CHAPTER 51

Leah POV:

I got a call from the restaurant on Monday while I was eating a sandwich for lunch. They wanted me start work on Thursday at four. I was excited, but a little nervous. This was my first job! He had me on the schedule for just two days this coming week. He wanted to start me out slow until I got the hang of things. I was OK with that.

I was a little worried about getting behind in my classes, so I was sitting at the kitchen table with my laptop working on some homework for my math class when the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, Leah. It's Josiah. I'm not bothering you, am I?"

"No, just doing some homework. I can take a break. You OK?" There was something in his voice . . . he sounded upset.

"Um, I really need someone to talk to. Can I see you today?"

"Yea, sure. Where?"

"I don't know. I would invite you here to the farm, but I know that would make you uncomfortable." He really sounded bad. "I can borrow my brother's truck and drive down there."

"OK. Let me give you directions to my house." I told him quickly how to get here and he would be here within the hour.

"Thank you, Leah. I'll see you soon." I hung up and looked at the phone. What has him so upset? Is he leaving for the rez up north? I felt so sorry for him. He didn't deserve any of this.

I tried hard to concentrate on my homework. I wanted to try to get a little ahead. It wasn't working. I kept thinking about whatever Josiah had to talk about. I finally closed the laptop and went to unloading the dishwasher instead. As I was putting the last glass into the cupboard, I heard a knock on the door.

I went to the front door and opened it to find a very distraught looking Josiah standing there. "Hi, Leah."

"Hey, Josiah. Come in," I said as I stepped back from the door. He walked in and I closed the door and turned to him. He immediately pulled me to him and held on. I put my arms around his waist and let him. We stood there for a minute or so then he finally let go. "Thanks for letting me come and see you today," he said softly.

"Sure. You sounded upset on the phone. It worried me. What's going on?" I asked him. He reached down and took my hand and said, "Let's sit and talk, OK?"

I nodded and led him over to sit on the couch. I looked over at him. He was staring at the floor. I put my hand on his arm and said, "Hey, talk to me."

He looked at me and I could see unshed tears in his eyes. "I have to leave, Leah. Josh and Jason are taking me tomorrow." He hung his head. "I can't go. I don't want to go." He put his head in his hands.

I put my arm around his shoulders and said, "I am so sorry, Josiah." He turned his face towards me. His eyes were red and there were tears running down his face. He reached out and pulled me close and held onto me. I held him and ran my hand through his hair while he cried. He finally calmed down and pulled back. He wiped his face and said softly, "God, I'm sorry. I . . . "

"Hey, it's OK. I totally understand." I pushed his bangs out of his eyes and said again, "It's OK. Josiah, I know you're scared. Who wouldn't be? I'm so sorry you have to leave. I'm glad you called me."

"Do you mean that?" He looked into my eyes and I wasn't sure what I saw there.

"Yes, I mean that. I told you I wanted to be your friend." He nodded and stared at the floor again.

Finally he turned to me and said, "Leah? I don't want this to make you uncomfortable, but . . . I really need some . . ." he stopped. He put his hand on my face. "I need to know that someone cares about me. I need to know that YOU care about me."

I must have shown a little of the panic I was starting to feel because he said quickly, "Leah, I know you are in love with someone else. I know you will never love me like that. But, before I go away, I just want to feel . . . if you could just, God, this is so hard." He hung his head then he pushed himself off of the couch and walked to the window.

I got up and walked up behind him. "Josiah? What are you asking me?"

He whipped around and I could see the frustration he was feeling written on his face. He spit out, "Just spend some time with me, OK? Show me that you care about me! Make me feel like I matter! I feel it, even if you don't. This connection between us. I just want to feel that before I leave and allow this . . . damn monster to take me over." He put his hands on my shoulders. "Please, just, be with me, and let me pretend for a little while, that you really care about me."

I turned away from him and tried to keep the panic from erupting. He wants to feel loved! Is he asking me for sex? God, I'm so confused. I should tell him to go! He kidnapped you once, stupid. You should have known better. Embry will be furious with you for being alone with him. I took a deep breath to calm myself then turned back to look at him.

He was so sad and lonely and he was going away for God knows how long. If all he wants is to feel like someone cares about him, I can hug him and make him feel that. Can't I? Just for a little while?

He placed his hand on my cheek. "Leah, please? I need you so much," he whispered.

"Josiah, I do care about you," I said softly. I stepped closer and put my arms around his waist. He held me for awhile then I felt him turn his face toward my neck and put a kiss there. I pulled back quickly and said, "Um, maybe we should sit and talk for a little bit."

He nodded and followed me back to the couch and sat down. He put his arm up along the back of the couch and moved close to me. I tried to relax, but I was struggling with how I felt about this. I loved Embry so much, and I didn't want to do anything that would hurt him. Josiah must have felt how tense I was. He said, "Just talk to me, Leah. Tell me something about you. Maybe a story about when you were little. Then I'll tell you something about me. Let's just spend some time together talking, OK?"

Talking, OK. That's good. I can do that. I told him some stories about me fishing with my dad, learning to cook with my grandma, and Christmas mornings with Seth and how he was such a spaz until he got a present. He laughed and commented on each story.

"So, what about you?" I asked. He smiled and told me some stories about him and his brother growing up on the farm. I laughed when he told me about the first time he learned how to milk a cow, and how he was afraid of the chickens when he was little. He talked about not remembering his mom very well because he was so young when she died.

I actually enjoyed talking to him, and getting to know him a little better. As we were talking, his arm had moved from the back of the couch to around my shoulders. I found myself relaxing against him and thinking more about this connection he was always talking about. I wanted to know more. I sat up and turned to look at him. "Josiah? Tell me about this connection you feel with me. When did it start? Try to describe it. Help me understand."

"Um, wow. OK. I'll try." He sat up and turned to face me. "Well, I don't remember anything about my time . . . you know, as a . . . werewolf, so I don't remember taking you or anything about our time together. But, it was your eyes." He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them to look into mine. "The first time I saw you at the house, I knew those eyes. And inside I felt this . . . moment of joy. Like when you see someone you care for that you haven't seen in a very long time. I instantly knew you. And . . . cared about you. I felt that somehow you were important to me, or at least, could be. That I could . . . love you."

He gently touched my face. "You are so beautiful. You make me feel so much better about myself. " He dropped his hand and looked down and was quiet for a moment then he reached over and took my hand. "And even now, for some reason, you make me feel like everything will be alright. That somehow, I will get through this." He leaned toward me, his gaze on my lips.

I moved quickly off the couch and said, "My brother will be home from school soon."

He smiled and stood up. "I guess I should go." I nodded and walked with him toward the door. Before we got there, he stopped and turned toward me. "Just once, before I go. Please, Leah? Will you . . . kiss me?" Before I could answer, he took me in his arms, bent forward and put his lips on mine. I didn't fight it at first. I thought it would be just a nice, token kiss. But Josiah definitely had something else in mind. His lips moved over mine and as I started to back away, he tightened his hold on me and used his tongue to try and force my lips apart. One of his hands left my back and traveled down to rest on my ass. I put my hands on his chest and was pushing at him to stop.

That's when the door opened and all hell broke loose.

Embry POV:

"Hey, bro. Give me a ride home today?" Seth had caught me at my locker after school.

"Yea, sure. I usually go to Jake's, but he called and told me not to bother today. Work has slowed down." I slung my book bag over my shoulder and slammed my locker shut and we turned to walk to the parking lot. "We need to find some more cars if we are going to save up for this shop."

Seth nodded and asked, "Do you guys ever advertise? You know, you could put up flyers around town or something."

Wow. I never thought of that. I smiled and looked over at him. "Great idea, bro! I never thought of that. Yea, maybe we should do that."

"I could design something on the computer for you . . . if you want me to."

"Yea, sure! Go ahead and then we'll run it by Jake, OK?"

He grinned. "OK! I'll work on it tonight." I put my arm around his neck and pulled him to me and messed up his hair. He usually hated that, but he was still grinning when I let him go.

"You're pretty smart, little brother," I said. We busted through the door and walked out to the parking lot. We got to the truck when we heard someone calling after us.

"Seth! Wait!" Seth turned to see Abby running toward him. She ran up and launched herself at him. He caught her in his arms.

"What? Are you OK?" he asked quickly.

She was a little out of breath from running after him, but she got out, "Yes. I just wanted . . . to say . . . goodbye!"

He smiled and said, "We said goodbye when I walked you to cheerleading practice."

She smiled shyly. "I know, but, I guess I just wanted another kiss."

"Well, I can do that," he said as he drew her closer and put his lips on hers.

I smiled and shook my head and watched in awe. In a few short weeks, he had turned into quite a ladies' man. I know Leah hated it, but I was pretty proud of the kid. I gave them a minute or so then I cleared my throat loudly and said, "Dude, she's going to be late for practice."

Seth pulled himself away and said, "You better go."

She beamed at him and said, "OK. I'll call you when I get home, OK?"

"You better," he said smoothly. "See ya, baby." See ya baby? I rolled my eyes.

"Bye," she said as she forced herself to turn and run back to the school.

I noticed Seth watching her run, and I said, "Hey, Romeo! Let's go!" He tore his gaze away from her ass and said, "Huh? Oh,yea. OK."

I laughed and climbed into the truck. He got in and I started the engine. He looked over at me and said, "Man, she's so cool."

"Yea, she is. Make sure you treat her right. She's got it bad for you."

"You think so? Cause, I really like her a lot, too."

"Just take it slow, Seth. Don't rush into anything, OK?"

"Yea, I know. Please don't give me another sex talk. I can't take that."

I laughed and said, "Me either!"

I drove us to his house and as I pulled up, I asked him, "Hey, whose blue truck is that?" There was an old blue Ford truck parked behind Leah's Jeep.

He shrugged his shoulders and answered, "I don't know. I've never seen it before." Who would be here during the day with Leah?

He opened the door to get out and I shut off the engine. Something didn't feel right about this. I opened the door and got out. Seth gave me a strange look as I walked by him, then he turned and followed me to the door.

I opened the front door to find Leah and . . . Josiah? Kissing? I exploded. "GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF OF HER!" I ripped Josiah off of Leah and threw him toward the stairway. He slammed into the railing and it shattered into pieces. As he struggled up, I ran at him and put my fist in his pretty face and knocked him down again. "Come on you son of a bitch. Fight back!"

"EMBRY! Stop it!" Leah screamed as she grabbed at my arm. "What is wrong with you?" She turned to help Josiah up. ""Are you OK? Are you hurt?" He just shook his head.

"I'm fine, Leah," he got out as he stood up.

I just stared. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! She was worried about HIM. What about ME? The man she supposedly loved?

"Leah? What the hell is happening here? I come in here to find his hands and lips all over you. I thought he was . . ."

"What, Embry?" she asked angrily. "You thought what? I needed protected? You thought he was going to rape me or something? I can take care of myself!"

"Yea! I guess I should know better by now, shouldn't I?" I said nastily. I was really pissed and wanted to hurt her like she just hurt me. "You fucked my brother, and you've fucked me, and now you're all over my cousin. What? Are you working your way through the family? Should I warn my dad that you're coming for him next?"

That's when she slapped me, hard, right across the face. I didn't realize how strong she was! It knocked me back a few steps. I looked back to see her face so twisted with fear and anger. And tears. "I can't believe you just said that to me," she said softly. Maybe I did go a little too far.

I stood up and said, "Yea, well, I have nothing more to say." I turned and ripped open the door and walked out.

I stalked toward the truck, but with all of the rage running through me right now, I knew I couldn't hold off phasing for much longer. I quickly pulled off my Pumas and threw them into the truck. I knew Mom would appreciate that.

"Embry! Wait!" Seth came running after me.

"Go away, Seth! I gotta go!" I turned for the woods and let go. I phased on the fly and saw pieces of my shorts fly out behind me.

Leah POV:

Oh my God. What just happened? I looked over at Seth who was standing there just glaring at me. "Seth?"

I saw the anger and confusion on his face. "I can't be here right now," he got out and he ripped open the door and slammed it behind him. I just stood there in shock. What the hell just happened?

"I'm sorry, Leah. I shouldn't have come here today. I think I better go," Josiah suggested. I nodded as he walked to the door. He turned to look at me.

"Leah, I'm sorry. I hope you can make Embry understand that you were just being a good friend. I shouldn't have kissed you, but, I . . . just needed to. I have no idea when or if I will see you again." He gazed into my eyes, put his hand on my cheek said softly, "Goodbye, Leah."

Be careful, OK?" I said.

He smiled. "I'll try."

We just stood there. There was nothing else to say. I stepped back and he opened the door and walked out to his truck. He started his truck and gave me a smile and waved. I smiled and gave him one back. He put his truck in reverse and backed up and pulled away. He turned out onto the road and honked as he drove away.

I wiped the tears away and noticed Embry's truck still parked in front of the house. I walked down the walk and looked inside. I smiled when I saw his Pumas lying on the truck floor. At least he thought to take those off before he phased. His mom would be glad of that. I walked toward the woods and found pieces of his shorts scattered all over the ground. That meant he was in a hurry. He was hurt and angry and in a hurry to run away from me.

I hung my head and thought, I have to find him. I have to make this right. I walked into the woods and slipped off my shorts and t-shirt and rolled them up as best I could and tied them to my ankle. Then I stood and took a deep breath. I will make this right with you, Embry. You will listen to me. Then I ran and phased into my wolf body, determined to find the man I loved.

A/N: Here is where I was split on which direction the story should go. I originally developed the character of Josiah to cause a little trouble for Embry and Leah, and as you can see, he has. But, this is the watered down version. My original story went kind of dark, with Josiah actually raping Leah. I had a really hard time writing the chapter, and as I was writing the aftermath, I just felt I couldn't do that to Embry and Leah. They deserve to be happy. But, I do have the alternate Chapter 51, and I am going to put it up to see what everyone's take on it is. Let me know what you think . . .