Chapter 6 – Not Again Embry
Paul came to a stop in front of Emily and Sam's house as he phased and pulled his shorts on and jogged up to the house and went inside. He could hear Sam practically screaming at the top of his lungs. Paul walked through the kitchen where the eviscerated kitchen table laid looking lonely and sad broken in half his eyes wondered towards the ceiling and could see the light hanging above the demolished table was shaking ferociously from the yelling.
Paul came to a stop and leaned against the door frame from the kitchen to the living room. And watched as Sam paced back and forth.
"EMBRY I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT THE HELL YOU WAS THINKING BY ATTACKING YOUR OWN PACK BROTHER. AND AT THIS POINT I COULD GIVE A SHIT LESS. ALL I KNOW IF EMILYS ENTIRE NIGHT WAS RUINED NOT TO MENTION THIS WHOLE NIGHT WAS A WELCOME HOME GET TOGETHER FOR YOUR OWN FUCKIN SISTER AND YOU WERE COMPLETELY CRUEL TOWARDS HER. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS OR HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU WILL BE PAYING FOR A NEW KITCHEN TABLE."
Embry's sullen eyes were staring at the floor as he physically jumped at every word that Sam yelled at him in his authoritative Alpha voice. Sam was pissed and all things considered Embry was extremely surprised he hadn't snatched him out the front door and bit into his fur covered ass for being so thoughtless. Embry nodded as Sam stopped yelling. "Yes sir."
Paul stood up straight and cleared his throat. Sam turned around and looked at him. "Something I can help you with Paul?" A low growl calm from behind Sam as he turned and glared at Embry who straightened up with a cringe. Embry almost let out a yelp with the glare snapped at him for growling at Paul.
Paul nodded. "Yea actually I would like to say something. Embry I wasn't trying to encroach on your bonding time with Veronica. And I know out of all the guys in the pack my reputation is the worst with women. But I wanted to tell you first that I imprinted on Roni. I'm sorry if you are upset or angered by that fact, but I couldn't stop it and you know I don't have any control over it. I want you to know I don't want to just jump into something with her. She's fragile. She's about as fragile as I've ever seen a girl before."
Paul sighed heavily. "I've never heard anyone cry as hard as she did tonight because of the way you treated her all because you was trying to play the macho overprotective big brother. I have never felt more protective of another female other than my mother and Emily in my entire life. I'm telling you right now if you ever make her cry like that again I won't be held responsible for what I do to you."
Embry grumbled. "You imprinted on my sweet Veronica?"
Paul nodded. "I know about her past. I didn't ask her for anything and I'm not asking you for anything. I just want to get to know her first. And I know my past with women is shaky at best. I brought that on myself. It's my own fault and I can only hope after Veronica hears about my past she will still want me. And not be completely disgusted by me. I hope she will understand that she will always be the only girl I will ever want now. That the other women are a thing of the past." Paul ran his hands through his disheveled hair. "That's all I have to say to my pack brother. To someone I've considered a brother since we were sixteen." Paul turned and left the house.
Embry swallowed hard, he wasn't sure how he should feel about Paul imprinting on Veronica. But right now he needed to make amends with Emily. Embry stood from his sunken in seat on the couch as he tugged on the hem of his t-shirt, hemming and hawing he walked over and stood in front of Emily and poked his bottom lip out at her. Her posture with stiff as she stood with her arms crossed over her chest and an eyebrow quirked up at Embry.
Embry swallowed extremely hard. "I'm so sorry Emily. I didn't mean to ruin your dinner or your table. If I could go back and re-do everything I would. I will take up extra shifts at the fire station and I will replace your table."
Emily's face softened as she gripped his chin between her thumb and index knuckle. "Embry, I'm not even going to tell you I'm disappointed in you because you already know I am. But you're going to have to be gentle with Veronica. She's been in that terrible place for ten years; missing her friends, family and especially your father. I can only imagine what she went through ten years ago for her to have to go to your mother at ten years old and tell her she needed help. Not to mention whatever she went through for the ten years she was in that place."
Emily released Embry's chin as she sighed softly. "That being said, I know no one noticed it tonight but me. Everything about Paul changed tonight. He wasn't as cocky as he normally is and his whole posture changed and when you left them alone they were enjoying the conversation they were having together. He wasn't hitting on her or making nasty comments he was a complete gentleman tonight and I know he smirked at you a few times because he loves to get under your skin. But that is just Paul being Paul but he was every bit a gentleman with Veronica, because believe me I was watching him."
Embry nodded. "I know Em and I never meant to be so mean to Roni. She's my baby sister; I'm always going to be protective of her. I never thought in a million years that one of my pack brothers would imprint on her. I should be happy because at least I know someone will always be there to protect her if I can't. But Paul and his terrible reputation and I know I heard what he saying now, but how long is that going to last down the line when Veronica won't sleep with him or let him have his way with her. I just don't want her getting hurt if he ends up cheating on her. After everything she's been through honestly that's the last thing that I want to happen. I don't know if she could take it. And I certainly don't want him breaking her heart by mistake or otherwise."
Emily nodded. "I understand, but right now you need to go see your sister. You need to apologize and explain to her what you said to me, but you know leave out the pack and imprinting. Just let her know you're an overprotective shithead. I think she may understand honey."
Emily pushed up on her toes as she gently hugged Embry and kissed his cheek softly. "You also might want to call Leah, or go see her, she was not happy with your outburst."
Embry nodded as he returned Emily's hug and then said good night to Sam and Emily and took off for the house; knowing he had to make things right with her. He found her in her room, frowning at the tears that marred her beautiful face, his heart breaking. "Veronica, I'm sorry." He watched as she stood up from her bed, stopping her before she could walk away from him and blinked when she actually slapped him across the face.
"Veronica, I wasn't yelling at you! I wasn't yelling at you, okay? It wasn't you, it was…him…" Embry gritted his teeth, the deep red handprint on his cheek already diminishing, sighing when she started walking away from him again.
"I love you sis, don't do this Roni. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose my temper and I already know you like Paul, I can see it in your eyes and I'm telling you DO NOT fall for it! He's bad Roni, okay? He's bad when it comes to women and relationships, you have no idea how many women he's slept with and I refuse to let my sister be another notch on his belt!" He grabbed his sister by her upper arms, trying to shake some sense into her and didn't realize how much he was hurting her.
"Let go of me you're hurting me." Veronica was trying to wrench her arm out of his grasp but he wasn't letting go. She could see him physically shaking. "What the hell is wrong with you Embry? It's not like I'm trying to jump him or anything. We were just talking. Since when did it become a crime to talk to someone?"
"Embry! Let go of your sister. You're hurting her." The authoritative voice belonged to Diana Call she stepped into her daughters room and looked at Embry; standing next to Veronica as she touched Embry's arm.
"What happened?" Diana demanded, wondering why Embry looked as though he was guilty.
Embry swallowed hard, wrapping his arms around himself and stumbled away from her, his heart nearly flying right out of his chest. He had trouble breathing and looked up at his sister with tears in his eyes, suddenly realizing he was just physically hurting her when he was supposed to be apologizing to her. "Roni, I'm sorry, god I didn't mean to grab you like that. Christ…" He felt sick to his stomach, knowing how easily Veronica bruised and closed his eyes before suddenly running out of the house, phasing, as soon as he hit the tree line.
Veronica ignored her mother's questions not even hearing anything she was saying as she walked over and laid across her bed. Trying to forget the day even happened; falling asleep with nightmares stuck in her brain all night long.