A/N- told you you would get another update tonight. oh, and malerie please please dont be mad at me. there's some fluff. i think. idk. just tell me wht u think. oh, and i think there should be a lemon in here, but i'm not sure. PM me or send me a review about what you think. here's what i'm gonna do about the lemon. either i wont put one in, i'll put in fluff and let it imply everything afterwards, or PM me giving me a 2000+ word lemon for one of the upcoming chapters. anyway, please R&R. love you all! Bells
Chapter 10
Imprinting?
The Cullens walked through the trees first, Carlisle in the front. I looked to see where the pack was, where Embry was.
Is Embry okay? I thought, looking at Edward.
Edward looked up, only moving his eyes, then looked back at me again. A nod. Some of my frustration was gone, but all of my panic was still there. Jasper looked at me, he looked like he knew how I was feeling. Maybe he did, I didn't really care.
"Katrina, can't we settle this without a fight?" Carlisle asked.
"No, I don't think so. Where's the dogs?" Katrina asked.
I glared at her, but she ignored me. Stupid leech bitch.
"Katrina, there's no need for any of this," Jasper said.
Katrina just rolled her eyes. Thanks for trying anyway, Jasper, I thought.
"If you're gonna' kill me, just do it," I said darkly.
"You're not good with directions at all, girl," Rita sneered.
"Kiss my ass," I retorted back.
Katrina slapped me again, but I didn't show her any sign of my pain. It hurt like hell, though.
A giant black wolf walked through the trees. Sam. The rest of the pack was behind him, but I only saw the grey wolf form of Embry. I just wanted to run over to him, but Katrina's hold on me was too strong. Embry growled and snarled. A russet-colored wolf and grey wolf had to keep Embry from attacking Katrina, Rita, and Gustav.
"Katrina, please, let's figure out a way to solve this without a fight," Carlisle said.
"That really isn't going to work, Carlisle," Katrina said.
Embry growled at her, his lips pulled back from his teeth. Katrina laughed a bitter, icy laugh. Her eyes were glowing red, as were Rita's and Gustav's. My life was going to end soon. I was going to die any minute. Edward gave me a look that said "stop thinking like that".
Make me. I'm going to die, I thought.
"Now, I'm really thirsty, so let's get this over with," Katrina said.
I felt my breath quicken. I looked at Embry. If I was going to die, I was going to die thinking of Embry. Embry looked at me. In the next second, he was lunging at Gustav. They moved so fast, all I could see was a blur of grey and white. Katrina threw me, and I felt my back hit a tree. The next thing I knew, the pack and the Cullens were fighting Gustav, Katrina, and Rita. They were all moving way too fast for me to see. I saw something white hit a tree with a loud thud. I looked closer and saw it was an arm. I held back a gag. Bits of a white were thrown everywhere, and I saw they were all body parts. Then, it was over. And I was alive.
Embry ran over to me, now in his human form. He cupped my face in his warm hands and wiped away tears I hadn't known escaped my eyes. He touched me like I was made of glass, like I could break any second. I never noticed how much I had
ached for Embry's warm, gentle touch in the last few days.
"It's alright, Seph. I'm right here. Everything is okay," Embry whispered. I noticed he had tears in his eyes.
"Embry," I whispered.
"I'm never leaving you again. I promise," he said.
"Embry, you need to let Carlisle see Seph," Sam said.
I looked up to see the pack and the Cullens surrounding Embry and I. I could smell a strange smelling smoke behind them. Carlisle stepped toward me, but Embry growled at him.
"I'm not going to hurt her, Embry," Carlisle said in a calm voice.
Embry looked at him before moving aside to give Carlisle room to get to me. He still kept his hand on my cheek. Carlisle brushed his cold fingers across my throat. I whimpered in pain.
"Did they try to strangle you?" Carlisle asked.
"Mhm," I said, biting my lip.
Embry started shaking. Sam looked at him.
"I'm fine," Embry said through clenched teeth.
Carlisle continued his examination. Everytime I whimpered in pain, Embry would growl at Carlisle. Embry wouldn't stop shaking the whole time, but he kept a hand on either my arm or my cheek.
"We need to take Seph back to our house so I can put a cast on her arm and put something on her bruises. I need to put bandages on her knees, also, since they're cut up," Carlisle said.
"No," Embry said instantly.
"I'll go, but Embry comes with me," I said.
Embry picked me up in his arms and cradled me against his warm chest. He was so gentle with me. He carried me to the Cullen house. He kept me in his lap while Carlisle put the cast on my arm.
"Did they feed you?" Embry asked.
"There were these two people, Malerie and Alex," I mumbled, yawning.
"Malerie and Alexandra Bell," Carlisle murmered.
Embry ignored him and brushed a piece of hair from my face.
"Did you sleep at all?" Embry asked me.
"Uh-uh," I yawned.
"Who is Malerie and Alexandra Bell?" Sam asked.
"Old friends," Carlisle said.
Carlisle put something on my knees that stung. I jumped back, and Embry held me in his arms.
"It's okay, I'm right here," Embry said, kissing my cheek.
"Sorry about that," Carlisle said.
He wrapped gauze around each of my knees. He put something on the bruise along my throat and on the bruises on my face, arms, and legs.
"Let's go home, love," Embry said when Carlisle was done.
I stood up and slowly walked to a mirror in the hallway.
"Seph?" Embry asked, following after me.
I looked in the mirror and gasped. I still had my hat on. Stray pieces of hair were in my eyes. I had ugly bruises on my cheeks and a bruise across my throat. There were bruises all along my arms. I looked hideous. Embry walked behind me
and wrapped his arms around my waist. I turned to face him. I pulled my hat off, letting my hair fall down my back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and met his lips with mine. He moved his lips against mine and deepened the kiss, his arms still around my waist. Embry pulled me closer to him, closing any small space between us. He pulled away from the kiss, his breathing heavy. He looked down at me and smiled.
"You're beautiful, Seph," Embry whispered.
"I love you, Embry," I said.
"I love you, too. More than you can imagine."
I smiled up at him.
"Let's go home," he repeated, kissing the top of my head.
I nodded. We walked back to the living room together, his arm around my waist. He was supporting my wait mostly by doing that. I was ready to just lay down and go to sleep. Carlisle was talking to Sam, and the rest of the pack was already
gone. The Cullens were sitting there, paying attention to Carlisle. Sam looked up at us and smiled.
"Everyone else wanted to leave, so..." he said.
Embry nodded. I yawned, and my eyelids dropped a fraction. Embry picked me up bridal style. I snuggled my head against his chest.
"Go to sleep, my love. I'll carry you," Embry told me.
I looked back over at the Cullens. I was too tired to form a coherent sentence, so I looked over at Edward.
Tell them I said thank you. All of them. And thanks, too, I thought.
Edward nodded. Embry carried me outside. He held me close to his warm chest, and I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I woke, a pair of warm, strong arms were wrapped around me with the gentlest touch. A bright light was shining through a window, and I groaned, shutting my eyes tight. I wasn't ready to wake up yet.
"I know you're awake, honey," Embry's loving voice said.
"No, I'm not," I mumbled.
Embry chuckled, and it vibrated through me. I kept my eyes shut tight.
"C'mon, you've been asleep for over twelve hours," he said.
"Five more minutes. Please?" I asked.
"I need to tell you something important."
"The sun's too bright."
"Fine, five more minutes. But then I need to tell you something."
I curled over on my side, and Embry draped his arm over my middle. I laid there for a few seconds, but I couldn't fall back asleep. I peeked through my eye lashes to see Embry looking at me lovingly. He smiled, flashing his white teeth.
"I can't fall back asleep," I pouted.
"I'm sorry. Will you come downstairs with me?" he asked.
I groaned. "Carry me?" I asked.
He picked me up happily and carried me downstairs. I realized we were at Sam's house. The pack was downstairs, trying to all fit in the living room. I remembered how horrid I looked with my bruises, and I buried my face in Embry's chest. Embry stroked his fingers through my hair and sat down holding me in his lap.
"Why are you hiding?" Jacob asked.
"I'm ugly," I mumbled.
"Don't say that, Seph. Never say that," Embry said.
"It's true," I said.
Embry gently pulled my face up to his.
"You're beautiful, Seph, and don't you dare say otherwise," he said.
We looked at each other for a while before Sam cleared his throat.
"Embry, there's something you want to tell Seph, right?" Sam asked.
"Embry?" I asked, peeking up at him.
"I need to tell you something," Embry said.
"I figured that out. What is it?"
"Remember when you asked why I told you we were werewolves?"
"Mhm."
"Well, see there's this thing called imprinting. It's when a werewolf finds his soul mate, his other half. He'll be whatever she wants him to be, whether a brother, a friend, or a lover. Well, um, I imprinted on you."
I looked up at him fully now, looking directly in his eyes. I could see nothing but love and compassion and sincerity. He looked a little uneasy when I didn't respond right away.
"I-I understand if you d-don't want this type of co-commitment," Embry said. He looked so hurt, like he was in unbearable pain. There were tears in his eyes.
"No, Embry! I mean, no, I don't feel like that. Ugh! I mean, I feel the same as you. I mean-Embry, I love you," I said.
His eyes brightened up at my words. His lips were on mine in the next second, moving against mine. His tounge flicked at my bottom lip, and I parted my lips. His tounge explored the inside of my mouth. I pressed myself to his body, my hands finding their way into his hair. I had to pull away to breathe. Stupid freaking air.
"I love you," he breathed.
I smiled up at him. I could just get lost in his dark eyes. I had missed him so much. I couldn't believe I had actually thought of killing myself not long ago.
"If you two are going to do anything, please don't do it on my sofa," Sam said.
A few of the guys chuckled, so I glared at them. Jacob, Paul, and Jared bit back their laughter. I crossed my arms, still glaring at them.
"Sorry," Jacob mumbled.
Jared and Paul nodded in agreement. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Seph, those two girls you were talking about, Malerie and Alex, what did they look like?" Sam asked.
"They're real? I, I don't know. I couldn't see anything," I said.
"Yes, they're real. They're old friends of Carlisle. When Carlisle was with the Volturi a long time ago, he met them. They aren't 'vegetarian' like the Cullens, so they still hunt humans. Malerie can see the future. She used to know Katrina
and Gustav, so she and her sister came to find them. Malerie had a vision of you, so she decided to help you."
I blinked a few times, still looking at Sam.
"They gave me food. That reminds me, I'm hungry," I said.
Embry picked up in his arms and carried into kitchen. I could have just walked, but I liked being in Embry's arms. He sat down at the table, me in his lap. Emily brought me some food. Sam made sure I didn't pig out at first so that I wouldn't get sick. I pouted.
"I really don't care if I get sick. I'm starving," I said.
"Sam, can you-" Embry began to ask.
"Embry, do you want to see Seph sick? I know you'll do anything she asks, but I also know that it'd kill you to see her sick or in pain," Sam said.
I huffed and crossed my arms.
"Come on, sweetie. Just eat, but not a whole lot right now. Okay?" Embry told me.
"Fine," I said, picking up a muffin.
They wouldn't let me eat a lot, like I wanted, but I did get to eat. They let me eat some, then wait, then eat again, and so forth till I was full. After I ate, I curled up on Embry's lap on the sofa.
"Do you want to sleep?" Embry asked me.
I shook my head and held back a yawn.
"I just want you to hold me," I mumbled.
"I'll still be holding you when you wake up. I'm not leaving you, not again," Embry promised.
"You didn't leave me, Embry."
"I did, and I'm sorry. I should've gone with you, I shouldn't have let you stay with those leeches-"
"Stop it. You did what was best for me. Stop beating yourself up."
"Seph," he sighed.
I snuggled up to him more. He kissed the top of my head.
"Get some sleep, love. I'll be right here," he whispered.
"I love you," I whispered, yawning.
"I love you, too."
I closed my eyes and fell asleep to Embry resting his cheek on the top of my head.
I'm staring at Embry. He's in his wolf-form, but his eyes are filled with a mix between anger, fear, sadness, and devotion. I'm about to die, and I know it. Gustav rushes towards Embry in a streak of white. An agonized howl sounds, Embry's howl. Gustav is gripping my arms and pushing me foreward in the next second. He's pushing me towards the giant grey wolf of Embry laying on the "No. Embry, please, get up. Please," I whisper through broken sobs, tears streaming down my face. Embry turns his head, showing me his neck. There is a bite mark there, with blood pouring out. I let out an agonized cry and let my head fall down to Embry's. "Embry, don't die," I sob. "Vampire venom is lethal to werewolves," a voice says behind me. I hear, but I don't listen. I sit next to Emnry, crying, while he writhes in pain next to me. His eyes never leave mine. Then, his eye lids droop, and he lets out one last, agonizing howl. I cry hystaricly. "I love you, Embry!" I sob. I kneel there, crying hard, in hystarics. I keep repeating, "Wake up, please" in broken sobs. Someone shakes my shoulders.
forest floor. Embry is whimpering and howling in pain. Gustav lets go of my arms, and I fall to my knees next to Embry.
"Seph! Seph, wake up!"
I jumped up, frantic. I was sweating, and there were tears falling down my face. I looked for Embry. He was right under me, a concerned look on his face. I cried hard and burried my head in his chest.
"Shh, I'm right here, baby. It's alright. I'm fine," Embry whispered to me.
"I...you...he killed you!" I cried.
"I'm not dead. I'm right here."
He held me to his chest while I cried. I cried for half and hour before Embry could calm me down and convince me it was just a dream. I looked up at him through puffy red eyes.
"It seemed so real," I whispered.
"I know, sweetie, but I'm right here. It was only a dream, a horrible dream," Embry soothed me.
I noticed we were back home, well at least in Embry's house. We were in his bedroom. He was still holding me in his lap, except now we were on his bed instead of Sam's sofa. I realized that, from me franticly looking for Embry when I woke up, I was in a position that I wouldn't have been in, had anyone else been in the room. I blushed.
"I must look horrible," I said, resting my forehead on his.
"You don't, Seph. You're always beautiful," he told me.
"I'm covered in bruises."
"You're still gergeous."
I sighed. There was no way I was going to win. Embry and I just sat on his bed, wrapped in each other's arms. I was perfectly happy and safe in his arms. I was tired, but I didn't want to go back to sleep; I was scared to. Embry slowly kissed down my neck, biting and sucking on some spots. We had a little make out session for a while. Embry kept me in his amrs for hours till I got hungry again. The two of us went downstairs, where Sam and Jacob were sitting in the kitchen.
"Hey, guys," I said, sitting down at the table.
Embry lifted me up in one fluid motion, sitting me on his lap. I snuggled up to his warm chest. I looked up at him. He moved his head down so that his lips met mine. Sam ended our make out session by clearing his throat. When I looked up, Sam was rolling his eyes, and Jacob was snickering.
"Why are you guys here?" Embry asked, a bit annoyed.
"We actually wanted to talk to Seph," Sam said.
"What about?" I asked, wary.
I really didn't need any more shocking news, considering what had just happened to me. Sam must have noticed the look on my face because he quickly assured me, "It's nothing bad, necissarrily."
"What is it?" Embry asked.
"You know those girls, Alex and Malerie?" Sam asked, looking at me.
"Yeah," I said slowly.
"They're at the Cullen house, and they want to see you."
"NO," Embry said instantly.
"Embry, if it wasn't for them, I'd probably be dead right now," I murmered.
He winced at the idea of me being dead. I rested my face on his cheek. The pained look in his eyes made me want to cry.
"Don't think like that, honey. I just want to meet the people that actually fed me while I was there with those bloodsuckers. You don't have to go if you don't want to-" I said.
"If you want to see them, then I'll go," Embry promised.
"Jacob said he'd go with you," Sam said.
"And on other news...Seph has a hickie," Jacob said.
"Shut up!" Embry and I sneered at the same time.
Jacob was laughing like crazy, and even Sam had a smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
"We'll go tomorrow," Embry said, trying hard to ignore them.
I nodded, and I knew I was blushing like crazy.