"The rules are simple," Quil explains to me, once they are all sitting around with sandwiches and drinks. "Everyone votes for the person who is the most insert thing here. You take as many sips as you are voted for. Fawn will do half as much drinking as the rest of us since she's such a lightweight."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Embry asks, looking between Jacob and me.

"We get to do what I want, right?" I ask. "Isn't that the deal?"

"Sure," Jacob says. I can't get over how deep his eyes are. So dark in this lighting that they almost look black. Like the eyes I was originally shown were his. The ones with those dreadful contacts. "The ball is in your court, unfortunately."

Quil clears his throat, "alright, I'll go first. Who's most likely to win a pie-eating contest?"

All four of us point at Embry, who takes four sips. That guy has got a hollow leg. He might even eat as much as Quil and Jacob combined.

"Who lies the most?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

Jacob raises an eyebrow, "really?"

"I'm giving you your chance," I point out.

Though Jacob points at me, everyone else points at him. He takes three sips and I only take half a sip. I scrunch my nose and turn to him, a scowl still etched in my skin.

"Who keeps the most secrets," Jacob counters.

The boys all point at me while I point at him.

"You kept way more secrets than I have," I point out.

"Oh really," he asks. "What's your last name?"

I scrunch my nose and take another sip, even though I haven't been directed to do so.

"Who's not wearing underwear?" Embry asks, looking around.

We all point at Quil, who immediately flashes the waistband of his underwear, pulling it above his shorts. He sticks his tongue out but takes the four sips.

The game continues. Each round I take a dig at Jacob. Who's the most afraid of imprinting? Who is most likely to pretend not to have kissed someone? Who's most likely to be hung up on an ex? Jacob digs back the first few times. Who's most likely to lie to get ahead? Who would keep their fiancé a secret from everyone? Eventually, for whatever reason, he stops. He joins in on their fun, and I realize that I'm the only one being miserable. I'm losing again. It kills me.

Quil and Embry are trying to play along, but things are tense. It weighs on our shoulders. Perhaps it's their exhaustion from having killed Kamiko and gone cliff diving and who knows what else in one day. I am tired too. I may not have worked today, but I'm done.

I'm supposed to run away with Cedar tomorrow, and though I don't want to do it, if he shows up, he'll be less than impressed if I'm hungover.

"I think I'm done," I tell them. I walk over to the front door and pull my shoes on. "I'm going for a walk."

"Fawn," Jacob begins.

I shut the door behind me. I stand on the porch for a second, breathing in the cold October air. I've been here for far too long. I don't know where I'm walking. I don't even know if I'll come back.

If I don't go home with Cedar, then Cedar will bring the convent to come and kill the wolf packs. Unfortunately for Cedar, he and everyone with who I grew up will meet their end. Perhaps the group will disband, perhaps they will die, I do not know. Maybe Alice knows. I pull out my phone, and debate calling the Cullens, but why would I willingly walk into a vampire coven?

Someone is jogging behind me. I pull out my switchblade and turn around to see Embry. He puts his hands up in defence.

"Woah," it's all he manages, staring down the knife.

"Woah," I agree. I put the knife away. I'm not afraid of being alone with him. I don't really know what I am afraid of finding out here. Knives aren't enough to keep me safe anymore.

"You know, that wouldn't kill me," he points out. "It would hurt, but not much else."

Yeah, I noticed, "why are you following me?"

He sighs, winding around in front of me. He blocks my path, and I'm too tired to dodge around him, "I wanted to talk you into giving Jacob another chance."

"No way," I tell him.

"Do you know how Emily got her scars?" he asks.

I turn away from him and continue walking. However it happened, I don't want to hear it.

"She rejected Sam," Embry says, "compared him to his father. It enraged Sam, and he couldn't control himself."

"So, it was abusive," I say.

"Some of us, like Paul and Sam and Jacob, have trouble controlling our anger," Embry explains. "Here's the thing though. Even if it was going to break Sam, he would've left Emily if she asked. We're all obedient. Jacob said something to me before and it really stood out. He told me that once we've imprinted, we don't belong to ourselves anymore."

"So, you're just here to tell me that this whole thing is fucked up," I kick a rock on the ground and look up at the sky. I can see the stars. I couldn't with Jacob. Maybe it's a coincidence or maybe it means something.

"Well, yeah," Embry sighs. "It is fucked up. We don't get a choice at all. In anything. You get a choice here though."

"Are you trying to help Jacob or not?" I ask.

Embry looks down at his feet, "What I was trying to get at is, Jacob didn't want to imprint because it wasn't him falling in love but something else. Unfortunately, I think he fell in love with you on his own. If what you say is true, about you guys kissing before all of this came out."

"He's not in love with me," I roll my eyes. "He's infatuated. We've only known each other for two months."

"Okay," Embry says. "I'm not going to argue with you."

"Thank you," I expect him to leave, but he doesn't. Instead, he continues to follow after me.

"You wouldn't be this upset if you didn't care about him," his voice is quiet, so quiet I barely hear it. Maybe it's just the fact that I have only one hearing aid in, but his voice is nearly all air.

He's right though. I wouldn't be upset if he didn't matter to me. Betrayal overwhelms me. It suffocates me.

"My fiancé, Cedar, is coming to get me tomorrow," I tell him. "If not, he'll bring back the convent and they will attack you guys."

"We can take them," Embry says.

"I don't want them to all die," I point out. "They can't be bought off, they can't be deterred. It might take a few weeks, but they will all be here."

"Let's just take things one day at a time," Embry suggests. "Sound good to you?"

I agree. These past few hours have been too much. With Kamiko dead, I thought my troubles would be over. Unfortunately, it seems things have just begun to unravel. Jacob can see me, Cedar is coming for us. I am too exhausted to care either way.

"So, what do you suggest then?" I ask. "I can't just forgive and forget."

He shrugs. I suppose Embry doesn't have an answer.

"What would Quil say?" I ask.

"Quil would tell you that imprinting is all sunshine and rainbows and nothing bad ever happens and that, if you give it no more than a second, everything will turn out fine."

I almost laugh, "I take it that's not your opinion?"

He smiles, "I mean, I'd like to imprint, but only if I'm less annoying than Quil and Claire. Less possessive than Sam. Paul and Rachel are pretty chill. Same with Jared and his imprint. It's a mixed bag all around."

"I'm sure you'll find a special lady someday," I tell him. "Even if it's not an imprint."

"I'm only going for imprints or hookups, no in-between," Embry laughs.

Since it's getting cold, I lean into his side, "so, did Jacob put you up to this?"

"Talking to you about imprints, no, making sure a coyote didn't come after you, yes," he laughs.

We continue the walk, staring up at the stars in the sky. I think about the moments I have spent with Jacob, and how much of a mixed bag they have been. Much like imprinting. Unfortunately, he seems to be less annoying than Quil and Claire but more possessive than Sam for sure.

He's not perfect, not by a long means. I don't even know what it's like to be imprinted on. Even if he is a liar, and a terrible person for faking a disability, I want to know what it is like, to be loved. To be destined. To hear a heart that only beats because it can keep rhythm with mine.

~~~~~

I think this is sweet. Embry has always been the ultimate wing man. I really appreciate it. I love how they get on together. It's so wonderful.

I have no questions for you. Enjoy!