This chapter belongs to dazzled620. All credit goes to her.
JPOV
"I'll be fine, Jake. Take your time."
I knew she said that, but I knew it wasn't true. She could break down any second. I was going to have to explain this to Embry, without breaking my promises to Bella.
Once we were far enough away from the house, Embry started talking.
"Might as well cut to the chase. Jacob, all the legends are true.
"Sam, Jared, Paul, Quil, and I are werewolves. Sam thinks you'll be joining us any time now. We wanted to warn you to be careful, especially if you're going to be over here around Bella.
"Something else happened though. There's another legend. It's called imprinting. Werewolves do it when they find their soul mate. Sam think it's whoever is best 'equipped' to carry on the werewolf gene. Anyway, when you see this person, you can't stay away from them. Whether it's as an older brother, a best friend, or something more. It always ends up being something more though. You'll do whatever for the person.
"Well, I imprinted on Bella." Embry finished.
WHAT?
"God, Jake, tell us how you really feel," Quil joked.
First, werewolves? I mean, I guess deep down I always knew it was true. But that meant the Cullens' had been vampires! Second, why Bella?
"Listen, Embry, I understand. I really do. But Bella isn't ready for this. You saw how she reacted today. She isn't ready for a relationship," I told Embry.
"No, Jake. I get that maybe she isn't over Cullen yet, but I want you to talk to her. Try and get her to move past him."
"Edward isn't the reason she's like this," I warned. He was pushing it.
"Well, then what is the reason?"
"I'm not one to tell you, Embry. I wish I could. You have no idea. But you'll have to hear it from Bella and I don't think she's ready. I'll talk to her though. I'll let her know what's going on."
"Thanks, Jake."
"Well, I should be back at school tomorrow. I'll see you then," Embry said and was about to start walking for the car.
"I don't think I'll be there."
"Why not?"
"I haven't been at school all week, Em."
"Oh, neither have I. I had no idea. Why'd you miss? I'm sure you can figure out why I did."
I looked at him like it was obvious.
"Bella. I've been here helping her out," I told him.
He nodded, and we walked back towards the house.
I waved goodbye, and went back into the house.
I walked in to see Bella, Charlie, and Billy sitting around the table.
Charlie and Billy had already started eating, but Bella was moving the food around her plate with her fork.
I sat down next to Bella, and started eating.
"Everything okay, Jake?" She asked me. Always worried about other people.
"Everything's fine. Except for this," I motioned to her. "I can't watch you starve to death, Bells. You need to eat."
It might've been a bit harsh, but she hadn't ate anything in days.
"I'm not hungry…" She trailed off.
I rolled my eyes, but she listened to me like I knew she would.
She twisted a little bit of spaghetti around her fork, and slowly brought it to her mouth. She looked at it with a disgusted face. She made it look like the most disgusting thing in the world.
I couldn't hold it in. I doubled over laughing. I heard her fork clatter on her plate, and when I looked back up she was giving me a death glare.
"Jacob Black, what is so funny about this?" She said, trying to be serious. I saw the smile creeping up on her though.
"Sorry, Bells, the look on your face was priceless!" I told her.
"I didn't think it was that bad…" Billy trailed off.
That did it. Bella and I both started laughing our heads off.
I missed times like this. Times when we could just not care about the world. Now, things were much more serious. I know it had only been a few days, and things would get better. I just wished nothing had changed in the first place.
"Can I be excused?" Bella asked Charlie.
He looked at her a little iffy, but nodded.
"You didn't even take a bite," I told her.
"Darn, I thought I distracted you. I'm really not hungry, Jake. I'll eat later if I'm hungry."
She walked upstairs, and I followed her up moments later.
BPOV
Jake came and laid next to me on my bed. He put his arms around my shoulders, since he could see I was shivering.
"I guess you probably want to know what Embry wanted to talk about…" He suggested.
"It's your business. You can tell me if you want to, and if not… Then don't." I told him.
"Well, it had to do with you…"
I motioned for him to continue.
"Do you remember those legends I told you when you first got here? About werewolves and vampires? Well, I guess you know that the vampires exist. You probably knew about the Cullens… Anyway, the werewolves exist too. Quil and Embry are werewolves. I'm next on the list."
I was shocked, but I believed him. It made sense.
"But that wasn't why he wanted to talk to me. The werewolves… They have this gene that makes them imprint. It's this thing that happens when they find their soul mate. Sam, the alpha, thinks it's the person that is best 'equipped' to carry on the werewolf gene. Pretty much, you have no choice but to love the person. They are who you're supposed to be with."
I didn't understand where he was going. "What does this have to do with me?" I asked.
"Embry imprinted on you, Bells."
No. No. This wasn't possible.
"Jake, I believe you. It's just… I can't do this. Embry looks nice enough. I don't even know him! What if he's just like one of them? I'm not ready for this! I can't be doing this, Jake!" I cried. I was now quivering in Jake's arms.
"I know, sweetie. I told him that. I told him you weren't ready, but he wanted me to tell you. I owed him that. You don't have to do anything that you aren't ready for. It seems like you already have him wrapped around your little finger and he isn't going to force you into anything."
I leaned into Jake, and closed my eyes.
