Open Wounds ▷ Embry Call [2]

EIGHT

★★★★★

EIGHT; HAPPINESS

     "YOU DON'T HAVE to tell me, Sam. I already know."

     "And you're not upset?"

     Embry chuckles from his spot on Emily's couch. "I've known Blaire since we were young, remember? This is her dream — being at college and away from La Push is her dream. I knew she would have to leave eventually because it's what makes her happy. My imprint is fully happy for once in her life, so why should I be upset about that?"

     Sam tentatively took a seat next to Embry on the couch. "If I was in your shoes, I don't think I could let Emily go that easily."

     Embry chuckles dryly. "Do you know that no one ever supported Blaire except for me, Quil, and Jake? Even her own father favored Dahlia, and wanted Blaire to do nothing with her life except attend to my wants and needs. Blaire is so much stronger than any girl I'll ever know, and I'm so proud of her because of it. She's finally taken control of her own life. She needs time, Sam, and I'm willing to give it to her."

     Sam nods, mulling over the weight of his words. "You're brave, Embry," he clapped his hand over Embry's shoulder. "Braver than I originally thought."

     Embry puffs out his chest jokingly. Sam rolls his eyes.

     "Have you talked to her?"

     Embry shrugs. "Not yet. She's enjoying her life right now, and I'm not going to give her any more problems."

     There's a silence as Emily's television echoes throughout the room. Sam wonders what Blaire's departure means for the pack, but he doesn't voice these concerns. Usually, Sam would never let one of his members leave without completing their duties in La Push, but he knew how much Blaire wanted this. She was willing to go so far to get what she's been striving for her whole life, and he's just glad Embry's alright with it.

     "Do you think she'll come back?"

     To Sam's surprise, Embry laughs. "Of course, Sam. She loves me more than anything and I've never doubted that, even though others have."

     Sam sighs. "You know, we never thought Blaire was weak-"

     "Yeah, you did. Everyone did. No one saw how strong Blaire truly is," he replies, eyes boring into his alpha's. There's a fire in them that Sam's never seen before. "Now, my girl's going out to prove every single one of you wrong."

★★★★★

     Blaire stares at the amount of trees surrounding her. Stanford University sure loved the nature aspect they put on campus — she can't even turn around without seeing a tree trunk in front of her eyes. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration but still, there was an impressive amount of trees.

     "Hello."

     She jumps at the sound of another voice. She turns around to see a girl trying to hide behind her own hair, slightly ashamed she disturbed Blaire in the first place.

     "Hi," Blaire smiles. She grips her backpack tighter, wondering what the girl could want from her. She relaxes when she sees the gentleness in the girl's form.