Chapter 17 – Here With You, Here With Me
Leah's cool brown eyes stared a hole practically through Embry as they stood on the front porch of her house. He was still paying for his fuck ups and it had been almost eight months. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she cleared her throat. "Embry you haven't even tried talking to your sister. How do you expect to mend things between the two of you if you don't even talk to her?"
Embry rolled his red lips together. It had been eight months since Leah had ended things with him because of what he'd done to Veronica. A few weeks ago she had moved in with Paul so it was even harder now to get the courage up to talk with her. She had ignored him as though they didn't even live in the same house. Not that he could blame her. He knew it was his own damn fault. "I've been trying Leah, I swear on my life. But after what I did to her, I can't just come to her with some lame apology. Not with what I did to her. It was completely unforgiveable."
Leah nodded. "Yes it was. And I already told you until you fix things with Veronica; there is no room for you in my life. And you know as well as I do that this is killing me. It's been eight months of sleeping alone, when I could be in my fiancés arms. Eight months of separate patrolling because I can't be near you without wanting to cry because I miss you so damn much." Leah blinked and the tears started trickling down her cheeks. "And please don't think that I don't miss you Embry. Because you have no idea how much I really miss you. You're my soul mate and I never thought I would have that with anyone ever again after what happened with Sam and Emily. When you imprinted on me and then I imprinted on you it's like I found my heart for the first time. And I found it in your hands and you took such great care of it. I'd like to think I took great care of yours as well."
Embry closed his eyes. He could feel the sadness just rolling off his imprint in waves. "Leah you're everything to me. You've been everything to me since I imprinted on you. You have my heart and you have my soul. You have everything in me. There is nothing I wouldn't do to make you smile right now. I've tried talking to Veronica a few times but she just acts as if I'm not even alive and I know it's my fault. God help me I know. But I can't force her to talk to me no matter what I do. I'm losing valuable time without you in my life." Embry swallowed hard as he sighed heavily. "And I'm not so sure I want to be a wolf anymore."
Leah wasn't sure she heard what he said, but the serious look on his face was enough to tell her she heard the last sentence right. "Embry what are you talking about? What do you mean you don't want to be a wolf anymore?"
Embry shook his head. "This stupid wolf gene fucked up my life. My heated temper, I phased in front of my sister, I compulsively lied to her non-stop for the first five months she was here, because I didn't want her to get hurt by Paul so I was completely deluded to the fact that he would NEVER hurt her. I fucked up and lost the BEST thing in my life which was you. Out of everything in my life you was the best thing that this wolf gene brought to me. I lost my sister and my mother BARELY says more than two words a day to me. I haven't had a decent conversation with the rest of the guys in the pack because of the shit I caused between Paul and Veronica. All because I didn't want my sister to be involved with anyone in the pack or even have anything to do with anyone who had this damn gene."
Embry walked down the steps as he looked back up at Leah. "Suddenly being a wolf isn't as fun as it used to be when I was younger. I love you Leah. I will love you until the day I die. I have to go; I've got patrol in twenty."
Leah watched as Embry disappeared into the trees as the tears continued to slide down her cheeks. "I love you too Embry." The words were mere whispers from her lips, but somehow she knew he heard her or at least she hoped. She turned from the porch and walked back into the house. The silence was deafening and killing her all at the same time.
Two weeks later everyone in the wolf pack, imprints included were standing on the beach with cheesy smiles all on their faces. They were watching as Jake and Camille were exchanging vows. It was about time the two of them got married.
Paul was sitting next to Veronica. She looked absolutely breath taking. She wore a violet colored spaghetti strapped dress that zipped up the back and went to above her knees with matching shoes and a matching shawl that was over her shoulders. She had slipped her heels off and buried her feet in the cool sand and was sitting about as close to Paul as she could. Paul nearly came unglued when she crossed her legs at the knee and her foot brushed against his dress pants covered calf.
Veronica looked up at Paul as she smiled he looked so handsome. He had on black dress pants and a while short sleeve dress shirt and a black tie that was hanging around his neck, he had gotten fidgety with it at first and said it was confining, but Veronica smacked his chest and told him to sit till as she loosened it slightly so he could swallow and breathe and it made him feel better. She leaned over slightly so her shoulder was touching his arm and his arm slid back and wound around her as she felt him kiss the top of her head. Veronica listened as Jake and Camille shared their vows with each other.
Camille, I love you. Today is a very special day. Long ago you were just a dream and a prayer. This day like a dream come true the Lord Himself has answered that prayer. For today, Camille, you as my joy become my crown. I thank Jesus for the honor of going through time with you. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the promises of God, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I lay down my life for you, Camille, my friend and my love. Today I give to you me.
Jacob, I love you and I know you love me. I am confident that God has chosen you to be my husband. It is my prayer and desire that you will find in me the love God designed especially for you, and in confidence I will submit myself unto your headship as unto our Lord. Therefore, Jacob, I pledge to you my life as an obedient, faithful and loving wife. Wherever thou go I will go, wherever thou live I will live, your people shall be my people, And your God is my God.
Once the pastor had pronounced them husband and wife they kissed to seal the vows forever. Everyone jumped up and cheered for them. As everyone headed over to the reception which was under a beautiful white tent that was lit by a least ten thousand tea lights. It had begun to rain and the soft raindrops tapped on the tent lightly as if it was tapping out a melody especially for Jake and Camille. As the reception got under way everyone gathered on the floor and we're dancing to the soft music in the back ground.
A few hours later, Paul, Veronica, Kim and Jared were seated at a table together as they ate dinner and laughed back and forth about everything. Kim and Veronica had both taken their shoes off. Paul had Veronica's feet in his lap as his overly warm hands were rubbed her feet as she smiled softly and reached over with her napkin and swatted at Paul's chest when he said something smart and al he could do was chuckle.
Paul leaned over and kissed Veronica's lips softly. A nice slow song came on as Paul wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Hey beautiful let's go dance."
Veronica smiled as she grabbed her shoes and put them on as Paul took her hands and helped her up to her feet and they walked over to the make shift wooden dance floor, Paul pulled her into his arms as they softly swayed to the music.
Paul continued to lean down and kiss her lips softly multiple times as their eyes stayed locked on each other. "I love you so much Veronica."
Veronica enjoyed Paul pulling her closer to his body. "I love you too."
Jake and Camille had already taken off for their honeymoon but no one wanted to leave the dance floor. It was just nice for the wolves and the imprints to get a night together without having to worry about vampires.
Paul continued to twirl Veronica around the dance floor, when suddenly a single lone howl caught the attention of everyone in the pack; the imprints didn't miss it either. Veronica's eyes snapped up to Paul's face which was sporting a frown. His eyes had looked over at Jared who had nodded. Paul's onyx eyes slowly slipped down and locked with his imprint.
"You have to go don't you?" She knew she didn't even have to ask, he was going to say yes either way.
Paul nodded glumly. "Unfortunately I do. We all do. I swear I'll make it up to you. But for now we have to get all of you to Emily and Sam's." Veronica nodded in understanding and he watched as she grabbed his arm to steady herself and pulled her heels off. Paul chuckled as he kissed her lips again. "God you're cute when you do little things like that. You could've left your shoes on because I could've just done this…" Paul leaned over and brusquely scoped her up into his arms.
Paul got Veronica, Jared and Kim to Emily and Sam's house in record time. Paul stood on the porch as he tugged off his clothing and stood in his boxer/briefs. Veronica wiggled her eyebrows at Paul and he couldn't help chuckling at her. "Don't start something you can't finish right now woman." He growled out through clenched teeth. "I love you and I promise I'll be careful."
Veronica liked it when he would promise without her asking him too. "I'd finish but you're the one leaving." She couldn't help giggling out. She pushed up on her toes and kissed Paul's lips one last time and watched as a group of underwear clad men jogged into the tree line in Emily's back yard.
The girls all walked back into the house as they put the boys dress clothes up and Emily's passed out sweat pants and t-shirts so the girls could get out of their dresses. Veronica sat at the window seat in the kitchen with black sweatpants on with the cuffs pulled up around her calves with a white t-shirt on. Roni's eyes never leaving the tree line; always on the tree line. She wanted Paul home safe and sound and the vampires gone for good. She wanted the same thing everyone wanted. And hopefully soon it would happen.