"Seth, come on!" Mom yelled up the stairs. "We're going to be late!"

My mother had been so frantic about running late that she hadn't noticed me sitting on the couch behind her. I crept behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She gasped as she turned around to face me.

Grinning, I offered her the mug in my hand. "I've been ready for ten minutes. I made you a coffee for the road. Come on, I'll drive."

Mom ruffled my hair and smiled at me as she grabbed the mug. "You're such a good boy, Seth. Your dad would be so proud of you for keeping me sane like you do."

My father, Harry, died of a heart attack four months ago when I phased for the first time. He knew the legends, but I can only imagine how terrifying it was for me to phase indoors so close to my mom and my sister. I blamed myself at first, but Mom told me he had been on the brink of a heart attack for years and it wasn't my fault. It didn't make the loss any easier, but I needed to be positive for Mom and Leah's sake. They needed me even more now.

Leah moved in with her fiancé Sam a few weeks after our dad died. It was depressing for her in our family home without him there. I still saw her daily. We were just as close as we'd always been. Sam was our alpha, so the pack was at his house frequently.

Sam Uley wasn't a bad person. I loved how he made my sister so happy, but I worried about them being together. We'd thought imprinting was rare, but with so many of us imprinting I worried it wasn't as rare as we'd thought. It would devastate Leah if Sam imprinted and left her, and I didn't know how she'd get through it. She'd already lost our father, losing Sam would be too much for her. I trusted Sam when he told me we had nothing to worry about. I hoped he was right.

Today was the first day of Quileute Days, and Mom's schedule was full. She had taken my dad's seat on the council, and the festivals had always been his responsibility. This was her first year doing it herself. Thankfully, he'd planned everything out far in advance before he died. Sam had all of us scheduled to help her with different things over the next few days.

I loved Quileute Days but I was mostly just excited to see Bella. Bella Swan knew about the pack but was unaware she was my imprint. She had just moved here a few months ago, but we'd known each other since childhood. Bella's father, Charlie, was one of my father's best friends. She was also close with my friends Jake, Quil, and Embry. We were all in the same grade and we'd been close before any of us had ever phased. Seeing Bella every summer was the highlight of our year as kids. Everyone loved her.

She was dating Edward Cullen, and I was happy for her as long as he made her happy. I was content being her friend. The other guys didn't understand it, but I didn't hate the Cullens. Edward was a good guy. They couldn't be together forever because she couldn't become a vampire, but he made her happy for now. I could tell she was close to the rest of the Cullen family, too.

Mom left me at Sam and Leah's house and sped off to the council building. Quil worked there with her for the morning and would cover for her this evening so we could go with Leah for her last fitting and pick up her wedding dress. She and Sam were to be married in a month, just weeks before her baby was due. I was over the moon with excitement to be an uncle.

Leah was in the kitchen, washing dishes, and I quickly spotted a bowl of brownie mix next to her. She'd always gotten mad at me for stealing the spoon from her mixes and licking the batter off, but that didn't stop me. I didn't even try to be inconspicuous. She wasn't fast enough to catch me these days.

"Hi, Leelee," I sang as I walked past her and grabbed the spoon from the bowl.

She didn't look until it was already in my mouth. "Damn it, Seth!"

I laughed at her as she grabbed the spray hose from her sink and pointed it at me. I dropped the spoon and held my hands up.

"Let's not be too hasty here." I couldn't keep myself from laughing. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again."

She sprayed me anyway, and I fought to take the hose from her hand. When Sam heard us yelling at each other and broke it up, we were both soaked. We weren't yelling angrily though; we were both cackling. Sam quickly returned to what he was doing when he realized we weren't truly fighting this time. We were the type of siblings who would be on each other's last nerve one minute but laughing together the next, and he was well-used to our antics.

She hugged me and said. "Have fun going to get Bella soaking wet."

"That's dirty, Leelee." I chuckled. It was funny, that I'd be showing up like this to pick up Bella from Edward.

She grabbed my arm when I turned around to grab a towel. "I need to talk to you before you go."

The sadness in her voice caught my attention. "What's wrong, Lee?"

"I need you to try harder with Sam. He always swore Dad didn't want us to be together, so anytime you seem distant he worries you don't like him either. I know you do, but we should ensure he knows it, too."

That confused me. I'd done nothing that should make Sam think I didn't like him, and I never got that impression from Dad either.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know he thought I didn't like him."

I wondered why he would assume Dad didn't want him to be with Leah. Dad had taken Sam and Paul under his wing since they didn't have good fathers and knew them better than most. I wracked my brain for any instance where Dad had acted negatively toward Sam, but I was coming up blank.

"It's nothing you've done, Sethy." She told me. "It would make my life a little easier if he knew you and Mom love him. She was smiling again, but it seemed forced. Maybe she was just tired. She was pretty late in her pregnancy.

It wouldn't be hard to be friendlier to Sam. I loved him. He was like an older brother to me.

I sighed loudly. "Well, that's a big ask, Lee. I guess I'll see what I can do." I couldn't hide my laughter and she slapped me with her dish towel.

"Be careful going to get Bella. Paul is driving you, he's outside."

I hugged her again and kissed her cheek before I went outside to join him. My driver's test was tomorrow. I couldn't pick Bella up myself. The guys made fun of me for being seventeen without my license but, until now, I hadn't needed it. The other guys would all let me drive, but not Paul.

Of my pack mates, Paul was the most difficult to talk to. I still made it work, but I could tell he didn't like me very much. Paul had a complicated past, and I tried to be considerate of that. I think he thought Leah or Mom did things for him I'd done.

Paul's dad left when he was little, and his mom died last year. He lived alone, but he struggled. He didn't have the extra time and energy for a job between school and patrol. The council paid all of the pack, but it wasn't much. When we had opposite patrols I'd go by his house and fill his fridge with some of the meals Mom had prepped for me to eat when she worked late. I did his laundry, too, and I always left my stipend from the council on his kitchen table. He spent a lot of time with me and Leah when we were young since he lived next door, but now that we were older he only spoke to me if he had to. Leah was his closest friend, even now.

Paul was in the driver's seat of Leah's car waiting for me. He was in a black shirt and cut-off jean shorts. It was rare for him to wear shirts on the rez but he made an exception on days he thought we may run into outsiders or the council. He didn't respond when I greeted him, so I turned on the radio. We met Bella and Edward at the treaty line anytime she came to see us. Paul was not as nice when I wasn't with them, so I made it a point to accompany him to pick her up. I liked seeing her anyway.

We were halfway there when Paul finally spoke. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Seth?"

His question took me aback. I was in a good mood, why would he think something was wrong? "I'm not sure how to answer your question," I said honestly. "Why would you think anything is wrong?"

He scoffed. "You're kidding, right? The Cullen clan has literally ruined your life and you don't give a fuck. You phased because of them. Your dad died because of them. One of them is boning your imprint. But you act like they're your best friends. Why wouldn't I think something's wrong?"

I laughed. I didn't know why, because nothing he said was funny, but I did. "I don't think Edward and Bella are sleeping together. It's unfair for me to blame them for anything. They're not that bad. It sucks that I lost my dad, but I still have Mom and Leah. I am happy for Bella, though, if Edward makes her happy. Her happiness is all that matters to me, it's okay if she finds it with someone else."

He shook his head. "Seeing your imprint with another man isn't easy. I wish I could be as positive as you, but I worry you're just in denial. When this positive attitude fades, I'll be here. To help you deal with it."

I noticed the way he said it isn't easy, as if he feels the same pain I do. I didn't push him, but I wondered if he had imprinted. I appreciated what he said but didn't think I was in denial. I truly was happy for Bella, and I did miss my dad, but I couldn't waste my time dwelling on what I'd like to happen. It was better to accept reality and look for the positives in life. I could understand why he felt the way he did, though. He didn't have a mom, or a sister, to bring any light on his dark life. I hoped he could find his imprint, or something else to help him be more positive.

Edward and Bella were leaning against his silver Volvo when we pulled up. I was still soaking, and both laughed when I exited the car.

Bella asked, "What the hell happened to you, Sethy?".

I laughed, too. "Don't test a pregnant lady while she's washing dishes."

Bella hugged me anyway, getting herself soaked in the process. "It's okay, we'll be wet together."

Edward hugged her and shook his head at us before returning to his car.

"Hey, Edward," she called after him. "I'm staying the night with Leah tonight, so I'll see you at school on Monday, ok?"

He smiled at me and nodded. "See you later, Bella."

She climbed in the back seat of Leah's car and Paul coughed the way he always did when the Cullen's scent hit him.

"Damn, Bells, you stink." He scolded her.

She shrugged. "Seth still likes me."

It was true. I did like Bella. A lot more than I should like a girl with a boyfriend, even if she was my imprint, but I couldn't tell her that. If she knew about the imprint she may feel obligated to break up with Edward, and I didn't want her to sacrifice her happiness for me.

Paul's negativity didn't usually spread to his interactions with Bella. He wasn't immune to her charm and the two got along famously despite her relationship with Edward. He called her leech lover, but she thought it was hilarious. I didn't know how she wasn't offended, supposing we shared the same positive outlook.

"So, leech lover," he said. "How's it going with the bloodsucker?"

She sighed. "I shouldn't be talking to you guys about this, but being with Edward feels different now. Almost wrong, even."

Paul looked at me with a smirk, as if he was saying I told you so. I wouldn't force her away from him, even if she could tell something wasn't right now.

"Probably because he's a hundred-year-old corpse." Paul quipped. "What's it like fucking a dead guy?"

Her cheeks turned a deep scarlet. "Not that it's any of your business, but I'm a virgin."

I felt a smug smile growing on my face. I didn't mind them dating, but I couldn't hide the satisfaction that she hadn't given herself to him completely.

"Bummer," Paul responded. "His sister is pretty hot for a leech."

"Rosalie?" Bella laughed. "She'd never go for you, Paul."

"Hey, I said she's hot, not that I'd do her. You're the only leech lover in this car, Bells." Paul chuckled.

We pulled up at Leah's and Bella disappeared into the house. I grabbed her bag from the backseat and carried it in. I was surprised she'd stay with us for the weekend, but my wolf was glad our mate would be close. I laid her bag on the living room sofa and went to Leah's room to borrow some of Sam's dry clothes. My heart swelled at the sight of Bella laughing with my sister. She could be part of our family so easily. She would be, someday... If she chose to.

Paul was waiting for me in the hallway when I stepped out in dry clothes. He said my mom had called and asked for help setting up on the beach. I checked on Bella before leaving and followed Paul once I saw she was okay with Leah. I could tell he was disappointed to be working with me, but I didn't intrude. Jared was waiting for us when we arrived at the beach, and Paul's mood changed when he saw his best friend.

The setup on the beach was finished in no time. Kim, Jared's imprint, showed up with Bella and Leah as we finished up. Kim was a sweet, kind person and I always enjoyed her company, but I worried about her being around Bella. Kim couldn't keep a secret to save her life, and Bella knew nothing about imprinting. I was glad to see Leah with them to provide a buffer.

I was too enamored with Bella to listen to anything that Paul said after she arrived. Half of the pack had joined the girls, and Bella meshed them seamlessly. She was meant to be one of us, I just wish she knew it. Even my sister liked Bella, which was quite an accomplishment for Leah.

The snap of Paul's fingers in front of my face tore me from my thoughts. He glared at me and followed my gaze to where Bella was sitting.

"You've got it bad, Clearwater," he grumbled before he walked away to join the rest of the pack.

I didn't respond. I just watched Bella with a smile on my face. Paul pulled a strand of her hair when he walked up behind her and ran away as she turned around. Most teenage girls would be angry or make a scene, but not Bella. She just stuck her tongue out at him and giggled.

She turned around and when her eyes met mine her face lit up, waving for me to join them. I shook my head and laughed until Leah made the same motion Bella had. I walked toward them slowly until my sister yelled for me to hurry.

I teased, "You need to gain some patience before the baby gets here, Lee."

She rolled her eyes. "When Baby tests my patience, they can visit Uncle Sethy."

The guys all laughed, but I knew Leah wasn't joking. I didn't mind, though. I'd gladly take my niece or nephew when they annoyed my sister. When they got older, I'm sure I'd take them when my sister annoyed them too.

Bella asked, "Wouldn't it be nice to know what sex the baby is?"

Leah didn't think she'd be able to have a baby, so she decided to keep the gender a surprise. She wasn't Sam's imprint and our dad thought imprinting was about breeding the strongest generation of wolves for the future. He didn't realize a wolf could have a baby with someone other than their imprint, but Leah was proof to the contrary.

"Yeah, one day when you get knocked up you can find out the gender if you want to." Paul snickered. "Oh, that's right! You're with a leech. I don't think they can reproduce."

Bella's face fell and my anger flared. His off-handed comments usually didn't get to her, but this one had and it was infuriating. Fiercely protective of Leah, Paul argued with me when I tried to convince her to find out the gender, too. That didn't mean I'd let him talk to Bella that way.

"Knock it off, Lahote," I said through gritted teeth.

Paul didn't respond, and neither did Bella. He took off away from the group and nobody followed him. Sometimes I felt bad for him, but not right now.

"Ignore him, Bells," Jake said. "That's what the rest of us do."

Jake and Bella had always been close. Billy Black and Charlie Swan were best friends, so it was natural that their kids would be, too.

She smiled softly at Jake and assured him she was okay, but I knew better. Jared was so in tune with his imprint he could feel everything she felt. He knew if she was in danger, if she was sad, how far away she was. It was like they had a telepathic bond. I wasn't nearly there with Bella yet, but I could feel her pain. She loved our group and struggled with feeling like an outsider because of her bond with the Cullens.

The hurt in her eyes destroyed what was left of my restraint. It felt like I wasn't in control of my own body as I moved toward her and pulled her into my arms.

"It's okay," I whispered to her. "You belong with us, Bella, don't let Paul make you sad."

I could tell she was surprised at first but I felt her relax against me and snake her arms around me. I didn't hold her for long, knowing the guys would whistle or comment about it if I did.

"Thank you, Seth." Bella smiled at me. Her smile melted my heart. I wished I could tell her, but I had to let her do what made her happy. Edward made her happy.

I didn't have the opportunity to talk to Bella before we were whisked away in different directions. Leah took Bella back with her to get ready for her appointment and Jake insisted I go with him to the clinic where he was due to work for the afternoon.

Little did I know, that morning spent with Bella would be the morning of the worst day of my life.