Chapter 14 - Then It Happened

Leah couldn't stop smiling as she and Melinda walked down the path through the forest back to Mel's house. Melinda nudged her, "Okay spill it Leah." Leah chuckled, "Well…I was in heavy denial that I'd ever love anyone the way I loved Sam. But I was wrong. I was dead wrong. I was so bitter and pissed off at the way my life twisted itself after dad died for the longest time I didn't want to be around anyone. I patrolled alone, I ate alone, I walked alone, I wondered alone…I just did everything alone. I barely attended pack meetings, Sam allowed me to miss them and let Jake or Seth replay it for me in wolf form. I hated the wolf part of my life, but oddly enough I spent the better part of the first five years after I first phased as a wolf, just to avoid everyone and everything."

Melinda's eyebrows shot up as Leah sighed heavily as she nodded, "I know. Anyway; just when I didn't think I could be anymore self-involved and completely wrapped in no one but me, Jake confronted me and told me I was a selfish bitch. At first I was hurt because of it, because the whole time I was being a bitch I kept my thoughts about him being in love with a girl who loved a leech to myself. I let a few months go by and I finally confronted him about it. He finally showed me something I'd been missing the entire time. I didn't even see it and it was right in front of my face. I missed it for five whole years."

Melinda quirked an eyebrow, "You missed what Leah?" Leah scoffed, "Mel. Embry imprinted on me. He imprinted on me five years prior when I first phased but I was so dead and numb from the bitterness, that I didn't feel him imprint on me. And I also in turn didn't feel myself imprint on him. Because I never did anything with the pack or patrolled with anyone, I never knew about Embry imprinting on me. But Jake caught on to Embry's thoughts one night. Embry told him to just leave it alone. That he'd eventually come and tell me when he thought the time was right. Well you know me. I can be a little snarky some times and one day I said something mean to Embry and I didn't realize how much it hurt him until Jake called me a selfish bitch."

Melinda grabbed Leah's hand, "Are you serious Leah? Embry really imprinted on you?" Leah nodded, "Yes. And for the last three years, I have never been happier. I was never this happy with Sam. And believe me I'm not the bitter bitch I once was. This is why I'm telling you; if you want to be with Paul then be with Paul. Who the hell am I to tell you not to be with someone you love. I missed the first five years with my imprint because I was stupid. You missed the first seven because he was stupid. Paul has definitely made up for it. I know I've been hard on him. But seriously Mel; he's your soul mate…I wouldn't have believed it ever if I didn't have Embry as mine. You're supposed to be with him."

Leah perked up when she heard a howl, "That's Embry, he finished patrol. I have to get home. We have a date tonight." Melinda pulled her sister into a tight hug, "I'm so happy that you're finally happy Leah. You deserve every second of it." Leah smiled, "Thanks. I better go. Love you." Melinda smiled, "Love you back." Melinda watched as Leah jogged off into the trees to get home to Embry.

Melinda turned and gasped out in surprise as she came face to chest with Embry. Melinda giggled, "What are you doing here? Leah is on her way home…To you. Or so she thinks." Embry chuckled, "Yea I know. I heard her as I was hiding." Mel laughed, "Oh that's right; wolf hearing." Embry nodded, Mel sighed, "To what do I owe this visit?" Embry smirked, "I'm going to ask Leah to marry me. How do you think she'll take it?"

Melinda smiled softly, "Embry, if you haven't learned anything from Leah in the last what three years of being together, then there's no way I can tell you how she is going to gage you asking her to marry you." Embry groaned, "Oh c'mon Melly. No one knows Leah like you do and you know it." Melinda sighed heavily, "I honestly don't know how Leah will react to the question you're going to ask her. It's a big question and it requires big steps to be taken if she says yes. But you also have to give for the fact that she might not be ready for those steps or the yes answer, you might get a slow no instead of a fast yes. My question to you is; if Leah says no…Can you handle it? Will things change for the good or bad between you too or will you keep going strong and wait for her to say yes."

Embry ran his hands through his hair a couple of times as he contemplated his answer, "I honestly don't care if she says yes or no, because in the end I just want her to be happy for the rest of her life whether it's with me or someone else. If she says no because she's not ready then I will stay with her until she either makes me leave or until she says yes. Melinda I love her. I'm never going to change my mind. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I can only hope she has the same future in her mind that I have in mine."

Melinda smiled as she pushed up and kissed Embry's cheek, "Then I think you know the answer. You don't need to ask me, Seth or mom. Just go ask Leah, because initially she's the only one who can give you the answer." Embry nodded as he turned and jogged to the trees.

"Hey Embry!" Embry turned back and looked at Melinda, "Yea?"

Melinda smiled, "Just for the record. I think she'll say yes." Embry's smile widened as he waved and took off going into the trees towards Leah's.

A throat clearing made Melinda turn around and see Paul standing at the bottom of her porch steps. A smile couldn't help but come to her lips, "Hi." She pushed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans as Paul walked closer to her, "Hi."

The comfortable silence between them was something the both of them had gotten used to. Paul opened and closed his mouth a couple of times and nothing came out and he finally sighed, "I-Is everything okay? I could feel you earlier? You were so sad, but I didn't want to go chase you down and I knew I was going to see you today."

Melinda frowned, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. Leah and I had to go visit someone. Needless to say it was an emotion visit." Paul felt Melinda put her hand into his, "Who did you guys go see that made you feel like that?" Melinda looked up at Paul from the ground, "Our dad."

It was Paul's turn to frown, he was suddenly aware of what the day represented for Melinda, Leah, Seth and Sue, "God. I'm so sorry Mel. The anniversary of your father's death. Is there anything I can do to help?" Melinda nodded, "I know this is probably a ridiculous request. Hold me please." Paul's breath caught in his throat, "You…Mel you NEVER have to ask me that and you sure as hell don't ever have to say please to me."

Paul gently pulled Melinda into his arms and before she knew what was happening Paul scooped her up into his arms. She squealed out in surprise and couldn't help as she laughed while Paul chuckled at her. He carried her into her house as he sat on the couch and held her on his lap against his chest, his face was buried into her hair as he inhaled her scent, his arms tightening slightly as to not hurt her as she snuggled into his chest and warmth further.