Guest (ch.49): Thanks for taking the time to read and to reply, even anonymously. Here are the answers to your questions: No, the plotline for this story hasn't changed for me. I sometimes foreshadow things that are coming in the story, but I also have something of an official policy of not giving spoilers for what's on the way, so sometimes you'll see plot events coming and other times they might be a complete surprise. And no, this piece hasn't lost its direction. I'm still working things along the path I want the characters and events to travel and we'll get to the destination eventually. I don't know everything little thing that will be included in this story (even I can be surprised sometimes with how things unfold), but I do have a general plan. Fair warning: I don't do short and abrupt stories, so if you're looking for something fast-paced and direct, this probably isn't the story for you and I'm probably not the author that you want to read. If you don't like how "Jagged Edges Heal" is going, then do what I did a few years ago: start writing your own Twilight fan fiction using your own unique ideas and make things turn out the way you want them to.

Lenniem (ch.42): Yes, even if it was compelled, it still took courage for Jacob to really look at himself and see his words and actions clearly. He's now able to start his way back to being the good Jacob that people like. Glad you enjoyed it.

Lenniem (ch.49): Even if the pack is a tight and exclusive unit, they're still entitled to have other friends. After being isolated from his own friends after they phased, Embry's going to make damned sure that he doesn't do the same thing to his own non-wolf friends (if if they were Bella's friends first). I do have plans for everyone, so you'll just have to stay tuned to see if your guess/hope is right or wrong—all I'll say is that anything is possible. Yes, Billy is quite the piece of work. Even if he may have said that he kept quiet for Sarah's sake, he does seem to have been motivated more by his own self-interest and standing in the community. Finances aside (and clearly Tiffany was able to care for her son on her own just fine), there was still a lot that Billy could have done for Embry that he chose not to do-not the least of which would have been to make a private acknowledgment of his paternity. No, Billy hasn't helped Jake much, either. Making Jake reject his friend, filling his head with that Alpha stuff... Good question as to whether Billy deserves to keep what he's got (what he was willing to lie to be able to keep). He certainly isn't setting a good example for anyone. Hope this new update came soon enough.

Guest(2) (ch.49): Thanks. Glad you love the story. Regarding your Cullen question: I can't say anything specific. But...stay tuned. I do have some nice little plans percolating for later on in the story.

AN: This chapter's delays can be credited to...writer's block, a very busy schedule, some serious life-thinking, and becoming an auntie again (to a beautiful little niece this time). Hopefully this nice long chapter makes up for the delay and starts to move things along in the story. But as always, I will keep plugging away and update as often as I can. Thanks to whoever nominated this story to the Twilight Non-Canon Awards! I'm thrilled that "Jagged Edges Heal" won gold for Best Tear-jerker.

Also, this year's Tricky Raven author/artist auction is now underway until April 21), and yours truly is one of the authors up for bid. If you have a hankering for me to create a one-shot fanfiction story with a pairing/plot of your choice (within my parameters listed on the auction page), then head over to the Tricky Raven site and put a bid in on me. There are many other great people available for bidding also, so check them out.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bella POV

Embry had just left for his daily patrol shift and I was forcing myself to do a bit of studying, as my math teacher had threatened a pop quiz first thing in class on Monday. The ringing of my cell phone was a welcome distraction.

"Hi, Leah."

"Hey, Bella! How's life as a senior?"

"It's fine so far. Having Embry at school with me part of the day is great. One look from him, and those annoying high school boys scurry for cover."

She laughed. "That's definitely a good thing. Glad it's working out for you."

"Me, too. So, how are things going for you? All settled in? Do you like your job? Ready for your classes to start?"

"Slow down, girl. It's all good. Pretty much unpacked and organized now. Job's going just fine. A lot to learn, but it's good. Rach and I are getting to know each other again. I'd almost forgotten how much I missed her when she moved away. I get why she did it-and if I'm honest about things, I feel a lot like she said she did. Getting away from a bad situation, being someplace totally new and different...it's like I've got a whole new lease on life. Like I dumped all the crap I was carrying on the side of the highway and drove off without it."

I considered what Leah had just said. Moving away to college had let her leave behind the whole mess of having been dumped by Sam with no reasonable explanation of why it happened or why her dad wasn't after Sam's blood, and then on top of it all, she'd then had to watch him immediately start an intense relationship with Emily, marry her, and have a baby. Jumping ship to a new city and starting over would be the perfect time for a blank state of a fresh start. "That's great," I finally replied. "I'm glad for you that moving away is working out for you."

"Was it that way for you when you moved up to Washington?"

"Not really, I don't think. I liked life in Arizona, my school and my friends. I even liked Mom and Phil, even if Mom's spaciness bugged me sometimes. I just ended up feeling like I was in the way with them being newlyweds and all. In some ways, I really didn't want to move up here. Charlie and I hadn't spent much time together in-well, forever-so that was going to be awkward, him being all parental on a full-time basis."

"Going from a carefree bachelor to father of a teenage daughter," Leah said. "Classic circumstances for overcompensating."

"Yeah. So there was that adjustment process, the nightmare of starting at new school that was so much smaller than my old one, classes where I already knew the material from taking advanced classes in Phoenix, my disaster of a dating relationship..."

"That dating debacle is in your past now. I bet that Embry is miles above what that other guy was like."

"Absolutely."

"So is he still taking good care of you?" Leah's tone dripped with innuendo.

My face automatically flamed in response. Oh boy, Embry certainly did look after me. Even now, a day later, my body still heated up at the mere memory of what he'd done for and to me yesterday. My boldness in riding him the way he'd commanded me to...

(flashback)

Where did he learn this? I barely had time to wonder. For that matter, I barely cared. Whether it was from Paul's magazines, Paul himself, or someone else in that pack mind of theirs, all that soon mattered was how what Embry had learned made me feel. His new muscles lifted me up and down without effort, and the sensations thus evoked from sliding along his dick were mind-blowing.

Tightening my core muscles experimentally caused Embry to growl commandingly "Do that again" in a deep voice that vibrated clear through my body. So I did. Again and again. Before long, he was bucking underneath me, and only his grip on my hips kept me from sailing off the bed like a rodeo rider as we both orgasmed.

And then the shower...would I ever be able to use that bathroom again without remembering how it felt to be held against the acrylic surface of the shower surround and fucked into oblivion? The contrast of cool plastic behind me and hot flesh in front of me, inside me? Could I watch my father walk into his own bathroom without turning fire-engine red with knowing what Embry and I had done in there?

(end of flashback)

"Earth to Bella! Hello?"

"What?"

"Where did you disappear to, girl?"

"Inside my head, probably."

"Guess that answers my question, huh?"

"Question?"

Leah laughed. "Yep. Embry's taking very good care of you."

"Yeah," I admitted softly.

Taking pity on me, Leah asked, "So what else has been going on in the thriving Forks metropolitan area?"

What a loaded question that was. So much had happened lately, but little of it was stuff I could share with Leah. "Well..." I stalled, trying to rapidly decide what I could say and what I shouldn't. "Embry and I went with a group of kids from Forks-and Quil-to Lake Crescent near Port Angeles last weekend."

"What? Did Quil return from the dark side?"

"He and Embry are trying to rebuild their friendship," I prevaricated. "He did help keep those irritating guys at bay during the trip-I think Jess and Angela were just as grateful as Embry and me were."

"Good for them," Leah sounded doubtful. I couldn't tell her that I knew Quil and Embry would be fine, not without mentioning the whole Sam situation and-

"So if Quil isn't leaving the dark side-Sam's side," Leah continued, almost psychically following my thoughts, "is Embry joining it?"

Part of me wanted to lie about it, but the only one I'd be protecting by doing that would be myself, which was selfish and not in my nature any more than lying was. "Sam Uley has been helping Embry out lately, so yes, we have spent a bit of time with him and his friends."

"Sam helped Embry? With what?" my friend's voice was too even.

"Rachel must not have said anything. Or maybe she doesn't know yet-he might not have told her-probably hasn't-and probably no one else would have wanted to even if they knew her number or email-which maybe they don't and-"

"Bella Swan, what the hell are you babbling about? He, who? Told who, what?" Leah's sharp questions snapped me out of my semi-hysterical rambling.

"Embry found out who his dad was-is."

"And Sam is helping with this somehow?"

"He knows what it's like to have his dad reject him-but Sam was luckier than Embry: at least his dad left La Push."

Leah waited me out in silence, until I finally had to say it. "Billy is Embry's father. Embry is Jake's brother, and Rebecca's and Rachel's, too."

"Holy shit," she breathed. "How did Embry find out?"

Damn it, how was I supposed to explain that? It wasn't like I could say that it had happened after both guys had turned into giant wolves. Inspiration hit me like a lightning bolt. "Jake showed up at my place a bit over a week ago-I guess he got sick of me ignoring his calls-and ambushed me into admitting how close Embry and I were by then. Jake freaked out over it and went after Embry. They had a knockdown drag-out fight and got hauled in front of the tribal council because of it. Billy tried to act all high and mighty, Tiffany Call reacted to something he said, and Embry put two and two together."

"Shit," repeated Leah.

"Yeah, pretty much. Embry's pissed at pretty much everyone except for me, his mom, and Paul-maybe Jared, too. And Sam, I guess. Everyone is pissed at Billy. Jake's trying to make things up to Embry now, but that's floating as well as a giant boulder-though maybe at least some of that is because of Billy rather than Jake himself."

"Understandable. Jake's the son everyone knew about, the son Billy chose to acknowledge. Embry's have to be a saint to not resent that."

"Yeah, that probably is a little part of it. It's not all of the problem, though-Jake said and did some pretty crappy stuff himself to Embry over the past few weeks, so he deserves some of what Embry's giving him now."

"No doubt. They were best friends for so long that they'd both know exactly how to get under each others' skin in the worst possible way."

After a little while, the silence started to get awkward.

"Are we okay, Leah?"

"With what? Your boyfriend secretly being genetic member of the Black family? Nothing any of us can do about that, so why would I kick up a fuss?"

"I guess I really meant us spending time with Sam. With what happened..."

"To me, Bella. Not to you. I'm flattered-in a sense-that you are concerned enough with me and how I feel to not want to upset me. But I'm not there in La Push anymore, Bella, and even if I was...you're practically an adult now, and that means that no one-not your parents or even your friends-should be able to dictate who you spend time with, or who your boyfriend associates with. If Sam's able to help Embry now with all this crap, then that's a good thing. If you're supporting Embry and being around the Uley's is part of how you do it, then that's okay, too-Embry's the one who matters."

My sigh was involuntary and heartfelt. "Thanks. I know Embry needs this, but I also realize that Sam's a sensitive subject for you."

"He is. I'm going to work hard to make that 'he was' this year. But this isn't about me, it's about Embry and you. Seems like Embry needs all the help and support he can get right now, and if Sam can give it then it'd be pretty petty of me to stand in the way of that, history or no history. I can't begin to imagine how Embry must be feeling right now, so I'm grateful that he-and you, too-has someone to turn to for this. Now, am I going to hang out with Sam and company if I'm back in town...? Probably not. Maybe not. We'll see."

"You can always find a hot new boyfriend at college and bring him back to show him off," I suggested. "That might be worth you being in the same room as Sam."

"There is that," agreed Leah. The silence this time was more thoughtful. Then she said, "In answer to your earlier rambling, no, Rachel hasn't said anything about Embry to me. She doesn't hold back what she's thinking, so I'm sure she doesn't know. You want me to tell her?"

Did I? I didn't know. She clearly had a right to know that she had another younger brother, and moreover that he was someone she'd seen a good bit of while they'd been growing up. But...it wasn't my responsibility to tell her, or Leah's. It was Billy's job. The question now was, would he do it, or bury his head in the sand again like before?

"You lost in your head again?" Leah asked.

"No, I was just thinking of an answer. And I don't have one." I shared my thoughts on the subject.

"You're right. I don't want to be in the line of fire for this anymore than you do. This is going to be as epic as a monster Pacific storm. A tribal chief cheating on his wife with another woman and then not claiming the son she bore him?" Leah whistled. "There are a lot of people who'll be upset and angry and disappointed with him over that. Let me do some thinking. Do my parents know?"

"Yeah. They were both at the meeting."

"Okay. I might see what they have to say. Someone's going to have to tell the twins, and sooner rather than later to keep World War III from erupting. Billy might be safer from Rebecca, since she's all the way out in Hawaii, but Rachel..."

"I know. I'm just glad it doesn't have to be me telling them."

"Yep. This one isn't on you, girl, so don't you dare even think about feeling guilty or selfish about it."

"I won't."

"See that you do-or that you don't, in this case. Damn. I've got to run or I'm going to be late for work."

"I have to get back to my homework anyway. Thanks for calling, Leah. It was nice to talk this stuff over."

"Anytime."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jake POV

I walked up to the front door of Embry's house, more nervous than I'd probably ever been in my entire life. He wasn't home-which was why I'd chosen this time-but his mom was there. I owed Tiffany Call the apology that the council and Sam had dictated, and I figured doing it without Embry around would be best and safest-for both of us.

What little confidence I had took a big hit when Embry's mom opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" the question was curt and totally not like how she had always greeted me in the past.

"I need to apologize."

"Apologize? Do you think that an apology will change anything?"

My head dropped. "I know it won't change how Embry feels about me, or how he feels about my-our-dad. But I need to do this. It's the right thing for me to do."

"He isn't here."

"I know that. I thought it might be best to do this without him."

"What did you say to my son?"

Shame filled me again to think about the words-really just that one word that I'd kept on throwing at Embry, knowing how it would burn and slice at him. My first instinct was to try and sugar-coat my behavior, but I knew enough about Embry's mom to know that I wouldn't get by with it. Besides, if I was trying to keep the promises I'd made to myself and Taha Aki to be a better person, the person I wanted to be, then glossing over what I'd said wasn't the way to do it.

"I kept throwing 'bastard' in his face," I finally admitted.

"And why did you do that?"

"Because I wanted him to be hurting as badly as I was and I knew that would do it."

"Bella," Tiffany said.

"Yeah," my reply fell heavily between us.

"Before they got together, Embry was concerned about how you'd react. But with how you were treating him-treating both of them-I said that he didn't need to make his choices based on what would or wouldn't make you happy. You hadn't made any kind of formal declaration of interest, and even if you had, Bella was free to make her own decisions about who she wanted to be with."

"I know that. I guess I knew it then, too, but...everything in my life had gone to hell, and Bella was this good thing I could cling to. Feeling like I didn't know who I was anymore, all the changes, having to stay away from her-from them both-Sam telling me what he thought was going to happen...it all just came together and...It turned into a hell of a mess," I offered a wan smile.

"Yes, it did," she agreed. "Perhaps at least some of the blame for that mess does lie with others and what they told you. I might-just might-even go as far as to say that Embry and Bella might also have fanned the flames a little higher than necessary-but most of it does rest on your shoulders, Jacob. You chose how to react to what you were told and experienced, you chose what to say and do yourself. Other can't be blamed for that."

"No, that stuff was on me. I'm sorry for it. I had no right to act like that." And I was sorry. Thinking back on my behavior evoked a sense of shame that would stick with me for quite I while, or so I expected.

"Is there anything else you feel the need to confess, Jacob?"

"I-" Even though Embry himself had already told her-told everyone in the council meeting the other night-what else I'd said, making this admission technically unnecessary, there was a little voice in my head reminding me that I had a lot to make up for, and this was part of it.

"Something about me?" Tiffany probed a little harder when I couldn't say anything.

"Yes," I whispered.

"About my morals-or lack of them?"

A nod was all I could manage.

"I don't owe you-or anyone else for that matter-an explanation of whatever did or didn't occur between myself and my son's genetic father, and I'm not going to give one. But...think about this, Jacob: I could have made a scene when I came here. I could have shouted to the world that Billy Black, La Push's golden son, had cheated on his wife and was the father of my unborn child. I didn't do that. I didn't flinch at the scorn and censure that was sent my way by strangers who looked down on me for being an unwed young mother. I accepted the responsibility of raising my son on my own. Even though Embry had just as much right to anything as you or your sisters to whatever Billy could provide, I never demanded anything. I went out of my way to make sure that I didn't become a homewrecker or a burden to this tribe who'd taken me in when my own rejected me. I did all that-and what have I gotten in return? My son is now viewed as an outsider by people who've known him his whole life-and it'll only get worse if the truth comes out. We both know that. Embry and I will both be blamed-" She broke off, eyes looking at me but not really seeing me. What was she seeing? Or was it who? Did she see Billy when she looked at me? Abruptly, Tiffany spun away and vanished in the direction of her bedroom. After a few seconds, I stood up and left. I'd done what I needed to here today, and she needed to be alone. Even from here, I could smell the salt of her tears and the quiet hitching of her breaths. Had I made her cry? Great, something else for Embry to be pissed at me for. Or was it just what she remembered? Something else?

Turning into the woods, I walked aimlessly. Tiffany Call was right in what she'd said. Things were sure to get a lot worse before they ever looked to get any better. Because of me, Embry had already been the target of gossip and dirty looks this summer, just from our broken friendship and him starting to date Bella. It wouldn't stop-especially not now that Embry had phased and looked so much like the rest of us now. People were going to notice and start trying to puzzle it out. And while the meetings dealing with Embry's true heritage had been kept closed-door, that wasn't going to last. In a place as small as La Push, gossip took root with the speed of a forest fire in the middle of a summer drought. Sooner or later-and it was sure to be on the sooner end-the truth would spread out beyond the close ranks of the council and pack parents, and the rest of the tribe would learn that Embry was my dad's secret son. When it did...? A hellish shit-storm for sure. Something that neither my half-brother nor his mom deserved.

I could have made a scene when I came here. I didn't, Tiffany had said. Reading between the lines, I guessed that she hadn't known Billy was married when they'd hooked up, or whatever it had been-and she was right that I didn't need to know details; I didn't want to know details. She'd come here, maybe to reconnect with Billy, maybe just to tell him about her baby, only to find out he was married and already had a family. And so she'd kept quiet about Embry's paternity. Just for her own sake? For my mom's? Was that why Dad hadn't acknowledged Embry? Because he would've had to confess his sins to Mom? That excuse didn't hold water now, and hadn't for half my life. So why hadn't he-or she, for that matter-done anything after Mom had died? Not like anything could have hurt her then.

It wouldn't have mattered, I realized. People aren't stupid. They'd be able to do the math and know Embry's only a few months younger than me. They'd know Dad cheated. He didn't want to lose face in front of the tribe.

Well, he was about to not have a choice in the matter. Maybe it was a long-delayed sense of maturity, but the thought of Embry being shamed for something that wasn't his fault, of him not getting the recognition due him-it suddenly burned in my chest.

"Embry is my brother," the words were spoken aloud this time. The first time? I couldn't remember. Probably so. "I have a brother."

Approaching the height of the cliff the pack sometimes jumped from, I found a good spot and settled down. Maybe this would have to become my new "spot", if Embry and Bella kept spending some of their time on the beach. Yeah, I know, only a few days ago I was planning to re-stake my claim on that chunk of driftwood, but maybe finding a new spot was something else I could do to be making things up to Embry.

What would you say about all of this, Mom? I wondered. Sometimes it was hard to remember things about her, with as long as I'd lived without her in my life. But I did recall how she'd always made my friends feel welcome at our house. She'd probably have welcomed Embry with open arms. How she'd have felt about her husband was something else, though. That thought didn't make me feel any better. Dad had cheated and then rejected Embry just so he wouldn't have to explain anything to Mom. Coward. If he hadn't been willing to accept consequences for his actions, he shouldn't have done them in the first place.

I was most of the way home when a voice called out to me, "Jacob!" I turned to find out who it was, and saw Seth Clearwater running over.

"Yeah, Seth?"

"Dad called your house to talk to you, only you weren't home."

"I was taking care of something. What does he want?"

Seth gave me an incredulous look. "To talk to you," he repeated.

"Now?" I checked.

"No, next year," Seth retorted, like a typical pre-teen.

"Okay, I'll head over."

"Have fun," he called over his shoulder, already running flat out again. Yeah, right, I'd have fun. Like having a cavity filled is fun. I had a feeling that it was Tribal Elder Clearwater asking to see me, not just Harry Clearwater-and I had a pretty good idea of why. It had been a few days since the council meeting where I'd been called to judgment for my recent behavior, and my punishment had yet to be assigned.

Reaching the house, I rapped on the door and waited to be let in.

"Hello, Jacob. I see Seth found you."

"Yeah. I was...I wasn't home because I went to apologize to Embry's mom."

"Good. Did she accept it?'

I nodded.

"It is a good thing for you to have done."

"But it's only a start, I know that."

"Yes, that is true. Still, a good beginning is the right foundation to build upon."

"And how will I be doing that building?"

"We have not yet been able to meet with Tiffany Call, so I cannot say what you may be requested to do

for her in addition to your apology. As for Embry and Bella...have you made any overtures to them yet?"

"Embry isn't around me if he can help it-neither is Bella. I'm trying to be friendly again at school and in the pack meetings. I don't know what difference it will make, but it's what I can think of to do. I don't want to push him-or Bella- like I was doing before, so I'm putting it out there and letting Embry decide what to do-even if that means ignoring me."

"Good, good," Harry looked at me approvingly. "Your friendships were not damaged in one moment; neither will the restoration be instantaneous. But if you continue to prove your sincerity, they will be able to see the truth in your apologies."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Narrator POV

Tiffany Call had had plenty of time to master her emotions and present a calm face before her son came home. From the grin on his face and bounce in his step, she suspected Embry must have sneaked in a quick visit to see Bella after he'd finished his patrol shift, even though he'd seen her at school before it had started. Both the grin and the bounce faded away when he got into the living room and took a deep breath.

"What the hell was he doing here?"

"Watch your language," Tiffany chastised.

"I am."

"He just stopped by to apologize."

"Apologize? Jacob? Yeah, right."

"Embry! Cut this out! This isn't who I raised you to be. I realize you've been hit with a lot lately-and I'm sorry for my part in all of it-but this attitude isn't like you."

"And who am I? I've been turned inside out and had everything else flipped upside down and backward. Everything I thought I knew was shattered, and 'reality' now is something out of a Hollywood sci-fi movie."

"You are my son. That has never changed and never will. You are Bella's boyfriend, her-imprint," she tried out the unfamiliar word, "and that's something that won't change either, right?"

"No, the imprint won't change-I will marry her one day, though."

That kept Tiffany quiet for a minute. Mothers generally didn't expect their seventeen-year-old sons to talk about getting married. But Embry had always been the sort of boy to say what he meant and mean what he said. Not that Tiffany would complain about the idea of having Bella as her daughter-in-law. She and Embry really were perfect for each other, and Tiffany's mother-heart was glad that her son had such a good young woman in his life. Finally, "So that's two things that won't change."

Embry sighed heavily. "I know, Mom. But I can't forget about everything else that did change."

It was her turn to take in and release a deep breath. "And I know that. If I'd had any idea that not telling you who fathered you would turn into such a big mess, maybe I would have said something years ago. But I didn't suspect anything like what's happened."

"Nobody did," Embry assured his mother, feeling bad that she clearly felt so guilty about it. "Sam and the others said so after I first phased. They couldn't figure out how I'd been able to do it, what with me being half Makah through you."

"Do they have any theories now?"

"They figure it had something to do with Ephraim Black being Alpha of the last pack a few generations ago. Strong blood-ties probably outweighed my lack of pure ancestry. Whatever. It is what it is."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bella POV

To say that the atmosphere in the Saturday morning pack meeting was tense was the understatement of the year. The state of cold war between Embry and Jake was still in full effect, at least on Embry's part. When Jake arrived, I held my breath, not sure what would happen.

"Hey, guys. Embry. Bella. Thanks, Emily."

"Hey, Jake," several of the others replied. I nodded, but didn't look in Jake's direction. Embry pointedly ignored him. Everyone's heads swung to Jake, watching to see how he'd react. In a move that seemed to surprise several of them and appeared to pleas Sam immensely-or so I judged, based on the brief smile that graced his lips-Jake just accepted the cold-shoulder response and took his seat.

"Okay," Sam began. "We're all going to go out for a while this afternoon. With half the pack being new, we need to have a group practice session. Jared, I want you to take Paul and Embry and swing east up through the Olympic forest. I'll take Quil and Jake and we'll take the western side of the loop. We'll have the new wolves practice using what their senses tell them, acting and reacting in the pack mind, and then bring our two groups together for the trip home. Everybody clear on the plan?"

Affirmitive answers were given by the pack. Sam gestured them all toward the door. Sam detoured to kiss Emily goodbye and toss his baby son up in the air before hugging him. Embry pulled me to my feet and tilted my head backward. He bent down and claimed my lips. Unconsciously, my hands slid up his arms to lock around the back of his neck. My eyelids drifted closed and the world faded away. As always, everything else retreated into insignificance in the background. Blazing heat caressed me, filled me. I took it and offered it back, along with a soft breathless moan.

"Embry!" I jerked in shock when his name was spoken in a deep voice. Sam's voice. "Time to go."

"I'll see you soon," Embry told me, before following Sam out the door.

"I'd ask how you two are doing," Emily chuckled, "but I don't need to. Obviously, you're doing just fine."

"We are. At least, as well as we can be, considering everything. All the revelations," I elaborated.

"Ah. Yes. Well, if there's anything that either Sam or I can do to help, please let us know."

"We will. What's our plan for today while the guys are gone?"

"I'm going to drop Levi off at Sam's mom's house for some play time, and you and I will go over to Jared and Kim's place. I can't remember if anyone's mentioned it to you or not, but Kim is pregnant. She's due around New Year's and seems to be one of the unfortunate one's who are sick all the way through. I thought we could give her a hand with some cleaning and household chores."

"Do they need any food? That's something I'm good at."

"I know that their families, and others-including me-have been helping Kim and Jared with that, considering how sick she's been. We can check and see what they've got on hand and anything that they might need. It's probably best to cook stuff at our homes and then take the food over so that the smells don't bother Kim."

I helped Emily gather up some cleaning supplies and pull some food from the fridge and freezer. Then it was time to chase down her son and leave.

"No, no, no!" Levi's volume increased with each repetition of the word.

"Yes, yes, yes," Emily countered. "You have to sit in your seat or we can't go see Grandma."

"Gamma!" This squeal was the loudest yet.

"Yes, Grandma. Now, sit still so I can buckle you up."

"I guess he doesn't like the carseat," I observed as Emily turned the key in the ignition.

"No, but then most toddlers don't. They don't like being confined. But he'll learn that it's one of the non-negotiable things in life. There will be plenty of other things that I'll let him express an opinion of, so he can stand to have a few things be without discussion."

In short order, we arrived at a small house from which emerged a middle-aged woman.

"Hi, Alison," Emily greeted her mother-in-law as she simultaneously opened the rear door of the car to start releasing her son. "You remember Bella, don't you? Shoot, no, you wouldn't-you were watching Levi for us during that council meeting. Sorry. Alison, this is Embry Call's girlfriend, Bella Swan, from Forks. Bella, this is Sam's mom, Alison Uley. Alison, Levi's in good form today but hopefully he won't be too much trouble. Thank you so much for watching him for me."

"Hello, Bella. It's nice to meet you. Welcome to our crazy little world here. I hope you're getting used to everything."

"Thank you. It's nice to me you, too. I guess I'm adapting alright."

"Good. Emily, watching Levi is no trouble. I love getting to spend time with my grandson. Wave bye-bye to Mommy," Alison helped Levi with the gesture and took him inside as Emily and I drove off.

It never took long to get anywhere in La Push, so we arrived at Jared and Kim's little cottage in no time. Walking right on in, we found Kim stretched out on the couch.

"Hi girls."

"Hi, Kim. How are you feeling today?"

"Okay. Better than most days."

"I'm glad. But you just stay right where you're at so you keep feeling this good. Bella and I will take care of things."

Emily got to work in the kitchen area and I started tidying up the living room with Kim pointing out where things went.

"Sorry about the mess. I just haven't been up to doing much housework, and Jared's so busy with patrolling and then working when he can..."

"Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help."

"Thank you. I'll make it up to you sometime. Maybe when you're expecting your first child-years from now, of course."

I remembered Embry-or someone-having said that Jared and Kim had only just graduated high school this year and would be having their baby less than a year later. "Do you wish..." I wasn't sure how to ask it or even if I should. Kim knew what I meant anyway, though.

"Do I wish we'd waited a little longer? Honestly, sometimes, the answer would be 'yes'. We already love this baby," she hastened to add, "and we'll be the best parents we can be, but...I won't lie that it hasn't been, isn't, and won't be really hard, too. We both have parental support-though mine don't know anything about the pack-but they can't and won't do it all for us. We're young, and even if we might not have been able to leave for college, we still could have tried to do something locally. Now, I'm not sure when it will happen."

It made me sad and more than a bit angry to see how Kim seemed to be giving up on the idea of more education for herself or Jared. In the days since I'd learned of my own now-limited options, I had tried to think of things that Embry and I could do. If they were good enough for us, then they ought to shared.

"I do want kids-Embry's kids-someday, but I won't mind one little bit waiting a while to have them. As for college, maybe if enough people put their heads together, we can all come up with things that will work for all of us. Bartering babysitting for food or chores or something. If you want to take some classes, you ought to do it. All of us should. We'll just have to figure out the details sometime."

"Yeah. Doesn't have to be today, does it?" Kim offered a small smile.

"Nope."

"So, tell me a little about yourself?" requested Kim.

"Well..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Paul POV

Embry and I followed Jared as he started an easy lope through the forest.

How you doing, Embry? Jared asked.

Okay. It's like looking at a wall of TV's at an electronics store, where they're all on different channels.

I laughed. Yeah, I guess that is a good way of looking at the pack mind. Really good way, actually. Just pick one TV to focus on-yours or someone else's, it doesn't matter.

Good idea, Paul, thought Jared. You two stay here. I'll head off and then, Embry, you try to find me using what you get from me in the pack mind.

He sprinted off, his contribution to the pack mind blurring with the speed. Every so often Jared would slow down and focus on something-an unusual tree or large boulder or change in terrain-that Embry could use as route markers.

Alright, come find me.

Use what he gave you, I coached, but don't forget to use your senses, too. He'll have left behind a scent trail.

I was pretty impressed with how quickly Embry did find the spot where Jared was waiting. He'd picked up speed the more confident he got, but to his credit Embry hadn't been too sure of his own abilities that he risked overlooking something or falling for one of Jared's fake trails.

That was good. Okay, let's keep going. Lots more forest to cover.

Yuck! Embry's thoughts blurted. Vampire!

Is it fresh? demanded Sam.

I don't think so, replied Embry. But I'm the new kid here-what do I know?

You know a lot, even with being the newest wolf, Jared reminded him. Focus on the scent. The stronger it is, the fresher it is. Faded means it's an old scent.

Old, Embry decided. Doesn't smell quite as bad as that one in the meadow.

Must be a trace of one of the Cullen coven, I judged. They don't smell quite as bad as the human-drinkers. But bloodsuckers still smell gross no matter what they drink.

Track it for a while, Sam ordered us. Let's see where they went that time. We'll start heading your way to meet up.

Conversation largely ceased while our subset of the pack tracked this scent and Sam's group moved to join us. We broke into a more open area in the forest and felt a gust of wind ruffle our pelts. Suddenly, all my instincts were at full attention.

Fuck! Smell that? Leech! It's her.

I veered off in the direction the wind had come from, Jared and Embry immediately turning to follow me. Through the pack mind, I could tell that Sam, Quil, and Jacob were also shifting course.

She's heading south, I judged.

There she is! Jared growled, his keen eyesight letting him find her moments before the rest of us could. The long curly red hair flowed behind her and her clothes whipped around her body from the force of her spin to a new direction of travel.

She's gonna run for it, called Jared. Sam, pincer in and let's see if we can catch her this time. Paul, spread out some. Embry, you too, but not too far from us-you haven't taken on one of them before.

We pounded through the forest after her, all of us eager to rip her to shreds. None of us was more eager than Embry, though.

You wanted my girlfriend dead? he thought. Well, let me return the favor.

The chase zig-zagged and criss-crossed the Olympic Forest. This leech was clever and determined, I'd give her that. Always one step ahead of us, almost like she could tap into the pack mind and know what we were going to try as soon as we thought about it. Eventually we had to pull up at the edge of a ravine and watch her land on the other side.

Let her go, Sam decreed with reluctance. There's no way down for us here, much less up the other side, and by the time we found a river crossing she'll be long gone. Everyone will need to keep an extra sharp eye out on patrols now. She's clearly come back around from wherever she was. We will not let her past us.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

AN: I've been looking at this and looking, not entirely satisfied but not sure what else to do. I think I've decided that this chapter is fine as is, so I'm letting it go and handing it over to you all. Hope you enjoy. Feel free to let me know what you think.