29DISCLAIMER: not mine
AN: At bottom.
TIME: A year after past chapter
*EMILY POV*
I was cooking as Sam walked in, the stress lines marking his 16 year old face. I glanced up from the ridiculously large lasagna I was making as he waked over to me and kissed my cheek where he had once scratched me.
"Emily, I'm home," he whispered to me. I know that, I wanted to say, but couldn't bring myself to hurt him with my sarcasm. Not because I cared. Hell no. It was because he cared that I couldn't hurt him. That I cooked for him. That I stayed with him. Lee-lee warned me. She said he'd hurt. I know she meant cheating-something no wolf would dare do while he was romantically involved with an imprint-but I'm hurting differently. I'm trapped to him. Stuck. I'll never leave him. Such depressed thoughts for a 16 year old, eh?
Suddenly, Paul burst in, "Embrys phased. I came to tell you!" he huffed as Sam got up to with him. These wolves say the most obvious things. "I'm here to tell you"? What else would he be here for? To help me cook? Yeah, right. Of course, I'd never say this. I'm honestly afraid they would hurt me. I mean, they're wolves, with the claws and the teeth and . . . and . . . I shuddered. I set the lasagna to bake and waited for what was left of the boy I never knew and now would never know.
*LEAH POV*
I walked to Embry's house. We needed someone to even out the teams. Seth was going to be the cheerleader. He was rooting for Quil and Jake. When, after getting my ass kicked, I asked him why he wasn't rooting for his sister. His reply was "You're my sister. That's why." I could have used a cheerleader. He also said it was because I called him a cheerleader and Quil called him Masculine Cheer Emperor. But still.
I pondered this as I walked into the Call's General Store. "Hi Mrs C!" I called as I walked through.
"Hello darling! What'cha need?"she asked. I walked to the counter where her manicured hands where organizing shelves.
"I'm looking for Embry. Need some help?" I asked.
"Sure! Thanks. I think he's in his room at home. I'd knock before entering, if I were you." she said and winked. I laughed.
"I know Mrs. C," I said, the humor in my voice. Embry scares easily. He once through all his books at me at school, when I wished him a Happy Birthday on his birthday. Not a huge surprise.
"How many times have I told you to call me Jeanie, like everyone else?" she asked. Everyone called her Jeanie, even Embry, but me and Seth. Our dad taught use to address- and treat- people with respect.
"Not enough," I laughed and took off from the half finished shelf, before she could argue.
"Embry!" I shouted, knocking loudly at his door, "I am at your door! It's Leah! Don't get scared!" I chuckled and walked in to the empty room. Huh, I thought, maybe his mess at him. And if it wasn't so illogical, it might have been possible. I shrugged and left a note to THE SKINNY ASS SLOB, telling him to get to my house so we could get our football on.
As I walked home I saw Embry walking home with Paul. Paul had stopped hanging out with us. He ignored us, except for an apologetic glance when he was out with Sam and Jared (who had also ditched us. We weren't the coolest, but come on!) or in the middle of a class he didn't skip. I ran across the street to them.
"Hey Embry!" I said, thanking God(1) that there hadn't been any cars, "You want to come play football? I need to kick Quil's butt! Help my vengeance?" I tried to convince him with promises of revenge.
Embry was looking at me like he'd never seen me before. Then he looked scared. He turned to Paul, as if to ask permission, who whispered something in his ear(2). Paul kept looking like he wanted to say something.
"I'm sorry Lee-lee. I can't," he said sadly then hugged me in the sweetest way way possible, his words tinged with regret. He just held me for a second then pulled away. "Goodbye." He whispered and walked away with Paul.
"'Kay, bye," I said, shocked. Why did he hug me? We had hugged before, as jokes, in victory, in comfort and in special greeting, but never like that. Why did he look at me like that?His gaze was so pained. It was like he would never see me again. What did Paul say(2)? It seemed to make them both sadder . . . What the Hell?
I walked home in shocked and confused, thinking about what happened. Then I realized: He was hanging out with Paul. He hangs out with Jared. Who never leaves Sam's side. Paul rarely does. Neither of the two ever looked back. That couldn't mean that . . .
Embry's gone to the dark side! I ran home with a fervor.
"He's . . Embry . . . Paul . . . Sam . . . Vader!" I huffed, running to Jake Quil and Seth. I almost tripped as I skidded to a halt. I leaned on my knees to catch my breath, before I attempted to speak again.
"Huh?" Seth asked as he latched an arm around my waist that supported my weight. I got way more oxygen that way. "What happened?"
"Embry's out with Paul," I gasped.
"So?" asked Quil.
"He hugged me like he would never see me again, and say goodbye like he meant it." I nearly gossiped. I needed to know why he acted like that. I really hoped the boys could help me. Full to the brim with air, I twisted from Seth's tightening grip.
"Weird. So, Seth, will you help your sister?" asked Quil, not picking up on my confusion.
"Gah, no! Why don't you help my sister and I'll help Jake kick your ass!" Seth replied belligerently, getting up in Quil's face.
"Oh, bring it!" I challenged, sauntering up to the face off.
"Don't need to," said Jake, joining the party, "We'll win without it!"
Quil scoffed.
Then, a few hours of rematches and "best 5 out of 7's" later, we lost.
"We won! We won!" Seth cried. My younger twin had an affinity for football not even the NFL had seen.
Emily wearily walked through the door. She had been at Sam's. She was always at his house.I could see the "smile" she wore - always wore - was fake, but I couldn't summon the sympathy. I had the empathy. Oh, how I felt what she did. He'd broken me too. I'm still not quite fixed. He made me feel replaceable. Everyone said I was to good for him, but never said I was one of a kind. No one, unless it was in an insult, said there was never another girl like me. But I'd warned Emily. I told her he was bad. She wouldn't listen, and now she knows. Sam's not good for her. Or for anyone else.
"Hey, Emily! I wo-o-on!" Seth sang, as Jake walked out the door chuckling. He looked at me for a second, with an exspression I couldn't get. Jealously, maybe? Or possesesiveness? Nah, must be a little dizzy from all that dirt I face-planted in, when I was tackled by my flesh and blood mercilously. " . . . It was my first game and I WON!"
"That's great," replied our cousin absently.
"Hey, Em, you OK?" I asked her, slinking an arm over her shoulder. What can I say? We're one-arm-hug people.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up. I don't really feel like talking," she answered quickly.
Emily had been staying with use for about a year. We still don't know why. Well, mom knows, but she won't tell the rest of us.
*BACK TO EMILY'S POV!*
"I have to go home," I said as Sam kissed me goodbye. I had to force myself to kiss him back, briefly, before pulling back and almost running outside and off his property. Then I let myself think. It had been so . . . terrifying. I saw Embry and instantly recognized him as one of Seth and Leah's friends. He was, at one point, sweet, kind, loyal and funny. Just like the rest of them. Seth, Leah and co. were what I loved about going home. They loved me (well, some loved me. They all were at least fond of me), they were nice to me, they would protect me because I was family and deserved it. Not because they were wolves and it was their duty to protect me as I was their alpha's soul mate. And because, when I stopped to talk, they always made me laugh. They brightened my day. That was my old world. My new world was harsh and the members of it tried to protect me from it. Key word - tried. I knew - know - all that goes on. But, now, all Embry is my protector. Not my cousins sweet, kind, loyal, funny friend who could be my friend. And would be again.
Because he was lost to the wolves. Once you go pack, you never go back. I learned that. I hope no one else has to.
Once I got home I agreed with whatever Seth said, greeted Sue, and blow off Leah's compassion. She knew something was up. I really hoped she didn't know what though. I ran to my room to try not to cry. Very routine. I almost cried because I could see the wolf in the others.
I saw it in Seth. He was a playful puppy and big enough to for that fact to shock you. I saw it in Quil, the boy loved to play in the dirt, and the woods. He also had a weird habit of yelling at squirrels to get the Hell off his property. I saw the wolf in Jake too. He was so protective and loyal. I knew I would lose them all. Me and Leah, we would be the only ones mourning their phasing.
Once you go pack, you never go back. No matter how much you want to.
1- I didn't now what religeon they are. Even if it's not some form of Catholicism, who would they thank. If anyone has any answers tell me por favor!
2- "You can't. You could hurt them. You could hurt her. I know its hard, but its better avoiding them, then seeing them at another's funereal."
Ominous, ain't it? I know, I know, new spin on Emily, but can't you see imprints being like that? Trapped eternally at such a young age. Ah. Either way, I am in desperate need of a beta. My grammar and spelling sucks and I want someone who reads this to be able to give me advice and such on it. Especially if the "and such" is how to improve it. That's all I have to say. Thanks for reading XD.