Into the woods

It was a sunny day and Sarah was in a real good mood as she drove to La push a few days after her return from Mexico.

Embry had decided the best way to tell Sarah about being a wolf was by telling and then showing her, so he invited her to go hiking in the woods near La Push.

He greeted her with a kiss when she got out of her car and took her by the hand leading her towards the path he intended to walk with her.

After walking for half an hour at a comfortable speed they reached a nice secluded spot close enough to the ocean that they could hear the waves rolling against the cliffs somewhere in the distance. Embry took a blanket from his back pack and put it on the ground so they could sit on it.

"Sarah." He started, "I've taken you out here today for a special reason. There is something about me I want to share with you." He paused, here goes nothing he thought. Embry took a deep breath. "Ok, I'll just be straightforward and say it. Sarah," he started again "I'm a shape shifter."

Embry watched Sarah very closely trying to read her reaction. Sarah furrowed her brows and said the first thing that came to her mind. "What, like Odo?" Now it was Embry's turn to frown. "Who?" he asked. "That guy from Star Trek who can turn into whatever he wants, but then again he's not really a guy actually because he's well more like a puddle but a thinking puddle so well. Oh my god I'm babbling. I stop now. You were saying?"

"Ähm I'm a shape shifter and I can turn into a giant wolf, you've heard the stories of our tribe at the bonfire. The Quileute descendents can turn into spirit wolves that protect our people from the cold ones. And it's true some of us Quileutes can turn into giant wolves and I'm one of them." Sarah sat there biting her lip staring at Embry not quite sure what to make of this. So she decided she needed more information.

Her voice was only a whisper when she asked "What is a cold one?" "The cold ones are vampires. Vampires life of human blood so they wander around killing people. There is not much that can kill a vampire, because they're nearly indestructible and very fast. But we're faster and strong enough to destroy them."

"So basically you say you can turn into a giant wolf to protect your tribe from vampires who walk around trying to kill people." "Yep that sums it up pretty good." "If that's your idea of a joke, taking me to the woods to tell me horror stories, let me tell you I don't like horror stories. I never watch Horror movies, they scare the shit out of me even the ones rated PG-13. So this here is not funny!"

Embry looked a bit hurt at that statement. How could she believe he was making fun of her?

"Sarah believe me I would never try to make fun of you. I'm telling you the truth and I can prove it. I will phase into a wolf right here in front of you. Don't freak out I'm not going to hurt you. I'm only showing you, well, me." And with that he started to take of his pants.

"What are you doing?" Sarah asked looking confused. "When I phase I would shred my clothes so I'm taking them off before." Embry said smiling at her.

Embry striped down till he was wearing only his boxers. He had decides he would sacrifice this one piece of clothing to make things less awkward. "Stay right where you are." He said and walked a bit away from her. Then he turned around looked Sarah directly in the eyes and said "Look closely."

Then Embry's body started to shake and mere seconds later he exploded into a wolf.

Sarah couldn't believe her eyes there right in front of her where Embry just stood was a huge grey wolf. Sarah slowly got up so she was at eyelevel with the wolf. She took cautiously a step forward, her heart beating fast inside her chest, then another one and another one until she was close enough to touch the wolf with her finger tips. She slowly extended her hand towards the neck of the giant wolf in front of her.

The second her fingers actually touched Embry's fur she jerked her hand back and stared wide eyed at the creature in front of her. Then she whispered more to herself than to Embry "Oh my god. You're real." The wolf made a strange sound that was a bit like a chuckle.

Sarah's mouth hung open in disbelief she blinked a few times but the wolf was still there right in front of her. Her heart beat had speed up even more now furiously beating inside her chest.

She started to stumble backwards until she was back at the blanket, still disbelievingly staring at the sight in front of her.

And then her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell to the ground.

Sarah blinked and opened her eyes to Embry who was right in front of her concern written all over his face. "Are you hurt? I didn't mean to scare you." "I think I'm ok. What happened?" "You passed out after you saw me phasing into a wolf." "So this really just happened?" Embry nodded.

Embry helped her to sit up. "Okay so vampires are real and you and the others, you said there were others right? You and the others protect your tribe by phasing into wolves and killing the vampires that come near here." "Yeah that's pretty much it." "But why?" "Why what?" "Why would you tell me? I'm not Quileute."

"Ähm we wolves we have this thing called imprinting. It's when a wolf sees his soul mate for the first time. He just knows that this is it. It's like love at first sight but so much stronger. And that's kinda what happened to me when I saw you at that book store. I saw you and I knew you're the most wonderful woman I've ever met and will ever meet. I love you Sarah."

"Oh, wow....I'm...You're...We...Soul mates?" "Yes." Embry said and nodded.

"So what do you think?" Embry asked after a few minutes. "The last part was probably the best thing anyone has ever said to me, but the rest is a lot to process and I'd really like to go back now, if you don't mind." She said and got up. Embry smiled and said, "your every wish is my command." Then he grabbed the blanket and stuffed into the backpack and put his shirt and shoes back on.

Embry took Sarah's hand and silently they walked back to La Push.

At Sarah's car Embry kissed her hard on the lips and asked, "we're good?" "I guess I'll see you soon puddle guy." And with that she got into her car and drove off towards Port Angeles.