because Embry's a...fuck!" She's staring at me in horror. "Not you too Leah?" she screeches standing then running out of the room. After a second, Embry runs after her.

I drop my head onto my arms. Now Lizzie too. I have never hated my shape shifting as much as I have now. Emily sits with me as I sob weakly and tell her everything. She sits in silence and then I remember that this is her wedding day. This sets me off again. What is wrong with me? I never cry. I didn't cry for Sam in two whole years, I didn't cry for my Dad when he died, yet Joel , who I have in fact only known for about a month and a half has got completely under my skin, and into my heart.

"I'll be back in a minute. " Emily murmurs, and she leaves me alone in the small kitchen.

"Leah?"

My heads shoots up at the sound of his voice. It's so uncertain, and fearful. I didn't hear him come in, but I can hear the undertones of revulsion, even in that one word.

He's standing in the doorway, looking white. He swallows and asks "Is Lizzie here? Seth said this is where Embry would bring her and..." he trails off. I wonder if he saw Seth phase back to human and what he must have thought when he realised that both Clearwater's were freaks.

I look at the table. "She was here. " I say dully. "Then she discovered that I'm a monster too, and ran for her life, as she should."

There's a silence. My eyes fill with tears and I close them. They trickle down my cheeks and I wipe them away impatiently. I'm sick of feeling so pathetic. I need to pull myself together. I've lost another love. When am I going to learn?

However, when I open my eyes again, Joel is still standing there, in the doorway, leaning on the frame.

"What are you?" Joel asks curiously, and I flinch. Good question Joel. What am I? "How did you-I mean- how do you do that? I mean one second you were you, you were Leah, and the next you were-you were- you know...and who were those other people?"

I fight for control over my emotions. I'm not going to become an emotional wreck just yet, not while he's still here and not running away screaming and pulling his kid sister along with him.

"You may want to sit down" I tell him finally, and take a deep breath. Here goes. Slowly Joel takes a chair. I sigh and then begin to talk.

I tell him everything. I explain about vampires and the local legends. I describe to him about the pack's joint mind and imprinting. I tell him that Embry has imprinted on Lizzie, and that Sam imprinted on Emily. I talk for half an hour without stopping. By the time I'm finished I feel as though a damn has been released. To be able to tell someone everything, someone who isn't in my mind every time I'm upset or angry, is a relief.

He moves closer on his chair and takes my warm hands in his cold ones.

"Oh, my god, Leah." He mumbles. "No wonder you tried to get away."

I look into his eyes. My hearts beating madly and my stomach is twisting like crazy, but all I can think about is that he's still here, with me. He hasn't run screaming. That means more to me than I could ever tell him.

"So," Joel clears his throat. "Have you- you know," he clears his throat again. "Have you...imprinted?"

Slowly I shake my head. He smiles slightly. "So you can still fall in love?" he clarifies.

I nod. "I have." I whisper.

Joel suddenly looks away and lets go of my hands. "Well, I hope he doesn't break your heart." He says bitterly, standing. I lean back ever so slightly on my chair, more than a little confused. What is he on about?

"Fluh?" Yes, I think that verbalises my feelings adequately.

"Toby." Spits Joel.

Toby! I'd forgotten all about him. But wait. Surely Joel doesn't think that I...

"What?" I gasp. "You think I'm in love with Toby?"

Joel nods slowly, comprehension dawning on his face.

"You don't?"

"I don't."

"But then why...if you don't..."

I take a step towards him. "Trying to take my mind of another guy. "

There's a second pause and then he closes the gap between us and kisses me. I want to pull him as close to me as physically possible, but a though occurs to me. I pull away gently.

"We can't date." I say softly, pain ripping through me. Joel looks angry, hurt, miserable.

"Why? Is it because of Toby?" he asks.

"No. No! It's because...well what f I imprint? I mean I probably won't being the only female, and a genetic dead end and..." I've lost him. He looks completely bemused. Get back on track Leah. "If I do, that's it Joel. I don't want you to go through the hell that I went through."

"Well," he says quietly, slowly tracing his fingers down the side of my cheeks and neck and under my chin, pulling my face closer to his. "Maybe it's worth it."

"But Joel," I argue. "I don't want to cause you so much pain! If we get involved and then I-then I...don't you care?"

Joel hesitates, then pulls me to his lips. I take that to signify that he doesn't.