Indian summer

Chapter 35

Embry ground his teeth next to me. I could tell he was upset for telling me about Donovan putting himself back together and he didn't want me to worry, but I was glad he told me. I didn't being out of the loop. But, of course, I couldn't help but worry for my own life and the lives I left back in La Grange. I was running away but I had left the monster to attack my family. Knowing Embry's pack was heading to take care of him settled my stomach... a little.

I glanced at Embry and winced at his sour face. I remembered this morning at the truck stop, we had been laughing and smiling, I missed that Embry. This Embry reminded me of the Embry that had lain "dying" in my arms.

"What is your favorite food?" I asked, continuing our game of 20 questions.

He glanced at me and cocked an eyebrow. "I don't think I have one." I frowned at his lack of answer and he laughed. "What's yours?"

I thought about it for a second and decided, "I guess I really don't have one either."

"What is..." He looked out the window in contemplation, "your favorite animal?"

"That isn't very originally." I pointed out.

"Neither is favorite food."

"Touché," I paused while I thought, "I love horses."

"I like eagles." He answered then laughed at my confused face, "Didn't expect that did you?"

"I really didn't. I guess if you can turn into a wolf you would get kinda sick of them."

"It's not that." He replied. "We, meaning the packs, originally thought we were werewolves. We learned differently a couple months ago, that we are actually shape-shifters and the form of a wolf was just by chance and we could have been anything. I decided that if I could be anything else I would be an eagle."

"Do you like flying?"

"Never have, that's why I want to be an eagle."

"That's kinda cool, ya know, that you turn into an animal."

He glanced sideways at me. "It's not all it's cracked up to be." He said sadly, "There are disadvantages. But of course there are some advantages." He took my hand in his, "You for example."

An involuntary blush spread across my face and he grinned. He didn't continue with his speech though, he just held my hand and stroked my palm with his thumb absentmindedly. The little circles sent dull little sparks up my hand. I leaned my head against the seat and sighed. We were in Nebraska now, driving through the empty stretches of farmland. I felt my eyes droop. Embry's hand warmed my whole body and relaxed me, letting me drift to sleep.

Embry P.O.V.

I smiled at how quickly she fell asleep. I felt the tug of rest at my eyes but I easily ignored it. 48 hour days were nothing new to me. The only sounds in the car were the gentle hum of the Jeep's motor and Dixie's even breathing. This allowed me to think about what lay ahead of us.

There was no doubt in my mind that things were going to be rough once we got back to Washington. I wished there was some way to convince her parents that I wasn't a bad person. I ground my teeth together. This would have been so much easier if I was a normal man. You play with the cards you're dealt, though. I couldn't change who I was.

I wondered what was going on with my pack. They had probably made it to Kentucky by now and found the scent of that bastard leech. My fist clenched on the steering wheel as I remembered the bitch, his deadly mouth so close to Dixie's precious neck. I had almost been too late. If I had ignored the pull any longer Dixie would either be dead or writing in pain somewhere as the venom pumped through her blood. I shivered involuntarily and glanced at my imprint.