Try as he may, Embry just can't get his feet to stop their frantic pacing of the church hall. Between patrol the night before and all of the pre-wedding tasks he's been saddled with, he should be exhausted. Somehow, though, he's as frenetic as an unrestrained live wire, restlessly moving around the venue as he tries to busy his mind with any distraction he can find. It's a combination of things, he concludes, straightening the vase of flowers on the altar for the umpteenth time. Sam and Emily have been slated to marry for years, and with the moment ticking closer and closer with every second that passes, he can't stop fretting about what may go wrong. Will Leah show up? Will Paul forget the rings? He's called him twice; Paul swears both times he has it handled, but he can't put the worry to rest. He's spent far too much time in his Alpha's head and it shows.
His greatest uncertainties circle back to Lex, as if that's any surprise. She'd spent the night sequestered at Emily's home, which had been temporarily converted into women-only bridal headquarters. Sam had been unceremoniously evicted when they'd returned from Port Angeles; Rachel had shooed him out the back door with an authoritative finger wagging in his direction.
"Uley, don't even think for a second you can sneak back later. If I find you out here, I will personally put you on a leash," she had warned, her face unusually stern.
Paul had only laughed at the memory - Atta girl! - when he and Sam had phased to run off some steam. Rachel had the sort of commanding presence that his mother could only dream of, a rare blend of confident and quick-witted that distinguished her from the rest. Rachel was an interesting partner for Paul - they verbally sparred like fierce rivals, but the chemistry between them was undeniable. It was a wonder that she'd managed to avoid him for the first few days of her return to La Push.
Need some tutoring, kiddo? Paul had thought, the teasing undercurrent irking Embry more than he'd care to admit.
Yeah, get fucked, Lahote. She's coming around, he'd grumbled, briefly revealing a flash of Lex nestled in his arms. He'd regretted it almost instantly though, with Paul seizing onto the glimpse like a wild dog.
Well look at that, Sam, he's finally putting on the moves. Baby's first steps, he'd taunted, nipping at Embry's heels as he caught up to him in the clearing.
Embry had spun around, lunging at Paul's shoulder. He'd gnashed his teeth a moment too late, though, only catching fur in his jaws.
Ooh, just a little too slow there, lover boy.
Sam, order him to shut up. Please. My sanity depends on it, Embry had whined, sounding a little too similar to the younger wolves for his comfort.
It's a miracle I don't have grey fur yet. Paul, don't be so annoying. Embry, fight your own battles. Good enough?
I don't know what I expected, Embry had grumbled, returning to his patrol route.
He had tried his best to block out Paul's thoughts for the rest of their run. Sam's thoughts weren't so bad, though he truly wasn't that interested in the wedding details. Embry could probably recite the finer points in his sleep, and he was positive that the flower arrangements were cemented into his memory. Physics knowledge, on the other hand, was basically leaking out of his ears as he ran; he had made a mental note to beg Lex for tutoring later. Thinking of Lex had only made his chest ache, reawakening the all too familiar pang of longing deep within him. She'd been around so frequently over the past week that being apart from her for more than a few hours was like a test of endurance: how long can he exist without thinking of her? Not long, he'd concluded, mulling it over as he'd bounded through the thickets. Wherever he went, all he saw was her: the coal of the rocks reminding him of her eyes, the deep umber earth of her hair -
Oh, I like this game. What about the rough bark? Kinda reminds me of her personality, Paul piped up. Embry could practically hear the smirk through his thoughts.
Paul, I am going to commit an actual homicide -
Not on my wedding day! Sam had urged, swiftly ordering Paul to phase out.
Embry had been left to his own devices to complete the patrol, a mind-numbingly boring double shift that consisted of simple loops of the Rez. By the time David and Collin had phased in to cover the wedding shift, Embry's brain could be suitably compared to mush. He'd hightailed it over to the church after stopping off at his place for a quick shower, fighting the urge to bury his face in Lex's pillow - Lord knows he'd never leave after that. Embry considers restlessly pacing the church a better alternative, even as his mind remains focused on Lex. With every step, he impatiently counts the minutes until he'll see her again, knowing that today, after he watches two of his closest friends wed, he will tell her how much he cares about her.
Today is the day.
He's sure of it.
Lex is absolutely, positively certain that there's no way she can make it through the entire ceremony and reception in the sky-high heels Rachel's picked out for her. It's both a blessing and a curse they share a shoe size, she thinks, turning the strappy black stiletto over in her hands. It's easily six inches tall - she might as well wear stilts - but Rachel's insistent, pulling Lex's bare foot into her lap to fasten the shoe.
"You're practically a shrimp. He's a giant. How are you supposed to dance with him if you can't even put your hands on his neck?" she asks, deftly weaving the straps around her calf.
"Uh...I don't think the heels are going to fix that. Have you seen how tall he is?" It's intimidating, the sheer size of all of the men, and the mental image of the group packed into one tiny room makes her giggle.
Rachel snorts, tucking the last of the strap into place. "Ugh, tell me about it. Please explain how Jake got the gigantic gene and I'm stuck being like, five foot nothing."
Lex purses her lips, thinking back to all of the people she's met on the Rez. "Jake? I don't think I've seen him before."
Rachel shakes her head, a sour look crossing her face. "No, you wouldn't have. Jake's my brother. He lives out near the city. He has...obligations," she says eventually, scowling as she does.
Lex simply nods, vaguely remembering snippets of a conversation she'd overheard between Jared and Embry a few days back. They'd been having some sort of heated discussion about a girl whose name she couldn't recall, someone who apparently wasn't welcome on the reservation. Jared had abruptly ceased his ranting as soon as he spotted Lex in the doorway, swiftly changing the topic to the Mariners' recent win. There was something fishy about the whole thing, but Kim was far too tight-lipped for her to get any useful information.
Having sorted the shoes, Rachel stands abruptly, smoothing the wrinkles out of her long skirt. With her hair styled and make-up done, she looks beyond breathtaking, like the sort of woman she'd see in one of those cheesy bridal magazines. Judging by the excited chatter from the living room, things with Emily and Kim were progressing in much the same way. Rachel extends a hand to Lex, pulling her to her feet. She's unsteady in the stilettos, but Rachel's unruffled, linking elbows to lead her into the other room.
Emily's stood in her gown in front of the large bay window, the morning light casting an ethereal glow upon her features. Her grandmother's weaved her long hair into a halo of thick braids, anchored by a smattering of iridescent heirloom pins. Kim's hands are moving across her hair as quick as lightning, securing the gauzy veil into place as if she's done it a million times. When she's finished, Emily looks every bit the part, her cheeks pink with joy. Her mother and grandmother are quick to embrace her, showering her with compliments and affection until all three are sniffling. Kim looks on the verge of emotion, too, her grey eyes more than a little misty. Lex feels a little out of place in the intimate circle of women, women who have shared so much of their lives, but Emily is quick to beckon her over with open arms.
"I'm so glad you're all here with me," she says, her voice wavering.
Rachel scoops her into a tight hug, rocking Emily from side to side. "I'd never miss it."
"You look great, Emily," Lex offers shyly. It's true - Emily's vibrating with excitement, her smile wider than Lex has ever seen, and her joy is contagious.
After a few quick photos and last-minute hair and make-up fixes, they're piling into the borrowed limo, Kim helping Emily to hoist her dress right up to her knees. Quil had managed to sweet-talk one of the owners of the nearby car-hire into lending them the vehicle for the day, if only in exchange for an exorbitant amount of mechanic work. The guys had boasted about the trade for easily two weeks straight, even after Jared had calculated the value of Quil's labour. Somehow, they considered it a win, and judging by the look on Emily's face, she couldn't be happier.
Lex finds herself wishing for time to move slower, willing the clock to slow down for just for a moment so she can properly appreciate the day. When Embry had cajoled her into attending the wedding, even talking her into participating in the pre-wedding preparations, she'd expected to feel entirely out of place. She hadn't anticipated the kindness of Emily and Rachel, nor the way that she slotted perfectly into their group dynamic like a long-lost sister. Lex was used to Kim's company, accustomed to how comfortable she felt around her, but in a few short hours, she already felt at home with the other women. Though she was reluctant to admit it, maybe Embry was right - Forks, and by extension, La Push - could be her home, if she would only accept it. The idea was growing on her slowly, gnawing away at her apprehensiveness until there was only hopefulness left. They arrive at the church all too soon, the limo slowing to idle by the kerb at the base of the small hill.
Kim turns in her seat to face Lex, suddenly all business. "Okay, let's go over the plan one more time. You go find Embry so he can tell the guys that we're here. Make sure he sends Sue down to help Emily out. You got it?"
Lex nods. "Please, say a prayer that I can actually make it up the steps in these," she jokes, casting a doubtful eye at the sharp spikes attached to her feet.
Rachel claps her on the shoulder, laughing. "You'll be fine. Remember what I showed you."
She's forgotten already, but she'd die before she'd confess that. Instead, she takes a deep breath, unbuckling her belt to slide out of the limo. Her first few steps are shaky and awkward - practice certainly would have been a great idea - but she eventually finds her balance, slowly working her way towards the church.
"Yo, Lex," a familiar voice calls from her left, seconds before Quil's huge figure bounds up to greet her. "I could have heard you clomping a mile away! Nice shoes. You're almost normal size now," he jokes, laughing harder as she frowns.
"Thanks, idiot. Have you seen Em?"
"Wow, where's my 'hi Quil, I've missed you'? No manners, I swear."
There must be something icy in her stare, as he quickly points towards the church, offering her his arm to drag her upwards.
"You know, I can make it up here without a tow," she argues, trying to keep her steps as even as possible.
"See, you say that, but you walk like a baby giraffe. I'm not taking any chances with you. I like having all my limbs attached," he says, his mouth quivering as if he's holding back a laugh.
She's not quite sure what he's on about - does he really think she'd hurt him? - but there's no time to question him further. Lex had thought the Uley house the day prior was wild, but it has nothing on the mayhem unfolding inside the church. She's silently thankful that Emily's unable to see the chaos - Lord knows she doesn't need anything else to worry about today - but she's a little apprehensive at the thought of locating Embry in the din.
"Quil!" a shrill voice shrieks from deep within the fray.
In seconds, a dark-haired girl is squeezing through the legs of the crowd, freeing herself only to bolt directly towards him. Quil releases his hold on Lex to scoop her up (miraculously, Lex finds her balance just in time), tickling the girl as he does.
"Have you been behaving yourself, little miss?" he asks, swinging her up into a piggyback position.
She giggles wildly, her braided pigtails flopping with the motion. She's all frizz and dirt and snot - how? she's, what, six? - but Quil couldn't care less, fussing over her all the same.
"Are you going to say hi to my friend, Claire-bear?"
She buries her face in Quil's neck for a moment, obstinate in her shyness, though she relents eventually with some strategic persuasion. Her big brown eyes peeking down at her from over his huge shoulders is comical, almost as if she's a teensy-tiny human backpack.
"I'm Claire. Quil's my best friend but you can't tell Uncle Embry or he'll get sad and I promised Quil I wouldn't make him sad," she blurts, immediately looking towards Quil for approval.
He nods encouragingly, beaming at Claire. "That's right, bud, you're my best friend. Speaking of, where's Uncle Embry?" he asks, shuffling her further up his back.
Claire screws her face up in thought, clearly thinking hard. "He was with Uncle Paul, I think. I don't know. There's a lot of people," she pouts.
Lex didn't envisage her weekend involving relating to a young kid, but the girl's right - it's almost as if they've got half the reservation packed into one tiny space. Lex looks towards Quil for assistance, but he simply shrugs, his attention now directed elsewhere. Quest over. The idea of squeezing into the pack of bodies makes her squirm, but Emily needs to get inside somehow, and that's enough to get her moving forward, leaving Quil and Claire behind in the archway.
"'Scuse me, sorry," she mutters again and again, slowly working her way towards the front of the hall. She's starting to feel far too overdressed for the occasion - hell, there are people in loafers; why did she let Rachel persuade her to get so fancy? She's busy debating the idea of ditching her shoes under a pew when she spots Sue Clearwater up near the altar, engaged in a serious conversation with the celebrant. She casts a look over her shoulder as Lex approaches (shit, Quil was right, she must be clomping), immediately brightening.
"Lex, sweetheart, it's good to see you," she crows, pulling her in for a hug. She smells smoky, like campfires and charcoal, the kind of scent that makes her think about forgotten overnight trips into the woods. Lex blinks a few times, chasing the wetness away. It's an emotional day. That's all it is.
Lex is composed when she pulls away, her expression rearranged into a small smile. "It's good to see you too, Mrs Clearwater."
"Sue, honey, call me Sue. Now, where's Emily?" she asks, clapping her hands together.
Lex moves to lead her out towards the limo, but Sue's quick to wave her away. "I'll take care of her. How about you go say hello to Embry? The boys are out the back," she says, gesturing to the side door.
It's clear where Seth gets his mischievous streak from - the little playful glimmer in Sue's eye is enough for Lex to know that she's most definitely clued into the Rez gossip. Lex simply nods, content to escape the chaos (and see Embry, though she squashes that thought down). She's acutely aware of her heels clicking on the parquet as she inches closer to the door, each clack matching the quickening thudding in her chest. The weird twisting feeling is back - her stomach's been in knots all morning, but this is different, a tightness in her breast that feels like someone's got her heart in their hands. She's a little breathless when she opens the door, the sunlight streaming in like a spotlight, momentarily blinding her. It must be the light, the fresh air, the quietness - the tightness is gone, slipping away in an instant, replaced by stillness.
"Sam, man, you're going to put a hole in those shoes if you don't stop pacing," Jared sighs, watching his friend restlessly move back and forth.
Sam shakes his head frustratedly. "You have no idea how crazy this all feels," he sighs, pausing his laps momentarily to squat, resting his head in his hands.
It's a weird sight - a giant of a man, hunched over in formal-wear (okay, it's only a dress shirt and tie, but that's a far cry from the usual jorts). Embry can count on one hand the number of times he's seen Sam lose his cool, and all of them have one thing in common: vampires. Today is different - it's 100% vampire-free, for starters - and he's struck by the realisation that it's the first time that Sam's human emotions are truly driving him. Their lives have been ruled by instinct and survival and carnality for so long that the idea of dedicating an entire day to celebrate the finer points of humanity is odd. The rapidly dampening patches on his wrinkled dress shirt are enough of a reminder that he's not quite human, but they're close enough, and they're doing a damn fine job of masquerading as normal people.
Paul rounds the corner of the church, a six-pack dangling from his grip. He twists a can free and lobs it at Sam, who snatches it from the air as smoothly as a hunter.
"Drink a little and relax. Rachel just texted me to say they're leaving," Paul says, passing the six-pack around.
Sam nods, taking a gulp. "I can't wait to get it over with. Thank God Emily agreed to no speeches."
"You've given some decent ones before," Embry says, chasing the statement with a swig of lukewarm beer.
Jared snorts. "Battle cries and wedding vows aren't the same, dumbass."
Embry flicks him the finger to a chorus of laughs from the other men. "Look, all I'm saying is Sam has some good thoughts in there. Wish I could say the same for you."
Paul howls with laughter, clapping Jared on the back with a solid thump. "He's got you there, Jar," he chokes out, laughing harder as Jared scowls.
"I could so write Sam's vows," he argues, gesturing rudely at the others.
"Go on, give me something to work with," Sam says amusedly. He's distracted from his fretting at the very least; Jared's self-esteem can take the hit.
Jared closes his eyes, scrunching his face in focus. It doesn't help stifle the laughter, but he continues his deliberations undeterred. "What about...Emily, I promise to love you for the rest of my life, even when we're old. What we have is so special…" he trails off, frowning, "that if we can get married, anyone can."
Paul bends over, coughing as he chokes on his beer. Embry thumps him one, two, three times until he's freely laughing, shaking his head at Jared's attempt.
"The fuck does that mean, if we can get married anyone can?" Sam chortles, shaking his head.
Jared reddens, raking a hand through his cropped hair. "I just meant that you've been through a lot and you still made it to the wedding," he says, his voice defensively squeaky.
"Sorry, Jar, you're barred from the toasts later," Embry teases, elbowing him in the ribs.
"I don't know, that was pretty fuckin' funny. I say we get him to speak later, lift the mood a bit," Paul snickers.
"I'm never doing a speech again," Jared groans, pressing his fingers into his temples.
Embry's about to reply with something stupid, a rude comment to bug Jared just a little more, when the creaky side door to the church swings open. It's a little dark inside, and so when the figure steps out into the bright morning sun, she's almost spotlighted by the rays. His mouth dries as he takes her in; she's more dressed up than he's ever seen her, adorned in some shiny green dress that he's dying to run his hands over. Between her delicately braided hair and perfect pink lips and oh, god, those heels, he thinks he might just lose his mind. Here lies Embry Call, who died of unconsummated horniness at the tender age of nineteen.
He jumps at the sharp pinch to his forearm, turning to glare at Jared.
"Dude, your hands are shaking," he whispers, grinning at his Embry's discomfort.
"Whipped," Paul mutters, too low for Lex to hear, sending the guys into peals of laughter.
Embry shakes his head, trying to pull himself together. He clenches and unclenches his fists a couple of times, doing his best to ground himself in the here and now, before standing to meet her. He deliberately fixes his eyes on her face - control's the name of the game, and any fleeting glances at her bare legs won't help his case. It feels like he's walking underwater; he wants her, right now, and the distance between them is torturous. He wants to wrap his hands around her waist - god, she's tiny, his hands would cover her skin with ease - and pull her close, forget about everything else around them. He imagines lifting her, her creamy thighs wrapping tight around his waist. He pictures her heels pressing into his back as he -
"Em? Uh, hi?" she squeaks, cheeks pink.
If Paul could laugh any harder, he would.
"Fuck off, Paul," he groans, flipping him off. He moves closer to Lex, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to lead her back inside. "Let's go find a seat," he murmurs, lowering his mouth close to her ear.
It's delightful, the way she shivers upon the simple proximity. It's temptation incarnate, and so he presses a light kiss to her cheekbone, wishing he could get away with dipping his mouth just that little bit lower. He's starting to think that maybe she wants him to kiss her, that there's a chance that she craves his touch as he yearns for hers. It's getting harder to deny his attraction to her, and even the slightest encouragement is enough to leave his head spinning.
They sit together in the second pew, wedged right on the end next to Quil. Mercifully, the ceremony begins quickly, though Embry's attention wanes quickly. Keeping focused is a big ask when there's a beautiful woman beside you, he thinks, allowing his eyes to dart sideways for just a moment. She's leant forward, hands lightly clasped in her lap, watching the proceedings with rapt attention. She giggles when Claire dances down the aisle, flinging flower petals as she spins in her little dress. Embry's never seen Quil look as proud as he does when she takes a bow - typical dramatic kid - skipping over to sit with her mom.
For the first time Embry can recall, Sam looks nervous. His hands are laced tightly in an attempt to look casual, but Embry's superhuman vision is quick to spot that his knuckles are whiter than snow. He looks like a man about to go to war, though his stoic expression is probably more due to the immense control he's exerting than an actual fear of what's to come. He's seen inside Sam's head. He knows his mind, his fears about losing his cool on one of the most important days of his short life.
Jared and Paul visibly relax as the music sounds - there's only so long that they can deal with Sam's tension. Sam relaxes infinitesimally, the furrow in his brow smoothing as the women enter the church. Rachel is first, confidently striding down the centre aisle in her sky-high heels. She beams when she sees Paul, greeting him with an exuberant grin as she all but power walks to reach him. Imprints aren't so good at the casual thing, Embry notes, casting a sidelong glance at Lex. Rachel's happiness is contagious, he gathers, smirking at the sappy look on her face.
Her attention's quickly drawn away from the altar as Kim enters, a little more subdued than Rachel. Her eyes look slightly misty - trust her to cry before the ceremony - though the broad smile on her face hides it well. Kim reaches Rachel's side in no time at all, reaching down to entwine their fingers. The soft music melts into the traditional wedding march - a little ironic when nothing about Emily and Sam is traditional - and he can't help but flick his eyes over to Sam, watching the way his expression shifts into something softer, more adoring. Embry wonders if that's what he looks like when he's around Lex, all love-sick and blissful. A little voice in his head reminds him that could be you someday, that he could be the one waiting for the love of his life (Paul's right; he's beyond whipped).
Lex reaches across to grab his hand, her cool fingers a welcome jolt back to the present. He threads his fingers through hers, idly drawing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand. Lex squeezes lightly, shyly smiling at him, before turning back towards Sam and Emily. He wishes he had that same sort of focus, finding his eyes straying to Lex more often than not. She even has to drag him to his feet at the end of the ceremony, hopping up just in time for Sam and Emily to stride down the aisle, hand-in-hand and blissful.
The crowd spills out onto the grassy hill outside, encircling the pair on the stone steps. Sam dips Emily for one more dramatic, drawn-out kiss, kissing all over her face as he draws he close. The guys whoop and whistle; Embry raises his fingers to his mouth to send a shrieking cat-call out into the sunny morning. With Lex under his arm and his friends frolicking around him, it's a perfect day - he wants to burn it into his memory, tucking the day away like a treasured photograph in a scrapbook. He wraps his arms around Lex, pulling her close to his chest. She grins up at him, cheery and exultant and all-around radiant in the glow of the day.
"I'm glad you came," he says, his voice softer than intended.
"I am, too."
Trusting Paul to be the bartender turns out to be a questionable decision, especially when said bartender has absolutely no conception of safe human liquor consumption. Between the suspiciously sourced keg of ale and Old Quil's stockpile of moonshine - brewed just for the special day - the drinks are free-flowing, and even some of the smaller wolves are starting to feel it, judged by Seth's slumped posture over the table. In all fairness, Embry would love to be that toasted - he hasn't felt tipsy in years, and the idea of letting loose on the dancefloor with Lex without a shred of insecurity is very appealing. Speaking of the lady, he hasn't seen her in a long while, not since he was dragged away for countless photos with the happy couple. By the time Emily is satisfied with the endless arrangements of people, it's been the better part of an hour, and Embry's itching to peel off his dress shirt and down a pint, preferably with his girl by his side.
The shirt remains as is - there's still polite company around, after all - but he grabs himself a glass, pouring a heady mixture of moonshine and some clear spirit on the table nearby. It burns as it goes down, a little too close to lighter fluid for his preference, but the warmth in his belly is satisfying enough for him to chase it with a second sip. He resorts to sniffing Lex out, feeling more lupine by the second as he threads through the throng of guests. Normally, he'd avoid relying on his supernatural senses in his human form, but there's a certain pull tonight that he just can't ignore. Embry would recognise her scent anywhere, sweet spicy notes that linger in his nose long after she's gone. He finds her quickly enough, dancing clumsily with Rachel with a plastic cup in hand. Watching her is mesmerising; sure, she's totally off-beat, as if she's dancing to some other song, but the energetic swaying of her hips and the carefree rippling of her body is more than enjoyable. Rachel enthusiastically grinding against her is appealing in an entirely different way, though he's sure Paul will have more than a few words to say about that thought later.
"Embry! Come and dance with us!" Rachel calls, beckoning him over with an energetic wave of the hand.
He swallows. There's a lump in his throat that wasn't there before, beads of sweat that prick at his forehead like he's under a spotlight. He can't dance for shit, but when Lex extends a hand in his direction, he feels compelled to follow, incapable of tearing his eyes away. Embry doesn't realise until later that Rachel had slipped away almost immediately, melting into the crowd as if she was never there. No, he is completely enthralled by Lex, left dry-mouthed and trembling as she curls one arm around his neck. The heels make her almost tall enough to reach him without needing to stretch too far, a kind of unprecedented closeness that he wishes they could always have. After a moment, he allows his hands to settle on her waist, trying to ignore the flashes of fantasies past that bubble up in his brain. It must be something about the liquor, the low lights, the thrumming music, that's pushing his control beyond the usual limits. He almost groans when she presses closer against him, tilting her face up to gaze at him. Her face is flushed, lips slightly parted, and he's all too aware that he's staring at her mouth.
They're like magnets, slowly drawing closer without any hope of resistance. There's a tiny, sane part of his mind that tells him to straighten up, move away, but the possessive side of his being sections it off immediately. No, Lex is his; he needs this moment like he needs air, and her fingers curling in the hair at his nape is confirmation enough of her desire. One moment he's breathing her in, inhaling that potent vanilla-cinnamon swirl as if it's his lifeline, relishing the feeling of her in his arms. And in the next second, he's not sure who moves first - maybe him, maybe her, maybe both - but his mouth is on hers, his lips moving hungrily like a man sent to his final meal. Her lips are softer than he could have ever imagined, perfectly plush and moulded against his as if they were made for this, made to be together. She tastes raw and fiery, foreign and familiar, the kind of kiss he wants to have every morning and night for the rest of his life. His fingers grip tightly at her waist - it's better than he imagined, she's so much better than he imagined - and he likes it, likes the way she pulls a little at his hair as they kiss. And then, all too soon, it's over, a sudden clearing of the throat that yanks them apart.
"Miss McKinley?" a gruff voice asks, wrenching him back into reality.
He's not quite aware of it, but his hands are still gripping her, holding her in a blend of protectiveness and possessiveness that Chief Swan detests. There's something all wrong about this boy; he's not like Jacob, not the mild-mannered polite fellow that he'd like for his daughter to date. He clears his throat again, trying to command the young lady's attention - she's too busy staring at the man, and there's something odd about them that he can't quite put his finger on. Finally, she looks at him, her mouth carved into a small o of surprise.
"Miss McKinley, I need you to come with me to the station. You have been reported as an endangered person."
A/N: Life is getting crazy for me, and I'm about to go out on fieldwork, so updates will likely take a little longer than usual. Rest assured I will finish this fic! Thanks to everyone for reading, and a special thanks for those who review - reviews are excellent motivation to continue working on chapters.