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Sidney's POV

𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗠 and Emily's place, I got off my bike and shut off the engine. I walked onto the porch, and before I could knock, the front door opened, revealing Emily.

"Hey, you made it." Emily smiled, wrapping me into a tight hug.

"Yea, I figured why not come back." I laughed, shrugging my shoulders.

It wasn't that I didn't want to see Emily because I did, but I honestly didn't want to be around Sam's pack. Being around them again is still bittersweet for me, if I'm honest. As Emily allowed me inside, she closed the door, and the scent of fresh-baked muffins hit my nose. The sweet smell also made my stomach growl seeing as I didn't eat when I left my house.

"Sidney, I'm so glad you decided to come around." Emily smiled, taking a pan of freshly baked muffins from the oven.

"Yea, well, after what I endured from the dogs years ago, you can't blame me for not wanting to come around," I explained, shaking my head. "Where are they anyway."

"I don't blame you, Sidney. I would've left also." Emily replied motherly, nodding her head. "Oh, they're with Sam patrolling."

"Oh, okay," I said, nodding my head understandably.

"How are your friend and her baby?" Emily asked, placing the muffins in a basket and setting them on the table.

"Her and the babies are good? Doing well." I replied, grabbing a blueberry muffin and biting into it before speaking, "They're healthy and alive."

"Wait, babies?" Emily questioned in shock, looking at me.

"Yes, she had twin girls. Named Kara and Mia." I replied as Emily handed me a glass of cold water.

"Aww, that is too cute," Emily said with a smile. "Maybe I can get her a gift."

"Emily, that's nice of you, but you don't have to," I assured her, shaking my head.

"Nonsense, I'm getting her a gift. That is the end of discussion." Emily asserted, waving her finger at me.

"Okay fine." I nodded, raising my hands in surrender.

Emily giggled, which made me smile. If I'm honest, Emily is probably the only person I have missed since I left LaPush. The one thing I missed most about Emily was her delicious baked goods. With how good she cooks, she could open up her bakery.

"You should've seen the look in the father's eyes as he stared at them. It made my heart swell." I swooned, imagining the look that appeared on Drew's face.

"I believe that every father should look at his children like that because he is to protect mother and child." Emily expressed, and I agree with her.

"That is so true," I said, nodding my head.

We continued talking peacefully, but that was interrupted by the loud yelling and chattering coming from outside, and I knew the dogs were there.

"The dogs are here." Emily joked, grinning at me.

Laughing, I saw the boys pushing each other like they always do as they made their way inside. They piled at the table where Emily sat a basket of fresh hot muffins on the table. Sam walked up to his fiancé and kissed her sweetly on the lips, then left little pecks over her face making her giggle. I smiled, seeing the affection the couple shared. My heart longed for love like that from my mate.

To have him hold me in his arms and pepper my face with kisses every time he sees me. I wanted my mate to constantly stare at me with love in his eyes every minute of the day. Is it so hard to ask someone to love me?

"How was patrolling?" I questioned, looking at my brother.

"It was good, but how did you know we were on patrol?" Jacob questioned, sitting at the table.

"A little bird flew in through the window and told me," I replied, grinning at him.

"Let me guess her name's Emily the canary?" My dumb brother questioned.

"Duh. Jesus, you do have one brain cell." I claimed, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, Jake, she told you." Paul teased, sitting at the table. He grabbed a blueberry muffin and bit into it.

"Whatever," Jacob grumbled, shaking his head.

"Teaches you to mind your business," I replied, smirking at my brother.

"Enough, Sidney. Stop bullying your brother," Emily said, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.

"He knows I mean no harm." I lied with a smile, wrapping my arms around Jacob's neck.

"Is that how you show it?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Damn straight." I nodded my head, eating another muffin.

"You've changed since you left," Jacob said, making me avert my eyes from him.

"No, I'm just not taking anyone's shit," I claimed, shaking my head.

"So about who you're living with, is she cute?" I hear Jared ask from behind me. I rolled my eyes huffing.

"Don't you have a girlfriend, Jared? Named Kim?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I was just asking," Jared said, surrendering his hands.

"Well don't ask next time. Like I told Jacob to mind his business, the same goes for you and Paul." I replied, nodding my head.

"Would your friend like to come with you next time?" Emily asked, leaning against the counter.

"I'll see if she's available." I smiled, nodding my head.

"Great, because I would love to meet her." Emily bounced on her toes, clapping her hands together in excitement.

I grinned from ear to ear at Emily's enthusiasm for meeting Autumn. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my mate stare holes in the side of my head. Turning to him, I stared back while listening to his thoughts.

'Damn, she's beautiful.'

'Thank you.'

'Fuck, you can hear me?'

'Yes. Since you're my mate, we have a connection and can talk to each other outside of the pack.'

'O-Oh, that makes sense.'

'Can you answer a question for me?'

'Sure. Ask away.'

'Are you happy that I'm your imprint?'

'I am.'

'Good, I'm glad too.'

Shifting my gaze to Emily, she grins as she speaks, "So Sidney, are you going to school right now?"

"Not now, but soon though. With my friend." I answered, nodding my head.

"What's their name?" Paul asked, leaning close to me.

"Her name's Autumn," I replied, turning my head to Paul, who would not give up.

"She must be cute." Jared laughed, nodding his head in approval.

"You're not her type," I tell him shaking my head.

"What is her type?" Jared asked, making me roll my eyes.

"Not you, so stop trying. Autumn won't be interested." I replied, smiling at him.

I watched as Jared's smile disappeared from his face making everyone else laugh at him.

"Look, now he's quiet." Paul laughed, pointing at Jared.

"The same goes for you too, Paul. Maybe if the two of you weren't in a hurry to cheat on your girlfriends, I wouldn't be how I am towards you." I explained to Jared as he glared at me.

"Okay, that's enough. Apologize, Sidney." Emily says to me, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Jared, for putting you on blast like that." I apologized and continued speaking. "But it's not cool that you're in a relationship and looking for other girls. It's not fair on your girlfriend, okay?" Jared nodded his head understanding the words I spoke.

"When are you going to visit dad?" Jacob questioned, making me look at him.

"Don't know yet." I shrugged my shoulders, taking a sip of water Emily handed me.

"Dad wants to see you, Sidney," Jacob replied, making me roll my eyes.

"You told him I was back?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Yes, I did. Why? You didn't want me to tell him?"Jacob questioned as a confused expression appeared on his face.

"Of course, I didn't want you to tell him. I didn't even want you guys to know I was still alive." I replied, growing agitated.

"At least go for ten minutes. After that, you don't have to visit dad ever again." Jacob tried to persuade me, but it wasn't going to work.

"I'll think about it, Jacob," I said, feeling my wolf clawing at the surface, wanting to shut my brother's mouth.

It felt like everything was closing in on me. The voice of my brother grew louder in my ringing ears. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel myself beginning to change—teeth elongated and eyes glowing gold.

Embry's POV

I couldn't believe the scene that unfolded in front of me. My imprint, my soulmate, is a wolf, just like the rest of us. But I feel like she's a different species of wolf. Sidney heavily breathed as she ignored Jacob's plea to visit Billy. Sidney's face had anger written all over it.

Sidney's hands grew claws. FUCKING CLAWS! She scratched against the wooden table in Emily's kitchen.

"Jake shut up." I gasped, trying to get him to close his mouth.

"It won't do her any harm if she-" Jacob said, and what transpired next happened in slow motion.

The memories of what happened to her years ago flooded Sidney's head, and she snapped. "I said I'll think about it, SO DROP IT, JAKE!"

Sidney snatched Jacob up by his throat, slamming him on the table, and everyone gasped.

"Sidney, stop." Sam's voice echoes throughout the house.

"You're not my Alpha," Sidney growled with her hands still squeezing Jacob's throat.

Shit, Embry, you have to think of something. What to do? What to do? I did the first thing that came to mind and got up and out of my chair. I walked up to Sidney and placed my hand around her wrist.

"Sidney let go," I said, looking into her glossy eyes.

"No. I'm sick of Jacob's shit. He's caused me so much pain." Sidney sniffled as tears fell down her face.

"Sidney, look at me." She hesitates but turns her head towards me. The color on Jake's face began to fade. "It's okay, but you have to let him go."

Sidney whimpered, looking at her brother before she released him, causing Jacob to gasp as he coughed. I helped Jacob off the table as Sidney glanced at everyone with tears falling down her face. She darted for the door and ran outside. I didn't have a chance to stop her before she got on her bike and rode away.

"I have to make sure she's okay," I said to Sam as he stood behind me.

"I think it'd be best if you let her cool off," Emily said, shaking her head from the doorway.

I shook my head, wishing I could have said something to Sidney before she sped off. My soulmate was hurt, and I could feel the pain in my chest.

Sidney's POV

Slamming the house door with tears running down my face, I stomped up the stairs to my room before locking the door behind me. I laid face down on the bed and cried into my pillow as I curled up into a ball. Many emotions flowed through my veins—hurt, confusion, devastation, and anger. Anger because Jacob knows how I feel towards my father at the moment. He knows I'm not ready to face my dad because he acted like I didn't exist.

How can someone pretend their youngest daughter doesn't exist? All I wanted from my dad was his love, and I couldn't even get that. Was it something I did? I just wanted answers.

I didn't hear Autumn walk into my room through my weeping until her body hit my bed, and I listened to her soft voice. "What's wrong, Sidney." She ran her hand through my hair, sweeping it from my face.

"My fucking brother pushed me. Jacob told my dad that I was alive and kept pleading with me to go see him." I explained, wiping the tears from my face.

"Oh, it's going to be okay." Autumn crooned, rubbing my back soothingly as she hugged me.

"How can he pretend I don't exist? My sisters raised me before Rachael and Rebecca left for school." I expressed, shaking my head. "He swept everything under the rug."

"I know that, Sidney, and it wasn't right." Autumn sighed, placing a kiss on my head.

"It hurts, you know. Knowing that your mother is dead and your father disowned you." I sniffled, nodding my head. "I feel like I have no one."

"Listen to me; you have the pack and me. We're always here for you." Autumn reassured me as I looked up into her brown eyes. "How about you take a shower, then we'll relax and cuddle."

"Sounds good." I nodded my head smiling at the thought.

As my best friend left my room, I got out of bed and headed to my bathroom, where I turned on the shower. While waiting for the water to warm up, I stared at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I couldn't recognize myself in my reflection. My eyes told a different story holding pain in her heart: someone who wanted her father's love and acceptance.

I stripped out of my clothes and stepped inside the shower, right under the hot water, letting out a sigh. The water ran down my body as I spaced out, staring at the wall. All the memories of what I suffered years ago came to mind, and I cried again. It truly hurts me that my father disowned me like I was a disgrace to him. I was supposed to look at him as a role model and guidance in life but instead I look at him with resentment.

Rinsing the fresh tears off my face, I began washing. After feeling clean, I turned the water off, stepped out of the shower, and wrapped my towel around my body. As I walked into my room, I could smell the aroma of food and assumed Autumn was cooking something. Once I threw on something comfortable, I headed downstairs to where the scent resided.

   Autumn handed me a plate with friend lunch meat on bread with cheese once I walked into the kitchen.

I thanked her and then bit into the sandwich savoring the flavor of the charred meat and melted cheese. We talked a little bit before calling it a night and heading up to my room. Autumn lay beside me in bed as I rested my head on her chest.

"You know, whatever happens between you and your family, just know that the pack and I are always here. We're all your family." Autumn said in a delicate soft tone.

"Thank you, Autumn," I replied, hugging her closer to me.

"Maybe you should talk to your father whenever you're ready one day." My best friend suggested rubbing my head.

"Hmm, maybe," I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders.

The feeling of Autumn massaging my scalp made me sleepy fast. As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but think of what a good friend Autumn is and that maybe she's right about speaking to my dad.