Rosalie

The night before the council meeting I was absolutely restless. The council was going to ask me in front of everyone if I had ever killed anyone, and my relationship with the pack would be over. I knew that Carlisle was talking about me and Jasper when he said that to Sam earlier, but I hoped that Paul hadn't figured it out. If he didn't love me now, what would he think when he found out I had killed a human? When we got back to my house, I laid on the bed next to Embry until he drifted off and I ran outside. I needed to run and clear my head. Embry and I had grown really close over the last few days, and I was more worried about his reaction than anyone else's. I sat just outside my house for a few minutes when suddenly he walked up and sat down next to me.

"You thought I was asleep, didn't you?" He asked, taking my hand in his.

I nodded. "I didn't want to wake you, I'm just worried about tomorrow."

"Why are you so afraid? The council will love you. It's not like you've done anything that they will be upset over." I wished that were true.

I turned to face him. "That's the thing, Em, I have. I've killed humans before, right after I was turned."

He took his hand from mine and looked at me like I was a monster. This was exactly what I had been afraid of.

"How could you? I can't believe this." He started pacing in front of me, his hands running through his hair. "We let you on the reservation. I slept next to you for god's sake. You're a murderer, Rosalie."

He wasn't wrong, but I was angry nonetheless. "They deserved it, Embry. You don't know what you're talking about."

"What could they have possibly done to deserve it, Rose? What could a human have done to you that was worth killing them for?"

I stood up and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to face me. "They killed me, Embry. Carlisle only turns people that are already dying. The humans I killed raped me and left me dying in the street. I would have bled out if Carlisle hadn't found me. After I was turned, I found them and killed each of them, slowly. I never tasted their blood, though. I wanted them to pay for what they had done to me, and they did. I've never harmed any other human, but I am NOT going to tell a bunch of old men that I don't know that I was raped. I don't want anyone to look at me as a victim, not them, not you, and certainly not Paul. They can ban me from the reservation, but they are not taking my dignity."

He started shaking but pulled me in to a hug anyway. "I promise I won't tell him, or anyone else. I think I need to phase, though. I'll try not to think about it but I'm so angry I don't think I can calm down." He ran a few feet away from me before exploding into his wolf, shredding his clothes.

I walked to my family's house to get some clothes for him to put on when he got back. He seemed to be about Jasper's size, but I grabbed a shirt and shorts from Jasper's closet and Emmett's just in case. The two of them were patrolling the area to give the wolves a break, and the rest of the family had gone hunting. When I got back to my house, Jacob was sitting at the kitchen table. Bella was asleep on the couch and he seemed to be waiting for me. I walked over to the counter and sat the clothes down.

Jacob leaned against the counter next to me. "I wasn't spying, but I heard what you told Embry. If you just tell the council that you've killed a human without an explanation, they will react much worse than he did. Please, tell them your story. You can ask them to clear the pack from the room. I'm assuming your family knows?" I nodded. "Good. They trust Carlisle, and they will believe both of you. Please, take my word on this. I don't want to see you banned."

"It is far too painful to talk about publicly. If Carlisle speaks up, I won't refute what he tells them. But if they ask me if I've ever killed a human, I won't elaborate." I told him. I knew what was at stake, but I couldn't become a victim in everyone's eyes. Not the way I had with my family. Edward had never treated me as his equal, and as much as I loved Carlisle I don't think he had ever stopped seeing me as damaged.

He nodded. "I will try my best not to let it come to that, but I won't make any promises. Your story isn't mine to tell. If my dad asks me about it afterwards, I will tell him to discuss it with Carlisle."

"I hope that everything works out, but maybe this will give Paul the excuse he wants to be with Leah." I was still hurting over that. Embry took the pain away, but I had never been someone's second choice. I couldn't get the image of her in just his shirt out of my head.

Jacob sighed. "I would be surprised if the two of them actually had sex that night. I know that Leah has been drinking a lot, but Paul has always been like her brother. They say that it hurts us to have sex with someone other than our imprint, but of course I don't know if that's true or not. I am worried about Embry being hurt if you and Paul work things out though."

I knew I hadn't given this as much thought as I should have. I didn't get a chance to answer him because Embry walked back in the door. He was naked, but that was to be expected since he had shred his clothes. I handed him the two piles of clothes on the counter and he smiled at me before walking to the bathroom. He came back a few minutes later wearing Jasper's shirt and shorts. He pulled me into a hug for a few moments before leading me back to my bedroom. We laid on the bed and cuddled until he drifted off into a comfortable sleep. Cuddling with Embry felt so natural for me, but I wondered what it meant to him. Embry reminded me so much of Jasper. He was very quiet, but kind and empathetic beyond measure.

I was sure he was asleep this time, but I decided not to leave. I didn't know if Embry would even be allowed to stay here after the council banished me from the res tomorrow, so I wanted to enjoy whatever time I had with him while I could. I would be lying if I said I didn't have feelings for Embry, but my heart belonged to Paul and we both knew it. I laid on his chest but I wouldn't close my eyes and rest. Every time I did, I saw Paul and Leah again. I wondered if it was her perfume I had smelled on him after the encounter with Laurent. He hadn't seemed the least bit concerned for my safety when he listened to us recounting the events of the day.

The night passed by slowly but I laid by Embry's side the entire time. I was almost afraid of waking him again. When the clock finally struck 7am, I got up and went to take a shower. We were meeting with the council at 9am and I wanted to be ready. I called Esme and asked her to prepare breakfast for the humans. She agreed and she would be here with it in about thirty minutes. I quickly showered and came out to find her waiting in the kitchen. We woke the three of them and I got dressed while they ate.

When we were ready to leave, I walked to my house and to get Emmett's jeep. He decided to drive us and Embry sat in the front with him to give us directions to the meeting. We had arrived before Sam made it with the rest of the pack, and the rest of my family got there shortly after we did. We walked in to a large open room with three men seated at the front. Jacob pointed them out to me as Billy Black, Harry Clearwater, and Quil Ateara "Old Quil". I noticed the distaste in their eyes as they glared at me. We found our seats on the left side of the room. I sat between Jacob and Embry, and my family all sat in the row of seats behind me. Sam finally got there and took a seat directly in front of them. Paul, Jared, and Emily filed in behind him.

Billy spoke first. "This meeting is hereby called to order. We are here to discuss an amendment to our treaty with the Cullen's that will allow them access to our land to assist in protecting the tribe and Isabella Swan. Sam, do you have anything you would like to add before we hear from them?"

Sam stood before speaking. "Yes, Chief. There have been two new imprints in the pack. Jacob has imprinted on Bella, and Paul has imprinted on Rosalie."

"A cold one can't be an imprint." It was Old Quil that spoke. "That is ridiculous, and we aren't here for you to waste our time. Paul will imprint on a girl from our tribe, this paleface is not the one for him."

Sam glared at him. "Bella Swan is Jacob's imprint and you seem to have no issues with that."

"Bella still has a beating heart. She's a human. A cold one cannot be an imprint." He maintained.

"Rosalie is Paul's imprint and our laws are clear. She will be treated with the same respect Emily and Bella are." Sam's tone was firm.

Harry turned toward Old Quil. "He's right. I will vote with Sam, Rosalie should be recognized as a member of the pack."

"I agree. I don't like it, but an imprint is a precious gift and we must not go against it." Billy said.

Sam turned toward me. "Rosalie, you are an official member of our pack. I will explain more about what that means to you later, but do you have any questions for the council?"

I shook my head, and they moved on.

"Let us begin with our questioning. Carlisle, please come forward." Sam went to sit next to Harry and Carlisle took his place in front of the council.

The questions they asked were very simple, but would be damning for me. They simply wanted to know what our diet consisted of, and if we had ever killed a human, exactly like Sam said they would. Carlisle explained that he had turned many of us, but that we had all been dying at the time. They seemed to accept his explanation. Esme was next, but she truly had never killed anyone. Emmett had slipped up in the past, but when asked he told them that he had never fed from a human. If Alice had ever hurt a human she didn't remember it, so she answered no as well. I was lost in my thoughts when they called my name. Had Jasper been questioned yet? I knew they would have issues with his answers too.

"Rosalie?" Sam asked. "We are ready for you."

I walked up to the podium and tried to look at Sam most of the time. I didn't know him well, but I knew him much better than I did the other council members.

Harry smiled at me. "This should be simple Rosalie. Please tell us what your diet consists of."

"I only feed from the blood of animals. Occasionally a bear, but I mainly hunt deer." I told them. That was pretty similar to my siblings answers.

Billy looked at me. "Have you ever killed a human, Rosalie?" I knew the question was coming, but nothing could have prepared me for the anxiety that came along with it. I looked back toward Carlisle and Embry who both nodded toward me. Jasper projected waves of calm toward me but it did little to ease my nerves. I knew that I couldn't lie, but I had never been more afraid to answer a question in my life.

I maintained eye contact with Sam as I answered. "I have."

The room erupted and the council members were all mumbling amongst themselves. Sam had looked away from me, the disgust evident on his face. I didn't look to the other council members, afraid of the looks I would get.

"Do you care to explain further?" Harry asked. I shook my head.

Sam looked at me. "Are you sure, Rosalie? I haven't known you long, but this is surprising to me. Please, tell us if there is something we need to know."

"Stop making excuses for the cold one, Sam." Old Quil told him. "I knew she couldn't be an imprint. A monster like her wouldn't be chosen for any of our wolves."

Paul stood. "She is my imprint and you will not speak to her that way." He was shaking. "I don't know why she killed someone, but I know it wouldn't have been without cause."

"Well, if we don't know what that cause was, we have no choice." Harry told us. "Rosalie, you won't be permitted on the reservation. Paul can visit you at your home, but you can't come here. We'd like your contact with the rest of the pack to be kept to a minimum."

"Harry, I think that's a little-" Sam was cut off.

"Enough, Sam. She can't be trusted, imprint or not. She isn't coming on our lands." Billy told him.

Sam hung his head in defeat. I was about to leave when someone spoke up from behind me. "So who is going to force her off our lands for you?"

I turned to see Embry standing up. Billy glared at him. "Excuse me?"

"I thought I was clear in my question, but I'll repeat it. Who is going to force her to leave? You? Old Quil? Harry? Because it's not going to be me." He told them. I couldn't believe he was doing this.

"Or me." I turned to see Jared standing behind me. "I'm sure the three of you have ghosts in your closets. I'm not turning my back on my sister on your command."

Jacob stood too. "Count me out, dad. I won't harm an imprint and you know you can't make us."

"You will all listen to your alpha!" Old Quil banged his fist against the table. His face was turning red.

"I never have before." Paul said. "I don't know why I'd start now." He came to stand by my side and the other wolves followed, except for Sam.

Jacob spoke now. "Without the pack, you're powerless. You can't force her away. She's our family. An Alpha can't order us to harm an imprint."

"Oh, but you're wrong." Old Quil told him. "Your alpha can order you all to stand by while he removes her from the reservation himself." Sam was silent, and I took that as his agreement with them.

"He can't order us." Emily and Bella had walked up to join us. "If you make Rosalie leave, we go too." Bella said.

"How useful do you think the pack would be when all of the imprints go stay with the Denali coven for a few months? Don't the legends say physical separation is excruciating for the wolf?" Emily asked.

Billy's glare looked almost lethal. "It is. You would do that to your wolves for a bloodsucker?" I could hear growls next to me and I didn't know if it was Paul, Embry, or both.

Bella and Emily both nodded. "She saved our lives. We won't turn our backs on her." Emily told him.

Old Quil looked to Sam. "It's time. Order them to remove Rosalie from the reservation."

I looked toward Paul and he nodded. Sam and Jacob wore similar stoic expressions. "There's no need. I'll go on my own." I walked out, and Emily and Bella followed. I didn't want to hurt the pack but I trusted Emily enough to follow her lead.

I heard Carlisle speaking as I was leaving. "My coven will fight for your tribe and provide aid to your pack, but your actions against my daughter will never be forgotten."

I couldn't believe we were going to leave. I didn't know how I'd handle being away from Paul and Embry. We took Emmett's keep and drove toward Sam's house. Emily asked us to run by her house so she could pack a bag. She wrote a list for Sam of things that would need to be done daily around the house. I assured her that Esme would take care of her house in our absence. Esme lived to nurture people this way. She would hate that we were gone, but she would take care of the guys for us. They didn't make it back while we were there and we walked out with Emily's things in hand. Our next stop was Bella's house. We were discussing a cover story for Charlie on the way and decided on the truth, that we were taking a girls trip. Charlie had always liked Alice so I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for me to land on his good side.

We walked in to Charlie sitting at the kitchen table with a paper held up to his face. He sat it down when he heard the door close and revealed his red face and tear stained cheeks. He didn't say a word but nodded to acknowledge our presence. Bella started to tear up. I could feel my anxiety building, worried about what was bad enough for Charlie Swan to cry in front of his daughter.

"What's going on?" She asked him.

He motioned toward the chairs in front of him. "Sit down, girls. I have some bad news." We sat and he reached across the table to grab Bella's hand. "Your friend Angela is missing, Bells."

Angela Webber was the kindest soul in Forks. She had been one of Bella's best friends when we were here, and that undoubtably continued in our absence. I had even seen them together a few times when I was keeping tabs on her. I had always been rude and even cruel to humans, but Angela always defended me and my family when Lauren Mallory would start rumors or say terrible things about us. Edward always told us that he admired her for the way she thought of others. She was nothing like the girls she hung around with. My heart sank as I realized Victoria may be behind her disappearance. Bella started sobbing and I could see Emily tearing up too.

"Bella.." Charlie started. "All of these missing hikers, and now Angela, I think it would be good for you to get out of here for awhile. Maybe go stay with your mother."

I was heartbroken to hear about Angela, but I used the moment to sell our idea to Charlie. "I was actually planning to go tour a few colleges on the east coast and invited Bella and Emily to join me. My family has properties in most states with state of the art security systems, and Alice will join us."

He wiped his tears with his shirt sleeve. "I think that's a great idea, Bella." He told her. She was still sobbing.

"Charlie, would you mind staying with Sam or Billy on the reservation while we're gone? I do a lot for them and I'm worried about how they'll do on their own while I'm gone." Emily was hard to refuse.

"Of course, Emily. Anything to make sure you three are safe." He told her. He stood up and hugged Bella. "It's going to be okay, Bella. I promise I'll call you as soon as I know anything. I won't stop looking for her." She hugged him back and continued to sob.

I walked upstairs to pack a bag for Bella. Emily joined me after a few minutes and we worked slowly to give Charlie some time to calm her down. She had packed light, so we did the same for Bella. It wouldn't be an issue for me to provide anything they needed while we were gone. I hoped that our trip wouldn't be long at all. I already missed Paul and Embry and we hadn't left yet. I also had to ask Alice to go. I wasn't comfortable being responsible for two humans by myself, just in case things were to go badly. I trusted the Denali coven with my life, but I didn't feel comfortable gambling with the life of two other imprints. The council already hated me, after all. I didn't need to be blamed for the death of two more humans. When we came back downstairs, Bella had stopped crying and was chatting casually with her father. He wished us well on our travels and made us promise to call every day. He gave Bella another hug and we left to head to my house.

We pulled up at my cabin to the entirety of my family and the pack standing outside waiting for us. When we got out of the car they all started clapping, as if it were rehearsed.

"I didn't know what to expect today, but my imprint standing up to the council wasn't it." Sam told Emily as he pulled her in to a hug.

"Us girls have to stick together." She told him.

Bella has walked away with Jacob and I started to walk through Paul when Embry picked me up and spun me around. "I am so glad to see you, Rosalie." He told me.

I hugged Embry and finally walked toward Paul. "Do you think we could have that talk now?" I asked him.

He didn't answer me, he just glared at me. His expression was completely blank and the ache in my chest returned. I stared at him for a few more seconds hoping he'd change his mind. He didn't. I looked down at my feet and shut my eyes for a second. When I looked up and still saw the same look on his face, I turned and walked away. Embry had gone inside, and the girls were with their guys. I got in Emmett's jeep and drove out to my house, leaving Paul and Embry behind. I still needed to pack anyway. I walked up the porch steps, stopping periodically to look behind me as if one of them would be there. When I entered the house I went directly to my bedroom and started to fill a bag with clothes when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to face Paul, who was wearing a much softer expression than he had been earlier. He took the bag from my hands and tossed it on the floor next to us. He turned back toward me and ran his hand through my hair before brushing his lips against mine for the first time. He pushed me backwards and we fell onto my bed.

"Let's do more than talk."