The Complications of Love (under construction)

Chapter 33: Appearances

Chapter 33: Appearances.

Gabriella's POV

Embry stayed frozen for a while. I didn't know what I was supposed to do; what was wrong. I reached over at him and shook his shoulder and thankfully that seemed to knock him out of his daze. He looked at me and I saw horror and fear in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked alarmed.

He pulled me tight against his chest and started looking around frantically at our surroundings. He also started sniffing the air and I saw his nose wrinkle in disgust.

"Embry please, tell me what's wrong. What is it?" I asked again.

"We need to get out of here. Now." He said. He released me from his hold and started packing up all the picnic things quickly into the basket. He then grabbed hold of my hand and gripped it tightly as if to reassure himself. He ran quickly to the car and ushered me inside. He ran to the other side and got in before quickly starting the car and driving back to my house at top speed.

"God damnit Embry! Tell me what's wrong!" I shouted as his grip on the steering wheel tightened at my question.

"Not now Gab." He gritted out through his clenched teeth.

I let out a huff and sunk into my seat with my arms crossed. He suddenly pulled to a halt in front of my house. We sat there in silence as he breathed heavily. After a moment, he finally turned to face me slowly.

"Can you just please tell me? What's gotten you stressed out? What aren't you telling me? I've noticed the tiny changes in you this week Embry, I'm not that stupid. You always looked tired and the pack constantly looks stressed; like there's some huge problem. What is it?" I questioned him fiercely.

He sighed. "Gab, it's... just we've been under a lot of stress. There's a vampire named Victoria loose around the area and she keeps going back and forth between our land and the Cullen's' land. Sam's got us on tight patrols all week and it's just made everyone tired. And we still need to figure out what she's after. That's all there is." He explained.

"But what happened at the beach? Did you see Victoria? Is that why you were panicking?"

"No, it was... Ethan." He said hesitantly

I gaped at him once the name slipped from his lips. It couldn't be true. Please tell me it's not true.

"Please tell me that's a joke Embry." I pleaded, not wanting to believe what he was saying.

He looked over at me sadly, "I'm afraid it is. And he didn't exactly look... human."

I stared over at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"He had blood red eyes Gab. The signs of a newborn."

My eyes grew wide with fear. A vampire? Ethan was a vampire? That was impossible right? But even if it was how was I supposed to explain that to his family? If I even could that is. They'd probably laugh in my face and tell me that I was lying.

I took a shaky breath and tried to calm down my heart that was beating at an erratic pace at the moment. Embry unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me onto his lap. He lifted my chin with his hand and made me look at him directly in the eyes.

"Gab, don't worry. I'm here; I'll protect you no matter what. I won't let him near you if he's a vampire. Heck, I still wouldn't if he was human after what he did to you! But Leah..." he trailed off.

"Leah?" I asked puzzled. "What's she got to do with anything?"

"Well, Leah kind of... imprinted on Ethan." He said slowly.