Cozy • An Embry Story

.38

Author's Note: 📝

Hey everyone, I want to sincerely apologize for the recent notifications and the disappearing chapters! I have this insecure habit of posting new updates and then taking them down, and I know it must be incredibly confusing to see chapters pop up only to vanish shortly after.

Here's what going on: I rewrote all the chapters after 37 about Winnie's aunt, but after looking at the big picture, I realized those chapters actually belong at the very end of the story. I took them down because I want to save them to give this fic the grand finale it deserves. And wrap up some plot points that I keep avoiding.

I am so grateful for your patience with me and my chaotic writing process. Thank you for sticking around, and I promise no more deleting/rewriting.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Embry's POV

"Does Winnie know about this?"

"Not yet," I sigh, testing the spring by pressing my hand onto the mechanism. Not even a second later I'm reeling my hand back before the trap can snap on me, while I silently count how long the trigger takes. "But she will."

"Winnie doesn't seem like the bear trap kind of girl." Jacob looks sick to his stomach instead of relieved that I managed to miss the bear trap.

"She definitely isn't." I agree, already feeling like a jerk for how I'm about to hide these in her backyard before she can tell me otherwise. I just have to buy the right ones firstly.

I did end up staying the night, but more like a watch dog rather than a boyfriend. Then a miracle happened—for once I woke up earlier than Winnie—which I took as a sign to drive to the hunting and camping store in Forks at first light. Last night was suppose to be about making steps in our relationship... but now I'm sick with worry that I can't make a move till I know she's safe in her house again.

La Push is a beach town, but Winnie's cottage is in the spot where woodland meets forest. After her cottage there's nothing out there but wilderness for miles. Anything can roam up to her. Or even Enola. Now it's a bear, next time could be a moose or a cougher... or a vampire. A bear trap won't stop a vampire.. but it'll let the werewolf inside the cabin enough time to shift and chase after it.

"How about bear mace? Winnie looks like she can handle bear mace." Jacob suggests, handing a can he found.

"Winnie can handle anything." I say with confidence. Enola wouldn't be taking her target practice if she thought Winnie was hopeless. The older lady would call it a waste of bullets and not even bother if Winnie wasn't capable. Though Enola has mentioned Winnie's aim is 'piss poor,' Which was funny at the time but not anymore.

Maybe next time I'll take her myself, though my mom didn't take me hunting. Instead I grew up holding her purse when we went shopping. Which is why I brought Jacob with me since he did grow up hunting.

"Do you have bear traps that aren't rusting?" I ask the teenager at the register who looks like they're debating taking a nap behind the counter. "The screws are rusting, and slowing it down. I need something that doesn't need a can of WD-40."

"Those are the only ones we have. But we have trail cams." He suggests, yawning.

"I'll think about it." I think surveillance would be too far for Winnie. Plus I know Enola is protective about trees. Enola would look up one day and find a gadget recording her and go Lorax on me. "Good idea on the bear mace, Jacob."