7. There's Always Someone To Shout At

October,4th

"Er…Jacob? I think I know why he's not answering your calls," Beth said in a little voice, avoiding both my face and Jacob's. "I kind of called the police yesterday."

Jacob was looking at Beth like he didn't understand what she said. He seemed to realize he was gaping because he closed his mouth, folding his arms across his chest, an angry look in his eyes.

"Why did you do that?" he asked in a harsh voice. "I specifically asked you not to do that."

Beth didn't look up to meet his hard glance. She was trembling but still, I couldn't tell if it was because she was angry or scared. I went by her side and put one arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

"It's okay, Beth. It's okay," I whispered reassuringly. "You did what you thought was right."

Jacob snorted loudly at my comment which got him one of the darkest looks I could provide. He could try to defend his friend, he could find it annoying or too much to have Embry in jail but he definitely couldn't behave like this with Beth.

"Yes, Jake, she did what she thought was right. And I'm not going to blame her for that."

"Embry's in jail and you don't care?"

"Of course I care!" I responded, raising my voice. I had the feeling this was going to be another argument. "But I care about Beth, too!"

"I should have come alone," Jacob muttered angrily. "I would have arrived way earlier."

"Oh, so now it's going to be my fault if Embry's in jail?" I dropped my arm from Beth's shoulders and folded them across my own chest, facing Jacob.

"Guys…don't fight because of me," Beth said, standing up. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you. I should have dealt with this by myself."

"No, Beth," Jacob responded suddenly, taking his eyes off me to look at my cousin. "You were right to call me." I flinched when I heard that. Jacob was implying that my place wasn't here with him and Beth. How could he think that? I knew a lot about werewolves, imprinting, and legendary stuff. I was as qualified as he was to explain it to Beth. Plus, I was less biased than Jacob because I wasn't as linked to Embry as he was. "There're things you need to know. But it was wrong to call the police. You have to drop charges. Embry didn't do anything wrong…"

"Excuse me?" This time it was Beth who raised her voice. She looked utterly shocked by Jacob's declaration. She took one step forward to look directly into his eyes. The three of us were angry now. I knew it was going to be a hard day but I didn't expect that argument. I didn't expect Jacob to defend Embry so loyally.

"He didn't do anything wrong?" Beth repeated. "I don't know how the law is where you live but here it's fucking illegal to harass people!"

"Did he harass you?" Jacob hissed, taking a step forward, too. "Did he try to break into your apartment? Did he threaten you? Was he aggressive?"

"No, but…" Beth retreated away from Jacob, afraid of the anger she could see in his eyes. She looked exactly like me yesterday evening. Now I had enough. Jacob could act like a jerk with me; I knew how to make him pay back. But he couldn't be like that with Beth. I stepped in front of her, weighing whether or not I should smack him. No, I would hurt myself more than anything it would do to him so I kept my hands to my sides.

"That's enough, Jake! I would have done exactly the same thing if a man was following me around all day long!"

"And he called me every night. I didn't tell Tom because I didn't want him to get in a fight."

"You called the police because he called you a little too much?" Jacob didn't seem willing to stop being mad at Beth. I really couldn't understand what was going on with him. Last night Jacob was calling Embry a moron and an idiot but now he was defending him?

"Jacob Black, I said it's enough!" I shouted, surprised by the intensity I put in it. Jacob dropped his gaze to me and he looked surprised, too. I rarely called him like that except when I was really angry or pissed off. "You have no right to talk to my cousin this way! You have to calm down. Now!"

Jacob didn't say anything but he kept on looking in my eyes until suddenly seemed to understand he had gone too far. He extended his arm to touch mine but I moved away, fuming.

"We should all go to the police station," Jacob said after a moment of silence. "You have to drop the charges, Beth, please. Or I'll pay the bail. But Embry has to get out of jail."

Beth looked at me with uncertainty while I was looking at Jacob with disbelief. Sure, if we had to pay Embry's bail I'd agree to it. Though I didn't like his attitude he was like family for Jacob so he was also family for me. However, Jacob didn't seem to realize that he should ask me first if I was okay with giving some of our money for Embry. I'd have to talk to him about the fact that now that we were married, I was kind of more important than the pack and that there were decisions we had to make together.

"I…I don't want you to waste money because of me," Beth replied. "But I don't want to let him out of jail so he can start screwing up my life again. You said there were things I needed to know," she added for Jacob. "I want to know."

Jacob took a deep breath before he opened his mouth. I knew he was going to try to explain but, given his present state of mind, he wasn't the best person to do it. Jacob would see now that it was a good thing I was here with him. I hushed him with a motion of the hand.

"Go get some fresh air, Jake. I'll talk to Beth. You can wait in the car."

Jacob saw that I was still pissed off and knew better than to argue. He shrugged than darted out of the apartment. I took a breath before turning to face Beth. I motioned her to sit on a kitchen stool. It was better if she was sitting when the big revelation hit her. Yet, I had no earthly idea how I was going to get this conversation right. Plus, I was fighting internally with the need to rush back to the bathroom again and that wasn't helping at all.

"This is a fucking crazy situation, Bella! Why did this psycho decide to intrude in my life?"

"I'm so sorry things got so bad. First, I have to tell you that Embry isn't like this normally. He's a great man, very friendly, very funny, and completely devoted to the ones he cares about. He's not a psycho at all."

"Then why is he acting like one with me?" Beth asked, raising one eyebrow and crossing her arms.

"Trust me I don't like the way Embry's behaving. If he was here in front of me I would give him a piece of my mind for making you feel so scared. But you've got to believe me. Embry cares about you a lot more than you can imagine."

Suddenly, Beth burst into cold laughter. Did I say something funny?

"He cares about me? I'm sorry, Bella, I can't believe you. Why would he care? He doesn't even know me!"

Okay, this was going to be harder than I expected. I already knew that it wasn't going to be easy but now that I was really facing Beth and I had to spit out the explanations, yes, it was hard.

"It's hard to explain, Beth, so I need you to be open-minded, okay?" She nodded with apprehension and I took a deep intake of breath. "Embry feels that…he has to protect you, to make life better for you. He doesn't want anything bad to happen to you. And it's difficult for him to be away from you. Even if he didn't handle it right, that's why he's here. To look after you. Embry feels…connected to you."

"Connected? What do you mean 'connected'? Like… love or something? Shit. Please don't say he loves me. Please."

"I won't say it," I whispered and Beth swore loudly.

"Shit! How can he? I mean, I met him just once! Plus, I have Tom! Your friend just has to leave me be!"

I was about to say that I wouldn't count on that because I knew it was really hard for the guys to be away from their imprints. I remembered that once Claire had to go to Colorado for a week with her parents for a wedding. Quil didn't go out of his house while she was away. He spent seven days on the couch, sobbing and looking at pictures of Claire before Jacob and Seth decided they had enough and kicked him out of the house, taking him out for a guys night. Not a success at all but, at least, they'd tried.

I heard some honking down in the street. I knew that Jacob was beginning to lose his temper again. The rest of this conversation would have to wait a bit although I really wanted for us to be in a calm and familiar place when the whole truth would hit Beth. I sighed and grabbed my bag.

"We'll finish this in the car, okay?" I asked a now very confused Beth. She nodded and took her purse before we got out of the apartment. I knew better than to try the elevator again and took the stairs. We were in the car a few minutes later. As soon as the doors were closed Jacob started the car engine and we were on the road. Silence filled the car but this time it wasn't really awkward. Beth was absorbing the fact that Embry wasn't as bad as she thought he was. I turned my head to look at Jacob and he seemed to be calmer. Yet, I hadn't forgotten his attitude with Beth.

"You know that you can act like a total moron when you want?" the words were out of my mouth before I could even realize it. I meant only to think that, not to say it out loud. Jacob glanced at me and I blushed. "Yesterday you were mad at Embry because of his behavior and now you defend him?"

"I don't defend him." I raised an eyebrow at him but he just shrugged. "I just don't like knowing that he's in jail when he doesn't deserve it."

"In my opinion he deserves it, Jake. It'd teach him a lesson."

Jacob shrugged once again. Obviously, he didn't agree with me on this. We resumed our silent drive for a moment before Jacob tapped on my shoulder.

"Did you tell her that…?" he asked, tilting his head towards Beth.

"No, I didn't. I…I just said that Embry's in love with her and that he isn't as dangerous as she thought. It's already a big step for her. I want to take things slowly."

"Turn left and you'll find the police station," Beth said, resting her chin on my seat. "And could you please not talk about me as if I wasn't there? I feel like a child who can't be involved in the grown-ups' discussions."

Jacob chuckled quietly as he parked the car in front of the police station and I couldn't help the smile which settled on my face. Now the only sounds in the car were Beth's loud breathing and the grumbling of my stomach. I was hungry. Jacob put one hand on my arm but I decided not to push him away. I had had enough of all our recent fights. The day was going to be hard enough; I just wanted our relationship to be back to normal.

"Are you all right?" Jacob sounded really concerned. When my stomach grumbled once again he suddenly seemed to realize that I hadn't gotten a proper meal for almost twenty-four hours. It seemed to scare him a lot. "You have to eat, Bells."

"Yes, I know. Let's just get Embry out of here first."

My voice was resolute so Jacob just sighed. He knew I could be very stubborn and I wasn't going to surrender to my hunger. Sure, I was starving but it could wait another half an hour. My stomach grumbled again and I smiled at its impatience before I realized that this time my body didn't want food. It just wanted what was in my empty stomach out. I covered my mouth with one hand and breathed slowly. Jacob looked at me with a worried look.

"Beth?" I asked when I was sure I wasn't going to throw up. "Would you mind if I don't come with you? I…I think I really need to get food." And to go to the bathroom. Again.

"Well…no. If Jacob's coming with me, and if he behaves I think I'm okay."

"He'll behave," I said, smiling weakly while Jacob smirked. I kissed him softly on the lips and Beth squeezed my shoulder affectionately. They both got out of the car but I waited a couple of minutes before heading towards the diner in front of the police station.

My first move was to go to the restroom, something I was getting tired of doing. I just wished this morning sickness could stop because it was the most annoying thing in the world. I hadn't signed up for that when I got pregnant. Well, I hadn't signed up for the pregnancy at all, it was our "happy accident". Jacob was never out of creative ways to imply that I was pregnant. Nobody knew about it yet and honestly, talking about a "kangaroo" wouldn't lead anyone to think of a baby. I wasn't in a hurry to tell our big news; I wanted to keep it for ourselves a bit more.

Then I went to sit at a table to order some eggs and hot chocolate. I might have slept in the car but I didn't really get a lot of rest. The hot chocolate was invigorating but the amount of eggs in the plate was huge and though I was hungry I didn't eat half of it. Jacob could always finish it when they'd join me.

As I was thinking that, Jacob and Embry entered the diner, two massive Native Americans who looked like bodyguards. Jacob had an angry look on his face. Now that Embry was safe, out of jail, Jacob looked like he could go back at being mad at him. His look smoothed when he spotted me, eating. Embry was right behind him. He looked really sheepish and sad. I refrained from smacking him because I would more likely break my own hand than his jaw. I gave him a dark look, putting all my anger in it, when they sat in front of me.

"Bella, I'm sorry…"

"I'm not the one you have to apologize to, Embry," I cut him off harshly. "Save your breath for Beth." Jacob chuckled when I said that, and I knew he was trying not to laugh out loud. I bit my lip when I realized the double-meaning of my comment. However, Embry didn't seem to register it. He kept on looking at Beth who was in the street, talking on her cell phone. "But you're a jerk anyway."

I pushed my eggs towards Jacob. He accepted the plate gladly though he first gave me a concerned look. I knew he wanted me to eat it entirely but I really couldn't. I was surprised he didn't insist more because, if there was one thing Jacob was unbeatable at, it was forcing me to eat. I watched him eat in silence and Beth finally joined us. She sat next to me, avoiding Embry's worried look.

"Beth…I'm so sorry. I…"

"I'd prefer that you call me Bethany." I looked at her in disbelief. She never let anyone other than her parents call her like. She didn't like it. Embry cringed and looked even more in pain.

"I'm sorry…Bethany. I'm an idiot…I didn't realize I would scare you." As he was saying this and by the way he looked at Beth I knew he was telling the truth. Embry really hadn't meant any harm. He was just stupid and deeply imprinted. "It's just that…I care a lot about…"

"Yes, I know. Bella told me," Beth cut him off. "But you see, I already love someone so you'll just have to leave me alone. I only dropped the charges because they asked me to. I don't think I can forgive you right now. Just leave me alone now."

We were back where we left the discussion in the kitchen. We had just passed the easiest part of the problem. Now it was going to be way more difficult. Embry and Jacob seemed to have a silent conversation, then Jacob leaned towards Beth and began to speak in a whisper.

"You need to be really, really open-minded and to promise not to think I'm crazy, okay?" Beth nodded and Jacob began his explanation. "Do you know anything about the Quileute legends?" Beth shook her head to signify that "no", she didn't. "The stories say that, at the beginning, the Quileutes were spirit warriors. It means that their spirits, their souls, could leave their bodies and act on their own. They couldn't do anything physical while they were in their spirit-self but they could make animals do their bidding. Other tribes looked at this as magic."

I had heard the legends many times before but this time it was different. Usually we would be around a bonfire and it would be Billy or Quil's grandfather who would tell them. I was pretty sure I never heard Sam telling them. I never heard Jacob telling them either. Though he was leaning across a table I could see pride in him by the way he was holding his shoulders up. Though he was whispering there was still a ring of majesty and of profound authority in his voice. Jacob was born to tell these stories. Jacob was born to lead the pack and he was deeply proud of it. It made me feel sick because I didn't want him to get so involved in the pack life. I may be selfish but I didn't want to lose him to a vampire.

"The spirit warriors would protect the tribe any time it was necessary. Once, there was a chief called Taha Aki. He was a very wise man but one of his men wasn't satisfied with his peaceful leadership. One day Taha Aki left for the mountains and had left his body to patrol the whole area and be sure there wasn't any danger. The dissatisfied man, Utlapa, followed him and stole the chief's body. Taha Aki was left in the spirit world but he sought for revenge. He found a huge wolf, and as he felt disoriented without his body, he asked the wolf to make room for him. Taha Aki joined the wolf's body with relief. Utlapa killed one of Taha Aki's friends who had discovered Utlapa's treachery. Taha Aki felt very angry at his usurper for that but this anger was the anger of a man. Not a wolf's. It was too powerful for the wolf to handle and it shifted into a human-self, Taha Aki's human-self."

Embry, Beth and I were silent, listening to Jacob. He had just given a brief summary of the legends but they had such strength in them that I got caught up every time I heard them. I let a breath escape that I wasn't aware I was holding. I looked at Beth, waiting for her to say something.

"So…?" she finally asked. "What do these stories have to do with me?"

"It's our inheritance. Some Quileutes still can do this shape-shifting. Some Quileutes still can morph into wolves."

"You mean, like werewolves?" Beth said, a small smile on her face. "I thought someone had to be bitten by a werewolf to become one." She obviously didn't believe what Jacob said.

"No, that's a stupid myth. We didn't need to be bitten. Just like we don't need a full moon to phase," Jacob said, irritated. Beth gasped when she realized what the "we don't need" implied but she burst into laughter immediately after, startling me. Jacob and Embry frowned, not pleased.

"C'mon guys! That's the most fucking ridiculous excuse I've ever heard! Do you really think I'd buy that you're werewolves? I'm not so stupid! I know that werewolves don't exist."

"Beth, they're serious," I whispered, taking her hand. "What Jacob said is true. Trust me."

Beth looked at me in disbelief. She still wasn't ready to acknowledge the truth. She kept on laughing and I knew that it was nerves. Embry whispered something to Jacob then they both stood up, motioning for us to follow. We climbed in the car, Beth still laughing, which was beginning to scare me a little. We didn't talk at all during the ride. I knew that Jacob was angry that Beth didn't believe him. Embry seemed worried by Beth's behavior; maybe he thought she was going crazy. I didn't know where we were going. After what felt like hours with Beth, who was now shouting that she wanted to get out of the car, as the only background noise we came to a stop next to a forest. Oh.

Jacob helped me out of the car then extended his hand to Beth but she jerked away from him. Now she was angry they made fun of her with this "ridiculous story". She was getting angrier by the minute. She stepped out of the car and went to face Jacob.

"Why are we here?" she asked harshly.

"To show you something." Embry was already on the edge of the wood. Beth shrugged but followed us nevertheless when she realized she would be left alone.

"You told them well," I whispered to Jacob, squeezing his hand. I didn't want him to think his storytelling was a failure. It would put him in a real bad mood.

"Thank you. It's just that is was my first time. I never imagined it would be like that. In a diner, so far away from La Push."

"You'll have plenty of other opportunities," I lied with a blush but Jacob didn't notice it. I didn't want him to have other opportunities; what I really wanted was him to stop phasing and to stop being a wolf but I knew I couldn't ask for it.

When we were deep enough in the forest, Embry turned to face us, worry and apprehension in his eyes. Jacob let go of my hand so I could come to Beth's side. She was deliberately not looking at Embry but she couldn't help but stare when he took his shirt off.

"What are you doing?" she exclaimed with shock when he unbuttoned his jeans. I was praying that he kept his underwear on to phase. I will buy him new ones but please, God, don't let him take them off.

"You don't believe us. So I'm gonna show you what I really am."

"Fuck! Stop it! You screwed up my life enough! Stop making fun of me!"

Embry cringed at Beth's shout, hurt that she didn't trust him and, for the first time, I felt sorry for him. Yet, he didn't let her argue more and, in the blink of an eye, he phased. Jacob was standing in front of us, ready to act if something turned wrong. It wasn't necessary. Embry wasn't aggressive at all. He looked like a beaten dog.

The second Embry phased, Beth passed out.