Chapter Six

I'm sorry it's late! I started school again this week and I'm totally thrown out of whack. The date is just an outline of where we are (according to the Twilight timeline I'm using).

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

10th March

Embry imprinted on me. It was a surprise but it didn't particularly bother me although there was a certain part of me that was annoyed. It didn't necessarily have to be a romantic relationship and I took comfort from the fact that he would always be there whenever I needed him. But he was kind of stuck with me. He had no choice in the matter and so he would have to be there whenever I was hurting or upset and that was what annoyed me. That was why he arrived as Bella and Jake talked outside in the pouring rain and cuddled me as I tried not to watch out of the window.

"Embry, maybe you should go be with Jake. He needs you more than I do," I told him as I pulled away. I was surprised to see that he actually looked hurt as his arms slipped away from my shoulders.

"But you need me," he said as though it were obvious and I felt anger I didn't know I had spark.

"Imprinting shouldn't mean disregarding others!" I cried loudly and he looked shocked that I could make a louder noise than a regular speaking tone.

"I thought you were ok with the imprinting," he stated sadly and I sighed.

"I am. But not with it ruling everything." I was back to simple statements and Embry seemed to know that it meant I had calmed down as he smiled gently at me.

"I don't mind that it rules everything." I gave him a look that he instantly understood. "I know that you don't like it and that you think I'm 'forced' to care about you and look out for you but I'm not. I cared about your wellbeing before and the imprinting just gives me an extra excuse to be around you. But, if you don't want me here . . ." he trailed off uncertainly, looking down at his hands with a slight blush in his cheeks and I instantly felt guilty.

"I like you being around. But you should go see Jake," I insisted and he looked up, smiling brightly and I knew I had reassured him that I didn't mind him being there for me. He nodded understandingly and stood up, heading for the door. Before he left, he gave me another small smile and departed. I tried not to blush and to ignore the skittering of my heart but I couldn't. Damn my crush on him.

Embry POV

Why can't I just tell her? Jake complained and I sighed internally, feeling Sam's irritation too. After I had left Hetani (grudgingly but on her insistence), I had transformed to hear Jake's incessant prattling about not being able to tell Bella his secret. I didn't see how he needed to tell her so badly – she wasn't important enough to know the secret.

Embry . . . Sam said in warning but it was too late. Jacob pounced at me, snarling viciously.

Don't talk about Bella like that!

It's true, she doesn't need to know.

I want her to know!

It doesn't work like that. She's not Hetani!

Oh, naturally you think of my little sister!

ENOUGH! Sam finally hollered and Jake backed off with the force of the Alpha's demand. Embry is right. You will not tell Bella a thing Jacob, as you very well know. You are on patrol with Jared. Embry and Paul – get out of here. And Sam phased away. I spared one more glance at Jake's furious thoughts before phasing back into my human form. I yanked on my shorts and instinctively headed for Hetani's house. But, knowing that she wouldn't be all too thrilled about my fight with Jake, decided to just go for a walk and clear my head. I ended up on First Beach, simply watching the waves as they lapped at the dull sand. Once again, the day lacked sun as most of the days did in La Push but I didn't mind as I didn't feel the cold. And La Push had a naturally beautiful atmosphere that didn't need superficial elements, just peace. It was very simple yet stunning if you knew where to look – just like Hetani. But I wasn't allowed to have those thoughts. I wasn't allowed to acknowledge that I found her sleek, wavy hair attractive even though it annoyed her. I wasn't allowed to acknowledge how adorable she was when she pouted and when she stood next to one of us because she was so tiny. I wasn't allowed to admit that I found her habit of not speaking much endearing because it meant that I learned so much more about her behaviour. Jake didn't like it and she was far too young in both our opinions. Yes, there were only two years between us but those two years meant a lot to some people. I would just have to wait. She was fifteen in a couple of weeks and the gap wouldn't seem so large. Seeing as I wouldn't age until I wanted, I would technically be sixteen for as long as I wanted. Despite this, I did have the physical appearance of a man in his twenties which didn't help me. It would not look good to an outsider if a man supposedly over twenty was dating a girl of fifteen. And Jake wouldn't let it happen anyway. I sighed deeply as I realised that the romantic feelings I had tried hard to keep away had sprung forth and I was slowly growing attracted (understatement) to my best friend's little sister. Fate truly hated me.

XXX

I knew the second that Jared and I walked through the front door of Emily and Sam's house accompanied by Bella that Hetani was fuming. Her expression morphed from a relieved smile to a furious glare directed at the pale girl next to Jared, who seemed to be deeply amused by my imprints reaction. I slowly walked forward and placed my hands comfortingly onto her shoulders, looking into her eyes calmly.

"Jake told her," she accused angrily and I sighed, nodding in answer. She gave the human approximation of a snarl.

"He found a way to trigger a memory that led her to the answer. It'll be ok, though. You don't have to talk to her," I promised sincerely and quietly and Hetani nodded. Smiling at me to let me know she had calmed down a bit, she returned to the kitchen where she had stormed out from and I glanced at Jared (suppressing laughter judging by the red colour of his face) before following her. She was standing with Emily whisking eggs and talking quietly. Emily looked understanding and I listened carefully.

"She shouldn't be here," Hetani hissed and I smiled affectionately. She was a very quiet girl but there was a temper buried underneath her shy exterior and I loved it. I didn't like Bella being there any more than Hetani did and I knew no one else was too chuffed about it either. Bella wasn't welcome.

"Who's this?" Emily asked for the sake of appearances as Bella walked in behind Jared. My pack brother threw himself in the chair nearest me, smirking knowingly at Hetani before delving into the muffins from the large ceramic bowl in the centre of the table.

"I'm Bella Swan," Bella answered shyly. She wasn't nearly as adorable as Hetani when she was quiet. Emily smiled and I noticed that Bella looked uncomfortable as she eyed the scars. I heard a mild scoff from Hetani's direction that only Jared and I could hear, judging from Jared's choking fit on the muffin and Emily's bemused expression.

"So, you're the vampire girl?" Emily asked in a slightly joking voice. I scoffed before Hetani that time.

"Yes. Are you the wolf girl?" Bella replied and this time a fresh egg was crushed in Hetani's hand. Deciding to intervene before her delicate hands smashed Bella's face in, I slid out of my chair and stood next to her, ignoring the rest of the room.

"Calm down, Hetani. Jake wouldn't like it very much if you hurt Bella," I whispered in her ear and she stiffened. I noticed that she didn't particularly care if Jacob was mad at her so I guided her hands in their work in an effort to distract her. It worked until Paul and Jacob returned, Jake instantly noticing Hetani's still irritated glare in Bella's direction. After a few seconds, Paul laughed loudly as he too noticed then dug into his muffin. I shook my head in amusement before returning my attention to Hetani who was adorably caught between scowling and smiling.

"What happened?" she asked quietly and I grinned in Paul's direction before looking down at the girl next to me.

"Paul got a little . . . angry when he found out that Jacob had let our secret spill," I answered and a mischievous smirk lit up her small face. She gave Paul an appreciative glance which he returned with a thankful look before they returned to their respective tasks. It amused me that she didn't care that Paul had almost killed Bella. "Thinking murderous thoughts are bad for your health," I breathed in her ear and she shivered as my breath spread across her neck. I focused on my breathing to control myself.

"They weren't murderous – just venomous," she answered simply then moved to put the eggs in the frying pan. I noticed Emily watching cautiously and I signalled to her, letting her know that Hetani (and Emily's kitchen) were in safe hands. Sam's imprint shook her head with a smile then turned around, leaving me to make sure the house stayed standing which I was fine with if I got to watch Hetani. I was so far gone.

Bit of romance building. Don't worry, there will be a big step in progress in the next few chapters. See you in three days for sure this time. Love Bianca :) x