Chapter Three

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Disclaimer – I do not own the Twilight Saga and do not make any money from this. All rights to Stephanie Meyer. I do own Hetani though.

Embry POV

Hetani hadn't looked at me since I had returned to school after my first time of phasing into a wolf. I had been absolutely petrified but it was actually pretty cool when I got over the fact that anger made me grow grey fur and paws. Jacob, who had phased two days previously, was suffering too.

You know it's for the best, Sam told us reassuringly although it was more directed at Jake as it was his sister and she was supposed to be my best mate's little sister, nothing more. But I felt drawn to her, even before I transformed into a giant, furry wolf.

Sam, you didn't see the look on her face. I have never, EVER hurt her before and right there, I probably brought back nine years worth of trust issues. I'm the only person she fully trusts in this world and I threw that back at her because you won't let me or dad tell her about us! It didn't take a genius to figure out that Jake was royally pissed off.

Is there any harm in her knowing? She is his sister . . . I trailed off hopefully. If Hetani knew, I would be able to stop avoiding her and she would actually look at me again with those beautiful chocolate brown eyes of hers.

Embry, stop thinking about my sister like that! She's two years younger than you! But I second your question, why can't we tell her?

We can't guarantee she won't tell anyone.

You do know who we're talking about, right? She doesn't talk much to people at all and she doesn't broadcast secrets, I vouched for her. Sam couldn't argue with that and we all knew it. Hetani was the quietest person anyone would ever meet.

Yeah, like her crush on you, Jake's voice said in my head and I froze where I was running. The three of us were spaced out across the reservation looking out for any leeches.

What? I asked excitedly and Jake mentally groaned as my pace picked up again and I practically pranced along the forest ground.

Ignore that.

She may not be safe around here. You are only recent additions to the pack and not quite in control of your tempers. Hetani could end up hurt, Sam told us both reasonably. Both Jake and I heard the unwilling added thought, like Emily.

He's right, Jake, I conceded in annoyance and Jake huffed mentally. We both knew our Alpha was right.

But that doesn't say we can't tell her what's going on. At least this gives her an explanation as to why I'm suddenly becoming an ass instead of the big brother I've been for the last nine years, Jake thought pleadingly. I honestly felt sorry for the poor sod but I felt even worse for Hetani – she had no clue what was going on.

I'll think about it, Sam stated firmly before the ripple of phasing alerted us to the fact that he was no longer there.

As if I would ever hurt Hetani, she's my sister, Jake grumbled to himself and I let him have 'alone' time with his thoughts as I ran. It was better than nothing, anyway.

XXX

I walked into school the day after Jake's almost mental breakdown and immediately noticed when I smacked into a very tiny someone. After I'd almost snapped Hetani's arm off when waltzing down the corridor right after I returned to school for the first time, I had been a lot more careful. Looking down, I saw Hetani herself collapsed on the floor and surrounded by books. Aw crap.

"I'm really sorry," I apologised instantly and bent to gather up her books. We both rose together and I glanced her over to see if she was ok. When I reached her sparkling yet confused chocolate orbs, I found myself unable to look away. The world stopped spinning and I was pretty certain that she was the only thing holding me to the Earth. Her skin, always lovely and tanned before, now had a slight glow that made her look like an angel. The dark, wavy locks that I'd always adored took on a whole new light as I gazed upon the shiny strands. Her petite figure made me swallow as I thought about anything and everything that could possibly hurt her and felt the immediate need to protect her against them. She cleared her throat and I shook my head to clear the fog on my brain. It didn't work.

"Books?" she asked softly and I rolled my eyes at myself, reluctantly handing over the heavy volumes. Surely someone as tiny as her shouldn't be carrying such hefty books. "Thanks," she practically whispered and I smiled.

"You're welcome. And I really am sorry for knocking you over," I apologised weakly, wondering if my heart would be crushed if she didn't forgive me. Great, two seconds after I'd imprinted and I was a sap already. Not that I minded. When Hetani gave a small smile, I swear my heart stopped beating.

"It's ok, I wasn't looking," she assured me in her entrancing, lilting voice. I was in trouble – big, beautiful, stunning trouble.

"I'll see you around?" I asked slowly, not wanting to leave her in the slightest bit. She nodded quickly, blushed then scurried off. I watched with a goofy smile as she travelled like a pixie down the hall. God, she was beautiful.

"Staring is rude," said a familiar voice beside me. I jerked away from gazing at where Hetani had been to see Paul standing next to me with a wide smirk on his face. He wasn't actually too bad when he didn't get angry at the smallest thing.

"I think I might've just imprinted," I said in a breathless voice. Paul's smirk vanished and was replaced by a gobsmacked look.

"Holy – are you serious?" he asked and I nodded numbly, a wide smile spreading across my face. Paul rolled his eyes at me and slung an arm around my shoulders. "Let's get you to class lover boy," he teased and led the way. I barely registered walking down the hall but when I finally started paying attention, my class was already half an hour in and Paul was leaning on the back legs of his chair as the teacher droned on. But I wasn't listening. My mind was swimming with images of Hetani – from the moment I had first met her to when she had walked down the hall half an hour previously. Sam was going to freak out. That was Jared, him and me that had all imprinted – something that was supposedly rare. It was kind of creepy but I didn't care as long as Hetani took it in stride.

"Wait, we can tell Hetani now!" I hissed at Paul so suddenly that he almost toppled backwards off his chair. When he'd righted himself, he glared at me.

"What the fuck are you on about, Embry?" he growled back and I eyed his shaking hands warily. He really needed to control his temper.

"Sam doesn't think that Hetani should know about the wolves just because she is Jake's sister – Rebecca and Rachel don't know. But I imprinted on her, which means she can know about us now!" I cried as quietly as possible. Paul just bared his teeth at me before turning back to the teacher. He really was an ass.

XXX

"You imprinted?" Sam asked in shock as I sat in his kitchen. I nodded, grinning widely.

"Yep," I replied cheerfully. I felt like I was walking on air at that point. Hetani had smiled at me after school and it amazed me that such a little thing could have me high as a kite. Jared snorted next to me as he devoured what was once a plate of muffins.

"On Jake's sister?" Sam asked in clarification and I nodded.

"Dude, he's going to kill you," Jared said through a mouthful of muffin. I glared at him but didn't reply to him.

"Does he need to know?" I asked and got raised eyebrows from both Sam and Jared.

"If you don't tell him out loud, he'll hear it in our thoughts," Jared pointed out, brandishing a muffin near me. I scowled and snatched the dessert, taking my anger out on the innocent baked good.

"He can't exactly stop it. And it's not like he'll mind the extra excuse to let her know about us. He's killing himself being mean to her and he's ignoring that Bella girl's excessive phone calls too," I pointed out and both of us looked at Sam. He sighed.

"I suppose she has the right to know," he conceded just as Emily entered wearing a bright smile on half of her face. The scars, although ugly, would have been a lot harder to look at if she wasn't such a beautiful person on the inside and it shone through.

"What's going on?" she asked after pecking Sam's cheek and beginning work on what was most likely a feast-like dinner.

"Embry imprinted on Jake's younger sister," Jared told her gleefully. Emily turned to look at me with a gentle, encouraging smile.

"I'm happy for you Embry. Congratulations," she said before returning to chopping vegetables. Just like that, she'd calmed my nerves. Amazing woman, Emily Young.

"I guess I better patrol. And tell Jake," I grumbled and left without saying anything else or waiting for a reply. Outside and under full coverage of the trees, I stripped out of my shorts and shoes, leaving the shoes by the house and tying the shorts to my ankle. Phasing quickly and easily, I began running, letting the voices of Paul and Jacob move into my head.

That stupid red headed vampire is hanging around again, Paul snarled and I huffed. We didn't know what or who she was after but she was becoming a nuisance. What if she got to Hetani?

Why do you care so much about Hetani? Jake asked and I swallowed nervously. That was the awkward question. Paul snorted loudly internally and I felt Jake's confusion.

Your best mate imprinted on your baby sister, Paul told Jake and I felt myself freeze in my run. That was NOT how I had wanted Jake to find out.

You're joking.

Nope. Paul was enjoying himself far too much.

I didn't intend it to happen!

Are you KIDDING me!? You imprinted on my little sister! WHY!?

Obviously, Jacob, Fate thought she was perfect for Embry over there.

No, I don't like it.

Chill, Jake, it means that Hetani can finally be let in on the wolf secret. That shut him up. I waited tensely for Jake to say something, anything to let me know what his judgement was. He had the power to keep Hetani away from me indefinitely and I felt my heart tug painfully as that thought occurred to me.

You're not allowed to touch her until she's thirty five, he finally told me and I laughed at the weak joke. That obviously wasn't a problem, she was only fourteen. I was not going to risk hurting her in any way. A romantic relationship was not in the cards at that moment but as long as I got to see her, protect her and be there for her, I would be content. If she was happy, so was I.

Great job, Jacob. Now he's going to be all happy and annoying like Jared was around Kim, Paul complained and I smirked as much as my wolf self would let me.

As long as he doesn't act exactly like Jared around Kim. If I see anything that goes beyond simple friendship, I will kill you, Embry Call. I wasn't about to joke about that statement – both Paul and I knew it was serious. Now I just had to really become friends with her. How did I get her to stop seeing me as Embry Call: her big brother's best mate?

Now it's building up. In the next chapter, Hetani discovers the wolfie secret! I'll see you in three days – New Year's Day! Love Bianca :) x