Chapter 21

I really don't remember falling asleep. Maybe somewhere between 2 or 3 in the morning. But the light was shining through the window when I woke up. My neck ached from falling asleep in an armchair. Rachel was spread out on the sofa, fast asleep, and Kim's eyes were closed where she was curled up on a rug.

"Hey. You're up." Emily said with a smile. "Do you want some breakfast? I'm not done cooking yet, but maybe you could make yourself some toast in the meantime."

"I'm not hungry." I said. "Did Sam call?"

"Yes." Emily said. "He couldn't speak for long, but he said things were okay. The pack should be back by midday."

I smiled, relief flooding into me. He was okay.

"I'm going to go home." I said. "Make sure my mom doesn't know that I was gone all night, and maybe take a shower. I'll be back in an hour."

"Okay." Emily said. "Go ahead.'

I jogged home, and walked into the kitchen where mom just smiled at me. She hadn't noticed that I'd been gone, and casually asked if I'd had a nice jog.

I kept true to my word, and returned to Emily's place after a quick shower and a change of clothes. I walked into the living room, and the first thing I saw was a pained-looking Jared sitting on the couch. He was slumped over, and Kim was sitting right beside him, looking terrified.

"Hey." I said. "You're back. Where's everyone else?"

Jared glanced up at me, and made a face. That's when I noticed that his ankle was sticking in a direction ankles should never stick in, and that Emily was kneeling by his feet, looking at it.

"Okay, this is going to hurt." She said, and her hands reached out to hold his ankle. My hand went to my mouth in shock as she twisted it hard, and the bone fell back into place with a sickening crack. Jared let out an anguished yell, but his expression softened, and he looked better.

"Oh my god." I squeaked. "Are you okay? Shouldn't you see a doctor?"

"No." he said. "It'll be completely healed in an hour at worst. Besides, Carlisle is looking after the more… serious cases."

"Serious cases?" I demanded. "What serious cases? Is someone hurt? Who is it?"

I couldn't help that sick feeling from rising to my throat.

"Embry is fine." Jared said. "But I heard that something happened to Quil, I… I'm not too sure." His eyes drooped a little, and he looked exhausted. "I can't think straight. I need some sleep."

Jared fell sideways on the sofa, and Kim quickly got up to make room for him to lie down. I left the room, feeling the bile coming up to my throat.

What had happened to Quil? What if he was seriously hurt? What if he was dead? Oh my god. Oh my god…..

I was standing on the front porch, when I saw a few figures coming down the road. I ran up to them quickly, and saw Sam and Paul headed in the direction of the house.

"Cherry?" Sam asked, looking surprised to see me. "What are you doing out here? You should go home. Now."

I stared at him. He looked pretty tired, but other than that, I could see no injuries on either of their bodies.

"Home?" I repeated. "But where's everyone else? Where's Embry?"

"He's helping with Quil." Sam told me. "They'll be here in a few minutes… Cherry, you really shouldn't see this. I think it would be best if you went home."

"Why?"

"Just go home. I'll tell Embry to come see you as soon as he's back."

"Are-are you sure?"

"Yes." Sam said.

I waited for ages. At least, it felt like ages. It was probably more like half an hour. But I don't because I wasn't looking at the clock. My gaze was fixed on the street on which my house was located, hoping to see Embry come up it.

But he didn't.

And I couldn't understand why. Had something happened? Was there something serious going on? Maybe Embry really was hurt, and Jared had gotten it wrong….

Feeling sick with worry, I grabbed my jacket and headed back to Sam's house. I wasn't even sure why I had listened to him and gone home in the first place. It's just that even though he was only an alpha to the guys, even normal people found it hard to say no to him.

There was some chaos outside the house. I saw most of the wolf pack standing outside, including Jared, Paul, Collin and Brady. They all seemed tense, and it was obvious that something was wrong. I was about to go up to one of them, when I saw the front door open, and Embry step out.

And my stomach turned over.

I realized in those few seconds how much I'd missed him, and how worried I'd been. Relief flooded into me, along with the need to hold him and be close to him.

He didn't notice me for a few seconds, and he started speaking to Paul. Then he glanced up, and our eyes met.

I can't describe what I saw in his eyes. Love, longing, concern…. It was everything I wanted him to feel towards me.

He cut off his conversation with Paul, and came jogging over to me looking worried.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked, looking nervous. "Sam said he told you to go home, it's probably best if you weren't here. I'm sorry I didn't come over, I-"

I cut him off by throwing my arms around him. A part of me was uncomfortably aware of the rest of the guys watching us, but deep inside, I just didn't care. I needed to feel his warmth and be with him now. I needed to know that he was here.

Embry went stiff for a second in surprise, but he quickly put his arms around me too, pulling me closer to him so that my face was pressed up against his shoulder. I could feel his chin on my head, and his arms tightening around my waist. And I loved the feeling.

"I missed you," was all I managed to blurt out. And I regretted it instantly. Stupid Cherry! That's the best you can say? That you missed him? Tell him the truth!

"I missed you too, Cherry. I'm sorry I didn't come over as soon as I came back." He apologized.

"It's okay. You're okay. That's all I want."

He nodded, and didn't say anything. He smiled an uncomfortable smile.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him. No, you idiot! That's not what you're supposed to say! You're supposed to tell him how much you care!

"Yeah, I… everything's fine." He said quickly, but the pain in his eyes was too obvious.

"You're not a good liar Embry." I told him.

"Well, I could never keep anything from you." He said with a sigh. "Not with the way you look at me, at least."

"How do I look at you?" I asked. He didn't answer my question.

"It's Quil." Embry said. "He's… not in great shape."

My heart dropped down into my stomach. At least it felt that way.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Don't you guys heal superfast? How can he be alive but not in good shape?"

"Cherry, he'll be fine. Just drop it." Embry said. He looked tired, but I had to know.

"What do you mean drop it? He's my best friend too! Tell me what's wrong!"

"Look, you don't want to know. Trust me."

"Yes, I do!"

"Fine. One of his ribs broke, and… well, it punctured his lung."

I felt my breakfast almost come up to my throat as I pictured it. Oh my God.

"I told you that you didn't want to know." Embry said. "You've always been queasy about stuff like that."

"How can I not be queasy?" I asked. "His rib…oh god, I think I'm going to puke. Where is he?"

"At the hospital." Embry said. "Dr. Cullen's taking care of him."

"So let's go! What are we waiting for, we have to go see him." I cried.

"We can't. Cullen asked us to leave until he called." Embry said. He put his hands on my shoulders. "Cherry, relax. Quil is going to be perfectly fine."

"I hope so."

Embry hugged me again.

Why didn't I just tell him?