Forbidden Imprint [Book 5] ✔️

23 • Mistake After Mistake

REBECCA'S POV

"Is he my son?" Embry asked, his face filled with rage as his body trembled in suppressed anger.

Dammit! This wasn't how I wanted him to find out. I had practiced a speech in my head of exactly what I was going to say in this moment. I had years to practice it after all. But I had never gotten my chance. I closed my eyes tiredly, trying to fight back tears.

Taking a breath, I opened them again and admitted, "Yes, he's your son."

"You lied to me." Embry shook his head in disbelief. His shaking got worse as fury erupted across his beautiful features.

"I didn't lie," I said desperately. "Please Embry, let me explain--"

But he didn't listen. Instead, he threw back the curtain blocking my son from the view of the rest of the emergency room. My father's shocked face was on the other side. I'd have to deal with him later.

I hadn't told any of my family the truth. It wasn't that hard to keep what I knew to myself. I hardly saw my family the past seven years. I was pretty sure Rachel had guessed though, especially since Luke and I moved back to La Push. She kept saying things like, "Is there something you want to talk about?" But the only person I needed to tell the truth too was the man walking away from me right now.

I'd felt that I owed it to Embry to tell him before I told anyone else. I'd wanted to make sure he heard the truth from me and no one else. It wasn't exactly something I could tell him over the phone either. And there was so much to explain still. I watched as he spoke briefly to another doctor before heading down the hall.

"Dad, please stay with Luke," I begged before running after Embry.

"Wait Rebecca, don't go...his control..." My dad shouted, but I didn't listen.

I could barely catch up as I chased after Embry. He headed outside and went straight to the woods across the parking lot. By the time I reached the forest, all I could do was follow a trail of clothes. I stopped walking as I came upon the strangest sight I had ever witnessed.

Embry was standing in his briefs and socks, hunched over and shaking so hard he was blurring. I watched in horror as his skin ripped away from his body and silver fur emerged. I tried to scream, but the only sound that escaped was a raspy release of air. The large wolf now standing in front of me turned at the sound and met my eyes. With a viscous snarl, the wolf jumped at me.

"No!" I shouted, holding my hands out protectively in front of me.

The wolf fell to the ground, his nose pressed against the dirt. He looked like he was in some pain and I took a trembling step towards him without thinking. The wolf growled angrily which only made him sink even lower to the ground. Seconds later, I heard thundering feet and a large russet colored wolf appeared. He was even bigger than the silver wolf that I knew beyond a doubt was Embry. The larger wolf head-butted Em's side, sending him flying out of sight.

The russet wolf looked at me for a moment and something in his gaze made me freeze. There was something...familiar in his expression. The wolf snorted before taking off after Embry.

I felt something grab my hand causing me to jump. A strange sensation assailed me, almost as though I had been dunked under water without getting wet. Looking to see what was holding my hand, I saw the worried features of my niece, Meena, staring back at me.

"Dad told me to get you out of here," Meena said, pulling on my hand and leading me back to the edge of the woods.

"But...Embry--" I said, feeling completely confused and shocked by the events that had unfolded today.