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*＊✿❀❀✿＊*Chapter Eight: First Shift *＊✿❀❀✿＊*

Jules had gone down to the beach in La Push after school and turned her phone off, so that she could truly experience the calm around her. If her phone was on, she would've seen the messages from Sam, warning her that Embry was days away from his first Shift and so telling her that she wasn't safe here. Nevertheless, Jules hadn't seen any of this and after a relaxing swim, she decided that she would walk home through the woods.

That's when she saw him. Embry Call. Upon first glance, he looked incredibly anxious about something but when she approached him, she could see the anger in his eyes.

"Em?" Embry's eyes snapped up, not knowing that anybody was around. "Em, are you okay?"

"Does it look like I'm fucking okay??" He exclaimed, but softened slightly when he noticed her flinch back. "Sorry, J. I didn't mean that."

"It's okay," Jules assured him. The brunette went to grab his hand but instantly pulled back at the almost boiling sensation. The brunette knew that at that point, she should've backed away and called Sam but she didn't want to leave her friend. "Em? Em, look at me."

"I don't know what's happening," Embry's voice shook; it was evident that he was scared.

"I know," Jules nodded. "It'll be okay, I promise."

"How the hell do you know?" He suddenly snapped and Jules flinched back again. "J, I'm sorry," he apologised once more, "I don't know why I did that."

"It's alright, Em. Sam will explain everything."

"Sam?!" Embry exploded. "Jesus, Jules, I knew something was up with you! I didn't realise you were shacking up with that dick."

And, suddenly, Jules was out of time to call Sam.

Embry Shifted before Jules' eyes. A beautiful gray wolf with black spots. And heavily out of control.

It happened so quickly. Jules didn't even register what had happened until she heard a snarling behind her before a big, black wolf leaped over her and tackled Embry's wolf.

"Sam! What the hell are you doing?!" Jules screamed: thinking that perhaps Sam thought it was a stranger. "Stop it, you'll hurt him! Sam!"

That's when Jules felt a nudge beside her. A black wolf, yet this one was smaller than Sam. Jared. Jules smiled. Jared nudged her once more, this time by pressing his wolf's nose against her right arm. Jules whimpered in pain, and it was only then did she look down and see the gaping wound on her right forearm. Three claw marks were running down her arm, and there was so much blood when she pulled away. Embry must've got me as he Shifted, Jules thought. And then she yelled in pain, her adrenaline finally dying down.

Sam, now in human form, was by her side in a second, just in-time to catch her fall as she passed out.

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Jules' eyes fluttered open, but she immediately shut them again as the blinding light overwhelmed her senses. She blinked slowly, taking time for her eyes to adjust, and it was only then when she noted where she was. Jules knew this room like the back of her hand; Sam's room. Speaking of Sam, Jules couldn't see the man anywhere. Where was he?

It was a bit of a struggle for Jules to sit up, mainly on account of the very heavy migraine she'd seemed to develop. Jules could remember everything about what happened. She saw Embry's frightened eyes as clear as day, and gasped as she brought her hand up to her cheek. She could still feel the dent of the claw marks on her cheek, but they weren't quite as deep as she recalled, and (thankfully) there was no blood when she pulled her hand away.

Jules knew she hadn't been to hospital; how could anyone possibly explain this? There was no way she could say that she was struck by a freshly-turned werewolf. What would Charlie and Bella make of this? Oh God, Charlie. What could she possibly say to him that had enough truth and lie to make it believable. Did he even know that this had happened?

It was at that exact moment that the thought crossed her mind, when the door opened.

"Jules?" Sam stood, rigid, as if he weren't expecting her to be awake.

"It wasn't his fault," were the first words out of her mouth. "I provoked him."

"You didn't do any-"

Jules cut him off with a shake of her head. "You don't understand, Sam. I told him you'd be able to help him, and it caused him to Shift then and there."

"It wasn't you, Jules," Sam assured his Imprint. "He was going to Shift regardless of what you said. That's just how it works."

"How is he?"

"He hates himself for hurting you," Sam answered her honestly. "Once we managed to calm him down and got him to Turn back, he remembered what he did."

"It wasn't his fault," Jules stressed again. "I was standing too close."

"You should never have been alone with him in the first place," Sam shook his head.

Jules scoffed, "oh, so I'm not allowed to hangout with my friends now? I'm sorry I didn't magically know that he was about to Shift."

Sam immediately shook his head, "of course you're allowed to see your friends, that's not what I meant, I'm sorry. I just hate seeing you hurt."

"But I'm okay," Jules tried to assure him.

"But this is why you shouldn't be around us," Sam said quietly causing Jules' brows to scrunch together in confusion. "Shifters are dangerous, Jules."

Jules chuckled humourlessly, "yeah, and so's crossing the street."

"That's not the same and you know it."

"Do you not want me around?" Jules whispered vulnerably. "Is this you saying you don't want me anymore?"

"What?" Sam's head snapped up to his Imprint's.

"Does 'I love you' not mean anything to you?" Jules asked again.

"It means everything to me," Sam answered earnestly, not missing a beat.

"Then why are you pushing me away?"

"It's because I love you that I want.. no. I need you to be safe," Sam said. "I hate being away from you, Jules, it physically pains me. But, maybe.."

"Maybe it's for the best?" She guessed, scoffing when he didn't say anything, effectively saying that she was right. "That's bullshit, Sam." Then, she looked at him with softer eyes, "did you really think I was gonna give up that easily? Newsflash, Sam: 'I love you' means something to me, too."

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To Jules' credit, she didn't speak to Sam for a whole day after he dropped her off at home. And she hated every last second of it. Then, out of the blue, it had been Paul who texted her saying that the guys were all going cliff diving in La Push and asked if she wanted to come. She caved for two reasons. One being that it was physically painful for her to stay away from Sam and because of the Imprint Bond, she knew this had to be affecting him too and as much as she was mad at him, she hated the idea of hurting him. But her second reason for leaving the house was due to Paul mentioning that Embry would be going with them, with the assurance that he was fully in control now.

So, after leaving a note on the kitchen counter for her dad just incase she wasn't home before he was, Jules started the walk down to La Push.

God, I really need a car, she thought as she had been hiking for almost 40 minutes. Eventually though, Jules had made it to the cliffs. The boys hadn't arrived yet, so the girl decided to sit and let her legs dangle over the edge as she waited.

Half-an-hour passed before Jules could hear the hoots and hollers of the four Shifters.

"Jules.." Sam stood in shock as he laid eyes upon his Imprint. Just yesterday, she hadn't picked up a single one of his calls or answered a single message and yet, here she was. And he couldn't even bring himself to be upset either. He was just happy that she was here. "What are you doing here?"

"Paul invited me," Jules said timidly. All eyes turned to Paul who just smirked at his Alpha as if to say "you're welcome". "I hope that's okay." As the couple exchanged a soft smile, Jules' eyes sought out her friend. "Hey, Em."

"Jules.." he stepped out, clearly wanting to go towards her but also not, afraid he might hurt her again. And Jules saw that.

"You won't hurt me, Call," Jules attempted to assure him.

Embry looked down to the bandage on her arm with a solemn expression, "I already did."

"Don't do that," she said as she inched towards him. "I knew what was happening and I didn't back away. Anyway," she started, cutting the boy off before he could utter another word, "it's in the past. But you owe me a crap-ton of milkshakes."

Embry laughed, "done." He stepped forward, but then hesitated at looked at Sam, as if asking for permission. Sam nodded once, and Embry surged forward and wrapped his now-strong arms around Jules. "I'm really sorry, J."

"I love you, Em, but tell me you're sorry one more time and I will punch you."

"That'll do more damage to you than to him, Jules," Jared laughed. Everyone laughed as Jules flashed an inappropriate finger.

"Hey," Sam said from behind her as she watched the other three Quileute boys messing around on the cliff's edge. "I'm sorry about the other night. I didn't mean.."

"Yes you did," Jules interrupted, spinning around to face him. "You were just trying to protect me and I couldn't see that. But, I was right."

"You always are," Sam responded immediately. Then, "about what?"

"'I love you' means something," she stressed, causing him to nod. "I know you want to protect me. It's part of the Imprint Bond or whatever but, Sam.. we're together in this, okay? You can't be pushing me aside every time something goes wrong."

"You and me?" Jules nodded at his words. "I love the sound of that. I love you, Juliana." And before she could say it back, Sam pulled Jules in by her waist and pressed a kiss onto her lips. Jules had to stand on her tippy-toes to reach him (and even then he had to lean down) but she didn't care as she interlocked her hands behind his neck and pulled him closer to her, deepening the kiss.

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A/N So.. it's been a while, huh?

So sorry about that but I am back. I hope you like this chapter, I should have another one up before Christmas but incase I don't.. Happy Holidays!!!

P.S I appreciate every single one of you for being so patient with me, all of your comments were so nice❤️

P.P.S I am a silent reader myself, but I am trying to break out of that habit🤣 just know that I see you all and I appreciate you more than you'll ever know!

Ta-ta for now xoxo