Woohoo! Yay for spring break and more time. I'm so glad that you guys are starting to love this story. I admit, the beginning was a little eh. So I'm trying to spice things up and move things around. I have some serious plans for this story and I'm trying to get to them. So for now, this chapter is an extra that is somewhat important if only because we're introduced to a certain character.

Happy reading!

Please Enjoy!

A Week Later…

EmbryPOV

Some days, living in my house was like living in a war zone. Some days were as calm as days on a tropical beach. Today was the former.

"Parker!" Nechole yelled viciously from her room. "Where is my yellow skirt?!"

"How should I know?!" came the reply.

"Because you always take my clothes!" my eldest daughter growled.

"Do not!"

"Do, too!"

There was a tap on my shoulder. When I looked up, my wife gave me a look that told me to go take care of it because she was on the phone with Christa. My female had been busy running around trying to help Morgan and Lucas with all the flower arrangements for Jules's wedding.

Sighing, I hefted myself up off the couch. Walking down the hall of the expansion to the house, I passed all the family pictures both staged and candid before I got to Parker's room. Hers was the first on the right, then Katie's. Nechole's room was the last on the left and from here, I could see a growing pile of clean clothes as she tossed them out of the closet.

"Where is it?!" Nechole yelled again.

Parker came to the door of her room. "I told you! I don't know!"

Rearranging my mouth, I whistled so loudly that the sound echoed as the girls quieted down. Katie opened her door to peek out as Nechole came to hers. I looked at all three of them. "That's enough yelling. Mom's on the phone and I'm pretty sure I'm actually on the verge of getting a headache." Then I looked at Katie instead of Parker and held my hand out with my brows raised.

Rolling her eyes, she ducked back into her room and came back with a yellow skirt, putting it in my hand. Then I looked at Nechole, handing the thing to her. "Apologize to Parker. Just because she's the youngest doesn't mean to you get to blame her for everything of yours that goes missing."

"Yeah," Parker said.

I looked at her. "Just because she blames you doesn't mean you get to scream." Then I looked at Katie. "And you. Apologize to both of your sisters."

In true teenage girl fashion, they all stayed silent in their attitudes.

"Now," I growled. "Apologies. Don't force me to make you share rooms again."

As usual, Nechole was first. She was the quickest to temper, but the first to apologize and mean it. "I'm sorry I blamed you, Parker. I'm sorry I yelled."

And as usual, Parker was the fastest to forgive. "It's okay. It usually is me anyway."

"I'm sorry I took it without asking," Katie said. Then she turned to Parker. "Sorry I let her yell at you for taking it."

Nechole shrugged. "I don't care if you guys borrow my stuff as long as you bring it back. But it's okay."

Crossing my arms and looking at my three female offspring, I nodded. "Now, are we done with the screaming?"

The three of them shared a look before nodding.

"Good. Now, I want all of you out of the house. Go find something to do. Your mom has planning to help with and I need some quiet."

Nechole retreated to her room. "That's okay. I have a date."

At that, I rolled my eyes after she turned her back to me. Eric was the kid she'd been seeing for a year or so now. He was a good kid and Nechole really liked him. I was just a typical dad that didn't like any guy with my girls. Katie and Parker were too young to be thinking about guys even though Katie was only a year younger than Nechole. Seventeen was my limit.

Katie stepped out of her room. "We'll go to the store to see if we can help Uncle Lucas." She held her hand out to Parker. "Come on. Then we can go see Cordy if they say it's okay."

Once plans were made, it didn't take long until the girls were leaving the house with promises to text for a check-in. I may have wanted them out, but I was still protective. Overly so.

With a fresh beer, I collapsed back onto the couch and turned on a football game.

Ahh, my tropical beach. Now all I needed was particular blonde female in a tiny bikini and I'd be all set.

A few minutes later, Tricia joined me with a flop and beer in hand. Speak of my devil.

"Finally," she sighed. "It's quiet."

Chuckling, I took a deep pull from the bottle.

She smirked. "You sure you wanna try for that boy? Odds are we'd get another one of them."

Reaching out, I rubbed my hand on her thigh. "Hey, if we have any more kids, I'll be happy no matter what they come out as. But we'd probably need a bigger house for that."

She laughed and pushed her hair behind her shoulder. "I think we could handle at least one more. But what I'm worried about are the age differences. I wouldn't want the girls to ostracize a much younger sibling."

"I don't think they would. As long as we don't play favorites. Besides, soon they'll be phasing or shifting and getting lives of their own. They'll be out of the house and we'll have rooms to fill up."

At the talk of shifting, her amusement faded. Those ice green eyes drifted.

Uh-oh. I knew that look. It was the one she got when gossip finally came down the chain and she didn't know whether or not to tell me.

"What is it?"

Pulling her legs up and tucking them, she turned so that one arm was propped on the back of the couch and she was facing me. "One of the calls today was Leah. And she got a call from Alice about a week ago when the boys were having their fitting."

"Oh yeah?"

She nodded. "Yep. Apparently, Leah's been debating on calling me for days."

"For what?"

"Alice debated on calling her, but in the end, she wanted us to be forewarned. Of course, she heard the boys talking. You know Gage phased a while ago…" She looked up at me expectantly.

I let out the breath in a long sigh. "Which one? Please don't say-,"

Tricia nodded. "Yep. Nechole."

"Damn."

"Basically."

On the one hand, I was thrilled with the news that Leah's son had imprinted on Nechole. I wasn't thrilled with the Eric kid because I didn't know enough about him. Gage I'd helped raise. But on the other hand…this was going to kill Nechole.

"What are we going to do?" Tricia asked.

I shook my head. "Gage has known for a while that he imprinted. He has to. He saw her not long after he phased. Whatever happens between them, we need to let them deal with it. This isn't something we can just break up. If he doesn't tell her before she phases or shifts, she'll find out the moment she sees him that he lied to her."

"He didn't lie. He just didn't tell her."

"And that's still lying, Trish."

She sighed. "Of course it is. And she'll be pissed because she thinks just like you do." Laying her head on her arm, she looked up at me. "I wish we could do something but I know you're right. They have to do this on their own."

Sinking back against the couch, I scrubbed my face. "I guess I'll just have to remind myself not to beat up a seventeen year old kid if my baby girl comes home crying."

Tricia laughed, the sound smooth in the air. Even after all these years, the sound still gave me chills. She took the beer bottle from my hand and put them both on the coffee table before swinging a leg over my thighs to straddle them.

I lifted my brows at her and ran my hands up her legs to her hips.

With a wicked little grin, she leaned in, her hair enveloping both of us. "When the kids are away, the parents will play."

"Mmm," I mumbled against her lips. "Sounds kinky."

"Mmm, you have no idea what I have in mind."

I growled. "You know it drives me crazy when I can't touch you."

The grin became downright evil, and at the sight of it, I got hard under her. "Yes," she said. "I do know this. But it's not what I want to do to you. It's what I want you to do to me."

A low purr rumbled through my chest. "Rope or cuffs?"

Sliding back, she took my hands and pulled me off the couch. "Come to the bedroom and find out."

The woman didn't have to tell me twice.

NecholePOV

The café was small, cozy, and not packed on a Thursday night. After the "fight" with my sisters, I'd gotten dressed and met Eric outside the doors to our usual haunt. He'd been waiting for me out in the chilly night air dressed in a button down open over a white undershirt, his leather jacket, jeans, and boots. His black hair was smooth and silky falling into dark brown eyes.

Now, we were inside and waiting on our order.

"You okay?" he asked. "You're quiet."

Shaking myself, I smiled. "I'm great. How was your day?"

Eric was blissfully normal. He'd never phased, so he wasn't caught up with the pack.

He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it across the back of his chair. "Same as usual. I never knew rocking chairs were so popular until I went into the business with my dad."

I laughed. "Well, good, sturdy, and homemade are hard to find. And the ones you guys make are pretty spectacular. I think the Cullens have a couple on their front porch."

"Yeah well, they're a bitch to make."

Reaching out, I put my hand over his. "But much appreciated."

Turning his hand in mine, he held my fingers. Then frowned. "You're burning up. Are you sure you're okay?"

My mood suddenly plummeting, I pulled away. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm normally hot."

Instead of taking the bait, he shook his head. "Not like that. I've held your hand a thousand times. Are you getting sick?"

"Eric!" I snapped loudly. When people looked over at us, I lowered my voice and tried to smile. "I'm okay."

He stared at me like he didn't know who I was before he leaned in. "Are you close?"

I had to take a deep breath before answering. "It's possible. I've been cranky lately as well as," I lifted my hands, "warm." As well as really freaking distracted with thoughts of another guy, but I wasn't about to say that.

God, Gage. He and I had never been particularly close, but we'd always talked easily. And now, he wouldn't even look at me, as if I'd broken his heart. I couldn't understand it, but I hated the look on his face.

"…for us? Hello? Nechole?"

Blinking, I came back to the café. "What? I'm sorry. I'm so out there right now."

He gave me a look. "I said, so I guess that's it for us?"

All I could do was blink at him for a second. "What? No! I mean, it doesn't have to be."

"Come on. I know about the pack and imprinting. If you change…"

I reached out for his hand again, feeling bad for pulling away. "We'll figure it out."

Those dark eyes studied me. "You sure about that? You've been different since you went to the Cullens' last week. Distracted. Is there someone else?"

"Wha-no." I slumped. "Just friend problems."

Now he got pissy. "And is this friend a guy? Male? Whatever you guys call boy wolves."

Sighing, I sat back and fingered the napkin in my lap. "Don't be like this. Please."

"It's kind of hard not to be."

"You're jealous," I said in disbelief.

"Of course I am," he said dismissively. "The pack keeps to themselves. We civilians don't know anything about them. We normals are going to have insecurities, especially since we know that the wolves would do better being with other wolves. You said there was a chance you wouldn't change."

"And it was true. There's always a chance we won't change."

He shook his head and looked toward the counter. His gaze stayed there.

I followed it to see Lacy at the register.

Now, my anger bubbled up. "You want to talk about jealousy?" I hissed. "Is she the reason you bring us here? So you can stare at her?"

Eric swung back to me, eyes wide.

"Yeah," I said in a scathing tone. "I know about your crush on her from before we got together.

When he didn't say anything, I shook my head, put my napkin on the table, and grabbed my bag. I stood up and draped the strap over my shoulder. "Call me when you're ready to not be a hypocrite."

Outside, once I was around the corner, I stalled out and didn't know where to go. The anger bubbled down leaving a pain in its wake. I cared about Eric, maybe even loved him, but this was not going to work if I phased and found my mate, especially if he wasn't the one. If he was, great. If not, there was a year of a growing relationship that shouldn't have happened.

Taking out my phone, I texted Katie. Thankfully, she was fast at responding. She and Parker were still at Uncle Lucas's flower shop.

Luckily, I had a few blocks to compose myself.

When I walked in, the tears were dried up and I hoped the cold helped the swelling of my eyes go down.

But of course, my sisters knew something was wrong.

Katie came around the counter while Parker frowned hard.

"What happened?" Katie asked.

Parker crossed her arms under her breasts, that heavy frown still on her face. Even though she was only fourteen, she was filling out in all the right places, looking more and more like Mom all the time.

I shook my head, forcing the tears back. "Nothing I really wanna talk about. Do you guys still need some help?"

Katie looked at Parker, who nodded. "Yeah. Aunt Morgan said they're backed up and their help quit a couple days ago." She flashed the list of orders.

Going over to the coat rack, I hung up my bag and rolled up my sleeves. "Good. Dad will be happy. This'll keep us busy for a while."

Katie snorted. "Yeah, while they try to make a little brother for us."

Parker and I both wrinkled our noses at the thought of our parents getting it on.

"Bugh," we all said together.

As we laughed together, I put one arm around Parker's neck and the other around Katie. "I really love you guys. You're the best."

Parker snorted this time. "Yeah, just remember that the next time you want to yell at me for stealing your clothes." Leaning forward, she gave Katie a pointed glare.

Katie rolled her eyes. "I am not apologizing again."

"Alright, you two. Let's get these orders done, shall we?"

And side by side, we worked together in the way that only sisters could.

RyellPOV

Sitting in Jules and Bray's living room, I should have been paying attention to all the commotion about the wedding, but I just couldn't focus.

Once Dox and I had emerged from his cabin, we'd gone to see Dad to talk more about what would happen next. It was just the same as Dox had explained it to me, and I still hated the fact that we had to waltz around, showing our marks so the rumors would take off. We were not things to be displayed, but I did as Dad told me because even though he knew how much I hated it, he also had a good reason.

So for the past week, I'd been hounding anyone who was in charge of something for the wedding if they needed any help. I just couldn't be on the compound anymore or I'd go insane. I loved my pack, but they were still a bunch of nosy, gossip-loving sonsabitches.

A steaming mug of something popped up in front of my face. A tan arm was attached to it.

"You okay?" Piper asked as she sat down next to me after I took the mug.

I looked around to see that everyone else was laughing and busy. Two weeks until the wedding. Sighing, I swirled the contents of the mug. "Yeah."

Piper just looked at me with brows raised.

Gritting my teeth, I shook my head. "No. I'm far from okay."

"This about your mating stuff?" When I looked at her, she shrugged. "Walker told Jason to start prepping for visitors from allies. I just put two and two together."

I wrapped my cold hands around the warm mug and sipped a little. "Piper, I am so sorry that we're going to ruin your mating."

She put a hand on my arm. "Good lord, don't be, Rye. It's not your fault. I'm glad that you and Dox did your thing and marked each other. I mean, I know Walker would have wanted you to wait, but you can't help what happens in the moment. I would know. What's important to me is that we'll have the people we love there. Your dad will wait a few days before sending out the invitations. And you're not going to be alone in this. The girls and I will stand by you. The guys will be there for Dox. Personally, I'm not going to let anyone or anything do something to mess with you. I'm half Child, and unlike Bray, I identify more with that side of my lineage." She shrugged a shoulder. "For all intents and purposes, you're my alpha female."

Blinking fast, I looked over at her. "But you have a pack of your own?"

She gave me a look. "Do you really think I wanted one? I do what I have to for them because if I don't, someone will just abuse them. At least I know they're safe here. And for some reason, they believe in me. Besides, if someone fucks with you, I have my own little army to command. And I won't hesitate to make enemies to keep you safe, Rye."

"That's…" I stuttered. "That's really sweet, Piper."

She just shrugged again, her dark hair sliding around her shoulders. "It's how I feel. And I know Jason agrees."

"But he's Dad's head enforcer."

Piper's emerald green eyes just looked at me over her mug. "Whose side do you think he'd take if forced into a choice?"

Sitting there, I didn't even have to think about that. Jason was utterly devoted to Piper. If she asked him to pack up and leave, he would in a heartbeat. He'd only taken the position of head enforcer because my dad had asked him to. It was a title of honor, and at the time, Jason had needed to feel valued. Even Dad knew Jason would always choose Piper. Every single time.

I nodded. "Good point." Reaching over, I gripped her hand. "Thank you. Your support really means a lot. I'm already terrified to take over the pack even though that's a long way off. And now, having all these strangers here investigating and poking around and staring…I hate it. I wish our mating could be like yours to Jason will be."

Piper put her mug on the table and turned to me. Gently, she cupped my face. "Listen to me, you and Dox may have obligations to the allies, but the girls and I will be damned if your mating is anything less than special, okay? We don't have any such obligations and it will be everything you want."

I couldn't help but choke out a laugh. "Dox promised me the same thing."

"See? Nobody comes to our territory and tells us how to do things. Just like we don't go there and try to dictate. They're just going to have to deal with it and be honored that they were even invited."

"For real," Jules said from behind us. Leaning over the couch, she put her chin on my shoulder. "You and Dox just worry about the politics. The rest of us will make sure everything goes the way it should. Now, enough of the heavy talk. Come help us make these centerpieces. We have only, like, a million left."

Reaching over, she took my hand.

Laughing, I stood up and we awkwardly moved around until she was leading me to the kitchen. Jules's joyous mood was contagious as we all gathered around the table. Hunter and Ava had shown up. Maggie, Arden, and Cecily had come with Piper. The kids had been left with Jason and Will for the night.

Jules sat at the head of the table and pulled a clear, glass vase in front of her. Her curly red and black hair fell down over her shoulders, her bangs artfully framing her face. The tan of her arms was dark against the white of her tank top. But the most beautiful part about her were the frost-like scars that ran all over her body. They were the result of her being struck over and over again by lightening over three years ago. It had been the only way to win against the coven of witches whose leader had the power to control that particular element. Jules had taken one for the team and linked up with our witch to defeat the bitch. At first, Jules had been self-conscious about the scars, but honestly, everyone thought they were badass as well as beautiful.

As I sat down with the rest of the girls, she looked up and looked around at all of us. "I really want to thank you guys for helping me through all of this. I hope I haven't been a complete Bridezilla."

We all looked at each other before Piper leaned over to brush her best friend's hair back. "Not at all. This is an honor for us. After all you've done, you deserve this."

Surprisingly, it was Arden who spoke up. "Your mom almost died for my little brother. She lost her memory because of what she did. And you should have died from what happened to you. You have all the right in the world to be a bitch dictator but you're not. And you're not freaking out about the wedding. That's why I'm here. I respect the hell out of you. You don't care if everything is perfect. At the end of it all, it is what it's going to be and you're still going to marry Brayden. So, on behalf of all of us, you're most welcome."

Jules's aqua eyes misted over as she smiled at us.

When she got to me, I put my hand over my heart and bowed my head. "It is an honor to be your ally." I smiled. "And soon your sister-in-law."

She grinned as the tears spilled over. "You're my sister with or without a mating." That blue-green gaze moved around again. "I feel that way about all of you. We've all been through so much together and I couldn't ask for a better group of friends to spend my wedding with. And I promise that I will make all these long hours of preparation up to you somehow."

Piper patted her hand. "Just give us cute babies to spoil and we'll call it even."

While the rest of us nodded, Arden said with a smile, "Actually, I could use a new hunting knife."

For a moment, we all paused to stare at her. Maggie's surprise turned into love and affection for her girlfriend and the rest of us started to laugh.

"I'm joking," Arden said with a grin. "Babies are always good."

I nodded. "Can you guys imagine a Bray-Jules baby? We'll all have self-image issues once that kid grows up."

Cecily shook her head. "Just think of little Jason-Pipers running around, too."

As a group, we all sighed.

No doubt we all had different visions in our heads, the way we imagined those kids would look. Mixes of the couples.

Maggie leaned forward and grabbed a vase. "All the alpha couples will make adorable babies. You and Dox, too, Rye. For real."

Everybody nodded in agreement.

I just sat there because I had never truly thought that far into my future with Dox. I'd been more worried about curing my cycle rages, taking over the pack, and now our mating. Kids hadn't fit anywhere in any of those scenarios. Except, maybe the cycles. But that had been more about the sex and Dox claiming me before someone else got to me.

But now that she'd said something, visions of kids raced around my head. What would they look like? What of me would they have? My hair? My eyes? Shifting or phasing? Would they crave blood like Dox?

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head and grabbed a spool of ribbon. "That's a long way off for us. At least, I hope so. We have so much politics to survive right now that a pregnancy would just add another layer to the pile."

Nobody could predict pregnancy though. And none of us could prevent it without abstaining from sex. Which was a joke. Now that I'd had Dox inside me, felt his claim on me, there was no way I wouldn't be panting the moment he looked at me with that hungry glint in his dark eyes. The only way to stop us from sleeping together would be to put us on separate continents. And even then, we'd find a way to each other.

Hell, even as we sat there, the possibility that I could be pregnant was a huge mental roadblock with flashing signs. But it had been a week since we'd first started the sex. He would have scented the shift in hormones. Even though Dox was Quileute, he seemed to have heightened senses when it came to me, meaning the imprint was at work. Ever since we'd marked each other, he had an uncanny ability to pick up my emotions even if he wasn't near me. Over the past week, he'd call to ask if something was wrong or to ask me if he needed to come home for me for any reason.

Oh, and home? I was now living with him in a bigger cabin. Dad had actually let me pack up my stuff and move out of his house. Yeah, even I was still having trouble accepting that. So literally, home was…Dox.

"Rye?" Jules asked quietly. "You okay?"

Slapping a smile on my piehole, I said, "Yeah. Just thinking. So much has changed around here, and there's still more change coming." My smile turned real. "I'm happy I have you guys. And Dox has been amazing. I wouldn't have you guys as friends if it wasn't for him pulling me out of the shadows." As my throat closed up with emotion, I fought it and waved everything away. "Times like this, we all realize how grateful we are for what we have. No need to air it out."

Jules gripped my hand and smirked. "Doesn't mean we don't like hearing it. We like that you've come out of your shell and that my brother is to thank for that. You're very special, Rye. More than you think you are. I love having you here."

I gave her a quick smile before taking a deep breath. "Enough with the emotions. I can be girly for only so long before I'm disgusted with myself. Let's get these pieces done and check that off the list."

"Here, here," Piper called out, raising her glass of wine.

As we laughed, she wiggled her eyebrows and chugged the glass.

NecholePOV

Just as I was finishing up the final touches on a piece with white calla lilies, my phone went off at my elbow.

Katie took it and read the text. "Dad's wondering where you are. Want me to answer?"

"Sure. I'm almost done and then we can go." I glanced up at Parker. "Sorry we didn't get to go see Will and Cordy."

She shrugged and played with end of her platinum blonde braid. "There are other days. Besides, Hunter is with Jules. I'm sure he liked having his kid to himself for a few hours."

I nodded. "Good point. Father-daughter bonding is important. Especially for them."

Parker nodded absently. "Yeah. Hey, I'm really sorry for taking your clothes. I mean, I know it wasn't me tonight, but still…"

Looking up, I smirked. "Park, really, it's okay. Like I said, I don't mind you guys borrowing my stuff because we all do the same to each other. I was just irritated tonight because things with Eric have been…off…lately and I took it out on you."

She bobbed her head in another nod. "Do you want to talk about it? You'd been crying before you came in here."

That made me laugh. Parker was never one to hold back, but she knew when to ask the questions. Now that I was calmer, I wouldn't bite her head off with the answer. "We had a stupid fight. He's jealous of Gage. Of all the idiotic things. Not that he knows who Gage is."

Parker frowned and leaned back against the counter beside me. "Gage? What does he have to do with anything?"

For a moment, I hesitated.

But it was long enough to get her suspicious. Her ice green eyes narrowed. "Is there a reason he should be jealous of Gage?"

Knowing my sister well enough to know that she wouldn't give up, I sighed in surrender. "There's nothing going on, but…I mean, Gage and I were never buddy-buddy, but he's been different since I started seeing Eric. He doesn't hide the hurt well even though he tries, you know? I just don't understand."

She was quiet for a minute.

"Maybe it's a good thing you and Eric are on the outs right now."

I whipped my head around. "What? How can you say that?"

Keeping a hip on the counter, she turned to face me. "Nechole, you're close to turning and don't know if he's the one. It's better to ask for forgiveness after you imprint on him or figure out he's your mate. And if he's not those things, his being angry will help him let go better. More than likely your mate is here. For some reason, our pack always find their mates. And Walker's pack, our pack, too, have been finding their true mates more and more often. I mean, it's just my opinion so what do I know? I just think it might be better to cool it with Eric until you change."

I frowned. "But it could be months before that happens."

"Honestly, that would be even better. Give him time to get over things because if you change and imprint, how do you think he's going to react right now if he sees you jump into another guy's arms?" She shook her head. "Won't be pretty."

Biting my lip, I shot her a look. "You think?"

Katie came up to us from having gone outside to talk on the phone. "I think she's right. Eric really likes you. Anybody can see that. I don't know what happened tonight with the jealousy thing, but the fact that he is jealous says something. Even though he's not a particularly violent guy, jealousy affects everyone differently."

Trying not to think too hard about it, I picked up the case and shoved it in the cooler with all the other orders we'd finished tonight. "I hate this," I said softly.

"Do you love him?"

"Parker" Katie hissed.

And that was our relationship summed up. Parker always asked the hard questions. Katie reacted scandalized but secretly wanted the answer. I felt bad for Katie. She was the middle child and was always stuck between me and Parker. But she was no less loved by our parents. She was the watcher and the listener. Most of the time, when Parker and I were fighting, Katie would spend her time going back and forth trying to reconcile us.

The glass of the cooler against my forehead was cold and felt really good against my skin. Which was just another sign of my impending change. Sighing, I thought about Parker's question. And hated the answer.

"No, I don't think I do. I mean, I like spending time with him, but I have no vision of us together in the future. It's not just that he's jealous of another guy in my life, he's jealous about the pack. He never phased and I think that bothers him."

"Well if he can't handle that you're going to change, then that's his problem and he doesn't deserve you," Katie said.

Parker just nodded her agreement.

Looking at both of them, the only way anybody could tell that three of us were related were the bone structures and our builds. Other than that, Parker was the odd girl out. She had Mom's nearly platinum blonde hair, ice green eyes, and her attitude to match. Though she was only fourteen, she could be scary if she wanted to be. Growing up with the likes of Will and Brayden would do that. She had always gravitated toward them, and I felt bad for that because it meant that she didn't feel like she belonged with me and Katie. Now that we were older, we fought more but were closer than ever.

Reaching out, I tugged Parker's braid. "Let's go home before Dad sends out a search party."

Katie frowned. "But he knows where we are."

I gave her a look. "You really think that'll stop him?"

"Good point."

"You girls heading out?" Uncle Lucas asked as he came out from the back room.

When I was little, I could remember having a crush on him and following him around everywhere. Aunt Morgan thought it was adorable.

"Yeah," Katie answered. "We finished the order list for the next two days. Everything is in the coolers and labeled."

He nodded, wiping his hands on a towel. "I really appreciate it and I'll write up some checks for your time." Then he looked out the window. "It's pretty late. Maybe I should walk you home."

I shook my head and smiled. "Nah, we'll be okay. The house isn't far."

He frowned. "You sure?"

Parker nodded and hugged him. "Yeah, we'll be okay. We stick together now."

Uncle Lucas laughed. "Well that's a good thing. One of you text me when you get home, though, okay? Just so I know you made it back."

"We will. Promise," I said, going in for my hug.

Katie was next and then we were leaving.

The night had gotten colder, the breeze a sharp slap in the face. Hardly anybody was out and about, and the cafés were packed with people wanting comfort foods and cozy atmospheres. Winter was coming hard and fast for us. On the one hand, I couldn't wait. I loved winter and all the holidays. On the other, the air coming off the beach stung like a bitch, forcing all of us more inland.

We'd almost made it to the unmarked driveway when we were stopped by a familiar voice.

"Nechole! Wait up!"

I felt my sisters look at me before I sighed, stopped, and turned around.

Eric was jogging down the street, his coat floating out behind him.

As I waited, I huddled down into my coat. "What do you want?" I asked when he was close enough to hear me.

He stopped in front of me, buttoned up his coat and did the same huddle. "We should talk."

Immediately, I wanted to say yes, that we should. But something made me stop and look over at my sisters. They stood close together in the face of the cold wind. Looking back at Eric, I shook my head. "I don't think a few hours is enough of a separation time to think."

At that, he looked surprised. "Separation? Is that what we're doing?"

I sighed. "Eric, you're jealous of some random person for no reason. And you're clearly not happy that I'll be joining one of the packs when I change. It's not something I have control over and you're blaming me. Not to mention, you still have a thing for Lacy. I don't know what's going to happen. It could be months before I actually change, so, yes, I think we need some time apart." Anger bubbled up inside me and I shook my head. "Honestly, I don't think we should have happened at all or at least for this long because now, when I change, all you're going to do is judge me and be suspicious of me. I can't and won't live like that. There's a good possibility that my imprint or true mate isn't here, and you and I could be happy together. But not with your prejudice. So right now, my sisters and I are going to go home. I suggest you do the same before you get sick. Goodbye, Eric."

And as I turned away, things got bad.

Eric lunged for me. "Nechole, wait." He grabbed my arm to spin me around.

I tugged but he was still stronger. "Let go. You're hurting me."

And that was when Katie and Parker got involved.

Katie grabbed Eric's arm. "Get your hands off her. Right now."

Eric shot her a glare over his shoulder. "This is between me and her. Go away, Katie."

Katie glared right back. "I said, let go of my sister."

At the same moment that she through all her strength into wrenching his arm away, he let go and went to shake her off. Somehow, his elbow ended up catching her in the face. She dropped like a stone onto the sidewalk, blood spilling out of her mouth. Parker was immediately beside her and glaring up at Eric.

"You asshole."

The moment her blood hit the concrete, my body started vibrating.

"You just hit my sister," I said in a low, violent voice.

Even the fear and shock on Eric's face weren't enough to calm me down.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Oh, God, I'm so sorry." Then he knelt down to help Parker get her up. "Are you okay?"

At the same time Parker pushed him away, I grabbed his arm to spin him around the same way he'd done with me. A low growl vibrated up my throat. I would have been surprised because it was the first time I'd ever made that sound if I wasn't so pissed off.

Everyone froze at the sound and stared at me with a case of the oh-shits.

Parker was the one who seemed to understand that Eric's life was suddenly in imminent danger. That they all were if I changed here on the dark street. But it was only Eric who had my full attention.

Even though Katie was trying to speak, Parker was the one who jumped between us. She broke my hold on his arm with a lot of effort and stood there with her arms out.

"Nechole," she said in a slow and calm way. "It was an accident. He didn't mean to hurt her."

"But he did anyway," I growled, my eyes focused on his throat.

"I know. And we can deal with that later. Right now, we need to get Katie home. She's bleeding a lot and she could have a concussion. I won't let you kill him and our sister could suffer for that. She needs a doctor."

"Please," Katie said. But it was a wet sound from all the blood in her mouth.

That pitiful plea pulled me out of the spiral of violence. "I suggest you get gone before we drag our bloody sister home for our dad to see," I growled before turning to Katie.

Parker and I hefted her up, draping her arms over our necks.

"Go, Eric. Now."

The look on his face was pure helplessness and guilt. Throwing his hands up, he shook his head, turned, and jogged off.

It took a lot longer than I wanted to get Katie home. We had to stop every few feet to let her spit a mouthful of blood onto the ground. It was coming out of her nose, too, and I wondered if it was broken.

Finally, we hefted her up the shallow steps to the porch. The light was still on so it was easy to unlock and open the door. We had to go in sideways with me first, then Katie, and Parker coming in last.

"You ready for this?" I whispered to Parker.

"Never. This is gonna suck. I really hope Eric got home."

Most of me wanted to rip him apart, but the part of me that still thought in human ways agreed with her.

Taking a deep breath, I called out, "Dad? Mom?"

They both came out of the kitchen. When they saw us, though, their smiles vanished.

Mom dropped what she was holding, which shattered. Then she was rushing over and taking Katie. "What happened?" she demanded hysterically. "What happened to my baby? Oh my God, Parker call Carlisle. Let's get her to her room."

All my attention was on Dad. He'd gone statue-still, his hands clenched into fists. That big body that always made me feel safe when he hugged me had started to vibrate as his eyes followed Mom and Katie. No doubt, he was seeing the damage done to his daughter and all the blood down her shirt.

Then those dark eyes moved to me. Instantly, I knew that he suspected Eric was involved.

"What. Happened." The demand was low and precise.

"It was an accident," I told him.

"He still hit her," he growled.

Rushing over to him, I put my hands up. "I'm just as pissed as you, Dad. I almost phased right there and ripped him apart, but it was an accident."

He looked down at me from his towering height. "You are to never see him again."

I nodded. "After I break up with him, I won't."

"No," he commanded. "You will never see him again as of tonight."

"Dad, I am not going to break up with him over the phone. You and Mom taught me better than that. And he deserves to see how pissed off and unforgiving I am even though it was just an accident."

As he stared down at me, I knew he was fighting with the rage inside of him. "Tell me what happened."

Swallowing hard, I gathered my voice. "Eric and I had fought on our date so I ended up going to the shop to help out. We were on our way home when Eric found us. I was turning away and he held my arm to stop me. I told him to let go and he didn't. Katie grabbed his arm to pull him off. When he let go, his arm swung back. Daddy, it was an accident. And I will deal with him. Please, let me."

He was about to answer when the doorbell rang and Mom called out for Dad.

"Embry, she wants to see you."

Dad took such a huge breath that his whole body moved with it. The anger seemed to seep out of him for the moment as he nodded. "Get the door. We'll talk about this after Katie is looked at."

Then he was walking across the house to Katie's room.

I took a shaky breath and talked my legs into not giving out on me as I went to the door.

Carlisle was on the other side with his doctor's bag. He smiled kindly.

I managed a smile and moved aside. "Hey, Doc."

"Hi, Nechole. Are you okay?"

"I will be when you tell me my sister is going to be okay."

He smiled again and put a hand on my shoulder. "Lead the way."

And so I took him to Katie's room, praying that my mistakes hadn't done her permanent damage.

Like I said, fluffy chapter with some drama and Jules. You guys have been missing her. So there we go. As always, I love you guys! xoxoxoxo