Gabby's POV

Now I was just pissed off.

It wasn't fair of Paul to do that. I'd thought I was a tease but I hadn't intentionally done it, Paul had. It was all I could think about and I didn't think that was appropriate considering the threat bearing down on us.

Sam and Jacob had coordinated so that Embry and I were patrolling the La Push-Forks border together and could play 'happy families' while working. It wasn't an easy feat, considering we both should have been in wolf form, but we couldn't talk then. We'd organised a system by which only one of use was in wolf form while the other carried the clothes, then at selected locations we would swap. It was annoying but it was the only thing we could think of.

Well, I had thought of something else but it was risky.

When Stendahl had strode into town he'd been in wolf form, so had I and that was how he knew who I was; because despite having never met the guy before, his voice sounded in my head like a radio without a volume dial. It was scary and frustrating and I'd never wanted it to happen again.

We may as well have been members of the same pack because no matter how I tried he read my mind, and I could read his – which was highly disturbing. It was not unexpected by the older shifters, they'd found that families could communicate far easier than no related individuals, and that made sense with the La Push shifters, all except Embry that was. His ease at reading their mind likely came from the wolf part of him.

Most of the shifters in my town were dingoes, which are naturally solitary predators, and they always had a harder time communicating and being 'understood' than the few wolves there. Seeing how my father was a dingo you'd have thought that everyone would have been suspicious of my heritage the moment I morphed for the first time. But seeing how my mother was Norwegian, and her father was a wolf, and my coat was so yellow, it was assumed I was just a more wolf like hybrid.

Embry was in human form at the moment and was telling me about when he'd first phased.

"It was really strange. Going from being friends with Jake and Quil, to essentially not being allowed to talk to them. I saw the way they looked at me, like I was a traitor but occasionally like they were worried I was doing drugs or something. That's what my mom thought for a long while.

"Until recently I think I'd convinced her that wasn't the case. But since we've started extra patrols again it feels like the old worries have come up again." He sounded upset about this and I wanted to give me a reassuring gesture but couldn't think of one that worked in wolf form.

Embry stopped and looked at me, "Do you want to swap?" He lifted the pile of clothes he held just to make sure I understood what he wanted.

I nodded and took the clothes in my mouth before ducking behind a tree. As I've said before I don't have an issue with nudity, anymore, but I wasn't sure the same could be said for Embry so I was modest about my phases around him.

By the time I came back Embry had already phased into his soft grey wolf. I swooped up the shorts and flung them over my shoulder. I'd been thinking about the whole family tie thing since I'd figured out who Embry was and suddenly I felt the urge to ask Embry about it.

"I have a theory." I stated emphatically as we started back along the border. I explained how thought sharing worked in my old pack, and what they had made of it. I even told him how Stendahl had been able to access my thoughts so easily.

It was at this point that I realised it was a bad idea. If Embry read all my thoughts than he would find out about both of my 'encounters' with Paul. And how would he feel if he read all the painful memories from my past, if he felt them? Now I had to go back on my almost suggestion, and try to find a way not to make it sound like I wanted to try it with Embry.

Embry ran forward and disappeared behind a tree. The next thing I knew he was sticking one arm out around the tree and waving at me, "Chuck me my shorts!" I obeyed and Embry burst out from around the tree.

"I'm willing to try it if you are."

"I don't know anymore. It's a bad idea." I was scrambling for a reason not to try it.

"Why? What have you got to hide?"

"I'm not hiding anything." I said, carefully choosing my timing so as not to answer too fast.

"Then why can't we try?" Embry sounded more than eager.

"What if you get hurt? We don't know how you'll react if the thoughts of my... of what Stendahl did to me get through."

"I don't mind. Please, I want to know what you know about Stendahl. I want to know the truth."

"Truth is relative." I grumbled and Embry looked confused, "My truth may not be the same as your truth. It certainly wouldn't be the same as Stendahl's truth."

"I don't care. I want to try it. Please." There was something about the way he said please that me feeling guilty to even think of denying him.

I shook my head but this time it was my mind that was not listening, "Alright. But I will back out the second it looks like it's hurting you."

"Perfect." Embry cried over his shoulder as he disappeared behind the same tree as before.

I stripped where I was and phased before Embry's furry face came bounding into view again. We sat opposite each other, as if sitting and staring at one another was somehow going to increase the likelihood of this working. We looked long and hard at each other.

'First day of school. First day of school. Lots of people. I don't really know anyone,' I thought, focusing on an innocent memory.

'What the hell are you doing?' Jared laughed in my head, but I ignored him.

'Old teacher. Old classroom. Room smelt of chalk.'

'Gabby? What the fuck?' Brady swore loudly, causing him and Jared to get into an argument about appropriate language.

I pushed them further out of my head and thought harder about my first day of school, while still trying to keep a metaphoric ear open for Embry's thought. It was hard. Exhausting. Trying to do two opposite things at once was like trying to push and pull a brick wall. Painful.

My ears were starting to ring and my memory was jumping from beginning to end to middle to end to beginning... I couldn't keep things in order.

I yelped in surprise when another thought poked through, Embry opening a birthday present, a Buzz Lightyear toy. I felt the excitement and the thrill and then a whole shit load of memories came flying through the imaginary hole that that one memory had created.

I wanted to phase but couldn't.

My head was thumping with the flurry of memories that flashed in my head. None of them made much sense, it was like a series of photos being shown to me with little explanation. On the top of that was the mumble of a million conversations, and the occasional squeal of delight made me flinch.

This had been a horrible idea.

It felt like memories were just flowing through me, as Embry's entire life flowed in and mine flowed out. I couldn't hear anything but the jumble of words and emotions. I saw nothing but the slideshow of random images that jumped from recent to barely within the realms of memory.

I dropped my body to the ground, pressing my heaving chest against the stone cold forest floor. The flow of memories had my head pulsing and thrumming. I couldn't feel my extremities. I was losing consciousness of my surroundings and time.

The thrum became a loud buzz, which became a dull roar and the culminated with a sudden, momentary clap, like thunder. Then nothing. I could not hear a single sound.

I feared that I had gone deaf until, 'Gabby? Can you hear me?'

It was Embry.

'Yeah. Crap that hurt.' I said with a heavy exhale. I couldn't catch my breath.

'You're telling me.' Embry sighed and I could feel in his thought that he had felt a lot worse than me. My memories of what Stendahl had done to me had broken through, despite my attempt to stop them.

'I'm so sorry.'

'It's alright. They hurt but... revenge is sweet, right?'

I sensed Embry's smile but it didn't make me feel any better, 'I'm sorry.'

'Don't be. I asked for this.'

Then I remembered why I'd thought this wouldn't be a good idea, 'Fuck. Paul.'

'Yeah... about that...' Embry didn't sound upset, he sounded inquisitive, 'what the hell?'

'I know, it's weird. But it was a mistake. Please, don't tell anyone about it.' I pleaded.

'I love to do that but I'm pretty certain it's not going to be possible. Jake is going to be pissed.'

'Why?'

'You don't know?' the bewilderment was thick in his thoughts, 'Jake is Rachel's brother.'

Now I was crazy pissed.

Jacob didn't like me as it was. I couldn't contain my disgust at him or his vein draining lover and her family. This was only going to make things worse. Paul must have known the Jacob wouldn't be happy about this, which was why he told me not to tell anyone. How could he have not told me that he was screwing the sister of the shifter that likes me the least? Or hates me the most? I wasn't sure which one it was but once he found out I was sure it would be the latter.

'Why can't I hear the others?' Embry's question broke my freak out session.

I tried to do the opposite of blocking everyone out and their voices exploded in my head, while the world burst back into existence around me.

'Gabriella?'

'Answer me Gabby!' Sam growled and I flinched at the sound.

'What the hell is going on?'

'See, school is dangerous.' I heard Brady say with half a laugh. It was clear he was concerned but didn't know what to do.

Embry lay in front of me, his eyes glued to mine. We were both more than stunned, we were astounded. It had worked, better than I'd expected.

'I'll try to keep it from Jacob. But only because I don't want my big sister killing my Alpha.' Embry chuckled and then got to his feet, 'Sorry, guys.'

'Yeah, sorry everyone.' I sighed as I shook my head and stumbled to my feet.

'Gabby told me that reading minds was a family based thing. I figured we should try it.' Embry explained.

'Can you guys hear that?' I asked Sam's pack.

'Hear what?' Sam snapped.

'Embry.' I whimpered.

'It sure as heck feels like it did.' Embry groaned and shook his head viciously.

'Of course not! Why? Can you?' Jared sounded both angry and excited.

'Ah... yeah, actually I can.' I mumbled.