Chapter Three
Embry
"It is not the light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake."
-Frederick Douglass
I rubbed my eyes as I slowly sat up, I frowned as I looked around. No way. How was I going to explain this to Anika? This was a new even for me. My room was completely demolished. My dresser was in pieces, the draws everywhere, and in splinters. My clothes were everywhere, but thank God that they appeared to be fine. The couch I had was in shreds, the glass coffee table was shattered. Everything... was completely ruined.
"Holy... Jesus Christ." I muttered, standing up. I couldn't help a small smile when I saw the leather skirt in pieces. Okay, so that was the only clothing I'd ripped to shreds.
There was a loud knock on my door, I looked up as it opened. Arson was standing in the door way, assessing my room.
"What the crap, Em. This is crazy. Anika's going to be so mad." He frowned at me, "What happened last night? Blaise told me she tried to talk to you, but you just went past her and slammed your room door shut. I think the whole Academy heard your door slam. It like vibrated every-"
"Okay, Arson, not helping." I sighed, shaking my head. He grinned at me sheepishly.
"Sorry." Seeing him grin at me, made me feel even more guilty. More guilty that I'd been feeling last night. I sat down on the edge of my bed, frowning at the floor. Arson sat next to me a second later, his arm around my shoulders.
"Em, what's wrong?" I knew I could trust Arson, I just didn't know how he'd take what I was about to say.
"I betrayed Cole." I whispered, I felt him tense instantly.
"You... did... what?" His voice was shocked, I shook my
head.
"You hate me now." I said, not being able to look at him. He squeezed my shoulders.
"Embry, you're like my best friend. I could never hate you. Now tell me, what happened to make you think you betrayed Cole?" He said softly, I closed my eyes for a minute.
"I let him kiss me." I whispered, looking at Arson, who tilted his head at me in curiosity.
"Who?" He didn't look mad in the slightest. Just curious, but I didn't want him to be curious. I wanted him to yell at me, be angry at me, tell me I was a horrible person.
"Ren. One of the alpha's from Calla's pack." Arson's eyes narrowed just a little bit. Then it was gone and he frowned at me.
"Do you like him?" His voice was soft, that's when my eyes stung with tears.
"I don't know! That's the problem! I just don't know! I don't even know if he likes me! I know he's in love with Calla, but he... I don't know! I feel even worse thinking about it, because of Cole!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. Arson pulled me into a hug.
"Listen to me, Embry. Cole is dead-" His words were harsh, I shoved him away from me, standing up. My eyes wide, I shook my head.
"No. Shut up, Arson." I growled, baring my canines.
"No, Embry! Let me finish! Cole is dead, do you think he'd want you to sit here miserable for the rest of your life? You're not even eighteen yet. Cole's been dead for almost a year now, it's okay to have feelings for someone else. Cole wouldn't blame you." His voice grew softer at the end.
"But I love Cole, I don't want someone else to ever take that." I whispered, staring at him, helpless. I was supposed to be his alpha, the one who would help him with his problems. I was the one who could deal with my problems on my own. I was failing in that department so far.
"No one will ever take that away from you, Em. You will always have a place in you for Cole, but Cole is gone. He's not coming back. You can move on. It's alright." Arson gave me a smile, a genuine smile.
"Arson, have I ever told you how much I love you?" I said, as he opened his arms to me again. He laughed as I fell into them.
"Yeah, I love you too, Em. Now, do I need to threaten Ren for upsetting my alpha?" His smile widened when I growled.
"I wasn't upset." I grumbled, looking around my room again.
"Yeah, whatever. Go take a shower, you smell. Then we'll all go down to breakfast." He laughed when I chucked a pillow at him.
"I do not smell." I glared at him, as I grabbed clothes, and whatever else I needed and left the room. I stuck my head back in, "Just for your comment, you clean my room. Now!" His jaw dropped when he saw how serious I was, I blew him a kiss as I left again.
After an amazing shower, I put on black short shorts, a white spaghetti strap tank top, and white flip flops. I tied my hair into a ponytail, and applied just a little bit of grey eyeshadow, and then mascara. When I went back to my room, you could see the floor now. The splintered would was in a corner, and the table was completely gone, as was the couch. Arson was lying on my bed, with his head in Blaise's lap. They both looked up as I walked in.
"Arson, when I said clean my room...I was kind of joking." I said, looking around, smiling.
"You were not. Don't lie. You had the most serious look on your face. Plus, I was going to do it anyways." He grinned at me.
"Arson, I'm going-" I was cut off by Blaise.
"Ren really kissed you?" Her voice was quiet as she looked at me wide-eyed. I glared at Arson for a moment, and he sank down into the bed.
"That's not important. We need some breakfast. Let's go." I sighed when they got up to follow me, "Then I need to beg Anika for new furniture."
They both snickered, and with that we left. One of them on each side of me. My pack, or what was left of it. We were the only ones left of our small family. I knew Blaise missed Sunny and Flint as much as I did. Sunny was her sister, and Flint had been Sunny's mate. Spark and Scarlett had been close, I was wondering if they liked each other more than they let on. Flame, oh Flame, she'd been my best friend and my second. My beta had thrown herself at the big wolf before he could get another hit on me. He snapped her neck, and she fell to the ground limply, she was the first one to die.
When we entered the dining room, it fell silent, all eyes were one us. I smiled, and looked at Calla's table. They were all watching me, I waved a hand at them, but they just sank back in their seats. Their eyes showing anger, Ren was the only one not at the table. Shay put his arm around Calla protectively, I snorted and led my pack to our regular table. I sat down at the head of it, Arson and Blaise sitting on either side of me. A young worker on the staff brought us plates, Arson thanked him when Blaise and I stayed quiet. I picked up a piece of bacon a took a bite, looking at Arson.
"What are we doing after breakfast?" He asked, trying to steal a piece of my bacon, I grabbed my fork and tried to stab him with it until he stopped trying to take my bacon.
"My bacon, don't touch it you bastard." I growled, and he laughed, "I was actually thinking about taking some time to train."
"Train?" Arson frowned, "Like fight training? You don't think we can fight?"
"Did I say that? No. I know you can fight, both of you. I just think we should train more, it couldn't hurt." I smiled at him, showing my canines.
"Sure thing, Alpha." I threw a piece if toast at him, which he caught with his mouth. I started laughing.
"Can I sit with you guys?" I stopped laughing, and my head jerked up. Ren was standing at the table, by the only empty chair left. I didn't say anything, he'd caught me completely off guard.
So Arson stepped in and grinned. Toast crumbs on his face.
"Sure thing, man." He said taking a drink of orange juice.
Ren pulled the seat out, about to sit down.
"No." I said, finding my voice. Arson's head snapped in my direction, Blaise choked on her toast.
"What?" Ren frowned at me, Arson looked between us. I kept my gaze on Ren.
"No, as in, don't sit there." I snorted, then jerked my head in Arson's direction, "Arson, you move to the empty seat. Ren, you can sit next to me."
Arson looked alarmed, but he stood up, picked up his breakfast, and planted himself in the seat that was empty. Ren quietly sat next to me, he looked at me, a smile tugging on his lips. I glanced at Calla's table, and saw her glaring at me. Shay looked angry, but I figured it was because Calla cared so much about what Ren was doing.
"Well, she isn't very happy." I murmured, Ren didn't even bother to look back. He just shrugged, and ate a piece of bacon.
"I don't care. You're right, I need to decide for myself." He had a rough edge to his voice, and I laughed.
"Mmm... good alpha." I leaned back in my chair, Ren cast me a long look that I returned.
"I need to talk to you." He said quietly, I instantly tensed. Knowing what he wanted to talk about.
"We will. Hold on." I turned to Blaise and Arson, who were in a deep conversation, "You two. If you're done eating, go to the training room. I need to talk to Ren, in private." Blaise smiled, and stood up to leave, Arson looked at Ren for a long moment, then looked at me. I saw in his eyes, just for a moment, a raw protectiveness, "Arson, go." I snarled, he sighed and stood. Leaving with Blaise, who had a tight hold on his hand.
"He could be an alpha." Ren said quietly, I laughed.
"Arson could not be an alpha, he'd get pissed at the pack and just tell them where they can go. He doesn't have the patience for it." I took a piece of bacon from Arson's abandoned plate and took a bite.
"Are you saying you have the patience?" His smiled this time, it slowly faded when I didn't say anything, "Okay, Embry, about last night, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. It'll never happen again."
"It won't?" I frowned at him, "You didn't take advantage of me. If I didn't want you to kiss me, I would have ripped your lips off. I just felt overwhelmed, I'd never wanted to kiss someone other than Cole before. It scared me that I wanted too."
"You wanted too?" Ren looked surprised, "I thought you were angry at me. You don't need to be scared, Embry. It's okay. I think Cole would understand."
I smiled at him, "You sound just like Arson, I swear. But you're right, there's nothing wrong with me caring about someone else." When he put his hand over mine, I turned my hand so I could lace our fingers together, "But you have to promise not to sit and stare and Calla and Shay in hatred."
He laughed, "I think I'll be busy staring at someone else." My smile widened.
"Smooth one." I shook my head, I took a moment to glance over my shoulder, Calla was tense watching us with angry gold eyes. Most of her pack was watching us too.
"So," Ren said quietly, "The rest of the pack and I are going to a club away from here. Anika said it would be fine, since we probably won't be going to another party for awhile. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me." He sat a little straighter, "Blaise and Arson are invited of course."
I frowned, "Don't you think Calla might not appreciate it if I'm there?"
Ren shrugged, "She won't say anything unless you do something to provoke her. Which is going to be hard for you, but like I said, you'd be with me, not Calla."
I laughed, "Okay, alpha. It's a date. You better know how to dance."
