Phyre jerked awake. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Embry was quick to pull her closer and run a soothing hand down her back. "I've got you love. Your safe." Her breathing slowly returned to normal. "Do you want to talk about it?" He wiped her tears away with his thumb.
"Just a nightmare." She said. "Dad used to say that women were only ever good to get fucked and left behind. I guess I didn't realize I still had that fear." Her voice drifted off.
Embry lifted her chin. "I am not going anywhere. You hear me? Not just the imprint thing. Paul was right, it just clears away the human crap. But, you make me feel whole. Not the need to be near you. Just you. The way you smile. The way you make me laugh. The way you practically saunter your way into every fantasy that I have ever had, even before being a wolf." He tugged at a lock of her teal hair with a grin.
She smiled. "Why do you always make me feel better?"
"I do it on purpose... because I love to see you smile." He rubbed his nose against hers, then kissed her forehead. "But, if I don't get you home soon, Paul really will skin my ass."
Phyre jumped up. "Oh God! I forgot about Karen! I invited her to spend the night with me before your trip to Port Angeles and then ditched her." She whimpered. "I'm such a lousy friend."
Embry climbed out of the truck and chuckled. "Didn't you say you left her with Seth and he imprinted on her?"
"Yeah, but how long have I been gone?"
He looked at the clock at the back of the shop. "Well, you have been here for about an hour and a half. You only slept a few minutes."
Phyre dropped her head back to the blanket and took a deep breath. "Thank you. I thought it was like 6:00 in the morning or something."
The grin that tugged at his lips finally got her to smile again. "Let's get you home."
"How about ten more minutes to be alone and sweaty with you?"
He laughed. "You are wickedly perfect."
Embry borrowed one of the cars from the shop to take Phyre home. They could have walked and would have if she didn't leave company unattended at the house.
They walked in just in time to hear Karen upstairs screaming out Seth's name. Phyre's hands flew over her mouth to hold back an audible reaction.
After a few minutes when it was safe to assume that the couple upstairs were finished, Phyre called out. "Seth, you had better change my sheets!" The squeaks of embarrassment sent Phyre and Embry into fits of laughter. "And, make sure you hurry up to get showers so that I can get mine!"
Karen's voice drifted down. "When did you get back?"
"Just in time to hear the grand finale."
"Shit!" Seth exclaimed. "What is it with you Embry that you show up at the wrong times?"
Bad choice of words. Karen jumped on him for that. "I forgot you were the one making out with Phyre when she met Embry! Ugh, that makes it all worse. It's like incest or something."
"Karen, don't you dare question anything about that. We are happy for you both. Now get cleaned up. I really want a shower before Paul gets home and kills Embry."
Seth broke into a round of his own laughter. "It's about time you two!"
"Shut it Clearwater!" Embry yelled, though he smiled at Phyre.
Karen and Seth agreed to share the shower. Supposedly to save water and time. Yeah, right. Then, Phyre sent Embry in real fast because she knew that if Paul got home while she was in the shower, it wouldn't be all that strange. But, her and Embry together... yeah, not the smartest idea yet. Gotta give the man a chance to get used to the idea of his sister having sex first.
As she climbed into the shower, she heard Embry in her room. "So, Jax... I hope you know how much your sister loves you and misses you." Phyre bit on her knuckle. "I am sorry that you and I never had a chance to meet. You sound like a really good kid. And, I would assume that you wanted your sister to be happy." He took a deep breath. "I, honestly, might screw up sometimes. But, I promise you, I love her. With all of my heart. And, I will do everything in my power to protect her and make her happy for as long as we live. I just thought that you would like to know that. Man to man."
Tears were lost in the water of the shower. But, in that moment, Embry Call had more than stolen her heart. He helped her heal some of it. To heal some of her guilt. She had felt guilty moving forward with her life while Jax was left to the past. Yet, Embry embraced her memory of him, her love of him, and loved her through it all.
The water ran cold by the time she collected herself once again.
Phyre had to refocus her thoughts as she heard Paul's truck park outside, just as she finished her shower. She quickly looked in the mirror to see if there were any marks left that would be visible. Embry had really left a lot of love marks on her, but being a wolf, she healed fast. Just a couple around her neck which were common. All others covered by her pajamas. Perfect.
"Hey, welcome home." Phyre smiled at Anna as she walked down the stairs to Anna opening the door. "How is the tire?" The others sat in the living room awkwardly chatting.
Anna grinned and winked at Phyre. "Embry, you might want to run."
"Shit!" He took off out the back door.
Phyre started to follow, but Seth cut her off. "Let them sort this out." Then she heard a whimper as if someone kicked a dog. Only she knew it was Embry. She could feel that he was hurt. "It's a guy thing Phyre, you have to let it happen." Her chest was tight as she felt him in pain. It was hard to breath.
"He is my imprint Seth! Not to be hurt remember!" But, eventually, she regained some control. Paul hadn't hurt him badly again. Perhaps someone had reminded him of that same point.
She spun on Anna who had managed to sneak up stairs to put Rory to bed quickly and was then headed back down stairs. "How?"
"Paul had to help me with a flat tire, remember?"
Phyre's face screwed up. "Fuck, he took it to the shop?"
Anna nodded and hugged the girl. "He was on the phone with me when he pulled up. Not pretty. I just hope it was everything you wanted it to be." Phyre blushed fiercely red. Then, she heard Karen giggle.
"Oh Karen... don't think that you are making it out of this unscathed." Phyre growled playfully. Anna arched a brow. "Oh yeah. Karen and Seth. In my bed!"
"Phyre!" Seth and Karen both yelled.
Anna broke into all out laughter. "Wait. Did you?" She looked at Seth. He blushed and dropped his head. "Seriously? Oh, damn. I have to call Leah!"
Seth dropped to his knees. "Please, please, please don't do that yet. Please Anna. I will do anything."
"Ahh, who is Leah?" Karen asked quietly.
Phyre answered for Seth. "Seth's sister. Who will kick his ass just as badly as Paul is doing with Embry." Though her chest wasn't as tight. So, she was sure Embry was alright.
"Why? Am I an embarrassment?" She was starting to get angry.
Seth looked like someone just ran over his dog. "No! No embarrassment. I really want to show the whole world how beautiful you are. It's just my sister has this hang up. It's hard to explain."
"Well, I am here all night." Karen crossed her arms. Phyre bit down on her knuckles. Seth quickly looked to the other women for help.
Anna shook her head and went to the kitchen. "This is all you lover boy."
Phyre felt bad for him. But, mostly, she wanted to protect her friend and chances were that Seth would screw everything up. "How much do you want to talk about tonight?"
Seth dropped his head. "You know her best. All of it?"
Karen looked between them. "What am I missing?"
Phyre pulled out a wide smile. "Come here sexy. You are in for a wild ride." She took Karen's hand and led her to the back yard. "Seth get her a blanket."
"Don't you need one?" Karen asked.
"Nope."
The two girls sat on the steps leading from the back door as Seth handed Karen a blanket and walked out into the grass. Phyre wrapped an arm around her friend. She hoped that her friendship with her, as well as Collin and Brady, would help to ease the blow.
Seth started. "So, uh, well... the legends... yeah, the legends. Do you know the Quileute legends?"
"You mean about the third wife and the cold ones and stuff?" Karen asked.
Seth looked hopeful. "Yeah. Those ones. Do you remember the parts about the protectors?"
Karen raised a brow. "Men who merged with the spirits of wolves?"
"Yeah. Oh wow, this is hard..."
Phyre decided to lighten the mood. "No Seth, you were hard 30 minutes ago." That got Karen to blush and smack at Phyre, chuckling about the memory that was obviously much better than her past experience. Seth groaned, but smirked as he blushed.
Phyre leaned over. "The point is that he is fricken adorable when he blushes. Remember that shy bashfulness."
Seth smiled at Phyre. "Yeah. Remember that I am me. You don't know me well yet, but I am still me. Please."
Karen was confused. "Why would I forget you?"
"It's not a question of you forgetting me, I just don't want you to be scared." He said. Then he backed up further away from the girls. He took off his shirt and then started to take off his shorts.
"Seth! I don't think you need to give a show to Phyre." She exclaimed.
He looked at her apologetically. Then dropped his shorts and phased into a very large light brown wolf.
Karen gaped. "Oh. My. God." Phyre held her tighter to make sure she did not run. But, Karen didn't even attempt to move. Her eyes were wide as they roved over Seth in his wolf form. Her breathing had become heavier as she fought back the panic. "Please tell me you think like a human and your not going to try to eat me." She squeaked.
Phyre smiled. "Yes, we still keep our human minds in wolf form."
That snapped Karen's attention. "We?"
"Everyone in the so-called La Push gang. We are the descendants of the first protectors. And, we turn wolf when the cold ones return to the area." Phyre explained.
"So, Collin and Brady, Embry, Paul... all of them?"
Phyre smiled again. "Yes. But, we keep this a very guarded secret."
Karen nodded quickly. "Yeah, of course. Don't need the X-files or something showing up on the rez." She looked back at Seth intently. He lowered himself to the ground and placed his head on his paws. She tentatively held out her hand and he inched closer. Her face softened and he inched closer still. Then she smiled as his nose touched her hand. She gasped as she felt his fur in her fingers. "My God, you are beautiful." She stepped down the stairs to get closer to Seth. He gently nuzzled into her. Then something shifted. She looked up at Phyre. "But, why are you telling me? Am I going to become a wolf?"
This part was for Seth to talk about. So, Phyre extended a hand to her friend to pull her back to the steps. "No. You won't turn wolf. But, Seth has some explaining to do." Seth quickly phased back to human and put his clothes back on.
"Oh for heaven's sake. Will you all stop lurking in the trees. You already know she knows. And, she had taken it really damn well. Stay wolf if you want. But, come on out and say hi." Phyre scolded.
A large black wolf stepped forward from the trees. "How did you know?" Karen leaned over to ask.
"Wolves have really good hearing and sense of smell. Even in our human forms." Seth answered. "And, while we are in wolf form, we kind of share one mind. Our own individual thoughts, but they float together. So, we see what the others see, feel their emotions, see the memories and thoughts that they think. So, everyone that was wolf saw that I turned wolf in front of you and heard Phyre explain it. Fortunately, Leah was not wolf yet." He shuddered.
"And, who is that?" Karen looked at the black wolf.
"Sam Uley."
Karen leaned over closer. "What does that man do for a living? It seems like he never works." The wolf snorted and shook his head. Karen's eyes went wide. "I'm sorry." She squeaked.
Phyre smiled and leaned over. "He has an online business. So, he can work his own schedule between wrangling the pack."
Two other wolves walked up to the house as they talked. The silver one was more determined, the grey one was more hesitant and limped. Phyre ran down to hug Embry. "Are you alright?"
Paul phased closer to the house so he could walk in quickly. "Only thing that saved his life is that he treated you well."
Phyre spun on him. "Really? That was all. How about the fact that he is my imprint! You forget that don't you! I'm protected as his imprint. Damn, it, he should be protected as mine. And, what in the hell is it with men getting all pissy over their sisters having sex? You have only known me for how long now?"
"That's not the point." Paul growled as he found shorts in the laundry room just off of the back door.
"Then what is the point? Because all I see is stupid male dominance and possessiveness. I am not your property to get pissed off that I was taken away. Your sure as hell not my father to worry over my honor. And, you are not my man. Embry is. So, what in the hell is your problem?"
Paul growled deeper. "You are my sister!"
"And...?"
He turned and stormed away.
Phyre dropped to her knees to buried her arms around Embry's neck. "I am so sorry."
Embry shifted to wrap his arms around Phyre. "Wasn't as bad as I expected. And, you are worth every second of it." He kissed her.
By the time Phyre opened her eyes again, Sam was gone. "Here, let me help you get inside." Embry limped and had lots of bruises. But, over all, no broken bones.
Once inside, Karen, Seth, Embry, Anna, and Phyre all talked about the world of wolves. Seth stumbled along trying to explain imprinting. Paul only joined once Anna went out to check on him with the punching bags. Though, the flush on her cheeks and smile on her face said he was punching into her instead of hitting those bags. Phyre rolled her eyes. Hypocrite.
Eventually, everyone settled in to sleep for the night. Anna pulled out the hideaway bed for Seth and Karen to cuddle up together, with a reminder that all of the wolves would hear if they did much. And, Paul begrudgingly relented when Phyre asked Embry to stay with her.
She curled up with her head on Embry's chest, listening to his heart beat. Before she knew it, she was drifting off to memories of her perfect man and the wonderful things they did that day.