Defining Normal | EMBRY CALL

Envoy

Lex's hands tighten on the comforter, squeezing until her grip leaves tiny wrinkles on the grey fabric.

"You didn't see it. There's no way." Maybe if she turns away, averts her gaze for long enough, Kim'll drop the subject.

Maybe the shock's gone to her head. Maybe none of this conversation is really happening.

Kim places one cool hand on top of Lex's. "I didn't have to see it. Jared told me. Embry showed him," she says quietly, studying Lex's face. "This is kind of a big secret, so if I tell you everything then you have to promise you won't tell anyone."

"When you say big secret..." she trails off, quirking an eyebrow inquisitively.

Kim nods solemnly. "I mean it's a guard-it-with-your-life type of thing. If this ever got out, the tribe would be in danger. I know you, though, and I know I can trust you. You just gotta say the word."

They sit in silence for a long moment. It would be so much easier to say no and pretend none of this ever happened, to go back to Beaver and resume her old life as if she was rewinding the clock. That would be easy. She doesn't want that, though - she wants Embry, holding her tight and safe; she wants Kim, and Quil, and Jared, and all of her new friends, welcoming and loving. She wants this.

"I promise," she whispers, twisting to face Kim. "Tell me everything."

For a long while, Kim speaks and Lex listens. Aside from having to repeat the confirmation three times - yes, they turn into humongous wolves - Lex takes it pretty well, all things considered. In a normal situation, the imprinter would be doing the talking, laying it all out before the final imprint reveal. Lex and Embry weren't normal, though, and Jacob had given Kim the go-ahead to salvage the situation in whatever way she could, especially since the likelihood of getting Embry back into a pair of jorts anytime soon was incredibly slim. Surprisingly, Lex doesn't bring him up at all, not even when Kim mentions that Jared phases, too.

"Who else? Leah does as well, right?" she asks, pursing her lips in contemplation.

Kim nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, she was the first girl to phase. Right now she's the only one, but Quil thinks his little sister might go soon. It's kind of hard to tell. Pretty much everyone that hangs around Emily's place are wolves - not Emily though."

"Oh, so you don't, uh, change into a wolf either?"

She laughs, picturing herself fighting vampires. "No, no, I don't. Just the guys."

Lex's brow wrinkles. "If he didn't...hulk out...would you have told me? How did you find out?"

Kim scrunches her nose, thinking. "I know because Jared told me. You would have found out eventually, but I think you should ask Embry. He can explain it better."

Lex shakes her head, a sudden sour look spreading across her face. "Really? I don't know about you, but he wasn't doing too much sharing before today. Like, shit, a warning would have been good."

"Try and think about it from his side. How many times have you avoided him after he tried to get all deep and meaningful with you?"

"I'm not that bad-"

"I've literally lost count of how many times you've attempted to ghost him."

"Okay, maybe I am that bad," she sighs, serious for a split-second before slipping into laughter.

Kim's laughter is a comfort in the stark hospital room, something homey that puts her at ease. Lex isn't discharged for another hour and a half, but she doesn't mind. Kim's company is more than enough.