Really, 412 of you have viewed the last chapter and only four reviews? Seriously, people, leave me some love or I'll let the vampires have her...
Yeah, ok, I'd never do that. However, it is Friday, and you know I like to post an extra chapter later in the day if the mood strikes me. So, make me happy. Leave some feedback, good, bad or otherwise. Thanks!
The weather in Forks was beautiful, one of the last golden days of summer. It was a Thursday, and Bella Swan was happy, ecstatic even. Her life seemed like a dream. She and Jacob were in love with each other, her relationship with Charlie was better than ever, she was starting a new job next week, she was making new friends, and it was Thursday. She danced and hummed around the house, dusting and cleaning, laughing at the pile of dirty socks Charlie left by his bed. Feeling satisfied, virtuous even, from her productive morning, she fixed a pot of coffee and glanced at the clock. She'd have enough time to go through her messages, call Maddie and fix some lunch to take the garage.
Bella was sipping a coffee at Charlie's kitchen table, her laptop open, reading a long e-mail from her mother when a new message notification popped up. Checking her inbox, Bella scanned the new message. Panic gripped her chest, causing her to drop her mug, shards of ceramic and coffee spilling all over the linoleum.
Quickly she printed off the e-mail and cleaned up the floor, lest Charlie should come home and wonder what happened. Grabbing her keys, she ran for the truck, praying Charlie or his deputies wouldn't catch her speeding. Her life was crashing down on her, and there was only one person who could help her.
Jacob was startled when he heard the screeching of brakes in the parking lot. Bella bolted inside, panting, white as sheet, flinging herself into his arms. Fear gripped his heart.
"Bella, what's going on? Did something happen? Is Charlie alright"?
"Yeah, Jake, Charlie's fine. I got an e-mail, I - here, read it".
Jacob's expression was passive as he read the document she handed him.
To: chiefsdaughter89
From: showmeyourfangsbaby
Subject: Pixie Sight
Bella,
There are some things changing in our world. Our friends in Italy may be retiring, but we are not certain. I will keep you informed. Please let Jacob know as well. We don't yet know what all of this will mean for our family. Em and I may need to visit you in the future. Do not worry, Em and I will keep you updated on the situation, and we will work with Jacob and his friends if necessary. Until then, I hope that life continues to be kind to you and that you are living it to the fullest.
-Rose
Bella watched Jacob read the email twice, pacing around the small room. Finally he looked over at Bella and cocked an eyebrow. "show me your fangs baby? That's her email address"?
She shrugged. "Probably Emmett's idea. But, Jake, that's not important! What if they come here? What if something happens? What if the Cullen's were wrong and they can't keep me safe"? Bella was in a panic. "Jake, I don't want them here. I didn't come here to have this trouble follow me. The pack trusts me, and I don't want to put anyone in danger"!
Jacob set the email down, walked out of the room and returned with Embry. Silently he handed him the paper. Embry scanned it, and turned to Bella. His sensitive ears had already heard the conversation she and Jake were having. "Bella, Jake hasn't given me his opinion yet, but I'd say that this is no more than a heads up. Looks like there is something going on with the Volturi, and it could affect the Cullen's because of their association with them. Obviously, Rose feels the need to keep you in the loop and she wants us aware as well. I don't see anything in this to panic over".
Jacob sighed. "I agree with Embry, Bella. I think this is nothing more than keeping us informed. No matter what happens, you're a part of this pack, we will protect you".
"But, that's just it! I don't want you guys to protect me! I don't want to put anyone in danger"!
Embry pulled Bella into a hug. "Bella, you didn't ask for this life, but it's the one that was given to you. The Cullen's put you in danger five years ago by allowing you into their world. They changed the lives of many in our tribe by coming to Forks". He felt bad for Bella. She didn't ask for this mess. "Bella, understand this. Nobody in the pack has to fight for you unless Jake orders them to. He's never done that. But, the warriors in us, instinctively they will want to protect you. It's also not just you we're protecting. It's our tribe, it's the people of the neighboring towns, it's all human life".
Jacob was grateful to friend. Bella needed reassurances not just from him, but from the other wolves. She needed to know that her life was important to all of them, not only their alpha.
"Bella, I want you to remember something. This is what we do. It's what we are built for". Bella started to protest, but Jacob held up a hand to stop her. "I told you that when we were hunting Victoria, and I'm telling you again now. The pack is even more efficient these days. We've been destroying vampires that cross into Forks for many years now. We've hunted and destroyed more than we can count".
Bella gasped. She knew the wolves still patrolled, but Jacob had never mentioned any other vampires being in the area. How many times had he been in danger?
Jacob could sense her fear, but she needed to know the truth, and he needed to give it to her. "Bella, I know it's hard for you to hear, but it's what we do. It's just one part of our lives, and we are very good at it. We are smart, careful, and each wolf has their own strengths. We use that to our advantage. The only time a member of the pack has been seriously injured was when I got hurt saving Leah from the newborn. We learned from that. We learn each time we fight a new vampire".
"Jacob's right Bella. We're good at this. No matter what happens, I know you're going to worry. Just like Emily, Kim and Rachel worry. But Emily, Kim and Rachel know in their hearts that we are all going to come home at the end of the day. Life goes on. That's what you need to remember. You're mate to the alpha. You above all others must have faith and believe".
Jacob cradled her face in his hands. "Bella, honey. Don't worry about this anymore. It's Thursday. Go out with the girls tonight. Have fun. Do what Rose asked of you. Live your life". He kissed her forehead and gave her a tight hug. "Now, how about we shut down the garage for an hour and all of us go get some lunch".
Bella was worried, and resigned, and determined. Worried for the wolves, resigned to this destiny, and she was determined to do what Jacob, Embry and Rose told her to do. Determined to rise up and be the girlfriend, the alpha mate that Jacob needed her to be. "Ok". It was her response, short, succinct but all that was necessary.
She looked at Jacob and Embry. "Let's go. I'm buying". Walking out the door, Embry slyly put an arm around her. "Don't you worry, Bella. If Jake ever bites it, I'm going to marry you. So, you better believe that no vamp is ever going to get you".
Bella about to open her mouth to respond, but Jacob beat her to the punch. He smacked his friend on the back, and told him "Embry, we need to find you a girl".
"Don't I know it, man!" Tossing the tiny creature next him a suggestive look, he then added "You'll just have to share Bella until I find one".
The three of them left for lunch, and despite her concerns, Bella ate, laughed and lived.
At 5:00, Leah, Kim, and Rachel showed up Bella's doorstep with Embry in tow. Bella was pissed off to again find that girls night was being supervised by one of her boyfriend's minions. "What the hell is this"? she snapped. "Did Jacob decide we needed another babysitter"?
"Nope", grinned Embry. "I volunteered. Thought you girls needed a D.D. Leah deserves to be able to tear it up with you girls as much as she wants without needing to worry about burning it off before you all want to leave".
"Oh". Bella hadn't thought of that, and felt properly chastised. Embry knew it, too.
"Don't worry, I'll be at the bar, staying out of your way. Besides, I want to meet this Alex I keep hearing about". He gave them all a sneaky look. Embry was up to no good, and the girls knew it.
"Don't you even think about saying anything stupid, Call", fumed Leah.
Embry feigned innocence and batted his eyelashes at her. "Whatever do you mean, Leah? What on earth could I possibly tell Alex about you"?
Rachel rolled her eyes, and Kim giggled. "Let's just get going. If you get in our way Embry, I swear to God I'll make your life a living hell". Rachel meant business. It was a good thing that Rachel never transformed into the wolf, he thought. She would have made a scary fucking alpha.
Embry drove the girls to Port Angeles, dropped them off at the door, parked and walked in on his own, quickly finding a seat at the bar. A seat where he wouldn't be conspicuous, but one that had a good view of the table the girls were sitting at near the dance floor. What Embry knew, the real reason he felt compelled to come up with a plausible excuse to attend this little outing, was that Jake, Paul and Jared planned on crashing the party. When Embry found out what the boys were planning, which basically constituted sitting in the shadows and stalking their girls for a few hours before showing their dumb faces, Embry decided that he needed a front row seat. Bella, Rachel and Leah were all forces to be reckoned with, and combined, well, this should be prime entertainment. Kim, despite her sweet innocent demeanor, could be conniving. When the girls found out their party was being crashed, well, things were going to get interesting.
Alex walked walked the length of the bar. "What can I get you"?
Embry took a good look at the man in front of him. "I'll have a bottle of Bud".
Alex reached under the bar, opened the bottle and set it in front of Embry.
"You Alex"?
"Yeah, do I know you"?
Extending his hand, he introduced himself. "Embry Call, I'm a friend of Leah and Bella and the other girls", jerking his head in their direction.
"So, you're Embry. Nice to meet you. Leah talks about you and her other friends all the time. Calls you and the other guys her brothers. Never seen you around here before. What brings you in"?
Embry decided to take a chance on Alex. His reaction would make or break him in Embry's world. "Alex, can you keep a secret"?
Alex shrugged his shoulders. "Depends on the secret. Life or Death"?
"Well, that depends on how you look at it". Giving him a wide smile, Embry looked over at the girls. "So, they told you it was girl's night out, right"?
Alex shrugged. The ladies had come in, ordered their drinks, introduced the new faces and took a table. "Sure. Leah and Bella are here every Thursday. Said that tonight they brought a few extra friends along".
"Well, Alex, I happen to know something that should make tonight very entertaining". Embry looked amused, his voice very sage. "It just so happens that I heard that the boyfriends of three of those lovely ladies plan on crashing their girl's night out".
Alex, who had gotten to know Leah and Bella quite well, was intrigued. He had a feeling, like Embry that the night could get interesting. "You don't say".
"Yup". Embry took a long pull on his beer. "Those boys are planning on showing up here, hiding in the shadows and then pulling the rug out from under the girls". Embry turned around and faced Alex again. "What I know, and what you probably know, is those women are observant. They'll sniff them out, and if I'm not mistaken, they'll do something to screw with my boys". Placing both hands on his chest in gesture, "So, I figured I'd get a myself a front row seat for the show".
Alex shook his head, and looked at Embry mournfully. "You're good friends with their boyfriends"?
"Since we were kids".
Alex was solemn as he replied, "Too bad. If I know Leah and Bella, you'll be attending their funerals. The other girl, the tall one, doesn't look like she'll put up with any shit either". Grinning at Embry, Alex had one more thing to add. "But, if I were a betting man, I'd say the ringleader will be the short petite one there".
"Kim". Embry told him. "What makes you say that"?
"I've been tending bar for a few years. She was quiet. In my observation, it's the quiet one's you have to watch out for. They're dangerous".
Embry just nodded his head, took another pull on his beer and watched the back door. Sure enough, dumb, dumber and dumbest trooped in, quietly sitting down at one of the back tables, hidden heavily in the shadows. Embry caught Alex's eye, and nodded in their direction. "Let the games begin".
The girls were having a good time, tossing back shots, laughing and rebuffing the attention of a few hapless men that tried to join them. The music in the club was loud, but if Embry concentrated, he could hear the girls, and catch what Jacob, Jared and Paul were saying as well. Catching snippets their conversation. Leah was asking Bella "So, Swan, I hear from Rach that you were a wild child in college. What's the craziest thing you ever did?"
"I streaked down fraternity row". Embry nearly spit out his beer. Alex walked over and clapped him hard on the back. "You alright man"?
"Yeah, just swallowed wrong". Embry glanced over at his boys. Jacob's eyes were huge, Paul had an amused smile on his face, mumbling something about knowing Bella Swan being a she-wolf.
Embry glanced over at the girls again. Leah was writing something down on a napkin. She passed it around the table, each of the girls reading and nodding their heads. Alex walked over, serving him another beer. "Hey, man. I think things just got interesting. I'm pretty sure the girls are on to them". Alex, grinned, walked over to his next customer, keeping half an eye on the table of girls.
Rachel turned to Bella. "So, Bella, I know when I pledged my sorority, I had to kiss a girl. Did they make you do it too"? Yup, thought Embry, they were on to them, alright.
Paul and Jacob gasped. Jared, nodded his head. "Nice".
"Oh, yeah. She was hot too". Embry noticed that Kim was furiously writing on a napkin and passed it to Leah, who looked at her with amused eyes.
Leah looked at the girls. "So, if you were going to be with a woman, one time deal, who would it be"?
Embry looked over at the three dopes in the corner, all of them wide eyed, mouths agape, their ears straining to hear only the conversation of the four girls.
"Well", started Kim, a devious look on her face. "I'd have to say you, Leah".
Paul clamped a hand on Jared's shoulder, preventing him from jumping out of his seat. "Stay put, this is just getting good"
Leah's dark eyes shot to Kim, who with a look of amusement on her face, stood up and walked over to Leah. Kim walked behind her, and ran her hands seductively up and down Leah's arms. "I mean, Leah, you're body is just so toned". Kim then sauntered over to Bella, and bending down loudly whispered to the whole table "But, Bella here, Bella has this ass that just..." then looking into Bella's eyes "when you walk, I can't help but watch. I just want to spank it".
Bella wasn't blushing. That alone should have tipped off Jacob and the other guys who were busy squirming in their seats. Looking around at all the girls, Bella's voice was sultry. "Mmmm, I'd want a combination of all you girls. Leah's legs, the way they look in stiletto's..." biting her lip and then turning to Rachel, she continued, "your skin, it's so soft, like golden silk brushing against me". Bella then reached a hand out to Kim, and wound her fingers into Kim's long hair. "Kim, you're hair is so long, I'd love to wrap my hands in it".
Alex walked over to Embry, who was watching the scene play out with an amused smile on his face. "Embry, take these martini's over to the ladies. They're on the house. See what you can find out".
"Gladly. I'm pretty sure the girls are on to them, and they're giving them a bit of a show. Look at those three fuckers over there, squirming in their seats".
Alex started laughing. "I'd hate to be in their shoes. Those girls have claws, and I know for a fact that Leah will let them out".
Embry picked up the tray and shook his head at Alex who was more right than he knew. "You have no idea, man".
Rachel saw Embry approaching their table and quickly scribbled a note that simply said "play along" and laid in front of Embry as he set down the drinks. He nodded his head, and turned to Leah. "Alex asked me to bring these over to you girls. Said they're on the house".
Jacob whispered low to his friends. "What the hell is Embry doing here"?
"I don't know, man" answered Jared. "Kim didn't mention that he would be here".
Jacob and Jared were so absorbed in tyring to figure out why Embry was at the club, that they didn't notice Bella take off her leather jacket, revealing nothing but a tight tank top, and Rachel seductively pressing herself up against Embry.
"Shit" muttered Paul. "What the fuck".
Bella smiled at Embry. "Since you're here, Embry, come out and dance with us". Leah stood up, holding her hand out to Kim. "Come on, Embry. We don't bite". Then Kim looked over her shoulder at him and added "Unless you want us to".
Embry Call knew he was going to catch hell from the boys for this the next time he phased, but as he was walking onto the dance floor, Rachel on one arm, Bella on the other, Leah and Kim beckoning to him, he couldn't help but laugh at how his friends had unwittingly provided him with a harem of beautiful women. Embry thought all the girls were attractive, but bro-code prevented him from looking at any of them as more than a friend, a sister even, that he would love and protect. They were allowing him in on their joke, letting them into their world, and he felt pretty damn smug about it. Leah dancing behind him, her back against his, shifting back and forth, sliding up and down. He had Bella in front of him, his hands on her tiny waist as pressed herself into him, one arm reaching for his neck as she swayed to the music. Rachel and Kim were on either side of them, dancing with each other, running their hands over Leah and Bella, moving up and down to the music.
Embry wasn't dumb, alot of men in the club were looking at them, trying to figure out how on earth he ended up in this enviable situation, and wondering if there was a way to join in on the fun. All except one table of three, partially hidden in the shadows.
Jacob, Jared and Paul watched wide eyed as the girls slithered all over Embry. When Bella turned herself around in Embry's arms, and bent herself backwards arching her back, bending her waist and slowly bringing herself back up, running one hand through her hair, pushing it from her neck, and placing the other on Embry's chest, well, Jacob had seen enough. "Oh, Hell No!" he said, slapping a hand down on the table.
"Yeah, I'm going to get Rach. This has gone far enough", agreed Paul. No other man put their hands on his woman.
"What the hell is Embry doing with our girls"! exclaimed Jared.
"I don't know", said Jacob. "but I'm sure as hell going to fucking find out".
The three jumped up from their seats, knocking over their chairs in the process, and stalked over to the dance floor. Alex saw them from the bar, and it was like watching a train wreck in progress. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene unfolding on the dance floor.
Leah nodded to the the girls next to her. The four women stood in front of the 6 foot 4 werewolf, creating a protective shield around him as the three men approached. Leah held a hand out in front of her. "Stop right there, boys. This is your own damn fault".
Despite the mutinous looks the girls were giving them, they were not to be deterred. "Our fault"? questioned Jacob. "How in the hell do you figure that"?
Bella glared at him. "Well, Jake, if you boys hadn't been dumb enough to try and spy on us" she looked pointedly at Leah, "then you wouldn't have been treated to this little show".
"What the hell"! sputtered Jared.
Kim pointed her finger at him. "Don't you you say one word, Jared".
Rachel glared at Paul. "You will not start either. I know that this was your idea. Embry volunteered to be our designated driver tonight so that Leah could let loose too".
"I'll just bet he did". Sarcasm dripped from Jacob's voice. "Tell me Call, having fun dancing with our women"?
Embry grinned and spread his arms wide, gesturing to the women standing in front of him. "Yup. How do you guys like Embry Call's harem"? The girls started laughing, and the boys looked like they could kill. "They knew the whole time that you douche's were here, and when I delivered drinks I was told to play along. Who am I to say no to them"
Jared groaned and looked at his little wife. He knew her devious side better than anyone. "Kim, this was your idea, wasn't it"?
Jacob and Paul looked at the two of them, surprised that sweet little Kim would come up with something like this.
"Your darn right it was, but Bella and Rach pulled us onto the dance floor. Leah just kept her ears trained on you three for us".
It was too much. The fact that Kim played the for fools, and that Embry was dumb enough to go with, and the fact that he, a werewolf whose job it was to outsmart vampires. Jacob started laughing. Paul wrapped Rachel in his arms and took her away for a dance. Jared sauntered up to Kim, dipped her and planted one hell of a kiss on her lips.
Leah looked at them all like they were nuts. "I'm going to talk to Alex for a few minutes. Come on, Embry".
Half an hour later, Jacob, Paul and Jared told the girls goodbye, and shook hands with Embry, who promised to bring them all back to Jacob's house in few hours.
The girls danced and flirted under the watchful eyes of Alex and Embry, who really were looking out for them. Leah decided to stick around until close, so she could spend a little more time with Alex, and the rest of the girls waved their goodbyes.
Embry dropped the three little drunks off at Jacobs and couldn't help but think that the girls would have the last laugh. They were all going to be righteously hung over in the morning, and Embry knew they would have their revenge bossing the boys around. He smiled at the thought, and yet couldn't help but sigh, part of him wishing that he had a sweet, pretty girl to take care of himself.