Aaagh, this whole scenario with Bailey and the motorcycle and visiting Sam and Emily's house how was supposed to be one chapter but it's turning into way more... I'm getting to the whole wolf-revelation! Don't worry! Writing as fast as I can!

Also, keep in mind the whole wolf telepathy thing... and the fact that they know about the imprinting and the shifting, but Bailey doesn't... and they don't know that she doesn't...

It took me a couple moments to realize that they ground wasn't moving underneath me anymore. A couple more to realize how to release my muscles, which I realized had been clenching the whole time. And finally, a full twenty seconds later, I peeled my eyes open.

Seth slid the helmet off, his fingers gently untangling the hair that had gotten tangled in the straps.

"We're here. Now was that so bad?"

"I-I don't think so."

I could feel his smile. "Well, that's a good start. Next time we'll work on opening our eyes."

"Next time?"

"Of course. Maybe we'll do a little backroading. Show you around the res."

I could tell he was playing with me by his smile, and so the thought wasn't as terrifying as it could have been.

"Don't make me sic Paul on you-he doesn't seem very nice."

"You wouldn't," he said, gasping in mock horror. I smiled.

And, thinking back on it, the motorcycle ride hadn't been that bad. I would go through a minute of panic, feeling the wind tug at my eyelashes and the noises of the cars whizzing past, but then I would remember think, Wait, why am I even worried about that? Here I was, basically wrapped up by Seth, the wind on my face and the fire on my back... he wouldn't let anything hurt me.

I could see myself getting very used to motorcycle rides.

Seth wrapped one of his arms around my waist and swung his leg over the bike, taking me with him. Normally I would have protested-I may be a complete dummy when it comes to riding one of these things, but I can get off of it by myself thank-you-very-much- but my muscles had been clenching so hard that it seemed like they were rendered temporarily useless.

Not that I had to worry. He seemed perfectly fine with supporting most of my weight as I stumbled beside him along a winding gravel driveway.

At the end of it were a couple mud-splattered cars, some with better parking jobs then others. I recognized a Volkswagen Rabbit that I had seen parked around town a couple times, only memorable because of its grating muffler that had probably scared every bird out of the town.

Behind the cars was a house. Painted a faded yellow, it had a couple scattered rocking chairs and a porch swing on the patio, underneath a sagging shingled roof. The shutters were painted varying shades of red, flower print curtains peeking out from behind the windows. A gnarled tree stood in front of it, with its roots twisting among the leaves and vines of a unruly vegetable garden.

I absolutely loved it. Much better then the house I lived in, painted an oppressive off-white and with a design as original as a garden gnome.

"Sam and Emily are going to get married sometime in January," Seth said, pushing aside the vines of a tomato plant so we could get onto the stone path leading to the stairs.

"He's trying to get a new house built, but for now this is it."

"Why? What's wrong with this one? It's so cute."

"Cute? The house?"

"Yeah," I said, smiling at the fluttering wind chimes. "It has personality."

He laughed. "Personality? More like attitude. Especially when it rains- Sam's made us climb up there so many times to fix this piece of the roof that keeps getting ripped off by the wind. And it doesn't have any heating, and it can get really cramped when everybody comes over..."

That brought me back to why I was even here. To meet people. To make friends. God help me.

"Is... everybody here? Right now?"

"Should be. We're having a... gathering. "

"Catch up on the latest reservation gossip?"

"Something like that." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes,and his didn't meet mine.

I followed him up creaky wooden steps and to a door mat. I read the words: Beware of Dogs, it said in big print. Seth saw me reading it, and I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Gag Christmas gift. Emily hates it."

"Do they have a dog?" Seth looked away. From the inside of the house I could hear the clamor of a bunch of male voices strewn together, followed by a crash.

"Um. Kind of."

I was about to question him on how you can "kind of" have a dog, but he started opening the door, then froze and looked back at me.

"Hey, Bailey? Don't let them push you around or anything, 'kay?"

I gulped. "...push me around?"

I could see his hand tighten on the doorknob. "Yeah. It'll be hard for them to remember that you're such a... such a little doll."

I stared at him, trying to put on my toughest face. Thanks a bushel, Seth. I like being compared to a three year old's play toy.

"Doll?"

"Yeah. You're so small. If you have to, stick around Jared. He has Kim, so it'll be easier for him to... understand."

I was about to question him on what just came out of his mouth. Understand what? What are you talking about? And are they really going to hurt me? But his arm came around my shoulders, nudging me in front of him as he opened the door.

The inside of the house was just as cozy as the outside. Couches, seat cushions, wallpaper- almost everything was in some kind of faded flower print. Furniture was mixed, strewn in a semi-circle around a TV and fireplace, a mix of vintage and flea market. The room that we entered seemed to be the biggest, the living room, with a staircase and a hallway leading off of it. Picture frames of smiling people and watercolor sailboats were hung on every available wall space.

It house smelled like sunshine and muffins and the vague spicy-cherry smell of cough drops.

It was every girl's dream. And, no, not because of the friendly decorating or "homey" feel. No, it was because of its...residents.

Two words: Shirtless. Guys.

Everywhere.

Good Lord, it was like Adonis and some female body builder met and had babies out the wazoo in there. Deeply tanned, rolling, swelling, chiseled muscles for what seemed as far as the eye could see. Shirtless guys laying on the floor, shirtless men sprawled on the couch, shirtless dudes walking through the hallway with muffins in their hands...

Strip club? Long-lost members of the Chippendale Dancing Club convention? Both were definite possibilities.

I'm pretty sure my eyes were as big as their bulging biceps.

Needless to say, being the oh-so social caterpillar that I am, it was bad enough when everybody looked up simultaneously when we walked into the room. What made it worse was that I think I might have been salivating a little, which I'm sure just added to my overall aura of awkwardness.

"Dude! You made it!" One of them abandoned the game of cards he was playing and strode over.

Seth eyed me, as if judging the likelihood that I would die or something if he stepped away for a couple of seconds. I nodded for him to go ahead.

They gave each other the classic Manhug, grasping hands before bumping shoulders so hard that I winced just watching.

"'Course I did. Told you I'd be here, didn't I?"

All of the guys got up, converging around Seth. There was a lot of exchange of the words "dude," and "bro," various fist bumps, shoulder punches, and other forms of masculine affection. I pressed myself into the doorway, trying to keep well out of their way.

"Hey, where's your girl?"

"Yeah. Bailey, right? Did you get her to come?"

At the mention of my name Seth turned to face me, swinging his head around. He grinned broadly, like he was happy that I hadn't run out the door while he wasn't watching.

"Of course I got her to come. My powers of persuasion are flawless."

He took my wrist in one hand, putting his arm around me shoulders with the other, keeping me from hiding behind him and disappearing like I would have liked.

"Everybody," he said, looking down at me. "Meet Bailey. Bailey, meet... well, everybody. They can tell you they're names."

Silence for a beat while I stared up at them. That would be your que to say something, Bailey.

"Um. Hi."

The boy who had first greeted Seth came up and grabbed my hand, pumping it up and down while my arm desperately tried to keep up.

"Hey, I'm Quil. It's nice to finally see you. Seth hasn't shut up about you since he saw you by your bicycle."

"Like you're not any worse, Quil. It's always great to have an inner monologue about a three year old."

Wait,what?

"So, it's Bailey, right?" Somebody else caught my attention, standing with his arms crossed to my right.

"Uh, yup. Me. I mean, yeah, that's me."

He chuckled. "Trouble talking, right? We've heard about it from Seth." I blushed. Seth told them about that?

Seth tightened his grip on me. "Shut up, Embry."

He shrugged. "Just sayin'."

"Bailey! How's it goin'? You're prettier then Seth showed us." Brady, flanked by Colin. I went even redder. Wha- oh, the picture of me he made a copy of... had Seth shown them that?

"It's her first time meeting the pack, right? Such an honor, I know."Another guy rolled his eyes.

"Please excuse Colin. He thinks he's funny. I'm Jared."

"Jacob," Another one grunted, nodding to me.

I was trying, unsuccessfully, to stack all of the names and faces into my brain for later use. I wondered if-

"So, you're the one, huh?" Suddenly there were two plate-sized hands grabbed roughly onto my shoulders, tearing me away from Seth. He slid his hand down my arm and grabbed one of my wrists, lifting it up. I cringed and tried to tug away as his eyes went up and down my body, like he was examining me.

"She's kinda... tiny, isn't she? You're not gonna get much fight outta this one, Seth. What made-"

Seth made a noise that I could only describe as a snarl, his lip curling up and everything.

"Get your dirty hands off of-"

"Don't tell me what to do, punk."

Seth shoved the guy's hands off of me, moving in between us, his arms reached back protectively.

"Oh, yeah? You touch her one more time-"

"I'm not scared of you, pipsqueak."

"Whoa, Paul, Seth! Let's take it down a notch, guys."

"You take it down a notch, Jared."

"Bad insult."

"Everybody just calm down-"

"I'm not gonna fu-"

"Paul!"

"Shut up!"

"Boys!" All of a sudden, there was another man standing in the doorway. Shirtless... am I being redundant? And what looked to be the tallest. He had an aura of authority to him, which was demonstrated when everybody quieted down and backed away. He made eye contact with Paul, who looked like he was literally shaking, and after a couple seconds he put his head down and stalked out through the hallway.

Seth's hands reached out for me, frozen behind him, not really sure what the heck was happening. He snatched me up, hand pressing on the small of my back so that I was crushed to him. He looked murderously at the hallway through which Paul had exited.

What had just happened? I felt bad for some reason. I didn't to cause any fights. I also didn't want to be the helpless, vulnerable little girl, but it looked like that persona had already been made.

The man closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before composing his face again.

"I'm sorry about that. Paul has some problems with his temper."

I nodded. "That's... that's all right. I mean, it's fine. With me."

He smiled, reaching out his hand for what I could tell would be another forceful handshake. I squirmed against Seth, eyeing him pointedly. His eyebrows drew down, but he released one of my arms, which I used to shake hands.

"It's something you'll probably have to get used to. You're Bailey, right?"

I nodded, trying my best to look engaged in the conversation while at the same time being mesmerized by how solid Seth felt against me.

"It's nice to meet you. Welcome to the family."