Thanks to all of you who reviewed and added me to their various lists. You guys keep me writing, and inspire me. Also this chapter is kind of fillerish, but has a few very important conversations in it. And, though it is short I like it. See why.

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Chapter 9

Everyone we sat with at lunch seemed to know that I was in on their secret. We sat with, of course, Jake and Quil, and also two other seniors; Jared, his girlfriend Kim, and sophomore Seth Clearwater.

They all accepted me as if I had always been apart of the pack. And for that I was grateful, although I still had yet to meet the rest of the pack that were out of school. I could now think that word 'pack' without going into shock. While the boys talked about 'pack business' I got to know Kim really well.

She had been in my class since Kindergarten, but I had never really talked to her. She has always been quiet and shy, but I could see that Jared was rubbing off on her. She was becoming more open, at least with me.

The surprising fact that her and Jared were a couple was not lost on me, but since I was spending more time with both of them it seemed to me that they completed each other, and no I did not mean to make it sound so mushy. I just saw it as the truth. While she was quiet and serious he was out going and loud. And while Jared was stubborn Kim wasn't that much, but when she was she could beat anyone in an argument, not that she argued much but she always won when she did.

You could really tell that they loved each other, though. When the other guys made fun of Jared for PDA he'd just grin at Kim, and wouldn't try to deny it. I guess that's what surprised me the most; that he showed so much compassion to her, while most guys his age wouldn't. I would sometimes catch him looking at Kim in the same awed way that Embry would look at me when he thought I wasn't looking.

A few days after I found out about the pack, Kim and I were talking about our reactions in sixth hour, and my most dreaded class; math.

Kim already knew about the attack, because I had told her the story the day after I knew the truth. Although Kim told me she already knew from Jared and told me something I didn't know about werewolves; at they could read each other's minds when in their wolf forms.

"I didn't believe Jared for the longest time," she confessed in a whisper. In the last part of class the teacher was done lecturing, and had given the class this time to work on our homework assignment for tonight.

"I actually refused to believe him until he showed me."

"What?! Kim, that's so dangerous!" she grinned sheepishly.

"I know that now, but I truly hadn't then. I thought that he was insane and need medical attention." I looked around before asking my next question. Everyone in the room except me and Kim were working diligently. But still I dropped my voice even lower.

"Did he show you?" She looked around too before nodding.

"Of course he made me stand so far back that I didn't think I would be able to see him," she sounded slightly annoyed, but her eyes were sparkling. "But I never doubted him again. Even when he told me about imprinting, which was really hard for me to believe." That word sounded familiar imprinting but I couldn't put my finger on what it meant.

"What's imprinting?" Kim looked at me with wide and shocked eyes as if this was something everyone should know.

"You mean Embry hasn't told you yet?" That made me annoyed, another thing Embry hasn't told me. How many secrets does that boy have?

"Told me what?" Now she looked really nervous, and I could tell she wasn't going to be the one to tell me whatever this imprinting thing was.

"Ellie, it- it's really not my place to say," She was pleading, "Please don't be mad at me. I'm sure Embry will tell you really soon." I kept begging the whole hour, but Kim ignored me by concentrating on her homework, and not looking up until the bell rang, and she ran usually fast out of the classroom.

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"Embry, what's imprinting?" He nearly spit out his soda that he was drinking at my house after school.

"What? Where'd you hear about that?"

"Kim," I admitted, hoping he wouldn't get mad at her. Instead he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I just didn't know how to tell you."

"Embry, please don't keep anything else from me." He nodded.

"Imprinting is like- it's like love at first sight only more. It's where a werewolf finds there other half. They'll be whatever their mate needs them to be. I guess it's kind of hard to describe. " Okay, but I didn't see how Embry would have trouble telling me about this part of the legends.

Unless, he had imprinted with someone. But I've never seen Embry looking at any girls. Maybe he didn't want me to meet this mystery girl yet. The thought of Embry with another girl made my stomach lurch. I could be jealous, because Embry was my best friend the closest thing I had to a brother, right? That's what my head said logically, but my heart still broke at the though of him with any girl.

"Why did you have trouble telling me this?"

"Because I've imprinted." I drew in a sharp breath, and somehow kept my voice steady.

"On who? Do I know her?" He looked up at me, as though startled. Had I asked too much? Did he not want me to meet her?

"Yeah, you."

"What?" I couldn't have heard him right. Embry, in love with me?

"I imprinted on you, Ellie," I guess he took the look on my face to be horror, because then he quickly said, "But we don't have to be boyfriend-girlfriend yet, if you're not ready. We can just be friends. I don't want you to feel like you have to be with me just because I- because you feel like you have to," he was babbling, and it was so cute.

I cut him off by pressing my lips against his softly before pulling back. Embry's face was full of surprise, but pleasure at the same time.

"I'm ready. Do you think we could try this boyfriend-girlfriend thing?" His face split into the biggest grin I've ever seen on his face.

"Of course, if you're sure."

"I'm sure-" He leaned in and cut me off this time. This kiss was so much better. He pulled me closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck, as his lips pressed harder against mine. The heat surrounded us and Embry deepened the kiss until the need for air became too great.

That kiss made me see stars, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't lack of oxygen. The only thing heard in the room was our harsh breathing as Embry set me on the other end of the couch. I looked at him questioningly, but then I heard it too. My mom's car. Thank God for werewolf hearing, because that could have been disastrous.

When my mom walked in she found me and Embry sitting on opposite ends of the couch watching T.V. and smiling. She greeted us both before heading to the kitchen. Embry left for the kitchen, too, so I followed wondering what he was going to tell Stephanie.

"Hey, Steph," he started and glanced at me. I raised an eyebrow, but he just shook his head.

"Yes, Embry," she replied and stopped moving around the kitchen to look at him.

"Some friends and I are having a barbeque at Sam Uley's house and Billy Black is going to tell us the legends around the bonfire on the beach. I was wondering if Ellie would like to go with me. It'll be Saturday afternoon. Would that be alright with you?" I was too busy looking at Embry, barbeque? Bonfire? Did this mean I was going to meet the rest of the pack?

"That should be fine; will all of the elders be there?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Then I don't see a problem with that as long as you get back at a decent hour." She said this in a sharp tone to Embry, and he nodded his agreement.

"Thanks Mom," I finally spoke up and started dragging Embry upstairs to my room. "We have some studying to do."

"Okay, dear," she replied, and then added "Keep the door open." I rolled my eyes as Embry chuckled behind me. Once we were in my room I turned on him.

"So, when were you going to tell me about meeting the rest of the pack? On the drive to the Uley's house?"

"No, I told you just now, didn't I?" He was grinning at me with the smile that I loved. I collapsed on my bed and sighed.

"Now I'm nervous," I complained. Trust Embry to change a relaxing weekend into a hectic two days of me worrying about whether or not the rest of the pack will like me.

"What are you worried about? You're apart of the pack now too." I smiled at him as he sat next to me on the bed, and leaned down to give me a kiss that definitely ended too soon. He broke off and smirked at me again.

"I think we should study before Steph comes up."

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I didn't know how to end it, so I just stopped it there. The next chapter is Ellie meeting the pack. Will everyone be as happy as Embry predicts? Hmmm… me thinks that the meeting won't go as smoothly as Embry thinks.

Also is the beach in La Push called First Beach? I'm just too lazy to look it up. Please review my lovely readers, it brightens my day.