"Make me, bitch."
"Whoa, all right!" Seth wedged himself between Annalise and Leah, careful to keep his expression and tone as neutral as possible. "Everyone take a beat, okay?"
Both women turned their glares on him. Offering his best, innocent smile, he carefully nudged them back a few steps. Neither woman seemed phased by his keep-the-peace routine.
He clocked the sound of heavy paws pounding through the forest. Only one set, thank God, and instinct told him it was friendly. Embry. "We've got maybe two minutes before Em gets here," he reported.
A dozen emotions sprinted across Annalise's face before settling on one he knew well. Worry. Something tugged in his chest, bringing him inches from the warmth of her body.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he promised, his hands finding hers. He didn't want to fight his pack brother, but he knew that, if it came down to it, there would be no hesitation.
Fate had really twisted his life upside down this time.
Annalise gnawed on her lower lip, her brows knitting together in unease as she scanned the forest, waiting for Embry to appear. Leah eyed their joined hands, frowning, before she, too, turned her attention to the trees.
Clad only in a pair of sweats, Embry Call emerged from the forest with a scowl. "Ah, hell, Seth," he heard Embry mutter as he jogged through the drizzle join them under the cover of the back porch. "Why did I know it was her?"
The question had been rhetorical, but Seth couldn't help but respond. "Em, please. This is all one big misunderstanding."
Embry looked down at their joined hands, before moving his gaze up to Leah. A look—one Seth wasn't sure he liked—passed between them. "Well?" Embry prompted into the empty air between them.
Leah pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly to demonstrate her frustration. Seth wanted to roll his eyes at his sister's dramatics but he needed her on their side. "Neither of us knows what actually happened—"
"—Leah!" So this was the sting of betrayal Annalise must have felt.
She carried on, shooting him with a side eye, "—but, we all know that Paul tends to bite first, ask questions later. It's possible he assumed she was an enemy when he caught the new scent."
Embry cursed, shaking his head. "I knew it was too good to be true," he muttered. "Sam was way too quick to trust that we could handle this."
Ah. Seth rocked back on his heels as the pieces of last night's mystery suddenly clicked into place.
From the Makah reservation down to Hoh and just east of Forks, both packs' territory had been clearly drawn. Sam would take the north, Jacob would take the south, and Seth's house hovered in a strange no-man's-land that was usually left to them to patrol.
Until now.
If Paul had been patrolling near here, it meant that Sam had gone behind their backs. Paul, and probably even Jared, had been running secret recon missions right under their noses. A jolt of anger and disappointment carved up his spine.
Annalise had been attacked 20 miles south, just out of Seth's range. Sam knew the limits on his knack for hearing and had exploited it.
Embry watched him process the information. It was all conjecture at this point, but Seth didn't really need much more of an explanation. The hold Annalise kept on his hand said, despite the confidence she liked to front, Paul's attack had done more than just piss her off.
That was enough for Seth.
"It's her word against Paul's," Embry pointed out.
Leah raised an eyebrow as if to say, I told you.
Annalise shifted closer to him. Seth smelled the apprehension rising in her body, turning the usual sweet, woodsiness of her scent bitter in his nose.
His mind went back to Plan A: her joining the pack. It was the logical choice. They'd be able to see what had actually happened and she'd have them for protection. Seth didn't know much about coyotes but wolves were pack animals. Yet, Annalise seemed about as thrilled with that as Seth was with double patrols.
"I won't force someone to submit," Embry said, his nostrils flaring slightly as he registered the shift in Annalise's scent. "But the only way Sam will even consider backing down is if you show us what really happened...and the only way to do that..."
Seth stiffened, picking up the sound of three wolves flying toward them. His nerves frayed. He'd hoped they'd have more time. As it was, we wouldn't be able to fight Sam, Jared, and Paul. Hell, to be honest, the only one he could probably take one-on-one was Jared.
Embry's face hardened, catching the shift in Seth's attention. "How far out?"
He titled his head, straining his ears to hear. "It's still a little faint. Maybe 15 miles?"
"Listen," Embry growled, keeping his voice low. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but I'm trusting the kid's judgment. Seth wouldn't trust you if you didn't deserve it, imprint or otherwise. You've got about five minutes to decide before the others show up and it's out of my hands."
She stiffened. "I refuse to submit," she snapped. "Let alone to someone who can't even defend his own pack from a glorified beta." She spat the word as a curse, the venom in each syllable at odds with the anxious energy radiating from her entire being.
Embry scowled, clearly offended, and Seth understood that. The guy was putting his neck out. Seth only hoped Sam wouldn't sling the axe down. Or, worse, snitch to Jacob.
Wary, Leah shifted between them and Embry, her shoulders squared as if she were prepared to fight. This was all wrong.
He didn't want to fight with anyone, let alone his flesh and blood.
"Please, Annie," Seth pleaded, stepping into her line of vision. "Just trust me, okay?"
For a moment, he thought she might attack him, her lips still curled back over her teeth in warning. Right, he remembered. She'd done that once and he'd hopped on the first chance to call in reinforcements.
Seth stepped closer, keeping his hands up where she could see them. Careful to block Embry and Leah from view, he dipped his head to catch her gaze.
Annalise's anger faltered, her eyes focusing in on his.
Seth ignored the death stares burning into his back. "Embry's a great leader who trusts us. He doesn't use the alpha order unless he has no other choice. Sam, on the other hand, is a hard ass who acts first and thinks later when it comes to protecting the tribe. Yes, he may not have been the natural alpha, but in his own, twisted perspective, he thinks he's doing what's right for our people."
He grimaced, hearing the rapid approach as the others closed in. He could tell the others heard it now, too.
"Say we do talk Sam down from retaliating. If you're going to stay here, he won't trust you unless we have some kind of insurance—something besides you being my imprint. You can stay with us," Seth said quietly, hoping Sam was far enough away to hear him. "And keep your free will. Or, you may be forced to submit to Sam. Unless...unless you want to leave?"
Annalise's shoulders fell, her eyes searching his face for a lie.
Frowning, she stepped away from him—away from all of them.
What did he really expect? Of course she'd leave. She'd only arrived last night and, frankly, she was as much of a stranger to the others as she was to Seth. He also hadn't been the most welcoming, despite the nagging urge still barking at him to go full simp mode.
Annelise gripped the hem of her shirt, yanking it up and over her head before flinging it at his chest. She tossed a thin, black hairband at him too, letting the dark curtain of her hair fall down past her bare shoulders.
Seth felt the heat in his face, the sharp intake of his breath as a wave of shock and desire crashed over him. He heard Embry choke, the shuffle of feet on the concrete slab floor as he spun in a quick 180 to avoid seeing something he shouldn't. In the back of his mind, he thought he heard Leah snort out a laugh.
"Please don't tell me you have an issue with nudity too," she muttered, giving him a look that said she'd take it out on him if all of this went south.
Annalise turned toward the yard, arching her back sinfully before lunging forward.
The animal, caged just beneath the surface of her human body, broke free with a snarl as she landed on her feet. At just over five feet in coyote form, she was all muscle and grace. She might have passed for one of them, but her frame was much more slender, her nose and ears slightly pointed—all of which gave her away as something different, other. Her.
She huffed at the look of amazement taking over his face, but he could feel the mild satisfaction rolling off her.
Then he heard them. Their snarls came first as the rain let up to a fine mist, Annalise's scent riding through air as potent as ever. He phased on instinct, using his larger frame to block her from view.
Please let this work. Seth prayed, hoping someone or something would hear him. I can't fight them alone.
Embry phased too, dipping his head to avoid smashing it into the low roof of the back porch as he made his way into the mist.
Annalise moved next to him, her fur brushing against his. His thoughts shifted, turning anxious, images of worst case scenarios flashing through his mind. Bloody brawls, a flash of red tail lights disappearing on a dark highway, a searing pain in his head.
This wasn't like him at all. Sure, he'd gotten a little uptight since Annalise showed up but he'd never been a pessimist.
Remind her why this is important. Embry snapped at him. And you better be glad I like you, kid. Wait 'til Jake hears about this shit.
Quit calling me 'kid', Seth hissed, ignoring the empty threat. And she knows what she has to do. Give her a second.
Annalise's fur bristled as she braced herself.
Please, Annalise, Seth prayed, wishing she could hear him. He carefully nudged her with his head, hoping she understood what he'd meant.
I can hear you just fine, sweetness.
Seth's ears flattened in surprise. How? Though her voice was as clear as his own in his mind, he knew Embry couldn't hear her. He focused on Embry's mind and the familiar confusion set in again. The last two and half weeks had been nothing but confusion for him, and this was just icing on the cake.
The only other voice in Embry's head was Seth's.
What's happening? Embry prompted. I don't understand what I'm seeing.
Seth felt him concentrate, Embry's consciousness rooting through his mind as he tried to make sense of Seth's tumultuous thoughts.
Annalise looked up at Seth, her hazel eyes pulling his attention back to the frenzy of her thoughts. Please don't make me do this.
It wasn't anger in her voice this time. It was fear. Anxiety. Though he couldn't make sense of them, Seth saw random faces blinking in front his eyes, saw them shift into angry, snarling coyotes.
These are memories? He asked, watching as the largest among them towered over her, menacing. More flashes, the gnashing of teeth, the sickening crack of bone.
Please, she begged, the full weight of her panic flooding his system. He whined, shaking his head in an attempt to dispel her thoughts.
Seth turned the new development over in his mind. If he could hear Annie and Embry could hear him, then maybe...
Embry stepped forward. Seth, what's going on? She won't submit and something's off. I can't hear you clearly. It's like something's blocking me.
Embry, I don't know how, maybe it's the imprint, but I can hear Annie. Maybe she doesn't have to join the pack just yet. We might be able to use me as a conduit.
Annalise's head jerked up in surprise.
I can barely hear you right now, Seth. I don't think—
The others were almost here. The crack of twigs, the heavy thud of paws tamping down against the earth getting louder.
We're out of time, Seth realized.
Annalise's ears flattened against her head, her shoulders hunching forward as if to make herself as small as possible.
Without access to her thoughts, Sam would either have her attacked or cast out and Seth couldn't allow either.
Annie, he whispered, letting his forehead rest against hers. I won't let anyone hurt you. Whatever happens, I will protect you.
Her voice in his head grew quiet as she turned to Embry.
Annalise bowed, bringing her head almost to the ground, and lowered her gaze. Embry slowly relaxed his posture as her voice entered his head. Happy? She asked. Despite the subdued tone of her voice, she was still the loudest thing in Seth's head.
Embry's dark eyes appraised her. Though Annalise's voice was in Embry's head now, Seth realized his packmate only had a fragment of the chaotic flurry Seth could hear.
Maybe it's because you're imprinted, Embry guessed. Otherwise, it might sound the same as it does for me. We can test out the specifics later. As long as I can see the truth, it should be enough for Sam to call off the attack.
As if summoned, Sam Uley broke through the southern line of trees bordering Seth's property, a hulking mass of muscle and black fur, his dark eyes lost against the midnight hue of his face.
Jared and Paul flanked him. Both were brown, Jared lighter save for the darkness around his eyes and Paul with fur as brown as the soil beneath them. Still, against the eerie backdrop of the mist-laden forest, they appeared ominous. Feral, almost.
As if to prove the point, Paul snarled, his nose rising to catch a whiff of Annalise's scent blown by the shifting wind.
Seth bristled, exposing his teeth in warning, a growl thundering low in his chest.
Embry returned it. Let's keep this cordial, he advised.
Sam stepped forward, alone, coming to stop in the middle of the backyard. Jared and Paul hung behind.
Keep your attention focused on Jared and Paul. We don't want any surprises. Embry met Sam in the middle, keeping a few yards between them. Annalise and Seth moved a few steps closer, ready, in case Sam decided to attack.
Through Embry's mind, Seth heard Sam's voice like he'd had many times over the last decade. Only now, the strange, controlled telepathic projection between two alphas stood out.
With a start, he realized this matched Annalie's voice in Embry's head exactly. It was as if, like Sam, she could choose what she wanted Embry to hear.
To Seth, her thoughts were all over the place. Annalise was cataloging every scent, every movement, every gut instinct she gleaned from Sam's pack, and hoping like hell she hadn't made the wrong decision by coming here. Her eyes flickered from Jared to Paul, her hackles rising.
Seth moved closer, nudging her with his nose. It's okay. Remember what I said. I've got you.
She said nothing, but he felt a hollowness creeping inside her that said she didn't believe that anymore than she believed this plan would succeed.
Now, Annalise. Show us what happened. Embry's order came down full force, the weight of it making her whimper in surprise.
Seth stiffened at the unexpected show of authority—likely for Sam's benefit, he thought—and eyed Annalise uneasily. He half expected her to lash out. After all, Seth had just told her Embry didn't use the alpha order unless he had to. Yet, here was. Proven wrong. Again.
But she didn't lash out. Instead, she moved to stand closer to Embry and Sam. Seth followed.
I was coming up from Olympia after days of...travel. Annalise pulled the memory from the recesses of her mind, dropping the three of them right in the middle as if they were there alongside her.
Yesterday Evening
She was exhausted, having stopped only twice to sleep in the last few days, afraid of slowing down in case someone found her. Her mind had started playing tricks on her. Every shadow felt like an enemy, felt like him, watching her. She pushed those thoughts back, burying them like she'd done so often in the last week.
Now, she was running again, cursing the roughness of the backpack strap clenched tight in her mouth. Fucking Zel, always making me be practical, she hissed. Truth was, she was grateful for the overbearing den mother. The backpack had kept her from completely starving. At least, mostly.
Hunger was the last thing on her mind right now. No, she was more concerned with the incessant tugging in her chest, pulling her in the very direction she'd fled. North. Gods, I hope this is right. Thing was, it felt right and she knew she had no other choice.
All the trees and towns were starting to look the same. Just browns and greens and greys, pickup trucks and wayward campers.
The sound of tires rushing against the damp highway startled her, her claws digging into the ground to bring her to a skidding halt. Oo, just in time. Bright headlights lit up the darkness. Her eyes stung, from exhaustion and the sudden flash of light.
None of that compared to the sudden ache in her chest, the tightening of her stomach, the way her senses kicked into overdrive. She was almost there.
Annalise leapt across the highway as soon as the caravan of vehicles was out of sight, her legs burning as she ran. Finally, she'd thought. She was so close, she could feel it. She had no clue what to do when she got there, but none of that mattered. If she could find him, find the wolf, maybe she could stop running. She could stop being afraid.
Annalise's side cracked into a leaning cypress, the air rushing from her lungs with the force of something enormous crashing into her. Her mind reeled as she struggled to her feet. Oh gods, she'd thought, He's here. I wasn't fast enough…
She rose to her feet, inhaling as her vision refocused. No, she'd realized, her brain registering the unfamiliar scent. This isn't...It was a wolf. Not hers, but this close, surely from the same pack. If she could phase back, she could—
A snarl pulled her from head and she whirled around, coming face-to-chest with a dark brown wolf with murder in its eyes. He growled, lunging forward.
Annalise jumped, catching the full force of his body as they hit the ground. Soil and debris flew around them. This wolf wasn't here to talk or make nice, she realized. She knew that kind of ferocity well. Hell, she'd been raised on it. This wolf had been given one mission: kill.
The wolf snapped its jowls, lurching forward again. Annalise returned its aggression. She hadn't come this far to let someone knock her around again. She wouldn't, no, she couldn't give up. Not now.
She skidded sideways as it lunged again and sank her teeth into the wolf's haunches. It howled and she jerked her head, attempting to dislocate the bone from the socket.
Maybe that would be enough to get it to leave her alone. Or at least long enough so she could phase back, explain the situation.
The wolf whirled around, flinging her into a nearby tree. Her head hit it with a sickening thwack.
Shit, she'd hissed, feeling the adrenaline kick in, her mind attempting to numb itself. New plan. She'd only pissed it off worse. It rushed her again before she could right herself, the searing pain blinding her as its teeth tore through the soft flesh of her side.
She howled in agony, her thoughts reeling as the ground became slick with her blood. The world spun, nausea crept up her spine. Something inside her fractured.
Annalise saw red. I will not die here.
The mantra was stuck on repeat as she pushed herself from the tree, snapping and clawing, lunging and kicking until the wolf let her be. Until she could breathe, until the pain of the wound in her side became too much. Until she stopped seeing his face in the crimson film coloring the darkness.
Something was wrong.
Annalise staggered sideways, blinking through blurry vision. The wolf lay on its side, head lolling back around the base of a spruce. She tried to listen through her pain and the loud pounding in her head.
The bastard was still breathing.
Good, she'd thought. Maybe there was a chance she could redeem herself. The wolf had attacked her after all, but she hadn't killed it at least.
She'd stood up then, weakly, trying to hold onto the invisible rope that had been guiding her over the last few days. It had called to her so loudly before, why was it suddenly so quiet?
She looked down at her side, the bile rising in her throat at the muscle and sinew exposed. Even for all her healing abilities, she might bleed out. She might actually die this time. After everything.
She huffed out a weak, bitter laugh.
Annalise limped over to the ratty looking backpack that had been thrown in the first attack and picked it up with her teeth. Just a little further…
Her knees buckled, the ground rushing to meet her as she fell. I won't. I won't die here.
She shifted. Her human form was a lot smaller. If the past was any indication, it would take less energy to heal this body than it would her other, much larger one. She reached into the backpack for the pair of sweats, coughing into the effort as she ripped them at the knees.
She grunted, covering the wound as best she could to avoid more dirt and debris from getting inside. She had to find somewhere. A house. Anything. Then she could carry on.
Annalise pulled the ripped sweats on with one hand, clutching the discarded fabric to her side with the other. She swayed, her stomach turning. Focus, goddammit.
Seth growled, bringing everyone back to the present. That's enough, Embry. Tell Sam he's seen what he needs to.
Embry huffed at his defiance but turned his attention back to Sam nonetheless. Satisfied? Embry asked, failing to keep the hard edge out of his voice.
Through Embry's mind, he heard Sam's stoic response. We'll call a meeting with the tribal council. This is far from over but, Sam's onyx eyes turned to Seth, the girl does not seem to be a direct threat.
Without another word, Sam joined Jared and Paul and they disappeared. Seth listened until all three faded from earshot, not missing the reluctance in one of the wolves' retreat.
He turned his attention back to Annalise, whose fur glistened as the mist grew heavier, the rain beginning to pick up steam. She said nothing as she phased back to human form but he'd felt the disappointment.
Without a single glance to him or the others, she pulled on her shirt and disappeared inside the house. She didn't need to say anything more than that. Though he wasn't exactly sure how yet, he was sure he'd messed up and he was equally certain there would be no way to take it back.
A/N: Shoutout to piggielover98, Delilah-JS, Ema 333, and lilmarie. I hope y'all are enjoying the story so far! Thanks also to all the folks just passing through. Drop a review and let me know what y'all think :)
