LennieM: (From ch. 43): Yeah, I like Paul's parents, too. I figured that for Paul to have the personality that he does, he probably got it from one or both of his parents. And I did set it up nicely earlier with Paul's comment about his mom and crazy boxer shorts, so I just had to explore that more.

AN: Deep apologies for the long delay in updating. I have been really busy recently (with little to no time to write), and on top of that had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to include in this bonfire (so that it wasn't just a copy of the ones I wrote for "The Wolf and His Girl"). But I think/hope that I've got it figured out and we can start moving on from the stunned aftermath of the bombshell and into the wide-awake reality of the present. Hope this turned out alright. Looking forward to seeing what you think.

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Bella POV

Friday passed pretty slowly, even though I was busy for most of it. My dad had given the thumbs up to me going shopping with Angela and Jessica-and acting like a girly girl by going shopping-so much so that he'd said he was going to stop by the bank on his way to work and transfer money into my account for me to spend. I was surprisingly interested in the experience this time and in finding things that Embry would like to see me wear. If I could keep from combusting in embarrassment, I might even dart into the menswear section and grab a pair of boxers for Embry. As I could have predicted-and in fact had done just that-Jess started grilling me the moment we passed Forks' city limits.

"So? Have you done any homework?"

"Homework?" I played dumb. "Jess, school doesn't start until next week. Hence our 'Back to School' clothes shopping trip today."

"Bella! You know perfectly well what I meant. Did you practice the skills you learned in my 'Going Down' lesson yet?"

"Jess!"

"What? Inquiring minds want to know. So, did you?"

"Yes..."

"And?"

"Got a grade of A+."

"Bravo!" cheered Jess.

"Along with a career recommendation of CIA torturer," the word-vomit was involuntary.

"Deets, girl. Give us all the deets!" she commanded. I didn't quite do that-if Embry's pack brothers weren't going to get all the juicy details, then neither would my friends. But I did share enough for both Jess and Angela to confirm that Embry's career suggestion had been a good one.

At the mall, we perused store after store, browsing the racks and making notes of promising items, then going back and trying on the favorites. I had a good time, which surprised me. We turned it into a mini fashion show, which was somehow nothing like the Bella Barbie days that Alice had put me through. It took less time than I might have thought to accumulate a number of outfits from the assortment of clothing items I'd found. Tops and jeans that were more fitted than before, and shoes that weren't my standard Converse sneakers-though they would still be safe enough for my clumsy tendencies. I was doing it for me, most of all-new year, new outlook-but I'd be a liar to claim that Embry's reaction didn't factor into more than one choice that I made. As we headed toward the checkout area Jess caught my glance at the menswear section.

"Anything else you want to look for, Bella?" she teased.

Caught out, I blushed a little, but explained the whole situation with Paul and the boxers, and the exchange I'd had with Paul's mom about buying things for Embry.

"That Paul sounds like quite a character. Oh, you can have so much fun with that!" and through brute strength Jess pulled me toward the appropriate section. The department store's selection wasn't quite what she'd hoped for, but she still started pulling items off the shelves and racks. I couldn't help cringing. Maybe I'd have the nerve to give Embry something risqué eventually, but now? Not a chance. I did still find a pair of funny 'Where's Waldo?' boxers for him that I felt a lot more comfortable about.

"Let me work up to that other stuff, Jess," I begged, shoving her picks back into her arms.

"Okay. I guess it's alright to start small. These are okay, but they put the really good stuff out around Christmas and Valentine's Day, anyway. So just stock up then."

Mercifully the shopping trip was now over. Angela had to get home to babysit her younger twin brothers, and I had to get food going to take to the cookout and bonfire tonight. I couldn't wait to see Embry again. By the time I got down to La Push today, we'd be up to about 12 hours apart. Even though we'd done that length of time-and even a bit longer-before, it seemed different now. Maybe it was having the imprint and knowing about it. Or just knowing now what sex was like. Whatever it was, I wanted to see my boyfriend, my lover, my wolf.

Back at home, I spun into action prepping food to take down to the cookout. Emily had sent me an email listing out what everyone else involved was going to be bringing and making suggestions about what I might contribute. Due to how much time I'd spent in Port Angeles, I ended up taking a few shortcuts and getting some of the food already prepared from the grocery store. I figured the guys would eat it even if some of it wasn't homemade.

Checking the clock and the status of my food offerings, I decided I was almost ready to leave. A quick freshening up in the bathroom, then I loaded my car and started down the highway.

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Embry POV

The second patrol with Paul went just fine. He showed me a few new things and had me practice what I'd learned before.

Doing good, he told me. You pick things up fast.

Guess so. I'd always been smart and good in school.

He was quiet for a while before asking, How are you doing?

You just said I was doing fine.

With the wolf stuff, yeah. With Bella...that's a given-the imprint won't let you do anything else. We both know I meant the rest of it.

I haven't torn either of them to shreds, have I?

Nope. Billy and Jake probably deserve it, but just think of the mess it would cause.

I really didn't care about the mess aspect-I just knew that Bella wouldn't want me to do it, or my mom, either. She'd raised me better than that. And it probably wouldn't go over too well with my girlfriend's cop dad if I killed his best friend and the guy's son. I wasn't about to even think about forgiving or forgetting with either of them, but I could at least decide to be the better man. Not gonna sink that low.

Good. Dead, it's over for them. Alive, they have to face it all. I wouldn't blame you for dealing out a little payback: dark looks, pointed thoughts or words...just don't lose who you are in the process, Embry, okay? Bitter and angry...that's not who you are-and you don't want to become that person, either.

Thanks. Don't want to or plan to. But...haul me back if you see me going too far.

After patrol, I tried to make things up to Mom by doing stuff around the house. I mowed the yard, took out the trash-not a hardship with the sensitive nose I now possessed-and cleaned up some. I felt like I owed it to her, but I was also killing time until the bonfire and Bella. Finally, I got the call that my Bella was on her way down from Forks. I'd probably get in trouble for shadowing her car in wolf form, and someone might notice if I arrived in Bella's car when no one had seen me leave the rez, so I tried to satisfy myself with pacing the beachfront parking lot until she arrived. I hadn't quite gotten to the point of actually creating a groove in the pavement when my heart began to pound and a feeling of relief swept through me. When Bella's car turned into the parking lot, I was already covering the distance between us. The door opening sent a wave of her scent washing over me. Almost without realizing it, I picked Bella up and pressed her against the side of her car, anchoring her there with my body. Our lips met in a fierce and passionate kiss that quickly threatened to get out of control. With supreme effort, I broke that contact before we put on a show for anyone who might be watching. Not that the wolf would be bothered if someone saw him caring for his mate, but I cared about the idea of someone seeing my Bella that way-or of me adding something new to the list of local rumors about the pack. My head dropped to press my face against the crook of her neck, breathing deeply of her scent to try and get myself under control. Neither of us moved-or wanted to-content to stay just as we were and savor our embrace.

"Hey, lovebirds," Quil's voice intruded into our bubble. Without lifting my head or turning toward him, I lifted one hand off the car's roof and then lowered all but one finger-just like Wolverine did with his claws in X-Men. "That's not nice," Quil sounded offended. "Here I come to offer my services as a pack mule, and this is the thanks I get for it?"

"You might leave this parking lot with the food Bella brought," I retorted, "but the question would be how much of that food would reach the beach rather than your stomach."

"Geez," gripped Quil, though he didn't argue my point.

"Are we late?" Bella asked hazily. My wolf puffed up to know that it had taken her this long to pull her thoughts back together enough to be able to speak.

"Nah. We're still missing some people. Now, maybe you would have ended up being late if I hadn't come by," Quil's tone was suggestive, "but no, you're okay."

With reluctance, I stepped back from Bella, but didn't let go of her until I was sure she was steady on her feet.

"What do you need our pack mule here to do?" I jerked my thumb Quil's direction. He sputtered in mock protest, but let Bella load him down with the stuff she'd made. We all walked down to the beach and found Emily and Kim starting to set up the spread on tables that the other guys must have hauled down for the purpose.

"Bella!" Emily greeted her with obvious pleasure, and then did the same for me. "Embry, I'm happy you're here."

"Thanks," I kept my reply simple. "Where do you want Quil to put Bella's food?"

Relieved of his burdens, Quil suggested tossing a football while we waited for everyone else to arrive. I didn't object to the activity, though I didn't want to leave Bella's side. She shooed me away, though.

"I'll be right here, and I'll be fine. You go have some fun while I help Emily and Kim get everything ready."

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Sam POV

Jared and I phased back from patrol and followed the wafting aromas of food toward our beach feast. As we emerged from the forest onto the sand, I noted that the rest of my pack was there-minus Jacob, who would be bringing his father down. The three imprints were clustered by the food tables, and Embry and Quil were tossing a football back and forth a short distance down the beach. I suspected that it was only his newly enhanced senses and reflexes keeping Embry in the game-his eyes were focused far more on Bella than they were on the ball. It didn't matter now, though; he let the ball drop to the sand and moved to rejoin Bella as Jared and I headed that way. We greeted our imprints first and then the newest wolf and his imprint.

"Welcome. The elders should be here soon. We'll eat, and then they'll tell the stories."

"What kind of stories?" asked Bella.

"The origins of the tribe and of the protectors. I think you'll enjoy them-both of you." Two heads nodded.

Footfalls heralded the arrival of the council members and Jacob. Embry stiffened and deliberately didn't turn to look. He pulled Bella close to him-the wolf's instinctive gesture to protect his mate from the brother wolf who'd wanted her.

Old Quil surveyed the spread that covered both tables. "The food looks delicious. My compliments to those who worked to provide this."

The elders filled their plates first, then the imprints; the pack went last to ensure that the others actually got some of the food. Embry deliberately-and obviously-kept himself as a buffer between Bella and Jacob, and then claimed a spot for the two of them that was almost as far away from the two Black's as it was possible to get-but it wasn't the absolute farthest spot, which would have been directly opposite Billy across the circle. Billy didn't react-just kept on ignoring Embry the way he'd done all of the boy's life. Jake, though...he kept glancing over at Embry and Bella almost wistfully. Not that either of them ever looked his way to notice, though. I decided to be grateful for the Cold War atmosphere there-much better than the alternative that we'd already experienced.

As usual at any event where the pack was present, the food was demolished in short order. I was pleased to see that Embry was being as solicitous of his mate as Jared and I were of ours-at least one thing around here was going well right now. All the little gestures and glances that imprinted mates shared were fully in evidence, which seemed to please Old Quil and Sue Clearwater. Harry was accepting of the Embry and Bella situation, it appeared, though he was sending troubled glances Billy's direction.

Even though Billy usually told the stories at the introductory bonfires, this it was Old Quil who gestured for silence after plates had been collected and dumped in the trashcan. Satisfied, he began to speak. He spoke of Q'waeti, and how he had traveled around this area creating each tribe and teaching them how to act and live: the Queets, Hoh, Makah, and the Quileute.

"Then Q'waeti' went on and reached the Quileute land. He saw two wolves. There were no people here. Then Q'waeti' transformed the wolves into people. Then he instructed the people saying: 'The common man will have only one wife. Only a chief may have four or eight wives. For this reason you Quileute shall be brave, because you come from wolves,' said Q'waeti'. 'In every manner you shall be strong.'"

"Then Q'waeti' reached the Ozette people, that we today call the Makah. There he saw two dogs. Then he transformed the dogs into people. Then Q'waeti' gave instructions to the people how to search around the rocks for devil-fish, and to get all kinds of sea food. Then Q'waeti' went on."

"Then he came to the Neah people. He saw many people. The people did not know how to fish. So, the Neah people were hungry, about to perish. Then Q'waeti' instructed one person how they should fish. Q'waeti' instructed them how to troll when trying to fish. Ever since then there is much fish in Neah Bay. When Q'waeti' finished he said that there would be much fish at Neah Bay."

'Descended from wolves'," Bella whispered after Old Quil had fallen silent, clearly remembering the stories Jake had told her, connecting this tale of our origins to the reality of the pack.

"Yes," Harry agreed. He shifted on his log seat, took a deep breath, and started his own story.

"In the beginning, the tribe settled in this harbor and became skilled ship builders and fishermen. But the tribe was small, and the harbor was rich in fish. There were others who coveted our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to escape them."

"Kaheleha was not the first spirit warrior, but we do not remember the stories that came before his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been used before this crisis. Kaheleha was the first great Spirit Chief in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the magic to defend our land. He and all his warriors left the ship—not their bodies, but their spirits…"

"Generations passed. Then came the last great Spirit Chief, Taha Aki. He was known for his wisdom, and for being a man of peace. The people lived well and content in his care. But there was one man, Utlapa, who was not content. He was powerful, but grasping. He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands and enslave their neighbors. Taha Aki saw what he dreamed and commanded Utlapa to leave—he did so, but watched and waited for a chance for revenge."

As often happened when the stories were told, they seemed to come to life in the flames at the center of our circle. Utlapa's murder of his own body after taking over Taha Aki's empty body. How Taha Aki had shared the body of a wolf until he became human again to defeat Utlapa. And then how he and his sons had continued to guard the tribe as spirit wolves for many lifetimes.

I focused my attention on Embry and Bella for the remainder of Harry's story, watching them hear how Taha Aki and his pack had destroyed a Cold One, and how Taha Aki's third wife had helped him kill the Cold One's mate at the cost of her own life. Both wolf and imprint shivered, clearly seeing the parallels between the story and their own recent encounter with a vampire.

The final tale of the evening was mine: that of the last pack to exist before our own.

"Seventy years ago, a bigger coven came. Our great-grandfathers prepared to fight them off, but the leader spoke to Ephraim Black and promised not to harm the Quileutes. Ephraim accepted their offer of a treaty. They have stayed true to their side—not biting a human to change them—and the tribe has kept its side—remaining silent about the Cullen's and what they are. Even now, when their presence forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen. The sons of our tribe again carry the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them."

I looked around the circle, drawing everyone's eyes to meet mine as my gaze swept each member of my audience. I held Embry's eyes longest, wanting him to be absolutely sure that I counted him as one of us. My contact with Billy lasted only a few seconds before his eyes dropped down to his lap, but I left him in no doubt about my feelings on his conduct regarding his unclaimed son—a son no less deserving of Billy's worry than Jacob was. It wasn't likely to change things, but I still did it.

After the stories, I pulled the pack aside for a few minutes to hand out the new patrol assignments. "Quil, you'll take the first half of the night shift, and Jake, you'll take the second half and be done by the time school starts. Jared and I will split the day shifts. Embry, you'll come on after you get out of school. I'll run with you for a while, just until you're ready to go solo. Paul, you'll take the evenings until Quil comes on. I know this does mean that everyone-including the new wolves-will be running solo, but it's the best way I can think of to ensure equality. If you're not on patrol, just keep an ear out if you're close, and phase in if you hear a howl."

"What if we're in school then?" Quil wanted to know.

"Either Jared or I will be on patrol then. Whichever of us isn't will phase in and get an update. If you hear a second howl, then you can get out of class and come help," I directed my reply to all four of the student wolves.

"Sam, you want me to come on duty early for a few days and buddy with Embry?" Paul asked. "He's picking things up fast, so it wouldn't be for long, but I can do it if you think it'll help."

"I won't insist on it, but if you're up for it, sure. That okay with you, Embry? Paul says you're doing great at picking up the wolf stuff, so it isn't that any of us think you need the help, but…well, I would have liked to have someone around with me in the beginning."

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Good. Okay, everyone, let's get the rest of our stuff cleaned up and head out. Quil, go ahead and phase. No time like the present to start the new schedule."

Quil nodded and made for the treeline. Jared and Paul moved to extinguish the bonfire and check for any stray trash. Then Jacob approached Embry for the first time tonight. I stayed close but decided not to interfere unless I had to-the two of them were going to have to be able to interact with each other without me or someone else babysitting them all the time and this was an opportunity to see how things might go.

"Do you need something, Jacob?" Embry's tone carried the clear suggestion that it would be better for the other youth if he said 'no'.

"I just-I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for what I said. Sorry for what I did. I was way out of line to both you and Bella. And I'm sorry for what Dad didn't say and do."

"He tell you to say that?" Embry growled. "Your dad tell you to apologize to me?" Bitterness dripped from his voice. Jacob's father, not Embry's.

"No, he didn't. He should, but-"

"You think I care about that? I don't give a flying flip off the cliffs about him. Its years too late for him to have any right to expect that. I'm not going to jump to attention just because of an unwilling acknowledgement from a selfish sperm-donor."

"I don't blame you. I'm pissed at him, too."

"Ask me if I care. You want to be pissed at your dad, you go right ahead. No difference to me one way or the other."

"Emb..."

"I don't care. About him...you...any of it. Doesn't matter. He can go to hell, and you can just stay out of my way."

Embry spun around, his long strides eating up the distance to where Bella stood with the other imprints. Jacob stared after him briefly before heading over to where his father sat waiting in his wheelchair.

"Well, that went well," Paul snorted.

"All things considered...yeah, I guess that was pretty good," I agreed. "Keep an eye on them at school, okay? You and Quil." I sighed. "Probably a good thing on more than one level that Embry's going to be at Forks High half of each day."

"Keeps him near Bella...and away from Jake. Yeah, a really good thing."

As Emily and I got ready for bed that night, I mentally reminded myself to tell Jared to swing by the school at least once on his shift, just to check on Embry; I'd be doing the same thing in the afternoons when he was at Forks High. He seemed to have pretty impressive control so far, but I wasn't so far removed from high school myself to have forgotten how mean, cruel, and downright vicious teenagers could be when they wanted to. Judging by what I'd seen today, I expected that Embry would be able to hold his own against the students of both Forks and La Push, but I wasn't Alpha to take unnecessary chances.

Quileute origin story found at:

The stories about the Quileute wolf packs told by Harry and Sam come from chapter 11 of "Eclipse".