AN: A few things I forgot to mention in my haste to upload the first chapter: Quil has not imprinted; Quil, Jacob and Embry became wolves between the few weeks following spring break of their freshman year and the first few weeks of summer vacation; the order of phasing remains the same; and Seth is 14 instead of 13.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Anastasia POV
Of course the guy I try to use as a distraction from a Quil conversation turns out to be Quil himself. And naturally the other three guys accompanying him would just have to be Paul, Jake and Embry because a 'make fun of Stacy for her crush on Quil' party just wouldn't be the same without those three tagging along. There's Paul, the overly protective and overly dramatic older brother who can't take a joke when it comes to me; Jake, the smart ass who only gets by without getting his face bashed in because of his size and adorable smile; and Embry, the pervert who uses any opportunity to make a dirty joke about me just to rile up Paul. He once told me that his favorite part about getting my brother angry is the shaking but he wouldn't explain any more than that.
Apparently he likes to "see Paul's animal side" — whatever that means.
Paul has been a friend to those three guys all his life and since they were toddlers, Embry has made it his mission in life to get Paul angry at least once a day. And ever since they were toddlers, Embry has been successful in his mission. It used to be that when Paul got angry he would just shove him into a wall or punch him in the shoulder but he suddenly developed a new trait last school year about two weeks after spring break ended: strange, unexplainable shaking.
I remember the clouds were black that day and the rain was pouring out harder than usual; a total cliché for a bad day. I had come home from school crying because Tyler Cowlitz had pushed me against the wall for telling him off after he shoved a seventh grader into a locker. Normally that wouldn't have caused such a dramatic reaction out of me but I had never been pushed by a guy like that before. Guys who would rather pull their own teeth out than harm a single hair on my head have surrounded me my entire life. So naturally, Tyler pushing me so roughly scared the heck out of me. When I got home that day Paul was already waiting on the couch in the living room, almost as if he knew something had happened at school. I remember my parents were in the kitchen cooking dinner together and as I started to tell Paul about Tyler pushing me, the couch began to shake violently. At first I thought we were having an earthquake but when Paul's form began to blur as well, I knew something was wrong. His eyes turned blacker than the clouds outside and the look on his face told me my Paul wasn't with me at the moment. I was stunned, unable to do anything but stare at him in open-mouthed horror.
Suddenly a strange tearing could be heard coming from somewhere inside him and that's when my screams and his growls (which is really the only way to describe the sounds coming from his throat), mingled in the air as I yelled for my parents. Then, for reasons I still don't understand even months later, Sam Uley and Jared came bursting through the backdoor, almost as if they had been waiting in our backyard the entire time. In spite of all the chaos and confusion I remember thinking how strange it was that they were wearing nothing but a pair of sweats considering the storm raging outside. I also couldn't help but get the feeling that what was happening was a situation they'd been witness to before because they rushed in, took one look at the commotion in my living room and sprang into action like they knew exactly what was going on and what to do. Jared locked Dad in the garage and Sam steered Mom and me to my room on the second floor, telling us to stay put until he came to get us. From my bedroom I could hear shouting in the living room downstairs, Sam and Jared trying to get Paul to leave the house through the back leading to the woods where they promised that "everything will make sense." I screamed for Paul, running to the door to get to him but my mom only held me back.
I cried for my brother that night and for the few nights after.
The next day at school Tyler told anyone that would listen of the giant, dark silver wolf that growled and scratched at his window during the night. He blamed me for it for some reason, kept trying to tell everybody in school that I had put a curse on him or something. The entire school, including the teachers, was bored with him by lunch.
Three days later Paul came home with Jacob's dad Billy Black, Quil's grandfather, Quil Ateara Sr., and Sam, and it was as if nothing had happened. He walked in the door with them in tow, gave me a hug and a kiss on the forehead, and together with our parents went into Mom and Dad's room and closed the door. They talked for four hours straight, only pausing when Sam would come out of the room to gather food every hour or so. I tried to listen but each time I approached the hallway leading to the room Paul would yell out at me to go back to the kitchen to finish my homework. From that day on everyone in my family acted as if Paul's strange anger fit days previously hadn't happened. Everything went back to normal but really, nothing was normal and I began to worry.
Up until a few weeks into summer vacation, Paul had all but stopped hanging out with Jake, Embry and Quil; the three guys he has been inseparable from since he was a toddler. Then one by one, they began to reappear by his side: Embry first, then Jake and finally Quil. The appetites on them changed drastically and seemed to grow as they did. None of them had ever had small appetites by any means, but all of a sudden they couldn't go more than two hours without eating. And I don't mean a simple snack. For them, eating an extra large pizza was like eating a Twinkie: easy and down in one bite. But it was more than just their appetites that plagued me. After his strange fit, I noticed Paul would leave the house randomly at strange times of the night and not come home until five or six in the morning. Even stranger was how my very strict parents seemed to not care. He would leave late and they wouldn't stir in their room. He'd come home at six in the morning and Mom would have breakfast made for an army waiting on the table, no questions asked. He felt like he constantly had a fever and I would find his clothes randomly shredded, almost as if they'd been ripped to pieces by wild animals. What's more is that Paul's scent changed. In fact, all of their scents changed. I know it sounds strange but prior to Paul's odd, angry fit, he and his friends always smelled slightly salty, like the ocean. After, it changed to something woodsier with a pine tree after smell. It was as if all four of them had been living in the woods their entire lives and had just decided to emerge into civilization for the first time.
I had a million questions running through my mind and each time I begged Paul for an answer he would reply with the same rehearsed line: "It's a guy thing Anastasia, don't worry about it." He never got angry that I asked him so much but if I pestered too many times in one day I noticed the shaking would start up again. It always began first in his fists and would slowly creep to the rest of his body before he would leave abruptly. Eventually my parents snapped, telling me "enough was enough" and that if it were my business then I would know. Admittedly, that hurt a little bit. Paul had always been my business and vice versa. We had never kept secrets from each other and he had never denied me anything. I couldn't — and still don't — understand why he would start hiding things from me now.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the two loveliest ladies in La Push," Embry begins as they approach our towel. He winks at me and shoots a glance toward Paul, letting me know his banter is just beginning. Out of the corner of my eye I see Sierra glare daggers at Embry. She knows how shy and awkward I get sometimes when he starts with his sex jokes and she's usually pretty good at heading him off before he can really get into it.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Paul, the only good looking guy in La Push," Sierra says, unabashedly looking Paul up and down. As funny as I find Sierra's crush on my brother to be, it's when she openly checks him out that I get a little creeped out. But nothing stops Embry's sexual banter like a blow to his ego so I'm willing to ignore Sierra's shuddersome comments this time.
"Aww lookie here Sweets, Sierra wants a little taste of your sticky sauce," Jake quips, nudging Paul in the side with his elbow. Embry laughs loudly and high-fives Jake for his crudeness, earning each of them a smack on the back of the head from Paul. I've never understood why they call Paul 'Sweets' but I am observant enough to notice that each time they do, Paul turns red, an accomplishment considering his dark complexion.
Embry, Jake and Quil make themselves comfortable on our beach towel, digging into the picnic basket as if they had made it. Paul, meanwhile, stares at me and I can tell I'm in some sort of trouble. All my life Paul has been regarded as an extra authority figure when it comes to me and the strange anger fit a few months ago did nothing but increase that authority. If I want to go somewhere or do something but he doesn't think it's a good idea, then my parents usually agree and the answer is no. I once wasn't allowed to go to a friend's sleepover because Paul didn't like her older brother. I had to spend the entire next day at lunch trying to convince this girl that I couldn't go over because I had plans with my mom. For the most part, though, he's pretty good about not taking things too far but I can already tell from the pissed off look on his face that this talk is easily going to fall under the "over dramatic" category.
"All right Paul, spit it out," I sigh, rolling my eyes as I picture the tantrum he's sure to throw for God-knows-what. He's still staring at me, clearly not amused at my childish antics. Well, if it's a staring contest he desires, then it's a staring contest he shall receive. "I can tell I'm in trouble so why don't you just get on with why so I can smile my way out of it."
"Oh no, you're not going to be able to get out of this one." Paul crosses his arms for dramatic effect and keeps up the glaring, waiting for me to figure out why he's mad this time. Thinking back, I can't recall doing anything wrong. I told Mom and Dad where I was, that's usually enough for Paul. Hmm, maybe I should have called … called … SHIT! My phone died right after I had hung up with Mom. Paul must have tried calling my cell phone only to get my voicemail. So that's why he's so mad. That also explains why the rest of the guys are here as well: Paul must have called them freaking out because he couldn't find me. I'm assuming the only reason Jared isn't here as well is because he's too wrapped up with his girlfriend Kim Connweller, also a senior at La Push High School.
"Oh my goodness I am so, so sorry about my phone! I forgot to charge it last night before I went to bed and then I didn't have time to do it today before I had to meet up with Sierra," I rush out before he can get started. "I told Mom and Dad where I was and I just figured that if anyone really needed to get a hold of me they would just call Sierra's phone. Forgive me?" I finish with the sad pout I know he can't refuse.
"Yes of course I forgive you but damn it Anastasia, you need to be more responsible. You're not a child anymore so stop making decisions like one." Ooh, he is really pissed. But that 'child' comment is not acceptable. So I forgot to charge my phone, big whoop. Shit happens.
"You know what?" I glower at him, narrowing my eyes into virtual slits. I may not have a quick fuse like Mom and Paul but when I get angry, it's still pretty dangerous. I think I get my fearful fury from years of living with Paul's anger and I'm pretty proud of it. The others look away from our fight, knowing it's in their best interest to not interfere. "You're mad, fine. But don't you dare treat me like a child. I said I was sorry and I am but don't act like I committed some horrible crime. It was an accident, they happen. And what the hell do you think is going to happen to me at the beach? What, do you think I'm going to be eaten by one of those wolves that's been spotted in the woods? Chill out Paul before you really piss me off and ruin my beach day."
Paul POV
Oh Anastasia, if you only knew what I work so hard to protect you from.
Quil POV
I've known Paul all my life and in all the years he's had an anger problem (which admittedly has been his whole life), Stacy has always been the only person allowed to tell him off without repercussions, except for his parents of course. Even though Paul is only a year older than Stacy, she's had him wrapped around her tiny finger since the day she was born. When we were toddlers she would scream for his pudding cup and he would hand it over without a moment's hesitation. By age six, he was the most frequent guest at her tea parties other than her stuffed silver wolf, ironically named Paul. When she was eight she wanted to go to her first sleepover at Sierra's house but her parents said no so she ran to Paul in tears. He lobbied on her behalf for more than three hours until they got so sick of listening to his voice that they changed their minds. Then last year when Stacy decided she had to have a cell phone because all her friends had one, Paul went out and got a part-time job so he could buy her the phone she wanted as a surprise birthday gift.
If it wasn't for the fact that Stacy is probably one of the sweetest girls I've ever met, I'd probably be disgusted with how whipped he is. But if I'm being perfectly honest, the rest of us are just as protective and fold just as easily to her will. Apart from Jared and Sam, we've all known Stacy our entire lives and truly consider her the younger sister none of us have.
But sitting next to her on a beach towel, me in only a pair of cut-off shorts and her in a tiny bikini, I find brotherly feelings are a little hard to come by at the moment. It's true that as Stacy has gotten older she's gotten prettier and it certainly doesn't help our case against Sweets when we unwillingly share our thoughts with him in wolf form. She's had a crush on me since about the time she turned 13 and I'm afraid those feelings have only increased since then. When Paul first found out she liked me he nearly popped a blood vessel. That was the one and only time I seriously thought he was going to try to fight me. In Paul's mind, when it comes to Stacy, there's no such thing as overreaction. I'm attracted to her, certainly, but my own personal safety aside, I don't think I could ever manage to conjure up actual feelings for her. Not only would I not want to mess up the relationship I have with Paul and the rest of the Chehalis family, but it's well known that little Seth Clearwater has it pretty bad for our dear Stacy and I wouldn't want to get in the way of that.
"Fine," Paul growls after being scolded by Stacy. "But could you please try to be more … careful from now on? For me?" He finishes in a tone so gentle he knows she'll have no choice but to cave.
"Yes I'll be more careful. I'm sorry Paul." I can't help but laugh at the two of them. For as much crap as we give Paul about caving so easily, we seem to forget that Stacy folds just as easily and just as often.
"Well, now that the family feud is over, can we please change the channel?" Oh Embry, that ass sure does know how to ruin a good family moment. He claps his giant, brown hands together and gets a sudden glimmer in his eye, smirking an evil smile in my direction. He hasn't even said anything yet and already I don't like where this is going. "Hey I have an idea. Quil, why don't you put some of your whipped cream on Stacy's strawberry?" I swear he sits up at night just thinking of different ways to get me killed. It's like he has a lifelong dream to see Paul murder me and he's willing to do anything in his power to see it fulfilled.
"Oh did you bring whipped cream? I didn't even think of that!" Stacy exclaims in surprise as she finishes another strawberry from her picnic basket. Is she serious? It's Embry for crying out loud! That alone should tip her off that he's making some sort of perverted joke at her expense. Maybe they're secretly conspiring together to get me violently killed.
"Oh yeah!" Oh God, his tone was way too enthusiastic, this can only get worse. "He carries it around with him in this itty-bitty bottle but Paul never lets him share it with you." Jake bites his fist in an attempt to stop his laughter as Sierra hides behind his back. Next to me, Paul clutches onto a towel as if his life depends on it and a discernible tearing can be heard over the crashing of the waves. The girls seem oblivious to the murder written in Paul's eyes or the fear even I can tell is shining in mine.
"What? That's crap! I demand you give me some whipped cream for my strawberry right now!" Stacy demands, her left hand outstretched, waiting for a bottle entirely different from what Embry is really describing. "Oh, even better — spray it in my mouth!"
"Oh my God Stacy, shut up!" Sierra blurts out over her laughter.
"ENOUGH!" Paul roars.
A loud tear comes from where Paul is sitting and it's obvious the towel has lost the fight. The blurring of Paul's body begins and it's clear to Jake, Embry and me that he's mere seconds from phasing, something he would never forgive himself for if he did in front of Stacy. I look to Embry, telling him with my eyes to head to the woods, knowing Paul is so pissed off at him that he will follow. The growling begins and the girls stumble up from their sitting position, mouths agape, staring at Paul with wide eyes. Embry takes one last glance at Paul and sprints off for the seclusion of the trees, Paul follows. As soon as both of their bodies are hidden, a loud howl is heard and birds fly up from their perches on the trees.
"Well ladies, it's been fun." Jake jumps into our farewell before the girls can form questions demanding to know what just happened. He stands, claps his huge hands together and plasters a fake smile on his face, acting as if we're simply going for a walk on the beach and not preparing to rip two snapping and snarling wolves off each other. I jump up too, following in the charade. "Thanks for the snacks. Enjoy the rest of your beach day."
We jokingly bow and hastily make our exit in search of Paul and Embry who are sure to be tearing each other apart deep in the forest.