Chapter 8: Rewards

"I'm going to tell Emily, Sam!" I yell, making my anger evident. "She has a right to know!"

"You can't tell her," Sam states, eerily calm. Something isn't right.

"I most certainly can and I will!"

"No, darling, you can't." I watch as he takes a stride towards me. I quickly back up towards the wall. The look held in his eyes is causing me to become frightful. Something is definitely not right with this man.

"What do you mean? You have no control over me. Don't think I'm going to let you stand in my way!"

"I'm not standing in your way, Lee. You can't tell her because-" he pauses, drawing out the moment.

"Because what!" He's starting to try my patience. There's a look held in his eyes that I can't read. Quite frankly it's scarring the shit out of me.

"Because she's dead." He says a smirk planted on his lips as he comes closer to me. He's near to pressing me against the wall. "I killed her."

I try to speak but no words will come. It's as if I have lost my voice.

Abruptly, my back is against the wall. Sam is inches from me. His arms block any hope of escape.

I'm shaking and wanting to scream.

He bends down running his hands down my side. His lips are inches away from my small stomach.

"Don't worry, Sam Jr. Daddy's here." I watch as he stands. His hands find my cheeks. and then they begin to tangle with my hair. "But we have to get rid of a little problem first." Abruptly, my hands fly up to my stomach to protect my baby. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm not going to be hurting Sam Jr. It's you!"

Sam's hands clasp around my throat choking off my screams.

"Leah," a voice calls, breaking little trough the haze I'm caught in. Continuously, screams escape my lips. "Leah, snap out of it!" Embry orders as his hands are clasped upon my shoulders.

Sweat is damp across my skin. I notice a dull pain in my abdomen that is starting to ebb. I let out a shaky breath when I notice the blood stained shirt Embry is sporting. My eyes snap down to my- flat stomach. With shaky hands I lift up the blanket that is covering me. I drop the blanket as soon as I notice the wound running across the lowest part of my stomach shrinks into a scar.

"Where's my baby?" I ask frantically, trying to control my breathing. "Embry where is- where-"

"Sh," Embry hushes, running his hand across my hair, gently tucking a strand behind my ear. "Everything is alright. Seth has her right now. I'll go get her."

I eagerly watch as Embry leaves the room. After for what feels like an hour he's back with a bundle in his hands. Embry smiles at my expression. I nearly jump out of my skin with excitement.

"Here's-" Embry says pausing as he sits down beside me. "Well, what have you decided to name this precious girl?"

"Embry Kiowa Callwater," the name rolls off of my tongue. I snap my head up from my beautiful child, realizing what I have just said. "Clearwater, I meant Clearwater." I correct. Embry chuckles, giving me a light smile. "Embry Kiowa Clearwater, but she'll go by Kiowa."

"Leah?"

"Hum?" I look up catching Embry's gaze.

"Why did you name her after me?" He asks, his dark stormy eyes searching my own.


"Embry," I slowly get up walking to him. I gently lay a hand upon his shoulder as he continues to glance out the glass window, that takes up the length of the wall, at the darkened forest. "Why are you so quiet?"

He flinches as he notices that I'm by him. His head snaps to me then back into the depths of the woods.

"I'm contemplating."

"Contemplating what?"

"I don't know where to begin."

"Well, the beginning is always a good place."

"I'm thinking about how to handle things. I'm trying to figure out how to tell you that Seth told you're mom about what happened. I'm wondering if she's going to tell the Tribal Council. If she won't, I will! And I'm contemplating the ways to kill that mother fucking bastard. I know I want to kill him slowly so he can feel the pain you went through. I-" Embry begins to shake. I've never seen him not have control over his anger. Quite frankly, it's scaring me a bit.

"Embry," I say softly, trying to calm him.

"Every time you look at her you're going to be reminded of what he fucking did to you!"

"Embry!"

A long silence lingers trough the air.

"Leah, I'm- I didn't-"

"Hush-" He sighs running his fingers through his shortly cropped hair. He looks down at his feet ashamed. "Do you know what I'll be reminded of when I look at her?" I pull his face up, running my hand down his cheek. I let it linger on his chest as I continue. "You. I'll be reminded of you, Embry. It's amazing how much she favors you. Even in her mannerisms. It's so strange, you could be her father. Really, you could. I've been trying to figure it out and I finally have. It's because- well- It's because you're Sam's half brother. I know you hate to admit it. But you're the one thing to come out of this that's good." I take in a deep breath, trying to force the words out. "Embry, you're the greatest thing that has came out of this. You've been by my side from the very beginning and I want you to continue to be by my side. Embry, I want you to be a father to Kiowa. I know you want to, I see the way you look at her. I'm just a mess, and I'm going to need a whole hell of a lot of help. I know you'll be here to help me. God, I'm so fucked up!" Finally, I shove out the words that I've been holding back for so long. "Embry, I need someone to love me, despite my mistakes. For who I am. A total-"

Suddenly, I stop talking noticing how close Embry is to me. I run the hand that's on his chest up to his neck. I let the other hand slide to his chest. Slowly, his hands wrap around my back as he pulls me closer to him. His breath runs across my face. I glance up at his slightly parted lips. Then I glance up at his eyes that are looking down on me. I blink moving my eyes once more to his lips. I gently shut my eyes as he leans into kiss me. I hear his heart beat speed up. Maybe I'm just hearing mine in my ears. I haven't even realized how long it's been since I kissed someone. Our tongues' barley slide across each other before he's pulled away.

"I've been contemplating that too," he whispers afraid someone will hear. I smile up at him. "And Leah," he slides his hand up to my cheek. "I love you, completely the way you are."

TBC