A/N: Hello, all! Here is another chapter for you guys to chew on. We are getting DANGEROUSLY close to the first chapter of backstory if you are interested. Kendra is starting to get impatient.

The incident with Embry stayed with me for a long time after that. It made me think about a past that now seemed like a dream; brought back a pain that I had known for a long time and couldn't be ignored. I was suddenly back to feeling like this- this new life- was my only reality and my human years had never existed. It scared me more than anything. My worst fear has become forgetting who I once was and who I could never be again. I needed to remember that I was human once upon a time.

I needed to go back home.

Unfortunately, I was foolish enough to say it aloud.

"Sweetheart," Esme had said gently as she smoothed my hair, "Even though- in a way- you are very much alive, to the rest of the world, you're dead." She said it with such care, in such a nurturing tone of voice that it didn't sting as much as it usually did. "If anyone caught you, it would raise unwanted attention from the Volturi. I understand that you miss your old life, I do. It's just too dangerous."

But I wanted this so badly that I took a different approach.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Kendra."

I sat back on my heals and scoffed in disbelief. Seth flashed me a brief look before continuing to stare thoughtfully at the ceiling.

"Seth," I groaned in exasperation. He suddenly leveled me with a look more intense than any he's ever given me. It froze me in place, my agitated squirming stilling immediately.

His hand shot out to grab my own in a movement so fast I almost didn't catch it. I gazed into his earnest eyes with a soft smile, remembering one of the reasons I had grown so fond of Seth. While the others were cautious around me, as if every little move they made would startle me into a coma, Seth had faith in my abilities, though his careless behavior often worried everyone.

"Kendra," he said, gentle but firm, "You're too young. If you go into the city with all of those humans, you could kill someone."

So much for faith in my abilities.

I slipped my hand out of his quickly, like I had been burned, and technically, I had. I glared silently for a moment before ripping the pillow from behind his head and hitting him with it with every word.

"You. Are. No. Help. Argh!" I shoved the pillow into his stomach and stormed out of the room and down the stairs, leaving him more than a little shocked at my rare display of anger.

"Where are you going?" Bella asked me as I stalked to the front door.

"I'm hungry," I snapped, slamming the door behind me with more force than I had intended.

When I was outside, I found I had no desire to hunt. But I ran anyways.

Running at such great speed during my change had been a bit terrifying. But doing it on my own had proven to be the most exhilirating experience I've ever had. The fact that I'd never tire was a bonus. I enjoyed running this time especially because the clear scenery that whizzed pass me was nothing short of stunning. The sky was obscured completely by white clouds that casted a luminescent glow on the trees, making the leaves look greener. I felt my dark mood begin to lift a little-

Until I smelled the unpleasant scent of a wolf.

I stopped abruptly and whirled to my right.

"The day you scare me is the day I die of a heart attack," I hissed.

I watched through narrowed eyes as the gray wolf stalked out of the bushes with an honestly put out expression. Had I not been in such a mood, I might have laughed at how they all managed to make faces in wolf form, reminding me of movies I'd seen about talking animals.

"That's the fourth time this week, dog," I continued hotly, "The next time is going to earn you a kick to the ribs."

He bristled angrily and snarled, daring me. I called the bluff, crouching low, hand twitching toward the glinting hilt of the dagger stuck in my boot. Had Seth been here, he would have come between us to avoid a missing limb or a permanently hushed puppy. That thought only left me more enraged, remembering just who had prompted me to want to go back to Seattle. It was all I could do not to snarl right back.

Embry, catching me holding back a feral grimace, seemed to realize the extent of my anger then. He knew no matter how angry I got, I would never hiss or growl or any of the like. It just wasn't normal for me.

He straightened from his crouch and headed for the bushes again. I knew he was phasing back to his human form. I contemplated just making a run for it right then but he was back in denim cut offs before I had made a solid decision to hightail it in the other direction.

"Okay," he started, "Who pissed you off and how do I get in on it?" I clenched my teeth and rolled my eyes heavenward, praying that my patience be restored.

"Keep talking and you'll find out," I growled. He waved a hand, unconcerned.

"So?"

"So..."

"I was serious. Who pissed you off?"

I huffed in annoyance and said without thinking, "Seth." Watching Embry's mouth fall open in shock was almost comical.

"Seth? Seth of all people was the one who pissed you off?" I groaned and was disappointed when I couldn't even flop down at the base of the tree like I wanted. I raked my hands through my hair, pulling at the roots.

"Yes. I mean-No. I-" I sighed, "I really don't know."

Embry gave me a droll stare before turning in the other direction. "Okay, then."

"Wait!" I said suddenly, "Don't leave. I've never been this way before. Which way is home?"

He gave me a long look before rolling his eyes. "Well first," he said, a little too brightly, "You might want to come back over here. Not that it wouldn't be totally hilarious when one of Sam's pack comes to tear your arm off. But Seth would have my ass so..." he gestured to the empty air beside him.

I immediately leapt across the invisible treaty line, irritated to no end. How was I supposed to know where the line was? The least they could do was put up a fence of make a sign or something.

"So what exactly happened?" he asked casually as we walked toward the direction of the house. I kept my pace steady and slow, not in any hurry to get back home.

I spilled everything to him about longing for my old life, worrying about my family and wanting to go back. He didn't make snarky comments like I'd expected him to. When I looked over, he was staring into the distance in that way of his.

"If you want to go so bad, then go."

"I wish I could. If I make the decision to go now, Alice is gonna know," I said, mildly surprised.

He stayed silent for a long moment, the only sound being the crunch of our footsteps and the soft whistle of the wind.

"Not if I go with you," he said finally.

I stopped in my tracks, jogging to catch up when he kept going.

"What?" I asked, "No lecture about me being to young or too dangerous. No 'that's not your life anymore?'"

He turned to glare at me. I no longer had the will to return it, staring back with wide, bewildered eyes.

"They're right, you know. All of them. I'm taking a huge risk here and I don't know what Jake will do when he finds out." He suddenly stopped and I realized we were just out of mind reading range. He ran a hand over his face wearily.

"Look, are you sure you're okay with humans?"

"Yes," I nodded vigorously.

"Positive?"

"Yes," I said through gritted teeth. I remembered the last time I had been around humans. It was excruciating but I hadn't attacked anyone. I was sure I could do it again.

"I'll give you three days," Embry was saying, "You have to be in disguise. We'll leave at sundown."

My brow furrowed, "Why three days?" He rolled his eyes like I was already supposed to know.

"Because Seth is doing a longer patrol that night. Everyone will think you're with him."

I frowned, concerned about the recent disappearances and the possible danger Seth could be in if he had a run in with the vampire that was a possible cause for them.

"Leah will be with him, won't she?" I asked in a whisper. Embry gave me a sideways glance, nodding as we began to walk again.

"Of course she will. You have nothing to worry about."

Oh, how wrong he was.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this one! Next chappie will be up soon!

Your CuTii3Pii3 ;)