13.0

Embry drove Bella's truck to Emily's place and Kate immediately got out. Kate took a deep breath and smiled feeling at home here. Two weeks from this place had been way too long. She missed Emily more than ever now that she was standing right outside of her doorway.

Kate turned to tell Bella about Kate but noticed that she was still in the car. She rolled her eyes at her antisocial sister and opened the door for her.

"How are you okay right now? I think we should go back and see if Jacob's okay?" Bella asked the group.

Part of Kate agreed with Bella but she remembered the words Jacob said to her last night. She knew that he would be okay.

"I hope Paul sinks some teeth in him, serves him right," Jared said over his shoulder.

"No way! Jacob's a natural! Did you see him phase on the fly?" Embry shot back at him.

Jared looked over at Kate before smirking, "But that was for Kate, who knows if he could've done it if she wasn't there."

Kate was still confused but Embry shook his head, "I've got five, says that Paul doesn't touch him."

"Twenty from me," Kate called to Jared.

Jared turned back to her, "When you're boyfriend comes in here injured you'll wish you wouldn't have done that."

Kate felt happier than she had in a week. She didn't realize how much she loved these boys until she was without them. They were her family, a little weird, but still her family. The boys went inside and Kate turned to her sister with a smile at their antics. Bella looked back at Kate like she was crazy.

"Bella you're going to get out of this car and go to meet Emily, Sam's girlfriend. Well, fiancé, they only just got engaged though, over Christmas, it was sweet. Now, I'm not going to let you be rude and ignore her so you're going to go in, be polite, and smile or so help me God I will..."

Bella cut her off, "Okay, okay."

The two sisters walked towards the house before Kate stopped her and grabbed her arm, "One more thing. Don't stare at her, it bugs Sam. Like, big time."

Kate turned and went inside the house with her sister following her like a lost puppy. The smell of Emily's cooking hit Kate like a truck and she immediately felt warm and happy. She went up to Emily and hugged her from behind.

"Kate!" Emily said in surprise.

Emily turned around and gave the girl who she saw now as a little sister a big hug.

"I was hoping Jacob wouldn't have turned you away from us. If I had to pick between him and you it would be you every time."

"Everyone would," Embry said through a mouth full of food.

Kate and Emily chucked.

"Well since you still here I see you took the whole imprint thing well," Emily said with a sweet smile.

"The what?" she asked.

Jared let out a loud cough, "Em...."

Emily's face fell with shock. She look flustered before she looked over Kate's head and saw Bella standing awkwardly in the doorway. Taking an opportunity to diffuse the situation she called out to Bella.

"Who's this?" she asked everyone.

Kate shook her head, "Emily, this is my sister Bella. Bella, Emily."

"Hmmm... so, you're the vampire girl," Emily said to her slowly.

Bella shrugged, "So you're the wolf girl."

Emily's eyes flickered towards Kate for half a second before she smiled, "I guess so. Well, I'm engaged to one."

Emily set down a platter full of muffins in front of the boys. Kate took one and hummed with contentment as the warm, fluffy food entered her mouth. Jared went to grab another before Emily stopped him.

"Save some for your brothers, and ladies first," she scolded him.

Still with his mouthful he snapped, "Kate isn't a lady."

Kate sat down next to him and put her feet in his lap, "Am too, which means I'll still kick your ass."

"Kate, language," Emily scolded her too.

Kate rolled her eyes and Jared stuck out his tongue towards her.

"Leave it to Jacob to find a way around Sam's gag order," Emily sighed.

"He didn't say anything to me," Bella defended.

Embry smiled, "It's a wolf thing. Alpha's orders get obeyed whether we want them to or not. Hey, check it out, we can hear each other's thoughts."

"Would you shut up? These are trade secrets. Dammit, this chick runs with vampires!" Jared protested.

"You can't really run with vampires, because they're fast," Bella smiled.

"Yeah? Well, we're faster. Freaked out yet?"

"You're not the first monsters I've met."

Just then Sam came out of breath through the door.

"Kate's right, you're good with weird."

Sam went over to Emily and kissed her lovingly all over her face. Kate smiled at the two of them feeling love radiate all over the place from them.

Jacob and Paul came thought the door next playfully shoving each other around. Paul came over and sat himself down next to Kate.

"Sorry," Paul said to her.

Kate smiled, "It's fine. I'll just wait for payback," she said shoving her shoulder into his. When she did this, she saw a long angry line from his shoulder to the middle of his back. Kate turned to Jared with her hand out.

"Pay up."

Jared grumbled and reached into his wallet to pull out a twenty dollar bill and slapped it into her hand before giving Embry a five. Kate pocketed the money with a smile before looking up at Jacob. He was looking at her with such a content and peaceful smile on his face and she beamed up at him. Jacob started to softly chuckle before he nodded his head toward the beach. Kate got up and followed him outside ignoring the wolf whistles from inside.

They walked in silence all the way to the beach. Kate climbed up on a low rock and sat down facing Jacob who stood still in the sand.

"Jacob, can I ask you something?" she wondered quietly.

"Anything," he said quickly. In that moment Kate knew that he meant it too. She looked at him long and hard before taking a deep breath.

"Jared and Emily mentioned it but, what's an imprint?"

Jacob's body froze. He looked like a million thoughts were going through his head. He looked down at his shoes before looking back up at Kate.

"Well, it's this thing that wolves do. It's special. It's not like love at first sight, really. It's more like... gravity moves. When you see her, suddenly it's not the earth holding you here anymore. She does. And nothing matters more than her. And you would do anything for her, be anything for her... You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that's a protector, or a lover, or a friend, or a brother."

"H-have you i-imprinted on anyone," Kate's voice cracked and she felt fear at the very thought of him belonging and being with anyone else. Her whole body seemed to scream in protest at the idea.

Jacob took a few steps closer to her and stood between her legs dangling off the edge of the rock.

"To the only girl I ever wanted to be with. Even before the phasing," he said in a low voice.

There was a pause where neither of them moved. Kate finally understood the force that had been in her chest. Every blush, every warm feeling finally made sense. They all came from Jacob. The idea of being with someone forever scared her but imaging being with Jacob forever made her happy, it gave her hope.

Before Jacob could even blink, Kate brought her hands to the back of his neck and pulled him towards her. When their lips met, it was like every fairytale's version of true love. Jacob immediately responded as their lips moved together. His hands went to her hips as he held on tight to her. The blood rushing in their ears was enough to drown out the crashing of the waves around them. Their bodies flushed with heat. They were both air deprived but neither of them cared enough to part. Kate was in bliss at this moment. She never wanted it to end. Their lips moved together perfectly as their arms pulled each other as close as possible.

Neither of them knew how long it had been when they parted. Jacob put his forehead against hears and sighed in happiness.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to that," he whispered to her.

Kate giggled, "I think I have an idea."

Jacob's face split into a wide grin. He grabbed her off of the rock into his arms and swung her around in circles. Kate's laugh echoed across the sound and Jacob swore that it was his favorite sound ever.

When he placed her down, he kissed her again this time much gentler than their first kiss. She felt him smile into the kiss causing her to smile too.

"Come take a walk with me," she told him with her hand outstretched in invitation.

Without hesitation he took it and the couple walked down the beach together. They walked and talked until the sun had begun to set below the grey clouds. It was peaceful and Kate had finally figured out what the best day of her life was.

"My turn for a question," Jacob said from next to her.

"Shoot."

"What information did you want from that vampire?"

Kate stopped walking and Jacob stood in front of her.

"His name was Laurent. Bella and I met him last year. He was with the vampire that attacked Bella. There was one more person with them. Apparently, the two of them have been conspiring and I want to know why," she explained.

Jacob frowned, "Redhead?"

Kate's hand dropped from Jacob's, "Victoria? She's been here?"

Jacob nodded slowly. Kate put her hands in her hair as she walked away from him. Somehow her brain couldn't process this. How had she missed the connection that she'd been around Forks.

"Kate what's wrong?" Jacob asked bringing her hands down from her head and holding them in his.

Kate swallowed, "Jacob, she's after Bella and will kill me to get to her."

If Kate had been human Jacob's grip would have broken her hands.

"I'll talk to the guys. We're starting patrol immediately around your place."

Kate's grip tightened around Jacob again, "I'm not worried about me, only Charlie and Bella. Listen, Jacob, you have to be careful with her. She's fast, faster than normal vampires."

"She won't outrun me," Jacob growled.