Chapter 3 - It Does Matter

Everyone's face around the bonfire completely froze as they watched the exchange between Paul and Antonia. Leah could feel herself getting pissed off. She was going to MAIM Paul! He was hitting on her cousin. And she was sick. And not just sick with a cold Sick. She was deathly sick. Seth elbowed her in the rib cage as she glared at her little brother, she watched as Seth leaned over, "Calm down or go for a run. He's not messing with her Leah. He just imprinted on her."

Leah growled low in her throat, Embry walked over and took her hand in his, instantly calming her down. Embry placed a soft kiss on her temple, "Let's go for a walk beautiful." Leah looked up with saddened eyes as she nodded and allowed Embry to lead her down the beach away from every one. Embry turned Leah towards him, "What's going on Leahgirl?" She half smirked at his nick name for her instead of calling her babygirl is was Leahgirl.

Leah blinked and a few stray tears slid down her cheeks. Embry immediately pulled her into his arms as he kissed the top of her head, "Babe what are the tears for? Paul imprinted on her. Their soul mates. Remember how happy we were and still are if I don't mind saying so myself. At least I could only pray I make you exceedingly happy." Leah nodded, "Oh you do Embry. I could of never in a million years asked God for a more perfect man to complete my life the way you did when he sent me you."

Leah pulled away slightly, "It's just that, Toni is special. She's really special. They are only going to end up hurting each other. Toni is sick. I mean, she's really sick right now. It's why my Uncle Adam brought her and Brady out...I mean other than for the fact that Brady is due to change and join the pack any day now. Antonia got deathly ill a few months ago and when her illness decidedly became too much for their mother she took off and that haven't heard from her since. Haven't you noticed you've never seen her without a handkerchief or bandana on her head? The chemotherapy thinned out her hair and she's got bald spots that she's so embarrassed about. I shouldn't even be telling you this. The pack is going to find out now and so will Paul. He's not going to want to be with someone as sick as her. He's a playboying jerk and always will be."

Embry frowned, "Leah, you have to leave them alone. They have to be free to discover everything on their own. Paul may have been a playboy but that was before he imprinted...Imprinting changes everything and you more than anyone knows that. Look at how you was before we imprinted on each other. You was a damn terrorist. Now you're just simply my Leahgirl. A little love shines light on anyone's life. The imprinting picked Antonia for a reason. Maybe it's a sign of good things to come."

Leah frowned, "And maybe it's a sign that tragedy is getting ready to roll through." Embry gripped her upper arms as he forced her eyes to look up and meet his, "Do you really believe that? Are you really going to stand there and tell me all the love you feel with me is making you believe that imprinting is a curse instead of a gift." Leah shook her head as more tears slid down her cheeks, "Of course not Embers. I love you more than my own life. I believe in some ways you're right and in others it's going to be up to fate. I swear I'll kill Paul if he hurts her." Embry smiled widely, "I'll help you if that is any constellation." Leah giggled as Embry pulled her closer, loving to hear her giggle. She'd never gone it until he imprinted on her. Embry lifted her as he swung her in circles as he listened to her squeal out in high pitches.

Antonia had been sitting in the sand next to Paul. They had been making small chit chat for the last hour. He was telling her about the business and she was telling him that she'd been working for her Aunt Sue's book shop in town, helping people repair old or damaged books and also helping them get hard to find books that were damn near impossible to get. But she'd always managed to come through for the customers.

They sat and talked for a good two hours, when Paul noticed her shiver, Brady was the first one to her, "Hey T...I know you got your sweatshirt on and blanket...But you're cold. We promised dad if you got too cold, I'd get you home." Antonia frowned, she didn't want to leave, "C'mon B can't you pretend you didn't see that?" Brady shook his head slowly. I love you way too much to let you get sicker Antonia." Toni nodded slowly knowing her brother was right.

Her eyes shifted to Paul and she noticed he was frowning, "Sicker? What does he mean by that?" Toni frained a look of being scared, "You caught that huh." Paul just nodded, Antonia sighed heavily, "I have to go...I promised my dad. I would love to stay and explain, but I really need to go. Brady and dad will have my ass if I try to stay longer. Can I...Never mind I'm stupid." Antonia stood up as Brady grabbed the blanket and they walked away to the Lincoln Navigator.

Antonia was opening the passenger side door, when a hand came out and pushed it closed again. She turned and looked up into the eyes of Paul. His chest was rising and falling, he'd ran over to catch up to them, "What were you going to ask me?" Antonia shook her head, "Nothing it doesn't matter." Paul frowned, "It does matter...To me. Whatever it is ask me please...I won't let you down for the answer." Antonia chewed her bottom lip slightly, "I was going to ask for your phone number and see if it was okay if I called you later."

Paul's heart swelled to a monumental size as he felt his chest constrict for her, Paul reached in the front pocket of her jeans and pulled her cell phone out and flipped it open as he pushed a few buttons, he turned the screen around and showed her his number was already in her phone. She gave him a quizzical look, Paul chuckled, "When Kim took you to the rest room, you'd left your phone on the blanket, I put my number in it then called myself and saved your number in my phone. I'll call you later."

Paul flipped the phone shut and pushed it back into her pocket. As he leaned down and kissed her cheek lightly. He grabbed the door handle and opened the door for her, he looked at Brady, "Sorry for keeping her man." Brady nodded as he waited for Toni to get strapped in and took off.

Paul watched as they left. He couldn't wait to call her.

He glared at everyone when they started teasing him and giving him wolf whistles.

"God you guys suck!"

Which earned him a round of laughs.