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Judged

Chapter 3

Sam had taken to teaching more about the legends and about the cold ones. I think he is just assuming that I don't know them. He doesn't know that I speak our native tongue either.

My family only spoke English to outsiders and when we weren't at our own house. I grew up with the language. I learned English after I started kindergarten.

Jared and Sam would occasionally speak it around me. They normally were talking about my attitude. I didn't want them to know I spoke it just yet.

Let's go get some of Emily's cooking.

I can't hang around long. I have to stock my fridge.

We trotted through the woods silently. The faint scent of vampire still lingered.

About a week ago, we ran into a lone blood sucker. The scent was disgusting; sugar, bleach, and rotting flesh. It made me sick the first time I smelled it.

Sam gave a wolfish laugh at the memory of me retching.

I growled softly at him.

He just turned and smiled at me with his wolfish grin.

Did we ever tell you about your wolf's eyes?

Nope, but I know they are different from your actual eyes from seeing you and Jared.

Sam had yellow eyes as a wolf but brown like a typical native. Jared's wolf had vibrant green eyes.

You're wolf has red eyes.

Sam thought about what he was looking at than; me.

My wolf was very muscular. I was the biggest wolf in that department. I was a few inches shorter than Sam but taller than Jared. My fur was a silver color looking the most like an actual wolf. The eyes though were a deep blood red.

Cool.

I began trotting towards Sam's place thinking about the eyes.

We don't know why they are like that. Different colors that is.

I mentally shrugged as the smell of Emily's cooking wafted to the forest.

I phased back pulling on my shorts. Emily was a great cook. I loved her cooking.

I met her a month ago. I've been a wolf for 3 months now.

She got use to my habits within a week. She doesn't touch me and she completely ignores my apathetic demeanor.

I always sit quietly and observe her and Sam. It's interesting.

Sam hasn't brought up imprinting to me yet but it interests me. They act like one person while being different. They always look at each other like they just fell in love and they greet one another like they haven't seen each other in weeks as opposed to a few hours.

Sam and she had their little hello session as I went and sat next to Jared on the couch.

Jared started coming by to help me with the meat every time I went hunting. He didn't speak or ask any questions like the first time. He just silently helped me and then left.

I could tolerate him a lot more now.

As I sat down, I could see Jared smirk out of the corner of my eye. Sam's eyes got wider as he watched me sit near him. I normally sat as far as I could from the pack.

Jared had a tattoo show on.

"Are we able to get tattoos?" I asked as Emily smiled at my display of sitting near Jared.

Jared smiled widely, "Hell yea we can and they will heal so quickly we can get so many."

"We have to go to the tribal one though. He knows about us since he is on the council." Sam added.

"Do you want one?" Emily asked sitting on the chair near Jared.

She never tried to test where my boundaries were. She just let me set them.

"Yup." I answered watching the TV closely.

Sam sat in his recliner just watching me. He seemed enthralled that I sat near Jared. Emily smiled at me before getting up to get the food done.

The sound and smell of cooking was comforting. The quiet thrum of our hearts was relaxing. No matter how much I distrusted Sam and Jared, my wolf took comfort in the smell of their wolves.

We ate the same as we normally did. Jared made Emily laugh and Sam acted like the moon revolving around his Earth, Emily.

After 5 plates of food, I said my goodbyes and left.

I found a few deer and caught rabbit and fish for variety. Getting the food home I ended up passing my old house; my parents' house.

I could hear the TV blaring as my father drank. My mother was screaming her lungs out at him. I cringed as I heard a fist connect with someone's flesh. They were both screaming then.

I ran home faster as some ache slithered out from deep in my heart.

Jared was already cleaning the fish when I finally got home with the last deer.

He had gotten through 7 of the fish and a few rabbits as I came up beside him and started on the last few fish.

"A new kid is showing signs of phasing." Jared said after about an hour of gutting and skinning.

I paused my cutting, "Who?"

Jared laughed lightly, "Embry Call."

I tried to think about whom that was. I wasn't a friendly person but I was observant. I knew more than people thought I did.

"I thought he was from Makah?" I asked putting the last bunny to the side for cutting.

"So did we, but he is bulking up and getting moody. His father must be from the tribe." Jared said quietly.

"Why do you sound bothered by that?" I asked knowing I was missing something.

"The only people that could possibly father a kid Embry's age were all married with kids." Jared explained.

"Well, who could have cheated on their wife?" I asked.

"Quil Atera II, Harry Clearwater, Joshua Uley, Joseph Lahote, or Billy Black." He said muttering my father's name.

"Probably my father or Sam's dad. Both we already know slept around." I mumbled.

I stopped cutting then. My head jerked up to look at Jared.

"You could have a brother dude." Jared said with a sad expression.

His eyes lite up a little though, "I think this has to be the most emotion I've seen you display and you look mildly surprised."

I scowled at him for the comment making him laugh.

We went back to cutting being silent until we were done.

"When do you think he will phase?" I asked.

"Sam thinks he will join the pack within a month. He's generally really calm though so it could be more. Poor kid is only 17." Jared said as he began walking away from me.

I went into my house, putting away the food before going into my study.

I sat down at my desk and started to draw. I'm an amazing artist. I learned that when one of the psychologists asked me to draw a picture for them.

I loved it too. I had already drawn my wolf and Jared's. I was working on Sam's now.

I worked into the night eventually falling asleep thinking about my next drawing.

Sam's howl echoed in my mind waking me up. I growled rolling over. I hated that he could do that.

I phased thinking of ways to rip his vocal cords out. Jared laughed at my thoughts mentally agreeing with him.

It's tradition Paul. Get over it. Sam laughed coming into view.

What?

It's the first of the month Paul.

I groaned. Sam makes the first of the month this weird pack bonding day. He woke us up at 7am to hang out in wolf form.

This would be my sixth 'bonding' as Sam would call it. We had one about a week after I phased and every 1st since. I phased 6 months ago.

Jared laughed at my distain and took off running towards the river. I loped after him as he began taunting Sam and I about being slow.

I didn't normally join in with them. We raced a few times last month but that was the extent of my bonding.

Jared always started this event off with swimming. Sam and he wrestled last time.

I got to the river before Sam. I watched Jared as he swam around the river looking like a real dog. I took my spot on this rock that was like a platform extending out over the river. I thought as Jared and Sam tried to figure out who could hold their breath longer.

The past 3 months Jared and Sam have made a huge effort to show me that I could trust them. I guess they have slowly become more like my pack mates then the people I'm stuck with. I still don't really like them touching me but if they warn me before hand, I can handle it.

Sam jumped into the river laughing the wolfish laugh we manage. I waiting until Jared was close to the rock ledge I was perched on before jumping in.

I landed right on top of Jared scaring him.

He broke the surface coughing.

You scared the fuck out of me!

I gave him a mental smirk.

His muzzle pulled back into what resembled a smile, a wide smile.

We swam around the river for a few hours playing around.

Sam was trying to pull Jared under the water as I pushed my paws on his back.

Sam was faintly thinking about how happy he was that I was participating in this day. Jared was feeling triumphant.

I tried to ignore the faint thoughts.

A faint sugary smell wafted over the river then. Sam and Jared were under water and couldn't smell it.

I stopped playing around and got out of the river on the opposite side from where we entered.

I sniffed around trying to figure out the direction of the smell. Sam and Jared came up wondering where I had gone.

Paul!

Someone's thoughts forced the image of a vampire leaping at me into my head.

I jerked around to see a blonde leech mere feet from me. He hit me in the chest like a semi truck. I went flying through the air into a tree. The trunk snapped on impact and fell over me.

I scrambled out of the way of the falling tree wheezing and gasping for air. The blond monster stood with jeans, no shoes, and a camouflage jacket. His hair was up in a ratty pony tail.

Sam and Jared were scrambling to get out of the river. Jared was out first and stood snarling in front of me protectively before I could catch my breath.

Sam's thoughts were screaming in my head.

Shut up! It knocked the wind out of me. I'm fine.

Jared's growls were deep and dark as two more vampires came out of the woods.

"James! What have you done!?" a dreaded guy snarled looking at us in fear.

Fear! A raspy angry voice purred darkly.

What the hell was that?!

What was what?

You didn't hear that raspy voice?

That's your wolf Paul. We can't hear that.

Rip. Kill. Burn. Fear! The voice purred in joy.

I stalked forward slowly, snarling demonically.

The blond one smirked and stood straight, "I found puppies."

Sam and Jared snarled along with me. Jared stood in front of the guy with dreads while Sam was looking at a red head.

Blondie is mine.

Sam lunged first and caught the red head's arm. Blondie stepped to grab Sam leaving himself open. I lunged for him knocking into his side sinking my teeth into his throat. Jared's target ran off with him hot on his heels.

Sam and I tore apart the two we had as they screamed out to each other. I crushed blondie in my jaws silencing his screams. The red heads screams filled with agony as I phased back and set her friend on fire.

Soon Sam's prey was silenced too. Jared came trotting back with the dreaded leech in pieces.

As the last parts burned, Jared and Sam phased back.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked Jared.

"Not a scratch," Jared said quickly coming over to me, "Are you okay?"

Sam nodded before looking at me. Jared grabbed my shoulder.

I tensed and let a little growl out. His hand gently pushed against my chest.

"No breaks. No bruises I assume." Jared said quietly to Sam ignoring my warning.

I shrugged his hand off me. Jared looked at me with a small smile, "I had to make sure you were okay. Sorry."

I stared at him with narrowed eyes.

I wasn't going to snap at him for being concerned. Sam and Jared were the closest people to me.

I nodded at him quickly punching his shoulder, "Don't touch me without warning next time."

He smiled widely at me. Sam smiled too.

We phased back and hopped over the river to get back on reservation land. We ended up in a clearing I had created in the first month of my phase.

The area was covered in wild flowers and tall grass now.

I plopped down and rested my head on my paws. Jared laid down and rolled onto his back next to me. Sam laughed at Jared's puppy-esque habits.

Sam sniffed around the clearing and chased a few squirrels around before stretching out on the other side of me.

Jared had drifted off to sleep a few minutes ago. Our dreams were never visible for some reason. Sam and I let the other think without interruption until sleep claimed us too.

I woke up first. It was late afternoon now. Jared and Sam had shifted in their sleep a lot. They were pressed against me and tangled.

Jared was curled towards me with his head on my back. Sam was curled around me almost with his paw over mine under my throat.

It was comfortable, truth be told.

Sam had said we would act like a real pack once I accepted them more. I did notice it too.

I was getting more comfortable with them. Sam and Jared were able to be near me more and Emily hugged me hello the other day. Jared always held conversations when he helped me with the meat. Sam patrolled with me more often and sometimes even asked me questions. Sam and Jared were always touching each other. They said it was a pack thing.

Eventually I would do it too Sam had told me.

Jared's thoughts weren't blank anymore. Picked up my head and looked at him as he started into the woods.

I was trying to give you privacy. I couldn't keep blank with you thinking about how we're closer.

Well…you guys are cuddling with me. It was a given train of thought.

I know you don't see it but you are a brother to me Paul. I know Sam thinks it too. We're here for a long time and we have your back no matter what.

I replayed the words in my mind as Jared continued resting his head on my back looking at the woods.

Sam started to stir. He yawned stretching a little.

His thoughts were quiet as he observed how I was awake but staying where I was. Jared gave a small mental smile.

Sam listened silently as I replayed Jared words in my head.

I know you don't like that term Paul but to us you are a brother. You're part of this pack; our pack.

I let his words circle with Jared's.

You may not be brothers to me, but you're my friends. My Pack.

Author's Note: Thank you to my amazing pre-reader/beta Mali Love!

Review and critique! I take all comments to help better my writting!