Hello! Thanks to those who reviewed, followed, etc. There's still a few more chapters to go after this one, so I hope you guys enjoy! Also, to those of you who said they had to reread the whole series before reading the last chapter, I apologize I know it's been years since I actually started these stories! But if it makes you feel any better, I had to do the same thing before I wrote the last chapter!

Chapter 25

The next couple days went smoothly on the Carter front, albeit not so smoothly on the math front – what is with the little twos beside the x's and the graphs that look like hills anyway? In fact, it wasn't until Thursday morning during the fifteen minute break that I became concerned that Carter would screw up and make Embry rescind his offer.

Wednesday night was the first varsity boys' soccer game since Carter's return to school, and for some reason the coach had failed to inform the rest of the team of their captain's resignation. So apparently, all the boys had expected him to be at the game – even though he hadn't been at the practices all week? – and were incredibly angry at Carter.

Maybe if I had been involved in team sports growing up – I mean, gymnastics has teams but there's no teamwork involved; it's all individual – I would have more sympathy for them. But I don't understand why they were so shocked: he hasn't been at school for weeks, practice for weeks, games for weeks, and he hasn't even talked to any of them. So why the hell would he just magically attend the game last night?

So, anyway, I'm standing at Carter's locker with him and Bridgette when Jeremy, one of the alternate captains on the team, stomps over to us with what must be half the varsity team in his shadow. "Carter," he yells.

The smile that had been on Carter's face while he was talking to Bridgette immediately disappears. It's replaced by an awkward, confused expression. "Hey Jere, what's up?"

"What's up?! What's up you ask?" Jeremy exclaims, furious. "How about the fact that our fucking captain abandoned us at the first game of the year against our biggest rivals and left us hanging out to dry in front of the entire school?"

Carter blanches, utterly surprised. Apparently he hasn't been informed, through this morning's gossip, about the vengeance his former team now has for him. "Uh," he stammers out, looking annoyed.

Good news: he isn't shaking angry.

Bad news: he's annoyed and will likely become that angry once he catches up to what's going on here.

"I told Coach on Monday that I couldn't be on the team anymore," he finishes.

I notice a crowd starting to form around us. Great. I look around the student body, hoping Wyatt is at least nearby if we need somebody to grab Carter. I can't see over a lot of the people close to us, but I don't notice him.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," a boy behind Jeremey pipes up. He's a junior, I believe, but I can't for the life of me remember his name. "Coach told us. At the game, because you obviously couldn't be bothered to tell us yourself."

"Look," Carter snaps, slamming his locker door shut. There's a huge bang, causing Bridgette to jump back and look at me, eyes wide in terror. I mouth calm down at her, hoping we're overreacting. Carter may be a new wolf, but he's still been one for weeks, probably a month now. Plus, the boys don't appear to be looking for a fight. "It's not my fault he didn't tell you right before the game. I have a lot of shit going on right now."

"And you couldn't have sent me a fucking text to tell me that yourself?" Jeremy demands, getting uncomfortably close to Carter. Oh god. "We were friends, you know. Or does that not matter now that you have this girlfriend?"

Bridgette's face blushes madly, crossing her arms over her chest awkwardly. Although I can see Jeremy's point, I still don't believe confronting him in front of most of the school is a good way to direct his anger. Especially if all he wants is an apology.

"Leave her out of this," Carter retorts. "I'm sorry I never told you; I've been busy."

Jeremy, nor any of the boys, seem affected by his apology. "We expected you to be at that game. We needed you at that game."

"Why the hell would you expect me at that game? You literally didn't even know I would be back until a couple days before, so I would freaking hope that you were preparing as if I wasn't going to be here. Just like you did for all the other games I missed. This one shouldn't be any different."

"Oh no?" Jeremy challenges, raising an eyebrow skeptically at Carter.

"No. I can't see any reason why you would've been expecting me back for this game after all that time. Even if Port Angeles is our biggest rivals." Carter's hands are twitching slightly at this point, something Bridge is keeping a close eye on.

"Then you're a bigger fucking idiot than I thought." Carter grits his teeth, trying to stay calm.

Where the hell is Wyatt?

"The Port Angeles Thundercats are our biggest rival because they're the best team in the state. Especially now that you're not on our team. And what happens when two of the best high school's in the state play each other?"

"College scouts," Carter practically hisses. Okay, maybe they aren't so bad. They're giving him a hard time because they expected him to be there for the scouts to watch him. After all, he was a shoe in for a scholarship before he had to quit playing.

"Yes, and now because of you, we all looked like fucking idiots in front of those college scouts that essentially decide some of our futures. Because of you, we got our asses kicked and played so badly that scouts will probably never come to another game in La Push again. Plus, we looked terrible in front of the entire school."

Apparently, their anger isn't because of Carter blowing his big chance; it's because they blame him for theirs being blown. I can tell Carter's trying his best not to crack and lash out. He's doing a decent job, but I can see he was on the verge of trembling. Not a good sign.

Taking a deep breath, I step forward and push Jeremy slightly away from myself and Carter. I dare not touch the new wolf for that could push him over the edge. "Alright, I think everyone needs to stop because we all have to go back to class in a few minutes."

"Everyone? I haven't done anything," Carter exclaims, clearly annoyed.

"I know," I assure him quietly, sending him a look that I hope he reads as chill the hell out. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Bridgette rubbing his arm soothingly. "Look Jeremy, and all you other soccer people. Carter cannot play on your team anymore. He just isn't allowed. Does that suck for you guys?" I look at them all as they nod furiously. "Sure. But you know who it actually sucks for?" They shrug, looking confused. "Carter! It's not that he doesn't want to play with you guys. He can't. Doctor's orders," I lie quickly. "And it's none of your business why. I'm sure it's personal and he doesn't need everyone to know, so you guys flaunting around yelling at him isn't helping anybody."

Jeremy frowns, seeing that I have a point and probably concerned about the "doctor's orders" comment. Maybe embellishing the truth isn't the best route in most cases, but it's the most logical in this one. I can't exactly say he can't play because he has superhuman strength and can turn into a wolf. But saying the doctor told him so after he was out sick for a week? That could totally be true. In fact, I don't know why any of the previous wolves didn't use that excuse before.

I glance back at Carter, seeing him a tad bit calmer. I also notice Wyatt standing in the crowd, keeping an eye on the whole situation. Instantly, I feel a bit safer. "And," I continue, "you cannot blame him because you guys suck at soccer." There's some rumbling in the crowd of boys, but what can they do? They're only human. "If he had played, the scouts would've just been watching him the whole time. So maybe without him there, even though you apparently sucked, some of you might have actually been noticed." That pleases them. Finally, the bell rings, and I can't help but address Jeremy's final comment. "Plus, you definitely did not embarrass yourself in front of the entire school, because you play soccer." I look around at the crowd of students who still haven't disbursed. "How many of you guys actually like soccer enough to go to the games?" I ask them. In response, besides the girls and boys who play, and a few fanatics, the majority of students reply with no's. "See? You don't play football. No one cares that you suck. It's fine. Now let's all go to class before none of you can play soccer 'cause you're all suspended."

I smirk, proud of my little speech because it works, and grumbling under their breath, the soccer team disburses in defeat.

Wyatt makes his way over to us. "Good job, Carter." He claps his pack member, who was able to calm himself back down during my speech, on the back. "You did well. I probably would've freaked if my old football teammates confronted me like that over something so stupid."

Carter grins, relieved. "Well, I guess I should be thanking Millie."

I shrug. "Anytime, you know how much I love being the centre of attention," I joke sarcastically.

Bridgette, giving Carter a relieved hug, rolls her eyes at me. "Don't say that sarcastically, Mill. It's so true. And, I hope you realize that you just dissed soccer in front of two of the sport's biggest fans." She motions between herself and Carter. "Just because he is willing to let it slide, doesn't mean I am."

Dramatically, I hide behind Wyatt. I'm about to reply with a sassy comment when I notice the vice-principal coming towards us. Most of the crowd has also gone to class at this point; however, there are a few students still in the hallway that she'll have to address first before she gets to us. Meaning we have a bit of time to get to class before she reaches us to lecture us all on being late to class.

"Too bad you can't do anything about it right now, because we're all late for class." With that, we rush apart to our respective classes.

…

After such an eventful – and successful on Carter's part – school day, most of the pack goes to Sam and Emily's for a pack supper. I can tell Embry – who Wyatt had given a rundown of today's events – is quite proud of Carter. Nothing as dramatic happened after the morning break, although a few of the soccer players had come to Carter to apologize. Jeremy included.

We were all crammed throughout the kitchen table and the living room of the Uley's, eating a delicious dinner of BBQ-type foods. Since Wyatt, as well as Brady, Collin, and my dad, are on patrol, they were only here for a few minutes to scarf down their food and go to work. "Have you gotten your revenge on Millie yet?" Embry asks Bridgette, smirking.

Bridgette smiles mischievously at me from her place on Carter's lap. "Well, no, but I'm sure I'll think of something."

I roll my eyes, biting into my hamburger. "Bridge, you are least vengeful person I know. You're probably going to get back at me by not letting me copy your math homework."

"Excuse me?" My mother exclaims from her seat at the kitchen. "Emilia Rayleigh Walker! You better be joking. I will fail you if you've been cheating!"

"From what Wyatt tells me, I'm sure you'll be failing her anyway," Carter interjects, teasingly.

The whole room – well, rooms, burst out laughing at my expense. Unfortunately, I can't really deny it. "Screw you, Norwok. I totally saved your ass today. You should be nice to me."

"True," Carter admits. "I do owe you that."

"I don't know," Sam pipes up. "I think you were handling yourself well. You should give yourself more credit."

There's some congratulations going around the room on Carter's behaviour. I actually forgot how much pack pride comes along with a new wolf. After all, Wyatt didn't really count since he had known about it for so long.

Once dinner is over, everyone goes to the living room to chat and watch some television, while the moms clean up. However, with so many people – and a fair amount of them wolves – the room is unbearably hot and crammed. "Bridge, wanna go to my house and do something?"

I notice Carter pout at her. I totally can see how people get annoyed with imprinted relationships. I'm in one, meaning I completely understand why we all act the way we do, and it still annoys me when it's other couples acting this way.

"Um," Bridgette hesitates. "I do, but…"

I shake my head, standing up. "No buts. I'm not being a third wheel tonight. No Wyatt means no Carter, too."

"You've literally made me a third wheel my whole life, why can't you do it for tonight?" she whines, half-joking.

I shrug. "If you want to use your soccer revenge card tonight, then sure. If not, leave lover boy, and come bake brownies with me."

She grins. "Peanut butter ones?"

"Well, duh," I exclaim.

She leaps up, smiling bashfully at Carter. "Sorry! I'll see you later."

"Save me some!" a few people in the room called out as we maneuver our way out of the crowded room towards my home, giggling over how bad these brownies will probably be. Something always goes wrong when we bake together. Like that time we made a double batch of cookies but forgot to double the flour and they were so runny they ran all over the pan. Or the time we used baking soda instead of powder in our biscuits and they were so salty that it was hard to eat them. Of course, we had given them all to our brothers, saying they were fine to eat.