Breaking Through—Embry x OC

(Set During Eclipse)

This story is dedicated to those diagnosed with autism or any form of disabilities (specifically for two of my five siblings...and myself, as well), and those who faces struggles and obstacles every single day, as they've tried to be equal to everyone that surrounds them. Having a disability doesn't make you look, act, or seem stupid and incapable; instead, it represents who you are as a person, just one who has more challenges than most people do.

Diagnosed with autism, Kenna Mallory has spent most of her life in the shadows. Though her family loved her, the challenges that Kenna has to face day in and day out has always been difficult for her. During her youth, she was placed in a self-contained classroom, but because her parents wanted to help her to be switched over to mainstreamed. On her first day in high school as a sophomore, Kenna nearly had a breakdown. What she didn't expect was to run into the arms of a man who could help her...and possibly, her potential love interest.

Embry Call has spent most of his life in the shadows of his two best friends. He was always a quiet guy, but when he started to phase, his perspective on the world changed drastically. What he didn't expect that fateful day he was on patrol, was that he would imprint on a woman who was autistic. What first started as friendship, Embry tried to understand more about Kenna; finding ways to help her communicate better without getting frustrated every so often. But, more importantly, Embry wanted to help Kenna understand feelings; specifically his.

When their friendship soon turns into a romantic prospect, how will Embry be able to help Kenna understand what "love" means to him and her? Can Kenna understand, and be able to show affections for the guy who would always be there for her, or will her disability always get in the way?

A/N: I apologize for the long delay again, but at the moment, I am in a bit of crisis with where I am currently working, and it's become too problematic for me that I started to put my writing on hold indefinitely.

Where I'm working is not ideal, and when I thought I wanted to go into education, turns out I was wrong all along. My family knows that I don't want to work there anymore, but my parents said I have no choice but to stay for the full year, otherwise I would never be hired by the public school county again. I discovered that when I tried to look for a job at another school, or even to transition to another program at the school I am currently working for...but nothing is happening. So far, I was able to score some interviews for agencies where I would have the opportunity to work with children with autism in a more one-on-one setting, which actually is something I'd prefer, but now I need to find out if I could work part-time until everything's straightened out. I've only had a few interviews, and another lined up for next week, so we'll see what happens next.

I promise that I will try to update as much as I can, but I just want to let everyone know that it might not be often, since I am in a tough situation with my job.

On the bright side, other than scoring more interviews so far, I was accepted into an online master's program at Arizona State University. The program is Applied Behavior Analysis, and with that program, I could become certified to be licensed to work with kids with autism in an agency. I am super excited about it!

Anyways, for this chapter, it will be the last, and I am considering posting an epilogue of this story as well to end the story completely, but I'm not 100% sure. If everyone feels that this chapter is not enough to end it, then I will definitely post an epilogue to finish it, and if it does finish the story...then it does.

Chapter 20

The girls were all shell-shocked, as they tried to find out what was going on. Luckily, Quil and Seth came through the bushes in their human forms to speak to them. Seth and Quil walked toward them, and they tried to speak, but neither one of them could. They were out of breath, and it seems like all hope was lost. Until Seth finally spoke up, saying, "It's Jake! He's hurt!"

Everyone started to grab their jackets and headed outside. Some had piled into Emily's car, and others into either Kim's or Leah's. Sitting in the passenger seat in Emily's car, Kenna's nerves were skyrocketing. It's was hard to remain calm when all Kenna could focus on was Embry.

Was he okay? Could he have gotten hurt like Jacob did?

There were so many different scenarios going through Kenna's mind, and as soon as they reached the Black's home. As soon as Kenna got out of her car, she caught sight of Embry...seeing that he was fine. She ran toward Embry, and jumped into his arms. He held on as tightly as he could, never wanting to let her go, as her arms tightened around his neck. When he set her down, he pressed his lips against her temple, and whispered, "It's okay, I'm okay. I'm alright, Kenna. I promise,"

Kenna pulled back slightly, running her hands over his face and his chest, but stopped searching further when Embry's hands held hers. "Kenna, I'm okay. I promise you, I'm okay."

She nodded, unable to say anything because there were too much sensory emotions happening for her in that moment. Embry moved his hands to cup her face in his warm, calloused hands, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Pulling her into his arms, Embry continued to leave tender kisses from her temple all the way down to her neck. Kenna's hands were tightened into a fist, gently scratching his lower back, but that was slowly beginning to cause the heat between their bodies to form. When she pulled her head back to see his face, Embry ran his thumb over her cheekbone and then her chin, lifting her face up to kiss him.

It was sweet at first, but as soon as their tongues met in a dance, the fire started to flame up within their bodies. Soon enough, they could hear howls from the other boys, causing them to break away from one another. Kenna hid her face in Embry's chest, while Embry flipped them off. But of course, they stopped when they heard another car come screeching through the driveway. When the driver stepped out, almost all of guys and even Leah started to growl. Bella Swan walked around the car, just when Jacob started screaming from the pain.

"Is he okay?" Bella asked, as everyone else continued to growl at her. Kenna wasn't paying attention to what was happening, because the moment everyone started to growl, Kenna hid her face in Embry's chest. He could tell that her body was shaking, and immediately took her away from them, not caring what anyone else thought. Sure, he'd wanted to know if his best friend was okay, but his imprint was also important to him as well. He knew that his pack members would tell him if anything changes, and those who have imprints would also understand the need to be near their imprints.

Embry and Kenna had left the Black's place and headed toward Embry's house, since his mother wouldn't be home. When they got inside the house, Embry took Kenna's hand and walked her to the living room, and had her sit down on the couch. As he started to tend to the fire place, Kenna was already covered with a warm blanket. Once the fire was started, Embry was soon sitting by Kenna's side, as she rested her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her blonde curls, as her fingers made small designs along his shirt, covering his tight abs.

Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, Embry whispered, "All I could think about was you, Kenna. How much I wanted to hold you. Would I ever hold you again? As soon as I saw you, I knew this was it."

Kenna tilted her head up to look at him, and she asked, "What d-do you m-m-mean?"

He smiled and answered, "I knew that you were all I wanted and needed in life. Even if I were just a guy without supernatural powers or whatnot, you were it. You're what I want,"

Kenna smiled back, and gave him a soft kiss, as they basked in the glow of a sweet, eternal bliss that could probably...and hopefully...last forever...