I can't wait to get this started since it's picking up the pace now!

Chapter Quote:
"Ansel, I'm not the sun, stop orbiting and get in here."

Chapter 21

Spencer

I woke up to the smell of bacon. My stomach grumbled obnoxiously.

I recognized Ember's voice as she said, "See? I told you he wasn't dead. Now Elsa on the other hand, I'm not quite sure."

At that my eyes shot open. Ember and Josilyn jumped back as I scrambled into sitting position. Elsa was sacked out on the pillow next to me.

"Easy tiger, she's fine. She already told me to shut up after I tried to wake her. You, however, weren't waking up to shaking, poking, yelling, and other tactics. So we tried the fail proof method in our family: bacon. See?" Ember held up a plate of bacon. "There's more downstairs. There's also eggs, pancakes, toast, French toast, and beans. Come down when y'all are ready. I'd give you some of this bacon but it's mine."

I smiled at the Laroche girl, amused by her rambling.

"Oh my god, I thought she'd never leave," Elsa mumbled when her sister shut the door. She rolled over to look at me. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Much better. Did Caleb and Lily come over last night?"

"Yeah. You were kind of loopy. But you certainly look better. The color's returned to your face. Let's head downstairs." I slowly got out of bed. My body still hurt from being shot from the wolfsbane bullet.

"Do you need-" Elsa began but I cut her off.

"No, no more blood. I'm okay. I promise I'll be okay," I interrupted with amusement. "You nearly made yourself pass out last night. I don't remember much but I do remember that. Besides, if anyone is going to need more blood, it's going to be your dad. He got shot with three of those suckers."

"My dad! Let's go see how he's doing!" Elsa darted out my room. I followed her as fast as I could. To my surprise, she waited for me at the top of the stairs. With a smile, she said, "I want to make sure you don't fall down."

We went down the stairs slowly. I couldn't go more than one stair at a time without my wound sending waves of pain throughout my body. Finally we reached the stairs. Arya sat on the couch with Ren's head on her shoulder. Shiloh had crashed in the armchair. Loren was passed out on the loveseat. When we entered the living room, Arya lifted her head up. It was evident she hadn't slept at all last night.

"Hi mom," Elsa greeted. "How's dad?"

"Hi sweetie," Ren whispered. She ran up to him. "How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Trying to get your mother to get some sleep. She's being stubborn."

I couldn't help myself as I blurted out, "Seems to run in the family."

Elsa twisted around, giving me a smirk. Her dad's head lifted to look at me. His eyes narrowed. I gulped, uncomfortable with the look he was giving me. But he surprised me by saying, "I do thank you for saving my life. Arya, Elsa, go get some breakfast. I want to talk to Mr. Barnes alone for a moment," Ren commanded. Mrs. Laroche put up not fight. I think that was because she was so exhausted. Elsa hesitated before going after her mom, but she briefly turned around. I saw the worry in her eyes. When they were out of earshot, Ren leaned his back but kept his eyes on me. "So. You know about us?"

"Yes, sir," I answered respectfully.

"Were you telling the truth about why you followed me or are you a Hunter trying to infiltrate our pack?"

"I was telling the truth sir. I am not a Hunter. If I was, why would I save you?"

"Because you're in love with my daughter and if you save me, you get in her good graces."

"I was in her good graces before I saved your life, sir. I did it because I wasn't going to let an innocent man die."

Ren stayed silent for a few moments before saying anything. "You make my daughter happy. That is why I tolerate you being here. But I want you to know that I do not approve of any relationship between you two other than friendship. You are not one of us. We cannot make you one of us, therefore you will never be one of us. Know your boundaries and we shall not have a problem. If you cross that boundary, or you hurt her, I will rip your throat out. Do you understand? I've lost too many kids. I will not lose another because of some guy who came into our lives acting like he was one of us simply because he knew what we are."

"Understood, sir," I said, trying to keep my voice steady because honestly, he was scaring the shit out of me.

All of a sudden, Ren let out a chuckle. "Don't worry, you're not the only one who's going to be getting the 'hurt-my-daughter-I'll-kill-you' speech. Once Noah and Ember actually get together, he'll be getting the same lecture, albeit some differences. You have any idea what's going on between them?"

"All Ember told me was that Noah has had a stick up his ass since December around her," I admitted truthfully.

Ren let out a genuine laugh. "Young love. It's a bitch."

"Sound you're speaking from experience."

"Oh believe me, I am. Go. Go get some breakfast."

I nodded, entering the kitchen hastily. Elsa was putting a heap of bacon on her plate. She smiled when she saw me. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Good. Here's your plate. Help yourself."

I did as I was told. I got one of everything. I was starving. I sat down next to her at the table with Arya, Ember, and Josilyn. Noticing Hunter's absence, I inquired about where he went.

"He went on patrol with Noah, Dmitri, Riley, and Thea. They're our strongest wolves besides me and Elsa. Well, of the kids at least. But he didn't ask us to go because we gave blood to you last night. Also Elsa wouldn't wake up. Apparently you punched him," Ember remarked.

Elsa choked on her food. "I did what?!"

"He thinks you were barely conscious when you did it. Don't worry, he's not mad at you. You barely left a mark on him anyway. You know he has a steel jaw."

"Where are they patrolling?"

"East side. Only a one mile radius. Loren, Shiloh, Dean, and Sam are going to go patrol the south side later, once they get some sleep. And once they wake up," Arya said, peering over Ember's head at the sleeping second's. Turning her attention to me, she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Better. I still hurt but nothing I can't handle. Thank you for letting me stay last night Mrs. Laroche. I really appreciate it," I said sincerely.

"I wasn't going to send an injured man home. Do you need someone to drive you home?"

"No ma'am. I can drive myself. Thank you though."

She smiled at me. "You're welcome. If you four don't mind, I'm going to go get some sleep. I can't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm taking Ren upstairs so he can shower and get clean. I love him dearly but he's not getting my clean sheets all dirty."

I grinned as Ren shouted, "I heard that!"

"Good!" She hollered back. Mrs. Laroche left the table. Josilyn excused herself, saying she was going to go tend her garden. Mr. and Mrs. Laroche disappeared up the stairs.

"So, after my dad's threatening to rip your throat out if you date Elsa, are you two still going to hide your relationship?" Ember inquired, taking a bite of her pancake.

"Dad did what?" Elsa demanded.

"He threatened Spencer. So?"

I needed to change the subject. It was too difficult to talk about dating Elsa when we weren't actually dating at all. "Did you hear the part about Noah?"

"What about Noah?" Ember asked.

"Yeah, what about me?" Noah piped up from behind Ember. She didn't bother to turn around, simply ignoring him.

"I know we're not friends and you probably already know this but since I feel I need to tell you this anyways, your dad said you were going to get a very similar talk to mine when you end up dating Ember," I said.

"My dad must still be affected by those wolfsbane bullets because Noah and I won't be dating. He'd have to talk to me first to do that and he hasn't done that in six months. I doubt that's going to change now," Ember commented, getting up to go wash her plate. Noah shuffled on his feet.

"What exactly did he tell you?" The McKay boy asked.

"Oh, just that if I hurt her, he'd rip my throat out. At least you're a Guardian though. You're allowed to be with her."

"He said you're not allowed to be with Elsa?" Hunter asked.

"Bingo. Said I wasn't one of you, which is true, and also said he couldn't make me like you, which is also true." I shrugged. "It's okay. Elsa and I both know this is only going to last until I go back to Canada. We've known that this whole time."

"My dad won't be the only one hurting you if you hurt her. Remember that."

"Okay, enough of the testosterone games. Hunter, Noah, there's food on the counter. Help yourselves," Elsa said. Hunter winked at her before getting food. Ember walked over to the table and said, "Elsa, I'm heading into town later. Do you want to come? Bring Spencer? I'm craving something from Kind Coffee."

"Take Noah with you," Hunter said.

"I didn't ask him," Ember pointed out.

"I know. I'm inviting him for you."

"I don't want him going."

"I don't want to go," Noah added.

"Ah, so you two can agree on something? Ember, he goes or you don't go," Hunter declared. "Take it or leave it."

"Fine. Take it. Noon sharp."

"Spencer's heading home and I'm still sleepy so I don't know," Elsa said.

"Don't you dare leave me alone with him," Ember groaned.

"Sorry sis, but I think I'm going to have to pass."

"I hate you."

"Love you too."

Ember

I heard Noah following behind me but I knew that was only because the way I was going was also the way to the front door.

"Is there a particular reason you don't want me going or do you just hate me that much?" Noah inquired, following me up the steps.

"I'm not telling you that. You haven't talked to me in months for some God only knows reason," I snapped, opening my bedroom door.

"You meeting another guy? Was I not enough?"

"You are so full of yourself," I said, whirling around.

To my surprise, Noah looked ashamed. "Who is he?"

"Who is who?"

"This guy you're going to see."

"You'll have to tell me which one you're referring to as you believe I'm screwing multiple guys," I snarled.

"Ember, come on," Noah said softly.

"No, you come on. You're accusing me of something I'm not doing so please, tell me which one of these apparently many guys I'm screwing that you're referring to!"

"That one from the dance! I know you're still talking to him!"

"Dom?"

"That's his name?"

"Yes. What? Are you jealous or something?"

"Yes," Noah confessed. "Look, I've liked you for a long time but you only seemed to be interested in a friends with benefits relationship so I went along with it. I always thought that maybe we'd end up together but then you snuck off with him and I realized all I'd ever be was someone to screw to you. I wanted a relationship with you. You didn't reciprocate the feelings…"

I stared at him. "Did it ever occur to you that if you had asked me out on a real date, I might've said yes? Did it ever occur to you that I was telling the truth saying that Dom and I are only talking? Did it ever occur to you that maybe the reason I started distancing myself from you was because I was getting attached and that I thought you didn't want a relationship because you showed no sign of ever wanting a steady relationship?"

Noah looked up at my ceiling, thinking, before replying, "No, yes, and no."

"You idiot. So the entire reason you've had a stick up your ass these past six months is because you were jealous of a guy I'm not screwing but you thought I was? Because you didn't believe me?"

"Yes… I love you Ember. I have for a long time. I just never knew how to tell you."

"You just told me. Was it really that difficult?"

"Honestly? Yes. But I know that if I didn't tell you now, you'd probably never give me a chance to ever say it again. Ember Laroche, would you like to go on a real date with me?" Noah asked, getting down on one knee.

Despite my anger, I laughed. "Only because the feelings are reciprocated, yes. I will. And about Dom, the reason we're talking is because… well, he told me something that is really hard for me to believe but he has proof that it's true and I really want it to be true."

Noah stood up, cupping my face. "What's wrong? What is he telling you?"

I pulled out my phone, showing him the picture Dom had sent me. He squinted his eyes at it in confusion before asking, "When did Elsa go to Mexico?"

"She didn't," I said.

Noah looked up at me. "I don't get it."

"That's not Elsa," I told him.

"Then who is it?"

I bit my lip. "It's Anna."

Uh oh, now Noah's in on the Anna secret. What do you think is going to happen? Let me know in a review!