Total eclipse of a heart (Embry Call)

31. A hand to hold

Eagerly rushing to Forks wasn't quite thought out and Embry warned me of that. He wanted to give me a choice, remembering just how bad things got when secrets and lies got in the way of our relationship when Bella was pregnant. But now? With a war coming? We couldn't afford to make the same mistakes again. And he wasn't pleased with my want to surround myself with vampires again.

And I knew Jacob would be there. As much as I care for him, our latest interaction had left me unwilling to talk again or even be in the same room as him. I never believed he could hurt me, not intentionally, but his anger had gotten worse as it became clear I chose Embry above all. I don't think he's truly angry, just hurt, but I can't risk finding out when his temper is on the loose. Not today.

"Hey." Embry's gentle touch surprises me, his fingers dancing along the soft skin of my wrist only to slip lower onto my palm, opening it so his hand could fit in mine. I never had a hand to hold when my heart felt like it might explode, but I do now and as hard as it is to hold love in my heart for the very creatures I was born to kill, I couldn't imagine myself going through with the mission and sacrificing this unexpected, unusual but remarkable bond.

"It's gonna be okay." Embry assures me, his eyes reflecting care but his tone had easily given me a clue on how uncomfortable he is. The wolves say vampires give off a stench, that the smell is sickly sweet but insufferable and I can tell Embry isn't breathing in through his nose considering the nasal tone he uses to ease my worries. And that's why I love him - he would do anything for me with a smile on his face.

Blinkig slowly, I turn toward him, my hand reaching for his cheek and my eyes resting on his supple lips, biting my own in the process. How can anyone resist kissing him when he's as beautiful as his soul is?

"I know. Cause you're with me." My words cause a wide grin to spread across his face, feeling his cheek move under my touch as the skin ripples with the gesture. Leaning in, I see him read my desires perfectly for he leans in too, the distance between us lessening and I feel my heart beating out my chest. This feeling, this ecstasy just being so near is refreshing, something new and exciting and I never want to lose it - lose him.

Lips brushing tenderly, neither of us able to stop smiling, we just stood there. It felt right even if our inability to stop smiling also killed our ability to kiss without clashing teeth.

"Oh. Just ignore me." Seth passed us in a hurry, chuckling lowly with his hand covering his eyes as if he witnessed something he shouldn't have.

Chuckling, I roll my eyes and look away, finally feeling like I can breathe fully without Embry to shorten every single breath I take. Never have I ever loved every moment my lungs ached for air as much as I do by his side.

"We should probably", Embry nodded his head toward the house, clearing his throat awkwardly while I prayed my cheeks aren't as red as I'm pretty sure they are.

"Yeah!" Too enthusiastic, I agree with his notion and start walking, knowing he's smiling at me even without looking back. But he's following my every step and I feel safe...until I enter inside the house and all I can see is death.

Finding Jacob's eyes from across the room, I see his crossed arms and he speaks my mind for me.

"A lot of red eyes around here." He states and I nod, trying to avoid looking at all the vampires who could hear my heart beating and feel my blood flowing turbulently with every beat. I can't lie and say I'm not afraid, that I'm not on edge and ready to run because even with Alec I've felt uneasy but these were strangers who had no interest in keeping me alive.

"They agreed not to hunt in the area." Bella interjects and I can't help but feel even worse...they still need to feed and they didn't solve anything by sending them to Seattle for hunting.