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Chapter 5

Neo came home with a frown. Her chest hurt and she was pissed. There was a guy who kept coming onto her even though she ignored him. Amy told her all about the neighborhood player, Aaron Sanders. He had the whole 'fuck and chuck' thing down pat. Still he had the female population swooning over him. Obviously these kind of people fed on it and the one person who did not seem affected came to the limelight. Neo knew this would soon become a game to him if she wasn't careful. Hell, it would be a game to him no matter what.

The house was empty since everyone was still at work. She decided to eat before taking a nap.

The alarm on her phone went off indicating it was 4:45 pm already. She freshened up and decided to have some coffee to wake herself up before doing some stretching and yoga. It always calmed her down.

Once she was sufficiently nimble and feeling relaxed, she decided to head out and explore a little on her own. She had been out with her sisters and dad before of course but those were runs to the store or the occasional dinner at some quaint restaurant. She had yet to go to the beach and around La Push.

She knew she'd have to walk since she shared a car with Mia for now. Everyone else had their own. She still had to get one. She wasn't a real good driver so she wasn't in a hurry and it did help that the town was small enough to walk through.

As soon as she was out of the house, she felt eyes on her and as is usually the case, she couldn't see anyone but couldn't shake the feeling either.

The beach had just begun to come into sight and she sighed with relief. At least she didn't get lost. That would have been embarrassing.

She took off her shoes when she saw sand and buried her toes in even as she walked. It was cold but she relished it.

There were just a handful of other people there. Neo smiled as she passed them.

"Hey! Are you Neona? Mia's sister?"

Neo turned to look at the woman who had addressed her. She was an attractive woman and would have been a bombshell without her scars but they somehow seemed to add to her character. She did do a good job of hiding them with her hair cut in layers but the wind was blowing and pushing it back so they became visible.

"Yes, I am. You are?"

"Emily Uley." She smiled big and offered her hand.

Neo immediately returned the smile and grasped her hand to shake.

She had heard of her. Mia had talked about all of Embry's friends and Sam Uley was one of them. He and his wife lived in La Push and all their "pack" of friends gathered there for their get togethers. Mia had been to some of them if she remembered correctly.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard about you from my sister and all good stuff." Neo smiled as she watched the woman let out a small laugh.

"Good to know. Mia mentioned you are a chef, a personal chef. How's that going?"

Neo shrugged. "I just have Mrs. Thompson right now but I'm looking forward to the opportunities around here. I hear there are quite a few elderly people who could use my services."

Emily nodded. "That's sadly true. Most of the kids have to head out for college and better jobs so that leaves them behind."

"Hey, I know! I could place an ad for you in my paper!" A girl about Mia's age said excitedly.

"You work for a paper?"

"I own it!"

"She's Kim. She started the La Push Gazette but I know people from Forks also buy it if only for the gossip." She said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Kim gasps "I do not publish gossip!"

"Oh come one! It's what sells the paper in the first place." Another girl comes up with a guy at her side and Neo can't help but wonder what was it about La Push that made the guys so yummy.

"This is Claire and her husband, Quil. She works for the paper."

"Hi, I'm Neo." They shook hands.

They chatted about various things and not long after were joined by Jared, who was Kim's husband and a couple of more guys.

The guys roughhoused while the girls chatted.

Soon it was time to part though. Neo did agree to take Kim up on her offer and place an ad.

After goodbyes had been said, Emily embraced her and the warmth she exuded surprised her.

"I think I may require your services soon. I cook fine but there is so much to cook that I get tired easily, bored too but don't tell the guys I said that." She said as if planning a conspiracy.

"Heard ya!"

Neo grinned at some of the guys who said that. It was cool how open and warm they seemed to be. No wonder Mia loved them.

She nodded at Emily and smiled at Kim who pulled her in a hug too and said," welcome to the pack".

That made Neona smile so big her cheeks hurt. It felt good to belong.

She made it home with the silly grin on her face, still feeling the eyes but paid it no heed.

One of the wolves phased and ran to his tree where he had placed his clothes and phone.

He dialed the number he had been asked to call as soon as she settled at home.

"She's in the pack." He grinned in the phone.

Jake smiled in satisfaction. He had assigned one of the younger ones of the pack for protection detail of his precious Neona and he was to inform him if she happened to meet the girls and make friends.

Seemed like things were looking up.