CHAPTER SIX

NOT MY SECRET TO TELL

The next weekend was somewhat sunny. I decided to go see Embry at La Push. I was gonna surprise him.

But when I pulled up to his house, his mom said he wasn't home. She looked distressed, "He's been sick with mono all week. He seemed better yesterday. Completely healthy. But last night, after he came home, Quil was teasing him about you. Saying you two are something more than friends."

But I shook my head, "We're not.."

His mother smiled at me, "Oh, I know that. So does Quil. He was just teasing. But Embry overreacted and got so angry. I've never seen him so angry. He ran out. As far as I know he hasn't been back yet. But I can't call the police because of that damned 24 hour rule."

I felt everything crashing around me. Something was wrong with Embry. My best friend. "I'll find him." Without waiting for an answer I ran to my jeep and started driving for the beach.

I must have driven for an hour before I freaked out and pulled to a stop at the beach again. I looped all of La Push. He was nowhere.

Suddenly, I thought of the cliffs.

I got out my car, thankfully wearing my hiking boots – if you haven't noticed, I love these boots – and started for the cliffs, following the path Embry showed me just last week. I paused at the lower cliffs to look around but no one was there. So I kept going.

Soon, I was at the highest drop off. And no one was there.

I felt defeated. I couldn't find Embry anywhere. Where could he have gone off to? Why did he get so worked up and just run off last night?

What was going on?

I walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. I could fall off right now. It would be so easy. No one would even notice I was gone. Bella didn't care. Now Embry was MIA.

I sat down, my legs dangling over the cliffs.

When I heard a twig SNAP!

I whipped around to see none other than Sam and his followers. I sighed... until I saw there was a fourth with them... EMBRY!

"Embry?"

Embry looked angry, "What are you doing here Callie? Get away from the ledge."

I narrowed my eyes, "No. How about you explain how I came to your house to find your mother all worried about you because you ran off and didn't come back last night!"

I saw guilt flash in his eyes until it was replaced by anger, "You shouldn't be here."

I stood up, angry myself, and started walking towards them until I stopped, trying to refrain from punching him. "Don't avoid the question Embry. What the hell is going on?"

I noticed the change in him. His hair was cropped short, he looked like he aged ten years, and he had some sort of tribal tattoo on his shoulder. How the hell does that happen over a week?

"What the hell happened to you?"

"I changed," Embry growled.

"In a week? You were just fine when you were my best friend helping me celebrate my birthday. Now you got a new haircut and tattoo and are acting like you want me get lost."

"I do."

I froze. I was so phased by that I had to take a step back, "...what?"

"Leave, Callie. It's not safe for you with me anymore. You should leave and forget we were ever friends." For some reason, since Embry looked so pained to say this, I didn't believe him.

But I was still reeling from Bella telling me no one cared. I told myself that Embry and the others cared.

But apparently Embry doesn't care.

I took another step back.

"You're lying..." I whispered, tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

Embry took a deep breath, "No I'm not."

I took another step back.

"Just go to your car. And drive home."

"You don't mean this..."

I took another step back.

And that was one step too far.

Because I fell off the cliff.

In the two seconds before I screamed it felt like time slowed down. I saw Embry's eyes widen in pure fear. Then I saw him shaking, tremors ripping through his body. Then I saw him turn into a giant wolf.

Then time sped back up and I struggled to grab a hold of something. There were already scratches on my arms – that's what I get for wearing short sleeves – and I struggled to keep a hold on some vine I grabbed. "EMBRY!"

About a minute later a hand shot down to try and grab me. It was Embry. But I was too far down for him to reach.

"Callie! Grab my hand!" Embry yelled, worry showing clearly in his voice. He did care.

No one can say that I didn't try. I thrusted out my hand but I came up short. Even when he tried to stretch further, it didn't work.

There was only one thing to do.

Jump.

I planted my feet on the side of the cliff and bent my knees.

"Callie..." Embry started to say.

But I didn't listen. I just took the plunge. I propelled myself off of the side of the cliff and started falling.

"Callie!" I heard Embry yell in shock and terror of what I had done.

This fall was much longer than the ones we took yesterday. I closed my eyes and waited. But then I felt arms wrap around me and opened my eyes to see Embry had jumped after me.

I wrapped my arms back around him and cried. Then we crashed into the water together. The waves crashed against our bodies and almost separated us. But Embry never let me go.

He pulled me against him tightly and swam us to shore. I laid on the sand, coughing up water after Embry patted on my back. He held me in his lap and tried to warm me up. He was insanely warmer than I was used to.

Then I noticed he was naked.

"You're naked."

Embry blushed, "Yeah..."

"That's way more Embry than I needed to see."

Embry chuckled, "Well clothes don't really survive phasing."

I paused, "So what I saw wasn't my imagination? You really just turned into a giant freaking wolf?"

Embry nodded solemnly, "Let's get you back up there. Sam can explain better than I can."

So that's how Sam was forced to tell me everything. He told me the legends. He told me that they were all werewolves destined to protect the reservation from vampires.

After he was done, everyone looked at me, waiting for my reaction. I breathed. Took a real deep breath. "Guess I'm not completely crazy then. That's a relief." I laughed.

"So," Paul clapped his hands together, "Let's get to cliff diving."

THIRD PERSON POV

Bella and Jacob were driving along the road in her truck. Bella was smiling at Jacob when she noticed the cliffs in a distance. A group of people stood on the rocky ledge wearing nothing but cut-off shorts.

Some of the guys were pushing each other towards the cliff. Bella recognized one of them, "Isn't that... Sam Uley?"

"And his cult," Jacob confirmed bitterly.

Suddenly, two of the guys threw a struggling Jared over the cliff. Bella slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the truck, running to the edge, "Oh my god!"

Jacob had climbed out after her, laughing, "They're not really fighting, Bella. They're cliff diving."

Bella looked confused, "What, on purpose?"

"Scary as hell," Jacob said, "but a total rush."

Paul took his turn to dive, taking a running start and flinging himself into the air, twisting and cartwheeling down.

Bella stared, a total rush...

"Most of us jump from lower down." Jacob interrupted her thoughts.

"Think I could?"

Jacob whistled, "Man, first motorcycles, now cliff diving?"

"You said it was a rush," Bella blushed.

"Maybe on a warmer day. And not from the top. We'll leave the showing off to Sam and his disciples."

"You don't like them."

Jacob shrugged, "They think they run this place. Acting all bad ass, calling themselves 'protectors'."

"What are they protecting?" Bella asked.

"The tribe, the land, their right to be jerks," Jacob looked up at them, "Embry used to call them hall monitors on steroids; now look at him."

Bella looked closer and saw Embry up there laughing, hair short and shirtless. But there was a girl with him.

"That's Embry? I didn't recognize him. What happened to him?"

Jacob scowled, "He missed some school – then, out of nowhere, he's following Sam around like a puppy. Same thing happened with Paul and Jared. They weren't even friends, now Sam owns them," He paused for a beat, "Sam keeps giving me this look, like he's waiting for me or something; kinda freaks me out."

"Maybe you should just avoid them," Bella said.

"I try but..." Jacob trailed off.

Bella looked back at the cliffs, "Who is that girl with them?"

Jacob looked confused, "What girl?"

"Over there with Embry. She's kind of behind a tree." Bella pointed her out.

He walked over to stand by her and peered up at the cliffs. Jacob's eyes widened, "Is that Callie!"

Bella looked closer just as her sister turned around to peer down at them.

Callie was having so much fun with the guys. She figured out that they're not that bad like everyone says. They're just misunderstood.

She spent the whole time while the boys rough housed, talking to Embry. He confessed all he had went through the passed week and he couldn't wait for Jacob and Quil to get in on the secret. It hurt him to ignore his friends and just wait for them to phase.

"So Jake and Quil are gonna phase too?"

Embry nodded, "The selfish part of me can't wait. But the other part of me wouldn't wish this on them for anything."

"It's not so bad, you get all buff and powerful. And you turn into a cool wolf," Callie smiled.

She then looked down and noticed two people peering up at them. She looked closer and saw that it was Jacob and Bella. She grabbed Embry and got him to look over.

Bella looked away when Callie and Embry caught her looking. But Jacob kept on staring at his friends.

How could they?

BACK TO CALLIE'S POV

Embry helped me by the hand as we made the trek back up to the cliff after we'd jumped. "So Quil teased you about me and that's what got you mad enough to phase?"

Embry was quiet, maybe ashamed, or maybe embarrassed, but he eventually answered, "Yeah... If I were human then it probably wouldn't bother me nearly as much as it did. But the wolf gene means a temper. We have to spend as much time as it takes, away from those we love, to try and get a control on it."

"That's why you told me to leave," I realized.

Embry nodded, squeezing my hand and pulling me closer to him. I was somewhat cold from the water and weather but his heat warmed me completely. I snuggled into his shoulder to get warmer, it was like his skin was a magnet.

"You could have told me. You knew about the Cullens. You know I know about the Cullens. I wouldn't have freaked out," I whispered.

Embry slowly stopped walking and pulled my face up to look at him. "Only certain people outside the pack know. The tribe leaders for example."

"Would you ever have told me?" I asked quietly, "Or would you have just stayed away from me forever?"

Embry looked pained at the words I had to ask. "Callie... I physically couldn't tell you."

"What do you mean?"

"Sam's the alpha of the pack. That means his orders are binding. We have to obey him. We have absolutely no choice." Embry didn't look like he liked that or agreed with that. But he seemed resigned to the fact that he didn't have any choice in the matter.

I let the information sink it and then said, "You didn't answer my question. Would you have stayed away forever?"

Embry shook his head, looking me right in the eye, "No, Callie. I could never stay away from you forever. I couldn't even stay away from you now."

He kissed my forehead lightly, making me smile. It was nice to know he wouldn't desert me. I couldn't handle it if he deserted me. I'd fall apart.

"Do you ever wonder what if Quil was somewhat right?" I asked out of the blue. The whole notion just got me thinking about what life would be like if I really did have Embry like that. He would take care of me.

"What do you mean?" He asked in a whisper, pulling back to look at my face.

I shrugged, "Just wondering... what it would be like, you know? If we actually were something. It would be so easy. I already trust you more than anyone else. It would be so... easy."

Embry pulled back and and took my face in his hands, "You deserve better than me, Callie. You deserve better than a guy who turns furry every time he gets mad."

I shook my head, "Not true. It would be so easy to be with you."

"It would be so easy to be with you," He agreed. We just looked at each other. Our faces were so close. I slowly leaned in... an lightly pressed my lips to his. It was chaste. Only a peck. But it was a kiss.

After a couple hours Embry and Sam had to go patrol. They explained that they just phased and walked around as a precaution for vampires.

Like there are any here anymore.

Paul and Jared walked me down the cliffs when I heard, "Callie."

We all looked over to see a pissed off Jacob standing by my jeep. "I want to talk to you."

Paul and Jared looked reluctant to leave but I wave them off, "It's okay guys. If I see... shaking, I'll call you." The hesitated but nodded and walked off into the woods to phase.

I turned to Jacob and crossed my arms uncomfortably.

Jacob glared, "What's going on?"

I could have said I didn't know what he was talking about. I could have played dumb. But I couldn't lie to him. "I can't tell you."

Jacob looked surprised at my honesty but it didn't waver his anger, "What? What do you mean you can't tell me?"

"I mean just that, Jake," I said, trying to make him understand. "You have to understand, I want to tell you but I'm not allowed."

"I have to understand?" Jacob asked sarcastically, "What part of you're not allowed to tell me why you and Embry aren't my friends anymore do I have to understand?"

Tears came to my eyes – they make appearances a lot, don't they? "I am your friend, Jacob."

"What kind of friend keeps secrets like this? How can I trust you?"

"I can't explain now but," I took a deep breath, "It isn't my secret to tell. It's their secret. They never planned on telling me anything. I was never meant to know but then I-" I stopped myself from giving too much away, "Look, I can't tell you anything right now. But I can promise that you will find out soon. I just can't be the one to tell you. I don't have the right to."

Jacob seemed somewhat better and I was shocked he hadn't started shaking or anything. But he still looked angry. He just scowled and started walking away.

"Jacob?"

He kept walking, unphased by my calling him.

"Jake please!" I begged, "This isn't easy on me! I wish I could tell you but I can't!"

But he was gone. "I wish I could tell you," I whispered to myself.

There you go! I am FINALLY BACK HOME and ready to start updating again. So good to be back in my own room. So please let me know what you think of this chapter!

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RegalGirl94