Delilah hadn't remembered telling Embry that she'd introduce him to her father until she was released from her Thursday practice, and he mentioned it as soon as she got into his car. She was frozen after the reminder, wondering how her father would react to her having a boyfriend when, firstly, she had told him that she had no romantic link to the very same boy just a week earlier, and after she'd given him such a hard time for dating someone and not telling her. She felt that her dad would like Embry. He would like that Embry was caring, that he opened doors for her and watched over her protectively. He'd been like that with her mom and he saw it was the expectations of the men his daughter dated. It was why he never thought much of Nathan. He had tolerated him more than anything else, and was happy to be rid of him once Delilah ended the relationship.
She also wondered how her father would feel about the fact that she'd been spending so much time with her now boyfriend outside of the house. He didn't allow Nathan to be at the house with Delilah when he wasn't home, so she knew he'd be wondering about what she'd been off doing, and how long it had actually been going on.
Of course, he didn't actually have that much to worry about. But she wondered how he was going to respond, still. She loved him and they were finally back on track. She didn't want any of it to be jeopardized by introducing him to Embry the wrong way.
But Delilah knew that Embry was in her life, and that she wanted him to stay there. She knew she was happier with him than she was without him. And she knew that she would be spending a lot more time with him, so her dad was better off meeting him sooner rather than later.
Delilah hadn't known what had happened on Wednesday. After school, she'd gone to the Cullens with Rosalie and Jasper, later leaving with Jasper for so they could pick out the jewelry for Alice. She didn't know why he picked her. She didn't think she was very fashion inclined, maybe more than Bella was, but she still would have taken Esme, if she were Jasper. She didn't turn him down, though, and decided to do her best to help him pick something that she thought Alice would gravitate to, based on their Port Angeles shopping trips.
While they were gone, Embry impulsively showed up at the Cullen house. Jacob was already there, he knew that he would be. He also knew that there was little chance that things would get out of hand with Jake there to keep him in check. Not that Embry was angry, really. He just wasn't sure how the family would react to what he had to say to them, and he didn't want anything to escalate if they didn't take to Embry's words the way that he wanted them too. For Delilah's sake.
Renesmee let him in, so, right away, Embry felt worried about how the conversation would go. She was still young, and he didn't want any rash reactions to happen with her there to witness them. She smiled up at him, her long brown hair swinging with the door as it flung open to welcome him inside of the home.
"Delilah had school today, now she's with Jasper, if you're looking for her." Renesmee informed Embry of the information that he was already aware of. He smiled back at her, messing with her hair as he walked past her toward the living room, where he assumed some of the family would already be gathered. He was right. Esme and Alice were sat talking, and he could see Emmett doing some sort of workout routine in the backyard from the window.
"Embry, I thought you were here. What brings you by?" Esme, not surprisingly, spoke first. Right as her words stopped, Jacob entered the room, his face scrunching when he saw his pack member in the living room. His face settled back when he intuitively realized why he was likely there, and he walked into the backyard, taking Renesmee with him.
Embry stood silently for a moment, debating how he wanted to bring the conversation to their attention. Amid his silence, Rosalie walked through the door, a shopping bag in hand. She observed the scenario. Immediately, Embry saw a change in her demeanor. Her jaw clenched, and her postured stiffened. Her eyes narrowed in his direction. It was like she already knew what Embry was there to talk about. Maybe she did.
"I think I know why you're here." Alice surprised him when she spoke. He looked away from Rosalie, then giving Alice his full attention, all the while his eyes showing his surprise.
"She's been asking us some questions too. She's smart." Alice continued. Rosalie suddenly barged into the living room, standing next to Alice firmly, her arms crossed over her chest. Embry had always thought that the blonde came across juvenile, so he tried not to laugh at her current mannerisms, for fear that it would ruin his conversation before it started.
"You're right, that's why I'm here. I just think… maybe… it might be best to tell her." Embry tried not to wince when he saw Alice's facial expression change. He'd thought that there was a chance that he could get her on his side of matters. Clearly, he'd been wrong.
"You see, what'd I tell you. Give the mongrel an inch, he'll want a mile." Rosalie spit, then sneering as she backed away from Embry. He tried to calm himself. Embry knew he was grasping at straws, but he still wanted this conversation to go somewhat smoothly. He wanted them to understand his perspective and understand that there was the chance of resentment building up if Delilah started to feel flat out lied to, not just by him, but by all of them.
"I'm not asking to tell her about you. I'll find a way to leave that part out. And I don't want to ruin any sort of relationship you have with her. It's just, not telling her my side of things, it's harder than I thought it'd be." Embry admitted, trying his best to get them to understand.
"But it's possible." Embry noticed then that Emmett had entered the wrong. He didn't look as stern as his sisters, but he clearly wasn't an advocate for Embry either.
"It's not impossible, no. And I've gone back and forth about what would be best for her. That's my first thought all the time now. What's best for her." The family looked between each other for a few moments, granting Embry some semblance of hope deep within him. It was so small, he almost didn't notice it.
"No. We're still not out of the woods with the aftermath of her attack, her nightmares." Alice said. Embry found it easier to level with Alice than Rosalie. Alice seemed to be doing what she thought was right and she generally just seemed less clouded by her own personal emotions than Rosalie. He understood Alice's point, but he didn't think that it trumped his own.
"Right. If she knows about what I am, then she'll know to come to me if any sort of danger ever reveals itself." Embry tried to reason. He didn't want to plead with them, but he also didn't want to lose his chances of opening up to her completely by not trying every argument that came to his mind.
"You're her boyfriend. Shouldn't she be thinking to call you first already? Or is there already trouble in paradise?" Embry watched Rosalie smirk as she settled onto the couch next to Esme and Alice. Embry took in a deep breath, worried he'd say something back that would erupt in confrontation. She'd technically be the one that started it even if he did, Embry thought to himself.
"No, I just think her knowing isn't as dangerous as you all-" He wasn't allowed to finish his thought when Alice began talking.
"Embry?" Alice said simply. He clamped his mouth shut and looked to her, letting her know he was alert and listening intently. "Figure out how to make it work. Don't tell her." She said, getting up from her spot on the couch and walking out of the room, looking at Embry as she walked past him.
"I'm sure you can make it work." Embry was surprised by Emmett's encouragement. He watched as Emmett looked to Rosalie, who reluctantly removed herself from the furniture, walking toward him. Like Alice, she looked at Embry as she walked by him, only her look was much more aggressive, even threatening. Emmett's hand rested on the small of her back as he lead her out of the room.
Embry was left alone with Esme the, who gave her a sympathetic look. There was nothing she could do, even if she wanted to, Embry knew that. She was outvoted. By a lot.
Still, he thought about talking with her, wondering if her dropping a few reasons with her family when he wasn't around might help the situation. It wasn't likely, but he thought it might be worth a try.
His mouth was agape when Jacob entered the room, poking his head in.
"Time for patrol." The pack leader nodded toward the back door. Embry breathed heavily, which seemed to earn him another sympathetic glance from Esme. He shook his head, knowing there was nothing else he could say to help matters. At least right then.
Embry thought about the interaction and the conversation as he dropped Delilah off at her house that Thursday night. He knew he'd be seeing the Cullens for the first time since the incident, as well as meeting Delilah's dad at her game the next evening. He wondered which would harder to deal with, and if they would interplay. It was all of these thoughts that made him sure he would need to phase as soon as Delilah was out of the car and he was back at the rez. It was only when she kissed his lips softly and sweetly as a way of farewell when he felt he had his bearings enough to where he wouldn't need to phase. The other pack members had explained this to him before. Oftentimes, affection from a wolf's imprint could calm them, make them feel and act more human than they really were. Embry liked it. In fact, he was grateful for it. For her.
Embry sat next to Jake in the stands at the game. Quil had decided it was his turn to come to one of Delilah's games, so he was on the other side of Embry. He'd decided to just wave at Delilah when halftime hit, not wanting to cause a spectacle for her father right before he was introduced. Delilah seemed okay with this, as she waved back at Embry sweetly, her green eyes filled with excitement, Embry could tell even from all those feet away from her.
The Cullens all acted relatively friendly toward him, even making small talk in between plays. Clearly, they weren't mad at him. With the exception of Rosalie, who seemed more uneasy around Embry than she had been for the past few weeks. He seemed to be back at square one with her. Nevertheless, Embry was relieved that his request hadn't altered too many things when it came to how he would be able to interact around the Cullens.
The game ended. They won, Delilah scoring the last point of the entire game. She was different when she was on the court, Embry noticed. She was much more competitive and aggressive than she was in everyday interactions. That was to be expected of sports players, sure, but this was different in Embry's eyes. She wasn't good, she was great. And she clearly loved what she was doing. He liked watching her assume the personality that she did while she played.
Embry walked over to Delilah, who was speaking to two of her teammates that he hadn't ever met. She noticed him right away, quickly taking hold of his hand as he leaned down, quickly and respectfully pecking her on the cheek.
"You get better and better every game." Embry complimented. She smiled at him, a barely noticeable blush taking over the balls of her cheeks.
She opened her mouth to respond, but she soon got distracted. Embry looked to see Delilah's father talking to a ginger haired woman. Embry could only assume that this was the woman that he'd taken up seeing. The woman and the relationship that had caused the all of the issues Delilah had recently faced. In a way, Embry had her to thank for the fact that he was currently dating Delilah. Because had Delilah not caught the woman in her house, she never would've needed to call Embry on the first day that he ended up going to breakfast with Delilah. The breakfast that started them hanging out more and more frequently.
He soon stopped thinking of this, noticing how tense Delilah had become while she'd continued to stare at the middle aged couple. Embry pulled her closer to him, trying his best to comfort her without making a total scene. She seemed grateful, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"The Cullens showed up, and so did Quil. Do you wanna go say hi?" Embry suggested, nodding his head toward the crowd of people behind them. Delilah seemed to take to this idea. As they began to migrate toward them, Delilah took one look in her father's direction, then halting. Embry followed suit, then seeing that her father was walking their way. He loosened his grip around Delilah, standing straighter as he tried to prepare himself for the interaction.
Embry took notice of the man's height. He was relatively tall if he wasn't compared to Embry, Jacob, and Quil's statures. Maybe 6'1. The man looked like he was studying Embry, his eyes narrowing more and more the closer he came to him.
"Dad, I wanted to introduce you to Embry but you seemed… busy." Delilah glanced back at the woman for a quick moment before turning her attention back to her father. He cleared his throat, clearly feeling awkward, but he hastily picked up where he'd left off, not wanting to lose the momentum.
"Never too busy for my daughter." He assured her, then returning his stare to Embry. It took Embry a moment to gather his thoughts before he reached his hand out for the older man to shake.
"Hi Mr. Coleman. Sir. I'm Embry Call. Her boyfriend." The man seemed somewhat reluctant to take his hand, but he did, shaking it slowly.
"Coleman!" Embry suddenly heard from across the gym. Delilah was clearly startled by her name being shouted, but she knew what it was for almost immediately.
"Coach wants to talk to us. I'll see you guys in a minute." Delilah looked between Embry and her father, seeming somewhat anxious before she turned around and jogged to the other side of the gym where her team was huddled up.
"So, you and Delilah." Embry's breath caught when he heard Delilah's father speak once again. He turned to face the man straight on, not wanting to give the man any reason to dislike him. After all, it wasn't as if he had forgotten the way the man had looked at him through the window just a few days before.
"Yes, it's not been too long. Just a couple of weeks." Embry explained. He wasn't sure that Delilah had explained much of anything to do with their relationship to him, given the lack of communication between the father and daughter as of late.
"And you like her well enough?" Rick continued. Embry was phased by the question. He tried to sort through his most prominent feelings for her, considering the man's lack of knowledge of the subject of imprinting and werewolves in general. He saw the man's facial expression change, clearly not impressed with the time it took for Embry to answer his question.
"Yes. She's great. Fantastic. You and your wife, you raised her well." Embry made an attempt to compliment. He immediately wanted to shove his foot into his mouth though. It wasn't exactly on his agenda to bring up the man's dead wife within the first five minutes of meeting him. Especially when the man's new romantic partner was stood in the same room.
"Right." Embry was relieved by the cool response. "Speaking of my wife, I'm sure you know that Delilah's been through a whole lot concerning that situation." Embry was surprised that the man was willingly talking so bluntly about the situation, but he tried not to show it.
"Yes, we've talked about it. Somewhat." Embry answered. The man cleared his throat, then giving Embry a piercing stare.
"A girl who's gone through all that has a whole lot to deal with in the aftermath, you know. If you aren't ready to be with someone with that much going on, I suggest you scoot now rather than later." Embry inhaled in sharply through his nose, blinking a few times in surprise. The man's words were harsh, but when the dust settled, Embry understood what he was trying to do.
"I'll be there for her whenever she needs me sir, I can promise that." Embry said firmly. The man nodded slowly.
"I wasn't a fan of her last boyfriend, you know." He continued, giving Embry a once over. "Don't give me a reason not to be a fan of you." Embry nodded quickly as the man's words, which were surely something of a threat, sunk in.
"Yes sir. That's no problem." Embry complied. There was a small silence after that, and it wasn't as if Embry was going to speak again. "Well, now that that's all squared away, I'm sure you kids have plans for after the game. She's waiting for you." He pointed to where Delilah stood by the door, her gym bag over her shoulder.
"Have a good night, Mr. Coleman." Embry said, cautiously beginning to walk away, not wanting to make it too far in case the man had anything else to say.
"You too, Embry. I'm sure I'll be seeing you." Delilah's father didn't move from his spot as Embry warily moved closer and closer to the exit, where Delilah still stood.
"Was my dad giving you a hard time?" Delilah sounded surprised. He grabbed hold of her hand, opening the door.
"Wait, I still need to go say hi." She gave him a look of confusion as she pointed at the Cullen family, who was still inside the gym. The conversation with her father had really taken over his mind, so much so that he really didn't know what he was doing.
"Sorry." He shook his head, following her back across the gym.
"So? Was he giving you a hard time?" Delilah asked again.
"No. No, not really." Embry replied, pulling her into his chest as they continued to walk. He considered her father's words, how serious they had been. And he realized that they didn't make him scared so much as he was more determined to take care of Delilah, and make her feel taken care of, whatever that meant.
Hi! If you've read this far into the story, thank you so much. I'm so happy that it has caught on somewhat and that people are enjoying it. Again, with everything going on, I just want to make sure anyone that reads this knows that they are loved and worthy. Please stay safe and healthy. Thank you so much for your support of my work, it is much appreciated and it keeps me motivated to write more. Feel free to let me know your thoughts if you feel so inclined. Either way, thank you for your support!
-J