Rosalie
I couldn't believe it. The audacity of Emmett, not just to show up after months of not returning my calls, but to be angry toward me for finding my mate? I sat for a long moment and stared at him before giving him a response. I could feel Jasper projecting calm towards me and that only served to increase my anger.
"Well, Emmett, I happen to think it's none of your fucking business who Paul is. Who are you? I'm surprised I even recognize someone that hasn't been able to see or speak to me in months. I was expecting divorce papers any day now." The venom in my tone overpowered anything that I was saying to him. The anger on his face softened into a look I remembered and it pained me for a moment to remember why I had fallen in love with Emmett in the first place.
"Rosalie.." He reached out and grabbed my hand. "I never wanted a divorce. What Edward did to Bella really hurt me and I couldn't be in Forks without being reminded of her. I know you don't like the girl, but she truly was like a sister to me and I knew if I saw her the way you described her I would go to her and try to be there for her. I didn't want to hurt her or put our family at any more risk. I've missed you so badly, and talking to you only made it worse. Please, tell me who Paul is. Are you sure he is actually your mate?" His words tugged at my heart. There was no doubt that I did love Emmett, but I knew in my heart that Paul was meant for me. If Emmett had been my mate, it would have pained him to be away from me for so long.
I put my other hand on top of his. "Paul is one of the wolves from La Push. We met today, actually. I don't know how familiar you are with their legends, but I'm his imprint. I wasn't happy to hear it at first, but when he was threatened and almost killed by a nomad earlier I knew that he was truly my mate. I am so, so sorry Emmett. I really do love you, but I believe I'm meant to be with him."
He pulled his hand from mine and I saw a look I rarely saw coming from Emmett: rage. "Did you say he was almost killed by a nomad? And what, you saved him? Those mutts put you in danger?" He was seething. I was afraid of him in that moment.
"Emmett, you know I would never let something like that happen to Rose." Alice spoke up. "I can't see Paul, but I'm sure they wouldn't either. I saw Rosalie fleeing from the conflict and being killed near Denali, that's why Jasper came early."
That didn't calm him down. He ran out of the house, and I stood to chase him. Jasper stood up and held his hand out toward me. "No, Rosalie. I will go. You can stay here with Alice or go back to Bella, but do not follow us." He ran out the door and disappeared in to the night.
I sat with Alice for a few hours talking about Bella, the pack, and everything in between. It was nice to have some time with my sister after being alone in the cabin for months on end. I knew now that I had Paul and the pack that I wouldn't have to feel that way again, even if I was still in hiding from Bella. If Jacob imprinted on her as I suspected he would, she would know about me being here soon enough and I would be able to go back to school. Or at least be seen closer to Forks than Seattle.
"Alice, do you know where Edward is? I'm assuming the two of you have kept in contact." I asked her.
She sighed. "I actually don't. We aren't as close as we used to be anymore. He's shut himself off from the family since we left Forks. I would tell him about Victoria if I could, but I have no way to contact him."
"He doesn't need to know anyway. The wolves are furious with him, they wouldn't tolerate him being here very well." I looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning and Jasper wasn't back yet. "I'm going to go to the reservation and see the pack, if Jasper gets back will you ask him to meet me there?" Alice nodded.
With that, I was on my way. I decided to run by Bella's house first to check on her. It was Sunday, so I suspected she would be at home. Surprisingly though, she wasn't. I was tempted to get my car so I could look for her, but I ran to Sam's house instead. I was anxious to see Paul. It had really only been a few hours since I had seen him last, but it felt like a century. Realizing how quickly he was becoming important to me was terrifying, but it also felt right in a way I couldn't explain. I went to Sam's back door and knocked, not wanting to take a chance on being seen at the front door if Bella was on the reservation. I wondered when we would be able to tell her I was there. Surely she knew about the wolves by now, after spending the night with Jacob.
Emily finally came to the door to greet me, but stepped on to the porch instead of letting me in. "Good morning, Rosalie!" She pulled me in to a hug. "Why are you here by yourself? I thought Jasper was coming with you?"
"He was supposed to." I answered her, "we had a bit of a problem within our coven last night. Nothing to worry about, but Jasper is still out this morning working on a solution. Alice and Emmett got to my place late last night, we weren't anticipating them for a few more days." Her warm expression faded.
"Emmett, your husband?" Fuck. I hadn't told any of them about Emmett. I hadn't meant to be deceptive, but I didn't know where we stood and I really hadn't had the time to tell them about our situation.
"No, we aren't together anymore. Can I come in? I'd like to see Paul, and I know that Sam wanted to talk about Victoria." I was desperate to see Paul and explain what had happened. He had to know I wasn't actually in a relationship with Emmett anymore.
Emily backed up against the door with her hand on the knob. "I don't think that's a good idea. We appreciate what you did for us, but I think it's best if you stay off the reservation. You still have the right to come here without breaking the treaty as an imprint, but I think it's in Paul's best interest if you stay away. He's had a hard life and none of us want to see him hurt by someone that couldn't tell us she was married." I couldn't believe the words that were coming from her mouth. I wanted to argue, to fight to see him, but I couldn't disrespect Emily.
"I understand. Please know that you're all welcome to come to me if you need me, I won't be leaving any time soon but the rest of my family will. I'll still be keeping an eye on Bella, but I'll do my best to stay away from the wolves." My throat clenched and I was thankful that I couldn't cry. The last thing I wanted was to stay away from the pack.
Emily nodded and disappeared in the house. Paul was so close to me in that moment, but somehow farther away than he'd ever been. I didn't know him well, but I knew he wouldn't have went along with this if it wasn't what he wanted. It was probably his idea. I still didn't regret ending things with Emmett this morning. I walked slowly back toward my house trying to gather my thoughts. So much had changed in just over a day's time. I took my time crossing back to Cullen territory, not knowing when or if I'd be back on the reservation. If I hadn't promised my family I would stay for Bella, I would be leaving Forks for good. As much as I despise Edward for what he did to her, I couldn't fault him for the principle. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay knowing that Paul was here but wouldn't be with me.
My chest ached as I approached the treaty line and came up on the rock he had knocked me off of yesterday. One stupid moment that had changed my life forever, and now it was just a painful memory. Of course I hadn't known Paul long, but in that short time of knowing the pack I came to love them. I sat on the rock and fought the urge to call Alice, as if that would recreate yesterday's events. I watched as Bella passed by, driving toward the reservation. I wondered if they would turn her away the way they had me. Who could be behind this? Jacob had not made his distaste for my family a secret. Sam seemed to like us, and I would have expected more gratitude from him for saving Emily. Jared was Paul's best friend, so surely he hadn't suggested pushing me away.
Could it have been Paul that decided he was better off without me in his life? I couldn't fault him if he did. Paul could have any girl that he wanted, so I could understand why he didn't want someone of my kind. I couldn't give him a child. I couldn't grow old by his side. I couldn't give him the things a human girl could. If he decided that was best for him, I would support him. As painful as it would be to give up on the relationship I wanted so badly with him, that apparently we were destined to have, I would do it if it meant he was happy. I sat on my rock for hours, thinking about everything that had transpired. I still had no idea what I was going to do next.
I wasn't alone long when a gray and black wolf approached me. I didn't recognize him, so I knew it had to be Jacob or Embry. He growled and I was taken aback because I knew he would recognize me. I wasn't on the reservation, and this was the same fight I'd had with Paul yesterday. Would Paul know what he was doing?
"I'm not on your damn reservation, and I'm not leaving. I won't fight you, but I'm won't be bullied off of land that isn't yours." My nice act was over. If Paul had already decided he was better off without me, I may as well solidify his choice.
The wolf growled and ran to the woods. I was only alone for another moment before Embry approached me. "Are you always such a bitch? You seemed a lot nicer yesterday." He sat down next to me.
"Are you sure you want to sit there?" I asked. "Emily ran me out of La Push this morning and told me to stay away from Paul." I tried to sound angry but I think Embry picked up on the pain in my voice.
He growled. "Paul is an asshole, don't blame Emily. She was just the messenger." Paul? He was the one that wanted me to stay away? I didn't realize I wasn't just thinking that until he responded. "Did you actually think Emily was capable of that? She cried before you got there and after you left. Paul told her to stay away from you and not to let you in their house. Sam told him he was being an asshole, but we aren't supposed to interfere with imprints and Emily was trying to respect Paul." My heart broke as I listened to him. Paul really didn't want me? Having it confirmed hurt much more than thinking it earlier.
"Do you know why Paul changed his mind? He was so kind to me yesterday, I just don't understand." I realized how weak I sounded but in that moment I didn't care.
"He found out from that nomad that you're married and he's pissed that you didn't tell him. Paul is a real hothead and he doesn't trust anyone. Both of his parents screwed him over time and time again when he was growing up. You really only get one chance with him, and that was yours. He's pissed at Sam this morning too for what he did to Jake and Bells. Maybe he'll come around, but don't hold your breath." Embry hung his head as he talked. He seemed so much more sensitive than the other guys, and I appreciated his honesty.
"What do you mean, what Sam did to Bella? Is she okay?" I knew that Sam wouldn't physically hurt Bella, but I had only just started to see her come around again. I didn't want to see her hurting again.
Embry sighed again. "She is far from okay. We aren't allowed to be around any humans for the first few weeks after we phase, and nobody can know our secret. Billy told her that she had to leave last night, that Jacob wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be up for company when he got home. The last thing she had seen was our fight so she panicked. This morning she called Jacob's cell phone, and Sam made him answer and tell her that they couldn't be friends anymore." Why the hell would he do that? "Bella cried and Jacob just hung up on her. It was terrible, she was sobbing and begging him not to put her through this again. She came to Sam's and he slammed the door in her face and told her to go home." I was fuming listening to him.
I stood up and started to pace when I heard the familiar rumble of Bella's truck coming down the road next to me. I looked over to Embry. "I'm following her, do you want to come with me?" He nodded and phased.
We followed behind her and I quickly recognized where she was going. She was trying to find the meadow my brother had been so obsessed with, he must have taken her there. I knew exactly where to go but she seemed to be lost. Embry followed closely behind me, and it was hard not to feel like we were invading her privacy. I couldn't take a chance on Victoria finding her out in the woods unprotected. Sam and Jacob may not care, but I did. She finally found the meadow and laid down in the grass. She sat there for a long time and finally took out a book. Embry phased back and we chatted quietly while we watched her. I still didn't want her to know I was here. Suddenly, I caught a scent that I knew all too well. Laurent was here. I told Embry but we didn't have time to act before he was standing in front of Bella in the meadow.
"Isabella, what a pleasant surprise." He said to her. It absolutely was not pleasant.
"Laurent..." She started to back away. "I thought you were in Denali." Panic flooded her face and Embry was vibrating beside me. I took his hand in mine and tried to calm him down.
Laurent laughed at Bella. "I went by the Cullens house and nobody was home. It seems they forgot their pet when they left. I'm here as a favor to Victoria, but you can consider it a favor to you as well. She plans to kill you slowly, but I'll make it quick. Painless, even."
"They'll know it was you. They'll come back for you." She tried to sound convincing, but I could tell she didn't believe it herself.
I looked over to Embry. "Do you want to kill him, or take off with Bella? One of us has to get her out of here and the other has to take him on solo. She can't be here in case he has backup standing by."
Laurent spoke again. "I don't believe they will. How important could you be to them, for them to leave you here unprotected?"
"I think you're more likely to beat him one on one, but I can't alert the pack without phasing and they could help me. It won't take them more than a few minutes to get here." His logic made sense, but convincing Bella to go with me wouldn't be easy. I also didn't want Embry to get in trouble with Sam for being around me against Paul's wishes.
She was still trying to convince him not to hurt her, but I knew we didn't have long. "Edward will know. What will the Denali's think then? I know they don't drink from humans." Judging by his red eyes, I think both of us knew that he hadn't been with Irina in quite some time.
"If we take him by surprise, we may be able to kill him before he knows we're here. Let's try to take him out together and if it doesn't work, I'll get Bella and run." Embry nodded and agreed. "We have to go now."
"Isabella, are you trying to convince me that they love you enough to fight for you? Or yourself? If they love you so much, where are they right now?" I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw me. I looked over to Embry who stripped his clothes and phased quietly.
I walked out behind her. "I'm right here Laurent. Did YOU really think we would leave her here, unprotected?" His jaw dropped and Bella turned around to face me. I walked to stand between them. "You aren't going to touch her." Bella was speechless.
"There's only one of you and one of me, and we both know our kind are stronger on human blood. Give me the girl, and you can walk away with your life." He growled. Bella was trembling behind me.
I laughed at him. "Oh, but you're wrong again. I brought a friend."
Laurent turned to face the trees where Embry was walking out slowly and gracefully. "I don't believe it.." he muttered.
Before he could turn around, Embry had tackled him to the ground. Laurent quickly overpowered him and sent him flying into a tree. I saw that Embry was about to howl and cautioned him not to. I turned to check on Bella, and Laurent got to me more quickly than I had expected him to. I felt him on top of me as he pushed my face into the ground and held my arms down. His knee was on the back of my neck and I was powerless to get him off, but I knew that if he was fighting me he couldn't be hurting Bella. I felt the weight lifted off of me and turned to see that Embry had him down again. Embry had detached one of his arms and was snapping in his face.
"Embry, let him up. I want to talk to him before we kill him." Embry tore off one of his legs before moving away from him and phasing out. I looked toward Laurent. "Why are you here? What is Victoria planning?"
Laurent grinned at me. "You know less than you thought. If you're killing me anyway, why would I betray her?" I didn't have time for this.
"Fine, don't. I'm not even going to threaten to torture you because I don't have the time or patience to waste. Enjoy burning in hell. I hope you see James there." I jumped on his shoulders and sent his head flying across the meadow. For a second, I had forgotten that Bella was there until I saw that it had stopped rolling at her feet. Embry pulled a lighter from his pocket and the three of us stood there for a moment before Bella broke the silence.
"How long have you been here Rosalie?" She asked me.
I looked away from her. I was ashamed that I let her suffer alone for so long. "Pretty much the entire time my family has been gone." Her face fell.
"You don't even like me. Why would you come back, and not even let me know you're here? Did you want to watch me suffer? Is it some kind of fucking sick joke to you?" I hadn't seen this side of her before. Her face was turning red as she spoke. She turned to Embry. "And you! What the hell is going on with you guys? You turn into a fucking wolf? Is that why Jake can't be my friend anymore? Sam's gang is actually a pack of wolves?!"
Embry stepped toward her but she stepped back. "Bella, please. Let us explain. We both just wanted to protect you."
"So what, you two were following me in the woods today? Does Emmett know you're out here with another man, Rosalie?" Hearing his name again hurt me in a way I didn't want her to see. Bella didn't know my compassionate side.
"Watch it, Isabella. Emmett knows exactly where I am. I stayed behind because I care about you, and you should be thanking us for following you today. I don't know if you missed it, but Laurent was going to kill you. You'd be dead if we weren't here." Embry shook his head at me. He must not have liked what I was saying to her.
He spoke again. "Saving people is what we do, Bella. You don't have to thank us, but you could at least come with me and let us explain everything to you. We can go back to Sam's and fill everyone in. Or, you can go with Rosalie. Alice is at her house." I smacked his arm. Bella wasn't supposed to know about Alice, but now that he said it I wasn't sure how to go back from it.
"I'd love to see Alice, and let her know how I'm feeling about her abandonment too." This wasn't going to be good. "Why don't you come with us, Embry? Since you're apparently such good friends with them. Or do you need to get back to your gang?" There was venom in her tone. What had we done to the poor sweet girl Edward had met last year?
Embry didn't waver. "Of course, Bella. If that's what you want." Had he imprinted on her? Surely he hadn't.
We started to walk back to her truck, which wasn't a far hike for Embry and I but seemed to be a lot for Bella. She started slowing down and asked to stop a few times. Embry offered to carry her a few times and she refused. She walked behind us, grumbling about Edward and Jacob and us being assholes. I was dreading taking them back to my house, I didn't even know who we would see there. Alice had been there this morning, Kate Denali was supposed to be back, and I had no idea where Emmett and Jasper were. We finally made it and she insisted on driving herself. I had forgotten how noisy and slow her truck was.
We came to approach the driveway to my house and my family home, and I started giving her directions on finding my cabin. The road to my family's home was long, and the closer we got the more confused we all were. There in the driveway was Emmett's jeep, Alice's Porsche, Jasper's motorcycle, Carlisle's Mercedes, and a truck I didn't recognize. Kate either hadn't made it back or had already left.
I looked over to Embry. "Does that truck belong to a wolf?" He nodded. I hoped that Paul wasn't here. I wasn't ready to see him.
Bella parked behind the truck and we all got out and walked toward the house. The entire pack and my entire family except for Edward was sitting there on the porch, waiting for us it seemed. Seeing Paul brought the pain in my chest back, and I wondered what Emmett would do when he realized who Paul was. I didn't envy Bella having to see Jake either after how everyone had treated her. I understand that the wolves have to keep their secret, but they weren't respecting anyone else's feelings in this whole mess.
"Rosalie, come sit. I think you have a few things to explain to us. Isabella, it's great to see you to see you." Carlisle beckoned me over to the seat next to him. Bella and I went to sit next to Carlisle.
Just walking by Paul caused my anguish to increase, but I could smell cheap perfume on him and that hurt more. He hadn't waited long to replace me, if even the full day. I didn't imagine it would be very difficult for him to find someone, girls must throw themselves at all of the pack. They were all gorgeous men. Emmett moved to sit on the other side of Bella and grabbed her hand.
"How's my little sister doing?" He asked her. "Sorry we were gone for so long, I promise I won't leave you again." She smiled and nodded at him and didn't say anything. Was she not mad at all of us? On the drive over she hated us all, but now she was putty in Emmett's hands? I was glad Edward wasn't there to try to dazzle her again.
Bella looked over to where Jacob was sitting. He had his head in his hands and was looking down, avoiding eye contact with everyone except for the occasional glance at Sam. "Hi Jake." She said. He gave her a slight wave but didn't look up. "Oh, so you still aren't allowed to talk to me?"
Jacob groaned but still didn't raise his head to look at her. "Nobody said I can't talk to you, I just don't want to." Why was he trying so hard not to look at her? I wondered if it had something to do with imprinting. Embry had told me earlier that he would explain it to me soon if nobody else did. I still knew very little about it.
Embry was walking to an empty seat next to Jacob when Paul stood from his chair and grabbed him. He turned Embry around and punched him hard in the face. "I told you to stay the fuck away from her. What part of that wasn't clear to you?" I was disgusted, and even more so when I saw that Embry didn't react and just took his seat. Blood poured from his face, but the wolves blood didn't bother us the way human blood did. I looked toward him, but he looked down. I walked in the house and came back with a cold damp towel for him to stop the bleeding. He took it from me but didn't speak or look up.
"Paul we will talk about this later." Sam growled. Paul sat back down and didn't even bother glancing at me.
Emmett stood up and looked at Paul. "So you're the one that's thinks he's my wife's mate? Why don't we go have a friendly chat in the woods? I don't back down from a fight like your pack brother here did."
Paul scoffed at him. "I'll kick your ass anytime leech, but I'm not fighting over a bitch I don't even want. She may be my imprint, but she will never be my mate." I couldn't believe what he was saying. I just told Emmett about Paul this morning, just met him yesterday, and he had already decided he didn't want me..
"That's enough, Paul." Jasper stood from his seat. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, but Rosalie risked her life to save you yesterday. Did you know that she has never fought another of our kind before? That was the first and only time she has killed anyone. You don't have to be with her, but you will not disrespect her in her own home. Emmett will be the least of your worries if you keep treating my sister poorly." Bella squeezed my hand. She was realizing that I didn't know what I was doing with Laurent either, but that I was willing to do anything to keep her safe, even if I died in the process.
"Wow, Rose, you mean you didn't know what you were doing when we took on the leech with the dreads today?" Embry was smiling at me, blood still pouring down his face. I wasn't ready for that conversation either, but it was better than the one we were having.
Alice's head shot up when she heard this. "Laurent? Why wouldn't I have seen him coming? Is that why Bella was with you?" I nodded. "Bella, I am so sorry. I promised Edward I wouldn't watch you, but I didn't know you were in danger. That's why we left Rosalie here." Bella flinched when Alice said my brother's name.
"Rosalie and Embry killed him, it's no big deal now." I was proud of Bella for not trying to comfort Alice or ease her guilt for leaving her behind. We all deserved her anger toward us.
I sat anxiously listening to Bella and Embry telling everyone what had happened with Laurent. My family certainly wouldn't blame me for putting myself in danger to help Bella. We owed her that and so much more after everything Edward had put her through. I was glad he wasn't here to criticize us and tell us how he would have handled the situation better. I kept looking toward Paul but he never met my gaze.
"Bella, I'm glad that you're okay, but this is a big deal. Embry and Rosalie are arguably the two worst fighters among both groups, this could have ended very badly for you." Sam said.
I looked at Embry and I don't know who was more angry between the two of us. It could have ended badly for her? "You're right, Sam." I said. "The encounter with the nomads last night could have ended badly for your pack and your imprint too if I hadn't been there to help you."
"I appreciate your help Rosalie, please don't take what I'm saying the wrong way." He replied. "I just want Bella to understand how dangerous this is for her."
"Bella doesn't need you to mansplain anything to her, Sam. There were two of us there and we had backup plans for every scenario. She was getting out of there alive even if one of us didn't." I told him.
His expression hardened. "I don't appreciate that you were willing to sacrifice Embry's life, Rosalie. If you want to go on a suicide mission, be my guest, but don't ever volunteer my pack to go on it with you."
"She didn't volunteer me for shit." Embry told Sam. "Aren't we protectors of the tribe? That's what we're here for, to protect humans from vampires. If I had to die to protect Bella I would have, but every plan we came up with ended with me alerting the pack and leaving Rosalie alone with him. She would have been the one to die, not me and definitely not Bella." My respect for him grew every time he spoke. He had only just met me, and had seemed so quiet before, but he was willing to stand up to his alpha for me.
Paul scoffed. "Well, why don't you two just get a room? Glad to know that while you should have been patrolling you were prancing around the woods with my imprint. Our laws say an imprint can't be harmed, and you have to alert the pack when you come across the scent of a leech. Either way, you fucked up today." Why the hell did he care if I was in danger? He made it abundantly clear that he wasn't interested in me.
"He's right, Embry." Sam said. "You put yourself, the tribe and an imprint at risk. You're going to do double patrols for the next two weeks. Maybe patrolling with a more experienced wolf will be good for you."
Embry shrugged, not phased by his punishment at all. "That's okay. Nobody died today, so if you want to punish me for saving both of their lives I'll do my time."
"Sam," Alice interrupted. "Would you explain what imprinting is to us? We know that Rosalie is Paul's imprint, but nobody knows what that means."
Her question scared me. I know that being his imprint meant that I should be his mate, but he didn't want me. Did I really want to understand the concept of imprinting? Or would this just be another way for Paul to hurt me? I looked toward Carlisle and tipped my head toward the door, to let him know I was going to go inside. He shook his head. I don't know why he wanted me to be there, unless he knew something that I didn't.
Sam sighed. "Imprinting is the way we find our mates. When you look your imprint in the eyes for the first time after you've phased, your entire world changes. They are our reason for existing. We are whatever they need." That must not be true, because I needed Paul. "Our legends say that we can be a brother, a friend, or a protector to our imprint if that's what they need. All of the imprints in our history have been involved romantically. It's a very deep spiritual bond between the two people. It grows over time, but Emily can feel the emotions I feel. That's how she knew I was in danger last night. That took awhile to develop for us."
"It hasn't for Rosalie and Paul." Jasper interrupted. "They even feel the same thing right now. That's how I knew something was going on between them. Your imprint bond impacts all of your emotions. You and Emily do have a much stronger emotional bond than the two of them though, of course." Paul didn't react at all to what Jasper was saying. Sam simply nodded.
Jacob, still looking away from Bella, stood up to leave. "I'm going back to the res, you can fill me in on this later, Sam." He started to walk off when Bella ran after him.
"Jake!" She yelled. "Is this why you won't speak to me? Why you won't even look at me?"
He didn't turn around. "I can't look at you, Bella." We could hear the pain in his voice. "If I look at you, and I don't imprint on you, then I won't have any hope left. I'm not willing to give it up yet." He phased before she could respond and ran off into the woods. Bella sank to the ground crying softly. Alice ran to comfort her and the two of them disappeared in the house.
For a few minutes, we all sat quietly. Paul was supposed to be what I needed? I couldn't wrap my head around it. Was he being forced to love me? Is that why he resented me? I couldn't deny how badly I wanted Paul, but I didn't want him to feel forced to be with me. He should be able to choose his mate, they all should. My heart ached for him and the rest of the wolves. I know that they viewed imprinting as a blessing, but to me it sounded almost like a curse.
Jasper finally spoke to break the silence. "I know we need to talk about Victoria, but how about calling it a night for now? A lot has happened today, and I think this conversation would be more productive tomorrow. We can even start training together, if you'd like. I know we've put it off once, but my family just got here and I think Bella needs some time before we scare her any more."
"I would love to meet Emily if you'll allow me to, Sam." Esme was beaming. "I hear that she's a fabulous cook, and I'd love to share recipes with her. Jasper told me about how lovely she is."
Sam smiled softly at her. "I'm sure she would love that, Esme. We can come at lunchtime tomorrow if you'd like? So long as there aren't any more attacks on the tribe between now and then, that is."
Carlisle extended his hand to Sam. "Tomorrow sounds perfect." Sam stood to meet him and the pack filed out behind him.
I watched as Paul and Jared climbed in the truck with Sam. Embry asked if it was okay for him to stay back, and Sam agreed. We all sat and watched as they disappeared down the road. Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Emmett, Embry, and I made small talk on the porch for the next hour and the stress of the day seemed to melt away. Embry had such a kind soul. I hated that he was damned to this supernatural life. He told us about his life growing up on the reservation. He talked a lot about his mother and how difficult it was for them to move there as outsiders from another tribe. I wondered how he had phased since it was supposed to be passed down genetically, but I wouldn't dare to ask him.
Esme invited Bella and Embry to stay over and offered to cook dinner for them and they both agreed. Carlisle called Sam who let him know that Embry would still have to patrol tomorrow, but it was okay for him to stay for tonight after taking down Laurent today. Emmett was overjoyed to have Bella back, and he spent most of the night playing video games with her. I wished that Paul was there, or that he even wanted to be there with me and my family. The thought of him caused my chest to ache. I felt so empty. I wondered if the imprint would always feel like this, or if it felt the same for Paul. Why would he want to live this way? Was it really a better alternative than being with me?
I put my feelings aside for my family's sake, and after we had all taken turns beating Emmett at his favorite game the humans let us know they needed to get some rest. Alice took Bella to her bedroom and I offered my room at my cabin to Embry. He loved us, but said the smell of all of us together would be too much for him to sleep peacefully. Everyone had made trips to my cabin, but I was the only one that had been there for any meaningful amount of time. We walked there together, mostly in silence.
"Why is it that you're okay with my scent and not my family's?" I asked him. I wondered at first if we smelled better than other vampires because we drink animal blood, but that wouldn't set me apart from them.
He smiled at me. "You're an imprint. To me, you smell like any other human. You're pack now. My wolf knows that, it makes him feel at home." Embry really was the sweetest guy.
We kept walking, and finally made it to my home. It was so small in comparison to our family house, but it would be better for Embry and that was comforting to me. I had a bed, even though I didn't sleep. I showed him around and told him to make himself at home. He asked if he could shower in my bathroom, and disappeared to the back of the house. I waited to hear the water turn on before I left. I didn't want to be around my family tonight. I didn't want to think about Paul. I ran back to my house and got in Emmett's jeep. Tonight, I wanted to find a way to forget.