Chapter Fifteen

Look, there's some drama for Hetani! Thank you so much for your reviews/alerts/favourites, it means so much to me.

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

I giggled cheerfully as I spun around and around on the sand. The wind was blowing lightly and dark clouds threatened rain but I just felt exceptionally happy. My babysitters of the moment (Leah and Embry who had picked me up from school) watched from nearby, neither participating but both carefully watching. Embry, from what I could see when his face blurred past, had a gentle smile on his face as his eyes followed my movements and Leah just looked blank – which was an improvement from furious. Neither spoke to the other but at least it didn't feel awkward. Giving up on my spinning because I was dizzy, I skipped over to my boyfriend and my sort of friend, coming to a halt when Embry's arm wrapped around my waist.

"I'm done," I informed them, knowing Leah, at least, had to be bored beyond belief that I was just twirling for fun. Proving my thoughts, the female wolf looked relieved that I was finished and led the way off of the beach. Emily had requested our presence for early dinner so Embry and I followed behind Leah as she walked towards her cousin's. Since our talk, she had loosened up slightly and hadn't been as painful towards the boys and, in turn, things had eased off for her. They weren't comfortable by any means (although that was Paul's opinion) but they were improved.

"Mmm, Emily's made macaroni cheese," Embry said, sniffing appreciatively. I beamed at the mention of one of Emily's specialties and overtook Leah in my haste to eat. Jared was on patrol with Sam but Paul, Quil and Seth were in the kitchen with Emily, wolfing down the food. I slipped in and grabbed a plate before retreating hastily. There was no way I was staying in the middle of that. I frowned as I looked around, noticing Jake's distinct absence. Emily shrugged when I looked at her questioningly, clearly not knowing where my brother was. Deciding that he could take care of himself, I leaned against the counter and watched everyone interact with each other, a small, affectionate smile lighting my face. Embry's arm slipped around my shoulders as he ate one of Emily's homemade bread rolls with his free hand and I snuggled into his side, his warmth comforting and familiar. The pattering of rain drops drew my attention from Embry and I looked out of the window, groaning at the sight of the sheets of rain pouring from the grey sky. Embry sighed beside me before taking my empty plate and placing it next to the sink.

"I'll take her, Embry. You stay here," Leah offered and all of the wolves actually stopped eating. Paul was full on gaping with a mouth full of half chewed pasta, Quil was halted mid-chew with his mouth closed and Seth had frozen with his fork halfway to his mouth. Leah just rolled her eyes and came over to me. I shrugged, kissed Embry's cheek in farewell and left with Leah. I pulled my leather jacket over my head in an attempt to at least keep the rain off my face whilst Leah just walked on like she wasn't barefoot in the middle of a downpour.

"You ok?" I asked after a minute of silence. I felt the need to check up on her like I had with Paul. Leah looked at me emotionlessly for a moment before sighing and nodding.

"Better," she corrected before paying attention to where we were walking. We reach my house not long after that and I stopped on my way to the front door, hearing various noises from the garage. Leah gave me a strange look as she cocked her head to the side, obviously listening into whatever was happening. I huffed and marched towards the garage just as a bike with a familiar figure on it rode out, spattering mud everywhere. I shrieked and skittered backwards, still managing to get some on my legs and my cheek. Fully irritated at Bella freaking Swan, I stormed into the garage to find a fuming Jake coated in mud.

"What. Did. You. Say?" I ground out, anger plain in my low voice. He didn't answer and continued shaking violently.

"Hetani, get back," Leah's warning voice came from behind me and I turned to see her looking over my shoulder at Jake with a concerned expression. Rolling my eyes because, if I could deal with Paul, then I could deal with Jake, I turned back around and placed my hand on Jake's shoulder.

"What happened?" The answer came, once again, from Leah and not Jake.

"She's going to become a leech." Those words seemed to be the last straw and Jake was suddenly blurring. Realising the danger I was in, I leapt backwards just as Jake transformed. But it wasn't far enough and the rusty colour of Jake's fur was way too close for comfort. Leah's warm hands snatched me out of the garage and her form covered mine as smashing wood sounds came then the distinct noise of Jake's wolf form fleeing. I shakily made my way from Leah's embrace to see that Jake had only taken a minor chunk from the side of the garage and his large paw-prints were leading away from the house to the forest. "Sam is going to kill him," Leah commented angrily from behind me. Clearing my throat warningly because I didn't want her to phase too, I turned around and walked into the house. My dad's eyebrows shot up worriedly but I just gestured weakly to Leah (who had followed me inside) before going for a shower.

Embry POV

I watched without really seeing as Sam went off on one at Jake. It was only the wolves in Sam and Emily's house, for which I was glad. Sam had been changing rapidly between yelling and speaking softly for the past fifteen minutes at Jake whilst the rest of us sat with blank expressions. He fully deserved it and it was mellow compared to what I'd wanted to do to him. Jake had phased in front of Hetani and, if it hadn't been for Leah, my girlfriend, my imprint would have been either mutilated or dead. Feeling the familiar vibrations shake my form, I stood up abruptly and left the house. I couldn't be in the same room as him until I had seen Hetani for myself. Sam had found out and instantly made sure everyone was at his place, not allowing even me to leave to check on my Hetani. Needing the anger to have abated slightly by the time I saw her, I undressed and phased, making it to Hetani's in record time. I quickly changed back and dressed, walking up to the door and knocking for once. An unsurprised Billy answered the door and just gestured me inside. Hetani was seated on the couch with damp hair, dressed in her pyjamas and I sighed in relief. It had only been an hour and a half but a lot had happened and I couldn't hold back my smile as I sat next to her and pulled her into my lap. Billy retreated to some other area of the house, thankfully giving us privacy as my fingers untangled her hair.

"Are you alright?" I asked, needing to hear it for myself. There were no visible marks but that didn't mean that she wasn't affected by what had happened. She shrugged and I felt a pain in my chest when she didn't say anything. Anger spiked again. "I'm going to kill him," I snarled but I instantly felt Hetani's head shaking in protest.

"Bella," was all she said to me but it portrayed an entire world of explanation. Jake hadn't been given time to explain at all, so no one really knew what had happened except Leah, Hetani and Jake himself. Bella had come back (again) and obviously something so bad that Jake had phased had occurred. I inhaled deeply to calm myself – phasing in front of Hetani in her house was not the best idea ever. Silence dawned on us both and I simply held my girlfriend close, stroking through her hair soothingly as I attempted to calm myself down. We were both jolted from silence by the shrill ringing of my cell phone, which I hurriedly answered.

"Embry, you should get back here," Sam's low voice said over the phone and I nodded absentmindedly, my head still with Hetani. "Embry." That made me realise that Sam couldn't actually see me nodding.

"I won't be long." Then I hung up and looked down at an expectant Hetani. "I have to get back to Sam and Emily's." She didn't ask to come along, which wasn't really normal for her. Maybe she understood the seriousness of the situation. Maybe she was scared. I stood up, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of her head before taking off through the door, her strangely blank gaze burned into my brain. I didn't have the energy to phase so I trudged through the still pouring rain to get to Sam's, entering into the living room and sitting in the chair I'd vacated half an hour later. Jake looked at me with a pleading expression but I just glared back.

"How's she doing?" Surprisingly (although less surprising given recent events), it was Leah that asked that question. I looked at her unwaveringly, not shocked at all by the concern in her eyes. She had saved Hetani, which put her high in my good books.

"The only thing she said was 'Bella' and that was it. She's silent and blank and mostly unresponsive. I wonder what could have caused that," I said harshly, looking significantly at Jake who winced. He may have been my best friend but that was challenged when he almost attacked Hetani. I was then the one to wince as I thought about what she'd look like if he'd gotten her.

"What did Bella do, Jacob?" Sam asked steadily. He was leaning against the doorway to the living room, arms crossed stoically across his chest and ankles crossed. It would generally be seen as a casual stance but it was authoritative as Sam gazed at Jake unwaveringly.

"Nothing," he muttered and I growled quietly. Leah attained a seething expression and I knew that she'd heard whatever it was. Sam's appearance didn't change but the atmosphere gained more tension as the two wolves looked at each other.

"Leah, what did Bella do?" All of us were shocked that Sam had addressed Leah directly, but none of us more than Leah herself. Her eyes had widened slightly and her jaw seemed loosened. She'd be damned if she showed the full extent of her shock, but we could all see it – it was too different from her normal expression.

"She informed Jacob that she was going to become a vampire. Soon." Leah's answer through us all for a loop and Sam eyes narrowed as they watched Jake's own brown orbs. Jacob only nodded once and everyone suddenly exploded in fury. Protests of there being no geographical limits, no right to do anything, Bella's choice not mattering and various colourful insults from Paul resulted whilst I just gaped. Sam remained standing next to the door as he looked deep in thought whilst Jake took the brunt of the complaints. One hand was raised and everyone went silence.

"There has been no wrong until Bella truly becomes a vampire. Jacob, you go home and find Hetani – no phasing. Everyone else: this meeting is over." And our alpha departed into the kitchen. Jake stood up and I followed quickly, mimicked by Paul. Hetani really had made an impression on the volatile wolf after she spoke to him (or he vented at her) and apparently he didn't want his now closer friend alone with Jake.

"You know, I don't think it's a good idea for all three of you to go. If Jake gets angry, Embry will get angry to protect Hetani. That's two wolves. Then Paul will just get angry because Hetani will be in deep crap. That's three wolves." Leah's voice stopped us as the group of three made our way to the door. We all stopped and turned, looking at her. She had spoken grudgingly but her opinion was clear through her forced words – no way could three of us go together. Knowing that Jake needed to talk to her, I reluctantly stepped back, pulling a gobsmacked Paul with me. Jake nodded to us then ran out the door.

"He's got one hour," Paul declared before flopping onto the couch and taking it all up. Again.

Let me know what you think! I'll see you all Wednesday morning for an update. Love Bianca :) x