AN

Another update for you guys, the next one will be up in the next few days.

Sam's POV

Two months had now passed since I stepped down as Alpha, and I was slowly adjusting to life as a husband. I was working full time now that I didn't have to take patrols and was concentrating on providing for my family.

The house in La Push was still up for sale, but we were renting a place on the Makah Reservation until it was sold. We could then look for something more permanent for our family.

Emily was currently 32 weeks into the pregnancy and her stomach was huge. I didn't know if it was the wolf genes, but our baby seemed massive. As I walked in the door after work, I was alarmed to find her waddling around the kitchen cooking tea.

Immediately, I rushed to her and took the pan out of her hands. "Emily, what are you doing?"

"I'm pregnant Sam not crippled." She huffed and slumped into a nearby chair.

I knelt down and kissed the scarred side of her face before I kissed her on the lips. "You ok?"

"I'm fine. I just feel so useless." She rubbed her back as she spoke.

"You still having problems?" I signalled at her uncomfortable posture.

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I can't cook for my husband. I'm just a bit slower and fatter than usual." She stopped what she was doing and stroked my face as she looked into my eyes.

I sighed, "Em' your number one priority right now is to look after our baby and yourself."

I rubbed her tummy as I spoke and she smiled.

"My boobs are leaking," she said, pouting.

"What? Is that normal? Do we need a doctor?" I was panicking already.

"Calm down Sam. It's normal, it's just another weird baby thing. This whole pregnancy lark isn't as fun as everyone makes it out to be."

Emily's body had been giving her hell for the last month.

"Come with me." I gently pulled her up from the seat and without thinking lifted her carefully into my arms.

"Sam stop it." She playfully slapped my chest, before laying her head on my shoulder.

"You, my love, need relaxing," I said as I carried her up to our bedroom.

When I reached the bed, I laid her on it and rolled her on to her side. I crawled behind her and started to rub her back trying to relieve the pressure and tension our baby was causing. I felt her sigh and knowing it was helping continued. Eventually, her whole body was relaxed. To my surprise, she later turned to face me and asked me to make love to her; I couldn't deny her anything.

Some time later, we lay satisfied. We were wrapped in each others arm with the blankets twisted around our limbs. I stroked the naked curve of her tummy and whispered sweet words to her and our child. I knew at that moment that my decision to leave was the right one, my life was now perfect. Emily was safe from all dangers and we were happy and content.

"Sam . . ." Emily's voice was sleepy.

"Yeah babe?" I kissed the top of her head.

"I love you." Her words were filled with emotion.

My heart felt like it would burst with pleasure; "I love you too."

"I've been thinking about things." She sighed.

I didn't like where this was going, "What sort of things?"

"If anything happens to me, you know in child birth-" Her words broke off.

I was not going to hear anything negative like this. It wasn't an option "Shhh . . . don't be silly. Nothing will happen."

"Sam, I'm being serious." She looked up at me so I could see her eyes. "I want to be practical about things. I love you and I know that if I lost you, life would be unbearable."

"It would be the same for me." I nodded, it was unsaid, I lived only for her.

"Will you listen to me?" She shot me a look at me which told me to shut up. "I need you to promise, that if something happens, you'll keep it together for the baby. This imprinting thing scares me. If anything was to happen I need to know you would survive it."

I could see the fear in her eyes, so I promised her, reluctantly and painfully, that if I lost her, I wouldn't leave our child alone.

"Good, I just want to know that she or he will be looked after. We are going to do things properly Sam. We've made enough mistakes in the past." She seemed satisfied with my promise and curled into me as we fell asleep for the night.

Jared's POV

'Paul, knock it off.

Brady, stop it!

Collin, don't do that in front of the cubs! What the hell kind of impression are you trying to set?'

It was lunchtime and I watched on, annoyed at the antics of my pack. They were all messing around on top of the cliffs. Collin in particular was planning to jump off the edge as a wolf and land in the water human. I had no idea how it would work out if he hit the water half phased; I wasn't about to let him show off in front of the youngsters though.

Paul - someone please remind me why he was now beta - was in the meantime deliberately antagonising the cubs so that they would fight him and then get a beating. Brady, who was Paul's apprentice, was egging them on.

I felt another mind join me. 'Everything under control?' Leah's sarcasm came through loud and clear.

'Just perfect. You've got it easy, there's only three people for you to manage. I have ten,' I directed my thoughts loudly at my pack 'AND THEY ARE ALL JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.'

I felt various shrugs of nonchalance. I was still having a bit of trouble, getting the pack to listen when off duty.

Leah was laughing evilly at me, I could feel it.

'Well, I just wanted to say that Embry and Seth will be off duty soon; you ok to take over in an hour or two?'

'Sure. Thanks Leah . . .' I felt her ready to phase out, 'hey Leah, you heard from Jake or Cris lately? I rarely ever catch them phased.'

'Yeah. They're good, I haven't spoken to Cris much this week; I think he was talking about coming back down to visit in a few months though. Jake's still totally besotted with Nessie; you know how the imprint thing works.'

The girl speaking to me wasn't the same Leah we used to know. I could actually like this Leah. She was still a part-time bitch, but the edge of her hate had gone. The alphas leaving had changed all of us and the new age had begun. I couldn't deny that a part of me also wanted to be with my imprint like Sam did, but we weren't ready yet. Maybe when we started a family of our own we would consider it but, until then, me and Kim were content with our lives as they were. Sam was older and deserved to step down.

'Part bitch hey? I guess that's a compliment.'

I mentally cringed as I realised she could hear my thoughts. 'Sorry.'

'How is Sam?' There was hesitation in her mind as she asked. I realised she seemed down today.

'Honestly?' I wasn't sure if she truly wanted to know.

'Honestly.'

'He's really good Leah. He's . . .'

'Yeah, on second thoughts that's a good enough update for me.' Leah chuckled awkwardly.

I shrugged it off and remembered this evening's plans: I was determined to build bridges with our packs. 'Hey, do you guy's fancy a beach barbeque later? Pack bonding and all that.'

'Err, yeah ok. I'll tell the boys. I've got some work to do though so I might not make it.'

I had forgotten about her art, 'Oh, of course, how's that going?'

'Good, thanks.'

That was about the limit that our new friendship could reach before things started to get uncomfortable, so after saying a quick goodbye she phased out leaving me to my pack.

'No! Collin, what did I say?'

I was too late and the idiot wolf jumped off the cliff. I felt him phase out and decided if he broke something it would be his own dumb fault.

Leah's POV

I had finished my patrol some hours ago after speaking with Jared and was now sitting in the back garden with my legs crossed, sketching idly on the pad in my lap. I heard the guys come in from patrol and a few minutes later they joined me on the grass.

"What ya doing?" Embry nudged my shoulder and caused my pencil to move across the page leaving an unwanted mark in the drawing.

"You bloody idiot!" I punched him hard and saw him rubbing his shoulder.

"Leah, he didn't mean it," Seth whined.

"Shut it. What do you want? I'm busy." I was busy - busy thinking about things.

"Why? You're not working." Seth pointed at my pad.

I picked it up and waved it at him, "Err, Dumbo . . . I'm drawing, what else would you call it?"

"You're drawing a wolf. You're telling me that's work related?" Seth was finally learning the skill of sarcasm.

I heard Embry snort and gave him a glare daring him to say something. He might be my beta, but I would still beat him to hell and back.

After a minutes silence, I relaxed and threw the pad down on the ground. Unfortunately they were right, I wasn't working: I was moping.

"Anything new on patrol?" I questioned trying to distract myself.

"Nope; all's clear. I think it's safe to say any danger has passed." Embry seemed pleased.

I hoped it was the case and had to admit nothing bad had ever actually come of our mystery guest.

"So, I spoke with Jared earlier."

Both guys perked their heads up as I spoke.

"We're invited to a barbeque later."

Seth grinned. "Cool! We can go right?"

"Of course, you don't have to ask my permission you idiot." I wasn't their mother.

"Thanks boss! I'll go tell Quil and sort out if they want us to bring anything." Embry was off in a flash before I could respond.

"You are coming Sis?" Seth looked concerned.

"I don't know . . . maybe." I brushed his question off.

Seth didn't buy it. "Why not? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I sighed.

"Cris?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Maybe; I could swear he's been avoiding me this week."

"I don't think that's the case." Seth's expression was unreadable.

"What would you know?" I snapped.

"Nothing." He was backtracking. "I just don't think your right." My little brother got up to move back into the house.

"Seth, you know what day it is tomorrow right?"

He nodded solemnly.

"You're coming with me?" I asked nervously. I didn't doubt my brother, but I had to be sure. If he wanted to do it alone, I would respect his wishes.

"Yeah, but let's just enjoy tonight though. I can't think about it too much Leah; you know that."

I hated seeing my brothers sadness, so I let him head back in the house. Seth, like me, had his own way of dealing with our parents' death.

I tried not to dwell on it to much today, not wanting to drag him down. I did my pack duties earlier and avoided the thought of it. Regretfully, I had to face up to facts though; tomorrow would be ten years since dad died.

Each year it killed me. We would visit the grave together and talk to him and then go and see mum. The pain felt heavier than normal though. It would be ten years marking the day that I became a failure of a daughter and the wolf that killed him. To add to the sinking feeling, I was only just starting to live my life. That meant I had wasted those ten years on misery; I could only imagine how my father would be ashamed.

Yes, tomorrow was definitely going to be hard; I wouldn't be able to rely on Seth either, he had his own demons and I was meant to be there for him as his older sister. I desperately wanted someone there for me though.

Surprisingly, Jake had already offered to come down; I didn't even ask him, he just remembered the date. Despite his good intentions, it wasn't who I needed and I also knew he would spend the day wanting to get back to Nessie, which would hurt just as much.

I thought back to Cris, he had called me a few times this week, but was always too busy to meet me phased. I was worried; I knew he said he would be down in a few months, but it was still a few months away and I missed his company. Being in his head and speaking on the phone wasn't enough for me anymore. My life was finally working out and I couldn't share it with the one person I wanted too - the person who was responsible for it.

I was even more worried because the week before, I had told him what tomorrow meant while we patrolled, yet he was still avoiding me. All I knew was that ever since that night he had taken to calling me to make sure I was ok, but he avoided phasing.

I made my way slowly into the house to get ready for the barbeque. I wanted to use it as a distraction from worrying about tomorrow. As normal, the pack all met at mine and we headed out as a team. Quil and Seth were amusing Claire the whole way, and I walked side by side with Embry in silence.

By the time we got to the beach, Jared's pack were already settled and the food was cooking. Everyone greeted the boys and a few people greeted me (I still wasn't exactly popular). I saw Sam and Emily had also joined us tonight and noticed her bump was really big. I took in a deep breathe and, in the memory of my father, walked over to them.

The couple looked startled as I approached, and Rachel and Paul, who were sitting with them, quickly made an exit leaving us alone.

"Hi," I said nervously.

Emily smiled and softly said, "Hi Leah."

Sam said nothing and only sat with a curious expression. I rubbed the back of my neck with my hand; I really was no good at this sort of stuff - Mum always was, but it was my job now and I was trying to live up to my parents legacy.

"So, I just wanted to say," I took a deep breath " . . . congratulations."

The couple looked at me dumbstruck, so I continued, "I realised I hadn't said it. So, I have now."

"Thank you." Sam nodded gratefully, while Emily looked fit to cry.

I turned to walk away satisfied my duty was done.

"Hey Leah?" Sam's voice called to me.

I turned to look at him, hoping to God that he wouldn't push it. He seemed to understand my expression, better than I anticipated.

"I just wanted to say, I know what tomorrow is . . ." His eyes glistened like he too was close to tears. "He would be proud of you. Your dad, I mean."

I nodded gratefully at his words and wandered off to the opposite side of the fire. I sat down on a log alone and grabbed a hot dog, trying to fight off the memories of my dad that were threatening to break through.

I had my back to the forest and felt the log I was perched on sink under the weight of someone sitting down next to me.

"Sorry I'm late; I had some stuff to do."

The deep husky voice caused a shudder to run through me. I turned, not believing my ears, only to see the most beautiful blue eyes looking at me.