Chapter 8
Embry POV
"Yeah," Ava smiles, looking up at me through thick black eyelashes, sending my heart into overdrive. I catch sight of a twinkle in her eyes, a beautiful, amazing sparkle of life. "Too long," Ava says, smoothly jumping to her feet.
I have to make my inner wolf subside a growl as Ava jumps at Jake, hooking her arms around his neck. Their hug lasts barely four seconds but it's long enough to make me want to rip Jake's head off. Why does she hug him first? She is mine, not his!
But all anger and jealousy disperses when Ava hugs me, her small, soft arms wrapping around my chest and her head fitting perfectly under my chin. Her sweet smell fills my nostrils: oranges, strawberries, blueberries… a whole fruit salad. I wrap my arms around her and feel like I found the piece of me I never knew was missing. I know that sounds corny, but it's true.
All is short lived though when she pulls away from me, her eyes barely meeting mine before she gives Quil a quick squeeze.
Ava POV
I step back from Quil but not before he catches one of my hands and give me a spin round, my sneakers drilling a hole in the sand – sending me into a fit of girly giggles. For some weird reason I feel a need to look to Embry, my eyes instantly meeting his, only to see… sadness? Anger? Jealousy?
I don't know why but I have to look away from his gaze, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me... Wait- why do I feel guilty? I did nothing wrong! Hugging an old friend is allowed! Why- my thoughts are interrupted by soft laughter. I look to my right and see…
Embry POV
A small boy that I have never seen before is sitting on Claire's lap. I hadn't even noticed Claire, Bree, Kim or the small boy, before hearing the girls' laughter. The boy is covering his eyes with his small hands, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks, causing the girls to laugh harder.
I smile, and a funny feeling runs through me… something I've never felt before, making my heart feel fuzzy. I guess that would be the word. A mixture of calm, caring, happiness… pride? But then a sickly, angry feeling creeps up my spine, fear sent running through my inner wolf.
I slowly look to Ava. She looks peaceful, looking to the boy with a wistful smile and bright eyes, glossing with... pride. "Wh-, she, him… no," I snarl under my breath, and an angry shudder runs through me.
I can't believe this. I can't believe I finally found my imprint. I finally, found her! The one I want to spend the rest of my life with! My other half! My reason for existence… and she has a kid. The kid has a father, that means Ava has a boyfriend, or even worse a husband! That means she wouldn't want me.
It's only when a heavy hand is put on my shoulder that I realise I was shaking. "Man you okay?" Quil asks me quietly.
"…Yeah… I guess" I say, slowly looking away from Ava, down to the ground. Imprint means we'll be whatever they need, whether it's a friend, brother, lover. I just need her in my life, as long as she's happy… "Yeah I'm fine." As long as she's happy, I'll be happy.
Ava POV
I open my mouth to introduce the guys to my son, but before words can leave my lips the muffled tunes of Adele singing Hello reach my ears. I unzip my jacket pocket, and pulling out my phone to see it's my receptionist, Max. I huff in irritation, what part of only call if it's life or death did she not get? "Sorry, got to take this," I say, hopping over the log and answering the call as I walk towards the shore line. "Someone better be dead," I say into the phone.
"Oh Ava," Max's chirpy voice sighs in my ear. "What happened to saying hello, how was your day?"
"Max if no-one is dead someone will be. I specifically said no calls until Monday," I hiss and I hear her huff in response. For the following few moments all I hear is the tapping of a keyboard. I wait for her to say why she was calling but I don't need to be there to know she is pouting over my tone. "You got three seconds to talk before I hang up."
"Well…" she rolls out the L, making the word draw on forever.
"Three, Two-"
"Fine, I'm calling because Hugo Boss's just put a very tasty offer on the table for X's and O's," she says, as I reach the water's edge. The tips of my boots just touching the water before it is sucked back to the sea.
"I don't care; they can wait," I groan in annoyance and go to hang up but Max speaks up a bit quicker.
"Honey they said limited time offer, need yay or nay ASAP," she urges, flamboyantly using modern terminology.
"They can wait!" I say formally, eyes looked on the last sliver of sun as it disperses, replaced by moonlight.
"Don't you even want to hear how much they're offering?" she sounds like she's on the edge of her seat, so I know it's a BIG number with lots of pretty little zeros...
"No!" …but I don't care.
"You're playing with fire, Ava. They'll walk and then guess what will happen-"
"We wait for someone else."
"What are you going to do if you can't sell it?"
"I don't know but until Monday I don't care how many shiny zeros they put on whatever wow number they came up with. The answer is no, no, and no! N, O, no got it!"
"God Ava I swear you will be the death of me," Max sighs, then starts clicking her tongue.
"Anything else you want?"
"Well… since you asked-"
"I don't have all night, Max."
"Well since you don't have the time to fill me in on how the reunion went just skip to the La Push guys. Anyone there worth bringing back here for me?"
"Told you no details, you had the option of coming and seeing for yourself but you declined."
"I had a good reason."
"Dissing the cold and being scared of the woods is not a good reason to pass on a free vacation."
"No offence girl, but the only way you would catch me dead in a place like that would be if I was in an air tight bubble. It's just, ick, no I can't even think about it." I can almost feel her shudder through the phone.
"Real, fresh, wild, dangers, untamed, unpredictable?" I suggested.
"See, you get it. Good bye girl. Talk to you Monday."
"Monday. Bye Max." I smile, hitting 'end' and slipping my phone back in my jacket pocket. I turn around and take one step forward just to run into a wall-like form. On closer inspection I see it was a Uley. Sam Uley. "Sammy!" I practically squeal, throwing my arms around his bulky form.
"Ava," he says with a shaky breath. He presses a comforting kiss to my forehead, reminding me just how much I missed him. I know the years apart have changed me, and from what Emily told me earlier of her and Sam's life together, the years have definitely changed him. But I feel no matter how long we're apart there will always remain that sibling bond we had built from less than nothing.
"I missed you Sammy."
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