Chapter 3 –To Study Or Not

'Paul tell me you didn't, that you DID NOT do that to another person? Let alone Embry's imprint." Sam growled out while snapping his teeth at the silvery wolf standing in front of him.

Paul cowered slightly at the large black wolf in front of him. 'It's not like Embry told anyone he imprinted. How was I supposed to know he imprinted on the little…girl." Paul was wise to choose his words carefully. He had seen the look in Embry's eyes earlier when he warned him about calling her a bitch again. Out of everyone in the pack he never expected a reaction or a look like that to ever come from the shyest wolf. Paul supposed had the tables been turned he wouldn't want the others speaking or treating his imprint that way, but at this point he didn't give a shit because he was never going to imprint and hoped it stayed that way.

Sam shook his head as he stared at the younger pup. 'Embry was right he shouldn't have to tell you that, that's not the way you treat girls, not just imprints but every female in the damn world. Would you want someone to treat your mother that way?"

Paul let out a vicious growl as he hunched down. 'Someone already did; my father!'

'Well obviously you got your social skills from your dad then.' Embry uttered flippantly as he tossed his two cents worth in which pissed Paul off even further.

Out of nowhere Paul lunged at Embry and tried dominating the fight. Embry easily rolled out of the path of Paul's snapping jaws and then sprinted forward and clamped his powerful jaws onto the scruff of Paul's neck and pinned him to the forest floor. 'I don't care if you're stronger than me Paul, I won't let you talk about my imprint that way. I don't know about the others, but I'm pretty sure Jared, Jake and Sam wouldn't allow you to do it either. I honestly don't give a rat's ass what you do to anyone else, but leave Anna alone.' Embry moved off of Paul and allowed him to get up.

Embry stared Paul in the eyes. 'Paul what will you do if you do this to some girl some day and it turns out she's your imprint?' He asked honestly. Because what would Paul do? He either teases the girls at school or he sleeps with them and ditches them afterwards. 'You're track record with girls is bullshit. Is that really how you want to meet your imprint? By being mean to her or abusive or treating her like a whore? You need to start thinking about these things. You haven't imprinted yet, but one day you will and I hope she changes you for the better.'

Embry shook out his fur as he jogged away over the hill. He made his point loud and clear and gave Paul food for thought at the same time. Embry stopped by the tree line of Anna's house. He knew she was living with her grandma and her mom, plus her knew about her little brother Brady Fuller, because he was starting to show signs of phasing and he was barely 13.

Embry phased as he pulled his jeans and t-shirt back on. He ran his fingers through his hair and slipped his vans back on. He looked around as he emerged from the tree line and jogged across the street and rang the door bell. A lady in her mid to late thirties opened the door.

"Hello is there something I can help you with?" Her voice asked sweetly.

Embry smiled as he stood with his hands at his sides. "Um yes is Anna here?"

"Yes sweetie she is; come on in I'll call for her." The lady opened the screen door and let him in. "Anna, you've got a visitor."

"Okay mom, I'll be right down." Anna called from upstairs. Embry could already smell her scent as he listened for her footsteps as they walked along the second floor to the stairs and before he knew it she had jogged down them and was at the bottom and smiled when she seen Embry standing inside the front door.

Anna watched as her mom went back to the kitchen to finish dinner as she walked over. "Embry, what are you doing here?" She opened the front door as they step back out onto the porch and she pulled the front door closed to give them privacy from wondering ears.

Embry turns to face her and frowns. "Well I can to see how your nose was doing. I was worried about you. I know I left in a hurry earlier. I should've stayed until someone got home for you."

Anna moved closer to Embry as she reached out and touched his forearm. "It's okay Embry, really. I'm always home alone after school for a few hours. Mom works in Forks at the hospital and grandma works for the council. It's usually just Brady and I."

Embry looked down at her small hand as it touched his forearm. Embry nodded slowly. "Well if you ever get scared or something just call and I'll come stay with you till your mom or grandma get home. I wouldn't mind honestly."

Anna smiled as a light blush exploded in her tan cheeks. "I wouldn't mind either actually." She sighed softly. "Thanks for coming to check on me. That was sweet of you."

Embry looked down and inspected her nose. "The swelling doesn't look too bad." His eyes locked with her for a brief minute. "You've been keeping the ice on it?"

Anna nodded with a smile on her face. "Yes, Dr. Call."

Embry blushed at her use of words and then laughed nervously as his heart beat sped up at her sweet voice. "I'm nowhere near a doctor I've just been in enough fights with a broken nose to know what helps."

"I know I just kind of like you taking care of me." Anna blushed again at her own confession. "You know you should probably get home. You wouldn't want to worry your mom."

Embry nodded as he pushed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "Hey Anna, you wouldn't want to study for our mid-terms together would you? I don't get enough studying in and I'm sure you could help me since I know we have all of our classes together."

Anna smiled as she pushed her hands in the front of her jean pockets too. Clearly they were both nervous around each other. And they were both super shy so that was playing against them too. "Yea, I'd like that actually. I hate studying alone. It's never any fun." Anna blinked a couple of times. "So when should we start? Studying that is."

Embry thought hard for a single minute and knew his part of patrol didn't actually start until around 9 pm. "How about tomorrow after school? You can meet me at my house or whatever and we can study until about 8 or 8:30. I have work at 9."

Anna nodded as she smiled again up at Embry. He really was quite tall. "I'm sorry, this is such a random question, but how tall are you exactly? I'm 5'6" and I feel like a dwarf next to you."

Embry bent his knees so he was a foot shorter and could look in her eyes as he chuckled. "It's not my fault you're vertically challenged. I'm 6'6" or just around there." He stood up straight again as he looked down at her with a smirk.

"Vertically Challenged?" Anna couldn't stop the laugh the came out of her mouth. "Jeez thanks Embry."

Embry sighed quietly as long as she continued to giggle he knew he hadn't offended her. "I better get going. So I'll see you tomorrow and we'll start studying tomorrow after school."

Anna nodded. "I was thinking of walking to school tomorrow it's supposed to be nice; so maybe we can walk to your house together."

Embry smiled. "Sounds good; later Anna."

"Yea, later Embry." Anna waved as she walked back into the house. Why didn't she start talking to Embry sooner? God he was so cute. Every time he looked in her eyes or smiled at her she felt her knees get weak and her heart flip flopped.

Thank God school went fast the following day. Embry couldn't wait to get Anna to his house so maybe they could talk more and get to know each other better. He was dying to ask her on an actual date, but he could still feel his shy side creeping just under his skin. He leaned against her locker as he waited for her. She had to stop by and see their art teacher before she left and he told her he'd wait for her. He smiled when she walked up and opened her locker and pushed a few books in and pulled a few out and slid them into her backpack.

Anna zipped up her pack and watched as Embry took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "You don't have to carry that. I'm sure yours is heavy enough without having to carry mine as well."

Embry shook his head. "Nope, I'm good. Let's head out."

Anna felt her heart do another flip flop for Embry's sweetness.

Once they got to Embry's they sat at the kitchen table and did a ton of studying. Embry tried to keep his concentration, but with Anna sitting in his house her scent was filling the house to the roof and then some.

Around 8:30 Embry walked Anna home. They honestly didn't live that far from each other. And he carried her back pack for her again. Once he got her to the front door he was standing directly in front of her and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He smiled when she pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheeks.

For some reason he couldn't just let her walk away. Not after that. He reached out and grabbed her hand and gently pulled her back. He couldn't stop himself as he cupped her face softly and leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Before he knew it her lips were responding to his and he had backed her against the side of the house. Her hands came up and had gripped the sides of his t-shirt and she pushed up on her toes so he wouldn't have to bend over that far.

Once he realized they were both running out of oxygen he pulled back and they were both panting softly trying to catch their breath.

Anna smirked up at Embry. "What took you so long?" She asked cheekily.

Embry smirked and chuckled. "I don't know. But I won't wait as long for next time."

"Really?" Anna asked hopeful.

Embry nodded. "Really." As he leaned down and captured her lips again. Embry left Anna's with pep in his step and made sure she had a smile on her face.

Things were definitely looking up.