I had fun writing this chapter. I hope you like it.

Chapter 21 – Becca

Embry must have thought I was crazy. His deliciously gentle fingers stilled on my back. He didn't say anything when I mirrored his pose, propping my head in my hand and laying on my side towards him. It didn't hurt to lie on my left side now. The scabs were gone and new skin was the only evidence of the crash.

I laughed nervously. "Not true in the sense that I think there are wolf people or anything, but the way people reacted at the bonfire, it was like there was truth hidden in the stories. It's not just that though. I've seen some things that are ... odd."

One of the things I'd always liked best about Embry is that he considered problems from every angle. He never judged or laughed at me. He never dismissed my thoughts. They always mattered to him.

I told him what Aunt Nora had said. I described what I'd seen at the bonfire and how strange it was. I even mentioned that Alice gave me a funny vibe and that Paul said she was dangerous.

Embry was quiet for a long time. I tried not to get distracted, but my eyes wandered along his beautiful body on their own accord. He was built so well, strong and sculpted, lean and lithe. In the sunlight, his brown skin glistened like honey. His face was as warm and open as always.

Finally, he spoke. "So either Aunt Nora is right and the stories are true, or she got into Emily's cooking sherry last night."

I didn't laugh. "I don't think it's an either-or scenario. I've always thought the stories are an exaggeration of the truth. Like our ancestors didn't actually turn in to wolves, they became wolf-like in battle. Or maybe they're all just metaphors for life. I mean, we know the Raven stories aren't true, but they teach us lessons right?"

"You want me to tell you the stories aren't true?"

"No," I laughed. "I know that. I guess I'm just wondering if you know if anything weird is going on." I studied him carefully. Embry was honest to a fault, which meant that he was a terrible liar and his emotions were usually plain on his face. The pained look I saw there now meant he knew he couldn't lie to me.

"First," he said. "Alice really is a harmless, kind person. Trust me."

I nodded. I did trust him. He might lie to me about his favorite ice cream flavor, but he would never lie to me about something like this.

"Second, it's true that a lot of people here have started taking the stories more seriously."

"Why?"

He took a deep breath. His screwed his lips and looked down. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. "'Fiction is the truth inside the lie.' Stephen King said that."

"So there is some truth to the stories?" I shivered and leaned in to him, more interested in his answer than I cared to let on. He leaned closer, too. His big arm drew me to him, and I let myself go. My cheek was against his hard, smooth, perfectly formed chest. He was so hot—warm to the touch—I melted into him without a thought. I was closer to him than I'd ever been, but still I wanted to be closer. I wound my free arm behind his back and breathed in his scent: sea and cedar. Home.

He traced a new drawing on my back.

"Wolf," I said.

"Yup." He kept moving his fingertips in random patterns along my back, shoulders, and arms. It felt so good I shivered. My arm, still wrapped around his body, had goose bumps. I wasn't cold, but he pulled me closer.

I tried and failed to remember why I had to keep my distance. It felt so right, nestling into his warmth, having him touch me like I was precious, feeling so connected and free. It was also alien and terrifying, this feeling, and the tingling fear in my stomach is what eventually brought me back to myself.

It took all the strength I had to pull away from him, and even then I could only manage a few inches. "You're very distracting."

He smiled that big devious smile. "Nice to know I'm succeeding."

"Em, tell me the truth."

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

He sighed and put his big hand over mine. "I'm protecting you."

"I can protect myself."

"I know. Can you also let me protect you?"

I didn't know how to answer that. I trusted him more than almost anyone. But he didn't need to protect me. It wasn't his job.

He read my dubious look. I didn't take my eyes off of him. Eventually he relented. "Okay, yes, something is going on, but it's fine. Really. And I promise that no one is in danger. Happy?"

He was crazy if he thought that would be enough. That must have been clear, because he switched tactics. "Becca, please trust me. It's nothing you need to worry about. You just got back. Worry about your family and the wedding. Let me handle the weird stuff."

"So you admit that there's weird stuff and you're involved in it?"

"Yes."

"And you don't want to tell me what it is?"

"No."

"You want me to just trust you blindly?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yup. I trust you, Embry." I flopped on my stomach and buried my head in my arms. Earlier when I hid my head in my arms, it was because I was forcing myself not to look at him. He was too tempting. Now, I did it because I needed to think, and he was too distracting.

He lay on his back, looking up. He lay so close that our arms were touching.

My curiosity burned, but I stamped it down. It didn't matter that he didn't want to tell me what was going on. I didn't need to know. I wasn't going to be around long enough to have to deal with it myself. Embry had promised that no one was in danger, so I decided to let it go. It was not my concern. I wasn't staying.

What was concerning was the beautiful man next to me. He was my friend, but I couldn't deny the attraction between us. In my weaker moments, I welcomed it. I could see the devil dancing with delight on my shoulder each time I almost gave into the temptation of Embry Call. In those moments, I could see myself falling, Lucifer's wings beating cold wind, making goose bumps on my skin, inviting me down into hell. But so far, my better side had won out. The angel on my shoulder held me back, assuring me that I could still have my friend Embry and I didn't have to hurt him. I just had to be strong. I could do that for him, but I needed to make sure he understood.

"Embry?"

"Yup."

"Tell me the story about the wolf."

Please, please review!

The wolf story and some super steam in the next chapter. Hope you like it!