CHAPTER NINE

As the days dragged on and more members joined the ranks of the pack, the rapid and seemingly uncontrollable growth of shapeshifters began to raise alarms among those who understood the gravity of their situation. Each new transformation was a stark reminder that something dark and dangerous loomed on the horizon. It wasn't just about numbers—it was about the forces at work that necessitated so many protectors. The delicate balance of their lives was tilting, and Maya, though not one of them, felt the weight of that shift pressing down on her as well.

Her once-regular visits to the Clearwater home had become infrequent, almost nonexistent, as Embry's protectiveness reached new, almost suffocating heights. His concern for her safety was understandable—noble, even—but it left her feeling isolated. He was constantly watching, ensuring she stayed far from danger, and it frustrated her even if she couldn't bring herself to blame him. He carried the weight of too many responsibilities: a protector, a student, a brother figure, and a guardian of secrets that stretched far beyond normal human understanding.

To make matters worse, Leah Clearwater's sharp suspicions and obvious discomfort with Maya's presence around Sam and the rest of the pack only added to the tension. Leah, still reeling from her heartbreak, found the idea of Maya being allowed such access to the inner circle strange at best and infuriating at worst. She hadn't yet voiced it outright, but her glances and scoffs were enough to make Maya feel unwelcome. Embry, recognizing the potential for conflict, asked Maya to keep her distance until the storm of new transformations and strained tempers settled.

Maya didn't need to be told twice. Though she had always admired Leah's fierce independence, the hostility radiating from her became impossible to ignore. Maya had wondered if she had done something to offend Leah, agonizing over their brief, tense interactions until curiosity finally got the better of her. One quiet evening, when Embry's watchful eyes softened just enough for conversation, she asked the question that had been burning in her mind.

"Why does Leah always act like she can't stand being around Sam? Did I... say something wrong about him?"

Embry's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he weighed how much to tell her. The truth came slowly, like a wound being opened carefully so it wouldn't bleed too much. Half a year had passed since Sam Uley—once Leah's entire world—had imprinted on her cousin Emily. The betrayal had cut Leah to her core, and though she hid her pain behind a wall of sarcasm and indifference, the wounds were still raw. The very mention of Sam was enough to send her spiralling back into memories of a love that had been stolen from her by something far beyond her control.

When Maya learned about imprinting in full—accidentally overhearing Paul during one of Jared's giddy confessions about his own imprint—her heart ached with a mixture of anger and confusion. The concept of imprinting, where free will was seemingly overshadowed by a soul-deep connection, unsettled her. It felt unfair, even wrong, that love could be dictated by fate instead of choice. Her discomfort only grew when she looked at Sam and Emily. Though their love was undeniable, it had come at the cost of Leah's happiness, and that knowledge sat heavy in Maya's chest whenever she was in their presence.

Ironically, this became one of the rare moments where Maya found herself agreeing with Paul. He was as bitter about imprinting as she was, viewing it as an unwanted chain rather than a gift. His resentment toward the whole process mirrored her own distaste. Their shared disdain brought them into an uneasy camaraderie, a truce of sorts in their otherwise playful bickering. However, fate has a cruel sense of humour, and neither of them knew that their dismissive opinions would one day be challenged. The very bond they mocked would soon thread itself into their own lives, complicating feelings they hadn't yet fully acknowledged.

For now, though, Maya focused on growing up, learning what it meant to navigate her complex world while holding onto the ideals of freedom and choice. Paul, determined to live a life unbound by rules or expectations, saw the idea of imprinting as a prison he refused to step into willingly. Neither of them could have predicted how deeply their lives would be shaped by the very thing they resisted most. But life had a way of twisting truths and turning certainties into questions, and both of them were standing on the edge of a future they couldn't yet imagine.

"You know," Seth said casually, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he walked beside Maya down the familiar dirt road leading into town, "you don't have to avoid our house so much." His eyes flicked to her, gauging her reaction as they moved along. He was carrying a small list of groceries his mom had sent them to get, but the weight of his words hung heavier than the task at hand.

Maya balanced carefully on the low stone wall running alongside the road, her arms stretched out to keep her balance. She didn't look at him when she answered, her voice soft but steady. "I know. I'm not really avoiding it because I don't like being there. It's just... I want to respect Leah's comfort zone. She's still hurt. Still feeling betrayed, and I don't want to make things worse for her."

Seth sighed, exhaling a breath that seemed far older than his sixteen years. "Yeah, I get it," he admitted, tilting his head toward the sky. "I liked Sam a lot. I looked up to him. But... I think there's someone out there who'll make Leah happier than he ever did. What they had—it just wasn't right for her, you know? I don't understand it all, and I probably never will, but I just want her to find peace. I just want her to be happy again."

"She'll find someone," Maya murmured, her words full of quiet conviction. She reached the end of the wall and leapt down, landing directly in Seth's path. He jumped back a step, chuckling as she brushed her hands together. "For now, we'll just keep meeting up outside. And once my transfer is finalized, we'll see each other at school."

Seth's eyes widened. "It's finally being settled? For real this time?" His face lit up with excitement. "After all these months?"

"Yeah," she confirmed with a sigh, rolling her eyes. "Mario and Kristina were too 'busy' with work to send the transcripts. I swear, it's like they went out of their way to drag their feet. I just wish Aunt Tiff could become my official guardian already."

"Well," Seth said, giving her a hopeful grin as he strolled ahead, "let's keep our fingers crossed. If that day ever comes, then you'll be set to live on the Rez for good."

"I know!" Maya's voice brightened with enthusiasm as she hurried to catch up with him. "I'm so excited. I can't wait for it. It already feels like home here."

"You don't think you'll ever want to move back?" Seth asked, his tone curious but gentle. There was no teasing in his voice, no push—just a question he felt needed asking.

Maya opened her mouth to answer, her lips parting, but the words stuck in her throat. She swallowed, pressing them back down. The truth sat heavy in her chest, a truth she had only dared admit to herself once before. Saying it aloud would make it real. Saying it twice would make it undeniable.

Seth slowed to a stop, glancing over his shoulder when he noticed her silence. "Hey," he said quietly, his usual carefree demeanour softening. "I'm sorry if I—"

"No," Maya shook her head firmly, cutting him off. "It's not you. Let's just... change the topic, okay?"

A moment of quiet understanding passed between them before Seth nodded, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "All right," he said with a playful smirk. "Let's see... how about we talk about—"

"—how about we talk about something fun?" Seth finished, eyes twinkling mischievously as he started walking again, tossing a glance her way. "Like Brady's latest attempt at impressing one of the girls at school. You wouldn't believe what he did yesterday."

Maya felt the weight in her chest ease, her lips curling into a half-smile. "Oh no, what did he do now?"

Seth chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "He tried to convince everyone that he could do a backflip off the bleachers during gym class."

Maya's eyebrows shot up. "Let me guess—he didn't stick the landing."

"Not even close." Seth shook his head, laughing as he mimicked a midair flip with his hands. "He barely made it halfway before crashing onto his back. Coach had to send him to the nurse, and now he's walking around with a giant bruise on his pride."

Maya snorted, covering her mouth as she giggled. "Classic Brady. I don't know what's more bruised—his ego or his backside."

Seth grinned wider. "Probably both. You know, he told me afterwards that it was all part of his 'master plan' to get sympathy points from the girl he likes."

"Let me guess," Maya said, arching a brow. "It backfired."

"Of course it did," Seth confirmed, laughing. "She barely glanced at him and just asked if he needed ice. Poor guy." He shook his head, still amused. "He's got determination, I'll give him that."

They shared a laugh, the lightness of the conversation pulling them out of the shadows of their earlier topic. The sun peeked through the trees lining the road, dappling the ground with patches of gold as they continued their walk. It was peaceful, and for a moment, Maya let herself simply enjoy the moment with Seth—no worries, no tension, just the comfort of his company.

"So," she said after a beat, giving him a sly sideways glance, "when's your turn to make a fool of yourself for a girl?"

Seth pretended to be affronted, placing a hand over his heart. "Me? Never. I'm way too smooth for that."

Maya rolled her eyes, nudging him with her elbow. "Yeah, sure you are. I'll believe it when I see it."

"Hey," Seth protested, grinning. "I'm serious! I have impeccable charm."

"Uh-huh. Is that what they're calling it these days?"

They both burst into laughter, the sound carrying down the road as they neared the small market. Seth reached out to open the door, holding it for her with an exaggerated bow. "After you, my lady."

Maya smirked, stepping inside. "Why thank you, kind sir."

As the door swung shut behind them, the air between them felt lighter—like the weight of the world had momentarily lifted, leaving only friendship and warmth in its place.

As they walked through the narrow aisles of the small market, Seth grabbed a basket and flashed Maya an excited grin. "So, school," he said, almost bouncing as he spoke. "I can't believe you're finally going to be there full-time. It's going to be awesome."

Maya chuckled as she reached for a bag of apples, tossing it into the basket Seth held. "You're acting like it's some monumental event."

"It is monumental!" Seth exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. "We've been talking about this forever! Do you know how many boring days I've survived waiting for you to show up and make things interesting?"

"Wow," Maya teased, tilting her head with a smirk. "I didn't realize I was your source of entertainment."

"Obviously," Seth said without hesitation. "You've got way more personality than half the kids at school. And Brady and Collin are going to lose their minds when you show up."

"Speaking of those two..." Maya trailed off, giving him a pointed look as they moved down the snack aisle. "Are you going to pretend you don't know me whenever you're with them? You know, like you do sometimes when we're out."

Seth nearly dropped the basket, his eyes widening. "What? No way! I do not do that."

Maya raised her eyebrows, folding her arms over her chest. "Oh, really? Because the last time we ran into them at the beach, you suddenly forgot my name."

"I was distracted," Seth defended, cheeks flushing as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Brady was trying to do handstands on a log."

"Uh-huh." She smirked, leaning against the shelves. "So you weren't avoiding talking to me because they would've teased you?"

"Okay, fine." Seth sighed dramatically, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Maybe I was trying to avoid getting teased. But in my defence, they're relentless. They'd have made it a whole thing about how I'm always with you."

"And that would be so terrible?" Maya asked with a mock gasp, clutching her chest. "You poor thing. How do you survive?"

Seth groaned, shaking his head with a grin. "You're impossible."

"I know." She reached over and plucked a bag of chips from the shelf, dropping it into the basket. "But you're stuck with me."

He laughed, nudging her shoulder with his own. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They continued down the aisle, the easy rhythm of their banter filling the space between them. The thought of finally sharing school days with Seth felt like the beginning of a new adventure—one where she'd have a friend who made everything better, even when the rest of the world felt uncertain.