Forbidden Imprint [Book 5] ✔️

20 • Dinner Plans

EMBRY'S POV

Life's a funny thing sometimes. Just when you think you have things figured out, it throws something at you that you were never expecting. In the weeks following Paul's announcement that Rebecca was moving back to La Push, I felt like I was living with a time bomb and I was just waiting for it to go off. I was distracted, so much so that Amy stated the other day that maybe moving back to this area wasn't such a great idea.

The restlessness I felt was unreal. Though I lived and worked in Port Angeles, I always found myself staring west towards La Push. I knew she wasn't back in town yet, I would have heard from someone if she had. Anytime I ran into a pack member, they'd give me a knowing look. It made me want to punch them, so I found myself avoiding my brothers. Still I found myself drawn to La Push like a magnet, until one day I finally gave in and went. It was the first time I had been back on the Rez since I moved back to the area. And before I knew it, I found myself standing outside the Clearwater's Supply Store.

It was disturbing to me on so many levels to think this is where my mother and Harry Clearwater began their affair. Oh hell, what if I was created on the front counter or in the stock room? And yet, I still found myself standing outside the building, just staring at it. It was a part of my past. Maybe I was returning to my sadistic tendencies and felt some compulsion to return to the scene of the crime so to speak. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and entered.

It was exactly the same as when I was a kid. I almost expected to look over and see Harry standing behind the counter, his eyes lighting up as soon as he saw me. Instead, I looked over and saw Nate Uley staring back.

"Nate, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I work here after school for a few hours each day," Nate replied. "My dad thinks it'll build character...plus, he had to work when he was my age."

Nate didn't look good. In fact he looked entirely too thin. The Blacks had moved back to the area almost two months ago. Going by Nate's appearance, things weren't going that well for him and his imprint. Or if they were going well, and he was still recovering from the strain of being away from Meena for the past two years.

I heard a giggle in a hidden corner of the store followed by a heavy moan. Nate rolled his eyes and came around the counter and went down the aisle.

"Gracie, if you and your boyfriend want to mack all over each other, you're going to have to do it somewhere besides this store," Nate said, folding his arms over his chest.

"Whatever Nathaniel," Gracie suddenly appeared in my vision, pulling a young guy after her.

It was the first time I had seen Gracie since I returned. She was now the beauty she once promised to be, even with the nose ring she was sporting. The guy she was with looked a couple of years older than her and completely obnoxious. Too bad Ryan wasn't able to leave his job in Washington D.C. right away. He was committed to finishing a project he'd become involved in before he could move back to La Push. I hoped for his sake that he would get here soon. He was going to have his hands full. Gracie stopped when she saw me.

"Gracie, do you remember Embry Call?" Nate asked.

"Oh yeah, hey," Gracie nodded before dragging her boyfriend out of the store, not even waiting for a reply.

"I really wish Ryan would get back here," Nate grumbled. "I don't know what Gracie was thinking getting involved with Zack Murray."

When I looked at him questioningly, he replied. "Zack's in my class in school. He's a punk."

"I see," I said, before getting a closer look at the tired expression on Nate's face. "So how are things going for you and Meena?"

Nate merely shrugged before going over to one of the shelves to stock it. Before I could question him further, Sue Clearwater entered the room from the back area. She froze as soon as she saw me.