I know most of you want to know what happened to Leah at this point but this is a triangle, so please wait for the next chapter. I need to get each of the three to the same point. AND no, Sam is not free of his guilt or his dishonor. Patience will be rewarded at the end…

Reviews are like flowers…

A/N: Twilight and its characters are owned by Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

A/N: I have tried to be true to S.M.'s characters, to the Native American people, and to myself. I have spent a lot of time with North East Native Americans. I have not spent time with any from the North West. So all information I give about Native's reflect that fact (though I have been doing research). Feed back would be great!

A/N Tehya means precious. It was foreshadowing what Emily is to Sam. The most precious thing to him.

Chapter 8

Emily's POV, the same day

The stories are true! I saw Sam phase into the wolf from my sketch. It was amazing. His wolf form is graceful and powerful. After he phased back and the others left us I had dozens of questions. He answered them all. As I continued to ask him questions, so much was cleared up. The two weeks of agony Leah went through, she had always felt that her father was not very worried about Sam being gone and now I knew why. Leah also felt that there was something that was being kept from her and she was right. I can not wait to tell share this with Leah.

"I am going to tell her."

"Emily, you can't. Only those who phase, their mates, and the council are allowed to know. I have been begging the council to allow me to tell her for over two months now. They will not allow it." Sam is shaking; his nerves must be shot from all the stress. I won't be put under the same stress!

"Then I will leave. I can't stay here and keep this from Leah! I will not continue to hurt her by not telling her what I know, I will go home. I will go back to my reservation so you will forget about me and choose her. "

Sam's voice is an odd mix of pain and frustration as he loudly states, "NO!" Sam's shaking has increased. As much as I suddenly and inexplicably love this man, I will not lie to the sister of my heart. Leah needs to know what happened. She is going to be hurt, but knowing the truth could change everything. It could make the difference between Leah hating us both indefinitely or Leah finding forgiveness, peace, and hope into her heart.

I need to get Sam to see reason. I place my hand on his arm and turn to face him, to get him to see how hard this is. I won't choose love of a man, even for the good of the people, over intentionally hurting and lying to my sister.

"Sam, if I can't tell her then I will not stay here and intentionally hurt her. You can't make me stay and do this to her!" My voice echoes the pain I heard in Sam's voice moments before. I know this is not going to end well. Someone is going to get hurt. Please let it be me. Sam and Leah may be strong hunters but I have a strong heart.

As my thoughts race through my head, I sense more than see a burst of motion… In a blur I see Sam's hand move to my arm, I tense, thinking he is going to shut me out or worse tell me that I should leave. I watch in horror as he phases and that hand turns into a massive black paw. Then there is nothing.

**

I am walking along the beach. It reminds me of first beach at the La Push reservation. It is peaceful and it is surprisingly warm out.

As I walk I notice a wolf. It is not Sam, but I am not worried. It is calm and peaceful here. I know this wolf will not hurt me. It is as large as Sam, which is bigger than an average wolf. It must be a shape shifter.

'Emily, my wife is also your ancestor. I found her with the Makah tribe. You are like her.' Even though this voice is in my head, I speak out loud.

"Are you Taha Aki?" the wolf nods.

"Your people are wrong. Sam says I can't tell anyone about the shape-shifting. If I do not share what I know, my family will be torn apart. I can not allow that."

'You are wise and a good mate for Sam. But listen to me granddaughter, there will be more wolves. You are needed, not only for Sam, but for the rest that will change.'

Taha Aki continues, 'Sam has already started to get the elders to see how foolish it was to keep the shape-shifting a secret from the women. The mother's of my tribe will be told, but not the daughters. Can you see the rightness in that?'

"No, Grandfather. I can't. Leah is my sister. She is a hunter. She has taught me how to provide for myself. She has supported many members of this tribe. She has earned the right to know."

'She will know, in time. But now is not her time to know. It will come soon and it needs to come from others and not you. Can you wait?'

"I will wait but I will not marry Sam until she knows about the shape-shifting and the imprinting. I will not bear any children with Sam until she knows everything."

'Yes, I can see your mind is set. You are more like your grandmother than any of the others. You are truly a good match for Sam. Your heart will not mislead you.'

I watch as grandfather wolf/Taha Aki turns away. He walks towards the woods, pauses, turns back to me and offers the rather cryptic remark of, 'Sam is hurting inside as you hurt on the outside. You will heal each other.'

Then he disappears and I feel a searing pain in my face…

**

"Emily! I am here. You are going to be alright. Please stop screaming, Tehya." I can feel the pain and something that I can't identify in Sam's voice.

I feel a strong and warm hand pick up my hand. I stop screaming. I hadn't realized it was me. The pain that I felt in the dream was receding, leaving me with a fuzzy, out of body feeling.

"Sam?"

"Tehya, open your eyes. I am here." I open my eyes and see Sam sitting in an unfamiliar chair, in an unfamiliar room. I hear several different beeping noises and realize I am in a bed, a hospital bed. Sam is in a chair next to the bed. His face is filled with worry and remorse?

The door opens and my mother comes running in. "Is she OK? Why is Emily screaming?" she is quickly at my side and she gently caresses my left check. "I am glad you are awake, Em. I was so scared for you."

"Why? What has happened?" then I remember. Sam was upset. He phased and his paw hit my face as he phased. I gasp and raise my right hand up to my face and feel bandages. I look at my mother and see the fear and pity in her face. I look at Sam and see the remorse I saw before. I need to talk to him. Alone.

"Mamma", I intentionally use my childhood name for her, "I am so thirsty. Can I have some water?"

"I will ask a nurse. I do not know if you are allowed to yet." My mother looks at Sam, "will you stay with her Sam? I will worry less if you do."

"Of course I will. Do not worry." Why should my mother worry if I am left alone? Mom must be worried at how I will react to my injuries. The injury must be bad and she obviously does not know it was Sam who hurt me, otherwise she would never allow him near me. She is such a momma bear!

I watch as my mother leaves the room. I quickly hold up a hand stalling Sam's words. "Tell me the facts of what has happened since we were in the clearing. We do not have much time until my mother gets back and I need all the details. Facts, Sam, not feelings." I do not look at him, because if I do I know I will lose myself in his eyes, and I will see the hurt and I will not be able to do what I must to honor my promise to Taha Aki. My mother will be back soon.

Sam clears his throat. "I phased. I couldn't stop the change. My hand struck you cheek. I could not stop the bleeding. Grandfather Quil went with you to the ER in the ambulance. Jared and I went to tell Harry. Harry had a minor heart attack. He will be fine. Your Aunt has barred me from their house. The counsel was apprised of the situation. I told Billy the counsel needs to tell the wives. He agrees, but it will take time. Not until after Harry is out of the hospital. You have been out cold for almost 12 hours. You had surgery almost immediately. You… you will have scars." At last his voice breaks, I hear the guilt and pain.

WOW. No feelings as I asked. Except at the end. So Taha Aki told me the truth. I will have scars on the outside. I can live with that. Everyone knows a worries scars from battle are honorable. Is not this a fight to let the truth out for all of the Quileute people?

The door opens and my mother and a nurse come in. My mother holds a glass of ice water, with a straw, up to my mouth. I sip some as the nurse checks the machines. Sam stands up.

"Don't leave. Please." I reach my hand out to Sam and he instantly takes it and sits back in the chair. He is so warm! Will I ever get used to that?

"You have such a brave boyfriend," the nurse tells me this and I almost snort – we are not going out yet. "He carried you away from that bear attack and got you help." I feel Sam squeeze my hand, silently warning me that this is the cover story. "Did you know he has not left your side once since he got here? Well, except during surgery. He has sat in that chair holding your hand or carving something. You are a very lucky girl."

The nurse smiles at me, reminds me I can push a button to help with the pain and leaves. My mom fusses for a while and then Sam's stomach growls.

"Sam, I will stay with Emily, why don't you go get something to eat?" she says.

"Thank you, Sally, but I won't leave Emily while she is in the hospital." He reaches into his wallet, pulls out some money and hands it to my mother, "Why don't you take Seth and go get some pizzas, you can bring me some back. I doubt that Billy or anyone else has eaten either, I will be fine. Besides I want to talk with Emily about the attack."

My mother actually does not fight this. "Mamma?"

"Yes baby?"

"Can you have Seth and Leah visit me after they eat?" I need to see if Leah is still angry.

"Of course." She leans over, kisses my left cheek and leaves.

"Emily, I" "Sam, I" we say this at the same time and I can not help it, I laugh. It startles us both. I am not usually so free with anyone new.

"Sam, it is fine. I understand what happened. I have so much I need to tell you." Sam looks at me and nods. "Will you sit next to me?" I can not explain it but I need Sam to know that I trust him. He shakes his head.

"Em, I might hurt you again." The pain in his eyes is so overwhelming.

"No you won't. Come sit next to me. I need to feel you next to me while I tell this to you." I skooched over, I know there is not enough room on this bed, but I want to feel his warmth and strength. I also do not want to see him looking at me like I am a loony bird when I tell him about the dream.

He sighs. Stands up and sits next to me. He is so big that I sit up and lean forward so his arm can go behind me. The pain in my face throbbed with the movement, but it is not an overwhelming pain. I know he is not comfortable with the squishy arrangement but I don't care at this moment.

"I had a dream while I was asleep."

"You mean you had a drug induced hallucination. Emily, they are giving you morphine and god only knows what else while you were in surgery."

I turn into him more and place my finger on his warm moist lips. "Shh. It is my story now… I was walking on first beach and there was a wolf. It was Taha Aki. He told me that there will be more wolves. He told me that the mothers of the tribe will be told about the phasing. He told me I am needed at the reservation for you and for the others that will change. I told him I would not keep this from Leah. He told me it was not my place to tell her but that she will learn." I pause, it wasn't really a story that I had told but a jumble of the dream. "Sam, because Leah will learn soon, I am OK with not telling her. I will stay here. I will help you and the others, though I do not understand why I am needed. But, I told Grandfather Wolf and I am telling you now; No matter what happens between you and me, I will not get married or bear you children until she knows. Leah is my sister and I want her to be a part of my future, not just my past."

I feel Sam slip away from me and hear him sit back in the chair. "Emily, there is a very good chance that Leah will never forgive me for what I have done. You asked me to leave out the emotions in the re-cap of the last day but there is so much emotion left out of that brief re-count. I caused Harry's heart attack. He thought I had come to tell him the cold ones had killed you. Sue told me I can never return to their land, so if you mean to stay and let me see you – it won't be there. Leah blames me for you getting hurt, for Harry and for the pain she feels. Leah is right. I caused all of it. I do not know how to fix any of this! Leah will not forgive me. Especially not since I cannot tell her about the phasing and the imprinting.

I don't fully understand this imprinting. It is amazing, YOU are amazing, but in my head I feel like I am betraying Leah. I need to work through that as much as you have things to work out. But if you are willing to work with me, then we will find a way." He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. He hands it to me and asks, "Will you work this out with me Emily?"

"I look down at what he hands me. It is a carving of a five petal flower. It fits on the curve of the meaty part of my thumb. "Yes" I breathe as I lean over to him and gently kiss his cheek.