Chapter 14 (Emily POV, until the end changes back to Jake)

A knock on the door made Billy roll towards it, yelling, "it's open!"

Emily balanced the casserole in one hand and quickly twisted the knob to let herself in. "Hello, Chief Black."

"Emily, what a pleasant surprise." The full pan of BBQ pulled pork smelled wonderful, and he took the warm dish from her hand, resting it in his lap before setting it on the counter.

"Yeah, well, everyone hasn't been coming as often. So, I thought maybe I would bring you something." Emily gave a nervous smile looking around. By "everyone" she really meant Jake, but didn't want Billy to know because of being part of the Council. She knew they all expected her and Sam to be together forever.

"I'm sure Jake will appreciate it." Billy smiled.

"Is he here?"

"Yes, he came home and crashed over twelve hours ago. Apparently dealing with Leah is exhausting." Billy chuckled.

Emily gave a sad nod, missing her cousin. She knew how crazy it was for the others to suddenly transform and for Leah, being the only female, she had no idea how she had managed. However, she trusted Jake to take good care of her.

When Sam called, telling her Harry was being transported to the hospital by ambulance and both Leah and Seth had phased, Emily thought he had lost his mind. Something creepy was happening and she couldn't understand what, but hoped it might repair some of the damage imprinting had caused. Maybe now Leah would know Sam and Emily couldn't help what had happened and it would allow her to forgive them. At least Emily could hope and pray for that to happen.

"Did you need Jake for something?" Billy asked.

"He mentioned looking at my car, and while I'm here, I guess I thought he might. But I can come back another time."

The bang of the bathroom door down the hall alerted them to the fact Jake was back in the land of the living.

"It sounds like you won't have to wait long."

"Thanks, Chief Black."

"You know you don't have to call me Chief. The title belongs to Sam as long as he is alpha."

Emily shrugged. "I know, but I still think of you as Chief Black and honestly so does most of the people."

Billy nodded in understanding.

Less than ten minutes later, Jake walked into the room with his shorts resting low on his hips and water dripping from his hair, running down his chest. Did he even attempt to dry off before dressing?

"Hey Dad! I'm starv…" Jake's voice tapered off once his eyes found Emily.

"You are in luck. Emily brought us some food."

"I always knew you were amazing." Jake gave her a grin and a quick wink.

Emily felt the heat on her cheeks and gave a quick glance to Billy. He chuckled and didn't appear to think much of the flirtatious banter.

Jake scooped a large portion on a plate and sat it on the table along with a glass of water.

"Do you mind if I also have a drink?" Emily asked.

"You can have this one." Jake reached the glass to her.

Her fingers brushed along his as the glass exchanged hands, causing her heart to leap up in her chest. Everything about Jake felt similar to Sam, but at the same time different. Imprinting with Sam was like an echo of love, it had the same voice, but was impossible to know where it originated from. With Jake she knew the excitement she felt when seeing him came from herself and knowing that made her happy.

Jake sat down with another glass of water and began to eat quickly. Emily wondered if Jake felt curious about her being there and assumed he must have been extremely hungry to not ask. It made her wonder even more about his time with Leah and if it really did wear him out like Billy claimed.

"How are you?" Emily asked.

"Good, and you?" Jake leaned forward, whispering. "Not that it isn't cool that you are here, but, what's up?"

"I just wanted to see how things were with you, since... everything."

"You mean, Leah." Jake filled in for her.

Emily nodded.

"It's fine, though it hasn't been easy."

"I'm glad that she was able to go home last night. Thanks for being with her." Emily released a deep sigh. Her heart ached for her former best friend and cousin. There was not a single day that went by that Emily didn't think of Leah. Every time she looked at Sam it was a reminder of the reason for her lose.

"Emily wanted you to check out her car if you had time," Billy said, rolling over to the counter for a cup of lukewarm coffee.

"Did you drive it here?" Jake asked.

"Yes."

"It is a small miracle that the piece of crap actually moves."

"Hey! I love that piece of crap. Two years ago I had to work all summer to be able to afford her."

"Well, then let's go see if I can put some life back in her." Jake grinned and sprung from the table, placed his dishes in the sink and walked towards the door.

Emily giggled, thankful Jake could make her laugh.

"After you." Jake opened the door and Emily walked under his arm and through the open door.

"Thanks."

"Let's look at your car before you start thanking me." Jake held his hand towards her palm up. "Keys, please."

"You think I'll just hand them over that easily." Emily smirked. She loved the flirtatious playfulness that came out of her around Jake. It lifted her spirits and made her feel good about herself.

"And what do I have to do? Frisk ya." Jake raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Maybe…" Emily giggled as Jake stepped closer to her.

His hand went to her hips. "You wouldn't happen to be one of those girls who carried everything in her bra?"

"No, I'm not. And how do you know women do that?"

"First off, damn. It would have been a good place for me to search. Secondly, I have two sisters, and thirdly, you women are not near as sneaky as you think. A rectangular cell phone doesn't exactly look like a boob."

"Okay, valid points."

Jacob's hands slide from her hips to the front of her thighs feeling a slight bulge on the right side. "Damn, I should have check your back pockets first."

"Yep," Emily said with a laugh and reached into her pocket to retrieve the keys. "Here, that was fun." She tossed the keys in the air and Jake caught them easily.

"Yes, it was."

Jake walked over to the garage, opening the door wide and then walked back towards her car.

"Are you driving it to your garage?" Emily asked.

"I was planning on it. Is it going to start or should I push it?"

"Well, I did drive it here, so it should start. I'll meet you over by the garage."

Once behind the wheel, Jake adjusted the seat for his long legs and then started the car with Emily standing outside near the driver side. It sounded slightly better than the last time they were in his car and Emily wondered if Jake could tell Sam had attempted to fix it.

The car coughed it way closer to the garage and then slowly rolled to vacant spot. With a pop, the hood rose and Jake looked inside. Emily watched his face as his hands danced over one part and landed on another.

"What are you looking for?"

"Right now just something obvious. Did you know your check engine light is on?"

"Yes, I checked, the engine was there," Emily replied.

"Haha, good one."

"Seriously, that has to be one of the most useless lights on a car. The oil light, check the oil. The tire pressure light, check the tires. The check engine light… What is anyone supposed to do with one?"

"You take it to a mechanic who knows what he is doing. By the way, who tried to work on your car?"

"Sam."

Jake nodded.

"He needed something to do after Seth and Leah phased."

"Does he know you are here?"

"No, since Leah phased out he has decided to give everyone a break and do the patrolling. Paul was asleep on the couch when I left."

"That gives us a couple hours. I'll look at this later." Jake put his arm around her waist, bringing her closer to him.

"Sounds good to me. I've missed seeing you." Emily laced her arms around his waist and leaned into his side. She could feel the heat of his skin seep through her shirt, caressing her skin.

Her long hair rested in a braid down her back, not hanging in her face the way it normally did since her accident. She knew that she didn't have to hide her scars from Jake and she liked the way he looked at her.

"What have you missed?" Jake asked curiously.

"Your smile and friendliness. Also the way you look at me."

"And how is it, different than… ?" Jake hesitated.

"Than with Sam," Emily offered.

Jake nodded.

"With Sam, it is like I'm the only woman in the world. His look is intense and consuming. With you, it's more that you want me."

"Yes, I do." Jake leaned down, brushing his lips with hers.

Emily kissed him back her heart soaring as it threatened to burst from her chest. Her long standing crush on Jacob had blossomed into joy which creeped closer to love with each touch they shared.

Jake's hand moved around her waist to her rear and a grin spread over his lips, making kissing difficult.

"My keys still aren't there," Emily whispered playfully.

"Just double checking," Jake mumbled his lips staying connected to hers.

"Always good to be cautious." The second the words left her lips, Emily wished that she hadn't of said them.

Jake leaned back from her. "Yeah, especially when you're cheating with your alpha's imprint."

"Jake…" Emily sighed, reaching out towards him.

Jake raised his hands for her to stop and stepped back, leaning against this tool chest. "That is exactly what we are doing Emily. To me Sam is an ass who drives me crazy and because of that part of me doesn't care if we hurt him. But, what about you? What is he to you?"

Emily took a thoughtful breath. "It's hard to explain. I do feel something. I think is part of the imprint. It is not completely one sided. But this whole ordeal has been difficult and I feel like because of imprinting I have lost everything. With you, I hope that I can get my life back."

"Do you love him?"

"I don't know, I guess part of me does. But I don't want to love him, I want something different."

"Maybe you should tell him that, and then we could be together."

"I will, soon." For the past several months she had resided herself to the fact Sam would be her life from now on. She wondered how he would take her change of heart. Would he accept what she wanted? Would it destroy him if she were to choose Jake?


JACOB'S POV


Jake grinned excited that she would soon become his. He immediately stepped closer to her, hugging her tightly. He felt Emily sink into his embrace, knowing she was going to do one of the hardest things she had ever done.

"Thank you, Emily." Seeing the sacrifice she was willing to make for him, made him realize how much he loved her. No one had ever chosen him and made him feel wanted. He loved the way she served those around him and he wanted her to feel appreciated for what she did.

He kissed her softly, hoping that she could feel his new found feelings, however his moment was cut short from a voice outside.

"Jake!" Embry called.

"The garage, Em!" Jake yelled back to his friend.

He gave Emily another quick squeeze and then he moved back to the car as Embry entered the building.

"Hey!" Embry greeted with a smile, looking around and then his eyes widened in surprise seeing Emily. Immediately, he coughed.

"Hey Em, want to help me with Em's car," Jake chuckled, finding it humorous that his friends had the same nickname.

"Sure. What's wrong with it?" Embry asked.

"The awful noise is it needing new belts. The filters and oil have all been replaced recently."

Embry nodded his head, licking his lips like something in his mouth irritated him.

The guys worked well together, quickly immersing their arms in grease and dirt.

"How long has Emily been here?" Embry asked and coughed again.

"About an hour. Are you okay?" Jake asked him.

"Yeah," he coughed again, "I'm fine."

Jake shook his head knowing that a fellow wolf couldn't get sick. Looking around the dirt floored garage, he didn't see anything that would irritate his friend. Besides, Embry had been in the garage countless number of times and the air had never bothered him before.

The choking cough reminded Jake of when he was trying to talk to Bella. He remembered that invisible hand which reached out to strangle his vocal chords making him studder and cough like an idiot. Embry seemed to not be as intense, however the similarity made Jake want to test what Embry could talk about and what he could not.

"Did you patrol today?" Jake asked.

"No, Sam gave us all the day off. Which was nice, if I am out much more, then Mom is going to kick me out."

Jake frowned. "I'm really sorry. I wish you could tell her."

"Me too."

"Is it Sam that keeps you from telling her?" Jake asked.

"Maybe, I can talk to him." Emily offered.

Embry jumped at Emily's voice, almost like he had forgotten she was there. Jake watched him closely his mouth open and closing.

"Cat got your tongue, Em?"

Embry shook his head. "It's, it's nothing."

"Here's the thing, Embry, I've experienced this same 'nothing' that you are. Do you remember the night when Bella came to see me?"

"Yeah…"

"I was blubbering around the same way you are now. Did Sam order you to not say something?"

Embry immediately went rigid and Jake knew his body wasn't allowing him to nod or shake his head.

"Relax and think of something else, anything, and you'll be able to talk again."

Embry took a couple deep breaths and gave another cough. "It's better, but I don't think I can, continue."

"Is it about your mom?" Jake asked.

"No."

"I think it is about me," Emily stated stepping closer to Jake's other side.

Jake looked at her, his hand moving to the small of her back without him realizing it. "Why would it be about you?"

Embry looked at Jake and Emily together and reached out his hand to his throat like he couldn't breathe. His chest heaved, and he continued to cough. Jake felt like he was watching his best friend having some type of strange seizure all because of something Sam didn't want him to say.

Rage filled Jake as he stepped closer to Embry. "Tell me!"

Embry's eyes widened as his breaths came in and out with a raspy affect.

A power, which Jake didn't know he had, started within his clinched fists and shook down his body until it settled over his chest. A low growl escaped his lips as he watched his friend in despair. "I am ordering you! Tell me now!"

Embry gave a final cough and took a deep breath. Quickly his breathing returned to normal.

In a strong and stable voice he said, "Sam knows… He knows about you and Emily…"