"Okay so how do we do this?" Quil asked glancing at Embry and Bella.
Leah rolled her eyes, "We hop in Bella's truck and get going. Sam is expecting us. He knows what happened and the rest of the pack is already there so we don't have to repeat the story twice, so let's move it."
Bella got over her bit of shock. She was imprinted on. How was it possible that Embry Call was her soul-mate. She always thought it was Edward, hell even at one point and time she thought it could have been Jacob. Up until she introduced him to Jessica. "Um.. yea we should definitely get going."
"Where are your keys Bella?" Leah asked opening the back patio door as she stepped into the house.
"On the kitchen counter next to the microwave. Leah I can drive."
"No you and Embry are going to sit in the back of the truck and have a chat while this doofus here keeps me company." Leah said as she smacked Quil upside the head.
"Ouch, Leah what gives?"
"Leah it's fine you know if Bella doesn't want to talk to me yet. It can wait until we see Sam and he can explain everything." Embry spoke.
"Nothing to explain, Bella knows about imprinting and how things work. She has a choice, and if she chooses to start out with friendship before anything else then you can't push her either." She said as she shut the door and walked with the three of them up to Bella's truck.
Bella opened the back of the truck as she went to step up. Arms came behind her, wrapped around her petite waist and lifted her into the truck. She glanced down at Embry who shrugged. "Um.. didn't want you to fall or anything."
"Right cause I'm a complete accident prone."
"Yep." Quil said with a huge grin on his face. "We heard all the stories."
Bella shook her head as she watched Embry jump into the truck and shut the back part back up and took a seat, near her but not too close. She heard two doors slam shut indicating Leah and Quil got into the truck. "You have to double clutch for it to start."
"Okay see you soon." Jared said as he walked back into Emily's house hanging up his cell phone. "Kim's on her way and so is Seth. She was at Sue's diner and he was playing busboy."
"Wow didn't expect to meet everyone on the first day." Jessica said as she glanced over at Jacob. "So what's the big secret?"
Jacob gulped as he glanced at Sam. He didn't expect to explain imprinting to anyone. He swore to never do so; that way he could be with Bella. He cursed fate repeatedly. "Um.. Jessica what do you know about Quileute legends?"
"Legends? Um.. nothing I know Bella was interested in them when she first came and went to some old book store when we went Prom dress shopping in Port Angeles."
"Um.. it's legend that our ancestors, the spirit warriors were the first to shift their shape from humans into wolves. As protectors they kept the land and people safe from the Cold One's." Emily grabbed a glass from the cupboard and walked over to the sink. Turning the spicket she filled it with cold water. Turned around as she leaned against the counter she took a sip as she listened to Jacob tell the legend. She was more interested in Jessica's response. First her face turned to disbelief and then slowly as Jacob begun to describe more and more things of their legends and then getting to imprinting, her face was of shock. Much like her own when she first learned from Sam.
"So umm.. yea let me get this straight." Jessica said flipped her brown hair over her shoulder as she looked at Jacob. "You guys are like what werewolves? And you protect everyone from vampires? And I'm your soul-mate which means we live happily ever after together?"
"By George I think she's got it." Paul said as he grabbed two apples from the woven basket in the center of the table. He tossed one over his head as Jared caught it with ease.
"Um.. I think you're all crazy." Jessica said as she stood up and walked towards the door."
Sam sent a look over at Jacob which caused him to move quickly towards his imprint. "I can prove it."
*****************
"So I'm real sorry about this." Embry said softly not being able to look at Bella.
"Embry this isn't your 's like Sam says you don't have a choice on whom you imprint on. I mean look at Quil, he imprinted on Claire." She said matter of fact.
"I know it's a lot, especially after things happened earlier." He said. "And whatever you decide you know I'll respect."
Bella sighed as she looked at Embry. "I just need time to think about this. Right now my head is so messed up with so much stuff and things are just going crazy."
"Yea completely crazy." Quil said as he peaked his head out the back window.
"Stop eavesdropping." Embry growled as he smacked his best friend in the forehead causing him to fall backwards and almost out of his seat.
"Knock it off you two or your walking the rest of the way." Leah grumbled as she pulled the old truck up the dirt road. "No point since we're here. Oh lookie who's coming out way."
Bella glanced as she saw Jessica moving quickly out of the house. She saw her lips moving frantically and her arms waving around. "I think she knows."
Leah put the truck in park as she and Quil go out, "What gave you that idea?" She asked with a small smirk on her face.
Embry jumped out of the truck as he undid the latch on the back and held his hand out for Bella. She glanced at it for a second before taking it and landing firmly on her feet. "Bella!"
"And here comes the fun part." Embry said under his breath as he saw a green Ford Fusion pull up. Kim got out of the drivers side slinging her purse over her shoulder as Leah's brother Seth got out of the passenger side.
"Jess hey." Bella said.
"We need to leave like now." She said grabbing a hold on Bella's left arm fully prepared to drag her away. Embry instinctively grabbed Bella's upper right arm and pulled her close causing Jessica to let her go. "Um we're leaving."
"You can leave all you want, but Bella stays." Leah said moving so she stood on the other side of Bella.
Quil glanced as he heard the screen door open and watched Sam, Emily, Jake, Jared, and Paul come out of the house. "Those people are insane telling crazy stories."
"Jess, the're not stories." Bella told her.
"Great they convinced you too."
"No. Jess the legends are true. About them being werewolves and about protecting from vampires and imprinting. Everything they told you is true." Bella told her as she felt Embry loosen his grip on her arm and move it slowly down her side.
"Not possible. Werewolves are stories, fake stories and so are vampires. And imprinting? Okay so I may have felt something towards your friend there but we're not soul-mates." Jessica said.
"Are you trying to convince us or yourself?" Kim asked curiously as she stood next to Jared as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Um.. how about all of you. Playing make-believe is like kids stuff."
"You want proof?" Paul asked with a feral grin on his face.
"Paul don't." Sam said using his Alpha tone. "Look Jessica whether you like it or not you and Jake are soul-mates. You're his imprint. You can accept it or not. But either way you will never truly fall in love with any other guy out there. There will always be something missing."
"Bella can we go?" Jessica asked.
Bella sighed. "God Jess, are you not even listening to Sam or anyone?" She forced herself to glance over at Jake. "I mean look at Jacob, does it look like hes lying to you. Look into your heart and tell me you think we're all playing some big joke."
"Maybe, who knows Bella. I mean look at you. Acting all normal since the Cullen's took off. You were a zombie for like three months. Maybe you're jealous of Jacob choosing me over you. Doesn't it just suck not being picked?"
Embry let out a soft growl as he narrowed his eyes at Jessica. She may be one of his best friends imprints, but no one was going to get away with letting her talk that way about his imprint. "I suggest you do something with your imprint Jake."
Jake heard the soft growl. He was a bit shocked it came from Embry. Always the quiet one of the pack. Hell he was shocked Leah was backing up Bella. He thought she hated her because of the Cullen's and turning werewolf. Then he noticed his stance. Embry was slightly standing behind Bella. His arms at her side, as if ready to move her from any danger. He did a quick look around and noticed Sam and Jared were practically in that same stance with Emily and Kim. "Embry..." He started as he felt his entire body starting to shake. There was no way his best friend imprinted on Bella.
"Jacob calm down!" Sam ordered as he nudged Emily over towards Jared who moved her and Kim behind him and Paul. Quil and Seth moved forwards slightly as Leah grabbed Jessica's arm and pulled her behind her.
"What the..."
"Embry tell me you didn't?"
Embry stared at him. His first and foremost instinct was to protect Bella and right now he knew Jacob was going to lose his temper either way. "What difference would it make if I did imprint on Bella? You have your own imprint to worry about now. I can take care of her just fine."
Jake's shaking seemed to increase as those words. His brown eyes connected with Bella's brown eyes and instantly knew the truth. "Damn you Embry..." He said as his clothes tore quickly as his body transformed into a russet brown wolf.
Sam moved forwards as did Quil and Seth as they phased as well, keeping themselves between wolf Jake and human Embry. Bella heard a thud as she turned and saw Jessica passed out on the ground. "Yea she took that well."