Twilight Imagines

48. My Werewolf Buffer (Embry Call)

(Published July 18, 2026) 

   "Rosie." 
   I looked up from my intense shell search to find Embry wandering towards me.  I gave him a small smile, straightening up from my crouched position.  My legs protested angrily about being crunched for so long, so I teetered for half a second before steadying myself.  He was already beside me, pressing a kiss to my temple as his warm hand sought my free one.  I eagerly entwined my fingers with his.  
   "Hi," I greeted him for the second time that day.  
   He gave me a gentle half smile, brushing a strand of hair that the wind was playing with back from my face.  "Hi.  Sorry it took me so long to get back.  The guys said you wandered off a while ago." 
   I peeked over my shoulder to find that I had wandered a little further from the pack and their imprints than I had thought.  Oops.  I turned my gaze to the choppy water before us, squinting a little as I tried not to feel too guilty about not being social.  The pack was great and all, I just didn't get along with people very well.  Not without Embry, my interpreter and diffuser of awkwardness.  
   "I got distracted," I told him, showing him the large assortment of shells in my other hand.  
   He used his index finger to shift a few of them around, nodding approvingly.  "You found some good ones today." 
   "I know.  The one day I forgot to bring my shell box!" 
   "Lucky for you..."  He paused, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a somewhat wrinkled Ziplock bag.  "I came prepared." 
   Still holding my hand, he used both of his hands to open the bag for me and I carefully trickled the shells into it.  He sealed the Ziplock and handed it to me to keep track of, since he was never very careful when it came to things like that.  I gave him a grateful smile, giving his hand a squeeze.  
   "Do I even want to know why you had that in your pocket?" I teased.  
   He gave me an unamused look.  "Whatever you're thinking, no.  I brought it along because I knew you'd left your shell box at home in an attempt to hang out with the pack instead of wandering the beach." 
   "Silly me.  I should've known better."  I sighed with mock disappointment in myself.  
   He chuckled.  "You really should've.  It's okay; I know you well enough for the both of us." 
   Unable to resist, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged his skinny body tightly.  He hugged me back, burying his face in my shoulder.  Both of us released sighs of contentment in sync, which made us both laugh.  Pulling back, I looked up at him with a small shake of my head.  
   "Either we are cut of the same cloth, or we spend entirely too much time together," I noted aloud.  
   "It must be the first one, because we definitely don't spend enough time together," He stated.  "I am sorry about that.  I wish I didn't have to patrol so much.  Stupid bloodsuckers." 
   I shrugged.  "Maybe in a decade or so, when the scandal of the Cullens finally dies down." 
   It was his turn to shake his head.  "They do have a knack for getting into trouble, don't they?" 
   "And you guys don't?" I teased him again.  
   "Hey, we're just here trying to get everyone out of the trouble that the Cullens caused," He defended himself good naturedly.  
   "I know, I know."  I rolled my eyes.  "Stupid bloodsuckers." 
   Laughing once again, he gave my hand a small tug.  "Let's head back the pack.  They're going to start cooking the food soon." 
   We started back up the beach, walking at a leisurely pace.  My eyes continued scanning the sand as we walked.  I couldn't help it; the shells were so incredibly gorgeous and were just going to get stepped on later when the guys decided to play beach football.  Spotting a purpleish one, I froze mid-step and bent down to scoop it up.  Embry bumped my shoulder with his, hinting that he wanted to see.  I let the small object roll to my palm so he could get a good look at the coloring.  He grinned candidly as he looked it over before giving me a small nod.  I grinned back, slipping it into the Ziplock with the others.  
   "Hey, hey!  The quiet ones have returned," Jared called out as we approached the spot where the pack was still sprawled out.  
   "Quiet?  Have you been in Embry's head lately?  He never shuts up." Quil snickered along with several other wolves.  
   I glanced up at Embry to find him smiling down at me. 
   "What?" I whispered.  
   He leaned closer to whisper in my ear.  "You don't have to be so nervous, honey." 
   "I'm fine," I mumbled.  
   "The lack of circulation in my fingers tells me otherwise," He joked softly.  
   I realized that I was suddenly squeezing his hand awful tight.  I quickly loosened my grip, shooting him an apologetic look.  Not that it hurt him, with his being such a big, tough werewolf, but still.  
   "Do you wanna leave?" He whispered again so the guys wouldn't overhear.  Not that they could anyway; they were joking loudly about some funny story that involved Paul.  
   "No, I'll be okay," I assured him.  "Now that I've got my werewolf buffer."
   His grin widened.  "Werewolf buffer?" 
   "Mhm." 
   I was going to say more, but Jared interrupted me.  
   "C'mon, lovebirds, we've been waiting for you to settle in so we can get the food started.  Which means we're all starving, just so you all know." 
   "You're starving?  I'm the one who just ran patrol for six hours," Embry shot back with a laugh.  
   "Then you know how I feel," Jared shrugged.  "Sam, get that grill goin', will ya?" 
   I laughed along with everyone else, snuggling into Embry's side.  I could handle his friends as long as he was here.  He made everything better, even socializing.  There was nothing quite like a werewolf soulmate.