Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Suggested Listening: Eat You Alive by Limp Bizkit.

Chapter Two: Look My Way

Embry POV

For the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. Okay, maybe on any other girl; the wealth, the immortality, the eternal youth is a factor – but not her. If anything, I would have expected her to choose a different guy, just to prove that it means nothing to her. There are plenty of whiny, superficial girls around who I'm sure lusted after the Cullens for what they represented – but if they really knew what the Creepersons were hiding, wouldn't they run a mile? Maybe that was it – it was about tolerance. Bella Swan still won't dump your ass if she finds out you survive on draining the life out of living creatures, slowly and painfully. I felt like shaking her – did she really think anyone would look down on her for having a little self-preservation? Hell, we were monsters too, in all areas of classification. Why couldn't she shack up with one of us? Like Jake, or …someone else.

Fuck. Need to stop letting those thoughts slip through, especially when phased.

Fuck yeah, you do. Jake will rip your throat out of he catches you crushing on Bella again.

I could picture the stern look he would be shooting me right now.

Wow, thanks, Quil. Way to help keep my mind off of it.

I'm just sayin', it was bad enough when he thought I wanted her, and we were human back then. What do you think he'd do now, when he's got super strength and you've got super healing?

I shuddered at the mental images Quil was broadcasting my way. None of them ended well for me.

Shit, you really don't think I'll put up much of a fight, do you?

When it's you, who sucks at fighting your friends anyway, against a would-be Alpha... and it concerns Bella Swan? Tell me, will I be needing a wolf-sized coffin or just a normal one? Any particular preference in goodbye songs? R. Kelly's 'The World's Greatest' is already taken for the dark day I shrug off this mortal coil, so no stealing.

I rolled my eyes. Only Quil would actually say something like that proudly – and without a hint of a joke.

Modest, aren'tcha?

I try. It's hard to stay humble when the ladies are all about this.

Yeah, I bet you're a big hit at the Barbie Beach House.

Fuck you, Call.

I slowed down my paws, dragging out the last few minutes of semi-solitude before I knew everyone else would be scheduled to phase in, and practising again at building the wall around my thoughts. I was a private person anyway, why couldn't I turn that into something positive I could use since wolfing out?

Jake was already at the field with Sam, Bella and the leeches. Today was our fifth day of training this week. The Cullens had been surprisingly helpful to us, but everything inside me was screaming not to get too comfortable. I knew what they were, and my blood practically vibrated when they got too close. How the hell were we meant to trust them in battle? We'd been on two different sides of the same war for generations. I didn't even trust Edward in my head, never mind on my side of an army. How were we supposed to erase all of that for the sake of one human girl? Even if that girl is Bella.

Alright, I guess that was my answer.

What kind of a fuck up did I have to be to feel this way? Even before I'd ever met Bella, she was all Jake could talk about, and here I was, resenting him for having feelings for her before me. They'd been close as kids, apparently, and he'd just about lost his shit when she moved back to town – and she was hot. I mean, want-to-fall-on-your-knees-and-pledge-your-undying-love-and-devotion beautiful. Well, that wasn't exactly the way Jake had put it, it had been more "she's the most beautiful girl I've ever met or will meet, and she's gonna be mine." It sounded like he was talking about a car – but that's just Jake. It must be the alpha-male personality type that has him being this possessive dick when it came to things he felt passionately about. I guess it was a good thing – it fuelled his anger, made him a better fighter, a stronger strategist; but that wasn't something that extended to women. Especially not one like Bella. Did he really think having pissing contests with Edward was going to win her over? I thought he'd finally get the hint when he'd forced her into a kiss and she'd socked him.

Bella deserved to be challenged, to have the options laid out for her and let her make her own decisions. She deserved to have her opinions accounted for, to be heard and given a valid vote when it came to her life and her safety, even if she was choosing wrong. She was smart enough to reach the right conclusion on her own, and shoving her into it would only cause her to pull harder in the other direction. She was stubborn as hell and fuck me if it wasn't a huge turn-on. It made me feel like a complete asshole, but even I could tell Jake's behaviour was doing nothing but push her away. Thing was, I couldn't bring myself to tell him that. He already got to spend all this time with her, touch her, be close to her and know her innermost thoughts, Was it so bad if I didn't want to give him even more of an edge?

Of course it was. This was my best friend, my brother in every sense of the word but blood (and maybe even that, too). I should want the best for Jake, and for him to get everything he wanted; and Jake wanted Bella.

Trouble was, I was pretty gut-wrenchingly sure that I did too.

See what I mean? Fucked up. Especially because Bella – you'll love this part - well, Bella barely knew I existed. I'm Jake's quiet, thoughtful friend. Comic relief in the Embry-Quil double act that she let herself get immersed in when her life was doing that fucked-up spiral it always did because she was dating a goddamn vampire.

Seriously. Man, you need to cut that out before Jake phases back in, or even worse, Paul.

How is Paul worse?

He's already a pain in the ass, can you imagine if he had some sort of leverage over you? A little something to threaten your friendship with Jake with? Come on, Em, you can't be that naive.

I'm not, I guess I just failed to see how it would be worse than Jake finding out.

Because Jake would kill you quickly. Paul would drag it out for weeks until you wanted to kill yourself. Trust me.

I am trusting you. You sure you'll be able to keep something like this from Jake?

It helps when I have Clairebear to think of. She takes up most of my time anyway, and he doesn't get suspicious when I start picturing her randomly. Besides I'm trusting you, too.

I know.

I mentally sighed as the guilt rose like acid in my throat, feeling the judgement roll off Quil in waves.

I mean it, Quil. It's just a stupid crush, I'll be over it in a few weeks. It's because I'm phased with Jake so much – his obsession's rubbing off on me.

So long as you're sure that's all it using that wall-thing. It seems to work somewhat. And hurry up and get over it.

I swear. This time next year, Bella Swan will be nothing but a distant memory. Hardly blip on my radar. Some chick who became a leech and moved away.

If you say so.

I do.

And if I said it enough times, I might actually believe it myself.

God, it was like the world's worst diplomatic meeting. Jake was still human, standing beside Sam as his posture screamed mistrust. Edward had a possessive hand on Bella's shoulder while she looked like she was slowly being torn in half by the two of them. Part of me wanted to phase out and drag her off somewhere – she already had enough going on without those two staring each other down like opponents on some crappy cable wrestling show. I was surprised the doctor leech wasn't wearing a referee costume and holding his hands out to keep them apart. It was starting to get embarrassing; I mean, Jake I can understand. It's his personality, his need to protect, his feelings for Bella and the fact that he's still a kid – we all were. Our emotions would be ruling us anyway, even if we weren't pumped full of ten times the normal dose of hormones and our temperatures ran hotter than someone dying of a fever. Add that to the wild animal barely being controlled inside us and it's forgiveable to be a little fiery. But Edward? Come on, he's what, 120? Hasn't he had enough time to rise above it? Maybe it's a testament to Jake's ability to goad him more than it was a shortfall on the vampire's part. Whatever it was, it had gotten old, weeks ago.

I couldn't phase out, though. I was just going to sit here on my haunches and watch, like a good little soldier because we'd been ordered to stay wolf around the Cullens unless given permission. So I let it go on and I pretended it didn't get to me, because that's what subordinates do. I needed to learn my place – and it wasn't beside Bella.

Sam's head jerked towards Quil and me, his eyes narrowing in question as we trotted out from our place in the trees, no longer silently observing the action.

Shit.

Not you too, Call.

No. She's my friend. Don't like seeing my friends suffer is all.

I knew he didn't believe me, but I could tell he was either too weary or too overwhelmed to allow my sick twist in the story to muddy the barely-transparent waters. Mine was just one more headache Sam couldn't handle. I felt his desire for the umpteenth time that Jake would relieve him. He just wanted to be out of this so he could stay home with Emily and report in only when really needed.

Keep it that way, Embry.

Yes, sir.

Bella looked right at me, and my heart skipped a beat, and once again I loathed myself. Why was I letting this grow? She was too good for me, way out of my league and I wasn't even figuring in this love-triangle she'd created. I was used to girls shooting me down – you don't grow up as the outcast on a tiny reservation and spend your time beating off girls with a stick – but the thing was, it wasn't Bella who made me feel unworthy. It was me – I knew she deserved better. Hell, I knew I was better than the leech, but, despite all his misguided attempts at saving her from a life of blood and stone, I wasn't better than Jake. Maybe it made me feel better to criticise him internally when it came to Bella, but in truth, he's the best guy I know. He always would be, and if I was honest with myself, no-one deserved her more than he did, and I hated it; I hated that this was all I could think about anymore. I had to keep this shit together or everyone would find out, and if I wasn't dead I'd be humiliated, and there'd be two heartbroken wolves moping around the Olympic Forest instead of one. If I just ignored this long enough, I could get over it.

Yeah, right.

I honestly didn't know if Quil had said that, or it had been me. I wasn't getting time to think about it though, because two things happened at once. First, the rest of The Pack phased in, getting the run-down of Jacob and Edward's staring contest from Sam. Then – and this is where it gets weird (unless vampires and werewolves wasn't weird enough for you) – Bella collapsed, and Edward full-on freaked. The doctor-leech was checking Bella's vital signs, and I found myself edging closer of my own accord. It wasn't my fault – I just wanted to hear a heartbeat, a little reassurance.

Bella is my friend. I can be concerned over a friend...

Yeah, right.

Okay, that one was definitely me.

Quit jabbering to yourself, Call.

Mind your own business, Lahote.

Jesus Christ, can you guys can it for a second? What the hell's wrong with Bella now?

Sorry, Sam.

Yeah, Sorry.

We concentrated on the image filtering through the pack mind, through Sam's eyes. Bella had gone limp; a thin sheen of perspiration coating her skin as her brow furrowed, and her breathing became shallow. It looked for all the world like she was close to death, but this had happened in the space of a few seconds, and nothing had physically happened to her.

"What the fuck is happening to her, leech?" Jake snarled, moving forward to cup Bella's ashen face in his huge hand.

"It's – she's... this is something that's been happening lately, we're running tests, it's probably nothing."

It's amazing how even when we knew someone as little as we did Edward Cullen, the lie was blatantly written across his face. There was something seriously up with Bella, and one look from Jake's pained gaze and I knew he was thinking the same thing. This was scary as hell. How much more was going to go wrong for this girl; this simple human who had been plunged head-first into a world that had no business with her?

I felt everything from concern (Quil, Brady, Collin and Seth) to dismay (Paul, Sam, Jared) to outright jealousy (Leah) in those few short moments. Sometimes, it's hard to decipher which feelings are even your own.

Fucking great. She must have felt the attentions slipping off of her for a split second.

Quiet, Leah.

Fuck you, Sam. I told you, orders are only allowed when we're facing off with a leech. Any other time and you can suck my non-existent balls.

The rest of us mentally sighed, and Quil wondered if there would ever be a point where everything didn't feel like a damn soap opera.

As quick as it had happened, Bella was back with us, her body doubling up on itself as her chin rose to meet her knees. Jake ran a hand through her hair lovingly, and I really don't know if I hated him or myself more for how that made me feel.

Her eyes were wide and searching, and I froze in my movements as they locked on me, something in my presence sending her into deep thought. Had I been the cause of this... episode? Was it something to do with seeing me that had made her lose consciousness for over five minutes? Her tiny, delicate hand absently reached out for Jacob, as her eyes stayed locked on me. I wasn't sure what to do; look away, come closer, run off?

I didn't even know why she was looking at me this way. She never had before. Believe me, I know.

"Jake... the day," she gulped, squeezing her eyes shut. When she opened them, they were looking back up at his face, and I seemed to regain control of my paws. "The day you finished the bikes."

Jake frowned, shooting a look at Edward which was returned with a sense of sadness. Clearly, whatever was coming was going to be uncomfortable to hear for him. Maybe it was just the realisation that she'd actually had a life after he'd dropped her like a hot stone?

"What about it, Bells?" Jake said, taking her hand.

"When we saw Embry cliff-diving," her eyes were on me again, "You told me you were scared. You thought Sam had brainwashed him, and that you'd be next. What did I say to you?"

There was a note of pleading in her voice that made my fur bristle, but this had been a day Jacob re-lived many times. Bella had told him he was 'sort of beautiful' that day, pretty much making his year, but before then... wait, it was becoming hazy, like a dream that was slipping away moments after waking. Jake was feeling the same as I was, I knew by the look on his face and his scrunched-up expression.

"You said," he began, concentrating deeply before letting out a breath. "You said I wasn't ready to find out yet, but that when the time came, to remember that you'd be here for me, and that I could tell you anything." He finished with a sigh of relief, as if the memory alone had taken some energy out of him.

I shuddered. There was something wrong here – like that one thing you've forgotten but can't pinpoint, or a word that's on the tip of your tongue. The French have an expression for it: Presque vu, or 'almost seen'. It was frustrating, and I knew something was up, but I just couldn't quite reach it. Jacob's memory of that day was off, I just knew it... but I didn't know what the real one was.

As soon as I registered what the feeling was, it was gone. I couldn't remember why I was so uncomfortable, I just was.

Bella sucked in a sharp breath and looked at Edward, as the Pixie leech came over and fussed around her. "It's changed... that's not how it was, the first time, I mean," Bella croaked.

"Alright you boys, give Bella some breathing room. That's probably why she fainted in the first place," Alice breezed, giving Bella a subtle smile. Jake obediently moved back, but went to his full height to eye Edward and the doctor more closely.

"What are you hiding?" he ground out, trying desperately to keep a reign on his temper.

"Jake, stop, it's nothing. I've been fainting lately, it's stress, Nothing that won't go back to normal once Victoria's gone," Bella soothed. It wasn't working, and Edward squared up to whatever thoughts Jake was screaming at him.

"It's all very convenient to blame me, Dog, but the other common factor in this has been you and your pack of mutts," he spat with such venom, I'm surprised Jake's skin hadn't started melting off.

"I have a right to know when my best friend's blacking out, and believe me, if anything's bad for her health, it's you filthy bloodsuckers."

They were nose-to-nose now, and Sam was barking orders at Jacob to stand down. For the second time that day, I reminded myself that I am a subordinate, that I must follow orders. I must never disobey my alpha. It is not my job to protect Bella Swan. I still couldn't phase out, and hated everything as the first tears fell from Bella's eyes.

Fuck this.

I ran right up to the raised voices and tugged Jake's shorts roughly, hearing a slight rip. I didn't care. I had to get his attention. He tore his angry gaze away from Edward just enough to look at me, as I jerked my snout towards Bella. She looked on, fascinated as I lowered my head towards her face and let out a soft whine. A watery grin was my reward as her soft hand came out to caress my muzzle, and she laughed softly as a puff of my breath twirled her hair about her heart-shaped face. Jake's expression softened, his heart warmed by the sight of Bella interacting with one of his brothers – a wolf – and barely batting an eyelash. Edward was restrained by the bear-Cullen long enough to realise I didn't pose a threat, and that was the last I saw as I closed my eyes, feeling Bella's gentle scratching behind my ears. I breathed in her scent, imagined a wall around my thoughts, and recalled my earlier mantra.

I must listen to my Alpha. Jacob is my best friend. I can't let things get to me personally. I need to learn to be a good subordinates. I have to know my place, and it is not beside Bella.

I opened one I and looked at her, her hair falling around her shoulders, cheeks tinged pink with emotion and embarrassment. She smelled deliciously feminine and sweet and so brilliantly human, and I closed my eyes to breathe her in again, wondering if this was torture or pleasure, because right now, they both felt one in the same.

I have to know my place. It is not beside Bella.

A/N: Sorry that I've not been my normal, chapter-a-day self with this one, but its an extremely complicated plotline, and if I mess it up, it's going to make no sense!

Hope you liked my take on Embry. He's very conflicted but sweet with a serious inferiority complex. Seemed plausible to me. Hope I have some Embry fans among you, and if not, I hope to make some. :)

Thoughts?