Chapter Four

Glad you're liking the story so far!

Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight but I do own Hetani.

Hetani POV

Two days after Embry had walked into me, he had started talking to me a lot more. He always seemed to be there to make me smile or help me carry my excessively heavy textbooks or just exchange some words with me that brightened my day. It had been two days of the weird yet not unwanted attention and I found myself missing him when he wasn't walking me to class or helping me with homework. I got home from school (alone because Jake was AWOL once more but he'd started talking to me again which I appreciated) and the phone was ringing loudly. Sighing, I picked up the receiver and plonked myself on the couch.

"Hello?" I said into the plastic device.

"Hetani? It's Bella," said the Swan on the other end of the phone. I rolled my eyes. I knew she missed Jake and everything but her desperate need to be around him was driving me up the wall. She was using him to get over her own freaking heartbreak! Hello rebound. Even I, at fourteen, knew what these things were. Speaking of the devil, Jake walked in accompanied by Embry. I blushed furiously before glancing back at the wall I had been staring at before they entered.

"Hello Bella," I replied eventually, trying not to let my irritation show in my voice.

"Is Jake there?" she asked and I mouthed swear words to prevent her hearing me.

"Sorry Bella, Jake's still really sick and can't come talk now. I'll tell him you called though. Bye," I told her and slammed the phone down, glaring at Jake as I stood up. "Right, I don't know what your problem is or why you can't tell me what it is or why you're even talking to me after ignoring me like the floor you walk on but you better sort it out before Bella drives me insane!" I cried, all in one breath. Embry looked uncomfortable as his eyes flickered between me and my big brother. His pained expression made me calm down.

"Do you really want to know?" Jake asked and I felt my jaw drop open. I was still kind of overwhelmed from speaking so much in the space of two minutes but Jake's offer caught me off guard.

"Yes," I mumbled, my quiet demeanour returning. Jake sighed and reached out for me, leading me back to the couch. He crouched in front of me and Embry sat on my right. My big brother's hands rested on my knees, practically swallowing them whole with their vastness. I was a naturally small person but the fact that Jake and Embry had increased vastly in size made me feel like a pin.

"Do you remember when mom and dad told us the Quileute legends?" Jake asked softly and I nodded. My mom used to cuddle up to me and tell me the various legends as bedtime stories. I had never picked a favourite though, feeling that each one was special and magical in its own right. Jake looked at Embry with a pleading glance.

"Well, they're true," he told me and I gaped, laughing in a slightly hysterical way. Both boys looked at me calmly and I couldn't detect a hint of deception in their eyes.

"What?" I asked shakily and Embry reached out to reassure me. At the last second, he retracted his hand and I found myself craving the contact. "You're serious?" Both of them nodded and I noticed that Embry looked intensely worried.

"It's all true, Hetani. But we wouldn't ever hurt you, I promise!" Jake hurried to insist but I wasn't concerned about that.

"So, Sam, Paul and Jared . . ." I trailed off, knowing one of them would understand my meaning. Embry nodded before Jake did.

"They're all wolves too," he told me and I nodded slowly, letting the information register in my head.

"This is a big secret." Both boys raised their eyebrows at me, silently urging me to continue. "Why tell me?" Jake looked at Embry in a way I could only describe as expectant and Embry cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Sam thought it best that you know considering you're around Jake so much whereas your sisters are far away," he answered. I put my head to the side in mild confusion. I didn't think that was what Jake had wanted him to say but I didn't push it. Embry would tell me when he was ready, something that I could easily relate to. I simply smiled at the pair and went to stand up, looking pointedly at Jake's hand. He hastily took them away from my knees and I went to leave the room.

"I have homework," I told them before leaving the room completely. I travelled into my room and perched on the bed, staring at my maths homework with annoyance. One day, some very far away day, I would understand mathematics. Maybe.

XXX

The next day, I glared at the phone. Bella had called yet again and my normally serene, quiet self had almost greeted Bella with plenty of swearwords that I'd heard from Jake. I felt someone sit next to me and glanced up to see Embry looking at me with curious eyes. I smiled in welcome.

"What's wrong?" he asked and I raised a single eyebrow. He was very intuitive.

"Bella," I almost growled.

"Careful Hetani or people will think that you're turning into a werewolf," he joked and I rolled my eyes before looking at him questioningly. "Jake asked me to bring you to Emily's."

"Who is Emily?" I asked, chewing my lip nervously. I didn't know her name, therefore I didn't know her and I didn't do well with new people. Embry rubbed my arms soothingly.

"Emily is Sam's imprint," he replied and I tried to calm down. I remembered the stories of imprinting – having the perfect soulmate that was there for you through thick and thin. It was a beautiful concept. "The rest of the pack will be there too and-." He stopped at my wide eyed, panicked look. I hadn't officially met the rest of the pack, just seen them around and Embry and Jake expected me to meet the other three AND Emily?

"You're nuts," I assured him and he grinned cheekily, nudging me playfully.

"It won't be that bad." I gave him a look that indicated he had officially lost his mind. "Jake will be there . . . I'll be there." He looked so hopeful that I felt my heart melt. Sighing, I stood up and Embry bounced to his feet cheerfully. I grabbed a small bag with necessities before following the still bouncing Embry out of the front door into a beaten up old truck that I liked – it was worn and showed personality. We set off with me hyper aware of Embry being very close to me. My little crush had escalated into attraction and fancying him which made me both uncomfortable and slightly thrilled every time I was in his presence. We pulled up at an adorable little house that looked so quaint with flowers in boxes on the windowsills and a sense of homey welcome.

"I don't know . . ." I said as I chewed on my lip again. I heard Embry sigh and I jumped out of my skin when his burning hand linked with mine.

"You don't have to say anything. It's just so you know who is out there looking after you," he told me soothingly and I swallowed loudly.

"Ok," I whispered and Embry's hand left mine so he could get out of the truck. He was at my door quickly and he helped me out. I could feel my hands were shaking with pure nerves as Embry just walked into the house ahead of me. I contemplated my chances of getting away but Jake appeared in the doorway with a knowing look and I huffed, following him into the house. This was not my idea of fun.

Embry POV

It was unbelievable how much I felt the need to comfort Hetani when she was scared but it was there. She had entered the house nervously, as though it had been filled with predators ready to eat her and sat on the very edge of the armchair closest to the door. Once the introductions were over with, Emily seemed to take initiative and led my still terrified imprint out of the room and into the kitchen. I suspected that Emily was going to make Hetani comfortable with at least her and then move on to the others. Hetani was a naturally quiet and reserved person and perhaps introducing her to that many people hadn't been a good idea but I took pride in the fact that it wasn't my own idea, but Jake's.

"You better not be thinking about my sister," Jake warned me as he walked past. I stood up and began following him toward the kitchen.

"I'm not thinking about her like you think I'm thinking about her," I told him assuredly. He gave me an annoyed look over his shoulder before walking into the kitchen. I shrugged and continued in too, grinning at the sight that met my eyes. Jake was lounging in a chair with one leg on another chair and proud smile on his face as Hetani and Emily cooked together. Emily was teaching Hetani simple cooking skills and it became clear that my imprint had no concept of culinary arts. I kicked Jake's leg off its chair and sat down too, smiling secretly as I watched the pair bond. Hetani didn't seem particularly phased by Emily's scars but she did seem bothered by the fact her wrists couldn't get the momentum to stir the cookie dough that Emily had handed to her. I felt the urge to help but fought it off at Jake's raised eyebrow warning. I just felt so damn protective over her that it was unreal. Jake thought that there was romance in my feelings but there wasn't, not yet anyway. Hetani glanced up at that moment and I smiled encouragingly at her, attempting to make her more comfortable. She smiled back at me before returning to the batter with renewed vigour. Jake and I simply watched as Hetani slowly became friendlier with Emily, glad that she was able to and maybe one day she'd trust her.

I admit, not much happened in this chapter but still. Happy New Year and I'll see you in three days! Love Bianca :) x