A/N: I know Embry hasn't had it so good in my other stories, but I didn't mean to leave him out in the cold. I actually like his character a lot but I just couldn't find the right ending for him. While I like the idea of him and Leah together, I couldn't even leave that alone in my story Lonely Hearts. So, at the request of a reader and with my own joy, I present here an Embry story. It does technically follow after LH, but you don't have to read that story first (unless you want to!) to understand this one. So, I hope this time I can do right by Embry and MrsJamesPotter1. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight, but I did just get a lower rate on my mortgage.

The Long Road Home

Prologue: 2096, Embry Call

I don't know how many times I've heard the old legends of my tribe. I like them, don't get me wrong, but some of them just don't hold the same magic for me as they used to.

Spirit warriors who morph into wolves to protect the tribe: check. We are real.

There are several others I have found reasonable explanations for as well. So, the magic is gone. Here I sit on a beach in Florida, thousands of miles from home, watching the waves roll in and all I can think about is Taha Aki. I can't help but think, how did he do it?

We all know the story: the legendary chief lived the life of three men and found his soul-mate and imprint in his third wife who was brave and sacrificed herself to protect her sons and her tribe. But as I think about that, all I have are questions.

How did he know to wait for that third wife and not just age and die with the first woman he married?

Along with that, how could he just stand by and watch those first two families, the women and children all grow old and die and leave him behind?

Did his people ever look at him funny because he stayed young and was their chief for so long?

Did his pack brothers understand when they grew old and died?

Because right now, in this moment, I am having a really hard time justifying myself anymore. I have outlived a wife and child and it hurts like hell. Last month I watched the tribe bury the last of my pack-mates, except for Jake of course, he's like me. And together he and I attended Collin's funeral posing as our own relatives so we wouldn't confuse or upset our pack brother's kids and grandkids.

Everyone else I knew or cared about on the Res is gone now. I have no family, I have no home. I will always be tied to La Push, it is my Res, and as much of a home as someone like me can have.

But I'm not Taha Aki. I can't stay and be welcomed by my people. I have not found my soul mate. And I don't know why I can't let go of my wolf and stop phasing.