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Music:
It's my life – Bon Jovi
This afternoon – Nickelback
I'll be a bachelor till I die – Hank Williams Sr./ Bennie Jolink (Dutch)
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Chapter 10: Embry – Pack meeting
I've learned a lot, becoming a werewolf. About life, appreciating what you've got. It can change, vanish in an instance. Like established relationships, cherish them, maybe you can't take back those angry words during that fight last night.
No regrets, I'm trying to think about that every day. Doing positive things all the time. Telling my mom I love her, helping her as much as I can, just little things. Trying to make people laugh, taking in every moment. Of course I have questions too, about the future and the past.
Who's my dad? The main one that keeps popping up. But I don't ask, it's a sore subject. My mom always tells me it was at a party, one night, some chemistry. I know that's not the whole truth, but she's ashamed.
And always after that, she quickly tells me I'm the best thing that's ever happened in her life. Always reminding me I'm wanted and loved. Reluctantly she's accepted the fact I'm away a lot, being with my friends. But she worries, I know. It hurts me I can't do anything about that.
New relationships, now that's a whole other ballgame. I look at girls, sure, being a teenager with a killer body. I've been on a few dates, kissed a couple of times. But imprinting stops anything more happening. It's always hanging over your head. In our pack everyone except Leah has always been saying they don't want to imprint.
Then, when it happens, it's the most wonderful thing in the world. Maybe that's why I've decided to stay single for now, to not even chase love. The fact our imprints are toddlers limits romantic thoughts too of course. I just go with the flow. The easiest way to feel happy.
Seth's mind is the nicest, he's great. He taught me not to judge people on the outside, on what they are. First, all vampires were enemies, the ones to kill. I wanted it, that's why we're protectors. Now the Cullens are friends. I don't mind at all, hanging out at their place. With all the food and other great stuff. I'm used to the smell. One reason this new girl threw me off.
She's confusing, but looking past that, I can't help but like her. The things she can do, the way she acts, her cheerful spirit. She even won over Leah, of all people, made her smile! That means she certainly isn't bad.
And then the fighting matches. I couldn't believe it when Jake called us. A girl, taking on Emmet, and Jasper too. The way she moved, so at ease in the trees. Forget 'monkeyman' Emmet, she's the monkey-queen! Warrior woman. Timmain got several nicknames fast. But we call her May.
She fits in well, her personality in between everybody. Curious to a fault, checking out Sam and the others. Seeing him up close for the first time startled her. Immediately reacting submissive, like she felt was appropriate. I could understand, his black wolf has that effect. Always serious and sombre. He still has a hard time seeing the good in life. Sure things haven't been easy for him, but come on, you've got to lighten up sometime.
The new additions to his pack, I don't know to much about them. Are they causing problems? I got the impression he could handle things, with help from Jared and Paul. Still, seven is a lot at once. And they're so young. Oh well.(shrug)
May relaxed more after the first night. Taking a different approach. She waited, let them take the lead. Just observing, she's good at that. It worked. Though when she got a better look at Sam's group and saw Matt, she was shocked at how much he reminded her of Boots. Her favourite Russian pup that died. Not just his looks, but his attitude too was very similar. She couldn't help her reaction.
Joining our patrol, she explained. Leah decided to talk about it with Jared the next night. That helped, they understood. Of course we could tell they still considered her strange. Paul and the three brothers in his group joked around with her. She didn't mind and I think she won over more people with that.
We talked to her a lot about life. General things, what music we liked, movies we'd seen, books we read (comics included). We quizzed her about animals, she knew a lot. Funny stuff we'd done, when we were young. We stopped, feeling to old suddenly. But quickly we were laughing again, we did that a lot the past week. A good way to start the year, especially after the threat of the Volturi.
We liked watching her cook, interact, trying out her gift, resisting Alice with her fashion. That was really amusing. She never bothered with us wolves. But May's a vampire, sure to become family. Alice kept trying hard to mould her into a Cullen. With minor results. May always refused to wear shoes, at least outside. A dress was out of question too, though maybe, some day…
Leah, on the other hand, decided to work more on her feminine side. She got a decent haircut and got all dressed up for both birthday parties. (Jared and Paul's) She looked good, certainly got some compliments from Collin. Poor guy, his eyes nearly popped out when he saw her like that. Still has a major crush on her. Of course she didn't play football with us. She watched from the sidelines with the other women! Huh? Then again, I didn't know what to expect. What did she do before? Was she even there? It felt like a lifetime ago.
Late Saturday evening we had a little meeting of our own. Just the five of us, before the big pack meeting tomorrow. We all liked May, we were sure she wasn't dangerous. There'd been no reports of new kids phasing. Probably because they're to young. Also, seventeen werewolves existing already was a lot. Never before had there been so many.
Another fact we considered was May's scent. The smell of a vampire around activated the gene. Hers was so different. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a reason against her staying. So, after a quick vote, we decided she could stay, as long as she wanted. We would vouch for her.
Right after we all phased, Jake too, to patrol and swiftly check on May. Jake showed us the memories she shared with Nessie, all of them. We fell silent, the hidden emotions, they must have been more intense than what she'd shared. Things made a lot more sense. We understood the importance of keeping some things to yourself. We would never ask her about it. She respected privacy and so did we.
We went to sleep at home, while Jake met up with Sam's whole pack. He'd inform them of our decision and share everything we knew about May. Early morning on the 7th he called us with the details of the meeting. Talking about being overcautious!
At noon we all arrived at the oval field. A few minutes later May arrived with Bella and Edward. Nessie came too. She acknowledged all of us and moved to Jake's side. He laid down and let her climb on his back, before standing up again. Relaxed and confidant she focused on Sam. She would have her say, if needed. It made me smile.
May wasn't so sure, seeing all the wolves together up close. She walked to the middle of the circle we formed, holding her head down. Bella and Edward waited on the sideline, standing high up on a rock for a better view. Sam immediately approached her, circling around, closer, sniffing, a frown on his face. She stood perfectly still, only glancing up as he stopped in front of her. I wondered what he was thinking. He turned to Edward for translating his questions.
"You want to know why she's acting like this?" Edward said. "I think you know, it's been explained." – Sam looked at May again, moving in so close, his nose almost touched hers. She wasn't breathing while she slowly met his gaze.
"You don't trust me, she whispered, I'm strange, but that's alright." Sam exposed his right upper canine. She averted her eyes. Jake and Leah sighed. May still couldn't help herself reacting submissive. He turned away, snorting in disgust. Vampires shouldn't act like that.
Edward spoke, reacting to his thoughts. "Yes, it's possible to lie through Renesmee's gift, he said, but I've seen her memories and those of Carlisle, everything you've heard is true." Sam didn't doubt Edward, their encounters proved him to be a decent guy. Jake shared his request for more information from Edward, about her healing and her resistance to human blood.
Edward elaborated: "There'd been a stabbing incident, a man came in, bleeding from his chest." Carlisle made sure they were alone and she saved him." He was bleeding a lot, he was going to die." She didn't flinch, went straight to work, closing the wound enough for him to survive and not cause suspicions." Of course they downplayed the severity of his injuries." – Silence. We didn't know about this! Sure Carlisle praised her that night and told us something the day after. But May stopped him from going to far, Nessie was present, no need for scary details. Edward judged his daughter able to handle it, right now apparently.
Sam was at some distance from May now, thinking about things. Paul and Jared moved in closer. May did look them in the eye. I could tell they were impressed, maybe even marvelled. Then something changed in Paul. May turned towards Sam, her look puzzling. Behind her Paul raised up his head. Taking a step closer, he towered above her. He opened his mouth, exposed his teeth. What was he planning?! Sam growled a warning. Nessie gasped a little. It made the hairs on our back stand up. Paul didn't stop, lowering his head, as if to bite her.
Jared bumped him in the shoulder. May felt his breath on her neck, but wasn't phased. She put up her hand, motioning us not to worry. Sam growled louder and spun around fast. He knocked Paul down and pounced on him. Barking and growling with an alpha voice, he reprimanded him for disobeying an order.
Jared cowered too, receiving a piercing look for not stopping Paul's actions. Being second in command and standing closer. But they weren't the only ones flinching, making themselves smaller. "May!" a shocked looking Nessie whispered, pointing at her. May had crouched down low, her eyes clamped shut, her fingertips touching the ground. She whined softly, making Sam look at her in surprise.
It was easy to guess his question; "What?! Why are you acting like that?!" Edward reacted on May's behalf; "She's sensitive to energy, standing so close, she felt your alpha timbre." Sam's eyebrows shot up as he stared at her. Everybody was stunned. Really? She felt that? But, then again, thinking back, sure, it made sense. Sam relaxed.
May stood up slowly, peeking from behind her eyelashes. "Please, she pleaded, he meant no harm, it was just a test." Sam narrowed his eyes. She knew? How? They didn't plan this, surely, did they? "No, May spoke hastily, no, this wasn't planned." Honest!" But I could feel he wasn't aggressive or anything like that." Besides, I told him he could test me whenever, being curious, so…"
Sam sighed and Edward translated: "What am I to make of you?" Doing things like this." You're unpredictable." May shrugged and I could tell she was ready to treat him as a person. Standing up straight, relaxed. Sam's eyes went to Jake, they were 'talking'. Seconds later Jake shared their conversation with us. "I told him to forget the fact she's a vampire, just treat her as a person, get to know her." – That's what I would've said. – "He said he'd try and think about it." "They're going to vote now."
Just as he thought that, the whole pack sat down. Sam started walking, stopping at each of them, asking their opinion. Judging by their reactions, their demeanour, they were saying 'yes' to her staying. Edward translated, a unanimous vote in favour. Good. May beamed a 'thank you' at them with a little Japanese bow, you know, palms together. It made them smile. Sam and Jake deliberated again.
"No more borders, Jake conveyed to us, but he wants her to stay clear of La Push, for now." – Okay, reasonable. – "He'll allow the boys to meet her in person, but only in groups. Preferably with him, Jared or Paul present." Just in case."
Jake smiled internally. "They asked him, they're curious." They think she's funny." – No argument there. – "Well, we can wrap this up. Let's phase back." We all started walking, Jake let Nessie get of his back. Edward told May about the 'no more borders-deal'. Just that. Sam and the others were going home, we could hear them leave.
Then, Bella spoke: "Sam, please wait, I want to talk to you." Will you phase back?" I have a question." Edward didn't know anything, he looked surprised. Sam nodded. What could it be? We started to run, eager to know more. When we came back, pulling a shirt over our heads, only Sam was waiting. He sent the others home. He turned to Bella. She was ready, but seemed a little nervous, sharing a look with May. She was involved. Edward read her mind and understood.
"Sam, Bella started, would you allow May to do you a favour?" Sam looked unsure. "What could she possibly do for me? He asked. "She's got nothing I need." Bella averted her eyes a moment. "Well, she replied, it's not for you exactly, I…was thinking about…Emily." Sam frowned, not really getting it. We did, we knew about Jasper, the scars. He looked at May, the coin dropped. "You can do that? He questioned. Make them go away?" Emily's face and arm, he was always ashamed. Constant reminders of him losing control with his soulmate.
May smiled. "I can soften them up for sure, she said, I don't know about taking them away completely." It depends, on how severe they are." I haven't worked on scars that much." Sam thought about it. "How would it work? He asked. Do you have to touch her?" – A delicate subject for sure, her being a strange vampire. – May nodded; "Just a light touch with my hand." It'll probably feel warm and tingly." At least it does to me." She grinned uncomfortably. "I've never done it on a conscious person before."
Sam shifted his weight, trying to decide if this should be cause for concern. "Hmm, I'll talk to Emily about it, he said, but I must say, I…have doubts." – Why? I wanted to ask. – He put his finger up, indicating he wasn't done yet. "But, in the end, it has to be her decision, he continued, it's her body." He sighed.
"If she wants to do it, he directed at May, allow you to touch her, I'll call to make arrangements." May looked happy. "Of course," she said. Then she added quickly: "you can help, with your own healing capacity." He frowned and said nothing. It meant her touching him, for an extended period of time. He didn't like that idea, I'm sure.
He started to walk away. We did the same, going in the other direction. Edward, Bella and Nessie followed us. May took a little longer. I felt frustrated. Why wouldn't Sam trust her. With everything we told him, wasn't that enough. Didn't he value our opinion? I gritted my teeth and grumbled: "Pessimistic, sarcastic bastard!" I huffed, not prepared for a sudden outburst. "Embry! May shouted, don't talk about your brother like that!" Some respect please, he's got loads of responsibilities!" I spun around, seeing Sam do the same. It was the way she said 'brother'. She didn't mean like 'in the pack'. We stared at her, she looked back, confused.
"May, Edward said, are you sure?" She furrowed her eyebrows; "About what?" "About them being brothers, he explained, "they don't know, Embry never knew his father." "Huh? She questioned, oh, ehm, yes, I'm sure, as much as I was with Leah and Seth." She covered her mouth, shooting excusing looks at us. It was a scent-thing, she told us that the first time. "Why didn't you say something before?" I asked her. "I thought you knew, she replied shyly, and maybe you'd had a fight or something." You two weren't in the same pack, it wasn't my place to pry."
Sam was shaking his head. "You trust her on this?" he asked. "Yeah! I scowled at him, don't you want me to be your brother?" Arrgh, I felt like punching him! Though I was relieved too, finally knowing. He put his hands up in defence and moved towards me. He had mixed feelings about this whole thing too. It was written on his face.
"Of course I would want you to be my brother, in blood, He said. "But how does she tell?" – May intervened: "please don't argue, it's your scents, you both have a certain herbal quality to it." I can't exactly describe it, it's just there." Sam looked at her intently. "You really aren't put off by our smell, are you?" – She shook her head and smiled a little.
Sam and I were two feet apart, checking each other for similarities. Alright, I think I could see some; our build, our noses, a wave in our hair? Who am I kidding!? That sounded like a girl talking, in my head. I couldn't see it, and judging by Sam's face, neither could he. I turned to May, looking for more of an explanation. "You're not really looking, she said, talking like a teacher, you're thinking about how you feel about each other." You've formed an opinion." She got Sam's attention now too. Sighing a little, she decided on a different approach.
"Did you have any ideas before, about who you might be related to?" There couldn't have been many candidates, right?" Behind me, my best friends started shuffling their feet uncomfortably. Of course she noticed that. "Oh, she said, I see, hmm." We all turned towards her. "Okay, she proceeded, I'm going to speak in scientific terms now." If you can't see the similarities, then we should look for differences." Exclude people based on that."
She directed herself at Quil first. "Sorry dude, she said with a grin, but you certainly don't look like him." You're much shorter and stockier than Embry." She gestured at his legs and shoulders. "Your face too, wider set, rounded." As opposed to his," she said, marking me. She turned to Jake now, tilting her head.
"You're a bit in between, though you're taller, she commented, but that doesn't count, because of your alpha-blood." Her eyes went to Quil again. She sniffed the air a second. "Hmm, she beamed, you two are related, right?" Cousins maybe?" It's to faint to tell from your scents, but combining it with your looks…" Am I correct?" Her head went back and forth between Jake and Quil. They nodded, unable to speak.
Edward chuckled, breaking the tension around us. "You're sense of smell is really something else, he said a bit in awe, like you have a lab in there." Because you're absolutely right." He inhaled some air, maybe trying to match her skill. A wide, proud smile appeared on May's face.
"Well, she added, I just excluded the alpha-thing, but I think I was mistaken." Because, if Jake and Embry were related, that should mean that you both had alpha-blood." And, wouldn't you have felt that?" When there was conflict?" She paused, thinking a little, a finger on her chin. "Or, perhaps not, she chided, non of you are that perceptive." The four of us scowled at her.
She grinned, again, I was starting to wonder if she ever felt angry, really. Brrr, probably not wanna be on her bad side, I thought to myself. I could see her being absolutely terrifying! She continued; "anyway, I can see similarities." You and Sam are both built quite slender and athletic." – We were both paying attention.
"Both of you have a slim, oval shaped head on a longer, slender neck." She pointed it out. "Jake's neck is shorter, more muscular." And look at your feet, both of you have slightly curved middle toes. That's very distinct." – We were looking, comparing. Okay, that, was a clear, visible thing. – She had more to say, one last thing. "Also a fact is, boys often get most of their physical characteristics from their father. The mother has a major impact on personality." Think about that."
We felt pleased, now fully convinced we were brothers. I don't know if my mother's ever going to tell me. Because the fact remains, I can't tell her how I know. We gave each other a handshake that turned into a man-hug. "I'll call you, Sam said huskily, we have to talk more about this." – "I agree." – "Hmm, Sam wondered, I'm curious how Jared and Paul are going to react." And Emily!" His face lit up. "She'll probably invite you to dinner soon."
He grinned. I liked that, haven't seen that much. It suited him. He walked away, waving before he disappeared between the trees. We were moving towards the Cullen mansion. I was lost in thought. Sam and the others were already family, still it felt like mine was expanding. What a way to end the week! What more was to come? Right now the future looked bright.
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* So, what are you thinking of this story so far?
* Do you like how I'm portraying these characters? I'm happy about it.
* Okay, the persons in the first three chapters didn't talk much. Don't worry, their point of view will come again. Well, maybe not Bella, we've heard her enough in the original series. Right? We'll see.
* Any ideas on where I'm going? I hope not, I want it to be a surprise.
* Timmain's real name, what could it be? Tell me, I'm not sure.
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