CHAPTER 16
Leah POV:
I woke up alone. I must have looked a little panicked because I heard my mom say, "Don't worry, honey. He didn't go far. He went to use the bathroom, and I told him to grab something to eat real quick so I wouldn't have to listen to his stomach growl! That boy is too skinny for a werewolf!" She was sitting in the chair beside the bed.
I smiled. "I hope you weren't mad that he slept here beside me," I said shyly.
She smiled back and said, "No. We had our little talk last night. I know how he feels about you, honey. He's got it bad! Besides, I'm pretty sure all you were doing was sleeping. Right?" I smiled and rolled my eyes. She stood up and went to her medical bag. She took out her stethoscope and listened to my heart then took my pulse. "How are you feeling?"
"My head still kills, but not as bad as last night. My ribs feel better, but my arm still hurts."
She pulled the blanket back and felt gently along my rib cage. "Tell me if you feel any pain."
I shook my head. "Just a little achy, but not that bad."
"Hmmm. Amazing. I remember how quickly Jake healed when he was hurt in the last vampire fight. Let me look at that gash on your head." She gently took my chin and turned my head. "Hmmm, looks good. I'm glad I put those stitches in. It's healing nicely, but there may be a tiny hint of a scar. Alright, honey, just lay here a little longer and rest. I'll bring you something to eat."
She covered me up, stood back and looked down at me and said, "So, how do you feel about him?"
"I'm not sure. I think. . . . I might love him. I tried hard to fight it, but Sam and I talked on the beach the other night, and I just realized that I didn't want to fight it anymore. Sam even gave me his blessing to be in love with his brother. Is that weird?"
She smiled and said, "No, it' not. I'm glad. I can see how much Embry loves you. And I know you're scared. But, honey, I'm proud of you for not running anymore. Have you told Embry how you feel?" She handed me a glass of water and a few Tylenol. "This should help with the headache." I popped them in my mouth and took a drink of water.
"Um, no, I haven't," I answered.
She nodded and said, "I need to check on Paul. I'll make sure you get some breakfast. I have a feeling you won't be alone for long." She smiled and walked out of the room and down the hall.
I laid back into the pillows and it was only a few seconds until Sam walked in. He walked around the bed and sat down in the chair. He sat down and stared at me. No greeting. Just an angry stare.
"Uh, hi Sam," I said quietly.
He hung his head for a minute then he looked back up at me and I could see the Alpha talking, not Sam. "Don't EVER do anything that fucking stupid again. You got me?" I just nodded. "You know better, Leah! You're just damn lucky that Jake saw you and we followed you. That thing could have killed you! You know you're faster than all of us. Next time, tell me before you go running off. Got it?"
"I'm so sorry, Sam. I don't know why I did it. I can't remember it very clearly right now. It was stupid, I know. It won't happen again."
"Damn right it won't," he said. Then looked at me. The Alpha was gone, and Sam was back. He took my hand and held it. "Thank God you're alright. Don't ever scare me like that again, Leah. I can't take it."
"I won't. I promise, Sam." I smiled at him and he smiled back. He let my hand go, stood up and put a kiss on my forehead. "I'm going back out. I just needed to see that you were alright. Rest, OK?" I nodded.
Embry had walked into the room just as Sam put the kiss on my forehead.
"Just leaving, bro. Had to make sure she understood that what she did was fucking stupid. I think she got the message." He looked down at me and I said, "Yea. I did." He walked around the bed and took Embry's shoulder. "I'll make sure we find the fucking leech that did this to her and tear it apart limb by limb. Don't worry." Then he was gone.
Embry walked over and sat down in the chair by the bed. "So he yelled at you, huh?"
"Yea. I deserved it. He wasn't as hard on me as I thought he would be. I guess I scared him pretty good."
"Was that what the kiss was for?" he said quietly.
"He kissed me on the forehead. Like my brother does. He cares about me, Embry. But he's not in love with me. And I'm not in love with him. That's over, remember?"
He gave me a small smile. "Sorry. I know. It was still hard to see, though." He picked up my hand and said, "Leah, why didn't you follow me and Quil? When I took off, I guess I just assumed you would follow us."
"I don't know, Embry. It's all kind of a blur. I don't really remember everything very clearly. I should have, I guess."
"I left you, Leah. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry," he said.
"What? You're apologizing to me for my stupid behavior? Come on, Embry. You are not responsible for me, OK? Just because I'm a girl, you all treat me differently. I know I did something stupid, but I have learned and I won't do it again. I don't want you all thinking you have to babysit me."
He laughed. "I don't think that. It's different now that I . . . you know. . . care about you. So, are you feeling better?"
"Yea, some. I'm better now that you're here."
"Well of course you are, baby," he said with his famous Embry grin. That's the Embry I know!
I rolled my eyes. "I seem to remember a very different guy here last night. He looked like you, but he claimed his undying love for me."
He leaned in close. "Really? Hmmmm. Sounds familiar." He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips.
"OK, you two. Knock it off! Mom sent me in here with some food," Seth said as he walked into the room. Embry laughed and helped me to sit up so I could eat. Seth put the tray in front of me.
"Thanks, Seth. You didn't get hurt last night, did you?" I asked. I grabbed the glass of orange juice and took a drink. I was so thirsty!
"Nope. Just you and Paul."
"Paul? What happened to him?" Paul was always the first into a fight, but usually walked away when it was over.
Seth's eyes lit up as he explained. "Same thing that happened to you! That vampire just picked him and squeezed him! Paul looked like a stuffed animal, or something. Then he dropped him. He had some broken bones. Mom let me hold him while she reset them. Man, I never heard anyone cuss like that! But, he's doing better now. Mom thinks he'll be up and around later today."
I smiled. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much." I picked up a piece of toast and bit into it.
He laughed and said, "Well, it's Paul! I mean, I'm glad he's OK, but I guess I'm happy he realized he's not such hot shit, you know?"
"Seth, since you've been hanging out with these guys, your mouth is terrible!" I scolded.
That made Embry laugh. "Look who's talking?" he said to me.
"Shut up!" I said with a laugh. He was right. My mouth was pretty foul sometimes. I picked up a fork and ate my eggs. Seth told us a little more about last night. I knew that Sam, Jake, Jared and Quil were still out there looking for the one that got me. I felt horrible. They must be exhausted!
I finished my breakfast and Seth took the tray back to the kitchen. "Feel better?" Embry asked.
"Yea. I want to get out of bed! I'm so stiff from laying here. Can you help me?" I asked.
"Sure."
I threw back the blanket and put my feet on the floor. Embry put his arm around me and I put my good arm around his neck then stood up. Whoa! I fell against him and said, "Sorry! I guess I'm still a little woozy!"
He reached down and scooped me up into his arms. "There. This is easier. More fun, too!" he said.
I smiled. "Yea, I kind of like it." I kissed him.
He carried me out into the kitchen/living room area. Mom and Emily were making food, of course, and Sam was eating. I didn't see anyone else. Seth had followed us out with the tray. He set it on the counter and sat down at the table beside Sam.
Embry set me down into a chair at the table. "You still hungry?" Mom asked.
"No, but I could use some coffee," I replied.
She brought me a cup and poured some coffee into it. "Embry? You want some?" He nodded and she set another cup down on the table and poured coffee into it. She reached over and topped off Sam's cup.
"Thanks," Sam muttered. He looked so tired!
Embry took a big gulp of coffee then said, "Now that I know you're alright, I'm going out to help. Quil and Jared have to need a break by now."
Seth said, "Me, too. I'm ready."
Sam nodded and said, "You can go with me. I'm almost done here." He shoved the last bite of his breakfast in his mouth.
Just then, Quil, Jared, and Jacob came dragging in. Jacob said, "We got her! The last one. The Cullens had her trapped on their side of the line, and we came in behind. She didn't stand a chance." He sat down at the table and put his head in his hands. Jared pulled out a chair and plopped down beside Jake.
"Yes! You sure that was the last one?" Sam asked.
"That's what Emmett said. There were only three. I'm glad cause I'm beat," Jake said as Mom walked over with a plate of food and a cup of coffee and put it in front of him. He looked up and smiled. "Thanks, Sue." She winked at him.
Emily put a plate in front of Jared and he dug right in.
"Quil? You want something?" Mom asked. He was still standing.
"No, thanks, I'm beat. I'm going right home to sleep then I need to go check on Claire to see if she is feeling better. See ya, guys!" He did grab a muffin off of the table then he went out the door.
I looked over at Jacob and said, "Jake, I'm so sorry I went off on my own. It was so stupid. I'm very glad you saw me and followed me. Thank you for saving me. I really owe you."
He looked up from his breakfast and said, "You're damn right that was stupid! I can't believe you did that. Don't ever, EVER do anything like that again!"
I smiled and said, "I know, I won't! I promise! I've already been yelled at by Sam. But thanks for caring."
He rolled his eyes and smiled. "You're welcome. Hey, where's Bella?" he asked looking around.
"She was sleepy so I told her to lay down on my bed," Emily reported.
Emily and Mom quickly got everyone fed. Jake got up to go and check on Bella and Jared said he was heading home. "Has anyone checked on Paul?" I asked.
Sam smiled and said, "I'll go. I'm sure he'll throw a shit-fit when he finds out he missed out on getting the last bloodsucker!" He got up and went down the hall.
Embry had his arm draped over my shoulder. "You should get back to bed. You need some more rest."
I nodded. I was still a little sleepy, and that headache was hanging on. He helped me get up like I was an invalid or something. I told him I wasn't going to break, but I don't think he believed me. Mom came over and said, "I'm going home and taking a nap. You should be fine, honey, but I would like you to rest for the rest of today, OK? If you need something, call me." She hugged my very gently. "Seth? You going home with me?"
He nodded. He stood up and looked at me. "I won't yell at you because Sam and Jake did that for me. I'm just glad you're OK." He actually reached out and hugged me!
"Thanks, little brother. "
"Come on, let's go." Mom said. Seth nodded and they walked toward the door.
Just then, Jacob and Bella walked out into the room. "We're heading home, too. I'm soooooo tired. I feel like I could sleep for days," Jake said. He had his arm around Bella, who still looked a little sleepy, too. "Later!" he said as they walked out the door.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed." Embry took my good arm and helped me walk back to the bedroom. He fluffed my pillows and then helped me sit down on the bed. I laid back on just one side of the bed and patted the other side. He smiled and walked around the bed and laid down beside me on his back.
He was so quiet, I thought he might have fallen asleep. Then he turned toward me and said, "Leah? About what happened on the beach last night. I finally made up my mind to be with you no matter how you feel. I love you, I can't deny that, and I won't. But if you're not ready to say it, I'm OK with that. I just can't stand to stay away from you anymore." He leaned toward me and gave me a gentle kiss. Then he smiled and said, "You are so sexy, Leah. God, when I saw you in that bikini top, I thought I would have a heart attack!"
"Really? You liked that, huh?" I leaned over and kissed him. "Well, you're pretty sexy yourself, you know? I can hardly keep my hands off of you," I said as I ran my hand up and down his arm. "And I love your kisses, Embry. Kiss me again," I whispered. So he did, softly at first then a little more aggressively.
He pulled back and said, "See? You make me crazy!" he said with a smile. "Now stop it! Your mom said you needed rest. So rest!"
I decided to be a good girl for once and do what I was told. My headache was still there, and I still felt sleepy. There would be time to tell him how I was feeling about him later. I closed my eyes and went to sleep content to have Embry right there beside me.