Chapter Ten

Embry

"You took my light, you drained me down. That was then and this is now. Now look at me."

-Katy Perry

We were gathered at a long conference table, Anika at the head of it. I sat on one side, Ren on my right. Next to him were Adne, Connor, Ethan, and Silas. I have no idea why he was here. I wanted to take his pencil and shove it up his nose though. On my left, it was my father, Nicole, Blaise, and Arson. Who glared at Ren every now and then. Sitting directly across from me on the opposite side of the table was Calla. Her pack spread out in the seats next to her. It was getting on my nerves, so I broke the long silence.

"I don't understand why I have to go ahead of everyone. Let alone do what you want me too." I said, frowning. It made no sense, but Anika said it. Clearly it made sense to her.

"Embry, where Emile and Efron are concerned, you are just some renegade Guardian who doesn't have a master. They have no idea that you work for us. So far, we can say they trust you. You're basically the reason we have all the information that we do. They let it slip up while you're in the room. Say we wanted to use you for a future information retrieving mission, we couldn't if you went with the Packs. Because then they would know you're with us. If we send them in, say, two hours after you. No one but us would know. Get it?"

"No. I don't get it! It's one thing to send me in to be a spy, but this? Do you get what you're asking me to do? I've done it before to help get information, but I'm pretty sure there is no need for it this time!" I shook my head in frustration, everyone in the room looked on confused. Well, except Arson. But everyone kept silent.

"It's nothing you haven't done before Embry. With or without it being Emile." I felt warmth spread across my cheeks, knowing I was blushing. I growled in frustration, smacking the table.

"Wait." Everyone looked at the seat next to me, where the quiet voice had come from, Ren looked around darkly, "What are you having her do with Emile?"

I felt every muscle in my body freeze, my eyes met Anika's. I gave a slight shake of my head, and her eyes narrowed. She didn't like keeping secrets. She looked away from me to Ren.

"Well, she-"

"I swear to God! I won't do it if you tell them!" I snapped, glaring at her. Everyone looked at me in surprised. Arson let out a long sigh.

"Embry, you might as well just tell them now. They're all going to see it, and if they find out then, they aren't going to be very happy." Arson met my eyes as I turned to glare at him.

"Who's side are you on?" I snapped, feeling my fury build up.

"They have a right to know! We're all working in this together!" Arson snapped, standing up.

For the first time, I felt complete anger toward Arson. This wasn't something that I was used to, we were usually always together in everything. He backed every move I made, but him back talking to me like that angered me more than ever.

"I think you've forgotten your place!" I growled, baring my canines, "I've been lenient with your mouth, but if you push it any farther I'll-"

"Cole would tell them! Cole would tell them everything!" Arson snapped.

"Don't you dare bring Cole into this!" I yelled, my father stood up. Ready to restrain us if necessary.

"Why not? Because I'm right? Or is it because you can't stand the fact that he'd be utterly pissed if he knew what you were doing?" He was pushing my temper, and he knew it. I shook my head angerly.

"Because he's dead! He's dead! That's why! There is nothing new about it! He's gone and he's not coming back!" I wanted to run and hide from my own words, not wanting them to be true. But they were, Cole was never coming back. I would never see him again, well, maybe I'd run into him after I die. But that's a whole different thing.

"Shut up!" Arson growled, "You want to know what she is to Emile?" Arson directed his voice to Ren. Who was sitting stiffly, face white. Calla was clutching the table with white hands, but it was Sabine who moved.

"It was you! That's who I saw with Emile when I was with Efron. I knew you smelled familiar!" She gasped, the others looked at her in confusion.

"Don't say a word, Arson! Do you hear me?" I yelled, lunging at him. My father grabbed me, Arson kept his gaze on Ren, only glancing at Sabine.

"Right. You're completely right, Sabine. You want to really know what she is? Embry is Emile's personal whore." Gasps filled the room, Anika stared at the table. Not saying anything. My father looked down at me in shock, his grip tightened.

"I am not, you bastard! I'll kill you, I swear to God! Take it back! I'm not! You know I'm not!" I cried, trying to get away from him.

"Then what the hell do you call it, Embry?" He growled, Blaise looked at him.

"Arson! Shut the hell up! She's our alpha! What are you doing?" She looked horrified, he looked down at her alarmed, "Tell them it isn't true!"

"But it is! She started doing it after Cole died!" Arson stared at the table as he sat down again. He reached for Blaise's hand but she yanked it away, standing to move away from him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She cried, tears in her eyes, "You don't get it! Embry is our alpha, we're supposed to stand by her side! You want to talk about how pissed Cole would be? He'd be ready to kill you right now! You know that! Accusing Embry of that, even if it is true, you have no right to talk about her business!" She shook her head frantically.

"That's enough. Both of you." My voice sounded strange to even me, it was unemotional, something that didn't happen very often. They both looked at me, faces closed. I pulled myself from my father's arms. Looking straight at Anika, who was meeting my eyes, "I'll do it. But you need to push the meeting back a couple of days. They'll think it's strange that I'm there on a weekday. I'm only available on the weekends. Now, if that's all, I'll be going to my room. If you have anything else to tell me, please send Blaise up with the news." I turned to my father, who was watching me with narrow eyes.

"I've missed you, and I hope you understand." I whispered, hugging him before I pulled away from them. I pulled Nicole to her feet, hugging her. Her arms were tight around me.

"We'll talk later." She whispered, and I nodded. She sat down again as I stepped away. I grabbed Blaise's hand and pulled her over to Arson. I pushed them both back into their seats, and forced their hands together. They were looking at me with bewilderment.

"Do not let my issues mess you guys up." I growled, "You will fix this before you leave this room. If not, I will know, and you're both going to regret it."

I headed over to the door, feeling all the eyes on me. I took a deep breath, and walked out, shutting it behind me. I walked slow and deliberate. The halls echoed as I walked trough them, since it was empty. Everyone being either in bed, or gathered around the conference table. When I was farther away from the conference room, that was when the tears filled my eyes. I padded up the stairs, trying to keep them in. Just until I was in my room. Then I was free. Then I could sit and sulk, and no one could do a thing about it. I was outside my door, when I just couldn't hold it in anymore. With a loud, horrible sob I slid to the floor outside of my room. I buried my head into my hands, I tried to control myself, but you know, I'm not that good at it.

"Embry, don't cry." I stiffened, not moving. I held my breath, listening intently. A moment later, arms went around me, pulling me close.

"No! Ren, don't touch me." I snapped, trying to pull away from him, but his arms only tightened.

"Shut up." He growled, and I was so surprised, I could only stare up at him with wide eyes. He smirked at me. A second later, I felt myself lifted off the ground. I yelped as the top of my head smacked against his chin, he grunted pushing the door to my room open. I looked around, glad that Anika had taken Blaise's advice seriosuly and had all my furniture replaced.

I had a new black leather couch against the wall, a new glass coffee table placed in front of it. A vase of purple, yellow, and white Sweet peas sat on it. My favorite flower. A couple of my pictures, that had been placed in frames were on it. A had a whole knew dresser, and it was made of wood that looked black. It looked antique so I decided that if I was going to break something in here, I wouldn't be that. My headboard on my bed, which had been splintered, was now fixed.

Ren carried me over to the couch, and set me down on it. Settling in next to me, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I tried to resist, but he had an iron grip. Using his free hand, he wiped tears off my face. I had stopped crying, and the tears on my face were starting to dry up.

"I'm not mad." He said quietly, but he stared directly at the flowers.

"You should be. You just don't understand though." I said quietly, I watched every move he made. Every time he blinked, every muscle that moved. I saw it.

"I only need to know one thing." He asked, keeping his eyes away from mine. I nodded, wiping the back of my hand across the back of my hand.

"Anything." I whispered, taking a hold of his hand. He stared at it for a moment, then he raised my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers.

"Did you sleep with Emile?" He choked at the end, and I felt my eyes widen.

"Do you think I did?" I asked quietly, and he turned his head to look at me, his eyes meeting mine. His eyes bore into mine, and I felt a blush spreading across my cheeks.

"No. But that's not you answering my question." He kept his eyes on mine, they were narrowed ever so slightly.

"What if I did?" I narrowed my eyes at him, as I did, his eyes narrowed even more. Much like a cats eyes.

"Then I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'd think. About you being with him." His eyes went down, staring at our linked hands

"Ren." I said quietly, "Look at me."

He looked at me, his dark eyes searching mine.

"I didn't sleep with him." I said coolly, "Do you believe me?"

Ren sat there, his just watching mine, for just a moment, "Yes, I believe you." He replied.

He reached foward, and cupped my face with one of his hands. He pulled me closer and his lips met mine. It was passionate and hunger was in it, but I pulled away. Ren looked at me startled.

"But what else I do, you should know-"

"No. I don't need to know anything else." Ren said, tracing the scar on my cheek again.

"You don't?" I looked at him surprised.

"You look tired." Ren said suddenly, pulling his hand away, "Get some sleep. We'll talk again in the morning. I'm not going to let Emile ruin this too." He said, heading for the door. I hadn't realized how tired I was until he mentioned it. I felt like yawning, but I kept it in. Ren had the door halfway open when I shot off the couch, almost tripping over my own feet.

"Ren, wait!" I said, he turned around to face me, eyebrow raised.

"Yes?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Stay." I managed the word, but I surprised myself as I said it.

"What?" He looked utterly shocked.

"Stay. In here. With me. Tonight." I said, feeling a blush spread go from just my cheeks to across my neck.

"Are you sure? I mean, you are pretty tired." He tilted his head at me.

"I really just don't want to be alone. I'm nervous, and I feel safe with you when you're with me." I shrugged, looking at him sheepishly, "Please."

Ren stared at me for a moment, the nodded. I felt my stomach tighten as he shut the door. He came toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I'm not doing anything like...you know. Yet." I grinned at him when he laughed.

"I wasn't expecting anything from you." He kissed my cheek, "Now come on. You're tired." He pulled me toward the bed.

"Ren?" I asked quietly.

"Hm?" He asked, spawling down across my bed.

"Thank you." I whispered, crawling in next to him.

"Any time." He smiled, "Any time."

He pulled the covers us, then wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. I snuggled closer and took a deep breath. Ready to face anything now.