Disclaimer- I own nothing but the story line. Characters all belong to Stephenie Meyer, and I sure as hell ain't her!
Into the Woods- Chapter 14
Bella was speechless as Jacob strode right up to the counter and slammed his hands down loudly. "What did your boyfriend do to Embry? Where is he, Bella? Tell me!"
She tried to think of a response, but all she could get past her lips was a startled, "What?"
"I went by his house this morning and his mom told me he wasn't home! Said my dad called and told her that he was out with Sam. So what the hell is he doing with him? Is he trying to pull him into his stupid gang? I won't stand by and let them-"
Jacob's voice cut off abruptly when a large, scorching hand wrapped around his neck, jerking him back out of reach of the alpha's trembling imprint.
Embry glared at his friend, looking down at him from his new height, and didn't stutter once, "You need to get the hell out of here, Black. You don't want to mess with my sister."
Jacob reeled back in shock when he realized who was holding him. At first glance he would have sworn it was Sam; his friend's face was set in the same immutable scowl he'd often seen on the older boy's face.
Embry looked older, and just bigger. Jacob wasn't sure what to think about the sudden changes. Embry kept his hand tight as he pulled Jacob further toward the door, and Jake vaguely registered the heat of his hand somewhere in the back of his mind. All he could say was, "Embry? How? What?"
"Where do you get off coming in here yelling at Bella like that? You're supposed to be her f-friend!" Embry gave Jacob a look that was just as incredulous as the one he was receiving. Neither boy could recognize their lifelong best friend, as they were behaving in ways that were completely unexpected.
Jake finally recovered and took a step back, looking between Bella and Embry, completely confused. "I came by to get you for school and your mom said you were with Sam. I just don't understand, Em. What's he got on you? Why are you suddenly hanging out with him, and with Bella? Why did you call her your sister? I don't understand."
Sam caught the end of his speech as he slipped in the door and put himself between his mate and the chief's son. Bella visibly relaxed at his presence, and he looked her over briefly to assure her safety before turning his attention to the human boy.
Keeping his face in a stoic mask, one that Embry was mirroring giving them an eerily similar appearance, Sam put his hand on the young wolf's shoulder, squeezing lightly in approval. "Embry is my brother, and any other questions you have can be addressed by your father," he said, giving Jake a pointed glance. He could tell by scent that the younger boy was nowhere close to phasing, so he doubted Billy would let him in on the pack secret.
Taken aback by the revelation and the sudden unity between the large, shirtless brothers, Jake huffed in annoyance and turned to stride out the door. Bella let out a huge sigh of relief, and Sam was quickly at her side, taking in a more thorough inventory of her appearance.
"I'm fine, Sam. Embry got him away from me, but I've never seen Jake so angry." Bella looked at the wolves, "Will he phase as well?"
Embry started to answer in the negative, then stopped himself and looked to Sam. He was a naturally submissive wolf, and that carried over easily to his human form when his alpha was near. Sam was grateful for his compliance, since he didn't think he could handle another wolf like Paul in their small pack.
"No, I don't think he will," Sam answered quietly. "He didn't show any signs, other than his temper."
The boys stayed in the bakery with Bella until Paul and Emily returned to drive her home. They filled them in on the events of the day, including the fact that Embry would be living with Sam for the foreseeable future. "Well, we better get started on that addition then, boss," Paul joked as they headed outside, Sam and Embry climbing in the back of the truck instead of phasing to run back.
Saturday passed comfortably, and Sam and Bella got some alone time when Jared took Embry out to patrol that night. They were grateful for the break, though neither resented the boy's sudden intrusion into their life. Bella could see the joy that Embry's presence brought her mate, and she was pleased they found each other, despite the circumstances.
Sam had mentioned to her that his mother apparently knew about Embry's parentage all this time, and Bella was indignant that the woman would intentionally keep the brothers apart. Neither of them asked to share a father, but both mothers seemed to blame their sons for Josh Uley's failings.
On Sunday she had to put Allison Uley and Tiffany Call from her mind. It was time to have dinner with Charlie.
They debated whether or not to bring Embry with them, until Emily stepped in and invited him over for supper on the premise of getting to know Paul. Poor Embry's stutter was back in full force, but Paul kept his obnoxious behavior under control. Embry didn't know it took both Bella and Emily threatening to cut him off from the bakery to make him behave. It would be better if he got used to Paul in small, supervised doses at first.
Charlie was already at the table when Sam and Bella arrived at the Forks diner. He stood nervously as Bella walked up, followed closely by her angry wolf. He started to reach for her, but changed his mind when he saw both Sam's face, and the irritated scowl on his daughter's. He settled for an awkward wave and a gruff, "Hey."
"Hi Charlie," Bella replied. Sliding into the booth with her mate right behind her. Charlie's head ducked a bit more at her use of his name, but he nodded sadly in acceptance.
"Look, Bells. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have flown off the handle like that, and I'm sorry for what I said and did." His voice got stronger as he looked up at them earnestly, "I really am happy for you, and I'm excited about being a grandpa and all. That could be pretty neat, you know."
Bella couldn't hold back her smile at his sudden enthusiasm. Clearly this was something he had been thinking about over the past few days. She looked at Sam, who nodded gently, and reached across the table to take her father's hand.
"Ok, Dad. We'll try to put this behind us and move forward. Lord knows we need the support of at least one of our parents," Bella offered, shooting a glance at Sam, whose face clouded over at the mention of his mother. He still hadn't spoken to her since he learned the truth about Embry, and had no plans to do so anytime soon.
The three of them settled in as the waitress took their orders. Sam and Bella told Charlie about Embry's sudden appearance in the pack and their home, and he offered Bella's old bedroom if the boy needed a quiet place to crash every now and then. Bella smiled happily, thinking it would be a good opportunity for them both- Charlie could be a father, and Embry would have an older man to look up to.
They chatted easily through the meal, and Charlie reached for Bella hesitantly when they stood to leave. She stepped into his arms and hugged him tightly, taking comfort from his familiar scent. "I love you, Bells, and I'll love this little one too. I'll do what I can to help you out, just let me know if you need anything, alright?"
She sniffled as she nodded against his chest, "I love you too, Dad. Thanks."
Sam was surprised when Charlie offered him his hand as well. "Same goes to you as well, Sam. I know you'll do good by our girl here."
~oOo~
Two weeks went by and the pack gradually became accustomed to having their youngest member around. He was still quiet and reserved, with everyone except Bella that is. He spoke with Sam as well, but was still intimidated a bit by the authority his brother held over him, and it kept their relationship from being as easy as it could have been.
To the outside world, he was a completely different boy. He was more confident, and he secretly loved the increased attention his new physique brought him. It had taken him less than a week to get his wolf under control enough that he could return to school, and he frequently blushed when the girls he'd known all his life were suddenly following him around like his own personal fan club.
Probably the most remarkable change was how his stutter virtually disappeared. He'd gotten into an argument with Paul one afternoon in wolf form, and then kept yelling when they phased back at the same time. Paul was stunned to realize the boy hadn't missed a beat and it took Sam stepping in to point it out to Embry. It seemed that being out from under his mother's derogatory nature had allowed Embry to relax enough to accept himself- wolf and all.
Bella's nurturing played a huge part in Embry's confidence as well. She took him shopping for new clothes, and trimmed his hair neatly, encouraging him to pull the sides back from his face since he had nothing to hide. She comforted him as he pulled away from his best friends, a necessary thing since the pack secret must be kept.
Though it hadn't been long, Bella had forgotten Emily's words about marriage in the wake of Embry's phasing and the confrontation with Jacob. Jake hadn't been back to the store, and Quil only came in occasionally, but they couldn't understand why Embry had seemingly abandoned their friendship to join Sam's "gang."
It wasn't until she finally got around to calling her mother, at Charlie's insistence, that the topic of marriage reared its ugly head once more. "I'm not upset that you're pregnant, Bella. It's just that he's got you living out there on the reservation, cooking his meals, carrying his child, and he won't even give you his name!"
Bella rolled her eyes and sank down on the couch, scowling at Embry who was chuckling quietly in the background. His laughter dried up instantly at Renee's next words, "And don't even get me started on his name. He better not be anything like his father, or you're in for a world of misery. That Joshua slept with half of Forks and most of La Push before he even graduated high school. He had the nerve to ask me out when he knew your father and I were together! That man was nothing but trouble."
"Mom! Stop it!" Bella finally cut in when Renee paused to breathe. She waved Embry over and placed her hand on the younger boy's arm in comfort. "Sam is nothing like his father, I can tell you that. We're committed to each other, and I know he won't leave me, no matter what my last name is."
She went on to explain that they had recently discovered that Embry was Sam's brother, which only reaffirmed Renee's belief in the scum that was Josh Uley. Her mother quieted though, as Bella told her how Sam had taken Embry into their home, glossing over the reasons that Tiffany had kicked him out, and how he was working to build on to their house to have room for both the baby and the younger wolf.
Embry's arm tightened around her as she talked up her mate, and Renee finally agreed not to judge Sam too harshly until she'd met him- which she intended to do at Christmas when she would fly up to visit Bella.
Bella tried to think of an excuse to hold her off, but nothing would come to mind and she found herself agreeing. Renee promised that she would find a hotel to rent, as Bella knew there was no way she could handle living with her mother while she was pregnant. That could only lead to trouble.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure Charlie wouldn't mind if I stayed at his house," Renee added before she hung up. Bella smirked up at Embry and told her that sounded like the perfect plan.
Bella was taking a nap when Sam got home from work that evening, and Embry was waiting for him on the front porch with a scowl on his face. Stunned by the show of animosity from his normally genial brother, Sam stopped short and looked at him quizzically.
"When are you gonna propose to Bella?" Embry's words caught him off guard, and he didn't get a chance to respond before the boy continued, "I know you have the ring, and Charlie told me you asked for his blessing- he was griping that you didn't ask for permission, but said he'd take what he could get. Her mother chewed her out over the phone today saying you were just like our father, and I have to say that as crazy as she sounds, some of her points made sense."
Sam sank heavily into the rocking chair, cocking an ear toward the house to make sure Bella was still sleeping soundly. "I know," he sighed. "I've started to do it at least three times but I keep backing down."
Embry sat beside him, surprised by the emotion in his brother's eyes- it looked remarkably like... fear. "What's wrong, Sam?"
Sam didn't look up as he quietly shared his concerns with his brother. "Look, neither of us came from good examples of marriage. Her parents and mine both got married because they got pregnant with us, and her mom and my dad took off a few months after we were born. In my head I know things are different with me and Bella, but it still makes it really hard to take that step, you know?"
Stunned by his honesty, Embry nodded in agreement. "I know, Sam. But like you said, it's different with you. Even without the imprint and the wolf it would be easy to see how well the two of you fit together. You belong to each other, and I think it would mean a lot to her if you let her know you want her in every way."
Sam's shoulders hunched further, and he shuddered slightly as he debated whether or not to share his real worry with his brother. Seeming to understand his dilemma, Embry reached over and rested his hand on Sam's forearm in wordless support.
Taking a deep breath, Sam finally put voice to his fear, "What if she says no?"
Grateful that he could support his alpha this way, Embry scooted closer until Sam's wolf made him raise his head up higher. Embry smiled in reassurance, "I know she'll say yes, Sam. All you have to do is ask."
Both heads turned as they heard Bella rustling around, getting up from her afternoon nap. Her soft voice called out, "Sam? Embry?"
Nodding at his brother once more, Sam planted his hands on his knees and pushed himself up out of the chair. He opened the door and walked toward his future- nervous, unsure, but with eyes wide open.
Bella was in the kitchen by the time Sam walked into the house, and she turned to greet him with a nervous smile, completely oblivious to the conversation the boys just had outside. "Hey baby, how was your day?"
Sam froze for a minute, shocked to realize that this beautiful woman was his and she always would be. His talk with Embry had taken the blinders off for him, and he could finally see how completely blessed he was to have her in his life. He didn't want to waste another minute.
Striding across the room with a distinctly predatory gait, Sam caught her in his arms and pulled her up for a steamy kiss. His arms locked around her tightly, both protecting and cherishing at the same time. It took her a few seconds to catch up to his level of passion, but once she did she melted into his embrace.
"Oh, Sammy," she moaned when he finally let her up for air, but he lifted one finger and rested it against her swollen lips.
Staring deep into her eyes, he clearly saw her love and unwavering devotion, and wondered what on earth he was so afraid of. His deep voice was strong and sure when he finally spoke, "Marry me, Bella."