Defining Normal | EMBRY CALL

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Try as he may, Embry just can't get his feet to stop their frantic pacing of the church hall. Between patrol the night before and all of the pre-wedding tasks he's been saddled with, he should be exhausted. Somehow, though, he's as frenetic as an unrestrained live wire, restlessly moving around the venue as he tries to busy his mind with any distraction he can find. It's a combination of things , he concludes, straightening the vase of flowers on the altar for the umpteenth time. Sam and Emily have been slated to marry for years, and with the moment ticking closer and closer with every second that passes, he can't stop fretting about what may go wrong. Will Leah show up? Will Paul forget the rings? He's called him twice; Paul swears both times he has it handled, but he can't put the worry to rest. He's spent far too much time in his Alpha's head and it shows.

His greatest uncertainties circle back to Lex, as if that's any surprise. She'd spent the night sequestered at Emily's home, which had been temporarily converted into women-only bridal headquarters. Sam had been unceremoniously evicted when they'd returned from Port Angeles; Rachel had shooed him out the back door with an authoritative finger wagging in his direction.

"Uley, don't even think for a second you can sneak back later. If I find you out here, I will personally put you on a leash," she had warned, her face unusually stern.

Paul had only laughed at the memory - Atta girl! - when he and Sam had phased to run off some steam. Rachel had the sort of commanding presence that his mother could only dream of, a rare blend of confident and quick-witted that distinguished her from the rest. Rachel was an interesting partner for Paul - they verbally sparred like fierce rivals, but the chemistry between them was undeniable. It was a wonder that she'd managed to avoid him for the first few days of her return to La Push.

Need some tutoring, kiddo? Paul had thought, the teasing undercurrent irking Embry more than he'd care to admit.

Yeah, get fucked, Lahote. She's coming around , he'd grumbled, briefly revealing a flash of Lex nestled in his arms. He'd regretted it almost instantly though, with Paul seizing onto the glimpse like a wild dog.

Well look at that, Sam, he's finally putting on the moves. Baby's first steps , he'd taunted, nipping at Embry's heels as he caught up to him in the clearing.

Embry had spun around, lunging at Paul's shoulder. He'd gnashed his teeth a moment too late, though, only catching fur in his jaws.

Ooh, just a little too slow there, lover boy.

Sam, order him to shut up. Please. My sanity depends on it , Embry had whined, sounding a little too similar to the younger wolves for his comfort.

It's a miracle I don't have grey fur yet. Paul, don't be so annoying. Embry, fight your own battles. Good enough?

I don't know what I expected , Embry had grumbled, returning to his patrol route.

He had tried his best to block out Paul's thoughts for the rest of their run. Sam's thoughts weren't so bad, though he truly wasn't that interested in the wedding details. Embry could probably recite the finer points in his sleep, and he was positive that the flower arrangements were cemented into his memory. Physics knowledge, on the other hand, was basically leaking out of his ears as he ran; he had made a mental note to beg Lex for tutoring later. Thinking of Lex had only made his chest ache, reawakening the all too familiar pang of longing deep within him. She'd been around so frequently over the past week that being apart from her for more than a few hours was like a test of endurance: how long can he exist without thinking of her? Not long, he'd concluded, mulling it over as he'd bounded through the thickets. Wherever he went, all he saw was her: the coal of the rocks reminding him of her eyes, the deep umber earth of her hair -