Forbidden Imprint [Book 5] ✔️

13 • Cause and Effect

EMBRY'S POV

I slowly woke up from the sensual slumber I was in. I had never felt so contented in all my life. I had just made love to my imprint, and it was the single greatest experience of my life.

I wondered briefly how long I had slept. I hadn't been sleeping well since Rebecca came back to town. Between worrying over her depressed behavior and being stressed because I had wanted to confess everything to her, I had been too restless to sleep much lately.

The truth was out now...well, almost. I still had to tell her about the pack and being my imprint. But I had told her I loved her, and she had kissed me and let me love her in the most physical way. I rolled over to embrace her, ready to confess everything, but I found the bed space next to me empty. Jerking up, I looked around.

"Becks?" I called out.

Silence greeted me. I noticed the darkening sky outside. Holy shit! How long had I been sleeping? It was late morning when I met her on the beach.

"Rebecca," I said again.

Looking around and tuning into all my senses, I realized she wasn't there. Frowning, I got out of my bed slowly. I realized that there was something wrong with my pull to her. It felt weak. Panicking, I tried to reason with myself. She probably just went back to Billy's or Rachel's.

I pulled on the shorts I had on worn earlier. I was going to go over and talk to her. I still needed to tell her about imprinting. As I reached for my shirt, I saw a paper propped up on the kitchen counter. With a feeling of dread, I reached over and grabbed it.

Embry,

I know it's really cowardly of me to leave a letter like this, but I couldn't face you after what just happened. I'm going back to Hawaii. I hope you can understand when I say I need to focus more than ever on my marriage right now. I'm so sorry that I got you caught up in my mess. That wasn't fair to you. You said you love me, but you don't know the real me anymore. I know you'll find someone better to love. Someone who's free and she'll love you as much as you deserve. Please be happy, Em.

Rebecca

I threw the letter back on the counter and ran out the door. Sniffing the air, I picked up her faint scent and headed to Rachel's house. I ran to the door faster than humanly possibly and knocked on it. Rachel answered it with a frown that quickly turned to surprise.

"Hey Embry...what's up?"

"Where is she?"

"She and Paul are on their way to the airport right now," Rachel explained. "She did tell you goodbye right? That's what she told me."

I didn't say anything. Instead, I headed into the woods, quickly phased, and ran as fast as I could to Seattle. It was normally a five hour drive. Running would take me a little over an hour. I reached the city border and phased back, untying my shorts and t-shirt from my leg. I ran the rest of the way to the airport. I was about to enter the terminal, barefoot, when I heard someone call my name. Turning, I saw Paul headed towards me.

"What are you doing here?" Paul wondered.

"Where's Becks?" I asked frantically.

Just then a plane roared overhead, and I knew with all my heart that Rebecca was on it. My shoulders slumped and Paul had to wrap an arm around my shoulder to keep me from falling over.

"I'm sorry man," Paul said sadly. Looking at my attire, he asked, "How'd you get here?"

"Ran," I mumbled.

"C'mon, I'll drive you back," Paul replied and dragged me to his car.

Rebecca's scent lingered all over it. I rested my head wearily against the window. Paul didn't say much as I quietly mourned the fact that my wonderful moment in bed with my imprint was really nothing but a dirty, one night stand. Hell, it wasn't even a full night, just a short time in the sheets in the middle of the day. As we finally reached Forks though, my mindset started to change.