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Chapter 10

We laid on the beach for the rest of the night. There was no reason for a blanket or towel anymore, Embry kept me warm just fine. I listened to the waves quietly while he rambled on about how when he was a child this was his favorite place his mother would take him. He must have noticed I was quiet while he talked about his mother because soon he stopped and rolled slightly to be able to look at me and asked me about mine. Obviously his mother is still alive and important to him, he talked with love when he said her name.

"My mother died when I was thirteen," I said as I have said before in the living room with everyone else. He shook his head not liking my answer and sat completely up, taking my heat with him. "I really can't explain what happened because I still fully don't get it. I just know she, like my grandma, was targeted. Maybe because she hid me, protected me, tried to make me normal. I didn't see who killed her for me to be able to attack," I answered with a shrug but still that wasn't good enough for him. "My mother always called me her pride and joy. It was always just me and her. My dad…well that's another story I guess. My mother knew what I could do, just never told me. She always made me watch my mouth as a kid when I almost said I wish someone died. She knew but she didn't think I was ready and she was right. I was mad for a long time when I found out she kept it a secret but then I got it," I stopped and looked up at him to see his expression. It was content and listening. Embry always seemed to do nothing but listen to me.

"She wanted me to be normal for as long as I could be. I knew she knew one day would come when I found out but she knew she wouldn't be there. My grandma tried to protect me, damn she tried," I ended with a laugh and a shake of my head. I felt Embry slip his hand in mine and when I looked up he was giving me a small smile.

"It's my turn to protect you," he whispered as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. I froze.

I didn't know Embry or why I had this connection to him. I didn't know why he wanted to save me so bad. I didn't know why he even bothered with me. I didn't know why he would want anything to do with a killer.

He saw me kill for fucks sake!

"What's wrong?" He asked as he noticed my state of frozenness. I shook my head and blinked back my tears. "Talk to me Ash," he whispered with a worried tone.

"Embry my life has never been the smoothest," I said with a shaky voice watching the sun start to rise. I was about to tell him everything. I felt like I had to, like it was my duty. This man was nothing but kind and sweet to me, there was a pull to him and honestly I didn't want to ignore it. Even though I could be taken or killed, I was going to be selfish with this.

"When I was a child we always moved. Texas, Florida, California, Maryland. We lived in sunny places to protect me, my mother was terrified my father would find me and take me, change me fully. My mother had always said that he was a mistake, not me. I was her pride and joy, she thought she could never had a child until I came along. She raised me as normal as possible, minus her little rituals that she said would protect me from evil. I never questioned those," I laughed a little remembering the time she threw salt throughout the house saying it would scare off any evil that tried to sneak in. She was bit out there sometimes but honestly that was the best part about her. If she was uptight then I wouldn't have loved her as much, her free spirit made me who I am. Or was until everything spun out of control.

"When she died I moved into my Grandmothers house. She also tried to protect me but she did it by trying to hide me. After I killed that man it just got worse, I was homeschooled and was not allowed to have friends. The only friend I had was the maid in the house who did the cleaning and cooking named Marge, she was a lovely lady. My life was uneventful until I turned 18, that's when my grandmother was targeted like my mother but this time I saw faces. I killed to avenge both. I moved to Detroit about two years ago, my life was pretty normal. I become a dog manager at a rescue shelter, moved into a busy street to make sure people saw everything and noticed me, made a few friends who gave me the best times I've ever had. My life was going well," I sighed and looked back at Embry. He sat quietly for a few moments before finally talking.

"You can have another normal life and best times as soon as this whole fight is over, I'll make sure of it," he smiled before leaning in slightly. He was waiting. Waiting for me. I leaned a little bit more to meet him, we were only a few centimeters away from each other lips.

But before we could close the space a howl went off.