The bonfire crackled softly along the shore of La Push, the smell of saltwater and smoke drifting through the cool night air. Waves rolled steadily against the rocks while laughter echoed from the small group gathered around the flames.
You sat beside Leah, poking at the sand with a stick.
Leah Clearwater.
The only wolf who had never pushed you away.
Most of the others treated humans like fragile glass—or worse, like they were in the way. But Leah had trusted you. Maybe a little too much.
Because you knew their secret.
You knew about the wolves.
About the pack.
About everything.
And tonight, the rest of the boys were coming back from patrol.
You sighed, glancing at Leah. “Are they always this dramatic about patrols?”
Leah snorted. “You should hear them when they argue in wolf form. Imagine a bunch of giant dogs yelling in your brain.”
“Okay that actually sounds horrifying.”
Footsteps crunched through the sand.
The rest of the pack approached from the tree line — laughing, shoving each other like idiots.
Quil. Jacob. Paul.
And Embry Call.
Embry Call dropped down onto a log near the fire, running a hand through his hair as he grinned at the others.
“Another patrol with zero vampires,” Paul complained.
Jacob shrugged. “You’re just mad you didn’t imprint yet.”
“Yeah,” Quil teased, nudging Embry. “Someone here has been waiting forever.”
Embry rolled his eyes but laughed. “Not forever.”
But he had been waiting.
Every wolf dreamed about it — that moment when the world shifted and suddenly one person became everything. The gravitational pull they all talked about.
Sam had Emily.
Quil had Claire.
Others had found theirs.
Embry hadn’t.
Not yet.
He leaned back, glancing lazily around the fire—
And then he saw you.
Everything stopped.
The sound of the waves faded.
The laughter disappeared.
His chest tightened like the air had been knocked from his lungs.
You noticed his stare and blinked.
“…Uh,” you said awkwardly. “Did I say something weird?”
Leah turned to look between you both, confused.
Embry slowly stood.
His expression had completely changed.
Soft.
Awestruck.
Like he’d just found something he’d been searching for his entire life.
Leah’s eyes widened.
“Oh… oh no.”
You frowned. “What?”
Embry stepped closer, unable to look away.
The pull was undeniable.
Powerful.
Unbreakable.
You crossed your arms nervously. “Okay you’re kinda staring like I just grew a second head.”
Leah groaned, dragging a hand down her face.
“You might as well tell them,” she muttered.
You looked at her. “Tell them what—?”
Embry’s voice came out barely above a whisper.
“…You’re my imprintee.”
The fire crackled loudly between you.
Your eyes widened.
“Your what.”