Chapter 3: Embry's Plan

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

BPOV:

Oh gosh, the cramps were getting worse. Maybe she should start timing them? Poor Embry, he looked like he was about to faint. His face paled a bit when she mentioned the word, labor.

"I think you should sit down, Bella."

"But Leah said that walking around was better. It would speed up the labor."

He bobbed his head rapidly. "Like I said … you should sit down."

She couldn't blame him. He just waltzed into this mess. It wasn't like he wanted to be a part of this. Bella didn't want to either, at least not in these particular circumstances. Three more weeks. Couldn't Liam have waited just three more measly weeks? Even tomorrow would have been better.

Bam! Another contraction hit her, this time it was stronger. It meant business. She gasped out loud, and Embry's eyes widened in concern.

He was at her side in a flash and steered her to the chair. "Okay, okay. I've got a plan. In fifteen minutes, I'll try calling Jake one more time. If he doesn't answer then I'm taking you down the mountain myself."

That was not what she had in mind, but she was starting to get really uncomfortable. Bella didn't know how long she could hold out waiting for her sweetheart. Her little one was getting very impatient.

EPOV:

Embry was always the brains of the group … the rational, calming factor, but right now, he felt anything but. He could conceivably (ooh, that word) deliver this baby, but man, oh man, this was Jacob's baby. Suppose he did something wrong. His best friend would never forgive him.

The next fifteen minutes seemed to crawl by. He jumped the gun and called Jacob a few minutes early. Same ol' response—a whole lot of nothing. By now his heart was in his throat.

Grasping at straws, he told Bella. "If he's not picking up, then maybe he's gone wolf. I'm gonna go outside and phase to see if that's the case."

Bella bent over all at once, holding her abdomen. After a wince, she bit her lip, and nodded at him.

Embry shot out the door and stripped. He looked up at the sky, the soft feather-like flakes coalescing, and melting on his long eyelashes. With his fingers crossed, he prayed, Please Jake, Get here soon. I don't wanna do this.

He shifted quickly, and broadcast his thoughts." Jake, if you can hear me, get to the cabin on the double. Bella's gone into labor."

His head jerked at the sound of his friend's voice. Embry?

Jake! We've been trying to get hold of you. Why didn't you answer your cell?

I couldn't find it. It must've slipped out of my pocket somewhere. Then the Ram wouldn't start, so I'm traveling on all fours.

How far out are you?

I should be there in twenty minutes.

Okay, I'll tell Bella, but if you're not here in time, I'm taking her to the clinic myself.

I'll try my best … no, I'll be there!

Embry phased back and donned his clothing. Then he realized, he didn't ask about Quil. Oh well, Jacob would've said something if there'd been any other kind of trouble—yeah, that kind.

Entering the cabin, he gave Bella the news. "Jake's on his way. He lost the cell, and that freakin' truck wouldn't start, so he's hoofing it. He said about twenty minutes. Do you think you can hold on that long?"

"I guess I have to. What other choice do I have?"

Embry knelt beside her, and held her hand. Every once in a while, her breathing changed, and he could tell that's when a contraction was occurring. He helped her to the bathroom, got her a bottle of water, and rearranged the pillows at her back. Still, he felt helpless with every groan that escaped her lips.

He looked out the window one last time, hoping to see a russet wolf. The twenty minutes were up, so it was his responsibility to get Bella safely to the clinic. His Alpha was depending on him; Bella was depending on him.

JPOV:

Why did I listen to that idiot, Quil? I could have been with Bells, at the clinic right now. She'd be receiving proper medical care. What was I thinking?

Jacob stepped up his pace, trying in desperation to make it back in time. All this snow wasn't helping, and dammit, it kept coming down.

Suddenly, up ahead, a white streak flashed across his path. It was almost undetectable in all this fine powder, even with his heightened vision. He caught it by accident out of the corner of his eye. Then he made out another one. No, no, no—it couldn't be. He had to get to Bella; she needed him. Jacob had no time for this. He had to get to her, now. And yet, here it was at the worst possible moment. The sweet scent burned his muzzle, and a red-eyed monster raced straight toward him. They must've been nomads unaware of what Jacob was capable of. Sh** …

There were two of them all right, both females, one with light brown hair, the other darker. "What a pretty dog. Such a shame," the first one said, as she got closer. "I guess he'll have to do. I haven't seen a human here in nearly two weeks."

Jacob was practically dizzy as the pair whizzed around, circling him. Damn, there would have to be a pair of them. He stood his ground, hackles raised, and teeth bared.

"Oh, but look, Kendra," the light-haired one hissed. "He doesn't want to cooperate, and I'm sooo thirsty."

"Ya think? I've never seen such a big wolf before. And those teeth, I do believe he means to bite us."

Cleo elicited a tinkling laugh. "Well, go pull on his tail, while I sink my teeth into that luscious throat of his. I'll bet his blood is nice and warm too."

Kendra sped to Jacob's hind quarters, never dreaming that he understood every word that she said. His head whipped around in a flash, as he nipped at her, taking a chunk of marble-hard flesh from her hand before she even managed to grab his tail. Get away from me, you filthy leech.

Jerking back suddenly, Kendra let out with a wail. "Cleo, do something. He's nearly as fast as we are. Use your powers."

"I am, but they don't seem to be working on him. He shouldn't be able to move at all, and yet he bit you. What kind of wolf is he?

"Damn it, Kendra—blink out why don't you? I've just got to have a drink."

Blink out? What the hell?

Cleo shook out her light brown hair in frustration, and catapulted in the air, landing on Jacob's back. The wolf boy, bucked and reared back, pitching her off, and launching her like a torpedo into a tree. He looked behind him, sensing Kendra's presence, but it was like she had disappeared. While he growled, and sniffed trying to find her, Jacob heard a soft chuckle. It was unmistakable, and her scent was as strong as ever, but his eyes saw nothing. Where did she go? She was toying with him, mocking him, her laughter skipping from place to place.

"This is not funny anymore. Stop fooling around, Sis. I'm thirsty!" Cleo shrieked. The she-devil, with a look of pure evil in her eyes, sped toward Jacob, her hands instantly at his neck, attempting to gain access to a river of his rich blood. They tumbled on the ground, each desperate in their own endeavors—Cleo to suck his artery dry, and Jacob to end her and her partner, and get to Bella. The war seemed to go on forever. The vamp was stubborn, set on nothing less than victory.

It was a struggle keeping her away, all the while feeling hands grabbing him by the other now, unseen enemy. Invisible fingers were clawing at him, leaving bloody trails along his flanks and abdomen.

Kendra yelled, "Hurry up and finish him, Cleo. I can't keep this up much longer. I'm starting to lose it. I'll be visible in a few more seconds."

"I'm tr—"

The words died in her mouth. Jacob took advantage of the distraction, and he leaped at her, his sharp teeth clenched on Cleo's neck, ripping her head from her shoulders. Her pretty face was frozen in a look of shock as her head sailed up and over an ice-clad brook, quite a distance from the rest of her remains.

"No!" Kendra screamed in agony. "She was my sister."

Jacob wheeled toward the sound. Kendra lost control of her special power at that moment and reappeared a few feet away from him. She lunged at him, and the battle was on again.

EPOV:

Embry picked up the cell and called Leah. "Hey, girl, can you meet us at the clinic? What do you think? Looks like Jake's baby is about to make an appearance. Why else would we be calling? What? Well, yeah, we're sure. Real sure. All right then; see you in about forty-five minutes. Bye."

This was it. He wasn't hanging around a minute more. No sir … Embry Call was not a midwife; he was smart enough to figure that one out. He rushed into the bedroom, and got Bella's jacket, along with the pillows and blankets. After helping her into the sleeves, he took her hand and raised her from the chair. "C'mon, Bella, Jake can catch up with us later. He must've run into some trouble, or he'd be here, but don't worry, he can look out for himself.

"Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she murmured in a small voice.

They began walking slowly to the door when Bella stopped, and whimpering, grasped Embry's hand squeezing it tightly. She took a few deep breaths and blew the air out, rhythmically, riding the wave of the contraction. Looking up into Embry's anxious face, she straightened up and said, "Okay, let's go."

When the reached the front entry, she stopped again, motioning back over her shoulder. "Oh gosh, I forgot. Can you get that towel off the chair? We better bring it with us. I don't want to mess up the seat in Quil's car."

That's the least of my worries. Where the hell is Jake? Did he run into a bloodsucker? God, this cannot get any worse—or can it? Okay, Em, don't think that way; suck it up and be strong for Bella. She needs you now.

. . . . .

QPOV:

Damn, was this snow ever gonna stop? At least it would ensure that the meat in the truck bed would be refrigerated, but he was getting tired of shaking the flakes out of his eyes. It was so annoying. The heat from his body would melt them, and the liquid was running nonstop into his eyeballs. Crap!

He blew out a puff of air that clouded on contact with the nippy weather conditions, and pulled his hunting knife out of its sheath. His hand skillfully incised a fine line down the belly of the elk, allowing the entrails to spill out. He gave a tug, and they loosened from the internal membranes, then heaved them over the side, figuring his wolf brothers would make a good meal out of it, with no effort on their part. The deer was next to be eviscerated. After the cavity was gutted, Quil wiped the blade of his knife with a nearby rag, and turned his attention to the truck engine.

Quil lifted the hood of the truck, then climbed back inside the cab, and turned the key in the ignition. All he got for his efforts was the sound of click, click, click.

Okay, now what? If only I had an electric blanket to warm up the battery. Hey, that's it! I'm a genius.

Walking to the front of the truck, he removed the battery cables, and slid it out of the engine. There was a coat setting on the passenger seat. He put on the jacket, and once seated, slipped the battery under it, hoping his body temperature would do the trick. It was ridiculous, sitting there with the black box on his lap. He could think of something or someone better to take up his lap. Ah … Stacey. For a full fifteen minutes, he stayed there radiating his heat before he replaced it on its platform.

With the hood slammed shut, Quil, jumped back in the driver's seat, and tried the ignition again. Click, click, click. Ah—sh**! We'll have to come back tonight and jumpstart her.

Rifling around under the seat, he grabbed an emergency pair of cutoffs lying there. He stripped down, tied the shorts and the truck keys to his ankle and took off. He'd been running only about ten minutes, when that eau de leech drifted on the wind. It was just a lingering odor, but there were definitely vamps in the area recently—two distinct scents. Great—he'd better go warn everyone.