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You Don't Know Me and If You're Not the One

Chapter 12: Imprinted!

"I haven't imprinted on Essie!" I whispered loudly. I looked over at Embry's mate who was now giving me an odd look. Don't get me wrong, Essie's a beautiful girl, and if she wasn't imprinted with my best friend, and I had totally given up on the male species, she would be at the top of my list, but she is totally lacking in the lower equipment department!

"I mean, you're cute and all, chick, and if I was a lesbian, you'd so be my type, but don't let the whole tomboy look fool you: I like penis, thank you very much!"

I must have been a lot louder than I thought, because a group of younger guys a table or two across from us began chuckling. "What the hell are y'all laughing at?" I demanded, glaring at them. The guys immediately stopped and went back to eating their food. After a few minutes, I leaned forward. "What the heck are you going on about, Tiff, with this imprint bond?"

"I'm talking about Seth and Abby," Embry's mom explained. Just at hearing his name, Abby's cheeks blushed ridiculously and her smile widened.

"What does that have to do with me?" I asked, looking over at Abby for a moment and then back at Tiff.

"Just hear me out," Tiff began, "Bree and Riley are siblings. Who is Riley closest to out of all the pack members?"

"Collin," I replied without hesitation.

"That's right," she agreed. "Rachel adores Diego. Paul and Diego are very close. Paul and Jake have an awesome bond as well. It's come to my attention that imprinting doesn't just affect the imprinter and imprintee; it affects everyone close to them." I never really thought of that.

"In Quileute pack history, there have never been sibling shifters. Now we have two. You and Seth. Embry and Sam."

"There weren't any girls, either," I growled, taking a bite of my food. Even though I was angry I was also totally famished, and this crab cake was amazing!

"You were already so close to your brother before the two of you phased, and even closer afterwards." I stopped eating and finally looked up at Tiffany. "Leah, you took to Abby because she was with Seth. I believe Seth and Essie will become close as well because she's Abby's sister. Just like I believe Sam will be very close to Essie, since Embry is his brother. You became friends so easily with Abby and Essie because of the imprint."

I leaned back in my seat and soaked in Tiff's words. It did make sense, me being so attached to Abby because of Seth. But why was I so attached to Essie? I mean, if that was the case, shouldn't I care more for Abby since she was Seth's imprint? I cared for them equally. "You feel that bond, too, don't you, Leah?" Tiff asked.

"I'll admit," I took a long sigh and took another bite "that I do feel more protective of Abby." I stared at Seth's imprint and then shifted my eyes towards Essie as I swallowed. "But I feel protective of you, too." I pointed my fork at Tiffany. "Have you talked to the Council about this?"

"Yes, it's actually what we were discussing when Opal Shadow stormed into our council meeting with her parents yesterday," Tiffany answered as my little sister exhaled loudly, placing her fork on the table.

Abby's face was filled with remorse. "I can't believe I broke her nose." But the chick had it coming!

"It's alright, Abby," Embry's mom cooed gently rubbing little circles on Abby's back. "Although I don't condone violence, I understand that sometimes a person's anger can get the best of them." Hell yeah, and a bitch like Opal Shadow could turn the nicest person evil! "You're a good person, Abby. Always remember that."

Abby's smile finally returned. Tiff was a good person and a great mom. She always knew what to say to make things better.

"Alright, ladies, let's finish eating so we can get shopping." Tiffany grinned at us.

I had a feeling that Essie and Abby would warm up to Bree. She was pretty cool. Bree didn't do much talking; she was a better listener, which I guess worked out perfect, because Abby never stopped talking. Bree found the perfect navy blue flared skirt for Abby.

We split up to find shoes. Abby went with Bree, while Tiff, Essie, and I stayed with each other. We spent most of the day just goofing around with one another, but our conversation got a little serious when we headed to the bathrooms. Essie was sitting on the countertop picking at a hole in her pants while I washed my hands. Surprisingly, there was no one else in sight. Tiff was waiting outside.

"Leah?" Her voice sounded a little uncertain. "Will you ever stop hating Sam for imprinting on Emily?"

Wow. She had balls. It was a lingering question that I heard in the minds of my pack brothers for years, but only Essie had been brave enough to ask it out loud.

I quickly dried off my hands and then hopped up on the counter beside Essie.

"I don't hate Sam," I admitted with a resigned tone.

"You don't?" Essie stared at me incredulously. I shook my head. "Then why did you look like you wanted to sock him in the jaw on the beach when he mentioned Emily's pregnancy?"

"You noticed that, huh?" I exhaled, Essie nodded. "I've been misdirecting my anger for years," I answered honestly, taking a deep breath. I couldn't believe I was actually confessing this to Essie, but the more I spoke, the better I felt.

"I admit I was pissed when Sam first left me for Emily, but I got over it a long time ago. Sam just seemed like an easy target, ya know? Everyone thinks I'm pissed about losing him, but I'm angry because I lost someone else in the process of all this messed up shit." I threw out my hand wildly.

"I fell in love with someone almost right after Sam and I broke up." Essie's eyes grew wide with shock. Bet she wasn't expecting that.

"To tell you the truth," I smirked, shaking my head, "thinking back now, I fell in love with him the very first moment I laid eyes on him, but I was just too damn stubborn to realize it." I smiled at the memory, thinking back on the first day I met Rich, how he made me feel; the intense emotions he ignited in me. No one ever made me feel that way. Not even Sam. Only Rich.

"Anyway," I sighed heavily, "I was going to tell everyone about us, but I wanted to wait until the rest of my family got over the initial shock of me and Sam breaking up. The last thing I wanted anyone to assume – including Sam – was that I had been seeing someone else behind his back."

Although that's what I thought he and Emily were doing behind mine. I mean, could you blame me? Essie nodded understandably.

"But I never got the chance to tell anyone," my voice shook a little. Essie reached for my hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "That night when I decided to finally tell my family about him, I phased." I lost my dad, too. But I wasn't even going there with my voice already betraying my feelings. "And that night I found out about imprinting. I couldn't do to him what Sam did to me. I just loved him too much."

"Leah, I'm so sorry that happened to you." Essie's words felt so genuine and they actually made me feel a little better. "I know what that feels like. To love and lose someone."

"Your dad?" Abby had told me all about him.

"Not just him. My brother, too." Now it was my turn to be shocked. No one ever told me about Abby and Essie having a brother. But then again, I hadn't spent that much time with my pack brothers alone since Essie and Abby showed up.

"After my dad died of colon cancer, my mom was sober for some time and things were pretty decent." I watched nostalgia cross Essie's face.

"Diane wasn't close to her family. She never talked about her parents or what her life was like growing up as a kid. I can only assume it must have been pretty shitty, considering the fact that she never even told us her maiden name. I guessed that was why we rarely got any visitors. But one day, there was this really handsome young guy standing on our front porch with my mother's smile staring back at me." Her lips curled up slightly, but there was still so much sadness in her eyes.

"Turns out he was our brother. Diane had him when she was Abby's age." Damn, that means she was only fifteen. "The most selfless act my mother ever committed in her miserable life was giving him up for adoption. He had a chance at a better life and from what he shared with us about his adoptive parents, it worked."

Well, I guess that's a good thing, right? I mean, Abby and Essie's lives had been filled with so much turmoil. Their brother could have ended up with the same thing.

"I thought to myself, 'Finally,'" she laughed a little, "'my mom's clean and now Abby and I have the big brother we always wanted!'" Her lips began to tremble and I could see tears starting to form. I could tell his wasn't easy to talk about.

"Essie, you don't have to tell me." I hated the fact that this was upsetting her. I didn't need my shit to spread into hers.

"I want to, Leah. I already told Embry, and the rest of the pack already knows. They heard all about this last night, and it doesn't hurt as bad repeating it again. All of you gave me a newfound source of strength." She smiled bravely at me.

"Okay, Es, go on."

"He really was the brother I always wanted. He was amazing. He fit in with Abby and me as if we had all grown up together." Essie took a long deep breath. "But it didn't work out. Our brother spent a whole week with us. That following Monday morning, I woke up to see my mom and him talking outside. I was standing at the front window. They didn't see me." She shook her head. "Even at ten, I knew that whatever it was they were talking about had to be serious and not good. I will never forget the devastation that spread all over his face." She shuddered.

"Instead of coming back inside, my brother made a beeline for his car and drove off. I never saw him again, and that night, my mom relapsed." A single tear strolled down Essie's cheek, my instincts kicked in, and I immediately put my arm around her for comfort.

"I miss him a lot, Leah, just like I'm sure you miss the man you lost." I nodded my head slowly in agreement. "No wonder we get along so well; we're all so messed up." Essie laughed and I couldn't help it. I laughed, too.

"Two peas in a jacked up pod," I chuckled. "Thanks for sharing your story."

"Thanks for sharing yours," Essie smiled back. It's crazy how heartache and loss can bring people closer together.

~XOXOXOX~

Once we got back to La Push, I decided to get ready at my place. Essie, Abby, and Tiff would swing by and pick me up on the way to Joshua's.

By the way Abby's mouth gaped open when I answered my door, I could tell they weren't prepared for my ensemble.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, Leah Clearwater wears more than hoodies and funny T-Shirts. This was a special occasion, right? So I pulled out a pair of my dark skinny jeans, an awesome top, and some kickass heels.

"Wow, Leah!" Essie exclaimed, followed by a whistle. "You look amazing!"

"Thanks and so do you." Essie was looking hot in her black and pink striped skirt, a skin-tight black long sleeved shirt, leggings, and high heels. Embry was going to freak!

"Embry and Seth said we had to look our best tonight," I replied, walking over towards Tiff's car. "And usually, I would've just told him to kiss my ass, but since it's for you guys, I figured why the hell not?"

"Do you have any idea what this surprise is?" Abby asked me.

"I don't, actually. They thought I would blab if I was in the know...Assholes." I rolled my eyes. They knew me too well.

~XOXOXOXOX~

Tiff barely put the car in park before Embry was already opening Essie's door. Seth seemed just as anxious to get to Abby.

"Wow, you look amazing," Embry growled and couldn't take his eyes off Essie.

"Thanks," she giggled, stepping out of the car. I didn't miss the way Essie was checking him out. "You clean up real nice, too," she added just as my pack brother planted a kiss on her lips that showed her just how good she looked to him.

Thank the great spirits Embry's parents were here. I knew he would keep things G-Rated with them around. I was still trying to recover from their beach make-out escapade.

I was out of the car and ready to head inside, but my plans changed the moment I heard Embry yell, "Damn, Leah, you look...like a girl!"

"Thanks," I growled, "considering the fact that I do have a vagina." Dumbass.

"He just means you look pretty, sis," Seth helped Embry rephrase as he came around towards us, holding Abby's hand.

"Whatever." I tried to shrug indifferently, trying not to smile. What girl doesn't like being complimented? Even if it comes out a little off.

"And you look very nice, too, Abby," Embry told Essie's little sister.

"Thanks, Embry." She smiled back.

Embry then introduced Abby and Essie to his father.

"It's so great to finally meet you," his dad said, pulling away. "My son has been waiting for you to show up." Essie's nervous demeanor disappeared, as she grinned at Joshua.

"Should we go inside?" Abby finally asked after a few minutes.

I watched Embry look down at his watch. He gave Tiff a quick hug before she headed inside with Joshua.

"Let's just wait for a second. Your 'surprise' should be here soon," Seth suggested.

"It's not a car, is it? Because I love my Toyota, Embry." Essie sternly replied folding her arms across her chest. "And Abby can't drive."

"I'll teach you," I heard Seth whisper in his imprint's ear. Abby's eyes lit up as she smiled widely. Okay, I really gotta get out of here. All of this lovey-dovey imprint stuff can take a toll on a single she-wolf.

"No, it's better than that, and I would never replace your car unless you said it was okay," Embry assured Essie.

"Well, I'm going to head inside," I announced, turning around.

"Oh, Leah, please stay," Abby begged me. Damn it. She gives awesome puppy eyes, too? What the heck am I going to do now with two people I can't say no to? I rolled my eyes once before giving in just as this silver Acura RDX pulled up behind Tiff's car. Slowly, the driver's side door swung open and Abby and Essie's 'surprise' stepped out.

My stomach was doing somersaults, my heart nearly jumped into my throat and I was finding it difficult to breathe. I couldn't take my eyes off of him as he was started walking towards us.

"Oh my god!" I heard Essie exclaim.

"Ricky!" Abby squealed, running full speed towards him.

Abby and Essie's Ricky.

My Rich.

They were the same.

I wanted to run away, but my body refused to move.

Rich caught Abby effortlessly in his arms. "Where have you been?" she sobbed hysterically.

"I'm so sorry I left you guys. I wasn't sure if y'all would want me after finding out about everything," he whispered with raw emotion. His voice sounded different. There was more pain in it. Pain I knew with the upmost certainty that I put there. Guilt washed over me like a massive wave and I instantly felt horrible.

"We'll always want you, Ricky, you're our big brother," Abby cried. "Don't you ever leave us again, okay?"

"I won't. I promise. Never again," he vowed, holding on to his little sister for dear life. At that moment, I wanted to be there in her place. It had been so long since I was in those arms, since I felt his body pressed against mine, and I longed for it even more now than I ever had throughout the years.

Everything felt like it was going in slow motion, but I still couldn't keep up.

"How did you...?" Essie sounded confused and stunned all at once, she couldn't even get her words out.

"My dad hired-" Embry couldn't reply. For a millisecond, I looked away from Rich just in time to see Essie kiss Embry with such passion and gratitude.

"Thank you!" she sobbed before racing over to her brother, joining her sister in their group hug.

Finally, his eyes met mine and gravity shifted. It felt like, within seconds, I had fallen in love with him all over again. But the love I had for him was multiplied – amplified a million times over. Rich was always handsome to me, but now he appeared flawlessly exquisite, and I felt my soul reaching out and connecting to his almost instantly.

Suddenly everything in my past made sense. The pull – the connection I always felt towards Rich before I had even phased, the turmoil I'd go through if I ever lost him, and my bond with Essie and Abby, and Tiff's words from earlier. Rich loved his sisters; it was the impeding imprint with Rich that made me care so immensely for them.

"Lee?" Rich was staring at me as if I weren't real, like a mirage, a hallucination that would disappear any minute now.

I imprinted on the man I always loved. The man I lost. The man I walked away from all those years ago, and I felt like the dumbest, cruelest person in the entire world.

And after all these years, I spoke the one word I refused to say out loud out of fear that I would fall apart.

"Richard."

THERE YOU HAVE IT RICH AND LEAH REUNITED!

RICH POV COMING NEXT!