"Are they gonna kill him?"

Embry stared straight ahead, both hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. His expression was tense and he breathed deeply as if he were trying to calm himself down. "I think you already know the answer to that question, Ness."

Renesmee flung her car door open as soon as they pulled up to Jacob's cabin. Embry reached for her waist and pulled her back. "There's nothing you can do! It's already been decided!"

"Sam is really gonna let them do this?"

Embry held her hand and shook his head. "It's not up to Sam. The alpha makes the orders."

"But I thought..."

Embry gave her a knowing look. "Sam said that when Jake phased, he could have the option to be alpha again. He took it this time."

"You don't think they should kill Wyatt, do you?"

Embry narrowed his gaze and shook his head. "That's not it."

Renesmee looked confused. "Then why do you look so mad?"

"Because I didn't get to kill him myself."

"Embry! I don't want this! No one should die over this!"

"He hurt you, Renesmee!" Embry paused to run his finger near the cuts on her neck before he continued. "Jake just can't let that go. Wyatt could have killed you. The pack can't just stand by and let anyone's imprint be harmed. Jake says he has to die, so..."

Renesmee groaned as she pulled away from Embry and opened the passenger door. She noticed the headlights approaching and told him, "Amara's here."

"Nessie, stop!" Embry called as he climbed out of the driver seat and followed her up the porch steps. "Just wait and we'll sit with you."

"I don't want a babysitter," Ness replied angrily, her hand gripping the front door knob.

"Jake's orders," he reminded her, handing her the car keys.

Renesmee whirled around to face him, her scowl disappeared as he smiled down at her. "Thank you for driving me home, but I'm just gonna take a bath and go to bed."

"Ness..."

"I'm fine really."

"Jake said..."

"If Jacob was so concerned, then he would be here," she spat angrily.

Embry hit the door above her head and scowled. "Stop being so damn stubborn. You're putting me in an awful position with Jake."

Amara approached Embry cautiously, eyeing the interaction between her boyfriend and Renesmee. "I'm sure Amara is ready to go home...I'll take the heat for you with Jake. He'll deal," Ness assured him.

Embry glanced back at Amara standing at the bottom of the porch steps. She looked beyond irritated and that was making Renesmee feel terribly guilty. His shoulders slumped as he finally conceded. "Only if you're sure..."

"I am."

"And you promise you won't leave..."

"I won't leave."

"And you'll lock the door?"

"I swear."

"And you'll clean these cuts on your neck?"

"Yes, Dad," she teased as he gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly.

Amara cleared her throat, reminding him she was still standing there. "Em, come on. She said you can go."

Embry pulled away, his expression was sad and full of guilt. "You better call me if you need anything."

Renesmee laughed and shoved him toward the steps. "I will! You should go..."

Amara crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. "Goodnight, Renesmee."

"Sorry for everything..." Nessie's voice trailed off when Amara held her hand up.

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being threatened by your ex. It was a memorable night," Amara replied sarcastically.

"Mar! Don't be rude..." Embry scolded. Amara responded by turning on her heel and stalking back to her car.

"I'm sorry..." Embry told Renesmee.

"I'm fine. Go after her...I don't want you two fighting," Renesmee admitted honestly.

Embry tossed her one more sorry glance, stuffed his hands in his jeans pocket, and turned to join Amara. Renesmee entered her empty home and cringed when she heard Embry and Amara arguing as they drove off. She locked the door like she promised she would and trudged off to the bathroom to get a bath.

.....

Renesmee woke up startled a few hours later when she heard Jacob's gruff voice from the living room. From what she could hear, she gathered that he had returned home to find Embry gone and he wasn't pleased. "You promised me, Embry," Jacob growled.

She rolled her eyes and padded to the bathroom. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. After her bath, she had tried to wait up for Jacob, but finally she succumbed to a much needed sleep. Now she just had to pee before her bladder burst.

Renesmee jumped when she opened the bathroom door and found Jacob's towering figure gripping the doorframe and blocking her path. He sucked in a deep breath when he saw her standing there in a thin, short robe. He didn't know what she had on underneath, but he hoped it was nothing.

She gazed up at him, her scowl evident. "Can I get by?"

Jacob sighed. "I'm really sorry..."

"Save it!" she exclaimed. "I just wanna go to bed."

Jacob dropped his arms and only gave her a small space to pass by. She wondered if he had somehow gotten bigger in the last few hours because his body seemed to fill the entire doorway now. She sighed deeply as she twisted her body in an effort to escape touching him. He inhaled deeply when her hair swept by his nose. "Ness, please..."

"Don't touch me," she seethed as he reached for her.

Jacob pulled her body to his, turning and pressing her against the now closed bathroom door. Renesmee squirmed under his hold. He lifted her by the waist with his huge hands, her back still pressed to the door. "Put me down," she growled.

Jacob sighed, lowering her slowly, her body sliding down his. He gave her no space and when she pushed against his chest, he didn't budge. He lowered his head to her shoulder and whispered, "Don't do this."

Renesmee ran her hand through his hair, grabbing a handful and pulling hard so she could see his face. His expression was not one of anger. "I can't even look at you," she announced, shoving him back once more.

He stepped back and stood up straight, once again towering over her. She walked over to the bed and sat down, pulling her knees to her chin. Jacob shook his head slowly, opened the bathroom door and started the shower water.

Jacob returned to her a short time later, his body still wet and lower half covered with a towel. He stood over her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He slipped a hand behind her neck and tilted her head back. "Are you gonna talk to me?" he asked softly.

Renesmee looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "I can't believe you killed him."

Jacob knelt in front of her, shoving her knees apart in an attempt to get closer. "You're crying over Wyatt? Really, Ness?"

Renesmee threaded her fingers behind his neck and looked deeply into his eyes. "I'm crying over you! Over what you felt you had to do for me. I never wanted this!"

"We didn't kill him."

Nessie swiped at her tears and stared at Jacob incredulously. "What did you say?"

"He was high. They all were. When we went down the beach to confront them, they were getting high off crystal meth right there on the beach. Paul just lost it. He confronted that bald guy but none of them put up much of a fight."

"And Wyatt?"

"We chased him back to his house and howled outside his house until he packed a bag and left. We followed him to the border, but I just hope that he was freaked out enough to never come back."

"Embry said..."

"Embry's an asshole."

"Jacob, stop."

Jacob stood and began pacing around the dark room. "I gave him one damn job to do and he couldn't even do that right."

Nessie climbed down from the bed and approached him. "Don't blame Embry. He did everything he could to convince me to let him stay and I sent him away. This is not his fault."

"Why didn't you want him to stay?"

Renesmee sighed. "Amara was pissed at him and they were fighting. And I didn't need a sitter."

Jacob slid his hands around Nessie's waist and held her close. "I wanted to leave you protected. Why was she pissed?"

"Because...Embry was being Embry."

"Flirting? Or did he try to kiss you again?" Jacob replied, scowling.

"No! He was ignoring her and being overprotective of me. She made some snide comment about how what Wyatt did was my fault. I just wanted them to leave," she explained.

Jacob nodded and sighed. "I don't know if I made the right decision about Wyatt or not, but I'm just glad he's gone," he admitted as he glanced over the cuts to her neck. "If he had escaped with you..."

Renesmee pulled his hands from her waist and pressed them to her face. "I'm fine. Look at me, Jacob...everything is okay now."

Jacob ran his thumbs over the cuts on her neck and cringed. "He could have killed you," he sighed. "I wanted him dead, Ness, I really did." His body was shaking now.

She led him back to their bed, urging him to sit on the edge. "Don't start getting yourself all worked up."

Jacob gazed up at her, his face as serious as ever. "The only reason I didn't kill him was because of you," he admitted. "No matter how badly I wanted to, I just couldn't because I knew how upset you would be if I did. I guess that makes me a shitty alpha."

Renesmee pressed her lips to his and he kissed her passionately. She gasped when he pulled her on top of him and moved to lie back on the bed. When she broke the kiss, she smiled at him. "I love that you considered me in your decision. And I know you're gonna be an amazing alpha for your pack."

"We're a team, Ness. I may be their alpha but you're my queen."

Renesmee snuggled up close to Jacob as she shifted to lie next to him. He held her close to his side and sighed, "I was so proud of the way you handled yourself with Wyatt. I didn't get a chance to tell you that before, but you were really amazing."

She beamed proudly as she ran a hand over his chest and stomach and he shuddered slightly. She propped herself up on her elbow and narrowed her gaze at him. "Are you feeling okay?"

Jacob clenched his jaw and nodded tersely. "Yeah, why?"

"Your skin feels really hot."

Jacob chuckled nervously as she continued to run her hands over his body. "I'm always hot."

"Not like this, not since the accident. Are you in pain?"

He shook his head quickly. "I'll just go get another cold shower," he offered as he untangled himself from her grasp and climbed off the bed.

"Hey!" Renesmee called out, following him to the bathroom. "What's wrong?"

Jacob whirled around to face her and she gasped as he picked her up and deposited her on the bed. He leaned over her, his hands pressing her arms over her head. Her eyes opened wide and her breath became ragged. Jacob furrowed his brow and backed away slowly. "I'm sorry."

Renesmee smiled as she sat up and faced him. "Sorry for what? I thought we were making up."

Jacob watched as she reached for his towel and pulled him close to her. He saw the way she gazed up at him and it made him feel terrible. He reached for the front of her robe and closed it. "I'm gonna go get that shower."

"Stop," she urged, reaching for his hand and clutching it with both her hands. "Are you still mad at me?"

"No."

"Do you want me?"

"Yes," he hissed. "So badly it hurts," he admitted, casting his gaze to the floor.

She let go of her grip on his hand and slid her robe off of her body, letting it pool around her on the floor as she stood. "I want you too. So what's the problem?"

Jacob finally looked at her, nearly naked with her eyes shining brightly with desire in the moonlit room. "I don't want to hurt you," he admitted quietly.

"Why would you hurt me?" she asked innocently.

"I wouldn't...but my wolf might," he breathed, pulling her close.

"I'm pretty sure your wolf likes me," she mused with a playful smile. "Why would he hurt me?"

"Because..." he licked his lips, "he wants you too much. And I don't think I can control him right now."

Renesmee nodded. "But you would never let anyone hurt me...so wouldn't I be okay?"

Jacob pressed his forehead to hers and panted. "Maybe he's stronger than I am. Maybe he just wants to have his way with you...and doesn't care if he hurts you."

"Then I'll just kick his ass," she declared. "I'm a badass, ya know?"

Jacob threw his head back and laughed. "God, I love you," he breathed before capturing her lips with his.

"Not more than I love you," she mumbled against his lips.

"Wanna bet?" he challenged as he carried her to the bed and hovered above her.

"It's time to let your wolf out, Jacob."

.........

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