Storming Sky

ALLIANCE

"They hate me," I whispered to Jake. We had been here all of ten minutes and already I could feel the animosity. I was never really welcomed among the imprints, but this, this did it.

"They don't hate you," Jake argued, pulling me closer to him.

"Emily is the only one who has said anything to me and that's because she had to," I pointed out. Never mind that what she said was a quick greeting and then ran off like she had something to tend to, which she didn't.

"It's not because they hate you," Jake promised. "It's because things are different now that we're in two different packs. It's what I need to talk to Sam about," he explained.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," I whined. We shouldn't have come.

"It'll be fine," Jake sighed. I didn't leave his side.

"Hey Jake!" Quil came over, Claire attached to his hip. Usually she was on his shoulders, but the ceiling was a major problem there.

"Jake!" Claire squealed. It made me remember our time on the beach. The time before everything fell apart.

"Hey, Dani," Quil smiled. "How are you holding up?" He asked.

"I'm okay, thanks for asking," I told him. I wasn't expecting any sympathy. Jake rubbed my arm.

"How is Bella?" He asked. Quil always liked Bella.

"We're just waiting for right now," Jake explained so I didn't have to. I didn't want to think about her like that. Jake understood.

"It's tough," he nodded. "We miss you, Jake," Quil admitted.

"I miss you guys, too. I'm sorry this all went down like it did," Jake apologized. I leaned my head on his shoulders.

"Sam didn't mean anything by it, Jake. He was trying to protect us, man. We didn't know what was going on," Quil tried to explain.

"I couldn't just sit by and let that happen, Quil, you know that," Jake growled. I looked up at him. Don't start another fight because of me.

"I know, man. I probably would have done the same thing if it was Claire. I just wish everyone else saw it that way. Paul and Jared are kind of pissed at you."

"Yeah, well, the feeling's mutual. For Paul, at least."

"Just, talk to Sam. Embry and I, it's different without you here, man," Quil said. It wasn't long before Claire was squealing again. I smiled a little. It was hard seeing the pack so divided like this.

"Jake," a voice boomed from behind us. We turned around to see Sam standing there. It didn't look like he was expecting us.

"Sam," Jake nodded. I squeezed his hand.

"Let's talk," Sam gestured towards the door. Jake went to move and I latched onto his arm instinctually. I didn't know if I could let him go.

"It's okay, Dani," Jake promised, smirking. I looked at him.

"Dani, can you come help me in the kitchen?" I heard Emily ask. I sighed, took another look at Jacob, and then walked into the small kitchen where Emily was getting the last of the things ready to bring out to the barbeque.

"You don't need to be nice to me," I whispered from the doorway. "I know you all hate me."

Emily looked aghast. "Dani, we don't hate you," she tried to defend, but I shook my head.

"I messed everything up. I always mess everything up," I explained. Emotions from the past few days started rushing in, and I tried hard to get them to stop, but they wouldn't.