AN: I really hope that you enjoyed the last chapter, or at least can understand why it was necessary. I know it was almost all Jake, but he needed that time to change course, and I wanted to get it all done in one go. At least there was a little Embry and Bella at the end. While the reviews I did get were positive, it does make me wonder what most of you thought about it since this was one of the least-reviewed chapters in quite a while for this story.
The all mighty and powerfulM: I like "Princess Bride" also. The line I used just fit what I was going for. Thanks, I'm glad you liked the chapter. This one came a lot faster, in part because I shifted some stuff here that I'd originally written for the last chapter, but bumped back to this one-well, faster until the end of the chapter really made me work to get things just right.
Congrats to ASongbirdDigna for being review #1100 on FF.
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From last chapter (Embry POV):
"Come on, lovebirds," Paul jibed. He just smirked when I gave him an irritated glare for his interruption. "The council meeting will start soon, and there're people you ought to meet first."
"Raincheck?" I asked Bella, leaning over to snag another kiss.
"Raincheck," she agreed. With that, I reluctantly let her go and got out of the car. The council meeting hadn't even started yet, and I was already ready for it to be over.
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Embry POV
Inside, the room was partly filled with the parents of some of the pack members, and a table at the other end of the room had Billy Black, Sam Uley, and Harry and Sue Clearwater sitting behind it. Paul led us over to his parents, who he'd clearly taken after in looks.
"Mom, Dad, this is Embry and Bella. Guys, my parents: Caleb and Marisol Lahote."
We glanced at them and they did the same back at us.
"So you're the pair that's got this whole place stirred up like a beehive," Paul's mother said.
"Apparently," I replied. "But I could argue that the bees started it."
"Well, if bees started trying to sting me first without provocation, I don't think I'd feel any guilt about spraying or swatting them."
"I don't think I will, either," my agreement made her mouth lift in a smile that resembled Paul's smirk.
"You shouldn't," Paul's dad added. "The way some people around here have been acting...I say there's nothing wrong with standing up for yourself. Whoever didn't stick around for your mom and you was a fool of the first order." So reading between the lines it obviously wasn't him.
"His loss," I clipped the words short.
"Absolutely," grinned Marisol. "Hell, if you weren't imprinted and my son's age to boot, and if I wasn't married..." The unfinished sentence made my mouth drop open in shock; from the corner of my eye, I saw Paul's do likewise.
Bella snorted, making all of us look at her in question.
"Okay, Paul, yes: I absolutely can believe that your mom would buy you a pair of boxers with red and pink love hearts all over them. But, Marisol? Just so we're clear on this: the only person buying embarrassing boxers for Embry is going to be me, okay?" Bella had a smile on her face, but there was a subtle firmness to her warning that said she meant it. Somehow I really liked the idea of wearing something that Bella gave me; I liked even better the thought of her wearing something I gave-and getting her out of it.
"Absolutely. I like you, girl. Now, what was this about me buying Paul boxers with love hearts on them?"
Paul palmed his face with partially-feigned embarrassment when Bella related the story of his arrival at her front door last night.
"Hmm. Maybe I'll have to do it to maintain my new reputation."
"Mom!" Paul tried to look angry, but humor won out.
"Sweetie, I'm your mom. I have to embarrass you sometimes-it's in the Parent Handbook. And it's hardly my fault if you gift-wrapped such a perfect opportunity for me."
"You just had to share that with my parents, did you?" Paul gave a mock scowl to Bella.
"Just returning the favor," she retorted.
"Hmm, sounds like another good story," Marisol smirked.
Rescuing their son—and the rest of us from a retelling of today's banana story, Caleb Lahote said, "Mari, looks like James and Laura want us now. Nice to meet you both," and with that Paul's dad guided his wife away.
"I thought you said your mom left when you were a kid, before you moved back here," I commented to Paul.
"Oops," he looked embarrassed. "Yeah, she did, but they ended up getting back together a year or so later. Reconciled and the whole bit. I even got a baby sister out of the deal."
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Bella POV
"Good for them," I told Paul. Having grown up in a broken home like I had, I knew how rare it was for couples to reconcile after they split up. If I were a selfish person, I might be jealous, but that wasn't my style-and I knew both of my parents well enough to know that they were just too different in personality and what they wanted in life to have been able to stay married.
"Yeah. Part of it's a cultural thing: take your time finding the right person to marry, and if there are problems, you work on them, and others help you work on them, until they're fixed. Actually divorcing is kind of a last resort."
Quil walked in with his grandfather, then split off to approach Embry and me. After appraising the situation, Paul backed off to give us at least the semblance of a little privacy.
"Hey, guys," Quil said.
"Hi, Quil," I replied, seeing that Embry wasn't going to say anything just now.
"Congratulations," Quil directed his comment and eye contact at both of us.
"For what?" I asked.
His mouth opened, in what anyone could just tell would be an inappropriate comment; I could see Sam off to one side, gritting his teeth, and then opening his mouth to-. But Quil surprised everyone by answering with, "The whole dating and imprint thing. You both deserve this." Quil extended his hand toward Embry. My wolf looked at the hand for a minute and then slowly stretched out his own.
"Thanks." It didn't instantly fix the breach in their friendship, but it was a first step on the path toward that end, and I hoped that they'd be back to normal before long.
Naturally, though, the maturity couldn't last. "Maybe Sam'll put us on patrol together soon and we can catch up." Eyebrows wiggled suggestively. It was my turn to clench my teeth. I'd somehow forgotten this part of Quil's personality. Clearly, I'd need to deal with him like I had with Paul earlier.
Embry quashed his enthusiasm. "It's a small reservation-you probably know most of it already. And if you're referring to stuff that's none of your business, I've been ordered to keep a lid on all that."
Quil's disappointment was obvious. "Man! Hot girl, she cooks, is fine with everything-and you get to keep it all to yourself? That is so not fair!"
"Speak for yourself-I'm not complaining one bit," Embry shot back.
"You'd be crazy if you did," agreed Quil.
Even though I was the only one of us facing the doorway, both Embry and Quil stiffened up-though neither turned around. Through the small gap between their bodies, I saw a few more people come in. One was Jared's fiancee, Kim, who I'd met this morning. The other...was Jacob.
Quil spoke to fill the silence. "Hey, Bella, did you know we're cousins?"
"What?" I looked at him blankly. "Oh, sure. Of course. I noticed the family resemblance right off the bat." Clearly, he was trying to distract Embry from Jacob's arrival, and I was more than happy to play along.
"Ha ha. No, really. We are cousins. I'm not sure what kind, though. I was talking to Grandpa today, and he was telling me that his mom's name was Molly-Molly Swan. She was related to your dad somehow."
"Cousins," I tried the idea out. Both of my parents had been only children, so I'd never had the aunts, uncles, or cousins that most kids had. "That might be nice."
"Absolutely it will be. Pranks, gossip sessions-okay, okay," Quil cut off after Embry gave a little growl and bared his teeth for a second. "How about this? We do a trade: I got your back, you feed me. What'd ya say?"
Even though the food part of Quil's bargain offer had clearly been directed at me, the other part was just as obviously meant for Embry.
"We're supposed to have each other's backs, aren't we? Pack, and friends?"
"Yeah. Just figured I needed to lay it out there, after everything."
"Sure—to the back watching, anyway. You're on your own convincing Bella to feed you. Paul already tried…and failed, I think."
"You do get first dibs," I agreed. "But I'm sure I'll be helping Emily out with cooking, so Quil—and Paul—will get some then."
"Yum."
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Narrator POV
"Embry, do you know where your mother is?" Sam asked, interrupting the reunited trio.
The wolf in question shrugged. "If she isn't here yet, then she's probably still at work. Sometimes she has to stay late if they get swamped or someone doesn't show up. I guess she'll get here when she can."
Sam nodded and returned to the other elders. After a brief discussion, Old Quil stood up and announced, "We will begin this council session of the Quileute tribe with other business while we await one last arrival. All present are thanked for their attendance at this late-scheduled meeting."
Anyone who hadn't been seated and attentive quickly got that way. Emily Uley slipped in at the last minute, looking frazzled, and took the seat beside Kim. Old Quil began by swiftly introducing everyone, for Bella's benefit rather than anyone else's. Then he continued, "We welcome for the first time new protector Embry Call, and his imprint Bella Swan."
"Sure you welcome me," Embry muttered in a low voice-but one that the room's acoustics let even the non-wolves hear clearly. "That explains all the looks I get around here like I'm a male version of Typhoid Mary."
"Embry, any man would be proud to have you as a son," Jared's father said.
"Except-clearly-the man involved. Seventeen years of silence is a real show of pride. More likely I'm the shameful secret he wanted to ignore completely." Bella reached over and laid her hand on top of his. Embry fell silent.
Sam spoke. "Embry, I promised you that we'd do whatever is possible to get you the answer. Process of elimination is one way. Joshua hasn't been here in years, and we don't know where he is to ask him. No way to really know for sure, but he abandoned Mom and me, so he could easily have done it twice. Harry, have you or Sue been able to reach your brothers yet?" Both shook their heads. "Okay, so we've got three possibilities there."
"Not that I would have minded another son," Caleb Lahote commented, "but I've already told Embry that it wasn't me. I wasn't around here much at all before Paul and I moved back eight years ago, and I haven't been up to Neah Bay at all."
"It wasn't me, either," James Cameron said. "I may end up in the doghouse with Laura because of this, but a part of me wishes I could say you were mine-you're a fine young man, Embry-but it didn't happen." His wife gave him a look but didn't say anything.
"Agreed on both counts," Harry Clearwater added.
"Way to narrow this down," muttered Embry to Sam.
"You now know three men who it wasn't," Sam noted. "That's three more than you had before. I meant what I said before-but realistically, that's going to have to come from your mom."
"Then we will let this matter rest for the moment. There is no point in continuing to beat a dead whale," Billy spoke in a deep voice.
Harry Clearwater took over then. "This council has a serious matter to address. As Alpha Uley informed us last night, pack member Jacob Black violated the trust and responsibility placed upon him as a member of this tribe's protectors: he phased in front of someone presumed to be human-Embry Call-and then attacked him. It was only through the blessing of the spirits that Embry was also able to phase and defend himself until the Alpha could separate them."
Billy Black sat back and merely watched. The other elders were taking the lead in this matter-it having been deemed best to not have the chief of the tribe passing judgment upon his own son.
Harry looked over the assembly. "Jacob Black, step forward."
Jacob rose from his spot in the back row and silently walked up the aisle between the rows of chairs until he was standing in front of the council table.
"Jacob, do you disagree with the Alpha's report on your actions of last night?"
He was silent for a moment, throat working. "No. I did phase and attack Embry."
"Why did this happen?" Everyone already knew, but Jacob needed to say it aloud.
"I found out how close he and Bella had gotten and it made me angry. I-believed she was meant to be mine, and that he had stolen that away from me."
"Was she?"
Jacob's head lowered. "No, I didn't imprint on Bella."
"Then why did you choose to attack Embry?"
"I don't know that I did choose, exactly. It was all a haze. I knew that I wanted to confront him, to hear him say why he'd done it all. And then when he wasn't sorry about any of it...I guess I snapped."
"Even not choosing to do something is itself a choice," Sam countered. "But I think that most rational people looking at this situation would say that you did choose in this case. You chose to embrace your anger when what you wanted was denied to you. You chose to give into that anger in the presence of innocents. Did you consider at all what kind of damage control would have needed to be done if Embry hadn't turned out to be a wolf as well, or if Bella had not been his imprint? How badly hurt—even killed—either or both of them could have ended up?"
"No, I didn't."
"Do you have anything to say for yourself, Jacob?" Sue asked.
"I'm sorry. The things I said...The things I did...I was wrong. I hope that my friends can forgive me for everything."
"What kind of a lame-ass apology is that? 'I'm sorry', 'I was wrong', and everything's supposed to be okay now?" Embry's tone was derisive. "Two-three-weeks ago, yeah, maybe that would have done it. But now? You tried to kill me! And let's not forget you almost phasing in Bella's living room before that."
"But I didn't do it."
"You would have if Paul and Quil hadn't been there. You could have hurt her!"
"She was fine."
"I was scared," Bella cut in. "You really frightened me. I'd never thought I'd say that about you, Jacob, but you were scary."
"Bells-"
She kept talking as if Jake hadn't spoken. "Embry's right: this isn't a very good apology, and even if it were...sometimes apologies aren't enough. The words you spoke can't be unsaid, any more than what you did can be undone. What you directed at me was bad enough, but Embry... For goodness' sake, Jake, he's been one of your best friends practically from birth. All that history, and you could say that stuff to him? About him? I don't even feel like I know you anymore."
"I'm still me, Bells. I was wrong-I get that now. But I'd had Sam and everyone else feeding me the hope from day one that you were meant to be with me. And then when it didn't happen...I was pissed-and hurt. I guess it was easier to subconsciously blame Embry than-"
"Damn it, Jake," Bella forgot where she was at and the audience listening in. "It wasn't a contest, and I wasn't a prize. I didn't choose Embry over you; I just chose him, simple as that. If the spirits thought that he and I were a perfect match...well, I can't argue with what I believed myself. I didn't see you that way, Jacob, and to think that I could have been forced into it... I only ever wanted you as a friend, but now I don't even know if that is possible. I'm not usually one to hold grudges-this time might be the exception to that rule. Everything that's happened can't be erased with a simple apology or one of your grins. I'm sorry if that sounds mean...or maybe I'm not sorry. I don't know."
When she ran out of steam, Sam spoke, "Embry and Bella, no one will argue that you both have been deeply hurt by Jacob. I acknowledge my own role in these events, in forcing Jacob to distance himself from you both after he first phased. If I'd known what would happen as a result...well, hindsight is always 20/20. I can only say that I'm sorry for what my orders let happen," Sam inclined his head to the couple, who looked at each other and nodded back. To the others in the room, the Alpha said, "They are both correct: while the apologies just delivered are a necessary first step, they are not the only things to be done. I will be willing to sit down with you both to discuss this matter further and to consider more tangible ways through which Jacob can express his remorse. Tiffany Call was also wronged by things that Jacob said-things that should be said to no woman, ever, no matter what. For those, members of the council will meet with Tiffany, and she will have a say in what amends Jacob will make to her."
Old Quil continued after Sam stopped, "And the tribe is to be compensated as well. Our heritage is a proud one, and the attempt by this protector to use what the spirits gave him against another person-a defenseless innocent-must be addressed. The tribe's elders will consider what needs exist that Jacob will work to resolve."
A stir at the back of the room brought heads around. Tiffany Call stepped into the room, but came up short at being the center of attention. "Sorry I'm late," she said, and headed toward her son. He and Bella scooted down the bench to make room for her.
"We understand," Sue replied to Embry's mom. "Thank you for coming. The parents of pack members are often invited to council meetings when items of business concern the pack or their imprints. Tonight, both are involved."
"And what is it about my son and his girlfriend that the council needs to address?"
"Introductions needed to be made, especially for Bella, and a formal welcome given to both of them."
"And that needed a formal meeting of the full council?"
"There were other reasons," Sam conceded.
Tiffany waited in obvious invitation for Sam to elaborate on what those reasons were. When he didn't do so immediately, she put out her own question.
"Does this council plan to address how Jacob Black has been treating my son?"
"Mom!"
"You're my son, and no matter how old you are I won't just stand by and let someone who used to be your friend stab you in the back. I'm not a fool, Embry. I know you gave me a pretty sanitized version of whatever he dealt out to you."
"Jacob Black has recognized the error of his recent ways and begun the process of making amends to those he has wronged. Apologies have been offered to Embry and Bella, and will be offered to others deserving of them," Old Quil informed her.
Proving true her words about not being a fool, Tiffany put two and two together. "And I'm one?"
Embry growled low in his throat, making his mom look over at him in surprise.
"Perhaps that might be best shared privately later on?" a woman sitting on the other side of the aisle suggested.
Sam nodded. "I would agree, Mom. While Jacob's apologies and amends do need to be done publically, I don't think it would be best to have the exact slurs repeated here. Enough people know what Jacob said as it is, and the last thing Embry needs is to hear it all again."
"I hear it all just fine anytime I look at him, Sam," Embry retorted. "Think having it all in my brain is worse than just having it in my ears. And it's not like I'm going to forget what he said, no matter what is or isn't said or done."
"What was it?" Tiffany addressed Embry, lightly reaching out to touch his arm and maintaining the contact until he looked down at her.
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Bella POV
"I don't want to say. The sanitized version was bad enough. You don't need to hear it all." Even though I knew Embry had to be a little mad at his mom for keeping silent on the whole dad issue, it was plain to me that he loved her deeply in spite of it and didn't want her to be hurt. But at the same time, it also really made me want to get those steel-toed boots from Newton's and plant a football kick between Jacob's legs. Whatever Embry wasn't wanting to say had to be really bad.
"Thank you for trying to protect me, sweetheart, but you don't need to do that."
"And you don't need to try and protect me, either, but here we are."
"I'm your mother, Embry. I'm supposed to protect you."
"And I've been the man of the house since the first time I was carried through it. How is that any different?"
"The difference is that you only think I'll be upset by anything you might tell me; I know you'll be hurt if I do the same."
"But why should I say the words when everything about how you're acting about this proves that it can't be true?"
"Because trying to keep something secret when a lot of other people know it never works for very long," Paul commented quietly from his spot on the other side of me. "Someone always assumes that the person knows and says something and then it all comes out and is way worse than if the person had just been told to begin with."
"Really?" Embry turned on him, venting frustration. "And would you want to tell your mom that one of your childhood best friends accused her of not telling you about your dad because she couldn't?" The words left a thunderous silence in their wake as the obvious implication registered with everyone.
"You said what about his mom?!" Quil's dumbfounded voice carried across the room. "What the fuck, Jake?" Before anyone could blink, a few long strides had him barreling into Jacob, sending both of them to the floor, where Jacob's head slammed hard against the tiles. "You jerk. You low-life. You ba—" Quil broke off his last pejorative even as he continued to punch any part of his friend that he could reach. It wasn't hard to guess what word Quil had been about to say and why he'd changed his mind. Having been raised by his own mom—and grandfather—after his father's death, Quil was naturally going to be more sensitive than most to such an insult against another person's mom.
In one of those impossible to follow moves that seemed typical of supernatural creatures, Sam vaulted the table he'd been sitting behind and lifted Quil off Jacob and into the air, then set him down several feet away.
"Enough, Quil. Enough. Stand down."
I could almost feel the weight of the order keeping Quil in place and away from Jacob.
"We will take a short recess," Old Quil announced. Sue Clearwater went into a back room and returned with a small first aid kit. She knelt down next to Jacob and started looking him over. Quil was drawn aside by his grandfather. I wrapped myself around Embry's side and rested my head on his shoulder blade; he was bent over, muscles were tense under the skin, and head buried in his hands.
"I'd rather do anything else," Paul answered the question of Embry's that had started the fight. He shifted to crouch on the floor in front of us. "Probably I'd do anything I could to avoid doing it—or at least, that's what I'd mean to do. Odds are, though…"
"You'd be as much of an idiotic asshole as I just was?" muttered Embry.
Paul shrugged.
Tiffany placed her hand on Embry's back and ran it up until she was stroking his hair. "It isn't true," she told him.
"And I told you already that I knew that. I just can't understand why won't you tell me."
"We've talked about this before. It won't be the magic fix that anyone here seems to think it will."
And there really wasn't anything that could be said to that. I wasn't sure if it made it better or worse to have open confirmation that Tiffany could give Embry the answer he needed and was choosing not to. But knowing that Jacob had insulted Embry's mom by saying what he had…oh, I really wanted those steel-toed boots.
A few minutes later, everyone drifted back into place and the meeting resumed. You couldn't even tell now that Jacob and Quil had been fighting since there wasn't a mark on them anymore. By unspoken consent—or so I thought; maybe there had been some council discussion that I'd missed—the previous line of discussion was dropped.
"The pack met with Embry and Bella this morning to offer more information on what has happened and what it all means, and to answer whatever questions they'd thought of. We want to give you that same opportunity. Now that you've had a chance to absorb things, do you have any questions for us?" Sam addressed Tiffany. I guess I somehow hadn't thought of it before, but I appreciated that someone had thought to do for Embry's mom what they'd done for us.
"What does this tribe do to help those who are 'blessed' with becoming Protectors?"
"Help?"
"Who gives them advice? Do they have a mentor they can turn to? Are they paid for the work they do-those 'patrols'?"
"As Alpha, it's my responsibility to look out for my pack. They know that my door is always open to them if they need to talk or anything else—and the same is true for the tribe's other elders as well. But I do try to watch out for any potential problems and help deal with them before they turn into major catastrophes," Sam replied. "Members of the pack can also turn to their parents. I'd been thinking about it from the time of my first phase, but after Jared joined me, I fought the council for-and won-the agreement that the parents of pack members would be informed of what was going on in their sons' lives-both for safety's sake, and because I didn't want any of us having to lie to our families about where and on what we spent our time."
"Do you have any other questions, Tiffany?" asked Harry Clearwater.
"When does this end?"
"Only the spirits know," Old Quil's answer wasn't to her liking, it was clear. He continued, "I saw my father phase a number of times, and even Billy was old enough-though still a child-to see his grandfather Ephraim phase for the last time with his pack as very old men."
"So this could go on for…" her voice trailed off.
"For as long as the tribe is in danger."
Tiffany's eyes closed and her hands clenched. I couldn't blame her. Embry—the others—could be forced to stay in this life…forever? The Cullens had lived here twice, and James's coven had come through the area, too.
Sam added, "But those circumstances have been rare. The more likely outcome is that when the danger is gone-consistently gone-then discussions can be held among the pack about some or all members stepping down from that role."
"So my son's life could be put on hold for years—that's what you're saying. Embry is supposed to focus on others at the expense of what he might want and need."
Billy's deep voice spoke, "Those who take up this mantle are destined to do so. Yes, it can be a burden, and that is not ignored. We are a small tribe, and so what we can do is limited, but we do try to support our protectors however we can, including a small stipend when possible."
"Charity," Tiffany snorted. "They risk their lives for you and have to take handouts for it into the bargain? Are they not allowed to take outside jobs?"
"It's not prohibited," Sam cut in. "But realistically, those who are still in school only have time for that and their patrols. Once they graduate, like Jared and I, then jobs in or close to La Push can take up the time school once did. It's not perfect, I'll grant you that. But it's the best we can manage. We have to maintain patrols to ensure this area and its people are protected. No one wants to see any of these boys drop out of school, either. So this is what we've come up with."
Yet again the discussion had devolved into a circular argument that didn't seem to have an end. Would yet another course correction work, or just create more frustration? Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"This is changing the subject, but I have a question."
My words brought almost instant silence and made me the focus of everyone's attention.
"Go ahead, Bella," Sue replied warmly.
"Jacob said that Sam told him…" I trailed off, knowing what I wanted to ask but not having the words come out right. "Why would he think…?"
Sam met my gaze and I could only hope that he'd figured out what I was trying to convey.
"The night that we—Jared, Paul, and I—found you in the woods, we all felt… It was how Jared and Paul feel about Emily, how Paul and I feel toward Kim. The sense that you were—would be—connected to us in the same way: an imprint. How we didn't know, since it wasn't Paul. Then there was Jacob's visit to you in the hospital, and how you woke up when he said you needed to, and later on how much you seemed to improve from spending time with him and his friends. When we started seeing the signs that Jacob was going to phase, it all seemed to make sense. It all came together in an assumption that I shared with Jacob the day that he and Quil first phased. Jacob was completely out of control, and the mere mention of you calmed him down a lot. I didn't think about Quil until Joy brought it up, but he saw you and Embry at the beach one day and didn't imprint, so that just reinforced the idea that it had to be Jacob. No one had any clue at all about Embry until that exploded in our faces."
I could follow the chain of logic, mistaken though it had been. I still didn't grasp the whole 'why' of it all.
"But why did it happen like it did? You weren't with Emily before the imprint happened, so why is it different for Embry and me? And I'm clearly not native, like Emily and Kim are. Wouldn't that be a requirement or something?"
Quil's grandfather answered me. "We do not know what the spirits consider when selecting an imprinted mate for one of our protector wolves. We know only that she is what the wolf needs, and the wolf is what she needs. Yes, it is unusual for an imprint to not be a member of a tribe, but it is not unheard of: my mother was white, and the imprint of my father."
"What is the problem with my son? Everyone was content to live and let live while he was growing up. Then he got dropped by Jacob and Quil for no apparent reason. They didn't want him around them anymore-and they didn't want him spending time with Bella, either. And then all the looks and whispers started, about how he'd stolen Jacob's girl away, or was an outsider. And now that he's one of you...it hasn't stopped, from what I can see. You still want proof that he belongs here-as if him turning into a wolf wasn't enough. Why should he be stuck here protecting people that don't want him around? Why does my son get to have his future stolen away from him?"
"It isn't being stolen, Mom—not the important stuff. I've found my soulmate, and it isn't like I won't still be able to do things. Sam's already said that I can still do the classes up in Forks with Bella this year like I'd planned. And he just said it's important for everyone to stay in school and to graduate, so it's not like I'd be missing a ton of school or slacking off on homework for pack stuff," Embry said.
"And next year? When you and Bella can't go away to college? Don't try to tell me things aren't being stolen from you! How can you start a life with her when neither of you can get the education and job you deserve and will need?"
I inhaled sharply. Nowhere in anything that the pack had told Embry and me this morning had there been anything included about us not being able to go to college. Granted, I hadn't made any firm plans yet, but I'd certainly been thinking about possibilities to send applications to.
"Staying here doesn't mean they both can't attend college classes," Harry noted.
"So says the man whose daughter just got to leave this one and a half square mile spot on the earth," scoffed Tiffany.
"What if the degrees we want aren't offered here?" I blurted out.
"I don't know," Sam sighed. "This is the first time where anything like this has been an issue for a pack. I hope that it will only be a temporary issue-for all of us. I had to forfeit a college scholarship when I phased, so believe me when I say that I know this life is a sacrifice. But it's also one that we don't have a choice about at the moment. Each of us was chosen for this, and all we can do is make the best of it."
"Chosen? Embry and I didn't choose this," denied Tiffany.
"The moment you had a relationship with a member of this tribe, this outcome was always a possibility for any son you bore. The truth needs to be told, Tiffany. Everyone—and especially Embry—is entitled to know how this came to pass. You need to identify his father."
"I need to look out for my son. That's what I need to do. My private business isn't the concern of anyone here."
"Embry phasing made it our concern. He's directly connected to one family here, and all of us—him most of all-deserve to know which it is, to know who among us might have a brother or a cousin."
"And what about me? Do I deserve to have my personal life put out on display like laundry on a clothesline? Everyone was perfectly content to respect my privacy starting with the day I moved here—until now. Am I to have the years I've spent raising my son alone be rewarded by having our names dragged through the mud?"
"No, you don't deserve any of that," agreed Sue. "You're absolutely right that Embry did not earn the talk that has circulated around here lately, regardless of what was believed at the time about Jacob and Bella. The council was wrong in not addressing that issue at the start."
"Agreed," Old Quil nodded. "But to establish your son's place among us as it ought to be, you need to tell us the father's name. Idle gossip can only be thwarted by the truth."
"And who will that benefit? Not me. And certainly not Embry."
"He is no longer a child—"
The sentence wasn't even completed before Tiffany volleyed back, "I told you this not too long ago: my son is not your concern."
I gasped, only just barely registering the instantly stiffened body of Sam Uley, but not knowing or caring what was going on with him. Maybe it had just been my imagination, but I'd swear that there had been the slightest hint of emphasis on the words 'my' and 'your'. Those incredible instincts I had for figuring things out from small and fragmentary clues flared up full force in my mind. All the little threads of the past month or so wove together to reveal a picture-one that would devastate my Embry as soon as he realized it-which he very quickly did. It really was true that my face was a dead giveaway to whatever I was thinking or feeling. It was all almost too obvious. As she'd all but admitted a few minutes ago, Tiffany knew who Embry's father was—which explained why she was trying so hard to keep the name a secret. And with what she'd been saying to Embry about him only getting hurt if he found out, the man was surely still here and alive—which let out Quil's deceased father. If they now knew it wasn't Harry Clearwater or either Jared's dad or Paul's…that really left only one person for it to be. Embry looked at me intently and must have seen the new awareness in my eyes. His own flared wide as he put it all together and a little ring of gold started to glow around the edges of his black irises.
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Narrator POV
The newest of La Push's wolves stood up and started pacing forward with fluid lupine grace toward the table where the elders sat.
"Embry, what are you doing?" But Sam's words were not heard or responded to as the one to whom they were addressed moved single-mindedly to his destination.
Reaching his goal, Embry laid both hands flat on the table and leaned down. "You're the bastard," he snarled into the face of Billy Black, then straightened back up, spun around, and stalked out. Bella dashed after him-the only person in the room whose head didn't whip around to stare at the object of Embry's venomous statement.
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AN: So now you know. Congrats to everyone (and there were a number of you) who guessed right on the dad's identity during the buildup to this chapter. Love it/hate it: either way, I'd love to know what you think. I'm happy to explain my thought process for how I made this decision.
I really hope this chapter came out alright. This meeting gave met fits for days, and a tiny part of me still isn't sure if it works or is a hot mess. But I think I've agonized about it as long as I can (and forfeited enough sleep), so I'm now putting it into the hands of my devoted readers.
The Native American marriage/divorce info Paul shared came from the website.
I'm happy/thrilled to announce that "Jagged Edges Heal" has been nominated for a Non-Canon award for Best Romance and my first story, "The Wolf and His Girl" is nominated for Best Royal Fic. . /