https://aquanova99.tumblr.com/
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The battle was supposed to be over by now. There was still no word from anyone in the wolfpack. The girls were all pacing around or doing something to try and get their minds off of thinking the worst. The younger wolves were patrolling nearby, or they were supposed to be until the coast was clear.
Suddenly Collin ran into Emily's house.
"It's all done! Everyone made it!" Everyone let out a sigh of relief, Emily and Kim began getting teary eyed. "Uhm but we should all probably head to Billy's. Jacob was hurt."
The girls turned to look at you. Your guts were twisting inside. It made you feel bad, but you were glad it wasn't Embry. You didn't want anyone to get hurt, and even though you and Jacob were constantly butting heads you still felt like you had to at least see if he was okay. The drive was quick, you heard jacobs screams as the car was pulling in. Doctor Cullen was apparently treating him, you saw the rest of the Wolfpack sitting outside. You forgot about the comforting for a moment, you needed to to check on Embry.
"Em! Oh my god—" you couldn't help it you began sobbing. You hadn't realized how worried you had been.
"I promised I would make it back right?" He held you close and buried his face into your neck.
You pulled back to assess him, as if you could do anything to help. He just seemed tired maybe slightly bruised but he was okay and that's all that mattered. You turned to see the rest of the girls doing the same, you noticed Leah was pacing back and forth. You knew her well enough to know something was bothering her. You nudged Embry,
"She's—she's feeling a little guilty?"
"Why, what happened?"
"Leah saw a newborn and was going to try and get it on her own, I think she still feels like she has to prove she deserves to be here but Jacob stepped in. His ribs were crushed, and doctor fang over there had to rebreak them so he could heal right."
"But he's going to be okay?"
"...yeah he going to be fine, just out of commission for a while." Embry looked away from you, you could tell he was worried you were going to change your mind.
"Em?"
"What if, what if somethings happens when you see him. What if this makes you rethink everything?"
"Embry, tha—"
"Don't say anything yet, just in case."
"Okay." You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, you knew you needed to talk to Jacob soon. You hoped nothing changed, hoped he still hated you so you wouldn't hurt him again. You started walking up to the front door. Carlisle had apparently left as soon as he finished with Jacob, you'd been so distracted you hadn't noticed. But walking up to Billy's doors you were fortunate enough to have to see Bella leaving. You did not want to fight her not now, but she grabbed your arm and basically began begging
"You need to choose him."
"Okay first, ow. Let go. Second, that's not how this works."
"Look, I know how we've both treated you. Please. I'm going to be leaving with the cullens soon, and I owe you for that. But he can't, he can't become like me. He was my own personal sunshine. I need to him to stay like that."
"Bella if you care that deeply, than you stay with him. I can't force my self if I don't feel that way about him."
"Just think about it, please." She basically ran to her truck and sped off as soon as she could. She didn't know if she was making the right choice. And now she was putting it all on you. Great.
You walked in to see Jake, you couldn't lie to yourself it hurt to see him like that. He looked like he was expecting you to go first, so you sat next to him.
"Hey Jacob." You shifted awkwardly, you opened you moth to speak but Jacob cut in
"Would it have made a difference?"
"W-what?"
"Do you think it would be different if I had gone first, before Embry."
"Honestly, I just...I don't think so. You were always the happy one in our little friend group. But I've liked Embry from the moment I met. I mean even walking into class that day I thought he was really cute. And you and Quil are great but, it's not the same. And then Bella came back and you weren't Jacob anymore, not really."
"I'm just always second best, I guess."
"You don't have to be, imprinting doesn't have to be romantic. And no one knows maybe you will imprint again on someone else."
"Sure. Third times a charm."
*sigh* "Look, Jacob I don't understand why it bothers you. You've never had feelings for me, this is just the imprint. It's not love."
"What if I did, before all this phasing stuff? What if I fell for Bella because you were all Embry talked about?" Apparently the stunned silence was exactly what he was looking for. "I'm the better choice. I was for Bella but also for you, Embry can't protect you like I can. He shouldn't even be one of us."
"Look we both know we can both hit low blows so I suggest you relax with how you talk about him. I'm not going to let you be mean to me or him just because you got hurt."
"You're making the wrong choice."
"Jacob, there is no choice. No choosing. It's always been Embry. I really hope you can find your person—"
"You're supposed to be my person." He tried to interrupt but you were determined to be done.
"and be really, truly, happy. But I'm not that person for you. I'm sorry Bella wasn't either." With that you walked out, you looked at Billy on your way out. You could see he was hoping you would be the one to get Jacob to start over but what was done was done. This whole thing was exhausting you felt like it was getting hard to breathe. You didn't want to possibly be the one who made someone spiral. You knew you were not in charge of someone else's feelings but the guilt was eating at you the same.
The second the outside air hit your face you started running towards your car. You had to get out of there. Away from everyone staring at you with pity for both you and Jacob.
Embry was waiting by your car, it was too much. Seeing him there, looking like he had been crying himself. You threw yourself on him and the tears fell, the tears of relief earlier were nothing compared to the sobbing you were doing now. He picked you up and just placed you in the passenger seat. You knew he wanted to get you home but you didn't want the day to end like this. You both needed to talk.
"Em, wait." You tried to relax your breathing, "I want to go to the beach. Please."
"Okay."
The drive gave you time to calm down. You were both silent, and you didn't even want to think about what Embry was feeling. You knew he heard everything Jacob said and it made you want to cry all over again. The car came to a stop at the beach. Perfectly and shockingly empty. Neither of you moved. You looked at Embry but he couldn't face you.
"Em?"
"He's kinda right you know." He started slowly.
"W-what are you talking about?"
"He's stronger than me, I don't like to think about it. But other than Sam he's probably the strongest in the pack if not the strongest. Y/n I don't even know if I have a home to go back to now."
"Embry what happened? Did your mom..?"
"Ugh, I don't know. It was a few days ago she said she can't keep worrying if I'm going to show up at home or not. Or worrying if I'm doing something illegal. She said if I leave the house again I should just not go back."
"Embry, I'm so sorry. It should be over now, maybe Sam can go explain—"
"There's no point, I don't think she'd believe him anyway and I'm not phasing in front of her."
You waited for him to continue, "I just, I don't want to drag you down or be the reason something happens to you." Tears were falling down his face. You grabbed his hand.
"Look at me." You had to wait but once he calmed enough he was able to face you. "Embry, I don't know if I can do anything between you and your mom, I can't promise I can fix that. I can't promise we won't have to face anymore dangers. But I promise, look at me I promise that I wouldn't want to face anything without you. And I promise I'll be here for anything and everything you need."
"And if I can't get out of this, what if you chose wrong. I don't think I would be able to handle it if you regretted picking me."
"Embry, I told Jacob and I'm telling you, it's always been you. Nothing has changed. I love you."
You barely got the words out before Embry grabbed your face to kiss you. It was a hungry like he was afraid if he didn't kiss you you would disappear. "I love you too, please I don't want to force you or make you feel like you have to stay. But please, stay with me."
"Of course I'll stay with you." You kissed him this time. "Cmon I want to lay on the beach with you again." You both got out of the car, he grabbed the blanket with one hand and your hand with his free one.
He pulled you as close as he could. So much had gone on today the stars were beginning to come out again. You both held on to this moment, not wanting it to end.
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It had been months since the battle with the newborns. The cullens kept their promise and had not been heard from since. Which meant less patrols, and more time with Embry. Embry decided to not go home. He was always on edge that the vampires would come back and he would have to start lying to his mom. Instead Sue welcomed him into her home, she knew all about the legends and Seth loved having an older brother around.
Jacob never seemed to fully recover. Once his body healed he phased for months trying to find the cullens. The closest he got was Alaska but their scent completely disappeared after that. Not long after he decided to stay in his wolf form until he accepted that he had to move on. He had become Leah in a sense that he was never truly happy and liked to make Embry miserable.
Leah left la push a few years after and became happier than she had ever been. It hurt Sam to see her leave, but he was glad they both had their peace.
After a few years everyone was graduating, you and Embry had to decide on what to do. Sam never forced anyone to stay but leaving was just hard as staying put and being on edge. You both decided to stay and go to colleges nearby.
Eventually the two of you returned to la push. The two of you got a house near the rest of the pack. You had just come back from Sam and Emily's baby shower, and you were both ready to fall asleep.
Every once in awhile Embry wild ask you the same thing, this was one of those night,
"You still don't regret staying with me?"
"Of course not."
"Just checking."
"I know, babe." You yawned and cuddled close, "you know you don't have to ask."
"Yeah, just something I'm always going to worry about."
"That's okay, I have forever to convince you otherwise."
"I love you," he whispered as quietly as he could. You felt yourself drifting off to sleep
"Love you too, always."
As you drifted to sleep Embry whispering to you as he stroked your "I'm glad you're mine. I'll always be so grateful you chose me." You smiled into his chest, how could you have ever chosen otherwise?