Embry Call was in love with Delilah Coleman.
He'd felt something similar to love from the moment he looked into her eyes. It was true. From that moment, all he'd wanted was to take care of her, to make sure she was happy, to be with her. And all of those seemed like descriptions of someone in love. But Embry knew that his feelings had gotten more personal. Stronger. It was like imprinting was there to make sure he stuck around long enough to feel how he felt after actually being with her and getting to know her as she bared her mind, soul, and heart. And he was grateful. The idea of missing out on what he felt for her, that was something that couldn't fathom.
Embry thought about all of this while he waited for Delilah to gather up her things so they could head to the reservation. It was 7:30 in the morning, and the day of Sam and Emily's wedding. Though Delilah wasn't in the wedding party, over the few months that she'd been with Embry, she'd become an integral part of the wedding planning process and committee. Embry was anything but surprised by this. He'd noticed her helpful nature. Delilah was prone to asking strangers if they needed help putting things in their car or reorganizing items in the grocery store if she saw that they were in some form of disarray. So, Emily had requested that Delilah come early to help in the bridal suite. Embry wasn't surprised when Delilah said yes without hesitation, of course.
Delilah didn't have any makeup on, and her hair was thrown up into a loose bun, having just blow dried it ten minutes before. Embry immediately got up from his spot on the couch when he saw that Delilah's hands were full, walking over to her and taking her dress that was held in a garment bag, as well as the box that her shoes were in.
"You kids have fun. Let me know when you're heading back." Delilah's father said from the dining room table, not looking up from his coffee and crossword puzzle. Delilah readjusted her hold on her makeup bag and various other things she was holding on to, making her way down the rest of the stairs and following Embry toward the door.
"Will do. Thank you, sir." Embry nodded at him as before heading out of the house. Delilah stopped and glanced at her dad, who had finally looked away from his activities. He smiled softly at her. Delilah noticed that he looked more tired than he usually did, probably due to the double shift he'd worked the night before.
"Love you. Take a nap if you need one. You look tired." She advised, waiting to see his reaction. He just laughed softly, shaking his head.
"Love you." He replied, picking his pencil back up as he studied his current crossword.
Emily hadn't been a very intense bride overall, but it was the day of her wedding. And every bride feels like a stressed out mess on the day of their wedding. The first subtle meltdown came when the wedding dress almost didn't fit. Emily's bump was bigger than any of them had expected it to be by the time of the wedding. Sue Clearwater was able to take the dress out a bit though. Still, Emily was slightly embarrassed that the bump would be noticeable in every picture, no matter the angle. Everyone tried to comfort her, Delilah even telling her that she'd been engaged for far too long to be getting married because she was pregnant, and that anyone who had gotten a save the date for the wedding seven months earlier would be able to figure that out. This seemed to comfort Emily, and Delilah earned grateful looks from Sue, Emily's mom, and Emily's grandmother after they noticed Emily's change in demeanor that the words caused.
Another problem arose, though. One that was much less likely to be easily swept away. Leah was missing. They were all told to be in the bridal suite by 11:00 at the latest. Even Alice had shown up with Bella, Rosalie, and Esme to see what they could help with by noon. Their arrival is what seemed to set Emily off in worrying if her cousin might actually bail. Delilah was slightly concerned too, though she didn't think Leah would truly not show up.
There came a time at about 2:30, two hours before the wedding, and Leah still hadn't shown her face. Emily looked like she was going to cry.
"Don't cry, you'll ruin your makeup." Rosalie advised cooly. Delilah wasn't surprised by the less than warm tone that Rosalie paired with her advice, but it still warmed her heart that Rosalie had said anything at all, considering her past reactions to the people of the reservation.
"Delilah, I need you to stand up there if she doesn't show. To make the numbers even." Emily said as she tipped her head up so she was looking at the ceiling in an attempt to keep her tears from falling. Delilah felt caught off guard by the request, especially considering she didn't have a dress that matched the rest of the bridesmaids.
"I can go get her a dress like the other girls', did you get the dresses in town?" Alice asked, grabbing her keys and her purse off of a nearby table. Delilah felt things were moving too fast, like the room was spinning. It took her a few seconds to finally collect her thoughts.
"No, we don't need to do that. I'm going to find Leah right now, okay? She'll be there." Delilah grabbed Emily's wrist and held on to it comfortingly as she looked into the bride's dark brown orbs. Emily wordlessly nodded, then surprising Delilah as she pulled her into a tight embrace. She let go, signaling that Delilah could now do what she'd volunteered to do.
Delilah's instincts told her to first check the beach, which came of no luck. Delilah stood in the sand, trying to gather her thoughts so she could be as productive with time as she possibly could. Then, something came to mind. She looked around the beach, then seeing Collin and Paul playing soccer while in their tuxes. This surely would've made Emily want to tear her hair out, Delilah thought. Sam probably didn't even know that they were out there.
"Paul!" Delilah hollered from across the beach, beginning to make her way over to the large man. Paul immediately turned after he heard her voice. His eyebrows were furrowed together, clearly confused to see the girl on the beach by herself. Even so, he made his way over to her.
"What's up?" His eyes were squinted as he looked down at Delilah, trying to register her current emotional state to see if he had a reason to be worried.
"I need you to drive me to the Cullen house. Right now." Her words seemed demanding, but her tone was pleading. Paul looked back at Collin for a few seconds, then looking back to her.
"What? Why?" Paul practically sneered. Delilah didn't have time to think about how this was yet another time that someone from the reservation had shown dismay or disgust toward the mention of the Cullens, so she let it roll off of her shoulders.
"I just need you to do it. Fast. Please." She looked at him, her urgency clear in her green eyes, and the rest of her body language, really. Paul sighed gruffly, then nodding for her to follow him, leaving Collin on the beach by himself. Delilah preferred it that way, not wanting to involve the young boy in such complicated dramatics.
Paul did as Delilah requested, quickly getting her to the house. Paul didn't get out of the car, but Delilah saw that he was watching her closely as she ran toward the back door. She knew that there was a key under the leg of a chair. She didn't need it, though, as the door was already unlocked.
Delilah's instinct was right. Leah was in the house, eating a sandwich and potato chips and watching the Cullen's TV. On the surface, her location didn't make much sense, considering how uncomfortable Leah seemed while being there the few times Delilah had seen her there in the past. Still, Delilah tried not to let it phase her too much, as she knew she had a lot to talk to her about.
Leah noticed Delilah before she could make her presence known in her own way. She was clearly disappointed that she'd found her, though it seemed she would've had a similar reaction no matter who found her place of refuge, so Delilah didn't take much offense.
"Leah, you don't have to talk to me. I know you're probably angry at me." Delilah tried to coax the girl. Delilah meant what she said, she felt bad disturbing the girl who was clearly in pain, but she had to at least try to fix the situation. They wouldn't be able to get this day back once it was gone.
"I'm not angry with you, Delilah." Leah didn't look at her, but she set her plate on the coffee table, which was a sign that she knew the jig was up, and that she was going to have to face the issue at hand.
"I know I don't know everything. But I do know that you have every right to be-" Leah didn't allow Delilah to finish her justification, letting out a sorrowful laugh. It echoed throughout the house, hauntingly so.
"Don't. I'm being immature and selfish and everything else, and I know it." She finally looked to Delilah, tears glistening in her eyes. Delilah felt her heart sink, knowing that there was nothing she could do to make Leah forget what had made her so emotional.
"Even so, you have a lot to sort through. Emily gets that too. Just, just come back. There's still time for you to be there. You'll regret it if you don't." Delilah didn't mean to guilt trip the woman, she really didn't, but that's how it was likely coming across and she knew it. She stood silently, hoping that Leah would pick up on her good intentions.
"You're a good person, you know. You chased me down even though I didn't deserve it." Leah admitted, getting up from her spot on the couch and walking toward Delilah, looking at her with a sense of defeat reflected in everything about her, even her stature.
"You deserved it. Paul's waiting outside, he's gonna take us back to the rez." Delilah informed Leah as she walked out of the house. Leah reluctantly followed, feeling embarrassed by the fact that everyone would know that she hid from her own cousin's wedding. Delilah looking back at her with encouragement made her feel that she could brave it, though.
Delilah noticed the color coming back to Sue Clearwater's face as soon as Delilah walked in with Leah close behind her. She gave the brunette a look of gratitude, then walking over to her daughter and leading her toward an empty chair where she planned on doing her makeup. No one said anything, for fear of embarrassing Leah or Emily or making things more awkward than they already were. But everyone took turns giving Delilah sweet looks, especially Emily, who, as she looked at Delilah, finally letting a small tear trickle down her face. Delilah was comforted knowing that the tear was not one of sadness, but rather one of relief. And she smiled as she watched Emily's mom begin to fix her hair in preparation for her veil.
The wedding ceremony went as it was supposed to. Delilah tried not to giggle at the way Emily was trying to hide her bump with her bouquet of flowers. Delilah then felt herself swoon when she saw Sam's reaction to her. He wasn't nervous about any part of her, clearly. He was in love with her. Every part of her. It was obvious how perfect he'd found her to be.
Delilah then looked at Leah, was caught her eye for a moment. She gave her a nod, mouthing the words "thank you" before looking to her cousin and her ex boyfriend, watching them exchange their vows of eternal love to one another.
Delilah looked at Embry, who was a groomsman in the wedding. He looked handsome, of course. But Delilah also couldn't help but notice how often Embry looked back at her, his eyes warm and filled with more emotion than she'd ever seen them possess. And it was then that she admitted to herself that she was falling in love with Embry Call.
The ceremony ended, and Delilah found entertainment in watching Alice walk around, making sure the things that she'd contributed to the event were all going according to plan. Delilah then felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see Embry. He stood there, looking at her shyly and sweetly.
"Come dance with me." He took her right hand in his and began to lead her toward the designated dance area, though there was no real dance floor.
"I don't dance." Delilah winced at how cliche her words sounded. But it was true. She'd never been a good dancer, and she'd never liked dancing in public at all. She sometimes hid in the bathroom during the dance units in school gym class.
"Then we'll sway." Embry's other hand moved to rest on Delilah's waist. She didn't debate it, she just rested her hand on his chest, eventually laying her head on it too. She could feel how warm he was, even through his suit. Delilah was comfortable. She felt serene, in a way. She also felt delicate and dainty when she was close to him like this. She was average height, and she'd never been scrawny like Kim, so she never thought she'd find someone who was able to make her feel as physically protected as Embry did. But he did, he made her feel safe from everything, even the things she didn't know.
"Paul told me that you saved the day." Embry leaned further down to mumble the words in Delilah's ear. Delilah looked up, finding that Paul was dancing with Rachel and making her laugh. She sighed.
"That's an exaggeration." Delilah finally looked at Embry. He smiled at her, pushing her wispy baby hairs that were stuck in her long, dark lashes out of her face, staring at her for a while.
"Well, I don't know that Leah would've been up there if it weren't for you." He said, tilting his head as he stared at her for a bit longer. Delilah figured that after all of the times that he'd looked at her like that, he'd seen everything there was to see and that he should've grown tired of it by then. But still, he stared.
"I'm just happy everything went well. For Emily's sake." Delilah then looked over at the bride, who was dancing with her groom. They were looking at each other like no one else was there, like no one else existed.
She looked back at Embry, who was clearly having a secretive conversation in the privacy of his own mind, as he stayed staring at her.
Delilah didn't know it, but Embry was debating whether or not he should tell her that he'd fallen in love with her. He was weighing the likelihood that she would feel the same way versus the likelihood that it would scare her off. So he finally settled on a diluted version of his truth. He knew he wanted her to hear some of it, and felt that right then was the time to say it. His gut told him so, but he didn't know why.
"I'm falling in love with you." Embry spoke tenderly but firmly.
What Embry didn't know was that Delilah had just admitted that very thing to herself that day when it came to her feelings for him. It took her aback. She'd always felt that they were in sync. With small things, like looking to each other at the same time, or grabbing the other's hand at the same time. And for larger things too, like what was happening right then.
Delilah looked into his dark eyes and for the second time that day, she saw more feeling within them than she ever had before. She knew what she wanted to say back, but it was all overwhelming her, until it finally wasn't.
"Me too. I'm falling in love with you too." Delilah finally responded. Embry was clearly relieved and somewhat surprised by her response. She'd never realize how worried he'd been about wrecking everything by moving her along too fast. It was usually the imprint that said their emotions first, from what Embry had seen of it. The wolves were supposed to be whatever their imprint needed them to be, and it only made sense to wait and naturally assume the role that their imprint told them to. But Embry couldn't wait, and he was glad that he couldn't. Because he now knew that she was where he was.
Embry finally bent down and kissed her gently, careful not to draw a spectacle for the people that were spectators of the dance floor. She pulled him further in though. Embry could tell that she was impassioned and emotional by the way of her kiss, and he accepted it wholeheartedly. And suddenly, it was Embry and Delilah who felt that no one else existed besides the two of them.
Hello! I'm happy with how this chapter came out, I think. Let me know your thoughts if you feel so inclined. Again, I've absolutely loved writing this story, and it makes me happy beyond measure that people have enjoyed reading it. As I've been saying, please stay safe and know your worth what with everything that's going on. I hope this story brings you some sort of entertainment and comfort. If it does that for even one person, it's worth it.
-J