A/n: hey everyone just wanted to put out a heads-up. Thie future chapters will discuss elements of the Christian faith. If that makes you uncomfortable or bothers you now is the time to stop reading because this will be a consistent theme! Also, there is mention of sexual assault in this chapter! I don't want anyone to feel like something is being shoved down their throat ( that's what she said )Thank you in advance!

Paul pov:

Paul groaned and shivered. Whoever said a cold shower fixed one boner was a liar. He had stood under the cold water for about 15 minutes before he gave up. Instead, he turned the bath one, filled it with lavender bath salts, and sat his horny butt down. It wasn't being horny that was his problem. He could handle being physically attracted to someone but the fact that it was Bella is what was freaking him out. She was a nice girl and good-looking. He could relate to her in many ways. If he was being honest, he and his wolf were intrigued by the girl. However, the pack, the Cold ones, and Jacob would rip him apart if he knew he was thinking of her in this light. Not that he cared about their opinions, but it would create so much unnecessary drama for everyone. Not to mention, Bella was engaged to the cold one. She was taken. She didn't need another guy pursuing her or making her feel bad.

All she needed was a friend.

That's all he was going to be to her.

His wolf however rolled his eyes. Yeah right

" um, I'm sorry. I don't know your name." Bella told the woman who was hugging her.

The woman pulled back wiping stray tears from her eyes, and smiled.

" sorry sweetheart. Where are my manners my name is Tiffany call…swan."

The woman said with hesitation.

Bella's eyes went huge.

" I'm sorry what?"

"let's sit down, so I can explain it to you dear."

Bella did as she looked at Tiffany in shock. How many more family secrets did her father have?

" I was raped, when I was 19 years old. nine months later, Embry was born. My family wanted to ban me from the Makah reservation and disown me. you see I never told anyone I was raped. I was terrified of what that truly meant for me. So in my family's eyes, I had gone and gotten knocked up just for the heck of it. I didn't fight them on it. I let them think whatever it is they wanted to think. They wouldn't believe me anyway. But here I was 19 pregnant and I had nowhere to go. I just so happened to bump into Charlie Swan, on a rainy day on the side of the road. My engine was dead and I had no one to call. He was a simple officer at the time. And freshly divorced. When he saw me crying he asked me what was wrong and for some reason, I just started blubbering all my problems to him. He listened while we waited for the tow truck. Once the tow truck came, he slid 200$ into my pocket and helped me get into a hotel. I was a single pregnant female and it wasn't safe for me to be on my own. But I pressed on. I found a job and I lived at the hotel for a while. About a month later, I received a knock on my door. It was Charlie. He had come to check on me. I was grateful for his company. When I realized I was starting to show more, I had to make a decision. I could have my baby and live out of a hotel. But I also had nowhere to go. Charlie and I talked about this and he said he'd help me out. He went to the Quileute elders and asked if I could stay on the land. There were a few houses available that I could afford. When the elders voted only one person was sympathetic to my plight. Old quil. He took Charlie aside and explained how Charlie could bend the rules."

" How?" Bella asked when Tiffany took a break.

" I would have to be related to someone on the reservation either by blood or by marriage."

It was then Bella got the hint.

" old Quil and Dad arranged a marriage for you?" Bella questioned

"Yes, mam. I married your father a week later. Because Charlie's sister was old Quils's wife, that made Charlie old Quils brother in law. Therefore he had partial rights meaning Charlie's native wife could live on the reservation. I've lived there ever since."

" so wait you're telling me that you and Dad have been married for about what 10 years! Why didn't he say anything?" Bella asked

Tiffany sighed.

" try to see it from our perspectives honey I was 19 and pregnant. your dad was only 20 and freshly divorced. We were married in deed, not because of love."

" so what you two just stayed married. Why not get divorced?"

"Because the divorce is conditional. If we divorce I have to leave the reservation plus Charlie said he didn't want to have a second failed marriage. He was fine with our arrangement. Not to mention the perks of some late-night booty calls! Your father was pretty long-lasting at his age."

Bella choked.

" dad! Booty calls! I can't. I seriously can't right now. Moving on!"

Tiffany laughed.

" You are just like your father. He would talk about you all the time."

Bella shook her head. This was a lot to take in.

" so wait. What about Embry? Does he know?"

Tiffany stiffened at her son's name.

" no. He doesn't "

" Wait. So you're telling me that embry who already struggles with the idea of who his father is, has a stepfather who would adore him and you two just don't say anything?!" Bella accused.

" it's complicated Bella! Besides Charlie has spent a lot of time with Embry. He was with Embry for every step of his life! He looks to Charlie as his father! He even calls him dad sometimes!"

" But you still neglected to tell Embry why Charlie is so important! And now that you explain how deep their relationship goes, it explains his hate for me!".

With that said, Bella stood.

" where are you going?" Tiffany called out.

" to go find my brother!"

When Bella opened the door, she gasped...

Standing Outside her father's hospital door was Embry.

He had tears streaming down his cheeks and his hands were trembling.

Not caring for the danger she might been in. Bella took the trembling shapeshifter and dragged him outside.

" come on Embry let's get some fresh air.".

…..

The two estranged siblings walked in silence along the beach. The august air was warm and Bella could taste the salt on her tongue.

She was grateful Paul left his truck, she was able to drive away with Embry quickly.

Even though they weren't speaking, she would see Embry give a subtle shake of his head as if he was trying to get rid of an unwanted thought.

"soo, I'm assuming you heard everything?" Bella questioned.

"every last word." He told her.

"so..what do you want to do?" she asked.

"what does any of it matter? The only man I thought of as a father is in a coma and to make it worse, I was never wanted! My mom was raped, Bella. If I hadn't been born she would have never been in this predicament in the first place."

Bella hesitated before she pulled Embry into a tight hug. He towered over her but somehow she maneuvered him so that his head was lying on her shoulder.

"Embry call swan you listen to me, little brother. Despite how you were created, you have always been wanted. You have your brothers, your mom, Charlie, and me."

Embry snorted and pushed away from her.

"yeah right. everyone always leaves me. My mom with her stupid business trips, Jacob with his stubbornness, you marrying your dumb leech, and Charlie who decided to have a heart attack. You know that was your fault, right? You took the only dad I had away from me Bella! If you hadn't met that stupid leech then maybe we could have been a family. You and me, we could have been siblings! You would have made the perfect sister! But nooo, you just had to get with the leech, and in a few months you'll go crawling back to him, leaving Charlie heartbroken if he lives through this!"

As Bella listened to Embry's rant, she realized something.

Marrying Edward wouldn't have just affected her.

It would have affected and hurt everyone she cared about. People she didn't even realize were involved.

Bella felt tears come to her eyes as her selfishness was exploited before her very eyes.

"I am not going anywhere, Embry."

Embry tilted his head to look up at her. By now, he had sat himself on the ground.

"I don't believe you." he challenged.

Bella shouldn't have but she couldn't resist stomping her foot in the sand like a five-year-old.

"darn it Emebry I need you to listen to me. to hear me ok! I am not going anywhere. I am not leaving our dad, our mom, or you. theirs too many people counting on me for me to just give up my life now. Not to mention leaving Quil is out of the question. Among others. I just don't want to be selfish anymore. So please believe me. As your sister. I am not leaving. I know you hate me but-"

"wait, hold on, hate you? Bells I could never hate you. why would you think that?" He asked

Bella shrugged.

"you and Quil. we were good for a while and then you both started being very cruel. The snide remarks, and the gossip. It hurt. And I never understood why. At least not until now. You were angry with my choices right?"

Embry chuckled and pulled Bella down next to him.

" I was angry because of what it meant. You marrying Cullen meant we couldn't be a family. I mean, I knew something was going on with my mom and Charlie but I didn't know what. and then when your marriage announcement came out, I felt so hurt because that meant Charlie would miss you. I've seen that man cry over you Bella and cry over the pain of life. And seeing how truly disturbing and possessive those leeches are over you. it angered me. so…I started to treat you like crap because of how pissed off I was. But that wasn't fair and I am sorry Bella. I was wrong."

Bella laid her head on embry shoulder.

"I'm sorry too embry. "

"by the way, what did mean about Quil?" he asked

"oh yeah. Apparently quils my cousin and old Quil is my uncle and so is Jacob which is a little awkward. Cause you know the whole im in love with you debacle."

Embry eyes widened at her revelation.

"dude! No way! being related to Quil is cool and all but Jacob! That's like some Oedipus Rex tragedy!" Embry exclaimed. " please tell me you didn't kiss him!"

Bella pulled her hair and looked away.

"nooo! Bells! You kissed your cousin! Was their tongue?! Please say no?"

Once again, Bella looked away.

This time, Embry howled with laughter.

"oh man Bells, you are never going to live this down!"

Before Bella could defend herself, a figure running toward her, caught her eye.

It was Paul and he was smiling.

Bella felt her her breath leave her lungs and her heart skipped a beat.

She had to admit Paul lahote was growing on her. and he didn't even have to do anything.