Chapter Ten

Yes, it's a couple of hours late but, to be fair, I had a two hour exam this morning so I was too busy freaking out.

Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight. All rights to Stephanie Meyer. I do own Hetani and the bits that Meyer didn't write.

Harry Clearwater was dead. It had shaken me a lot to hear that news. Harry had always been around my dad and therefore, me. To know that he was just gone, like my mom, was scary. I had just been walking alone around La Push because Embry was out with the rest of the pack hunting Victoria when Embry had given me a near heart attack by skidding to a halt in front of me. His hair was a mess and there was dirt over his arms and legs and he wasn't wearing a shirt but that wasn't what struck me – it was the haunted look in his eyes. He told me about Harry and then led me to the house where my dad was with Sue, Leah and Seth Clearwater. Leah was sitting alone in the corner looking absolutely furious whilst Seth kind of looked lost and Sue looked vacant. I glanced around the small living room. It was nothing too fancy, nothing in La Push was, but it had warmth to it. The walls were dark orange and the sofas were chocolate brown. Tribal statues and decoration lay scattered artfully around the room and various dark picture frames held moments of good memories within their glass. Sue told me to help myself to food and, though I felt guilty, I made some hot chocolate and just clutched the mug miserably. Embry hovered around me without making contact and I wondered at his reasoning. Before I could say anything, Sam walked through the front door looking sorrowful and confused. He made his way over to my dad and exchanged a few words before approaching Embry and me.

"Bella jumped off a cliff." I very nearly dropped my hot chocolate in horror.

"What?" I gasped, wondering how she could be so SELFISH to do such a thing. Harry Clearwater had been snatched from the world without choice, leaving behind his loving family and friends and Bella had jumped off a cliff because her boyfriend had dumped her? I found myself silently fuming as I thought of Jake and how he would feel. Embry extracted my drink from my trembling hands and I glared at nothing in particular, rage growing in me.

"She's still alive, Hetani." I glared at Sam specifically when he announced that. Why couldn't he have said that in the first place? "She was cliff diving without Jake and with the storm approaching, she got caught up in the waves. Jake's taking her home now."

"Wonderful," I growled. Embry rubbed my arm soothingly and I instinctively leant into him. My eyes travelled across the room as Sam moved away to talk to Sue and they landed on Leah. Sympathy shot through me and I took my cup back from Embry. Giving him a reassuring look, I made my way over to Leah with hesitance and crouched in front of her. Her angry, tear filled eyes focused on me and I just silently held out my still hot drink. She looked at it in shock then looked at me before taking it slowly.

"Thanks," she said grudgingly and I smiled weakly.

"I won't say I'm sorry. It won't help anyway. But I'll tell you this: it gets better." I admired Leah, I really did. I knew what had gone on between her and Sam, although she clearly didn't understand the whole thing. She kept going and that was what made me admire her. She was strong, independent and she was just Leah Clearwater. Bella could learn a thing or two from her. Leah's heart had not only been broken but ripped out and stamped upon by Sam (not that he had choice) and you didn't find her doing stupid, suicidal activities because she was depressed. I gave Leah one more reassuring glance before standing up and walking into a brick wall. Well, that's what it felt like. Warm hands shot out and caught me before I ended up on the floor. Smiling thankfully, I let my eyes find the youthful, pain filled eyes of Seth Clearwater. He was only fourteen years old and dealing with a hell of a lot. He eyed Leah and I understood that he was going to attempt conversation. Leaving them to it, I wondered back over to Embry who took me into his warm embrace. Then I completely froze, making Embry pull away and lower himself to my eye level.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly. I felt my gaze drift down to where Embry's comfortingly hot hands rested on my upper arms. I hadn't noticed because I was so used to people being absolutely roasting around me.

"Seth's hot." I noticed Sam's kind of alarmed expression turn in my direction. Knowing they would both hear, despite Sam being across the room, I turned to look into Embry's soft eyes. Realisation dawned in them.

"He's the same temperature as the rest of the pack." I nodded in answer and Embry looked over my head at someone I assumed to be Sam. Seth was almost the same temperature as Embry and Sam and everyone else in the pack and judging by how solid he'd been when I walked into him, he wasn't far off being a wolf too. But he was just a kid – only fourteen. How could this happen to him so soon? I moved my focus over to Sue and saw the concerned look she was giving Seth. She definitely knew what was going on and I could see that it terrified her beyond belief. Who wouldn't be scared? Her little boy was about to be sky high in ancient problems – and Victoria was still hanging around too. She had just lost her husband – was it really fair to endanger her son too?

XXX

"More vampires?" That was my reaction when Jake told me and the rest of the pack that Alice Cullen had returned to Forks and to Bella. Jake looked at me sympathetically whilst Embry rubbed my arms in an attempt at being soothing. My voice was high pitched and weak at the thought of not only being in danger (even though they were 'vegetarians') but of Jake being abandoned again. Bella had just reached the highest point on my list and I was pretty certain that there was almost nothing she could do to make it worse than accepting Alice Cullen back into her life.

"It's only one but Bella doesn't know how long she's staying. Apparently the others aren't coming back, though," Jake answered, eyeing me carefully before addressing the rest of the pack. They were the ones that really needed to know, after all. I shook my head in anger and annoyance. With the bloodsucker back, Bella would become broken again and, being the loyal friend that he is, Jake would pick up the pieces and help her again, no matter what the cost was to him. He didn't deserve this kind of treatment and the pack sure as hell didn't deserve to suffer because Bella was a selfish cow.

"And if the Cullens do return?" Sam asked reasonably, knowing as well as everyone else that it was as much of a possibility as Alice leaving once she'd made sure Bella was alive and well.

"There's enough of us to deal."

"And soon to be more," I pointed out softly, drawing the attention of everyone. Embry's arms were tense around me but I knew it was because he was uncomfortable at the thought of others being wolves. Sam was watching with me with a measured expression and I wondered if I had said the wrong thing.

"Hetani is right. More are on the way – especially if the Cullens return. For those who haven't seen, Seth Clearwater is close, along with Quil." There was a mass intake of breath at the sound of Seth's name.

"How do you know, Sam? He's only fourteen!" Jared muttered awkwardly and Sam's eyes travelled to me again.

"Hetani noticed Seth's body temperature when she walked into him earlier today. He is also developing quickly, another observation on Hetani's part. Seth is as close as Quil to joining us," he replied and everyone looked at me again. I shifted uncomfortably and buried my face in Embry's chest as his fingers ran through my hair. I hated to think what would happen when there were more wolves and I had to be around more than five at once. Instead of dwelling on that, I looked around the wolves gathered. They looked sombre at the conversation topic. Paul was frowning deeply (not that that was any different than normal), Jared was staring into space and Jake was pacing erratically. Sam, as usual, looked perfectly calm although I could tell he was bothered by everything. I wondered what it was like to go through the entire process of becoming a wolf alone, to believe you were growing crazy and have no one there to guide you. It was a depressing thought and I quickly chose to listen to the conversation that had gone on without my attention.

"We need to watch out for Bella. Victoria is still hanging around and she could have gotten Bella when she jumped." I gave a derisive snort at that but didn't comment. Embry gave a very quite laugh in my ear at my reaction, obviously finding me very amusing. I wasn't trying to be amusing! And I'm sure that he knew what I wanted to say but didn't. I would have been in deep trouble if I had the wolf telepathy thing that they had going on – deep, deep trouble. Jake would have probably eaten me long ago.

"The Cullens are supposedly safe. We won't worry about Bella too much – our main concern is protecting the tribe from Victoria," Sam said steadily and I noticed Jake twitch in aggravation. He wasn't happy about that but Sam could make him stay away, so I knew he wouldn't argue. I suddenly gave a massive yawn and Embry was instantly up with me in his arms.

"Come on – bed," he stated and carried me to my room quickly. He was so cute when he was concerned and helpful. When he tried to put me into bed, I stopped him and he put me down. Silently, I held up my pyjamas and left the room to change. I did so quickly and returned, letting Embry tuck me in. "I'll get everyone to leave so you can sleep."

"No, let them stay." It wasn't fair to get them to leave just because I was sleepy. I stared him down and he eventually smiled softly, pressing a lingering kiss on my forehead. I giggled quietly. "Goodnight Embry," I breathed, looking into his warm, welcoming eyes. He brushed his lips against mine briefly before moving to the door and putting the light out.

"Goodnight Hetani." I heard the voices continue late into the night and the early hours of the morning but I didn't mind it and eventually, the low hums lulled me into a dreamless sleep.

XXX

Embry POV

I didn't really want Hetani around all the funeral discussions and neither did Jacob, so I took her to Emily's where Kim was too. I knew she would be more comfortable with just the girls and I thought she deserved time to really bond with them. When I made to leave though, she wouldn't let go of my hand. Smirking slightly, I looked down at her where she was seated on the kitchen chair. Her lip was jutting out in an adorable pout and I knew I would do anything to make the pout go away.

"You didn't say goodbye properly," she said and I rolled my eyes at her playfully. So I bent down into a crouch in front of her and slowly, slightly teasingly, moved my face up towards her. I gave her a gradual, passionate kiss that sent shivers rolling down my spine at scary rates and I felt her hands tangle in my hair. We both pulled away, breathing deeply to regain oxygen.

"Bye love, take care of yourself, ok? We're never far," I assured her lightly and she nodded, licking her lips quickly. I grinned, pecked her forehead then bounded out of the front door. I knew that I shouldn't feel so happy when I was going to help with funeral plans but Hetani had me on top of the world, which I would never complain about.

There's some more Hetani/Embry fluff for you and, obviously, some development. Right, definitely on time next time. Oh, and a reminder – I update on the morning of the fourth day, not on the third day (just in case there's confusion). I'll see you all Friday morning (British time). Love Bianca :) x