Chapter 9

Embry POV

Ava runs her blood red nails through her hair, flicking her wrist lightly to push stray strands of hair back over her shoulders. It's such a miniscule movement, that I have seen various people do thousands of times before, yet when I see Ava does it… it's so captivating to my mind. Her long slender fingers, tipped with bright red, running through the dark glossy brown waves of hair. The moonlight making it shimmer, and the blonde streaks looking like lightning strikes in the night. I could easily stay like this, watching her for hours on end with no complaint, or desire to look away.

And that's what I have been doing, for the last three, maybe more, hours since I imprinted on her. I keep finding my eyes trailing in her direction, drawn to her every movement. At the moment she sits across the bonfire from me, next to Leah and Kim. Chaska, Ava's son, sits on her lap, leaning back into her arms and gazing up to the stars.

I want to like the kid, I really do, but I can't seem to get past part of him being some other guy's kid. Ava has said nothing about the man in her life but earlier she got a phone call. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop but my keen wolf ears did pick up the name Max and the words love, and X's and O's.

I can't say it didn't feel like a knife stabbing my very being, but she came back with a smile on her face. So we'll just have to be friends, as long as she's happy… as long as she's happy, then I'll be happy… yeah, I'll be happy. And I'll keep telling myself that until it comes true.

Ava POV

I watch the dying fire, feeling quite pleased with how this whole day has gone. First off Mum let Chaska and me back in with open arms, Seth and I are already joking around like old times, Leah and I caught up on emotions. I got to see all the boys again. Sam was happy to see me, and to top it all off no one straight out asked me where I have been or why I left, like I was scared they all would.

For the first time in a long time, I feel just like a normal person. No talking about work or money, no this colour or that pattern. Just talking about old times and new times to come. And even better than talking, large gaps of complete, comforting silence. Just hearing the crackling fire, and the crashing sea.

We have been here almost five hours now. Mum left a little while ago taking Brandon, Bree, and Collin with her to drop off on the way home. Emily and Sam have just left, leaving me, Chaska, Seth, Leah, Paul, Kim, Jared, Quil, Claire, Jake and Embry… Embry. I don't know why, but his name has been on my mind all night.

I don't know what the hell has gotten into me, I haven't thought of Embry Call for years and now, after one look into those eyes…

"Mummy…" Chaska says all so softly cutting me from my thoughts.

"…Yeah?" I ask, pulling his small form deeper into my arms, resting my cheek on top of his head.

"I'm tired," he says in a yawn.

"…Yeah, think it's time to go back to grandma's?" I feel his head move up and down. "Okay," I yawn as I stand up with Chaska still in my arms.

"Well we're off now, Seth you want a lift?" my brother has spent most the night speaking with Jake, and Quil over some car stuff.

"-and the… Oh no Ava, I'm right I'll just run," Seth says, looking over at me for a second before turning back to the guys.

"You're going to run, in the dark?" I question. I see him stiffen slightly, actually, if I had to say, everyone here stiffened a bit. Jake says something to Seth quietly. So quietly that from five meters away I don't hear a sound, only see the quick movement of lips.

"Oh right, yeah I might need that ride," he smiles, but it's not a funny or happy smile, more like… lying? Like there something he almost got caught out on when he's not meant to say anything.

"Bye guys," Seth says, jumping up off the sand and dusting his shorts off before walking over to me.

"You're not leaving without a hug," Leah says, jumping up from her spot on the log and wrapping Chaska and me in a hug.

Her hug is a little bit on the hard side, and when we pull away I see her eyes are watery. "I'll see you tomorrow," I say.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." She bites her lip nervously.

"I'll see you tomorrow Lea-Bee, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." I smile reassuringly, pulling her back for another hug. "Okay, good night then," I say, stepping back from her, shuffling Chaska so he's resting on my hip and I don't have to hold all his weight.

"Yeah it was a really good night," she smiles, sitting back down next to Paul, but still looking at me with a bit of awe still in her eyes.

"Yeah, 'night everyone," I say, and as Seth and I walk out of the fire's light I hear a few respond with 'nights and byes.

Before we get too far away I look back over my shoulder. I don't know why, I just do. My eyes lock with Embry's instantly and something inside me doesn't want to leave him. I shake my head from my idiotic thoughts and look back at where I'm walking.

Seth holds the front door open for me, and I carry Chaska through and down the hall to my bedroom. His eyelids clamped shut as soon as I put him in the truck and they haven't flickered once since. I lay him down on the bed and slip off his boots and jacket as gently as I can, trying not to wake him, but the kid doesn't even budge.

I pull the blankets over Chask before going to my bag and pulling out some clothes. Then I leave the bedroom. On my way to the bathroom I pass Seth. "Good night, Seth," I smile, happy to be able to say those words again.

"Yeah night… Ava? It's really great to have you back." I smile at the hint of shyness in his voice and look back over my shoulder at him.

"It's really great to be back." Then I walk into the small green and white bathroom.

After a quick shower and changing into a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt, I walk back into my room – shutting the bedroom door behind me. I pull my damp hair up into a loose bun before lying down in the bed next to Chaska. I wrap my arms around him, feeling peaceful just knowing where he is.

When he was a baby he always slept in my arms. I was always scared of going to look in the crib and him not being there. I learnt how to do everything one handed – always Chaska in one arm – I could hardly be away from him for a five-minute shower without freaking out.

I have gotten better with separation though, not being able to have Chask in every meeting with me, trying to distance myself from him before he has to go to school. But I still find myself in restless sleep over not having him in my arms. Usually I have to check on him multiple times in a single night, still scared one day he won't be there.

I press a kiss to the back of his head, then close my eyes, leaning into the soft pillow. Everything here is so quiet. Back in NYC there's always noise from the world outside, but here there's barely a crickets' chirp.

I assume Chaska's still asleep as his breathing is soft as a falling feather, but then he speaks, my tired ears almost missing it. "Mummy…?"

"Mmm…" I hum in response, rubbing my head deeper into the pillow and pulling him a little closer.

"I think I like it here." I press another kiss to the back of his head, smiling softly.

"Yeah I think I like it here too," I whisper, dozing off into darkness, but not before hearing the distant call of a wolf. I didn't think there were wolves in La Push? Huh, god only knows what could be hiding in those woods… and to that final thought my body gives into some well needed sleep.

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