Thirty-Embry

"Embry, we need to get up if we're going to make it to Emily's," Mila whispered to me. I looked down and couldn't help but to smile when I saw her head on my chest. Her fingers lightly ran up and down my chest. I had been in this same position before but everything felt different this time. It was amazing and everything that I thought it was. I had to admit that I wasn't expecting it to happen but as soon as she said I love you, I knew that I had to have her.

"Embry did you hear me?"

"Yes I heard you. But I don't want to move out of this spot. It's too perfect." I mumbled into the top of her head. She laughed and I couldn't help but join in with her. Mila moved from my chest and stood up from the bed, taking most of the cover with her. She wrapped it around her body and took a step before I jumped up and grabbed the sheet to stop her. She let out a yelp as I pulled her back down to the bed. She moved her head from side to side trying to stop me from kissing her. Eventually stopping and planting her smooth soft lips right onto mine.

"Embry come on, stop playing. We need to get going. We're already late." She said against my closed mouth. I looked at the clock and realized we were supposed to have been at Emily and Sam's almost two hours ago. I figured they wouldn't mind if we didn't show up. I wrapped my hands tighter around her waist.

"Embry…come on we have to go. Emily said they weren't going to exchange presents till I was there," Mila said. She really wasn't going to drop this.

"Fine let's go. The quicker we get there, the quicker we can get back." Mila laughed and headed towards the bathroom. Mila had her clothes sitting out on a chair that sat in the corner of my room. She was going to wear a long sleeve red shirt and a pair of black jeans. I went over to my closet and looked at all of the options. After a few seconds, I pulled out a red sweater that my mom had been trying to get me to wear. I found the perfect pair of jeans and finished off the look with a pair of black boots.

I walked into the bathroom and found Mila in the shower. She was singing some song and it was nowhere near the right key. I laughed and she stopped singing. Her head poked out from behind the shower curtain.

"What is so funny?"

"Nothing. How much longer are you going to be? I need to shower."

"Why don't you come in here? I think we could be ready quicker," she said with a wink. She smiled as she slowly slid the shower curtain open.

"You need to hurry up before you get the floor all wet."

As soon as we stepped on the porch, the front door flew open. Emily stepped out with a huge smile on her face.

"Finally you guys are here! I was going to send Jake to get you if you didn't show up soon," she said wrapping her arms around me. I laughed and hugged her back. As soon as we stepped inside the house, the cat calls and yells came out. Paul walked over and shook his head. "Nice outfit," he said laughing at me. I punched him in the arm and walked into the living room. Everybody was sitting around, laughing and joking. Mila and I sat down in the only two empty chairs left. Emily came into the living room and clapped her hands.

"Alright now that Embry and Mila are here, we can exchange gifts," she said before walking over to the tree. She pulled a small box from under the tree and stopped in front of Mila. Mila looked up and smiled as she took the box.

"You guys I feel bad. I didn't get anybody anything."

"It's ok. We pulled names and Embry got your gift for the name you pulled."

Mila smiled and started opening her gift. She pulled the paper off and opened the box. Inside was a brown woven bracelet. There was a small wolf hanging from it. Mila smiled and looked at it.

"All the imprints have one. Our wolves made them for us," Dakota said holding her wrist up. Emily, Kim, Nessie, and Rachel held their wrists up. Mila held her hand out so I could slip it on her. I looked over at Jake and nodded to him. It was a slight tradition that we had but with patrols and trying to figure everything out, I had no time to make her bracelet. Jake had stepped up and made the bracelet for me. I was able to make the wolf the day before and Nessie helped me out with wrapping it.

We sat around and watched everyone open their gifts. This was nice. It was nice that for once we were all just able to relax and have fun. Nobody was worrying about Sabrina and her coven. We were all laughing and joking just like we used to. It reminded me of the time we had before the newborn war, and when we had to deal with the head leeches. It felt good to finally have somebody of my own this time. I knew I had to cherish this time while we had it. Nessie jumped up and was on top of Mila in an instant.

"Is this is what took you guys so long?" Nessie asked her. Mila tried to pull her hand back but Nessie was strong. Mila looked to me and before I could say anything the girls were all over. The guys walked over and started congratulating me. I could tell that Mila was getting was getting anxious. I held my hand up. "We aren't getting married you guys!" I yelled out.

"But she has a ring," Kim said as she looked at Jared. Mila finally pulled her hand away from Nessie.

"Yes it's a ring, but he didn't ask me to marry him. We're just officially a couple now."

"Wait you guys weren't one before?" Leah asked confused.

"No we were just friends and now we're together," I said answering her question. Nessie smacked her lips and went back to her seat. Mila picked up a board game and looked around the room.

"How about a game of Monopoly?" she asked in an attempt to lighten up the mood. Emily walked over and took the game from her. Slowly the rest of the imprints went over and started helping to set up. Pretty soon we were all laughing and joking just like before.

"That was rough," Mila said falling onto the couch as soon as she walked into the house. I laughed as I locked the door and sat down next to her. We ended up playing game after game then Sam lit the fireplace. It turned into an indoor bon fire. Mila sat up so I could fit on the couch then got back comfortable in my lap. I ran my hands through her head and she took a deep breath.

"It's not too late to back out you know," I said to her. Mila quickly sat up and stood up from me. I held my breath. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. She stepped closer and sat on my lap facing me. She wrapped one arm around her neck and used the other to grab my chin.

"Embry we both know that's not really an option. I've seen the way this imprint affects us and I never want that to happen again. I'll admit this may take some getting used to. And I do still find this crazy. But tonight showed me how much of a family really is. And it's been a long time since I've had this. I'm not backing out…not now…not ever. I love you Embry Call."

"Say that again."

"Embry we both know-"

"Not that. Just the last part," I said cutting her off. Mila looked at me and started to smile. She sat up straight and put both hands on my face. I watched her smile get bigger before she took a deep breath. As her mouth started to form the words my heart started to beat faster.

"I love you Embry Call," she said to me. I would never get tired of hearing her say those words. I heard them before and had even said them but hearing these syllables come from her mouth was different. It was like I had been stranded in the dessert for years and she was the drink that I needed. I never expected to hear those words from her so soon. I thought it would be months maybe even years before she expressed it to me. I thought when she first said it, she was going to take it back. But she had said it again. Mila loved me. Me out of everybody in the world, she loved me. I still couldn't believe it.

"You don't have anything to say to me?" she asked me. I put my hands behind her neck and pulled her face down to mine. I kissed her lips and smiled at her.

"My mom always told me that actions speak louder than words."

"Well then wolf boy…show me," she whispered against my mouth.