CHAPTER SEVEN

A few years ago, Maya never imagined that her life would revolve around enormous wolves. It seemed like something out of a fantasy or a legend, something you read about in books or watched in movies, but not something that could be real—especially not in her world. She had heard whispers and rumours about the Quileute tribe's legends, about the shapeshifters who protected the community, but those were just stories, right?

She never thought she would be so deeply intertwined with those tales, with creatures that were both terrifying and fascinating in equal measure. Yet, despite her best efforts to deny it, there was no avoiding the truth: her life, her entire existence, would forever be connected to these wolves, and most specifically, to the pack that her cousin, Embry, was a part of.

It all started unexpectedly. Maya's cousin, Embry, was one of the pack. She never imagined that one day she would learn the truth, let alone become involved in it. She had grown up with Embry, unaware of his secret, thinking of him as just her slightly older cousin who had a knack for teasing her and protecting her in his own way. But then everything changed.

The moment Maya discovered the truth—that Embry could transform into a wolf, a creature that was far beyond the realm of normal human understanding—she felt as if her world had been turned upside down. What she had once believed to be a normal, unassuming life was now tangled up with the supernatural in ways she could never have foreseen. And the hardest part was that she could never go back to how things were before. This was her reality now.

Adding to the chaos, Embry insisted that she be involved with the pack, not just because of their shared bloodline but because of the promise he had made to his mother. With his mom always away at work, Embry had promised to keep an eye on Maya, to make sure she was safe, and to protect her from the dangers that the pack faced on a daily basis. Embry had grown up fast—he had to, given the responsibility that had been thrust upon him. He wasn't just looking out for himself; he was looking out for Maya too. As much as she hated to admit it, she understood the logic behind his decision. There was no one else. And while it scared her to think about it, she couldn't deny that she was grateful for his protection. She was only thirteen, far too young to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation, and Embry's presence was her anchor in a world that was becoming more confusing by the day.

Maya was terrified at times. How could she not be? The idea of her cousin, her once normal, teasing cousin, turning into a wolf—a creature with fangs, claws, and eyes that glowed like fire—was beyond her comprehension. She had moments when the sheer weight of everything threatened to crush her, when she longed for the simplicity of her old life, the one before the pack, before the shifting and the danger.

But Embry, despite his own inner turmoil, did his best to balance everything. He was always looking out for her, making sure she was safe, even while he continued to handle the responsibilities of being part of the pack and the challenges of school. To her, it often felt like he was doing more than anyone should ever have to do—more than even the rest of the boys in the pack. Embry had taken on a lot, but he never complained. And that was the reason Maya didn't argue with his decision. It wasn't just for him; it was for her too. She knew, deep down, that having her around the pack made him feel a little less burdened. It was a heavy weight on his shoulders, but one that, despite everything, he was willing to carry.

As time passed, Maya found herself more and more entwined in the pack's business. She hated that she had to keep things from her friends, that she had to maintain the secret of what Embry and the others really were. It wasn't that she wanted to lie, but there were times when she had to. She couldn't tell her friends about the wolves, not yet. Not until she had earned their trust. But she also understood why it had to be this way.

Sam, the alpha of the pack, had explained it to her in the most straightforward way possible: He needed to trust her before she could be fully involved. She couldn't go around telling people their secrets. And as much as it pained her, Maya understood. The last thing she wanted was to jeopardize the safety of her friends—or the pack.

It was a complicated situation, one that Maya didn't always know how to navigate. She had friends, and people who cared about her, and yet, there were times when it felt like she was living in two separate worlds. One world was filled with the normality of school, friends, and a somewhat predictable life. The other world was shrouded in secrecy, where the people she loved could turn into something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. Sam's words had struck her deeply, and even though Embry had been upset by it—more upset than she had ever seen him—she understood that Sam was just trying to protect everyone, including her. The idea of someone revealing their secret, especially to the wrong person, could have catastrophic consequences. So, Maya had no choice but to swallow her discomfort and prove that she could be trusted.

In the end, it didn't take long for Sam to trust her, and she was allowed more freedom. She didn't have to be around the pack at all times, and she was no longer treated like a potential risk. Sam had underestimated her, and that was a mistake he quickly learned not to make again. Maya kept her word. She never let anything slip about the pack. She was careful with her words, mindful of what she said in front of others. She wanted to prove to everyone that she could be trusted, that she wasn't like the people who would betray the pack's secrets. Eventually, the people around her began to see her as just another local girl—a bright, bubbly, and outgoing teen who happened to be a little more protective of her family than most. The pack's secret was safe, and Maya's role in it continued without much suspicion.

As time went on, Maya's relationships with the locals grew. She fit in easily, not because she had to but because she wanted to. Maya had always been an outgoing person, someone who liked making friends and creating bonds with people. Her warm personality attracted people to her, and soon, she was friends with a tight-knit group of girls: Aniya, Zahra, Juliet, and Serena. The girls quickly became her closest confidantes, her safe space when she needed to talk or vent about the things that weighed heavily on her heart. But there was one thing that stood out about these friendships—their ability to forgive. They each had their own stories of betrayal or hurt, but somehow, they always found a way to forgive those who had wronged them.

Maya, who had been hurt by her parents in ways that were hard to articulate, found herself inspired by their strength. It made her question her own stance on forgiveness, especially when it came to her parents. Could she forgive them for sending her away? Could she trust them again?

But it was with Seth Clearwater, the youngest of the Clearwater family, that Maya truly felt a connection. At first, she and Seth didn't interact much. He was the quiet one, reserved and often preoccupied with his own thoughts. But as time passed, they found common ground. Seth was the type of person who didn't push anyone into anything. He wasn't confrontational, but he was there when you needed him. And over time, Maya realized that they had become close friends. It was an unspoken bond, one that didn't need to be defined by anything more than mutual respect and understanding.

At the time, neither of them had considered the possibility of a romantic relationship. They were just friends—good friends who laughed together, shared stories, and leaned on each other when things got tough. Their relationship was simple, uncomplicated, and exactly what Maya needed. They had their own struggles, their own burdens, but they carried them together, side by side. However, as they spent more time together, Maya realized that the feelings she had for Seth went beyond friendship. She had fallen for him in a way that she couldn't ignore, but at the same time, she wasn't ready to acknowledge it. Seth, for his part, seemed to be in the same boat. Neither of them voiced it, but there was a subtle shift in the air whenever they were around each other.

It was strange. Their friendship had started out as something entirely platonic, but now it was something more. Neither of them had ever explicitly stated their feelings, but the connection was undeniable. It didn't need words to exist—it was there in every look, every laugh, and every quiet moment they shared. The thought of a relationship was still new to both of them, but in the back of their minds, they both knew it was only a matter of time before the lines between friendship and love blurred.

Maya's life had changed so much since she first arrived in La Push, but one thing remained constant: the bond she shared with Seth and the rest of the pack. And as much as the world around her had become more complex, there was still a sense of comfort in knowing that she wasn't alone.