Leah burst out laughing as soon as Kat was gone.
"She's awesome. Screw you guys, I'm hanging with her. Honestly, the look on your faces..." She jumped up and followed Kat out. Sam looked at where Leah left to, then at his pack, and then at his imprint who was beginning to cry.
"Em, don't cry, please don't." He begged. Jared laughed, taking a break from kissing Kim in the corner, Quil made funny faces at them for Claire's amusement, and Seth, Brady and Collin all got bored and started rifling through Narele's DVD collection.
"I'm not sad, but I just want them gone, you know?" She whispered. He collected her into his arms.
"Yeah, I know." He murmured back. "I know."
"Kat, I love you. Ditch Embry and move in with me." Leah proclaimed upon her arrival in the kitchen. Embry growled but Kat threw out her arms.
"I would dearest, but my wolf is so smoky. Besides, who'd kill the spiders?" She replied, just as dramatically.
Leah sighed. "I suppose so. By the way, I love the racing idea. I'm not sure about the vamp bit, but Jake taught Seth a bit about cars, so I know more, as usual. I could help." The tall native woman sniffed. "I miss Jake and Paul. Paul was so good for a fight, and Seth idolised Jacob."
Kat stiffened. "Paul was pretty mellow when I met him. He stayed by El's side the whole time, slept on her lap, and had a slumber party with her." Embry silently wrapped his arms around her shaking torso. Leah nodded.
"Imprinting changes them. Do you know my story?" Kat shook her head. Leah glanced at Embry, who shrugged.
"Wasn't mine to tell Leah. Thought it could be you or Sam."
Leah's eyes glistened. "Thanks Embry. Come on Kat, I'll tell you a tale of sadness that ends in happiness," She laughed bitterly. "for almost everyone, while your boyfriend feeds the pack."
Kat nodded. "Save us some pup." She linked arms with Leah and dragged her away.
Embry called out to his pack and began serving up the food. He groaned as Jared and Quil exchanged glances.
"Do you reckon we can get Embry in a little apron so cook more often? He could join Kim and Emily in the kitchen, like a good little housewife." Quil sniggered. Jared nodded until he caught Kim's eye.
"Good little housewives then?" She crooned dangerously. Jared cringed back but Quil grinned.
"Hell yeah." He said. Claire giggled.
"Hmmm, good little housewives might go join Embry in the kitchen." Emily suggested. Kim nodded and they stood up. Quil smirked at the enraged Sam and Jared until Emily turned back to pick up Claire and winked at him.
"She has to learn, doesn't she?"
He frowned. "Emily..."
She shook her head. "Nice try Quil. See you later."
After they left Sam and Jared glared at Quil who tried to look for sanctuary with Colin, Brady and Seth. He knocked them over and soon they were wrestling on the floor, close to phasing.
"SAM ULEY!" Kat screamed. Embry rushed to her side, only to see her glaring at Quil.
"Kat, that's Quil." He whispered. She moved her glower onto him and watched him quiver in angry satisfaction.
"I know. But if that sorry excuse for an alpha can't control his pups, they won't be allowed in her and I'll go visit Lipstick and Butt-lick." She growled. Embry stiffened before frowning and moving onto laughter.
"Butt-lick? Classic." He wiped his eyes. She grinned.
"I thought so. So...Sam, tell your pack if they break anything, I'll replace it using their limbs and hide."
Quil leapt up quickly, snatching Claire off a distracted Emily. Leah by this point was sitting casually on the arm rest of the couch, swinging her keys around her fingers rapidly.
"Can we go now?" She asked. Kat nodded, grabbing her long purple jacket from nowhere.
"Sure. To yours, then Lipstick's? Seth, you want a ride?" Kat grinned at the somewhat terrified boy. He nodded. Embry grabbed Kat's arm.
"You are going to visit the vamps?" He asked. She glared at his hand on her and spun around and left without saying another thing. He sighed as he heard Seth and Leah's howls and felt Kat leave his enhanced imprint senses area.
"Dude, you are so screwed. She's pretty scary." Quil commented.
"Haven't you got patrol or something?" Embry snapped back, surprising everyone around him. He used to be very mellow and usually was Quil's silent right hand man. An outburst was something new. He rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I need a drink."
Sam removed the bottle from Embry's claw like hands. He didn't even know wolves could get drunk.
"It took lots of experimenting to work out what could work on me." Embry muttered. "We had problems back at the pub. She hated me you know. For a while. Used to work in this filthy little pub with all these creepy guys. She wouldn't let me love her. Thought it was her fault her boyfriend died."
He looked blearily up at Emily who was rubbing his shoulders.
"Doesn't she know any man would walk into hell itself for her? I would. Again and again, just to see her smile, just to bring back that spark. I only see it when she's bugging someone. I'd even walk into hell to bring back Darren, because then she'd be happy. I'd kill myself to make her smile. She's so alone, so sad. What can I do to help my love, my light, my goddess. I'd do anything, even let her visit those vampires. I don't like it, but if she wants to I couldn't even lift a hand to stop her. But I did now she hates me even more. Why do I keep messing up? I'm so sorry Kat, beautiful Kat. I love her you know." He collapsed, asleep, onto his folded arms.
Sam lifted him up and carried him to the spare bedroom. Emily clicked the stop button on her voice recorder. There was no way she'd let Embry say that and Kat still reject him. It was just cruel. And she was going to throw out all his alcohol.