"Um.. I'm still not so sure about this." Bella said hesitant to move forwards. Ahead of her near the growing pile of wood were not only the pack, but the elders of the tribe. Those who knew the secret, including Billy Black.
"Bells you're welcomed here." Jacob told her. "Just as much as Jessica is."
"Yea only they know about Jessica, they have no clue about me. You know what Quil's grandfather is going to think."
Jake sighed and rubbed his temples. He knew what Old Quil was going to say let alone think. That Jacob was trying to fight the imprint by having Bella around. A huge argument would begin saying there was no way to break up the imprint and Bella should just accept it. "So um.. Am I dressed okay?" A voice asked coming behind them interrupting any other conversation.
Jessica stood there in a pair of designer jeans, a blue shirt with sparkles, and a pair of black healed boots. Bella coughed to cover up her laugh ignoring the small look Jake sent her. "Um.. Jess are you sure those boots are okay for the beach?"
"Well yea. They do go with my outfit and they're super cute. Don't you think Jacob?"
"Yea." Jacob said clearing his throat. "Real um.. Cute."
Jessica rolled her eyes and smiled at Bella. "Boys will never change." She said grabbing Jake's arm and pulled him down towards the soon to be bon fire.
Bella watched her friend drag her best friend away. She wondered if this is how it always was going to be if she and Jacob tried talking. She glanced around real quick trying to spot Embry but couldn't find him. She slowly moved to leave when she bumped into something hard. "Not trying to escape are you?"
She glanced up and saw the smirk on Paul's face. "No I was just looking for Embry."
"He's done there helping Jared set up the table for the food. "Come on." He said turning her body slightly and gave her a light nudge in the direction. "You are not leaving me at this bonfire with that woman."
Bella laughed softly. "Aww is the big bad wolf afraid of Jessica?"
"You have no idea." Paul chuckled.
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"Dude stop being distracted and lift." Jared told as Embry almost dropped the table again.
Embry shook his head as he stopped glaring over in Paul's direction and helped Jared finish setting up the table. "Sorry."
Jared wiped his hands on his jeans. "They're just talking. You heard what they were saying."
"Yea I know I just…"
"Feel utterly and completely protective of her? Even around your own pack brothers?"
"Yea, that's exactly it. Stupid huh?"
"Not stupid." Sam said as he came up behind them setting the cooler down next to the table. "It's basically instinct. Don't you remember when Jared imprinted on Kim. The only other person he let near her was Emily."
Embry nodded recalling those days. They all thought it was stupid and Jared just went off on them saying they didn't have imprints. Even though imprinting was supposed to be highly rare. Now the only ones left were Leah, Quil, and Seth.
"Isabella with all due respect you are not welcome to this particular bonfire." The three guys heard Old Quil state as Paul led her up.
"On the contrary she is." Sam said as he stepped forward.
"Samuel, I know you are alpha of the pack and a member of the elders, but…"
"She's my imprint." Embry said interrupting. He moved away from Jared and Sam and swiftly moved to Bella's side. Paul taking the hint moved away from Bella towards Seth and Leah.
"Is this true?" Sue Clearwater asked directing the question at the new imprints, mostly towards Bella.
Bella nodded. "Yes, this afternoon when Quil and Embry came to see how I was after Jacob… after he imprinted on Jessica."
"Any other witness besides Quil?" Old Quil asked still not believing it.
"I am." Leah said as she crossed her arms over her chest daring the old man to say they were wrong.
"Then I see no reason why Bella is not welcomed." Billy said sending a reassuring smile towards Bella. "So without any other complaints." He sent a look at Old Quil who looked as if he was pouting. "Sam…"
Sam nodded as he pulled out a pack of matches from his pocket and tossed it onto the fire. They all watched as the pile of wood instantly burst into flames, sending heat fuming from it. "Time to eat!" Quil hollered happily.
"Come on, you may want to grab something now. While at Emily's the imprints eat first, but bonfires are a completely different story." Embry told Bella with a smile that she returned.
He led her over towards the tables that Emily had set up with the food. "Want a hot dog?"
"Sure why not." Bella said as he grabbed one of the sticks and put four hot dogs on it. He grabbed two paper plates, keeping one for himself and handed on to Bella. As they went down the line grabbing the buns for the hot dogs, there was also potato salad, coleslaw, bags of chips, and more.
Grabbing a bit of everything that would fit on her plate Bella went over and sat on the log next to Leah, Embry's plate on her lap as she held hers watching as he roasted their hot dogs. "Are you not having a hot dog?" She asked Leah.
"Oh I am." Leah said nodding towards Seth who had two sticks in his hands over the fire. "He always loved roasting hot dogs with dad. I'm not going to take that one bit of happiness away from him."