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Best Story With Wolves

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Pretty Little Secrets Chapter 12

"Denise, what kind of animal did you say did this to you?"

I didn't understand what that had to do with anything plus I was still getting over the fact that my boyfriend, whom by the way said we were fated to be together, just rejected me. I know he said it wasn't that, he was just surprised but really who wouldn't be disgusted by those ugly marks?

"Mountain lion, I told you already." I rolled off of him and squeezed myself between the bed rail and Embry's massive frame which was taking up pretty much the entire bed. I turned to face away from him; I couldn't bear to see the disappointed look on his face when he realized he was stuck with the ugly duckling.

"Denise," Embry rolled over to his side giving me more room and pulling me so that my back was against his warm chest. "Baby, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just taken by surprise at how cold they were. Please baby, I think you're beautiful."

And then he buried his face in the crook of my neck laying soft kisses on my exposed skin. I shrugged him off but he just squeezed his arms around me tighter. I felt him pull back a little bit and bring his massive hand from around my waist and trail up my back. I felt him untie only the top string of my gown and spread the top open a little bit.

"Embry, don't." I moved a little but there was no where to go. I felt his warm fingers trace the claw marked scars and shivered at the difference in temperature.

"Don't you Baby, don't you ever feel that I think you are anything less than perfect." He placed the softest of kisses on my shoulder and then another along the cool marks near my shoulder blade, he did this three or four times until the scars disappeared behind the gown.

As much as I loved his touch, this wasn't a sensual moment for us; this was us connecting on the most basic of levels. This was Embry letting me see that he accepted me and all my fails, physical and mental. And this was me accepting myself. When he was done he pulled me in tight again and I rested my entire body against him.

"Good night my sweet Denise, I love you." He gentle whispered as I fell in to a truly fit night of sleep. There were no nightmares, no horror; they were always peaceful when he was next to me.

~~**~~

After a very rude wake up call from a nurse who didn't appreciate Embry in my bed and another round of fantabulous hospital food, I was ready to go. The problem? Big Brother Andy acting like I was going to break if I made one move. Seriously did he think the doctor wouldn't let me leave if I wasn't okay? I scowled at him as a low noise came out of me when he jerked my bag away from me.

"Did you seriously just growl at your brother Denise?" Embry was trying to hold in a chuckle while Quil was out and out laughing. "God, it started!" Quil said looking amazed and I was confused.

"Well he told you didn't he?" Quil leaned in close so that Andy couldn't hear, not that he would he was busy going over check out orders with the nurse for the hundredth time. "Now that you know Denise, your change will happen. It's just a matter of time, every imprint goes through it." He said in a haunting voice.

I gasped out loud and looked horrified at Embry who was no longer laughing but cussing at Quil. "Shut up asshole" he turned to me, "Denise baby, it's a joke he was just kidding." Oh. My. God. I ran after Quil who was shooting past Andy and down the hall. I caught up with him at the elevator.

"That, was, so not funny." I said between punches to his arm. He grabbed my fist to get me to stop before I broke my hand. Freaking' rocks.

"I'm sorry Dee, can I call you Dee? I'm sorry Dee that was just too easy; you should have seen your face." And with that he was on the ground.

"Seriously? You're the boss? I fear for the safety of your people." He caught my sarcastic tone and instead of being angry he laughed along with me. Embry who was standing by watching us like a bunch of misbehaving children just shook his head and grabbed me into a hug.

"You kids ready?" Andy said with a chuckle.

"Andy, Embry and Quil are twenty seven, seeing as how you are only twenty five I suggest you stop acting like the big brother, to them at least." Andy smiled at me and pushed the button on the elevator.

"Twenty five?" Embry questioned, "You guys are the same age?" I tensed up and look big eyed at Andy. How was this going to play out?

"Embry," Andy eyed Quil, "I'm not sure that this is the time, but I'd like to discuss some things with Denise and invite you over for dinner tonight. If I'm not overstepping my bounds Denise." I nodded and looked to Embry.

"You want me to disappear so you can talk, I get that. Okay, I'll go home with Quil and come by the house around 5?" Andy nodded and I suddenly felt like it was 1954 and they were deciding all this for me. I went to open my mouth to say something and Embry pressed his lips to my ear.

"Let him do this his way Baby, I'm just glad you guys are finally cluing me in." He whispered so quietly that Andy couldn't hear but Quil was laughing to himself. I looked around Embry at Quil and then back. "Wolf hearing, I should warn you now, not much gets by us. Not much we can keep secret either."

"But how did you know," I motioned my head toward Andy.

"Educated guess my love, I tend to pay attention." And he left it at that.

~~**~~

At 4:45 I was pacing the living room in front of the large picture window. This was going to end very, very badly. I just knew it. "You're burning a whole in the carpet Denise, you need to relax. It will be quick and easy, like a band aide."

Flashback

"Momma, what are you so nervous for?" I was 7 years old but I remember it so clearly. My mother pacing the kitchen waiting for my father to get home from work.

"I've just got some big news for daddy sweetheart. I'm afraid he won't take it very well."

"Oh." I couldn't imagine anything that my mother had to tell my dad that would be so bad. He loved my mom so much I don't think there was anything she couldn't tell him.

"Just do it fast."

"HUH? What sweetie?"

"Just tell him fast momma, as soon as he gets in the door." She just giggled at me and patted my head.

I was in the living room when daddy walked into the apartment. Mom went to meet him halfway.

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out and started laughing at her own nervousness. We both waited for what he would say, I was beginning to think maybe I was wrong. Until he picked her up and spun her around really fast kissing her the whole time.

See, fast and painless.

End Flashback

"HA!" I said to myself and looked at Andy who had his eyebrow cocked at me. "Don't ask" I said and restarted my pacing.

Right on time at 5 PM Embry came pulling into the driveway. God he looked good. I ran outside and met him on the porch hugging him. He just chuckled at me and we walked inside. Andy was in the living room and stood when Embry walked in giving him a sturdy hand shake.

We all just stood there for a few minutes not saying anything, the awkwardness of the situation was palpable. "Ooookaayyyyy," I drawled out, "let's just get this over with, come on." I grabbed Embry and Andy by the hands and drug them to the couch.

I was nervous, Andy was on guard for Embry's reaction and Embry was just as laid back as ever. "Alright." I started, "Embry, I know that you know that Andy and I haven't exactly been…well…"

"Denise, Baby, I know that you've kept things from me, I know that there were things you couldn't tell me so whatever it is just tell me." God I loved this boy.

I looked to Andy; I wasn't going to be able to do this. I know he would understand if I kept things from him but how would he handle the lies?

"Embry, Denise tells me that you understand a lot about having to keep things…private." He looked to Embry for confirmation and Embry just nodded. "Well, there are things that Denise and I have had to…keep private…about in order to keep her safe. Now I know that you may not agree with me on a lot of things and you may not be satisfied with what I have to say but we will agree on one thing, and that is that Denise's safety is always important."

"Of course, just please tell me what you can and what you can't I hope you can at least tell me why."

"Embry, I'm not Denise's brother." Andy just blurted out. Embry looked at me with surprisingly little shock. "I'm her guardian, I can't tell you exactly why she needs a guardian but that is what I am. A few months ago there was…an accident…and her family was taken from her. I've been looking out for her ever since."

We both just sat there staring at Embry as he let everything sink in. I know Andy didn't give him much but it was enough to freak someone out. "So then what are you to each other? Who are you?"

"Embry please," I grabbed his hand so that he wouldn't leave. "Just know that Andy has been hired to make sure I stay safe. I wish we could tell you more about him than that." He looked a little hurt and that was expected.

"What can you tell me then? You not Andy." He wanted to hear this from me. I could do this, he loved me, I could do this.

"I'm not from Washington; the whole adoption thing was just a story. I had a family that I loved dearly and a sister who…" I chocked up and the tears built up in my eyes. "Her name was Roxie, that girl, Claire, she reminded me so much of my sister."

Embry hugged me and rubbed my back as I continued even though he was upset with me he was still taking care of me, "um, I know that this isn't going to make much sense without the whole story but I'm not really twenty five, I'm twenty one." He released his hold on me and stood up to pace the living room. I let out a sob; I knew this would be too much.

"So if I'm reading into this correctly, you're lying, about everything in your life." He was anger, I knew that, but he was more hurt. Andy stood to confront him not liking the tone Embry was speaking in but I stepped in between the two of them.

"Stop Andy, he's right. Yes Embry, I lied about my parents, my age my 'credentials' as a teacher." I grabbed his face so he would look me in the eye, "but I've never lied about who I was on the inside, my thoughts, my dreams, even the story about breaking my leg, those were all the REAL me. And this," I placed his hand on my heart. "This is true, my love for you and your love for me is REAL, please, please don't give up on me."

"I knew there was something Denise, something you weren't telling me but this? I mean, why, why are you lying to everyone about who you are? What do you have to protect her from?" Embry looked to Andy after the last question.

"Embry, we can't tell you that, I'm sorry. Something happened, we're still working on finding out who hurt her family and making sure they don't hurt her, that's all I can tell you I'm sorry. I know it will be difficult for you, but I will be forced to relocate her again if anyone else is put in danger."

"What if I can help keep her safe? I can help you find who hurt her."

"I'm sorry Embry, I can't do that. I've already put too much on the line by letting her tell you about this. I can't give you anything else about the case. I'm going to give you guys a few minutes alone." And then Andy squeezed my hand and walked out the front door.

Embry sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. "Embry," I moved to sit next to him, "I'm so sorry. I know you must feel betrayed and lied to but I need to know, can you forgive me?"

Embry lifted his head to look me in the eye. "So, something happened to your family," I nodded, "And you, this," he traced his hand on my back along my scars. "He did this to you didn't he, you survived whatever it is your parents didn't?" Again I nodded and silent tears ran down my face.

"And Andy, whoever he works for moved you hear because they think he's still coming after you?" Now he was shaking slightly with anger but I don't think it was at me, I think the idea of me getting hurt again was making him upset.

"No," I shook my head, "they need me to help put him away, they are afraid if he knew I wasn't dead that he would kill me to prevent from testifying." Shit, I wasn't supposed to tell him that. I cringed and looked at him, "I wasn't supposed to tell you that."

He chuckled at me lightly. "Don't worry I won't tell, but I wish you would tell me about it, the attack. I think the pack and I could help."

"Embry, Andy has asked just one thing from me, that I don't compromise the case or the safety of the people of this town. I owe him that much for allowing me to stay here with you. Please just let them do their jobs, leave the protecting to the professionals."

Embry pulled me into his lap so that I was sitting sideways across him. He leaned up back against the couch, "there is something I haven't told you about us, the pack. We aren't just a group of genetic mutants that phase for no reason, we are protectors ourselves. I think we can help."

"I don't know Embry, what do you mean protectors? Who are you protecting people from?" Just then the front door opened and Andy walked back in the house but went to the bedroom.

"Not right now Baby, later, I'll tell you later. For now let's get through your story." I laughed what a mess we were.

"Well, a few weeks into our relationship and we're already the post children for dysfunction. You're stories just keep coming and mine are just beginning. I need to know that you can handle this Embry, that you can work with me to make this work even though I've lied to you."

"I'm not going to lie, this is all a little much, I do feel hurt that you were lying to me, to all of us about who you are and what you are doing here." I hung my head in shame, "But," he said lifting my chin to his face, "I kept things from you too didn't I?"

"It's not the same, Embry I've been going around pretending to be something I'm not, you guys, you just hid one part of yourselves, I looked you straight in the eye and lied to you."

"Silly girl," he said wiping my tears and kissing my forehead, "don't you think we knew you were hiding something from us? It's our job to pick up on these things, I knew when you were ready you would tell me. So, no more secrets? About who you are I mean?" I nodded.

"I've never lied about that Embry, like I said; just the cover was a lie. I can't wait though, to tell you all about my real family."

"I know you didn't Denise, I know that in your heart you showed us the real you." He placed the sweetest of kisses on my lips. "I love you Denise, always." He smiled against my lips; there was just one more thing I needed to say.

"Embry, my name isn't Denise."

so Embry's taking all this pretty well don't you think? Andy too, one big happy family. Hope no one compromises that. hehehehe